The Luck of the Irish

“If you had the luck of the Irish, you’d be sorry and wish you were dead.

You should have the luck of the Irish, you would wish you was English instead.”  Lennon/Ono

I have taken the day off and resolved (again) to start writing about my life as a housecleaner with Grave’s Disease.  Yesterday was a day of worrying about what my customers think of me.  When my neurology customer asked me how I was feeling and I said fine but shaky, he took my pulse and said it was “a little fast but strong, no fibrillation.”  

To a person free of all but the normal anxiety about paying bills and getting the kid into a decent college that news would be reassuring, but in my case I was robbed of the one physical explanation I had for the mysterious feeling that haunts me under the breastbone and grows to an intense pain in my neck, head and eyes in irregular cycles.  I spent the rest of the day in circular thoughts wondering what was causing the sensation in my chest if it was not related to the heart and resisting the impulse to defend myself against the logical conclusion that I have hypochondria.   By the end of the day I returned to the Wikipedia article on Grave’s Disease that I’ve read twice before and was reminded of the tears that popped from my sore eyes the first time I read it.

It has been my plan for several years to write about my life as a house cleaner and tell the story of how I grew up in the nurturing atmosphere of my customers’ homes, strengthened by their kindness and inspired by their patience.  Now that I have been living for 3 years with the knowledge that I carry this chemical difference, and have had some time to consider the various ways it has affected my moods and behavior, I realize how important it is for someone to tell the story of what it’s like to live with Grave’s Disease. 

Today the awareness that shines most brightly for me is my appreciation for both this condition and modern medical science.  I sometimes say condition because calling it a disease contradicts my feeling that I am lucky to have it.  I am reminded of the students at Gallaudet University who protested the hiring of a hearing person as leader of their institution in 1988, beginning the ‘Deaf President Now’ movement; their demands for a deaf university president raised awareness of a culture that chooses to regard difference as an opportunity rather than a disability.  To receive a diagnosis of Grave’s Disease at the age of 51 after the body has been revved up by the effects of an over active thyroid for many years, is the same as being diagnosed with a mental illness that bears a shameful stigma.  It is handled very much in the same way that people once handled the diagnosis of cancer back in the days when it was a death sentence carefully guarded from the patient.

In other words, I was never told I had Grave’s Disease.  I had to put the puzzle pieces, which by mere chance fell in front of me, together.  If I had not repeatedly sought out available literature and asked questions of medical professionals, and if a friendly radiology technician had not told me the story of a fellow soldier’s mental breakdown, I would never have received an explanation for the wild mood swings and intense bouts of pain that I have lived with for years; I would be just another confused woman unable to control herself.

Mother without a License

When I discovered that I was pregnant at the age of 36, without health insurance, savings, or any other trappings of the corporate dream, I went to the county clinic.  Other than STD clinics I had never patronized medical establishments, but I liked the waiting mothers’ clinic; I liked seeing the various parents and guardians with infants and toddlers that circulated every month, just like me, through the waiting room and lab stations.  Eventually, I even liked being called ‘mom’ by the workers in the clinic, after wrestling with the inner conflict of feeling like a comrade in a state reproductive program and deciding that I could resist the repeated appellation as a social rank or let it help me prepare for the new life I was trying to fathom.  How in the world one of those small turkeys would come out of me was too frightening to consider.  I chose instead to meditate on the variety of women progressing through stages of abdominal growth and scolding restless children, and trust that if they could do it, somehow I would manage too.

Every month I was given two pages with a drawing of the corresponding developmental stage of the fetus.  I loved studying all the information and projecting where I was in my journey to motherhood, I loved telling my guy about the latest scientific gem that I had gleaned from the handouts or a book from the library.  I was uncomfortable accepting the WIC coupons that I was automatically signed up for and found the bureaucratic labyrinth I was subjected to every three months to collect them tedious, but like an embedded journalist I never missed an opportunity to sit in the waiting room and go through the experience of being told how I should plan and prepare meals for my family.  I learned a lot about government funded prenatal care and became a big fan of Jimmy Carter.  It was the last 2 weeks of the pregnancy and delivery that opened my eyes to why the American medical institution is casually demonized by the same people who can’t seem to get enough of it.

Ever since I was literally restrained in a hospital bed for the birth of my son I have been engaged in an uneasy standoff with the institutions that are the pride of the average American and yet the first target for blame when lives are compromised or lost.  This account of my life with a difference called a disease is not an indictment of science, American health care, or the medical community.  It is the story of my effort to make the best of the body I was given, and take pride in the woman I am.

Name Your Poison

Grave’s Disease is a name commonly used in America for the autoimmune condition which causes the thyroid to produce thyroid hormone indiscriminately.  Robert Graves was a revered Irish physician of British ancestry who published a two page article in 1835 describing 3 women suffering from heart palpitations accompanied by enlargement of the thyroid gland.  There are, however, earlier descriptions of the condition in medical literature, including one in the 12^th century Thesaurus of the Shah of Khwarazm by Al-Jurjani.

Credible Accounts of Creation

"Assigning intellectual achievements to one culture over another is a process which carries a heavy ideological load."

                                              Tamsyn Barton

                                               Ancient Astrology

My natal saturn had an incredible visit from mars Friday, Nov. 9.  The hour I was born more than 50 years ago Saturn was in the 3rd house (east coast USA) at 25degrees Sagittarius, and I do find that I bring a sober frame of mind to discussions of philosophy.  I like humor and polemic, but at bottom I approach discussions of philosophy and religion with an awareness that they shape institutions.  So I was glad to have spent the several hours leading up to that meeting of phantom and physical planets in Sagittarius with someone who cares deeply about friendly conversation and spirituality.

Western astrology teaches that the spiritual preparation for seeking truth is to enter subjective experience and face with courage and a steady hand that which we find within.  There are usually few if any people in an individual's life that have the will and capability required to accompany them on the journey into their private night.  I was fortunate to be with just such a friend Friday when preparing for the meeting with old philosophical beliefs in the process of being dissolved.  I think of beliefs as not so much things we hold to be true, but ideas which are dear to us; visions that we treasure for their ability to help us make sense of life or lead us to the kind of life we would like to live.  Beliefs to me are ideological treasures luring us into a more beautiful life, one as yet only imagined.

Myths are accounts of how life came to be as we know it, in the context of all existence and nonexistence.  Our ancestors have taken a collective look, over various cultures and countless generations, at what they perceive to be their common origin, the point from which all the miracles and suffering emanate; the first cause. 

