"The Joshua Tree" by U2

Ranking: #27

Original Release Date: 9 March 1987

Genre: Rock

"The Joshua Tree" is the fifth studio album released by U2. That seems to be a pattern so far with the albums on this list - it always seems to be the artist or band's fifth album that leads them to greatness. Their album prior to this one had a more experimental sound, but the band wanted to release something grittier that paid homage to their Irish roots while being influenced by American rock music at the time. The band - and Bono in particular - had a fascination with the "real" America and wanted the album to evoke the idea of America's vast landscape. The imagery for the album sleeve were artistic photographs of the American desert. Hence the title, "The Joshua Tree," a species of Yucca plant that only grows in California, Arizona, Utah, and Nevada. Having grown up in Arizona (with period visits to California), I'm quite familiar with the sight of Joshua Trees. They have a certain spiritual meaning to us desert-dwellers - they represent beauty and strength that grows out of dysfunction. People are always surprised by how much grows in the desert, how much natural beauty there is. There are plants and animals you can only see in the American Southwest, though, and I think that's one of the things that makes it special. And there's something spiritual in that special-ness - the kind of power that attracts rock bands from Ireland.

"The Joshua Tree" was release in 1987, a year I'm already quite familiar with since it's the year I was born (insert joke about it being a pretty good year here). During March 1987, one of my favorite musicals - "Les Miserables" - opened on Broadway to rave reviews. It was the "Hamilton" of its day, quite literally. John Gotti, a gangster from the Gambino crime family, was acquitted of criminal charges (including racketeering) - the first time. The FDA approved the sale of the AIDS drug, AZT. Not a month later, Freddie Mercury - Legend and Ascended Master - would be diagnosed with AIDS. The first National Coming Out Day - a now yearly celebration for the LGBT community - was organized in Washington D.C. during October, in conjunction with a National March for Gay Rights. During Wrestlemania III, Hulk Hogan won against Andre the Giant, successfully defending the heavyweight title. Later in 1987, Andre the Giant would also appear in the beloved film, "The Princess Bride." And the most popular names for newborns would be Jessica and Matthew. Yes, there were a lot of Jessicas born in 1987. And I've met approximately 50% of them - we seem to attract and then orbit each other. Like star clusters. As far as years in America go, 1987 actually was a pretty good year and March was a fairly decent month in general.

See the stone set in your eyes

See the thorn twist in your side

I'll wait for you

Sleight of hand and twist of fate

On a bed of nails she makes me wait

And I wait, without you

Moving on to the astrology of 9 March 1987, it should be noted that the Sun was in Pisces and that's all you really need to know. This album is all about the feels, drowning in the feels, as it includes multiple iconic love ballads. In fact, this album has multiple influential water placements, including the Moon in Cancer (the sign of her rulership) and Pluto in Scorpio (the sign of his rulership). Mercury in Pisces lends a sort of dreaminess to the sound of this album, but with Jupiter in Aries, there's a powerful expansiveness in the rhythms and riffs of the songs, too. The desire and calling for independence and freedom - a theme for this album, as identified by the band - is also a strong hallmark of Jupiter in Aries, which is further enhanced by North Node in Aries. Again, we have another album with Mercury on the Midheaven (in Pisces), which seems to be a beneficial placement for music. The energy of this album is conflicting - the Trine aspect (the most harmonious) and the Square aspect (the most challenging) appear an equal number of times. Venus is also in Aquarius, a placement indicative of detached emotions and a distancing in relationships. The theme is also very prevalent in the lyrics of the aforementioned love ballads. In "I Still Haven't Found What I'm Looking For," the singer has done everything to gain the love of his person but there's still dissatisfaction. And in "With or Without You" - well, now is a good time to transition into our featured song from "The Joshua Tree."

