Paradise, whither?

Every year, at about this time, I mourn the paradise I remember from so long ago. There was no casting out. Only an inevitable journey. With every year, I seem to be further from the paradise I remember, and yet, the door to everything that really matters to me is deep within my own spirit.

I am reckoned, broadly, to be numbered in the wealthiest 1% of the world's population. I have abundant food, a comfortable home, my own personal transport, more than one computer, and obviously, internet and telephone communications.

But I don't own my soul.

I made no pact with the devil. But I sold my soul to my creator, who is best able to keep it. And I receive in return? reconciliation. The assurance that someday I will return to that paradise that now is only a memory, never again to leave.

What venture, Master Wilbye?

Was John Wilbye a courier for Sir Thomas Kytson, conveying secret messages in preparation for an English revolution? as part of my efforts to find an answer, I obtained an astrological chart for Master Wilbye. Before continuing, learn more (and sample Master Wilbye's music) in my blog.


Sun in Aquarius:

In this house, the Sun giveth his Glory to thought and art. The native is an artist, or musician perhaps? or in these changing times, even a playwright? This position speaketh that the native is capable of astonishing surprises.

Mercury in Aquarius:
Mercury, planet of the mind, is swayed by the Uranus, master of invention and cunning works. The native may have moments of uncommon inspiration, or a philosophical talent.

Venus in Aries:
Venus in the house ruled by fiery Mars. The native hath great lust and fiery passion. These virtues may show in bed, or in his calling, though he should take pains to govern them closely.

Mars in Scorpio:
He is driven by passions and desires, hath great stamina, a strong will, and the determination to achieve whatsoever his heart conceiveth. Thus would this be a good aspect for an intelligencer, or intriguer.

Jupiter in Taurus:
This aspect reinforceth the meaning of the Sun in Aquarius before mentioned; the subject is an easy friend, companionable and generous.

Saturn in Scorpio:
Saturn, the planet of steadfastness, indicateth in this house that the subject is not only sturdy in various ways, but capable of great efforts.

Uranus in Capricorn:
Uranus, the planet of innovation visiteth the house of Saturn, whose talent is for structure and method. This suggests that the native will be involved in some way in generating novel ideas and making things heretofore unseen. Again, a good confirmation of the aspect of the Sun in Aquarius before mentioned.

Neptune in Gemini:
Primarily a planet of inspiration, Neptune is most likely to manifest in literature or poetry, since Mercury, prince of Gemini, is the planet that governeth the mind and speech or letters.

Conjunction Moon-Venus, orb = 02°28'
Both the Moon and Venus are planets of water. For a female nativity, this giveth womanly virtue; in a male nativity, a natural understanding of women and ease of relating with them. The male should be ware of foppish fancies. This aspect speaketh also of an affinity with the world of faerie whereof I will speak no more.

Opposition Mars-Jupiter, orb = 05°36'
The aspect giveth the native great lust, daring, and love of adventure. The soul seeketh action, and can be industrious as the bee. The native doth all things in large measure. This aspect may transpose the Jupiterian need for expansion into journeying abroad.

Opposition Jupiter-Saturn, orb = 09°07'
Jupiter and Saturn bear incarnate opposite sets of values. Outbearing Jupiter seeketh the prominence, and doth venture all. Melancholie Saturn favours caution and seeketh not the companie of others. The native must reconcile the twain or hazard their wits, but mark! if the native masters the opposing forces of both, they will be driver of their own chariot (witness even Master Shakespeare whose stars bode even so).

Trine Sun-Mars, orb = 07°49'
This trine giveth the subject mastery of himself, and thereby of all about him.

Square Mercury-Mars, orb = 03°48'
This matching of Mars and Mercury giveth a lively wit if the subject let not the smoak of Mars' fire cloud his eyes. It giveth also a lively tongue, and thereto should heed be paid.

Sextile Sun-Uranus, orb = 03°39'
Herewith the Sun lendeth his Glory to cunning Uranus. The native of this aspect hath quick wits but also tendeth to secret knowledge. It may also be that Fate will play a fickle game with him, granting now favour, now falling. The native would do well to heed the lesson of Prometheus, though he fancy he may fare where others have failed, he should beware lest he offend.

Sextile Venus-Neptune, orb = 04°40'
While Venus and Neptune dance thus in the heavens, the native will bear many gentle traits. Music and art will be meat and drink to them, and they will seek ways to bless their fellows, but failing, lest they pay heed to make substance of their dreaming.

The goal is not the goal

I saw something this evening.
In his famous prayer, Saint Francis wisely said that;

It is in dying that we are born to eternal life

We cannot grasp the Kingdom of Heaven. It is only when we do not try, when we "Let go, and let God" that we receive grace.

Let this mind be in you, which was also in Christ Jesus: Who, being in the form of God, thought it not robbery* to be equal with God: But made himself of no reputation, and took upon him the form of a servant, and was made in the likeness of men.

(Phil.2:5-7.)

Buddhists believe that the absence of desire is the first step in achieving enlightenment. The harder we try, the less we achieve. The goal is not the goal.

*The Greek text could be translated as "considered it not something to be grasped".

