THE SOLAR ECOSYSTEM

e are accustomed to thinking of Earth Day as applying just to Earth and the concept behind the designation of this day is to think globally about our planet and its ecosystem.  But why not move beyond the limits of this world and include the entire solar system in our ecosystem?  We humans are anthropocentric so we are obsessed with trying to find "life" on other planets or moons in our solar system.  Is it possible that the planets themselves and the very stars that grace our night skies have a "life" of their own, despite our limited definition of life?  Astronomically, we need the other planets or at least some of them.  We need Jupiter to protect us from rogue comets like Shoemaker-Levy.  Can you imagine what would have happened if that comet had struck Earth instead of Jupiter?  It would have destroyed life as we know it on this planet!  We also need Jupiter to round up rogue asteroids like the Trojans which are captured in Jupiter's orbit.  We need our sister terrestrial planet Venus to help stabilize Earth's orbit (even Venus' rotation is tied to the Venus-Earth orbital period) and the nearest bodies to Earth - Moon, Mercury, Venus and Mars - effect Earth's magnetic field.

Astrologically, Jupiter is associated with environmental protection and with conservation of natural resources.  Our immediate environment is most closely related to the Moon and the sign of Cancer, both of which are also strong symbols of the home. When it comes to our home environment, almost all of us want security, safety, protection, and privacy.  Home is also where we commune with our favorite people, hobbies, and pleasures.  These same principles would seem to apply to the environment of our global and regional ecosystems as well.  If we don't keep them safe, secure and protected from pillaging by greedy interests, we won't be able to find any privacy outside our homes or experience the pleasures found in the natural world.  Jupiter is presently in the sign of Cancer so now is the time to focus on protection - not just from terrorism - but also on protecting the little bit of remaining, unspoiled, natural environment from greed and avarice.