I chose "With or Without You," not only because it's one of my favorite songs (I had planned to write about it in December but ran out of time) but it's also one of the most iconic love songs of the late 20th Century. In fact, when people hear it, I can bet it conjures to mind one couple in particular - Ross and Rachel of "Friends." For those who aren't familiar (Shame on You!), Ross and Rachel are the sitcom equivalent of star-crossed lovers. They are soulmates or, as Phoebe so eloquently put it, Ross is Rachel's lobster (because lobsters mate for life - just another thing I learned from TV!). Let's face it, their relationship is frustrating, because it's so obvious they belong with each other, even to them. But the writers always find some way to put a wrench in their plans. Throughout the course of the show, they get together multiple times and break up multiple times, but still remain friends. They also seem to decide they want to be with each other at the most inconvenient times - like right before Ross gets married to his second wife (he says Rachel's name instead of Emily's when reciting his vows). Or right after Ross leaves for China. There's a lot of unrequited (but not really unrequited, because they both feel it, they're just not saying it) energy. Ross had a crush on Rachel since high school but she didn't see him - probably because he was a dork and that's not the type of guy the Rachel Greens of the world are supposed to want. "With or Without You" became Ross & Rachel's anthem when it was played during two critical episodes of the show, when their relationship is under the most strain.

Through the storm we reach the shore

You give it all but I want more

And I'm waiting for you

With or without you

With or without you

I can't live

With or without you

Bono wrote "With or Without You" because he wanted to hear a love song that dealt with "real issues." He's said that it's about a tortuous relationship that one can't (or doesn't want to) escape. He has also said that it can represent any relationship where you love someone but can't be with them for some reason (such as distance or addictions or past hurts), which was relevant to his life. At the time he was writing it, his lifestyle as a musician kept him apart from his wife for much of the time. He was having conflicted feelings about it - on one hand, he wanted to be the responsible protector; on the other, he wanted to live the wild, exciting life of a rockstar. He eventually came to an understanding that this tension between his desires is what made him an artist and he found a balance. He learned how to integrate the shadow with the light. There have been many runs where I've pondered the deeper meaning of the lyrics, particularly the words "You give yourself away." I've come to interpret it as he sees the person he's singing to giving too much of themselves, to everyone, but especially to him. I base this assumption on a previous lyric - "You give it all but I want more." And it makes me wonder - he seems to be aware that he's taking a lot but what is he giving back? Is he able to "give it all" in return? And if he's not, is it really fair for him to want more? Deep questions, indeed. Not surprisingly, like me, Bono's Moon is in Scorpio. Additionally, the cusp of his 7th House is in Cancer. There's a lot of possessive instincts, but with his Venus and Sun in Taurus, he expects it to be one way. He needs his freedom but it scares him to give it to someone else. I have a feeling Bono would be fun to psychoanalyze - there's clearly a lot going on in that head of his.

"With or Without You" Video

Redux: "Raise Hell" by Dorothy

I do not like to repeat songs on this blog. That being said, I will make exceptions for certain songs, especially if I have something to add to the conversation. For example, "Six Feet Under" by No Doubt is my official birthday song and it may show up in July multiple times over the years. "Raise Hell" by Dorothy is now my official Thanksgiving song, solely because the video takes place during Thanksgiving. However illogical it may be, I don't think I need any more reason than that. My only theory about this video is the family in the video is definitely her real family. After watching the video a couple of times, the resemblance between Dorothy and her mother is unmistakable. That is definitely what Dorothy is going to look like when she's older. The blonde woman is clearly her sister - the snottiness of taking the wine away was too natural. The chemistry between the ensemble as a whole is free-flowing. You can tell these people are maybe just a little bit too comfortable being weird around each other. That's when you realize - Dorothy's family is way cooler than you'll ever be.

On a serious note, being a rock star (or any type of creative) is not the conventional path to go down in life. A lot of families would not be supportive of that choice and even if they seem supportive, most would probably not agree to be in a video where they're acting like fools. A video that will live forever on YouTube. But that's the message of the video - Dorothy is the Black Sheep in a family that would prefer to pretend they are "normal." Then she literally flips the table on them and awakens a wildness which is inherent in all of them, but fully embodied in Dorothy. Authenticity, as a principle, requires you to be your true, honest self, even when it makes your loved ones (like family) uncomfortable. It dares you to demand being heard when others would prefer your silence. But this is self-betrayal. And the ones who matter will not want you to do it, will not force you to conform to narrow roles to make their lives feel safer.

