"I'd like a baked potato, hold the negativity!"

I went out with my wife and a good friend--who I will call Amy--for dinner earlier this evening at a local sit-down chain restaurant. I will do my best to describe what I experienced, but let me start by saying this: A positive attitude always wins. Yeah, it's hard. Our jobs sometimes suck. Our lives sometimes suck. The economy is bad. Congress does nothing. Kim Jong-Il is dead. We have bills to pay and not enough money to pay them. We're tired, sick, unloved, or as my sister used to say, "friendless, neglected and dressed funny." But there are times and places to vent negativity.

With that said, I believe that there is (almost) never a reason to vent to your customers, and find the practice unprofessional at best and downright damaging to business success at its worst. I don't start tarot readings or astrology consultations with, "Well, my life sucks. My scale seems to be stuck, my hands are cracking open because of the cold, and I don't think I'll ever get over knowing that wrestling is fake." There is a powerful mind-body connection; while bad things happen to us, we choose how we react to them. There are times when we are feeling low, and we should express those feelings, but to those we trust, and in private settings.

The three of us meet once a week for dinner, and we enjoy each other's company tremendously. This time, "Negative Nancy"--and her name has been changed to Nancy for the purpose of this blog--was our server. She came and took our drink orders and then came back for our food order. So far, everything was going to plan. So we start engaging in conversation over the events of the past week.

Nancy returns with the salads, and this is where the problem begins. My salad is correct, but Jen's isn't. So Nancy places the other two salads down, complaining that because of her diabetes she just had eye surgery yesterday and that she can't even read her own handwriting. So she returns to the kitchen to get Jen's salad, and now Amy finds out that her salad is wrong. Amy plows ahead eating her salad, only to find a bug in it. When Nancy comes back with Jen's salad, Amy informs her of the problem, so she removes Amy's, joking about the "extra protein" that Amy missed out on.

Nancy departs. At this point, I'm giggling because I don't want to get angry with Nancy; the "protein" comment should never have been made, and I'm thinking this is one of the worst experiences I've ever had at a chain restaurant. Not all of it was Nancy's fault, but she certainly wasn't making things better for us.

When Nancy returns, she directs her question to me. Apparently she is "going crazy" because she can't read her own handwriting, so she confirms my order, which wasn't exactly what I said earlier. It was pretty close, so not wanting to take chances, I confirm the incorrect choice, which I'm prepared to eat without a problem.

During one of her passes by our table, Nancy stops and starts to chat with us. In many restaurants, they encourage the servers to be friendly and joke around with the customers. Personally, it's a nice touch and kind of makes the customer feel at home. This was unfortunately NOT the case for Nancy. During the five-minute monologue, during which all of us nodded our heads and agreed because we didn't want to tell her to leave us alone, Nancy told us the following:

• She is from the Caribbean and has no money because she spent it on plane tickets back home to see her brother get married last month. Nancy has no idea why anyone would want to marry her brother, but the tickets are non-refundable so she's stuck;
• She lives with her sister, her brother-in-law, and her three nieces and nephews. Her brother-in-law likes to "sit on his fat butt, drink beer and watch football" on Sundays. Nancy bought her nephew an easel to draw on, but the little boy prefers drawing on the walls. Nancy spent a lot of time with her Mr. Clean Eraser to undo the damage, but while her brother-in-law watches football the little boy writes on the walls with dad just sitting there, doing nothing.
• She provides a list of Christmas presents that she has bought or has chosen not to buy this year for her nieces and nephews, either for economic or personal reasons, which she was kind enough to relay to us.

While we're trying to at least be polite--and granted, we could have told her to leave us alone, but it would have been rude any way we'd have tried--Nancy's manager is watching us from across the room. I see the manager walk past our table and say, "Nancy" to get our server's attention. Nancy keeps right on talking until about 20 seconds later, the manager calls out to her again: "Nancy, table 3 needs you." With a huge roll of her eyes and a muttered remark--I didn't catch it exactly, but I strongly suspect it was not professional in nature as it started with "She's such a"--Nancy excuses herself and heads off. I got the strong sense that Nancy's boss was not happy with her performance. 

