Global Warming: Time to Get Real

EDITORIAL

By whatever clock you’re using — astrology, the civil calendar, the Mayan calendar or geological time — it’s getting late on the climate change issue. It’s getting so late that the excuse of “too late, we can’t do anything” might even sound convincing.

New Orleans underwater after Hurricane Rita, 2005.

For a moment. Until you think of your children and their children, and theirs.

Ten years ago at the Saturn-Neptune opposition, we witnessed the twin hurricanes Rita and Katrina, and the almost unthinkable flooding of New Orleans and Houston.Then we witnessed the compounded disaster of relief services failing almost completely while cops and Blackwater security patrolled rich neighborhoods to prevent looting.

At the time, it was a moment of awakening. People understood that rising ocean temperatures — that is, global warming — were feeding these kinds of superstorms. The more heat, the more powerful the storms.

It seemed, for a moment, like the payoff from the destruction of two cities would be the public waking up on climate change.

The warming trend and the superstorms have only continued, but our commitment has not. Now we’ve arrived at the next phase of the Saturn-Neptune cycle, the waning square. As you sit here reading, we’re approaching the final day of a major climate conference near Paris, where representatives of 200 countries are gathered.

Aftermath of Hurricane Sandy, New York City.

Today we know that Exxon, one of the inventors of global warming, was also the first to discover its association to fossil fuels, and was the inventor of climate change denial. Exxon reversed the position documented by its own scientists and embarked on a quarter-century of deception, delaying response and feeding more denial.

Maybe making $4.5 million an hour in profits — not revenue, profits — motivated them to keep things quiet.

Now we know with even greater assurance that the witch-hunt against climate scientists headed up by congressional Republicans in 2005 was just more of the same bullshit.

And now we know that if left unaddressed, the problems of ocean warming, sea levels rising, extreme weather such as cold and droughts, crop failures and other earth changes, will continue. They will affect us and our children. But for the most part, we’re acting like there’s nothing wrong, nothing to be concerned about.

To support this denial, we tell ourselves that 1) It’s not really happening or not caused by human activity, 2) That there’s nothing we can do anyway, and 3) That it’s too late.

A village near the coast of Sumatra lies in ruins. U.S. Navy photo by Photographer’s Mate 2nd Class Philip A. McDaniel

It’s strange to watch a society go through this. It’s strange and it’s very sad. Perhaps the worst element is that at the time when we need to be active and responsive and moving with confidence and a sense of purpose, the morass of apathy has never seemed thicker.

I often envision myself telling this story to the people who are alive 500 years from now, explaining why people did so little. I would have to say, ultimately, it was a spiritual issue. Yes, they were all very spiritual, but didn’t make the connection to actual existence.

You might ask what you can do. Europeans consume half the energy that Americans do, with a lifestyle that’s arguably better. That means that Americans waste half of the energy that we use.

There is plenty we can do. It’s a matter of consciousness and mustering up the will. But this has to go beyond your personal will to survive. This is not about you. It’s about all of us — and everyone who inherits the Earth from us.

Planet Waves (ISSN 1933-9135) is published each Tuesday and Thursday evening in Kingston, New York, by Planet Waves, Inc. Core community membership: $197/year. Editor and Publisher: Eric Francis Coppolino. Web Developer: Anatoly Ryzhenko. Designer: Lizanne Webb. Office Manager: Lauren Gdovin. Astrology Editor: Amanda Painter. Astrology Fact Checker: Len Wallick. Copy Editor and Fact Checker: Jessica Keet. Client Services: Amy Elliott. Media Consultant: Andrew Marshall McLuhan. Eric’s Assistant: Whitney Beecroft. Research, Writing and Editing: In addition to those listed above, Planet Waves is produced by a team consisting of Fe Bongolan, Judith Gayle, Kelly Janes, Amanda Moreno, Carol van Strum, Len Wallick.

Thoughts Are Power; Broaden Your Perspective

Dear Friend and Reader:

Friday at 5:29 am EST (10:29 UTC) we have the Sagittarius New Moon. This is the Sun and Moon in a conjunction — the end of one lunar cycle and the beginning of another. Even more than most, this New Moon is emphasizing the necessity of doing some inner reflection in a world that seems to become ever more overwhelming by the day.

