The Miliband Brothers

This week on the Mars-Pluto square, David Miliband announced that he is taking up a position in New York to work for a charity, the International Rescue Committee.  This is the latest twist in the sibling rivalry saga with his brother Ed.  I thought I would have a look at the family history.

Ralph Miliband

The story begins with their father, Ralph Miliband, whose chart we have (without a birth time); we do not have a chart for their mother Marion Kozak.  The family of Ralph Miliband originally came from the Jewish quarter of Warsaw, but moved to Belgium, where Ralph was born in 1924.  He came to England with his father in 1940 to avoid persecution by the Nazis.

He studied at the London School of Economics, and became a devotee of the philosophy of Karl Marx, and visited his grave in Highgate Cemetery.  At his death in 1994 he was buried there, close to Karl Marx.  In the 1960s he was involved with the movement of the New Left, and published the book Parliamentary Socialism in 1961.

Ralph Miliband had Sun in Capricorn, and Moon conjunct Mercury in Capricorn, the sign associated with politics, and indeed both his sons followed those interests and became politicians, possibly fulfilling some of his aspirations.

David Miliband

David Miliband is the older of the two brothers (born in 1965), Cancerian to Ed’s opposite sign of Capricorn.

In an Observer Profile of the brothers 1/7/07 by Andrew Anthony, at the outset of their Cabinet careers, but long before the leadership contest between them, we are treated to an interesting picture of their upbringing.

“The Miliband house in Primrose Hill in north London was a meeting place of the ‘new left’, the group of intellectuals that formed around the New Left Review, as well as more traditionalist Labourites and communists.  Tariq Ali and Tony Benn, for example, were regular visitors…

“Benn (also) writes in his diaries that Miliband senior, who was a close friend, confided that his sons complained to him about his idealism: ‘Oh, Dad, how would you do that? Would it work? What are your positive proposals?’ “

Both brothers studied Politics, Philosophy and Economics at Oxford.  Around the time of his Saturn Return, David Miliband became Head of Policy for Tony Blair in 1994, and thus became associated with the development of New Labour leading up to Tony’s election and in this period the father died.  New Labour was going in a completely different direction from Ralph Miliband’s ideals, and Ralph Miliband bowed out of incarnation.  At that point, David Miliband’s Nodal Axis (the direction of his destiny) was squaring his father’s Saturn, and their politics were diverging.  It would be Ed who would carry some semblance of a torch for socialism and Old Labour.

In his new appointment at this time, David is following his destiny.  Natally, he has Jupiter conjunct his North Node in Gemini (a sign often associated with the U.S., and sometimes used as its rising sign), and Jupiter is now conjunct with his North Node, hence the beckoning horizons across the pond.

Hillary and Bill Clinton

When Tony Blair left the office of Prime Minister, and New Labour was beginning to die, the new Prime Minister Gordon Brown appointed David as Foreign Secretary.  His period in the office was not as distinguished as possibly expected in comparison to the potential and hope invested in him, neither was it disastrous.  There were controversies, but no more than average for a Foreign Secretary.

He notably formed a warm friendship with Hillary Clinton, and it is interesting that David’s Neptune is conjunct her Venus.  This is the opposite way round from her conjunction with Bill Clinton: Bill’s Venus being conjunct with Hillary’s Neptune.  It is a conjunction in synastry which can produce fascination, or at least dazzlement in the early stages of a relationship.

Bill Clinton’s comment on David Miliband’s new appointment is “I congratulate the IBC on the appointment of David Miliband as its president.  I have known David almost 20 years.  He is one of the ablest, most creative public servants of our time.”

Ed Miliband

Ed Miliband was born in 1969, and in his relationship comparison with David includes a combustible Uranus-Mars conjunction (Ed’s Uranus conjunct David’s Mars).

When Ed pulled a surprise win in the Labour leadership contest in September 2010, Pluto was conjunct Ed’s natal Sun, and Mars was square to David’s Sun.  It may therefore have been as much of a shock to Ed as it was to David.  It was one of those moments that their mother “couldn’t look”.  Many saw it as a betrayal, that Ed had snatched David’s birthright (not even for a mess of potage), and those who thought New Labour would go forward were disappointed in the direction of the party.

But there is an interesting legacy from father Ralph.  Both Ed Miliband and his father have Sun in Capricorn (politics) square exactly Chiron (their wound) in Aries, so Ed Miliband is carrying an exact astrological gene from his father.

There is a small possibility that Ed could fulfil the true socialist ideals of his father, but with his charisma only marginally appealing to the British population and only incrementally increasing, it remains largely improbable.  Those who hanker after Old Labour know that you cannot bring it back now, any more than you can rehabilitate the beloved NHS in the current political and economic climate, but with Ed’s karmic mission (North Node) conjunct his father’s Uranus (Vision) a glimmer of his father’s light remains in the political domain.

Aspects

Today, Easter Sunday, Venus makes two aspects, a death and a resurrection.  The first is a square with Pluto, the sweeping away of old attachments.  The second is a sextile with Jupiter in the early afternoon: a taking up of enthusiastic new attachments.  So there is the possibility of hearts broken and hearts made today, and they may or may not be the same hearts.

Tomorrow, April Fool’s Day, follows a similar pattern, but substituting the Sun for Venus.  First, in the early hours, the Sun squares Pluto.  The theme of the cycle of birth/death/rebirth is revisited, on a more creative level than the emotional focus of Sunday.

At lunchtime, we have the Sun sextile Jupiter, bringing new enthusiastic energy, life and vitality.  Thus you may have themes of creation/construction/destruction/recycling, with perhaps more to show for it than Sunday which can act as a rehearsal in some respects.  It will be like a twice baked soufflé for this week, or twice baked chips (I have been watching too much of the current series of Masterchef).

On Thursday, Pluto will be sextile Chiron.  This will bring through more healing, and more understanding of the cycle of regeneration.  Pluto (psychological health) will balance with Chiron (spiritual health), and you may be able to produce a much more wholesome Excel spreadsheet  of your physical health, psychological well being, and future goals (or centring in the Now if that is preferred).  The lessons and rollercoaster of the early week will come to fruition in this planetary combination.

The week in bullet points:

• Today – emotional roller coaster
• Tomorrow – creative balancing and understanding
• Thursday – bringing it all together

A Tale of Two Borises

It has not been a good week for those named Boris…whether you are a Russian exile, or Mayor of London.

Boris Berezovsky

This Boris was a wealthy Russian businessman, who had taken part in the history of his country (assisting Boris Yeltsin and Vladimir Putin in coming to power).  This intervention may be shown in his Uranus squaring Russia’s Jupiter.

