How Can You Identify A Creative Change Maker?

They often display but are not limited to the following characteristics:

1. a high need to achieve – but not for money or status. It’s to understand themselves and how to contribute positively and creatively to society. To find meaning and joy in the everyday, and to know they are living their unique life’s purpose.

2. a high need to be independent – financially, philosophically, physically/sexually, politically and geographically

3. a low need to conform – Creative Change Makers don’t identify with any paradigm or box. They wear whatever, associate with whomever, and do however and wherever, without conforming to a tribe, group or fashion. They may include but are not limited to, Cultural Creatives, the Creative Class, Innerpreneurs or Indigo people.

4. a high level of internal control – they obey inner rules, relating and comparing outer rules to their inner lawmaker. Without breaking the laws of the land, they march to the drum of their internal sense of justice which is based on spiritual (not religious) laws and principles.

5. a love of ambiguity – they thrive on paradox and shades of grey, recognising them as part of the duality spectrum; the consequence of the interaction of black and white. They see ambiguity and paradox as the rainbow colours that underly all reality and consciousness. Creative Change Makers can function, flourish and create positive change by knowing how to use these strands of energy to weave something better and more beautiful.

6. taking risks – when seen from the mainstream perspective, who strive to maintain the status quo, Creative Change Makers are risk takers. But it’s not in extreme sports, although they may do; and it’s not in ways that are abusive to the self, the planet or others. Their risk taking is in saying, ‘there’s more to life than this drive for security, comfort, position and status’. As have other pioneers, they say, ‘I want to climb to the top of the mountain and see the other side. Then I’ll bring back and share what I’ve discovered.’

7. enjoying new opportunities – they relish change, variety and challenge, because they know that a closed mind is a dead consciousness. They constantly test themselves and their values, beliefs and attitudes, to check that they are doing and being the best they can at any time. Creative Change Makers love to prove their mettle, but it’s a very private matter because the way of the spiritual warrior is steeped in silence.

8. the drive to be authentic – a parking ticket or walk along a long secluded beach; a moment to relax, or make a deadline – all are recognised by Creative Change Makers as opportunities to be in a sacred moment. At this place – the now – lies the chance to make choices to learn, to grow and to become more authentically ‘me’.

Sources:

1. Cultural Creatives is a term coined by Paul Ray in his book, Cultural Creatives: How 50 Million People Are Changing The World (2000).

2. The Creative Class is a term used by Richard Florida in his book, The Rise of the Creative Class (2002).

3. Innerpreneurs is used by Ron Rentel in his book Karma Queens, Geek Gods and Innerpreneurs (2007)

4. Indigo People, retrieved 17.3.10 www.findingsource.com

Who is Mars?
For those of you less familiar with the characters of the planetary beings – Mars is full steam ahead energy. He’s also the God of War. He gives us our vitality, the energy to do things. He influences the way we assert ourselves, how we direct our energy. He also inspires motivation – he loves to move, as fast as possible.
Physically Mars rules over our strength – our muscles, blood, adrenal glands and head (Aries). As well as our libido. Mars has a strong relationship with our ‘fight-or-flight’ mechanism. He also, like Neptune, influences the way we create our boundaries. Mars asserts his boundaries (hence the God of War), Neptune often dissolves them.
When our Martian energy is weakened we have difficulties creating our boundaries and expressing our will – this ‘internalises’ his energy – often then creating frustration, anger or depression (internalised anger) – playing havoc with our liver. Or we can suffer from fear and anxiety – stressing our adrenals.
Either way, as you can see – trying to suppress Mars takes its toll on you and your body.

