Christmas Facts/Fiction and the Great Mythological Mish Mosh
St. Nicholas served as bishop of Demre, Turkey, in the 4th century. From there, the legend of his generosity spread around the world and became interwoven with mythical stories of the jolly gift-giver. Legend had it that one night, St. Nicholas threw a sack of gold through the open window of a poverty-stricken man who could not pay the wedding dowries of his three daughters. The next night, he tossed a second sack.On the third night, the window was closed and St. Nicholas climbed onto the roof and dropped the sack down the chimney, which landed in the girls' stockings drying in the fireplace.
Santa later took on the white beard of Odin, and Odin's eight-legged flying horse became eight reindeer. The ability to enter houses down the chimney comes from an old Norse legend, and the tradition of leaving cookies and milk is derived from a medieval German tale.
In the 12th century, French nuns began to give gifts in St. Nicholas' name on his feast day. This gift giving was later blended with the three wise men bearing gifts for the newborn Jesus, and thus became associated with Christmas. Rudolph the red-nosed reindeer was created for an ad campaign for the Montgomery Ward chain.
An update on the Digital Democracy:"As candidates prepare for the 2008 presidential campaign, the Internet is now the new Main Street. An estimated 70% of adults in the US travel the digital highway, still a cheap and largely unregulated medium. Reaching those potential voters and donors has become an important part of modern politics."
posted by jm at 5:56 PM
41 Comments:
i dunno jm lots of other myths say other stuff...still fun tho.
On another note i was thinking about religion and politics and letting my mind roll around some comments made here and elsewhere about Pluto at the end of Sagittarius heading for Capricorn.
Speaking with friends of various Christain belief i have come to understand some basic polarity of view which goes back to the beginning of Christianity.
Law vs Love
Politicization of religion
vs
individual goodness
Pharisees - rules to control and define the behavior of a group -community that came out of a religious determination, especially about one's purity. (the similarity to our current government/ fundamentalist christian movement cannot be overstated)
And the rule of love, some say as described by Apostle Paul, where the individual offers the best of oneself to the building and bettering of a community. (hmmm those darned hippies et al again)
Perhaps this is Pluto through the end of Sagittarius drawing our attention to the age-old polarity and seeing the failure of the excessive rule of law (especially rooted in religion).
Art is one of the very best ways an individual gives to the betterment of community.
I'm thinking about this.....
How the cycle continues in Nordic myth the "Tomte" sometimes known as the "greenman" receives the light and remembers the language of nature and sings and dances in the "green" world. He draws wisdom from the spiritual realm into the earthly.
Capricorn- some part of the tomte is hidden it would seem.
Time for a make-over.
Art is one of the very best ways an individual gives to the betterment of community.
I'm thinking about this.....
This conversation is important as we head into the next phase. I have some more things to talk to you about. It will soon be time to come up with solid plans, which we artists can do together on this wonderful medium.
Sagittarius is the reach for the heavens. I have a very intersting post on this coming up as a result of some new information.
The result won't be clear for awhile as to how we have grown in this area, but it has happened.
After Sag in the wheel comes Capricorn which is back down to earth, and I mean really down to solid dense matter. Here is where we take the newfound spirituality of Sagittarius and put it into practice.... PRACTICAL Capricorn. Ethics, morality, and the right choices for society are all part of it.
We can start with blueprints now. The religious hierarchy has been sufficiently diminished. The Middle East is in a violent struggle to modernize and they will do it.
So we can leave this now and start the practical part, especially when Uranus goes into Taurus and trines Capricorn. Energy use, the environment, all of that will be taken care of.
Art is really a practical matter. It is part of man's essential nourishment.
One thing to keep in mind is that the past really is the past, and all the 1000's of years of man's mistakes don't mean we will do an exact repeat. We are free to some extent.
We evolve ever so slowly but it seems that with the "rule of law", experience and time change things. Natural selection and adaptation are the name of the game. Old techniques will go that no longer work. The new ones have to be in constant development.
