text:
Tag Archives: Beatles
Astrology February 9, 2012: Venus Conjuncts Uranus
Posted by Patrice Thompson in Astrology February 1 2012
American women in combat, astrology for february 9 2012, Beatles, horoscope february 9 2012, John Lennon, Moon in Virgo, Paul McCartney, romance, US Military, Venus conjunct Uranus
COSMIC WATCH:
The Moon in "problem-solving" Virgo all day gives us a distinct advantage regarding fixing or correcting whatever is broken or in disarray in our lives. This may extend to a desire to want to tidy up our surroundings by de-cluttering.
Lovable Venus is also conjunct wild, radical Uranus in pioneering Aries today, so the relationship sphere may hold an element of surprise or unpredictability. Sometimes this aspect can also serve as a catalyst for forging sudden, electrifying ties between people. A while back, when I was doing some astrological research, I discovered that Paul McCartney and John Lennon met for the first time on a day when Venus was conjunct Uranus in the entertainment sign of Leo. Uranus also rules change and revolt. No one, of course, knew back then that the seeds for a musical and cultural revolution were being sowed that very day with Venus and Uranus united in the sky.
"A dream you dream alone is only a dream. A dream you dream together is reality." John Lennon
In the News: The Pentagon unveiled plans today that would allow women to serve closer to the front lines of combat in some new roles, including working as an infantry person in a battalion. This story is fascinating from an astrological perspective as we have the Venus-Uranus conjunction today exact in Aries, the sign of the military. Venus also governs women and Uranus is the planet of change and equality.
women in combat: http://www.usatoday.com/news/washington/story/2012-02-08/war-women-pentagon/53017764/1
peace and love photo: http://www.sxc.hu/photo/625278
Youtube Beatles Central Come Together
Lennon quote: http://www.brainyquote.com/quotes/authors/j/john_lennon.html
Disclaimer For entertainment purposes only. The information and data contained on and through this site is to be treated purely for your entertainment purposes only. Any prediction or other message that you receive is not a substitute for advice, programs, or treatment that you would normally receive from a licensed professional such as a doctor, lawyer, mental health professional, or financial adviser. Cosmic Life Coach Blog and Patricia Thompson provides no guarantees, implied warranties, or assurances of any kind, and will not be responsible for any interpretation.
Astrology June 23, 2011: Moon in Pioneering Aries
adventure, astrology, astrology for june 23 2011, astrology june 23 2011, Beatles, controlling, Elisabetta Canalis, George Clooney, George Clooney breakup with Elisavetta Canalis, George Clooney horoscope, healing, horoscope, horoscope for june 23 2011, horoscope june 23 2011, individuality, moon conjunct uranus, Moon in Aries, Moon square pluto, new beginnings, purge, rebel, transformation
COSMIC WATCH
"Action conquers fear." Peter Nivio Zarlenga
The Moon's ingress into pioneering Aries (4:24 am EDT) stokes our desire for new adventures. The Moon's conjunction with change-agent Uranus (1:24 pm EDT) also acts to propel us into the future and potentially provides us with more of a platform to "do our own thing," which the Aries Moon is already very receptive to doing. Rebel Uranus is associated with individuality and non-conformity. It encourages us not to render cookie-cutter responses, so this alignment can be very refreshing and rejuvenating for us, if we are but willing to be our true, authentic selves.
Later on, possible resistance from others to our plans, in the guise of the Moon's square to controlling Pluto (5:08 pm EDT), in authoritative Capricorn, may have us wanting to retreat back to our Cancerian Sun "crab shells." This may, indeed, be a very good time to go inside ourselves and examine our behavior and see if there is maybe something that we can either fix or purge (Pluto) that will help us to reunite more with our own sense of power, so we will feel less threatened or bothered by things external to us in the future.
Moon-Pluto can make us stronger by eliminating what is weaker or dead weight within us. Pluto governs the subconscious, and Pluto is always very ready to confer upon us deep insight, if we are willing to work with it. Moon-Pluto can be a very effective cathartic or healing agent. This configuration is also linked with actual surgery.
What would you like to reform or change about yourself? Anything?
Celebrity News: Actor George Clooney and girlfriend Elisabetta Canalis have reportedly split up after a two-year courtship. George (born 5/6/61) has transiting Saturn in Libra in his 7th house of partnerships now opposing his "love goddess" Venus in Aries in his first house of new beginnings.
This is, unfortunately, a textbook divorce or separation aspect. This is partly because Venus-Saturn often tends to make us feel "cut off" from others (Saturn inhibits our expression). Then, of course, when we get to feeling this way, we often end up erecting even more walls around us, which is not favorable or conducive for romance.
Too, this Venus-Saturn aspect can also simply indicate, that we have outgrown a relationship and that it is, indeed, time to move on, as Saturn does equate with natural endings and Venus rules relationships. Sometimes, too, with this influence, our ambitions and goals for ourselves, which are also denoted by Saturn, come in conflict with our relationship needs and we have no choice but to make certain adjustments in our lives. Either certain goals and ambitions go, or the relationships go, etc. Too, I am only talking in a general sense here about this aspect. I have no idea what, in reality, led to George's breakup.
With that said, George's horoscope also suggests that he tends to be a very private and emotionally guarded person, to begin with, as he has his Moon, ruling his feelings and women, tightly conjunct his Saturn in Capricorn, the sign that Saturn rules. In general, this more complex configuration makes it easier for a person to live by themselves (bachelor), as they naturally don't feel so compelled to share their innermost feelings with others. A large part of why we have romantic relationships is to share what we are feeling inside.
Plus, being a famous actor, he does have ample opportunity to vent his feelings on a world stage, vicariously playing different roles, and that may be enough emoting for him. Too, being so famous, he also probably needs to be a little defensive, at times, with others, to curb exploitation, gossip, etc. At any rate, I would think that Moon conjunct Saturn would despise living a fish bowl type of existence, and would vie for as much privacy as possible. George does have his assertive Mars in colorful, theatrical Leo, though, too, so he does know how to confidently handle himself and his affairs, and people will like him regardless. That planetary influence helps to make him very charismatic, especially with Mars in his fifth house of self-expression.
George's Venus in flirtatious, "conquest-oriented" Aries, also suggests that he requires plenty of freedom in romance, and that he also ideally does best with a partner who is very independent like himself. I also, unfortunately, don't have Elisabetta's birth chart to see what she has going on at the moment. Anyway, I wish both of them well. Breakups are never any fun.
Enjoy your Thursday! Too, don't be afraid to "do your own thing!" Remember, we are receiving that high-voltage prompting from Moon-Uranus today. We may even want to put on the hippie beads and bell bottoms. 🙂
engberg8 YouTube The Beatles Strawberry Fields
Clooney horoscope: http://www.astro.com/astro-databank/Clooney,_George
Clooney: http://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/entertainment/hollywood/news-interviews/Its-splitsville-for-Clooney-Elisabetta/articleshow/8963661.cms
daffodils: http://www.sxc.hu/photo/1324312
Disclaimer: For entertainment purposes only. The information and data contained on and through this site is to be treated purely for your entertainment purposes only. Any prediction or other message that you receive is not a substitute for advice, programs, or treatment that you would normally receive from a licensed professional such as a doctor, lawyer, mental health professional, or financial advisor. Cosmic Life Coach Astrology Blog and Patrice Thompson provides no guarantees, implied warranties, or assurances of any kind, and will not be responsible for any interpretation made or use by the recipient of the information and data mentioned above
Astrology May 22, 2011: "Feet Not On The Ground" Sun Square Neptune
Posted by Patrice Thompson in Astrology May 2011
astrology, astrology for may 22 2011, astrology may 22 2011, Beatles, creativity, deception, drugs and alcohol, escape, horoscope, horoscope for may 22 2011, horoscope may 22 2011, imagination, Mark Twain quote on illusion, music, Neptune conjunct Ascendant, otherworldy, Paul McCarney horoscope, Paul McCartney, psychedelic, sun in gemini square neptune in pisces, Sun square Neptune, The Beatles, vulnerable
"Don't part with your illusions. When they are gone you may still exist, but you have ceased to live." Mark Twain
This insightful Mark Twain quote may be of some temporary consolation to us today as we grapple with the psychedelic impact of illusionist Neptune, in "permanently out to sea" Pisces, exactly square to the brightly lit Sun in "talk therapy" Gemini.
"Father, please forgive us in advance, for what we say and do today. We haven't a clue. Amen." 🙂
Veiled, dissolving Neptune governs our urge for fantasy or escape. When its ray is activated, our feet seem to "not be on the ground." We are wanting to flee the real world for "other realms," including the world of our own, sometimes scary imagination, which Neptune presides over. With Sun-Neptune it is easier for us to be confused, bewildered, or bewitched.
Too, with this aspect, we are often unable to maintain healthy boundaries around us and we are more prone to letting in questionable elements that could serve to undermine us in some way. That is why we need to be a bit more wary of what is around us today and especially be on guard against deceptive (Neptune) forces. If something seems a little weird to us, chances are that it's only the "tip of the iceberg" and we need to run immediately for cover. The thing is about Neptune's pull, too, is that it often glamorizes things that are really not good for us (Neptune rules drugs and alcohol).
Of course, it is true that we still have the Moon in analytical Aquarius, which normally can help us to detach from our vulnerabilities and navigate things objectively, although the Moon is also pummeling the likes of "relationship" Venus (2:12 pm EDT), "defensive" Mars (2:46 pm EDT), and "logical" Mercury (5:53 pm EDT), making it potentially more challenging for us to relate to others logically and with a healthy sensitivity. Thankfully, though, the Moon will make a harmonious trine to "safe harbor" Saturn in "peace preserving" Libra by day's end (7:01 pm EDT). And, not to be overlooked, Venus, Mars and Mercury are still in "rock solid" Taurus, also boding well for our prospects of being able to successfully parachute back "down to earth."
Interestingly, cute Beatle, Paul McCartney, was born with his Sun in Gemini in his tenth house of career exactly square to dreamy Neptune in workhorse Virgo. Neptune is also exactly conjoined Paul's Virgo Ascendant, with the Ascendant being the window in which one views the world. Paul is a perfect example of how to effectively channel Neptune's more imaginative ray to one's own advantage, by being able to fully immerse himself into the world of his own creativity and also become a billionaire in the process. Neptune also rules music.
