What would you like to see less of in the world?

 

It's very easy to identify and name what you'd like to see MORE of in the world, as I experienced when I asked this question nearly 16 years ago, and stood on the Fourth Plinth in Trafalgar Square, reading out what people wanted to see more of. 

You can read about it here and here.

But what about seeing LESS of some things in this world of ours? I ask this at a time of global upheaval and change, of war and dissent; as I write, Russia's invasion and attack on Ukraine continues after three long years of years of conflict. More recently India and Pakistan have been bombing each other over the long-standing dispute about who should "own" Kashmir, while Israel seems bent on ethnically cleansing and bombing Gaza out of existence for Palestinians.

Alongside this there are some sections of society and leaders of some countries throughout the world who appear to want a return to the rise of Fascism in the 1930s. And we know where that led. At the same time, there is a drift towards less tolerance of anything or viewpoint or lifestyle which doesn't conform to what might be regarded as the "norm". Anti-woke attitudes are touted, books are removed from libraries and words removed from the lexicon of common parlance if they are deemed to be too "woke", while infuencers spread hatred and dissent through social media.

Is this what we want? Is it the path we want to tread? The world we want our children, and their children, to inherit? Do we want it here and now, in our everyday lives?

In 2022 I wrote here about what I see as a decline in the use, expression and manifestation of transpersonal qualities in everyday life - those simple but essential things and attitudes which benefit everyone, not just one or a few of the privileged or those in positions of power. These qualities are what, in life, you can value as you recognise their worth, but you can't put a price on them. They are priceless but cost nothing, and I looked at how the energies of each of the transpersonal planets - Uranus, Neptune and Pluto - can be expressed via three levels. 

These levels apply to all planets and their expression, especially the personal planets, whose qualities and energies we express in everyday life; let's call these levels of consciousness "Asleep", "Waking" and "Awake":

 "Asleep" planetary energy is expressed through automatic survival behaviour with little or no self-awareness.

• This what we could do with less of -  interactive human behaviours which lack empathy, where the individual is bent on its own survival and lacks self-awareness.

"Waking" behaviour comes from a place of greater awareness but is largely "me" oriented.

• This level of increased consciousness and more aware behaviour moves in a more promising direction, but oh dear.......if it is predominatantly "me" oriented then we have the  strutting, intrusive "in your face" stuff of the "me, me" narcissist, often someone who wants to be in control. Right now the world could do with a lot less of this, especially from some world leaders.

 "Awake" behaviour is fully conscious, directed, focussed and inclusive.

• This is what would be welcome. More of this would be most welcome - refer back to what people told me, back in 2009, when I stood on the Plinth and read out their desired shopping list of what they'd like to see more of in the world.
  

Then ask yourself the question: "What could I do to bring some of MORE of these qualities into the world right now, and consider how you might go about it.

Engage your Sun - your mind, your sense of self, your ability to choose, be decisive and discriminating, and use your personal will to determine what you might do. Click here for some suggestions on this.

Whatever you do doesn't have to be big or massively ambitious - it may be as simple as sharing a smile with someone or saying hello, or doing a small act of kindness - the possibilities are limitless and the positive effects will ripple outwards to counteract the tsunami of  unpleasant stuff which we'd all be better off having less of in the world right now.

 

"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.

 

Winter Solstice

It's had to ignore dark mornings, short days and dark afternoons at this time of year. Living in the northern hemisphere, we should be used to this. Maybe we are, and  seek solace and light in other forms; you have only to look at the many indoor and outdoor light decorations at this time of year.

As an astrologer, I’m aware – in a non-too-intensive way – of the movements of the planets. The Sun enters the sign of Capricorn on 21st December,  a widely known fact anyway, but it bears repeating because we all, myself included, need reminding of things from time to time. And it’s always good to reconnect with these cosmic events outside of ourselves in the face of the current Omicrom surge.

Acknowledging and connecting with the position of the Sun in relation to ourselves on Earth is something we can do relatively easily at this time of year, especially this year as we live with uncertainty under the speedily darkening shadow of Omicron.

On 21st December the Sun is at its furthest point away from the northern hemisphere, making this is the shortest day and longest night of the year. Meanwhile, down in the southern hemisphere the Sun is riding high in the sky as the exact opposite happens.

The winter solstice takes place in the deepest, darkest part of winter, when daylight is in short supply. Yet it is a festival of light which, in the northern hemisphere, coincides with Christmas. This Christian festival takes place at the same time of year as the pagan celebration of the solstice which celebrates the gradual and at first imperceptible return of the light of the Sun after the long days of darkness.

It’s the turning point of the year and marks the return of the light and the rebirth of the Sun (the Son in Christianity…?), together with the promise of the warmth and energy the Sun brings to make crops – essential to life – grow once again after the earth has lain dormant. Goodness knows, we need a bit of light and promise right now.

This is the time of year when people of all faiths, and none, can express their connection with the earth, our life upon it in relation to others we meet, our life upon it in relation to the other living creatures we share it with, and our place in the solar system.

It's a time when we can share the warmth of friendship at this turning point of the year and bring some light and joy into our own lives and the lives of others.

What  could you do at this time of year to bring a little light into your own life? Could it be time to nurture yourself spiritually? To look further than the superficial materialism of Christmas? What could you do?

Be kind?     Light a candle?     Call a friend?   Get in touch with someone you've not contacted for a while?    Perform a random act of kindness?   Take a risk and smile at strangers as you walk down the street? Listen to some music which touches your soul and warms your heart? Get out into nature, walk in it, connect with it, observe it, appreciate it?

If you begin to express some warmth of spirit, it's likely to be mirrored and come back to you. A random smile often begets a smile in return. A friendly word to a stranger often brings a friendly response in return.Try it!

Greetings of the season to everyone out there, and may the warmth of friendship be wrapped around you at this time of year. We need it more than ever this year, this solstice.