A few months ago, I was lamenting to my BrisVegas comrade, Tamara Lazaroff,
about the lack of esoteric zines produced by DIY defenders; a whine-fest that resulted
in the formation of the panel Spiritual Conversations with Punks at the Zine
and Independent ComicsSymposium (ZICS) in August. Tamara’s involvement in establishing
this panel included the arduous task of finding zinesters whose work is spiritually
or esoterically themed. Not an easy feat considering that the zeitgeist
dictates topics of a fluffy nature. So, it was a delight to acquire Goat Boy (as
part of a trade with its creator, Animalbro) and to discover that it’s a zine dedicated
to the Greek god, Pan.
For the uninitiated, Pan, in Greek and Roman mythology, is the god of
nature, shepherds, hunting, and rustic music. He is linked to the Spring
Equinox and fertility, and is an archetype of male virility and rugged
sexuality. His physical attributes – legs and horns of a goat – classify him as
a faun or a satyr in art and literature and allot him the astrological sign of
Capricorn. The Christianisation of Greek and Roman mythology marred Pan as the
personification of Satan or Evil; an association highly popular in Victorian
and Edwardian Neopaganism. Hence, his connection with the Devil card in the
Major Arcana of traditional Tarot decks such as Rider-Waite-Smith.
Goat Boy is an old school zine. A straightforward, sixteen-page, black and
white job, it doesn’t depend on glossy or pretentious production techniques to
impress the reader because it contains a unique selling point: substance. The
zine is a measured balance of text and images. It’s well written and loaded
with narratives from various cultures, subcultures, and civilizations. The illustration
selection displays the many interpretations of Pan by artists such as Sydney
Long, Mikhail Vrubel, and Animalbro herself. Included are diagrams of the physical
components that configure Pan, such as horns, hair, human and goat DNA, and the
interconnectedness of these parts to the natural cycles and to the Divine.
The most surprising thing for me, though, was to discover that the American
comedian, BillHicks, propagated (if that is the correct word) the concept of
‘Goat Boy’. His posthumous book, Love All the People: Letters, Lyrics and
Routines of Bill Hicks (2004), contains evidence of this. The hero of the zine’s
title is Bill Hicks’ version of Pan: a randy but good-natured goat through which
Hicks celebrates his own irrepressible libido.
It’s refreshing to encounter a zine like Goat Boy amid the plethora of great nothingness that dominates modern zine culture. I hope Animalbro continues to create work of this caliber, and that it reaches a wide audience. She deserves the accolades. You can purchase Goat Boy and other works by Animalbro at animalbro.etsy.com and girlnearsighted.blogspot.com.
‘He
was a man. Take him for all in all, I will not look upon his like again’ – Shakespeare
(Hamlet) ‘Dying
will happen sometime. As you know, I plan for the ages, not just for this life’ –
Gough Whitlam, 11 July 1916 to 21 October 2014 The passing of Edward Gough Whitlam, on 21 October 2014 at
the age of ninety-eight, has divided the nation into Gough enthusiasts
and detractors while generating a tumult of emotions from both camps - an
almost spooky re-enactment of the 1975 Dismissal. Whatever the triumphs or
shortfalls of his government were, it’s difficult to dispute Whitlam’s role in
our country’s development. Labor politician, Tanya Plibersek, stated that it
was fitting that Whitlam was Australia’s twenty-first prime minister because it
marked our nation’s coming of age. Under Whitlam, Australia changed the way it saw
itself, helping to create an open, inclusive, and compassionate society.
In its three short years (1972 to 1975), the Labor government
under Whitlam activated, with lightning speed, the policies that engineered
social change, dragging Australia into the modern era. For those who remember a
pre-Whitlam Australia will recall a dreary and insular period of the White
Australia policy, protectionism, and social conservatism; a sleepy, cultural
backwater wangled by the Menzies government in the 1950s. Australia bypassed
the 1960s altogether. While hippies experienced free love and wore flowers
in their hair in San Francisco and other parts of the world, Australia was comfortably
slumbering in a social and cultural coma.
