London's Burning

Image: London Burning

Day three of the London riots and there are 16,000 police officers on the streets of London tonight. To put that into perspective, there were 34,000 US soldiers in Afghanistan when President Obama took office.

While I do not support the London riots, the media and the government's treatment of the rebellion have been appalling. Mark Duggan's death was the spark that set the city on fire. The riots are about ongoing social and political inequalities in a failing global economy. Prejudices, the economic strain of worsening unemployment, and the Cameron government's spending cuts to social programs are affecting normal citizens (youth -- not criminals and thugs), who are young enough and connected enough (Facebook and Twitter) to act and plan their aggressions. Add to the mix violations of human rights, colour and race and what you're seeing is an extreme exercise of will in a failed democracy that could be any city.

The impact of social media on society is becoming increasingly remarkable. From organizing fiery destruction to restoring clean order, a crisis in the world today spreads like wildfire. And whoever believes youth today are apathetic and disengaged is clearly not paying attention. These are the times and we are the people. Humanity and instinct haven't changed. This is a time-old war between the haves and the have nots.

The citizens of London are raging against the current order in a lack of humanity for the people, by the people. A marked difference from the more peaceful protests that occurred in Egypt, Libya, and Tunisia this spring where property was protected and looting prevented despite the large numbers.

Interestingly, London rioters were not just looting H&M and Foot Locker, they were trying things on first. Had they been buying staples: bread, milk, etc., they would invoke our sympathy. But because they loot designer bags and Tiffany's -- luxury items, we view them as selfish and superficial thieves. But this is a political issue. These young, intelligent Brits live in the ghetto and continually dispossess in a society rich with possessions. They are wannabe consumers. Luxury has become sliced bread.

This isn't what Mark Duggan's death should stand for. The senseless violence and outis taking media attention away from the real issues. It is our humanity that burns in London tonight.

"Hell is empty and all the devil's are here." Shakespeare

Saturn Return

Image: Amy Winehouse

"Whatever our souls are made of, his and mine are the same." - Emily Bronte, Wuthering Heights

Dedicated to Amy Winehouse
14 September 1983 – 23 July 2011

Whose retro soul changed the world.
Safe travels and new beginnings. Love.

Amy Winehouse did not die because of the "cursed" Saturn return.

In astrology, Saturn "returns" to every person between the ages 27-31. Pop culture's "27 Club" attributes a number of famous celebrity deaths to a misinterpreted (read: sensationalized) Saturn return.

Saturn return is the time it takes for the planet Saturn to orbit one time around the sun (approx 29.4 years). Astrologers believe the return of Saturn to the degree in orbit that occurred at the time of birth marks a rite of passage for a person to enter the next stage of their life. With the first return, a person is said to leave their youth behind and enter adulthood. With the second return, a person enters maturity. And with the third, a person enters wise old age.

Amy's death chart reveals she never had a Saturn return though she was nearing it. Her Saturn return would have taken place in early 2012. However, the transits (movement) of planets that occurred on July 23, 2011 would have affected her health:

- Jupiter (expansion into another great realm)
- Chiron (healing of a deep wound)
- Uranus (unexpected and impulsive surprise)
- Neptune (dissolving)
- Pluto (transforming)

These planets alone are not enough to "cause" death. Only the soul can choose when to end it's time on earth.

Contrary to popular belief, the return of Saturn does not imply death. Saturn (the task master planet Karma) returns to bring transformation and rebirth to a soul's life on earth. It is a difficult period of restructuring that brings about an opportunity for change and growth or endings and new beginnings (a sort of death).

Amy's birth chart reveals she was a Virgo born with Neptune near her natal moon which is often an affliction for drugs and alcohol, but also marks stunning creativity and talent. As a Virgo girl myself, I can attest that Virgo's have walked through fire these past few years and have been especially unlucky astrologically, facing constant cosmic tests in love, career, and health.

Amy's tempestuous relationship with on-again-off-again ex-husband Blake Fielder-Civil was well documented. Their tragic love story signifies a deep soul connection. Blake (who is currently incarcerated and serving a 32-month sentence at Leeds Armley Jail) was interviewed following news of Amy's death and is in his own words,"beyond inconsolable." Allegedly, Blake has been placed on suicide watch in his cell. I don't envy the man, his soul, nor the burden he carries. There are better ways to love but perhaps that was their karma.

In life, Amy played a magnificent "Catherine" to Blake's "Heathcliffe." Their story played out eerily close to the gothic horror love story Wuthering Heights. May both their souls heal and find peace & love.

For more information and to see Amy's birth and death charts see Risa's Esoteric Astrology.

To find out when your Saturn return will occur, use this calculator. Mine takes place this October 2011.

Why Water?

Image: Charity: Water

Charity: Water is my all-time favourite charity. Not just because the cause (water) affects all of us, but because this saavy charity maximizes multimedia in compelling and interactive ways that contribute to transparency, education, and donations.

