An au revoir and a goodbye.....

This may not be the ideal time to set off on a road trip, Mercury turning retrograde an' all. Never mind! We're going anyway. Part of our route northward will re-trace one taken some years ago, maybe that'll be sufficient to qualify for a sporting "bye" from Mercury Retro this time around. So, after today I'll be absent from blogland for a while, trying to discover if, as Anatole France once wrote: “Wandering re-establishes the original harmony which once existed between man and the universe"

But just before taking my leave:

I read yesterday that one of my favourite British newspaper columnists, who was also novelist and playwright, died on 4 September, aged 80. Keith Waterhouse, a fellow Yorkie and fellow Sun Aquarian was one of my must-read journalists for many years when I lived in the UK. I mentioned him on this blog in the past when I quoted his column about good writing - see "Good Astrology Bloggery".

I note from the Wikipedia entry on Keith that

"He fought long crusades to highlight what he perceived to be a decline in the standards of modern English; for example, he founded the Association for the Abolition of the Aberrant Apostrophe, whose members attempt to stem the tide of such solecisms as "pound's of apple's and orange's" in greengrocers' shops."

My husband would have enjoyed his columns, I think, and especially would have cheered him on for the above effort.

RIP Keith Waterhouse, and thanks for many, many chuckles.

SELF-HELP

I'm not a great fan of self-help books or articles explaining better ways to look at life and its problems. Even so, I do still glance at such pieces from time to time, to discover whether anyone has hit on a new idea - one which satisfies me and my astrological makeup.

Astrology is a self-help tool in itself - or it can be used as such. In my travels through the net I came across an unfamiliar astrology site the other day. It's actually called Self Help Astrology. I especially admired the 'basics of astrology' pages, and for any passing reader who hasn't yet mastered the natal chart and its secrets, Phil Bowler gives a clear and simple rundown.

As for self-help in general, while I appreciate that the oft-given advice to "let it go", "don't resist", etc. may be helpful to some people, there's something within me which resists the advice not to resist. Perhaps the problem's source is my Sun in Aquarius & Moon in Aries: being told what to do for this combination is a no-no. It certainly seems as though my softer, more biddable, side led by Jupiter in Pisces and natal Cancer rising get shouted down quite easily, if not by the Aquarius/Aries combination, then certainly by Mars in Scorpio. This is not to say, however, that I'm not a pacifist - I am, and I absolutely hate guns. Non-violent resistance and speaking out when appropriate, is what I have in mind, as against ignoring wrongs, letting stuff wash over you, letting it be, or being a doormat etc.

If everybody had always stood by and "let it be", didn't resist, where would the world be now? This is the one thought I cling to to convince me I'm not wrong. Slavery would still be an accepted way of life, women would still be chattels with no vote, workers would have no rights.

In the interests of balance, though, I'm posting a couple of links to recent articles I found to be good - of their type, along with brief snippets. I'll keep in mind the advice offered; maybe passing readers will find the articles useful.

Judith Parker Harris's "The United States of Anger"

1) How many times have you had to swallow a difference of opinion only to feel it knot up in the pit of your stomach?
2) Have you ever had intense pain in your neck and shoulders just before or right after an argument?
3) Do you recall holding in frustration, anger, and resentment all day only to find yourself losing it later on with a family member or close friend? Stress causes 54% of Americans to fight with people close to them.
There isn't much that unites us these days except that a lot of us are really angry. We've got liberal vs. conservative, choice vs. life, young vs. old, rich vs. poor, male s. female, My God vs. your God. Why so angry? Maybe it is because everyone's feeling out of control about everything. Try substituting consciousness for control. Listen to what is coming out of your mouth and then decide who's running this show?

And Dr. Cara Barker's
Learning To Go With The Flow: What Ted Kennedy, Michael Jackson, And The Buddha Have To Teach Us About Resistance

I am, however, a believer that the news contains tidbits that we can use, if, that is, we want to do better than yesterday, and, dare I say it, have a better time.
Today's Remnant of News to Use. Let's take a gander at today's news shipment. In one column, we have commentary about Edward Kennedy's passing, burial, legacy. In another, there's continuing speculation about Michael Jackson's homicide, right next to predictions regarding this bugaboo healthcare reform debate. The list goes on. Throughout each story there is, however a common theme: resistance. Stories present one position, as though it were the gospel, unwavering, static. What is it that makes resistance to 'what is' so commonplace? What price tag do we pay for it?
"What we humans are unaware of in our moment-to-moment existence is a constant, incessant resistance to life...We are displaced people wandering aimlessly in the desert of our minds...Resistance keeps us in a constant state of anxiety, and spiritual, mental, physical, financial and material impoverishment...." - Dr. Hew Len

SUNDAY SUPPLEMENT

A trio of light-hearted links to accompany the morning coffee, or your Sunday tipple of choice.




