October/November 2003

The Yearly Round
Richard Moeschl

Making Sense of North Korea
Eric Sirotkin

A Loophole So Big
Tom Engelhardt

The Joseph Strategy
David Ehrenfeld

Thieves in High Places
Jim Hightower

Strangely Like War
Derrick Jensen & George Draffan

Bush's Inferno
Pepper Trail

Their Arms Outstretched Into The Night
Martin Prechtel

On Slowing Down
Pride S. Wright

Living As A Free Human Being
Alan Clements

Achieving Balance Through Passive Movement
Kayla M. Starr, MPH

Yoga for the Young at Heart
Susan Winter Ward

Cosmic Calendar
Salina Rain

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Cosmic Calendar

By Salina Rain

October and November 2003 are extraordinarily pivotal months for this year. How we navigate the challenges and opportunities of this time will determine the immediate and longer term future in more ways than we can know at present. The Mystery is at work in all our lives, according to how open we are to this, or not. Look to where Mars-Uranus and Jupiter are transiting your chart. So far this has been an intensely confusing late Summer/early Fall, however it has also been rich with possibilities for re-dreaming the next stage of our experience. Intensely confusing on some levels, there has been magic in the areas where we have been diligently at work striving to improve ourselves, and when falling backwards the ability to re-group and awaken to the real meaning of why we are here.

During recent years Pluto through Sagittarius and Uranus/Neptune through Aquarius have been opening human consciousness to the larger reality that we are spiritual Beings in temporary, Earth plane experiences, not physical Beings dreaming of Divinity in order to assuage our fear of mortality. The paradigm shift is in full swing and so is the backlash against it, the evolutionary/devolutionary forces in an energetic dance to the death. In this case the death dance is about the more (relatively) recent delusions in our ways of viewing and experiencing life on Earth. Remembering image of the phoenix rising from the ashes, we can see the rebirth that is the inevitable outcome of all Plutonian passages. The less kicking and screaming we do going down, the more we cooperate with the dying paradigm’s passage, the less traumatic the whole thing will be. The crucial point to be aware of is that there are so many people worldwide, largely invisible to the collective at present, who are holding the space for the new paradigm, and doing so with great power and universal support from the Solar System and beyond—so keep on doing what you’re doing if it’s from the heart of your Being. If you’re not acting from the heart, then give that some serious consideration. This Fall on November 8th an unprecedented event will occur—an alignment which will reverberate with the power of Sacred Geometry, opening a gate in the cosmos into a higher frequency of vibration for all who choose to “turn on the arc of the spiral.”

October’s Full Moon on the 10th at 17 degrees Aries trines Pluto and creates a Cardinal Grand Cross with Saturn and Chiron. The drive for action is intense even as the Sun in Libra reflects back the effects of our willfulness through our interactions with others. Aries-Libra is the self-other axis, where we get to experience ourselves through the lens of relationships. Balancing personal needs with those of our personal, professional, intimate or casual relation-ships’ needs is the tightrope act of the moment. What is the state of our relationships now? In the larger sense, what are the areas of greatest imbalance in collective (community, state, national, international) cooperation? Full Moon trine Pluto gives a grand opportunity for transforming old religious, ethnic, political and class-based hatreds. The Grand Cross brings up challenges around issues of control and the necessity to internalize authority rather than listening to the so-called “experts.” The cooperative model is the one we’re being guided towards. The feminine perspective has more to teach us now than any other attempts at solutions—inclusiveness and seeing to the needs of all are paramount. Government, big business, public health, religious groups, the court system are some of our rigidified institutions that are undergoing renovations, and along with that, major struggles with the old paradigm leaders who want ever more control. Chiron-Saturn’s opposition now brings forth what has been lacking in these institutions with such starkness that we are compelled to commit ourselves to work for the good of society in our own individual ways. “Two dignified spinsters sitting in silence” is Rudhyar’s Sabian Symbol for the Moon’s degree, with the keynote: “The ability to transform a natural lack of potency into poise and inner serenity.” This image describes a moment where we are moved to turn inward as “life seeing itself in a self-created mirroring.” The image also calls forth a picture of the powerful global women’s movement, Women in Black, standing collectively as silent witness to the dominant patriarchy’s atrocities, supporting each other, and all of life, in an international network, contemplating the possibilities for a new way of being, holding a space for peace. This non-organizational network, nominated two years in a row for the Noble Peace Prize, is an example of how women, out of positions of disempowerment (“a natural lack of potency”), are leading the way into the new paradigm quietly, with ongoing commitment, persistence and devotion to a common goal for the good of all.

October 25th brings the New Moon at 2 degrees Scorpio, joined within minutes by Mercury. Scorpio’s influence always compels us to probe deeply, uncover what is hidden, which is the mission of these three planets in a potent moment of renewal. Speaking the truth is very much what this lunation is about as we reveal secrets, deceptions, hidden elements and hear about more of the same in the news. Scorpio also compels us to release what we no longer need. It’s time to clear away old modes of thinking and behaving, aided by a good, old fashioned house cleaning to reinforce the process, or an emotional cleansing with ritual bath for enhancement. Rudhyar’s image for the Moon’s degree reads: “A delicate bottle of perfume lies broken, releasing its fragrance … The accidental nature of opportunities that impel one to break away from the past, the remembrance of which is still poignant and cherished.” Saturn and Chiron face off in a continuing opposition, near exact right now. Personally we’re encouraged to attend to career matters in particularly creative, remedial ways. A re-structuring is in order for many, emphasized by Saturn’s “backward” turn today at 13 degrees Cancer, and continuing for the next four and a half months. Wherever this opposition plays out in your chart is an area of accountability and re-structuring for you. President-select Bush will be most affected by the Chiron-Saturn opposition this Fall (Saturn conjunct his Sun, Chiron opposing), as the conse-quences of his recent actions come around in the unending cycle of cause and effect.

