​Family is involving and evolving our emotional connections to some similar experiences. The word originally in the 13th century implied those who provide service. The household was family.

The familiar gives us trust and grounding. To have this disrupted, fear replaces trust. Known and recognized are ideas of the familiar, somehow this has increased the concept of fame. A familiar can be a conduit to helping increase focus and relaxation. Many wise folks had animal familiars.

Many adaptations of family include the unconditional support we are at some point, likely to need. Intimate associates usually have similar rhythm and chemistry.

Tribe, clan, lineage are some of the ways to describe a group you belong to.

In the metaphysical world the psyches are connected through the invisible connections. Anxiety is contagious. But illogical humor and playfulness are also transferred through the ephemeral.

It would seem with the lack of trust that is prevalent, we need to form attachments of similar hopes and dreams. A family you grew up with has insights about you that can be nurturing. Even if you were separated by geography or philosophy, you will resonate to certain familiarities. To think broadly about different cultures is a plus. Often though, the intangible memories do escape you in retrospect.

The dream of unconditional love, like merging continuously with another is fleeting. Yes, it exists but like moods it mutates. Hang on to the dream, and know when it is not there, it will reappear.

​Home.
To feel secure and grounded.

To be surrounded by those of similar values.
Belonging with others of attitudes like yours.

Seeking security is ephemeral, if we completely embrace all the concepts and ideas that others may want us to. Could it be the war between the Greeks and the Persians 2500 years ago is still manifesting with the perceived moral, philosophical and religious differences?

Western culture embraced democracy when the Greeks won. But who were the Persians? They did not impose their culture on those they conquered. They allowed for the Middle East and Eastern Europe to retain their leaders and philosophies. They established a post office, coinage and defenders of their empire.
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When the Persians lost the war with the Greeks, Herodotus, the Greek, described them as antagonistic towards the ideology of others.

Honorable, respectable, noble are the Sanskrit/Hindu translation of Aryan or Iran. The present day interpretation is misapplied. In the Old Testament Cyrus, the Achemenide king was recognized as allowing the Israelites to rebuild their temples.

The Greeks worshipped a pantheon of gods. This allowed a psychological interpretation of the talents and foibles for us to divine. The Persians were followers of Zoroaster, or Zarathustra, introducing the novel idea of free will. Ahura Mazda means Lord of Wisdom, the central premise being order. The opposite was chaos. Three things were the most important lessons, to ride a horse, draw a bow and to never lie. Debt gives birth to lies.

Does it not often seem that the numerous points of view we are exposed to today allows chaos to emerge?

As the world grows smaller with communication, it also creates extremes, that are sometimes hard to contain in our brain. The outcome of this is, how to distinguish between truth and lies. We must establish boundaries that allow in a gentle way for those to examine opposing ideas, to be nurtured without rancor. Humans need tranquility in the home.

Ritual is a component of the human condition like sleeping, eating and contemplating.

Connecting and being social is being left behind.

What is it to be initiated?

Going inwards to recognize that which has been undiscovered. The process often involves an element of fear. But, it also carries the possibility of hope. The initiate has a special need to be included in the group that resonates to his/her inner essence. The ego requires validation. Recently it seems more prominent to declare ones uniqueness. But within this desire lies the exclusion of others. Children seem to want, what is theirs, and what belongs to others. Adults want individuation, it can be cloaked in ceremony such as initiation. 

A paraphrase might be, to contain the courageous, charismatic, focused and ambitious. A private group implies keeping others at a distance.

We need to recognize our innate knowledge that incorporates others in a form of containment. The principle of “know thyself” pertains to acknowledging that once we can truly do that, we then see the needs of others as prominent.

The prefix “in” is Latin, “un” is German/English and “en” is French. The technical definition is privation force such as unloving or enemy.

Innate knowledge gave birth to two philosophies. Nativism and innatism. The former is more contemporary in subscribing to the concept of our minds having a built in structure of ideas that becomes apparent Thu experience. As in psychology. Innatism includes a higher power that contributes to these predicting thoughts and principles. As in religion. A part of this is distilled into “nature or nurture”, a contradiction that attempts to explain the human cognition.

