"Song of the Siren" by The Bridge City Sinners

Cancer, out of all the signs, is the most connected to the Divine Feminine. The traits ascribed to this astrological sign hearken to depictions of the archetype of the Mother Goddess - kind, nurturing, intuitive, protective, and sensual. The glyph for Cancer (♋︎) is supposed to represent the parts of the body this sign governs - the breasts and the stomach (or more accurately, the womb). Yes, there's a stereotype that Cancers have the best boobs (which I'm not going to argue against...because we do). And we often get pigeon-holed into the role of the "Mom-friend" (guilty as charged). It's the zodiac sign most closely linked to anahata, the Heart Chakra. However, you may see the Yin-Yang symbol as well, which is not surprising - as a Cardinal water sign, it brings together what modern society has convinced us are opposites. All Cardinal signs are leaders, but Cancer - being considered the most feminine of the group - is often underestimated and discounted as one. Where Libra leads with the mind, Cancer leads with the heart. While Capricorn defends physical security, Cancer defends emotional security. Where Aries charges forward with energy and force, Cancer leverages relationships to make subtle changes with effects that ripple outward. Cancer has gentle strength, relies on wisdom that often doesn't come from books, and prefers to rule with kindness.

The Cancerian archetype is considered one of the most protective signs - huge Mama Bear energy. In line with the Mother Goddess mythos, this protection is generally extended to other women and children. I know there's a lot going on right now, but there are several female-centered events going on as of late that you should be aware of. We're in the midst of a second #MeToo wave, this time going after illustrators, publishers, and music industry representatives who exploited young women trying to gain recognition in their respective industries. The Jeffrey Epstein saga keeps unfolding and, with the recent arrest of Maxwell Ghislane, we're starting to see just how far the rabbit hole goes and learn more about the power players who have known about it all along and turned a blind eye. This is the real "pizzagate" and its not even making a blip on most people's radars because of all the noise. There was/is a real child sex trafficking ring that caters to the rich and powerful. Additionally, Congress is trying to pass more anti-sex worker legislation, which is even more draconian than SESTA/FOSTA and has dire implications for everyone's digital usage (I plan to write more about this next week). And, if we're able to do anything good in 2020, we're going to fucking #FreeBritney. We need to tackle the damage involuntary conservatorship does and make some guidelines. I know - it's overwhelming the amount of craziness being thrown at us. But it's always been there, the only difference is our eyes are open now and we have to deal with these waves as they come, before we're swept away.

Follow my voice

And you'll be home again

This is the song of the siren

I woke up the other morning with a bunch of sentences running through my head, all beginning with "the Divine Feminine is." Remembering our hermetic concepts and acknowledging that the Divine Feminine is present in all things, it helps to define Her, just as we defined the Divine Masculine. It may seem like they are oppositional but, in reality, they work in tandem. If one is out of balance, the other runs amok. The Divine Feminine is open to receiving. She listens to her inner knowing and is in touch with how she feels, both emotionally and physically. She believes kindness and empathy are strengths and cultivates relationships, rather than power. The Divine Feminine is still and tranquil - she is able to embrace chaos on the way to inner peace. She spends her time on creation rather than destruction. She seeks to master herself, but never at the expense of others. She believes that collaboration produces better results than competition. She understands that you have to find joy while on the journey rather than assuming it's waiting for you at the destination. The Divine Feminine honors her body and holds compassion for herself, as well as others. She honors her emotions and expresses them honestly and with consideration for the emotions of others. Finally, the Divine Feminine defines who she is for herself and does not let others - not society, not family, not even the Divine Masculine - dictate her path. 

I've been reading this book called "The Way of Grace" by Miranda Macpherson. In it, she talks about the spiritual value of ego relaxation and how to embrace Grace, which is a hard concept to wrap your head around. Grace is a religious concept representing the unmerited mercy of Spirit, something which is increasingly rare in a world where retaliation and vengeance against those who have wronged us is considered most satisfying. For some, of course, and I made a choice long ago that I didn't want to be one of those people. The Husband was teasing me yesterday, because Macpherson uses a lot of spiritual references, especially from Christianity. I wouldn't consider myself a Christian but I do believe in Jesus' teachings. It was one of the things I had to reconcile after I left the Church and began my path as a witch. Essentially, it boils down to choosing not to throw out the baby with the bathwater. The book - and the idea of Grace - has been comforting because I've felt like I've been in a constant state of confusion, like I can't trust my reality any more. As if I'm not seeing things or understanding things clearly, even though my mind is always going, always analyzing. Lately, I've been watching Dr. Ramani's videos on YouTube. She's a licensed psychologist who specializes in treating victims of narcissistic abuse. Her knowledge and dedication to educating people has inspired me to write down my own experiences, a lot of which are painful and left me very confused. I'm distanced enough from those situations that I can look upon it with Grace but that doesn't mean I fully understand what happened/is happening. It's an uncomfortable feeling and I'd like to help others navigate the discomfort, if I can. These things and the Ho'oponopono meditation have settled me somewhat. I've been staying in that energy of remaining still. It's hard to meditate when your mind is racing - ironically, that's usually when you need meditation the most.