In 2000 he joined the opposition and then moved to Britain, befriending other Russians and forming a circle of exiles, which included Alexander Litvinenko who was poisoned with Polonium and subsequently died.

Boris was found dead on 23^rd March in his bathroom, in circumstances which police say were not suspicious.  The family think it may be otherwise, as he had received threats of assassination.  Current reports mention that he may have been hanged, or strangled, but what is clear is that he was depressed, having had many setbacks in recent years, such as losing a lawsuit against Roman Abramovich, and a draining legal settlement with his ex-wife Galina.

He had a hard-nosed mental make-up, composed of Mercury exactly opposite Saturn, Saturn exactly conjunct Mars, and the opposition square very tightly to Chiron.  The prominent involvement of Saturn in his mind (Mercury) and action (Mars) and woundedness (Chiron) will have meant that he always had a tendency to look at life bleakly or cynically, which would have turned to depression in tough times.  Suicide may have been in his mind recently, with the Mars/Uranus conjunction opposing and putting pressure on his Neptune, and Saturn squaring his Pluto.

Boris Johnson

Our Mayor of London has had a better fate.  Those who have faithfully followed the Andrewless Marr show (we are assured Andrew will return when he has recovered from his stroke) will have seen a Scorpionic grilling from Eddie Mair on Sunday morning.  I think it is true to say that both fans of Boris and even those not so sympathetic were shocked by the hatchet job.

Boris is a highly popular politician (Sun exactly conjunct Venus indicating the lovable component of lovable rogue), and riding high on the success of the Olympics last summer. His chaotic, anarchic side is his Uranus conjunct Pluto.  Sun in Gemini is associated with cycling, and he has promoted a cycling hire scheme in the capital among other accomplishments.

The interview came prior to the screening of a documentary about Boris (who incidentally does have Russian in his mix of ancestry) which aired last night.  We learned a lot: that he was two years above David Cameron at Eton, and that he is very competitive (a Leo ascendant would be consistent with his tousled “mane” and sunny disposition).

In the interview on Sunday morning, Eddie Mair asked some pertinent and relevant questions, but in such a manner that Boris was totally taken aback.  Mair had prepared his attack very carefully and stealthily, if you look at the course of the interview.  Boris was trying to sidestep each awkward question, and in the documentary he sidesteps the issue of whether he would like to be Prime Minister with analogies to rock stardom, sport and art.

Eddie Mair of course is a Scorpio (hint dropped earlier…).  He also has stealth, as evinced by his Sun exactly conjunct Neptune, and is an experienced radio interviewer.  This was an important choice for him karmically, as the North Node was exactly transiting his Sun/Neptune in Scorpio.  Definitely an eagle going for his prey, while the Marr’s away.

Boris (whom his Mayoral predecessor Ken Livingstone portrayed in the documentary as needing to be liked) has been gracious about the savaging by Mair, saying that his inquisitor did a “splendid job”.  That is more than fair, and commendable in my pacifist book.

Aspects

At 10.26 a.m. in the U.K. this morning (Tuesday 26th) Mars will be sextile Jupiter, enthusiasm allying with action.  This is dynamic for doing, rather than just being, and if you have been stuck lately on a project, it’s all systems go.  There is a pioneering quality to this aspect, if you are feeling gung-ho.  Much can be achieved.  Do what you can do today, for…

…tomorrow, Wednesday (27^th) is another story.  It starts with Mars square Pluto…conflict, and action without thought.  Much meditation needed today, for those of you who meditate (I know a lot of lapsed meditators).  If you find that the day starts with a skirmish, go back to bed and get out of the right side, or just meditate to bring about a modulated energy for yourself and your affairs.  This is part of the bigger picture of the Uranus-Pluto square – we have met it before, and we shall meet it again.

The next aspect which comes up is Jupiter square Chiron.  It is a square, but maybe having Jupiter (luck) and Chiron (healing) in combination, it may prove beneficial, e.g. you might stumble upon a wondrous new natural remedy for a long-standing health irritation.  The new book by Louise L. Hay (“All is Well”, with Mona Lisa Schulz) may be good to settle your body, mind and spirit.  This aspect may overstretch your healing resources, but may equally help you settle after the Mars-Pluto scuffle.

Have another meditation at that point, because you are working your way up to a Full Moon in Libra, and it’s only 9.27 a.m. (alternatively, have a lie-in).  This Full Moon takes place at 6 degrees Libra, one of the most common positions for the Ascendant (the rarer Ascendants are in Pisces).  Unlike Sunsigns and Moonsigns, Ascendants are not spread evenly throughout the population.  Focus on linking your emotions with the spiritual plane or lightbody while in meditation, but f you find the tension of a Full Moon too intense to settle to meditation, then be assured that the tension will naturally ebb away during the course of the day after the Full Moon.  Don’t hold on to it, breathe deeply, relax, and let go!

You’ll be relieved to get to Thursday (28^th), ready to shape some serious communication or educational work, such as drawing up documentation, thanks to a trine between Mercury and Saturn.

We also have two components of a triple conjunction on Thursday, the triple conjunction consisting of Venus, the Sun, and Uranus.

The Sun and Venus warm the atmosphere first: this favours all arts projects, including musical interests and drama or theatre, plus all aspects of creativity.

Late in the evening, Venus conjuncts Uranus and a touch of originality and invention are added to art, music and drama. Artistry is added to invention.  Social meetings are lively and stunning.

The next day, Friday (29^th) brings the last component of the triple conjunction: Uranus teaming up with the Sun.  This is even more lively than the other two facets, and could be a little risky.  But if you are tuned into new ideas, or even instigate them, you probably wouldn’t be fazed by the changes inherent in this combination.  Be on your toes, though.

Get ready for three more aspects later the same day, all involving Mercury.  Polish up your mental equipment, to process them all.

First, Mercury conjuncts Chiron: combining conventional medicine and alternative medicine.  Actually, the “All is Well” book by Louise L. Hay and Mona Lisa Schulz fulfils the brief here, as the subtitle is “Heal your Body with Medicine, Affirmations and Intuition.”  The book goes through the various systems of the body and provides healing modalities, with stories of how the two forms of healing have been combined in specific cases.  It is an informative and useful overview of healing.

In the afternoon, Mercury squares Jupiter, that wide-ranging aspect from a couple of weeks ago (Mercury turned direct in the meantime), which can be summed up as “too much information”, and in a chart gives rise to the Explorer Archetype and restlessness.

Finally, the week’s aspects end late afternoon/early evening with Mercury sextile Pluto, a respectable way to end the week, taking stock mentally and linking your insights with your deeper psychology.

