"Be nice and be kind"

When I was using Twitter (I left long ago when Musk took over) I followed a very pleasant and knowledgable man - @AlanDaviesbirds. Look him up - he usually has something very positive to say, as well as being extremely well-versed in all things birdy.

You may wonder why I'm writing about this. It's because his tweets about birds invariably included the words "be nice and be kind". It's an ongoing reminder, in these dark, troubled and unsettling times, that we can all put something positive out there as we go about our daily lives.

 

What is there to gain by being grumpy, miserable, rude and nasty to others, most of whom we've never met? Would we still be so cuttingly nasty in a face to face situation, I wonder?

Thinking about putting out positivity in all areas of cour daily lives led me to think about which planet/energy, viewed through an astrological psychology lens, might be involved.

Venus maybe, as it's the planet closely associated with relating to others, along with beauty and harmony. Then there's Neptune, notching things up to a higher and often far more inclusive level.

 

Neptune is most likely to be the source of kindness, unconditional acceptance and non-judgemental love at its highest level - the level of mind - where "there is a desire for universal love as the highest ideal"  to quote from their book, The Planets, by Bruno and Louise Huber. 

 

On Neptune, they continue, "There is a heightened sensitivity and a refined awareness of communication (empathy) that breaks through all walls and flows from heart to heart.This is what Assagioli called loving understanding".

Could this be you, or me, putting this loving understanding into action and remembering to do and be this in our everyday lives? Of course, we all lapse, but if we forget about being kind, pleasant, helpful, inclusive and positive towards others, we stand in line to get an unpleasant reminder if the vitriol comes out in response!

We get back what we give out.

 

 

The Planets and their Psychological Meaning by Bruno and Louise Huber offers in-depth details of all the planets used in the natal chart.

 

Situations Vacant, 2022

As Pluto continues its scourging journey through Capricorn, there is currently no let up in the number of disturbing global events. 

With the intensity of focus on the global pandemic, the rapid spread of the Omicron variant, and with climate breakdown now a reality and no longer something intangible and "out there", I'd been thinking we badly need some help and support right now.

Then I spotted these recently placed ads. in the Situations Vacant column as I was browsing through my latest copy of The Cosmic Herald (pub. Intergalactic Press).

WANTED: * DEITIES FOR LIGHT DUTIES

Well established on-going Earth project, “Humans’R’Us” is urgently seeking deities for light duties (eg. bringing down, switching on, spreading same and enlightening individuals on an ad hoc basis) and has openings for the right applicants in two of our prestigious major departments, namely the expression and manifestation of Love and Will.

LEADERS

For our Will department, preferably with experience of the planet Mars (you may be a native or have resided on this planet) to take on the role of a 21^st century world leader.

You will be a strongly motivated self-starter who can demonstrate many neccessary qualities, such as courage and boldness. These qualities are especially desirable as we face the realities if climate breakdown.

Advanced intuitive skills are vital and you must have the ability to lead others, balancing power with compassion and humility.

Under pressure you can remain focussed. You are able to be fair, just and self-disciplined and can command the respect of others. You have determination to succeed and make things work, and are not afraid to use your initiative. 

Those seeking personal glory or ego boosting need not apply.

HEALERS

Are required for our Love department, from or with strong previous associations with the planets Neptune and Jupiter, to take on the role of a 21st century priestess/priest and teacher/healer. 

We are particularly interested in dual ethnicity candidates for this position, and welcome diversity.

Applicants should be clear, focussed and attentive with good communication and listening skills, and have the ability to give time and support to those in need of bringing back to wholeness. The task will be huge, so strength and vision are required.

You should demonstrate such qualities as inclusiveness, unconditional love and acceptance, sensitivity, openness and good will. You will be unafraid of showing your own vulnerability, seeing this as a mark of your strength.

Your ministry is to teach and heal by example, and your CV should show that, amongst other desirable qualities, you are able to let go of the things and people you care for most, knowing that to trust them and set them free is one of the highest examples of love in action.

*  *  *  *  *

It is assumed that applicants will already be living a self-aware life style, and that their personal growth and development will be ongoing. 

There will be numerous opportunities for successful candidates of both posts to work, collaborate and cooperate with each other on this project. Their interaction will be vital for its success.

Applicant's views will be inclusive of all life forms - human, plant and animal worlds - with an emphasis on environmental conservation, the protection of endangered species and the now urgent need for action in the face of the Earth's climate breakdown.

For more information about the project, please apply, through the normal telepathic channels, to:

“Humans’R’Us, Earth”

Successful applicants will be invited to take part in a detailed, multi-dimensional telepathic mind meld, following which appointments will be made.

“Humans’R’Us” is an equal opportunities project, sponsored by Might’N’Light Universal.

 

* deity - 1) a god or godess; 2) divine status, quality or nature

Concise Oxford Dictionary

 

OK, so this is a spoof posting, with a message and a question:

 

What could you do in your everyday life to fulfil some of these 

job descriptions?