All the time in the world

To see a world in a grain of sand,
And a heaven in a wild flower,
Hold infinity in the palm of your hand,
And eternity in an hour.

I received a message this morning.
The message was sent by me, but not by me.
By me in the past.
Time really is not a simple progression of cause and effect, but an infinitely complicated web, past, future and apparent present all inextricably linked.
Time did not "begin", will not "end". It came into being without beginning or end.

Are You With Us or Against Us

Entry for June 24, 2007
Whether you are homosexual or not, you should repost this in support of your friends and loved ones who are. Love is not defined by color, creed, or gender.


I am the boy who never finished high school, because I got called a fag everyday

I am the girl kicked out of her home because I confided in my mother that I am a lesbian.

I am the prostitute working the streets because nobody will hire a transsexual woman.

I am the sister who holds her gay brother tight through the painful, tear-filled nights.

We are the parents who buried our daughter long before her time.

I am the man who died alone in the hospital because they would not let my partner of twenty-seven years into the room.

I am the foster child who wakes up with nightmares of being taken away from the two fathers who are the only loving family I have ever had. I wish they could adopt me.

I am not one of the lucky ones. I killed myself just weeks before graduating high school. It was simply too much to bear.

We are the couple who had the realtor hang up on us when she found out we wanted to rent a one-bedroom for two men.

I am the person who never knows which bathroom I should use if I want to avoid getting the management called on me.

I am the mother who is not allowed to even visit the children I bore, nursed, and raised. The court says I am an unfit mother because I now live with another woman.

I am the domestic-violence survivor who found the support system grow suddenly cold and distant when they found out my abusive partner is also a woman.

I am the domestic-violence survivor who has no support system to turn to because I am male.

I am the father who has never hugged his son because I grew up afraid to show affection to other men.

I am the home-economics teacher who always wanted to teach gym until someone told me that only lesbians do that.

I am the woman who died when the EMTs stopped treating me as soon as they realized I was transsexual.

I am the person who feels guilty because I think I could be a much better person if I didnt have to always deal with society hating me.

I am the man who stopped attending church, not because I don't believe, but because they closed their doors to my kind.

I am the person who has to hide what this world needs most, love.

I am the person ashamed to tell my own friends im a lesbian, because they constantly make fun of them.

I am the boy tied to a fence, beaten to a bloody pulp and left to die because two straight men wanted to "teach me a lesson"


---IF YOU BELIEVE THAT HOMOPHOBIA IS WRONG... REPOST THIS

---IF YOU ARE IGNORANT... IGNORE

Double helix

This is not about Watson and Crick, and not an attempt to be funny.

I get messages from time to time. Usually a bit cryptic. "Double helix" is the latest. The implication is something powerful, and intertwined. The potency relates to the intertwining.

Does this relate to the letter from my son a few days ago? not sure. Only time will tell.

OK, double helix: think of the caduceus - the physician's symbol, two snakes entwined around the staff of Mercury, an ancient symbol of healing. Yes, our genetic material takes the form of a double-helical molecular structure but I get the feeling that the meaning here is not that simple (seldom is, anyway).

Look at the helices from another angle: above. The two helices make a circle. We are ONE. One is STRONG. There is no end to the circle. The circle is complete. But the circle (in this case) is only weaker unless both the helices are present.

How can I do the best for my child?

After some trial and error (I've reared my own, and some grandkids) I have learned a few things that work. And some that don't.

Treat your children as intelligent people. They may not understand all the terms you would use with an adult, so simplify things to a point that they can understand, but answer their questions truthfully to the best of your ability. If there's something you're not sure of, admit it: sometimes they'll suggest an explanation that makes sense within the framework of their own understanding. Listen to what they tell you, you will learn from it!

Join them in their world. When they invite you into their games, participate as much as you are able. Let them lead as much as they want, and take the lead when they let you. (If!).

Be dependable. When you promise to do something, do it. If you promise to do it on a particular day, or at a particular time, do it. Of course there will be times when you can't keep that promise, Explain why you can't keep the promise, but do all you can to keep as much of the promise as possible. If you have to do what you promised at a later time, make that an agreement with your child. If you have to do something different with your child instead, make that an agreement with your child.

Show your child that you love them. Hug them. Make time to play with them. Read to them. Sing to them. Listen when they want to talk to you. Yes, parents are always busy, but even if you cannot stop what you are doing, spare a little of your attention for them. Don't try to buy your child's affection. Toys, sweets and treats will get you a reputation as an easy touch, but you won't have the depth of relationship with your child that will endure for years, through good times and bad. And more importantly, your child will eventually realize that they are missing something vital.

That which is imagined need never be lost

Rather than lose my previous blog, I am adding a link to it.

Are you sitting comfortably? Then we'll begin

And we'll begin with a RANT.

This is the second of my Nonce blogs, because Google have failed to link my existing account to my new account following the changeover from Blogger to Google Blogger.

Being a huge internet company, Google doesn't care that thousands of other people are having the same problem. They have put up helpful instructions that don't solve the problem, but keep the nasty little users out of their hair so that they can get on with the real business of making money.

If anyone from Google would like to help me amalgamate my original blog with this new one, I will gladly remove this reference to them. But I think Hell may freeze over before I hear from them.