How does Mars affect me?
Each person may have Mars placed in a different sign at the time of birth – the characteristics of that sign would describe how you use your Mars energy.
For example, someone with Mars in Aries (its Ruler) would be full steam ahead, out’a my way – I have things to do and I need to do them now. Where as Mars in Pisces may have trouble getting out of bed in the morning – and as to how to direct his life, well, maybe this way or, no, maybe this way. Then you may have Mars placed in Scorpio – you’d need to hire a detective to find out what she was doing with her energy – she won’t be letting anyone know – secrets, secrets and more secrets – everything will be done in private!
Mars has been Retrograde
It’s very unusual for Mars to be ‘retrograding’ (apparent reverse) for so long. He does do it each year – but not quite for so long!
So Mars is breaking himself free from his chains, trying to focus his brain, pull together all his resources – to begin his forward thrust – and thrust it will be, once he gets going.
What will Mars Direct look like?
It will take him a while to pick up speed, maybe a couple of weeks, while he finds his feet, or should I say V8 motor – but then watch out.
All those things you’ve had on hold – on hold they will no longer be!!
These last couple of weeks whilst he’s been slowing down to a standstill – his energy has been intense – like bottled steam. Don’t take the lid off! This could have been manifesting for you in different ways – frustration, anger or depression to name a few. Frustration and anger are more obvious emotions – they make themselves known. Depression, that quite insidious emotion, that creeps up so silently, then hitting with one god almighty wallop – is often not so obvious, at first! Depression is anger turned inward – so quietly and unobtrusively that we’re often unaware anything is happening – until we find ourselves. . . . . . .where is this place???
How to use Mars energy
So, no we can’t blame everything on Mars, we always need to be aware of our safety, our environment and the messages from our body.
But the energy fields the planets create are strong and can be felt.
Positive ways to use Mars energy is to be active – stretch, run, jog, swim – move those limbs, stretch that body – get that blood moving.
It may also be a good time, as Mars start his new journey forward – to focus on your direction, plan out the steps required, set affirmations and fortify your strength for the next steps forward. Those plans that have been gathering dust on the shelves for a few months – time now to give them new priority. Check your direction – which way are you focused? Are your plans ready for implementation?
Just as Mars has become a bit groggy and disoriented with all this change of direction – so too have we, with our plans and our forward movement.
Autumn/Spring Equinox
As Mars is gathering all his mojos, we will have come up to the fresh new beginning of the Astrological year.  22 March, 2010 – The Autumn Equinox (Spring in the north) – the sun’s entry into Aries – the cycle begins once again!
So lots’a new beginnings are upon us – so get into shape, get off the couch, resurrect your motivation, re-establish your belief in yourself and get on with your plans. NOW IS THE TIME . . . . .to get ready.
Mars and Health
Red foods are Mars foods -
Beetroot for your blood, bones and muscles (so needed for now)
Cherry’s (if there are still some around) good for heart and circulation
Kidney beans helps clear excess heat in the system
Plums help stagnancies and depletions in the liver
Watermelon cools and moistens us
Radishes are very nourishing and help release stagnancy in the system
Both red fish and spinach are tremendously building and fortifying for the blood, tendons, tissues and muscles.

So build and fortify yourself for the next big adventure ahead.

lotsa luv
marilynxxx

Marlyn Scott [marilyn.88@bigpond.com]

In the last month of the Astrological Year we find ourselves in the nebulous and watery realm of Pisces. So if there are any big projects that need a burst of energy to get them moving – then maybe best to wait until the Equinox – March 22nd, which is the beginning of the Astrological New Year.
The energy of Aries will then be with you, you’ll be feeling a lot more energetic and roaring to go!
Pisces is ‘dreaming’ month – time out month – quiet times of retreat and remembrance. Trying to move quickly during this time could be a lot like struggling thru waist high mud – great for the thighs, but not much good for getting anywhere fast.

Mars Retrograde
Added to that, Mars is still going backwards – he’s now slowing down, to a standstill and then beginning his new forward push on March 12th. It’ll still take him a while to get going – trying to get his head around the new direction, for a start. He’s been feelin’ a little comatosed with all this static stuff! He’s just not built for it. So he may not be in the best of moods for a while and as he everything to do with mini or maxi ‘explosions’ when he’s feeling a bit off – be warned. Don’t aggravate – yourself or others. Short fuses may abound for another month yet!

