Category Archives: Spirituality

Riding A Whale Of A Tide, Surfing Waves Of Climate Change & Emptying Into A Watery Pisces Sea Of Consciousness

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Galloping into the year of the Fire Horse on February 17th, seasonal transitional energies are blowing in the wind, and kicking up dust along the frontiers ahead. Pisces season starts a couple of days after that till the forthcoming Equinox in later March.

Keep in mind that the Eclipse Season further fuels the flames of transformation with a Solar Eclipse on the Chinese New Year, and then a Full Moon Lunar Eclipse on March 3rd. Many of you are already feeling the energies of the Spring Eclipses now.

Mercury will be in Retrograde on February 26th-March 20th. This mysterious Twilight Zone reality aligns with free-spirited, soul traveling and meditative Pisces. Nothing to get superstitious about, just allow yourself to go with the flow, and embrace the unknown waters waiting to spring forth new perceptual experiences, if you’ll pardon the pun.

A Full Worm Moon on March 3 reminds us that Spring is arriving, and the early bird gets the worm. Everything is ephemeral because the Law of Transience reflects that seasonal changes are in the air, and we are reminded that the only constant is change.

Speaking of Spring, the Vernal Equinox on March 20th reflects the seasonal transition between the end of Pisces and the beginning of Aries. It’s out with the old, and in with the new. New life is bursting at the seams with new growth and energies. The reason that Easter, which will happen on April 5th this year, is often associated with eggs is because eggs are symbolic of fertility, new growth and rebirth.

Does anyone out there remember that 70s TV Show called Mork & Mindy, about an ET who comes to Earth in an Egg Shaped Spaceship? Isn’t there a non-coincidental felt sense of resurrection in that?

Reflecting on technology that is out of this world, what’s up with the mysterious comet 3I/ATLAS?

Of course, there are mixed reviews but check out the scientific quote below:

“Scientists say that 3I/ATLAS has likely been traveling through interstellar space for a long time . . . University of Oxford astronomer Matthew Hopkins is part of a team of scientists that think 3I/ATLAS, discovered on July 1, 2025 by the ATLAS Survey Telescope, is around 7 billion years old . . . All non-interstellar comets, such as Halley’s Comet formed at the same time as our solar system, so they are up to 4.5 billion years old,” Hopkins said in a statement. “But interstellar visitors have the potential to be far older, and of those known about so far, our statistical method suggests that 3I/ATLAS is very likely to be the oldest comet we have ever seen.”

Remember that comets are historically seen as harbingers of change, in much the same way as Eclipse seasons are known as shakeups in consciousness. Think of them working collaboratively together as catalysts for transformation.

Dreamy Pisces awakens oceanic visions of water and its multidimensional beings, like whales, that live in its element. I remember when I had two specifically similar perceptible transformative shifts in consciousness during experiences with Whale consciousness.

The first encounter in consciousness happened while submerged in a pitch black sensory depravation floating tank filled with saltwater. And then the second experience transpired a few years later during a holotropic breathwork workshop in 2016.

Holotropic breath work was invented by the Grofs, two therapists who developed a natural way to access altered states through breathwork. Evocative music played during the breathing session, followed by non-verbal mandala artwork afterword as a way to silently integrate the experience. To learn more about holotropic breathwork, check out the link below:

GROF® BREATHWORK.

During the encounters with Whale, I had authentic shapeshifting experiences, where I literally turned into a whale, energetically speaking at least. It’s hard to put into words what happened to me.

Looking back on these experiences, I felt as if I went into a deep dive into a previously unexplored empathic frequency. Even though I was aware that I was still a human being in a pitch black coffin-like saltbox of water; at the same time I had also transformed into the consciousness of huge whale in the depths of the ocean.

During the breath work meditation, I shifted into the energy of whale again. This time however, my consciousness experienced a frequency shift by ‘swimming’ into a perceptibly deeper and higher form of consciousness.

As I ‘swam’ through the waters while still embodying Whale consciousness, I encountered and also transformed into all of the animal spirits found in the first edition of my first book, Something to Chew On. The best way I can describe the experience is that it felt like I was reading the energy of the book’s material from a deeper state of consciousness that involved a telepathic-empathic form of awareness.

As heartwarming and mindblowing as these experiences were, they felt so natural. It was as if I was literally tuning into the heartbeat and frequency of our living planet Gaia.

Ah, talk about taking the plunge into unchartered waters, and an evolving co-regulative communication between an author and their muse!

Writing about consciousness is merely using the form of words as signposts to point in the right direction. Perhaps the consciousness of writers will awaken from their own lyrics, just as the consciousness of the readers will awaken from reading the author’s poetic prose. Tapping into our sense of resiliency is key. The short inspirational clip below features Mexican-American, Detroit native singer-songwriter Rodriquez that further amplifies the sentiment:

At the time of the aforementioned experiences with Whale, I had a a sound intellectual, and early spiritual understanding of the old spiritual and scientific stories that whales had big brains, great intelligence, and carried the heartbeat and consciousness of the planet.

