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.

 

Bittersweet

 

Sun, clouds and sea, Isle of Barra

In the book Bittersweet – how sorrow and longing make us whole by Susan Cain, the author explores something you might recognise immediately, just by reading the title, especially if you’re the kind of person who’s drawn to what is poignant in life. This set me thinking astrologically about which planet or planets might be associated with what is bittersweet in life, and I came up with strong possibilities for these being Moon, Venus and Neptune, but of course it doesn't stop there and readers may have their own ideas - if so, please share/comment.

In astrological psychology, the Moon represents the sense of self we gain through our feelings and emotions, and in the natal chart it can indicate how we might go about getting our emotional needs met. The Moon is also an indicator of the inner child. It can signify our spontaneous and fun-loving child-like responses, and it also acts like a mirror, reflecting what's going on around us because it can sense and pick up on atmospheres and feelings very easily. It's an important sensing tool, the part of us that feels.

Venus represents the drive to be selective and choose, using discrimination. Venus is associated with our ability to form relationships, to develop and express our aestheic tastes and preferences, to pursue what is harmonious and beautiful and, as a sensory organ, to use our physical sense of taste. The energies of Venus will be as fully engaged when you're eating a meal, as when you're visiting an art gallery, deciding on a colour scheme, listening to a piece of music or forming a new friendship. And, of course, falling in love.

Neptune notches 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! 

 

So how does this fit in with the idea of bittersweet?

Merriam-Webster’s dictionary defines Bittersweetness as

“a tendency to states of longing, poignancy, and sorrow; an acute awareness of passing time; and a curiously piercing joy at the beauty of the world.”

To that I’d add yearning, the desire to be reunited with something or someone who is no longer there, or to search after an elusive goal, place or state of mind which we seek in order to feel whole, fufilled or spirit-full. Bittersweet includes both the light and the dark, exploring how the combination and meeting of sadness and joy can trigger our own creativity and open a portal to something greater than our personal selves. It can be transformative, and can be recognised as something we already “knew” when we meet it (but had forgotten about).

Bittersweet is found in sad (often beautiful) music with minor key notes…..in browsing old family photographs…..in rainy days….in intense reactions to music, art, nature and beauty, and is often accompanied by goosebumps. I’d add, based on my own experience of bittersweet, that a flash of insight, or a sudden recognition of a half-remembered, dream-like something from the past could be bittersweet too.

The book contains a short quiz to help the reader identify whether or not they are a bittersweet type, and it’s also available on line, as is her curated list of bittersweet music. You may want to try that out.

Cain shares examples of bittersweet experiences in her own life and draws on the experiences of others she meets during her thorough research for this book. She shows how a bittersweet state of mind is the quiet force which helps us transcend our personal and collective pain, whether from a death or breakup, addiction or illness. She asserts that if we don’t acknowledge our own heartache we can end up inflicting it on others, maybe through abuse, domination, or neglect. Once we realise that all humans know—or will know—loss and suffering, we can turn toward one another, rather than turn away, and connect with joy as well as sadness in a bittersweet moment.

I’ll share a couple of quotes from the book. If you read it, I hope you gain as much from it as I did:

Most of all, bittersweetness shows us how to respond to pain: by acknowledging it, and attempting to turn it into art, the way musicians do, or healing, or innovation, or anything else that nourishes the soul.

The love you lost, or the love you wished for but never had: that love exists eternally. It shifts its shape, but it’s always there. The task is to recognise it in its new form.

For more info see Susan Cain’s website

Trashing the Transpersonals

Freedom....Compassion....Generosity....Love....Honesty....

Truth....Friendship....Goodwill....Trust....Responsibility....

Creativity....Service....Inclusiveness....Joy....Authenticity....

This list is just a few of the transpersonal qualities which everyone will recognise and will potentially aspire towards expressing in their everyday lives, because most people reading this are likely to have grown up in a society where these, and similar qualities, were encouraged and rewarded.

So what's happening? Where is the expression of these and other beneficient qualities in our everyday lives? They're all still there somewhere, they've not gone away. But you might be tempted to think otherwise in our fractured, needy world at the moment.

I have faith that they are there, but it seems that wherever we turn right now there's strife, hardship, inequality, war, disrespect and despoiling of the environment, and a general trashing and disregard for all that is held vital in keeping life on an even keel.

Here in the UK we have only to look at the current upheaval and dramatic scenes at Westminster as the government has unravelled under a weak leader who set out on a course to demolish any chance of comfort and prosperity for lots of people - unless, of course, they happen to be filthy rich. 