Walmart - Sam Walton's brainchild grown into a somewhat obnoxious adult, has become the store many people love to hate. Some, with camera in hand, find it a source of good natured (I hope) fun. Some of these photos (and the captions) are precious! Note: the pages date back to August, when the site originated. When I first stumbled on the site I wondered if the whole concept was simply mean, cruel even. According to the site's rules, it seems that the subjects have given permission for the publication of these photos - bless 'em, they probably even laughed at themselves. You have to love the oddness of life in the raw - it's what makes it all real, and gives the lie to overdone perfection.

PEOPLE OF WALMART



Then there's CRAFTASTROPHE......"because handmade isn't always pretty".


AND...I found Leeuna Foster's blog only recently, but will be a regular reader from now on: "MY MIND WANDERED....and it never came back." The post titled "I shaved my Legs For This" had me laughing out loud, several times. I can relate closely to the writer's experiences at her doctor's office.

Jack Daniel's Birthday Mystery.

I notice that today, 5 September, was the birthday of Jack Daniel, creator of the tipple beloved by millions in the USA, and elsewhere. I was intrigued. Somehow Sun in Virgo doesn't quite bring to mind distilleries, moonshining, and alcohol. Or does it?

There's a problem in investigating Jack Daniel's astrology though. His birth date is in question.

5 September 1846 is apparently upheld by an entry in the US Federal Decennial Census (see here). Other sources, his gravestone included, indicate hat he was born in September 1850.


I've read most of what's available on-line about his life and times, I'd be inclined to trust the 1846 date. His mother died in 1847, and if that date is correct it gives the lie to 1850. It's said that Jack, in later life, had a liking for gals very much younger than himself. It's quite possible then that he "adjusted" his birth date by 4 years to try to appear more acceptable to his more strait-laced acquaintances.

"Jack Daniel never married. Some say it’s because he was married to his work; others say it’s because he never found a girl who measured up to his high standards. Or perhaps it’s just that he was too busy catering to the greater Lynchburg population – throwing elaborate Christmas feasts, hosting exquisite costume parties in his second-story ballroom, and donating money to every church in Moore County.

But by all accounts, Jack was quite a ladies’ man. He was a perfect dance partner, a polite conversationalist, and a fantastic gift-giver. Unfortunately, he also gravitated toward girls young enough to be his daughter (or even granddaughter). Once, Jack even asked for a woman’s hand in marriage, but her father denied him – partly because Jack enjoyed keeping his own legend alive and always hesitated to reveal his true birth date. When Jack proposed, her father made it clear that any man unwilling to disclose his age was "a little too old for such a young girl."

(This and other unlinked quotations are from an article by Eric Furman, here)

I've tried reconciling two possible natal charts for Jack Daniel (set for 12 noon) with what we know of his personality and life, to discover whether one fits better than the other.

Born 5 September 1846, Lynchburg, Tennessee (left); same day and place in 1850 (right). Click on image to enlarge.



To my mind there's no real contest. The 1846 chart, on the left is more likely to be the correct one. Both, of course, have Sun in Virgo, sign of the perfectionist and sometimes the workaholic. The 1846 chart has Sun conjunct Mars adding drive and energy to his character. Mercury and Venus in Leo reflect the showman in him, and Jupiter in Gemini screams "marketing". Jupiter rules publication, spreading the word, Gemini is the communication planet. Saturn exactly conjunct Neptune in Aquarius is opposing Mercury in Leo - a nice balancing act between the showmanship of Leo and the work ethic and inventive, creative approach of Saturn/Neptune in Aquarius.

Jack Daniel understood the important concept of "branding" before many others had connected it with little but putting the owner's stamp on cattle.

"One thing is certain: Jack Daniel had a brilliant mind for marketing. Even as a youngster, Jack understood that if people remembered him, they would remember his whiskey. To that end, he decked himself out in a formal knee-length coat, a vest, a tie, and a wide-brim planter’s hat, and was never caught out of "uniform" again.


Jack also established the Jack Daniel’s Silver Cornet Band – a 10-member outfit solely devoted to promoting his whiskey across the countryside. With uniforms and instruments from the Sears & Roebuck catalog and a specially designed wagon for traveling, Jack made sure the band played every saloon opening, Fourth of July celebration, and political rally around.