Our bodies chemistry seems to include the good and the bad atoms, protons, and genetics to work properly. How our minds are influenced by these needs of polarities is tempestuous. The mask and isolationism are creating a reflective healing time for some but for others the emotional distress is catastrophic.

Are we satiated in information that doesn’t resolve very much?

•••
As above
So below
•••

Mars conjunct Chiron.
The god of war and the wounded healer. 
Chiron trained Mars.
He also trained healers.

We seem to be attacking ourselves, with numbers, statistics and experimental science. 
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Power demands supremacy and assets. 

Technology is debasing trust. We feel disembodied, so illness is even more horrifying. Our personalities are being highjacked by the addiction to information. By highjacked, it means disingenuous opposing entities. A purpose of contradictions.

Technology also facilitates service. A good thing to remember.

Acceptance and compassion are the attributes of a wounded healer. The ritual of war is a reality. Sometimes it is expressed through the lawyers/politicians and other times physical power advantages.

Where would Dante place the folks in the media? Benefactors or criminals? Does it not seem emotionally fraught? Day after day the talking heads snarl at each other.

If only emotions weren’t contagious. Do horror films make people feel better? There is guilt attached to the unconscious when you applaud the venom attached to another point of view. First you feel self righteous but then the hurt caused can bounce back to you. More often than not the polar opposites are displaying identical conditions. 

Nurses, firemen, policemen, therapists are engaged to help with catastrophes. As human beings they can only bring their experience to the forefront. 

Heaven and hell were created out of the minds need to display extremes. The interest today in Buddhism recognizes the folly of extremes. But communication requires a problem to be solved and the human condition is addicted to extremes. History shows us how competitive we are for having what we think we need. It is usually compiled in layers. The powerful must create the dilemma to satisfy the people that they are actually doing something. This exists in education, commerce, philosophy, religion and science. It is said we only use a small portion of our brain, I believe it is because the emotions cannot process all the variables. Religion et al uses debate to help the busy mind wear itself out, and come to terms with nothingness. When we hear a sentence that sounds like a different point of view, we immediately strive to implement the contrary. However if we are aware, we can let the emotion dissipate and let the waters be tranquil.

As you may have guessed, I am fascinated by word roots.

Venus somehow connects to viral, virus, venal, value system, and venom. Venenuum was a love potion, are we being asked to love ourselves? If we don’t, does it become a poison? To venerate and revere encourages desire. The Sanskrit word Vanate is also connected to love and desire.

The first woman created by Zeus was Pandora, which means “all gifts”, as revenge on Prometheus who stole fire for humans. She opened the forbidden jar and spilled all manner of ills. Luckily “Hope” came last to mutate the disaster. This carries some of the “Sleeping Beauty” morality.

The word pandemic originates from Pandemos, pan means all, and demos means people. This is the dual nature of Venus/Aphrodite shared by Urania.

Venus/Aphrodite is retrograde and it is a 40 days and nights phenomena. It started May 13 and ends June 24.

With the retrograde happening in Gemini, this dual nature is enforced. The Taurus side of Venus mainly concerns the body and not the mind, soul, or spirit. The Urania side of Venus is born of man alone, the genitals of Uranus. And is more concerned with philosophy and religion, albeit a powerful sexuality.

Inficere is the word root of infection, meaning to dye or change color. It encompasses facere, which is the verb to do. If you liken action to the body and its performance, you have Pandemos. What we are missing is the Urania, or heavenly side of this Venusian transit. The ability to see truth; is in distress.

The other pandemic we still have is HIV/Aids. This too relates to Venus/Aphrodite as her son Eros/Cupid became the sometime symbol of homosexuality. The perception of a strict definition of one kind of sexual interest was not an ancient idea. Eros also wed Psyche, her name means soul, and had a child. She may have been the archetype for Cinderella. Her sisters in a competitive way pushed her to look upon her lovers face. 
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In both pandemics the blood and bodily fluids are the conduit of the contagion. Are we meant to be contemplating the sacredness of fluids?

How often is the snake symbolized in the creation/mortality myth?

The horn snake may have given birth to the dragon and perhaps the devil.

What was Eves fascination? Could the snake represent feminine wisdom? Or eroticism?

All over the world, prehistoric art has the undulating form of the serpent.