Young blood, stand and deliver

No need for a queen affair

Young blood, gotta pull the trigger

When the whole world running scared

This week, there was a controversy on Twitter where some woman commented that "Friends-giving" is more popular than actual Thanksgiving and how sad that is for society because we've lost our focus on the family. This POV is extremely privileged and narrow-minded, as plenty of people pointed out. Friends-giving is something that became popular in the LGBT community because many LGBT people were ostracized from their biological families but didn't want to lose their traditions. In recent years, Friends-giving has been gaining more traction because people my age have had to move far away from their actual families in order to find decent-paying jobs. Speaking from experience, it's not always easy to take off work and spend the money to visit family - my closest family (my sister-in-law) lives over 5 hours away and visiting my parents requires a good 14-hour drive (and that's mostly spent just trying to get out of Texas). It's even worse for my older sister, who has lived on the East Coast for the last decade when the majority of our family lives in the Southwest. For someone as social as she is, Friends-giving allows her to feel connected to a family of sorts, even if they aren't biological. And I guess that's the core of it - friends are the family you get to choose.

I follow Dr. Nicole LePera on Instragram (handle @theholisticpsychologist) and she recently posted an infographic which stated the following wisdom - the longevity of a relationship is not relevant to the health of a relationship or the depth of the connection. That's a falsehood we cling to, thinking that the length of time we've known someone is an essential factor for decisions related to the relationship. There are people who have stayed in toxic relationships for 30+ years and society lauded them for it, even though it was slowly destroying them. People will visit abusive family members every year for the sake of keeping the peace, sacrificing their well-being to avoid criticism. Meanwhile, you can meet someone and instantly know it's a meaningful connection, and yet society devalues it because it's short-lived. I've been lucky enough to have had my fair share of these meaningful connections, mostly at times when I needed them the most. Yesterday, I was talking to a coworker/friend about a problem I've been having and, though our relationship is mostly a professional one, I found that I was incredibly grateful he was open enough to share his experience and listen to mine. And this year, that's what I'm most grateful for - the connections (friends, family, coworkers), both past and present, who have allowed me to become who I am now.

Happy Thanksgiving!

"Raise Hell" Video

"Where My Heart Will Take Me" by Russell Watson

I'm really fucking tired so I'm going to try to keep this brief. My sleep schedule has been all messed up the past couple of weeks (blame Eclipse Season 😜) so between waking up at like 3am for no reason, crazy vivid dreams, and extra long days at work, I've been exhausted. But...I'm feeling generally pretty chipper lately, hence the super ridiculous song for today. Before I get into that rant, I will reiterate that I engage in shufflemancy fairly often because if the Universe is going to speak to me or send me a sign, I figure it's probably going to be through music. For example, every so often - when I've had a particularly rough day or have been ruminating on the past (against my better judgement) - I will turn on the radio and "Faith" by George Michael will be on. I like to take that as a sign to be grateful and look on the bright side. And, even if it isn't a sign, it's fucking George Michael and no one can be a grumpy face when that song is playing.