Proof of funding features are built right into the Charity: Water website where you can track your dollar and watch your contribution bring clean and safe drinking water on the ground using Google Maps. And your dollar goes a long way. A one-time donation of $20 gives one person clean, safe drinking water. Each water project costs an average of $5,000 and can serve a community of 250 people. And 100% of your donation goes directly to the field because private donors fund the charity operation costs.

It's humanitarian mission meets innovative technology. And it's making a difference. Check out charitywater.org to see the proof.

Why water? Because it changes everything.

The Beaches

Image: Free Spirit

"And Lot's wife, of course, was told not to look back where all those people and their homes had been. But she did look back, and I love her for that, because it was so human. So she was turned to a pillar of salt. So it goes."

- Kurt Vonnegut

Looking back, I see my distance.

If these walls could talk, they'd tell you how much they love me. They are what holds me. The walls of this pre-WWII craftsman style house in Hintonburg/West Wellington Village were built strong to survive the storms. They are like my grandparents -- quite unshakeable.

This is the house where my mother was born and my grandparents lived. This is the house I grew up in. With the same creaky wood floors and tired old doors. The same tangled grape vines and dusty back lane.

There's the maple tree where I learned to ride my bike. And the sidewalk where I smashed my teeth. And grandad's pear tree where we constructed snow forts. And the hole in the fence I (still) crawl through to collect lost tennis balls.

I have lived so many lives, I've forgotten my time. No longer moved by hours and minutes, I live as an ocean by the current. I flow with moments and turning tides. I seek sunlight to break a surface where I may venture into new world. I may sink, I may float, or I may swim. But no matter how far or low, how lazy or frustrated, I always find my way back to the shore.

The shore I call my home is a sacred ground with the energy of a thousand memories. Lying in bed with my fate and my free will, I'm listening to The Avett Brothers and my breathing -- inhale/exhale, just like the ebb and flow of an ocean. Two halves, one rhythmic flow. The ocean is never still. The tide is constant in that it comes and goes. But it is always there - a whole ocean.

Whatever you want, I hope you have it. For breath is time and we are the beaches. As for me, I am still working on mine.

So it goes.

If it's the beaches/ If it's the beaches' sands you want/ Then you will have them/ If it's the mountains' bending rivers/ Then you will have them/ If it's the wish to run away / Then I will grant it/ Take whatever you think of/ While I go gas up the truck/ Pack the old love letters up/ We will read them when we forget why we left here

-- The Avett Brothers

It's Mine

Image: The Always Gentleman

The Imperial City: Washington, D.C.

Images: Washington, D.C.

I have history with Washington. I've just returned from my third visit to America's imperial city. It leaves me breathless every time.

The promise of elegant society avenues. The powerful bronzed statues. The idealistic etchings in the white marble. Washington is a city of political correctedness and southern charm.

Votes and money. Hopes and dreams. Old and young. Washington, D.C. is a dichotomy with something to offer for everyone. For anyone looking to book a trip, here are some highlights from my travels:

Worship at the altar of political hitory and visit the temples of the great American Presidents. The humbling Thomas Jefferson Memorial along the Potomac river overlooks the White House. The somber Abraham Lincoln Memorial boasts an unforgettable view of The Mall's reflecting pool and Washington Monument.

See the somber changing of the guard ceremony at the Tomb of the Unknown Soldier in Arlington National Cemetery where you can walk among fallen heroes and see the place where John F. Kennedy and Jackie Bouvier Kennedy Onassis are buried.

Tour the Smithsonian museum (the world's largest museum) is absolutely free! See the original star-spangled banner from the war of 1812 and other historical artifacts. See the original Declaration of Independence, U.S. Constitution and Bill of Rights at the National Archives.

Visit Gettysburg, Pennsylvania (an hour and a half drive from Washington) where the bloodiest battle of the Civil War took place. More than 23,000 Confederate and Union soldiers were slaughtered in the three day battle that marked a turning point in the building of an American nation.

Cherry blossoms and magnolia trees line the American capital's historic districts. See the impressive embassies and mansions in Dupont Circle. Walk along the old historic homes and universities, shop at the swankiest stoes, and eat at the best restaurants the city has to offer in Georgetown.

Try some authentic down-home Louisiana cooking at the Cajun Experience in Agnes Morin/Dupon Circle. Live jazz, creole and cajun cuisine, and a bustling ambiance that speaks to the southerness of this political town.

For the best baked pizza the city has to offer, try Pizzeria Paradiso in historic Georgetown. They also boast a great beer list.

Bistro Bistro in Dupont Circle offers a wonderful French Brunch buffet that serves everything from Eggs Benedict to pastries and even caviar.

And don't miss Martin's Taven in Georgetown. Established in 1933 and made famous by the Kennedy's, Martin's has served every sitting President since Harry Truman.

Make the most of the city... Walk everywhere and take the subway!

Kate's Tiara

Images: This is glamourous

The royal wedding is tomorrow. And while every female over age 3 is waiting to see Kate's dress, I am waiting to see her tiara. Any girl can have the dress. Only a princess gets the tiara!

