Revival

URANUS IN PISCES
Uranus, planet of eccentricity, appears to be going backwards (retrograde) through the sign of illusion and spirituality: Pisces. We may see a revival of faith in a unique way. With faith as such a personal aspect of life, it may not be revealed so overtly, but a chance conversation may open unusual doors.

Speaking of unusual doors, I slipping behind one last night into another world. I was present at what turned into a full gospel revival. For those who have read previous posts, you may be asking yourself, "Why would you attend such an event?" Well, I was actually working the event as a server, so I wasn't quite there as a guest. However, I wish I had had a notebook for the night. There were so many moments that I lost due to lack of note-taking.

Growing up in the Jewish religion, and not incredibly observant, I have had rare religious experiences that approach the level of last night. There was one instance in Indiana where I went with friends to their church. They were so excited about it that I couldn't resist. It was fascinating and somewhat uncomfortable. I have to admit that it felt a little cult-esque.

Last night, however, was a truly new experience. The stage was set for all kinds of performances and they appeared. There was an opening benediction and a few prayers that went with that. Everything was blessed in the name of Jesus and every song was dedicated to the Lord. There were Jesus songs, Jesus poems, Jesus comedy. People everywhere were praying, laughing, dancing, stomping, singing, crying. The entire room was filled with "a joyful noise," a cacophony I had never witnessed. My customers were in various stages of zeal. I saw a man dressed completely in pink pajamas dancing across from a 6'5, 350 lb. man, stomping and clapping.

It was complete immersion into another culture. I felt like Alice in Wonderland, where all of the rules are different, and you're trying to find your way. Everything made sense to those who knew the rules. It was incredible to see the bond people have with each other, almost tangible faith.

Definitely a night to open the mind and take a walk in someone else's shoes...or on water.

Drink Up!

PISCES IN THE 2ND HOUSE
Pisces, sign of illusions and escape, is completely encompassed in the 2nd House, the house of sensuality, food, and possessions. People will show different ways of escaping, but through strange twists on practical means, especially imbibing and possibly drugs. Uranus's influence will add some eccentricity to the mix.

My grandmother is overfond of reminding me of a statement I made as a child, when I declared that I would never drink alcohol. I was maybe seven or eight. Naturally, I was unaware of what alcohol can do as far as good feeling is concerned. Nor did I understand that people drank to escape.

Needless to say, I have broken my former vow. I mandate that a promise made under duress is invalid and ignorance is certainly duress. I have had more alcohol in the past five days than I have in quite awhile. Oh, don't look at me like that; there are circumstances warranting a little alcohol and a wedding is certainly one of them. A friend in crisis is yet another. For those that know me, I am not a drinker by any stretch of the imagination and this is not because of any moralistic code. I don't like the taste of alcohol. Never have. The only alcohol I'll readily drink are sweet drinks or fruity wines (insert staple joke here).

It's interesting. Many people turn to alcohol or drugs for escape; to dull the pain or stress. Sometimes, I think it's a societal reaction. We know that's a routine for some. I know it. Strangely enough, I've said, "Man, I need a drink," but I never mean it. I just know that's what you're supposed to say. I know that's a natural thing to do. I still don't love the bite of alcohol. I don't even like being drunk. Don't get me wrong; I enjoy being tipsy. Yet, cross that line into drunk and forget it. I'm one of the most obnoxious creatures ever to walk the face of the Earth. Including Sarah Palin. I even annoy myself. There are very few drinks that I will willingly seek out purely for the taste.

I think it's fascinating that I react this way. It's almost Pavlovian. Okay, maybe not that far, but it's definitely a reaction. "Oh, you've had a hard day? A drink will help." Well, it's either that or cookie dough and honestly, given the choice, I'd rather eat cookie dough. I don't even like shots. I know that I am probably unique in this respect and if you enjoy alcohol, by all means, party on.

Now, if you'll excuse me, I'm going to go have a glass of wine with dinner.