All the outer planets have been in the last sector of the collective. As Uranus leads us into Aries, the changes will become manifest. We are responsible for redeeming ourselves after our ancestors' wrongdoings.
Art is really a practical matter. It is part of man's essential nourishment.
Absolutely, and you make my point, instead of focusing on The other "practical" aspect of Capricorn such as commerce; big corporation, banking why not a blueprint for the tomte who remembers deeply, nourishes through dance, music, art, grace...The cool aspect may turn out to be Jupiter ushering Pluto into Capricorn.
Intuitively i have always felt this administration and those who connect to it represent some sort of last gasp of something very, very old.
The cool aspect may turn out to be Jupiter ushering Pluto into Capricorn.
YESSSSS!!!!!!!!
There are other intense, consolidated meetings of great Cap energy coming up. Amazing. This is a huge opportunity.
We all have individual jobs which is a big part of Cap. Let those who need to stand by the destruction and scream in horror do that, and those who need to fear the doom, do that, those who need to build ethics in the corporations do that, on and on. Division of labor.
So knowing what our jobs are and what we need to do is first. I am not a political activist. I don't have to be. There are plenty who do that. I'm an artist. And I will have to do my job.
Traditionally the very wealthy have spawned social reformers, such as Jane Addams. This will continue as the needs of society become important again after this religious search.
The corporations and the wealthy are not the problem per se. All classes are needed. The inequity is bad now but as always it will shift to find balance.
How the wealthy proceed from here is the question. Some will do the right thing.
So on to the blueprints for the tomte. This new medium of sharing is going to help us so much.
Pluto is going into Cap in only one year. I'm excited.
Intuitively i have always felt this administration and those who connect to it represent some sort of last gasp of something very, very old.
I know this deep in my bones and what we are witnessing is the destruction and removal. I wouldn't have come on board otherwise. I've never been interested in cruel, hopeless, decaying situations, and I'm still not. They have to exist but my attention leans toward growth. North Node in Taurus. So it must be time.
Some think the destruction is ahead, but I think it's already past. The transition is just ahead and the rebuilding can start any time at all.
Hej sister, i know we are both prepared - we both have tool belts, ja?
YES!!!!!! LOL!!!!
Tools and tricks of the trade!
It's so beautiful tseka.
There is a reason we've had Uranus in Pisces and Neptune in Aquarius for ideals and socio/political visions. This will be clear in time.
The final quadrant is when we have our last go at getting it right. The interpersonal is left behind and the collective reigns.
Thus I think the reduction in violence is part of the exit from interpersonal horror dominating.
We have other concerns ahead.
This is how i spent the past few days, repairing and mudding drywall in the garage in the area of the washer. It got painted today, it is fab-u-lous! shiny clean. I epoxied the floor about the colour of the beige-y background on this page. Another coat tomorrow and voila i shall have a new home for my washer. I've got a pantry to assemble and hang next to it. I love order, tidy. I don't even mind the steps which get me there. Tho...there did seem to be a tremendous number of days spent scraping ratshit.
Interesting that you should write this subject, jm. I'm almost finished with The Da Vinci Code. I know it was very popular about a year or so ago but I never made an effort to seek it out, even though I knew I would read it eventually.
Now that I am, it's meshing perfectly with the great exploration we've done here of the myths that have held the imaginations of so many for so long. Old lies covering up esoteric secrets are crumbling like so much rotted matter, revealing the scenery that was hidden by the high walls that powerful institutions built to herd us in whatever direction they desired.
Similarly, old stories, myths and legends are returning because we want and need them to revitalize the parts of us that withered from neglect.
When I really get to thinking about it, I find it quite exciting to be living in this time. :o)
Ratshit!!!!!!!! Miles and miles of rat excrement! Mountains. Tons. Oh they're awful!
I knew it would be worth it. The rats were merely a conduit!
I epoxied the floor about the colour of the beige-y background on this page.
I am infinitely envious. I've been wanting to epoxy my garage floor for years, but at my turtle's pace it might be next lifetime. I was going to go baby blue.
This is wonderful. Here and now is all we have for the world of the senses.