To give a clearer picture, 1960s
Australia went something like this:
left wing political movements were under routine surveillance
James Joyce’s novel, Ulysses, was banned, as was Lolita by Vladimir Nabokov
there was no film industry to speak of
the music scene was a joke
talented Australians such as Germaine Greer, Clive James, BarryHumphries, Brett Whitley, and The Easybeats left the country to gain recognition elsewhere
the contraceptive pill was only available to married women
abortion was illegal
single mothers, homosexuals, and lesbians were ostracised from mainstream society
women and children abused in toxic nuclear families were invisible and lived lives of quiet desperation
women in general were treated as second class citizens and were denied the social and financial opportunities gifted to men
indigenous and new Australians (Italians, Greeks, and Lebanese) were low on the social and political rung (Aboriginal land rights were not recognised and indigenous people did not have the vote)
Need I go on?
By the early 1970s, social change was germinating. The Labor party's 1972 campaign’s catchphrase, It’s Time, adds up to 32/5, which signals a shift in consciousness. Whitlam wasextolled as an Agent of Change (Uranus bi-quintile the Ascendant/Uranus quintile Jupiter on the Midheaven/Moon semi-square Pluto). A psychically loaded birthdate – 11 July – expresses Messiah-like qualities. Such was his persona that he was applauded for introducing reforms that were already in place (such as
no-fault divorce and the removal of troops from Vietnam). A mythological figure with a penchant for cherishing ideals that
weren’t always practical, Whitlam reached for a higher ground (first house
Neptune square Jupiter on the Midheaven). An influential 26/8 life path denotes
a visionary leader of Roman God proportions with the ability to direct the
Australian Labor Party out of the wilderness of twenty-three years of
conservative rule.
A Stellium of planets in Cancer (Sun, Mercury, Venus,
Saturn, and Pluto) indicates a strong humanitarian streak. Whitlam was genuinely
interested in and concerned about people. He cared deeply and intensely about
his country, and had the ability to regenerate it (Scorpio Moon as chart ruler
in the fourth house). A fourth house Scorpio Moon can dramatically end
certain life phases, as illustrated by the dismissal of Whitlam’s
government on 11 November 1975 (transiting Sun eclipsed his natal Moon). Altruism
is expressed via the Jupiter conjunct Midheaven quintile Uranus aspect:
‘In
spite of repeated disappointments, he never lost that faith in humanity. This,
above all, made him such an attractive human being’ –
Mungo MacCallum, political journalist
The Whitlam family’s own experience of living in the post
war electorate of Werriwa highlighted the disadvantages
in education, health, housing and infrastructure that were prevalent in Sydney’s western suburbs. Whitlam tried to correct the
deficiencies that Australians in the new suburbs such as his were facing (even up
to the 1970s, Sydney’s outer areas such as Blacktown and Penrith lacked sewerage
systems, for example). For Whitlam, government was an instrument to improve life for all
Australians. He took public service seriously (Sun conjunct Saturn sextile Jupiter
on Midheaven).
As a politician, Whitlam was incorruptible (Jupiter conjunct Midheaven). He shaped public opinion and didn’t pander to focus groups or big business (Jupiter conjunct Midheaven quintile Uranus square Moon semi-square Pluto/Moon quintile North Node). Whitlam possessed an independent mind and a unique way of looking at the world. Quick witted and good with words, he had a wide variety of interests and an impressive body of general knowledge (Mercury sextile Jupiter/Mercury conjunct Pluto), qualities severely lacking in our current batch of political leaders. He also believed that education was the key to equal opportunity. A highly physical Taurus in Jupiter sits on the Midheaven. Liberal frontbencher, Malcolm Turnbull, states that what people remember most about Whitlam is ‘a bigness, a generosity, an enormous optimism’. Indeed, at 194 centremetres tall, he was an inescapable human tower of power and fortitude. Smugness is often associated with this aspect. Modesty was never Gough Whitlam’s strong point:
‘He was someone who, whether in a small room … or at a public event, everyone else seemed to fade to black and white, while this giant of a man – physically, intellectually – appeared in full colour and dominated wherever he was’ – Anthony Albanese, Labor politician.
