Tuesday, November 24, 2009
For my Cypriot readers: A Venus-Neptune theatre recommendation
This isn't really an astrology-heavy offering, other than to mention that my Venus-Neptune trine was merrily zinging tonight because...
(... and this is the point of this post...)
... this evening I saw a wonderful, original Greek-language work by the extremely talented director Magdalena Zira, entitled Metamorphosis: a seven-actor ensemble piece created by Zira's original translation of Ovid's eponymous poetry, and performed at the Cyprus Theatre Organisation's (CTO's) Experimental Stage in Agios Andreas, Nicosia.
Usually I whinge and complain about the dearth of quality theatre in Cyprus, but this evening, my passion for the performing arts was well-sated. Indeed, I was very proud that the show was having its world premier in my home-town.
The set-design was beautiful, the ivory costumes stylised and striking, the young cast lithe and confident - having obviously benefitted from many hours of rehearsal under a sure directorial hand.
As for the material, the tales enacted are stories of transformation as the title suggests.
Yet what I found fascinating and timeless about the unifying theme was not so much the physical metamorphoses imaginatively brought to life by Zira and her team (here kudos also to the lighting designer and composer of the original score), but actually the protean, ever-in-flux and ultimately - often tragically - unstable nature of love itself.
Naturally, such instability exploited to the max by the capricious deities of the Greek pantheon who grace the stage much of the time.
Hence, if you enjoy theatre and have ever been provoked, moved or even simply entertained by classical Greek mythology, you are in for an utter treat.
I would have loved to have posted a link to rehearsal stills, but was mysteriously unable to find any (bar one tiny one) on CTO's website.
So, instead, I settled for a cropped version of John Williams Waterhouse's Echo and Narcissus which you can see above, at the start of this post.
(Having said that, I almost went for the more famous painting by Michelangelo Merisi da Caravaggio, which, if you're curious, can be found here.)
I repeat once again: for theatre-buff Nicosians and Cypriot readers in general... this show is not to be missed. As good as almost any (actually better) as I've seen Off-Broadway in dear old New York City.
More information about Metamorphosis' performance times and dates, (in Greek only) may be found here.
The image above was taken from this site.
Friday, November 20, 2009
Saturn square Pluto: Manifestation, spoon-bending and the manipulation (and destruction) of forms
I have Saturn square Pluto natally, which, according to the first astrology teacher I had, was also a planetary picture that featured in Carl Jung's birth chart, and is considered to be a shamanic configuration.
Now, I have, to date, no known natural aptitude for shamanic work. I don't spontaneously find myself transported into spirit worlds or have the ability to shape-shift or talk to plants or animals or retrieve pieces of someone's soul.
However, I am absolutely obsessed with the idea that it is possible to manipulate and reconfigure (Pluto) matter (Saturn) and step outside of time (Saturn again).
Especially with cosmic demolition ball Pluto in the sign of structure, foundation and boundaries - Capricorn.
And I do wonder whether the long-term transiting Saturn (in Libra) Pluto (in Capricorn) square will whip up to a new frenzy the blooming-like-algae 'mind over matter'/'law of attraction'/'manifest whatever you desire' communities on the internet.
Frankly, these days it seems every entrepreneurial/home business/self-employment page on the web works in references to bestseller The Secret or the wildly popular Abraham-Hicks material, both preaching the gospel of manifesting your heart's desires.
Not to mention, the proliferation of e-books, Youtube clips, audio classes, webinars, workshops and so forth claiming to develop your hitherto latent paranormal powers, such as psychokinesis and telepathy.
Now, I say 'claiming' not because I believe it isn't possible to manipulate matter - far from it - but because it is, till now, still to a large degree scientifically indefensible - or at the least, an area being investigated only at the peripheries of science, in the domain of quantum physics.
Personally, though, I believe the present transiting Saturn-Pluto square - particularly as it is the waning and, therefore, closing square of this cycle - will mark a significant breakthrough in establishing the malleability of form via thought in mainstream consciousness once and for all.
Let me leave you with an amateur clip on spoon-bending - a feat I believe is genuinely possible and which I hope to accomplish with enough practice myself one day. Enjoy.
The image above was taken from this site.
Wednesday, November 18, 2009
Debunking 2012 hysteria, courtesy of The New York Times
Seems the counter-reaction to the veritable tsunami of 2012 doomsaying now extends to the The New York Times, too. Click here for the latest. Oh, and... enjoy. :D
The image above was taken from this site.
Labels:
2012,
debunking,
doomsday,
The New York Times
Tuesday, November 17, 2009
Light side of the Ninth: An astrological perspective
Well, here's part two for those who missed the first bit. The lighter or 'good' side of me.
