Category Archives: Consciousness

Welcoming 2014 and Soul Purpose

Posted on by under Consciousness, Native American, Shamanism, Uncategorized

The passion and fires burning within the Earth are also burning within humanity.  And you can bet your bottom dollar that there will be more intense energies igniting more opportunities to transform and heal – or die like the old ways no longer serving us.  The “out with the old, in with the new” earworm will amp up in 2014. Traditionally, it is natural for this to occur now as we move away from the Winter Solstice, as yin contracts and yang expands toward the Spring Equinox in March. But during our movement into a new age and paradigm, many of us are becoming more sensitive and attuned to the exponential intensity of these shifts and vibrational energies streaming in.

My sense is that it will become more difficult to ignore your soul purpose, as it will become more challenging to turn a blind eye to developing the “walking meditation” of watching the world turn with an “observation without judgment” lens. There can be a sense of losing control when we untangle our attachments, so as not to get too invested in what we identify with. But beyond that, a deeper place of inner peace is waiting for us to explore. Even if you feel that you are “wise to the ways of the world” and take ownership in a comfortable lifestyle in the material world – you also know the risky business of investing all your stock in possessions without diversification.

How do we get to know our soul potential?  How do we enact an “observation without judgment” view of our inner landscape and the world around us? Through trust, we open up our inner light to “walk in the sun” and share with others, rather than “hide her away from the rest of the world.”  Social media is one way to do this, as there is a reality to virtual connections.  But getting out in the natural environment and making face to face contact is best medicine. While our intimate relationship with our own Self is most important, we gaze deeper into the mirror through our relationships with others.  “Relationships are for a reason: for growth and learning, for nurturance and support, for love and romance, for sex and passion, for experience, for karmic debt or clearance, for business reasons, for security.”

When we look beneath the surface of our introverted and extroverted reactions to what is going on with curiosity and empathy, we begin to understand the experience of “walking in someone elses’ shoes.” We all say that we want to be seen and heard, but is that really the case? Are you afraid of your own power? Is there an underlying fear of feeling rejected or abandoned for allowing yourself to blossom into a flower or turn into a butterfly? It is a good time of year to re-work the dark and let go of external securities so that we learn to feel safe with the arrival of uncertain unknowns. There is a sense of security in “expecting the unexpected” by viewing life as “one big surprise birthday party.” The old guard of secrecy and concealment is fading into a distant memory. Do you need to resurrect old memories to re-work, transform and clear space for new co-creative experiences? Or do you want to remain ensconced in Groundhog Day, without realizing that you are unconsciously replaying old mental tapes and clinging to fixed ideas?

We are here on Earth for a reason. Waking up to our soul purpose is a key ingredient to that. It is a painful challenge to get stuck in the sphere of excuses, reasons rules and routine. At the end of the day, a way out of the suffering is to learn to live with the pain and understand the information that your pain has to shed light on finding your soul’s purpose. To avoid by exiting through anger or denial will cause more pain and suffering. But taking an authentic look at our anger and then channeling this energy in positive and constructive ways will open up new vortexes for transformation and healing.

Sending You Much Inner Peace in 2014,

Ari

Spirited Seasonal Blessings

Posted on by under Consciousness, Native American, Shamanism, Uncategorized

Today, we get into alignment with the Winter Solstice – the darkest day of the year. Tomorrow, we gain a little bit of light every day. In the darkness, we have an opportunity to receive the information from our lower Chakras, or a “land down under”, so to speak. Although frequently unwanted and uncomfortable to look at, we are equipped with these Chakras to help us shed light on and live in harmonic relationship with the Earth, our sexuality, base emotions, personal will and self-esteem. It is easily conveniently inconvenient to resist this information, change the channel and exit or avoid with denial or aggression. However, we have the opportunity to dig a little deeper by taking an authentic glimpse into our bodily portals of consciousness. As such, we might allow ourselves to see what information Spirit has to reveal to us in our unfolding story. In this process, we may develop acceptance and even make friends with what is. One way to do this is be part of a fire ritual in community and share what you are grateful for and what you would like to let-go of this year.