Suggestions for ending the week: another meditation (do I hear groans?), tea and cake…

If these do not appeal, the gym might beckon for you hardier souls, or a session with your favourite psychotherapist…

Still no good?  How about curling up with the latest Hilary Mantel novel for a few hours, or decluttering the stubborn corners of your home…

I am sure you will find the right outlet for relaxing at the end of this strenuous week of aspects.

The week in bullet points:

• Tuesday – Good energy
• Wednesday – Clashes and tension, with the possibility of some healing
• Thursday – Planning and creativity
• Friday – Originality, healing, and mind-stretching (both horizontal and vertical)

Unlike the last two weeks, where we have had only one aspect, the coming week is choc-a-bloc with aspects, so you may find more situations than usual to deal with, or more internal wrangling, depending on your focus in life.  The first aspect is not until Tuesday, at 10.26 a.m. in the U.K.

Until then, the Mars conjunct Uranus of Friday may still hold sway, though ebbing away in influence.

I will be away on Sunday, and will post again Monday night or Tuesday.  If you enjoy looking at the week with me, make a note to tune in for a slightly later start to the week.

Mars conjunct Uranus

Again we have a week where there is only one main aspect, that is Mars conjunct Uranus, an aspect which occurs once a year.  It’s a conjunction which yields several Archetypes, and I have selected three which describe a range of its attributes.  It is a dynamic aspect, and you will find its possibilities under the description of the week ahead, in order to make the most of it.

Engineer Archetype

Caroline Myss describes the Engineer Archetype thus:

“Grounded, orderly, strategic qualities give creative energy a practical expression; Talent for engineering everyday situations or designing solutions to common dilemmas”

When I see this conjunction in a chart, I expect to find a market talent in the area of problem-solving and invention.  Uranus/Aquarius on its own is invention, but together with Mars it provides a more practical expression than just the theoretical ideas.  Skills often combine mechanics (Mars) with electricity (Uranus), such as in Electrical Engineering.

Henry Bessemer, an Engineer and Inventor of the 19^th Century was particularly known for the advancement of the manufacture of steel.  His Mars-Uranus was in Scorpio.  As an Inventor, he held 129 patents.

The Occultist

Mars conjunct Uranus can also arise in the charts of those who practice active (Mars) Occultism (Uranus), as distinct from Mysticism (Neptune).  It is a particular esoteric path, and one trodden by the late Douglas Baker, a qualified doctor who served and sustained injuries in the second World War, then became a prolific writer and teacher and interpreter of the work of Alice Bailey.  His own Mars-Uranus conjunction was placed in the sign of Pisces, and his work is characterized by a great deal of visualization and symbolism; his books are heavily illustrated, an expression of the desire to express the deep spirituality of Pisces in more than just words.  The Coronation Street actor William Roache was associated with his metaphysical school for many years, and actually also has this conjunction!  Douglas Baker’s powers are expanded by the fact that the conjunction works through a Kite formation in his chart.

The Freedom Fighter

The exuberant ex-Canon Chancellor of St. Paul’s Cathedral,  Giles Fraser is not a freedom fighter as such; he just happened to be at St. Paul’s Cathedral at the time of the Occupy occupancy there, and forced by circumstances to nail his colours to the mast.  He sanctioned the presence of the protesters there, and would not countenance their removal, resigned from his position and moved on.  That seemed to be his destiny, and he is almost a household name now, writing regularly in the Guardian, and this week appearing on This Week.  So he is associated with an edgy social bent, and the Occupy movement which itself was inspired by the Arab Spring.  Freedom fighting is definitely a province of Mars (fighting) conjunct Uranus (freedom), and particularly expressive while Uranus in Aries and we are still working out the effects of the Arab Spring and the impulse to stand up against tyranny.  This current conjunction of Mars-Uranus takes place in Aries.  Giles has the conjunction in Virgo, which gives a more grounded and community expression to it.  His forced resignation was due to the transit of the Nodal Axis squaring his Pluto, thus it became a matter of integrity.

Aspects

At 20.03 Hrs this evening in U.K. time Mercury is stationary prior to turning direct.  This will be good news for those having difficulty with their communications, or who want to delay their blogs so as not to be contentious.

On Wednesday (20^th) it is the Spring Equinox and the Sun enters Aries at 11.02 a.m.  This is the true beginning of Spring, a chance to begin anew at the start of the Astrological new year.  It is a chance to lay aside all the psychological convolutions of our inner reflection during the period of the Sun in Pisces, to lay aside any failures or disappointments from the struggles of winter, and step forward in a more physical and purposeful way in our daily lives.  Hopefully we have done enough integration in the past few months.

Friday (22^nd)  is the main menu this week, with Venus also entering Aries and supporting the freshness of the Sun in Aries, adding perhaps new love, new heart and assisting creativity.  Venus will have to lay aside some of the idealism and romanticism of its recent experience in Pisces, and be more realistic and practical about her feelings and where to place her affections.  This event takes place in the early hours of the morning.

The early evening aspect is that of Mars conjunct Uranus, which could be capricious or explosive, or could be trained into more constructive pursuits such as aspects of science, sport or socially beneficial projects.  There may be a desire to surprise, so make sure that this has a constructive outcome.  Sparks may fly, both human and electrical.  If you are combining art and science, the art will have a highly original quality.  Independence and willfulness may also be a feature in your dealings with others and yourself, e.g. if you are looking after toddlers there is sure to be a tantrum.

Other Blogs Today:

Other historic events this week have found me blogging overtime…

Please read the following which I posted earlier if they are of interest to you:

Tony Blair and the 10^th Anniversary of the Iraq War

http://www.lanawooster.co.uk/blog/2013/03/tony-blair-and-the-10th-anniversary-of-the-iraq-war-an-astrological-look/

Pope Francis I

http://www.lanawooster.co.uk/blog/2013/03/pope-francis-i-astrological-first-impressions/

The week in bullet points:

• Today – a constructive evening for communication
• Wednesday – a spring in your step
• Friday – more heart in art; harmony or disharmony through conflict

From my Postbag:

“So Lana, tell us about this seemingly gentle man, Pope Francis I. His qi seems very resolute, balanced and deeply spiritual, I hope that is truly who he is. He’s also a Jesuit, first ever, how interesting.

Looking forward to any insight you have to share. Best wishes to the Pope Emeritus, may he enjoy his contemplative life out of the public eye.

Congratulations to all our Catholic friends –

Love,
Dia”

Pope Francis I

I remember clearly at the age of eight, when Pope John XXIII was chosen, being wide-eyed in wonder hearing about the black smoke giving rise to the white smoke above the Vatican.  The event of a new Pope doesn’t come often in one lifetime, and this current choice seems to come with some hope, after the disappointment of the last tenancy.