This is the purpose of myth, to weave what we know about existence into a memorable story that captures the depth of meaning in what we are experiencing as a race of divinely inspired creatures.  We feel grateful for the gift of life and look for someone to thank, we want to know them, we are drawn into the past in a quest to give a nod of the head to them, maybe to shake their hand; some of us would like to spend time among ancestors listening to their stories, reliving their lives, past, present future in the language of music and poetry, number, nature and change.

We know this human story to extend hundreds of thousands of years into the past within a solar neighborhood that we describe in billions of years, but many of us do not know that there are sacred documents of sister cultures that date back 3,000 years which outline this same story in multiples of billions of years, following and projecting the trajectories of stars above us far into the past and future.  Many of us are not only unaware of, but convinced that no ancestors exist as far back as 3,000 years who could predict the whereabouts in the sky of a star 100 years or 1 year in the future.  We are like the indigenous people of a colonized land that have had our language systematically repressed.  Those of us who are ignorant of astrology are literally an indigenous people colonized and robbed of their native language, unable to discuss fluently our collective knowledge of life.

The language of organic time, of which Plato is a fairly recent philosopher, is widely seen as nothing more than a cheap self help distraction at best or an insidious con game at worst.  Students in American universities are taught the works of Boethius but discouraged from studying the same math and astronomy which he practiced under the guidance of Philosophy, the apparition of redemption who consoled him and lifted him up to the heights of wisdom at the hour of his death.

This is the value of astrology; not predictions, but the consolation of philosophy, the real understanding from the first duality of two particles with opposite polarities to the infinite permutations generated from there to here; all the light, explosions of stars and attractions that come from what we know not and through billions of years created us.  Our real past and future is not secret, it is shamed and stripped of the dignity of poetry, soul and assumed unity and direct inheritance from the ultimate source.  Those who embrace astrology acknowledge their oneness with all that exists past present and future and seek to understand the meaning of life through the humble study of the passage of organic time.

Now this is what I'm talking about when I say I love astrology.  Frankly it makes me feel much more sane than using clocks as exclusive measures of time.  This is the chart for the moment I clicked the send button on the above post.  How can anyone not cling to such a system for evidence of the divine? 

Our Sky Horoscopes September 2012

Aries:  You are now more than half way to the goal of breaking down barriers (April 2011) at the same time you’ve gotten a more intimate look at the function they serve.  By Sept 3 outsiders seeking to build will look to you for the inside scoop.  Sept 15, 16 you feel the need to invest ephemeral gifts of fortune wisely.

Taurus:  Sept 2 you enter a position of authority on a mission of diplomacy by standing firmly for tender life forms.  Sept 6 you leave the protective atmosphere of the greenhouse for direct access to the sun.  The 21^st a hobbit you’ve been sheltering begins granting wishes; 26^th you question whether pageantry is for power or edification.

Gemini:   Sept 1-16 will fly by in a blur of uncertainty.  When the boss looks to you for answers Sept 17-21 you’ll have enough fluency to present clear and balanced explanations with your partners.  Sept 26 you soar with eagles.  The 27^th restrictions begin to apply as you approach an inescapable task.

Cancer:   A 17 month process of stripping away the distractions of life and drinking deeply of its essence begins Sept 1, just as the survival instinct is focusing on immortality.  Sept 5, 6 your spiritual approach to security will respond to the challenge of carrying life through times of loss.  Sept 12 enjoy a good laugh with someone you love while sorting out what to keep and what to let go.

Leo:  Sept 5-7 you begin putting the puzzle pieces together.  Over the next few months you are in a position to view an upcoming challenge from various angles and test the most promising ideas.  By the 17^th you’ll be ready to seek another opinion.  You’ll have the most control Sept 18, 19; and then necessity to prepare for the future will start opposing other interests.

Virgo:  This is a very productive month until Sept 16, 17 when your mind turns to having fun with friends and being creative.  Sept  20, 21 you help someone zero in on the truth by keeping the channels of communication open.  Sept 25, 26 as you approach a long term task there will be strong opinions.

Libra:  The last half of this month if some one looked up the word flawless in the dictionary they would find a paragraph about you, and you even get to celebrate your perfection Sept 22-30 when people will recognize your charm and your creativity.  Next month the god of time leaves your neighborhood; it may take a while to adjust to less responsibility.

Scorpio:  You finally get all the control you crave but it comes with the ball and chain of responsibility.  By Sept 16 you’ll be able to see that 18 wheeler in the rear view mirror and start fiddling with the controls on the radio.  Use what you hear as a prompt to compose and refine your argument.

Sagittarius:  Some people pay to go through mazes and experience the thrill that comes from emerging after the horror of being lost.  Some pay good money to have others do their tax returns.  If intuition is the ability to connect and reorganize experience, then you are building a strong base till Sept 16.  After that you’ll get to compare notes to start composing a map.

Capricorn:  Sept 6-12 leave cares behind and have some fun.  Sept 13-17 study and practice your presentation.  Sept 20 you’ll have the wit and Sept 21 the poise it takes to square off with history and make sure at least two sides are heard.  Sept 23 you’ll still be getting things straight, but people will want to show their appreciation.

Aquarius:  This month you get a good look at what goes on behind the scenes of change.  Complicated deals and power plays that many lack the stomach for will benefit from your dispassionate judgment.  Where others see a corruption of ideals you see inevitable compromise.  Sept 2-4 begins approach to balance and 20, 21 it is reached intellectually.  

Pisces:  The beginning of Sept even if you are not a political pollster, you will be swimming in data.  The 9^th and 10^th will be passionate hunts for pieces of information and their correct place.  Late on Sept 16 you show someone what you’re doing and the process opens up to wider possibilities.  Tensions are high Sept 20 as competing views face off.

We Are More American  <----  Click on the blue words to see video with lyrics in spanish and english of a popular Mexican group.  This old post turned up tonight.  Maybe I was going to put the words in the video as subtitles, but see how lazy I have become! I don't know why I did not publish it back then, but I guess I can do it now.

This song was one of the first I heard on the radio ten years ago.  It was very popular.  The group, Los Tigres del Norte, is kind of the patron band of the country, they appear in lots of movies and advertisements.

I just watched the video.  It looks like there was a verse or two more that I did not transcribe and translate.  Reckon I need to get on that.

