Three days ago I received in one of my publications a comment from @steemitboard, in which they informed me that I have completed my first year in Steemit. A pleasant and significant surprise for me, which reminds me of all the reasons why Steemit is important on my personal path.

Those who follow me know my vocation for philosophy, psychology and all the subtle realities of the human being. As Fernando Pessoa, I feel that our lives are determined by transcendent forces that make us fulfill a role in the great universal concert. Much of my work consists of studying those forces, to discover if perhaps the meaning of our lives can be read as someone reads a book.

The symbolism of astrological and esoteric traditions has been a very useful instrument for me throughout my adulthood... that's why I mentioned Pessoa. Astrologers are used to making "astrological maps" every time an important cyclical event takes place in the life of an individual, and with this symbolic chart we dedicate ourselves to explore the possible meanings that the life of that person presents in the new cycle.

This is the "sky map" of my Steemian birthday:

The sky map tells astrologers a lot of things. It is like an extensive book with a wide knowledge on philosophy and psychology... we only must know how to "read it".

Astrology is not mere superstition but contains some psychological facts (like theosophy) which are of considerable importance. Astrology has actually nothing to do with the stars but is the 5000-year-old psychology of antiquity and the Middle Ages. ~Carl Jung

Every icon, every polygon, every measure on the map is transcendent data for everyone who understands the language of symbols.

Although it is not my intention here to teach that language, perhaps it would be interesting to mention my reflections on what this new cycle means to me. After all, this is my personal blog.

My condition as a cultural creator

Venezuela is not a country in which a filmmaker can develop his work in a satisfactory way. The destruction of the economy and of social bonds makes everyone concentrate his energies on a dynamic of survival, leaving aside the highest interests —art, philosophy, culture— that could give deep meaning to the lives of all people.

My personal situation is no better, but I continue to stubbornly maintain my vocation to give society profound messages that can make our lives more human, and heal the serious problems of Post-modernity.

Certainly there remains my heart (like the Moon over the Archer, representing an emotional commitment to wisdom), and that is why I endure such terrible hardships to further my cultural creation.

If I have to carry my ill father through all the hospitals of my broken city, I always keep my sketch book, my drawing pencils and my devices in my bag to continue creating culture, even if I am in the middle of hell.

Hardship has always shaped my life (like the Sun, Mercury and Venus riding on the Scorpion's back), but I know I have deep and beautiful reasons to resist and continue my ascent. Although I do not possess yet material resources I know that I possess a purpose and, in that sense, I am rich.

My plans

It is perfectly possible that, despite my great efforts, I will not find in Steemit a proper source of resources to develop all my cultural work. Nevertheless, this platform will continue to be a suitable space for my artistic and philosophical activity. And, without a doubt, I know that I will achieve some minimum income on a constant basis. That already has a value.

In my new cycle, my efforts will focus on these objectives:

• To establish a constant publication in my blogs, together with the publications on my website spirajn.com.
• To be able to efficiently divide my rough work schedule between publication, curation and interactions... Community building is an important thing for me.
• To develop and maintain my cryptoblogging school (about to be launched) to help cultural creators in my country (my friends and colleagues), teaching them to take advantage of crypto tools to continue developing their projects.
• To refine my promotion system, to well use all social networks for the benefit of my cultural work.
• To obtain sponsorship in Patreon, Liberapay, BitBacker and Minds. If I would receive fixed monthly donations, it would remove much of the uncertainty that hinders my larger projects.