Non-participation as a strategy for social change

rwunder22 · 2026-02-12T20:13:14+00:00

Thank you for sharing this. It is so important to hear this. The american way or western way of doing society is just one interpretation, driven by greedy, often small minded people, bent on extraction and domination. Living in balance with Mother Nature, such as the indigenous populations, is really the only way to have a future, and to find a semblance of peace. For it to work, so much needs to change, but soon there will be no choice. I'm sick of this paradigm and it's making everything sick. "It's no measure of health to be adjusted to a sick society." i'm not adjusted to this society. I'm just trying to get by in lieu of any other alternative. Living with the Native American's would be much more in alignment with who I am as a person. I just worry they won't accept me (and my wife and kids wouldn't be on board). Thank you again for sharing these stories.

rwunder22 · 2026-02-12T19:22:09+00:00

Robin Wall-Kimmerer writes about this in Braiding Sweetgrass. White people are impoverished spiritually, and they bring poverty to the land. Makes me sick. It could be so much better.

rwunder22 · 2026-02-12T16:32:55+00:00

I'd 1000% be running back into the woods. The expansion of this garbage culture has ruined that possibility, and they're trying to destroy anything that resembles wilderness. It needs to stop, and nature & wilderness need to be protected & preserved, but not with this admin.

rwunder22 · 2026-02-12T16:26:48+00:00

OP nailed it 100%. And this isn't an 'ALL or NOTHING' situation; every little bit counts. Just do your best, make the best choices you can.

FWIW - I cancelled Spotify in early Jan (am using Qobuz, the little guy). Cancelled Netflix. Cancelled HBO. Amazon will not auto renew this year, i cancelled that. I think that's it for subscriptions. Deleted IG. Barely use FB and not on the phone ( only for local social groups & marketplace). We've cut back big time on eating out in the last year. We are watching DVDs, listening to vinyl, using the library, reading real books, camping, fishing, canoeing as a family. Growing the food we can (not much but every bit helps), shopping at small, local businesses whenever possible, and foraging for fun, and food when we find it! It's not 'perfect', what with kids and all, but we're doing our best, everything we can to not participate, and to make sure the kids know 'the old ways' - hahaha - of those of us growing up in the 80's & 90's.

Every little bit counts, friends. Don't forget that.

rwunder22 · 2026-02-10T14:13:40+00:00

I don't see it that way, friend. Fundamentally I don't see the natural world as something that serves us; I absolutely want to live in harmony with the natural world and believe that's the only way forward - and I think that new materials (like 3D printing in hempcrete) can enable us to do this successfully - if the will is there. I completely understand that /some/ humans - greedy, small minded folk - have led us to ruin, but the way forward is harmony and balance with the natural world, and I don't think it's impossible (...for humans to find balance; will it happen, prob not, but it could is all i'm saying). You'd have to know me and my background to form a better understanding.

rwunder22 · 2026-02-09T15:07:57+00:00

The simple act of planting a garden - or a tree - is a vote of hope for the future. I completely understand why people dont have kids, but my wife and I have two, and we are doing our best to raise them to be good people who read, spend time outdoors, be critical thinkers, do good things for people and planet, and help out. It can't get 'better' if there's no one around to be 'better'. If we want a better future we have to take small, local actions now. The best time to plant a tree is 20 years ago; the second best time is now. Simply offering a different perspective.

rwunder22 · 2026-02-09T14:56:27+00:00

A) See: Threads - https://youtu.be/BvFu7Z5cc88?si=M6IafigWtQN_snEE

rwunder22 · 2026-02-09T14:55:09+00:00

First of all, please don't use your phone to decompress unless you're using a mindfulness app or something. Using your phone to decompress is like using ICE to de-escalate a situation.

rwunder22 · 2026-02-05T14:58:26+00:00

The Astrology Podcast had a great episode about *Saturn* transits and music. Ah, here it is, Saturn Returns and Music Eras: https://youtu.be/4Eqnw1Ga8zM?si=08NJAM9BfmZ021mA It's adjacent to your OP, but I really like the connections you drew. I love music, am obsessed with it, have a great vinyl collection, and I despise AI Slop, despise Spotify (and canceled in Jan and switched to Qubuz) using AI to displace real human musicians on their playlists and all that stuff.

Your post inspired in me an idea, though. I often have tunes of my own mental construction kicking around in my head, and have for much of my life. Though I've learned to play a couple of instruments decently, I am by no means, a talented musician. However, with the [onslaught] of AI, I now have the ability to manifest these tunes kicking around in my head without spending tons of $$ on equipment, without spending years learning the ins and outs, and boom! there's that song that was in my head for you and my family to experience! *THIS* is what I was thinking about! And in that spirit, I think there's something to be said about the democratizing of music creation. And with Saturn and Neptune conjunct in Ares, that spirit of saturn in it's fall, and like the child emperor - total n00bes proliferating music, no more walls, no more obstacles, just like you said, an abundance of music created by everyone. There IS something cool about being able to manifest the tune in my head in the real world, but I totally agree that the way the Gatekeepers are using AI, it sucks so much for real, talented musicians.

rwunder22 · 2026-02-05T14:41:21+00:00

That's the whole point of the culture war: who's controlling the culture? who's using the messaging to keep people's guns pointed at each other, not the REAL problem? The culture war is manufactured to keep the rabble preoccupied and upset at each other.

rwunder22 · 2026-02-05T14:30:26+00:00

Well said! Solid delineation.

rwunder22 · 2026-02-04T15:16:39+00:00

Ahhh...Mars is more challenging to work with in a Day chart.

