Dec 31, 2010

Is it the Apocalypse?

Crossposted from Reflections Journal.



Okay. I say that a lot these days. But some mornings are so surreal I feel like I've gone to sleep in one world and woken in another. This is what I get for watching the news first thing in the morning. I should probably start with the coffee and work my way up to the news. Tornadoes, blizzards, earthquakes...

We're having "the stormiest New Years Eve in 60 years." I just heard that on MSNBC. With the Northeast still digging out from under the massive, Christmas snowfall, and the political fallout from same, fresh blizzards are now burying other parts of the country. All sorts of fun events are occurring, such as this hundred car pile-up on North Dakota. Snow, at least, is seasonal. Tornadoes, however, are not. But a freakish warm front has wreaked havoc down south, with confirmed tornadoes in  Arkansas and Missouri. At least three people have been killed.

A tornado fueled by an unusually warm winter air sliced through parts of northwestern Arkansas early on New Year's Eve, killing three people, injuring several others and knocking out power to thousands of homes and businesses.

The dead were killed at Cincinnati, a hamlet of about 100 about three miles from the Oklahoma border. Washington County sheriff's dispatcher Josh Howerton said the storm touched down near the center of the community. He said "lots of injuries" were reported, and officials in nearby Benton County said the storm injured two people and damaged five homes there.

. . .

"In the winter you don't always have the instability" that would allow tornadoes to develop, Buonanno said. "This time, we have the instability."

Dec 28, 2010

Cafe



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"Why Shamanism Now?" with Christina Pratt

Vitality and Life Force of Your Purpose

At the core of well-being is the cultivation of right relationship with your self. Shaman and host, Christina Pratt explains that, from a shamanic perspective, right relationship with your self involves your physical and mental health as well as your engagement with others, with your environment, and with the spirit world. And all of this is put into context by one thing-your unique genius or soul's purpose. Well-being in all of these areas can be cultivated when we feel vitality and energy. And when we don't feel our vitality, even getting out of bed feels impossible. Our vitality and life force rise and fall relative to how close or far away we are from our soul's purpose. As we set our focus on living our purpose in the coming year we draw inspiration from the words of Martha Graham, "There is a vitality, a life force, an energy, a quickening that is translated through you into action. And because there is only one of you in all of time, this expression is unique. And if you block it, it will never exist through any other medium and it will be lost. The world will not have it. It is not your business to determine how good it is, or how valuable, or how it compares with other expressions. It is your business to keep it yours clearly and directly, to keep the channel open."

Tuesday, December 28, 2010 at 11:00 AM Pacific

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Dec 27, 2010

Horoscope for December 27, 2010 – January 2, 2011

Cross-posted from Aloha Astro

Aries (March 21st - April 20th)
Work may be stressful at the beginning of your week, Aries. It could be that some things slipped while you enjoyed the holidays. When you return to your routine on Monday, it may be difficult to find your flow again. Extra time or thought you spend on work that takes attention away from a mate could be a reason for some frostiness in the area of romance early in the week, but as the moon progresses through your chart and joins Venus in your 8th house of intimacy on New Year’s Eve, romance should be back on track. Watch for a tendency to allow outer forces to sway you. You still have the planets assisting you in the guidance and intuition areas of life, but there is a chance a friend or group is not straight up or something about what they suggest is not the right path for you.

Taurus (April 21st - May 20th)
Are friends and social activities distracting you from work this week, Taurus? Work on your communication skills by using friends and group activities as a means to network and self-promote. Make plans to go somewhere special with your beloved on New Year’s Eve, or consider attending a dance or party specifically for singles if you are looking for a partner. The moon will be putting stars in your eyes that night. It would be a shame not to make the most of the energy when the moon kisses your ruling planet, Venus, and gives you an extra dose of physical appeal. Those loving feelings can lead to fantasies and daydreaming on the job. It takes supreme effort for you to apply discipline and focus at work. Thankfully, the holiday energy of the week will let you get away with sliding until next week brings a more grounded energy to assist you.

