Twenty Twenty Five
The Year to Change Perceptions and meet the moment
First, a few words about the image I have included with this article: as with most of my work, I start with a few bold strokes, which in turn guide me the rest of the way. Whatever needs to surface from my soul does so in a mysterious way. I’m always surprised, which is the beauty of creating and vital for my mental health and well-being, as it is for all creatives.
What follows are thoughts, concerns and hopes inspired by current celestial movements in the universe, specifically, Neptune moving into Aries.
For the first time since 1861 (the Civil War), Neptune is entering Aries this year, remaining until 2039. I don’t follow astrology faithfully, but my daughter sends me information once in a while that she feels I might find intriguing. Celestial movements and their effects on human characteristics and activities fascinate me. These effects have been known and followed throughout civilization as guidance for many.
It is not surprising that the division of states in the name of slavery, leading to the Civil War, has returned to haunt our country once again. We failed to resolve the underlying class and racial issues back then, so those ghosts are revealing themselves through the guise of intolerant individuals and organizations that are knocking down our doors with shocking fury.
There is no doubt that doors need to be pushed open to let the toxic air out and the fresh air in, but not to the point of no air, leading to total suffocation.
Much of our culture is based on individualism at the expense of the collective. This was true back in the 1800s and we continue to be strangled by bigots, robber barons, and the absurdly imposed societal norms set by a minority.
We have seen an explosion of opportunities encouraging us to look within ourselves, explore spiritually, emphasize mental health, employ daily meditation, and become aware of self and our environment in the name of creating a more humane world. If you consider Neptune, the planet of dreams, illusions, spirituality, and transcendence, this trend makes sense.
Unfortunately, America’s tendency toward greed and mass consumption is ruining everything good about our country. The congested spiritual, self-awareness, and mental health field did not escape this movement. Everyone wants a piece of the pie, claiming expertise, thus overshadowing those who really do know what they’re doing. An overabundant market of anything lessens its authenticity, and to gain followers becomes more about making money and less about helping people. This is true in so many fields today.
Moderation is a challenge in a society characterized by overconsumption and marketing manipulation. When there is too much of anything, boundaries collapse due to overwhelm. The lines between fact and fiction blur, and reality versus fantasy are indistinguishable. Confusion, loss of clarity, and misinformation campaigns become rampant. We are witnessing this dissolution in real-time through mainstream media, social media, and AI. The result is a profound cultish attachment to the squeakiest wheels with the least integrity.
Those who speak the loudest and perpetually are those with little substance.
I’ve always questioned much of what I see and hear. Truth becomes so convoluted and obscure that binge watching Netflix is preferable to facing the daily deluge of fuckery. I imagine most of us want to curl up and shut it all out more often than not lately.
Astrologically speaking, we just came out of Neptune in Pisces, which was a time of surrender, letting go of rigid structures and entering into a sort of enlightenment; new perspectives on old traditions. But as those rigid structures have fallen away at breakneck speed, the lines have blurred to the point of near oblivion. And those folks who don’t do well with the inevitability of change are fighting back with everything they’ve got and then some.
According to this current astrological event, the move into Aries is where we actually wake the hell up. Aries is direct, bold, and impulsive (which is good and bad), and as an Aries, I know this firsthand. We will be forced to face our illusions directly, reexamine what is essential to us and our communities, and fight for those things we have come to realize are important.
It’s a time of re-education. Think of re-aquainting ourselves with the U.S. Constitution and the reasons we fought for democracy in the first place. Not to mention, the silver lining to all this BS is that civics is back in vogue, at least with those of us wanting to retain our freedom.
Many people have been deleting their social media accounts or severely cutting back, and reevaluating their lives in the absence of 24/7 technology. There is a desire to reconnect with one's essence and engage in more truthful interactions with communities, the environment, and history.
There is a shift toward getting back to basics, including growing our own food and community gardens, groups working together to improve their communities, communal living, and bartering for items and/or services, which is making a comeback. Second-hand stores are one of many ways to reduce, repurpose, and recycle, but also an alternative to the expense and wastefulness of buying new. Bartering for services is another example.
Younger generations, in particular, seem more interested in pursuing their passions and earning just enough money to live comfortably and sustainably. I hear this from my daughter and many of her age.
I’m confident that if people look within themselves and their communities, they will find the things they need to survive to have a good life, such as looking to nature and creating something…anything. There has been a drift from acting as Earth’s partner, and we are experiencing how unsustainable this practice is both physically and concerning our mental health. We are suffering immeasurably from this loss.
Humanity is being weakened by the lack of emphasis on creative thinking and mark-making. Instead, we rely on others to define for us what is essential without regard to our desire for authenticity and substance, not to mention that we question our value.
This awakening is necessary to continue, or we will go the way of AI and robotics. To blow everything up and start from scratch is not an option, although some have been advocating this strategy.
I prefer we deal with what we have and meet the moment as directly as possible.
Image: Ruptured Ethos, 24” x 36” acrylic on canvas - This artwork visualizes my current mindset and was inspired by the shift in personal perspectives that occurs whenever societal norms and traditions challenge us. The imagery itself indicates the struggle to stay true to ourselves and our environment. But, as with all my work, each viewer brings their own sentiment.
As always, thank you for reading and following my writing.
Michelle Lindblom - An Artist’s Journey
Kelly, A. (2025, March 29). Neptune Entering Aries Will Completely Reshape Things. https://thecut.com