From the beginning, Jack had been one of the first sellers to stencil his distillery name on his whiskey jugs. Next, he upgraded to round, custom-embossed bottles. But when a glass salesman showed him a prototype square bottle in 1895, Jack realized he’d stumbled upon something unique. The new bottles not only stood out from the crowd, but also had a shape that would prevent them from rolling around and breaking during transport. In addition, the square look reinforced the idea that Jack was a square dealer who put honest work and high standards first.

Whatever effort Jack Daniel put into his marketing, he never let quality slip. In 1904, the distiller decided on a whim to enter his whiskey in the taste competition at the St. Louis World’s Fair. It came as little surprise when he won."

A few factors similar to those in the 1846 chart can be found in the 1850 version, but there's what I think is a cherry on top of the 1846 chart. Rigel and Regulus, two "Royal Stars" are conjunct Daniel's natal Jupiter and Mercury - such excellent highlighting of the two key planets for marketing, probably the one factor which set him head and shoulders above the competition.

Jack Daniel died from blood poisoning and gangrene on 10 October 1911.
Wikipedia tells us that

The infection allegedly set up originally in a toe, which Daniel injured in kicking his safe in anger when he couldn't get it open early one morning at work — he had always had trouble remembering the combination. This incident was the subject of a marketing poster used on the London Underground in January 2006, with the line "Moral: Never go to work early." A common joke that is told during the tour of the distillery, is that all Jack had to do to cure his infection was to dip his toe in a glass of his own whiskey to clean it.

Arty Farty Friday ~ David LaChapelle, photographer.

I won't pretend I'd heard of this photographer before finding his name in an on-line list. His surname attracted me, so I decided to investigate his work and his astrology. Much of his work is reminiscent of surrealist artists such as Magritte, and there's often an undercurrent of eroticism which reminds me of Jack Vetriano paintings....but wilder.








Wikipedia tells us that David LaChapelle, as well as being simply a photographer, is also video/commercial/film director working in the fields of fashion, advertising, and fine art photography. His first professional work was for Andy Warhol in his "Interview" magazine.

Interesting work! Surreal or satirical treatment of celebrities and situations - definitely not yer average portrait photographer of the stars. Some examples of his work (not included below) are neither for the fainthearted nor for family viewing.

I felt sure he'd have Aquarius and/or Uranus prominent, with Neptune and Pluto playing into his personal planets. Neptune is said to rule photography - it's bound to have pride of place.

Let's see if I was right.

Born 11 March 1963 in Fairfield CT.




Sun in Pisces is a good start. Pisces is ruled by Neptune, planet of creativity, and photography. Sun in Pisces often signifies a dreamy, imaginative, near-psychic chracter. LaChapelle has Sun, and Jupiter conjoined in Pisces, with Mercury, planet of communication early in the same sign. Thats a lot of Pisces. Jupiter is very happy in Pisces, being its traditional ruler before the discovery of Neptune. Jupiter, the benefic, planet of excess and exaggeration is working well through the camera lens of David La Chapelle, in my researches I've seen his work described as "exaggerated" more than once.

Yes - we have some Aquarius too! Saturn and Venus both in the sign of high intellect, out-of-the-box thinking, inventiveness and if Uranus hooks into personal planets, we often see a zany rebellious wildness creeping in. Uranus in Virgo in LaChapelle's chart opposes Mercury in Pisces - here's that Uranian link to his wild side! Erotic Pluto, the other outer planet I expected to see linked in to personal planets is also in Virgo, widely conjunct Uranus, and also opposing Mercury. Bingo!

Neptune in Scorpio lies in harmonious trine to Pisces Sun and Jupiter - as ruler of photography and creativity - this is one link I most wanted to see.

Without a time of birth the Moon's position can't be established, nor can rising sign. Moon could be in early Libra or late Virgo. Moon in Libra, ruled by Venus, planet of the arts would be a good fit, but a late Virgo Moon could oppose his Sun/Jupiter, echoing the way Pluto and Uranus oppose Mercury.

There's enough here to convince me that astrology is at work !

A few examples of the work of David LaChapelle, included are portraits of Elton John, Madonna, Naomi Campbell, Ewan McGregor....and some I cannot identify:

















David LaChapelle has four published books of photographs: LaChapelle Land, Hotel LaChapelle, Heaven to Hell, and Artists and Prostitutes.
More examples of his work can be seen via Google Image and at ARTNET.

ORIGIN OF THE ZODIAC

So many and varied are the explanations available on the orgin of the zodiac signs that some theories are surely suspect. What is especially intriguing is how and why each sign of our zodiac came to carry the seeds of the interpretations we now apply.

Once one starts the enquiry its not long before feeling overwhelmed and submerged in theosophy, physics, the Bible, the Bhagavad Gita, mythology, morphology, Sumeria, Babylon, Greece, Egypt, and much more, until the eyes glaze (are yours glazed already?) Mention of India and China is omitted to simplify matters, they have their own stories.