Beyond that, Paul, and the Beatles, actually served as a conduit to facilitate much of the planet's immersion into "Neptune's whimsical realms" through their floodgate of music, thereby freeing us from the prosaic drone of our daily lives. They acted as a Neptunian narcotic, in many ways, enlisting us as Sgt. Pepper band members as a surefire way of escape (Neptune).
Paul also has his initiating, pioneering Mars tightly conjunct focused Pluto in entertainment Leo providing him with obsessive drive and natural-born desire for self-expression and showmanship (his Moon is also in Leo). Right now, we also have Mars, Venus and Mercury in tangible, artistic Taurus trining Pluto in ambitious Capricorn, somewhat of an equivalent form of energy here, in addition to the "magical, mystery tour" invitation of today's Sun square Neptune.
dahlia flower above: http://www.sxc.hu/photo/1266786
YouTube OneOddDuck98 Beatles lyrics music video Magical Mystery Tour
Twain quote: http://thinkexist.com/quotations/illusion/
mosaic sun: http://www.sxc.hu/photo/1327692
For entertainment purposes only. The information and data contained on and through this site is to be treated purely for your entertainment purposes only. Any prediction or other message that you receive is not a substitute for advice, programs, or treatment that you would normally receive from a licensed professional such as a doctor, lawyer, mental health professional, or financial advisor. Cosmic Life Coach Astrology Blog and Patricia Thompson provides no guarantees, implied warranties, or assurances of any kind, and will not be responsible for any interpretation made or use by the recipient of the information and data mentioned abov
Astrology May 7, 2011: "Topsy Turvy" Cardinal Grand Cross
American Idol, astrology, astrology for may 7 2011, astrology may 7 2011, Barbara Walters, Beatles, birthdays for may 7, cardinal grand cross, cardinal grand square, change, creative, Elvis Presley, engaged, entertainment, FOX Network, going with the flow, horoscope for may 7 2011, horoscope may 7 2011, hurdles, Jennifer Lopez, Kate Middleton, marriage, Moon in Cancer, music, Nancy Shevell, Paul McCartney announces his engagement May 2011, Prince William, Robert Browning, Royal Wedding, Ryan Seacrest, Steven Tyler, Tim Russert 61st birthday, topsy turvy, zodiac
"Life's problems wouldn't be called 'hurdles,' if there wasn't a way to get over them." Unknown source
Things may be a bit more "topsy turvy" today with the Moon in emotional Cancer forming squares to unpredictable Uranus in Aries and restrictive Saturn in Libra, and also an opposition to reforming Pluto in Capricorn. This alignment activity sets up a dynamic cardinal cross in the sky. Cardinal sign energy (Aries, Cancer, Libra, Capricorn) is very active and initiating. The pace around us now could quicken. Somewhat of a roller coaster. We progress now by being flexible, aware, and simply going with the flow. Sometimes, this buildup of cardinal energy spawns heroic or uncommon efforts. Other times, creativity (Elvis Presley was born with a grand cardinal cross). Hopefully its appearance in your life today will have positive, exhilarating consequences.
BTW, last fall, when American Idol's two new judges were formally announced, Steven Tyler and Jennifer Lopez, we had a cardinal grand cross exact in the sky. Again, it can be a highly creative, energizing configuration. Also a time when we feel more inclined or compelled to roll-out bolder agendas for ourselves, or are more amenable to changing things up, desiring newness and freshness. I was curious as to how Tyler and Lopez would fare on Idol, being chosen at that time, but it appears that the viewer response has so far been favorable.
On a sweeter note, communicator Mercury and love maven Venus are aligned together in flirty Aries, boding well for weekend romance. This Mercury-Venus aspect will be exact on Monday. Too, with this same influence applying yesterday, it was announced that Beatle Paul McCartney is planning another trip down the aisle (trip #3) with his New York girlfriend of four years, Nancy Shevell (she's reportedly a cousin to Barbara Walters). Not sure of the wedding date. Paul, a Gemini, has adventurous Mars and expansive Jupiter in new beginnings Aries presently sextiling his Sun (sense of self), so he is going through a more enthusiastic, optimistic phase (Jupiter-Sun aspects are often advised for weddings). Coincidentally, we had a similar type of Mars-Jupiter energy (the conjunction) in the royal wedding chart last week of Kate Middleton and Prince William.
Famous Taurus Birthday May 7th: Taylor Abrahamse (20), late Tim Russert (61), late Johannes Brahms (178), late Robert Browning (199), late Piotr Illyich Tchaikovsky (171)
Have a fun Saturday!
dahlia: http://www.sxc.hu/photo/875744
YouTube 1812 Overture Tchaikovsky
famous birthdays: http://www.famousbirthdays.com/may.html
For entertainment purposes only. The information and data contained on and through this site is to be treated purely for your entertainment purposes only. Any prediction or other message that you receive is not a substitute for advice, programs, or treatment that you would normally receive from a licensed professional such as a doctor, lawyer, mental health professional, or financial advisor. Cosmic Life Coach Astrology Blog and Patricia Thompson provides no guarantees, implied warranties, or assurances of any kind, and will not be responsible for any interpretation made or use by the recipient of the information and data mentioned above.
Astrology April 22, 2011: "Sudden Infatuation" Venus Conjunct Uranus
22 Friday Apr 2011
Posted by Patrice Thompson in astrology april 2011
ambitious, appearance, astrology, astrology april 22 2011, astrology for april 22 2011, Beatles, beauty, birthdays for april 22, career, creativity, electrifying relationships, gay issues, Gay Rights, Glen Campbell 75th birthday, horoscope, horoscope april 22 2011, horoscope for april 22 2011, infatuation, jack nicholson 74th birthday, John Lennon, John Lennon and Paul McCartney meet for first time, love, Moon conjunct Pluto, Moon in Capricorn, Moon square Uranus, Paul McCartney, relationships, romance, unconventional love, Venus conjunct Uranus in Aries april 22 2011, Venus rules physical appearance and beauty
"All charming people, I fancy, are spoiled. It is the secret of their attraction." Oscar Wilde
The late Elizabeth Taylor and the late Johnny Cash (born just a day apart) both had their Venus (ruling love, beauty, creativity, and power of attraction) exactly conjunct high-voltage Uranus (urge for individuality) in self-expressive Aries. The Venus-Uranus conjunction is often the hallmark of charismatic individuals with unique talents and gifts (and often striking appearances). We have this very same aspect today in Aries for the first time in over 75 years (10:29 pm EDT).
This Venus-Uranus influence can also make us crave more emotional excitement in our relationships and also in our pleasurable pursuits (ruled by Venus). Too, we are possibly more inclined to forge ties (Venus) with more non-conforming (Uranus) types, or to people we normally would not be attracted to. Venus-Uranus is also known for having sympathy for those who are perceived as "underdogs," and this aspect often figures in prominently with the emergence of "gay rights" issues in the news.
Additionally, Venus-Uranus has a legacy of spawning "sudden infatuations" and instant "electrifying" relationships. Interestingly, John Lennon and Paul McCartney also met on a day when Venus was conjunct Uranus in entertainment Leo. Of course, we all know what transpired from that union. So, today could be filled with a lot of exciting possibilities for us, if we mingle. Too, this is a fantastic aspect for any creative endeavors.
Meanwhile, the Moon enters ambitious Capricorn (6:26 am EDT) today, kindling our desire to get ahead on the career front. The Moon's square to rebel Uranus (10:34 am EDT), however, could create some fallout for us, if we try to rock the boat too much. Also, if we are too greedy for power, we could encounter some opposition when the Moon conjuncts controlling Pluto (7:52 pm EDT). At the same time, however, this aspect could be a potent time for networking, as Pluto can denote important "movers and shakers."
Too, with the Venus-Uranus influence exact today, we may want to consider "altering our appearance," such as maybe trying out a new hairstyle, or adding more pizzaz to our wardrobe (perhaps something 'electric blue' for Uranus).
Famous Birthdays April 22: Jack Nicholson (74), Glen Campbell (75).
Happy Earth Day! Enjoy your weekend!
purple flower: http://www.sxc.hu/photo/1310951
birthdays: http://www.astro.com/
Wilde: http://thinkexist.com/quotes/with/keyword/attraction/
Jupiter Conjunct Uranus 11/22: Beatles Release Their "White Album"
Posted by Patrice Thompson in Celebrity Astrology, November 2010 Astrology
1960s, 500 Greatest Albums Of All Time, Apple iTunes Beatles Music November 2010, astrology, astrology for november 22 2010, astrology november 22 2010, Beatles, Beatles White Album, counterculture, experimentation, George Harrison, horoscope for november 22 2010, horoscope november 22 2010, iTunes, John Lennon, Jupiter conjunct Uranus, Jupiter conjunct Uranus in Libra, Jupiter conjunct Uranus in Pisces, Maharishi Mahesh Yogi, music, Rishikesh India, this day in history november 22 1968, this day in history november 22 1968 Beatles release White Album, transcendental meditation, While My Guitar Gently Weeps, Yoko Ono
This Date In History:
Beatles release Beatles also dubbed the White Album, the group's only double album. It was called the White Album because it did not have any text or graphics on it, only the word "Beatles" on a plain white backdrop.
Many of the songs in the double album showcase experimentation with music from a hodgepodge of unexpected genres including 1930s dance hall music and chamber music. At the time, the usage of these diverse styles into one album was pretty unprecedented on the pop music scene. Most of the songs were reportedly inspired during transcendental meditation sessions with Maharishi Mahesh Yogi in Rishikesh, India in the spring of 1968.
John Lennon's female companion and artistic collaborator, Yoko Ono, was also present with him for the first time in the recording studio for the production of the album, something that would later become more and more commonplace.
Eric Clapton played lead guitar on George Harrison's While My Guitar Gently Weeps. Other songs in the White Album: Dear Prudence, Back In The U.S.S.R., and Revolution 9. In 2003, the album was reportedly ranked number ten on Rolling Stones list of "The 500 Greatest Albums Of All Time."
When the White Album was released on Nov. 22nd, Expansive Jupiter in Artistic Libra was tightly conjunct Genius Uranus in the sky, with Uranus serving as a chief instigator of the Counterculture in the 60s. Mental Mercury was also conjunct Mystical Neptune, who was seriously meditating away with the Maharishi, too, in Probing Scorpio. Energizer Mars in Creative Libra was also exactly square to Libra's ruler Venus in Business Capricorn, another indicator of artistic expression.