When I notice those unwanted internal news broadcasts, I remember the old Beavis and Butt-Head episodes. Do you remember watching those two character idiots watching MTV videos together – making comments like, “this sucks” and “change it”? Don’t those characters merely embody theatrical resistance to the inner space of our lower Chakras? After all, life really is like “a box of chocolates” because “you never really know what you’re gonna get.” And remembering a sense of humor is good medicine. We cannot always control, script and choreograph our life-like a reality show. Sometimes, the “best in show” is simply remembering the full-bellied laughter of the Buddha when the funeral parade comes knocking on our door. Our modern world is chock full of distractions that give us easy permission to change the channel, rather than being present on Channel Now. Being present doesn’t mean getting sucked into old dramas, mental tapes or the “voice in the head”- like feeding off an endless IV drip of sympathy. Rather, it does mean being in the moment with what is and breathing in and breathing out the living present, one step, one breath and one moment at a time. If “every thought is a judgment”, then just return to your breath and see what happens.

Many souls choose to leave the material realm this time of year. This is part of why this time of year is such a mixed bag for folks. We feel conflicted about getting into the spirit of the season, the emphasis on consumerism and pressure to buy gifts for each other that we hope will be well-received. We feel pressure to be “up”, instead of “coming down into our souls”. But we need to remember that this junction is really about gratitude and letting-go. Christ’s Light embodied the Sun that is a beacon of light that serves as shelter from the storm. His consciousness was meant to inspire us that the Kingdom of Heaven is an internal experience. When humanity evolves into this place with regularity, we see its unfolding reflected in our outer world. In this way, we become the change we want to see in the world.

Do you remember the character Holden Caufield in the classic book The Catcher in the Rye? Holden Caufield is the epitome of our dying Pisces age and represents the letting-go of our savior complex. The character can’t let-go of trying to catch lost souls jumping off the edge of the cliff, where he waits to save them from their doom. This lose-lose scenario leaves him feeling lonely so that he looks to fill his empty cup with alcohol to medicate his spirits. But we don’t need to carry the heavy burden of trying to save anybody. However, we can become an embodiment of inner peace. When we do this, our souls light up. When we don’t, our souls dim. Those of you who know material bounty and perhaps the “white picket fence”, have probably realized by now that “living the dream” of the leafy suburban lifestyle does not feed your soul alone. Meditation is a healthy spiritual diet that will nourish you soul and help you feel pleasantly full.

Sending much inner peace your way,

Ari

Remembering Past Family Members

Posted on by under Consciousness, Uncategorized

Humanity is grieving the loss of Nelson Mandela – one of our great fraternity brothers on the forefront of our movement into a flowering New Age. It is hard to say good-bye to our loved ones that have passed on. In the letting-go, I am grateful for his energy and look forward to his spirit breaking out and shedding even more light on our Planet and Universe. Sadly, society is frequently put in the position of taking away freedom from those who cannot handle it. But for some free thinking individuals like brother Mandela, he was unjustly crucified for decades for breaking the rules by doing the right thing as a freedom fighter. I particularly appreciate his understanding that regardless of what was taken from him, he refused to allow his soulful attitude to be stolen. Regardless of how small his jail cell, he knew he was in charge of his attitude about the cards he was dealt. Part of being human is to indulge in a little self-pity once in a while. However, too much self-possession sneaks us into the portal of a Martyr. Did he not have the patience of Turtle while he walked this Earth? But like any enlightened Being or good role model, our task is to emulate the experience of inner peace rather than being seduced into the dogma of putting our guru onto a pedestal. Part of being human is learning to honor our imperfections. Otherwise, unwelcome disappointments will overwhelm our souls like a flash flood.