OMG Joe your writing- so eloquent, i love hearing your voice.
Old lies covering up esoteric secrets are crumbling like so much rotted matter
Religion and Sagittarius exactly. The church hierarchy and its hypocrisy are what destroy faith and magic. The secrets(Pluto) have been revealed again as they periodically are. This time, so many of us have taken advantage of the opportunity.
When I really get to thinking about it, I find it quite exciting to be living in this time. :o)
As long as I've been around kicking, this is the most exciting time I've seen yet.
I feel like we are soon to get a different kind of leadership. So far, I've never been impressed, Kennedys included.
OMG Joe your writing- so eloquent, i love hearing your voice.
Me too.
This Christmas has been unique. I get less of the Jesus/savior complex going on and more philosophical, religious thinking and communicating. Things are decidedly different.
The transition is in place.
It used to be that the pols were entirely funded by corporate interests, but now, the Digital Democracy is real and they are being compelled to consult this force. If the savvy ones head directly to us with the huge fundraising potential, what will the others do?
Perhaps the start is here of the Cap battle between big business and the people. We're smart.
BTW. Mercury was exactly conjunct Pluto today. Always good for some substantial chat..:-)
BTW. Mercury was exactly conjunct Pluto today. Always good for some substantial chat..:-)
Or perhaps less substantial, on the phone today, i was informed that i am a vacuum. ?? Yes, you suck up everything that is said.
So i had a nice contemplation of vacuum cleaners, a bazillion styles now, decided on my own, an old faithful Electra with soft cloth bag, as best typifying me.
I didn't know that merc with pluto could be so silly. But it has touched me that way all day. Paint fumes may be the alternate factor.
HA HA HA !!!
an old faithful Electra with soft cloth bag, as best typifying me.
I've got a Wind Tunnel! Does that sound right?
Pluto is one of the most misunderstood guys around. he's also a magician. He's not at all the sadist people think.
My sag friend with a Mercury/Pluto mind is hilarious. She laughs from the furnaces of hell!
But of course that must be it i've got merc trine pluto. Strange things strike me silly.
Wind Tunnel? Ha Ha Ha!!!yep, that sounds about right.
But of course that must be it i've got merc trine pluto. Strange things strike me silly.
That explains it! I bet strange things you don't even mention.
Pluto sees beneath the surface. So it's as if the skin were taken off and all the detailed inner workings were in plain sight. I think that's why Pluto is associated with physicians who have this curiosity. And Mercury's connection to them with the caduceus.
my tenth and sixth, a perfect description of how it seems.
I am awed by this insight. Thank you.
I owe you, woman.
You're absolutely right. The 6th house. You can also factor in the Jupiter in Aries making a grand fire trine. Inspired healer, bringing spiritual elements to the process.
In fact, even though the Aries is wide, you have a kite formation with this fire trine, with the Libra stellium as the trigger. point. The Venus ruler of the Libra is in the 8th in Scorp. More healing. It all synthesizes when you look at it. The Aries in the 1st makes this an important part of your identity.
The Venus then trines the ruler of your life, the Uranus in cancer. It goes round and round and comes back to the theme.
All charts do this. There is a wheel within the wheel that tells the story. The theme. It's vague and outside the usual linear but the most accurate part when it comes clear. It's the wheel that connects, synthesizes all the disparate external parts of the self.
This Christmas has been unique. I get less of the Jesus/savior complex going on and more philosophical, religious thinking and communicating. Things are decidedly different.
Yes, that's it exactly. I couldn't put my finger on it but you're right. Things just feel markedly different. For me, not a bad thing because the Christmas cheer usually felt forced. Things are a bit more relaxed, now that I look back on it.
Fascinating analysis jm.
I've learned to watch any transit over my Venus - now i see why that spot is so sensitive. Jupiter and Merc criss-crossing my Venus earlier was like a roller coaster ride.
Even i with limited astro ability could see the Venus trine Uranus in a Grand trine with transiting Uranus was like a self propelling wheel. It often felt more like the half track propulsion of a Caterpiller (earth mover)
It's all just so interesting!