An Endless Essay for Taurus and Libra

Venus Entering Cancer: A Walk in Cancer’s Shoes for Taurus and Libra Natives

The morning of Aug 7, Venus leaves the sign Gemini where she has been since April and begins a month long journey through the sign Cancer.  First let’s talk about what we mean when we say a planet enters the sign Cancer.    

Cancer as Turning Point

Many people know that at summer solstice the sun rises higher in the sky than any other time of year.  The word tropic (as in Tropic of Cancer and Tropic of Capricorn) comes from the Greek ‘tropicos’ meaning turn.  The summer solstice is the turning point in the ecliptic where we see planets turn from an ascending direction to one that is descending.  I often imagine a Ferris Wheel with the Tropic of Cancer being the position of highest elevation after which the seats begin to return to earth.  Any time a planet is in the first degree of Cancer it is at that point in the ecliptic of highest elevation.

Let’s look at the solar system from above for another perspective:  when we see the sun highest in the sky on June 21 it is because earth is in the point of its yearly trip around the sun where the tilted north pole is pointed toward the sun.  In similar manner any other planet entering the sign Cancer is moving into a position relative to earth where our north pole is leaning toward it, and in our sky we see that planet at the most elevated point of the ecliptic.

So on the morning of Aug 7 (east coast North America) Venus reaches this turning point.  But what does it mean?

Well…the sign before Cancer is Gemini.  In that sign Venus was slowly climbing to the highest point in the band across the sky.  In the case of the sun, we are still benefiting from an increase of its time above the horizon from one day to the next, but that increase is negligible compared to the gain we get in Pisces and Aries.  In those two signs we get about 2 more minutes of light every day, while in Gemini we go, in thirty days, from an increase of 1 minute 28 seconds per day to an increase of only 2 seconds.  Though we are still gaining light, the amount we are gaining is dropping off a little bit with each day.

What we are doing is measuring the amount of energy the earth is receiving from the sun, or other planets, in units of time.  If we imagine the sun’s energy as money going into a bank account, Aries would be the period when money is coming in so fast we can hardly count it, Taurus would be when the income starts to level out, Gemini would be when it slows down so much we start counting and figuring out how much we’ve got, and Cancer would be when the money starts to trickle out instead of coming in.  When any planet is in the sign Cancer, the time it spends above the horizon (in the northern hemisphere) diminishes a few seconds with each degree it moves forward.

Planetary Rulers Tell Who is in Charge

OK, I'm not beating around the bush, all this is to give some mechanical basis for the meaning of the zodiac signs.  With that information we turn to which planets are in charge of each sign- just like priests being in charge in churches, teachers in the classroom, and cashiers at the register, there are planets recognized as the ‘rulers’ of various signs based on the nature of their cycles.  The sign Gemini, where many small adjustments occur, is ruled by Mercury, the yo-yo planet that we see pass back and forth never far from the sun.  Mercury is associated with the mind, our ability to create within ourselves a facsimile of our changing environment. 

So while Venus is in Gemini she is ruled by Mercury, the planet of the mind, or basic intellectual processes.  Taurus and Libra have both been occupied with the Gemini process of gathering and filing information since April while Venus has been in Gemini.  I should back up here and explain for those who are unfamiliar with planetary rulerships that Taurus and Libra are both governed by Venus- so following Venus for them is like checking in with the boss.  When the boss is in her own office she has more control, but when she leaves it she comes under the influence of whoever is in charge of the office she is passing through.  During most of March, Venus was passing through Taurus and so able to rule her own territory.  People born when the sun was in Taurus or Libra enjoyed a short month of inner peace and friendship while the ruler of partnership was keeping melodious order in the house.  When Venus had to leave one of her homes (remember she also rules Libra) in April and begin her extended trip through Gemini she came under the influence of Mercury.  So if Venus has been getting her cues from Mercury- let’s look at what Mercury’s been doing.

Looking Back on Venus’ Trip through Gemini

(But First-We Define Pisces)

On April 3, when Venus first entered Gemini, Mercury was in Pisces, the last sign of the Zodiac where energy is seriously building up like the engines firing on a rocket as it begins lift off.  In the case of the sun passing through the ecliptic- (an aside here- we use the sun’s cycle to define the zodiac not just because it is the main source of energy in our system, but also because its cycle is the most consistent….every other planet (except the moon) stops and reverses course at some point in its cycle with earth…the sun marches at a fairly steady rate through the zodiac as we steadily circle it)—OK, back to the sun passing through the ecliptic… We gain 2 minutes 16 seconds of light every day for the last 10 days that the sun is in Pisces.  The ten days before that (sun passes through a sign in 30 days) we get an average of 2 minutes 14 seconds extra each day; and the first 10 days we gain about 2minutes 9 seconds per day.  The sun starts out in the sign Pisces rising quickly in the ecliptic and builds up in those 30 days to its greatest increase in energy units delivered to the northern hemisphere by the time it reaches Spring equinox.  Spring is not just spring because that’s when the sprouts pop out of the earth, it is also spring because that’s when the sun springs up over the celestial equator and ascends the ecliptic.  Pisces on the Ferris Wheel is like the part of the ride where the seats are starting to go straight up.  It is exactly like a ride in an elevator.  This is why the sign Pisces is associated with hope, there is so much energy getting poured into the system after the long winter nights, we can’t help but feel positive. 

So when Venus came under the influence of Mercury April 3, Mercury (the mind) was like a rocket in the early stage of lift off.  The first half of April was positive and hopeful for Taurus and Libra even though their boss was not in complete control.  April 16, Mercury entered the following sign Aries and was officially off the ground and on the way to god knows where.  This is the nature of Aries.  When a planet enters Aries it comes under the influence of high energy Mars and things are happening so fast you can count on surprises good and bad.  Beginning April 16, Taurus and Libra through this chain of command beginning with Venus, passing to Mercury, and finally to Mars because of Mercury in Aries, were in a state of high alert.  They were flexing their mental muscles eager to take on any challenge.

May 9, Mercury entered Taurus and all of a sudden the control, though indirect, was handed back to Venus.  Venus was still in Gemini and under Mercury’s rule, but Mercury was in her sign so looking to her for guidance.  They became a cooperative team, consulting with each other.  Taurus and Libra got a chance to calm down and turn their attention away from self assertion and crisis management, to more relaxed consulting on how to keep things running smoothly.