Astrological Trends for December 27, 2010 – January 2, 2011

Cross-posted from Aloha Astro

The beginning of the work week is busy on Monday, December 27th. In the morning, the moon in the last degrees of Virgo opposing Jupiter conjunct Uranus in Pisces and quincunx Neptune/Chiron in Aquarius could make you feel as though you have so many things to accomplish that you just don’t know where to begin. Emotionally, you may be feeling some post-holiday letdown and are already wishing it was Friday so you could keep the holiday feeling going. Maybe you are one of the lucky ones who doesn’t have to return to the working world today. You can find plenty to do with clean-up from weekend celebrations, chores, and errands. You will still feel the weight of Mars in Capricorn square Saturn in Libra this week. Not all squares are bad, just as not all trines are good. This combination of Mars and Saturn can help you find the ways and means of getting things done and pushes you to become more serious in your thinking and firm in your relationships. Make the best of it – it is losing effect and will fade by the end of this week. The sun and Pluto conjunct in earthy Capricorn can cause you to look more intently at things and anything that you feel strongly about can seem bigger and more important than it may really be. Mercury will be retrograde in Sagittarius for just a few more days. Continue to be cautious in transportation and communication. Get your plans for new projects together so you can be ready to move ahead when Mercury turns direct on Thursday. A mild semi-sextile between Mercury in Sagittarius and Venus in Scorpio aids in pleasant exchanges and even some flirtation between people. Mercury parallel Pluto makes for strong thoughts and speech, possibly about sensitive subjects. Venus parallel Neptune makes you feel nostalgic and romantic. Around dinner time, the moon in the air sign of Libra forms a brief but annoying square to the sun conjunct Pluto in Capricorn, which can trigger some “I’m right, you’re wrong” moments. When the moon is parallel to Chiron this evening, your day will end on a peaceful and possibly romantic note.

Dec 24, 2010

Boar's Head Concert: A Medieval Christmas



A History of the Boar's Head Festival

This pageant is rooted in ancient times when the boar was sovereign of the forest. A ferocious beast, and menace to humans, it was hunted as a public enemy. At Roman feasts, boar was the first dish served. Roasted boar was a staple of medieval banquets. As Christian beliefs overtook pagan customs in Europe, the presentation of a boar's head at Christmas came to symbolize the triumph of the Christ Child over sin.


Dec 23, 2010

O Christmas Tree: A Contemplation

Crossposted from Reflections Journal.



I love Christmas trees. Always have. Many of my warmest, childhood memories are of decorating the Christmas tree and waiting for Santa to bring me a Barbie, some Silly Putty, or an Easy Bake Oven. That's because I was raised in a Christian home. Pine trees and magical, gift giving elves were beloved by the baby Jesus. Remember? In the stable when Joseph and Mary were visited by the three wise men and Santa Claus, with his reindeer, and they all sang "O Tannenbaum?" Okay... Maybe I have that wrong.

So, how did the Christmas tree come to be such an integral part of Christmas? Like so many of our beloved Christmas traditions they derive primarily from ancient, pre-Christian, pagan cultures. Historically, they have an uneasy relationship with Christianity; alternately rejected as pagan artifacts and claimed vehemently as Christian rather than secular. Many Christians would probably be surprised to learn that the ancient pagan practice of decorating tree cuttings, which occurred in parts of the Middle East long before the birth of Christ, is specifically condemned in the Bible.

"Thus saith the LORD, Learn not the way of the heathen, and be not dismayed at the signs of heaven; for the heathen are dismayed at them. For the customs of the people are vain: for one cutteth a tree out of the forest, the work of the hands of the workman, with the axe. They deck it with silver and with gold; they fasten it with nails and with hammers, that it move not." ~ Jeremiah 10:2-4

The use of evergreens has a specific symbolic appeal in the dead of winter. Many scholars of paganism and goddess worship will tell you that pine trees represent eternal life because they remain vibrant throughout the dead of winter. I read about this in far too many books when I first started exploring goddess traditions, many moons ago, for me to source and cite them all. Here is a good overview from Religious Tolerance.org.

Dec 21, 2010

Mr. Deity and the Eternal Fire

Crossposted from Reflections Journal.