To list and elaborate on the changes brought about by the
Whitlam government would require a sizeable amount of blog space. I don’t need
to regurgitate what is already (better) articulated across the internet and in
modern history books. But I do want to mention Whitlam’s commitment to culture
(Stellium in Cancer/Venus conjunct Pluto/Venus
sextile Jupiter-Midheaven), because it’s one of those formative things that shaped me as a young person, especially the birth of one of his more exciting ventures, that of
a youth radio station in 1975 - Double J (now Triple J). Idealistic young Australians in the late 1970s and 1980s
enjoyed the opportunity to form bands and develop their craft free from
exorbitant financial constraints. Punk rock, with its anti-establishment
philosophy, gained momentum in the mid-1970s as both a musical genre and a
lifestyle choice. This newly found DIY culture influenced kids from the suburbs to
create some of Australia’s most innovative and experimental music. Double J was
instrumental in giving this underground scene a voice. In retrospect, it’s difficult to
believe that the following bands – some of them considered unlistenable – were
given air time:
~
Severed Heads ~ Tactics ~ Boys Next Door ~ The Birthday Party ~ Radio Birdman ~ The Scientists ~ The Saints
~ SPK ~ The Riptides ~ Machinations ~ Laughing Clowns ~ The Triffids ~ The Go
Betweens ~ David Virgin ~ Primitive Calculators ~ The Stems ~ Died Pretty ~
Sekret Sekret ~ Sardine ~ Do Re Mi ~ X ~ The Eastern Dark ~ Wet Taxis ~ The
Celibate Rifles ~ The Sunnyboys ~ Cosmic Pyschos ~ The Hard-Ons ~ The Plunderers
~ Pel Mel ~ Mark of Cain ~ La Femme ~ The Riptides ~ Makers of the Dead Travel
Fast ~ The Numbers ~ Toys Went Berserk ~ The Moodists ~ Box of Fish ~ Scared Cowboys ~ XL Capris ~ TISM ~ The Whitlams (of
course) …
Love or hate him, it’s almost impossible to feel
indifferent about Gough Whitlam. I’m not alone in my yearning for that era when
politics was open, positive, and about governing citizens instead of managing the
economy at the cost of civil liberties. The Whitlam government certainly had
its flaws, but it always pushed the boundaries of stifling conservatism. Before
fear and greed kicked in, vision was still considered an honourable quality in
a leader. Gough envisioned that Australia could be a progressive, exciting, and
benevolent society where equality of opportunity belonged to everyone. Oh, how
far we have fallen. In the name of Edward Gough Whitlam, we need to maintain
the rage.
‘Kate Bush is that old-fashioned
thing: an artist’ – Mark Radcliffe, BBC broadcaster
Kate Bush’s return
to the stage with her Before the Dawn
concerts in London feels like the second coming. Not surprising, considering that
her first and last performance was in 1979. Apart from brief spikes in
commercial success over three decades, Kate has avoided the entertainment
industry machine. She is an anathema in the music business because a) she is serious
about her craft, b) she loathes celebrity culture, and c) she plays by her rules.
You don’t get a lot of a), b) or c) in these market-driven times. I remember seeing
Kate’s celebrated video for Wuthering
Heights on the Saturday morning music show, Sounds, in 1979. I was mesmerised by its entirety: her impressive
vocal range; her gypsy-inspired outfit; those witchy, agile dance moves; Dave
Gilmour’s whiny guitar riff … like many people of my generation, Kate Bush
never really faded from my consciousness; a testament to her multi-faceted capacity
to create exceptional music.
It isn’t surprising
that due to an overwhelming response to her long-awaited comeback, Kate Bush
has been nominated for two Q Awards: Best
Act in the World Today and Best LiveAct. She became the first female artist to have eight albums in the UK
charts at the same time. Her songs have been covered by a diverse range of musicians,
from Futureheads and Placebo to Coldplay and Tina Arena. It’s as if the world is
celebrating her universal appeal under the Leo Jupiter cycle. Deservedly so.
20,000
Days on Earth is a fictitious account of the 20,000th day of the
life of Australian musician-songwriter-author-screenwriter-composer-actor-national
treasure, Nick Cave. Filmed during the recording of his 2013 album Push the Sky
Away, this documentary blurs the line between fantasy and realism; gently
mocking the modern anathemas of reality television and social media, and our
insecurities of having to document every sordid detail of our dreary lives for
the approbation of others.
On
the surface, it appears that 20,000 Days evolved organically: casual encounters
with ghosts from Cave’s past; spontaneous dialogue with Bad Seed member, Warren
Ellis; a stilted session with a Freudian psychoanalyst; and nostalgia for a
particular moment in time while rummaging through archival material. The film
is, in fact, a carefully structured collection of staged scenarios in which
Cave and his contemporaries improvise within the boundaries of a storyboard.
