ARCTIC

Intense cold, currently experienced by many parts of the USA, has brought forth a new (to me) term: "Polar Vortex". In reading about it I came across the excellent videos linked below.

David Wasdell explains the situation in a clear concise way in the two approx. 20 minute videos. If you, like me were aware but somewhat confused, please do take the time to watch this important explanation.

ARCTIC FEEDBACK DYNAMICS ~ David Wasdell

"The War Is With Ourselves"

Back from an enjoyable trip which took us through the Arkansas Ozarks, now in Fall colour. Apart from posting a handful of photographs below, I'll devote this post to what is an immensely more important issue. (Illustration: Cartoon by Mandor, 2010)

Climate change has been dismissed as more or less irrelevant by politicians in the USA for far too long. The Kyoto Treaty, drawn up in Japan in 1997 aimed to commit industrialised nations to reducing emissions of greenhouse gases, principally carbon dioxide, by around 5.2% below their 1990 levels over the next decade. The agreement needed to be ratified by countries who were responsible for at least 55% of the world's carbon emissions in 1990 to come into force. President George W Bush, in March 2001 announced that the United States would never sign it. That was when my hackles, from their then location in England, were raised against The Powers That Be in this country.

When I first arrived in the USA at the end of 2004, global warming was looked on as something of a joke here. I despaired; but then I was around to see the enormous difference Al Gore single-handedly brought about. When "An Inconvenient Truth" arrived in cinemas in Oklahoma, it was shown only in Oklahoma City and Tulsa. We travelled to Oklahoma City to see it. The number of people in the theatre could have been counted on two hands, but, as the movie ended that sparse audience rose to their feet as one, applauded, and uplifted my hopes. But they have since proved to have been forlorn hopes. The US administration has been dragging its feet ever since, right up to this 2012 presidential election cycle when neither of the two main candidates has deigned to discuss the issue in debate or campaign speech.

"The struggle to save the global environment is in one way much more difficult than the struggle to vanquish Hitler, for this time the war is with ourselves. We are the enemy, just as we have only ourselves as allies. In a war such as this, then, what is victory and how will we recognize it?" (Al Gore)

From Hurricane Sandy as Greek Tragedy by Mark Hertsgaard, at Common Dreams:

Sandy is short for Cassandra, the Greek mythological figure who epitomizes tragedy. The gods gave Cassandra the gift of prophecy; depending on which version of the story one prefers, she could either see or smell the future. But with this gift also came a curse: Cassandra’s warnings about future disasters were fated to be ignored. That is the essence of this tragedy: to know that a given course of action will lead to disaster but to pursue it nevertheless.

And so it has been with America’s response to climate change. For more than twenty years, scientists and others have been warning that global warming, if left unaddressed, would bring a catastrophic increase in extreme weather—summers like that of 2012, when the United States endured the hottest July on record and the worst drought in fifty years, mega-storms like the one now punishing the East Coast.

My logical pain-in-the-arse Aquarian mind tells me: "What's the use of worrying? Without the right people in charge of the USA, nothing will change on a large enough scale to make a difference, and in any case, it is now likely to be too late to make enough of a difference anyway." Yet the other side of me still sees the benefit of The Powers that Be at least trying to do something - to be pro-active instead of re-active, to treat climate change with the seriousness it deserves; to put the resources being currently wasted in military force around the world and on immoral drone attacks into a determined fight against this real and very, very obvious global danger.

We may not yet have quite reached the stage of being uncertain about the morrow, but those who come after will have that to face, if we don't insist on something being done by our US government, and all world governments - and soon.

A few pics from our trip, from my own camera. I've left them smallish but clicking on them should bring up a big version. We drove on highways and dirt roads - amazed at the miles and miles of dense forest, probably areas where no human feet have trod (maybe some Native American feet, long ago). We visited Van Buren, Fort Smith, Fayetteville and some smaller towns. This north-western area of Arkansas is beautiful, the people are really "laid back", and just as friendly as Okies.

Extremely extreme.

During 2007 Oklahoma experienced some of the most extreme weather in the state's history. Oklahoma has a reputation for experiencing extreme weather, lying in Tornado Alley, as it does, centre of the nation, high pressure and low pressure colliding from mountains, plains, desert, Gulf coast - a fine mixing pot! 2007, though, brought extremely extreme weather to the state. According to a report in our local newspaper, on no less than eight occasions during the year federal disaster aid was made available through presidential declaration. No other state has ever had as many presidential disaster declarations in one year.

Oklahoma achieved statehood on 17 Nov 1907. Astrologically the state could be said to have been "born" under the zodiac sign of Scorpio. I'm doubtful about states, countries, governments and other inanimate entities having "signs" and charts, but I'm open to persuasion. Here's a thought which does kind of fit, if states were eligible for charts and Sun signs. Scorpio's ruler is Pluto, and during 2007 Pluto has been in a particularly significant area of Sagittarius - close to the Galactic Center. Sagittarius is known to relate to extremes of all kinds. The Galactic Center is thought to be something of a dynamo, which could, arguably, intensify that which is already extreme.