Through the course of the rest of the meal, during which Nancy refilled some drinks but not others, brought out at least one incorrect side item, and generally made a nuisance of herself, we learned that she used to work at Wendy's--she was a 14-year veteran over there--but can't eat their food anymore. She has no idea why they started using sea salt on the fries, either, because in Nancy's mind it makes no difference at all. And did you know that "[aloo]" is the way they say "potato" in Hindi? I found this out when no baked potato came out for me and Nancy remedied that deficiency in my cultural literacy. 

Not to worry; we didn't let Nancy ruin our enjoyment of the meal. We speculated that perhaps her remarks may have been tailored to get a larger tip--"feel bad for me because I'm broke" kind of thing--but in the end, we really weren't sure.

I was stunned that someone would just vomit all of that negativity onto whoever was around--in this case, paying customers. I also left the restaurant with the strong impression that this was not the first time that Nancy's boss told her to stop blabbing and get back to work; I suspect that other private conversations between the two of them were much more pointed.

You know, I'm trying hard for compassion here, folks. It's something I work on every day. Nancy is working, despite being post-surgery and all of her personal and economic challenges. And being a server in a restaurant is a hard job; I have tremendous respect for them because they have to be nice, take poor treatment from customers, and work very hard for very little money. But there are some things you just don't do, and you shouldn't use paying customers as a dumping ground for your personal problems. The bottom line is I DON'T CARE about your personal issues. Go to work and do your best to put your problems aside. That's sometimes hard, but we all have to do it to earn a living.

I know you're wondering how all of this turned out in the end. I gave Nancy around 15%, even though I've been tipping around 20% these days with the bad economy. My Christmas gift to Nancy was not telling her boss about her incredibly poor attitude and performance.

So, Merry Christmas, Nancy! I hope you can find a way to be happy despite your problems. I will make you one promise, though: I play Old Saint Nick only once a year, and this is a restaurant I go to fairly regularly. If I draw you again and you behave similarly, your manager and I will have a pointed conversation of our own, and at that point you may have more to worry about than your lazy brother-in-law and Mr. Clean erasers. But even if this restaurant doesn't pan out, Wendy's would likely take you back. At least there your customers wouldn't be under your care for so long.

I'll take Separation of Church and State for $200, please, Alex...

Here we go again.  In the past few years, the Loudoun County (VA) Courthouse has been the scene of controversy. A manger scene and a Christmas tree were all that were present since 1937, but since a 2009 courthouse committee decision to allow other ten unattended displays on the grounds, other groups have petitioned to put up religious or non-religious displays of their own.

http://www.washingtonpost.com/local/in-leesburg-holiday-displays-bring-controversy-and-change/2011/12/09/gIQAZFemyO_story.html

Notably, atheist and anti-consumer groups have put up displays. The anti-consumer group showed a skeleton Santa--protesting the consumerism in the holidays--that has torn down by angry citizens twice. (According to the article, signs were posted celebrating the winter solstice, but they're not causing the angst, something for which I am very thankful). The Church of the Flying Spaghetti Monster will also put up a display this weekend.

[NOTE: FSM is a parody religion created in 2005 when the Kansas State Board of Education decided it wanted to add intelligent design to science classes in their state. Google them and check them out; I think they're pretty funny and they make a good point. And they won in Kansas, and then later in Florida.] 

A few years ago, this committee decided to not allow ANY unattended displays, and locals were all up in arms to continue to have them. So the group reached a fair compromise: They allow a certain number of groups to put things up, on a first-come-first-served basis.  

I'm not really sure I understand what all the fuss is about. To me, it's really simple. It is a county courthouse space, and the entire county pays for it. The manger doesn't necessarily represent the entire county's religious beliefs, so it shouldn't be there. Use your own space for your own spiritual displays...in front of your home or house of worship, inside your home or car, or at a religious academic institution, for example.

Honestly, if I had my way, it would be no displays at all for any federal, state, county, or municipal buildings or public spaces. And YES, a manger scene IS indeed a religious symbol; just because it has been around for a while doesn't make it "traditional".

Just more controversy to add to the excitement of the holidaze! 

Book Review: The Psychic Way: Fine-Tuning Your Intuition by Barbara Ford-Hammond

The Psychic Way: Fine-Tuning Your Intuition

Barbara Ford-Hammond

Sixth Books

$19.95

Imagine going to an ice cream shop. As you walk through the door the walls covered with a hundred freezer drawers. Inside each drawer is a different flavor of ice cream, but only just a spoonful of each, and every flavor is one that you enjoy. You open a drawer, sample the ice cream, and savor the flavor, only to have disappointment set in when you realize it’s gone. But you smile because you’ve got a whole bunch of flavors to try, and it keeps you going. And because it’s only a small amount—just a taste—there’s no stomach upset afterward.

