Earth Day

Tuesday April 22, 2008

It's a day to love the Earth, so it's auspicious to have a grand trine in both earth (Saturn, Sun and Pluto) and water (Moon, Uranus, Mars). It's a day to remember the elementals -- water, dirt, air. Every day, there's a new report that confirms the interdependence of nature, that poisons released here, will turn up there. Saturn is in Virgo, a sign with an instinct for healing what's become unpure, and understanding intricate natural systems. I find it hopeful that heavy hitting planets in earth signs are bringing back timeless notions of frugality, conservation and wise use of resources, but with 21st-century innovations thrown in there.

Last night, I watched 11th Hour again, the documentary on the environment narrated by Leonardo DiCaprio. It's not easy to watch, because it shows us what we don't want to see -- the hidden effects of our cut off from nature mindset. With powerful Scorpiocity (Sun, Venus, Mars), Leonardo presents the appalling waste, desertification, the dying species, the decay with an unflinching gaze. It's up to our generation, he says, to heal the planet from the destruction of the industrial age.

So, maybe you vote green with your dollars, you recycle as best you can, etc. But how can you integrate your personal destiny, with the great challenge of our age? If you're even asking that, says Kenny Ausubel, founder of Bioneers, you've already made a powerful choice. And beyond that, he says, "It's a matter of looking deep into your own heart and soul to see what your gifts are, where your passions lie. Do some research, find the people you're comfortable with, and then get involved." I like that because it's about each person in the global village having something specific to contribute. Making the most of your own potential then takes on an urgency -- to save the planet -- that can be a springboard to great things.