You voted:

Leopards can change their spots…
Yes - Scott (54%)
No - Arie (46%)

If I were on the jury, I would vote with Arie. A reprobate is a reprobate is a reprobate! And Arie would probably tell you he knows about reprobates because what do you think he is? He’s a reprobate, of course!

Arie was a little 14-year-old reprobate criminal when he got his ass kicked but good. Crafty and arrogant, Arie decided he was going to extort money from a grown-up big time drug dealing reprobate, which turned out to be a major mistake.

In lieu of the payday he anticipated, he found himself beaten half to death, and that was before he was tied up and stuffed in the trunk of some killer’s car and driven around half the night!

And when Arie survived that night, yes. He did decide to take another career path.

And yes. He did spend roughly 35 years in service, and performed countless heroic acts. But please. Arie is still is a reprobate!

Like a sober alcoholic is still and alcoholic. Or like me.

I am a committed commitment-phobic! But I am still a commitment-phobe, are you kidding? I was born a commitment-phobic and how is that going to change? It’s not.

“Oh boy! I love this commitment stuff!”

Hah! That’ll never happen. You will never hear me say that.

Like the Aquarian who wakes up one day and wants to be smothered. You do what you want. I’m not going to hold my breath waiting for something like that to happen. Arie is right. A reprobate is a reprobate is a reprobate. Scott is right. People have free will.

I have decided the consequences of acting on my commitment-phobia are not worth the candle. I have decided not to act in a way that is criminal; however I still have a criminal mind! I stole a truck when I was 10, for Godsakes! I moved into a male barracks without bothering to join the army. I went undercover as gay man! Let’s face it! If I think I can get away with it, I’m going to do it.

And now I am the very grown-up advice-giving mother of two. And one of the things I am committed to is writing this blog. But that does not mean I do not wish to escape it on a weekly basis because I do. And it does not mean I do not have another escapade planned, because I do.

And if a random opportunity for some other outrageous exploit crosses my path, I will be on that thing in 2 seconds. How could I not? This is what I do. It’is who I am. And meantime?

Well, just like reprobate, Arie when he is out there saving lives for three decades. my criminal mind is all over this blog. It’s in virtually every post.

So there you go. A reprobate is a reprobate is a reprobate. And Scott, a compassionate person, is a compassionate person, is a compassionate person.

This is my story…

That was a great poll. 61% of you sided with Scott. 17% with Arie. 22% on the fence.

These are my thoughts on this matter…

I agree with Arie. I’m an astrologer after all. And you are born with your nature and your nature is your nature. Evidence of this abounds! And Arie could tell you all about it. About reprobates that is. Because I didn’t even finish listing his credentials!

Arie has been shot in the chest at close range. And he lived obviously. He was shot in a gas station toilet. By a whore no less, so how Scorpio is that? Hah!

So, Arie knows reprobates and he knows them at close range. And I am sure he would tell you when the thief gets out of jail and steals again it is no great surprise! Who would be surprised at a thief that steals, anyway? Or a rapist who rapes or killer who kills?

Further who would be surprised when a doormat acts like a doormat or a generous person acts generously? This is human nature. It’s astrology in action!

Show me a leopard who changed his spots. Come on! Find me one. It doesn’t happen. A reprobate, is a reprobate, is a reprobate!

So where does that leave Scott?

Well come on, people. Anything is possible. How can you say it’s not possible? It’s not possible to say something is not possible! Where talking about possibilities here, right? And miracles. And it is obviously possible there can be a miracle!

And what would Arie say to that?

Miracles, yes! But not when it comes to reprobates!

Ha ha ha!

And now you’re the jury. How do you vote? Do you still believe in spot-changing leopards? Or no?

And there is no “other” this time. Because this is court, maaan. You’re on the jury and you’ve got to pick side!

And I’m coming back read on this. My real read that is. This is merely my argument(s) for the court.

Thanks for all your comments and answer to the question, “Can people be redeemed?” I have Libra so I can see both sides of this debate on human nature and further, I could easily argue either one of them.

This is why Libras make such good attorneys, by the way. If you walk into court without fully understanding your opponent’s position you’re at a terrible disadvantage!

