June/July

The Disinformation Society
Robert F. Kennedy, Jr.

Talk RV: No Evidence Required
Robert Jensen

Muting the Conversation of Democracy
Bill Moyers

The Path of Self-Limitation, Cooperation, and Sharing
Richard Heinberg

Biodiesel: Growing a New Energy Economy
Greg Pahl

The Parallel Revolution in Venezuela
America Vera-Zavala

Grassroots Effort Creates Citizens Dialogue
Robyn Leor

The Myth and Necessity of Genetically Modified Free Zones
Jeffrey M. Smith

From Hurt to Heart
Eryn Kalish

Mudra as Meditation
Andrea Luchese, M.A.

The Klamath-Siskiyou Region: A Living Laboratory
Sue Parrish

How You Can Help Protect Endangered Herbs
Laurel Vukovic

Cosmic Calendar
Salina Rain

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Cosmic Calendar

By Salina Rain

June’s light, airy, humorous and/or scattered Gemini Sun rules over the first three weeks of the month as we emerge from the sensual stupor of May. Two highly influential planets change directions this month; Jupiter in Libra turns direct on the 5th at 9 degrees, while earthshaking Uranus turns retrograde at 11 degrees Pisces on the 14th. These turnings make for big shifts in social and spiritual realms, with Jupiter moving forward in a benefic spin supporting growth and new opportunities for co-operative ventures, social causes focused on equality and justice for all, developments in art, and artistic expression in general. Balance, fairness, harmony and equality are Libran values. Jupiter expands on all it touches, making us painfully aware of the places where we’re seriously out of balance, as well as steering us in the right direction to bring about greater harmony. Wherever the greater benefic is pivoting in your chart is the area you’re being offered gifts, rewards, growth, opportunities that haven’t been available for the last 12 years, but beware of the tendency of Jupiter to exaggerate, bite off a bigger chunk than he can handle, or go for overblown, un-grounded optimism. Rudyhar speaks of “Three ‘old masters’ hanging on the wall of a special room in an art gallery. The need to return to source during a confused search for new value in a chaotic society” for the degree of Jupiter’s pivot in Libra.

Uranus’ turn on the other hand brings the planet’s influence to the fore in the week or so before and after it turns, but inter-nalizing the highly charged Uranian matters through mid-November. During this time we’ll review questions concerning technological and scientific innovations and ethics, spiritual revelations, internet protocols and the control of cyber-space. There will also be an increasing awareness of psychic and other “paranormal” phenomena, including changing experi-ences, attitudes and practices around the process of dying and death rituals. Look and listen for the brilliant flashes of inspiration the Great Awakener will be sending out as it pivots. Problems related to water are also up for review during this time, and fortunately it seems a very bad time for the corporate world to make further progress in their attempts to control the world’s water resources.

Check out 11 degrees, and thereabouts, of
Pisces in your chart to understand better the radical changes you’re undergoing, the area of life most affected, and the need for a few months of internal focus on those changes. Meditative practices are an essential and effective means in finding our way during chaotic times, with the electrical planet’s assurance of guidance if we surrender to our practices. Sabian Symbol, according to Rudyhar’s Sabian Symbol for Uranus’ pivot degree reads “Men traveling a narrow path, seeking illumination. The capacity inherent in every individual to seek at whatever cost entrance to a transcendent realm of reality.” Rudyhar’s reference here is to the “ancient and eternal path of Discipleship,” which is ours to choose or pass by. In this matter he invokes the Zen injunction “Walk on.”

New Moon on the 6th at 17 degrees Gemini is joined by Mercury, Gemini’s ruler, trining Jupiter and Neptune, squaring Uranus, opposing Pluto for a multi-leveled shifting, changing, expanding experience of enlightened thinking, empathetic communi-cations and extraordinary social events. The usual walls that divide us are in suspension, temporarily disappearing to offer us proof of our commonality in the human experience as well as our interc-onnec-tedness with all life forms, indeed all the manifest universe. Better yet we can share our thoughts, feelings, common dreams and hopes, fears and doubts in this initiating moment of the new lunar cycle. Especially highlighted also are relationships with siblings and the opportunity to dissolve old barriers to unconditional love and support, while at the same time making better connections with our neighbors. Rudyhar’s interpretation of Sabian Symbol for 17 degrees Gemini, Sun and Moon is “The head of a robust youth changes into that of a mature thinker. … Mental meta-mor-phosis.” Reflective writing is an excellent activity for this lunation along with the exquisite possibilities for more meaningful social contact.

Mars shifts from his role as spiritual warrior, acting from a sense of con-nectedness and service to his fellow beings, to a passionate, one-pointed, aggressive, and courageous activator as he enters Aries his “home” sign on the 12th, continuing on his fiery path until the end of July. It’s hard for the male archetype in his own sign to understand there are other people with other needs around him. We must all be more aware of self-serving motivations and stepping on each other’s toes during this transit, but are encouraged to act boldly on whatever is most important to us during this passage.

Summer Solstice arrives at 11:46 pm on the 20th when the Sun enters 00 degrees Cancer, marking one of the most sacred moments in the yearly cycle. Venus, Mercury and Saturn all form a quincunx aspect with Pluto, implying great difficulties over the season in creating nurturing, supportive relationships where everyone feels secure and safe. Tremendous stress on the family unit is possible along with the necessity for realigning ourselves in our work routines to take better care of ourselves and our loved ones. Meanwhile Chiron quincunx the Solstice Sun creates such tension and discomfort that we’re forced to acknowledge the fuller dimensions of our experience, awakening to a greater sensitivity of how energy is stuck or moving. This group of dynamic quincunxes assures us a season of major and much needed adjustments both on the personal and collective levels.

