Saturn will transit Libra (western astrology) for almost three years, and then won’t be back in Libra again until 2039. (see end of article for more dates and times re transit and retrograde periods). You can also find more information about SATURN’s position in the sky and how to locate it at nakedeyeplanets.com .

This is a great time to get out onto the beach or headland, if you are near BYRON BAY , to greet  Saturn as it enters into its almost 3 year sojourn through LIBRA ( “I Balance“). It will look rather faint in the sky, unless you happen to have a telescope or binoculars handy. The declination will be almost 2 degrees north of the ecliptic, so it will rise pretty much where you see the sun rising on the day of the spring or autumn equinox.

Lynda Hill’s Sabian Symbols blog :   insights into the Sabian Symbols.

Molly’s Astrology : insights into Astrology.

At the end of this article, I’ve written briefly what this Saturn transit may mean for your SUN sign and more particularly, YOUR  RISING “STAR SIGN” .

“The Master of the Earth learns about the Lightness of Sharing with Others”

The Sabian Symbol for Saturn on this day of entry  is all about a butterfly becoming perfect as it is pierced by a dart of light.  Whilst the butterfly is a complex life cycle, time is part of it’s cycle. No amount of rushing can make it suddenly turn from an egg into a butterfly overnight. PATIENCE in others is a key feature here. And patience in oneself.  However, the promise of the sun shining to highlight its colour and network of delicate veins, shows us that complexities are sometimes required for perfection in the “light”. The balancing act of simplicity with complexity requires much patience and perseverence.

The cycle of a butterly can be a great analogy for this 3 year period. First the egg. The “seed” the “direction” and NORTH. Then the WEST with its work and lessons = the caterpillar, the feeding of the MIND and how it relates to others.  Then the SOUTH, with its REST, and deep subconscious activities and matters of faith and acceptance. These bring about the final EASTERN position of the BUTTERFLY, the end of the cycle, the mastered GOAL, the fruition of  focus, work and rest. The beginning of the next cycle.

This is a most beautiful symbolic point – the first degree of LIBRA.  Ruled by Venus (considered to be a lower octave of Saturn), LIBRA is about harmony, balance, the Arts, writing, negotiating, partnerships and your perceived and known opposites. SATURN is EXALTED in the 7th house of LIBRA(air).

• Libra is that sign of the zodiac where we leave our personal lives and reach out to others, thus beginning the journey to understand mankind. It is the first steps in awakening our mass consciousness to a higher, more complete level, away from the “beast”. This transit has much significance for community, corporate and political leaders. It is their chance to bring harmony, balance and discernment into our world, via their leadership and partnerships.
  

On a mundane level, wars, foreign trades and international diputes and partnerships may be re-arranged during this period. It isn’t a very good period for wars, with them becoming long drawn out affairs – so what’s new?

Regarding Australia, and using its Federation chart (January 1, 1901, 1:35 pm AEST, Sydney), womens and childrens issues should start to subside. The passing of Saturn over Australia’s natal Mars in its fifth house was marked by the Howard Government’s horrific paternalistic actions against the women and children of the Northern Territory, by way of legislation and intervention in 2007. Saturn, when it transited over Mars brought all types of horrors towards women and children,  in the fifth house of Australia’s Federation Chart.

This is slowly being rectified, but with the passage of Saturn into Australia’s sixth house soon (VIRGO), and it being ruled by LIBRA in the Australian “federation” chart, affairs to do with health and “daily bread”, work and life style  are becoming a priority for the Australian Government.  Mostly, the passage of Saturn through this house indicates conservatism, authoritarianism and slow moving actions. Air quality issues will of course, also become a priority, as they will for the rest of the world, with Saturn transiting an AIR SIGN.

General over-control with regards to  health or perceived lifestyle issues can occur, and beaurocratic interference into our daily lives may also occur. Oh great! Does that mean more advertisements about how sick we all are going to get are to be made for television viewers?  Try not to get too brainwashed into thinking you are sick, when infact, it is something toxic in society or bureaurocray that is making you “feel” ill. Hopefully, the paternihilistic (sic) streak that Saturn brings with it won’t also extend to the concept of Stewardship in Land and Water issues. Hopefully the more gracious and harmonising side of Libra will prevail!       ever hopeful…….

Saturn can bring with it restrictions, all types of life lessons, authority and building of character and position. Saturn can represent the Father or paternal figures, and so why not practice compassion for your fathers, uncles and older brothers during this time. The rewards will slowly come for your kind actions.

Government and partnerships that the Government forges can have bearing on everyones’ daily lives. These partnerships, if based on hostility, fear and repression can lead to untold damage in our environment and collective psyche. Politicians and corporate “what begots”, beware. After Libra is the sting of the Scorpion, and though karmic lessons come quickly when the Scorpio teacher arrives, they may  not go away so speedily.

