Wednesday August 18,  2021

Wednesday August 18,  2021

– First Quarter Moon Phase–step out, take action, breaking away, expression

– Gibbous Moon Phase–trust, analyze, prepare, digest, alchemy

– Moon in  Capricorn

– Planting Calendar (from the Farmer’s Almanac) –  August 18th – 19th – A good time to plant aboveground crops.

– Aspect of the Aeon Sophia: (Wisdom): Bhairavi (The Fierce One)

– Aspect of the Aeon Thelete: (Will/Desire): Kathe is Coming with the Solstice – God of the South

– Sabian Symbol for the Solar-Lunar Month – New Moon in Gemini: “A volunteer church choir makes a social event of rehearsal” (& “A watchdog standing guard protecting his master and his possessions”)

– Sabian Symbol for the Solar-Lunar Year: –“A Woman in pastel colors carrying a heavy and valuable but veiled load”

SUN – 26 LEO: After a heavy storm, a rainbow

EARTH – 26 AQUARIUS: A garage man testing a car’s battery with a hydrometer

Question of the Day today: Can you read a Map?

In our world today this is a funny question. Everyone has GPS on their phone. Why do you need to read a map?

Since I have been keeping it real and asking what you will do when the shit hits the fan, map reading is one of those little forgotten talents you might want to brush up on.

Where did you learn Map reading?

For me, I remember from way back. We used to go camping with a camper club every month. So from a young age, I would pay attention to where we were going. I would sit in the center front seat of our Cadillac and watch as my Mom would pour over the maps to navigate for my dad who was driving. We travelled all over Southern California; the mountains, the desert, the beaches. And other than San Diego, where we stayed at Mission Bay, we stayed away from the cities.

By the time I was 12, I knew about where the major freeways would take us out of Whittier. More often than nit we went to the San Bernardino Mountains or to nowheresville out in Riverside County.

When I got older and could drive, I learned to use the Thomas Guide. It was a Map book with a huge map of the LA and Orange County cut up into 5 mile chunks. It was perfect for finding all the back ways to go when the freeways were too jammed to drive. And Delivery driving made much better money than flipping burgers.

Even with GPS, a good map is a great tool to have. And when you don’t have GPS, maps are essential.

But again, technology and having GPS has made this difficult as well. Where do you get a good map? 10 years ago, there was a market for maps. And companies were printing them. Now, why should they? So where do you find them?

• Gas Stations – you might find maps at gas stations. And, specifically the kinds of gas stations that still have a garage attached. These are the old school These are the places that small of oil and grease, have automotive stickers on the windows and have a guy behind the counter in coveralls or a uniform shirt – stained with grease. It used to be where all gas stations would have a map stand. And they would usually carry both state maps and local maps. Last I bought one it was over $5. Note also that I doubt you will find maps at a Wawa or sheets or similar Stop and Rob stores. It is possible that they may have them. But I would not bet on it. Now adays you can rarely trust these to carry oil or wiper fluid.
• Book Stores – another relic of the past. Barnes and Nobel used to carry all sorts of Maps. Of course right next to them you can also find Nostalgic Atlases and Travel Books more suited to coffee tables than your glove compartment.
• AAA – Or any other Auto Club I would imagine. AAA used to be the best $30 you could spend every year. You could get Notary service, Free Towing, Locksmith service, roadside assistance (to change tires or bring you some gas and the like). But I would make bank on their travel services and free maps. When we would go on a trip, we would pay a visit to AAA and request a Triptik. This was a personalized map of where you wanted to go – highlighted and marked up with milage and everything (otherwise, pretty much everything you get when consulting Google Maps on your phone. Then they would give you maps of every possible place you will be going to and point out all the fun things you can do while you travel there. FYI – I looked it up. That same $30 membership is now $52, they limit the number of tows to 4 per year, but everything else is the same.

Get Yourself Some Maps

Consider this as advice given. When the Shit Hits the Fan, your phone and all communication will be gone. Dead. Over forever. And unless you are able to Shelter in Place and create a life for yourself where you are, you are going to need to know where to go and how to get there. So your tasks:

1. Get yourself some maps. Local Maps. Regional Maps. State Maps. Maps of anywhere that you think you may want to get to. If you are an Auto Club member, then they are free. Stock up.
2. Study your Maps – especially local maps. You may know your local area pretty well. But there are always hidden secrets that you can find. Learn to read your maps as well. Each map may have different markings and symbols, a different scale, geographical information. A map of Eastern Pennsylvania looks pretty simple. But when you get to the Coal Rills and the mountain climbs 1500 feet up straight in front of you, you will find things to be a little more daunting. And remember, that thin blue line might not be just a little creek and the only way across will be a bridge you have to know about.
3. Take a trip or two – This could be to find some of the places you discover on your maps. It may be a camping trip. It may be someplace you are considering for a bug out location.

Pay attention. Make this a fun adventure. The things you learn may be what helps you later when all hell breaks loose.