What follows is my own, highly-distilled and simplified version - the way I understand it.

In order to trace the origin of the zodiac it's necessary to look for the origins of astrology itself, to discover whether the zodiac as we know it appeared intact from the beginning. "The beginning" of astrology is in question. Dates from 2000 to 9,000 years BC and even eras beyond that are mentioned in various sources, depending on exactly how one defines astrology.

Apparently astrology as we now understand it (or try to) did not exist in the beginning. Longer ago than anyone knows for sure, our ancestors in Sumeria, the area now known as Iraq, were recording the movements of the Sun, Moon and visible planets against the background of stars whose positions appeared not to vary.

Over a long period of time the cyclical and seasonal nature of those movements was understood and put to use counting time and in assessing orientation. This knowledge would have been valuable in agriculture and the production of food, for planning activities and journeys. Not surprisingly, early peoples attributed the planets and stars with god-like abilities.

It's amazing that such people, observing the sky with nothing but the naked eye, using pieces of stone and a carving tool, were able to make lasting records of their findings, a few examples still survive. It's tempting to wonder whether they had some kind of head start, essential knowledge handed down from a time of which modern man is no longer aware, a civilisation which may have perished leaving no trace but for some oral traditions retained by a few survivors. Or perhaps the ancient peoples did, after all, work things out for themselves by patient observation. We shall never know. (Right" Sumerian astrology tablet, dating from around 2,300 BC)


By the time of Greek civilisation astronomical knowledge acquired by groups living further East had been passed along to Greece, probably via established trade routes over land and sea. The Greeks were great philosophers and seminal scientists.

When Greek philosophers put their minds to work on the basic knowledge, they garnished it, made it more palatable to their own people, and added to it by further observation and the use of geometry. Embellishment, using their own mythology - heroes, gods and goddesses must have helped make it accessible to those who sought to understand. It is probably around this stage that a zodiac, in a form familiar to us, appeared on the scene. The earliest rudimentary example of an actual astrological "reading" of a natal chart is said to date from around 410 BC.

Some historians say that the Greeks discovered the precession of the equinoxes, others contend that it was known at a much earlier stage. It's a thorny subject. Suffice to say that the discovery or re-discovery of precession resulted in two different zodiacs: the constellation-based zodiac, called "sidereal", and the solar-based tropical zodiac, most popular in modern times. The tropical zodiac was set to fix the vernal equinox at 0* Aries, rather than shifting over centuries along with the backdrop of stars. This had the effect of appointing the Sun as our main indicator, which of course, for life on Earth, it surely is. It also means that the constellations of stars which originally gave the signs their names no longer correspond with tropical zodiac signs. This can lead to confusion.

But how and why did each constellation of stars originally acquire its name? It is difficult to accept that stars in the constellations really do trace the outline of a lion, a scorpion, a virgin carrying a sheaf of wheat, a ram, a bull, etc. Yet the meanings we accept, the interpretations arising from them, are at the very core of astrology, and do seem to retain their accuracy, even after the tropical signs have moved on well past their sidereal position. This is the crux of the mystery.

Some modern sources surmise that the the basis of broad characteristics attributed to the 12 signs might be explained by a kind of electro-magnetic wave effect. This is not easy to fully understand or for me to explain succinctly.

The Greeks, who may appear to have been making wild guesses, attributed mythical figures to the visible planets (Mars, Venus, Jupiter etc.) and associated these (and related characteristics ?) with the 12 signs. But were they guessing, or is there a deeper explanation? Was there other knowledge available of which we remain unaware? How did they choose which to associate with what? The Egyptians are said to have had access to mysterious, now lost, knowledge. Was secret information from Egypt amalgamated with the Greeks' philosophies and scientific work?


(Above: Engraving illustrating a zodiac circle found on a celing of the Temple at Dendera, Egypt. Thought to date from 50 BC)

The elements (Earth, Fire, Air, Water), modes (Cardinal, Fixed, Mutable), and polarities (masculine/feminine, yin/yang) were associated with the zodiac signs at some stage, but exactly when this happened is not easily established. Again, there's evidence of a kind of interlinked wave effect going on.

Many texts were destroyed at various times in the distant past, by rulers or church leaders standing against astrology. Much crucial information must have perished. It's likely that the most important texts were the ones to go.

Astrology and the zodiac came to prominence in Europe, beyond Greece, in mediaeval times. What is now called "traditional astrology", based on the Greek version with many additions, modifications, bells and whistles, became the great-great grandfather of the basic astrology we use today. It should be mentioned that druids and the Celtic tribes are thought to have practiced a form of astrology in parts of Europe long before the more sophisticated Greek version arrived. They certainly used astronomy - close observation of the skies, Stonehenge is one of many pieces of evidence.

