Congratulations, Class of 2006

Greetings, Cyber Friends,



How's it going? Summer's here for many of us. That means hot weather, maybe some vacation trips, at least a few jaunts to the beach or the lake. This time of year is characterized most by graduations from kindergarten to post grad. Makes one feel a bit nostalgic, doesn't it? It occurred to me the other day how much history has repeated itself in the past 30+ years. We Baby Boomers who graduated high school in the early 70's certainly remember the Anti-War movement of our time. Then, just as we got out of college, the Oil Embargo and soaring gas prices hit us--made getting those first jobs tough. Many of us were very disappointed after graduation. We'd grown up during the prosperity of the 60's, and had the virtues of higher education beat into our heads daily. However, so many of us young educated hit the job market at the same time, during an economic downturn on top of our numbers…It doesn't take a Rhodes' Scholar to get the picture. More than once I've regretted not just going for technical training or career military.



Whatever, (as Archie used to say) we Boomers have done our damage and the senior members of our generation are heading out to retirement. So with all that BFT wishes The Class of 2006 all the very best, success, prosperity, happiness, and all that groovy stuff. And take it from an "Old Timer", find your passion, and follow your own gut! There's always a price to pay no matter what you choose.



Onward & Upward,

~Paula

A Look at the "Undercurrents"

Greetings Everyone,

Hope all's going well for you and yours. Keep on keeping on.



While doing an astrological reading for a friend's daughter a few weeks ago, an interesting thought flashed into my head. Nothing earth shattering, mind you, but I'm always struck when I come to these realizations.



This young woman was born in the 80's, a time when we were concerned with achievement, recognition and material success. (Those of us who were hitting our 30's then sure remember this era!) The planet Neptune, ruler of the sign Pisces was in Capricorn during the 80's. On the large scale, Neptune is associated with the "undercurrent", the sign of the times, even the general economic trends. On the other hand, Capricorn is the sign of achievement, recognition, materialism, and at its worst down right stinginess? Get the picture? The 80's were characterized by a general desire to achieve, be recognized and accumulate. Social consciousness was measured by the dollar; and one certainly didn't have to be so worried about being politically correct. As a matter of fact, I never heard the term until the late 90's, when Neptune had moved into the more altruistic Aquarius, where it will remain for about another 6 years.



It's interesting to note what we were reading and doing for entertainment during the 80's as opposed to now. Who out there in cyber space remembers the 80's bestseller, Truly Tasteless Jokes? In our current consciousness of politically correct, it's hard to believe that a book that told jokes about every ethnic group could have ever been a bestseller? Today, our big literary phenomenon is the Harry Potter Series, a magical, seven-part series of a poor, geeky, bullied English boy who discovers that he's not who he was always led to believe. The Harry Potter Series works great as a children's story, (Hey, kids got into reading again!) but many of us Baby Boomers have discovered that there's a lot more below the surface. J K Rowling, author of the series, has woven myths, histories, and traditions into a fabric of adventure and mystery that I can't get enough of. Those long forgotten and seemingly irrelevant humanities courses that we had to take in college back in the 70's have taken a new twist and rekindled the inspirations of youth for many of us aging Boomers--not so surprising since many of us Boomers have Neptune in Libra also an air sign, representing the intellect, like Aquarius. Will wonders ever cease?



Onward & Upward,
~Paula

Truthful Philosophers Who Dress to the Nines & Live Nine Lives

Hello again,


By now, those who regularly read BFT know that I'm more than a little interested in Astrology, have an overactive imagination, and am constantly trying to tie it all together to make some kind of sense. If you're new to BFT, welcome! Your clicks are appreciated more than you'll ever know, and I hope that you'll visit again and often.



Now, after almost a year of posting this BLOG, I'm finally admitting another eccentricity. I'm a died in the woods "Kitty Person". I've been "owned" by more than a few of these furry, graceful, quiet stepping creatures; and will never cease to be fascinated by their antics. Cats" are thought by many to be self-centered and unfaithful. But let me tell you, this is not the case. They're completely tuned in to all that's going on--and I do mean all. They have internal pocket watches, knowing exactly what time their person needs to get up for work, are due home; and if one dares to run late, objections are voiced. Ever notice how cats behave before a thunderstorm or tremor?

Watch sometimes. You can't help but pick up their vibes. Cats are said to have nine lives. Frankly, I don't know the origin of this saying, but I've always figured that it refers to their ability to survive and rear their young with such skill that they too are completely ready for survival only a few months after birth and only nine weeks gestation.



Nine is said to be the number of truth. Multiply by 9 and the sum of the digits in your answer will always add up to nine. Even if you have to add more than once (as in 9x11=99, 9+9=18, 1+8=9), you'll eventually return to nine. Add a number to nine and the sum of the digits in your answer will equal the sum of the digits you added to nine.
For example: 9+12=21; 2+1 (digits of 21)=3 and 1+2 (digits of 12)=3. Amazing, isn't it! What goes around comes around.



Sagittarius, 9th sign of the Zodiac, is ruled by the planet Jupiter, the great judge of mythology. Characteristically, Sagittarius is idealistic, optimistic, freedom loving, philosophical, studious, farseeing, loyal, and restless--not tied down by convention, but independent enough to leap ahead in search of the truth. Like Nature (and kitty cats) Sagittarius can be harsh, insistent, and swift, but somewhere out there, all things pass for the good of all.



Now where the heck did the expression, "Dressed to the Nines" come from?



Onward and Upward,

~Paula