With Dream Big Jupiter conjoined Rebel Uranus, there is often a deep need to "experiment" and "change things up." Perhaps why we have the merging of the different musical genres on the double album. Uranus symbolizes the wacky scientist experimenting in the laboratory. Too, with Jupiter-Uranus, Jupiter characteristically acts as a big cheerleader for the latter, goading him on in his constant quest for "new significant breakthroughs."
The Illuminating Sun had also just entered Adventurous Sagittarius that day, just like today. It was harmoniously sextile to both Jupiter and Uranus, acting as a "trigger" to that planetary duo's more "non-traditional" or "oddball" brand of creativity.
We also have Jupiter conjunct Uranus again now, this time in Neptune-ruled Pisces, a creative sign also associated with musical and artistic achievement. Just last week, with Jupiter getting ready to station direct in Pisces, Apple announced that its iTunes service would start selling Beatles music. Interestingly, too, when the White Album was being recorded, the Beatles were simultaneously debuting their new "Apple Corps," a multimedia business enterprise. Seems what goes around, comes around.
calendar: http://www.sxc.hu/photo/1072482
White Album: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/The_Beatles_%28album%29
http://www.sxc.hu/photo/1294432
day in history: http://www.brainyhistory.com/days/november_22.html
Disclaimer For entertainment purposes only. The information and data contained on and through this site is to be treated purely for your entertainment purposes only. Any prediction or other message that you receive is not a substitute for advice, programs, or treatment that you would normally receive from a licensed professional such as a doctor, lawyer, mental health professional, or financial advisor. Cosmic Life Coach Astrology Blog and Patricia Thompson provides no guarantees, implied warranties, or assurances of any kind, and will not be responsible for any interpretation
Patricia's Astrology Horoscope October 28, 2010: Soapbox Fever
Posted by Patrice Thompson in October 2010 Astrology
antiques, astrology, astrology for october 28 2010, astrology october 28 2010, astrology signs, Barack Obama, Barack Obama resigns Senate Seat November 2008, Beatles, Beatles Revolution YouTube Video Lyrics, Bill Gates, Bill Gates 55th birthday october 28 2010, Bill Gates birthday, Birthday for october 28, capitol hill, clothing, Founding of Harvard University on October 28 1636 in Cambrige Massachusetts, France, free horoscope, French Minister of Defense announces France may pull troops out of Afghanistan, Harvard University, healing, Higher education, higher knowledge, horoscope, horoscope for october 28 2010, horoscope october 28 2010, jewelry, Jupiter conjunct Venus, jupiter trine pluto, love, Mars enters Sagittarius October 2010, Mars enters Sagittarius October 28 2010, Mars in Sagittarius, maternal, Microsoft, Moon in Cancer, nurturing, Pluto in Taurus, politics, romance, romantic relationships, sagittarius rules politics, shopping, soapbox, speaking out, The Beatles, Thomas Jefferson quote on stands, US political elections november 2010, Venus conjunct Sun, Venus trine Pluto, visionary, war, White House, zodiac, zodiac signs
The Feminine Moon continues in Maternal Cancer emphasizing our nurturing instincts. The Moon is also lovingly supported here by Relationship Venus conjoined the Empowering Sun in Healing Scorpio. With Venus-Sun, we have perfect, soothing energy for forging intimate connections with others. Our creativity is also elevated.
Venus, too, represents "things of beauty." With Venus-Sun, we have more of a desire to be surrounded by beautiful objects. Therefore, it's a good day to go shopping for items of personal adornment (clothes, jewelry, perfume) or for decorative accessories to jewel the home front, especially with the Moon now in Domestic Diva Cancer. Too, with Venus and the Sun deposited in transitioning Scorpio, it may be a time when we can snatch some treasures at estate sales or consignment shops.
Meanwhile, Energy planet Mars, representing our will and self-assertion, leaves Intense Scorpio for Visionary Sagittarius (2:48 am EDT), where it is in search of wisdom and higher knowledge. Mars in Sagittarius has a deep need for learning, and also an equal desire to don the soapbox and speak out on the issues of the day. With Mars in Sagittarius, we will want to passionately begin rallying behind the causes we believe in, and not be afraid to state our personal views and opinions. (Mars will be in Sagittarius until December 7th.)
Interestingly, the last time Mars entered Sagittarius, mid-November of 2008, is when U.S. President-elect Barack Obama resigned his Senate seat. Sagittarius is the sign of politics, and with Aggressor Mars' entry into this sign, the upcoming U.S. midterm-elections, on tap for next week, are certain to become even more heated.
The intrinsic nature of Mars is "trail-blazing" and "pioneering," so it could be, theoretically, that with Mars in Sagittarius, incumbents may have a harder time holding onto their seats. It could also mean that many of us will be more energized to get involved in politics, this election season, instead of sitting on the sidelines. Mars denotes our passions and tends to "fire us up." On the shadow side, Mars in Sagittarius is more inclined to be impulsive, reckless, and scattered.
News Update: With Mars entering idealistic Sagittarius today the Minister of Defense in France announced that France and some other NATO nations may begin withdrawing troops from Afghanistan next year. Interestingly, Mars rules war and the military. Its departure from defensive, retaliatory Scorpio to Inspirational, Philosophical Sagittarius could be interpreted perhaps as more of a willingness to "tame the aggressive urge" out of hope that a "higher order of things" may prevail in the future. Sagittarius is more of a dreamy, visionary sign.
Activities highlighted now: cooking, decorating, teaching, learning, writing, politics, romance, parties, antiquing, healing, beauty treatments, personal pampering.
Quote For The Day:
"In matters of style, swim with the current; in matters of principle, stand like a rock." Thomas Jefferson
Famous Birthday Today:
American computer billionaire, Bill Gates, is 55 today! Gates has a Resourceful, Investigative Scorpio Sun, with a Pioneering Aries Moon (conjunct his Aries 10th house of Career), and a Nurturing Cancer Rising or Ascendant. Uranus, which denotes genius and originality, is conjunct Gate's Ascendant, making him futuristic and a trend-setter, and also very brilliant and original. In his money house, Jupiter and Pluto are also exactly conjunct in Flashy, Regal Leo, a classic signature of "mega-money." Happy Birthday, Bill!
On October 28, 1636, Harvard University was founded in Cambridge, Massachusetts. Jupiter, which rules higher education and colleges, was conjunct Venus, in Analytical Virgo. Venus rules "what we love," and combined with Scholarly Jupiter, there can be an "abundant love of learning." Jupiter, the expansive principle, also rules the Academically-minded sign of Sagittarius (which Mars is entering today).
Also, Venus and Jupiter were in a harmonious trine to Renewing Pluto, in Anchoring Taurus, suggesting that "educational pursuits" could provide opportunity for "transformation and firm footing." No telling how many doors have been opened, over the years, for individuals holding distinguished degrees from Harvard University.
Bill Gates horoscope: http://www.astro.com/astro-databank/Gates%2C_Bill
Youtube video Beatles Revolution
Thomas Jefferson quote: http://www.brainyquote.com/quotes/keywords/stand.html
Barack Obama: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/November_2008
college photo: http://www.sxc.hu/photo/964649
Harvard univ founded: http://www.brainyhistory.com/days/october_28.html
Patricia's Astrology Horoscope September 23, 2010: Harvest Moon
Posted by Patrice Thompson in September 2010 Astrology
astrology, astrology for september 23 2010, astrology september 23 2010, astrology signs, Beatles, Beatles In My Life Youtube video lyrics, Bruce Springsteen astrology, Bruce Springsteen birthday, Bruce Springsteen horoscope, free horoscope, full moon in aries september 23 2010, Harvest Full Moon, harvest full moon september 23 2010, health care reform takes effect september 23 2010, horoscope, horoscope for september 23 2010, horoscope september 23 2010, love, Moon in Aries, Moon square pluto, relationships, romance, self-discovery, self-knowledge, transformation, zodiac, zodiac signs
"Life is a process of becoming, a combination of states we have to go through. Where people fail is that they wish to elect a state and remain in it. This is a kind of death." Anais Nin
The shining "ever-so-brightly" Harvest Full Moon in "Self-Discovery" Aries. A wonderful time to go inside and reflect upon and nurture our own "self-love," for it is only after we truly love ourselves, can we be fully open and available to loving others and enjoying the magical Libra "partnership experience" as it was meant to be.
This Full Moon is also tightly squared by "Transformational" Pluto in Capricorn. With Pluto, we're invited (may be forced) to journey to our "very depths" and explore that inner territory that we often keep ourselves "blindfolded from" stemming from our "fear of the unknown."
But, it is in these "dark, untapped regions" where this majestic Harvest Moon is now shining its "brightest light" and where we can reap a "bumper crop." What is blocking us from "self love?" What is holding us back from having "satisfying relationships?" If we but only take the time to go inside, we may find out the answers to these deeper questions now, while also claiming some of our own "buried treasure."
In the news: With the "Pioneering" Aries Full Moon square "Transformational" Pluto in "Governmental" Capricorn, "government health care reform" begins to take effect today in the U.S. (Pluto rules insurance and reform, while "squares" force issues.) It is also notable that "Expansive" Jupiter is conjunct "Humanistic" Uranus in Compassionate Pisces which can indicate opportunities or "more benefits" for members of the collective (due to the "generous" nature of Jupiter). Pisces also rules the medical profession and health-care providers such as hospitals. Additionally, Trailblazing Mars is in Scorpio (a sign it co-rules with Pluto) which deals with insurance matters. Wherever Mars transits by sign, it often energizes the activities or affairs denoted by that sign.
Celebrity Birthday: The "Boss" Bruce Springsteen turns 61 today! Talk about "creativity," Bruce has 5 of his planets in his packed fifth house of self-expression, most are in harmonious sextile to his powerful Mars-Pluto conjunction in "naturally theatrical" Leo, in his money house, giving him "mass appeal" and also a psychological need and desire "for an audience." (Pluto rules the masses.)
Normally, when the fifth house of a horoscope is heavily aspect, the person "is an artist" in some capacity. Bruce's "Mental, Communicative" Mercury in "Dreamy" Libra tightly conjuncts his "Imaginative" Neptune, making him a spellbinding storyteller with his lyrics. Also with four planets in "Social, Idealistic" Libra it is natural for him to connect with other people and also poises him towards taking strong stands on "social issues," like fellow Libran, John Lennon, as Libra is a "cardinal" sign associated with "action." Bruce also has "Rebel" Uranus in his first house of personality endowing him with originality and genius and also making him revel in "defying convention" and "going against the norm."