Things are progressing so fast that before I finished writing this, the UK Prime Minister, Liz Truss, had left office (following hot on the heels of her predecessor, the Dreaded Boris the Liar), hounded out by a crowd of her own disgruntled MPs who were involved last night in a brawl over voting in the House of Commons. Unprecedented and disgraceful.

A general trashing of the transpersonal qualities is a contributory factor and there seems to be a lot of it about. A fish rots from the head down. It comes from the top and the example set by leaders who seem to think they can get away with anything. Just because. Maybe because they think they're so important and invincible in their lofty positions of so-call power? Not part of the "hoi polloi" (aka common, ordinary people)?

Do they - those in power - actually care about the people of the country I wonder? Government ministers appear not to be doing their jobs (note, the word minister has embedded in its meaning the task of ministering to the needs of others - being caring, kind, offering service in their role as minister - to administrate).

From where I'm viewing it, there has been a whole lot of self-seeking and not a lot of inclusivity about for some time. Transpersonal qualities have been trashed in favour of lining pockets and filling off-shore bank accounts. Financial cuts have been made, almost as if they've been designed to create more hardship for those in need, while those with comfortaby lined pockets pick up bonuses.

Transpersonal energies and qualities (those beyond the personal "me" stuff and a part of the human collective) in astrological psychology are to be found in the planets Uranus, Neptune and Pluto. When all are operating on their highest level, through and via us and our expression of them, we have:

Uranus -  bringing change, being innovative, creative, thinking outside the box, and taking a scientific approach to making life easier....but of course, the old has to bow out and make way for the new, which can be resisted.

Neptune - helping us forge connections with all other living beings and with nature and the natural world, the environment, will be very concerned about our climate emergency and may draw on the innovation of Uranian thinking and research to help here. Neptune helps us identify with others, so altruistic action, for example,  contributing to food banks and helping out in the community in other ways in these trying times.

Pluto - encourages us to clean up and rid ourselves of old, often corrupted and outworn systems and ways of doing things. (now why does the UK Tory party, determined to hold on to power at all costs, come to mind here? It looks to me as if its time is up). With Pluto we have to move on, leave the old stuff behind and find new ways forward.

I've written about the positions of these three planets several times since 2008, when Pluto entered the sign of Capricorn and there was a global economic crisis. You can read about what I said here, but I encourage you to do your own search on this blog as I've written about the planetary movements of all three transpersonal planets as well as Saturn and Jupiter, which have joined the game from time to time.

Search for Uranus, Neptune, Pluto, Saturn and Jupiter - there's quite a lot on all of these because Pluto will be sitting there in Capricorn until 2024, so there's a way to go yet. 

Right now, Uranus is making another square aspect to Pluto, which is a bit of a dead ringer for what's happening right now, so take a look at Uranus square Pluto in your search.

And last of all - remember to bring a touch of the transpersonals into your everyday life and interactions. The transpersonals shouldn't be trashed, they should be treasured and shared.

Masks - it's a Pluto thing

Masks made by particpants at an astrological psychology workshop. The masks they are wearing represent a part of themselves they would not nomally share or show.

 

Since the start of the pandemic in 2020, mask wearing has become a hot and controversial topic. 

Some people are strongly against wearing masks, even though these are known to be the most effective barrier against spreading the Covid-19 virus and its variants. The airborne viral load breathed out or in by we humans is effectively sequestered by the wearing of masks which cover both mouth and nose. Masks protect both the wearer and everyone else they come into contact with. For me it's a no-brainer not to wear one; they're beneficial to all. Otherwise why have medical/surgical staff been wearing them long before the onset of the pandemic? How might a mask-denier feel about a surgeon operating on them without a mask, breathing goodness-knows-what out into the operating theatre and all over them?

So why don't people like them? Is it purely to do with not liking the effect they have on being able to breathe properly or communicate easily? Or is it something to do with people not liking being "told" what to do, maybe thinking they know best? Thinking they look a bit daft or strange wearing them? How vain and anti-social might that be?

In astrology, masks are associated with Pluto, the outermost planet in our solar system, most distant from the Sun, and is associated with the psychological drive of transpersonal will, which is engaged when our energies are directed towards perfecting ourselves and upping our personal ante.

Pluto operates at different levels of awareness. On a personal level it can be seen in disruptive, power-laden behaviour. Pluto is symbolic of the masks we wear to cover up what we don't want others to see. It can make us manipulative, allowing us to force our will on others, trying to dominate them.