 

Comments welcome, action even more so.

Here's to a more positive future in 2022.

 

Are you Nice or are you Kind?

Twin sisters, Brittany

I was inspired to explore the theme of "nice and kind" having read a blog post by Jane Fritz on this topic.

I left a comment on her blog, having pondered on the differences between being nice and being kind. Using my understanding of psychosynthesis, which underpins the astrological psychology which I use and am most familiar with, I said:

"...if you’re being “nice” you’re probaby coming from a sub-personality but if you’re being “kind” you’re coming from a far more authentic place – your very centre, the core of your being. Kindness is more of a transpersonal quality, aligned with love. If you’re coming from your centre, you’ll be heard (not neccesarily liked, but your truth will shine through), whereas being nice is more cosmetic and without depth and authenticity. But niceness and kindness can cooperate – it’s possible to be kind and nice at the same time, loving and firm."  

I went on ponder on how the expression of "niceness" and "kindness" might work out in the context astrological psychology, and specifically in an individual's natal chart. The Moon - the ego planet associated with contact needs, emotional dependency and the need to be loved - is most likely to be the root and base from which nice and kind behaviour stems.

Expression of the nice aspect of the Moon may come when this planet is operating at an asleep, unaware level, when childish needs, often ignored when the person was growing up, are still seeking fulfillment, and they do not want to be hurt, or for  things to be unpleasant, or to be seen as someone who is not "nice". So what may be presented to the world is not neccesarily "nice" as it may have other, often unconscious motivations driving it.

Being kind is another matter altogether, and draws on the awake, fully conscious aspects of the Moon. Coming from this place, the person is comfortable within their own feelings, and far more aware of their needs; they can ask for them to be met and they don't have to skate around things being nice; they can be direct. The qualities which come into play here are harmlessness, openess, receptivity, sensitivity and compassion.

Of course, most of us can be both nice and kind - if you're being kind you're going to be nice, pleasant, well-mannered, good humoured and all the other meanings in between - and you're very likely to be expressing kindness and consideration too.

The elderly twin sisters in the photo at the start of this post seem to me to be expressing not just being nice as they did their volunteer work in this church in Brittany, they were being kind too. Their faces show warmth, they were friendly, charming and had a sense of humour too. Their kindness shines through.

We need kindness, probably more then ever right now, in this stage of our human evolution, and as we work our way through this pandemic.

Kindness

Mural, Houston, Texas

 

 

 

 

Being kind. It's something many of us have beome more aware of since early March, when life as we'd grown used to was turned into life as we'd never before imagined.

Kindness, friendliness and good manners were very noticeable at the start of the major lockdown in the UK. The few people one met when out strictly observed their distance and said hello or smiled (I live in north west England, where this happens anyway, but in lockdown people seemed even friendier - there was a need for contact).

Now, with coronavirus around the world, and restrictions of some sort or another still in place, it seems even more relevant that we human beings all remember that we're human beings and express kindness and consideration to each other. We're all in his together. Especially at this time of year when families are eager to get together over the Christmas holiday period.

But are people still being as kind or considerate? Experience of this when out walking suggests "No, not so much". There are those who courtesously observe distancing, and who smile and say thank you when we give way on a narrower pavement and wait until they've passed. And there are those who totally ignore distancing, carry on as though nothing is happening and - I have to be honest here - look pretty miserable (as they may be), don't make eye contact, don't acknowledge with a smile or a "thankyou" if you wait for them to pass. They seem very unaware of others, and they don't show much evidence of kindness either.

The book "The Boy, the Mole, the Fox and the Horse" by Charlie Mackesey is full of gentle wisdom and reminders that none of us is perfect, but we can all support and help each other along the way by being kind. To quote from the book:

"Nothing beats kindness," said the horse, "It sits quietly beyond all things."

"Being kind to yourself is one of the greatest kindnesses." said the mole.

Being kind might involve being more tolerant and understanding of others. It's a quality which is difficult to pin down and put into one explanatory word, but you know it when you see or experience it. Kindness is a manifestation of the transpersonal quality of Love. In Psychosynthesis terms it's an expression of love in action; in Astrological Psychology it's symbolised by the planet Neptune's qualities of love and inclusiveness.

Earlier this year I watched the film "It's a beautiful day in the neighbourhood" starring Tom Hanks as Fred Rogers, or Mister Rogers, as he was known when he presented his TV show for children. I knew nothing about him; Mister Rogers was not on UK TV in the 1970s. But I enjoyed the film very much because it was almost 100% about being kind to people, accepting them as they are, acknowledging their faults, fears and misgivings and not judging them.

The film is based on a true story, but the facts have been tweaked as film versions of stories so often are. In this case, it didn't matter too much because the end product was heartwarming, showing us how people could be and how, if they were wounded or hurt inside, this could be overcome, transcended and transformed.

Love, acceptance and being kind - worth striving for, I think.