You’ve just experienced what reading The Psychic Way was like for me. It is filled with lots of different techniques to improve your intuition. A number of them I’ve used before, and some I haven’t, but I felt like each one was just a morsel of total bliss. I found myself wanting more of, well…just about everything! And that may well be the point: To give the reader an idea of what kind of intuitive development techniques s/he might enjoy to explore them further through practice as well as books and classes.

Take the chakras, for example. Lots of us work with them, study them, meditate with them, and teach them. Ms. Ford-Hammond has a chapter in the book on them. It has a nice intro for those new to chakra work, a quick list of the chakras and their associated colors, and some exercises to try. Whole books have been written about the chakras, but if you’re new to it, you just get a taste. If you like it, maybe you’ll take a chakra class at a local metaphysical store, or buy a book on chakras, or do a Google search to increase your knowledge. Don’t like the “taste” of chakras? There are plenty of other flavors to choose from. If not for this book, you might never have known that you did or didn’t like the “taste” at all.

One of my favorite chapters was called “The Clairs”. I’m talking about clairaudience, clairvoyance, clairsentience, claircognisence, and several other “clairs”. Many people have intuitive feelings and don’t know what to call them. I have no doubt that a number of people who read this book shouted, “Oh wow! That’s me!” when reading the individual descriptions of the techniques. One point that I thought was valid was for the student to understand that these can be mixed together; like the five senses, you may rely on one in particular, but together they can be quite powerful. For someone just touching the edges of their intuitive power, this could be a very important message.

I also liked the stories. After you read some of the accounts in this book, you’ll question what you call “coincidence”. The narratives hammer home the point that any person has the ability to develop their intuitive gifts.

One of the few disappointing aspects of this book was that like the fictional ice cream shop, there were not enough stories, and some of the chapters weren’t long enough. I was just starting to enjoy reading about auras when the chapter ended four pages later.

This book is great for beginners and anyone unfamiliar with the intuition and how to make it more effective. If you’re looking for a way to develop your own gifts and you’re not sure where to turn, it’s a great resource. Personally, I’d give it as a gift to people who doubt their intuition or who are really interested in learning more but don’t know where to begin.

Sometimes you want a big bowl of your favorite ice cream flavor: Swiss chocolate almond, peanut butter ripple, peppermint stick, or just plain old chocolate. But The Psychic Way lets you experience a lot of different flavors in a neat little package, and is a great place to start. And keep those freezer drawers closed so the rest of us can have a taste! 

I trust you...unless you're an atheist?

A recent article appeared in the Washington Post recently about anti-athiesm. Here's the article:

http://www.washingtonpost.com/national/health-science/study-atheists-distrusted-as-much-as-rapists/2011/12/09/gIQAfYUiiO_story.html

Basically, the data indicated that we--and I say "we" meaning the 770 American adults and Canadian college students who participated in this survey--trust rapists to do the right thing more than atheists.

Granted, this is an extremely small sampling of North Americans. But read that last sentence again, please, and let it sink in. Now let's look at the definition of "atheist" from merriam-webster.com: "One who believes there is no deity."

So if we put two and two together, we get "Those who believe there is no higher power are untrustworthy." Seriously...are you kidding me?

Part of it is likely that when people hear "athiest", they think that because a person doesn't believe in a higher power, and, therefore, has no moral code to speak of. Atheists are not AMORAL; they do have a code, but it is one of their own making, and may or may not be based on a particular spiritual or religious belief. Just because it does not come from a "spiritual" place doesn't make it any less valid than our own.

Also, keep in mind that many atheists were once practitioners of a religion, likely one that they were raised with, and that background along with their life experiences has led them to choose atheism.

As a spiritual person, I choose what spiritual path I follow and how much that path influences my own choices. For example, when I was a practicing Catholic, the moral code of that religion is pro-life in all circumstances. I have been pro-choice since I knew about the issue, so that particular precept of Catholicism didn't sway me simply because that was the path I was on. Many Wiccans believe that being vegetarian or vegan is the way to go, but I don't choose to live my life that way. So like atheists, our code is our own individually. If you've heard the term "cafeteria Catholic", for example, you know what I'm talking about. It may sound like a derogatory term, but it's not to me; it showcases what all of us do on an individual spiritual level, in my humble opinion.