**  Saturn(karmic teacher & builder) was opposite (opposing forces) Pluto (transformer and guardian of the underworld) in early August 2001. Saturn is now almost exactly squaring (tensions mounting)Pluto. The last time that these two planets squared (tensions mounting) each other was in April 1996, and again at the end of 1996-early1997.  Saturn(teacher/builder) will conjunct Pluto (transformer) next, late 2019 and throughout much of 2020. Jupiter (knowledge)will also join in on this conjunction at times. There is more to be said on this, but not here.

In general, for each RISING STAR SIGN , the TRANSIT of SATURN through LIBRA 2009-2012 can mean the following:-
ARIES:  the next two years or so can have overtones re personal relationships, work partnerships and periods of going it alone, with the partner absent. Partnerships with older people can occur, and be cemented. If you are a writer, knuckle down, as your work will pay off over the next two years.
TAURUS:  you may find health issues start to control your life, but the upside is – you can learn the lesson and slowly make your daily life your own again. A wonderful time to reorganise your daily work patterns and help create a more environmentally sustainable lifestyle.
GEMINI:- children may come to stay, new creative energy can be found and much of this will conspire to somehow make you feel constricted and alone in your creative endeavours. Just keep plodding, and things should work out. Hard lessons from speculations may cause you to rethink what causes you to take risks. Older children may enter your life, or if you are older, but wishing to have children, this may occur.
CANCER: great time to build, rework your family issues and spend some more time with your Mum.  This is a great time to work on your homemaking skills. They may seem somewhat thwarted during this period, but the rewards will be great should you go the extra yard of perseverance.
LEO: neighbours may become a little tyrannical or overwhelming, so chill out regarding neighbourhood and relative/sibling issues. Communications may seem tedious at times, however, it is also a great time to undertake short studies, and rethink your modes of transport.
VIRGO: the next 2-3 years  have overtones of money money and more money – saving is the key. It is a great time to work on your self esteem, especially if your father was somehow implicated in your self -worth  issues when you were younger. Also, these two years are great for planning and learning how to become a successful Land Steward or Custodian, if you have a special block of land that you care for. It is also a good time to stay focused. -
LIBRA:  time to work on your character. Some hard lessons may be learnt over the next two years or so, but if you slowly build up your character and integrity, it can pay off. Prepare to feel alone in the world at times, and enjoy your solitude. Learning how to express your true self to others can also pay off, especially if you practice discernment and mindful decision making.
SCORPIO:  some repressed issues may rear their little heads over the next two and a half years. Go deep into your subconcsious to retrieve your  faith in spirit. Matters of faith and institutional controls can give you opportunities to work out what the meaning of “freedom” really is. Get lots of sleep and keep a dream diary if you can.
SAGITTARIUS:   could be a fun time for you these next two-three years. There is potentially plenty of travel, old friends returning and new ideas being slowly formed. Much of how to live your ideal life for the sake of humanity will come to the fore now . Volunteer work could turn out to be a blessing.
CAPRICORN:  well, some partnerships that have been formed may tend to bog you down now, but it is also a splendid time to build on some new ones. Respect your heritage. Learning on the job is helpful. A great time to build your career, even if some compromises need to be made. Just remember to relax, relax, and relax some more.
AQUARIUS : in general, you may become more aware, more philosophical. A warning here – try not to let the horrid state of environmental matters make you feel horrid. You, above many of the other signs, have it in your power to lead by example over the coming two year period. Share your ideas with others, and consider some higher form of learning.
and lastly, PISCES:  the sign that is all the signs. Big changes for you ahead. Some may overwhelm you, so stay centred, and learn to forgive and forget. Acceptance is a big issue to learn in this coming two-three year period. Also, many things that were once hidden will become apparent. So straighten out your subconscious, and hidden fears, guilts and worries. Self honesty will help.
These above little astrological morsels are generalizations. Everyone is different, and astrology is just an indicator of opportunities and potentials. Each  Sign can read the sign either side of it, as the signs will overlap a little, depending on when you were born. Also, read your sun sign as well, as this can also be relevant.  And above all, Have fun!!

Concerning the Fixed stars, Saturn has recently passed Markeb (in the sail of the Constellation Argo Navis, which is a fair way away by declination), and which, when connected with Saturnian things, those things that are bad, somehow turn out for the better, in the end.

The next significant fixed star that Saturn will pass by, in its Libran transit will be   NODUS l,  called Al Dhi’bah by the Arabs, in Draco . It is far away by declination also , but with Saturnian qualities. Draco is the Dragon. This transit will start to occur about mid to late November 2009.