In much the same way as Gandhi, Nelson Mandela lead the cavalry by stampeding the institutional segregation system known around the globe as Apartheid. Isn’t it interesting that phonetically, Apartheid is pronounced as “apart hate”. Around Kindergarten, we learn to make judgments about our differences from one another as inferior or superior – My skin tone is different from that other kid, so that must mean that I am either better or worse and perhaps justified in hating him or her for that, goes the indoctrinated and typically unconscious belief system. It is a learned behavior. Our old world has not let go of this kind of programming just yet – although there is a burning desire to do so. Can you feel the Earth’s anger at that? Mandela’s death synchronizes with our dying old world of the perceived polarity of separation of “us” and “them”, heroes and villains, friends and enemies. Awareness reveals the yin and yang are always dancing with one another. Within our Being, we have the opportunity to look upon this sensuous feminine and masculine tango as energetic soul mates showing one another a mirror that reflects back parts of our greater whole – diverse expressions within our Unity. Where the sunlight dominates, the dark night is merely kneeling beneath her bounty. While poly amorous encounters might provide short-term extroverted happy endings – flirting with more introverted lovemaking probably leads to clearer forecasts and less dark and stormy weather down yonder.

While taking communion with the Full Moon and Winter Solstice coming up, we look forward to the light increasing thereafter. The reptilian-brain position of viewing ourselves as separate and disconnected from one another embodies a developmentally delayed way of looking at our world. While this dirge is a real position, it is not the position. Those of us that stay in that place have become comfortably numb with this familiar funeral parlor. You could even say it feels safe, even though it is a traumatic place to live. Our future plight as a human family, global and Universally Eco-sensitive community rests on learning to emulate the likes of Nelson Mandela and others that walk in “the Way, the Light and the Truth”. We all need to bring in more inner peace into our world. We all need a sense of security and belonging. At the end of the day, inner peace will only come from within – even though it abounds without.

Wishing You Infinite Inner Peace,

Ari

Venturing Down Old Roads With New Neurons

Posted on by under Consciousness, Uncategorized

After overindulging in food, drink and enjoying the fuel injected Detroit Lions atypically route another team on national television, my wife and I ventured to a reunion. En route down Thunder Road, a dynamic mix of 90s background music conjured up nostalgia from that era, juxtaposed with Billy Joel’s Scenes from an Italian Restaurant danced on in my mind.

When we got to town, we made a pit stop to eat at a local pizzeria that features authentic pizza. In the spirit of life being like one big surprise birthday party, we recognized old friends for an unscripted encounter. It wasn’t Mystic Pizza, but we enjoyed a heavenly slice of conversational exchange on life’s happenings and where are they now. This is a good time of year to come down into our souls and revisit our past connections, if only in other areas of consciousness like our dreams, visions and imaginations. Of course, being present is easy to avoid these days with the emphasis on virtual social media, 24 hour shopping, playing with gadgets and other distractions. While reconnecting in a physical way can be especially anxiety provoking, underneath that rock is an opportunity to breathe new air into old relationships and connections. While I can appreciate bowing out gracefully from old relationships that appear stale and toxic, it was also a great energetic opportunity to re-work and transform. My heart is pleasantly full from that.

In much the same way as the good n’ plenty of our citizenry, High School years were an interesting experience. In the dancing and mingling, we celebrated diversity in unity during our cross-constellation exchanges. Right Tao, isn’t everything old new again? Bearing witness to a theatrical cast of characters – it was music to my ears to see that girls just want to have fun . . . but be careful because the floor is slippery when wet! I was in my element – trying my best to be mindful of organic opportunities to connect with peeps from back in the day. In my estimation, we consumed a co-creative venue to see old friends and breathe in fresh air. For yours truly, talking football with some old teammates was poetry in motion and a welcome nightcap. In the spirit of that, an old teammate gave me a bear hug that would have left any star NFL thoroughbred inundated.

Looking back, I walked away from the experience with the wisdom that you know you love your soul mate in their rank and beauty when you can laugh again at idiosyncrasies that once drove you nuts. In true Hollywood fashion, the romantic ideal of finding your soul mate reads like a Utopian fairy tale with a happy ending. But the reality of taking a road trip together and sharing balanced conversation without the aid of technological audio to fill in the airwaves is music to my ears. When we can authentically gaze upon our partner with the viewpoint that we are mirrors for an other’s soul development, we bear witness to As Good as it Gets.

In learning to live on Earth in this way, I am thankful for the infinite spirited blessings of this season. Tis the season to meditate on gratitude and letting go as we embark toward the darkest night of the forthcoming Winter Solstice. And while it is natural to over-indulge during this time, it is also a good time to clean out.

