I spent four  hours yesterday in a very cold wind standing in the square in Lightwater. It was the Lightwater Business Association's autumnal "Fayre in the Square". Various local businesses were present and I had an enjoyable time speaking to other stall holders as well as passers by.
  Since I have been involved in Healing for over 16 years now, I am surrounded by friends who understand my way of being even if they are not totally on my wave-length. It was therefore, as usual, interesting to chat to members of the general public who have absolutely no idea of the concepts that are such an integral part of my life that I feel they are very mundane and ordinary. In some respects I am more than happy to admit I live in a cocoon in which the world is perfect and everything that happens is an unconscious choice I have made in order to experience certain conditions from which to learn and grow. This however is quite beyond the conscious acceptance of the vast majority of people not because they are incapable of thinking this way, quite the opposite in fact, but because it is not what we are taught and certainly not what is encouraged!
  In understanding the transpersonal aspects of life, one can no longer pass the buck or apportion blame. There is an imperative to walk one's talk and maintain total integrity at all times. The costs can be high since this does not fit the paradigms of the general morass within which we (allegedly) live and work. The price of not doing so however is even higher as one disintegrates and looses any sense of self, self-worth and purpose. Acting out a life dictated to by outside forces and 'values' becomes meaningless. This I believe is a major factor in the unrest in the world at present. People are breaking out of the old moulds and no longer accepting impersonal truths that seem to enslave. The scenes of vaste demonstrations in city squares around the world are examples of this remonstration against the old outworn ways.
  Yesterday several people asked me what 'transpersonal' means and I said basically it was the interconnections we all have with each other, the world around us and our own inner creative self. This to me is what gives meaning, purpose and inspiration to all I do and all I can become. It is my wish to enable others to find this personal inner strength too. Despite a general lack of understanding, there is a genuine desire in people to go beyond the 'normal' way of thinking, to no longer be 'square' and to explore what it truly is to be an inter-relating human in a highly connected world.

  If you feel a sense of uncertainty and slight panic arising do not act on it! The full moon in Aries on Saturday and into Sunday is leading us into strange waters. Be prepared to adapt and not defend. We are all being asked to reevaluate our position be that in our own lives or in the world at large.
  There are some very tense aspects to this moon bringing increased aggitation and uncertainty. Astrology apart, we are seeing a farcical wind up at the United Nations Congress as politicians use a war of words to ignite further unrest in the middle east.
  Such verbal standoffs could so easily lead to outright war. Yet this is not what the ordinary people of any nation wants. Be aware of the profits of war and know that is why war is so prevalent. There are those who make fortunes out of others' misfortune. Large corporations own governments and have their own agendas. Civilians are used as collateral or pawns in this game.
  Wherever you are and whatever you do, keep the peace in your own immediate environs right now. Do your best to remain flexible and open. A new way is coming into being and the birth pangs are being felt around the world. However the full moon affects you remember it is a passing phase and don't be moonstruck - it could lead to rash actions.

  I prefer the word 'bod' to 'pleb' afterall we all have bodies regardless of the class we may belong to! In this respect we are all the same. It's therefore something of a shame that some people like to think of themselves as superior, as more able, more astute, more classy etc. We all have gifts to offer and fortunately they are all different. That's what enables us to progress. But is it only in this country that such a divide and rule attitude is so apparent?
  You only have to look at the news from around the world to realise that no matter where you travel there are class distinctions, prejudices and rivalries for supremacy. It is all a miasma of internecine one-up-manship that has spread like a virus across the globe from ancient times to this very day. Greed is the driver behind this relentless warring and serves no one in truth. There appears to be no cure - except that there is!
   Psychologists and evolutionary theorists are now turning their attention again to Darwin's famous phrase "survival of the fittest". They are no longer taking the line as has been interpreted; those who have the most aggression and vitality win out. Rather it is becoming  increasingly obvious that those who are most adaptable, who co-operate and are resourceful in their sharing, compassion and empathy are the true survivors. Humans are naturally gregarious and work well as a collective. We see constant reminders of this in ordinary acts of kindness everyday, not to mention the volunteer hours that thousands of people offer every week to help others.
  If only the media news would reflect the underlying reality that is the baseline of our existence we would not be drip fed lies, resentment and hostility. You have a choice though. Turn off the TV and go and do something productive instead. It has been proven beyond scientific doubt that acts of kindness improve the giver's physical and mental health in numerous ways. Acts of kindness also extend life not just of the giver but the receiver too. Of course no one would necessarily want to live longer if they are surrounded by conflict and hate but given the alternative, a peaceful, co-operative society with  improved life prospects few would say no.
  As ordinary 'bods' we can all do our bit to make this a better world. Start with your immediate environment and see where it takes you.