He is not much younger in years than Pope Benedict, but seems to have more energy and be more present in the world.  Ideologically there is much to indicate that he may not stray far from Benedict’s brief, but there are many who are now giving him the benefit of that doubt and hoping he may make a dent in the entrenched problems of Roman Catholic society, such as its attitude towards women.

“It seems the conclave went to the other side of the world to find a new Pope” were almost his first words as Pope.  Very fitting for a Sagittarian (covering long distances) coming from South America (whose vast spaces are associated with Sagittarius) naming himself after St. Francis of Assisi (also Sagittarian, born 26/11/1182).  St. Francis had North Node conjunct Chiron and Pluto (deep healing), and was especially associated with the animal kingdom (a province of Sagittarius).  He also displayed a touch of Sagittarian humour; there was immediately a contrast in personality from the previous Pope, and indeed all other Popes from living memory.

I have many New Age/Catholic friends…the combination seems to go well, though the fundamentalists wouldn’t approve.  Their minds, hearts and imaginations are often open to other realities in a way which blends well with the teachings of the New Age, acquired through some leanings  of the religion itself.  One of those Roman Catholic friends even shares a birthday with the new Pope, and “thanks God” for the new appointment.  It goes without saying that God and the Goddess love us all, whatever religion we were born into.

In taking a first look at the chart of the new Pope, we are hampered by the lack of a birth time which would yield the Ascendant, so emphasis must go for the time being to the Sun and Moon positions.  Sun in Sagittarius is traditionally the sign for conventional religion, and pontification.  His Sun is close to the galactic centre, so he may be aligned with spiritual realities, and it is conjunct the North Node (karmic mission) which confirms that his path is a true one (for him at least).  He is comfortable with religious power.  There is a down-to-earth quality about him, and if he is of a certain evolutionary level it may be significant in his life and works that Earth is the esoteric ruler of Sagittarius.

His Moon is conjunct Venus (which confirms the gentleness seen by Dia, above).  At Noon this is an exact conjunction, and will diverge if he was born at another time of the day.  The Moon sign is Aquarius, so giving him a social focus and an interest in a fair society, a championship of the underdog.  He has been reported as making statements which maintain the downtrodden status of women in the Papal view, and that may be because Uranus squares his Venus/Moon conjunction, so there is a sense of alienation in his mind towards women at the same time as the fairer qualities.  There is scope here that he may change his mind suddenly (Uranus).

He has a difficult T-square between Chiron in Gemini and Neptune opposing Saturn, and will have learned to balance that to a certain extent by his age of 76.  He does have a much warmer timbre of voice than his predecessor, and Chiron in Gemini could be considered to have healing qualities through the use of the voice.  Fortunately, an exact trine from Mars lifts the Chiron a little from its tension in the T-square, and confers some good healing energy too.

Jupiter is trine Uranus in his chart, so miracles may be ascribed to him; not necessarily high-flown miracles, but placed in earth signs they may be practical miracles, such as shifting some of the poverty in corners of the world.  He has an unusual relationship with money and materiality, as in addition to this aspect his Part of Fortune is in the 2^nd House of Money.  He thinks outside the box in this sphere.

He has been called “divisive” already for various reasons, such as his alienation from his fellow Jesuits.  But he may be able to bring people together, by virtue of his Mars in Libra (the “Peacemaker Archetype”) trine his Chiron (“Inner Healer”) which understands suffering through its position in his T-square.  His election may have been a mental shock (transiting Pluto conjunct his Mercury) but at the same time he understood his responsibility (transiting Saturn sextile his natal Mercury) and the dove of divinity definitely came to settle on his shoulders, with transiting Neptune sextile his natal Jupiter.  He has a huge task ahead of him, and I wish him all the luck of the Sagittarian ruler, Jupiter.

Many of my friends marched in London hoping to prevent the Iraq War, and I did write a letter to Tony Blair which he ignored.  I never bought into the Weapons of Mass Destruction idea!  I have to document the 10^th Anniversary which occurs on Wednesday 20^th, because I believe the Iraq War was a collective wound and we are still suffering collective post-traumatic stress syndrome from it.

The media started to document the anniversary at the beginning of March, and Kirsty Wark brilliantly presented a huge debate on the subject, and a searching interview with Tony Blair.  On 5^th July 2009 I wrote a blog about the two Bushes, Senior and Junior, and now would like to focus on Tony Blair and his role, to balance out the karma of my writing.

I observed then:

“He enlisted the help of the sympathetic U.K. Prime Minister of the time, Tony Blair, through the magnetic attraction of Tony’s Pluto being exactly conjunct with George’s Venus.  The extra karmic and compulsive element was provided by Tony’s Pluto sextile George’s North Node.”

One of George W. Bush’s influences, I argued, was his father.  Here I would like to look at one of Tony Blair’s influences, his wife Cherie.

But first, a basic look at Tony Blair’s own chart:

In case you were in any doubt, Tony Blair does have a Warrior’s chart, with Mars one degree away from the Ascendant in Gemini.  Some Prime Ministers, such as Margaret Thatcher, feel they need to make their mark through a successful war.  If they thought it would not be successful, they wouldn’t try it, of course.  Even now we see Cameron and Hollande pushing for intervention in Syria.  Buoyed up by his success in the Balkans, and his firm alliance with George Bush, Tony Blair’s Sun in Taurus was resolute in 2003 about going to war in Iraq despite a lack of backing from the U.N. and a lack of evidence regarding Weapons of Mass Destruction.

A characteristic of Tony Blair’s policies throughout his period of government, was a lack of psychological depth or understanding, and a tendency not to think things through: with the main spread of his planets being in the early signs of Aries, Taurus and Gemini he needed some more emphasis on the outer planets in order to come from a more spiritual understanding.  He has a Uranian ruled Moon conjunct North Node in Aquarius, which does provide some outer planetary influence – this gave him some flavour of a man of the people, but the conjunction was in his 9^th House of Foreign Lands, so it was channelled more through interests abroad.

Cherie Blair

His wife Cherie has always had money as a priority, having had a desperately poor background.  A successful woman in her own right, she has the conjunction of Jupiter and Uranus (“The Entrepreneur”) on her Ascendant, and has provided a financial drive (her urge for property), which Tony has certainly fulfilled since he left office.  She also brought a Roman Catholic investment and inheritance into their life, and he later converted to Roman Catholicism.  He must have a weighty conscience, so the conversion may have been an attempt to balance his karma.  Kirsty Wark actually asked him if in his role as Middle East peace envoy he was trying to atone.  Cherie has the Warrior Archetype in the form of her North Node (karmic mission) conjunct Mars, and may well have been a strong influence in the direction of war.  She is not likely to have been an influence towards peacemaking, though she does have Mercury in Libra (which is itself conjunct Tony’s serious and heavyweight Saturn-Neptune conjunction).  She channels the Mercury in Libra through her work in the field of Law.

