I started to write about some individual current events this morning, but as I looked at my research, I realized that there were bigger messages at hand in the aftermath of the 2014 April Cardinal Grand Cross.
It’s interesting to see the after-effects in the Light of the Taurus Sun which focuses on the physical-material-experiential reality of the matter at hand. There is much coming to Light in the world that was thought to have progressed, but has not. And though they aren’t still within formation/orb, the bodies that were involved in that April Grand Cross are still in their respective signs, revealing that there is much more being done and much more to be done (and undone). There are some ugly truths about ourselves as a collective humanity that we now get to face.
Mars is retrograde in Libra until it goes back into direct motion on 20 May 2014. Though it is not currently within orb of the other 3 bodies from the April Grand Cross, it is having each of us (or each entity) examine its own actions in the matters at hand. This is representative of actions being taken to balance the scales, to right the wrongs, to restore justice and fairness. Yet it is important to remember that we are also being asked to look at our own behaviors and to take responsibility for our part in the issues we are facing.
In the face of Pluto in Capricorn destroying the outdated and outworn and archaic practices and beliefs that are at the root of these conflicts, there are many people who cannot seem to own up to their part in preserving old, outdated, and/or detrimental practices and beliefs. They continue to focus on the differences between peoples, pointing fingers and blaming others in order to make others look bad…or at least worse than they see themselves. Yet they don’t realize that their stance is actually hindering their growth and the growth of humanity. And with Pluto in Capricorn moving in retrograde, the destruction of old and outdated standards and structures is now being encouraged from the outside in. Rather than our forcing changes upon the outside, the external changes are now actually being forced upon our inner selves, pushing us to change how we know ourselves to be as individuals in the world.
Jupiter in Cancer is encouraging a growth and expansion of nurturing care and love. It is encouraging emotional recognition of each person’s need for acceptance and love. It is also bringing forth an increased need to expand the family circle – to recognize that it’s not just about our blood or cultural or national families and protecting those interests. This is about our human family and the acceptance and nurturing of what brings us together despite those differences.
Yet even within unity, there needs to be variety. Not everyone can fill the same role in the same way, and though Jupiter in Cancer encourages us to come together despite our differences, this is where Uranus in Aries comes in – people looking at themselves and asking “what do I have to offer to humanity”? The problem is that our old social and cultural structures have created such ridiculous and convoluted standards for success and stature; many people don’t recognize that even the seemingly smallest of roles can make a big difference. They see themselves as ‘nobodies’ even though without them, the ‘somebodies’ would not be who they are.
As result, people are clinging desperately to the differences of religion, culture, race/ethnicity, and sexual expression because these differences give them an identity outside of themselves. Without these differences, people would actually have to celebrate their uniqueness within – they would have to figure out what truly makes them unique in a world where everyone is equal, everyone has value, and everyone has a place. For people who have always looked to others for definition of themselves, the current world events are very confronting and very frightening. The people who cling to these differences do so out of fear, and label their fear as pride so that they can justify their actions, beliefs, and behaviors to the rest of the world.
We see it now as matters of racism and ethnicity come back into the fore of our collective consciousness. Many beliefs of how racism is practiced are often seen in only one direction; but now through current events, we are facing the fact that racism flows in many directions as people try to prove they are not racist by making others – even within their own races and cultures – wrong for their extreme stances. It only proves that racism is alive and well…and wrong from every conceivable approach. Yet, there are very few people willing to admit they are racist. There are also very few people who have truly moved beyond racism as result.
Often, people who practice racism claim cultural, ethnic, or national pride as the basis for their behaviors. The irony here is that until they are truly willing to completely share their traditions with others or give up their exclusivity to their traditions, practices, and/or nationalism, they are being racist by living in fear of the extinction of their way(s) of life.
Religion dovetails culture and nationalism, as many of the world cultures and nations were established because of religious beliefs and positions. Religious differences have been a thorn in the side of humanity for thousands of years, and the pain of these thorns has only grown deeper and more painful as religion has become a selective practice. Many religious groups use only the verses or tenants which validate their individual perspective more than practicing the overall message of love , peace, and acceptance.
There are nations such as Israel and Palestine who are rooted in their religious and ethnic beliefs, still at war after thousands of years trying to deny each other land and/or geographical existence. They continue with a refusal to compromise or co-exist, even as much of the world grows increasingly weary of their banter. Yet the rest of the world can’t be critical of them as it faces its own religious and ethnic battles.
There is an abundance of cowardly violence through suicide bombings and kidnappings to show “superiority” through force, and the violence continues because of an unwillingness to allow the “purity of their culture/ethnicity to be tainted”. Their unwillingness to compromise perpetuates their acts of terrorism. They deny others peace because they cannot be at peace with the changes in the world.