But anyway, I’m going to come back and do this. I’m going to argue both sides for the hell of it. But meantime, what about you?

And do you have any planets in Libra in your chart? What about the opposite sign, Aries?

Speaking of different perspectives, if you are going to run with a divergent crowd the way I do, there are time you find you have friends you respect at opposite ends of the spectrum. For example, take Scott and genius, Arie (a pseudonym). They are both derangedly intelligent men, who are fully actualized. By that, I mean they have both developed into distinct people. Neither of them is going to get blown around all that much.

Now Scott believes that redemption is possible for all human beings. He believes in miracles, he has seen them occur. He has seen people come from the depths and turn their lives around.

In contrast, Arie is quoted to say, “A reprobate is a reprobate is a reprobate!” And he has another one. He told me once that, “motherfuckers are going to do what motherfuckers are going to do”. And the thing is both men have life experience to support their theories.

Arie was a soldier in Special Forces and followed that up with a 30 year career as an Inspector for the San Francisco Police Department. He followed that up with a few more years service as part of the NYPD. On top of this, he has two degrees in the field of criminality, and a genius IQ so you’ve got to figure he knows something about reprobates!

On the other hand, Scott knows me. And I am sure if pressed I would be one of the people he would offer up as evidence to support his beliefs.

So what do you think? Can all people be redeemed?

And do you have stories to support your beliefs? Please share!

pictured - Hieronymus Bosch. Death of the Reprobate. Oil on panel. Private collection, New York, USA.

After spending a week thinking about the people I know and how I tap them for various things I started to wonder what roll(s) I might play for others. And I have a feeling if I asked I would be surprised. Because everyone I mentioned this to… “I call you for blah blah blah” was completely surprised over the way I see them and what it is I think they know.

For example, Scott had no idea I define him the way I do. I see him as the ultimate compassionate person. He’s not going to write anyone off, ever! “There’s always hope, Elsie.” This is what he says all the time about everyone, every time, and it’s really nice to know there is someone out there who will never give up on you. How’s that for the love?

So when I get in a situation where something falls off the page of everyone I know (which happens frequently around here), I call Scott and voila! There is still hope!

“You never know what’s going to happen. I have seen some amazing things,” he’ll say.

And I think this is his essence, but when I told him this is how I saw him… well he was oblivious. And the astrology?

Well, Scott has a 12th house Cancer Sun. He is just completely yielding. There is no way to get to a place with him where he will cut you off. Where “you” means anyone. Scott has limitless compassion for everyone, everywhere, all the time. Everyone gets the benefit of the doubt, and don’t forget, there is always, always, always hope! So I dial him up when I need some of this elixir.

And what about you? What are people seeking when they call you up? Do you know? Tell us!

The other day I was talking to a pal. It occurred to me I had this stable of friends. An array, you could say. And every friend I have is very good at being who they are. They are each very fine specimens of whatever it is they happen to be and I realized the other day that I milk this to no end.

See, when something happens in my life, I generally make the rounds. I call everyone who is currently tracking with whatever news I have and ask them what they think. What does a Scorpio think? What does an Asian think? What does the most emotionally sensitive person I have ever met think about this?

That’s not enough.

“What does a rich person think? How about a Special Forces soldier? Or a 12-stepper? Or a packed 12th house? You know. What does Pisces say? I am very curious.

And this works out really well. Because who doesn’t like their opinion solicited? Especially when you really want it! Because I could care less about having my own opinion validated. I want other perspectives. What else would Mars Mercury in the 9th house, hunt?

So I’ve been thinking about this and I have been become very aware of how specialized my friends are. For example, take Scott. He always thinks there is hope. No matter what is going on, or who it’s going on with, Scott can always imagine a positive outcome which is enormously helpful and soothing to me.

I call Pisces for fairy dust obviously, and Special Forces if I want to cover my ass. Because to him, everything is a mission of very serious import and you need always be aware of your back!

I could go on, but you get the point. If I run my circumstance through this mill, I am going to have a comprehensive understanding of whatever it is I am trying to deal with and I can’t imagine trying to deal with anything without this network!

So what about you? Do you keep an array of friends or do your friends tend to be like-minded?