Oklahoma started 2007 with an ice storm which caused the biggest power blackout in state history. Spring and summer 2007 brought heavy rainfall, ending the drought but causing floods which devastated homes, floated vehicles, necessitated dramatic rescues, and shattered records. The year ended, almost as it had begun, with an ice storm, this time leaving 600,000 homes and businesses without power, and causing 29 deaths. We in the south-western section of the state were fortunate, and fared much better than those further north and east, experiencing only minimal disruption.

Was this extreme weather, occurring while Pluto transited Sagittarius and the Galactic Center, a coincidence? There's climate change to add to the query too. I don't know the answer - coincidence, the thin end of climate change, or astrology? A mix of all three perhaps.

DiCaprio and "The 11th Hour"

We are unlikely to see Leonardo DiCaprio's new film "The 11th Hour", which deals with potential environmental traumas the Earth faces. Dallas is the nearest city showing this film - that's a long drive from here. In any case it would be like preaching to the choir. That's the problem - the people who rush to see this film, and "An Inconvenient Truth" are the people who really don't need to. Those who need to see them don't bother. We've passed along DVD versions of "An Inconvenient Truth" to family and friends as our tiny contribution towards spreading the word.

Leonardo DiCaprio deserves praise for his efforts. Reviews I've seen so far are reasonably positive, and the film has come along just as "An Inconvenient Truth" was beginning to seem stale. Publicity and discussion about the new film will keep these issues to the forefront of our minds. Political debates have merely skimmed over this topic lightly, if it's been mentioned at all.



Leonardo has natal Sun, Venus and Mars in Scorpio 2nd house, with Mercury, Moon, Uranus and Pluto in Libra, 1st house, ascendant in Libra. His natal Saturn is in Cancer trining Sun and Venus. Astrologer Jeff Jawer's assessment of his chart can be read HERE.

I like the combination of Scorpio and Libra in a personality, especially for politics and public service. There's charm, balance, depth, intensity and determination there. Dennis Kucinich has this this combination. Hillary Clinton has the Scorpio, but only Neptune in Libra. I reckon she lacks the necessary charm and balance - though with the amount of celebrity backing she's getting, no doubt she'll continue to do well in the race to the presidency.....just because she's a woman. Sigh. Even the ultra liberal Huffington Post is getting more like "The Hillary Clinton Show" as weeks go by. I'd have thought that they, more than anyone on the internet, would have given the Democratic candidates equal space. But no, they are just as bad as the rest of the media.

The USA desperately needs a new president who will give environmental matters priority. I don't see such a person yet, in the absence of Al Gore. It's possible he/she might be holding back. Hard-line policies to combat threats to the environment have the potential to make their proponent seriously unpopular. Who knows, perhaps Madam Clinton has a plan - Al Gore as VP (again). That would improve matters a lot!

A Climate of Backlash

Yesterday I decided to spend a little time catching up on blogs I've neglected to read for a while. I started at Barbara's "Silverwheel Astrology" then moved on to Dr. Glen Barry's at "Earth Meanders" (17 July post)- I got no further.

Although the authors of these two blogs hold opposite views about climate change, the bloggers and many comments speak out against Al Gore and his "mission", albeit for different reasons.

It's no surprise that Al Gore is an irritant to those skeptical about man-made, or indeed any global warming. I can understand also why dedicated environmentalists might feel miffed to see him, with celebrity helpers, getting so much publicity when their own efforts have gone well nigh unnoticed over many years.

Al Gore is caught in backlash coming from both sides of this debate, not only in blogs, elsewhere too. Backlash is a by-product of success, of course, so I suppose it was to be expected. I'm not sure whether there's a coinciding astrological transit - transiting Mars is hanging around his natal Venus just now - maybe that's it.

I've noticed recently another discernable backlash. People who appear to have been scolded and chided by over-eager "Greens" are becoming weary of it. Over-zealous nagging is never helpful, and eventually turns counter-productive.

My personal opinion on climate change remains that human activity over the last century has contributed to, and exacerbated, change which may or may not be part of a natural cycle. I feel pretty sure that even the most qualified expert doesn't know for certain what's going on, or what's in store for the future. Isn't risk limitation the best way forward? It surely must be, unless we are truly short-sighted and uncaring, for the risk is scarily unquantifiable. Isn't this what Al Gore's mission is all about?

Solutions involved in combatting man-made climate change (whether one believes that it exists or not), would greatly benefit humans and the planet in the long term. Deforestation is patently bad for the planet. Huge mountains of waste plastic and other non-degradable materials will someday become a menace if nothing is done to reduce them. New sources of energy will be essential in coming decades - oil will someday run out. If population isn't limited soon, Mother Nature will do it for us. Glaciers are melting - proof is there for all to see. Ocean levels will therefore rise, to what extent is uncertain. Whether currents such as the Gulf Stream will be affected is also a consideration. Banning new development on flood plains, and vulnerable coastal areas, would surely benefit the environment whether catastrophe comes in our lifetime, or things trundle along much as they are now.