Be Well,

Ari

Weaving Webs with Spider Co-creatively

Posted on by under Consciousness, Native American, Shamanism, Uncategorized

Does anyone notice the abundance of spider webs out on the trails? Although small in stature, Spider’s medicinal powers weave creation into our daily lives. The energy of Spider inspires us to walk in the center of a circle, but without getting too swayed in any one direction. Maintaining a balanced perspective is a key ingredient to Spider’s teachings. Waking up to the spider within informs us of “instant Karma” and the power of our actions. Sometimes, our actions have unintended consequences. This is why we want to weave an intention of a pure heart and clean mind into our spirited travels, so that our souls will manifest into our material realm in that light. “So it was that Spider wove the first primordial alphabet, as she had woven the dream of the world that had become manifest.” Spider is shaped like a figure 8, symbolic of the sign of infinity. In this space, we open to the kaleidoscopic portal of the Quantum world. Three is a magical number. As such, Spider expresses magic in the form of creative expression, effectively asserting that communication and a convergence of its web’s spiraling energies at a central location. We all have a primordial desire to freely express ourselves with authenticity. And when we do not heed this prompting, we feel held back.

There is still much secrecy woven into the Imperial matrix of our Planet today. We see the veils thinning when the surveillance practices of the NSA were revealed by whistleblowers recently. The light of consciousness wants to illuminate the shadows. Don’t the pundits realize that comparing President Obama to a Nazi is akin to “calling the kettle black”? What is so romantic and sensuous about fascism in the first place? Like a perceived utopia, the idea is that the “ends justify the means”. But Life isn’t like that. Let us remember that the dominant majority likes to go unexamined. Who is authorizing the attack of the drones, the endless wars and escalating violence on Earth? Humans that get caught up in an illusionary web struggle with seeing the writing on the wall and beyond the “world of 10,000 things.” Our fears and limitations will entangle us unless we find creative ways to express ourselves authentically and respectfully. The arrogance of getting too ensconced inside a self-woven web blinds us from what lies along the intra-galactic outer rim. Spider shows us that “time is God”, in that there is a Divine Plan, while providing linkages to the past and the future. But not at the expense of the living moment. Self-awareness is a key that unlocks the padlocks of unconsciousness, spiritually speaking. An effective transition into a New Age is a process and it starts with your unfolding. As a matter of fact, we are all of spirit, thus spirit matters.

Nature reveals an unfolding process of changing weather fronts that sometimes shows us uncomfortable forecasts. However, we can move gracefully in our spiritual growth. There is a sense of security in a New Age and Paradigm, in that if one way doesn’t work, another way will. Recognizing that there is predictability in unpredictability can be liberating to the psyche. It is natural to want to feel a sense of security, order and control. But within any healthy structure, there needs to be novelty. I hardly think any child diagnosed with AD/HD wouldn’t get too bored with the status quo and act out to show the system that it’s being too rigid. At the same time, too much permeability and permissiveness is out of balance and dangerous as well. By spinning with the dark night within, Spider helps us weave our primordial creations so that our creativity walks in the sunlight and wakes up to the light of day. Are you weaving your dreams and imaginings into reality? Are you using your creative opportunities? Do you need to write? Are you feeling closed in or stuck? Do you know where you are on the map? Are you or those in your orbit walking in balance? Are you moving toward a central goal or scattered in multiple directions? Are you staying focused? Are you over-involved with others or too self-absorbed? Are you becoming resentful of yourself by not focusing on your own accomplishments, or resentful of others by focusing too much on their accomplishments?

See you further on down the trails,

Ari

Spreading multi-dimensional love with Hummingbird

Posted on by under Consciousness, Native American, Shamanism, Uncategorized

When encountering Hummingbird out on the trials, we remember that humming to ourselves creates an internal massage that changes our vibration. In turn, we stay light on our feet by becoming more equipped to appreciate Life’s beauty. Hummingbird medicine helps us invoke the internal spiritual master within. Although being disciplined is the scholarly thing to do on our spiritual path, we also remember that laughter and having a good time is healthy food for the soul. Hummingbird dazzles us with its ability to fly in all directions, stop on a dime and hover in place. I wonder how many aviation engineers had Hummingbird totems when designing advanced aircraft that creates an air of light-hearted joy when taking flight?   Meditation on Hummingbird might help you co-create a powerful spiritual vessel for effective navigation.