  Last night I watched a documentary about Aung San Suu Kyi. Her bravery and modesty epitomise grace in the dirty world of politics.
  Her life as the daughter of a general seemed to set the scene for her future. However, as she pointed out throughout the programme - it was all a matter of choice. She had afterall settled in England, married and had children. It was only the ill health of her mother that took her back to Burma, coincidentally as revolution broke out. Aung San Suu Kyi decided to stay. She forsook comfort, safety, freedom, and risked the break up of her marriage. She lost out on the formative years of her children growing up. These sacrifices she was consciously willing to make for the greater good of the whole population of Burma. Outcomes could not be foreseen nor by any means guaranteed but she persisted.
  How far is life dictated by circumstance, fate or coincidence? It is impossible to be exact on this. There is no scientific measure. It is only with hindsight that we may assume or presume that things were 'meant' to be.
  Astrology may give us some clues as do other forms of divination, and psychism. However, nothing is set in stone. We DO still have choice in how we act. In this world of time-space dualism in which we live, what we do today will have repercussions further along the line, either limiting our choices or opening new doors of opportunity in the future, all of which will affect those around us in some way too.
  What choices will you make today?

  Today we celebrate the autumnal Equinox when night and day are of equal length. It is also the day when the sun appears to enter (or ingress) the degree of the sky which delineates the start of the astrological sign of Libra.
Just as night and day are in balance so Libra represents the attempt to find balance and harmony in life, particularly through relationships.
  As we all know only too well, relationships rarely run smoothly and harmony has to be worked at. Libra therefore has to learn the lessons presented by confrontation in order to develop it's true qualities of diplomacy and tact. It is very easy to fall into a passive-aggressive mode where we give in for the sake of peace and then resent everyone for not co-operating. This is the weak point in the Libran tale.
  Libra is a cerebral sign and enjoys approaching problems on a logical level, debating and discussing the pros and cons to the point of confusion. So many facets of a situation are sorted through and evaluated that in the end a decision becomes difficult to achieve in light of such a panoply of possibilities. As a masculine and Cardinal sign however it signifies the start of a new season and as such is an initiator. The energy to bring new vitality into any area of life that is flagging will be found. It is also time to fully reap what has been sown over the year.

  Yesterday I considered what independence might mean. Are we or can we ever have total independence in this highly connected world?
  Today I am considering a more individualistic view. What does independence mean to an individual anyway? Again the question arises - are we or can we ever have total independence? This time however it is with regard to our own thought processes.
  As mentioned yesterday we live within a social context which has shaped and educated us and imprinted it's social morality, qualities and expectations upon us. Within this sphere of operation we can expect to be praised or admonished in some way if we step out of line or become too eccentric. These limits are highly ingrained in our personal thinking regardless of whether they are conscious or unconscious and such internal 'guidelines' constantly effect our behaviours and beliefs.
  Going back to my question it is almost impossible to imagine that any one of us is completely independent of this social conditioning or enculturation. Rebellion itself is a reaction to something that we don't like but as such is a result of feeling imposed upon by outside forces that we don't agree with. Conforming is the opposite, agreeing to bide by the 'rules' because you like the constraints, and possibly moral values, that are attached to them. One therefore readily submits to these social mores accepting the regulation they place upon life and life styles.
  In a similar manner our minds produce endless rules about our behaviour and what is or is not acceptable. This becomes obvious in the form of the voice of the inner critic - I'm not good enough etc. or I should/ought/could etc. All of these self-limiting beliefs have taken root through the chattering outer voices of care-givers, teachers, mentors, partners and role models throughout our lives. We become prisoners to other people's beliefs and judgements of our performance.
  Independence can only come when we challenge the inner critic through self-acceptance in a positive non-judgemental way. It is important to reevaluate your views and  opinions in order to move with the times. It is vital to reevaluate your own self-limiting beliefs in order to progress in life, to develop and to evolve.

