No Guts, No Glory - Grow up Aries

Aries 2009

Photo of Johnny Depp from the Daily Mail

Swashbuckling pirates

Pirates seem to have been the order of the day in this last Aries period, which comes to an end as I write. We have had several traditional swashbuckling ones, unfortunately not as endearing as Johnny Depp, wreaking all kinds of havoc off the coast of Somalia. Pirate here being defined as one who robs or plunders on the high seas. Why the seas are always high is a mystery. Although the ‘Convention on the High Seas’ (Geneva 1958) definition is as follows. ‘The term “high seas” means all parts of the sea that are not included in the territorial sea or in the internal waters of a State.’

We have also seen many who could be labelled as such in the financial world, plundering what doesn’t belong to them in a cavalier fashion. The term pirate has also come to mean ‘One who infringes the law of copyright, or publishes the work of an author without permission.’ In this regard it was interesting to see the Swedish owners of an internet site that assists in free downloads of music being sent to jail for their activities. Whatever your opinion on this, it is great that this type of approach is being challenged. When asked why they made this site, one of the founders said “Because we can!” This might bring new meaning to the Obama message.

This type of behaviour is very Mars-Aries. It challenges, it is selfish, it is daring although perhaps a little childish and it is definitely narcissistic. In mythology, Mars was never without Venus. To me this means that Mars-like activities are great but Venus behaviour, where we take account of others, needs to balance it.

Aries is about defending our territory. Mars was a great and brave warrior. The Aries-Mars holon (group of things that belong together) includes, assertiveness, sticking up for what we believe is right, and anger. What happens too often with anger, is that we ‘spit the dummy’, ‘throw the toys out of the pram’ or stamp our feet when we don’t get what we want. It is not for nothing that these expressions relate to baby behaviour. We get angry at home and shout at the TV, (an activity I must say I enjoy hugely!), but this doesn’t move us on or get us what we want.

Grow up Aries!
The time has come for us to manifest a grown-up version of Aries. We have actually seen this too this month, in the form of a modern-day hero, Captain Richard Phillips of the Maersk Alabama. He was taken hostage by pirates. A grown-up Aries figure who showed daring, bravery, guts and a way of defending that we can all aspire to. Some might think him a little mad, but he kept his crew safe and we we do love a daring-do hero. Think Robin Hood and all the warriors who rescued damsels in distress in the legends. Where are they now when we need to be protected from all kinds of pirates?

Photo of Richard Phillips from BBC site

I think it’s wonderful news that we are being shown how to defend what is ours. We can learn from role models like Capt. Phillips and the judges in Sweden. Why should what we have worked for and created, be plundered by others? We all have Mars and Aries somewhere in us. The trick is first to define our borders and what we believe in. We then need to stand and deliver! Let’s welcome back a grown up Aries, not the ones who take what they want or become football hooligans just to get their egotistical kicks. But ones that are brave, ballsy, protective and perhaps a little crazy.

Faye Blake-Cossar

Interesting website of the month

This is a really inspiring video of Susan Boyle – if you haven’t already seen or heard her you have missed something. She was born on April 1, 1961 at 9:50 am BST in Blackburn ,Scotland, making her the perfect choice here. As an Aries she shows guts in the face of our usual and dare I say, judgemental, norms. This is the sort of guts that our leaders need. To stand and deliver on areas where they excel.