What
I surmised from this stylish documentary is that Cave is a stable and secure
individual in synch with the creative process. At age fifty-six, he should be. Cave
is portrayed as a self-assured and slightly pompous figure, but we can forgive him
for that. After all, he is Nick Cave. He describes Boys Next Door and Birthday
Party members, Rowland S Howard and Tracey Pew (who have passed away), as ‘being
born already formed’; a fitting juxtaposition for himself who hints at only
having just arrived. Cave has grown into his Sun in Virgo and it shows
throughout the film.
Through
the viewfinder that is 20,000 Days on Earth, I see the man with a Stellium of
planets in Virgo (Sun, Moon, Mercury, Mars, and Pluto). There is concentrated
power within a Stellium. It provides the individual with focused energy,
perhaps even with tunnel vision. Indeed, 20,000 Days omits the big picture. It
concerns itself with routine, and the lens captures Cave’s fondness for the
nitty-gritty of writing ingeniously. He is the office worker in a respectable suit,
stabbing keys on a manual typewriter like a Luddite. Words are scratched in
blue ink and highlighted with fluro marker pens in bulging notebooks containing
typed notes cut and pasted in the old school way. Cave’s cosmic DNA confirms
that he values the practical details of work, a point not entirely missed by
the filmmakers.
For
me, the highpoint was Cave’s stopover at Warren Ellis’ home in France, where
they share a meal of eels and black tea. It is through Ellis’ amusing anecdote
of singer Nina Simone (and her addiction to champagne, cocaine, and sausages)
that I grasp how meaningful and fertile their relationship is.
You
have to marvel at Nick Cave. He has successfully covered ground in various art forms,
yet remains a marginal and mythical figure in the music industry. 20,000 Days on Earth
dispels some of the myth by showing a grounded side to the man many revere
as a Goth God or whatever. With tight Moon-Pluto and Venus-Neptune aspects in
his birth chart, we need to keep believing in the mythology ofNick Cave (a
point that he touches on during the driving scene with the actor, Ray
Winstone).
I was invited by the lovely zinester, Tamara Lazaroff (Prisoner of Macedonia fame), to be part of this panel titled Spiritual Conversations with Punks at the Zine and Independent Comics Symposium (ZICS), Brisbane in August 2014. I almost chickened-out due to nerves, but was glad to finally go through with it, as it was an irrational fear that I needed to conquer sooner rather than later. The panel consisted of Bianca Valentino, creator of the zine Spiritual Conversations withPunx, Andy Paine who has a radio show on Brisbane's 4ZZZ (and who creates a truckload of spiritual DIY material), and the wandering seer of Brisbane, Sarah Muller, who writes and publishes the most eloquent poetry you'll ever read. I'm flattered that Tamara thought I was punk enough to be on this panel. The discussion covered the often overlooked topic of spiritual content in zine making. The talk was well-received by a supportive and interested audience. That hackneyed phrase is true: feel the fear and do it anyway.
Due to disappointment and lack of support, I have ceased dealing with all Australian zine distribution centres. I wish them well on the rocky road to zine-hipster Hell.
On a lighter note, issues nine and ten of Astrobabble are available at Repressed Records in Newtown, Sydney. Repressed and Red Eye Records are now the only two stores on the planet stocking my zine. Sure, I've shrunk my readership base to less than zero, but it is easier for me to manage zine distribution entirely in my home city while I work on getting a life. Repressed Records is located at 413 King Street Newtown and is staffed by the irrepressible Nic Warnock, who I hear is a bit of a legend in the Sydney music scene. Oh, those young people and their rock 'n' roll ...
Aries The
much talked-about (by me) Cardinal Grand Cross peaks on 23 April. Your quest to
take on and complete various projects fails, thanks to being pulled in four
directions (and not in a sexual way, I might add). This transit teaches you
that multi-tasking is severely over-rated. Do the unthinkable: choose one task
and complete it. What?! The period between
5 April and 3 May is one of your most spiritual. Escape the daily grind by grinding
fair trade coffee beans in the Byron Bay Hinterland while loosely draped in
cheesecloth. Mercury enters Aries on 7 April, awkwardly coinciding with the
Section 18C amendment. Say no more. Aries superfoods: onions,
tomatoes, chilli Taurus Mercury
enters your sign on 23 April followed by the New Moon in Taurus on 28 April.