There are elements of protectiveness of children associated with this star and this constellation, as well as mentions of symbolism attached to Ravens. When comets arise here, it is said that the poisons are scattered over the earth, and the “death” card is associated with this point. (Anne Wright constellationsofwords.com.)

Have a look at Anne Wright’s constellationsofwords.com and you will be able to track Saturn as it transits further fixed stars, on its 3 year journey through LIBRA. You will find that there are about 22 fixed stars that Saturn will transit by. Some transits will be quite close, so enjoy the journey!

Saturn in Libra October 2009 : google search results

Some background information regarding times and zodiac positions for the last and the current Saturn Transit of LIBRA:-

• The last time that Saturn transited this sign of Libra was back in the eighties. Entering Libra back then on September 21st 1980, close to midnight, Byron Bay AEST time.

• and leaving the sign in November 29th 1982. It again briefly retrograded into LIBRA May-August 1983, then continued out of the sign and into SCORPIO. Roughly that transit was a 26 month transit.

• This time, Saturn will enter the sign of Libra at approximately 4.09am Byron Bay (AEDT),30th October 2009.
• After travelling about 4 degrees into the Libran astrological zodiac, it will become retrograde  January 14 th 2010 (between 3-4am Byron Bay AEDT)
• Between 9th April  2010 and 22nd July 2010, it will again be transiting VIRGO.
• It  enters LIBRA,again – 22nd July 2010 in the early hours of the morning, Byron Bay (AEST) and stays there until  the 6th October 2012 (between 7-8am Byron Bay (AEDT) .
• SATURN then will not come back to transit LIBRA again until 6th Sept. 2039.

oh, yes, and so typical of me, here I am tacking on another little morsel, after I finally finished posting this…. Pharmaceutical Companies:- Virgo and health matters,opposite the institutionalised Piscean domain has had a large impact on the way we view our health and lifestyles, as Saturn wended its way through Virgo and thus, opposite Pisces the last couple of years or so.

With Saturn entering LIBRA(air), a new balance can be formed, where personal responsibility for ones health and society’s health in general can gain weighting. Saturn, being opposite ARIES, can give tensions to personal responsibilities. This can equal personal growth, if you dare to take the hard yards. Saturn was once, in the “less enlightened years” , the RULER of AQUARIUS(air).

Social patterning, hopes and community well being will undergo strains, but also be a cornerstone for negotiated activities and vision building. Get out into your gardens, plant some herbs, grow in tune with nature and sample some healthy “natural vitamin pills” in the form of organic herbs, fruit and vegies. SHARE this food with others. Eating from nearby to where you live will help you GROUND yourself with nature and the earthly cycles. This IS a GOOD thing!

The above photo is of PK, looking out from the Hinterland, over the Gold Coast, SE QLD, Australia

The creation of an environment that is both sustainable for our Childrens’ Future and yet high in life quality is often deemed to be the domain of Engineers, Scientists & Politicians.  And, these days, Science, Politics and Engineering appear to be intrinsically linked.

Coastal Development & Sea Levels – some Australian Links:-

• National Sea Change Taskforce: Link to – Conference at Byron Bay 2-3 March 2010 “The program will focus on the complex issues currently facing coastal LGAs including sea level rise, the legal implications of climate change and ageing populations………Byron Bay has been selected to host the event because of its relevance in terms of coastal hazards, development pressures and issues associated with climate change impacts”

• The 18th NSW Coastal Conference 2009 – 3rd-6th November 2009 to be held at Ballina,  Mt Warning (Wollumbin) Caldera Region, NE NSW. The Theme is “Staying Afloat – Rising to the Challenges”. The Conference involve government sectors, planners, consultants, engineers, community and user groups & will present awards for outstanding achievement in coastal zone management activities. ABC  North Coast News has nice updates for local info, including this Coastal Conference.
• Planned retreat, climate change & biodiversity – Byron Bay :- this is a workshop by the EDO Northern Rivers on 3rd December 2009

• Sea level Rise Policy Statement by NSW Government (late October 2009), and
• the Draft Coast and Flood Risk Assessment Guidelines – that are now open for submissions at the Department of Environment, Climate Change and Water NSW (Urban & Coastal Water Reform Branch). Closing date for comments are December 11th 2009
• National Sea Change Taskforce : “national body to represent the interests of coastal councils and communities experiencing the effects of rapid growth and development” – includes Conference, Committee, Publications & links to the Federal Parliamentary Coastal Inquiry (report released 26th October 2009)
• EDO NSW (Environmental Defender’s Office) has the following publications available:-   Climate change and the legal framework for biodiversity protection in Australia: a legal and scientific analysis &   Climate change and the legal framework for biodiversity protection in NSW: a legal and scientific analysis
• Draft Queensland Coastal Plan : at Queensland Department of  Environment & Resource Management . Submissions due by 30th November 2009.