The Time of the War

At the time of the onset of the Iraq War, Saturn was trine Tony Blair’s Saturn (firm resolution) and Pluto was trine his Pluto (self-empowerment), so his state of mind was resolute, firm and determined, just as the impression he gave.  Tony Blair’s serious and heavyweight Saturn-Neptune conjunction sits on the top of the Jupiter of Iraq’s chart, and at the time of the war Pluto was transiting Iraq’s Saturn and opposing its Moon/Venus (way of life).  Tony Blair’s nodal axis connects with Saddam Hussein’s Sun and Moon, so there may be personal karma between them.

The Legacy

Iraq was destroyed, with no planning having been given to its reconstruction.  The way of life, both good and bad, for the Iraqi citizen was destroyed.  The fine antiquities of ancient Mesopotamia were also destroyed.  That is on top of all the lives lost…Tony Blair certainly continued his interests in the Middle East, having a special peace envoy role, and many have wondered what he has done with that.  It is also the second anniversary this week of the Syrian uprising (15^th March), and the Middle East is still in turmoil, with the added threat of Iranian nuclear weapons and the lack of counterbalance to Iran which was formerly provided by Saddam Hussein.  Now of course we face the dilemmas over intervention in Syria, and further afield in Africa.

The Interview

Kirsty Wark challenged him on the issue of intervention:

“…after Iraq do you think that you could ever make a case for moral intervention? I mean you talk about Iran and you talk about Syria…”

One of the fascinating features of the interview with Kirsty Wark was Tony Blair denying that his role in the matter was relevant:

Kirsty: But do you think you’ll be redeemed?

Blair: I’m, I’m, I’m less interested in you know my personal position in this.

That may be a debatable point!

A different viewpoint

In the Big Issue (February 25^th edition) Brendan O’Neill paints a different picture of Tony Blair’s role in relation to George Bush.  He does not see Tony Blair has having been Bush’s “poodle”.

He writes “from the time he was elected in 1997, four years before Bush entered the White House, Blair was devising new forms of military interventionism and warfare that had a huge influence on the neocons around Bush who were then waiting in the wings of American power.”

He sees Blair as an imperialist, and that does chime with Blair’s Moon/North Node karmic mission in Aquarius (“I know what’s good for you!”) in the 9^th House of Foreign Policy.

Related post:

http://www.lanawooster.co.uk/blog/?s=Bush+Senior+and+Junior

Explorer Archetype

The Explorer Archetype relates to our aspect this week of Mercury square Jupiter  (It’s a close relative but distinct from the Pioneer Archetype, which combines Mars and Jupiter).  Jupiter square Mercury relates to physical and mental travel, but being square it can lead to overstretching.  The square can propel into other dimensions, for both Mercury square Jupiter, and its related Mars square Jupiter, but usually only if we are travelling spiritually.  For instance, if you are travelling in regression say, to a lifetime on another star system you might suddenly turn left in a corner of the Universe and find yourself on a distant home star destination.

Ranulph Fiennes, who just recently gave up an expedition to the Antarctic, has the natally robust sextile of Mars and Jupiter (the Pioneer Archetype) but was defeated by transiting Jupiter squaring his natal Mercury, frostbite putting an end to this ambition, overstretching himself being part of the problem.

Marco Polo, the Explorer, combined the two Archetypes successfully: Jupiter trine Mars with Mercury at the midpoint sextile both planets.  Christopher Columbus, another prominent Explorer, also had Jupiter-Mercury in a favourable sextile.

Adventurous minds and visionaries also come under Mercury square Jupiter, and some can be very successful in this field of human endeavour. Mercury-Jupiter of itself does not predispose to higher consciousness necessarily, but does lead to the sharing and exchanging of information, and does favour communication and publicity.

For channeling and interdimensional work there does need to be a significant presence of Neptune or Uranus with Mercury.  However, Mercury and Jupiter in combination do cover a lot of global ground.

Mercury square Jupiter in the Birth chart

The following three examples of people who have Mercury square Jupiter natally have followed its potential for adventures in consciousness and breaking mental barriers to an amazing degree, two of them on the spiritual plane and the third on the mental plane.

Alice Bailey

For 30 years, Alice Bailey served as an amenuensis, a telepathic secretary (a Sun in Gemini skill), to the Ascended Master Djwal Khul, known as “The Tibetan”.  She produced numerous books on esoteric subjects (such as “Esoteric Astrology”) which are revered by many today, and founded the Lucis Trust.  Once could say her mind was overstretched (she used to read or study while ironing) but as a Gemini with Mercury ruling, she may have thrived on the mental stimulation.  She once said that she felt her service in this lifetime was due to having let the Masters down in a previous lifetime.  She has the “channeling” aspect in her chart, the link with Mercury and Neptune being a sextile.

David Spangler

David Spangler is the author of among other works the seminal “Revelation: The Birth of a New Age” and was a significant force in the development of the Findhorn spiritual community in Scotland.  He was open to the experience of other realities from a young age.  Here was an unlimited and liberated mind in the true promise of Mercury square Jupiter.

I have a quote from him on my website’s Light Body page:

“I emerge, a new earth and a new heaven emerge, through the hearts and minds of those who can receive and express them”

~ Limitless Love and Truth through David Spangler

Derren Brown

Derren Brown is an atheist, but has developed the mind and exploited its capacity for illusion to the hilt.  He denies any spiritual element, but has used his charisma and personality to create some daring work.

His autobiographical book “Tricks of the Mind” is revealing in many ways, but does not let you into the heart of the writer!  With Moon conjunct Chiron in Aries, there is an emotional knot, but one perhaps he is not willing to share.  He has the more tortuous link between Mercury and Neptune, of the square, which is indicative of his mastery of illusion – maybe he was compelled to master this difficult aspect, or if not it would have mastered him.

Aspects

Today’s square between Mercury and Jupiter may be felt throughout the week, as it is unchallenged by any other aspect, though we have a new moon tomorrow and a planetary change of sign on Tuesday.

The Mercury-Jupiter square occurred in the early hours of this morning, which is probably why I was tossing and turning, my brain trying to work out several leads on this aspect.  If you are able to get a handle on its challenge of presenting huge swathes of information, you may capitalize on it all week.

Mercury square Jupiter can bring about adventures of the mind, to the point that the mind can be overstretched, there can be a lot of information to take in, possible mental overwhelm, and a lot of questions thrown up. The travel and exploration can be both mental and physical, and there is a danger of overdoing things.