Masks can also provide a hiding place for aspects of ourselves we don't want to show or share, to keep safe something hidden about ourselves - think of the smiling face and demeanour which hides a ruthless personality, or a person whose actions belie their true colours.

Masks are not all bad, as long as they are used as masks and not as a hiding place for truth. They can be fun too, but in a superficial way - think of masked balls, dressing up in costumes for a specific role, and make-up which transforms the face of the person beneath. Pluto is the transpersonal planet of tranformation, change and power, things which should definitely be used with awareness and always with the mantra of "do no harm". 

Pluto as a power trip is the expression of this planet at its lowest level; at its highest level of expression personal power has to be surrendered and control relinquished. Those who refuse to wear masks and disapprove of those who do have quite a way to go yet on their path to perfection, which is Pluto at it's highest level: the perfect being. 

That's something we all have to work at, but maybe the mask-deniers have to do it just that little bit harder.

NB - I'm aware that some people have exemptions for wearing masks because they have a medical condition. I know someone in this category who wears an uncomfortable face shield to protect herself and others when she is out, and I take my hat off to her for doing this selflessly.

 

 

 

There's more on Pluto and the transpersonal planets in my book,

 The Cosmic Egg Timer,

and in The Planets by Bruno and Louise Huber.

Both books are available on Amazon.

Click here and here for details of these and other books on astrological psychology.

 

I don't do predictions

 

Using Astrological Psychology, I have a unique method of timing to draw upon when looking at someone's chart. It's called Age Progression and it enables me to understand where that individual is psychologically in their own life journey. I can relate to the stage of life they're at and understand what kind of issues might be around for them. I don't predict what might happen; I look at what's going on for them right now.

 

Some time ago, an article with the title "I don't do predictions" in a newsletter for professional astrologers, set me thinking about this particular phrase. It’s one I've often used when setting up a meeting with a client. The saying “I don’t do predictions” was something that an astrologer had picked up on and it had jarred with him when he’d heard a graduate of the Astrological Psychology Association - not me - use this very phrase. His article  was about prediction of all kinds, and was not just aimed at astrology. It was well-reasoned and the points raised were clearly discussed. He was from a scientific background; the graduate from an arts background. Having used this same phrase myself countless times, I understood her stance - but could I understand his viewpoint as well? This set me thinking about prediction in general, both in the astrological context and in the wider framework of the scientific world.

Prediction and foretelling

If you look up the word “Prediction” in a dictionary, you will find its definition is “foretelling”. Literally, it means to “speak before” (pre-dict) an event. Most of us want daily predictions. We watch or listen to the weather forecast, and our lives are quite strongly influenced by predictions made by meteorologists. We will tuck an umbrella into a bag if rain is forecast without even thinking about it. But what about scientists who predict, for example, the effects of global warming? They have been doing this for countless years and yet it is only now that it is becoming more urgent and headline news. Yes, global warming is happening. Of course, scientists can only predict trends and suggest possible outcomes, which is what I suppose those astrologers who do predictions might say.

Now consider astronomers who always seem able to state categorically that the distance between Planet A and Planet B is so many billion light years ? They are predicting or foretelling in a way. As a child I could never understand how they could know such things, state them publicly and be believed. How could they know? No-one had ever travelled that distance before! It’s all based on scientific modelling and the knitting together of known facts. But don’t quote me on that.

Global events

 

I've read in astrological journals about the workings of the planets, where transits for the coming months are discussed and interpretations made on their movements and positions and how these might relate to worldwide events. I'm not trying to knock the skills and techniques used by the well-seasoned and experienced astrologers who look at global events from a historical perspective, which may usefully highlight trends.

Although I don’t do predictions, I don't sit in judgement of those members of the astrological community who do. I know astrologers who are skilled at predictive techniques, and I embrace “astrodiversity” even though some of it leads down paths I would not wish to follow. As a novice astrologer, I learned predicting techniques, and had to use and apply them as part of the course I was studying. I felt very uncomfortable when I tried to commit my findings to paper, in the form of a mock report aimed at the person whose chart I was looking at. Fortunately this was not for real, and was part of an assignment. I never did it for real. It just didn’t feel right. Stuck in a limbo where I could not progress further without embracing predictions, I heard Bruno and Louise Huber speak at an astrological conference in the 1980’s and what they offered in the way of person-centred astrological psychology struck a profound chord for me.

