Prominent persons born 11-Aj: James Brown, Franklin D. Roosevelt (32nd US president), Oliver Hardy, Quentin Tarantino, Queen Elizabeth the Queen Mother, Jon Foster, Alicia Silverstone, Ryan Braun, Betsy Brandt, Gabor Maté

After the road has manifested (10-E’) comes the anticlimax 11-Aj. Finding a road in the dark is all well and good, but I’m not home yet. I need a guiding light and a sense of destiny (Aj). It wasn’t my fate to lose my way in the darkness, it seems. I can lead myself out now.
Especially to men and boys, Aj poses a mystery of Authority. Traditionally, and in a vein which can resonate across cultures, Mom gives life and nutrition by means of Love. While Dad, let’s say, “applies the required individual adjustments” to fit odd-spring to general society. His means are authority.
It’s curious to examine one’s relationship with authority. Seldom does it show up in our awareness along with fond memories and feelings of gratitude. These are forever associated with mom’s great contribution to our very existence. But when taken in prospective, the inner authority I adopted by interacting with Dad’s authority bites equally contributes to my daily, rubber-meet-road existence.
So what did Dad do all this time, hanging around the living room after work, indulging himself in current affairs and team sports?
What were the hidden dynamics that played between his background and her figure?
What framed our family portrait? the one centered around the dual, twisted trunk that is our parents?
For the lion’s share of my life, my regard to authority was very simple and direct:
NO!
Then I had children.
Maybe it’s time to let the Old ways die?
Quentin Tarantino (11-Aj) is one of the movie-wizards (along names like Guy Richie) who shaped a violent, albeit whimsical period of the late 90’s. After crystalizing into a type-cast moviemaker, he’s been going strong ever since, to the delight of millions (of mostly men) around the world.
He even has the nerve of numbering his movies nowadays. And setting aside one of his works as his final.
In this confusing era of disempowered male Pitt wannabes, old Quentin makes good on his promise of brute force (or guile) eventually winning the day. A little something to hang on to, to pull my shoulders back for, and take a deep breath before reciting:
“And I will strike down upon thee with great vengeance and furious anger those who attempt to poison and destroy My brothers.” – Jules Winnfield, Pulp Fiction, 1994