Today is the winter solstice. All over the world, throughout history, various traditions have celebrated this day by keeping the flame alive through the darkness. So I thought it fitting that I post this recent Mr. Deity about his version of the eternal fire. It's a little different and a lot meaner. Actually there are two recent videos in the player. The first one is very short. Both are excellent examples of why I love this series. Mr. Deity as played by Brian Dalton totally embodies the God of the Bible; the jealousy, the vanity, the caprice, the total lack of critical thinking skill... Of course he's decidedly more affable but I suspect it would be unwatchable otherwise.

Cafe



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"Why Shamanism Now?" with Christina Pratt

Ethics and the First Shaman

"The ethics of shamanic practice were brought by the First Shaman who was of Divine origins and not entirely human. The First Shaman brought knowledge and the skills across that broken bridge between the Creator to the humans in each shamanic lineage," explains shaman and host, Christina Pratt. "The First Shaman brings the teachings necessary for survival in all aspects of daily life, both ordinary and non-ordinary. The First shaman brought the teachings for how to live in good relationship with ones self, with each other, with the Ancestors and the beings of the spirit world, and with the physical environment. Cultures, traditions, and civilizations were all built on the knowledge brought by the First Shaman. The First Shaman taught the next shaman, a human shaman, how to work with the spirits, conduct ritual and ceremony and to serve the people. This is important for us as contemporary shamans to realize. Each shaman, though human, endeavored to walk the path of that First god-like shaman. From this effort comes the morals and the ethics of the practice as well as the continual need for personal sacrifice, cleansing, and ongoing transformation to stay on that path.

Tuesday, December 21, 2010 at 11:00 AM Pacific

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Why Shamanism Now? on Co-Creator Network
Questions? Comments? Call: 1-512-772-1938

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Dec 20, 2010

Into the Dark Night of the Solstice Eclipse

Crossposted from Reflections Journal.




This year's winter solstice marks a rare astronomical event. It coincides with a full lunar eclipse. So it will be a long, dark night, indeed.

As many as 1.5 billion people worldwide will be able to watch when the Earth's shadow creeps across the moon's surface early Tuesday morning, the first time in hundreds of years that a lunar eclipse will fall on the winter solstice.

With the full moon high in the winter sky, the lunar eclipse will be visible from four continents, with the best views from North America and Central America if weather permits, scientists say.

. . .

Geoff Chester of the U.S. Naval Observatory inspected a list of eclipses going back 2000 years for NASA.

"Since Year 1, I can only find one previous instance of an eclipse matching the same calendar date as the solstice, and that is 1638 DEC 21," Chester said, according to NASA. "Fortunately we won't have to wait 372 years for the next one ... that will be on 2094 DEC 21."

Horoscope for December 20-26

Cross-posted from Aloha Astro

Aries (March 21st - April 20th)
Thought followed by action occurs in all areas of your life this week, Aries. Your forecast sounds a bit broad, but the full moon in Gemini and total eclipse activate broad houses for you concerning thinking, teaching, selling, writing, and traveling. Other planets are keeping you busy with relationship and your career, too. As the moon moves through houses of your chart this week, it is forming multiple aspects with planets in houses opposite the transiting moon, so you do have a full platter. Literally anything and everything may require your attention. Not surprising, since it is a holiday week and you are likely to be doing more, seeing more people, and traveling to more places as a result. The mental stimulation and shifts the moon produces may have the greatest long-term effect on your work and career, but please read the Libra horoscope for more insight.

Taurus (April 21st - May 20th)
Personal values, money, investments, insurance, inheritance, or anything financial that looks toward the future are the important areas activated by the full moon and eclipse energy in the sign of Gemini for you, Taurus. A step toward greater responsibility and maturity with the intention of building wealth quickly is possible. The next area of your chart that is activated by the transiting moon will put you in touch with advisors who can help you attain your financial goals. Travel to visit family for the holidays is likely for many Bulls. Romance is heating up and turning serious. I think there will be a number of you giving or receiving a proposal of marriage and flashing an engagement ring this Christmas. Male and female Taureans both love precious metals and fine stones and I hope Santa remembers that well-known fact!

