June 15, 2010

Beyond Comfort: It’s understandable to see the world with a bit of skepticism during these difficult times. Political polarization around the same stale policies, the continuing gusher in the Gulf, and the leaky economy have taken some of the luster off of the beautiful late spring days here in the Pacific Northwest. College kids are having nightmares about 2012 with apocalyptic images disturbing their sleep that reflect the waking worries of their parents. Does anyone have faith in doctrines of the right or left? Who thinks government is going to save us? Who believes that unfettered capitalism will pave a golden path to the future? Few of us do.

Look, I’m not into being all doomy and gloomy since I believe that the human capacity for discovery and growth is considerably greater than what we’re showing these days. Yet it is a bit sad that among the billions of minds across the globe few brilliant ideas are catching fire. There’s no revolutionary fever in the midst of our malaise. Still, as I mention frequently, the planets are still promising more than has thus far been delivered. Generous Jupiter and innovative Uranus continue to track closely together in pioneering Aries, yet no breakthrough in solar energy or managing the economy has emerged. Maybe I’m being impatient. It’s very Aries-like to want what we want yesterday and the Ram is my impulsive rising sign. But, as I keep repeating, this alignment in Aries is a reminder that we’re now in a do-it-yourself period where meaningful change arises from the bottom instead of descending from the top.

When faced with a murky present and an even murkier future there’s a tendency to seek out familiar forms of comfort. The smoky smells of the 60s are more present than ever, yet represent an escape from reality more than a creative platform to a new reality. Seeking comfort is understandable when we’re under duress but it may be taking us on a slow ride to oblivion. The astrological signals, on the other hand, show that pushing ahead hard and fast into unfamiliar territory will be safer than standing still. The approaching alignment of four outer planets—Jupiter, Saturn, Uranus and Pluto—in season starting Cardinal signs is a prescription for taking bold action now.

The point is that each one of us is capable to letting go of old habits, taking off the blinders and seeing life from a fresh perspective. Yes, it’s scary to be out on the limb of imagination with nothing but faith to hold you up, but if you don’t let your mind explore unfamiliar territory, who do you think will? Politicians are in bed with contributors and seek to seduce voters while CEOs are trying to satisfy shareholders and maximize next quarter’s profits. We can’t count on them doing something new; it’s our minds that must open.

No matter how locked in we can get in the narrow confines of current reality, there’s always something new under the sun. It was announced this week that Afghanistan is rich in minerals that could transform this poor medieval land into a prosperous modern country. This is a perfect metaphor for what can happen in the rest of the world. Just beyond the limits of our ordinary perceptions lies wealth beyond imagination. How many bright ideas can you find buried beneath your doubts or floating above your fears? Innovation is not an object, it’s an attitude that can wither on the vine or grow into a powerful wave of change. If you’re willing to try something new, individual acts of innovation in your life will begin a cascade of changes that could save the world.

As published here on my Tarot.com blog.

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