The Lunar Eclipse of November 8th offers a rare opportunity for human con-sciousness to vibrate “up” to the next frequency. The eclipse at 17 degrees Taurus is part of a six pointed star, the Star of David, Seal of Solomon, harbinger of harmony, balance, love and beauty, the alchemical merging of Spirit and Matter, “As Above, So Below.” The astrological aspects form a Grand Sextile, which creates unobstructed flow among the planets involved, this one also coinciding with a potent eclipse. The grand sextile is also considered to be the most stable astrological structure, in fact the basis of the geodesic dome. (Eric Francis) The two intertwined grand trines in the star are in earth and water signs, offering us a magnificent opportunity to ground our spiritual ideals, and raise the frequency of our emotional bodies, enabling us to go beyond traumas and dramas and resonate more with the energies of love and compassion, both for ourselves and for others. Of course Astrology and Sacred Geometry are intertwined meta-physical disciplines, so the Sacred Geometry aspects of this event are compelling to look at. From the website astrosite.com, referring to the Grand Sextile unfolding from its two dimensional reality, the author tells us:

“In three dimensions, it is expressed as two interlaced tetrahedra (tetrahedron=4 faces—the simplest Platonic solid). This four-sided figure is the index for all evolving volumetric forms. In many circles the image of a Star of David is called a Hierophant. It is understood to be ‘geomancy’ or geomantic code … a standing wave, scalar in nature, that functions as a wave-guide, quite literally, a pattern of frequency, a field of information composed of very specific harmonic electro-magnetic wave patterns, patterns of light and sound, composed of conscious energetic substance.”(Mirehiel)

This describes a pattern imbued with elements of intelligence, harmony, ease, and potential for manifestation in the physical realm. Of course this event depends very much on our participation to maximize the potentials of the moment. Sound vibrations seem important to this eclipse, implying that higher frequency musical expressions and careful attention to the words and sounds we create will enhance the experience, and affect the outcomes. An important point to note is that prayers and intentions are magnified 1,000 times in lunar eclipses, 10,000 times in solar eclipses.

The eclipse’s degree is in mid-Taurus/Scorpio, resonating with an eclipse which previously occurred on November 8th, 1984, and relating also with the May 15th Lunar eclipse of this year when outer planet Neptune pivoted to retrograde motion. At this eclipse outer planet Uranus, mover and shaker, will turn direct, adding to the possibilities of big changes. Neptune and Uranus’ involvement in these two eclipses strongly support a passage at this time into more transpersonal concerns for a critical number of humans, as well as highlighting the reality of our connection out through the Solar System into Deep Space, at the same time journeying inward to the core of our being. The Outer reflects the Inner.

A Solar Eclipse is next on November 23rd at 2 degrees Sagittarius, with Juno, Vesta, Mercury, Pluto and Venus also lined up in Sagittarius. This gathers a tremendous amount of Sagittarian energy together to begin a new cycle in the search for meaning in our lives and in events, tending consciously to our belief systems so that they resonate with who we choose to become. Jupiter, Sag’s ruling planet, is also highly influential as it squares Pluto/Mercury and opposes Mars in a tense T-square, trines Chiron and sextiles Saturn. Jupiter in Virgo calls on us to stay in present time, honoring the smaller details of life, seeing the value of living simply. We must be responsible and clear about our information before implementing projects, as well as inclusive of the needs of all involved. Compassionate, deep listening is required to understand each other. Again the feminine perspective continues to emerge as the most workable model for how to change the ways we deal with problems. Rudhyar’s interpretation of the Symbol for 2 degrees Sagittarius: “White-capped waves display the power of wind over sea. The mobilization of unconscious energies under the pressure of superpersonal motives.” Uranus squares the eclipse degree for an electrifying revolutionary dynamic, impelling us to move forward with the high adventure ahead. For those who have taken the opportunity to vibrate at a higher frequency with the Grand Sextile Eclipse, there is now the chance to open up to new horizons with an uplifted, lighter perspective on life. Understanding and compassion among people from different backgrounds is emerging as a more significant aspect of the new paradigm. Hearts and minds aligned, we stand at the threshold of the future with all we need to resonate in harmony.

Salina Rain is a professional Astrologer with a major focus on life purpose and navigating transitions gracefully. She is also at Master level of Reiki Jin-Kei-Do, an eastern lineage of energy healing, transmitted through the ancient Tibetan Buddhist line. Salina is available for astrological readings and consultations, and Reiki Jin-Kei-Do classes. (707) 668-5408, PO Box 1081, Blue Lake, CA, 95525-1081, or astro@salinarain.com. Visit www.salinarain.com for more detailed forecasts.