This is a photo for environmental advocacy : showing how coastal development and infrastructure is still going ahead, near the beachfront, at Byron Bay. The houses on the beach side of the photo have already lost their dune frontage to the encroaching sea, and the Council and Landcare are spraying the vegetation (albeit Bitou Bush!) with herbicide, for future regeneration, thus facilitating more habitat destruction in the name of healing.

• “Administrative Law in an Environmental Context” search results at bluecray Environmental search engine

The TWEED COAST is also experiencing engineered non sustainable development:-

Maps for the Tweed Coast Area near Casuarina, Kings Forest, Cudgen, Cudgen Creek , Wooyung – in fact much of the coastal area of the Tweed Shire!

Meanwhile, at Kingscliff,NE NSW:-  large developments (that will further fragment our native wildlife habitats) are planned nearby (Kings Forest, Cobaki Lakes ) and the sea is moving inwards – “Hungry Mother Nature bares her teeth” -  infrastructure damage at Kingscliff on the NSW North Coast -  by coastal erosion (2010): SMH article by Saffron Howden

Kingscliff battles beach erosion (story 11th august 2010):- at ABC local + other local beach coastal erosion stories from NE NSW (Tweed and Byron shires)

Here are some more google search results for NEWS about Coastal Zone Management and Climate Change - remembering that much of Australia’s Population is centred on or about our Coastline. And now, back to

ENGINEERS…..

Engineers! Do you think that the word comes from building engines? oops… wrong.
the etymology of the word engineer has the word coming from…………………go ahead, guess first, then look and see if you were close!

Definitions and etymology of the word “ENGINEER”

• Merriam-Webster Online Dictionary
• The Free Dictionary online dictionary
• engineering at wikipedia
• engineering etymology at spiritus-temporus.com
• etymology of engineer at the online etymology dictionary

Article at Sydney Morning Herald about the Association of Consulting Engineers Australia’s ideas to abolish councils, make drivers pay and transform public transport subsidies (October 23rd 2009 – SMH Paul Bibby, Urban Affairs)

Photo of Engineering the Hinze Dam Catchment for the SE QLD Water Grid – or, as I like to call it “Stream Stealing“ 2009**(see below)

google search results for Association of Consulting Engineers Australia .

e - earth
n – noise
g – grandeur
i – illogical
n- non-sustainable
e – every day
e – easy
r – repeating
s – stuff

Now, thanks to the world engineers, and the ancestral contribution of engineers long gone, we have fantastic and celebrated networks of “stuff” all over the world.

Stuff that is slowly making our world a sick place.

• Petro chemical bi-products that do god knows what to our ecosystems and food chain, when combined in their ever increasing lethal dose combinations.
• Climate change, monoculture to the n’th degree, genetic engineering that is making our planet dependent on food sources that have no true genetic source from adaption and selection processes but rather laboratory type “births” and “heritage”.
• This list is endless. Always behind the grand schemes in humanities slow slide into extinction, are engineers. Planning and engineers often go together.

Now, again, as I am sure bluecray has confronted some of your more intrinsic values, I do not want to target engineers, who are after all people like you and me, with some kind of  “let’s get rid of the engineers” post.

Collage of Engineering & Biodiversity – Byron Bay Style (October 2009)

Far from it. why, My uncle was a well known, highly regarded engineer and I admired and respected him greatly.  Some of my best friends are technical and computer engineers. I love to ride my motorcycle, which is itself an engineering wonder, along roadways engineered by many people. This ancient computer that I use here is an engineering wonder, as is the internet connection and associated satellite and electrical paraphenalia that is required to put my words onto the screen that you are currently watching and reading.

I have also met engineers who have transformed great stretches of waterways from past mistakes, by bringing in earth movers to recreate riffles and bends where once, engineers had created straight stretches of water flow, that needed constant upgrading and earthworks. It wasn’t until they came back, decades later and recreated the natural meanders and riffles, that the streams  began to “breath” and work as a sustainable  ecosystem.
The purpose of this article is just to get you thinking, like all other bluecray articles that I have written. And to help you make decisions to change the way you live, so that our Childrens’ future is brighter and happier.

Environmental Advocacy Collage : “Choices – Discernment-Integrity – Love“

Just a few thoughts that may help you get back to some more basic loving principles for improved life quality on the planet. And to help you to inspire others to do the same, by setting an example,  slowing down your life, and trying to get some honest love back into your modern day engineered intellectual capacities.