Astrological Trends for December 20-26

Cross-posted from Aloha Astro

Intense energy builds on Monday, December 20th, as the moon in Gemini approaches fullness and a total lunar eclipse early in the morning hours of the 21st. The mutable air sign of Gemini rules mental creativity, teaching, and learning. It is curious, playful, restless, fickle, and easily bored. I feel that the full moon and eclipse will show you areas of your life where you have been immature or not paying attention closely enough. In the evening, the moon opposes Mercury retrograde in Sagittarius conjunct the sun in Sagittarius while activating a T-square of moon opposing sun in Sagittarius, moon square Jupiter/Uranus in Pisces, and the sun/Mercury square Jupiter/Uranus in Pisces. Another characteristic of both Gemini and Sagittarius is the tendency to spin yarns or tell stories – in other words, lie. Pisces can do the same, but more through a casting of impressions or by alluding to things rather than using direct speech. It is rare for the mutable signs to lie deliberately with the intent to harm or mislead. It is their mutable, changeable, adaptable quality that leads them to shift their own energy to any given situation the way a chameleon changes colors to blend into the surroundings. It is a good defensive trait. They are all signs that love to be social, please people, and be liked in return. If that means embellishing the facts or telling a tall tale for entertainment value or to give an impression to get what they want, they will do so without a second thought. The mutable signs, in general, see the gray areas of life much more easily than the cardinal and fixed signs that see only the black and white. This full moon/eclipse/T-square pattern will ask you to look at the gray areas of your life. Where have you been too vague, misleading, evasive, or deceptive to yourself and others? Consider it a planetary game of Truth or Dare meets Show and Tell.

Dec 18, 2010

The Vatican: Enabling Predators, Passing the Buck

Crossposted from Reflections Journal.



As discussed, the Vatican refused to cooperate with the Murphy commission in Ireland and was apparently indignant at the request. Disclosures like this most recent one could explain their reluctance to being exposed. Here is yet another case of the Vatican refusing to defrock a horrifyingly prolific pedophile; a serial abuser with hundreds of victims.

The Vatican tried to stop Dublin church leaders from defrocking a particularly dangerous pedophile priest and relented only after he raped a boy in a pub restroom, an investigation reported Friday.

Dublin Archbishop Diarmuid Martin said he fully accepted the findings of the latest chapter in Ireland's investigation into child abuse by Catholic Church figures.

Martin called Tony Walsh an "extremely devious man" who should never have been ordained a priest, and said the report highlighted how the church had grown too powerful and arrogant in 20th century Ireland.

Dec 16, 2010

William Henry: The Seraphim, Kundalini, and Ascension

Crossposted from Reflections Journal.



As I mentioned here, William Henry has been contemplating the seraphim. He may not be experiencing stigmata like St. Francis but he seems to have had a revelatory experience, marking the  Coast to Coast interview posted below something of a break-through. Embracing serpent myths will do that. Take it from one who knows. As I said here, the definition Henry gives of the seraphim -- "winged and/or fiery serpents" -- describes the fully awakened kundalini. Here is a breakdown of the Biblical context of this definition from the Wiki.

Seraphim, literally "burning ones", is the plural of "seraph", more properly sarap. The word sarap/seraphim appears three times in the Torah (Numbers 21:6-8, Deuteronomy 8:15) and four times in the Book of Isaiah (6:2-6, 14:29, 30:6). In Numbers and Deuteronomy the "seraphim" are serpents - the association of serpents as "burning ones" is possibly due to the burning sensation of the poison. [1] Isaiah also uses the word in close association with words to describes snakes (nahash, the generic word for snakes, in 14:29, and efeh, viper, in 30:6).

