Air, Earth, Fire & Water

I have a theory about people which some may find too "woo-woo" but I think there's a lot of weight to it.

Though I recognize a person's being is more a result of DNA than anything else, still, I believe the position of stars and planets at the time of one's birth has an uncanny influence on one's personality.

Each astrological sign, ruled by certain planets, is one of four elements: air, earth, fire or water.

And it makes all the difference!

For example, as an Aquarian, an air sign ruled by Uranus, planet of unpredictability, I need lots of AIR! Space. Freedom. Independence.

Ditto, for the two other air signs: Libra and Gemini.

Fire signs, Leo, Sagittarius and Aries are known for their intensity. You do not want to invoke the wrath of a fire sign!

Earth signs, Virgo, Capricorn and Taurus, are the workhorses of the zodiac. Stubborn as the day is long, those born under an Earth sign are usually dogged in their determination. Get out of their way!

And then there's the Water signs: Pisces, Scorpio and Cancer. Aahhhh, how to say this nicely? Wishy-washy, overly-sensitive and moody, those born under a water sign usually have the most drama in life but, not sure why, seem to revel in their travails. Sigh!

Looking around at the people in my life, it's easy to see their "element" fits them to a tee. So, it's not lost on me how strongly the planets influence our yins, yangs and yearnings.

Encore!

Oh, the Dogma!

Growing up Catholic, I learned a litany of jargon. Tis a testament to the myriad reasons young children are simultaneously frightened and skeptical about religion.

Let us review:

GOD -- Our Great Creator, Infallible, Omnipresent and Supreme; given male persona, also referred to as He or Him.

Sins -- Venial and Mortal. Venial sins, like Life Infractions, are redeemed by serving "penance". Mortal sins, like taking someone's life, are a serious matter for which greater penance is required.

Penance -- as consequence of actions, it is required compensation; usually consists of praying 5 Hail Mary's and 10 Our Father's after making confession to a priest.

Priest -- purveyor of all things Catholic; he who serves God by ad'ministering' to the poor and rich alike while also serving Mass and other duties like presiding over marriages and funerals.

Mass -- the ritual or liturgy of turning wine into the blood and bread into the Body of Christ in order to give Communion to the people.

Communion -- the ingesting of wafer bread and wine for healing and redemption.

Confession -- one of the Sacraments enabling a parishioner to purge missteps (aka sins) in order to clean spiritual plate, by revealing 'sins' in private.

Heaven -- a place of eternal peace, happiness and joy bestowed upon those who live a righteous earthly life determined by God at The Pearly Gates on Judgement Day.

HELL -- a VERY HOT place where all evil-doers are damned forever.

Purgatory -- a middle sphere between heaven and hell where a soul goes to do penance for sins not deemed serious enough for HELL.

Limbo -- an ether world where babies go if they die before being baptized.

So, you see, that's a lot for kids to understand. Nowadays, I have a more androgonous view of God. I prefer to believe G.O.D is an acronym:

General Omnipotent Deity.

Genderless and Autonomous.

Has anyone come back to report Otherwise?

Amen!

"And so it came to pass..."

Growing up in the Catholic Church, I heard those words often as the opening lines of the "gospel according to whomever": Paul, Luke, Mark, or one of the other Apostles.

Called a parable, there was always a lesson to be learned or a moral to the story.

But as a fidgety child forced to sit through hours of sermons, I could only wonder how any of it would tie into my adult life. I was just too young to understand.

So, once grown, I did as many others: left organized religion and never looked back.

It strikes me as no coincidence that I came to live in Oregon, a place known as one of the most "unchurched". An interesting dichotomy is that, back east, Oregon is called "God's Country."

Why?

Because it is so damn beautiful where ever you look, only a Supreme Being could have created such a Paradise. And we, its "parishioners" know, His/Her presence and handiwork are everywhere here.

So, it seems redundant to go within four walls to seek peace and meditation when it can be found in so many places out-of-doors. But I understand many people join churches to be part of a flock or a community; to hear a message that may resonate throughout their week ahead.

Fine for them.

As for me, I'll take a walk through a quiet garden or The Grotto, where I feel the hand of the Great Creator just as surely as I would if I were sitting in a church pew.

Amen!

"It"

It means as many different things to as many different people. Though it's fleeting and indescribable, we pursue it with the veracity of a devout fan. It is, after all, our inalienable right and we may go to the ends of the earth to seek and find.

It. Is. Happiness.

Depending on one's definition, Happiness can "be" or "do".

Many people would describe their happiest day as one being quiet, reading or meditating. Instead of seeking it, their happiness can be found in solitude.

But many others find happiness by doing. A restless soul needs travel and adventure for which wanderlust is the only cure.

Still others have a simpler definition; happiness may just mean a warm bed at the end of a hard day's work.

On the other hand, kids find happiness everywhere, some by simply rustling around in a pile of autumn leaves. If something captures their curiosity, kids are quick to investigate. Since they're too young to restrain their impulses, they act on them; instant gratification!

Once we become adults, we learn to temper our impulses...sometimes to the very detriment of our own happiness.

Quel damage!

Driving While Flying

I am one of those types who gets attached to cars. I've only owned a handful in my life and of those vehicles, I'm most sentimental about my ol' 1987 Honda Accord LXi...that's still with me...165,000 miles and goin' strong.

Knock. On. Wood.

She's been a sweet, faithful mobile and for that I've kept her around. Now that she's over 20 years old, I won't be getting rid of her. Instead, I'm embellishing her exterior with shards.

Shards of what, you ask?

Mostly winged-things like butterflies and fairies because Old Faithful still flies. She is the mode of transport that brings me closest to that feeling without actually leaving terra firma. You see, I like to be grounded when I fly.

Once in a while on the open (dry!) road (to the beach) I find myself driving almost 80 miles an hour! Whoa! I don't even notice, until it appears other cars are standing still.

Not that I fly alone!

No matter the posted limit, others speed too though I know that doesn't make it right or legal. In my defense, at least I'm not talking on a cell phone, putting on make-up, eating a Big Mac or texting while driving.

When I'm flying in my car, I hold on tight with both hands...for dear life...because despite that fleeting feeling of flight while driving, I get it:

Speed kills!

Ga$ $uck$!

Boy, do I feel old! When I first started driving in 1971 the cost of gas was twenty-five cents a gallon.

That's right! A quarter a gallon!

Back then, I had a Volkswagon beetle which filled up on $2.50. That's right, two dollars and fifty cents!

The latest consumer reports indicate that Americans are flocking to buy smaller vehicles. No surprise! Since we all rely on fuel to feed our cars, we are stuck! With the cost of a barrel of oil continuously ri$ing, there's no chance we will ever see a return to prices of yore.

So, suck it up, people! We are the product of our environment! Until we get angry enough and mobilize, we will continue to be Patsies to the Powers-that-Be!

Got Hope?

As an artist, being thrifty is a way of life for me. The daily juggle of needs versus wants is an ongoing struggle.

Our country's current economic downtown has many people who previously spent wantonly scrambling to learn how to be frugal as gas prices nudge towards $4 a gal.

Who knew that being thrifty would become so nifty?!

Nothing new for me, learning to live within one's income is, I believe, a good lesson for everyone especially Americans who have become so accustomed to "buying things" just because we can.

But in this new world order, more people are hyper-aware of conserving every energy source. If that's an unfortunate result of current world politics, it's a worthy outcome for we have become a bloated nation.

Not used to waiting for any thing, we are bloated on consumption of fast food, fast cars and fast results. Perhaps the belt tightening on every one's part will make for a 'greener', more aware populace.

One can hope.