Perhaps visualizing Hummingbird will help you venture into the Dreamtime and bring back what you need to adequately function in this reality. Given “everything is so ephemeral,” why not lighten up and let go our attachments to our fleeting and transient small stuff? Hummingbird reminds us to fly away from becoming too serious or sweating the small stuff. I hardly think Hummingbird gets too hung up or stressed about being such a small aircraft when called to making a seemingly impossible 2500 mile journey. It’s as if Hummingbird is hip to Crab’s crustaceanal wit that recommends picturing water to return to the Dreamtime and our primordial memories. In this space, we remember to balance sensitivity and reclusiveness. Being on guard with and overprotective of our emotions (re-playing mental tapes that say,”conceal rather than reveal”) blocks trust and allowing for authentic exchanges with other human beings. If a hummingbird can tackle such an apparently daunting obstacle with such grace, then why can’t we?

This sounds all well and good until we remember that tragedy and loss are typically unwelcome aspects of Life. As such, it is important to give ourselves permission to grieve. Many of us sit with the tension of opposites in our Being. On the one hand, humanity is embarking on a radical spiritual evolution. However, we also are doing very stupid things with our intelligence. Whether imperial military welfare in the Middle East, miserly domestic social programs, restoration of our rainforests via ecosensitive business practice or the proliferation of meditation in the modern world–we sit with the tension that we are all doomed as well as “life is good”. But it is also true power to realize “you can’t feel good when you’re feeling bad about feeling bad.”  “Hummingbird can give us the medicine to solve the riddle of the contradiction of duality.” Instead of debating, arguing and making judgements about opposite sides of the same coin, we learn to accept and embrace All That Is. Having an open, loving heart allows us to taste the sweetness of Life’s nectar. Embodiment of this internal space brings out the best in folks. Staying away from ugliness, harshness, discord and disharmony is what the levity of Hummingbird conjures up within our Being. Flowers and plants love that Hummingbird allows them to cross-pollinate through their sucking. How many practitioners in the healing arts using flower essences have distilled their wisdom from Hummingbird’s spirited medicinal knowledge?

While venturing with Hummingbird, we walk in the sunlight with a restored sense of health and balance. Life, like sugar, is sweet when we drink in its nectar. Are you getting too much or too little sugar in your diet? Do you put up a front of being sweet, but without indulging in sweetness? Is this an intimacy issue that surfaces as a need for control?

 

See you further along on the trails,

Ari

Leave it to Beaver

Posted on by under Consciousness, Native American, Shamanism, Uncategorized

Beaver represents productiveness and the construction of dreams. With Beaver, we are reminded of the power of community as captured by the old African proverb “it takes a village.” As industrious as they are, beavers help us remember that the dams of life are built “one twig at a time”. Building a dream of home and family is one of the more popular dreams, thus the expression “American Dream”. But manifesting this dream takes action and it is a process. Beavers reflect to us the experience of residing in a close-knit family network and mating with a partner for life. Manifesting our dreams is a co-creative group process that breathes life into a harmonic convergence of the highest fraternal order. In this sorority, everyone contributes by harnessing everyone’s strengths. Although we are a diverse group of sentient beings, we are all Universal children of Great Spirit. We all share a primal knowing in our spirits to freely express our souls to compete and cooperate for mutual aid. Beavers work and play together, reflecting to us the possibility of mixing business and pleasure. While one beaver gnaws, another keeps watch. Have you ever felt a chord struck in your soul from a beaver’s playful thump on a river bend?