The positive use of Mars – is of course ENERGY – particularly of the physical and emotional kind! Many of us have been reviewing the ways we use our energy – both outwardly and inwardly. These lessons have been going on since before Christmas and will ‘complete’ around the end of March, well kind of – he’ll still be in the ’shadow’ period till around the 18th May. The ’shadow’ period is when a planet retraces the steps he made before going ‘retro’. So he’s sort’a going over the same territory, the same places he visited from 17th October 09 to December 21st, when he went retrograde. This was also around the time of the Summer Solstice – quite a potent energetic point and one that has an influence over the following three months.

So you could say that 2010 certainly began with a strong vibration of ‘energy review’. Looking at how we all use our energy and where this has taken us.

Time for Reflection

So back to the month of Pisces – dream time! After a couple of months of reviewing where we’re taking ourselves, how we’re using the fundamental and expansive creative energy we are gifted with at birth. We now find ourself in a quiet time of reflection. It may seem we’ve already been doing quite a bit of that – yes, but with a slightly different focus.
The focus of Pisces energy is of the land behind the veil – the hidden worlds of unseen energies, of divine visions and sometimes utter confusion.
It is the timeless beauty and celestial sounds that reveal themselves to us in moments of quiet; the creative genius in our cellular structures; the fluids in our bodies; our moving emotions.
It is our Lymphatic and Circulatory systems – do they needs some attention?
The movement in our minds – is it flowing or static, stuck on ragged rocks, ready for breaking?
Pisces comes to show us how to swim with the tides, dance to the rhythm and go with the flow. We can access little places, when we shake off our forms, morph into vapour, uncover hidden corners.

End of a Cycle

You see Pisces is the end of the cycle of life – so all things can be found there, if you’re just still and quiet. At the bottom of the ocean, it’s been said he lives – Neptune, that is – the ruler of Pisces. So it’s deep in the ocean where the mysteries lie, deep, deep down – so much to discover.
But like all things – there’s an approach that must be followed – sit back, relax – let the magick unfold! You can’t grab it with both hands – it will vaporize in a puff – you can’t make it yours – it belongs to all. If you make a plunge, you’ll fall on your face – let it come to you, it’s wonder it will reveal.
The magick of Pisces is awesome to behold – the beauty, the divinity – the access to ‘all’. But she does have another face, as I’m sure you’ve known – the confusion, the sensitivity that’s hard to behold. Is it real or an illusion? A common question in her realm – well dear ones, this you must decipher.

What is Real?

How can you tell if something’s real? To myself, I’ve asked many times – trust your gut, listen to your body – what do your instincts say? As appearances can be deceptive – another word which describes Pisces – what you see you may not get – what is the ‘vibe’ that lies behind it?
So what do we need to see that’s hidden from view? The real treasures, the true diamonds – the inspiration from the gods. How can this time of quietness be used to unfold the paths so necessary for us to walk? What is not available to us from the things that we see, that we touch, that we taste – what is hidden from view?
So make a time to retreat from this huge physical world, with all it’s problems, bursting at the seams. Create a sanctuary of quiet where inspiration can surface – where the voice of your intuition is not drowned out by activity.
Is your body tired? Do you feel weary and weak? Remember this is a rest time – not a time to move forward. We need to rest to assimilate all the activities of the year – and the one before that and before that and before that! Like our body needs to digest the food that we eat, to assimilate the nutrients to supply our energy. It takes time to assimilate and intelligent knowing, to activate the systems, to keep the car on the road. So psychically it’s the same – just on another level, we need to process our thoughts, emotions and feelings. Just as the body breaks down without nutrients, our psychic system works the same way.
So take advantage of this dream time – step back, slow down – take a siesta, maybe a vacation. At least spend some quiet time with yourself, however you can – listen to yourself, what are you saying? We are the experts of ourselves, only we know, what we really want, we just need to listen. Listen to our body, listen to our emotions, listen to the words that come out of our mouth.
A precious time is Pisces – I may be a bit biased, as with heaps of Neptune, I just love this time. But it takes a bit of adjusting, we’re so conditioned to ‘do’ – it’s sometimes hard slowing down, ‘but I need to get on with it’. Get on with what, do you know the way – thru the confusion we live in on this Earth? I think it’s time for us all to go deep, within ourselves and find the truth.
So have a great end of year – gather all the gems, bury the hard times so they can be made into compost. Shine those gems till they sparkle with the brilliance of divine beauty and light – shining a precious light so we can go forward.
These are special times – I guess you may have gathered – but special in good things – now back to that discovering!