It's been a long road

Getting from there to here

It's been a long time

But my time is finally near

And I can feel the change in the wind right now

Nothing's in my way

And they're not gonna hold me down no more

No, they're not gonna hold me down

I've chosen today's song because we've recently started re-watching "Star Trek: Enterprise" because they added it to Netflix. It's The Husband's favorite series. To be honest, it's one of my favorites too. It's certainly the one that was able to hold my interest the best. I like to mock the first couple lines of the theme song when the opening credits start and sometimes, my "punishment" is to listen to the whole title sequence. But, while I wouldn't say it's the best Star Trek credits song, I don't hate it. Yes, it's rather dramatic and it sounds like a 90s ballad even though it was written during the current century, it has a kind of hokey charm that always puts a smile on my face. I have other reasons for watching the show, too. Full disclosure - Commander Trip Tucker is one of my "fictional character" crushes. I don't normally go for blondes but he's obviously handsome, extremely smart (because you have to be if you're the Chief Engineer), funny, friendly, optimistic, a perfect gentleman, and he even has an adorable Southern accent. I'll even forgive him for being from Florida. Naturally, I was shipping T'Pol and Trip from the start, so when that storyline started developing, I remember being super girly and excited while watching the show the first time. I have a tendency to squeal when a romance has been hinted about for several episodes (even seasons) and it finally starts coming together. It doesn't matter who's involved. Trip and T'Pol. Booth and Brennan. Ron and Hermione. Leslie Knope and Ben Wyatt (also on my fictional crush list). It's the same squeal for all of them. I get happy because other people are happy, sometimes overly so. I like to think it's endearing but I'm pretty sure it just makes me look like a spaz. Oh well.

Moving on. In general, I like "Enterprise" most because it showcases the best sides of human nature, the parts we should aim to grow in ourselves and encourage in others. In the episode we watched today, Captain Archer meets a transport ship en route to the same location they are going to (a stellar nursery). His first instinct is to open up a channel of communication and say "Howdy!" And when he becomes aware that the travelers are going to the stellar nursery for religious purposes, he brings them aboard for a cultural exchange and gives them a tour of the ship. While more suspicious minds would say that inviting strangers onto your starship is ill-advised at best (and, of course, shenanigans ensued), there's something special about offering that level of kindness and hospitality when you're aware that you're vulnerable. The Husband joked that this is such a typical American thing to do - the joke is that only an American would walk into a bar full of unfriendly-looking strangers and say "Hi! My name is Dave. What's everybody drinking?" I, personally, really like that about our culture. It's a gift to have the courage to try and strike up a friendship out of thin air and to be that open to accepting others right from the start. I've always felt I was lucky because, as shy and introverted as I am, I never had trouble making friends. But, to be fair, I never turned down the opportunity to make a friend if it was offered. So, given that I did allow myself to be so vulnerable, I suppose the lucky part is that I was blessed with meeting so many people who I would deem "Pure of Heart." I don't know how best to describe what that means other than the dictionary definition - someone who is without malice, treachery, or evil intent, someone who is honest and sincere. I think that's what the main theme throughout "Enterprise" was - trying to identify what being "pure of heart" meant (both within the crew and the new people they encountered) when faced with endless diversity and unfamiliar territory. But that road goes both ways. That's a question to ponder - Am I pure of heart? I think so, but how do you prove it? It's not something where you can pull a sword out of a stone or put on a Sorting hat to show other people that. You just have to embody it as best you can and hope other people can feel it when they meet you. I know that sounds very woo-woo but....I'm also certain that's basically the only way you can tell.

"Where My Heart Will Take Me" Video

"Rivers and Roads" by The Head and the Heart

This is a continuation of my Scorpio rant from the other day, because I forgot some stuff that I wanted to include. As I said, Scorpio's ruler is Pluto, the Roman God of Death. In the tarot deck, all the Major Arcana have astrological correspondences. The Death card corresponds with Scorpio and, just like the sign, it is often misunderstood. Everything comes in cycles. The days, the seasons, the years. Life in general. To be trite and quote Semisonic, "every new beginning comes from some other beginning's end." This is what the Death card symbolizes. We have to release something to be reborn. It's about transformation. The last full moon was an opportunity to release what is no longer serving you, letting go of what isn't meant for you, in order to fully embrace what's ahead. It's important to remember you're always changing - who you are right now is different from who you were a year ago, a week ago, even a minute ago. In order to move forward, sometimes you have to forgive and forget the past. You have to be willing to let go of who you were, to become who you're meant to be. We remain unfinished until the very end. Only then does the pattern fully appear.