The zodiac, its signs and all they have come to represent, will not go away any time soon. They have survived longer than almost anything else in human experience, and will continue to survive. It's even possible that somewhere, hidden in all the detail, they contain a key to the greatest mystery of all - the mystery of mankind.

(Edited and illustrated version of my post of Jan. 2007)

ASTROLOGITIS

Fleetingly passing by an astrology message board the other day, the title of a thread caught my eye. Astronuts Tribe forum: thread titled "Quitting Astrology".

Passing readers here might find it of interest too. Contributors offer their opinions on whether astrology can become too much of an obsession, a hindrance to living one's life in fact.

This is something which has crossed my mind from time to time over the years. I am saved from the worst symptoms of astrologitis (as I'll call it) by my feeling that astrological doctrine is an imperfect tool which throws up only shadows at best. We are using a tool which hasn't been honed to perfection yet, in spite of centuries of trying.

Whether consulting a professional astrologer or interpreting charts for oneself, I believe it's best to look on the results as shadows, or skeletons - or even skeltons of shadows or shadows of skeletons. Still interesting, but requiring fleshing out and clarifying from hindsight and experience.

Personally, I'm not convinced by some parts of astrological lore. But I am totally convinced by the bare bones of astrology. Bare bones don't tell us what the picture is like "in the flesh " though. Clever experts can reconstruct a face from a skeletal skull, and be fairly certain that it resembles the human being who inhabited the skeleton - but can never be absolutely certain of the detail. Likewise in astrology.

I think the key to not becoming obsessive, not feeling the need to quit, is to stand back from it, not to focus on self too much. Look outward and backward, viewing people and situations, yours and theirs, with hindsight. This way you can see parts of astrology at work and know that "something is going on".
For me, that's where the magic of astrology lies.

Trying to predict the future can be disappointing and/or worrying. Neither is helpful. It's often said that if you know what's around the corner for you, you can prepare yourself for it. Maybe some brave souls can, and if you are one of those - fine! I'm not. I tend to worry, and prefer to meet problems head-on, as and when - and if - they occur. There's no point in worrying about the skeletal problem astrology might indicate which, when flesh is added and it becomes the reality, might turn out to be a minor irritation or even a blessing, instead of the serious problem that worried you.

SEPTEMBER

Welcome September! I've waited impatiently for you since June! Looked forward to kinder temperatures, clearer air, coolness, heading for some downright shivery mornings in a few short weeks. I fancy a shiver!
("September Morn" by Paul Chabas, left.)




September - "septem..." Latin for seven, was 7th month of the year in Roman times, before the calendar was changed in 153 BC, making September our 9th month. In astrology September contains part Virgo, part Libra, 6th and 7th signs of the tropical zodiac. Astrological houses 6 and 7 connect to Virgo and Libra respectively. So even though September is our 9th month, it retains some relationship to seven.

Historically, September hasn't always been a month of autumn glory. The invasion of Poland by Nazi Germany in September 1939 started World War 2 in Europe. September 11th 2001 holds a memory engraved into the hearts and minds of Americans, and others all over the world.

In view of those two pieces of history, it's tempting to think that the word 'septic' (relating to putrifaction, toxic, poisoning ) might come from the same root as 'September', but thankfully it doesn't. Its origin is the Greek word 'septikos'.

"My life's long radiant Summer halts at last,
And lo! beside my path way I behold
Pursuing Autumn glide: nor frost nor cold
Has heralded her presence; but a vast
Sweet calm that comes not till the year has passed
Its fevered solstice, and a tinge of gold
Subdues the vivid colouring of bold
And passion-hued emotions. I will cast
My August days behind me with my May,
Nor strive to drag them into Autumn's place,
Nor swear I hope when I do but remember.
Now violet and rose have had their day,
I'll pluck the soberer asters with good grace
And call September nothing but September."
- Ella Wheeler Wilcox.

Cant' end without that other "September Morn" - Neil Diamond's, with some lovely photographs added.

MONDAY MIRTHMAKER ~ Kristen Wiig

This is my 1000th post on this blog! I join the ranks of k-bloggers everywhere. Onward and upward to 2000 then - will I make it? We'll see.



Homing in today on an American TV comedy star of a younger generation than those already featured in earlier posts. This is one gal whose career is likely to take off into a much wider sphere in the future: Kristen Wiig from Saturday Night Live. Her comedic acting and timing are special, frenetic, outlandish and high energy.