Kate Middleton, the extraordinarily lucky commoner of a girl has had her fun playing dress-up these past months as the soon-to-be-princess and one day Queen of England. Can you imagine the fun she must have had perusing the royal collection of tiara's and jewels to see which one would match her Cinderella glass slippers to perfection?! Let's window shop the possibilities...

The Spencer Tiara



The Spencer Tiara was famously worn by Princess Diana as her something borrowed when she wed Prince Charles in 1981. A family heirloom from the 18th century, it is a composite of several elements that have been added to over the years. It was a wedding present to the Viscountess Cynthia Althorpe in 1919 and Victoria Lockwood wore it when she wed the 9th Earl of Spencer in 1989.

The Cambridge Lovers Knot Tiara



The Cambridge Lovers Knot Tiara was made for Queen Mary in 1911 from diamonds and pearls she held in her personal collection. It is a copy of a tiara owned by her grandmother, the Princess Augusta of Hesse. Queen Mary left the tiara to her granddaughter, Queen Elizabeth II in 1953. Queen Elizabeth II wore the tiara on occasion herself in the 1950's and presented it to Princess Diana as a wedding present in 1981. Although Princess Diana did not wear it on her wedding day, she debuted it that November at the opening of Parliament. Camilla, Duchess of Cornwall wore the tiara when she wed Prince Charles in 2005.

The Poltimore Tiara



The Poltimore Tiara was made by Garrard in the 1870's for Lady Florence Poltimore, the wife of the 2nd Baron Poltimore. Princess Margaret acquired and wore it when she wed Mr. Antony Armstrong-Jones, the Lord Snowdon. Children of the late princess, Visciount Linley and Lady Sarah Chatto sold the tiara at auction at Christie's to offset inheritance taxes in 2006.

The Nizam of Hyderabad Tiara



The Nizam of Hyderabad Tiara was made by Cartier for the Nizam of Hyderabad who gifted the tiara to Queen Elizabeth II as a wedding present in 1947. The tiara was dismantled in 1973 and the diamonds were used to create the Queen's Burmese Ruby Tiara with the three large roses still worn as brooches by the Queen.


The Grand Duchess Vladimir Tiara



The Grand Duchess Vladimir Tiara was inherited by the Queen from her grandmother, Queen Mary in 1953. It is named for the Grand Duchess Maria Pavlovna of Russia, wife of the Grand Duke Vladimir Alexandovich, the 3rd son of Czar Alexander II, and brother of Czar Alexander III of Russia. Following the Bolshevik Revolution in 1917, the Grand Duchess escapted to Venice leaving her jewels behind and hidden in the Vladimir Palace in St. Petersburg. Britain's secret intelligence service recovered the jewels and the Duchess died soon thereafter in August 1920. The tiara was purchased by Queen Mary in 1921 from Princess Nicolas of Greece, the daughter of Duchess Maria Vladimir. Queen Mary modified the tiara to add emeralds.

The Girls of Great Britain and Ireland Tiara



The Girls of Great Britain and Ireland Tiara was a wedding present for Princess May of Teck (the future Queen Mary) from the Girls of Great Britain and Ireland. It was purchased from Garrard. Queen Mary gave the tiara to Queen Elizabeth II as a wedding present. The Queen has appeared wearing the tiara on many commonwealth currencies and in a portrait.

The George III Tiara



There is some speculation that Kate might wear the Queen Mother's George III Tiara (also known at the Russian Fringe Tiara) that was commissioned in 1830. Queen Elizabeth II wore it as her something borrowed when she wed Prince Philip in 1947. The Queen Mother loaned it to her granddaughter, Princess Anne when she wed Captain Mark Phillips in 1973.

I hope that rumour isn't true. The spikes are yikes.

Spring

Image: Muddy Glam

"We would lie in those afternoon beds, afterwards, hands on each other, talking it over. Possible, impossible. What could be done? We thought we had such problems. How were we to know we were happy?"

-- Margaret Atwood, “The Handmaid’s Tale”

A little girl jumping around in the mud. That's how I feel. That's who I am.

The month of April has been happy choas for me. I've had a flat tire and car woes, money expenses and family conflict, I'm painting and taking an art class, and soon I'll even be moving houses. It's been just a little bit crazy!

Sometimes, life can be a Winter. Where months drag by slow and uneventful, and your life feels cold and isolated. But then the season changes and one fine day you wake up in Spring and suddenly your life is filled with change and surprise. New life springs up where there was once nothing; and you find yourself overwhelmed with roses and weeds that now need caring for.

We think we have such problems. How are we to know we're happy?

Truthfully, we are happy! We have no problems. There's no such thing. All of life is learning. And even the impossible is possible. We are "I am" all the same. Life is an art and it only lasts a little while before the seasons change. So we may as well play around in the muck of things.

Happy Spring!


Image: stylinonyou