Hmm, the model of vacuum cleaner in my closet is "Eureka". LOL!
Kadimiros! My brain, which apparently never lets anything go, awakened me last night...jiggling the shoulder of my consciousness....it's Eureka not Eleckta...
But the model says it's a Boss so i'm still keeping it!
Oh, good! "Eureka" is much more appealing than tragic "Electra." :-)
"But the model says it's a Boss so i'm still keeping it!"
LOL! This is all so funny.
Eureka! Of course!
And guess what my old one in the garage is???
A celebrity!!!!!!!!
The charts are so intersting, tseka, and they keep giving and revealing nonstop.
The great thing is that whatever the level of knowledge, a lot can be grasped. It's in the person. Some know all the facts and can't really read a chart. Others know a little and can see way more.
Just having two grand trines like you do says mountains. Water and fire. Easy to understand.
A lot of the clue to your chart I think is in the Libra stellium. I just noticed your Mars/Saturn sqaure Uranus. How close it is.
I just noticed your Mars/Saturn square Uranus. How close it is.
Yes m'am i pay lots of attention when you mention yours.
It must be wonderful to have the new floor and the rats out. It's all contrast as these horrors subside and deep relief comes. I think that's why the political is so dead-end. The relief never seems to come. It's someone else's life. Too many people's lives all caught in an impossible tangle. No self determination.
I could do a book on each aspect, but the Mars/Uranus is a big one for me. Since Mars is my ruler, same as you with your Uranus ruling.
Others can't assume how it will manifest. For me, the desire to bust free is a dominant factor always. Not simply walking away but a more energetic parting. Mars can instantly cut the bond when the need for freedom gets strong. It's like a cosmic tickle and I have to get out. Completely opposite of Pluto which clings until the last bit of pain is felt.
Interesting with your Venus in Scorpio which wants to see relationships to the very end, but the Libra square Uranus can cut loose.
It can keep you agitated, but then of course, this all goes into the creative output, since the relationship dilemma can't really be solved. The traditional family unit is not at all the thing. The families we're creating in cyberspace are unique and still in the sculpting process outside of any tradition.....yet.
Your Uranus is Cancer is the alternative family.
And then, the Venus trines the Uranus in the house of creativity.
I think great creative output comes at a high price.
In my life, relationships haven't been an end in themselves, but part of my creative motivation and self actualization. So the Uranus can let them go without clinging to an illusory future.
Your Saturn makes you more cautious maybe with this energy, but Uranus ruling is the boss. Separations are inevitable.
As a matter of fact, Uranus square Saturn is just this. Freedom from the restrictive boss. Who is the boss? Something in the gallery experience is involved here. Your break was symbolic.
It's amazing how we search everywhere for orders and directions, knowing full well we have the answers ourselves. Maybe the search keeps us connected to others. And also disconnected when the time comes. Uranians need freedom primarily.
I'd love to get your input on this from your experience.
Mars square Uranus:
Others can't assume how it will manifest. For me, the desire to bust free is a dominant factor always. Not simply walking away but a more energetic parting. Mars can instantly cut the bond when the need for freedom gets strong. It's like a cosmic tickle and I have to get out.
For me it seems less like busting out, more a question of what i'm willing to let in. I treasure my personal freedom and independence above most everything. Mars with Saturn i think grounds me, corrals some of the fire energy puts it to practical use. A lot of my relationships with others especially men have been for adventure, i was hugely into climbing and wandering when i was young. My rucksack was my home for a long time. i've spent a lot of time alone in the wilderness.
Solitude and silence are my big teachers.
Our family - the one i was raised in was "different" everyone remarked on it. My parents both Geminis were insistent upon independence and following our passions. The family mantra is you can be whatever you want.
Growing up surrounded by people with multiple physical and mental disabilities put a lot of my energy to work as a crusader.
Our family calls each other by first names, imagine that in the 50s. there has always been a friendship - kinship among us, even other relatives could not grasp. Everyone, every age is listened to honored.