lotsa luv to you all
marilynxxx

–
Posted By Marilyn Many Magick Moments

The report found that those who work as advertising executives, tax advisors destroy value, while hospital cleaners, childcare workers, and staff in the waste-recycling industry gave more to the country than they took out.

The Foundation calculated how much someone whould be paid in relation to the value they create by measuring things like conventional economic returns and environmental impacts. The report argues that high pay is often generated by businesses that destroy other parts of the economy or fail to pay the full costs of their activities.

source:
http://www.guardian.co.uk/business/2009/dec/14/new-economics-foundation-social-value as quoted in http://conscious-capitalism.blogspot.com/search/label/Mindful%20economy

This is the biggest Full Moon of the year and with a potent beginning month to our wonderful 2010 – this augers a powerfully active, creative year. The time for sitting on the fence or in the deep comfy couch has come to an end.

A year of beginnings, of action, assertion and leadership. A time to take firm hold of the reins of our lives and with steady and intent purpose steer it to our heart’s desire.

We are the no. 1 in our life – the action, the purpose and the new beginnings need to begin with each one of us – our own personal and courageous journey to sever the tentacles that draw us into death, decay and boredom – creating new connections to all that is living, growing, evolving and inspiring.

This Full Moon – another treat from our gorgeous Cosmos – presents us with the energy, inspiration and the stirrings within our belly, to create our own unique visions – now is the time.

2010 is a year of doing – a year of creating – a year of presenting the magnificence of your being!

No one more perfect than Leo to support us in this endeavour!

Mars – our dear inspirer of action is still doing his retro back step, but his energy has to be expressed somehow, so if backwards is the only way – then backward it is. So backwards for us dear friends – what steps has dear Mars been helping you retrace, what old lanes have you had to revist, what overgrown pathways have you had to scramble your way thru? What ways in which you use your energy needs to be reviewed, revamped or resurrected?

Mars will be in Leo for an extra long period of time – about 8 months – 3 of those months will be in retro, reviewing all actions.

Mars in Leo is all about actively creating – bringing those creative visions into the physical – acting on those inspirations. Mars in Leo is all about passion!!

So Mars plays a significant role in this Full Moon – he’s squatting close to dear Mother Moon and ‘opposing’ our Sun, Black Moon and Venus. It’s rare for the Full Moon to align so tightly with Mars – so his influence is strong!

Mars, like the number 1 – is all about action, assertion, passion, leadership – getting on with it!

Also with the Black Moon and Venus sitting with the Sun – this appears to me to be opening the curtain a peak on old deep and painful parts of your core inner being.

We can no longer allow these past ‘ghosts’ to hinder our unfoldment into our glorious uniqueness – the world awaits us, each one of us!

These are very special times, dear friends, now is the time to confidently pull open the curtain, and see the ghosts for what they are – memories, only memories. With renewed strength and courage, put on your true costume, your true identity, approach the stage, hear the comforting echos of the audience’s applause as they await your presence – they have been patiently waiting.