People tend to hand over power readily to engineers. Their brilliance, their contraptions,the ease that their inventions appear to give our lives. Their ever increasing powerful technologies can eventually overwhelm us to thepoint where our simple life values of food, shelter, companionship, love, clothing etc become a massive encumberance that chains the whole planet down to doom.
And so, why target ENGINEERS?

Because everywhere I look these days, they appear to hold a much greater sway over the way things go in life, compared to the other necessary, more basic natural relationships in life.

“It’s All Upsidedown“

Earth moving equipment – a massive industry

Agricultural and Horticultural machinery and chemicals – a massive industry
Telecommunications – a massive industry
Mining - a massive industry
Medical  technology – a massive industry
Genetics - a masssive industry
Transport – a massive industry
Building construction – a massive industry
Military and arms production – a massive industry

and lets not forget the movies, the music industry and entertainment industries in general…..
endless endless lists…..endless endless “stuff”

……………………………………………………………………………………………..

Just how much stuff do we need to feed ourselves, clothe ourselves, protect ourselves and create a quality life?
Just how much stuff do we need to create out of toxic processes to prove to ourselves that our collective wisdom is still in the dark ages???

Modern thought,  with its electric lights and enthusiastic middle men selling more and more products,  is still in the dark ages.

• We misdirect our personal egos towards an ever increasing consumption whilst millions starve elsewhere.
• We are surrounded by climatic, geological, idealogical and industrial disasters. Habitat Clearing and toxic food chains are just the tip of the “iceberg”.
• Do you care to take some personal responsibility for this, and question your personal wisdom?
• Maybe you would prefer to shop, talk and justify your way out of it. If you get really good at this, you can enter politics!!

The engineers will help you. They are, as you read, designing new machines, building new war state of the art contraptions to fill our skies with. They are, as you read, creating new fangled better than the business oppositions’ blackberries, rasberries, tokenberries and genetically engineered betterberries for your healthy berries.
All of this stuff – you and I may benefit from, no doubt, in some way or another. All of this stuff will also, in some way or another, cause untold problems in yours and mine lives, and in the lives of others – all over the planet.
Engineers are largely responsible for the way in which cities have been formed all over the planet:-

• Great dams, irrigation pumping and now water grids that alter our water catchment flows;
• long pipes, roads and electronic networks that, in the end, never DID make our lives that much easier; but alot faster, more complex, more stressful, and more toxic.
• and now, make your own list…..for those in NSW, why not start at…

………………..well, Part 3A of the NSW Planning law?

Now of course, some of this science and grand engineering has its benefits – IF USED WISELY. Moderation is a wonderful word. Moderate use of many substances and technologies is a most amazing thing. However, to keep up with the “Jones’s” – our technologically savvy “neighbours” with their engineered enhanced lifestyles and ahead in the sands of  modern enlightenment, we think we must go faster, harder, smarter, “cooler”.

It is this simple (!!) :- Moderation is a tricky quality to embrace. My Father was a master at it. He led by example. I am not so good at it. I tend to be a bit complex. Nature and nature’s needs in nature shift amazingly slow, complex though they are.. There are some “rushes” of activity depending on natural cycles, but in general, our needs in nature are the same as they were before we created, with the assistance of our engineers and their ideas, grand cities, buildings and infrastructures. Now, caught in the “City of Light”, we no longer see our shadow selves. Our egos, meanwhile, are still running rampant!

Collectively? We lack DISCERNMENT. We lack INTEGRITY. We lack GENEROSITY. We lack VISION. Collectively, I always felt that if enough people wanted war, then WAR we would have. If enough people wanted more than we can eat or carry on our backs, then that is how we would feast and travel. AND, engineers have just kept giving us answers to these requests.

“Wisdom in Engineering“

What about LOVE engineers? The philosophers, the musicians, the artists, the writers?  The engineers that do amazing engineering works, but do it for humanity and have a holistic approach to their work. The little guy down the road who lives a simple life in his organic garden, sharing the food with others, and quietly planting out trees and shrubs for the native wildlife. OR, does he even really exist anymore? Well, yes he DOES! Mainly “he” is living below or just above the poverty level, and his quality of life is just fine, thank you!
Collectively, we are sliding back into a time of “the beast”. Ego driven want,  un-enlightenment and hedonism all appear to be alive and well. And engineers have contributed to our false sense of securities and fantasy that it is ok to continue supporting clever regimes that lack transperancy, integrity, statesmanship and the vision of a loving future for our children.
And so, where do I stand in all of this, after displaying how I see this trend of sanitized, but in reality, toxic engineered insanity?
Like Fukuoka, I believe that the spirit holds the key. That engineering is in essence – like science- a wonderful thing, and has much use. But not ALL of it – just SOME of it. Discernment is not a luxury. It has now become a necessity. Good luck!!