The Venus in Sco 8th has taught me about surrender, the tantra, the oneness that makes it hard to know when i look into the eye of a deer if i am not she. Probably Pluto has a lot to say as well...Maybe Neptune too.
I live by my own integrity, if others (galleries) compromise it, i move on. Not without thoroughly considering consequences of course and attempting to work things out. I don't make ultimatums just observe the direction, if the path isn't mine i don't continue down it. Not too compromising there nor does the phrase win-win come up very often.
When i was 21 i immigrated to Canada on my own. If i am really curious and interested in something the doors usually open. I'm persistent in the extreme. However if the value is not there i have no problem quitting like Med school...not right fit nor right time. Investment of time nor money is very influential.
I have many life-long friendships so i'm not too much into ending just transforming.
My friends come in all flavors and varieties. It is really an odd assortment.
Did that answer any of what you asked? Here is where i wish i did know more astro and could say ah, yes this did that....
nor does the phrase win-win come up very often.
Interesting.
Let me absorb this and see how the astro facts play. Also interesting about Med school.
Our family calls each other by first names, imagine that in the 50s.
My family too.
More later. So rich.
Since we are of an age i know you will understand the time- being a woman going into Medicine,(or) Law was completely different then. Also i know you will understand this...i was pushed a lot by others who wanted to fulfill their own desires. I was a sharpie, scored very high on the SAT so went to school on scholarships. I felt some obligation to that gift but always wanted to be an artist and crazy as it may seem that was even more frowned on than being a doc.
Timing is everything.
The Doctorate came later in the most perfect way and most perfect fit for me.
As you say synchronicity matters.
felt some obligation to that gift but always wanted to be an artist and crazy as it may seem that was even more frowned on than being a doc.
Of course. It's part of the struggle. families so often worry that we won't make money, a valid
concern on their part. I was not encouraged one iota.
This all speaks of the Uranus. The independent out of the ordinary life.
But the Saturn/Mars square Uranus has a lot to do with your decision not to deal with the establishment in your medical pursuits. You would have been suffocated and misled. Disillusioned and maybe wouldn't have come to homeopathy. The medical profession is brutal and most people I know are extremely disappointed. Power and prestige are a lot of what they're after and it gets hollow.
I was a sharpie, scored very high on the SAT so went to school on scholarships. I felt some obligation to that gift
I think going the traditional route with education would be going directly against that obligation. Real intelligence knows.
Schooling bleeds it out. I would never go into classical music. The classical voice training I had was minimal. Just enough.
It's hard to gain recognition in a serious way without all these proofs, but I intend to do it. Their systems are too flawed and rigid.
More in a mo.
The rising sign especially lives out the traits of the signs. Aquarians are destined to live on a tangent. They're needed to break with the establishment for reasons of progress. I think there is an ancient memory that comes with the sign that knows the dangers of resisting this change too much. The dangers of systemized thought and practice in general. That's why geniuses and great scientists are so often Aquarian types. They break rigid patterns.
I think that even reasons of pure economics are going to give rise to alternative medicine in the immediate years ahead. It's already happening.
Once the toehold is gained and the results are evident, recognition and respect will follow.
I am actually amazed at how far the establishment will go to keep these alternatives down. But the need is coming. And people are healing.
This is very important to me. I want to be in the world, but not a sick one. If the people are healthy, the environment for me is something I could possibly bear. I want them to feel good more than anything.
This happened recently.
I got what I think was pneumonia. I was distressed, since the symptoms were a little outside of my usual range. So I called a naturopath/homeopath.
The first thing that came to me was her confidence. She was sure that she could help me with little fuss...no Xrays and all the allopathic insanity. Probably no blood tests. Allopaths can't do anything without first drawing blood. That's one big reason I avoid them.
Her fee was unbelievably low, and the whole process sounded anything but intimidating. She said she just needed to ask questions to make the diagnosis and then start a natural remedy cure. This is how healing begins. I was thrilled.
Unfortunately for her, I felt so good that I went on to a quick healing with herbs and didn't even need her help. her confidence buoyed me that much.
This is the direction I want.
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