These cycles set the scene for slow and steady movement. Savour the moments and
be grateful for them. Revitalise a stagnant undertaking, like that failed
two-minute noodle perm, under the Mercury-Jupiter-Pluto connection, and watch
it spring to life. Expect unexpected down time around 2 April, as Uranus
activates your house of retreat and lowers your blood pressure in one fell
swoop. Taurus superfoods: beans,
peas, carrots
Gemini
Venus’
affirmative energy helps you shift old zine stock and provides inspiration to
create fresh DIY masterworks. You’ll be in a gregarious mood until 23 April.
Your social experiences get (even more) twisted and unpredictable between 2 and
14 April, crashing Instagram with your snapshots of alternative uses for dental
floss. Eeeek! You’ll have time to reflect on your dickhead actions at the end
of the month when you’re ostracized by the Gods to the house of prisons,
hospitals, and mental asylums out of embarrassment. Gemini superfoods: asparagus,
sprouts, mushrooms
Cancer
The
Sun, Mercury, and Venus highlight work issues on 2 April. Your slippery boss may
have wet dreams of replacing you and the rest of the staff with androids while
he organises his trip to Tahiti, but fortunately, Venus steps in to steer you
in the direction of teaching, writing, and some healthy zine-making activity.
Yay! The New Moon in your social sector on 28 April gives you the green light
to expand your network by moving in creative circles. Cancer superfoods: fish,
lettuce, parsley
Leo
Uranus
generates restlessness from 2 April, urging you to stowaway on a ferryboat to
see where it takes you: terminus #8 at Circular Quay, I presume. Experiment
with unconventional philosophies such as Compatibilism and Cannibalism, but
watch your cholesterol level. The Sun, Mercury, and Venus combine in your professional
zone to help you make your mark with that inevitable Leo stamp - lipstick.
Nobody can pucker a pout for success the way a Lion can. Leo superfoods: eggs,
raisins, lentils
Virgo
Your
most romantic period begins on 5 April. You’ll radiate desirability in an
office administrator kinda way. Comprises are negotiated and others are content
to meet you halfway in the open-plan office behind the stationery cupboard. You
get an extra dose of lovin’ on 12 April when Neptune joins in. Fine wine, scented
candles, and that tin of Catholic biscuits reserved for the executive
department help set the scene for a special rendezvous. Late April is an excellent
time to broaden your world by activating the right side of the brain with wanky-arty
pursuits. Virgo superfoods: beetroot,
figs, almonds
Libra
The Full Moon in your sign combined with the
Cardinal Grand Cross adds tension to a nagging issue. This is not the time to
sweep your dirty laundry under the carpet or to air the two birds in your bush.
In fact, this cycle asks that you avoid idioms altogether. They’re a dime among
the pigeons. The Moon and Mars fly the flag for peace, while Venus and Neptune provide
compassion. Ask what you can do to improve the planet without tapping a
tambourine with your hip. Look to fellow Librans - Ghandi and Simon Cowell - for
inspiration.
Libra superfoods: celery,
corn, spinach
Scorpio
Creativity
peaks for many Scorpions between 5 April and 3 May, thanks to the artistic
force that is Venus. You’ll be bursting with ideas for zine creation. Get
excited and share your passions with kindred spirits. This transit demands that
you quit your usual scheming and scamming and have some fun for a change. Oh, I
forgot; scheming and scamming is your idea of fun. Silly me! Scorpio superfoods: rhubarb,
kale, liver
Sagittarius
Between
17 and 24 April, values surrounding money and how it’s distributed amongst
family will weigh heavily on your mind like Gina Reinhart on a ski lift. The
days of frozen TV dinners stuck to the kitchen ceiling are over now that Venus
is adding her personal touch to your seedy share house. Expect an interesting
twist to your love life between 2 and 14 April when you’re greeted by your
concubine with a Chinese burn. Despite the discomfort, you go about your
business with the zest of an orange. Avoid spray tans. Sagittarius superfoods: red
cabbage, parsnips, oats
Capricorn
There
is change on the domestic front for the Goat between 2 and 14 April. You are
drawn to the Vortex hot spots of Sedona, Montserrat, and Rooty Hill RSL. The
New Moon on 28 April sparks a creative surge. Traditional art techniques are
resurrected as you ditch the Modbook Pro for a Goat Hair Mop 3/4. Relationships
will have an exaggerated but transformative quality between 17 and 24 April, thanks
to the Pluto-Jupiter tango and some seriously sexy Bomba rhythms.
