All day long on Earth Day, I've heard offhanded comments that reeked with cynicism about "saving the Earth." I even heard these comments from people who claim an affinity with Mother Nature, which made me even more sad.

Cynicism isn't necessary here, even though it might seem that "saving the earth" is an uphill battle against massive megacorporations, corrupt politicians and skewed scientific research. What's necessary is a rethinking of our consumerism, because while we cannot control the actions of any of the above or anyone else, we can control our own actions.

Reduce, reuse, recycle... I'd like to add one more to that list. Repair. It clearly belongs there. I don't know how many things I repair, nearly daily. I fix up old computers and make them usable again - one less computer leaking mercury into a landfill, and one more computer that could be useful to someone, somewhere... if I don't have a use for it, I usually hand it over to a charity. I fix up an old run down house to make it beautiful again - that's one less lot full of trees that has to be bulldozed, one less ecosystem that has to be disrupted, one less pile of old bricks and wood that is going to waste unused. Greg fixed our popcorn popper the other day. One of the connections came loose, and a little solder and electrical tape and it was as good as new. One less piece of trash generated, one less demand for yet another plastic good that has to be shipped on a huge gas-guzzling barge from across the ocean, then transported on a huge gas-guzzling truck across the nation to my local department store.

Reduce. Do you really need that? I have been doing a lot of spring cleaning and I have been saying to myself repeatedly over this work, "We have a LOT of junk." The next time I think I need to go to the store to buy something, I'm going to see, first, if I don't have something already suitable right here at home.

Reuse. I recycle like a fiend - and not by just throwing things into a bin which I put out on the curb once a week. Those old wooden cabinet doors that I found in my shed are being refinished, and I'm going to be applying collages to them to create art. That old metal paint can became our metalworking foundry. The waste water in my fish tanks feed my aquaponics garden. Before I throw it away, I always ask myself, "Can I turn it into something that is more useful - something that might help me reduce my consumption?"

And, of course, recycle. That one's easy. And if you don't want your aluminum cans, I'll take all that you have off your hands. I'm turning them into pure aluminum which I'll be casting into useful things.

I have been doing a bit of thinking about the concept of planetary hours and planetary correspondences lately.  I do so love renovating my old Victorian house - it gives me lots of time to let my mind wander along such delightful fascinations.

I have come to appreciate the planets and the planetary hours in a sort of academia - a collegiate sort of way.  So, I drift back to my college days and I consider the gods of the planets as the faculty staff of Cosmos University. 

The Moon can be found most likely in her office/studio when she is not running a class on the fine arts or divination. From her, one can learn poetry, painting, and song, and how to delve into the depths of the soul in her studio by the riverside.

The Sun is out teaching in the noontime, running Yoga classes outside. rt When he's not doing that, he's got his regular classes in leadership and health, all in his open-air theatre office space.

Mars is usually found in the field, teaching the ROTC classes and the physical education classes. On his off-time, he's out coaching the sports teams.

Mercury has no office.  He's usually running about this way and that, and usually it's best to wait at the crossroads, where he'll be sure to pass soon.  But when he's not there, he's helping out at the college radio station, or teaching investigative journalism.

Venus is teaching the dance classes, the theatre arts classes, and the design arts classes, sharing her love of beauty and passion with the school. 

Jupiter is the head of the business department, of course.

And Old Saturn teaches the laws and the history, in the dark old expansive hall, where his voice echoes.

So this idea of the Universe as a University goes nicely in line with the oft-heard notion, "The Universe is your teacher.  The Universe is your University."

Now, as a student in this University, we are expected to work hard to better ourselves, to study our chosen major, but to always explore the other classes offered.  We are expected to do most of our work on our own, but with the guidance of the staff - the Planets.  We learn from all of them, and as we take the time to take their classes repeatedly, we graduate into their higher level courses, where there are fewer students and more attention from the professor.

As a student works more and more with a professor, they start to develop a rapport.  When it comes to an important and prestigious research opportunity, the professor is going to look to the students he knows and likes the best first.  And likewise, if you, as a student, need help with your own projects, then it would not be much of a stretch to drop that professor a line and ask for a bit of assistance.

Now, our professors do have other things to attend to and other things to do.  Venus has to make sure that beauty is appreciated in the world, and the Moon does have some Witches to visit tonight, this full moon.  The Sun has to be there when all the Yogis go out first thing in the morning for the Sun Salutation. 

So, the professors each have chosen a day when they will be on call at the University, teaching classes, helping out with the students.  They have designated a few specific time slots in which they will be available, in their office, ready to grant you an audience with their full undivided attention.  When you approach the professor on her office hours, you are going to get the best out of the professor.  Now, do call them anytime during the day, though, if you can't make it to the office hours.  The Moon will be available to help you all day Monday.  She'll also be in her office occasionally throughout the week - three times a day - though she might be slower to respond on those days.

In other words, if you are an artist who needs some inspiration with your latest work, then it is best to call on the Moon on Monday, during one of the planetary hours.  Calling on a planetary hour of another day will still get some results, but there may be delays.  Calling during the prof's off time might get results, but only if you already have a good established relationship with the professor.  To any other student, approaching out of the blue, they'll likely only get told to call back on the professor's office hours.

This Planetary Hours Calculator may prove to be helpful, if you choose to explore this concept further.

Clouds of heady incense fill the room, the curling smoke lapping against the flesh.  A low bassline rumbles through the floor as a woman's voice sings to the angels of love.  The breath fills the belly and the chest, deeply inhaling of the universal energy current which is there for all to swim in.  The sparkling air fills me, invigorates me, and ripples through the body, alighting the glistening skin.  A wailing violin courses through my veins, and the energy flows out my arms which create a mysterious sine wave, snaking through the incense.  The bass brings one hip to roll and another, arcing my hips into a hypnotic figure eight. 

Visions of ancient temples begin to overlay the tackily-posh living room and makeshift hookah lounge where I dance.  The last long rays of the daylight  duskily illuminate the sand, and I step out onto the portico around my temple, and give farewell for the day to the Mighty Sun, by offering Him a dance to kiss Him Goodnight.  My bare feet sink a little into the sand as I settle myself firmly upon Her, she who is Mother to all.  With each crescendo of the violin, my body rolls a wave of energy upwards in gratitude, love rising from my feet and bursting upward from my heart, the flow of the Eternal coursing through my veins.  My beautiful round hips languidly slide, and then burst into a flurry of shimmies.  Visions overlay upon myself as well - ancient priestess embodying the Goddess in prayerful dance, holy dance.  She who is Love, incarnate, enters my body, and my body moves according to Her wishes.  Through me, She kisses her lover in the sky.

The endorphins work their magic, my sweating body's heart rate racing them to every nerve in my body.  My flesh tingles, and feels so very alive, prickly and delicious with the passion of the dance.  The Goddess and I are one when I dance.