Bruce Springsteen Dancing In The Dark YouTube video
Beatles In My Life YouTube Video Lyrics teide4x1
Harvest full moon: http://www.sxc.hu/photo/1120645
Sunflower photo: sunflower photo: http://www.sxc.hu/photo/1296267
Disclaimer For entertainment purposes only. The information and data contained on and through this site is to be treated purely for your entertainment purposes only. Any prediction or other message that you receive is not a substitute for advice, programs, or treatment that you would normally receive from a licensed professional such as a doctor, lawyer, mental health professional, or financial advisor. Cosmic Life Coach Astrology Blog and Patricia Thompson provides no guarantees, implied warranties, or assurances of any kind, and will not be responsible for any interpretation made or use by the recipient of the information and data mentioned above
Patricia's Astrology Horoscope September 19, 2010: Strange Ideas
astrology, astrology for september 19 2010, astrology september 19 2010, astrology signs, Beatles, Beatles A Day In The Life YouTube Video Lyrics, Bill Medley, BP oil spill, BP oil well declared dead in Gulf of Mexico, counterculture, delusional, dreamy, Elvis Presley, free horoscope, friends, George Clooney, group activities, hippies, horoscope, horoscope for september 19 2010, horoscope september 19 2010, humanitarian, Moon in Aquarius, progressive, Righteous Brothers You've Lost That Loving Feeling YouTube Video, Sun quinqunx Neptune, zodiac, zodiac sign
"It is our illusions that create the world." Didier Cauwelaert
We need to watch ourselves "closely" today, as we may be invaded by all kinds of "weird, strange ideas" via the Sun's queer "quinqunx" aspect to "I'm Purely A Figment Of Your Imagination" Neptune. Anytime Sun-Neptune pair up, things get a little "foggy" for us. Our judgment "gets cloudy." There's also ample opportunity to become "big time delusional" with this duo, as our imagination can easily "overtake us." However, we also need to clarify here that this "delusional thinking" thing does NOT extend to our thoughts and feelings about George Clooney and also his feelings for us. We're crazy about George Clooney and we know for a fact that he feels the same way about us! Don't you, George?
Another spooky realm with Sun-Neptune is people "lying to us," or at least "stretching the truth." We also would be wise, ourselves, not to tell any "big lies" to others today, as there could be "serious fall-out" for us later, if we do. (Notice how I also said "big lies." "Small lies" or "white lies," are perfectly acceptable to tell and generally "unavoidable" and "needed" in the course of daily living to preserve the peace and save face, don't you agree? Especially telling white lies about our age, weight, and whether we've had cosmetic surgery. Of course we're going to "lie" about all those things! Also another acceptable lie: "Honey, do I look fat in this dress?" "No, you look great! (big fate lie!)." I did, however, date a guy once who did "lie" to me about his age and, frankly, that did bother me quite a bit. He kept the lie going to me, too, for several years, before I finally found out that he was actually five years older than what he originally told me. Felt like a fool when I did find this out and also very deceived. What other crap did he lie to me about? So, maybe it's a "bad thing" for "men" to lie about their ages, but still "okay" for "women" to lie about their ages. Or maybe men can lie about their ages, too, but they need to come clean about this lie in a reasonable period of time. What do you think?)
On the bright side today, we do also have, perhaps, a "tighter grip on reality," this go-round with Sun-Neptune, because the Moon is now in "Objective" Aquarius, which is suppose to endow us with miraculous ability to "coolly detach" from our emotions and thoughts. Let's hope that this "detached ability" comes through for us today. On the plus side, too, Sun-Neptune can be highly creative. And, it also has strong "mystical overtones" to it.
As always, with the "Progressive, Group-Friendly" Aquarian Moon, this is a good time to immerse ourselves in social activities with friends, clubs, or perhaps partake in humanitarian outlets, which would be a very good thing for all of us to do. Too, with the "spacey" Sun-Neptune vibe, some of us may want to retrieve our hippie beads and bell bottoms and form a "temporary commune" maybe out in our back yards. Channel "fond memories" (at least what we can still recall) from the "good ole' days."
"Don't trust anyone over thirty."
"Make love, not war."
"Tune in, drop out."
"What's your sign, man?"
"That's groovy!"
Celebrity Birthday: Bill Medley of The Righteous Brothers is having his 70th birthday today. Bill was born with his Sun, Mars, and Neptune tightly conjunct in Virgo. His Virgo planets are also harmoniously trine to Jupiter, Saturn, and Uranus, all conjunct together in Taurus, which rules the voice. And, what a heavenly voice Bill has.
Was talking earlier in the blog about "Sun-Neptune" and how we had to "watch out" for this aspect today, as it can sometimes do "strange things to our psyches, including hijacking them, at least temporarily." Well, while the "shadow side" of this aspect can incite delusional thoughts, stimulate ego-denying experiences, and generate other assorted difficulties in various and sundry ways, the upside to it is that it can also be a "phenomenally creative" aspect.
If you're a musician, singer, painter, actor, photographer, film-maker, or dancer, Sun-Neptune is one of the best aspects to have because it gives a fertile imagination and the ability to visualize and conceptualize, often to the point of genius. It also gives incredible "psychic sensitivity," and can make one deeply compassionate.
Bill's Energizing Mars also conjoins his Sun-Neptune, intensifying his creative instincts even more. Elvis Presley had his Mars-Neptune midpoint exactly conjunct his midheaven (10th house of career). With Mars-Neptune, or Sun-Neptune, there is natural ability to be able to almost "hypnotically connect" with the public. It's a very mesmerizing, dreamy aspect, especially for an entertainer or performer to have. And we want our entertainers to be able to transport us to "other realms" through their craft, don't we? That's all part of the imaginative "Neptunian" experience. So next time you "get lost" in a song, realize that you're having a "Neptune" moment. Embrace the magic of it. Let it "set you free."
NEWS UPDATE:
With the Sun exactly quinqunx Neptune today (Neptune rules the sea and oil), WSJ.com is reporting that BP's blown-out oil well in the Gulf of Mexico has been declared "dead." The 150 degree quinqunx aspect indicates an "altered" or "adjusted" state. In this case, part of the sea's terrain (the oil well) is "adjusted."
Also notable here is the exact Jupiter and Uranus' conjunction in Neptune-ruled Pisces which can indicate "breakthroughs" (in the "Pisces sea"). So two powerful forces at play here.
Additionally, we have the powerfully energizing Mars in Scorpio sextile to healing Pluto, an aspect denoting "transformation" and "release." (Pluto also rules wells and "depth experiences.") Knowing that this well is now "dead" (a Scorpio state) will hopefully spawn a " transformational healing" process in many, including the sea itself.
Also, WSJ.com is reporting that Sahara India Pariwar is in talks to buy Metro-Goldwyn Mayer (MGM) for more than $2 billion dollars. This story also ties in with the Sun quinqunx Neptune today and the Jupiter conjunct Uranus in Pisces, as Neptune and Pisces rule film-making studios and motion pictures. The Jupiter-Uranus conjunction can bring about "sudden developments" and "new opportunities."
Bill Medley birthday: astro.com
Righteous Brothers You've Lost That Loving Feeling YouTube Video gaby1970
Beatles A Day In The Life Lyrics YouTube Video ObsessiveBeatles
Illusion photo: http://www.sxc.hu/photo/1142451
Didier quote: http://thinkexist.com/quotation/it_is_our_illusions_that_create_the/196840.html
Patricia's Astrology Horoscope September 10, 2010: Selfless Love
astrological T-Square, astrology, astrology for septembe 10 2010, astrology september 10 2010, astrology signs, Beatles, Beatles All You Need Is Love YouTube Video, beliefs, charitable causes, charity, fanaticism, free horoscope, good deeds, horoscope, horoscope for september 10 2010, horoscope september 10 2010, Jupiter conjunct Uranus, Jupiter in Pisces, Mars trine Neptune, Moon in Libra, pastor buring the Koran in Florida, religion, selfless love, spirituality, Uranus in Pisces, zodiac, zodiac signs
"Real love is when you become selfless and you are more concerned about your mate's or children's egos than our your own. You're now a giver instead of a taker." Sylvester Stallone
Moon continues in Peace-Loving Libra, alongside Planet of Desire, Mars, which is still harmoniously trined to Spiritual Neptune in Brotherly Love Aquarius. The Libra Moon is also trining Fantasy Neptune (11:57 pm EDT). Evangelizing Jupiter in Holy Pisces is conjunct Rogue Uranus.
Ideally now, we are seeking to connect with others in a more selfless way, mainly due to the activation of "Mars-Neptune," which can do much to stoke our idealism and compassion for others. At its most noble expression, this planetary energy is best used to perform charitable work and "random acts of kindness." Mars-Neptune also gives a tendency to sublimate our physical desires (Mars rule sex).
One pitfall with Mars-Neptune is the need to guard against self-delusion. Specifically here: Seeing ourselves as a "savior" to others, which can have dangerous ramifications for our egos and also for the people "we are saving." Or, another manifestation of this energy: We can encounter someone wanting to assume the "savior role" in our lives. (In my household, my little shihtzu seems to want to naturally wear this hat.)
Historically, whenever the more "destabilizing" or "delusional" side of Neptune's ray is activated, we often see more in the way of what could be described as "religious fanaticism" or "extremist views" manifesting, as Neptune has to do with spirituality and or the desire to merge with the divine or non-physical aspects of reality.
Too, there is always the risk, with any of our religious convictions, I guess, that they may periodically sprout on the more "bizarre side." We simply get "too carried away" and lose sight of the more practical considerations of the "real world." Or, for that matter, we simply don't care what happens, we're so "mesmerized" by our beliefs. Plus, we feel we have license, "from above," to do whatever we want.
This "extremism" also seems to be the case, at least, with that pastor in Florida, of a tiny congregation, who was calling for the "burning of Korans" on September 11th. He has since canceled the event, in the face of heavy opposition, including pressure from the White House to call it off.
Mars is the "planet of war," and with "Mars-Neptune" activated, we can feel galvanized to take aggressive action on our religious views. There's certainly nothing wrong with standing up for one's beliefs. What is often distressing and offensive, however, is the amount of intolerance that often seems to go "hand-in-hand" with the taking of these kinds of individual stands. Of course, it does not have to be this way, either. We can always choose to be tolerant.