  Wikipedia describes independence as a condition of a state/nation where the population exercises self-rule. One wonders in these times whether that is actually possible. Big business corporations tend to own the politicians as we can see quite clearly right now. Lobbying on behalf of large institutions holds sway over voting in any so called democratic government chambers. More to the point you don't get anywhere, let alone to be party leader, without 'brown nosing' to those of influence and gaining their financial support.
  Independence of the individual is just as precarious. Not only are we tied to financial concerns and thus stuck with the rat race and hamster wheel of earning a so called living, which for most people is an euphemism for barely making ends meet, but we are constantly fed propaganda by the media encouraging us to buy things we don't need and believe that the word is full of terrorists. We are apt to drown in a world of fear and lies.
  Our lives are shaped by the society we live in and those we share our time with. Be careful who you mix with and what you believe. It's all a game of smoke and mirrors and no one has a true handle on events right now. Only trust your intuition and inner knowing. If it doesn't resonate with you then move away, whether it's a person or message. This is the only independence we can maintain! This goes for this blog too... make up your own mind please!

  We are rapidly approaching the Equinox for September 2012. This is the time of year when days and nights are of equal length. This officially occurs on 22nd September which is a Saturday this year. It is also the traditional time to celebrate the Harvest Festival as a thanksgiving for the reaping of what was sown in the Spring. Harvest Festival links to the full moon following the Equinox and therefore should be celebrated on September 29th, also a Saturday.
  The full moon represents completion of a cycle and is therefore a good time for anyone to contemplate what has been achieved. Since a full moon occurs every month, this can be used for both shorter term reviews e.g. over a two week period from a new moon which is considered to be a good point to begin projects, ideas etc. up to the full moon as well as longer periods of time such as the Spring to the Autumn. Whatever you have been sowing this year on a personal level or as a community or business now is the moment to really assess where you have made strides and to congratulate yourself.
  Of course everything does not turn out as expected and 2012 has also been a time of big upheavals both politically and economically across the globe. These have affected every one of us in some way. Rather than dwell on the negative aspects in which life has become more arduous or complicated, it is a good moment to appreciate the inner strength you have found and developed in order to cope. This too is very much worth celebrating!!!
  May your own personal Harvest Festival be full of joy and recognition of the rewards you can now reap for all the hard work you have put into any plans for this year.

  Once again we see the middle east in flames as anger bursts onto the streets. A short UTube amateur video may have been the trigger to this particular eruption but is certainly not the source of all this violence, afterall this has been brewing for centuries. You only have to look at history to know that - Crusades are not new!
  It is however interesting that the crunch point again seems to coincide with the tightening of the Pluto-Uranus square in the heavens. This dominant aspect has underpinned events in the region prior to and following the eruption of the Arab Spring. Here we have the unpredictable and eruptive energy (Uranus) of individuation (Aries) providing a flash point for the volcanic violence (Pluto) against governments (Capricorn) across the globe.
  I find conspiracy theories fascinating but am also very sceptical - the word does begin with 'con' afterall. I also believe most of the actions that we take as individuals tend to be somewhat random, stimulated by unconscious promptings resulting in a rash reaction to events rather than rational, well considered, meaningful actions. In the same way the mob is a very impromptu reaction to localised events.
  How the flames in this instance have really been fanned is anyones guess but again there are strong threads linking it all together. What may have been 'planned' by the individuals involved may well have been different. What is going on behind the scenes by organisations and governments however, is a whole different ball game on a completely different scale with a very different agenda.
  Outcomes are what is important to all of us as these become the foundation for the next cycle of events in this world of linear time scales where cause and effect are said to be the only logical sequence. Whatever belief you have about space-time we seem to be bound by a communal world community that is lurching through tumultuous changes that effect all of us as individuals no matter where they take place on the globe.
  Let us not however forget that Chiron (the Healer) is in a sextile position (in Pisces) to Pluto during these times and therefore there is one strength that we can all muster up and believe in and that is the power of
COMPASSION.

The joy I felt
Bubbled up inside.
Like a box of frogs
Let loose
It tumbled over itself
And hopped and jumped
In a tumultuous expanse
As a carpet of laughter
So huge, erupted
Morphing a sky of pink love.
And there, like a speck
Coming into view,
An eagle soared
Viewing it all - knowing.
No need to beat its wings
As carried on the current
Of hope and lightness
It gathered speed in its
Feathers of wisdom.