COMMUNITY-MINDED SOLUTIONS

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As part and extension of our #DignityBabes conversations, one of my final reflections are about the gifts community collaboration can bring to your astrology studies and practice. This is also in honour of Mercury's return to its sign of exile and fall, Pisces. Now more than ever, we're thinking more about our oneness and our humanity. Especially in light of the current global COVID-19 pandemic. How I'm thinking about astrology now compared to 4 weeks ago when we started this campaign, has tremendously grown. Thanks in part to my co-conspirators for being amazing critical-thought leaders: 

@astrologywithcello@ddamascenaa@etshipley@justjogleason@kelseyrosetort.

Thank you for helping me think outside the box. For stretching my imagination. For helping me centre humanity & divinity in my thought processes. I am in awe and complete adoration of all of you. To the rest of our community who participated and joined, however big or small, public or private, we thank you from the bottom of our hearts. Conversations are always the right place to start. 

In light of the current state of the world, I'd like to offer my thoughts on collective-minded efforts. With the Moon in sombre Capricorn today, the sign of its exile btw, about to apply to Mars where it's exalted in Capricorn, I'm feeling the weight of our collective responsibility.

WAYS TO BE COMMUNITY-MINDED

Leverage your privilege, friends. I find it so fascinating as Saturn travels in its last degree in Capricorn, in the bounds of Mars, that 'social distancing' is an offered solution. In essence, it's a Saturn in Aquarius mood. Aquarius probably came up with social distancing as a way to see the big picture of anything it interrogates. If you're able to distance yourself socially, please do so. Now more than ever, we need to think of the herd. If you're not immune-compromised, you are more likely to recover from an infection. The idea is to prevent you from spreading it to someone who might not have as a robust immune system as you. And to not burden health care systems further. Think beyond yourself. Avoid mass gatherings. Keep your physical distance in public - 6ft is the recommended length. Stay tuned to your local public health notifications and recommendations. These measures are in place to think of the greater public. It may not always sound progressive or radical. Still, during a time of crisis, I think it's the responsible thing to do to follow their guidance. I found this article really helpful:  The Dos and Don'ts of 'Social Distancing.' And I also wrote a quick thread on the different types of infection transmission - read it here.

Do not hoard supplies if you are well enough to go out and get supplies every 2 weeks or so. And remember, as per my first point, keep your 6ft distance from each other when you do go out. Mass panic is real. It’s hard to meet mass hysteria with grace and gentleness. The whole point of social-distancing is to not gather with groups of people if you can avoid it. Also, people who most likely cannot go out, stand in line, carry heavy things, will probably run out of essential supplies. It's simple, really, don't be a selfish jerk. Survival of the fittest is not the way to get through this together. At least, let's not emulate these capitalist models. We are stronger together.

Social isolation is a real cost and impact of the current pandemic. There is something valuable to say about having lived experiences of separation, loneliness and isolation (hello 12th house much). Like queer, trans, poor, & chronically ill people have had to establish their own norms to live day by day. Marginality, in this case, is a strength to behold and centre. In a way, the trauma of exclusion can be recognized as specific skills-set. The potential side-effect of social marginality is that it equips someone to push through and survive despite the escalation of a global crisis. A crisis that requires further social distance and results in illness & mass deaths. Refugees & victims of war crimes know this very well. In short, you are more resilient than you know. Nurture this strength of yours and believe it. Make sure you take rest in between.

Organize and participate if you can. I think it's wise to learn and plan for the worst-case scenario and to get in touch with local groups in your community. Don't limit your reach to just your friends and family. Perhaps we should all be thinking macro-levels and plan for and with the members of our community who are isolated with no support. I believe that an effective way to counter the escalation of panic is through community participation. And to be clear, it seems a hard balance to appease public fears & also provide enough information to grasp the severity of our shared situations. Especially during the age of the internet. Perhaps there are things you can concretely offer to those around you. What kinds of support are needed locally? Maybe organizing with others will arm u against isolation. 

Listen & learn from disability justice, migrants and Indigenous peoples' rights defenders. Personally, I learn a lot from these amazing folks and movements about Justice and Human Rights. Here is an example resource: Pod Mapping for Mutual Aid by Rebel Sidney Black. "Originally developed by Mia Mingus for the Bay Area Transformative Justice Collective, pod mapping is a tool specifically for accountability and dealing with harm in communities. However, it can also be adapted to help you assess who you can rely on in a pinch—who you'd turn to for support and who would turn to you. These groups may or may not overlap. You may also have different pods for different situations." 

To end, I recommend adrienne maree brown's book Emergent Strategy, 2017. She defines Emergent Strategy as:

"• was, initially, a way of describing the adaptive and relational leadership model found in the work of Black science fiction writer Octavia Butler (and others).

• then it grew into plans of action, personal practices and collective organizing tools that account for constant change and rely on the strength of relationship for adaptation. With a crush on biomimicry and permaculture." pg. 23

The core principles, as written on pg. 41, of Emergent Strategy, that adrienne maree brown proposes are:

"• Small is good, small is all. (The large is a reflection of the small). 

• Change is constant. (Be like water).

• There is always enough time for the right work.

• There is a conversation in the room that only these people at this moment can have. Find it.

• Never a failure, always a lesson.

• Trust the People. (If you trust the people, they become trustworthy).   

• Move at the speed of trust. Focus on critical connections more than critical mass - build the resilience by building the relationships.

• Less prep, more presence. 

• What you pay attention to grows."

So, friends, I hope you find a sense of belonging amidst the isolation. Sending you strength and real-world possibilities in this time of disease, helplessness and struggle. May you keep well so you can help others.