Too, what makes this Mars-Neptune energy even more potent now, is the intense Jupiter and Uranus conjunction in Spiritual Pisces (which is also part of the ongoing T-Square with controlling Pluto and ambitious Saturn). Expansive Jupiter (which co-rules Pisces with Neptune) intrinsically tends to make us want to evangelize or convert others to our way of thinking anyway, and paired with loose cannon, rebel Uranus, who often wants to be a "law unto himself," we can easily go overboard with carrying out our agendas. This would definitely be the "shadow-side" of Jupiter-Uranus.
Also, it's just interesting how religion is dominating the headlines now, with all this stuff going on above us, isn't it? It has also, predictably, even made it to the late night shows with comedians.
One other thing worth noting here: John Lennon made his famous "off-the-cuff" comment about the Beatles being "more popular than Jesus," when Mars was square Neptune. That remark, which John later said was also 'misconstrued,' also set off a firestorm of criticism and led to some people, particularly in the southern United States, burning Beatles' albums in the 60s, as well as radio stations banning their music. (So we see with John's remark "about a savior," there was somewhat of a variation on the Mars-Neptune energy that I described above. Too, maybe John was being delusional, thinking the Beatles were more popular than Jesus. Although, maybe at the time, he was just simply telling the truth as he saw it, as the Beatles were really popular. He claimed afterwards that he never meant any offense to anyone's religious views, and I believe him. I also mentioned in my blog yesterday that John Lennon had Mars conjunct Neptune, in his natal horoscope, so he did maybe see himself "as a savior" in many ways. And, in some ways, to many people, perhaps John "was a savior.")
Beatles YouTube Video All You Need Is Love Lyrics
Stallone quote: http://thinkexist.com/quotes/with/keyword/selfless/


text:
CMC Opens New Cardiology Suite
Non-Invasive offices, new parking options part of major construction project
Catholic Medical Center celebrated the opening of the new Outpatient Non-Invasive Cardiology suite this morning. The ribbon-cutting completes the first phase of a major, hospital-wide renovation. In addition to the convenient, state-of-the-art offices, CMC also opened a new connector corridor between the McGregor Street sky bridge and the Level B lobby of the hospital. Patients coming from the parking garage can now access the cafeteria and the New England Heart & Vascular Institute without having to go through main hospital lobby.
Starting May 1st, patients can also use the new, complimentary valet parking service. Valet will be available at the hospital's front door and in the Notre Dame Pavilion parking garage, across the street from the main entrance. The service will help alleviate the stress of hunting for parking while trying to get to an appointment or visit a loved one.
"We're offering more high-quality services to more patients than ever before," says Dr. Joseph Pepe, CMC President & CEO. "These renovations help us meet that demand in a way that makes the best use of our resources. We are building CMC's future while also honoring the commitment we've had to this West Side neighborhood for the last 125 years."
Next month, CMC will open the 10-bed Clinical Decision Unit (CDU). This unit, adjacent to the Emergency Department, will monitor patients while determining whether they need to be admitted to the hospital or can be released. The CDU will free up much-needed space in the Emergency Department without impacting inpatient beds. It allows CMC to provide the right level of care to patients at the right time.
Renovations are scheduled to end in the fall, with the opening of a 10-bed addition to the Intensive Care Unit as the final phase of the project. The project also includes a refreshed Emergency Department waiting area, several relocated departments, and other improvements around the campus.
In the photo: Members of CMC's New England Heart & Vascular Institute and senior leadership team join President & CEO Dr. Joseph Pepe at the ribbon cutting Monday for the new Non-Invasive Cardiology unit. The group is in the new sky bridge connector hallway.

redpajama_set_name: RedPajamaCommonCrawl


text:
Q: Execute Function from Element I was wondering how to do something like this:
function fullScreen() {
    parent.webkitRequestFullscreen();
}

For example:
document.documentElement.fullScreen();

Or
myVideo.fullScreen();

How could this be done?

redpajama_set_name: RedPajamaStackExchange


Harris Marine Financing provides boat loans with the best rates and the finest service.
Our goal is to make your boat purchase an effortless process so you can quickly do what you really want - Go boating!
If you're on your way to being a first time boat owner, call us and we'll discuss any questions you might have. Or if you've got "two-footitus" and on looking for your next dream boat, we'll be happy to make this the fastest, easiest boat loan you've ever obtained.
We specialize in marine loans and know the market because that's all we do!


text:
Keywords: help seeking, minor-attracted person, Pedophilia, Prevention, Therapy
Preventing Sexual Abuse: Perspectives of Minor- Attracted Persons About Seeking Help
Levenson, Jill S., & Grady Melissa D.
Type of Work Research
levenson_grady_refs.pdf
The primary aim of this exploratory research was to gain information from minor-attracted persons (MAPs) about their
(a) formal and informal experiences with help-seeking for minor attraction,
(b) perceived barriers to seeking help for concerns about minor attraction, and
(c) treatment priorities as identified by consumers of these services.
A non-random, purposive sample of MAPs (n = 293, 154 completed all questions) was recruited via an online survey.
Results show that 75% of participants did seek formal help from a professional; however, just less than half of them found the experience to be helpful.
Characteristics of helpful therapeutic encounters included
nonjudgmental attitudes,
knowledge about minor attraction, and
viewing clients in a person-centered and holistic way.
Barriers to help seeking included
uncertainty about confidentiality,
negative reaction or
judgment,
difficulties finding a therapist knowledgeable about MAPs, and
financial constraints.
Understanding or reducing attraction to minors were common treatment goals, but participants also prioritized addressing general mental health and well-being related to
anxiety,
loneliness, and
low self-esteem.
Implications for effective and ethical counseling and preventive interventions for
MAPs are discussed.
[Introduction]
[Page 2]
About one in five American adults report childhood sexual abuse (CSA), with wide-ranging and long-lasting impacts on physical and mental health, making prevention of CSA a critical public health goal
(Briere & Elliot, 2003; Dube et al., 2005; Wolf,Nochajski, & Farrell, 2015).
Because sexual attraction to children is a risk factor forsexually abusing
(Finkelhor & Araji, 1986; Hanson & Bussiere, 1998),
early interventions for people with attraction to minors should be part of a comprehensive prevention strategy. The stigma associated with sexual interests in children or young teen scan result in avoidance of help seeking
(Freimond, 2013; Jahnke, 2018; Lasher &Stinson, 2017; Pattyn, Verhaeghe, Sercu, & Bracke, 2014).
To reduce the barriers to preventive treatment for minor-attracted persons (MAPs), we must better understand how to provide relevant services and improve access to service delivery for this difficult-to-reach population.
First, we would like to clarify our use of the term MAP.
This language has been developed not by the authors, but by B4UAct, an organization established in 2003 as a collaborative effort between mental health professionals and individuals attracted to children or adolescents. On their website, they define MAP (B4UAct, 2018):
"We use this term to refer to adults who experience feelings of preferential sexual attraction to children or adolescents under the age of consent."
The term MAP serves here as an alternative to clinical constructs such as
"pedophile"
(which is a psychiatric diagnosis and would exclude some MAPs), or
"pedohebophile"
(which is not an accepted diagnostic category according to the American Psychiatric Association, but is used by some researchers and practitioners to describe sexual preference for prepubescent and/or pubescent youngsters; Bailey, Hsu, & Bernhard, 2016).
The term MAP is preferred by consumers and is used descriptively here to avoid labels that sound either pejorative or diagnostic.
Minor attraction
Pedophilia is described as an exclusive or primary sexual attraction to prepubescent children in the Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders (5th ed.; DSM-5; American Psychiatric Association [APA], 2013), and carries with it a great deal of stigma in our society
(Imhoff, 2015; Jahnke, 2018; Jahnke & Hoyer, 2013; Jahnke, Imhoff, & Hoyer, 2015).
The word "pedophile" is often used synonymously with the term "sex offender," though not all people convicted of sex crimes against minors meet criteria for pedophilic disorder (APA, 2013), and not all people with pedophilia have sexually abused a child
(Kingston, Firestone, Moulden, & Bradford, 2007; Seto, 2008).
Some individuals, who refer to themselves as "MAPs" or "virtuous pedophiles," do not act on their attractions for a variety of reasons; they understand and appreciate why sexual abuse is harmful to children and they do not want to violate or take advantage of their relationships with youngsters (Mitchell & Galupo, 2016).
The scholarly literature about nonoffending MAPs is small but growing, and although they remain an understudied and somewhat misunderstood population, we are learning more about individuals who have sexual interests in children and teenagers
(Cantor & McPhail, 2016; Lasher & Stinson, 2017).
Much of what is known about minor attraction comes from studies of people convicted of sex crimes, and, therefore, differences between offending and nonoffending MAPs have been difficult to document. It is estimated that up to 4% to 5% of adult men acknowledge some pedo/hebephilic interests or tendencies across a range of indicators
(e.g., from those who have ever had a sexual fantasy about a child, to those who have had sexual contact with a child; Ahlers et al., 2011; Dombert et al., 2016; Seto, 2008).
Like most of us, MAPs typically become aware of their sexual interests during adolescence
(B4UAct, 2011b; Bailey et al., 2016; Buckman, Ruzicka, & Shields, 2016).
Some describe a recognition that as they grew older, their sexual attractions did not. Some studies have found that among MAPs, about 42% report a primary attraction to prepubescent youngsters, possibly meeting DSM-5 criteria for pedophilia
(Mitchell & Galupo, 2016; Piché, Mathesius, Lussier, & Schweighofer, 2016).
Recent Internet research recruiting more than 1,100 participants from websites for adults with sexual interest in children has shed light on our understanding of the spectrum of sexuality for persons self-identified as MAPs (Bailey et al., 2016).
In general, the researchers found
that few MAPs reported sexual interest in infants or preschoolers,
that the average age to which they were most attracted to either gender was 12 years old, and
that individuals attracted to male minors endorsed less sexual interest in adult partners than those attracted to females (Bailey et al., 2016).
About 12.5% of the respondents reported that they had been convicted of a sexual offense involving contact with a minor or for viewing child pornography, suggesting that the majority of MAPs utilizing informal Internet supports have not been convicted of unlawful sexual behavior (Bailey et al., 2016).
The limited research about MAPs in nonforensic samples suggests that they have higher education and socioeconomic status than those convicted of sex crimes, which may reflect a greater willingness and opportunity to engage in formal or informal help seeking through various professional or online resources
(B4UAct, 2011a; Mitchell & Galupo, 2016).