Isaiah's vision of seraphim in the Temple in Jerusalem is the sole instance in the Hebrew Bible of the word being used to describe celestial beings: there the winged "seraphim" attend God and have human attributes:[2] "... I saw the Lord sitting upon a throne, high and lifted up; and His train filled the Hekhal (sanctuary). Above him stood the Seraphim; each had six wings; with two he covered his face, and with two he covered his feet, and with two he flew." (Isaiah 6:1–3) In Isaiah's vision the seraphim cry continually to each other, "Holy, holy, holy, is the Lord of hosts: the whole earth is full of His glory" (verses 2-3) before carrying out an act of purification for the prophet (verses 6-7). It is possible that these are winged snake-beings, but given that the word "seraphim" is not attached as an adjective or modifier to other snake-words ("nahash," etc.), as is the case in every other occurrence of the word, it is more probable that they are variants of the "fiery" lesser deities making up God's divine court.[3]

"Seraphim" appear in the 2nd century B.C. Book of Enoch[4] where they are designated as drakones (δράκονες "serpents"), and are mentioned, in conjunction with the cherubim as the heavenly creatures standing nearest to the throne of God. In the late 1st century A.D. Book of Revelation (iv. 4-8) they are described as being forever in God's presence and praising Him constantly: "Day and night with out ceasing they sing: 'Holy, holy, holy is the Lord God Almighty, who was and is and is to come.'" They appear also in the Christian Gnostic text On the Origin of the World, described as "dragon-shaped angels".[5]

Dec 15, 2010

Prince Charles On Sacred Geometry

Crossposted from Reflections Journal.



Well, color me gobsmacked. I've just added to my bookstore, of all things, a book by Prince Charles. I never thought I'd see the day. But this headline on The Huffington Post caught my eye: "Prince Charles Reflects on 'Sacred Geometry.'" Not only does he demonstrate a solid knowledge of sacred geometry but he is speaking to something that I have been saying for years; that if we constructed things according to the principles of sacred geometry, we would have far more efficient and durable systems. It's something that drives me mental, actually, on a daily basis. Little things like the way shampoo bottles tip over in the shower because the structure and weight don't account for changing center of gravity as you use up the shampoo. And, of course, on a grand scale everything from urban planning to architecture to farming would benefit from following the laws and principles of the natural world instead of fighting them. These greater world problems are what Prince Charles is addressing his book Harmony: A New Way of Looking at Our World.

Dec 14, 2010

Cafe



Around the Web, Around the World


"Why Shamanism Now?" with Christina Pratt

Shamanic Inheritance with Jonathan Horwitz

The shaman's heart is an awakened heart. The path the shaman walks to free the heart offers a metaphor for each of us to find the courage to heal our broken heartedness and step into spiritual adulthood. "Contemporary life can break your heart on any day," explains shaman and host, Christina Pratt. "And from that wreckage most of us learn to stand in our own way, habitually, practically, and fearfully rationalizing why we remain disengage from our heart and the hearts of others." What the shaman knows is that while the broken heart is real, the story that we wrap around it is not. If we have the courage to unwrap the story and feel again, we return to reality. In reality the heart contains its own medicine to heal. Where the heart has been emptied by grief and loss, it can be freed to fill its great depths again. Where the heart has closed in fear and protection it can be opened by the wisdom of what truly matters. Where the heart is weak with the struggles of life it can find power in honoring the essence of life. Join us this week as we explore how to engage the medicine of the heart to heal and allow the energies of the heart to flow with passion in our lives.

This week's gust:
Jonathan Horwitz

Jonathan Horwitz has studied and worked with shamanism since 1972. For eight years he was on the staff of The Foundation for Shamanic Studies, USA. Jonathan has an M.A. in anthropology, and is a shamanic counselor (HMSC).

In 1986 Jonathan and Annette Høst began the Scandinavian Center for Shamanic Studies where the courses are centered on learning to use the ritual tools of shamanism, experiencing shamanism as a spiritual path, shamanic healing, and embracing the Circle and all of Nature. He also runs a small retreat centre, Åsbacka, in southern Sweden where her offers training in personal healing retreats, Sitting Out weekends and shamanic guidance for those who have previously worked with him.

Jonathan's focus on shamanism as a spiritual path centers around his own Three R's - Re-connecting with being alive, Re-discovering the spiritual power we are all born with, and Re-learning what it means to be a part of the whole. "The shamanic path is excellent for learning these things," he says. "And as soon as you feel you know, the Spirits show you something new... The road goes on forever."

