Alaska, Hawaii, and Washington State have Caucuses today then everyone takes an Easter break until Tuesday, April 5th in Wisconsin. I'm sure you would agree that the rhetoric between Trump and Cruz - touching on the lives of their families - is not acceptable. Time for another break from the primaries and the rest of the chaos in the world. You would think this week's lunar eclipse in Libra was a way to set something in balance, but the opposite happened. As always we move forward with the thought that the program will get better or simply end.
April, May, and June are three months that bring huge changes to people's lives of all ages. The changes can be planned or come out of the blue. In case you are interested - the next time Mercury goes retrograde is April 28 - May 22, 2016. This should make presidential campaigning even more interesting and controversial.
If you are spending Easter with family members who set you off - or feel depressed about the holidays - take the high road and be nice to everyone. I know self-help teaches that one should be honest with themselves and their feelings but sometimes it is easier and better to suck it up and move forward without drama until your "normal life" resumes. Pretend to be interested in topics that you would normally tune out. Placate ... Placate ... On my ... did I type that? Try not to make commitments you might later regret. Don't start arguments over political, religious, and other philosophies with people who are on a different page. Let it go. They are not programmed to think the way you do. If there are children around have fun with them and try to ignore annoying adults. You might chuckle at your behavior through the day.
On Good Friday things were not good for millions of people across the planet. People mourned the loss of those who died by acts of terrorism that pervade our reality highlighted now with the Brussels Bombings.
Holidays mean different things to different people. For some it's a trip down memory lane through the lens of time - ancient architecture, tomes, legends, traditions and their personal experiences in both past and present lifetimes. For others it's about family gatherings or having a few personal days to relax and catch up on the things they never get to do. We know religions are not the same now as perceived throughout humanity's experiences in this part of reality. All holidays are based on mythologies - the historical record altered through time to fit the storyline one is experiencing. In 2016 many will honor the meaning of holidays in their culture - but life will go on in ways shaped by the linear past that focuses our consciousness in the present. Enjoy your holiday if celebrating.
Science and religion 'aren't as opposed as you'd think' Daily Mail - March 25, 2016
The debate about science and religion is usually viewed as a competition between world views. Research earlier this week found people suppress areas of the brain used for analytical thinking and engage the parts responsible for empathy in order to believe in god. But regardless of what side of the argument you're on, fundamentally the reasons why you believe what you do have a similar grounding.
In fact, the conflict has as much to do with culture, family, moral positions and political loyalties as it has to do with the truth.
The conflict between science and religion lies in our brains, researchers say PhysOrg - March 23, 2016
Clashes between the use of faith vs. scientific evidence to explain the world around us dates back centuries and is perhaps most visible today in the arguments between evolution and creationism.
To believe in a supernatural god or universal spirit, people appear to suppress the brain network used for analytical thinking and engage the empathetic network, the scientists say. When thinking analytically about the physical world, people appear to do the opposite.
Easter's Early Arrival: How the Moon Shapes the Date Live Science - March 25, 2016
This month, depending on which time zone you live in, the vernal equinox (the first day of spring in the Northern Hemisphere) occurred either on March 19 or March 20. The moon was full on Wednesday (March 23). It was the first one of spring, so it was called the Paschal Moon. This year, if you have not already noticed, Easter is going to arrive rather early: Sunday, March 27. The date of Easter has a curious link to the moon's phases. In fact, Easter will slip into April for the next eight years. Not until the year 2024 will Easter once again occur in March. At that time, the date will still not occur as early as it does this year (in 2024, Easter will arrive on March 31). We'll have to wait until the year 2035 for Easter to come earlier in the calendar than it does this year. In 2035, Easter will occur on March 25.
The World's 7 Most Interesting Eggs Live Science - March 25, 2016
Some are made of precious gems and have storied pasts while others are preserved with a mix of chemicals to create a delicacy and still others developed into chicks of the planet's largest bird, eggs are a scrambled bag, each with its own story to tell. Read on to find out how eggs have taken center stage in history, folklore and even pop culture. Make sure not to miss the tale of an immortal who stored his heart in one of these eggs. Oh yes, and an egg so large it could house 15 dozen chicken's eggs inside.
Why can't the date of Easter be fixed? BBC - March 25, 2016
Easter is early this year for those in the Western churches on 27 March and late for those in the Eastern churches on 1 May. But why is there still no fixed day for Easter? The English monk, the Venerable Bede, came up with a nice way of remembering when Easter falls - it's the first Sunday after the first full moon after the spring equinox.
Rabbit or Hare? Know Your Bunnies This Easter Live Science - March 25, 2016
If a rabbit or a hare were to hop across your path this Easter, would you be able to tell the difference? Both are furry and capable of pulverizing a vegetable garden, but they have several key differences. Here are some tips that will transform you into a bunny expert come Easter time. Rabbits and hares are closely related, said Mary Dawson, curator emeritus of vertebrate paleontology at the Carnegie Museum of Natural History in Pittsburgh. They belong to the same order (Lagomorpha) and family (Leporidae), but they have separate genuses.