Moon sliver above thin sunset clouds, just after the dark or “New” Moon; photo by Andrew McMillan / Wikimedia Commons.

I know at least a few people who have had to take extended breaks from Facebook and the news in the last few weeks. When the news features a new violent event each week, plus reports of presidential candidates spewing rhetorical violence (in the form of reactionary speech that fans fear and distrust of others), and then you add friends and relatives posting simplistic, hyperbolic memes and counter-memes on social media, that adds up to way more psychological stress than many people can process.

Sometimes we need to ignore what’s going on in favor of ‘staying sane’. Yet if everyone did that all the time, our self-insulation and inaction holds the door open for further tragedy and injustice — and a world that does not reflect our values. So what do you do?

Simply, you do what you can — and you do it with the knowledge that, just as intense astrology always resolves and dissipates with time (sometimes even in a short time), so too can a sense of feeling overwhelmed, despairing or confused pass. Sometimes it really is necessary to pull your attention back from the wider world and focus on guiding yourself through your own life. Even that, however, asks you to take a wider perspective of your life than you normally might, as Eric explains in the first section of this week’s Planet Waves FM.

In part, the need to take a wider perspective to your inner life is reflected in the planets the New Moon is contacting. Even though the Sun and Moon are in a sign known for its ability to see the big picture and get optimistic or philosophical (even spiritual), planets aligned with this event are focusing energy on the mental plane.

Photo by Amanda Painter.

Opposite the New Moon are the asteroid Psyche and another object called Chaos, in Gemini; square the New Moon is Jupiter in Virgo. Both Gemini and Virgo are ruled by Mercury, emphasizing any mental-level difficulty you might be experiencing now, given the extreme information-overload we’re all subjected to these days.

The asteroid Psyche plays up the sensation that you’re just not up to the task of struggling with your own mind. Eric described it as a loss of faith in yourself, one that leaves you feeling mentally wounded or deficient. But that sensation does not mean that you are actually lost or defective.

It could actually mean that you need to allow the object Chaos to point you to a place of creative potential. We think of chaos as “mayhem,” and sometimes it is. But as Eric points out in his podcast, the object in our solar system by that name was actually named after a primordial creation god: the personification of the void before the world came to be.

In that metaphor is tremendous power and potential (rather than a tangled mess); the key, as Eric points out, is to embrace that potential — your potential — to bring something forth within yourself that perhaps did not exist before. That’s where the quiet, dark, reflective and gestational moment of the Sun and Moon merging in Sagittarius comes in. It’s a moment of inward direction so that you can align with your greater goal, and then aim your conscious and unconscious awareness in that direction, out into the world around you again.

Now, what if you are one of the people who naturally stays actively engaged with the news and social media and activism, and can still keep the greater good for all as your guide? First of all, thank you. Second of all, you might especially want to consider Jupiter’s role in the New Moon configuration.

Old star chart featuring the constellation Sagittarius.

Jupiter is known for its expansiveness, and that can include generosity and optimism just as easily as it can include arrogance and overindulgence. Yet in Virgo, Jupiter cannot expand in its usual way; its excess of energy is more likely to get caught up in details. Which, if you’re a private investigator or scientist, can serve you well.

Square the Sun and Moon, then, Jupiter could provide the boost you need to get a lot done (if you stay disciplined); it could infuse your generosity with an even greater impulse to be of service; and it could boost your outlook toward the “loftier aspects of life,” as astrologer Robert Hand puts it, pushing back against the more circular thinking of Psyche in Gemini.

Yet there’s a less productive side to the aspect; one that bears mention particularly because of the way we live so much of our lives online, where it’s easy to react and spout off in comment threads at every turn. Beware of considering yourself the “embodiment of social truth and wisdom,” to quote Hand again. You might be unconscious of this attitude, but others will pick up on it and likely react against it — thereby rendering them deaf to the insights you are trying to share.

Yes, you might very well be the voice of reason in your social circles these days, and the world needs your voice. But with the Sun square Jupiter, things that are positive when done in restraint will still be positive; whereas things that are negative when done to excess will be negative. Translation: from now through the weekend, less is almost certainly more when it comes to social media, holiday shopping and standing up for whatever self-identifying –ISM you feel the need to champion. Note that ‘less’ does not mean ‘none'; it simply means being judicial.