Tuesday, December 14, 2010 at 11:00 AM Pacific

Log on to Listen
Why Shamanism Now? on Co-Creator Network
Questions? Comments? Call: 1-512-772-1938

All episodes are now available in the iTunes Podcast Library.

Dec 13, 2010

Horoscope for December 13-19

Cross-posted from Aloha Astro

Aries (March 21st - April 20th)
In the story The Emperor’s New Clothes, a child is not afraid to tell it like he sees it and declare that the Emperor hasn’t any clothes on at all. You are much like that child this week, Aries. You tell the truth as you see it and speak your mind. This may initially cause discomfort to both you and other people, but your personal integrity is important to you and you are willing to sacrifice your popularity to uphold truth. By week’s end, when the shock passes and the dust settles, people switch over to your point of view and want you to be Emperor.

Taurus (April 21st - May 20th)
You tend to be an easygoing, laid-back kind of person, Taurus. When your environment becomes uncomfortable for you or you feel you are losing control, you are not afraid to take action, though. Control is an issue for you now. It’s not so much an issue of someone else having control over you – it’s more an issue of past passivity and lack of self-control on your part. You are able to step back this week and see how your thoughts, demeanor, and exchanges with other people either support you and your goals or deplete your energy. You emerge from your self-examination wiser and wealthier.

Astrological Trends for December 13-19

Cross-posted from Aloha Astro

Your week begins on a mixed note Monday, December 13th, with the sun in eager Sagittarius square to the moon in dreamy Pisces. This emotional water sign moon joins expansive Jupiter and erratic Uranus, also in Pisces. What you would like to do or have happen may not be realistic or possible due to the challenging energy the square from the sun generates. Your intentions are sincere, but you may want to avoid overextending yourself or promising too much now while there is a planetary equivalent of a roadblock standing in the way of your ability to deliver. The communication and transportation planet, Mercury, is retrograde conjunct Pluto, the planet of intensity, and Mars, the planet of action, all in the cardinal earth sign of Capricorn. There is a strong practical and purpose-driven mental focus behind this Mercury retrograde that brings older plans to completion and works out kinks in existing structures or routines that stand in the way of perfection and success. On the downside, this Mercury retrograde can trigger outbursts of dictator-like temper tantrums, intolerant attitudes, and unexpected or inappropriate rudeness whenever people cross swords. Aggressive driving and road rage are possible, as well. You can look upon the challenges of this particular Mercury retrograde period as a test of character and maturity. An appropriate book to read, which can be of assistance this week, is Don Miguel Ruiz’s The Four Agreements. The tempering effect of a sextile between Venus in Scorpio and the Three Musketeers of Mars, Pluto, and Mercury in Capricorn is fading now. This sextile kept things polite, but now the gloves are off, so to speak, and people may become more blunt and forward when communicating.

Dec 11, 2010

WikiLeaks Pokes the Untouchable Vatican

Crossposted from Reflections Journal.



If the priestly abuse scandal has taught us anything, it's that the Vatican values secrecy above all other principles. Enter WikiLeaks and a fresh wave of embarrassment for the Holy See. Amongst other disclosures comes a behind the scenes look at the Vatican's refusal to cooperate with Irish authorities in their abuse investigation.

The Vatican refused to allow its officials to testify before an Irish commission investigating the clerical abuse of children and was angered when they were summoned from Rome, US embassy cables released by WikiLeaks reveal.

Requests for information from the 2009 Murphy commission into sexual and physical abuse by clergy "offended many in the Vatican" who felt that the Irish government had "failed to respect and protect Vatican sovereignty during the investigations", a cable says.

Despite the lack of co-operation from the Vatican, the commission was able to substantiate many of the claims and concluded that some bishops had tried to cover up abuse, putting the interests of the Catholic church ahead of those of the victims. Its report identified 320 people who complained of child sexual abuse between 1975 and 2004 in the Dublin archdiocese.

Dec 10, 2010

Esoterica

Crossposted from Reflections Journal.



Newly discovered da Vinci code in France:

A coded manuscript by Leonardo da Vinci has been discovered in a public library in the French city of Nantes.