Oh, and just one more thing – imagine a world without all this stuff – except some beautiful basics, with a moderate amount of engineered assistance? Like hand grown and hand crafted textiles, hand crafted buildings, hand crafted vehicles, hand crafted musical instruments, hand grown and prepared foods. Simplified energy use and requirements – add just a few engineers, with discernment, and LOTS of LOVEand everyone will be gainfully employed, sheltered, clothed and fed, and entertained. I know this sounds like I am oversimplifying things.  Perhaps I am….And  the world turns to a new day, and life is most likely, is as it is meant to be……

and, Collectively, we still haven’t found our way back to the GARDEN.

Now something else to look at:-

Dale Jamieson at google search

“A Companion to Environmental Philosophy” by Dale Jamieson ISBN       1557869103

Natural Sequence Farming : search results at bluecray ENVIRONMENT SEARCH

National Sustainability Initiatives at the Australian Government Department of the Environment, Water, Heritage & the Arts. This website page includes links to the related areas of :-  EPBC Reporting, Indicators & Local Agenda 21, as well as to  Ecologically Sustainable Development LINKS .

The Ecologically Sustainable Development LINKS page includes (as at November 2009) :-

• Conferences and Events
• Sustainability Networks and Discussion Groups
• State Government Sites
• Australian Government Environment Sites
• Local Government Sites
• Non-Government Organisations

Coastal Design Guidelines for NSW (from 2003 ): at NSW Department of Planning (Coastal Protection).

The Sea Level Rise  Policy Statement  by the NSW Government 2009 & and Draft Policy information- :

• The NSW Department of Planning worked with the Department of Environment Climate Change to finalise the draft statement (21st February – 3rd April were submission times).

• Sea level Rise Policy Statement by NSW Government (late October 2009), and
• the Draft Coast and Flood Risk Assessment Guidelines – that are now open for submissions at the Department of Environment, Climate Change and Water NSW (Urban & Coastal Water Reform Branch). Closing date for comments are December 11th 2009

** Regarding my term “stream stealing”:- the concept of Stream Capturing, as per the geological process that was created causing the Rhine River to take the waters of the Danube River, via a slow and gradual centuries long process, thus diverting waters away from one catchment to another has implications for how the water of these two Catchments is distributed throughout parts of Europe.

“Stream Stealing”, or taking the water from the catchment and removing it to another catchment is akin to diversion that may have future consequences for that catchment later on. The Murray-Darling system attests to this on a grand scale. The water was purloined (see etymology HERE), and the consequences in the future are already here, to see – in black and white. The Government is now having to rethink where and how this Murray Darling Water actually goes, over time. This is for the sake of future generations and future environmental habitats. Much damage has already be done.

The concept of altering catchment water flows, taking water from one series of catchment ecosystems to completely different catchment systems, can have consequences further down stream.

Many engineers and scientist show, via quantitative and qualitative measures, that Dam Building and altering Catchment flows can be managed in an environmentally sustainable way. However, there are still serious doubts, in my mind,  as to water flows for a catchment’s well being down stream, and ecosystem health when water is removed from one catchment to serve a purpose in another.

The Qld Water Grid of South East Queensland is doing this. Dams and irrigation networks do this. Construction and earthworks within developments can do this. Altering water flows from one catchment, to provide another catchment with that water has historical implications. Only time will tell, and as the benchmarks can keep changing, the ecosystem health consequences further down the catchment, and into the sea may not show up for many decades. “Stream Stealing” is an insidious form of Habitat destruction by “clearing the habitat” via habitat water theft.

This type of activity is stealing from natural ecosystems and habitats (that have little voice in the matter), to serve human consumption and industry.

Capture:-definition and etymology .

Stealing:-definition and etymology .

“Clearing the Habit of Habitat Clearing” – at Journey for Wisdom in the Land

Astrological Stories and Myths for a Modern Age – at Wisdom in the Land .

As the creative director of bluecray, I would like to tell you more about myself and my journey for  Wisdom in the Land. I gained a Bachelor of Applied Science, majoring in natural landscape management,  plant strategies for survival, roadside vegetation management and habitat restoration, relating in particular to human activities and their interactions with natural landscapes, mid ’80′s.

After that?  Post graduate work in Aboriginal education, pesticide application technology & safety,  landscape architecture. I was also  teaching and coordinating community environmental activites, sitting on advisory committees and creating innovative community projects with others (as well as a rather exhausting stint at environmental activism). Finally I came to these realisations:-

• Whilst Australia is full of caring, hardworking environmentally aware people, there still remains many mainstream sustained myths about the value of nature’s biodiverse garden (earth).

• Many young people today have much information thrown at them via the media, corporate hype, political rhetoric and peer pressure. To simply live within the parameters of  nature’s balances is a hard task for many.