Even in nations such as the United States which claim to promote and uphold religious freedom of expression, there is religious intolerance and blatant hypocrisy as people cannot even practice the words of acceptance and inclusion their varied religions preach. Instead, they claim their right to free speech and manipulate the letter of the law in order to justify the imposing of their religious beliefs upon others.
There are also religious, cultural, and social practices and customs that rear their ugly heads in the form of sexism. The abuse and disempowerment of women has been a tenant of many world religions, gradually or suddenly (depending on how you view the timeline of history) becoming more intense over time. A good number of the religious and cultural conflicts in the world at the present time are rooted in the perception of and/or empowerment of women, such as the recent kidnappings of over 200 Nigerian schoolgirls by a religion-based militant group – a group which is not specifically sexist, but acts against “western education”. However, their intentions to sell the girls into marriage and slavery are very much sexist, and has awakened a long-overdue discussion about the trafficking of young girls in Africa and around the world.
There are still beliefs that women have no place in world leadership, have no right to equal pay in the workforce, have no reason to be educated, that the sight of their bodies causes men to lose control of their primal desires, that women’s only roles should involve the home and the children, etc. The truth is that men exercise their primal desires out of their own fear of being emasculated, and commit acts of rape and violence against women in order to put women in fear of their bodies and their power.
Yet in the discussion about gender equality, we also get to look at how women do exercise their physical power over men as there is an increasing discussion of sexual abuse and rape committed against men by women. It is challenging for many to see men as possible victims in heterosexual abuse cases as men are usually seen as the perpetrators of such abuse. Men also usually celebrate other men having sexual interaction or intercourse with women in many cultures. This acknowledgment of men as victims of sexual abuse in a direct way is a now a growing part of the gender equality discussion in the U.S.
The sexual expression debate is only heightened by the rise is homosexual expression. Though freedom of sexual expression is welcome and more does need to be done in making it a non-issue in society, it would be amiss not to acknowledge that in many nations, especially in the United States, same-sex advocacy has grown to the point where the discrimination in some ways has even reversed. There are people in positions of power and influence who are being forced to resign or step down from their roles due to their anti-gay positions. In these cases, it is important to take note of how some people in the gay community have become hypocrites, exerting the same ‘punishment’ upon others as they endured themselves. It is a similar argument that various races and religions have to justify their actions and beliefs; that “we must do this in order to avenge the past”. However, it only continues the pain.
The point is – what could we ALL do TOGETHER? Our human egos are so determined to seek difference and separation that we have lost that we are one humanity. Differences by culture, nation, race, sexuality – they are all differences “celebrated” and maintained in order to divide humanity. Those of us who participate in anything that is exclusive to a particular nation, culture, race, or sex are guilty of promoting the separations which we claim to have contempt for. That pretty much makes all of us in this day and age guilty of some form of exclusion or denial of our human brethren.
Yet there are lessons to be learned from each of our cultures and races and sexes. Instead of looking for what is wrong in each of them by pointing out the differences, it would be amazing if we could look at each other’s cultures for what they each do right. What can we learn about making humanity as a whole better in this day and age? What can we bring from each other’s cultures in order to make the world a better place for all?
The fact is that NONE of us will get everything the way we want it to be. Yet we can all find peace in knowing that parts of our various cultures, our races, or sexualities are accepted by others to create a new whole. After all, when it all comes down to it, all any of us is looking for is to be accepted and loved for who we are. And when we can truly accept and love each other as humans, we can begin to experience this amazing world and this amazing planet as home – not as a home that we are accustomed to in our little corner of it, but home that includes, accepts, and welcomes everyone as peers with equal value and opportunity. That is the message of Uranus in Aries, Jupiter in Cancer, Mars in Libra, and Pluto in Capricorn – accepting our unique individualities, accepting each other, taking actions to bring fairness and equality to matters, and clearing out whatever stands in the way of that acceptance and balance becoming the reality of our unified world.
How do you find and see your unique self now? How do you contribute to the greater whole now?
You can start by recognizing where you hold onto socially-defined differences – recognizing where you try to be right about who you are and what you do; where you are unwilling to give up your perspective or position in order to avoid redefining yourself; where you try to impose your beliefs and practices onto others to validate yourself and your identity. These are the first steps in letting go of who you think you are, and becoming who you truly are as a part of the collective human race and as part of the Universal Oneness.
Today, look for something good in those you hate. Look for something good about what you fear most. Look for something good in yourself and ask yourself how who you are or what you believe in can be good for all of humanity – not so you won’t have to change, but because it and you can really make everyone in the world feel accepted, loved, and at home.
I am curious to see how we continue to evolve.
Thanks for reading and sharing Signs and Numbers. Until next post…
~ Light, Love, and Blessings,
Grace