The document was found after a journalist came across a reference to it in a Leonardo biography, the library said.

. . .

The text is written from right to left in Leonardo's trademark mirror-writing and has yet to be deciphered.

Tipping Points, Global Wars, and Secrets Revealed

Crossposted from Reflections Journal.



The Time Monks seem to be leaning towards the WikiLeaks phenomenon as a major component of the tipping point. George Ure posted a note from Clif High regarding the "global war" language that was in the forecast for this period. (I, for one, was just not feelin' either the Iran or the North Korea panic. I just haven't felt like either of those looming crises was about to go off. But that's just me.) Anyhoo, it turns out the linguistics were probably predicting the escalating situation with WikiLeaks.

Lingo-Lango: First thing to notice today is a note from Clif about how language is filling in all over the place about what we’ve had in linguistics as ‘globalrev’ and ‘secrets revealed’ for quite some time now…
“dude…the NBC news and the ABC news and CNN are all now using our ‘global war’ language! only it is about the cyber wars against MC and visa! but the linguistics are there.

this is a big ass hoooray IF and it is the BIG IF….it does not turn out to be a wide meme.

HOORAY, i think? later..”
The “Hooray!” reference?  Better in our work to get just words rather than glassmaking mushrooms popping off, so this is a good thing….really….

Dec 8, 2010

When Magic Lamps Aren't Enough

Crossposted from Reflections Journal.




You can always run your business like the Mafia.

The Secret brain trust loves to talk about how the universe is like a magic lamp. I've already addressed the supreme irony of relying on a genie analogy to explain how to get exactly what we want. (To sum up: Genies are tricksters.) But here we go again. Secret contributor Bob Proctor and an Australian vocalist named Michele Blood are off and running with a magic lamp of a book.

This revolutionary new book will open your consciousness to the truth of what wealth really is. This book could be the magic lamp you have been searching for!

This magic lamp comes complete with a brain pretzeling, mixed metaphor of a title: Become A Magnet To Money: Through The Sea Of Unlimited Consciousness. Proctor and Blood promise to teach, among other things, a successful marketing strategy. Here are some of the super exciting bullet points.

Dec 7, 2010

Sun Tricks

Crossposted from Reflections Journal.



The sun did something pretty today. But don't worry it's definitely NOT a solar flare or that nasty Carrington Event we've been on the lookout for.

First, there is very little danger to Earth from this event. Prominences like this tend to be local to the Sun, and collapse after a few hours. As far as I can tell, there are no flares or coronal mass ejections associated with this, which are what can hurt satellites and power grids here at home. So rest easy, and enjoy the beauty of this thing.

Cafe



Around the Web, Around the World


"Why Shamanism Now?" with Christina Pratt

The Shaman's Heart

The shaman's heart is an awakened heart. The path the shaman walks to free the heart offers a metaphor for each of us to find the courage to heal our broken heartedness and step into spiritual adulthood. "Contemporary life can break your heart on any day," explains shaman and host, Christina Pratt. "And from that wreckage most of us learn to stand in our own way, habitually, practically, and fearfully rationalizing why we remain disengage from our heart and the hearts of others." What the shaman knows is that while the broken heart is real, the story that we wrap around it is not. If we have the courage to unwrap the story and feel again, we return to reality. In reality the heart contains its own medicine to heal. Where the heart has been emptied by grief and loss, it can be freed to fill its great depths again. Where the heart has closed in fear and protection it can be opened by the wisdom of what truly matters. Where the heart is weak with the struggles of life it can find power in honoring the essence of life. Join us this week as we explore how to engage the medicine of the heart to heal and allow the energies of the heart to flow with passion in our lives.

Tuesday, December 7, 2010 at 11:00 AM Pacific

Log on to Listen
Why Shamanism Now? on Co-Creator Network
Questions? Comments? Call: 1-512-772-1938

All episodes are now available in the iTunes Podcast Library.