I chose this song because sirens are my favorite mythological creature. As a rule, sirens are feminine and that is the source of their power. Femininity can be seductive but it can also be dangerous if left unchecked. It felt fitting because Cancer is a water sign and - this may surprise you - Cancers are often found at the top of "Most Dangerous Sign" lists. This is largely due to the negative aspects of the "unevolved" Cancerian archetype - moody, manipulative, irrational, unpredictable, and unexpectedly cold-hearted. The Sea is a cruel mistress, as it were. Not gonna lie - I'm all about Pirate-core music. As per Doth the Doth, "Pirates are just tropical goths."

"Song of the Siren" Video

"Blue" by Joni Mitchell

Ranking: #30

Original Release Date: 22 June 1971

Genre: Folk Rock

"Blue" was the fourth studio album released by Joni Mitchell. Mitchell has a couple albums on the Top 100, if I remember correctly, but "Blue" in particular is considered one of the greatest albums made by a female artist and it's sound marks a turning point in music. Listening to the album, it hearkens back to images of flower children, Woodstock, and the beginning search for freedom that defined the early 70s. As light as the songs on the album feel, they were born out of a rocky period in Mitchell's life. In January 1970, after the success of first three albums, she decided to take a hiatus from performing. Instead, she chose to take an extended vacation in Europe. During this trip, she ended her long-term relationship with Graham Nash and soon started a passionate relationship with James Taylor. Her experiences with these relationships - as well as her adventures through Europe - served as much of the inspiration for "Blue."

Whenever I hear Joni Mitchell, it reminds me of my favorite psychology professor when I was attending university, Dr. Tim Ketelaar. I had several evolutionary psychology classes with him, one of the most fascinating perspectives on psychology in my opinion, and it always struck me how chill he was as a person. He had spent time teaching at better schools than the state university I went to and I always wondered what made him come to New Mexico. Once you've lived in New Mexico, though, you understand. When you get it, you get it. All the stars, too much fresh air, nice weather, and a pace of life that allows people to actually live. Anyway, Dr. Ketelaar has amazing taste in music and I remember one day, during the lesson, he made us listen to "California" by Joni Mitchell. I don't remember what the lesson was that day, but I do remember Joni Mitchell's high, pure voice and the raw power of the lyrics. Mitchell's voice pinpoints the allure of folk music - no tricks, no belting, just straight singing against an earnest backdrop.

Sitting in a park in Paris, France

Reading the news and it sure looks bad

They won't give peace a chance

That was just a dream some of us had

Still a lot of lands to see

But I wouldn't stay here

It's too old and cold and settled in its ways here

As we've established, "Blue" was a turning point in the musical DNA of the time. The early 70s was a hotbed of folk rock, especially the kind that borrowed inspiration from mythology and literature. In June 1971, the United States was still in the thick of the Vietnam War and protest culture was in full swing by this time. This was further exacerbated by The New York Times' publication of "The Pentagon Papers," classified documentation on the United States operations in Vietnam. The Beatles had broken up and the English Invasion was slowly receding. "The Ed Sullivan Show" aired for the final time on CBS and the Fillmore East in New York City closed its doors. Southwest Airlines began their inaugural flights between San Antonio, Dallas, and Houston, giving Americans a more budget-conscious way to fly the friendly skies in Texas. Among other things to happen during this month, Elon Musk, intrepid entrepreneur and architect of the future (however you may feel about that), was born. Yes, he's a Cancer, just like this album. With that, let's get into the astrology.

With Sun and Mercury in Cancer, this album is full of emotion. Not unsurprisingly, Joni Mitchell is a Cancer Rising, so with the Sun entering her first house, there was something deeply personal about this album for her and the lyrics she wrote were heart-centered. Later in her career, when she was reflecting on the album, she said "...there's hardly a dishonest note in the vocals. At that period of my life, I had no personal defenses. I felt like a cellophane wrapper on a pack of cigarettes. I felt like I had absolutely no secrets from the world and I couldn't pretend in my life to be strong. Or to be happy. But the advantage of it in the music was that there were no defenses there either." That's what life is like being a fucking Cancer anything. Sun, Moon, Rising....it doesn't fucking matter. Moving on, with Venus in Gemini, this album has a way of making even sad subjects seem a little lighter. Jupiter also falls in the 3rd House for this chart, the House of Communication. During this year, Jupiter was ruled by Scorpio, the sign of deep transformation. Joni is a Scorpio (in fact, she and The Husband are birthday buddies), meaning that the Sun was in a very harmonious trine to her natal Sun when it was released. Unfortunately, Venus in Gemini would've been square her natal Venus in Virgo - an indicator of the romantic turmoil that this album developed in. And not long before this album was released, her relationship with James Taylor ended quite abruptly. Venus in Gemini was conjunct her natal Uranus in Gemini, indicating unexpected direction changes in love and relationships. And fortunes. Finally, one last thing of note - Joni's Moon in Pisces is conjunct her Midheaven. Success in her career comes through emotional honesty, through sharing the deepest parts of herself. That certainly was the case when she released "Blue."

Then I'm going home to California

California, I'm coming home

Oh, will you take me as I am

Strung out on another man

California, I'm coming home

The featured song for this album is - if you couldn't have already guessed - "California." It's a lot more chipper than some of the other songs on this album. And it really does remind me of California.

"California" Video