The very dissonance between that happy goal and the modern world is obviously one of humanity's current great challenges.  A good part of your answer lies in your ability to discriminate.  Identifying that which assaults you on many levels and categorizing it as beneficial or disturbing is your first line of defense, for if you know that certain people, certain noise, certain environment, or certain emotional states is equivalent to unhealthiness for you, you can begin to sort out and then tune out what you choose to pay attention to.  You can actually learn to use rational discrimination to give weight to the good stuff and remove importance from the negative stuff, and thus rebalance your world in the midst of torment.

Having discriminated all that is being thrust at you, you can then choose aspects of your immediate situation that are pleasing, even delightful.  Perhaps in a traffic jam, you see a beautiful tree or flower, or a cloud in the sky; horns are blaring, brake lights are constantly flickering, and your alert brain must pay attention to the drive.  But there can be a secondary aspect that appreciates nature.  Then again, someone is barraging you with negative information - information that encourages anger or speaks ill of a colleague, or describes the world in dreadful terms.  That person on a tv screen or sitting nearby can be heard as the same time your mind is enjoying the color of her blouse, or his complexion.  Somewhere in every moment is the means to refocus your mental power on beauty, appreciation, joy, and even love. 

AUGUST 2013 ASTRO TIDBITS   

The month starts off tense, even with some abrupt violence (Mars square Uranus).  During the second week, there are a lot of dramatic happenings (New Moon in Leo), as well as efforts to get past obstacles, perhaps by throwing money at problems - overreaction which will not be beneficial (Jupiter opposite Pluto).  By the 15^th to the 23^rd, communications favor technology and new ideas (Mercury trine Uranus).  Progressive innovations and even wild ideas may be attempted (Full Moon in Aquarius; Jupiter square Uranus).  Economic pressure continues through the 25^th (Venus square Pluto).  August 27^th is a very active but confusing day, with short-lived peace attempts, resistance and blockage to communications, and vague idealism (Venus opposite Uranus; Mercury square Saturn; Sun opposite Neptune).  The last few days from the 28^th - 31^st can see some attempts to lift spirits (Venus square Jupiter), and better news reports, perhaps with some progress reached through negotiations and compromise (Mercury trine Pluto, sextile Jupiter).

For The U.S., the first half of the month is beneficial for slow growth in the economy (Saturn trine U.S. Jupiter), and should bring good news about growth and expansion from the 2^nd - 5^th (Jupiter trine U.S. progressed Sun).  From the 1^st - 6^th, we are aggressive and hard-driving (Mars conjunct U.S. Sun/progressed Jupiter).  Much building and renovation can take place then.  On the 10^th, people are aggravated and belligerent (Mars square U.S. progressed Mars).  From the 16^th-17^th, there is little patience regarding romantic matters or having one's way via one's desires (Mars square U.S. Venus).  Most of the month shows new approaches and an individualistic spirit (Uranus trine U.S. Ascendant).  From the 19^th-23^rd, a lot of debates and arguments can reach the news and perhaps break a stalemate in Congress (Mars conjunct U.S. Mercury/progressed Node/Fortuna).  On the 21^st, emotions are very high in the news and with family or neighbors (Full Moon conjunct U.S. Moon in H3).  On the 22^nd, a shift takes place from compromise and politeness to more intensity (U.S.  progressed Moon leaves Libra and enters Scorpio).  Faith and spirituality still influence many people who long for a different type of solution to aggravating and divisive polarization (Neptune trine U.S. Venus, trine U.S. progressed Saturn in a Grand Water Trine).  The last days of the month show high energy to get things done but not much tolerance (Mars sextile U.S. Midheaven, square U.S. progressed Moon), yet continuing through September 1^st lovely opportunities to prosper and develop on many levels are available (Jupiter conjunct U.S. Sun). 

For President Obama, his month (as did recent months) continues a process of redesigning his dream (Pluto sextile his progressed Neptune).  From the 2^nd - 5^th, his efforts can help the economy (Jupiter sextile his progressed Pluto, trine his Neptune).  On August 6^th, he will be found at his desk for long hours under the signature of a workaholic (New Moon in his H6 conjunct his Sun).  On the 7^th, he can have some relief with pleasantries and social activities (Venus trine his progressed Midheaven), but on August 10^th he will be pushing hard for the results he would like to see on the homefront (Mars conjunct his progressed IC).  From the 11^th-17^th, he can make smart choices regarding business (Venus trine his progressed Saturn/Saturn/progressed Jupiter/Jupiter).  From the 17^th-18^th, he will make a lot of speeches, be overly generous, and find a good avenue through media (his progressed Moon into H3 square his progressed Jupiter, trine his Node).  Most of August through Week 3 gives him more flexibility to try new approaches or use innovative technology (Uranus trine his Sun).  During the second half of the month, he can make good use of resources and energy (Saturn sextile his Pluto).  On the 21^st, old patterns surface as he rebels and feels blindsided (Full Moon conjunct his South Node in H1, opposite his Uranus exact in H7).  He will be impatient and perhaps show anger on the 22^nd (Mars square his progressed Moon).  For the last week, his mind wanders and his hopes soar back into fantasy; he is too pie-in-the-sky (Neptune square his Moon)!

