I think it's the fast food industry that needs to take responsibility for the effects of
their products, and I don’t know that the government needs to get involved.

Glenn Smith

Santa Cruz | Musician

 

 

Now that the election season is over, it’s time to hit the reset button. Political arguing has had its place. And there’s a lot to bat back and forth: the Republican sweep, the Democratic win in California, the role of the Tea Party and whether 72-year-old Jerry Brown can turn things around in California.

But none of that really has much to do with what comes next. Too often, observers of the political scene get taken up by who wins, who loses, and who’s going to run in the next election.

It’s time to get over it. Now it’s time to actually run the government and serve the people. Doing so takes different skills entirely. It’s not about the horse race anymore.

On Thursday, both Jupiter (in Pisces) and Venus (in Libra) turn from retrograde to stationary direct. On Monday the Sun moves from Scorpio to Sag. We shift from deep waters to the plains; from the eagle to the horse; from the depths to seeking the heights; from the star Antares to the Galactic Center; from the opal to the topaz; from Mars to Jupiter; from Orion to Chiron; from Tuesday to Thursday; from the sign of death and regeneration to the sign of the adventurer, riding the white horse, bow and arrow in hand, seeking the mountain tops of Capricorn. Both Scorpio and Sag are signs of discipleship. Sunday morning we have a full moon solar festival (9:27 a.m., West Coast) at 29.18 degrees Scorpio. Called the November Hunter’s Moon, it’s also a blue moon, being the 3rd full moon of four to fall in a season (from fall equinox to winter solstice). The meditative seed thought the NGWS recite during this Scorpio solar festival is “Warrior I am and from the battle I emerge triumphant.” Scorpio is always triumphant.
On Thursday, the U.S. has transiting Jupiter opposite Neptune. Jupiter brings forth abundant energies, Neptune either illusion, grace or spiritual contact. During oppositions polarities are pointed out, everyone’s mad, rejection occurs, then a gradual integration begins. Jupiter and Neptune are rulers of Pisces, sign of the world savior, sign of saving the world—the esoteric task of the United States.

I remember when Wallace Baine was the new kid on the block, back in the early 1990s, when he first arrived at the Santa Cruz Sentinel.
Back then, the local literati got together weekly over stale popcorn and coffee for film screenings, held at the Nickelodeon, to promote the latest cinematic faire on the theater’s schedule. It was there that I was first introduced to this fresh-faced kid just hired by the Sentinel to serve as its new arts writer.

For those of us who came of age during the Counter Culture here in Santa Cruz, the Sentinel— with its conservative political leanings and Wall Street Journal sensibilities—was considered enemy territory, particularly for those of us who wrote for the two or three weeklies always in distribution here since the early 1970s, including Good Times.

Plus Letters to Good Times

Happy 11/11. Love those numbers. Nov. 11 is also Veterans Day. More on that in a second. Welcome to a new issue of GT. It’s a busy season and I’ve come across some noteworthy events that I have to share with you. Take note: There’s a great benefit for Save Our Shores (saveourshores.org) at 7 p.m. Wednesday, Nov. 17 at the Del Mar Theatre in Santa Cruz. On the roster: the award-winning film Bag It  (bagitmovie.com), which chronicles  an ordinary guy as he navigates through our plastic world and, it seems, a cultural love affair with plastics. The other event is Dec. 3, so mark your calendars. It’s called Decemberchild, and it benefits Children’s Hospice with a festive night at Kuumbwa Jazz Center featuring It's A Beautiful Day and Superior Olive. This is, actually, the eighth annual benefit concert and the proceeds go to Children’s Hospice and Palliative Care Coalition. Interesting to note: it’s a birthday party-themed event—free appetizers and birthday cake will be served; and a raffle will be held for the chance to win great prizes. Children are welcome, but must be accompanied by a parent or guardian. Learn more at decemberchild.org and childrenshospice.org.

I'm happy that California stood firm and supported some progressive people, but I'm dismayed about the Republicans taking over the House and getting strength in the Senate.
Tom Rucker
Santa Cruz | Retired Psychotherapist

As I prepare myself physically and mentally for an impending minor surgical procedure (nothing life-threatening, nothing to increase or decrease specific body parts, nothing I couldn’t discuss over cocktails in polite society), I look back at my journey to this point, the helpful advice received from friends and strangers, and the research into all of the options available to me. Then I smile and thank someone’s god for western medicine.