The Bean in Chicago; photo by Broad-Perspective on Deviant Art.

Finally, a word about another aspect that is exact several hours before the New Moon: Mars in Libra opposite Uranus in Aries (exact 8:31 pm EST today, Thursday). At its best, this looks like an opportunity to take conscious, successful efforts to liberate yourself from certain limitations; with Mars and Libra involved, that could be some perceived limit to your desire in a relationship.

Trouble is, there’s so much asking for, demanding and clouding our attention these days, it can be difficult to stay conscious. We experience most of astrology unconsciously; there are simply too many events, influences and energies constantly at play. And Mars opposite Uranus is classic ‘accident astrology’ — particularly if you’re feeling preoccupied, impatient or resentful about something.

We’re faced with plenty to feel preoccupied with, impatient toward, or resentful about in our world. So take some time today to clear your stairway; keep your eyes and mind on the road; keep tabs on your alcohol consumption at the after-work party; breathe deeply and count to ten if someone upsets you.

Astrologer Alice A. Bailey reminds us, in a section about Sagittarius in Esoteric Astrology, that “thought is power.” Power needs to be directed with discipline and compassion, just as our thoughts do. If you’re looking for a place to start with this New Moon, that might be a good one.

Yours & truly,

Amanda Painter

Astrology as the Quest for Vision

Dear Friend and Reader:

Looking at the world right now is like trying to keep your eyes open in the midst of a sandstorm. You might need goggles, you might need a mask, you would need to find your way to a place of shelter. There’s not a lot of time to consider what you want to do.

How do you plan your own life when the future of the world seems to be so imperiled?

How is it possible to find any peace, when we’re confronted by so much turmoil? How is it possible to have faith, in the midst of so much chaos and darkness?

How is it possible to look ahead, when there is so much we need to respond to, to make right, to repair?

And in the midst of all this, there’s the question of the future.

That one idea: the future. Really, it means whatever of life is ahead, however many days or years. That elusive, precious concept, which means everything. I think everyone who believes they have a future is doing their best to create the one that they want.

I am busy writing your 2016 astrology readings right now — something I’ve done faithfully every year since 1999. For a number of reasons, I’m able to go more slowly this year, to be more reflective and to prioritize your written reading; your audio reading will follow.

The theme I’ve set for this year’s annual is Vision Quest. One of the most potent tools for growth and awareness, a vision quest is any intentional journey where you don’t know the outcome. You can embark on such a quest uncertain what you’re looking for.

In the process of writing, I’ve noticed something — that doing astrology is the quest for a vision. Just at the moment when I’m about to start writing, I look at the charts that I’ve cast, and studied, and contemplated, and I ask myself what I see.

What does this look like? What do these aspects describe? What picture is emerging? Then I patiently explain what I see. I describe it using examples, metaphors and often the astrology itself. It’s a miracle how this happens — perhaps a miracle of consciousness, of inner vision, or of my commitment to bring in relevant ideas for you.

My intention is to describe the environment that surrounds you, and the one that’s within you. That is the miracle of astrology, and I think its very best use: as a visioning tool.

This year, your written readings will be available by New Year’s Eve. Then, each sign will also get an audio presentation, and a rune reading or artifact reading. I will offer you a sense that your own potential is real, and help clear away some of the fog or sand, so that you may have a vision for your life.

Learn more about Vision Quest here, or pre-order all 12 signs here. You will want all 12 — they tell a story, and they each describe different facets of your chart (Sun, Moon and rising sign and those of your loved ones). By the way — purchasers of all 12 signs receive with their readings the full Vision Quest musical compilation. And as soon as you order, you’ll receive access to a 45-minute recording session from last weekend.

I’ll be in touch again soon.

With love,

PS, please read Jeanne Englert’s piece on dreaming as vision questing. You will love it.

This is the latest in a series of letters connected to Vision Quest, the 2016 annual edition of Planet Waves. You can read the prior letter in the series here, and the first letter — introducing the project — on this page. 