The Aztecs, the Egyptians, China, Japan, Russia and Europe, have stories of reptiles that mesmerize. Native Americans honor them.

The caduceus has entwining snakes to perceive the duality of medicine, which in turn reminds us of death and rebirth. Our species has longed for immortality. A poison’s cure is in consuming a version of it.

In the state of Ohio is the Serpent Mound. It is 411 meters long. It has an egg or the moon in its head. Is it honoring the Goddess. Ophir is Greek word for serpent.

The Hindu Kundalini energy is a spiral up the spine in the form of a futuristic atom or DNA.

Persephone/not Pluto, as Ariadne was the ruler of the underworld before the masculine demanded a God/King.

Like Hel in Norse mythology she ruled the dead which her father Odin ordered, but not the warrior dead who went to Valhalla.

Cleopatra was the embodied Isis. Her death through the asp’s poison guaranteed immortality.

In Crete’s Minoan culture a figure of Astarte was found on Knossos. She carries two snakes.

Inanna the Sumerian Goddess in present day Iraq, was a warrior who governs fertility. She is depicted with wings, to be able to soar into the imagination and unconscious. Perhaps the Arcadian Ishtar is another image to ponder.

The connections of these various interpretations of Aphrodite or Venus could possibly stir our imagination to alleviate fear. What is a pandemic? Pan was the Greek god of nature and animals. His dark side gave birth to panic. He was a lover of Aphrodite.

The accredited creator of the vaccine was a Dr Edward Jenner in Berkeley England. He noticed a liquid from the pus of a cow’s nipple dispersed smallpox. His cowbox helped the pandemic. Vaccine means “from the cow.”

There are two components we are fighting in an epidemic, one of which is fear and the other is ignorance.

Featured Photographs--
The Serpent Mound in Locus Grove, Ohio
Double Helix: Biology at Colegio Montessori
The Goddess Ariadne Snake Labyrinth
Ishtar on an Akkadian Seal
The Temple of Vaccinia at Dr. Jenner's House

As we revisit the parameters and boundaries of our homes, objects tell a story. The photo albums that need preserving and re-gluing, so the dim memories may be relived. The poems and thoughts in diaries that remind us of our feelings. The physical needs that require rethinking. The right balance that doesn’t overexert but gives us oxygen in every cell. The meals that seem to give sustenance a whole new light. The elimination process that promotes the cycle of the compost heap.

Most stories from the news to fairy tales are repetitive. The facts are similar and hopefully our ability to integrate will give new meaning.

No matter where you stand in this global awareness there is compromise and hopefully humor.

Existence is what we have in common. But surrounded by spirit we also can allow our imagination to perceive what the mind can’t.

Rapunzel was confined by her inability to see how she was bound by her hair. Her beauty kept her isolated.

The King's daughter in “The frog prince” was unwilling to fulfill her part of the bargain, her word was kept and the frog became the Prince. We must be vigilant with honor to have what we desire.
The Sleeping Beauty needed to live in her unconscious dream state as her father did not honor the wicked fairy. The evil gift had been death. But somehow unconscious seems worse. If we are not aware of our surroundings we disintegrate. Dis-integrate. Fall apart.

During this time of enforced re-examination, we must try and expose and lessen fear, not enhance it.

Sangreal is the royal blood that binds us all

How do you feel about being over informed? The stars are facilitating the information highway. How do we cope with so many different points of view? Is it better to blame technology than humans? Our moral compasses seem compromised. We must believe in our abilities to change and adapt. Most of all, hope is called for. Belief can lead to self-righteousness. So, allow space for hope.

The child in the Emperor’s new clothes did state the obvious. “But the Emperor has nothing on”. We must put the collective fear in limbo.

Like sugar, sitting, and smoking, we are barraged with skepticism and negativity, see these foibles as lessons to learn and not condemn yourself or others. Certain habits and people are in our lives as lessons. When we confront them, they can move on, or mutate into another foible. Human frailties need acceptance to have our inspiration blossom.

The weather is a dangerous subject. Politics also. The lack of trust with authority has led to force and manipulation. The rules and laws have been taken over to such an extent that Solomon’s baby with the two women is the theme. We can choose to keep danger in balance.