Before you get your yoga pants in a knot, allow me to continue.

I collect medical practitioners like kitchen appliances, and count among my handiest helpers chiropractors, acupuncturists, osteopaths and Rolfers, alongside ear, nose and throat and orthopedic doctors. I’ve had psychic readings from afar and visited gastroenterologists … for within. But my sigh of relief at western medicine stems from memories of my first brush with eastern medicine, a day I like to refer to as The Day My Black Heart Stood Still.

Venus (Ray 5 of Concrete & Scientific Knowledge, the Aquarian ray of Knowledge) is now our Morning (Dawn) Star. In Libra and retrograde (till the 18th), Venus calls forth, from the depths of each of us, loving intelligence justice, balance, equality and Right Relations, the first step toward Goodwill.

Thursday is Veterans Day. Let us actively honor those who have safeguarded freedom for humanity. The United States this week begins a series of difficult and transformative transits lasting into 2011. Friday, during Aquarius moon (the U.S. has Aquarius moon, 18 degrees), Saturn squares (90 degrees) the U.S. Sun. The moon in a country’s chart signifies its people. Squares challenge us to change direction. During the present Venus retrograde (in Libra) a change of direction must include a new economic structure within the U.S. and presented to the world. With Saturn square Sun there can be a sense of isolation, of being misunderstood while attempting new disciplines, organization and order. Saturn, the teacher, creates new regulations, direction, guidelines, parameters, bringing strict order out of chaos.

T he heavens are busy this week. Friday morning Chiron turns direct (26 Aquarius). As wounds manifest in the outer world, holistic approaches are sought. Friday night is Scorpio new moon, 14 degrees (degree of Venus retrograde). Scorpio/Venus underscore the new monetary structure that must come forth in our world, led by the United States whose esoteric purpose is to lead humanity into the “light.” From Nov. 6-9 the United States has transiting Mars (Sag) opposite natal Uranus (Gemini). Oppositions mean something new integrates. With Mars/Uranus a fierce revolution appears, disciples enter the battle, desire becomes aspiration to build everything new. Late night Saturday Neptune turns direct. We have less confusion; the “waters of life” appear everywhere. Sunday morning, 2 a.m., daylight-saving time ends (time “falls back”). Sunday night Venus re-enters Libra. Venus and Libra bring economic issues to the foreground. Venus retro signifies a reassessment of values, an investigation into things hidden (bank foreclosures and seized homes), a restructuring of our principles, standards, morals, ethics. A question (to ask of our selves, our town, city, county, state, nation, government, the world) is “What do we value?” Scorpio is about our and other people’s money. The field is ripe for a transformative economic structure. We remember in Scorpio, Mars brings forth the Nine Tests for humanity urging us to bring harmony out of chaos (Ray 4), raise the lesser values (desire) to the higher (aspiration). In Scorpio we battle with crystallized (old) ways and behavior. Humanity is in battle at present to reorient the economy, from greed and materialism to a world of sharing sustainability. We also remember that in Scorpio the power of the spirit of humanity can triumph.Esoteric Astrology as News for the week of Nov. 4–10, 2010 For Sun and Rising Signs

Plus Letters to Good Times

The Giants did it! After 56 years ... a World Series Win. Kudos to the Bay Area team, which generated so much excitement during the last few weeks, you couldn’t really walk down the streets without hearing the occasional loud cheers blasting out of local bars. Whew. A job well done, indeed.

And then ... there’s the election results. Thoughts? Send them to us at [email protected] We want your input. And so ... another new cycle begins.

Time, the passing of time, and things that leave an indelible imprint are, in fact, the theme of this week’s cover story, in which a few GT scribes expound upon the significance of the late Morton Marcus. The revered local and esteemed poet passed away a year ago. His words, his visions, his longtime creative contributions to the area are still being felt. And, fittingly, there’s now an annual memorial event that pays tribute to the poet, to poetry and to creativity—and, really, so much more. Learn more about all this beginning on. Godspeed Mort ... (wherever your spirit is soaring).