Blogroll – Page 58 – According to Sandy

April 25, 2011April 19, 2011

DVD Corner: “A Prophet”

French film, A Prophet (Un Prophète, 2009) directed by Jacques Audiard struck me as a cautionary tale for wayward youth. It details the experiences of 19 year old Malik (Tahar Rahim) as he serves his 8 year prison sentence for refusing to cooperate with police.

A product of juvenile detention facilities, incarceration in an adult prison matures him, not in the way usually meant. Instead of rehabilitation, “learning his lesson” while repaying his debt to society, etc., prison teaches him questionable survival skills and he toughens. What he learns in prison far surpasses what he could have learned on the streets.

Surviving alone may work on the outside, but in captivity, being part of a group is vital, and being the top dog in that group is prime, doing whatever it takes to get there. Malik adapts to the inhumanity that surrounds him and prospers.

You get drawn into the story and after awhile, you start to root for this young man and want him to rise above somehow. Which perhaps is a testament to both the acting and writing because Malik does some evil stuff, but you still want him alive and freed after his 8 years. (It’s not so much that you want him to “win”- but you want him to survive, to live long enough to discover another way of being in the world.)

But, what lingering effects will violent actions and experiences have on a kid? Are they difficult to erase like tattoos? Is he branded forever? I don’t know.

Fascinating movie.

BTW: Un Prophète (2009) won the Grand Prize at Cannes Festival, 2009

April 21, 2011April 19, 2011

Astrology: Weekend Moon – Capricorn, Then Aquarius, Variety!

Early Friday April 22 gives us a business focused, responsible Capricorn Moon. The urge to be in charge, the urge to get things accomplished, the urge to work hard – all with the deliberate movement of this Earth sign.

An Aquarius Moon on Sunday ends the weekend on an unpredictable, but upbeat note. This Air sign is into group activities, volunteering, service to and/or organizing others. Contribution is always a good thing – gives a great start to the week ahead.

If you can, use the energy of the Zodiac sign the Moon is visiting on a particular day:

Saturn ruled Earthy Capricorn – Authority, ambition, organized

Uranus ruled Airy Aquarius – Friendly, innovative, comfortable in groups with a cause

Regardless, deliver your best self as always, have a super weekend!

BTW- Mercury finally goes Direct on 4/23. This forward motion for the communication planet, after the 3 week Retrograde situation, may show up with solutions for stalled projects, the unlocking of writer’s blocks, a miraculous self repair for computers, smart phones, etc? Ah, life is smooth again! (Well, as much as it can be)

April 4, 2011March 31, 2011

Astrology: April 2011 * Aries – So Many Planets, So Little…

Wow, there will be days in April that Aries (Fire Sign, ruled by the Warrior planet Mars, 1^st sign of the Zodiac) will be playing host to 5 planets plus the Sun. Potent, powerful, persuasive, passionate, potentially combustible energy can result. (I ran out of “P” words to convey how “in your face” this could be.)

Aries is about aggression, physical energy, impatience, temperament, action – all this can be used to make great things happen– now! But, in addition to accomplishment, there can also be risk and rush leading to hurt feelings and messy, scattered results. (Arrogance can always come back to bite ya somewhere/somehow?)

Aries and:

Jupiter* 2/23 – 6/5/11, Called the Lucky planet – feelings of good fortune, sure bets, may hide some risks and lull you into taking lots of chances.

Mercury* 3/10 – 5/16/11 (Retrograde period 3/30 – 4/23), Sharp communication, can be snide, angry, remember – a verbal assault is still an “assault”.

Uranus* 3/12/11 – 2018, Slow moving outer planet will remain for 7 years. Unpredictable, rebellious, often “change” for change sake, resenting any restraints, rules- don’t let desire to be “free” cloud common sense.

Sun* 3/20 – 4/20/11, Enthusiastic, energetic, buoyant, “I”

Mars* 4/2 – 5/11/11, (Planet ruler of Aries) Intensifies combative qualities and self confidence – fiestiness works, but, don’t underestimate a situation or an opponent.

Venus* 4/21 – 5/15/11, Planet of love and beauty in the same neighborhood as the testosterone charged planet Mars = Sparks!

So, short and sweet, it boils down to the following: Use this time of powerful drive and emotion to your advantage without creating grenade like debris. And, focus. Dial back on ego and think of the contribution you are to others – magnified, energized.

As always, the depth of the affects of all this depends upon where Aries and those transiting planets appear in the birth chart.

Brace yourself. Let the “Tilt-a-Whirl” begin! (Wasn’t it the movie “All About Eve” where Bette Davis says her “Bumpy night” line? ) Well Ok! We’re ready! Could be fun!

March 31, 2011March 30, 2011

Astrology: Moon Shenanigans For This Weekend 4/1/11

My usual routine on Thursdays is to give my opinion about the possible energy created around us based solely upon the weekend Moon’s Zodiac sign placements. I enjoy doing it and it’s a way to prepare to take advantage of any atmospheric vibes that are out there. However, due to a rare 2 day“ Void of Course” Moon, which starts on Thursday March 31, I have no opinion to give for Friday – April Fool’s Day (Hmmmm).

The Moon, in the final degrees of Water sign Pisces, is Void of Course – meaning that it creates no aspects (relationships/connections) to the Sun or planets while on its way into the next sign. This usually lasts from a few minutes to a few hours and needless to say, a 48 hour VC is rare. It lasts from 9:43AM Eastern / 6:43AM Pacific Thursday until Saturday morning April 2 at 7:16AM Eastern / 4:16AM Pacific when the Lunar orb finally settles into Aries.

A Moon without “aspects”, can be a time of vagueness and doubt. The consensus among Astrologers is to “not start anything”. Finishing projects that began before the “VC” can be handled and completed, but avoid initiating during this uncertain time.

Vibrations change on Saturday morning whenthings start to perk with the potent early morning moves of both the Moon and Mars into Aries. In addition, Sunday April 3^rd gives us a “New Moon” phase in this same aggressive Fire sign. Use its Martian energy to jump start projects, new beginnings, new ideas – implement, implement, implement!

Short version of the above: Finish up old stuff on Thursday/Friday and start new stuff from Sunday’s New Moon until the Moon’s First Quarter phase April 11.

And, not to pile it on, remember that Mercury is Retrograde in Aries until April 23. If you must sign or commit – review and verify forms of communication, techie stuff, etc. (It never stops, life is just so full!)

Keep breathing. Enjoy your weekend!