By May 24, when Mercury moved into Gemini, where it actively rules, Venus was on its way to passing between earth and sun and so appeared to be going backwards.  (It is because of this apparent backward motion that we saw Venus in Gemini for 4 months while she spent less than 30 days in Taurus.)  May 24 began a period of rapid and prolific information processing for Taurus and Libra.  But that was not to last long; on June 7 Mercury flew into Cancer, and I say flew because the little yo-yo planet was still on the far side of the sun where we see its relative motion at high velocity.  If we go back and count from May 24- June 7, the total number of days Mercury took to pass through the sign Gemini was only 14!  When Mercury hit the sign Cancer it was just slowing down at the same time it was peaking at the summer tropic; it was entering the sign ruled by the moon.  So Venus, still in Gemini, was now being ruled, through a chain of command going through Mercury, by the moon.  June 8-25, while Mercury was in Cancer, Libra and Taurus natives got an indirect preview of what’s coming tomorrow Aug 7, they got a chance to think like Cancer.  That’s not the same as their ruler being under the lunar influence, it was more a witnessing than walking in the same shoes, an observation of what it is like to experience the gravity of the moon.

June 26 Mercury entered Leo and the party for the mind began.  While the sun was in Cancer the party was sketchy, because the moon ultimately had the reigns, everything depended on the mood of the moment.  July 22, when the sun entered Leo, the party of the mind was unstoppable.  Libra and Taurus through Venus’ answering to the basic intellect were approaching things from a more spiritual level.  The conscious mind began running the show instead of an urge to make a partnership work.  This handing over control to the ego can seem less spiritual, unless we see spirituality as being true to our individual destiny as opposed to the pull of relationships.

Today mercury is completing its passage between us and the sun in the sign Leo.  Leo is the fun sign.  It is like the part of the Ferris Wheel ride where everyone is dropping down and screaming.  The sun rules the sign Leo.  We feel intensely alive at that point of dropping, we are hysterically laughing at our own fear, we are cresting on the outgoing energy that came from the sun-Leo.  The sun is now (Aug 6) in its place of power and mercury is nearby at the celebratory banquet, they are both in the sign Leo.

Leo is a place of strength.  No king or queen rules forever, no summer is endless.  But summer is summer, and Mercury (Gemini’s boss), now so close to the sun is in this place of spiritual strength and power.  The mind is under the influence of the spirit (Sun in Leo), enjoying what it can do, like a child enjoying the long days of summer.  This happiness of the mind impacts Taurus and Libra as long as Venus (their boss) is in Gemini. 

Looking forward to the Next 30 Days of Venus in Cancer

As soon as Venus hits that turning point of Cancer it comes under the influence of the moon instead of Mercury.  From where we are, the moon is a whole lot faster than even liquid mercury and a lot bigger.  The moon, because it is so close to us has a major impact on our lives from one moment to the next.  Think of a baby, so small, so incapable of sustaining its own life, but so important to its parents because of life’s connection.  The moon is the soul, it is our connection to other lives.  Taurus and Libra will go from an intellectual focus to a focus on others, and get swept up in the gravity of emotions. 

Following the Moon Aug 7-Sept 6

Let’s take a quick look at some of the many changes the moon goes through in its path through the ecliptic in one month:

The morning of August 7^th the moon will be in the high energy sign Aries; so the planet of stability and balance will come under the pull of others at a time when emotions are in a state of excitement.  This is very similar to the crisis people experience at the birth of new life.  But by sunrise Aug 8, the moon will be in Taurus, and disturbing emotions will be grounded in useful tasks for the next two and a half days.  The night of Aug 10, when the moon in is Gemini and lining up with distant but very large Jupiter there will be a chance to review the new landscape.  The moon’s proximity to Jupiter will infuse emotions with an expansive sense of hope and purpose.  That sense of hope should carry for the next two days.

The morning of Aug 13 the moon will be in Cancer lining up with Venus.  This will be the point when Taurus and Libra feel the strongest attachment to others.  It will be like the magic that happens when friends are on a raft in the middle of the great Mississippi, weightlessly traveling toward their next adventure, two hearts beating as one.

By lunch time Aug 15 the moon will be in Leo and something we have not talked about will be impossible to ignore- Mars lining up with Saturn.  This passage of the moon thru the territory of the ego will intensify the test of will subjected to discipline of the Mars/Saturn conjunction.  Bonds formed from Aug 7 till the 14^th will be strained.  The needs of survival and individuals will supersede those of connectedness.  Mercury, still in the sun’s sign, will speak to the moon of how much fun our own thoughts are, how creative we are when we shine our own light- and there goes happily ever after.  The child in our raft mate (every one has a child in them) is after our attention and we would rather be shining our own light, but they will not stop till they get a reaction.  At this point our ability to laugh and be entertained will be most important.  We have to be able to look in the eyes of that other person we are connected to and see another light, a different light that holds our attention.

Skip to the night of Aug 17 when the crisis has had its way with us and the moon enters Virgo.  Here we become students, if we imagine ourselves still on that raft, we are now analyzing our partner, our surroundings, recent activity.  It is a time to adjust to the reality that surrounds us on either shore of the river, to discuss how we can cook the fish differently to improve the quality of life on the raft.

When the sun rises Aug 20^th the moon will be in Libra, and on the night of the 21^st it lines up with Mars and Saturn.  Mars will have completed its alignment with Saturn but they will still be close.  It is as though the moon’s passage through this area brings added gravity and reflective new light to the crisis of Aug 14-16.   

Cancer’s View

Here I want to shift to the perspective of Cancer natives, who are gaining sympathetic companions with this transit of Venus into their sign.  As Taurus and Libra natives are dipped in the healing waters of love, Cancer becomes like a minister whose flock has gained members.  People who normally take pride in their ability to stand on their own two feet (Taurus), or see friendship as an agreement instead of a life and death bond (Libra) are given over to the lunar influence which governs the lives of Cancer natives.  Until we are at the top of that Ferris Wheel about to take gravity’s plunge we have no idea what it is like to live life as a Cancer.  Just as childless adults are baffled at the emotions that transform parents, many of us cannot understand the powerful emotions that drive Cancer natives.  We can’t understand their fears.  We cannot see the edge of the cliff where they stand looking at the ground wayyy down below.

So, for the month from Aug 7- Sept 6 while Venus is in Cancer, Taurus and Libra sun people will get a taste of what it’s like to be a Cancer- and Cancer natives will get the support of willing partners working beside them and witnessing the reality of what they live with every day.