Just like we choose what will and will not affect our beliefs, atheists CHOOSE to not believe in any higher power. Again, that doesn't mean that they don't know right from wrong, or that they are inherently untrustworthy because they choose not to believe in a higher power.  I love spiritual people, but I don't love or trust people any less who choose atheism. I have one atheist in my life and if it came down to it, I'd trust him with my life. He's one of the most trustworthy people I know and always has been. The idea that he or any other atheist is less than trustworthy or somehow immoral is patently ridiculous.

And don't even get me started on the incredibly awful, immoral, unconscionable choices made over the years by people who believe in a higher power. Let me throw out the Crusades, the Salem Witch Trials, thousands of wars, and centuries of religious discrimination as just a few examples. Being "spiritual" or "religious" doesn't necessarily mean "trustworthy" either, folks.

Spirituality is a choice. Not being spiritual is a choice. Being someplace in the middle is a choice. And they are all valid choices for each person. The moment that we start to discriminate based on lack of belief is the moment we put ourselves in the same category as bigots. Tolerance is not just for those who believe.

What this all comes down to is ego. Take away the words, what it says is, "I'm better than you are because I believe in [INSERT DEITY OR SPIRITUAL PATH HERE], and you believe in nothing. So obviously you are somehow defective." Bullshit!

With the holiday season coming, respect everyone's choices and check your ego. If you won't bash another religion but you somehow find yourself looking down on atheists, then know that you've become part of the intolerance that makes life difficult for both believers and atheists alike.

If you'd rather trust a rapist, that's up to you. But I'll take anyone--atheist or no--over violent sexual offender any day of the week.

A fantastic article on tolerance

Hello everyone,

Every once in a great while, an article really hits home for me. This one definitely did. Take a look!

http://www.danoah.com/2011/11/im-christian-unless-youre-gay.html

It's getting a lot of buzz on the internet, and one of my friends posted it on his Facebook page. Please don't be put off by the title: it's not meant to be anti-gay, anti-Christian, or anti-anyone. I think it showcases very well the true meaning of tolerance.

Read the responses, too. Lots of people commented on this blog, and you can bet that the author got a lot of flack for posting it. The first and second "powerful responses" he lists will give you some idea. They are below:

http://www.danoah.com/2011/11/powerful-responses-to-im-christian-unless-youre-gay-blog.html

I admire and respect the author's courage for posting this article, and hope that you see the larger message beyond the words: Love everybody.

I know it's hard, people. We all have egos, opinions, biases, stereotypes and beliefs, and they get in the way all the time; I am as guilty of it as anyone. But what I found fantastic about this article is that it transcended the idea of religion or sexual preference in a way very few pieces I've read have been able to do. It's one thing to say  "[INSERT RELIGION HERE] says we shouldn't condemn others for being [INSERT DIFFERENCE HERE], and let's not do that anymore." It's more than that. "Love is amazing and should be the norm" is a message we can all get behind, I think.

I hope you enjoy it and pass it along to friends and family.

Mercury Retrograde on Thanksgiving!! Once more into the breach...

That's right, folks. Mercury is going retrograde again, beginning early on Thursday morning here on the east coast. It will last until December 13th. Some of the standard effects include:

• Missed emails, text messages, or voicemails
• Miscommunication of all kinds between people
• Problems with paperwork--lost, misplaced, re-routed, etc. 
• Unexpected delays or cancellations of meetings or get-togethers
• Computer problems of any and all stripes but usually minor ones

Some of your standard coping strategies include:

• Back up all computer data regularly
• Check all travel plans--hotels, airlines, car rentals, etc.--before you leave
• Confirm that meetings are taking place 
• Read the fine print on every document you sign and try NOT to sign anything during this period if you can help it
• Ensure your messages are being sent and received
• Don't start new projects; "new" things that are started now usually have to be re-done
• Finish up old projects and tie up loose ends
• Be understanding of others' problems communicating or showing up late or not at all; likely it is not their fault
• Speak carefully

Now, let's keep in mind something VERY IMPORTANT. Thursday is Thanksgiving, a day when many of us will be spending time with loved ones. While I don't want to sound like Chicken Little--while my blinds are closed I'm very sure the sky is NOT falling--please be extremely careful about communicating with people because there is a strong potential for misunderstandings. Simply and clearly is the way to go. 