As for Al Gore's penchant for recruiting celebrity helpers - what does it matter about their motives or their lifestyles? The message is the important thing. Their luxurious lifestyles give these people the freedom to do what they are doing. It's the superficial, yet essential, side of Al Gore's mission. He's attempting to reach the youth of the world - those who will have to deal with after-effects from long decades of our not caring.

I admire Al Gore a lot, my only disappointment is that, so far, he declines to run in the 2008 presidential campaign. Without strong action from the government in the USA, which I suspect will not be forthcoming under any other presidency, nothing will change here - except, perhaps, the climate.

Al Gore and Live Earth

In spite of the razamatazz of the Live Earth concerts yesterday, and in spite of the fact that I greatly admire Al Gore and all he's trying to do for the environment, I still can't help feeling let down by his continued insistence that he will not run as a presidential candidate in the US 2008 election.

My logical pain-in-the-arse Aquarian mind keeps saying to me

"But what's the use of it all? Without the right people in charge of the USA, nothing will change on a large enough scale to make a difference. Look at the presidential candidates who have announced so far. Who is making the environment their big issue?"

Nobody.

Persuading us to change our lightbulbs for low energy ones is fine, as are all the other things we can do as individuals to help the situation. These efforts will not be enough to make a difference without a high level of governmental involvement to enforce required changes, as only government can do. I don't see promise of this from anyone currently on the debating platforms.

Al Gore knows this.

Things just don't add up.

They still haven't got the message!

It appears the US administration has still not got the message about global warming - are they deaf, dumb and blind? The Bush administration still seeks to water down proposals to be put forward at next month's G8 summit.

Al Gore ! America needs you! But even more urgently, the planet needs you! Please!!! You must have realised by now that no other current presidential candidate has the foresight or determination to do what's needed.

Al Gore currently has transiting, restrictive Saturn sitting on natal Mars (18* Leo) - possibly putting the brakes on any thought he may have of running in the 2008 election. When Saturn trundles on to 22* Leo at the end of June and into July, that planet will harmoniously sextile Gore's natal revolutionary, idealistic and ingenious Uranus at 22* Gemini, hopefully prodding him into "putting his money where his mouth is".

Transiting Jupiter, now appearing to move backwards, away from his vertex - will be conjoining it again in late October. I think the vertex is an especially sensitive point in the natal chart. Perhaps this fall may be the time for any fateful decision. Al Gore's vertex is in the same degree as my own natal Venus - maybe this is why I feel so strongly about him and his message.

There's little doubt that Mr Gore will have a very busy summer. He has a new book to be published later this month, with attendant tours and appearances. Entitled The Assault on Reason, it's said to be "A visionary analysis of how the politics of fear, secrecy, cronyism, and blind faith has combined with the degration of the public sphere to create an environment dangerously hostile to reason". Later, in July, Live Earth concerts in worldwide venues will take up much of his time. I guess it's easy to see why any announcement of a presidential run might over-egg the pudding just now, yet it could be vastly more important for the planet, and all of us, than any book or concert.

Al Gore has a Sun/Neptune cardinal opposition in his natal chart - Sun 10.55 Aries, Neptune 11.39 Libra. In "Planets in Aspect" published 1974, Robert Pelletier says about this aspect (among other things which seem irrelevant in this case)
"You are afraid of challenges because you doubt your own capabilities. When threatened you tend to back off and allow others to benefit from opportunities that you saw as obstacles........." AND
"Direct your goals towards fulfilling some important social responsibility."

In a post last June, almost a year ago, around the time "An Inconvenient Truth" hit movie screens, astrologer Mary Plumb said

"Many astrologers over the years have noted the dignity inherent in Gore’s Aries Sun in mutual reception (and trine) to his Mars in Leo. May that warrior-like nature help keep us moving towards a better future of passion and activism for the earth."

Almost a year later, I add my voice, and my hopes to Mary's, and add this quotation from a respected American statesman of the past:

"We travel together, passengers on a little spaceship, dependent on it's vulnerable reserves of air and soil, all committed, for our safety, to it's security and peace. Preserved from annihilation only by the care, the work and the love we give our fragile craft."
Adlai E. Stevenson

Run, Al...run!!

The Week That Was

As this week progressed, I jotted down a few brief notes of news events in the USA which caught my attention. Occasionally when I do this, I notice a symbolic theme common to a number of the events. I think I found a theme this week, and it could be a matter of "as above, so below".

Three celestial bodies, the Sun, Jupiter and Saturn in the signs of Aries, Sagittarius and Leo respectively, were forming what astrologers call a Grand Trine, in Fire signs. In the astrological chart of the sky these bodies aspected each other at angles of close to 120* making up a gigantic triangle. While planets remain in such a configuration astrologically, it's said that the properties of the planets and signs involved (in this case the dynamic, expansive, impulsive, energetic Fire signs) can harmoniously flow and work together. So, was it "as above, so below" this week ? With Jupiter, planet of extremes, and the Sun, giver of life itself involved in the free flowing Grand Trine, I'd guess that some forms of excess or of going too far might emerge. Saturn's sterner discipline would be involved too.