Full Moon at 1 degree Capricorn on the 21st is intimately allied with the Solstice turning point with largely the same planetary patterns as it is perfecting within 22 hours of the Sun’s entrance into Cancer. Jupiter and Uranus are coming closer again in yet another tense quincunx, the second pass in the last few weeks. Social changes and gushing water fit into this scenario with breathtaking intensity and unpredictability. Capricorn Moon reminds us of respon-sibilities, accountability, the need for order and the right structure within which to do our work, yet opposing Cancer Sun is concerned with taking care of nourishment on all levels, our private selves in relationship with those we love. Bringing balance between these two worlds is crucial, particularly in a time when we’re pressured to work more, in many cases for less rewards. Mars square the Sun and Moon, opposite Jupiter, forms a Cardinal Grand Cross, challenging the instinct to act from self interest alone, but daring us to follow our passion while also suggesting especially warm temperatures this Summer. We’ll need to keep cool heads, creating boundaries on our need for self-indulgence and luxuries, simplifying our pleasures and existing in a heightened state of gratitude in order to fully enjoy the sweetness of this season.

July begins with a continuing mood of great optimism, despite the difficulties and challenges we’ve been facing, with Jupiter’s recent forward movement encouraging us to think big—as long as we’re focused on our ideals. Four planets and the Moon’s North Node are in fire signs (Mercury, Venus, Mars, Pluto) keeping spiritual fires and other less noble passions burning, while three planets in water (Sun, Saturn, Uranus) ensure emotional responsiveness, empa-thetic connections, and some hyper-sensitivity. Two planets and the Moon’s South Node in air signs (Jupiter, Neptune) give us some mental perspective on the most volatile and pressing situations—if we resist the temptation for denial. The second Mercury retrograde in fire signs this year occurs this month, with Mercury pivoting on the 22nd at 20 degrees Leo (Sun enters Leo today too), turning direct on August 15th at 9 degrees of the fixed fire sign. This marks another period of revisiting our spiritual purposes—and how we use our thinking capacity, consciously or unconsciously—to manifest our reality, both individually and collectively. Leo rules the human heart, the radiant energy of love and generosity that exists at the core of every being, and also the human ego. Mercury takes us on an internal heart-centered journey, an exploration of our ego dynamics, and a review of how we’re engaging, or not, with our natural abilities to play and create. Use this time well, investigating Leo’s placement in your chart to clarify what could otherwise be a chaotic period.

Cancer New Moon arrives on July 6th with Sun and Moon at 15 degrees, squared by Mars-North Node and Jupiter-South Node in a T-square aspect, and trine Uranus and asteroid Ceres in a Grand Water Trine. We’re being called to deeply nourish ourselves and those around us, while remaining dedicated to and enthusiastic about our stated purposes. Courageous action meets with personal needs and the yearning for loving connections. Neptune quincunxes Sun and Moon. We’re inspired, even pushed, to expand our vision of what constitutes our “family” circle. Do our lifestyle and daily choices in allocating resources create misery and suffering for other beings? How can we participate more productively and compassionately within the collective reality and still fulfill our personal needs? Indeed, what constitutes our personal joys and how might that be changing? Relatedness seems to be ever more important in the quest for happiness. Venus and Mercury join forces in Leo conspiring for fun, creativity, and happy socializing while a quincunx with Uranus brings in the element of surprise and sudden out of the blue shifts, some of which is bound to be about who we find ourselves having fun with. Sabian Symbol for this lunation’s degree from Rudyhar is “In a sumptuous dining hall guests relax after partaking of a huge banquet. Materializing the concept of fulfillment,” representing great achievement within a group context.

Saturn changes signs on the 16th, after over two years in Cancer, entering fire sign Leo for the next two plus years. It’s been 29 years since Saturn, one of the two planets most connected to society and social movements, was in Leo. We can expect global social changes to reflect the fiery, expressive and proud energy of Leo, while the change in Saturn, which also rules government, implies the next wave of political leaders will be more youthful in age and attitude. In the passage through late ’07 we’ll be pressed by the planet of accountability to clarify our relationship with authority and to own our personal relationship with ego, choosing higher purposes for more conscious creation. Our experiences will graphically illustrate our individual responsibility for creating our own reality.

On July 21st Sun and Moon face off in the Capricorn Full Moon at 29 degrees in a potent, tense lunation as Chiron-Saturn join Moon and Sun respectively, opposing each other once again. Lots of pressure is building to be released, with a great need for breaking through old patterns of habitual behavior, creating new structures within which to function. Chiron opposing Saturn has been awakening us to the true nature of reality, helping us bridge the culturally created gap between matter and spirit. It’s all energy, everything and everybody, and we’re having more direct experiences along these lines. A passionate Grand Fire Trine forms with Mars, Pluto and Mercury-Venus, compelling us to act on our convictions with great compassion and integrity, while being sure to have fun along the way. Capricorn’s a sign of tradition and conservative values, but this lunation is showing us both where changes are most needed and how to begin the task. Wherever late Capricorn falls in your chart is an area of great potential for restructuring what doesn’t work anymore. Rudyhar’s Sabian Symbol is “A woman reading tea leaves. The ability to see the Signature of hidden meaning in every occurrence drawing one’s attention.” This image speaks to the energetic nature of reality where we can delineate meaning from “reading” the patterns of energy around us, in anything from tea leaves to the planets and stars.

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 classes, and Reiki Jin-Kei-Do trainings (see the calendar on page 24). Salina may be reached at (707) 668-5408, PO Box 1081, Blue Lake, CA, 95525, astro@salinarain.com. Visit www.salinarain.com for more detailed forecasts.