Vote For Life and Love

JOE BIDEN FOR PRESIDENT

One of my main reasons for being on planet Earth is to help minimize and alleviate the world's suffering — among my fellow humans as well as among the animals and plants.

As president, Joe Biden will be in alignment with my goal: He will markedly reduce suffering.

If Donald Trump is re-elected, he will continue to do what he has already done: dramatically increase suffering.

As columnist Maureen Dowd wrote, "Biden is an empath, Trump a sociopath."

So yes, I endorse Joe Biden for President. And I endorse every Democratic candidate for the US Congress, both the Senate and the House.

I endorse every Democratic candidate for governor and every Democratic candidate for every state legislature.

The collusion of the Republican Party with Donald Trump's Reign of Error and Terror shows that it has become, at least temporarily, a party without scruples or integrity.

We can hope that once Trump has left office, the GOP might regain its commitment to actual conservative principles and shed its devotion to a malicious tyrant with no principles.

While I am not and have never been and will never be a member of the Democratic Party, I believe that in this election it is key to the health of democracy and the well-being of Americans that Democratic candidates win.

One Hundred Good Reasons to Vote for Joe Biden

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VOTE FOR LIFE

Donald Trump is the greatest threat to the rule of law and American democracy in our lifetimes. The only way to defeat him is for voters to turn out in such massive numbers that even his cheating and malfeasance will not be enough to distort the results. If you're an American, please vote!





THE PERSONAL IS POLITICAL. THE POLITICAL IS PERSONAL

A reader asked me: "What do you think it means for the election that Mercury is now in retrograde and comes out of it on Nov. 3?"

Here's my response: It's a highly favorable time for us to meditate on the fact that the personal is political and the political is personal; the spiritual is political and the political is spiritual.

We will gain integrity, authenticity, and power by deploying the truth articulated by journalist Martha Gellhorn: "People say with pride, 'I’m not interested in politics.' They may as well say, 'I’m not interested in my standard of living, my health, job, rights, freedoms, future.' If we mean to keep control over our world and lives, we must be interested in politics."





THE SPIRITUAL IS POLITICAL. THE POLITICAL IS SPIRITUAL.

“A spirituality that is only private and self-absorbed, one devoid of an authentic political and social consciousness, does little to halt the suicidal juggernaut of history.

"On the other hand, an activism that is not purified by profound spiritual and psychological self-awareness ... will only perpetuate the problem it is trying to solve, however righteous its intentions."

—Andrew Harvey





THE COMING PROGRESSIVE MAJORITY

It's only a matter of time before Progressives are the majority in American politics

More info





ASTROLOGY AND POLITICS

Some readers tell me with straight-faced delusional certainty that astrology and politics shouldn't be combined. They don't know much about history! Many political leaders throughout the ages have regularly consulted astrologers. As just one example, US President Ronald Reagan consulted the astrologer Joan Quigley about every decision he made.

Here's a partial list

For example: In ancient China there was a doctrine called the "Mandate of Heaven." Because of it, a ruling dynasty often gave way to new leadership when many planets gathered in one astrological sign. In May, 1059 B.C., for instance, a large conjunction in Cancer signaled the end of the Shang kings, who had grown corrupt. Wen, a rebel with great integrity and wisdom, ascended to the throne.

For example: In 1226, Mongol astrologer Yeh-lu Ch'uts'ai saved 100,000 lives. His boss, Genghis Khan, had ordered a massacre of the Tangut people, but the sage insisted that a heavenly sign—a colossal planetary conjunction in Capricorn—was a clear omen not to proceed with the plan. Amazingly, Khan agreed.

For example, as mentioned above, President Ronald Reagan made extensive use of the services of astrologer Joan Quigley. Here's a quote from a memoir by Donald Regan, who was Reagan's Chief of Staff:

“Virtually every major move and decision the Reagans made during my time as White House Chief of Staff was cleared in advance with a woman in San Francisco who drew up horoscopes to make certain that the planets were in a favorable alignment for the enterprise.”