Brief points from her natal chart, set for 12 noon in the absence of a known birth time, so Moon's degree will not be accurate, though it will be in Gemini; and ascending sign can't be determined without time of birth.



Sun and Mercury in Leo is an excellent fit for someone appearing regularly in the spotlight, and Moon in Gemini blends very well, bringing in a rapid fire mind and quick wit.

More unusual though is to see that Kristen Wiig has 4 Yods in her chart.

Yods, aka Fingers of Fate, are patterns formed by a sextile (60*) between two planets, each of which is then linked to the same third planet by quincunx aspects (150*). This forms a sharply pointed arrow shape. The astrological explanation is that the energies of the blended sextiled planets are blended and chanelled through the planet at the apex of the Yod.

Jupiter sextile Neptune with Saturn at the apex =
Jupiter's feel-good exaggeration mixed with Neptune's imagination anc creativity channelled through Saturn's discipline and hard work.










Saturn sextile Mars with Neptune at the apex =
Saturn's discipline and hard work mixed with Mars energy channelled through Neptune's creativity and imagination









Neptune sextile Pluto with Mars at the apex=
Neptune's creativity and imagination mixed with Pluto's intensity and sexiness channelled through the energy of Mars.









Sun sextile Saturn with Jupiter at the apex =
Core warm and bright Leo personality mixed with Saturn's discipline channelled through Jupiter's feel good exaggeration.




That's a wonderfully helpful integrated network for a TV comedy star!




There are some other very helpful aspects too - Jupiter in quirky Aquarius trine (120*) Venus/Pluto in Libra - two mentally driven Air signs.
Uranus in Libra sextile Mercury in Leo - Uranus the zany planet in harmony with Mercury, representing communication and mental processes.

There are many helpful aspects and formations in Kristen's chart. Pluto in Capricorn will transit right opposite her natal Saturn in November/December this year, which might well stir up some interesting career developments, and because Saturn is linked into 3 of the 4 Yods mentioned above, any development could be far reaching.

Copyright precludes embedding YouTube videos of her performances but there are 5 video clips from HULU at Chris Fullman's website: "My Favourite SNL Kristen Wiig Sketches". Each video has a very brief commercial at the start, but it's well worth wading through it to watch the sketch.

SUNDAY SUPPLEMENT ~ Sounds like Virgo !

Ogden Nash is a favourite writer of mine - his poetry and comments on life never fail to bring a smile and a nod. Reading this piece the other day, it struck me that all unknowingly he had written a description of the person with a hefty dose of Virgo in their natal chart.

(Blogger refuses to adhere to the line breaks I (and Mr. Nash) inserted, so please excuse any odd-looking breaks.)

A Stitch Too Late Is My Fate


There are some people of whom I would certainly like to be one,
Who are the people who get things done.
They balance their checkbooks every month and their figures
always agree with the bank's,
And they are prompt in writing letters of condolence or thanks.
They never leave anything to chance,
But always make reservations in advance.
When they get out of bed they never neglect to don slippers
so they never pick up athlete's foot or a cold or a splinter,
And they hang their clothes up on hangers every night and
put their winter clothes away every summer
and their summer clothes away every winter.
Before spending any money they insist on getting
an estimate or a sample,
And if they lose anything from a shoelace to a diamond ring
it is covered by insurance more than ample.
They have budgets and what is more they live inside of them,
Even though it means eating things made by recipes
clipped from the Sunday paper that you'd think they would have died from them.
They serve on committees
And improve their cities
They are modern knight errants
Who remember their godchildren's birthdays and the anniversaries
of their godchildren's parents,
And in cold weather they remember the birds and supply them with
sunflower seed and suet,
And whatever they decide to do, whether it's to save
twentyfive percent of their salary or learn Italian or write a musical comedy or touch their toes a hundred times every morning before breakfast,
why they go ahead and do it.
People who get things done lead contented lives, or at least I guess so,
And I certainly wish that either I were more like them or they were less so.

THE WEEK THAT WAS

This week made me angry - very angry. The lovely and peaceful state of Oklahoma, where I've lived for the past 5 years has two of the most despicable senators in Washington. Yes, they are both Republicans, and espouse the opposite ideology to my own, but that's not the problem. There are a few Republicans and conservatives who I respect, and who conduct themselves with dignity and intelligence. Not these two!



(Photo by Alex Wong/Getty Images: Tom Coburn on far left, James Inhofe on far right of photo.)

Senator Tom Coburn and Senator James Inhofe: it's past time that Oklahomans opened their eyes to see these two men for what they are. Why do they vote them into office, giving them power over their lives, when they patently do not give a damn about the people of their state? There are over 700,000 Oklahomans without health insurance, do these senators care? Do they?