 H.R.H. PRINCE GEORGE ALEXANDER LOUIS is an early Leo, (0 degrees) which always emphasizes a new cycle regarding whichever sign it falls in, in this case a royal, a king.  It is to be a new life of rulership... and drama!  There is a great deal to do with issues of mortality, deaths, and also healing (his Sun is placed in the 8^th house), so he comes with a mandate to rule and perhaps preside over a sovereignty in which there is a great deal of catastrophe, so this will be an issue of great magnitude during his reign (Jupiter, Mars, and Mercury are also in this 8^th house along with the Vertex). 

    There is an indication that he will come in with a strong degree of executive abilities from previous lives (his Sun opposes a late Capricorn Moon - Capricorn being a business and executive sign).  But there can be deep differences of opinion between the parents (the Sunin opposition to the Moon), and he will feel a lack (Capricorn being cold and status conscious) of the love, attention, or special treatment that he (Leo) would prefer.

    He has a difficult combination indicative of emotional distance from the primary female figure, which could be his mother Kate, or could be another important female in his life (Sun and Moon in opposition are also squared to Saturn in Scorpio which is conjunct the North Node, and forms a t-square) with the likelihood of periods of depression(Moon square Saturn in opposition to a fiery Sun).  Also, sadly, the emphasis in his chart speaks of a life that is very colored by people's deaths (Scorpio the ruler of death and the 8^th house, along with Pluto opposite the Jupiter/Mars/Mercury stellium in the Cancerian 8^th house)... whether these are personal within his family or national within his realm can't be known as yet. These patterns do not bode for a comfortable life. 

    As saving grace, he is born under lucky stars for goals, ideas, and money(a lovely Grand Water Trine from Saturn in Scorpio to Neptune in Pisces to Jupiter/Mars in Cancer, involving the 11^th house, the 3^rd house, and the 8^th house) indicating that he will be protected, survive, and have help in accomplishing what is probably a difficult mission (in addition to the Grand Water Trine, Venus at 0 degrees of Virgo sextiles a few of these planets, and Pluto at 9 degrees of Capricorn does so as well, forming a Double Kite).  This type of favorable combination motivates people to utilize their otherwise too easy luck.

    Financial matters will be very important (Capricorn Moon in his 2^nd house and with Pluto in there too), and he will have a great deal of sway with economic decisions.  His chart is health-conscious (Venus at 0 Virgo), so perhaps he will have an influence in helping his people towards better nutrition and health standards.

    He has a very artistic combination, and romantic (Venus opposes Neptune), indicating that he can be quite a lover although too much of an idealist (Fortuna conjunct the Descendant, and the Ascendant also involved, in a Grand Mutable Cross).  A Royal usually must get married for the sake of perpetrating the bloodline, but he is "ruled by" the bachelor sign (Sagittarius rising).  So there is a great deal of desire for personal freedom, with further indications that he will be no one's puppet, will seek to be a free agent, will execute his duties but also keep a lot of freedom and perhaps a playful and athletic side to his nature (Uranus trines this Ascendant).

    Sharing the difficult pattern that everyone being born now has (Pluto square Uranus), he additionally suffers a tough combination (Cardinal T-Square aspecting personal planets such as Mercury, Mars, and Jupiter as well) which will give him a high-strung nature, perhaps a very intelligent mind, quick to respond, temperamental, forceful, and in short, quite a handful.  Over the course of British history, several royals have been hot-headed and difficult to handle, and Prince George will be no wimp in that company.

    He has another lovely pattern involving mental planets, friends, and perhaps a fascination with life's mysteries (Grand Water Trine from the Node to Mercury, and to Chiron).  His chart is busy, complex, and highly emotional.  Family will be very important to him throughout his life, and his life will be quite interesting although probably not easy.

    When most people see a baby born to such wealth, luxury, fame and importance, we think: what a lucky soul!  What a great life!  I wish I could have been born a king!  But be careful; this is not always the way it is.  An old saying was: "Uneasy lies the head that wears the crown".  And while it's no longer that dangerous to be royal and have one of your relatives seek to bump you off, it's still a position that can draw a lot of extreme and difficult challenges to the individual. 

    All hail Prince George!  He will need a lot of love and a lot of support in this incarnation.