Formal and Informal Help Seeking
Formal help seeking involves taking initiative to obtain assistance from medical or mental health professionals, whereas informal helping seeking is typically described as support from family, friends, or other associates (Pattyn et al., 2014).
People endorsing higher levels of perceived stigma expect to encounter stereotyping or discrimination, and tend to internalize negative self-narratives that deter them from formal and informal help seeking (Pattyn et al., 2014).
MAPs report that barriers to seeking and receiving professional counseling include affordability and accessibility
(especially for teens or young adults who rely on financial assistance from parents),
concerns about confidentiality, and challenges finding therapists who are willing to see clients with minor attraction and who have the expertise to help them
(Buckman et al., 2016; Houtepen, Sijtsema, & Bogaerts, 2016; Levenson, Willis, & Vicencio, 2017).
However, other obstacles also exist, as elucidated in
(Buckman et al., 2016; Freimond, 2013; Houtepen et al., 2016) and
(B4UAct, 2011a; Levenson et al., 2017; Piché et al., 2016)
surveys of MAPs.
For instance, the societal rhetoric about people who abuse children
(e.g., "monsters," "predators," and "deviants," along with declarations that they are not amenable to treatment and will inevitably reoffend)
is rather damaging to the self-concepts of MAPs, who internalize these stigmatizing perceptions
(Buckman et al., 2016; Jahnke, 2018).
The shame and secrecy that result from this stigma prevent MAPs from reaching out to find role models, professionals, or confidants who might offer support or advice about how to deal with minor attraction and achieve a satisfying and healthy life
(Beier, 2016; Buckman et al.,2016; Piché et al., 2016).
Many therapists are unfamiliar with the disorder of pedophilia and, therefore, may
not feel prepared to work with people attracted to children (Lasher & Stinson, 2017).
Also, revulsion about sexual abuse of children can interfere with a professional's ability or willingness to provide appropriate therapy services
(Jahnke, 2018; Jahnke & Hoyer, 2013; Stiels-Glenn, 2010).
MAPs are often viewed as a threat, and perceived to be unable or unwilling to change; therapists might avoid working with such clients due to negative feelings, doubts about whether therapy can help, or fears of liability
(Jahnke & Hoyer, 2013; Jahnke, Philipp, & Hoyer, 2015; Stiels-Glenn, 2010).
When clinicians respond to MAPs in ways that are judgmental or invalidating, or when they disclose information that does not fall under mandatory reporting laws to "err on the side of caution," clients can feel betrayed and reluctant to seek further help.
However, though therapists who work primarily with people convicted of sex crimes might be more willing to work preventatively with MAPs, they may be inclined to disbelieve claims of nonoffending and erroneously apply sex-offender treatment models. They might paternalistically prioritize risk-management approaches over collaborative client-centered counseling methods (B4UAct, 2011a, 2017).
Although prevention might be a goal for some MAPs who seek counseling, many primarily seek help for other related issues, such as depression or anxiety.
Studies suggest that many MAPs who visited a counselor had negative experiences that dissuade them from further help seeking. These include
judgmental therapists,
breaches of confidentiality,
lack of compassion,
presumptions of criminal behavior, or
insistence on treatment goals driven by the therapist rather than the patient
(B4UAct, 2011a; Houtepen et al., 2016; Levenson et al., 2017; Van Horn et al., 2015).
Importantly, this means that some MAPs who wish to understand their own sexuality and avoid harming children may be unwilling to speak openly with a professional knowledgeable enough to help them. MAPs who wanted psychological services but did not receive them reported an exacerbation of mental health symptoms such as
suicidality,
withdrawal and isolation,
lost productivity,
fear and anxiety,
hopelessness,
and substance abuse (B4UAct, 2011a).
Furthermore, a small group (3%-4%) said that after being unable to obtain counseling, their attraction to youngsters escalated and they were later convicted for a sexual crime.
In surveys of clients in U.S. treatment programs for sexual offending, formidable barriers to obtaining help prior to arrest were revealed by those struggling with paraphilic disorders, especially those with pedophilia
(Levenson et al., 2017; Piché et al., 2016).
They identified a lack of access to competent and affordable counseling services and suggested that online or telephone resources would be a less threatening alternative to provide informational materials or anonymous support.
Embarrassment and fear typically prevented these individuals from reaching out for help, but when they did seek help, they reported often feeling judged or misunderstood. A few had encountered compassionate counselors who unfortunately seemed to lack the knowledge and competence to deliver effective interventions
A voluntary treatment program in Germany called The Dunkelfeld Project was
designed to reach out proactively to adults and teens with sexual preferences for children through public service advertisements. After the intervention, researchers observed some decreases in emotional deficits, offense–supportive cognitions, and risk-related behaviors; and some individuals reported an increase in sexual self-regulation
(Beier et al., 2009; Beier et al., 2015; Beier et al., 2016).
In contrast, in the United States, mandatory child abuse reporting laws deter MAPs from seeking professional help (whether they are at risk to act out or not). Prevention of child sexual abuse in the United States, therefore, has mainly involved tertiary prevention strategies, such as
criminal justice sanctions,
registration and monitoring policies for convicted offenders, and
treatment programs mandated by probation or parole conditions.
Current Study
The goal of the current research is to inform efforts to prevent sexual victimization of children, as well as to improve the well-being of MAPs. If perspectives of MAPs about help seeking were better understood, interventions could be designed to successfully engage MAPs in competent, ethical, and relevant services.
The specific aims of this exploratory study were to obtain MAP perspectives about
(a) experiences with helpseekingfor minor attraction,
(b) perceived barriers to seeking help, and
(c) treatmentpriorities as identified by consumers of these services.
No specific hypotheses were pre-offered, and questions were designed to elicit information and are analyzed primarily using descriptive analyses.
A nonrandom, purposive sample of MAPs (n = 293, 154 completed all questions) was recruited from three organizations:
"Stop it Now!" (United States and UnitedKingdom),
"Virtuous Pedophiles" (international), and
"Lucy Faithful" (United Kingdom).
These groups provide online support, resources, education, and interaction designed for MAPs who are concerned about their sexual interest in children. Stop it Now! and Lucy Faithful also operate telephone hotline services. The organizations agreed to provide a link for our online survey to their members through their websites, online forums, and email distribution lists. The link could also be forwarded to other MAPs as a snowball sampling strategy.
Surveys were completed online and were anonymous and confidential. The survey was constructed on the surveymonkey.com platform, designed for online data collection.
The first page of the survey contained an authorization for informed consent.
The survey was designed not to launch unless participants endorsed that they were above 18 years of age and clicked "yes" giving consent to participate. The survey included questions about sexual attraction to minors, prior help-seeking behavior, obstacles to help seeking, treatment needs, and demographics. The help-seeking questions were a modification of the general Help-Seeking Questionnaire (Wilson, Deane, Ciarrochi, & Rickwood, 2007), used with permission by the author, Dr. Debra Rickwood.
Given the anonymous and confidential nature of the survey, it was anticipated that the risk to subjects would be minimal if no incriminating questions were asked about information that could trigger mandatory reporting of child abuse in the United States.
We did not ask whether participants had ever engaged in abuse of children or whether they had ever been accused, arrested, or convicted. Consistent with anonymous online surveys, participants were not asked to sign a consent form, and consent was implied by clicking a button to agree to participate in the survey. It was expected that the survey posed no greater risk than would be encountered by discussion of these issues in other anonymous settings. Based on these protections, this project was approved by a university institutional review board.
Consideration was given to the complexities of online data collection such as usability testing, pilot testing, challenges in reaching desired populations, and detecting fraudulent responses
(Miner, Bockting, Romine, & Raman, 2011; Teitcher et al., 2015).
To engage their support in disseminating the survey to their members, the survey was vetted and beta tested prior to launch through personal contacts from the partner organizations. Because the primary intent of the current survey was to recruit nonoffending MAPs, [*1] an early draft of this survey was sent for feedback to three
MAPs in leadership positions in the forums from which we planned to recruit.
[*1 - As noted, we allowed snowball sampling in an effort to increase our reach to include as many minor-attracted persons (MAPs) as possible. Although our intention was initially to recruit nonoffending MAPs, when we began to explore the narrative responses, it was clear that many participants had indeed been arrested and/or convicted for sex crimes. This was apparent because they referenced being in court-mandated treatments. We elected to keep these cases in, as they provided informative data about obstacles to help seeking prior to offending.
They read the survey and offered useful suggestions for wording questions and avoiding language that might sound judgmental, presumptuous, or otherwise off-putting. Their suggested revisions were incorporated, and then they pilot tested the survey online through SurveyMonkey, and subsequent minor changes were made to increase clarity and user friendliness.
We were sensitive to the challenge in reaching this population due to stigma, shame, and fear, which is why we sought to distribute the survey through organizations who had successfully developed trust with their MAP constituents. Because we did not offer incentives for taking the survey, we were not especially concerned about fraudulent responding for personal gain. Also, because our recruitment was targeted through the online forums that cater to this population, there was little risk of fraudsters randomly accessing our survey for some other purpose. We did alter settings in SurveyMonkey to protect against multiple responses from the same IP address, and added wording in the consent asking participants to agree to take the survey only once.
Descriptive analyses are used to report prevalence of relevant variables. Some bivariate correlational and comparative analyses were conducted. Several open-ended prompts were asked so participants could write narrative responses, and some illustrative quotes are included here to supplement the descriptive findings. A full thematic qualitative analysis will be reported elsewhere
(Grady, Levenson, Mesias, Kevanagh & Charles, 2018).
A total of 293 individuals took the survey but because many skipped various questions, the sample size is different for each question. Table 1 depicts the sample demographics for those who answered those questions.
levenson_and_grady_table_1.pdf
Most participants were male (91%) with 5% female and the rest identifying as transgender or gender nonconforming.
The average age was 36 years, spanning a range of up to 80 years old.
The majority said they were single,
but 16% were currently married and
about 10% had been previously married;
about 15% were in a long-term relationship.
The sample was overwhelmingly White (92%) and highly educated, with
57% having a college or graduate degree and
27% having a high school diploma.
Nearly half of the participants were located in the United States (43%), with 37% in the United Kingdom and 20% in other countries.
The primary aims of the research were to gain information from MAPs about
(a) formal and informal experiences with help seeking for minor attraction,
The univariate descriptive analyses below reflect multiple choice or Likert-type questions.