In the words of Michael Jackson “people are the same, wherever you go.” The Netflix series with Morgan Freeman on God, discusses all the aspects of the devil, aka “fallen angel”, as anger. Remember to not let anger turn inward and become depression.

Hinduism has the Goddess Kali. As a protector who fights evil, her image is frightening. But her sword severs the head of ignorance and ego. Her rage is a passion that impresses.

Kali is always invited to the party unlike Sleeping Beauty’s dark fairy. The King did not want the anger at his daughter’s blessings event. Luckily the last fairy lessened the curse.

We must temper this with humor and less fear. We already know how easily we can offend. The heart needs to be heard.

Air is about ideas. Aquarius is the water bearer, water being emotions. Aquarian talents are communicating or language. So, we can speak about our emotions. And We never run out of ideas or feelings. We try and temper the emotions with what is considered logic but it is probably only observation. If we can only observe where the feeling came from we can enlighten our purpose.

February brings Imbolc also known as “in the belly”, Mardi Gras and Valentine’s Day. We also celebrate presidents. The first stirrings of spring. The belly showing the first signs of new birth. Also known as Brighid or Bride day. Groundhog Day which may connect to the animals soul that needs work if it can see its shadow.

Mardi Gras celebrates the polarity of excess and abstinence. Carnival means to remove meat, abstinence. To eat meat and fat and enjoy the preliminaries of making babies, become prevalent. It is the Tuesday before Ash Wednesday and the beginning of Lent.

Valentine’s Day incorporates Cupid and Venus to make sure life renews. Lupercalia was its precursor to the Christian followers of St Valentine, who was known for marrying those in need. The concept of love is more modern. According to Plato, a conflicting idea. His belief in brotherly love gave birth to Platonic, non-sexual love.

February, the word, comes from purging and purifying in Latin. The word fever may also be related in the cleansing of the body and soul. Lupercalia refers also to the she-wolf who fed the founders of Rome, Romulus and Remus.

Presidents’ Day or Washington’s Birthday was created in the 1880s. Washington was born with Venus exalted in Pisces. His capacity to love with compassion was displayed in his love of animals. His intelligence with Mercury in Aquarius and Uranus in Sagittarius was outstanding. He embodied the pursuit of happiness. Conflict was something he accepted and engaged in with energy. His Mars was in Scorpio in 7 house of open enemies.

Enjoy this month of marching forth to new beginnings.

•••
As above
So below
•••

The original Mystery school is the ceremony at Eleusis. We can only guess of the rituals it entailed. There was fear and shock included to gain entrance to the enlightenment of the divine.

We must probe the limits of our psyches to reach the understandings we seek.

Persephone’s innocence was taken from her in a violent way. Pluto desired her and made her Queen. Through the shock she gained the power of individuation.

As we try to be gentle with ourselves, we are in a time of restructuring. Science deals with catastrophic theory. Environmental issues and human society gone haywire are the bylaws of the endless media regurgitation. We cannot turn the clock back to a time of few choices. We can and do boil down the essence in the kettle to oversimplification of our likes and dislikes.

Catastrophe can also bring revelations, mystical insight and wisdom. In times of crisis the odds are pretty good we reach out to find and give solace. In this process we can sense or feel connections that empower love. Colin Wilson wrote “our human senses show only a small part of the world at present”, he suggests the reality function must be awake. Our imagination and memory supplement the present moment with other times and places. The mind needs to add a dimension of reality to the 5 senses. In youth we have eager expectations, the first time we saw the ocean waves provided a need to dive in but also a fear of being swallowed. As we age the excitement of novelty wears off. What we need to do is to draw optimism as a repetitive exercise.

Anxiety pushes us to embrace the worst. Entitlement does the rest.

The letter of the law intimidates. Law is in constant flux both in human society and religion. If religion’s goal is to be at one with the highest mystical power, what is the goal of law? We need barriers to confine the irrational behaviors of some. Is a wall so different?

The whole purpose of life is discovering our ability to love. In this process we must have knowledge and discipline. The power of love is to serve.

Fancy words for simple solutions. The garden is a good spot to contemplate, as is the dance hall. Making clothes for dolls or cleaning the garage are perfect tasks.