The time for ‘you’ is now! Everything and everyone is waiting – up off the coach, open the curtains, push up the windows allow the incredible air to sweep thru your whole environment – time for creation is here, time for ‘you’ has come – these are very exciting times indeed!

Do something now!

lotsa luv to you all
marilynxxx

–
manymagicmoments@gmail.com

In the smart suburb of Petionville, the Muncheez pizza restaurant’s kitchen staff, homeless themselves, now cook up1000 meals a day to feed the starving people free of charge.

As the lines of hungry grew, neighbours donated food and thousands of dollars flowed in from friends and family in the US. The US Agency for International Development gave Muncheez a truckload of rice, beans, corn meal and cooking oil.

The restaurant’s co-owner, Gilbert Bailly distributed 10,000 blue bracelets he’d been saving for carnival parties. “One bracelet, one meal. It’s random, but I know somebody ate. That’s the most important thing to me,” he said.

Source: The Weekend Australian Jan 30-31, 2010

Another year is ending – a new one soon beginning. One of the last, if not the last, big celestial happening for the 2009 year is the Solstice on December 22. For us here in the Southern Hemisphere – we celebrate the Summer Solstice – for our friends in the North – it’s the Winter Solstice.

The Solstice -when the great Sun in our sky slows, stops and changes direction – is a significant time –  when the sun appears to stand still before turning to retrace its path in the sky.

Some believe that the Solstice, which usually falls between 21st – 22nd December, was the origin of our Christmas celebrations today.
(This does not in anyway imply the insignificance of the birth of Jesus)

It does signify the importance of this time for many cultures and civilizations. The Sun was recognised as supporting life for humans here on Earth and its importance was respected and revered.

Many rituals were celebrated during this time. It was considered a time of life, of renewal, of rebirth and of new beginnings.

Within our modern culture, most of us no longer honour our Sun in that manner. Of course, many still do celebrate Solstice time – but it is not generally a part of our current rituals.

That, of course, has its implications. We have, as modern people, moved further and further away from our natural world and our basic roots. We’ve forgotten how much we depend on the natural world for our survival here on Earth. Our brains have become used to automation – we sometimes believe that we are more capable than we are.

We have grown to value ‘things’ rather than ‘life’. Our worlds have become unbalanced with more and more things giving us less and less.

Yes we are at a major turning point.

So with the turning point of the Solstice. We can remind ourselves: “I have an opportunity to use this energy to stop, review and reassess my life, my direction, my understanding and my contribution”.

Mars Goes Retro

Added to the highly energetic time of the Solstice is the planet Mars going ‘retro’. This means that he starts to go backwards (or at least appears to do so to us here on Earth). When a planet goes retrograde – she/he revisits previous steps, goes over old ground, goes back to visit previous bits of the journey.

Mars is travelling through the constellation of Leo at present. Mars usually takes around two months to move through a sign. But due to his extra long retrograde period this time he will be travelling back and forth through Leo for eight months – that’s a record!

Mars began his retrograde around midnight on the 20th December 2009. He will continue moving ‘backwards’ until mid March 2010 when he’ll begin his forward movement again, completing his travels through Leo by June.

And Who Is This Mars Person Anyway?

Mars represents action, movement, motivation and assertion and intention. Mars doesn’t ‘do’ backwards easily – his natural movement is to thrust himself forward with great energy and zest – he’s intent on Action!

Leo loves to move too. Leo loves to create, make an impression, play and have fun. So with the energy of Mars moving ‘backwards’ – there’ll be a lot more ‘inner’ stuff happening than ‘outer’.

So we have both the Sun and Mars slowing, stopping and reversing within 24hrs – no wonder I’m feeling pooped!!!

The Sun and Mars both represent extroverted and active energy – promoting and putting self forward.

Physical energy could be low for people now – especially Leo’s – they’ll have an even more direct hit of ‘internalization’.
Have You Been Wondering:
So who is the major star of my internal play? Who’s the director? Who calls the shots? Who’s giving the orders?