• Our sustained myths about what is required for a full and meaningful life is based on economic propagandas and social expectations. These myths actively foster consumerism and hedonistic behaviours at the expense of the planet’s health, biodiversity resilience and dynamic life processes.

• To live a simple life in a sharing and loving way is not honoured by our leaders of society and industry. Our children are being fed stories that there is a value and righteousness in striving for wealth of property, possessions and personal power.

Archetypal “demons” abound and simple grace has been swept out our humble abode’s door to be replaced with a multiplicity of sociopathic obsessive drives to “own”, “control”, “deny” and “destroy”.
Science and industry have basically reeled us in hook line and sinker. And as they reel us in, we bring with us a sad, toxic mess of waste, poison, useless possessions, extinct species and destroyed habitats. This coats us all.
Our collective focus is on destruction (be it often in the name of healing and “growth”) instead of joy, love, sharing and caring for our children’s future – their country, their skies, their waterways.

Industry and corporate greed has a face, so carefully hidden,  that it is a sick secret, chronically denied by wealthy “corporate and political” gamesmanship.

Have  compassion here for those less fortunate – those people who are dragging us into extinction – those people who, at the expense of biodiverse health, spend their life weaving more and more denial into their complex lifestyles as their ego slowly eats up their spiritual credibility and worth.
Individual champions who work , often without realising it, to alert us to these issues and who have lived simple spiritually worthy lives are few and far between.  Mostly, we follow blindly, falling prey to that human condition so well known to many Australians -
“she’ll be right, mate”.
Well, “SHE” is NOT right. “SHE” is very sick. The parallel of the collective earth to the individual human health condition is astounding.

• We fill our lungs with toxic fumes just as we fill the earth “breath” with the same.

• We clothe ourselves with functionless adornments just as we adorn our society and lifestyles with functionless “stuff”.

• Our inner organic systems of liver, heart, arteries and colons  are as choked as our wetlands, habitats, waterways,  and estuarine systems.

• Our skins and bones brittle, diseased and ill as are our soils, infrastructures and urban expansions.

• Our minds have become narrow, hollow and depressed just as our biodiversity has become thinned, weakened and sad.

• Our irrational minds, bent on extremities of lust, hate, greed, glory and imbalance are as extreme as the weather patterns that  greet each day. All the while our precious blue earth turns in space.

Individual responsibility has packed it’s bags and gone on holiday to that beautiful River flowing through Eqypt -  whilst corporate and political responsibility frantically creates more holiday destinations for our ego’s diversion.
Yet each day,  the world turns. Each day, I see in the life outside my door incredible beauty, complex balances and eons old life forces trying to recreate themselves with the best tools they have – adaption, resourcefulness, grace and steady tenaciousness.
Sometimes  -   Grace, that powerful gift from our one true GOD is not enough.
Sometimes, we must go further than Grace. We must stand our ground, walk our talk and summon reality with it’s consequences to that great tribunal, TIME.
And sometimes, TIME’s tribunal catches up with US.

The Sea, Belongil Beach, Byron Bay, Time and then…….?

Well, TIME always catches up – as it is an ever present constant in our human condition here in on our dear blue planet.
And time, my friends, whilst one of the biggest illusions of all, is there to show us exactly who we are.
It is a great mirror in a hall of mirrors, and every frame of existence is there, for all to see.
And whilst we, the great masters of humanity move “forward”, time is there from beginning to end.
To echo the words of John Keel, “the universe does not exist as we think it exists, and we don’t exist as we think we exist”
Much of my life I have been gifted with visions. Travelling beyond time, through the eons I have  watched many events and processes, both past , present and future. I have been beckoned by both the “devil’s” gifts of abundance and “God’s” gifts of abundance. I KNOW that love is the pathway, always through time, no matter how painful it may seem at the time. LOVE is the only healing measure that works. And Abundance ?- it comes from within and shines outwards.

Compassion comes from God and works through us. It is one of God’s greatest gifts to us, if only we can unwrap this precious gift and share it with ALL.  Remorse, self acceptance and the hard yards of love yield an eternity of bliss. Disdain, denial, the easier yards of hate driven anger and our ego’s thoughtless actions yield an eternity of suffering and torment. Choice, through our free will, comes to us through our stories. The stories we play in our head, the stories we hear from each other.