Before I move on to the news stories, I feel compelled to say that I may have "gone too far" myself on occasion, when writing about people in the news. Jeffrey Kishner at Lunar Tunes is talking about "The Ethics of Celebrity Profiles" today. His blog entry caused me to search my soul! I shall need to discipline my own writing a little more strictly in future, I think. I can't really blame the Grand Fire Trine for my sins, but the symbolism fits.

Let's see about this week's news and the theme:

News of an entrepreneur in Nevada who is trying to sell bits of land on the Moon. (Echoes of a book by Robert Heinlein, written in 1949!) See the news HERE. That IS going too far - much too far! The Earth does not belong to us, still less the Moon!

Don Imus, American radio host/presenter once again shot a crude and offensive remark across the airwaves. I don't feel inclined to post a link to reports of this. It's worrying that over the years he has kept a large audience, bearing in mind his reputation for being coarse and offensive on a regular basis. Why do people enjoy this? Saturn's discipline moved in when he was fired from his jobs in radio and TV this week after going too far, once too often.

Al Gore was refused permission for the American concert in the Live Earth series, planned for July to be staged in Washington. Opposing factions led by Senator James Inhofe forced him to look elsewhere. The concert will be staged in New Jersey. More interesting stuff about the series of concerts HERE . Was Al Gore going too far (purposely?) expecting that his concert would be welcome in Washington, and is Sen.Inhofe going too far with his extreme anti-global warming stance ? (The Grand Trine touched Al Gore's Pluto/Saturn/Mars conjunction in Leo, by the way.)

Blogger Tim O'Reilly put forward suggestions for a Code of Conduct for bloggers. It's a well meaning proposition, but seems a bit like going too far, in an attempt to stop others from going too far.

And

The late Johnny Cash's former home was destroyed by fire. Not a "Ring of Fire" as in the famous song he sang, but maybe the blaze flourished under that fiery astrological triangle

Lastly:
Famous American author Kurt Vonnegut died this week. His wisdom will be sorely missed. He frequently made it clear in his writings that he thought humans have gone, and are going too far, in war, in the way we treat the environment, and in our attitudes towards each other.
A sweet quote from his book "God Bless You Mr. Rosewater"
"Hello, babies. Welcome to Earth. It’s hot in the summer and cold in the winter. It’s round and wet and crowded. At the outside, babies, you’ve got about a hundred years here. There’s only one rule that I know of, babies - ‘God damn it, you’ve got to be kind.’ ”

Future Uncertain

The future seems to me the most uncertain it has been since I was a young child in Hull, England during World War 2, when that city suffered horrendous bombing. The morrow was uncertain for many at that time, never mind the future.

Most astrologers now foresee chaos of one kind or another on the horizon, due to Pluto's move into Capricorn in 2008 and subsequent aspects of other outer planets, not to mention the dreaded 2012, end of the Mayans' long count calendar. For a concise and clear rundown on the astrology the late Maya del Mar's article "The Road to 2012" is as good as any I've seen. It was written a year ago.

It's not hard to guess the source of potential chaos in the world. Yesterday my husband's daughter e-mailed me an article about global warming. I've found a copy on-line HERE. It tells of experiences of mountaineers who've come face to face with the effects of global warming. For me, reports of real experiences such as these bring the situation more sharply into focus.

A blog called Earth Meanders written by Dr. Glen Barry is well worth reading. It's serious stuff. He pulls no punches about global warming. George W. Bush should be required to read that blog once a day, every day! My only minor argument with Dr. Barry's writings is his view that Al Gore and his "celebrity" helpers are not doing much good. Dr. Barry is probably so far ahead of the average American in knowledge of what's going on in the climate, that he doesn't realise the good Al Gore and co. have done in the past year or so. As something of an outsider, I can see it quite clearly.

When I first arrived in the USA at the end of 2004, global warming was looked on as something of a joke here. I despaired. I can see, now, the enormous difference Al Gore has singlehandedly made, in a short time. When "An Inconvenient Truth" first arrived in cinemas in Oklahoma, it was shown only in Oklahoma City and Tulsa. We travelled to Oklahoma City, about 75 miles away, to see it. The number of people in the theatre could have been counted on two hands, but that sparse audience rose to their feet as one at the end of the film, applauded, and uplifted my hopes.

Since then, global warming and climate change have been in the news on a regular basis. The American government is still dragging its feet, and appears to be lagging well behind public opinion, but in 2008 that government is guaranteed to change. I hope that its successor will be strong enough to do what's needed, however unpopular it makes them.

We may not get to the stage of being uncertain about the morrow in the next few years, but those who come after will have that to face, if we don't insist that something is done by world governments soon.

Inhofe the Intransigent

Senator James Inhofe, who the good but misguided folk of Oklahoma voted into office, is to global warming what Richard Dawkins and James Randi are to astrology. Thorns in its side, pains in the arse - and I make no apology for language - it is a fact!

Senator Inhofe, who continues to tell us that global warming is nothing but a hoax, is currently trying to block Al Gore's proposal that the steps of The U.S. Capitol should be the venue for the American concert in his worldwide "Live Earth" series planned for this summer. There's a good summary of related events and links at a blog called Retrospectacle.