But I was also working on getting more in alignment with my soul purpose; as in deepening my learning curve to go beyond my intellect into a more intuitive realm of knowing.

My experiences with Sacred Whale Medicine certainly invited newly awakened portals of perception and consciousness expansion.

Interestingly, humans are mostly water, in the sense that water makes up the majority of our form.

Curiously, water is a conductor of sound and an elemental force of primordial creation.

But beyond that, we are mostly formless, energetic beings of light.

May we ride the waves without getting washed out in the surf.

From that perspective, this wisdom reveals that humans are creative beings who can align with sound and light frequencies that can change our vibrations.

We are both form and formless. The formless shines through the form, and is the presence or light of consciousness that illuminates our form because it radiates from the inside out.

Further, this process can lead to a dimensional shift in our consciousness that is a real perceptible and felt sense experience. That’s why there is a growing reception to the movement in sound and light therapy as effective forms of energy work.

In much the same way as Easter’s connection to eggs, Mork’s egg-like spaceship, and of course past Creation stories of the Cosmic Egg . . . Check out the sign of the times Harmonic Egg featured in the video below:

Remember, the Truth is that we will tip the scales on our Planet and beyond our current state of consciousness when we move further away from fear, and instead closer to Love. Fear has been perpetrated onto us by certain old powers that be that are afraid to give up their control issues.

Keep in mind that when you are in a place of Joy and Light, it’s harder to get seduced or bogged down in the heaviness of the world or give up your power to others. The Power of Love isn’t going away. Consider the clip below as a friendly reminder to have the Grace to know that the Truth of the power of Love shall set us free!

May all Beings be free and awaken to the dimension of inner peace,

Ari

Racoons Unmask Natural Internal Martial Arts Wizardry & Magicianship

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 Whenever suffering occurs in your life, whether coming down with the flu or not getting the job you wanted, you seek to know it fully rather than resent or deny it. Instead of distracting yourself, with fantasies, or worries, you focus your attention calmly upon the felt sense of what is happening. As you perform this task, you become acutely conscious of your reactive “arising’s” and the potency of their force. They too, are to be included within that, same wide, still embrace. You do not free yourself from narcissistic or self-disgusted longings by suppressing them, but by accepting them as the arising of habitual inclinations, which may be psychologically, culturally, religiously, or instinctively conditioned.

–Stephen Batchelor

When contemplating darkness and disguise in the throes of this wintry dirge, I think about the sacred energy medicine of Racoon. These sentient beings embody the self-defense mastery of the internal martial arts. When we play around with opening and closing our eyes in the 3D realm, we are playing with form by putting on a mask, and accessing a primordial creative power within. For those Star Wars geeks out there, the clip below reinforces the felt sense experience of letting go of our conscious minds by seeing without seeing:

Stepping into new dimensions and accessing deeper realms are real possibilities with Racoon consciousness. This spirit guide is a friendly reminder to do a deep dive into the popularly unpopular fear of the unknown. Rather than avoidance, we become inviting of spiritual awakenings into new ways of looking at ourselves. But if we choose to ignore such soul promptings; perhaps the reality based, felt sense experience might otherwise remain hidden or unavailable to our naked eye’d view our previously unexamined selves.

Racoon’s transformational vibrational frequencies align with traits that can support growth in fine motor skills, such as dexterity; as well as a sensory diet, like self-stimulation forms like self-massage, and bodily compression. They certainly can also inspire cleaner eating approaches, like washing our food, and emphasizing a plant based diet. Or maybe you like to pluck away on a musical instrument. Close your eyes, picture a racoon and see what happens organically.

From a heartwarming and mindbending felt sense of spaciousness, the internal martial arts help us cool down from the inside out. This differs from the so called external martial arts; which have traditionally emphasized relaxed on the outside, intense on the inside. But like astronomers and astrologers, social workers, psychologists and many therapists and other energy workers; you can be both and we need all of them.

Speaking of the internal martial arts, check out William C.C Chen’s demonstration below. He used to come to the place that I took classes many moons ago. The ‘Studio’ was heavily influenced by his teachings. And sometimes he would come visit, and do special weekend workshops. I remember meeting him once. He certainly filled the room with his form, which was a real shared felt sense experience by many of my old teachers and peers in that community:

May all Beings be free of suffering, and experiences Inner Peace as a way of Life,

Ari

Letting Go Of Getting Stuck In Life By Being Present With Our Stuckness Through The Power Of A Sweet Surrender

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“You can’t feel good when you’re feeling bad about feeling bad.”

-Rhonda Byrne

Looking back in the rearview mirror, I remember working with a spiritual counselor for many years, who reminded me that people get stuck in life, and can have a really hard time getting unstuck. His empathy statement still sounds true because, the truth is, we all get stuck.