Legend tells us that Beaver was a totem for the mystical order of Freemasons. As such, beavers reveal effective navigation of land and water worlds with secret tunnels and alternative escape routes within their home environment. “If we eliminate our alternatives, we dam the flow of experience into our lives.” How many industrious workers in landscape architecture, design and masonry have Beaver totems? Perhaps it’s pie in the sky to entertain the possibility of humans living like beavers in harmony with our environment. As intelligent as we are, if a Beaver can do it, then why can’t we? Beaver politics feature selective tree-cutting, providing us a glimpse into eco-sensitive development and farming in that they allow for growing brush that feeds deer and moose. Moreover, residual dams wash out and leave organically rich soil for human farming. Accessing the Beaver within will help us stay in alignment with Nature in an organic way that moves more gracefully with Climate Change. If only our World’s movers and shakers would emulate this awareness and bring more Beaver energy into our global geo-politics. When we are in alignment with Nature, we don’t need to kill with polluting pesticides and insecticides. Business can thrive, but businesses of chemical dust are allowed to rust in peace and maybe become compost for a New Age. Given that we are living in a consumer-driven world, labeling our foods simply empowers consumers to make more conscious choices. Many folks will make healthier choices when it is convenient and self-evident. Awareness is key. In that light, there is a Full “Buck” Moon on Monday, July 22.

Good works are good for the goose and good for the gander, as Beavers know. Even construction engineers are inundated by Beaver’s productivity. Have you ever wondered how many dentists would like to sink their teeth into Beaver’s knowledge of proper dental hygiene? Just imagine what those razor-sharp teeth could do to a predator. But beavers don’t abuse their power when standing their ground. Humanity could stand to learn from Beaver in this area. Violence is big business in our modern world, especially in America with the escalation of dangerous weapons on the street. When will we wake up to the awareness that more folks packing heat increases the likelihood of violence and tragedy? Shooting from the hip first and asking questions second is a receipt for disaster. I know many are hurting about the outcome of the Trayvon Martin court decision and of course his grieving family by his life cut short. We have much Karma to clear when it comes to issues of class and race. We also see the accumulation of negative Karma with respect to George Zimmerman. What kind of life does he now have to live? Even if he had been convicted, would a Higher spiritual form of justice been served?

Have you been neglecting your most basic dreams? Are your dreams in need of some repair work? Are you or others around you becoming too lost in their dreams-always dreaming and never acting on those dreams? Is your home in need of repair? Meditation on Beaver helps us take action in bringing our dreams into the material realm by tapping into their traits of accomplishment, practicality and creativity.

See you further on down the trails,

Ari

Magically awakening Dragonfly’s light behind the shadowy projector screen

Posted on by under Consciousness, Native American, Shamanism, Uncategorized

While buzzing with Bee during last week’s encounter, we remembered to drink in Life’s sweetness and get organized in our inner and outer worlds with industry. This week, we take flight with Dragonfly in our travels. Mythical legend tells us that Dragon was once a wise and masterful illusionist. However, Dragon was tricked by Coyote to prove his power by turning himself into a Dragonfly. In getting caught up in his own facade and falling for Coyote’s prank, Dragon lost his power. Alas, with great power comes great responsibility.

If only our global community would embrace this powerful wisdom by integrating Dragonfly’s free-spirited teachings into our daily Life. Less emphasis on military might and more investment in co-facilitating the democratic process will probably decrease the desire for military coups and give peace more than a chance. With Dragonfly as our spirited guides, we lighten-up our internal navigation systems. Consuming the energy of Dragonfly helps us add color to our world of form, but without blowing things out of proportion or being too over the top with our magical theatrics. Dragonflies perform aerial feats akin to UFO’s that leave us feeling dazzled. Why not take flight and hover with Dragonfly when your spirits need a lift?

When incorporating transparency and “fairness, honesty and integrity” in our day-to-day operations, would we not see decreases in gun violence, a more active civic involvement in voting, more equitable immigration laws, a clearer and cleaner energy policy toward effectively adapting to Climate change? How much NSA wiretapping and other surveillance policies would we need if Leadership were following the rules that they set for us to follow? Surely building equal access to health care, including the Chiropractic Care Available to All Veterans Act, would perhaps reduce deficit headaches and backbreaking workman’s compensation claims to employers. Isn’t sowing the seeds of love, rather than the proliferation of pesticides in our soil, a breath of fresh air? Rather than rolling back the Clean Air Act and Clean Water Act, doesn’t it make sense to water those seeds with love as well? When humanity purifies our collective intention, “we will hold these truths to be self-evident”–without bugging ourselves or being too bugged by bugs, super-sized or otherwise.