Also, if you are traveling, be extra careful and allow extra time. Don't text and drive and minimize all cell phone communications if you are driving. And expect dropped calls and technical difficulties.

For those of you doing National Novel Writing Month, save your work OFTEN and back it up, please!  

Be safe and enjoy the holiday! Hopefully Mercury will be kind to us this time around. :)

The Myth of Thanksgiving

OK, so if you're a fan of Thanksgiving, you may want to stop reading now. Just sayin'.

I can't stand the holiday. Normally I can keep my dislike of this truly "Hallmark holiday" to myself, but after people started getting all up in arms that retailers expect employees come in on Thanksgiving to prepare for overnight Black Friday sales, I decided I had to say something.

FACT #1: Some people have always had to work on Thanksgiving. How many firefighters, police officers, airport and airline employees, transit workers, restaurant and hotel employees, government employees, football coaches, and members of the US military do you know? People don't stop having medical problems, eating, traveling, or fighting wars because it's the last Thursday in November, folks. So it's likely that in those industries and many more, these people have missed their share of turkey dinners with their families. Remember that when you sit down to yours.

I once read a piece called "The Power of Thanksgiving" that I had to translate into French in grad school, and while the words were fairly easy to interpret, one big hurdle is that the French don't understand the significance it has in many Americans' lives. It really made me consider what the day means to me.

For some time now, I've been trying to get my head around why this day is so much more important than others for many Americans. It's become somehow sacred. Our two busiest travel days surround this day. There's no mass rush to be home for Halloween, for example. If you cut away the hype, Thanksgiving is one day and a meal. And yet people travel very long distances to be with their loved ones--and we'll get to that in a moment--for this one day, this one meal.

I've come to the conclusion that Americans are searching for something in this one day: They're looking for nostalgia. They use the day to remember the past, when our families weren't divided by distance, divorce, or dysfunction. Everyone tries for that one day to put aside their differences and sit down like nothing ever happened. My response to that is "Yeah, right. How's that working out for you?"

I hear the stories each year of people making the valiant--in some cases, herculean--effort to use planes, trains and automobiles to find the past. And for many of them, it's a true hassle. I'm not just talking about the travel part, either. What I don't understand is why people feel the need to force themselves to make this annual journey of self-flagellation. For many, the answer is that they feel they have to, that there is no choice. The idea of "obligation" for this day is a ridiculous concept. If you're afraid of making people unhappy, I understand...but whose happiness is more important? That's a decision only you can make for yourself. I am enthralled to hear the stories of the sacrifices people make to be with loved ones on this day and then come back home bitching about how badly it sucked. Put that much pressure on any event or person and it's bound to not live up to your high expectations.

With the economy the way it is, people are lucky to have jobs, and employers are going to want every opportunity to make money. I expect more and more people will be working on Thanksgiving over time. At least it puts (more) money in the employee's pockets. 

FACT #2: You are not OBLIGATED to do anything. If you really dislike spending the day with [INSERT NAMES HERE], then make other arrangements. It really is that simple. You DO have a choice.

Another reason people celebrate Thanksgiving is to show appreciation for the all the blessings in their lives. I am very much in favor of counting one's blessings. I try to do it every single day. And that's my problem with selecting one random day to give thanks for what we have. Shouldn't we do that regularly...like MORE than once a year? I have the same problem with Valentine's Day. Shouldn't your significant other know how your feel about them every single day? What it comes down to is people making the effort once a year, or feeling like they are only OBLIGATED--there's that word again!--to make the effort once a year. Personally, February is not a time of year I would have picked to tell my beloved how much I care for her. She's not a fan of cold weather. And our veterans? I think they deserve a LOT more than one day...personally I'd make it a whole week in June, the same week as Flag Day, or perhaps move Flag Day and make the entire week after Memorial Day about our men and women in uniform.

While November is not a bad time for Thanksgiving--post-harvest and all--you should appreciate all of life's blessings all the time. Yes, sometimes we lose sight of that in the day-to-day rat races that many of our lives have become, but come on...food pantries, humanitarian organizations, and blood banks need help year-round. And with American obesity and its associated conditions--hypertension, diabetes, and heart disease--on the rise, we have shown that we don't gorge ourselves only once a year. In reality, it's the beginning of a six-week food extravaganza, which ends when we resolve to lose the pounds and go back to the gym in January. Then we pull a muscle or two and that is the end of that.