Planet Earth Doesn’t Get a Holiday

By Amanda Painter

Planet Waves has documented several times the phenomenally creative ways that environmental activists the Yes Men have brought attention to environmental issues and the corporations that cause, ignore and make them worse. (See coverage here and here, plus photos by Eric of their 2009 UN climate stunt in NYC here; click the headlines to see the photos). Perhaps their most famous activist prank involved impersonating a Dow Chemical spokesperson and taking responsibility live on the BBC for the industrial chemical disaster in Bhopal, India.

Yes Men Jacques Servin and Igor Vamos (aka Andy Bichlbaum and Mike Bonanno) pose with their imposter-edition of The New York Post outside the United Nations Sept. 21, 2009. Photo by Eric.

No matter what the tactic or the target, the Yes Men are clear: the planet needs each and every one of us to get creative, get active, get vocal — now. But what if you’ve never thought of yourself as ‘political’ or ‘an activist’ or ‘creative’? What about your friends and family?

Today, Andy Bichlbaum, Mike Bonanno and the Yes Lab team sent a timely email filled with “some cool AR (Augmented Relaxation) ideas for you and your loved ones this holiday season, to spark revolutionary conversations and keep things exciting!” Designed to “inspire your friends and family to step out of their comfort zones this holiday and do something revolutionary,” here are their suggestions:

See some films about climate and social justice

Instead of seeing the latest Hollywood blockbuster, have a good laugh and inspire some mischief of your own by watching The Yes Men Are Revolting on iTunes or Vimeo on Demand — and if you’ve already seen our film, we highly recommend this list of fantastic climate documentaries to help us re-imagine a more sustainable future!

Take the pledge of resistance for democracy

This April, join the largest civil disobedience action in a generation, calling on Congress to end the corruption of big money in our politics, and ensure every citizen has an equal voice. Take the pledge.

Browse and contribute to Actipedia!

Actipedia is an open-access, user-generated database of creative activism built by the Yes Lab and the Center for Artistic Activism. It’s a place to read about, comment upon, and share experiences and examples of how activists and artists are using creative tactics and strategies to challenge power and offer visions of a better society. Actipedia just celebrated its 1000th project entry (actually 1264, but who’s counting?) and we’ve developed a new gallery feature so you can organize your own favorite examples of creative activism. Join today and contribute to the next thousand entries!

The World on Fire — and the Sagittarius New Moon

In this week’s edition of Planet Waves FM (now part of the Pacifica Radio Network), I look closely at the Sagittarius New Moon, which takes place Friday, Dec. 11. The streak of planets now in Sagittarius aligns with many deep-space points, including the core of our galaxy and the Great Attractor.

Farook and Malik allegedly arrive at Chicago’s O’Hare International Airport for the first time together in July 2014. This is a primary source document issued by the federal government. But we don’t know whether it’s authentic or who these people are. Still, I’ve cast a chart for the time stated. Screen shot from MSNBC.

I also go over charts for the incident at the Indian Point nuclear power plant near Manhattan, as well as the chart for the arrival of the alleged shooters in last week’s incident in San Bernardino, CA.

The federal government released an image with a time stamp on it — which is an invitation to astrologers to cast the chart. Both of those charts are on the program’s homepage.

On Saturday, The New York Times published an editorial on the proliferation of guns on its front page.

It was so apropos I’ve read the whole commentary in full. The Times tells the story of how and why they put an editorial on page one for the first time in nearly 100 years.

My musical guest is Brooklyn-based Monogold. Here is their bio, and here is their bandcamp page, where you can listen to their new CD project.

Thanks for tuning in.

Your Monthly Horoscopes — and our Publishing Schedule Notes

Your extended monthly horoscopes for December were published Wednesday, Nov. 25. Your extended monthly horoscopes for November were published Thursday, Oct. 22. Your Moonshine horoscopes for the Gemini Full Moon were published Tuesday, Nov. 24. Please note, we normally publish the extended monthly horoscope on the first Friday after the Sun has entered a new sign.