Four questions

Louise Huber spoke of four different questions about astrology. These were:

1) Future 2) Character 3) Development 4) Meaning of Life

• 

  Future: Louise suggested that Saturn rules questions about the future. People ask “What will happen to me?” or “What does the future hold for me?” There is a fear of the future, a need to know what is just around the corner, a need to be in control and a dependence on being told what will happen by the astrologer. Methods used in answering such questions are prediction, and the use of progressions and transits. It is a formative part of any astrologer’s learning experience to experiment with progressions and transits. 
   
• 

  Character: Louise saw questions about character traits being ruled by the Moon. People will ask the astrologer to elaborate on what problems they have, or what abilities they have. They are more in touch with their emotional needs and seek clarification for these areas of their lives. The methods used to answer such questions will be to apply character analysis together with some psychological methods, drawing perhaps of the work of Freud and Jung and using other techniques such as Gestalt and Transactional Analysis. 
   
  
• 

  Development: By this, Louise meant personal development. Here the Sun rules. Questions might be about independence, autonomy and freedom. The person will ask “What can I do to reach self-realisation?” Methods used to answer these questions would be Psychosynthesis and the Huber Method which involves the whole chart and person, the 5 levels of human existence, the aspect structure as life motivation, the integration of the three-fold personality, the Dynamic Calculations, the House Chart and Age Progression. Here we are moving away from the “stuckness” of Saturn and the emotional responses of the Moon. We enter the realm ruled by the Sun, which represents the mind, the decision-making process and the will. If we can claim our Sun, and become truly autonomous, we will not need to ask an astrologer “What does the future hold for me?” as we’ll be out there creating it for ourselves.
   
• 

  Meaning of Life: This is the area where the transpersonal planets, Uranus, Neptune and Pluto rule. The questions are deep and penetrating and include such topics as “Where am I coming from and where am I going?” and “What is the meaning of my life?” Methods used to answer these questions include esoteric astrology, which gives an understanding of the evolution of humankind. Transformation and spiritual crises would be considered along with the laws of spiritual growth. The circle in the centre of the chart would be used, plus the Low Point experience, the Moon Node chart and the use of all three charts in an astrological counselling session. These questions take us beyond the realm of the Sun and our own autonomy and move us towards asking “What can I do that will make a difference to my family, my society, and ultimately to the world?”
   
   

Code of Ethics

 

Still thinking of what set my mind turning over this “I don’t do predictions” statement, I am reminded of the APA Code of Ethics. Written by Bruno Huber and used by APA since it was founded in 1983, it includes the following clause:

 

“We regard astrology exclusively as a diagnostic tool, with which we recognise differences in character, problems of the human psyche and of psychological-spiritual development. Thus, astrological knowledge should above all be used to gain self-knowledge and as therapeutic help, as well as a means for solving conflicts - and not for prediction of the future.”

Did I get to understand where the scientists might be coming from?

 

Well, yes, in a way I did. I know many people with a scientific background and I listen to and respect the views and opinions of those with a scientific background – and in turn I expect them to listen to and respect me, and my astrology. But some aspects of the scientific do seem to smack of the sterner side of Saturn - certainty laced with a shot of rigidity, stirred well with plenty of facts. Then modelled to perfection to present a forecast or prediction which many people in positions of power hang on to tightly. The good news is that more leading edge scientists are beginning to agree that things cannot be so cut and dried, that science is not always right because there are things that can’t be explained - so those transpersonal planets are maybe doing their bit in ways we cannot yet begin to imagine.

As for astrological predictions, cue here the development of the Sun - the individual, the self, the will, the autonomy of the person, the ability to choose and create our own lives - and enter the essence of the Transpersonal planets which will help us understand what really is the meaning of our lives.

 

Freedom

"Freedom" comes under my understanding as being one of the transpersonal qualities - we know what it is but it's not always easy to pin down or define. We know it when we see it or experience it. And we know when our freedom is being compromised is when we can't do exactly what we want, or go where we want, say what we want, wear what we want or read what we want, just to give a few examples.

Right now, many people are finding their freedom is limited because of the various lockdown restrictions we're living under, depending on where we live. Extended family in France tell me that they're under a curfew from 6pm to 6am, so there's no chance of going out socialising; when you're in, you're in for the night. Not so difficult to deal with as we go through the dark days of winter, but still felt as a restraint of freedom. On the other hand, I understand that in France it's OK to travel around and visit family - but not during the hours of curfew.