Tomorrow there is a New Moon at 21 degrees Pisces, which is a new start spiritually, depending on which area of your chart it falls in.  In my chart, it falls in the 11^th House of Friendship and Groups, and I will be meeting Sarah for  preparation for Light Pod and Channelling, which implies a larger group when seen in its spiritual context.  You may want to tune in for meditation at 3 pm UK time on Monday 18th March if you are interested in our focus for this Light Pod, which is Children of the World.  Camilla Batmanghelidjh (she of the colourful turbans), founder of Kid’s Company, published a book on her charity on March 7^th, entitled “Mind the Child”.

On Tuesday (12^th) Mars enters Aries, so there may be an element of Spring energy, and it would certainly be a good day for springcleaning.  Strangely enough, I already had that earmarked in my diary for that purpose.  You may notice spring is in the air, lambs are gamboling, spring flowers  arresting your attention, and sap rising generally.  You may be toying with your Inner Pioneer or Inner Warrior today – have a look and see what you’ve got in your dressing up box.

It’s a week to keep your eyes, ears and hearts open, and you could go beyond your usual mental, spiritual, time and space frontiers.

Mantra:  “Gate gate paragate parasamgate bodhi svaha”

The week in bullet points:

• Today – travelling beyond your usual boundaries
• Tomorrow – a new spiritual beginning
• Tuesday  –  new physical energy

Saturn sextile Pluto

Nick Clegg, leader of the Lib Dems and Deputy Prime Minister, must have been feeling very confused last week.

At the beginning  of the week he couldn’t remember what he did know about rumours of sexual misconduct concerning Lib Dem Chief Executive Lord Rennard.  Pluto had been conjunct his natal Mercury…

…Then in the middle of the week, it emerged that he had heard a little innuendo, but no detail.  We were confused by his story, and there was yet another question mark over his integrity.

Just when he must have been beginning to despair of his situation, on Friday morning his party did well to retain the seat at Eastleigh vacated by Chris Huhne (who was fighting a speeding allegation from 10 years earlier and after years of denial finally admitted recently that he persuaded his wife to take the penalty).  Nick Clegg had to adjust his mindset from defeat to victory.

The main aspect of last week was the trine of the Sun to Saturn and its sextile to Pluto, on the day the by-election result was announced.  Was this double-surprise what was divinely intended?  One, that the Lib Dems, whose star looked on the wane, should keep Eastleigh.  Two, that the UKIP party, headed by the unique Nigel Farage, who nearly lost his life on the day of the last general election, should take second place.  Three surprises if you count separately that the Conservatives failed to take second place, and were beaten by UKIP into third place position.  Four surprises if you forgot that Labour were even a leading party in this country, and took fourth place.

Saturn sextile Pluto was being highlighted that day by the Sun’s glare, and next Friday the sextile becomes exact.  For some reason, the current order is important, and there may have been new realities to face in your life last Friday, which will be understood more clearly next Friday.

Nick Clegg had Mars opposite Pluto last week, so he was certainly under fire.  If he was born at Noon, he will also have had Uranus trine his natal Moon, indicating surprises.  Nigel Farage currently has Saturn sextile his natal Pluto, a serious step forward for him.  His survival of the plane crash in 2010 occurred under a sextile from Uranus (surprise and accidents) to his natal Venus.  The chart for the United Kingdom at this time has Pluto opposite its natal Pluto (thus linking in with the Saturn-Pluto sextile), which indicates an overthrow of the natural order.  Admittedly, this is only a by-election, but the order of the four parties is unusual.

Saturn sextile Pluto in your life may be throwing up an odd sequence of events which is contrary to the usual order of things, and forcing you took look at issues in a different way, such as the value of things you have taken for granted.  There may be some incredulity too, as in the case of the election – how could the anti-European party UKIP have so strongly captured the public mood?  Food for thought.

The Aspects

Tomorrow the Sun conjuncts Mercury – on a good meditation day, with Sun/Mercury conjunct in Pisces, you can experience crystal clear vision, right to the heart of things. It is a good week for aspects with only a tiny cloud in the blue sky.

This meditational aspect occurs at 12.58 pm, and just less than an hour later, at 13.52 Hrs Venus squares Jupiter, so a 56-minute mediation window then gives way to the blip of the week.

The glitch comes when you try to translate your meditation all insights into a socially acceptable form , for soon afterwards there is the square between Venus and Jupiter, and it might be best to confine your impressions in the form of a poem, for the time being. Venus squaring Jupiter is usually fairly harmless but can evoke inappropriate behaviour which can be misconstrued.

So let’s say you experience unconditional love in your meditation, then feel evangelical about it on your return to the room or your chair…you might want to tell the first person you see (the unsuspecting newbie in the meditation group perhaps) or even demonstrate the wonders of unconditional love.

“Whoa!” Is the reaction from the unprepared recipient. Maybe it’s the milkman-

“Hold on. You haven’t paid your bill for weeks. How dare you”.

Back to your poetry notebook for an apologia style poem…

For the meditator, rising above it all, the responses from the wider world may seem petty.  But in this post-Saville world there are some fine lines around personal boundaries, and attention has recently been focused on inappropriate touching, whistleblowers have been damaged.  So there may be some serious issues under the microscope during this usually well-meaning and fairly harmless aspect.  Julie Miller, A blogger on I Peace, a networking site, recently described her practice, on retiring at night, to ask for forgiveness for any unintended hurts she may have caused during the day.  Her actual words were “I make a point of asking for forgiveness every night even for things I may be unaware of”.

Tuesday (5^th) holds a conjunction between Venus and Chiron, a healing space for relationships, and forgiveness being one element of that.

Thursday (7th) is a busy day for relationships (Venus) but it’s all good.  By then you may have come down slightly from your unconditional high and begin to see how your new perspective can mesh with ordinary reality and existing relationship patterns.  There are three such aspects to process:

First, Venus sextiles Pluto. This may be helpful financially, and helps convey deep feelings in relationships.

Secondly, Venus trines Saturn and the virtues of commitment and loyalty can be comfortably demonstrated.

Thirdly, Mercury conjuncts Venus at 11 degrees Pisces, which enables you to write and broadcast it.

Curiously, I know three people who are scheduled to have neck (Venus) operations in this month (March).  One of them takes place on Friday (8^th) at the time of the Saturn-Pluto sextile, an aspect of major reconstruction.  This is a major aspect, and lays broad foundations.  It was highlighted last week in different ways, but crystallizes at the end of this week.  On Friday it may especially be applied to relationships.

Saturday (9^th) sees a conjunction between Mercury and Chiron, so health (as conventional and unconventionally treated) is emphasized, and perhaps even a forced co-operation between the allopathic and the natural forms of medicine, some shared consciousness between the two.  The surgery may have been necessary, but the aftercare can be shared hopefully.