It's funny, but I think I've actually been putting off writing this post. Had no problem going on about my evil-ness, but my good side is... I dunno, a bit embarrassing to speak of.
Still, better get on with it, for the sake of balance - something that might even bring a smile to sourpuss Saturn, currently in dignified Libra.
Firstly, I guess, there's that Sun-Jupiter conjunction in Pisces. It's a wide conjunction, but whenever I've had readings, the astrologer has considered me a Sol-Jupe kinda fella, and I think it fits well.
Essentially, I'm expansive when it comes to both beliefs and the magnanimity of the universe, and also in terms of my own desire to love all. (Do I succeed? Meh. It's varied, but the impetus is there).
In terms of being intoxicated with the broadest of idealistic horizons and a spiritual, all-encompassing love, I'm there.
And I have a big heart. On my good days. On the less good days, I feel as if I've swallowed the ocean and am totally lost in the supernova of spirit. To thoroughly mix my simile-metaphors.
Then there's that Venus-Neptune trine in fire (respectively Aries and Sagittarius). Can we say romantic? We can. Hopelessly, utterly, fatally romantic. If you want more of an elaboration, you can find it here in an earlier post.
Which basically means I adore beauty in all its forms - music, sculpture, poetry, painting, architecture, the human figure, all of the performing arts etc. - as long as it is inspiring (fire).
And I believe my exes, whatever else they may think of me now (and I'm grateful to say, these ladies are still friends) would attest to my love of the romantic gesture.
In short, I'm not the kind of guy who'll forget your birthday or neglect any of the niceties of courtship, tenderness and long-term devotion.
Also I have deep-rooted yen for courtesy and fairness.
Meanwhile, lurking in my sixth house are both Mars and Mercury in maverick Aquarius. Hence, I am both left-brained and right-brained: I've been cultivating an integration between the skills of the cerebral hemispheres for a long time now, and I believe I'm making progress.
So-called 'paranormal' abilities and energy healing are a few of my passions.
I'm the kind of person who'll entertain the zaniest (read: provocative) ideas, which sound, on the face of it, rather crazy. But I tend to be good at articulating the (il)logic behind 'em. And with Mercury in the sign of the humanitarian rebel, public speaking at any time, before any scale of audience, with or without prep, is like breathing to me.
As are writing, and speedily learning and integrating the latest spiritual, healing and technological advances. And I'm good with my hands, too (Mercury in the sixth).
Meanwhile, Virgo-rising, for all its anal nitpicking (that sounds rather unfortunate, but you catch my drift), makes me a fairly adept problem-solver. And good at sorting through the details.
Most of the time I even succeed in over-compensating for that lack of patience, too (Aquarius Mars in the sixth, square Scorpio Uranus in the third), by logically and methodically tackling needful (if boring) tasks.
Did I mention I like to be active all the time? Well, I do. I respect and take care of my health (though I wish I were more disciplined about cooking for myself) and to me that means fitness is key. I need to be in motion and tend to thrive if I can exercise intensely almost every day.
Hence, I'm a good person to have around if you need sustained, ignoring-the-pain-and-doing-it-anyway sort of energy. As long as there's a clear goal and the process isn't too mind-numbingly boring. I have a low boredom threshold.
Which also means I enjoy hard work (Aquarius Mars and Mercury in the sixth - as well as Capricorn Moon by its proximity to the sixth house cusp). In fact, I have workaholic tendencies. I sleep very poorly if I feel I'm not working hard enough. Though I am trying to break the pattern of deriving self-worth from the level of work I accomplish.
If you are my friend or a family member/loved one, I will be loyal and steadfast (Saturn in the 11th, Cappie Moon, Saturn square Venus) and take my responsibilities to you very seriously. I will strive always to do the right thing by you. Most of the time I will put your needs (and those of others generally) ahead of mine.
Again, with the current Saturn-Pluto square from my respective second to fifth houses, I am trying to find the balance between caring for my needs as well as others' in my significant personal and professional relationships.
And I'm creative (Moon in the fifth, Venus trine Neptune, Neptune square Sun, quintiles between Sun and MC, Mars and Venus) and, dare I say it, charismatic (Pluto opposition Venus, Uranus sextile Ascendant).
Acting, dancing, drawing, writing, directing, playing instruments come fairly easily to me.
To end on a Sun-Jupiter accent: I would describe myself as a servant king (Leo 12H, Virgo-rising), endowed with a rigorous creative, spiritual, intellectual and humanitarian drive, to put at the service of the collective.
And I strive to do just that, every day.
The image above was taken from this site.
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