There are shades of gray. If the person cheats I’m in the “he’s not going to change” category. If the person is from Sudan and grew up without parents and did something not so good, then, well potential.

Intent and understanding have a lot to do with the whole deal.

peace

people are “bubbles” of their individual experiences and perceptions. when soneone garners up all the pain and fear they own without resistance, repression or denial – some sort of chemistry of transformation is invited from the ethereal.
some reprobrates ( not all) seem more likely to be vulnerable to that alchemy.
basically i agree with Scott….

I think that the person is making a bad choice, and inside they know what they are doing is wrong. My personal belief is that there is good in everyone, and that good comes out at least sometimes. Like Chain mail. Some of it is made to teach people a lesson, but it is also bad. The people who make it probably think they are doing something good, or vice versa. Crimanals: they know deep inside they are doing something wrong, but on the surface they are thinking “Mwahahaha i’m so evil.” At least that’s my perspective. So i agree w/ Scott. I am ze 11 year old reader of the Elsa blog and don’t underestimate me!

It’s like the energy of an object: something that has possible energy. There are factors that would contribute to the stationariness of some. Some people just have inertia.

It’s easier for some to stay the same than to commit to change. Change means challenging what you hold dear. For some, their dear things are hideous to an outsider (drugs, crime, whatever).
So while I can see what Scott means–it’s true, people CAN redeem themselves, I lean on Special Force’s answer. For some, isn’t going to happen. Redemption will not happen in this lifetime for some people, because the work is too big for them to handle. And thus the inertia is born. And I have empathy for people–as I am sure both of these men do. If I felt that I couldn’t change my life when I was 16, I would be dead by now.

7th house Gemini sun. I’m not a Libra but I’m playing one in this comment.

What is closer to the truth is that I believe that some people can transcend and be redeemed and others couldn’t change their spots to save their lives. I’ve got a pretty good track record at being able to tell which ones are which.

I agree with Scott, because I need to have that belief. If I don’t, then there isn’t much hope in life, is there?

I always believe that it’s possible for people to change. I’ve certainly changed over the years, so why can’t they? I think it’s more a problem of whether they want to change… For some people, it’s easier to be assholish than not, and they pick the easy route rather than put the work into being decent.

I believe it is part to the human condition to have Transformation as an option.

I have to believe people are capable of change—but I also have to believe that some simply won’t. There are moments of choice, this road or that road? Ah shit, I sound like a Guru trying to cover all the bases. Basically, the choice is there and some people simply won’t take it even when it kicks them in the face. Cut them loose.

Marly, I just saw your question for me.

“Ooh, Lupa, how can you tell? Or is it more like a psychic thing and/or that you have to see people in person?”

First I want to say that I don’t think it is impossible for anyone to change but some people are willing to do the work required and some are never going to do it.

I do not have to see people in person to get alot of information about them. It is definitely a psychic thing for me and I use this intentionally when I do tarot readings or astrology for people. I occasionally get spontaneous information about strangers or friends, but my intention is that I do not snoop into people’s business. I only read people when they ask me to.

I couldn’t say exactly what my criteria is for giving someone another chance. I don’t forgive easily if I’ve been betrayed but I have made enough mistakes that I hope not to be judged too harshly myself.

(typing here in order to subscribe to the comments for this blog)

wyrdling – speaking as a reprobate, the last thing one of us wants is reform!

I really don’t know if all people can be redeemed–how can anyone be sure? I think of returning soda cans to the store. Will some people be redeemed for 5 cents?

If there is a God, then i hope God knows the answer. Speaking as a human though, i find some acts completely totally unredeemable and i suppose everyone has their list of the unredeemable.

I have Jupiter in Libra sextile Venus — but no Libran personal planets. Often I think there is no definitive answer. Except for my list of unredeemable acts, of course There should be universal moral laws here on earth. But many disagree on what those laws should be.

Sigh.

I’m not a Libra and I can’t decide!

Maybe I’m waiting to see what works and what doesn’t work for me.

Both of them may well be right! Sometimes, folks live in different worlds with different truths. And I’m still feeling out my world. Or… I’m still choosing my world.

Great topic. Fascinating. =]