Crippling strike

Thurs 9 September – Wed 22 September
If last edition’s Mercury retrograde phase left you feeling rather symphoric, i.e. clumsy and accident-prone, then you will be glad to know that the retro comes to and end by September 11. But what about the numerous learners at schools whose educations have been disrupted by the three weeks of strikes, particularly the aspiring matric writers, who may end up failing or not qualifying for tertiary education because of this delay and disruption in the education system? Who knows how many innocent youths have been affected by this wage strike by the public servants, just another symptom of the Mercury retrograde in the sign of Virgo. Not only schools but also hospitals and the health care industry have been affected, potentially affecting the ill and HIV infected who could not receive treatment. Virgo themes include health and education. At its best Virgo symbolizes health care, hygiene and orderliness, along with a skill for public service. With the Sun currently in Virgo, as well as Mercury retrograde in Virgo, these themes are in the spotlight, but in a disrupted manner. Let’s hope September 11 is not too late to address the delays caused in these departments. A teacher friend told me how kids were being so intimidated in their townships by strikers that they had to dress in plain clothes and pretend to be going elsewhere when coming to school. Some teachers were even meeting their learners in libraries as the schools themselves were barricaded by strikers. Virgo epitomizes the good doctor, nurse, teacher and librarian, amongst others, but the retrograde has turned all this on its head. In the ancient Vedic culture of India a teacher or brahmana was of such high moral character that he or she would not even receive a wage, but would be willing to provide the service to society, while society so respected them, that all their needs were met. And gone are the days when the doctor or nurse took the Hippocratic oath, vowing to save any life. Even our president, Jacob Zuma, God bless him, is quoted as saying, "The abandonment of patients, including babies in incubators, as well as schoolchildren, is difficult to comprehend and accept, no matter how sympathetic one is to the needs of workers." Mercury goes retrograde about three times every year, but not always in the sign of Virgo. This current phase has been synchronous with the strike season and the disruption has been a difficult one for the entire country, particularly the poor.