This week brought two clear examples of the kind of men these are, and where their loyalties lie.

My blogger buddy, R.J. Adams at his blog Sparrow Chat has said things I want to say myself about Tom Coburn's actions this week. At a town hall meeting on health care reform a woman, in tears, told him of her husband's plight. RJ's two posts of 25 and 27 August relate:
"I'm Just Nipping across the Road to take Out My Neighbour's Appendix" and
"Health Care Reform? Don't let the Wealthy Suffer"

RJ has a much better turn of phrase than I can muster while feeling this angry.

Next, watch Senator James Inhofe declare that he'll vote against health care reform without reading the bill.

These men are public servants, it's time they started serving the public. They quite obviously have not the slightest inclination to do anything but serve their corporate masters, while undermining anything and everything the current administration is trying to do for the good of the people of this country.

Here are 12 noon natal charts for these two charmers. I'm going to point out one thing common to both - it's the key to the problem.





Look at the planets traditionally known as "malefics" Mars, Saturn, and in modern times, Pluto. (Malefic = having or exerting a malignant influence.)

In Coburn's chart Mars, Saturn and Pluto are conjoined at 12, 16, 19 Leo - a stellium of malefics, triple strength malefic energy!

In Inhofe's chart Mars, Pluto and Saturn form a Yod (Finger of Fate). Saturn is at its apex with a sextile between Mars and Pluto at its base. Astrologers say that the energies of the two sextiled planets are blended and chanelled through the planet at the apex.
Different pattern, same malefic blend!

I rest my case.

On a much calmer note, another blogger whose posts I sincerely respect and enjoy is Peter Clothier at The Buddha Diaries. Peter is encouraging his readers to join in a letter-writing and show of solidarity on behalf of the health care reform movement. He writes:

"So I'm asking the more than 70 percent of us who say we believe in significant health care reform to be "solid" with our friends, our neighbors, our families, ourselves--and yes, our online contacts. I'm looking for access to bigger platforms, more active support... Facebook (follow the link to the PO/PO facebook group), Twitter, big circulation blogs and political sites. Can you do this?

AND I want us all to show up at our local Post Office, letters or cards (expressing the hope that our senators will support reform) in hand, at HIGH NOON ON 09/01/09.

Will you help me? Will you broadcast this? Will you be there? Will you shake my hand? "

Yes, indeed - I'll be there physically at our local post office, and in spirit will stand with others elsewhere. I'm pretty sure that I'll be the only one at our post office. I encourage anyone who feels strongly that health care in the USA is in dire need of reform to write a letter to their senators and post it at 12 noon on the first of September. The letters, hopefully a lot of them, will arrive together - a show of solidarity, and proof that one person, even in isolation, can feel in tune with many other like-minded folk throughout this nation.

HOW TO CHOOSE AN ASTROLOGER

I wrote this a while ago for a website which now appears to be defunct (hope it wasn't something I said!) I'm re-airing it as a change from Arty-Farty this Friday.

Lauren Bacall's famous line to Bogart: "You know how to whistle, don't you, Steve? Just put your lips together, and blow," sounds good, it's catchy, but it doesn't always work. The equivalent advice on choosing an astrologer would be to stick a pin in a magazine page filled with astrologers' advertisements, then invest your hard earned cash with the impaled astrologer. If you were very lucky that might, just might, work.

There are so many variables and imponderables when choosing an astrologer, just as there are in learning to whistle well. Some extra effort will make disappointment less likely.

First consideration: how much money are you able or willing to invest?
Second, what kind of advice and insight are you looking for?
Third, and in some ways most important of all, how best to find someone on your own wavelength? Someone who speaks your language - not only literally, but metaphorically.

If money is no object, you have the option of choosing a consultation with an internationally famous astrologer. You might find there's a long waiting list though. And, unless the third requirement is fulfilled you might well waste your investment. What a disappointment it would be to find that the person sitting opposite you, or on the end of the phone, is speaking in terms and style you neither understand, relate to, nor enjoy.

To discover whether a particular astrologer is on your wavelength: read, read and read - anything and everything you can find that he or she has written, or in the case of video input, spoken.

If you are seeking an answer to a specific question, an horary astrologer is the one you need. Financial matters call for an expert in financial astrology, personal and relationship problems are the domain of most astrologers un-connected with the specialist ranges. Astrologers' websites and adverts will almost always specify their area of expertise.