“Dragonfly . . . Breaks illusions, Brings visions of power, No need to prove it, Now is the hour! Know it, Believe it, Great Spirit intercedes, feeding you, blessing you, filling your needs.” Dragonfly medicine reminds humanity to stay cool by learning to effectively swim in the deep waters of emotional life, play outside and spend time by fresh water. Change, transformation, mythical connections to Nature Spirits, weaving through illusions and creative imagination are all aspects of Dragonfly’s teachings. Shedding light into this realm allows us to perceive through shadow realms. We live in a colorful world and we are all rainbow children. Culturally, we are a salad bowl. Mindful consumption and mystical digestion is good food for our souls to marinate on.

See you further on down the trails,

Ari

Buzzing with Bee without getting too stung up

Posted on by under Consciousness, Native American, Shamanism, Uncategorized

Bees embody busyness and symbolize being industrious, concentration, activity, group communication and connection with family and social networks. Their energy forecasts busy times ahead. Bees are productive members of our worldly society and make honey, the elixir of Life. Drinking in their energy reminds us that Life is sweet, as Bees represents wealth, prosperity, and hard work paying off. When we see bees, we might “bee” prompted to organize and structure our outer and inner worlds. Their spirited teachings also reflect our need to live for our shared collective consciousness.

In our developing World, Bees inspire an awareness of cooperation and competition in our work and interactions with one another. Bees communicate that good business practice means “one worker, one vote in a competitive, profitable enterprise. But the profits don’t go to the top, they go to every person that has a stake in the enterprise. So you have everybody invested in the company, everybody wants it to succeed. If it operates in this matter, you don’t have bitter labor fights, you don’t have companies going under, employees losing their jobs and executives becoming millionaires. Instead, you have a lot of people making a fair salary.” I hardly think any Bees would be sued for being effective whistleblowers for the sake of the betterment of the hive. As humanity wakes up to win-win interactions in our work and play, we open up to welcoming abundance in our affairs. We all have gifts to share in our contribution to a more fair and just society.

Bees also symbolize reincarnation. Being present in this area facilitates communication with the dirge of our old selves, reminding us of who we used to be. Sometimes, it can be hard to let go of who we once were. “That’s just the way we’ve always done it.” We might find ourselves neatly packaged in a box of how others think we should be or how we see ourselves. But learning to trust and let go of the process of our unfolding is good medicine. Is your soul asking you to fly into new zones? Are you producing enough or enjoying the fruits of your labor? Are you so busy that you never have time to do what you want? Are you pregnant with an idea, fertile with your creativity and/or need to examine your own sexuality or attitudes toward sex in general? “Speaking words of wisdom” it’s OK to “let it be”.

“If anyone thirsts, let him come to Me and drink”. It is good to remember that the Kingdom of Heaven is within our Being. Sometimes, picturing a waterfall or even going for a swim cools us down to see the forest for the trees. This also has a cleansing effect on our mind-body-spirit so that we do not get too submerged. Consuming the energies of Bee and the New Moon on Monday can help you stay connected and in alignment with your soul’s sacred journey while on Earth. Trusting that the Universe will provide and unfold as it needs to helps us drink in Life and quench our thirst for action and results. Sometimes it is challenging to sit with tension that arises from our expectations that we will enjoy the fruits of our labor and see the results of that hard work. Being consumed with anxiety can block us from allowing ourselves to stop and smell the roses. Please give yourself permission to do whatever you can to “be here be now” in your travels.