The week in bullet points:

• Tomorrow – crystal clear thought; dodgy social performance
• Tuesday – relationship crisis and healing
• Thursday – all good on the relationship front
• Friday – the new order confirmed
• Saturday – radical thinking

From my Postbag:

“Oscar Pistorius…Does anything in his natal chart or his chart at the time of the murder connect to the South African chart and if so, how?”

Oscar Pistorius

Oscar Pistorius is currently on bail pending a charge of murder of his girlfriend Reeva Steenkamp.  He is due to appear in court again on 4^th June.  Only Oscar himself knows the truth of what happened on Valentine’s Day, as Reeva’s father implies, in stating that Oscar must “live with his conscience.“  Can Astrology help us to look inside his mind?

Early Childhood

Oscar Pistorius was born with a congenital defect, an absence of the fibula in both legs.  A physical problem which is congenital usually (but not always) involves a karmic carryover from another lifetime, a problem which needs to be solved in this lifetime.  Whether it has any bearing on his current crisis, is at this point in time unknowable, unless you have a fine access to the akashic records.

The area of the body where this problem is situated is of interest to medical astrology.  At the age of 11 months, his legs were amputated halfway between the knee and the ankles.  Aquarius represents the area between the knee and the ankle, and his Ascendant in Aquarius is almost exactly halfway through the sign, at 12 degrees Aquarius.  Mars is in his 1^st House, and Mars represents surgery (as well as many other attributes he has such as courage, speed and determination).

Birthchart

Mercury at the top of Oscar’s chart on the cusp of his 10^th House would point to an athletic career as a runner.  Saturn late in the 10^th House may symbolize running into later problems in relation to his reputation.

He has the Warrior Archetype, as shown by the Sun in his 10^th House square closely his Mars in the 1^st House, and indeed his warrior must have been supremely self-motivating throughout the challenges of his life.

Three difficult natal aspects may link particularly with his disability: Mercury conjunct Pluto, Jupiter square Saturn, and Chiron opposite Uranus.

Pluto exactly conjunct the Midheaven would indicate a career and a life path which can swing to extremes in fortune and reputation.

Olympic Success

If I had been writing a blog about Oscar Pistorius last summer, it would have been a very different blog.  Scorpio courage defies the odds in athletic success, and makes his country proud.  Pluto was sextile his Pluto – a psychological triumph and overcoming of deep challenges.  Mars was transiting his South Node, so there was a karmic element in relation to using his past life challenges as a spur to achievement.  His natal North Node is in Aries, so the development of his individuality and potential had reached a marking point.  This may have ended a karmic cycle of the development of his male side.  The Paralympic gold medal shows up as an explosive event, in a transit of Mars to his Pluto/Midheaven.

Dating Reeva

Then began a new phase of his life, post-Olympics.  He began a new relationship, with Reeva Steenkamp, in November.  Jupiter was trine his Ascendant on the cusp of his 5^th House, indicating new love, but square his natal Jupiter which may have brought overconfidence.  Natally he has Moon square Venus, which may indicate that he would take time to mature emotionally, and the new relationship would have tested that, beginning around the time that Saturn was transiting his Venus (relationship).  In their synastry (chart compatibility) her Pluto was trine with his Mars, a very energetic connection which may have been difficult to handle.

The Events of Valentine’s Day

This Valentine’s Day, the day that Reeva died, was close in time to a sextile between Mars and Pluto, which again is very energetic but can be explosive and turn to violence.  Saturn was one degree away from an exact square with Oscar’s Ascendant, which may have been exact if the birth time has been rounded out (10.30 a.m.), cusping his 10^th House of Career and Notoriety.  Mars was exactly trine his Scorpio Midheaven, linking warriorship also with his reputation for that time.  Neptune was exactly square Reeva’s Jupiter, representing complex issues about trust and faith.  If she was born at Noon, Pluto would have been exactly conjunct her Moon, but we do not have a birth time for her.  What happened that day, and how conscious was he of what he was doing in the middle of the night?  How much control did he have over his actions and emotions?  The murder was not premeditated in terms of being a carefully executed plan, with clues hidden and alibis.  He has admitted that he killed her.  Deborah Orr wrote in the Guardian yesterday that “Pistorius’ case is an empty vessel into which all our prejudices can be poured… Reluctance  to take his story at face value is driven not by dispassionate examination of the evidence, but by more general views about the vulnerability of women to violence from their partners.”  I will be circumspect about my own views…if I have not already said too much already.

From my Postbag:

“Oscar Pistorius…Does anything in his natal chart or his chart at the time of the murder connect to the South African chart and if so, how?”

And so to the question in hand (from my Postbag), sometimes you just have to ask the right question.  I chose to use the 1994 chart of Mandela’s inauguration, because of the implied emphasis in the email on the development of the new South African state.  What was revealed was an astonishing link between Pistorius’ chart and that of his nation.  There is an exact square between Oscar’s Saturn and the Saturn of the new state (difficult spurs to mutual development).  There is an exact square between Oscar’s Mars and the Pluto of the new state (pressures of the state triggering Oscar’s energies and efforts).  And there is an exact conjunction between Oscar’s Pluto and the Jupiter of the new state (aggrandizement of Oscar’s deeper energies and psychology by the hope, expectations and aspirations of the state).  The handling of the case has already thrown up issues about policing and court procedures, and is putting the state under the microscope, and through fire.  How Oscar handles himself through what is going to be a long process, and how the state shows its integrity in handling this difficult event, may well be an important period of growth for both.

Aspects

There is a Full Moon in Virgo tomorrow, where we will be torn by looking at the minutiae of our lives and the bigger picture.  The Moon at its full always opposes the Sun, so emotionally we will be focused on details that drive us dotty, but in our wider consciousness we will be attuned to its opposite, the wide sea of Pisces and collective issues.  Later in the day, and operational during the Full Moon itself, Jupiter will be squaring the Sun, so making us away of global events and issues, and how they impact our lives, such as ecology and pollution.

On Tuesday (26^th) Venus enters Pisces, and the general feeling will go from Venus-in-Aquarius-mode which is idealistic in an intellectual and theoretical way about relationships, to a more sentimental and perhaps romantically idealized or even rose-tinted perspective.  Later on, but still early in the day, Mars conjuncts Mercury, and the rose tints may be put under the spotlight and analyzed for a while to see if they can stand scrutiny.  Incident-proneness may be operational, especially in relation to travel.  Irritability for some, productivity for others.

On Wednesday (27^th) Chiron conjuncts the Sun, bringing to emphasis healing initiatives, such as government ideas about what we should eat, and what we should weigh, and how much we should exercise.  However, it is a good day for going within to determine what is right and what is healing for ourselves as individuals.