With a modest amount of cash available, there's plenty of choice in all areas. Most astrologers who offer a service keep a website regularly updated, these sites often contain a selection of the astrologers' own articles, from which you can detect their general style. Some astrology bloggers, many of whom appear regularly on the Astro Dispatch widget in my sidebar, are also professional astrologers and their blogs provide an excellent source to discover someone to whose style you can easily relate. These astrologers, and others in the "TRINES" links in my sidebar, write regularly on a variety of astro-topics. Here you have the best chance there is of getting to "know" an astrologer before investing your cash.

For those seriously strapped for cash - many of us these days - some on-line astrologers might be willing to do a brief report or answer a question, for a small donation of your choosing. Otherwise, a reasonably priced computer produced report on your natal chart is a quick and economical solution. These do vary in quality, but many offer a lot of useful information, especially to a person fairly new to astrology. It's helpful to establish whether the astrologer in question has actually written the data for their computer reports, or if it has been obtained from commercially available software. I'm not saying the latter is bad, just that the former is way, way better, and worth any extra cost.

Some are cynical about computer produced reports, I share the doubt in certain circumstances. There are charlatans in astrology, as in all spheres of life. Again, research via the internet will illuminate the genuine astrologers, and show up the purely money-making enterprises with no grounding of expertise.

If you have some knowledge of astrology yourself, catching a look at an astrologer's own natal chart, sometimes available in their books or websites, might give you a hint of their wavelength. Sun and/or Moon and/or Mercury compatible with your own would be a good start.

Those who have been interested astrology for several years could probably take a stab at interpreting their own natal charts. I find this a useful exercise, and it helps in relating to any report produced by a professional. In the case of a specific problem or question though, consulting a professional from the outset is preferable. A professional is able to be quite objective, while you yourself are too close to any matter troubling you.

First and foremost invest time and effort in identifying an astrologer who appears to be on your wavelength, only then invest your cash, as much as you can easily afford, in a consultation or report. Good luck!

Allergies, astrology, and almighty whinges......

Hayfever has plagued me almost constantly for the past two years. Before I came to live in the USA I'd never suffered from hayfever at all - ever. Airborne pollens seem to be my worst enemy - tree pollens, grass pollens, flower pollens, weed pollens, in cyclic succession they come, with hardly time to draw a clean unadulterated breath in between.

Google "allergies and astrology", I told myself the other day, when feeling particularly fed up. Perhaps there'll be a clue, or an idea hidden there. One source blames the position of Mars in a natal chart, another says Neptune is the culprit. Order of birth among siblings might be involved. Yet another writer suggests that intercepted signs could be significant. I can't link my own problem to anything mentioned, except that I was my parents' first (and only) child.

Relocation has to be the key in my case - actual relocation from England to Oklahoma, but I still can't link the relocation of signs and houses to connect to my problem.

It's not only the incessant sneezes, runny eyes and difficulty sleeping - there are occasional severe, longlasting headaches to add to my menu of woe....and now I find that the tablets, which only partially help, have an especially unwelcome side effect: they bestow a propensity for weight gain. I wondered why I'd added 5 or 6 lbs over the past two years, after remaining much the same weight as when I arrived here for the first 3 years, and being very careful what I eat.

The last discovery pissed me off more than any of the others, or the constant expensive drain to buy medication which doesn't completely solve the problem, and to which I suspect my system will become addicted, making it well nigh impossible to ever stop taking the tablets. I use over-the-counter tablets: cetrizine, the generic of Zyrtec, and when things get especially bad, a nasal spray (cortisone) recommended by my doctor.

What's to be done?

Plodding on through Google, trying to remain undeterred I happened upon a website written by a fellow-sufferer who had tried something called the Qu Chi band - based on oriental medicine and acupressure. I've ordered one. It's worth a try!

I also read an article from May this year which indicates that experiments with folic acid (vitamin B9) are being carried out as it is suspected that a high level of this in the blood can help prevent the immune system from leaping into gear when triggered by allergens. Perhaps I'll top up my B9 intake then.

My impatient Aries Moon will not allow me to sit mildly by and sneeze my head off for 11 months of the year. Something has to be done!

The links below could be of use to a passing reader who is also a fellow-sufferer.

FOLIC ACID
http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2009/04/090430065452.htm

QU CHI band
http://www.airtight-international.co.uk/

Astrology and Allergy
http://hubpages.com/hub/Astrology-Gem-Therapy-Allergy

No More Allergy
http://www.astrologycom.com/energydoc11.html

Astrology & Health
http://www.exploreastrology.co.uk/AstrologyHealth.html

Allergies & Birth Order
http://www.encyclopedia.com/doc/1G1-95204677.html

A guide to summer allergies in your area (useful map of US and breakdown of allergens by monthly appearance)
http://www.divinecaroline.com/22178/74293-achoo--guide-summer-allergies-area