Senator Inhofe is either the consummate skeptic, or in the pay of the oil industry - possibly both. A look at his chart calculated for 12 noon ( he was born 17 November 1934 in Des Moines, Iowa) reveals 4 personal planets in Scorpio. Sun and Venus both at 24*, Jupiter and Mercury at 8* and 5* respectively. Saturn, strongly placed in Aquarius is square his Sun/Venus conjunction. Uranus in Aries is inconjunct Sun/Venus, and square Pluto. Pluto in Cancer trines Sun/Venus. Mars and Neptune in Virgo are inconjunct Saturn in Aquarius. Moon at 12 noon was at 11* Aries, I think it would remain somewhere in that sign irrespective of his time of birth.
I get a quite disagreeable and uncomfortable feel from this chart - of course I could be strongly prejudiced! He's not a person with whom I'd find much in common. His strong, fixed Aquarian( humanitarian) Saturn challenges four fixed passionate Scorpio planets, which probably win through sheer force of numbers to show through in his personality. Had those planets been reversed - 4 in Aquarius and 1 in Scorpio, perhaps Al Gore would have had a staunch ally instead of an enemy.

I think there's a "Yod" configuration here too, it's perhaps too loose to be indicated on the chart above though. Mars and Pluto are sextile and both inconjunct Saturn, forming an arrow-like pattern with Saturn at its tip. Pluto, Mars and Saturn - Yikes!!! That's a strong formation. But I'd have thought Saturn in Aquarius, Mars in Virgo and Pluto in Cancer would be considerably more benign, and sensible than it turns out! But I suppose it depends on which side of the argument one stands. It's difficult to be objective.

Comparing the charts of Inhofe and Gore, it's interesting to see that Inhofe has Neptune and Mars conjoined within 3 degrees (Neptune rules oil). Al Gore has Mars, Saturn and Pluto within a few degrees of each other. So both men have Mars close to an outer planet, I wonder if this is significant. If so, Al Gore's line up wins in strength, especially as those planets are in his first house. It's a pity there's no birth time for Sen. Inhofe.

Transiting Neptune is currently conjoining Inhofe's Saturn (21* Aquarius), and transiting Saturn is coming up to opposition, it's now at 18* Leo. What might that indicate? Saturn is probably one of his stronger planets, and it'll be under pressure, perhaps its influence becoming more illusional/delusional through Neptune's fogginess. As transiting Saturn comes into opposition with natal Saturn there could be an uncomfortable time in store for the Senator! I'll watch coming events with interest.

Al Gore under fire.

I avoided reading or listening to much news while we've been away during the past week. I'm disappointed now to see a more insistent swell of anti-Gore feeling on the internet and in the media . I've found only two items supporting Al Gore, but dozens trying to discredit him.

I notice that transiting Saturn is conjunct his natal Mars in Leo, while Pluto is currently on natal Jupiter and transiting Jupiter is conjoining his Vertex ! Saturn and Mars together make for a hard time, I'd say. That will pass, though. I think Jupiter is a more significant feature in the configuration. I continue to hope that he will run, and win, in the presidential campaign.

I guess it was inevitable for that old see-saw effect to come into play now, with avengance. Al Gore has received so much acclaim, has had so much success, he has raised awareness on climate change to a level that even the most ardent of his supporters could not have envisaged. Current school-yard taunts from bloggers, snide remarks from journalists, all indicate, in my opinion, fear rather than reasoned consideration. Are they afraid of having a man of conscience and dedication in power in the United States? There seems to be a plan afoot to discredit Al Gore to the extent that, should he decide to run in the presidential election of 2008, he would be unlikely to win. If that is what a majority of Americans want, so be it. But the planet deserves better!

I've opened my own mind to doubts about the extent and true cause of global warming, and climate change. Scientists are divided, or so they say. There's an unknown factor of who is backing whom, and who is in the pay of whom. That unknown element might make a world of difference to public opinion.

I think it's safe to say that nobody knows for sure the certain outcome of, or reasons for, climate change, not even Al Gore and the best scientists in the world. It's not possible to know, this is a totally new situation in the recorded experience of humankind. Scientists, politicians, and astrologers can only put forward their best guesses about the future, based on the evidence as they see it.

When things are uncertain, I find that the way to go is towards risk limitation. In this case the potential risk is to mankind . How can there be any doubt which way to go ?

Al Gore at The Oscars

We watched Al Gore and the producers of "An Inconvenient Truth", along with Melissa Etheridge, receive their well deserved Oscars for the film and the song featured in the soundtrack. This is such GOOD NEWS !!

Al Gore reiterated his comment, from the film, that we have the resources to address the problems of global warming, all we lack is the political will, and "that is a renewable resource". At that point I yelled at the television, "It is, but only if YOU run for president !!!"

As I discovered in January (blog entry here) transiting Pluto significantly conjoins Al Gore's natal Jupiter at 28 Sagittarius now, and on a few other occasions later this year and next. There is still no indication that he is likely to run for Democratic nomination in the 2008 election. Some watchers and supporters consider that if this is to be, we shall not know about it for some months to come, perhaps as late as fall this year.