Up, Up, And Away

URANUS/NEPTUNE SUPPORT
These two planets are supporting each other by sitting in each others' signs. Uranus, the planet of eccentricity, rests in the sign of illusion, Pisces. Meanwhile, Neptune is Pisces's ruling planet and it drifts in Aquarius, the sign ruled by Uranus. When two planets are positioned in such a way, they make each other's influences stronger. Thus, originality will harmonize with illusion and the phrase "Dare to dream" leaps to mind.

This past weekend, I had the pleasure of seeing Disney Pixar's new movie, Up. Two friends of mine and I eagerly grabbed our 3D glasses and took a row for ourselves. As with every Pixar movie, there was a short film before the feature. I have seen numerous shorts by this point, and my favorite one is the one with the snowglobe. It's so fun. This short was no different from the others. Very cute, and quite enjoyable. Amazing how people think up movies that are quick and simple and yet give us a comprehensive story in a little amount of time. I adore them. They're soundbytes of the film world, but sometimes, that's all one might need to feel quite a range of human emotions.

Having been wonderfully warmed by the short film, my companions and I were ready for the full length feature. I was not prepared for the sweet, poingancy of the first 20 minutes of the movie. I never expected to tear up at a Pixar film. Oh, sure, Wall-E also caught me with its moments of tenderness, but Up just completely got to me and right off the bat. Not half an hour later, I was crying with laughter and before the movie ended, I was once again tearing up with empathy. For such a creative, fun movie, it certainly tugged at the heartstrings.

The Neptunian sense of dream combined with Uranus's originality certainly lends flight to the elderly main character in this wonderful film. I highly suggest that anyone who has ever dreamed of finding a new way to achieve a goal go and see this movie.

Dare to dream.

Cruising

URANUS IN THE NINTH HOUSE
Wait a sec, you say. Jared, you just blogged about Uranus! You're right, my attentive reader, but today, though Uranus is still influencing Pisces, it's in the 9th House, the house of travel and exploration. We will still see a lot of originality and illusion, but within the realm of discovering new territories. Perhaps those territories aren't areas we'd normally feel comfortable in or perhaps we're superimposing an idealized version on the reality, but the foray into the unknown is there. It's an adventure. Just make sure your eyes are open.

Speaking of unusual adventures, let's take to the high seas (Pisces is a water sign, after all). How many of you have been on a cruise? Huh. I thought it would have been more. Well, two years ago, I went on a cruise ship for the first time. I embarked on March 18, 2007 and disembarked on September 22nd of that same year. That's right; 6 months on a cruise ship. How did I get so lucky? I worked for them as a dancer.

I know, I know. It sounds awfully glamorous, doesn't it? I'll admit; it's not the hardest way to earn a living. A cruise ship is very like a floating city with everything at your fingertips (well, almost everything). And you get to visit beautiful places (if the itinerary is right). There are so many wonderful aspects to it.

Still, as I always say, a week on a cruise ship is a vacation; six months is a sentence.

When you "install" a new cast on a cruise ship, you overlap the previous cast by a week so you can see them perform their shows and make a smooth transition from one to the next. When I got on, a member of the last cast told me, "You'll know within two weeks if you're a ship person or not." I knew within a week. I am not a ship person. So keep in mind that this is colored through the eyes of one person's experience. I have friends who have been on ships for 4-5 years and are yet considering further contracts.

However, my experience was slightly different. The hardest thing for me was to leave my life behind. I had just begun dating someone, just started a job, had a social base, etc. When you leave on a theatrical gig, you're still connected to everyone via internet and phone. When you take a cruise ship job, internet costs money and your phone service is null and void (thanks, Verizon). You no longer exist in the real world. You travel to "ship-world" and there are a whole new set of rules. It's like witness protection, but the Tiny Toons Adventures version.