Here in the UK we have different rules which affect our freedom of movement,  rules which are somewhat vague and open to interpretation, so deciding exactly what is "local" becomes a conundrum devised by our government to keep us guessing or confused. One person's definition and understanding of "local" might differ greatly from another's. 

Then there's Brexit and the changes to our freedoms. I've lost my smooth, easy, streamlined freedom of movement if I want to visit extended family in France. I have to take a gigantic retrograde step back to the early 1970s, with all the paperwork involved, if I want to go to Europe. I'm not pleased about that. 

My dog's Pet Passport is no longer valid, so if I want to take him too, I've got to go through the same beaurocratic hoops as I did with my previous dog, back in the  early 2000s, before the EU Pet Passport was introduced. I'm not pleased about that either.

And as I travel in a campervan, there are going to be restraints on the kind of food I pack into the cupboards and fridge in my van if I want to go to Europe (not possible right now anyway but that's beside the point). Customs will be checking on food being imported if it's dairy or meat; if it contains either, it will be confiscated. Crazy, like going back to the dark ages.

The only comfort I gain is that those who voted to leave the EU will be subject to the same regulations, restrictions and restraints, and their previously-held freedoms will be compromised too.

Back to freedom, as that's what this post is about. With freedom comes responsibility; some restraints are obviously needed to make society work and be safe, and many of the current restrictions in place are to help us overcome the current pandemic. Yet it's not hard to understand how difficult living under these restrictions is for many people. Go out, and walk past people talking (socially distanced of course) and you're likely to hear just one topic of conversation - coronavirus. There are concerns too about the mental health of those living alone, or who are shielding; compromised freedom affects everyone and is uppermost in their minds.

I've turned to the words of Roberto Assagioli, whose philosphy and psychosynthesis make a lot of sense in our current situation, where our freedom is compromised. Assagioli was imprisoned in Italy in1938 by the fascists for his anti-war and internationalist views. He put into practise his ideas about collaborating with the inevitable as he realised that the only an attitude of conscious acceptance would help steer him through this situation. He wrote about this, saying:

" I realised that I was free to take one of the many attitudes toward the situation, to give one value or another to it, to utliise it in one way or another....I could rebel inwardly and curse, or I could submit passively, vegetating; or I could indulge in the unwholesome pleasure of self-pity and assume the martyr's role; or I could take the situation in a sporting way and with a sense of humour, considering it as a novel and interesting experience.......I could make it a rest cure or a period of intense thinking....I had the clear, pure perception that this was entirely my own affair; that I was free to choose any or several attitudes and activities....and that I was fully responsible.........."

The Jupiter/Saturn Conjunction - and watch out for 2021

 

Our star, the Sun, setting over the sea

They're calling it The Great Conjunction because in astronomical terms, it's pretty impressive. 

Not since 1632 have these two planets - both of them mighty, large, heavy masses - been this close together, so close that they appear as a very bright star in the sky. It has long been speculated that a conjunction of these two heavies were the "Star in the East" which was seen and followed by the Three Wise Men (bear in mind if you will, that these guys were probably astrologers/astronomers so they knew what they were seeing and the possible significance of this rare event).

Fast forward to the Winter Soltice (that's today) of 2020, when the conjunction of Jupiter and Saturn will be as close and extact as it can be. Both planets have been edging closer together as they move though the home strait of Earth sign Capricorn to cross the fininishing line and enter Air Sign Aquarius today, 21st December. Slap bang on the Winter Solstice, when the Sun (from Earth) appears to stand still. What we experience here on Earth (in the northern hemisphere) is the shortest day and the longest night; a time of wonder for our early ancestors who lived their lives closely attuned to the seasons, to the environment, the movements of the heavens, and the position of the Sun, our star.

I've previously written about significant planetary movements in 2020, and you can read about it here.

But what is happening right now, as we hurtle towards 2021? The cases of Covid-19 are alarmingly on the rise, a new variant of the virus has emerged and in the UK stringent new lockdowns have been established in large areas of the country. The vaccination programme is in the initial stages of being rolled out, and the UK teeters towards the real possibility of a no-deal Brexit with stuttering on/off negotiations on a trade deal with the EU. Many countries have already closed their borders with the UK for fear of the virus spreading beyond our shores, and lorries carrying goods from continental Europe are backed up for mind-boggling miles into the county of Kent, triggering fears of shortages. Merry Christmas? I don't think so.

So let's look at the qualites and energies of this significant Jupiter/Saturn conjunction and how they might throw some light on current events and set the scene for 2021. The pair of them together remind me of the "Push-me-Pull-you" animal in Dr. Doolittle, each side tugging in different directions which are mostly completely opposing.