Return to the Following Moon

Back to following the moon through this month when Taurus and Libra join the Cancer club as honorary members- Aug 22 the day begins with the moon in Scorpio.  When the moon is in Scorpio the time it spends above the horizon has diminished markedly from when it was in Cancer.  While the moon was in Cancer it was above the horizon for more than 14 hours a day, Aug 22, when it enters Scorpio, it is above the horizon for less than 11.  We have less time of conscious awareness of our feelings and the period of unconscious awareness is increasing.  We are now looking at the feelings under the surface.

The moon reaching Sagittarius at sunrise Aug 24^th, is a critical stage in the Cancer walk; the moon is preparing to ‘bottom out’ in the lowest energy point of the cycle.  I often think of Sagittarius as the point on the Ferris Wheel ride where the seats are close enough to the ground that riders can see the network of power cables supplying the push that gets all those rides to spin and whirl.  Then I picture a tube of toothpaste that looks empty- how if you’re not careful a big blob will squirt out when you roll that envelope up thinking there is hardly anything left in there.  Sagittarius is about directing the diminished incoming energy to achieve the most effect.

It happens that the later signs are occupied by two outer planets; Pluto is in Capricorn for the next several years and Neptune is in Pisces till 2025.  Once the moon passes through Scorpio/Sagittarius and enters the ‘mature’ signs occupied by slow moving planets, emotions will be affected by wider ranging issues related to the longer term flow of history.  The night of Aug 26 the moon will be approaching lineup with very distant and small Pluto. 

Returning to the journey on the raft, when the moon is conjunct Pluto the night of Aug 26 it will be like getting a sense of what’s on the bottom of the river.  How deep is it?  What is making the water change course in areas where there is no visible obstruction?  In Capricorn we are at the lowest point of the energy cycle.  All we have is what’s been saved and built up.  The plunge has been taken, emotions have spun out, and here we begin the process of rebuilding.  We pull ourselves together, control our emotions, and do what needs to be done.  By dinner time Aug 27 when the moon opposes Venus, Taurus and Libra can see how much stronger they are because of the bonds they have formed with others; they will be 3/4ths of the way through the month long journey walking in the shoes of Cancer, and have enough experience to make a sober assessment of love’s power to heal and nurture life.  

As the moon moves on to Aquarius the afternoon of Aug 28, consciousness will be lifted out of the body, up above the treetops where we see the river’s water going to sea.  Though Venus is still in the moon’s sign, and under lunar rule, the moon will be in a place of detached observation.  If we turn again to the image of the Ferris Wheel, Capricorn and Aquarius are the two signs at the very bottom, where we find the mechanic insuring that the system runs smoothly.  There is no sense of danger or adventure for the self; thoughts are on the safety of everyone, and the integrity of the machinery.

At sunset Aug 30 the moon will be full and lined with distant Neptune.  Aug 30- Sept 1 are the days assigned to compassion in this Pisces stretch of the month long journey.  As the moon climbs toward the equinoctical midpoint it spends an increasing amount of time above the horizon. There is a sense of being lifted up in the sign Pisces that infuses us with hope. 

When the sun rises Sept 2, the moon will be back in the high energy sign of Aries.  This is where it was when Venus first entered Cancer on Aug 7.  But this time around the sun and Mercury will be in studious Virgo instead of pleasure seeking Leo, and the trial of Mars contacting Saturn will be a known event in the past instead of an unknown event to come.  Martial drive will be in a position of quiet power, instead of having to bow graciously to necessity.

But the most interesting aspect of Sept 2 will be Venus coming to a place 90 degrees behind Saturn.  While energy is over the top with the moon contacting Uranus in Aries, Venus will be teaching authoritative Saturn a lesson about the importance of love in balancing the scales of justice.  I wonder if this means Taurus and Libra will have to stand up to some one and challenge them to a more loving interpretation of fairness. Cancer will certainly be prepared to speak up as they always are when kindness is an issue, and they will appreciate the support of allies.

By the afternoon of Sept 4 things will be more grounded with moon in Taurus.  At this point Venus is in the last couple degrees of the sign Cancer, Mercury is almost across from earth on the far side of the sun and moving fast.  Minds will be sparking and there will be lots of activity around documentation.  The month of Taurus and Libra walking the path of Cancer will be over by lunch time Sept 6- Venus will enter Leo and the tender lessons learned about love will now seem like child’s play.  It will be time for Taurus and Libra to shine and have some fun. 

Wrap up

Before I sign off this interminable post I want to say one more thing to Taurus and Libra- Venus has been in Gemini since April, that’s 4 months of wonder and amazement at the variety of the universe.  You are about to be carried on the wave of life instead of observing it, to leave the detached world of ideas and enter as a participant into the flow of events.  Beliefs will cease to be things you study like a naturalist, or theories to advocate among cohorts; they will propel you forward, and by the actions you take, reveal what matters most to you.

Taurus natives will be amazed and intrigued at the direction they take.  Librans (as if they haven’t been doing this for the last two years) will feel the responsibility of following through and standing up for others.       

  

August 2012 Horoscopes

Aries:  An infectiously upbeat attitude becomes more vulnerable on the 7^th.  While diplomatic tensions peak with a sobering test of courage Aug 13-15, kindness will rule and fairness will be appreciated.   From 1:30 pm Aug 22- 11:30 am Aug 23 you have a brief chance to strategize without repercussions, after that you are the pilot on a private mission.

Taurus:  Aug 7 you answer the door and find an alien infant in a basket making disturbing noises.  The next day the feeling of crisis will give way to the routine of life support.  By the 13^th you’ll see how caring for others is as indispensable to life as leaves on trees.  This month’s crisis is a chance to find out what you’ve learned and which skills you want to sharpen.

Gemini:  On Aug 7 the harmonizing influence stabilizing your life since April will move on at the same time your creativity becomes free to explore further afield.  You are in a good position at the middle of the month to gain philosophical or musical understanding from contractual tensions.   This month’s challenge to gracefully fulfill an obligation under pressure is a chance for Gemini to shine.

Cancer:  A relationship that’s been casual and intellectual since April will become more familiar after Aug 7.  You are a mother coyote this month, caring for a pack on the edge of civilization.  Religious rules about eating are institutions to preserve certain alliances.  The more scarce the resources, the more a pack must encourage discipline.  Aug 13-15 you are encourager in chief.

Leo:  Leo’s are exceptional teachers because their reverence for casual conversation elevates it to a higher level.  They spark beauty with openhearted enthusiasm to sharing ideas.  Aug 7 begins a tour spreading the gospel of pleasure; Aug 16 early risers see Jupiter, Venus and maybe even Mercury rise before the sun.  Your community rewards you for preserving traditions.