Capricorn superfoods: cheese,
prunes, rye
Aquarius
‘Abundance’
is the keyword under the Venus transit between 5 April and 3 May. The hot action
money date is 12 April when you hit the local TAB and blow two weeks’ pay.
You’ll want to lounge around your abode more than usual under the New Moon of
28 April. Get you living space sorted by weeding, cleaning, and purifying it. You
may not believe it, but undertaking housework is an act of magic. Ask any witch. Aquarius superfoods: barley,
apples, figs
Pisces
You’ll
be at home in your watery element when Venus and Neptune occupy Pisces from 5
April. Immerse yourself in the ocean and reconnect with your cosmic
environment. April is the month for self-care, so be gentle with yourself. Financial
matters are emphasised on 15 April. Cluey detective work unearths hidden
capital lodged inside your Converse Chuck Taylors. I love it when the Universe
solves those perplexing money mysteries.
April 2014 heralds a rare astrological event. The ongoing square between Uranus in Aries and Pluto in Capricorn peaks when Jupiter in Cancer and Mars in Libra participate to form a Cardinal Grand Cross. These
planets create a stressed, crucifix pattern: two pairs oppose each other and two
pairs square each other. This challenging configuration indicates a demand to
confront and transform established social and political structures that are
corrupt and broken.
The Cardinal Grand Cross is shaped by these aspects and plays out in the following way:
Uranus square Pluto:radical social, economic and political upheaval, national debt crises,
sexism and gender issues, racism and ethnic cleansing, intolerance
Jupiter square Uranus: dangerous ideas, cult leaders, religious instability
Mars square Pluto: power struggles, military action, destruction, enemies
Mars opposite Uranus: impulsiveness, rebellion, ambushes, explosions
Mars square Jupiter: risk taking, tactless manoeuvres, rash actions, accidents and injuries
The T-Square of Jupiter, Uranus and Pluto lasts all of April, peaking on 23 April 2014. Any restlessness caused by Uranus will be exaggerated by Jupiter. Pluto will intensify this transit further, resulting in a crisis of sorts (observe
the political conflicts in Syria, Egypt, Iraq, Sudan, and the Ukraine, for
example).
Moreover, the climax of this Cardinal Grand Cross takes place between two eclipses: a Lunar
Eclipse on 14 April 2014 followed by a Solar Eclipse on 28 April 2014.
Traditionally, the Lunar Eclipse is a time to release old wounds and fears,
and transcend negative patterns that delay personal development. The Full Moon
in the Air sign of Libra is reflecting the light of the Sun in the Fire sign of
Aries. This Eclipse is about acknowledging others (Libra) and recognising that
they mirror our own actions, beliefs, and expectations (Aries). Gandhi’s quote,
‘be the change you wish to see in the
world’, applies now. It’s a call to Humanity to set aside our differences
and embrace our commonality to create the society we want to live in.
The
Solar Eclipse on 28 April 2014 is a time to reflect on how past
actions have influenced present circumstances. Both the Moon and Sun are in the
Earth sign of Taurus, bringing determination, focus, and an old school work
ethic to achieving goals. As we move into this New Moon, creating a ‘gratitude
list’ of the things that make us ‘wealthy’ (both material and spiritual) and how
we can share that wealth with others is worthwhile. Making this commitment to
share our wealth, however we define it, creates a practical vision for an ideal
world.
We are already witnessing a groundswell of change. The March in March
event which took place in major Australian cities around 16 March 2014 is one
example. Frustrated by the status quo, ordinary people showed their distrust
and disgust with current social, political and religious frameworks by taking
to the streets in peaceful protest. Despite bias reporting by mainstream
news agencies, it wasn’t a Big Day Out for the lunatic fringe but the coming together
of all people demanding ‘outings of truths’ within religious organisations,
global corporations, and political institutions.