Jupiter qualities are concerned with largesse, big gestures, adventuring, like the Star Trek mission statement of "boldly going forth where no-one has gone before". Jupiter sees the big picture and takes in the potential of the whole, but may not always look before it leaps, so Jupiterian actions can be risky. It's great on vision, on looking ahead and seeing fresh ways to go, but a touch of casual sloppiness can creep in whilst it's in pursuit of new horizons. With Jupiter, think big, and listen to Holst's Planets Suite, where Jupiter is tagged as "The bringer of jollity". The usic speaks of this and Holst knew what he was writing about here as he had studied astrology - albeit the more traditional style, not the Huber Method.

Saturn qualities on the other hand are almost the complete opposite. Saturn is renowned in traditional astrologky for being the grumpy old killjoy of the solar system, associated with the stiffness and stuffiness of old age (Holst's piece in Saturn is tagged "The bringer of old age", the music correspondingly slow and on the gloomy side). But where would we be be without Saturn, with its qualities and energies of restaint, caution and risk-aversion? Saturn offers structure, form, systems, shape, boundaries (but don't let them become high brick walls), organisation, and a scientific approach so we don't leap in without first checking out the facts, or dangers and drawbacks. There are some pretty useful qualities around there.

So - we have the go-ahead/hold-back aspects of this conjunction going arm-in-arm into the Air sign of Aquarius, itself famous for it's forward-thinking/let-it-all-hang out stamp, thanks to the musical "Hair" and the song "The Age of Aquarius" (and that show was around in the late 60's/early 70s). There's nothing new here - this may be the moment we've been waiting for.

Aquarius, as an Air sign, is concerned with ideas, thinking, communication, freedom, shared-interest groups, independence, science, incongruity - you've probably got your own pet thoughts about this sign and you'll get the drift. But place Jupiter and Saturn, both with the potential to bring out the BEST of their own qualities in on this sign, and we could be in for some more interesting times in the year ahead. 

In the Huber Method, planetary energies and qualities are viewed as being able to operate and be expressed at three levels. These, in astrological psychology, are evident in observable human behaviour; the levels as Asleep, Waking and Awake. So Jupiter Asleep would be indolent, lazy, over-indulgence, but Waking or Awake it could be an astute, clear, inclusive and forward-looking vision of the future and an innate wisdom of how things could be.

Saturn Asleep would be fears, doubts, hanging on to what feels secure, being stuck and not wanting to budge. Waking or Awake it could be carefully researching ways of obtaining better security, ensuring that any safety nets required are of the highest quality to do the job and being like a wise mentor, helping others by sharing knowledge.

Put these two planets operating not at the lower, Asleep level, but at one or both of the higher levels of Waking and Awake, into the "Age of Aquarius" sign that they'll be travelling through together for the best part of 2021, and we have a potentially formidable duo who could work wonders - with, of course, the co-operation of we humans if we are are capable of rising to the challenge of these trying times to help steer way through for us all; the vaccines are already being worked on or rolled out across the world. 

But bear in mind Pluto, still hanging in there in Capricorn, which Jupiter and Saturn have now left, although Jupiter does bob back there a couple of times in 2021, but it moves faster than Saturn and goes on its way into Pisces a year from now. That leaves Saturn to continue more slowly and sedately, perhaps laying down firm structures and systems, based on the adventuring vision of Jupiter. Something our sparkling duo in this conjunction share is the capacity for WISDOM, maybe something to hang on to as a positive on this darkest day of the year.

Pluto stays in Capricorn until 2024, quietly getting on with the job of clearing out the old, outworn and no longer relevant attitudes, structures and organisations that have become crystallised over a long period of time. It's as though Pluto is riding postillion to Jupiter and Saturn, bagging and dumping the "unwanted on board" stuff as it goes. Expect some establishments to fall. In the UK, Scotland is urging for Independence and with a General Election in May the result will be interesting to say the least. In May, Jupiter moves off into Pisces for a short while, maybe after it has prepared the way for the vision of Scottish Independence - and that would certainly involve Pluto's transformative qualities as postilion rider.

These are simply my thoughts on our current situation. I'm not a mundane astrologer so I've viewed the current conjunction, the solstice, and the Zodiac signs involved through a more general lens of what all of this might mean for some of us. It's not a prediction, just my take.

Comment if you like, add to the pot, but only if you have something valid, valuable, relevant and respectful to say.

 

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.