On Thursday (28^th) Venus conjuncts Neptune and the Fixed Star Fomalhaut at 3 degrees Pisces, at best inspiration in the Arts and creative expression.  This benefits some psychological areas of healing and spirituality, such as tackling the issue of addiction.  There may be some confusion in relationships too, or in monetary arrangements.

Friday 1^st March can be extraordinarily constructive, with first a sextile between the Sun and Pluto at lunchtime, balancing hope and realism, light and shade, in your life.  Then in the evening the Sun trines Saturn, revealing the possibility of constructive plans and ways forward.  The prevailing sextile between Saturn and Pluto is highlighted, which is about constructive ways of handling the current huge challenges that we face personally and collectively.

Winners

I do not have a tendency to win competitions, having Saturn in the 5^th House of Speculation square to my Sun.  However, I received a welcome phonecall out of the blue last week from Cygnus Books http://www.cygnus-books.co.uk informing me that I had won a free book order at random, by virtue of the fact that the previous week had been Random Acts of Kindness Week.  Needless to say I was delighted.  It does remind you that every week needs to be a week of random acts of kindness, both given and received.

Which brings me to the winners of the Richard III competition, to revise the mnemonic for the colours of the rainbow, ROYGBIV (Richard of York Gave Battle In Vain) in the light of his recent change in circumstances.  My decision is to award first place to Daphne (a regular commenter) for the new mnemonic of “Richard of York Goes Beyond Immoral Vengeance”.  And there is a runner-up prize for Sandra (a regular reader) for her entry “Richard the Third – unheard?” which doesn’t exactly fit the brief, but is plaintively evocative.  First prize is a Year Ahead for the winner or someone of her choice, and second prize is a Now for the winner or someone of her choice.

http://www.lanawooster.co.uk/blog/2007/11/the-now/ for explanation.

Don’t forget to claim your prizes, ladies!

The week in bullet points:

• Tomorrow – attentions stretched
• Tuesday – rosy dreams, then attention to productivity
• Wednesday – healing focus
• Thursday – idealism
• Friday – getting to grips with problem-solving

Pisces New Moon Mandala painted by Sarah Berry
Line Mandala from Mandala Colouring Book by Barry Stevens
available at http://www.mandalas.freeserve.co.uk/colouringinbook.html

This is one of the culminating articles in an occasional series written about the expertise of each Sun Sign. The articles will be found under the category “Zodiac Masterclass” and eventually there will be 12 such articles, e.g. “The Gemini Guide to Communication”, “The Leo Guide to Leadership”etc. each by someone who has the Sun Sign in question and published in their season. I am still looking for the final piece in the puzzle, the person who can write “The Capricorn Guide to Ambition”…

Here guest blogger and Yoga teacher Alison Charles writes her own story of the Piscean guide to Compassion, which is an archetype for both the sign and its quality, as it interweaves dimensions of truth and poetry and the wisdom of life. Alison is a family member!

This component of the  Zodiac Masterclass has an interesting history: it just missed the deadline for last year, but I am sure you are reading it exactly when it is meant to be read.

A word about the mandala: I often give dusky pink as a colour for Pisces because comes between the Magenta of Aquarius, and softly links the colour spectrum with the Red of Aries.

The Pisces Guide to Compassion

by Alison Charles

‘Seek to know the universe and you will know nothing at all……..seek
to know yourself, and you will know the universe’

‘Seek to know the universe and you will know nothing at all……..seek to know yourself, and you will know the universe’. I first saw this probably ten years ago, and it has resonated more and more as the years have progressed.

For some reason I come with a harsh inner monologue – a lifetime of constant ‘that’s not good enough’, ‘one day you will exposed and humiliated’, ‘you are selfish’ etc, etc. Baffling. Whilst I heard this voice and reacted to it, on one level I had no conscious idea that perhaps it could change and that perhaps there was another way.

I struggled. Life was a puzzle that had to be solved, put right and perfected, and I experienced the world as hostile.

My inner world reflected the outer world and for a long time I was filled with righteous indignation and anger at others. I was an angry child and a very angry teenager. Although this was also coupled with a deep desire to change others, the way they thought, talked, behaved and to relieve their suffering, but really that was only because I found other’s suffering unbearable, I would see another suffer and I genuinely felt that I was suffering too (sometimes even more so!). My desire to help them stop suffering was in order to relieve my pain. Years and years of self-help books and constant frustration ensued.

I had no compassion for myself and I certainly had none for anyone else. I lived a fearful existence, and an ambivalence at my existence at all, almost as if my place on this earth was not secure and really, if I chose to I could leave at any time, if it really became that painful.

The difference today is that I have tools to soothe this anxiety with which I meet the world, and I know that I am not alone; every day I endeavour to tell myself that it is one foot in front of the other and that it’s important that I turn up, and that usually works.

It’s knowing these things about myself, the way my mind works, hearing the now audible inner monologue, that there are days when I can feel devastatingly vulnerable, that make me the human being that I am. The knowledge and experience of my own humanity opens my eyes and my heart
to others.

In 1996 I started the practice of Yoga and soon trained to teach it. Physically able, I grew physically strong, and I associated myself with my physical strength. At the time, my desire was to teach people to bring them to the place where I was. I was not really taking into account anything about them, reluctantly modifying the practice for those less able. It took time, a broken ankle, various back problems and neck problems to cut myself a bit of slack. Through learning to teach people yoga who were debilitated by cancer and the treatment for cancer, I realized that the most powerful thing I could do was to meet someone exactly where they were. That sometimes people cannot be brought back to full health, and that the practice for them was to work on acceptance for where they are, and even more so, that this practice is actually universal. That there as a respect in that, love in that, and with love so very much more is possible.

I began to practice a type of meditation called Antar Mouna – for so long the meditation I would practice would take me to a faraway place, an escape. I was shown that through the practice of Antar Mouna I simply sat and watched, my anger, disappointment, joy, frustration, avoidance and of course the spectrum of all human experience.

In February of 1999 my father died suddenly, from pneumonia, as a result of lung cancer, and just a few weeks later my brother Andrew began to show symptoms of the development of a disease that would lead to his degeneration over the next few months and subsequent death in October 1999. I struggled with accepting Andrew was dying, more so, it would seem, than he did. I read the book “The Tibetan book of Dying” by Sogyal Rimpoche. In it one image stuck with me, that if I were to clutch something tightly in my hand, my fingers would be broken if I was forced to release it. The most loving thing to do was to open my hand and release it. It wasn’t just what I wanted. Again I had to work on my acceptance.

My journey feels like it’s been slow, however I realize that there is a divine timing, and compassion for me today is in action. A realization that every thought, word and deed has a consequence, ripples and repercussions. It really is my desire to make those ripples loving. Being human I will stumble . These days, mostly, the world is a beautiful place. I am surrounded by love.