Virgo:   In 1848 when tax exemption for the nobility was abolished in Hungary, The Married Women’s Property Act was passed in New York, and the first Women’s Rights Convention was held; sorting out the language and helping define the aims of these social movements was tedious and largely thankless work…but everyone involved thought the dream was worth it.  We’re in a similar time, and starting late on the 22^nd, attention to details will bring new visions into clearer focus.

Libra:  The skill most respected in politicians, teachers, and business owners is the ability to compromise and to cooperate with a wide variety of personalities, to strike a deal with a friendly hand shake.   A strong wind does not destroy structures designed over time to receive the force, and the rest will get a chance for renewal.

Scorpio:  After Aug 23 truths will become secrets waiting to get free.  Before that you will have no control, but perfect opportunity to decide which truths are most vulnerable and how to protect them.  Pickled, salted, or is mummifying the only option available for the time frame involved?

Sagittarius:  Somewhere between 1995 and 2008 you shed innocence.  Some people toss it like a shirt on the bed, others fold it up and put it in a closet hoping one day to reclaim it.  Some people fleeing oppression leave innocence in the woods and grab whatever clothing will let them pass unmolested.  This year you feel as blessed to look back on that process as a historian who finds witnesses.

Capricorn:  Aug 13-15 is time for baptism in the waters of religion, history, and tribal myth.  The more we know about the roots of traditions, the less we are slaves to self destructive belief systems.  Aug 1-22 get the word out and keep as many parties at the table as feasible; after that start privately strategizing for various outcomes.

Aquarius:  The first of the month an organizing principle balances theatrical flare, and the end of the month it gives ideas for adjusting the script.   Emerging developments Aug 5, 6 should be interesting when the moon lines up with your planet (Uranus) in Aries.  Aug 15-18 look like a lot of fun as the moon passes mercury.   

Pisces:  Aug 3,4 and 30,31 are good days for flights of pure imagination outside graduated cylinders. Aug 11 your tender sense of luck this year is highlighted.  Tension is high Aug 15-17, but Aug 22-26 the sun opposing Neptune highlights clarity, and the moon illuminates exiles in healing  institutions.

We are Living in a Spherical World

One of the most damning ‘observations’ made of astrologers, by defenders of modern objective science, is that they make decisions based on how the planets are aligned.  Aside from the obvious corollary of making a thousand daily decisions based on the motions of a mechanical device that crows from beside the bed, this reminds me of the doctor who forcefully asserts that levothyroxine made in a lab is eggsactly like what your thyroid makes.  Thus speak the righteous scientists.  And then there’s religion.  But of course its all political to me.  Its all political to me.

But then I think love is political.  I think love is a highly charged political action.  Like, who you love is a political choice.  I think a lot about the politics of love- what rules a society imposes on acts of love.  What makes an act of love illegal?  Are acts of love privileges which require license?  Driving a car is a privilege.  Like a lot of privileges, driving is taken for granted by those who have a license.  But many of our neighbors are denied a license to drive.  Why do we deny people a license to drive?  A license to enter our country?  Why is it ok to have our cookie and appliance factories in Mexico?  Is it because the labor and environmental laws there are more favorable to corporations and work is mas barata.  All life is basically cheap there.  Death is where the money is.  Down in Mexico guns are illegal, but we don’t respect their border and let them flow across freely, so they have heads literally rolling in the streets.  Gun control rules in Mexico.  Guns are big in Mexico, like they are in Russia, Afghanistan- where else do we see guns in the streets, strapped over the shoulders of people in public (usually men).  How did those guns get there?  Where did those madrassa students get all their weapons and pick up trucks?  Where did the money come from?

Right, though, we’re talking about those stupid (stupid!) astrologers (how could they be so turned off by reality?  How hard they work at weaving their stories of la la land!)  And when a prediction comes out wrong, they just change the date.  They are worse than prostitutes and we can’t seem to get rid of them.  But people give them their hard earned money!!  They are worse than high interest credit card offers and pawn shops.  They are worse than NASA, the EPA, and ICE combined; astrologers just want to run our lives and it’s a real shame to see people get caught up in that bull.

Well, the moon is catching up with mars in libra today.  This is like the visit of a loved one or the food truck at the camp.  Mars is really showing off his most charming side this month whether he or she likes it or not.  It is really important to see mars in the females in your life as well as the males.  The will to survive is strong in every one.  Right now we are actually starting in on a wrap up of almost thirty months of gaining a sobering understanding of fairness.  Saturn will soon descend even further down the ecliptic, below the celestial equator.  This month mars is catching up with the old one, and today, the swiftly changing moon.  All three in libra-saturn, mars and the moon.

Mars will catch right on up beside Saturn about Aug 16.  When that happens the sun, moon and mercury will be in leo, with venus in cancer.  That should be fun. 

The new moon was beautiful last night.  How could any people who follow the moon believe the earth is flat?  It is when the moon is really new, or really old and all we can see lit up is a curved sliver, like a tiny blanket of light on the bottom side of a Christmas tree ornament, perfectly curved, illuminated by a candle from a lower branch; that it is obvious we live in a spherical world.

Astrology Slut

Sorry, for the offensive title, I'm super bummed.  Just had a great day exploring astronomy sites, ancient history- getting to know the difference between a Philistine and an Amorite.  It was such a great day of study.  I had stumbled onto a really cool astronomy site called Bad Astronomy.  I was looking for more info about the Vela C region.  The European Space Agency just published some beautiful images of this region 2,500 light years from our sun which was referred to as a star nursery.  The Bad Astronomy blog didn't have additional info about that but did have a neat video showing water drops in slow motion, forming craters in various substances (to illustrate how peaks formed in craters on the moon).  I was so excited.

After reading the most recent posts on the Bad Astronomy site I clicked on an archived post about astrology.  Heart break.  It seems that astronomers respect astrologers about as much as Christians respect atheists.  So I did leave a very brief comment.

I guess it is just these awful moments that remind me why I devote so much time to astrology.  It has made me whole.  It has made me feel that I am not crazy for feeling lost in a world of clocks and calendars; that time is holy and not something generated by a mechanical device, but something spun out of the same miracle that gave birth to the stars and planets and me.

In the last 18 months of writing a monthly horoscope column, I have gained a better understanding of why astrology is so reviled.  Some of the comments posted on the Bad Astronomy blog provided even more insight.  In fact in my studies today I came across a Christian site about Armageddon that was astonishing in the depth of detail and number of posts and followers. Religion really is powerful stuff!  So powerful I don't see it going away any time soon.  I think the best approach is to marry religion with what we know about the real world. 