Nearly three quarters of the respondents endorsed an attraction to prepubescent children 12 years or less, or attraction to minor teens aged 13 to 15 years.
More than half said they were attracted to teens aged 16 to 17 years.
This is consistent with other research reporting a spectrum of victim age diversity among people with hebephilia and pedophilia (Stephens, Seto, Goodwill, & Cantor, 2018).
Half said they were exclusively or primarily attracted to minors,
20% said they had equal attraction to minors and adults, and about
28% indicated stronger attraction to adults than minors.
About half said they were exclusively or primarily attracted to males.
Consistent with prior research (Bailey et al., 2016), those attracted to male minors endorsed less sexual interest in adults than those attracted to female minors.
Formal and Informal Help-Seeking Experiences
Many did seek help about their sexual interests, with
75% saying they sought services from some sort of mental health professional and
47% saying they tried to seek help from a website or Internet forum.
Some had called a phone helpline, consulted a medical doctor, or confided in a religious leader.
Half the respondents rated the experience as helpful or very helpful, but about one third said the professional was not helpful for them
(See levenson_table_2.pdf )
For those who went to a professional such as a counselor, medical doctor, or religious advisor,
71% said they had five or more sessions, with
18% having two to four sessions and 1
1% going only once.
When asked what was most helpful about the experience, given the following options to endorse,
81% said the professional listened and seemed to understand,
55% felt the professional was not judgmental,
52% said they were offered hope that they could change their thoughts or behavior,
50% said they were offered practical solutions for changing thoughts or behavior, and
34% said the professional viewed them as a whole person with numerous interpersonal needs, instead of simply addressing their sexuality.
Respondents from the United States were more likely to seek formal professional help than those from other countries, χ2(3, N = 120) = 9.533, p < .05.
Formal help seeking showed no significant differences between those endorsing sexual attraction to prepubescent children and those who did not, χ2(1, N = 147) = 0.480, p > .05.
Younger age was associated with formal help from a mental health professional, r(138) = −.43, p < .01.
More years of education was inversely associated with seeking formal help from a mental health professional, r(141) = .27, p < .01.
Years of education was inversely correlated with perceived barriers to help seeking, including fears of being reported to authorities, r(142) = −.26, p < .01, and fears that confidentiality would not be respected, r(142) = −.23, p < .01, but financial or transportation obstacles were not significantly associated with age or education.
Age was inversely correlated with the following barriers: fears of being reported to authorities, r(139) = −.31, p < .01; concerns about confidentiality, r(139) = −.28, p < .01; and being unsure how to find a therapist, r(139) = −.35, p < .01.
[Page 9, below Table 2 (see here above)]
An open-ended prompt invited participants to discuss their experiences with professional helpers. Some described positive experiences and relief in finding the right counselor:
"It's become like a drug, like gambling and I've struggled to stop. I hate myself for it and I WILL stop now I've found professional help and support from my family."
But others spoke of therapists making false assumptions:
"I am constantly insulted and degraded that virtually every person in society with normal adult attractions assumes that I am a liar with ulterior motives, that I struggle not to hurt children, and that one day I will inevitably slip and do just that."
In terms of informal help seeking, many participants indicated that they were isolated with few outlets for support.
About 47% said that nobody in their personal lives currently knows about their minor attraction, though
up to 37% did acknowledge that someone is aware (see Table 2).
However, the majority said that they never talk to another individual about their minor attraction. The most likely source of informal support was a friend rather than a family member. In response to the question "have you ever tried to talk to anyone about your sexual interest," no significant differences were found between those endorsing sexual attraction to prepubescent children and those who did not, χ2(1, N = 148) = 1.749, p > .05. Respondents from the United States would more likely talk to an informal support about their sexual interests than those from other countries, χ2(3, N = 121) = 26.398, p < .05.
In narrative responses about informal supports, some spoke of the helpfulness of online forums, after a lifetime of secrecy:
"Since the discussion the other day I have been able to discuss the problem fully with the Stop-It-Now councillor [sic], with members of my family and a close circle of my friends. It is like a dam has been opened. I don't know if this in itself will help in any way but it feels like a huge step forward."
Another believed that addressing minor attraction in sex education in schools might have encouraged him to seek help:
"For me my teen pornography consumption started in high school. I knew I was a hebephile but dared not even admit it to myself . . . If some information about where I could talk with someone about this or where I could find help been provided discreetly (snuck into a biology lesson or something) I would perhaps have reached out earlier than I did now."
Perceived Barriers to Help Seeking
Participants were asked about choosing not to seek formal help in two different ways.
First, they were asked "If you chose not to seek help from a professional to talk about your sexual interests or related concerns, what were the reasons? Check all that apply."
Positive responses were indicated by endorsing the items that applied to them (see Table 3). Next, they were asked to endorse concerns about help seeking on a scale of
0 (not true at all) to 4 (very true; see Figure 1).
table_3.pdf
figure_1.pdf
The most commonly endorsed barriers to help seeking were concerned about being reported to police or other authorities, followed by fear of a negative reaction, and concern that confidentiality would not be respected (see Table 3). For instance, 66% worried that they would get in trouble of some sort, and 72% expressed concerns that they would be judged:
"I think mandated reporting laws keep the vast majority of MAPs that would like to seek treatment, from seeking it . . . I don't think most of us know exactly what we can and can't say, how sensitive the therapist may or may not be, so we opt to stay away."
[Page 11, below Table 3 & Figure 1]
Others described actual breaches of confidentiality:
"I was reported to social services for being a MAP, despite saying that I had no intention to act on my urges . . . She suggested to me that I couldn't control my urges and that it was only a matter of time before I raped a child. If professionals saying things like that could be prevented in the future, that would be nice."
More than half said that they did not seek help because they believed they could
control their behavior and not act in illegal or abusive ways:
"The public perception of us needs to change, to let others know that people with these attractions aren't doomed to act on them."
Another concurred,
"I am not a danger to kids just because I'm attracted to them. Just like men aren't a danger to women, just because they are attracted to them."
Others were unsure how to find a knowledgeable professional, and two thirds endorsed that it was true or very true that they did not know where to go or who to call for help:
"I don't exactly want to call all psychologist offices in the area asking if they want to talk about my Pedophilia; being able to find them online and knowing they're available for that type of problem would make getting in contact less terrifying."
Many said that therapy was financially out of reach:
"Financial barriers are the largest concern and that holds true for me in general health care. If you can't afford to see to your general well-being, you surely can't afford most options for therapy."
In response to the prompt asking participants to elaborate about barriers to help seeking, one respondent stated,
"How about fear of being turned in? How about fear of being revealed through breaks in confidentiality (which DO happen to us, but almost never to anyone else)? How about a series of institutions designed to treat us as criminals instead of human beings? How about an army of mental health providers who cannot begin to place themselves in our shoes? How about how frequently mental health providers REFUSE to work with us at all?"
Geographical and transportation obstacles also emerged as concerns, and nearly one in five said that they wanted to seek help as a teenager but could not without assistance from parents.
About half of participants endorsed that they believed, based on news media reports, that they could not be helped. Others voiced the hope that they could find the help they desperately needed and wanted:
"To some people, having the attraction is a curse and not something the person wants. It's hopefully very obvious to professionals but I just want to point out that there is probably no one else hating me more than myself."
Similarly, another participant shared this:
"We have to get rid of the stigma. I'm not a bad person. I want to change. I'm not alone in this."
" . . . life would be a lot easier if society understood that having these attractions isn't a choice."
Treatment Priorities
Participants were asked to rate a number of items in response to the question, "What
would you want helping professionals to know about your goals for counseling? Please rate the following items using a scale of 0 (not a goal for me at all) to 4 (a very important goal for me)." The items are listed in Figure 2.
Understanding and reducing attraction to minors emerged as prominent priorities, but close behind were concerns about learning to have a healthy, satisfying life with close, authentic relationships despite the minor attraction.
"For me, I have impeccable self-control. I won't offend. I need help coping with the life sentence of being alone with no companion, no one to love, no one to cherish, and give my life to. I want the same thing everyone else wants. But through no fault of my own, I can't have that. Guess I need help with being bitter, as well."
Other goals that were important to many participants included managing sexual feelings and coping behaviors such as pornography use, dealing with shame and stigma, and working on one's sense of identity affected by societal views of minor attraction:
"While I believe sexuality is mutable to some extent, I am convinced that my primary attraction is fixed. I need help more in learning how to cope with accepting myself as I am. I hate myself a lot even though I have never acted on my attraction (except downloading pornography in the past)."
A majority said they would want to work on goals unrelated to sexual interest, identifying depression, anxiety, and low self-esteem as important therapeutic areas. A smaller proportion identified sexual frustration, along with sadness about the lack of opportunities for sexual gratification and unhealthy coping strategies such as drug or alcohol use, as topics of concern.
We also asked a similar question in a slightly different way:
"Some MAPs say that their concerns about other people's (expected) reactions to their sexual interests have contributed to other kinds of personal or emotional issues, either in the past or in the present. At any time in your life, have you experienced the following?"
Participants were asked to rate the items using a scale of 0 to 4, with 0 being not true at all and 4 being very true (see Figure 3 - here above). Many suffered from depression, anxiety, low self-esteem, and loneliness, and some struggled with related behavioral or interpersonal challenges such as difficulty concentrating, anger, feeling disengaged from others, and abusing drugs or alcohol.
Perhaps the most striking response was that 30% had suicidal thoughts and 23% had made one or more suicide attempts (see Figure 3; for this item, the instructions
read the following: use the scale to click 0 for no, or the number of attempts made).
For instance, one stated,
"To even think about it for the length of this survey brings high anxiety and depression. I know I would never be viewed the same way by others, even people who have given me high compliments. To seek treatment takes a great deal more courage, something I haven't always had. The attraction makes me feel suicidal."
Another said,
"I feel a lot of pain and hopelessness. The negative stereotypes and the stigma of MAPs echoes all around me constantly. I am in school currently and it is very difficult to be in a class like Abnormal Psychology and to hear the professor as well as other students in class make thoughtless comments when the discussion is about pedophilia . . . I feel very desolate and alone. I think about suicide every day."
[Page 15, below Figure 3]
The despair and despondence of some participants was quite evident:
"Seeking help is a joke; in reality if anyone knew, my life and that of my family would be ruined forever and I would probably have to commit suicide as there are hardly any worse things looked down upon by society."