None of the current candidates who are thought of as front runners, Clinton, Obama and Edwards, has said much about climate change, other than mentioning it in passing. I'm wondering how Al Gore views this. I'd feel a lot better about the prospect of him not running if one of the other candidates had already shown a clear and passionate determination to follow in his footsteps on climate change. Iraq is top of everyone's agenda, with health care next. Both these issues are very important, of course, but neither should outweigh the overriding matter of safeguarding our planet. Al Gore is the only person with a chance of a "foot in the door" to the White House who has the priorities right.

I suspect that unless someone from the current list of contenders starts to push climate change as their prime concern, Al Gore might be tempted to come forward. If, however, a candidate does start giving priority to this issue, Al might decide to say out of politics proper and offer support to that candidate.

Since early last year, the former Vice President has said that he has no intention of running for the presidency again. At that time he was unaware just how much influence his film and book "An Inconvenient Truth" would carry, and how well it would be accepted by the public. Nobody could have foreseen what has happened. All Al Gore's efforts might well have disappeared into obscurity. Instead, we are now seeing his film win an Oscar, his nomination for the Nobel Peace Prize, and him receiving acclaim at home and abroad. He has a new book due to be published in May entitled "The Assault on Reason" (" a visionary analysis of how we can put the tenets of fact-based reasoning back into public discourse and politics at large.") Pluto will still be conjunct his natal Jupiter then - this might be a good time for an announcement. I shall continue to hope.

"The struggle to save the global environment is in one way much more difficult than the struggle to vanquish Hitler, for this time the war is with ourselves. We are the enemy, just as we have only ourselves as allies. In a war such as this, then, what is victory and how will we recognize it?" (Al Gore)

A Keyhole in the Door to the Future

Surveying a small collection of links gathered over the weekend, saved to a Favourites file, a common thread leapt out. This was blogging serendipity - a new post, there for the taking! Happy happenstance. Three quite unconnected pieces share a theme, all are looking through a keyhole in the door to the future.

Read HERE about a possible new wave of regional devolution, the creation of Nation States within what is now the USA. (I've been saying much the same thing to He Who Knows since I first arrived here. A person from Itzy Bitzy Britain can see a problem here at once!) (ASTROLOGY - Pluto in Capricorn transforming the status quo?)
Now read THIS ARTICLE about an Arctic "doomsday vault" being installed. Its aim is to provide mankind with food in case of a global catastrophe(ASTROLOGY: Saturn in Virgo - getting organised?)

Finally, share with Ed Weiland at WEGADS, his view of how the future could, and surely will, one day evolve. His Rhyme on Rhyme on Rhyme for 9 February is entitled
"TWINKLE, TWINKL...TWINK...TWIN...TWI...?????"
(ASTROLOGY: This looks far into the future (I hope!) Pluto in Pisces - end of the line, complete transformation and starting over?)

*************************************
On a rather different subject -I read that Jonathan Cainer has announced that his Psychic Museum will be closed for 2007, though the building will be used by a different company during the coming season. The museum has not been as successful as its founders had hoped. Predictably, newspaper reporters, and the usual suspects on-line, have jumped onto the same old bandwagon to ridicule Mr. Cainer's remark that he will not predict when the museum might re-open.

I'd like to say that we thoroughly enjoyed our visit to the museum in 2004, and I find it sad that such a fresh and futuristic idea didn't attract more attention. We wish Mr Cainer better fortune with similar endeavours in the future.

Positive Thinking about The Future

I received Bill Herbst's February newsletter yesterday, I've found that his work is always very informative and well worth reading. By the time I reached the end of this one, however, I felt depressed. Even more so, because Mr Herbst's conclusions about the coming years match, broadly, those of other astrologers such as E. Alan Meece in his book "Horoscope for the New Millennium", which I mentioned in a blog dated 21 November 2006. In addition, I instinctively feel that Pluto's transit through Capricorn will be stressful for Earth and its inhabitants, and am guilty myself of having said as much.

Is there no alternative to the gloomy forecasts and feelings, though? Mr. Herbst points out that these coming times, before and after 2010, will offer a long-needed chance for us to right our wrongs and clean up our messes. But isn't there something even more hopeful ? Isn't there another view of the whole scenario? Could it be like one of those optical illusion illustrations(above) which contain two quite different pictures, if you adjust your mind sufficiently to see them both? (In the above example you can see either the head of an old woman or that of a young, elegant woman.)

Maybe there are alternative interpretations of coming planetary configurations. We can't be sure that because similar configurations in the past resulted in dark outcomes, that comparable scenarios will happen again. Other elements have changed in the intervening period, external elements, unconnected with astrology, but connected with the way man lives, thinks, and deals with events. Any time Uranus is involved in a configuration, as in this case, can any astrologer be sure of his forecast? The future could have in store something as yet indescribable, and impossible for us to understand, let alone to foresee.

In any case, a little positive thinking can't hurt! If we accept without question that the years around 2010 are going to be terribly difficult and calamitous, ecologically and economically, maybe that's what WILL happen. Some say that the communal mind is a powerful entity. Some say , as in cosmic ordering, or creative visualisation, that we can attract towards us what we hold in our mind's eye. If there is any chance at all that this is true, ought we not to be holding a brighter vision of the coming years in our minds? I'm addressing myself here, too, I hasten to add!