Where am I going? What am I doing? Where do I want to focus my life energy?

Yes dear friends – big times are already around us – and appear to be also on the horizon for 2010. With this extra push to review and renew during these last days of our 2009 year here on Earth – and the end year of the first decade of the 21st century.

The ‘energy’ of the Solstice time will colour our happenings until March next year which is also the next ‘turning point’ of the Sun and the time time that Mars is moving backwards.

So what is this saying – well I reckon a lot of focus on inner, personal reviewing. A time for us all to walk back a little on our path and look at it with fresh eyes – is this the way I really want to go? Is this what I really want to do?

Review times are a gift – as so often we move so quickly through our lives that we become automated, unconscious, reactionary – we do, without thinking, we speak without feeling. We forget that we have a divine consciousness and innate clarity. We know we’re human beings, but do we realise we are ‘made in the image of god’ – and we have immense ability and potential to use our ‘higher’ facilities.

Religions have always reminded us that the ‘7 sins’ will always lead us to destruction – but do we listen. How many of these ’sins’ are intertwined into our very systems – have become automatic ways of engaging.

Yes a review time is well and truly needed.

lots of love to you all
may peace, love and the truest and greatest happiness dwell in your heart always
marilynxxx

–
Marilyn Many Magick Moments

Creative Change Makers is One

On December 11, 2008 Creative Change Makers was officially launched with about 30 inspired individuals who made contact with other change makers over fine food from The Locavore Stirling, and organic wine from Temple Bruer in Langhorne Creek, both in South Australia.

From that day we’ve steadily matured, but we’re still young and loving the journey of discovery.

Join us in celebrating a little local initiative which, thanks to the Web, has a global reach.

We’re doing it; with or without you. So join us if you dare.

To all Creative Change Makers….

Happy Birthday, you’re fab.

Caroline, Sienna & webmaster Steve

xxx

Yet at heart, the issue is simple, if only we could exert the will to see it.

What it boils down to is whether humanity has the will to simplify – to simplify the discussions, recognising that at their core is the question: can we share the planet fairly with each other and the other kingdoms of nature? Can we restrain our thirst for energy and resources? Can we move away from an obsession with material growth, recognising instead the centrality of growth in consciousness? In a nutshell, can we transform our culture and simplify our whole way of life?

Such a planetary change amounts to a fundamental shift in direction, which is only possible through the use of the will-to-good of the whole. As our global society has materially evolved from simplicity to complexity, it risks losing sight of the simplicity of the underlying principles of right relationship that lie at the heart of all healthy communities. Trust, reciprocity, and mutual respect have been formalised into legal terms, and in the process, have been turned into complicated, devitalised husks. The creation of a “legally binding” treaty at Copenhagen will mean little, unless the spirit of cooperation that powers it is genuine. So in our Earth Stewardship work, let us seek to help those who are directly involved to get back in touch with the simplicity of the underlying principles, that they too may connect with the simplifying will-to-good.

Source:

Direct quote from Lucis Trust Cycle of Conferences email alert – Copenhagen Conference

For more information :

http://www.lucistrust.org/en/service_activities/world_goodwill__1/cycle_of_conferences?dm_i=935,2RPS,130XIV,8RKQ,1

For a visualisation on earth stewardship:

http://www.lucistrust.org/en/cycle/cycle_resource/word/visualisation?dm_i=935,2RPS,130XIV,8RKQ,1

How can I change a little part of the world, or maybe a big part of it? What can I do to leave the world a better place for my being here?

Resonate with any of these questions? Quite likely. Because if you’re here – other than as an accidental ‘bounce’ – then it’s because you like the sound of creative change.

I’m reading a book called, “Social Change 2.2″ (2009) by David Gershon. Please visit again in a few days and have a look at the article I’m writing based on this book. It’s called “How To Create Social Change”.

Caroline