Choice through LOVE and innocence, comes straight from God. The choice to adorn ourselves in the same clothing that our rich “emperor’s wear,  cut for them by those deceiving “taylors”, is up to our free will. Our innocence, nurtured by love allows us to move beyond the idea of any choice and instead, walk hand in hand with God.

and… folks, just a few more photos to look at:- the bottom right one is of an environmental weeds workshop I conducted with some year 7 students back in the early nineties, in Ipswich, SE Qld. Back then, the Dept. of Environment & Heritage had only just started to compile Environmental Weeds lists and strategies for management. Climate change was not even a “buzz” word and yet many many people were aware of species extinctions, habitat threats etc. Vegetation surveys were scarce and development, which was running rife,  was known to be threatening the Koalas of the SE QLD region by many people, yet little was being done to help the Koalas. Developers and government officials largely ignored the plight of Australian wildlife, and whilst there were  dedicated “on the ground workers” and environmental campaigners, politics, corporate greed, corruption and deceit was the order of the day. How much has changed? I’ll leave that to you to tell the story.

**(From my stats figures, I gather that quite a few people use them as a  study resource to find further information on environmental, astrological and in particular habitat care issues.)

shop till you drop bop till you pop
the Bluesfest of Byron is near
the Belongil site’s ready
and Tyagarah looks steady

The Byron Bay Bluesfest 2009 clearly illustrates that the  dichotomy of human rational, ignorance and self-gratuitous environmental belief systems is alive and well in Byron Bay, 2009. The Byron Bay Bluesfest has a long history within the Mt Warning Caldera Region and beyond.
And the slow subtle degradation of habitats and environmental health in the Byron Shire also has a long history.  Players in this field (Belongil Fields and beyond) can pat themselves on the back, preen their egos and shuffle their heads back into the sand. I just wonder how many cigarette butts, bottle tops and pieces of plastic they will find there, after the Byron Bay Bluesfest 2009 is gone and the animals that have survived the trauma of forced relocation come back to their homes to continue their lives.
I love music, I love the land, I love the animals and the human spirits that live in this beautiful Mt Warning Caldera Region.  I pray with all my might that some mass consciousness shift occurs at the Byron Bay Bluesfest at Belongil Fields (or is it Tyagarah?) this year (2009), so that the coming years of Bluesfest “mania” (Tyagarah ?)become directly, immediately and thoroughly accountable to the authentic spiritual land guardians of the Mt Warning Caldera Region.
I say this, because it is clear to me that the Byron Shire is incapable of taking care of this beautiful part of the world – one only has to walk along the shoreline at Byron and through the parklands to see just how much plastic, rubbish, cigarette butts, bottle tops, batteries and god know’s how much unseen waste and toxins have infiltrated the habitats that they proclaim to protect.
The Arakwal people are the historical custodians of the land in this area. Their land stewardship preserved a unique and diverse environmental heritage, much of which has now been swallowed up by inappropriate 19th, 20th and now 21st century development.  Today, more and more people have an increasing  impact on this area and region, and from what I can see, the heritage and rights for the native animals that live in the Habitats of the Byron Shire have been severely compromised.
Words like “precautionary principle”, “environmental sustainability”, “caring for country” and “global crisis” mean nothing, when the current dichotomy of human words and actions are let loose on the planet. Please don’t let the “vision fade”.

2009 Spendour in the Grass Festival Yelgun

Byron Shire Council and the Splendour in the Grass Festival – article in Byron Shire Echo 27th January 2009

Environmental Defender’s Office NSW

EDO Compliance Portal – a tool to assist citizens in enforcing environmental law

Byron Flora and Fauna Study 1999 (google HTML) or at Byron Shire Council publications website

• The Echo Newspaper – Byron Bay NE NSW
• BEACON – Byron Environment and Conservation – Article in Byron Shire Echo archives April 8th 2008 – “The vision for Byron Shire is fading”, by Dailan Pugh, BEACON president, presenting an overview of the local planning process in Byron Shire. Good reading for an historical perspective of Current planning issues facing Byron Shire, NE NSW.
• Byron Environment Centre – “Serving the Byron Shire Community”
• Northern Rivers – Catchment Management Authority
• Byron Shire Council, NE New South Wales
• WIRES – Northern Rivers NWS, Australia – Emergency Hoteline
• Island Quarry -The Island Quarry Arts & Eco Centre – Byron Bay creating ” a model for sustainable living through environmental, economic and social activity” – Byron Bay, Northern Rivers, NSW
• Brunswick Valley Landcare Inc – this landcare website has a page on locality groups, so if you are in the area, and want to join a working group, have a look. There may be a group near you – including bird groups, dunecare, heritage, wetlands and much, much more ! The Brunswick Valley Landcare group also has regular articles in the Echo Newspaper.
• Arakwal National Park -
• Brunswick Heads Nature Reserve -
• Cape Byron State Conservation Area -
• Tyagarah Nature Reserve -
• The Byron Movement – a beautifully presented local Byron Bay website featuring information on Byron action, spirit, farming, arts, surfing, animals, wildlife and  much more.