I'm not naive enough to think that the communal mind could hold back the power of nature and the elements. It might, though, have strength enough to ensure the move into key positions of those individuals who would deal with challenging situations in the best possible way. Individuals with the insight and compassion to rescue from disaster the seeds of a new and better world. With the wrong people in places of power, should the worst happen, I can well imagine that current gloomy forecasts of astrologers would seem very mild compared to the reality !

A lot of positive thinking could do a temendous amount of good.

Al Gore nominated for Nobel Peace Prize

I make no apology if this blog sometimes seems like "The Al Gore Show" - he deserves all the accolades and honours anyone can give him, humble bloggers included.

Is Pluto starting to have an effect? As I said in my blog post on 17 January:

"Perhaps I'm being optimistic and simplistic, but consider this -Al Gore's natal Jupiter is at 28 Sagittarius. Transiting Pluto will join it there between February and May this year and again in December, also from August to October '08, just before the election. It will still be within a degree of exact conjunction at the '08 election date. Transiting Jupiter will join transiting Pluto at Gore's natal Jupiter in mid-December 07 too. Quite a lot going on!"

LOOK!
Norwegian lawmakers have nominated Al Gore for the Nobel Peace Prize .
"A prerequisite for winning the Nobel Peace Prize is making a difference, and Al Gore has made a difference," Conservative Member of Parliament Boerge Brende, a former minister of environment and then of trade, told The Associated Press.
Brende said he joined political opponent Heidi Soerensen, of the Socialist Left Party, to nominate Gore as well as Canadian Inuit activist Sheila Watt-Cloutier before the nomination deadline expired Thursday.
"Al Gore, like no other, has put climate change on the agenda. Gore uses his position to get politicians to understand, while Sheila (Watt-Cloutier) works from the ground up," Brende said.
During eight years as Bill Clinton's vice president, Gore pushed for climate measures, including for the Kyoto Treaty, and after leaving office in 2001 has campaigned worldwide, especially with his Oscar-nominated documentary on climate change called "An Inconvenient Truth.""
http://www.iht.com/articles/ap/2007/02/01/europe/EU-GEN-Norway-Nobel-Gore.php

PS - An excellent article on the astrology of global warming can be found at
Astrotabletalk , 2 February 07.

Al Gore in 'Rolling Stone'

My second blog entry in one day !!


I had a dream last night. I wouldn't have mentioned this but for two things which happened this morning.

My dream:

I walked past an empty car park and saw a figure waiting there. I recognised him as Al Gore!
He called out to me "Are they saying I'm a Democrat?"
I walked over to where he stood and said "Yes - well, you are, aren't you ?"
He replied "No. They are not interested enough in protecting the environment"
I said "So are you going to be an Independent then?"
"Yes, I am" he responded, and just then a little girl appeared across the car park. He lightly patted me on the back, said "Good bye now" and went to meet the child for whom he must have been waiting.
(It was a good dream, and its memory stayed with me very clearly, unlike most other dreams which I hardly ever recall.)

The first thing I saw on computer this morning was a comment from Velvet Blade of the excellent Astrology Talk blog - it related to my entry about Al Gore on 17 January.(I can't do that clever link via word thing ) http://astrologytalk.blogspot.com/. The comment uplifted my spirits, as did Velvet Blade's own blog today, which I've mentioned in my earlier entry.

Then, a few minutes ago, I found an article currently appearing in 'Rolling Stone" called "Run Al, Run!" here
http://www.rollingstone.com/politics/story/13248532/why_gore_should_run__and_how_he_can_win/1

It's well worth reading, along with a long string of comments.

A dream coming true ? Not quite, but it was pointing in the right direction. I'm optimistic now!

Yes, "Run, Al.....Run!"

Al Gore, his transits - our chance ?

Wishful thinking propels me almost daily to search Google with the request "Al Gore 2008". Yesterday a recent news item from the Boston Globe :

http://www.boston.com/news/globe/editorial_opinion/oped/articles/2007/01/16/another_chance_for_gore/

offered a hint of hope.

In his article "Another chance for Gore" Scot Lehigh, Globe Columnist said

"Publicly, Gore hasn't ruled out running, but neither has he evinced much interest.
But when one friend asked him recently about another campaign, Gore didn't dismiss the question out of hand. "We'll see how things go," he replied.
Another Democratic source says that in recent weeks, the former vice president's camp has quietly put out feelers to presidential politicos, asking whether they are committed for 2008"

I sincerely hope that Al Gore will decide to run in the presidential race 2008. Dennis Kucinich is a favourite of mine too, but I suspect that Al Gore is the only politician America has who's right in every way for the job a new president will face.

Later yesterday I ran across a transcript of Al Gore's Martin Luther King Day address given on Monday: http://rawstory.com/news/2005/Text_of_Gore_speech_0116.html
He really tore into President Bush's policies. The speech is inspirational!