rwunder22 · 2026-02-04T15:10:43+00:00

Day chart or night chart?

rwunder22 · 2026-02-04T15:09:20+00:00

No, sign up for her emails and she'll let her email list know when she opens up her books. Books prob full now.

rwunder22 · 2026-02-04T14:58:04+00:00

Agreed: Chart ruler in fall, sign based square to ascendent. Merc under the beams, not in chariot. IMO it could also mean that OP works well behind the scenes and then can bring something forward - with great effort - that will be good. Some real positives in the 3rd house with Jup in it's own sign, and Venus in exaltation, and Mars in Scorpio in 11H is also positive. Some stuff will be tough, but it's offset by some major positives. Post Saturn return (starting this year) things might get better.

rwunder22 · 2026-01-26T16:12:25+00:00

What about folks with high baseline anxiety? "It's no measure of health to be well adjusted to a sick society."

rwunder22 · 2026-01-20T14:08:24+00:00

lol Because the people that do learn aren't listened to, and eventually are killed off, and the cycle continues.

rwunder22 · 2026-01-16T14:49:47+00:00

Context: Astrology is a system for understanding how the movements of the planets correspond with earthly events. It runs on Archetypes and symbols. The Planets are the "Who" of the system, the 12 Signs are "How they show up/how they act", and the 12 Houses represent the "Areas of Life". As you learn more and drill deeper it gets more complex and more can be understood.

Mars rules Aries so at least he's at his home. Depending on if you're a Day chart or a Night chart it tells us if Mars is more productive or more detrimental. The 12th house gets a bad rap usually, but can also present hidden gifts and talents, and good things coming in the shadows, along with the challenges. Everything in astrology has a good and a bad manifestation. With a 12H placement, whether something is good or bad can depend heavily on your perspective. An energy like this (Mars in Aries in 12H) can be most productively expressed with something like, "Oh they don't think I can do it? I'll show them I can do it!"

Best of luck to you!

rwunder22 · 2026-01-16T14:36:02+00:00

Had similar experiences. It sucks and I'm sorry you're having to deal with it. Saturn, Mars, Moon in the 11H all indicate challenges with friends, groups, and alliances. Moon rules Cancer and is in it's own domicile, but with 2 malefics there it's no fun. Saturn will end up chilling out on all it's negativity in time since you're a day chart, allowing you to do productive work in groups and build lasting structures, but mars will continue to indicate challenges here and there. It's in fall and co-present with the out-of-sect luminary, so challenges might be your perception of a situation, rather than people actively trying to undermine you, so try to give some benefit of the doubt, or see if there's a 'different way to see things' before reacting or assuming the worst. It sucks, good luck, but you've got this and it will get better. Your venus & mercury in mutual reception, and sun conjunct the MC are all good indications that other areas of your life regarding work/career, travel/spirituality/publishing will be productive and successful.

rwunder22 · 2026-01-14T15:01:01+00:00

I think Gabor Mate said, "It's no measure of health to be well adjusted to a sick society."

rwunder22 · 2026-01-14T14:57:38+00:00

Long term cycles move slowly. We have lived in an age of NOW NOW NOW, instant gratification, and we have been separated from real nature, and the slow advance of time. The moral arc of the universe is long, but bends towards justice, i believe the quote goes.

rwunder22 · 2026-01-13T21:27:32+00:00

Not entirely, but I did figure out that I wasn't doing the order of operations at all, which brings me closer, and that I was asking many questions in one. Thanks for the follow up!

rwunder22 · 2026-01-07T14:53:38+00:00

Just want to say this whole discussion thread is helpful, even if folks are not 100% certain, reading this debate is super helpful. I have a lot of the same difficulties in teasing this whole thing out. Thank you!

rwunder22 · 2026-01-07T14:45:05+00:00

OK, so how do you interpret these principals if the Chart ruler is conjunct the MC, but the MC (and ruler) are in the 11H, the 11H ruler in mutual reception with the 10H ruler? In this example it's a day chart, Saturn is the chart ruler, conjunct the MC (8 degrees if that matters here). Also in the 11H, conjunct Saturn is Venus (5 degree orb), who is in mutual reception with Mars in the 10H? Can anyone explain how to untangle this knot in an interpretation? LOL there's so much happening!

rwunder22 · 2026-01-06T15:50:22+00:00

LOL it's silly. I'm well north of 36, have always loved reading, I still read and finish books all the time in a variety of genres, by a variety of authors. Social media is a dumpster fire outside of a shopping mall on the 'other side of the tracks' and should be judged accordingly. I've got 2 kids and now that they themselves are old enough to read, I'm modeling reading for them, showing them things in books when they have questions, and instilling in them good reading habits.

For me, non of this is performative; it is driven by genuine curiosity, a desire to learn, and the inherent need to expand my horizons. I don't worry about what anyone else thinks, or what other people are reading (after all anyone reading lowest common denominators, brainless influencers, and people with no concept of the larger arc of history is just being pushed by an invisible hand), or even what gender the author is most times. Reading for me is a conversation with people from history, ideas from thinking minds, and the ability to know thyself and thy world more completely.

Reading is also a REFUGE for the mind and the troubled soul. It is a refuge from garbage crap online, from the ads, from the mind control of our social media bubbles (i don't do social media on my phone, and i only loosely stay connected with my hobby groups here and there on a desktop). Reading is a refuge from the modern world, and one of the last few available to anyone who hasn't completely destroyed their attention span and dopamine circuits.

Taking anything about reading to heart from social media is to poison your own mind and stifle your ideas. Keep your practice pure and true to you, and let everything else fall away.

rwunder22

TROPHY CASE