One of the interesting rules of theatrical ship-world is the dichotomy between dancers and singers. Dancers are considered "chorus" while singers are "leads." Therefore, singers get their own cabins, a higher pay scale, access to passenger restaurants, and the freedom to wear what they choose. Dancers double as "crew members," and thus must go through safety training, perform crew duties, share cabins (which are smaller than the singers' cabins, btw), are paid less, have limited access to restaurants, and must wear crew uniforms when in passenger areas. Okay, I get the whole chorus/lead thing. The argument is that if the ship is really rocky, the singers would still have to perform, but the dancers wouldn't for safety reasons. But if the ship is REALLY rocky, the show will more likely be canceled than put on with just the singers, so the argument is somewhat specious. And beyond that, is it really necessary to put such a wide divide between members of the same cast? I mean, you're automatically building resentment and for no good reason. I was flabbergasted to learn how much more valued the singers were. And that's nothing against their talents or them as people. It just creates a rift when there need not be.

That being said, I actually didn't mind some of the cruise duties because it enabled me to meet passengers, which was the best part of the cruise. I love meeting new people and every week, a fresh batch of folks came on. I was, however, annoyed at how people check their brains at the door once getting on a cruise ship. I realize that you're there to relax and enjoy a vacation. The ship's crew is not your personal serving staff. We're there to maximize your enjoyment; not wait on you hand and foot. For example, when in the buffet restaurant, don't turn to me and ask me to get you a fork just because I'm wearing a uniform. It's a buffet. You get your own utensils when you get your food.

Another example is the gentleman who approached me at the elevator bank/stairwell on the 11th floor. "Do you work here?" he asked me (I'm clearly in uniform). Biting back my natural sarcasm (I'd gotten good at that by this point), I nodded. "Well, I've been waiting 10 minutes for this elevator and it hasn't come." I smiled and responded calmly, "I understand, sir. All elevators are currently express up to the 12th floor and they will stop on the 11th floor on the way down. Please be patient." His expression darkened and he protested, "But I'm only going down one floor!" Seriously, how lazy can you be!? From what I saw of this man, he had no physical impediment, nor was he having any trouble walking. Stairs, sir. Try them.

Final example are the number of people who forget their key card when they go to leave the ship. Every time there is a port, announcements ring through the ship (and they're actually intelligible unlike the NY subway) that say you need photo ID and your key card to get back on the ship. At least a quarter of the people show up for the third port debark without one or the other. It's the third port, people! I understand if you forgot it for the first one, or maybe the second, but by port three, you should know.

It's just a time-warp (jump to the left, step to the right) to be on a cruise ship for 6 months. Still, you think, sun, beach, what more could you ask for? Believe me, unless you are a beacher (and I am not), it gets very wearing to be at the Bahamas every other week. I know, I sound like I'm complaining that all of my fifties don't fit in my wallet and my diamond shoes are too tight, but its' true. Going to the same place over and over can get extremely boring. It's not like I'm visiting friends there. If I had been on a cruise that traveled around the world, then maybe I'd have enjoyed it more, but the same places every other week gets to be a little much.

Needless to say, the cruise ship life was not for me. However, I think I would enjoy a week-long cruise. There some beautiful moments being on a ship. Especially at night when all around you is quiet, except for the sound of the ocean waves. I highly suggest everyone take a cruise at least once in life. I just don't recommend working for one unless you know you're a ship person. And believe me, you'll find out within the first two weeks.

Cruella DeVil Lives

URANUS IN PISCES
Pisces, sign of secrets and self-delusions, plays host to Uranus, the planet of originality and eccentricity. What an odd combination, especially to sit in the 8th House, the house of regeneration and death. We'll see some interesting changes that apply behind the scenes. Secrets are being formed that will affect the odd sensitivities of the people around us if they're let out.

As per the May Blogathon, tomorrow, I will be exchanging guests posts with one of the other wonderful Blogathoners, Sara Lancaster, who writes a blog called No. 2 Pen. I hope everyone will be excited to hear what she has to say and stop by her blog to learn more!

In less positive news, I read this in the NY Metro today:
Jail time for hurt dog
A Queens woman was given 30 days in jail after she pleaded guilty to animal cruelty. Sonia Perez, 21, shoved her hurt poodle into a bag and threw it into a garbage can. The dog, which had broken ribs, died a day later.

WTF?!