Aries (March 20-April 19) — Any restrictions on your physical movement in the weeks ahead are almost certain to be temporary. It’s nearly as likely that those same restraints will become the blessings you didn’t know you were waiting for. That’s the reason you should resolve to cultivate patience as your primary objective for the foreseeable future. That’s also why you should endeavor to see these developments as a gift of both time and space whenever it feels as though you have had either bodily freedom or prerogatives of mobility taken from you. If you play your cards right, any constraints now imposed upon you should provide you with ample opportunity to discover ways you can transcend any and all limitations you had previously accepted and resigned yourself to. – by Len Wallick

Taurus (April 19-May 20) — There is a difference between complaining and expressing your needs. For you, realizing and leveraging that difference should require only small adjustments on your part so you can be understood as well as heard. Those adjustments would seem to entail putting things in a slightly different order. If you want to be understood, you must first seek to understand. While you probably have enough power and influence right now to simply coerce others into cooperating with you, any gain through duress would probably be as ephemeral as it is efficient. Rather than putting your objectives first, consider the advantages of making others feel as though your desires are their priority. The extra time and effort you invest to enlist support in kind will ultimately pay more than conscription will cost you. – By Len Wallick

Gemini (May 20-June 21) — A little organizing will go a long way for you at this time. You may feel as though your affairs are on a roll, and perhaps they are, but momentum can be a fickle thing. Don’t take anything for granted. Rather, take stock of both what you have gained and what you have lost over the last six months or so. Do not limit your accounting to material things, either. Consider the state of your relationships as well as your finances. Where you have shown demonstrable increase or attainment, put practices in place to consolidate, preserve and protect from dissipation what has been hard earned. With regards to what you may have had to give up or neglect, think about what you can do to make up, catch up or even up. Smooth rough edges so they won’t snag. Fill in low spots so you won’t fall in them. – By Len Wallick

Cancer (June 21-July 22) — It would be appropriate for you to exercise great care in small things for the time being. By doing so you will be grooming yourself to achieve great things in the not-too-distant future. The time for assertive, even aggressive, actions will come. For now, make it your business to get, and set, things right. In addition, endeavor to remember, refresh, restore, regain and above all return to what sustains you. Feel for your roots so you’ll know where you have come from when you are someday far removed from where you started. Do not be deterred from focusing on preparation even if others mistake your efforts for stagnation. The best way to make sure that you do not trip when taking the first steps of your impending journey is to make sure that the laces on your boots are well tied. – By Len Wallick

Leo (July 22-Aug. 23) — Sometimes you don’t know when you have gone a bridge too far until somebody pushes back. While you are fully justified and even entitled to have strong and significant feelings at this time, it would be in your best interest to express your emotions with care and consideration. This does not mean you have to repress or inhibit yourself. It does mean picking both your spots and your words so that others will welcome what your heart wants to share. Thus, when you are feeling enthusiastic, shine a light of gratitude rather than blasting the heat of your zeal. That way, others are more likely to see themselves in your picture. On the other hand, if your emotions are more on the somber side, show your generous and gentle nature so as to receive the same in return. Be easy to take and you will be better received. – By Len Wallick

Virgo (Aug. 23-Sep. 22) — While spring cleaning is not exactly near at hand, there may be other ways in which you can make a fresh start in the places you feel most at home. If you live alone, begin thinking about the extent to which you would be willing to share your personal space with an additional life. If a roommate or domestic partner is either not on your radar or not in the cards, you might want to at least consider adding a cactus or even a goldfish to open up some additional interaction, which could ultimately broaden your own life. If you share a residence with others, this would be a good time to reconsider your boundaries with them to encourage greater camaraderie and foster improved cooperation. It’s not as though there is any need for you to stir things up; that would only muddy the waters. Rather, look to loosen things up so as to smooth the waters. – By Len Wallick

Libra (Sep. 22-Oct. 23) — Be here now. Especially if you perceive some things going on in your immediate environment that remind you of trying times about two years ago. That was then. Now is the time to finally begin a process of integrating what is not yet resolved. Odds are you have done most of the hard work already. So, first, assume that is the case. Then, make it your next objective not to go back and be what you no longer are. To achieve that end, give yourself all the credit you are due. Look back at more than what you have been through. Consider all you have come through. Are you now more aware? Of course you are! Have you been responsible for an expanded consciousness? You bet you have! And who more than you now knows better than ever how to do the right thing? So now, do the right thing for yourself. Let yourself off the hook and get on the stick instead. – By Len Wallick