See you further on down the trails,

Ari

Moose’s Meditations on Balancing the Gracefulness of Deer and the Stampede of Buffalo

Posted on by under Consciousness, Native American, Shamanism, Uncategorized

After digesting last week’s hot Summer Solstice supper and Full Moon buffet, some of the intense feelings are waning from that feast. Butterfly’s kisses reminded us of our natural support networks within our souls that are equipped to transform and gently allow ourselves to let go of fixed ideas, thus waking up to the reality of inner peace. This week, the energy of Moose greets us on the trails to remind us to honor our own authority. There is nothing wrong with being open to the feedback of our peers in community. That is how we grow. But when we honor the choices that we make, we know a deeper sense of freedom and responsibility. Recognizing our karma in this space realizes the illumination of our inner guidance so that we may follow it. At the end of the day, calling on the Moose within our own Being reveals our own inner warrior that facilitates the process of fearlessly address self-esteem issues that might be lurking in our subconscious. In our community, we woke up this week to an explosion that scared us all out of our sleep. An elderly man was killed in his house by his propane tank exploding. Scared straight as I was, I carefully checked out the scene to assess for safety. I focused on feeling gratitude for Life and the concerned members of our community coming together to talk authentically about our feelings with one another. And my heart went out to those who live with explosions and other tragedies in their everyday life. Moose is good food for the soul when waking up to your own authority. There is an internal sense of protection in that.

 

American society and our modern world is an applause culture, where we covet our 15 minutes of fame. While being popular with everyone is unrealistic, we all deserve to be treated with dignity and respect and feel a sense of belonging in our World. During the daily positive works of co-creating a New Earth, it is natural for us to want to share with one another “the spontaneous explosion of joy that comes from the deepest part of one’s being.” Moose medicine wakes us up to balancing the gentleness of Deer with Buffalo’s stampede. Moreover, the energy of Moose guides us to “know what to say, when to say it, and to whom.” Rather than robotic transactions within the social environment, meditation on Moose medicine opens up our souls to a deeper place of inner knowing. Rather fading away into an egotistical realm of manipulation and sense of “I got what I wanted”, our souls brighten-up with the energy of Moose.

 

Whether being profiled by the IRS, NSA or other shadowy government-business relationships, we are in transition from leaving behind an old world that values protecting the privilege of the “opulent minority” against the leveling impulses of “overwhelming majority”. Developmentally, we are growing up toward a more egalitarian view in our Consciousness. We see this old world-New Age tension play out when the Supreme Court ruled in favor of equality of our gay brothers and sisters right to marital inclusion by striking down the “Defense of Marriage Act”. In the next breath however, the High Court ruled against equality by beating back “key enforcement provisions” in the “Voting Rights Act” that help our colorful voices being heard in politics. Is David Koch entitled to have his feelings protected because he donated $23 million to New York and Boston PBS stations? Come on folks, let us agree that we are all sensitive creatures, regardless of how big our bank account is. Encoded within our humanity, we are cognitive-emotional creatures and we need to balance our orientation with respectful communication. What are those with deep pockets and positions of power afraid we will find out about their business practices? Talk about mixed messages.

 

We have spoken before that we need to sit with contradictions and paradoxes in both our internal and external realities. How do you feel about sitting with these tensions of opposites? What do you need to do to adjust yourself on the inside, rather than acting out through denial or aggression? Meditation on Moose helps us take stock in our areas of growth during our journey here. What do you love about yourself and your developmental progress in life? What do you love about others and their developmental progress they have made in life? Consuming the energy of Moose feeds our soul’s “the magic of invisibility (and) shapeshifting camouflage.” Investing in loss of our Yang-Masculine energy wakes up our movement toward Yin-Feminine energy. Moose facilitates a graceful transition during this process. The relationship Moose has with water is symbolic of our feminine powers of intuition, creativity and sexual energy. Allowing ourselves to receive like our oceans, is bowing to the power of Moose. As a power animal, Moose helps us make transition from the death of the old self into our becoming New Life. Past lives and future selves happen within this lifetime too. While we might have a concrete and fixed idea that we “only live once”, it need not leave a bad taste in our mouths when we witness our bodies are evolving. If we don’t work at allowing ourselves to love what we do, then our souls will fade. Working with Moose is a way to brighten-up your inner light and let it shine for you and our Universe to bask in. It aids us in comprehending our spiritual lesson plan with acute hearing and sniffing things out through discernment. The spirited teachings of Moose conjure up a deepening, mindful-awareness and sensitivity to self and others that is asking to be awakened.

 

See you further on down the trails,

 

Ari