Please understand that I'm not against people celebrating the holiday. Giving thanks and spending time with family and friends is important. But many Americans love the myth of Thanksgiving. Celebrate it, but keep it in perspective. It won't bring back the past, and no, you don't have to go if you don't want to. REALLY. It's one meal and one day to do whatever you want.

I hope you enjoy the day, and whatever you choose to make of it, I hope it is YOUR choice and not borne of some misguided sense of obligation. No matter what the calendar says, count your blessings.

Happy (belated) birthday to the United States Marine Corps!

Hello everyone...

The last people in the world I'd want to offend are United States Marines. So it is with great pride that I put up a quick analysis of the USMC's astrological chart. I used November 10, 1775 at noon in Philadelphia, PA.

Planet	Sign	Element	House
Sun	Scorpio	Water	9th
Moon	Gemini	Air	5th
Mercury (R)	Sagittarius	Fire	10th
Venus	Libra	Air	8th
Mars	Sagittarius	Fire	11th
Jupiter (R)	Gemini	Air	5th
Saturn	Libra	Air	8th
Uranus	Gemini	Air	4th
Neptune	Virgo	Earth	8th
Pluto	Capricorn	Earth	12th
Ascendant/Rising Sign	Capricorn	Earth	1st

So here are a few comments:

1) Sun near the midheaven--The USMC's Scorpio Sun in the 9th house is only four degrees from the cusp (edge) of the 10th house, known as the Midheaven. This magickal line is where career and ambition come to life. The midheaven is also in Scorpio, so in a few words, the USMC has a very ambitious mission, always wanting to do more and never backing down. And they do have a vengeful side as well. When you mess with a Marine, you should know are playing with fire. The scorpion's stinger is very sharp and the pain you feel when it sinks in is NOT pleasant. Scorpio is also one of the zodiac's most loyal signs, so they never leave anyone behind.

2) Communication consternation?--Mercury is sitting in the 10th house as well, which means that any kind of communication is essential to the Marine Corps mission. But Mercury is in retrograde motion here, which can present a problem because it may indicate a failure to choose correctly the first time when making important decisions. Of course, Mercury eventually goes direct and allows for "course correction" but in the Marines, a bad important decision puts lives at risk. Also, with Mercury retrograde in Sagittarius, there can be a sense of impatience to move forward that can hinder the decision-making process. The bottom line here is that it's imperative for the USMC to think about big, organization-altering decisions as much as possible before making them.

3) Capricorn Rising--This is a serious rising sign that signals long-term success. There will be hills and valleys, but in the end, the USMC will complete its missions successfully. One problem that can come with this Ascendant is that everything can be taken too seriously. When it comes to the business of war, that's not necessarily a bad thing, but telling the USMC to "lighten up" will not be well received. They are SERIOUS about what they do.

4) Strong 5th, 8th and 9th houses--The strength of the 5th house kind of surprised me. It's about creativity and having fun, a strong contract to the traditionalist attitude of Capricorn Rising. But I can't forget that the 5th is also about gambling and risk-taking, and the USMC has definitely undertaken its share of risky battles over the years.

The 8th house is naturally ruled by Scorpio so it nicely reinforces the Scorpio sun, and death is one of the keywords for this house. I think of the tee shirt that says "Join the Marines! Travel to foreign places, meet exotic people, and kill them!" LOL

The 9th house is the foreign part of the mission, from the halls of Montezuma to the shores of Tripoli, to be exact. The Marines will fight wherever needed and usually for a larger purpose; it's the philosophy of what America stands for that they represent, and the 9th house is all about the higher mind and principles in general.

5) Mars in Sagittarius--This placement reinforces the strong 9th house. Mars is the planet of war and conflict, and to see it here just highlights the idea that Marines fight for a higher purpose. The battles are just pieces of a larger idea that they are fighting for.

I hope you've enjoyed this quick look at the astrological chart of the United States Marine Corps. I was fortunate enough to attend one Marine Corps Ball. I was working overseas at the time and feeling homesick, and it was just what the doctor ordered. It was amazing; my eyes filled with tears on more than one occasion that night. There were very few days when I was more proud to be an American, and I was honored to attend such a sacred event.

And I'd like to take a special moment to thank the men and women of the USMC, especially Cameron and Chris, for your sacrifices and for your willingness to put yourselves in harm's way. No words can ever be enough to say how respectful and grateful I am for your service.