More.





BLACK AMERICANS FOR BIDEN

Amy Gardner writes: "Black Americans have already been voting in striking numbers, helping to drive historic levels of early voting as mail ballots have flooded election offices and people have endured huge lines to cast ballots in person across the country.

In interviews in 10 states where early voting is underway, Black voters said this year’s presidential election is the most important of their lifetime

"They spoke of a sense of urgency to protect the nation’s democracy, and their role in it, which they believe a second Trump term would erode beyond repair.

"Many said they view the president as a racist who cannot bring himself to disavow white supremacists or the year’s spate of police killings of unarmed Black Americans, and they believe the country is less safe for themselves and their families.

"Over and over again, Black Americans described their vote this year as much more than a choice between two presidential candidates, but as an urgent stand in the long fight against racial injustice in America, which the year’s events have made clear is not yet over."

— Amy Gardner

More.





SCIENCE FOR BIDEN

Numerous science journals have taken the unprecedented step of endorsing a presidential candidate in this year's election: Joe Biden, of course.

For example, the prestigious journal Nature wrote the following: "Trump has damaged science — and it could take decades to recover. His actions have exacerbated the pandemic that has killed more than 200,000 people in the United States, rolled back environmental and public-health regulations and undermined science and scientific institutions. Some of the harm could be permanent."

More info.


Here are other science journals that have taken editorial stances against Trump: the New England Journal of Medicine, The Lancet, Science, Scientific American, PLOS, PNAS, CellPress, and JAMA.





NATIONAL SECURITY EXPERTS FOR BIDEN

489 national security experts, including 22 four-star officers, have endorsed Joe Biden for president, saying the "current president" is not up to "the enormous responsibilities of his office."

Read more.

Read even more.





ICONIC CONSERVATIVE PUNDIT FOR BIDEN

George Will is a conservative columnist who has been writing rightwing musings since 1974. The conservative Wall Street Journal once called him "perhaps the most powerful journalist in America." He won the Pulitzer Prize for Commentary in 1977.

And yet George Will has been steadfastly and vociferously critical of Donald Trump's presidency. In a recent column, he wrote, "Trump must be removed. So must his congressional enablers." George Will, a staunch conservative for over 50 years, is voting for Joe Biden.





MARINE GENERAL JOHN KELLY FOR BIDEN

Marine General John Kelly served as the White House chief of staff for Donald Trump. Before that he served as Secretary of Homeland Security in the Trump administration.

But now Kelly says that Trump "is the most flawed person" he's ever known. According to Kelly, "The depths of Trump's dishonesty is just astounding to me. The dishonesty, the transactional nature of every relationship, though it's more pathetic than anything else."





MESSAGE TO REPUBLICANS FROM REPUBLICAN LEADERS

Here's a message to Republicans from four long-time Republican leaders, Stuart Stevens, Rick Wilson, Steve Schmidt and Reed Galen:

Trump is a boor, incapable and unfit for office.

As Republicans, will you stand with Trump, or will you stand with, and stand up for, America? Will you protect democracy or protect a single person and his family?

You know what Republican elected officials have said about Trump behind closed doors from the start because you are often — maybe always — behind those doors. You’ve seen the haunted look in a colleague’s or a boss’s eyes after a meeting with the unstable, unfit man who is our president. You know in your heart that Trump should not be president for another day.

As conservatives, we long argued that culture was the soul of America. We were right, but it is Trump who now assaults our nation’s soul.

Trump's failures have cost nearly 220,000 Americans their lives and tens of millions their jobs. His instability is increasing; you see it every day. The choice now is: America or Trump? Now is the time to stand with the country you love.





EX-CHAIRMAN OF THE REPUBLICAN NATIONAL COMMITTEE FOR BIDEN

Michael Steele has served as chairperson of the Republican National Committee and several other political offices as a Republican. In 1995, the Maryland Republican Party selected him as their Republican Man of the Year. But in this election, he's voting for Joe Biden.