There are so many things wrong with this blurb that I don't even know where to begin. Let's start with the fact that the dog was hurt in the first place. Do I really want to know why? With the rest of the information as circumstantial indicators, one can only imagine what was done to the dog to break his/her ribs. And then, to throw the dog into a bag?! What...how...why...I can't even begin to wrap my mind around that line of thinking. A dog isn't trash. It's not like it was a free gift with purchase that you just didn't want. How long did this dog live with this woman before this? And, oh, don't kill the dog before you throw it in the trash can. As cruel as that sounds, it would have at least been moderately merciful compared to what actually occurred. The dog is already in pain, and one's first thought is, "Oh, I should bag this and toss it with the other garbage. But no, let's keep it alive so that it suffers to full extent."

This incenses me. I have always had a soft spot for animals (Moon-in-Pisces). In fact, when I see movies, if there's an animal in danger, I end up worrying more about the animal than the humans involved. Probably because I know the humans can take care of themselves or at least have a modicum of understanding regarding the situation they've found themselves in. The animals are usually blameless and left to fend for themselves in circumstances created by the people around them.

This poor dog was already injured and left to die by what I can only consider his/her human companion. Had this been a human who Ms. Perez treated this way, the sentence would be far greater. Of course, the laws are highly protective of people; more so than they are of animals, and I can hardly dispute that. Still, life is life, is it not? And treating life as contemptuously as was done in this instance deserves a punishment of stronger caliber than 30 days in jail. This was a murder. To make it easier on us readers, the Metro writer was kind enough to refer to the dog as an "it." Margaret Atwood explores this phenomenon:

I'll take care of it, Luke said. And because he said it instead of her, I knew he meant kill. That is what you have to do before you kill, I thought. You have to create an it, where none was before. You do that first, in your head, and then you make it real. So that's how they do it, I thought. (The Handmaid's Tale)

Animals have souls and hearts and minds just as we do. As living creatures, we should have a better respect such things. I understand that death must occur so that more life can come forth. I know that even the simple process of eating brings about death in some form, be it animal or plant. These are necessary deaths.

The death of this dog was not.

I came across a few sites for those who want to learn more about animal cruelty and what's being done to stop it: the American Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals: ASPCA, Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals Intentional: SPCA, Humane Society of the United States: HSUS, the Society for the Protection of Animals Abroad: SPANA.

Remembering Jen

THREE IN THE EIGHTH HOUSE
There are three planets (Venus, Mars, and Uranus) in the Eighth House, the house of regeneration and death. The Eighth House brings about change. It's the death of something old and opens a new chapter in life. This is especially focused in the relationship area due to the influence of Venus and Mars. Uranus lends a certain new angle to these changes. Shared by Pisces and Aries, we're especially seeing strong change as we end one chapter and begin a new one, possibly even a new book.

Death is a terrifying prospect to most people. Reading Tarot cards on a cruise ship (hey, don't judge), everyone said the same thing: "I just hope that I don't pull the Death card." Yet, the Death card does not signify physical death. It denotes the end of a section of life. Perhaps a new hobby will be taken up. Perhaps a move is in the works. There are many ways that life can change and that's what death is: a huge change.

Still, death is hard to deal with and for some reason, it seems to be everywhere. On a personal note, a year ago, my roommate was killed in an accident. There is nothing so surreal as getting a phone call that tells you that someone who has been a part of your life is no longer there in physical form. She was a beautiful spirit who happened to be in the wrong place at the wrong time. There are many times when I wonder why. What possible purpose could it be to have someone vanish from life? I think death is one of the major reasons that people search for answers and comfort. Religion is a powerful source of these for many people. Metaphysical studies are yet another. When something like this happens, though, it's hard to find anything that makes it make sense.

Since then, I've noticed death much more in my life, even in celebrity form. Bea Arthur, Dom Deluise...it seems that we lose more and more everyday. Yet, this is all a part of life. It's a change. Everything must die so that more can live. Doesn't always make it easier when it happens, but it's a hard truth. Change is necessary and death is one of the biggest changes that we go through.

There are many directions that I can take a post regarding death, but for today, I think it's best to say that you are dearly missed, Jen. You're still with us.