Scorpio (Oct. 23-Nov. 22) — You know you are loved. You know because some who love you reach out on a regular basis. You also know that others wait for you to accept the love they have to offer. Part of the love others offer is to ease your burdens in some way. Some have undoubtedly made it clear that they stand ready and willing to help you with physical encumbrances. Others offer a strong shoulder for emotional support. Then there are those whose clear yet learned perspective will help you see your way through any mental dilemmas. Also among those who love you are sure to be some whose spiritual development will fortify your faith. Finally, when you think about the work you have put into developing yourself over the years, you have evidence that you are fully capable of loving yourself. Just because you may have loved unwisely in the past, don’t assume that you are unworthy of love now. – By Len Wallick

“The past several months I have felt like my ass was strapped to some unnamed comet with no off switch. My exposure to astrology in the past left me wanting…no substance…too generic. I decide to give it another chance and gifted myself with your Sagittarius birthday reading. Well, finally! I now understand that this comet doesn’t HAVE an off switch, but I have at least found the steering wheel. Thanks.” — Tree Ravenwolf

You can still pre-order the 2015-16 Sagittarius Birthday Reading for the discounted price. You’ll receive two full audio segments of astrology, a third segment of astrology afterthoughts and your tarot reading, plus photos of the cards and the charts. While Eric works on it, listen to last year’s reading, on us, for inspiration and to review if you have a Sagittarius Sun, Moon or Rising Sign.

Sagittarius (Nov. 22-Dec. 22) — You, a leader? Yes, you! As surely as you have been known for your infectious smile, it’s time to own your inspirational style. Just as you have consistently offered empathy and support, others would be thrilled to offer you the reins of authority. Furthermore, the same form of character (known as ‘backbone’) that has permitted you to stand up to both authority and social pressure alike, will now serve very well on behalf of others. Finally, you know in your heart that your competitive side is really something more than a need to distinguish yourself; it is a love of challenge that has long been looking for worthy employment. All that remains for you to step into the leadership roles you were born to fill is to absorb a few remaining lessons about what it means to be a good follower. That means finding one last person to follow in the way that you will someday want to be followed yourself. – By Len Wallick

Capricorn (Dec. 22-Jan. 20) — Your life has not been for the faint of heart. The fact that you are still alive proves that you are as stout hearted as they come. There is also no denying how big and kind your heart has always been. Now, all the heart you have shown in the past is surely coalescing in a new and improved way. In the depths of your soul, unseen to many (maybe even to you at this point), grows a source of inspiration that you will be able to draw upon to create like an artist and live to the fullest. Most of all, however, those who have had cause to wonder about your ability to mature fully will soon have reason to believe in you even more strongly than they have ever doubted you. As you gradually become more aware of the new type of heart building up inside, the most important thing for you to understand is that you have had it in you all along. – By Len Wallick

Aquarius (Jan. 20-Feb. 19) — Answer the bell. Regardless of any difficulties you are confronted with, keep coming out of your corner until you have gone the full distance allotted to you. Now is no time to yield to weariness or pain. However discouraging others may be, and no matter what challenges are yet to come, roll with them so as to conserve yourself — but also maintain a steadfast resolve to stay on your feet. Just as important, continue to keep your own style fair and clean even if others are not fair to you. Good effort and good form are never wasted. In fact, the only way you can truly lose now is to give up; for, a turning point is about to take place. What good you have done is slowly but surely adding up to more than your stumbles and errors. You need not resign yourself to accepting a moral victory, either. As long as you persist without breaking faith, you will continue to have a fighting chance to both prevail and be distinguished for it. – By Len Wallick

Pisces (Feb. 19-March 20) — Whether you know it or not (and you probably do), you have acquired some valuable and powerful allies as of late. Now your coalition of support will be stronger than ever, provided you continue to include those who were there for you when you had fewer options and things looked a lot less promising. Those who have recently thrown in with you have likely done so because of the interests you have in common, as well as the credentials you have earned. But those who have always been faithful to you for the long run have been motivated by more than just what you have to offer them in return. Your core constituency has hung in there with you through thick and thin because of who you are, not what you are. If you continue to honor their faith, you will have done the highest honor possible to yourself. – By Len Wallick