I've looked again at Gore's natal chart , at transits, and at the ephemeris for 2007/8.
His chart is available at Astrodatabank - http://www.astrodatabank.com/NM/GoreAl.htm

Perhaps I'm being optimistic and simplistic, but consider this -

Al Gore's natal Jupiter is at 28 Sagittarius. Transiting Pluto will join it there between February and May this year and again in December, also from August to October '08, just before the election. It will still be within a degree of exact conjunction at the '08 election date. Transiting Jupiter will join transiting Pluto at Gore's natal Jupiter in mid-December 07 too. Quite a lot going on!

28 degrees of a mutable sign (as is Sagittarius) can be considered as "Aries Point" i.e.within 2 degree orb of Cardinal Capricorn's 00 degrees. Even more significant then!!
Extract from an article by Roderick Benns - http://www.lifepathastrology.com/articles/TheAriesPoint.htm

"In astrology, there is a special measurement we can look to reliably when we are seeking evidence of tremendous public projection potential. This is known as the Aries Point, yet it refers to zero degrees of all cardinal signs — Aries, Cancer, Libra and Capricorn. Use an orb of two or two and a half degrees maximum (which means that a planet at 29 degrees Virgo or 28 degrees Sagittarius, etc., would be considered at the Aries Point). Use planets, the Ascendant, MC and midpoints only. "

I can only guess what significance these powerful Pluto transits might have for Al Gore. Perhaps the earlier transit connects to a possible Oscar nomination for his film "An Inconvenient Truth". Pluto's energies are well known as being transformative, sometimes painful, but eventually in the native's best interest. It seems that Al Gore doesn't exactly relish the idea of presidency, he has found success outside the arena of politics, which he has described as "toxic". Pluto's influence upon his fifth house Jupiter could help to change his outlook. I shall continue to hope

Global Warming and Pluto in Capricorn

This is a subject about which I feel passionate. Perhaps the most telling symbolism of it in astrology is Pluto's coming journey through Capricorn, starting around December 2008.

Greg Foster describes the energies of Pluto in Capricorn in an article carried at Eric Francis's Planet Waves website :

http://planetwavesweekly.com/parallel/articles/pluto_capricorn.html

"Pluto spends roughly 18 of the 248 years of his trip around our local star in Capricorn. When this energy puts on the heavy lead robe of the sign of the Sea-Goat, the 10-words-or-less message is get real; change is the only constant. This is partly because Capricorn is the energy we depend upon to hold things stable; Pluto is the energy of the most compelling changes."

I once read a description of Pluto energy which likened it to an abscess - drawing out impurities, painfully, slowly, until a point is reached when the abscess bursts. The blood has then been cleansed, healing begins. That description rang true to me.

Applying the analogy of an abscess and combining it with Cardinal Earth of Capricorn leads to a mental picture of Earth and its civilised structures being subjected to a draining of impurities and organisms which spell danger to it. Some pain to be endured, leading to eventual cleansing and healing.

Cardinal Earth. Capricorn, part of the solstice axis. It's something vitally important. It's not about war in Iraq or Iran, or problems with North Korea, important as those matters are. As I see it - it's about Earth, our home. The Earth itself will be subjected to a cleansing of the ills visited on it by too many inhabitants - through ignorance initially, and carelessness latterly . The pain is likely to be an intense experience for some, and intensly painful for others to watch. The transit covers an 18 year period, the first 9 years will no doubt be the hardest.

Al Gore's "An Inconvenient Truth" was a wake-up call to the USA, and to the world. It has been heard by many, but not by the US government as yet. Even enlightened governments back away from the radical changes which must be made if real progress is ever to be made in stemming the rise of human-induced warming, changes which might give us more time. A "10-year window of opportunity" has been mentioned by some scientists. I don't think the window is that wide. I think perhaps the window is almost closed now, and all we can do is to wait for the natural results of man's early ignorance and present lack of care. A warning sign : The Ayles Ice Shelf — about the size of Manhattan — broke clear 16 months ago from the coast of Ellesmere Island, about 500 miles south of the North Pole in the Canadian Arctic.

A course we all could take during the next two years is to consider ways to feel reasonably non-dependent on resources which might be affected by environmental disasters. It's a sobering thought that electricity might disappear for long periods, clean water would be in short supply, food and medical supplies might be hard to obtain, motor vehicles and air travel would be subject to severe restriction. We've seen this science fiction-like scenario in films. Attempting to act it out mentally, in relation to our own circumstances, while relaxed and safe within our lives of plenty, might result in feeling more able to deal with such a situation when it arises. A mental fire drill. And we have still time for practice.

Above all, what will be needed are governments who have the strength of will, intelligence and compassion to deal with situations not yet encountered in human history. This is what voters everywhere ought to bear in mind at coming elections.

Pluto in Capricorn will bring a long needed cleansing to our planet. How intense and radical that cleansing is will depend on how bad we have allowed things to become. Each sincere effort to help, even seemingly inconsequential efforts, might assist in lessening the intensity.

Mother Earth

A few thoughts from others on our Mother Earth. The second one is from a children's book by Joe Miller, the title of which is the first line of the piece.