I will continue to enjoy the Bad Astronomy site.

But I think that dose of disrespect calls for some serious poetry.  Here is one (of five) by Adrienne Rich which was reprinted with original date of publication, in The Nation magazine, on the occasion of her death in March 2012 at the age of 82.  She had contributed twenty one poems and several essays to The Nation over her lifetime.  I have no idea what Ms. Rich's attitudes were about astrology; I do believe she had a deep love for humanity.

At Willard Brook
November 18, 1961

Spirit like water
moulded by unseen stone
and sandbar, pleats and funnels
according to its own
submerged necessity-
to the indolent eye
pure wilfulness, to the stray
pine-needle boiling
in that cascade-bent pool
a random fury; Law,
if that's what's wanted, lies
asking to be read
in the dried brook-bed.

I feel like such a feeble and inadequate champion of such a worthy cause.  But then I am reminded of Boethius and my eyes are lifted from this dull earth to the starry heavens.  I know of no better faith than that which bows in reverence to the real firmament.  The stars, conscious or not, gave birth to us.  They do not need me to speak for them.  It is other humans, longing for some sense of life's purpose, that need to be acquainted with their real origins, their real home, the real flame that they carry within their mortal selves.  We did not create the stars and planets.  We come from them.  It is right and proper that we follow them and seek to feel at home among them.  Clocks are mere inventions of humans, crude imitations of earth's relationship to the sun.  Astrology follows all the planets as though they are our neighbors, as though they matter to us, as though they are something more than objects to mine for minerals or water.  The other planets in our solar system are extensions of earth just as electrons and protons cohabit atoms.  Astrology helps us feel as snug in our corner of the Milky Way as an electron in a carbon atom.

Good astrology fosters reverence for the real universe. 

Our Sky Horoscopes July 2012

Hey!  Here is July!  I feel so extraneous posting these horoscopes after I look at the fields of them all over the internet; I have seen one with cool illustrations by the  astrologer who writes the horoscopes.  The following link Ode To Scorpio video by Michael Lutin was sent to me by my friend Todd Clayton.  Mr. Lutin is a first rate performance artist bringing quality astrology to the public.  Michael Lutin NY     <--------click on that for his web site.

 

So here's MP's contribution for July, 2012

Aries:  A complicated string of contacts, beginning with a friend that’s like a brother or sister, will tune you into a lunar channel and take you on a rollercoaster ride of emotions July 3-21.  The tension will be high on the 17^th when you’ll get a chance to weigh all sides of a contentious issue.  July 28 as you approach a test of fairness, you’ll be eager to argue your case.  July 30, 31 though severe restrictions are highlighted, you will have a sporting attitude.

Taurus:  The apostle Thomas had to touch the wounds of the survivor before he could fathom the miracle.  You are walking away from a fact gathering mission to understand your own twist of fate.  Like Thomas you will have a range of emotions to sort through until July 22 when enough celebratory energy is spinning out to brighten all feelings.

Gemini:  Penetrating humor July 1,2 gives way to darker insights the 3^rd and 4^th followed by work on a far reaching vision.  July 9, 10 you get kudos for originality and then on the 14^th meditation gives way to socializing and family fun.  July 22 you come under the spell of summer.

:Cancer:  July 17 be there and be square- People will be motivated to forge some kind of holistic agreement.  Pour a little sweetener in that big jar of cool aid, stir in ice cubes for an attention getting clink against the glass and watch folks get down to business.  July 24, 25 a courageous push to build lasting support systems is highlighted.

Leo:  Some high energy days are July 1, 2, for lively conversation and 9-11 for defending an opinion.  July 14, 15 are friendly days.  The 17^th is a tense day as several conflicting needs compete.  The moon is a thin crescent July 22 when sun enters Leo.  July 24,25 you’ll have to take care of business.

Virgo:  July 3^rd is your day of independence- when the martial planet of survival leaves your neighborhood and crosses below the celestial equator.  Still, until July 22, the spirit of generosity will have you at the mercy of fluctuating emotions.   After that you’ll be like the traveler in Rome enjoying the colorful customs without judgment.

Libra:  Virgo’s independence is your new challenge, but with 2 years of carrying the weight of the world you are prepared to handle anything.  As the sun descends from the Tropic of Cancer your main concern will be reading emotional cues like tail wagging, ears back, teeth bared or belly presented for a friendly rub.  By the 22^nd even mad dogs will fetch a toy from the water.

Scorpio:  A beaver having its way is not building a cement pond.  Protect the trees you really need and relax.  Some people pay good money to have experts alter their landscapes, while you are getting organic changes for free and the unexpected surprises that come with friendship.

Sagittarius:  This year Sagittarians are finding out what their dream looks like when it comes to fruition.  Don’t panic if you suddenly realize something that should have been obvious- like behind every successful business is an owner juggling problems.  By month’s end you’ll accept what you’ve gained like a good sport.

Capricorn:  The looping chain of communication that you are stuck with until August leads to the dreaded boogie dwarf July 3, 4.  You are becoming very familiar with this marginalized subject, but the rest of us only get a sound bite once a month.  July 22 your self restraint will begin to pay off and you’ll have a couple of weeks to get a few persuasive words in.

Aquarius:  You have 5 more years of being a hero.  This month you’ve got the job of befriending someone at a time when they are talkative but speaking in riddles.  At first you’ll be challenged to sort out the moods behind the performance.  By July 22 you’ll be familiar enough with their quirks to enjoy their humor without mental translations.

Pisces:  Sometimes the most important way we show love is through meaningless conversation with no points to be driven home or lessons to be grasped: the delight of language just for fun.  Then too a free flow of information is the best support for those who want to stand on their own two feet.  This year you are nurturing with words more than deeds.

June Horoscopes

Aries:  In the second week of June you will feel your confidence drop as worries make it hard to think objectively.  Ancient students of rhetoric had to practice speaking with marbles in their mouth.  Think of this as training; you’ll be a star speaker by the 26^th thanks to this temporary handicap.

Taurus:  Feeling like a forgotten potato in the pantry with tender roots reaching for that honey jar on the first shelf?  Wondering how much longer before you get pitched into the compost heap?  You’re not finished yet; private adventures June 7-25 will show you everything you need to know about the next chapter in your life. 