Long Time No See, Neptune!

Greetings everyone! It's been a while since I last spoke to you...my bad! You know I have a tendency to get distracted.

John's asked me to come in here and tell you a little bit about what's been going on with him to hold you over until his next blog, which I'm told is about the astrological chart of the US Marine Corps. When will that be? At some point in the next few days. But time management is not my forte, folks.

John turned 40 last month--yes, I know, Saturn...only 20 more years until you return!--and it was a fantastic party. He wants to thank everyone who made it a special day. He was riding with ME that night, and sang, drank and generally made merry. Take that, Old Man! I haven't seen him doing much book editing, either...you'll have to get on him about that. Or have you lost your touch? Too busy reforming that new Libyan Government, maybe?

Sorry, I get so easily distracted! At any rate, hang in there for a little while longer for the next blog. John looks forward to seeing you soon, I'm sure.

Believe,

Neptune

Happy (Belated) Birthday, US Navy!

The US Navy celebrated its 236th birthday on Thursday, and I wanted to take a moment to acknowledge their sacrifice and dedication with an astrological analysis.

The date of their birth was October 13, 1775, Philadelphia, PA, and I used noon for the time. The essentials are below.

Planet	Sign	Element	House
Sun	Libra	Air	9th
Moon	Gemini	Air	6th
Mercury	Scorpio	Water	10th
Venus	Scorpio	Water	10th
Mars	Sagittarius	Fire	11th
Jupiter	Gemini	Air	6th
Saturn	Libra	Air	9th
Uranus	Gemini	Air	5th
Neptune	Virgo	Earth	9th
Pluto	Capricorn	Earth	1st
Ascendant/Rising	Capricorn	Earth	1st

Here are a few of the facts that jump out when you look at this chart:

1) Heavy air--You would think that with the Navy, you'd get a lot of water. There's lots of air, far more than there is water. Five planets in are in air, while two--Mercury and Venus in Scorpio--are in water signs. At first, that didn't seem to make sense to me until I considered that air--wind--was the main power source of naval vessels for a great deal of its history. Also, keep in mind that communication--an activity ruled by the air element--between Naval vessels and bases is of exceptional importance. Over time, that's become a lot easier but imagine what it was like sending orders to ships at sea in 1800. 

2) Strong 6th, 9th, and 10th houses--Most of the planets in the Navy's chart fall into the 6th, 9th, and 10th houses. The 6th house is the one that represents armed forces in general. With the Moon and Jupiter sitting in the 6th in Gemini, we see an organization that can be very good at avoiding emotions and focusing on the job at hand (Moon), while traveling to many different faraway destinations for a higher purpose (Jupiter). The 9th is the house of foreign or distant travel and philosophical principles--no surprise that three planets are sitting here, and one of them is the Sun, which forms a large part of the "personality" of any chart. Neptune, king of the oceans, is sitting here as well, but in Virgo; you have to be dedicated to serving others to be constantly in motion like the Navy is. Saturn's position here in Libra shows that the limitations placed on the Navy do not take into account every foreign situation, and that they have to be very balanced as they act abroad. In the 10th, Mercury--along with the heavy air element in the chart--highlights the necessity for good communications, especially those that come from the hierarchy and those in charge, both 10th house topics. Venus in retrograde is also in the 10th in Scorpio; we'll hit that one separately. 

3) Venus in retrograde in Scorpio in the 10th--This chart has Venus in retrograde (moving backwards) at the time the Navy was established. One of the other aspects to the 10th house is the "outer image" or reputation. The Navy has to realize that its reputation is going to be one of extremes: People will generally love them or hate them, and a lot of what they will praised or criticized for can be explained through goals. If those in contact with the Navy understand what the Navy's goals are, and if they are clarified to those who are carrying out the orders, there is the potential for tremendous success. Also because it is Venus, the planet of attraction, partnerships with groups will either be amazingly successful or a complete bust. So the Navy needs to be careful who they partner up with.

Anyway, I hope you've found this taste of the US Navy's astrology chart interesting. If military matters interest you, please go check out my friend Susan's blog (www.susankatzkeating.com). She always has some fascinating insights into all things military.

To the ladies and gentlemen of the US Navy, you have my thanks and admiration for your daily sacrifices all around the world. May the wind always be at your back!