Soul-Sick Nation: An Astrologer's view of America, by Jessica Murray
220 pp. pb. Authorhouse, Bloomington, Indiana
The first thing I have to say about Jessica Murray's new book is that
she's absolutely correct! Well, at least we are of the same opinion as
she expresses it in this very polemic astrological analysis of America
through the Sibley chart - and depending on your own opinion that may be
a blessing or a curse.
Blessing or curse, this book is challenging in that it is such a mix of
political stance and geo-political astrology that it breaks very much
from the mold in both categories. It's a bit of a hybrid without any
real precedent. For all that, it is a rich example of how to read a
national chart, and makes a peerless text in geo-political astrology.
It also shows the dangers of putting so much of one's opinions into
analysis that any claims of objectivity would be laughable. Of course,
that's more of a problem in America where the myth of "journalistic
objectivity" - an expression of our Mercury-Pluto opposition - denies
the color of opinions, no matter how self-evident they are. In European
papers, the editorial slant is more overt and people expect to read
between the lines, picking through the filters everyone admits to being
there. In any event, if conversations at astrology conventions are a
fair assessment, even most American astrologers will agree with Murray
that our state is in many ways soul-sick and sinking deeply into a
quasi-fascistic, plutocratic oligarchy where consumerism; manufactured,
false "pop-culture;" and deliberate ignorance block solutions to our
deteriorating environment, economy, and diplomatic standing.
The problems with the book are not in its substance, but they are many.
Basically, this book is in strong need of good editing. It reads like
a series of lectures and the style is not so much academic or
conversational as it is preaching-to-the-choir polemic which makes for
challenging prose. Also it sometimes reads as if it is addressed to
neophyte astrologers, and sometimes to experts. This is good in a
workshop where you are personally addressing people of different skill
levels, but as a writing style it feels very uneven. There are any
number of quibbles like her description of a planetary station as an
"anomaly" and her misspelling of "Negroponte."
If Murray is trying to convince anyone of any political points she's
making here, the real drawback is that many people (and I think most
astrologers) will readily agree with her positions and some will just
reject them out of hand. This book is so very clearly on one side of
our "blue-red" divide that I doubt it could persuade anyone to think any
differently in terms of politics. In a round about way that may be one
of its strengths.
By being so out and obvious in her point of view she offers a marvelous
example of how astrology can feed a good argument. We face profound
political problems that require political solutions. Can political
astrologers remain politically neutral? Should they even try? If any
right-wing astrologers want to respond to Murray, let them try.
However, I suspect that like actors, professors of literature, and
others whose work is to study and interpret the human condition in the
context of broader issues; and like social workers and nurses whose work
is to help people compassionately through their challenges, astrologers
are, like human hearts, almost always on the left. I knew Republican
astrologers in the 1970's and 80's. Today at conventions and
conferences I can't find a one. This is not because astrologers have
drifted left, but because our nation has drifted so perilously to the
right.
Jessica Murray has her website at http://mothersky.com/
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