Dec 5, 2010

Horoscope for December 6-12

Cross-posted from Aloha Astro

Aries (March 21st - April 20th)
The planets are keeping you extremely active now, Aries. If you are an Aries sun sign or have Aries on the ascendant, issues bigger than yourself and your immediate surroundings are impacting you strongly. The only time you have for yourself seems to be the time when you are asleep and even sleep is more active now, with periods of interrupted sleep, highly active dreams, or lucid dreaming. So much of your energy is flowing out and being received by people in your intimate relationships, career, friendships, and groups that you may be stretched to the utmost limit by the intensity of this week’s planets. Before your week begins, make a schedule that includes quiet time by yourself for recharging your batteries so that you can continue your high-octane output without a crash and burn consequence.

Taurus (April 21st - May 20th)
Partnerships play a vital role this week, Taurus. Depending on your own relationship status, you may find yourself thinking or talking about serious aspects of partnership – the work of it, the shared resources, and the plan for the future. Because marriage and divorce are just two sides of the same coin, the thoughts and discussions could be about one or the other. Business partnerships are a marriage, too. You may be working on a solid business plan or negotiating for proper recognition or compensation in exchange for your contributions to an existing business or company. Look to friends and groups that are aligned with your beliefs and values to help guide you toward success in career. Ask them what they think you excel at and how they would use your own skill sets and talents if they had them.

Astrological Trends for December 6-12

Cross-posted from Aloha Astro

The energy is high and rambunctious on Monday, December 6th, as the moon in Sagittarius joins an energized Mars, also in the fire sign of Sagittarius. With the sun in Sagittarius, as well, you may be feeling restless and eager to get things accomplished today. A supportive sextile between the sun and Saturn in Libra gives you the ability to use precise planning and strategy as you direct the expansive Sagittarius fire energy like a laser toward your goals. The challenging square of Mars in Sagittarius and Jupiter conjunct Uranus in Pisces keeps you on your toes. Not all things will flow smoothly and this could cause you to feel impatient. A positive effect of this particular aspect is a heightened interest in sex and romantic pursuit. A pleasant sextile between the moon conjunct Mars in Sagittarius and Neptune conjunct Chiron in Aquarius makes romance mysterious, alluring, and exciting. Venus in sultry Scorpio exchanges a harmonious sextile to Mercury conjunct Pluto, both in Capricorn. Your thoughts are passionate and you are not afraid to express them now. Later this evening, the moon moves into earthy Capricorn, creating a lineup of planets joining forces for a potent locomotive of energy. Mars in Sagittarius blends optimistic action with the emotional seriousness of the moon in Capricorn, the determined mindset of Mercury in Capricorn, and the intensifying effect of Pluto in Capricorn. For Sagittarius and Capricorn sun sign people, this can be a very busy week, indeed. You may not be a Sagittarius or Capricorn, but you do have those two signs somewhere in your natal chart. Check your own natal chart to see what areas of life will be hopping for you this week. The new moon of December 5th in the sign of Sagittarius will still be felt as this week unfolds. Today through Thursday of this week are important days for you to take action, direct projects, initiate plans, tie up loose ends, and delegate tasks to others clearly before Mercury goes retrograde on Friday. Imagine the new moon as the kickoff. Now you are running with the ball, but soon the planets will be gaining on you and you could be intercepted and tackled if you don’t take advantage of the extra hustle the beginning of this week delivers.

Dec 1, 2010

Revealing Secrets

Crossposted from Reflections Journal.



In terms of the earth giving up her secrets, which I discussed here, this looks like what I was waiting for. Wikileaks is promising to out a major financial institution. If that information is revelatory and shocking and also embarrasses some governmental body, that would be in line with what I was sensing.  (The other possibility that I get an intuitive hit on could be something previously unknown regarding the torture scandal.) Obviously the recent Wikileaks dump has greater implications but none of it really speaks the gravity of revelation I was sensing. In fact, none of what I've read thus far has been terribly surprising. It does, though, facilitate the pattern that to my mind ties into the tipping point. That is the crumbling of international relations which is one of the major themes that is emerging. Having the internal communication of our diplomatic efforts exposed doesn't help. Bearing in mind the failure of the G20 summit to bring assurance of the dollar remaining as the reserve currency, the US is losing its grip on international hegemony. The implications of that are fairly staggering.
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