Steele has been a fierce critic of Trump throughout his administration, accused the president of exacerbating division, seeking the favor of dictators, and embracing outdated economic principles.

“Trump has posited a single purpose for the GOP — the celebration of him,” he added, lamenting how the Republican Party had “given up its voice on things that mattered and instead bent the arc of the party towards the baser motives of one man, who is neither a Republican nor a conservative.”

Read more.





The Atlantic magazine sums it up:

Donald Trump is the worst president this country has seen since Andrew Johnson, or perhaps James Buchanan, or perhaps ever.

Trump has brought our country low;

he has divided our people;

he has pitted race against race;

he has corrupted our democracy;

he has shown contempt for American ideals;

he has made cruelty a sacrament;

he has provided comfort to propagators of hate;

he has abandoned America’s allies;

he has aligned himself with dictators;

he has encouraged terrorism and mob violence;

he has undermined the agencies and departments of government;

he has despoiled the environment;

he has opposed free speech;

he has lied frenetically and evangelized for conspiracism;

he has stolen children from their parents;

he has made himself an advocate of a hostile foreign power;

and he has failed to protect America from a ravaging virus.

Trump is not responsible for all of the 220,000 COVID-19-related deaths in America. But through his avarice and ignorance and negligence and titanic incompetence, he has allowed tens of thousands of Americans to suffer and die, many alone, all needlessly. With each passing day, his presidency reaps more death.

More.





LIST OF THINGS TO DO

1. Expect nothing, but ask for everything.

2. Gently but gleefully smash an unnecessary personal taboo.

3. End your association with a situation or place that feels oppressive.

4. Buck tradition with wit and compassion rather than with wrath and cynicism.

5. Escape an old niche where you got trapped for the sake of peace and harmony.

6. Carry a gift with you at all times in case you run into a fresh beauty who makes you feel doubly alive.





UNSUBSCRIBE

I understand that some of you readers will be offended by my support of Biden and criticism of Trump.

But there's no reason for you to be surprised about my positions. In my column, I have publicly endorsed the Democratic candidate for President of the United States every four years since 1980.

I have also endorsed candidates running in the Democratic primaries. In 2016, I supported Bernie Sanders. In 2020, I supported Elizabeth Warren.

Furthermore, I've frequently expressed my very progressive political positions in my newsletters, my column, and my website. For me, my spiritual perspectives and political perspectives are in close alignment.

But if you are one of those readers who does unsubscribe from my newsletter in response to my recent endorsement, I wish you the best.





POLITICS IS PERSONAL

People say with pride, "I’m not interested in politics." They may as well say, 'I’m not interested in my standard of living, my health, job, rights, freedoms, future.' If we mean to keep control over our world and lives, we must be interested in politics.

—Martha Gellhorn

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We must always take sides. Neutrality helps the oppressor, never the victim. Silence encourages the tormentor, never the tormented.

—Elie Wiesel

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If you are neutral in situations of injustice, you have chosen the side of the oppressor. If an elephant has its foot on the tail of a mouse, and you say that you are neutral, the mouse will not appreciate your neutrality.

―Desmond Tutu

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Washing one's hands of the conflict between the powerful and the powerless means to side with the powerful, not to be neutral.

—Paulo Freire

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Intellectual neutrality is not possible in a historical world of exploitation and oppression.

—Elizabeth Schüssler Fiorenza





MOST POWERFUL STARTING POINT

The most powerful starting point for any endeavor is not the question 'What do I want?', but "What does Life (God, Consciousness) want from me? How do I serve the whole?"

—Eckhart Tolle





I'M A STAR, YOU'RE A STAR

You're a star -- and so am I. I'm a genius -- and so are you. Your success encourages my brilliance, and my charisma enhances your power. Your victory doesn't require my defeat, and vice versa.

Those are the rules in the New World -- quite unlike the rules in the Old World, where zero-sum games are the norm, and only one of us can win each time we play.

