Thursday, September 23, 2010

KALEIDOSCOPE-WISE

In childhood, my kaleidoscope was a favourite toy. I still find in them a source of fascination....which led me to an archived post from summer 2008. It seemed to beg for a complete update.

Done! The theme is here dragged kicking and screaming into 2010 ~~~

These days there's an uncomfortable feel to things in general. The "enticing new possibilities" spied by Ms Kanter in the following quote are thin on the ground just now, especially in politics - unless you happen to be entranced by the antics of that group of people with a thing about tea bags.

“Creativity is a lot like looking at the world through a kaleidoscope. You look at a set of elements, the same ones everyone else sees, but then reassemble those floating bits and pieces into an enticing new possibility."
(~Rosabeth Moss Kanter, American social scientist & business expert)

Still... I'll try tweaking Ms. Kanter's thought and look at some of our astrological "floating bits and pieces", otherwise known as the seven planets ancient astrologers traditionally used. Let's see what emerges, kaleidoscope-wise. Focus will be on the USA mainly, but passing readers will no doubt be able to orient patterns towards their own locations.

Our "floating bits and pieces" - how do they shape up ?

Sun, in general represents leadership. Newly moved into Libra, it signals an emphasis on either diplomacy or indecisiveness. In the USA's current leader traces of both traits can be detected. The President panders to his masters, the corporations, bringing forth weakness of resolve and an appearance of indecisiveness, as he tries, at every turn, to satisfy his masters and the Republicans over the needs of what was once his "base". His diplomacy leans only towards those who finance him, not those who worked hard to support him in 2008, in fact, on more than one occasion he, and his underlings have mocked this faction's hopes and wishes.


Moon -I'll use it as representing the public, I understand it does so in horary astrology. A public sharply divided (and sub-divided) in the USA. It was ever thus, but possibly never more clearly sub-divided than now. Further sub-divisions have merged in the 2 years since the General Election. Under the Republican "umbrella" the aforementioned Tea Bag movement has found a place. They differentiate themselves from middle-of-the-road, old-fashioned conservatives. As for the Democrats, they now sub-divide into those for whom the Obama Kool-aid hasn't yet worn off, and those for whom scales have fallen from their eyes. One faction still insists that "he's doing his best in shitty circumstances", parrot buzz words such as "small steps" and "lesser-evil". A more clear-eyed sub-division on the far-left, seminal group of radical left-wingers, theorise that is there is no true difference between the two parties, both are bought by, and run by the corporations, and shadowy figures at the top of an elite pyramid.

Mercury represents all forms of communication. Even since 2008 new lines of communication and networking possibilities have continued to mushroom. Facebook and Twitter have become a bigger part of the fabric of everyday life (for some). A metaphorical wolf may be approaching the door though. Net neutrality is essential for things to remain as they stand currently. The forces who appear to be controlling politics will, sooner or later, also demand control over the internet.

Venus the arts and love planet ought to provide some softer pastel background colour to what is so far a sombre kaleidoscopic pattern. Even here though, there's a harshness in evidence. Modern musical styles could hardly be described as "soft and pastel", modern style in the arts tends towards dark satire and cynicism. Love, in many cases takes a back seat to lust and sexual gratification.

Mars represents energy, war, aggression. The reddish hues of Mars almost overpowers the view these days, leaving little room for much else. No need to peer too closely, or even to name specifics.

Jupiter, planet of excess, religion and long-distance travel. Religious fundamentalism in both Christianity and Islam continue to mushroom, while long-distance travel becomes less accessible for working folk and the unemployed. Past excesses are now having impact upon the environment as well as the economy. Jupiter, as benign a planet as it is considered to be by astrologers, has dark undertones as the result of decades of excess are recognised.

Saturn, planet of laws, restrictions, limitations and authority in general. The US Supreme Court springs immediately to mind. This year's decision of the Court, overruling two important precedents about the First Amendment rights of corporations, bitterly divided the Justices when it ruled that the government may not ban or limit political spending by corporations in candidate elections, thus making it even easier for the corporations to buy politicians and parties, so tightening their stranglehold.

So, gazing upon the kaleidoscopic picture presented by our planetary bits and pieces, it's not hard to see how one piece leads to, and relates to another. The whole forms a pattern, pictorially and, as metaphor, politically. I've seen far more pleasing patterns in my time. However, trying to find a positive angle, it's a pattern which, if given a gentle shake (continuing the kaleidoscope motif), could change beyond recognition, and morph into something quite different.




(This is meant to be a moving image, but I'm not sure whether Blogger's platform will crank it up - if not.... it's pretty anyway.)

12 comments:

Gian Paul said...

A very inspiring post, Twilight! The kaleidoscopic Moon picture you gave made me think of that unlucky journalist (don't remember where) who recently lost his job for having mentioned that Obama was the lucky single politician having over the past years received some $ 20 millions from BP, yes, BP...

Twilight said...

Thanks Gian Paul. Yes, good example of what is going on "under the covers".

I fear that rather more than the "gentle shake" of the kaleidoscope I mention will be needed to bring about a radically different pattern. But someone WILL come along and do the shaking ...0ne day.

Gian Paul said...

T, I dare say "you and me and our thinking friends" are preparing the landing strip for "whom wants to visit this place and do some cleaning".

Wisewebwoman said...

Wow, great post T.
Yes, if ever USians needed to go back to grassroots it is now. Government is not going to do it, the more responsibility its citizens take, the better. I've never seen more need for community and sustainability.
And it is happening both here and in the US.
XO
WWW

Unknown said...

Love that kaleidoscope picture. I had one as a child, the one that looked like a telescope that you could turn around at the end and see the new pictures forming.

Off topic, Twilight. I am guest posting on another blog at the moment because I am setting up a new business. A lot of my time is taken up with that rather then my garden. Posting about food, the story of the new business and yesterday on the brand new steam train built over here called Tornado.

If you want to take a quick peek at some piccies I took last week of the train, wander over to

http://nourishingobscurity.com/

and look for Rossa.

Twilight said...

Gian Paul ~~~ Bring it on!
The landing strip is tiny as yet - but we can work on it.
:-)

Twilight said...

WWW ~~~Thank you. You're correct, but it's going to be easier said than done for many of us (community and sustainability).
Fine if you live among like-minded folk. Difficult for outsiders in the midst of opposition.

Twilight said...

Rossa ~~~ I shall toddle over and take a look at what you're up to these days. Sounds interesting.
Thanks for the link.

R J Adams said...

Fascinating stuff, Twilight. It sure beats painting by numbers!

R J Adams said...

Oooops! Sorry, that comment should have gone on the 'Sir Alexander Fleming and Microbial Art' post.

Twilight said...

RJ Adams - I moved your comment as far as possible on Blogger - by copying it - thanks, RJ.

Kaleidoscopes beats painting by numbers too, anyway. ;-)
Actually, most things beat painting by numbers.

Juliet Joan Moll said...

Hi Annie, just found your post today. Needing to write about the kaleidoscope as well I copied part of your post into the first of mine on "the kaleidoscope called mediumship". Of course I have mentioned you in it. It is not published yet, but will be later today https://www.blogger.com/blogger.g?blogID=1784378152367143174#editor/target=post;postID=8025333329929108001;onPublishedMenu=allposts;onClosedMenu=allposts;postNum=0;src=postname