It's crucial that a docile society such as Australia cultivates the art of galvanising radical change before we lose what freedoms we have left. Transformation doesn’t
happen overnight. The struggle for individual rights will endure possibly until
Pluto’s ingress into the constellation of Aquarius in 2023. In the interim, progress
is possible if we resolve old problems with new methods. Nowhere is this
message stronger than in the workings of the Cardinal Grand Cross.
Aries Your
ongoing experiment with self-discovery continues this year, thanks to Uranus,
the planet of sudden transformations. Explore unconventional practises like fermenting
your urine to the sounds of Einsturzende Neubauten in the name of performance
art. Jupiter activates Uranus in your sign twice in 2014 (between February and May,
and then September to October). The surprises will be colossal, they will be unpredictable,
and they will be electrifying. You never thought Clive Palmer and his dinosaurs
could be this much fun, did you? Aries strengths: dynamic,
brave, initiating Taurus The
action happens in the second half of 2014 with Saturn and Jupiter working
together rather cordially. Finally, long held plans for change come to
fruition. Jupiter brings progress to stagnant domestic situations, while relationship
lessons are best understood with the help of wise Saturn. Adopt a flexible
attitude when organising your daily routine. Ditch the Coolendar app and plan
your days around your feelings and The Ellen DeGeneres Show. Taurus strengths: diligent,
persevering, solid
Gemini
This
year’s themes are productivity and apprenticeship. Based on the movements of
Saturn and Jupiter, you’ll require sustained effort to get out of bed and put on
your pants. Focus on professional planning in the first half of the year by
consulting Mark Bouris on how to master a smug and superior attitude. Mercury parks
his butt in your sign for an extended stay, stimulating your mind with
stimulating peeps on stimulants. Jupiter’s influence clears any writer’s block
that may be holding you back, so 2014 should be a productive zine making year
for many Twins. Gemini strengths: multifaceted,
adaptable, sharp
Cancer
If
you’ve blown all your cash on Craps and Baccarat over the Christmas period, take
stock. This year, a fresh money cycle begins under Jupiter to save you from
financial ruin. Personal development is another hot topic. Ouch! Check-in with
yourself and see what areas need improving. Return those upper arms to the
tuck shop lady, and exchange pies and lattes for Pilates. Don’t wait for
external forces to bump you along; be bold and initiate change. David Bowie
once said ‘turn and face the strange’, which means he wants you to look at Noel
Fielding. Cancer strengths: intuitive,
imaginative, devoted
Leo
Jupiter
enters your sign in the second half of the year, jump starting a twelve-year
cycle of growth and adventure. You have renewed faith in humankind; Scorpios
and Virgos think you’re a sucker. 2014 could be the year when you get the hell
out of the country before Tony Mokbel catches up with you. Your days of living
inside a whiskey barrel will cease when Saturn provides domestic stability. You
move into a Kevin McCloud-approved bunker carved into the side of a grassy
knoll in Winchester. The second half of 2014 sees many Leos achieving success with
major projects. You will be at your most powerful, moving mountains and grassy
knolls with poise and ease. Leo strengths: benevolent,
loyal, robust
Virgo
2014
is like two years rolled into one for the efficient Virgo. The first half of
the year will be busy and outgoing. By July, external activities slacken and the
remainder of 2014 takes on a reflective tone. Mars activates productivity, so
you’ll achieve more than usual, despite the fluctuating external situation. This
isn’t the year to chill out in the kidney-shaped swimming pool while listening
to Daft Punk and sipping Pepsi. Take on the perzine challenge of our time,
which is to create a zine for every day of the year without going crazy. Neptune
eases the stiffness in your mind and heart, enabling you to take a soulful
approach to romance for a change. Marvin Gaye would be proud. Virgo strengths: refined,
self-effacing, secure
Libra
With
Mars and the Karmic North Node inhabiting your sign this year, life-changing
choices are possible if you are considering reinventing yourself like Jocelyn
Wildenstein. Rad! Major events throughout 2014 will have a touch of destiny about
them. If you experience de-ja-vu repeatedly, then you’ve been there before. The
Gods want you to re-visit lost passions and re-ignite them with bangers and
pinwheels. Mars triggers your sign for the first time in over thirty years. Assertive-compliance