Since we're already talking about moon magic, we're now in a waning cycle up until the next new moon, which is the best time to do shadow work. It's about uncovering the darkness and disappointments, the regrets and fear, and then letting them go in order to move onto the next stage. I picked "Rivers and Roads," because the song is ultimately about accepting and embracing change, even if it hurts a bit. Going back to our archetypes, we'll begin with my old standby, The Hero's Journey, with some tarot knowledge thrown in. Remember, the Hero is always thrown into his journey unsuspecting and - sometimes - unwilling to go forward. Until something gives him just a little push (because everybody needs that little push). He begins as the Fool, starting with a leap of faith into a new beginning. I won't go through all the Major Arcana, but the Hero goes through a few stages that can roughly be translated into the symbolism found in the tarot. He has to confront his own rigid ideas or make a choice to commit to something (The Hierophant); he will have to make choices - and the right choice will always be to follow what his heart (or intuition) is telling him; and eventually, he'll reach a point where he just has to stop and reassess (The Hermit). The Death card is right in the middle of Major Arcana, immediately preceded by The Hanged Man. The Hanged Man symbolizes a need to see something from a different point of view and often, this is what spurs the rebirth of the Hero. It is all leading up to the first major conflict, which always seems like a defeat (The Tower). But usually, that's just a "come to Jesus" moment, which is why The Star follows - trusting in Faith, Hope, and your own inner guidance. This is what will fortify him for the final battle and his ultimate triumph (Judgement). And finally, he can return home and rest until his next adventure begins (The World).

Nothing is as it has been

And I miss your face like Hell

And I guess it's just as well

But I miss your face like Hell

For today, let's talk about how we embrace change. It has a lot to do about how we handle past disappointments and regrets. Do we dwell on them? Do we consciously incorporate the lessons we learn as we go forward? Or do we let them color how we approach life?

• Think about your biggest regret. Why do is it a regret? Is it something you didn't do that you wanted to? Was it a mistake you wish you could take back? Whatever it is, only think about it for a moment....and then forgive yourself. Something that came to me while watching "Avenger's Endgame" was that we can't truly correct mistakes. Sometimes, we can try to put things back the way they were. But they still happened and thus, everything is changed anyway. Dwelling on the past won't un-do it. It just keeps us from enjoying the present.
• How do you approach your day? Negatively? Positively? Neutral? As an experiment, set an intention for a couple of days that you're going to enjoy your day, regardless of what happens. Record how you feel after the experiment is over. Our expectations color how we experience our life - so if you think it's going to be the same shit everyday, that's how it will be.
• Are you actively cultivating change within your own life? Such as trying new things, meeting new people, getting out of your comfort zone for a moment or two. Growth happens during the uncomfortable times - when life just keeps throwing you curve balls. If things have gotten a bit mundane, maybe it's time to force a small change, just to get the ball rolling.

While writing this, I've been contemplating the meaning of this song. It's about how time and distance doesn't always dull the pain associated with losing touch with the people we love in our lives. Some wounds just don't heal. You just get used to living with the dull ache. An example would be like our childhood friends whom we were once so close to have become strangers as life has taken us down different paths. I'm one of those people who wonders how people are doing, even if we haven't talked for years. Even decades. Growing up a military brat, goodbyes were something I feel like I got way too good at. I feel envious of people who can say they're still close with their childhood best friend. I've had many "best friends" over the years, but none of them were permanent, none of them were forever. Forever isn't a real thing, though. Permanence is an illusion, I've learned, so I've grown to accept that things change, relationships change, in spite of what we want. But I still think of them all fondly and hope their lives are going well.

“When we least expect it, life sets us a challenge to test our courage and willingness to change; at such a moment, there is no point in pretending that nothing has happened or in saying that we are not yet ready. The challenge will not wait. Life does not look back. A week is more than enough time for us to decide whether or not to accept our destiny.” - Paulo Coelho

"Rivers and Roads" Video