1-2-3-4, No More Bloody War...

2.3.03


Daily, we await war. The expectation fills our news reports with sensationalist back-and-forth statements between various government officials and expert commentators, none actually knowing anything, illustrated by exclusive "War on Iraq" logos specially designed by the stations' graphics gurus months in advance of any bombs actually exploding. The US government's seeming insistence upon waging war threatens the sanctity of our alliances with other countries, alliances that our arrogant leaders seem to think aren't worthy of respect when making decisions that affect the whole world. Back at home, the full range of debate among politicians remains limited by the McCarthyist threat of appearing unpatriotic to peers and constituents, despite the fact that free speech and its resultant divergent opinions are a defining element of who we are as Americans. And by the way, what has Iraq done to the US anyway? (Anyone who thinks Iraq was involved in the 9/11 terrorist acts is wrong and has fallen victim to subtle yet dire political manipulation.)

For the record, I am opposed to a US war waged against Iraq. (You probably inferred that, based on my heavy-handed opening paragraph.) I feel it is my duty as an American to declare these anti-war attitudes, governed as I am by a selfish warmongering administration more willing to grant new tax breaks for drivers of SUVs than to admit the popularity of these fuel-inefficient behemoths is part of the whole oil-greedy problem. Now is a time to speak out, even when (like me) all you have to spew are over-the-top wisecracks about how out of touch the US government really is, and how out of touch it wants us to be.

Because, frankly—and here's the sticky part—none of the Middle East mess, the good guys, the bad guys, the weapons of mass destruction, none of it makes a hill-o'-beans of difference in my daily life. That is, if I just keep away from the news entirely or mute the TV when the "War on Iraq" logo pops up on the screen. Unless we or our loved ones are in active military service, or have friends or family in Iraq (or, for that matter, Israel), focusing too greatly on the coming war can distract us from what we need to be doing, right here and right now. It takes the attention away from paying bills (hello, Mr. Bush, what about the economy?) and raising children and creating meaningful work and loving one another. We cannot let the endless news reports tell us how to feel or live, convince us with fear tactics that real unmitigated safety is a worthwhile, let alone possible, goal. (Didn't we get enough of that on Sept. 12, Sept. 13, Sept. 14, etc., 2001?)

I almost surprise myself with the "kill your television" tone of my argument, as I'm not the type who encourages people to avoid bad news or tune out popular culture (and god, please don't kill your television!). But I've never felt more disillusioned by a state of political affairs than I do currently—while, at the same time, feeling so optimistic and motivated by the other non-world-war-related aspects of my life, professionally, emotionally, interpersonally. I refuse, to the best of my abilities, to allow a chess game of global politics to adversely impact my independent journey to achieve personal goals, to make the world a better place. Becoming distracted by concerns outside the self is like staying in an unhappy marriage "just for the kids' sake" (and gee, don't kids benefit from having unhappy parents!) or holding onto a miserable job because someone on TV said the employment market was terrible (suffering harassment or risking a stress-related heart attack in the process). Life is too short to let the ideological distraction machine work on us.

Now is a poignant time to express these sentiments, not only because the news makes war seem ever more likely and imminent. The astrological climate is also heating up, starting this week and continuing into the month, stimulated by the assertive energy of Mars. Mars, currently traveling through the bold fire sign Sagittarius, is the planet that symbolizes the survival instinct and the physical drives which power it, our ability to make our individual identities known, and to defend them aggressively, if necessary. Mars also rules wars, battles between masses of people who fight to defend the national or ethnic groups with which their identities are integrally tied. This week, Mars enters an energy-generating fire-sign trine (positive-flowing 120-degree angle) with Jupiter in Leo, inflating the physical power behind potential identity conflicts and increasing bravado on all sides. Along with the Sun's influence, opposing Jupiter and making a sextile (60 degrees) to Mars, and also that of the Moon, which moves through Aries (Mars's ruler) mid-week to make the third point of a grand fire trine with Mars and Jupiter, there's a lot of aggrandized, action-oriented, fight-not-flight energy swarming around. Another astrologer referred to this combination as the beginning of a "build up of astro toxicity" to last the next several weeks. She indicated that this bundle of energy "takes on a decidedly militaristic edge."

There is little doubt that, with Mars gathering momentum this week and then intensifying, something is going on. But I have serious doubts about categorizing the current astrological scene as "toxic" and "decidedly militaristic" in tone. Would this astrologer have used such terminology, had she not been keeping up with the nightly news reports, hailing war as ready to erupt any day? Mars does not only bring war, for instance, but also delivers boosts of initiative and vitality to our sense of self, generating excitement and creativity and desire for action. A Mars-Jupiter trine can signal inflated tensions, or act as an indicator of physical fortitude and increased opportunity, a beacon for personal growth and good fortune. We needn't necessarily interpret the astrological forecast in the broadest macroscopic terms. We can also keep it for ourselves.

I don't want to come off as naive or wishful, as war between the US and Iraq seems likely—as likely as the almost-inevitable terrorist acts that will occur in retaliation, on American soil and elsewhere. And no, this month's astrology isn't exactly a tranquil stroll through the proverbial tulips either. This week's movement of Venus into Capricorn adds a degree of seriousness to the mood, and well it should, as, regardless of our degree of support or personal investment in the coming war, these are serious times. My main point here is to advocate for our individual utilization of this Mars energy for action in whatever areas we find meaningful, rather than reaction to whatever other people—or governments—have decided should be meaningful to us. If we keep our Mars for ourselves, rather than giving it over in nationalist deferral to leaders who may not have our best interests in mind, then we have a greater say over how its energy ends up manifesting. Whether through protesting the war or making cathartic art or practicing love, Mars needn't be used to kill people in its will to fight. Don't fight in war; fight against war.