issues will be on the agenda. Restore the balance between other people’s needs
and your own. Libra strengths: aesthetic,
charming, tactful
Scorpio
2014
will be a year of extremes. Fortunately, that’s the way you like it. Anything
else would be, well, in between. Mars activates the personal sphere of your solar
chart. Achieving mastery over you mind and subconscious actions is a predominant
theme. Your professional world expands in the second half of 2014. A job
change, promotion, pay rise, or exploring a second career are all possible
after July. Distance yourself from superficial relationships, no matter how
good they look in latex, and pour your efforts into fundamental concerns. Your
actions will determine future success. I guess they always do. Scorpio strengths: cryptic,
erotic, committed
Sagittarius
A
mid-year shift by Jupiter brings action, adventure, and that ring of confidence
often found in toothpaste commercials. Financial matters are a priority until
July. Sorting your pecuniary dramas ensures that you’ve got time and money to play
with later in the year. Your career zone will be one of your least active,
which is a blessing considering the flying trapeze routine you’ve been trying
to perfect since Christmas. Sagittarius strengths: sanguine,
animated, adventurous
Capricorn
Every
eight years, Venus extends her stay in your sign. This cycle gives you the
opportunity to take advantage of the Love Goddess and enhance the romance in
your life. Overhaul your appearance so that the outer reflects the inner you. Sorry,
but turtlenecks and wombat sleeves are definitely *out* under this transit. You’ll
spend ample time in the public domain thanks to Mars and the North Node, so you
don’t want to prance around like a Frank Thring wardrobe disaster. Capricorn strengths: dependable,
pragmatic, sagacious
Aquarius
Life
gets busy for the Water Bearer from July onwards. A new cycle in love and relationships
begins under Jupiter, while Mars and Saturn combine to help you power forward
professionally. Overall, 2014 is shaping up to be a sound year, and there isn’t
more I can add to that. Aquarius strengths: unique,
unconventional, gregarious
My recent trip to Melbourne for the Festival of the Photocopier
included a visit to Sticky, located in the Flinders Street tunnel under
Degraves Street. Visiting the shop in person, as opposed to online, is a far
more valuable way of keeping abreast of new titles and zine news. Unfortunately,
I have to travel all the way from Sydney to do it. It was worth it though, as
the amiable Fulsome Prism (who staffs the shop) introduced me to some choice zines,
one of which was Bastian Fox Phelan’s latest offering, Tarot Magic.
Naturally, I got excited about the existence of an esoteric zine
that wasn’t mine. I’m unaware of other DIY titles that cover arcane subjects,
so discovering Tarot Magic was a bit of a revelation. As the author expresses
in the opening page, ‘this zine is an unapologetic loveletter to the deck of
cards that helped me become my own best partner’. Tarot Magic is a tarot reading
in itself, and documents Bastian’s adventures with a pack of cards designed and
printed by The Collective Tarot, a creative/esoteric co-op based in Portland,
Oregon.
The Collective Tarot uses images loosely based on the
Rider-Waite-Smith deck. Interestingly, it contains the Suit of Bones, which I
feel represents the Earth element and our questions concerning structure, support,
and finding ground in a wobbly world.
Tarot is Bastian’s preferred method of engaging in healthy
dialogue with herself. It’s a self-care ritual where she can safely process negative
emotions and experience the ‘thing’ that has many guises – magic/intuition/instinct/gut
feeling/insight/sensitivity/sixth sense/divine guidance/Universal consciousness
… call it what you will. Unfortunately, there isn’t much room for magic in
Western culture. Many health care workers treat magical thinking as a character
defect that needs correcting, yet magic can provide answers to questions that
remain unresolved despite mainstream approaches to problem solving.
Tarot, like astrology and other divinatory tools, is a
creative way to check-in with yourself and re-connect with suppressed feelings.
It’s an opportunity to pause and ask: ‘What am I feeling right now? Why am I feeling this?’ It’s refreshing to see another esoteric zine bobbing around
the sea of perzines and artist books that defines twenty-first century DIY culture. I don’t feel like the maverick so much. It requires a certain amount
of bravery to produce a zine like this, so I commend Bastian for taking it on. Tarot
Magic is an enchanting read, and the fact that one of our finest zine makers has
created it is reason enough to go there.