Gemini:  You rule the first week of June and then you’ll be trapped inside the looking glass for almost three weeks.  When the month begins to wind down you will have lived through many nonsense rhymes that once made you laugh, and will be coming up with originals of your own.

Cancer:  According to legend we got the Our Father when the people asked Jesus how to pray.  I always wondered why he didn’t just throw his hands up in disgust and say “I give up!  You fools are hopeless!”  Instead he produced a formula, quick as a glass of instant milk, that we still repeat today.  Your job this month is to outline the facts of caring. We are all gods trapped in flesh from the same god, but are lost without your reminders of how this is so.

Leo:  You get plenty of respect till June 7 when an emotional techie messes up the cue frames or you are overwhelmed by the news and have to cut to station identification.  Mature associates will provide the lines you need to keep the broadcast rolling.  Though you won’t be in charge yet, by the middle of the month you’ll have willing assistance because you stood up for a difficult story.

Virgo:  The first week of June we look to you to get the facts straight, then some of us can jump in and all you have to do is give pointers to the confused helpers and answer questions to keep us on the right track.  In the middle of June you get a bigger project to set up, but it won’t upturn your life and you have a year to complete it.

Libra:  You are a social butterfly with an invisibility cloak, which may come in handy the second week of June when the accounts of loss and dependency start coming in.  It just so happens as you adjust to the various requests for understanding, the cloak will be shrinking, but what matters is that visible or not, you can help people locate their own source of pain. 

Scorpio:  You lose control starting June 7.  You’ll have the reigns for a crisis June 12-14 but then it’s back to dealing with whatever comes up as best you can.  Think of yourself as a contractor finishing up construction on a house, you have to coordinate various experts as they become available.

Sagittarius:  If last your last year was dark night of the soul, the one starting June 12 is the year of impersonations, and you had good coming attractions in May going from wasp to caterpillar to butterfly.  June 7 your butterfly morphs to penguin and on the 26^th you become a dolphin. 

Capricorn:  After a week of productive research you go back to the kitchen for a few weeks and work on the stew.  As business comes to a standstill and tensions increase, the idea of celebrating will appear more strategic than frivolous.  A bit of theater gives you a chance to set the tone as the next round of negotiations approaches.

Aquarius:  Guerilla sword play with facts is fun, but starting June 7 there will be more players crying foul or requesting a time out to discuss the rules of play.  This won’t be as entertaining as electronic documentation of witless criminals and public officials, but it will give you a chance to outline your views on our evolving rules of privacy.

Pisces:  On the 12^th you get direct access to information that previously came from a friend or ally, even as they are drawing closer to you.  To Pisceans trivia is the milk of kindness.  After the 27^th your friend will be on their way as the dialogue is becoming festive. 

Introducing a New Writer on Our Sky Blog

Introducing a New Writer on Our Sky Blog

Kenny Grey The 4th House of Home has agreed to let me post some more of the writing he has sent me over the last couple of months.  We reconnected via internet this past March after being blown onto different paths at the end of high school 36 years ago.  I never knew Kenny very well- just saw him when he came in to Surfside Pavilion to get a drink or bite to eat when I worked behind the snack counter.  He was the coolest surfer on the beach which is saying a lot since Holden Beach was the coolest beach around.  It was a super place to be a teenager because it was just a beach with pinball machines, foosball, friendly waves and a fishing pier.  Ok there was also air hockey, put-put golf and a few pool tables.  The best parties were at the end of dirt roads hidden among live oaks and sand dunes. 

In the three summers I worked at the Pavilion I never learned anything about Kenny.  So when I made a day trip to visit him and his family this past March I was flabbergasted to see that he lived right near the boat houses that I had looked at countless times, and wondered about, whenever I crossed the bridge over the water way.  I also did not know that his favorite little league coach was a close friend of my parents; I only knew that Kenny was the surfer with the sunniest disposition who always treated others with respect and consideration.

It was a wonderful surprise to learn that Kenny writes, documenting his heritage as a native of Brunswick County.  In the last several weeks I’ve gotten to read about all the ways he has enjoyed the beach and waterways over the years with friends and family; he’s written about kayaking, surfing, camping around the state and family reunion fish fries to list just a few of the topics.

Today I'm posting a few paragraphs from an excerpt he sent from "the surfing diary", and I've sent him the 'keys' to the blog, so he can start posting at his convenience.  Aside from a brief introduction to his birth chart, Kenny is new to astrology.  I will be looking for ways that natural time is reflected in the themes of his posts and the moments he hits the publish button.  Welcome Kenny!

Excerpts from the surfing diary......

October 1994, just before Halloween...Steve Strutski and i are the only ones out, both of us on nine foot long boards. Perfect waist to chest glass, long rides, warm water and air. A great day with a good friend. Rescued a pelican who caught a surf fisherman's live bait and got hooked through his bill.  I was surprised how weak he was; obviously built to glide.

 ...Around September, 1995, we had several days of the most excellent waves, thanks to hurricane Luis passing by offshore. Big waves, some over head high, offshore winds and perfect glass made Holden Beach a surf mecca for a few hours one day. I was out at the bridge; in between sets, the ocean would appear dead calm. This made it difficult to be in the right spot, as there was no lineup of surfers just outside the break zone like usual.  Fear kept my adrenalin pumping as every twenty minutes or so a huge set, much larger than the rest, would stand against the horizon and i would burst into a full speed paddle straight out to sea, to try not to get caught inside as these waves would break much farther out to sea than the rest.  Knowing that a wave breaks when its height is about two-thirds the depth of the water, i knew that I had to get outside the shallow sandbar where the normal waves break. But the waves, although huge and powerful, were breaking very slowly with the strong northeast wind blowing against them, so the takeoffs and drop ins were effortless, almost as if i was in slow motion. The rides were extremely long, and i often got tubed twice on the same wave as the shorebreak was still chest high or higher. I got barreled so many times that day i lost count. Got tubed twice backside on the same wave. 

A week later hurricane Jerry passed offshore and great chest to head high waves again. Perfect glass for several days at the bridge, the pier, and Surfside, my favorite old spot. I lived across the river then, as i still do, and i would paddle my board across the river and surf all day and paddle back home in the dark. My first board was an eight foot long Claude Cogdin "Lightweight" model, so named because it weighed a scant sixty pounds. It was like walking with a ship's anchor. It was too wide for a scrawny fifteen year old to get his arm around, so i had to carry it on my head like the "Endless Summer" guys. I had a knot on my head for years after selling that board.