Maya Angelou and the Victorious Personality
Originally Marguerite Annie Johnson, Angelou is remembered today as a poet, occasional playwright and actress who recited an original poem at Bill Clinton’s Inauguration in 1993, the writer of the classic autobiographical I Know Why the Caged Bird Sings that was published in 1970, and the source of many inspirational quotes that find their way on social media.
Dorothy Day: An Untimely Prophet
Dorothy Day was a Catholic pacifist and socialist who had an abortion. She has also been proposed for sainthood. From Pope Francis: “In these times when social concerns are so important, I cannot fail to mention the Servant of God Dorothy Day, who founded the Catholic Worker Movement. Her social activism, her passion for justice and for the cause of the oppressed, were inspired by the Gospel, her faith, and the example of the saints.”
A Strange Coincidence: Lubitz and Holmes
Natal charts are similar to fingerprints in that they are distinctive and personal, but there are chart themes that connect people by life experience across families and across cultures. Lubitz and Holmes share the all too common theme of loneliness in this busy world. The description of Lubitz as a loner with few friends and facing medical issues is eerily similar to the description of Holmes as “stubborn, uncommunicative and socially inept”.
George Orwell: Relevant Again
There was nothing saint-like about George Orwell, yet his contribution to our culture is clear. He was not able to leave the world a better place than he found it, but instead told us how the world could become far worse. What of his positive personal qualities? Many will be apparent as you read about his life. It’s a remarkable event-filled life, worth examining and learning from.
Malcolm X and the Arc of History
Although the work of Martin Luther King has helped many blacks enter the middle class, the less-respectable Malcolm X has become more iconic for urban blacks and those lower on the socioeconomic ladder, for he was one of them. Later in his career Malcolm X was broadening his perspective and Martin Luther King was beginning to take on economic and international issues such as the newly minted War in Vietnam. It seems that both men were moving in the direction of a convergence, had they lived long enough.
On the Crown of the Scorpion : Ramana Maharshi ‘s death experience
Eclipses have always played an important role in human history. They have decided over battles, over the fate of emperors. In this article I will try to link an eclipse to an enlightenment event, of Ramana Maharshi (1879-1950), the great advaita teacher of India. More than 65 years after his death, he still is an inspiration to many spiritual seekers, in both the east and the west.
Environmentalism’s Rise and Rachel Carson
As early as 1945 Rachel Carson had become concerned about the environmental being used as pesticides, although there were clear advantages of these chemicals for eliminating disease-causing insects and for increasing agricultural production. She had then written a short article that was rejected by Readers’ Digest. Many years later, after she had become a best-selling author and spokesperson for the global world of nature, her attention turned back to the subject of pesticides and their environmental and heath impact
Bringing Alexander Hamilton to Life
Alexander Hamilton was one of the American Founding Fathers and a close senior aide to General George Washington during the American Revolutionary War. As Washington’s Secretary of the Treasury, he founded the nation’s financial system and pushed for a strong central government. Considered one of the most influential interpreters and promoters of the Constitution, he also founded the first American political party (the Federalist Party), the U.S. Coast Guard and The New York Post newspaper.
Natal Reflections on Ingmar Bergman
Ingmar Bergman, the celebrated Swedish film and stage director/writer was one of the most influential auteurs of our age. His artistic explorations of death, illness, faith, betrayal and insanity reflected his own preoccupations. This hyper-sensitive and volatile man also led a tempestuous love life and fathered many children while seeking seclusion. How is all this reflected in his nativity?
Profile of Alice Bailey (1880-1949)
Exploring Alice Bailey’s life and work was one of the happy surprises of the “Soul” series (from E520C The Recurring and Evolving Soul), and she was the highlight of my presentation “Soul in the Twentieth Century”. She was one of the first modern astrologers who used channeling as a major method of acquiring information.