An open-ended prompt asked what mental health professionals should know about MAPs. One respondent focused on separating the person from the behavior and said,
"I think when a young MAP has a lot of internalized prejudices, the mental health professional should show them that being a MAP doesn't make one a danger or in any way more likely to break any laws or be a bad person. Any mental health professional should also be open to talk and learn from MAPs."
Another stressed the importance of client-centered counseling:
"I think it's very important that the first thing a mental health professional does is listen when MAPs describe their attractions and experiences. Like those attracted to adults, all MAPs are different and may feel their attraction in different ways and express this attraction in different ways, so therapists should not seek to box in their clients or make assumptions without hearing what their client has to say."
Summary of Findings
The first aim of this study was to gather information about formal and informal experiences with help seeking for minor attraction. Findings reveal that the majority of participants did seek formal support from a professional. However, just less than half of them found this experience to be helpful, with one third stating definitively that it was not. They noted that therapists/professionals who listened well, were nonjudgmental, offered hope, and saw the MAP as a whole person with multiple needs beyond his or her sexual attraction was most helpful.
Many sought help from a website or an Internet forum, and the anonymous protection of the Internet makes online support groups ideal for stigmatized populations.
Isolation was common, as most indicated that they never actually discuss these issues or share their feelings with anyone in their lives. As other surveys have found, MAPs tend to feel isolated and alone in dealing with their feelings, burdened by shame, fear, and expectations of being misunderstood, or worse, shunned. Not being able to be one's authentic self breeds loneliness and psychological distress, and these results underscore the need for more helping professionals willing to provide competent and compassionate care for this hidden population.
Our second aim was to understand perceived barriers to seeking help for minor attraction. The concern raised most often by participants was fear of confidentiality being betrayed in some way, including being reported to police or other authorities. In addition, they also noted their fears of a negative reaction and judgment. Some identified logistical barriers, such as knowledge of resources and financial constraints. Also noteworthy is that about one in five participants wanted to seek help during their adolescence but could not do so without parental assistance. Many did not seek help because they felt that they could control their behavior and would not act on their attractions, despite presumptions often made by professionals.
The final goal of the study was to understand treatment priorities for MAPs as identified by consumers themselves. Although understanding and reducing their attraction to minors was a common treatment goal, the participants also noted their wish to have a balanced and satisfying life that included intimate relationships with others. Many wanted help with addressing identity issues and healthy coping behaviors, and
improving general mental health symptoms related to depression, anxiety, and low self-esteem. These priorities make sense when considering findings from qualitative interviews of MAPs in the Netherlands, where participants had much lower average scores (6.2 out of 10) on a subjective well-being scale, compared with the average score of 7.9 for other residents in the Netherlands (Houtepen et al., 2016).
Implications for Treatment and Prevention
These findings are consistent with extant research, and important implications can be gleaned from this study.
The first is that therapists, physicians, and other professionals need education and training to be prepared to respond to issues of minor attraction in a competent, caring, nonjudgmental, and client-centered fashion. Although it is not realistic to expect every therapist to develop the expertise to provide full services to MAPs, initial responses can be improved through exposure to information that challenges stereotypes, assumptions, and judgments about MAPs.
Furthermore, professionals need clarification about mandatory child abuse reporting laws to allow for ethical decision making. Informed consent procedures should ensure accurate and explicit conversations about the limits of confidentiality so that MAPs may engage in a therapeutic process that is transparent and allows for self-determination, beneficence, and nonmaleficence
(American Psychological Association, 2017; B4UAct, 2017; National Association of Social Workers, 2018).
It is also critical for professionals to evoke their client-centered clinical skills when working with MAPs. The most helpful characteristics of professionals encountered by MAPs were consistent with the abundance of research about the common factors of effective psychotherapy: Therapeutic alliance, collaboration, positive regard, and empathy are among the aspects of counseling that foster the best results
(Prescott, Maeschalck, & Miller, 2017; Wampold, 2015).
There are profound psychological costs associated with an internalized belief that one's true self must remain hidden and that authenticity is not possible
(Jahnke, 2018; Pachankis, 2009).
Thus, listening with a nonjudgmental stance while offering hope and viewing the person holistically is essential to a positive therapy outcome. This can be especially challenging for therapists faced with a client who acknowledges attractions to children. However, research suggests that even a short education and training program for psychotherapists about MAPs can reduce stigmatizing attitudes and increase empathy
(Jahnke, Philipp, et al., 2015).
Along with efforts to improve effective therapy for those at risk to abuse children, it is also crucial to reduce barriers to help seeking. Such strategies can address the stigma associated with minor attraction through public service announcements and educational information provided in medical and mental health service locations
(Beier et al., 2009; Houtepen et al., 2016).
Dialogue about minor attraction in sexual education courses provided in schools has also been suggested
(Houtepen et al., 2016).
Although potentially controversial, these prevention strategies might pave the way for readiness to seek help and support, either formally or informally. Moreover, these strategies may increase willingness of behavioral-health professionals to work with MAPs. This is especially important because social isolation and lack of intimacy can be a risk factor for offending.
"Until then, many individuals with pedophilic preferences remain standing at the edge of society, waiting for self-regulation to fail" (Houtepen et al., 2016, p. 63).
Finally, a crucial step in primary prevention lies in clarifying and rebuking stigmatizing labels (Willis, 2018). As discussed previously, the disorder of pedophilia is often confounded with illegal sexual contact with children, and instigates use of pejorative words such as "deviant," "monster," and "pervert."
Although some MAPs will meet DSM-5 criteria for pedophilia, others will not, and scholars have criticized the DSM's narrow focus and limited applicability to the heterogeneous MAP population
(Bailey et al., 2016; Imhoff, 2015; Marshall, 1997; Mitchell & Galupo, 2016; Seto, 2012).
In fact, given the mounting research on the lived experience of minor attraction, some scholars have argued that attractions to minors might be considered a sexual orientation
(Bailey et al., 2016; Seto, 2012).
Affirmative cognitive behavioral therapy (CBT) allows for the safe exploration of one's sexuality and acceptance of self
(Austin & Craig, 2015; Pachankis, 2009),
which is important in reducing shame and stigma and creating a positive self-narrative. This goal can be achieved while reinforcing appropriate boundaries and self-regulation, and offers a new paradigm for preventing sexual abuse of children.
Any self-reported data have inherent limitations. Especially with a stigmatized or shamed participant group, these include potential impression management or desirable responding. MAPs who choose to respond to research solicitations may be different in important but unknown ways from those who do not participate in research.
Nonoffending MAPs may be different from those convicted of sex crimes, but because we elected not to ask potentially incriminating questions about arrests, convictions, or abusive contact with children, we are unable to ascertain those differences in this study.
Importantly, we recruited through online support forums (Stop It Now!, VirPed, and Lucy Faithfull Foundation), and individuals who visit those sites are probably more likely to seek help than those not in contact with such organizations.
Therefore, it is not surprising that a majority of our participants had sought help, and this rate is likely higher than might be found in a random survey of MAPs. It is possible that only a minority of individuals attracted to children are interested in help, and they were overrepresented due to our recruitment strategy.
The sample size, though sufficient for these descriptive and comparative statistics, was moderate and may not be representative of the full population of MAPs. The sample is international, and there may be discreet geographical differences in experience that were beyond the scope of these analyses. Although we took steps to minimize conditions that might induce fraudulent responding, we have no way to confirm the veracity of responses. Nevertheless, the study adds to the growing literature about help-seeking behavior and treatment needs of MAPs, and because our findings are consistent with those from other studies, we believe that the results contribute valuable knowledge to the understanding of this hidden population.
> [Page 19:]
Ultimately, it is hoped that this project will contribute to prevention of child sexual abuse by promoting compassionate, relevant, and effective psychotherapy services that are accessible and available for those wishing to maintain an emotionally healthy and nonvictimizing lifestyle. The knowledge gained from the survey and narrative responses can help improve engagement in counseling, clarify treatment needs, and deliver appropriate clinical services for people with minor attraction.
In this way, MAPs can receive supportive services that address their mental health and psychosocial needs, reinforce their sense of self-efficacy and motivation to not abuse children, and encourage willingness to seek help if they believe themselves to be at risk for sexual contact with minors.
Importantly, many respondents indicated that concerns about the limits of confidentiality in a therapeutic setting were primary barriers to help seeking. This is probably most true in the United States. Mandatory reporting laws make it extremely difficult to envision a preventive program in the United States without a change in policy to allow for confidential help seeking. Some states now require a mental health professional to report viewing of child pornography, even without a contact victim. Therapists lobbied against such a requirement, citing concerns that MAPs would be discouraged from seeking preventive services, and that counselors would be placed in a position of breaching their ethical commitments (Clark-Flory, 2016).
Although mandatory reporting laws are designed to protect children, they may paradoxically increase risk when individuals avoid seeking help due to stigma and fear of consequences
(Beier, 2016; Jahnke, 2018; Lasher & Stinson, 2017).
Also, they may deprive individuals of mental health enhancement and relief from the distress caused by their minor attraction (Beier, 2016). We encourage continued advocacy for access to mental health treatment for those who wish to improve their well-being or prevent themselves from harming children.
Finally, we hope to emphasize that clinical services for MAPs are valuable not only as a means to prevent child abuse but also to further the quest of helping professionals to provide client-centered and nonjudgmental care to all who seek it.
By emphasizing MAP well-being and highlighting their own perceptions of treatment priorities, we do not intend to minimize the importance of prevention, to ignore risk, to suggest evasion of mandatory reporting laws, or to excuse child sexual abuse.
We believe that research can shed light on the inner experience of MAPs, and that this understanding can inform the development of competent, ethical, compassionate services. People do not choose their attractions, though they can choose whether to act on them. We hope that by engaging in this conversation, we can contribute to effective counseling that is grounded in science for individuals with minor attraction.
The authors take responsibility for the integrity of the data, the accuracy of the data analyses, and have made every effort to avoid inflating statistically significant results. The authors thank Shelley Kavanagh and George Mesias, research assistants on this project, for their meticulous work.
Declaration of Conflicting Interests
The author(s) declared no potential conflicts of interest with respect to the research, authorship, and/or publication of this article.
The author(s) disclosed receipt of the following financial support for the research, authorship, and/or publication of this article: This project was funded by a Raliance Grant from the National Sexual Violence Resource Center.
levenson_table_2.pdf