In the New World, you don't have to tone down or apologize for your prowess, because you love it when other people shine. You exult in your own excellence without regarding it as a sign of inherent superiority. As you ripen more and more of your latent aptitude, you inspire the rest of us to claim our own idiosyncratic magnificence.

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Tibetan Buddhist teacher Geshe Chekawa (1220–1295) specialized in bodhicitta, seeking enlightenment not for personal gain but as a way to serve others. On his deathbed, he prayed to be sent to hell so that he might alleviate the suffering of the lost souls there.

As you explore pronoia, you will discover that like Chekawa, you have a huge capacity to help people. Unlike him, you'll find that expressing your benevolence doesn't require you to go to hell. It may even be unnecessary for you to sacrifice your own joy or to practice self-denial. Just the opposite: Being in service to humanity and celebrating your unique power will be synergistic. They will need each other to thrive.

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The Golden Rule is a decent ethical principle, but it could be even better. "Do unto others as you would have them do unto you" presumes that others enjoy what you enjoy. But that's wrong. There are many things you'd like to have done unto you that others would either despise or be bored by. Here's a new, improved formulation, which we call the Platinum Rule: Do unto others as they would like to have you do unto them.

Using this improved formula is not just a virtuous way to live, but is also the best way to ensure the success of your selfish goals. The rituals and spells of various occult orders purport to be supercharged techniques for imposing your personal will on the chaotic flow of events, but I say that practicing the Platinum Rule outstrips all of them as an exercise to enhance your potency and happiness.

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TO READ THE REST OF "I'M A STAR, YOU'RE A STAR," go here.





WHAT YOU CHOOSE TO NOTICE

We create ourselves by what we choose to notice.

Once this work of self-authorship has begun, we inhabit the world we've created. We self-seal. We don't notice anything except those things that confirm what we already think about who we already are.

Meditative traditions refer to the observer self. When we succeed in moving outside our normal processes of self-reference and can look upon ourselves with self-awareness, then we have a chance at changing. We break the seal. We notice something new.

—Margaret Wheatley





CHANGE FROM THE INSIDE OR THE OUTSIDE?

Do you change people first or do you change society? I believe this is a false dichotomy. You have to change both simultaneously. If you're changing only yourself and have no concern for changing the society, something goes awry. If you're changing only society but not changing yourself, something goes awry.

Now, 'simultaneously' may be an overstatement, because I think there are periods when one has to concentrate on one or the other. And there are periods in a society, in a culture, when the emphasis is appropriate only on one or the other. What I'm trying to say is, never lose sight of either the internal world or the external world, the peace within and the peace based on justice outside.

—David Dellinger





WE DIE TO EACH OTHER DAILY

We die to each other daily. What we know of other people is only our memory of the moments during which we knew them. And they have changed since then. To pretend that they and we are the same is a useful and convenient social convention which must sometimes be broken. We must also remember that at every meeting we are meeting a stranger."

—T. S. Eliot, "The Cocktail Party"





BLISSFUL DISCERNMENT

Think globally,
but act locally.

Plan for the future,
but act in the present.

Dream of all the masterpieces
you'd be thrilled to create,
but work on just one at a time.

Lust for every enticing soul you see,
but only make love
to the imperfect beauty you're actually with.

Allow yourself to be flooded
with every last feeling
that bubbles up from your subconscious,
but understand that only a very few of these feelings
need to be forcefully expressed.

Be passionately attuned
to all the injustices and hypocrisies
you see around you,
but be selective
when choosing which of those
you will actually fight.

—https://bit.ly/Televisionary





MY DAILY HOROSCOPES

Some people don't know that I write daily horoscopes, available as text messages sent to your cell or smart phone.

They're shorter than the weekly 'scopes, but on the other hand they're more frequent -- every day of the week.

My weekly horoscopes are free, but the dailies cost about 67 cents a day if you sign up for a subscription.

If you think you might enjoy getting regular bursts of inspiration from me to illuminate your adventures, check them out.

Go to RealAstrology.com. Register or log in. On the new page, click on "Subscribe / Renew" under "Daily Text Message Horoscopes" in the right-hand column.