We have a busy and complex week. Friday, at the UN, the first General Assembly Forum on the Culture of Peace is convened. See Peace building tools and events—cultureofpeace.org/news/417-cpiforumatun. Saturday is the Virgo new moon (24 degrees). On the United States’ Neptune, it calls the United States to its spiritual task—to stand within and lead humanity toward that Light. 

Plus Letters To The EDITOR

It’s good to raise your level of awareness about numerous things but can you do it through art? Why not? But, like being an artist, provoking thought may require certain skills. This is what writer Damon Orion realizes in his exploration of several local visionary artists whose works not only stand out, but also manage to capture one’s interest in truly inventive ways. Explore the journey with him.

Paul Ryan's budget plan and how it does or does not deal with the poor. The Catholic Church wrote a letter saying it doesn't meet with the moral and ethical needs of the poor.
Jonathan Crow
Santa Cruz, Marketing Manager 

In every astrology chart (individual, country, nation, event, etc.) there are two symbols (mathematical points signifying the relationship between the Sun, Moon and Earth) that look like headphones. These are the lunar or Moon’s North and South nodes or in Vedic astrology, the Dragon’s Head (Rahu) and Tail (Ketu).  The North node signifies the present/future dharma and the South node past abilities, people we knew and responsibilities that need gathering, tending and completing.

Plus Letters To The EDITOR

The tourist season is coming to a close as we head to Labor Day weekend. So, whatever you think about the many fine visitors that beseige our area during the summer months, we can all agree that they do manage to have a positive impact here. They also get to see and experience quite a bit of Santa Cruz County culture. But what about you?

Disenfranchised voters pose a far greater threat to our democracy than anything that we can imagine, because if we don’t have participation we have the electoral college which will never elect the right person.
Daniel Passino
Capitola, Retired

During Friday’s full moon, Virgo’s (9 degrees) solar festival, Burning May is in full swing in the Nevada desert. In the sky the nodes of the moon (North and South Nodes) change signs. The north node (our present/future dharma) shifts into Scorpio, and the South node (past which needs tending, completing, the Dweller on the Threshold) enters Taurus. For 18 months we move into a state of reorientation, learning to stabilize ourselves through that reorientation.

Plus Letters To The EDITOR

If you have ever wondered what really gets you through some of the challenging times in your life, then you may appreciate this week’s news story on Thomas Hickenbottom. The longtime local has been an active surfer since Santa Cruz first began generating national buzz for its surfing scene back the 1960s. As a boy, he actually once paddled out to a large piece of driftwood in the ocean, hopped on and rode the wave back to the beach. He shares these memories and quite a bit more in a story that also shines the spotlight on his cancer journey. Many of us have family members or friends who have been affected by cancer, so this particular tale may inspire you. 

This summer I mostly grew friendships, I made a lot of new friends and socialized a lot more. It was really good.
Kianna Kimura
Santa Cruz, Cosmotoligist in training 


 

On Thursday, Mars enters Scorpio; sign of discipleship and of reorientation (into higher regions) for humanity—Hercules, who, through overcoming our Twelve Labors (signs) becomes the world disciple. With Mars in Scorpio we all become very serious personalities, with intense wants, desires and aspirations.