Upon reflection, my old spiritual counselor’s wise guidance invited a personal awakening of an awareness that a big part of my own getting stuck at that time was that I was getting stuck on other people’s stuckness . . . and taking it personally. It can be hard to not to become moved by other people’s stuff. Although experience teaches that it is freeing to stay centered, and observe those entanglements soften and relax. Ah, letting go of victim consciousness is a process, like peeling away the layers of an onion.

Awakening to our true nature as spiritual beings having human experiences happens when we are surrendering to the will of the Universe by getting in alignment with it. Ancient meditative movement practices like Tai Chi supports this process by integrating the right and left hemispheres of our brains, and facilitating emotional regulation of our neurological systems by re-patterning them.

In addition to Bruce Lee’s beautiful introduction, the video below also features Professor Cheng Man Ching, who brought Tai Chi to the West, and some of his students who reflect back on their experiences with him. Both of these men had very strong rebellious streaks because they brought secrets of their people to the West. Sharing their knowledge with outsiders was strictly forbidden, and against the orders of their masters.

But they both knew that the West needed to be clued in to the mysteries of the martial arts. Although Professor’s students deeply respected him as a master, some have also said that he wasn’t an enlightened being, and that he had an ego. His playful soul and competitive spirit is probably what made him so approachable to his students. Not long before he died, he said that he was approximately 70% Confucius and 30% Lao Tzu. He also emphasized that he was interested in learning how to be human, and that it takes a long time to do that:

Reflecting back on my own experiences with getting stuck, and what to do about it reminds me of my last semester of college, many moons ago. At that time, I took an extra class as an independent study with one of my psychology professors so that I could graduate on time. Part of my stuckness back then was procrastination. It’s not that Grandmother’s Stop Procrastination tapes with subliminal message hidden underneath ocean waves didn’t work. It’s just that building ‘Righteous Chi’ works gradually, like the power of water. Once enough momentum is present, there is no stopping it.

Back to my last semester in college . . . I took a heavy course load to fulfill my academic requirements for graduation. My psychology professor was also a part time psychotherapist, who worked with a colleague who was also a therapist with his own full time practice. These two progressive men were both concerned about when their clients would get stuck during their therapeutic process, particularly between sessions. Part of their stuckness as psychotherapists was when their clients would get stuck. As therapists, they felt a degree of responsibility and helplessness about that.

Given that, both clinical psychologists were very interested in exploring a newly emerging therapeutic idea at the time called bibliotherapy. Basically, bibliotherapy is a medium to utilize reading, and other multimedia forms (movies, videos, podcasts, quotes, articles, etc.) to reinforce the power of the therapeutic process for change to occur. The independent study explored a deep dive into how bibliotherapy might be utilized as a medium to help clients get unstuck; especially during the interval between sessions or when they were outside of a therapy session. The three of us met weekly to discuss and unpack bibliotherapeutic experiences. I read a bunch of literature on the emerging subject, and wrote a paper based on my research, our clinically oriented weekly conversations, and reflections about what I learned from the experience.

Many years later, I collaborated with librarians, who were aware of the growing body of research on bibliotherapy’s efficacy. Plenty of counselors out there will assign “homework assignments” to their clients. In many cases this involves utilizing bibliotherapy as a medium to water the seeds of change so that they can take root.

Flash forward to today, experiences with getting stuck in therapy appears to be akin to how meditators talk about applying what we learn during sitting meditation to when we’re off the cushion, and going about the business of living our lives. A big part of why we get stuck has to do with our habituated mind, and cravings that block us from experiencing the present moment. Truly, this is a relatable experience to anyone who is taking an honest look at themselves, or in many cases feeling triggered by looking at others.

Finally, check out the video below by highly respected veteran spiritual teacher and nun, Pema Chodron, that further amplifies the sentiment. She has been a leading catalyst in bringing Buddhist principles to the West:

May all beings be free and awaken to inner peace,

Ari

Digging Into Groundhog Day, Underground Tunneling Toward The Vernal Equinox & Riding Off Into The Sunset Of Death, Whilst Awakening To The Dawn Of Rebirth

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We began as mineral. We emerged into plant life, and into the animal state, and then into being human, and always we have forgotten our former states, except in early spring when we slightly recall being green again.

–Rumi

A Full Snow Moon on February 1st sheds moonshine on the birth of February, followed by the Imbolc aka Groundhog Day on February 2nd. Energetically, spring starts now because the seeds underground are starting to think about waking up from their winter slumber.

Whether the groundhog sees his shadow or not, the arrival of the Vernal Equinox on March 20th marks the official onset of Spring in the Northern Hemisphere, and the Autumn Equinox in the Southern Hemisphere. The equinoxes reflect the Nature’s balance of day and night; which reveals homeostasis of yin&yang/light&dark/masculine&feminine energies.

When I think of honoring the Imbolc tradition of the approximate halfway point between the Winter Solstice and Spring Equinox, I think of the shamanic energy medicine of Groundhog as an animal spirit guide.

How many of us would benefit from waking up to an elevated state of consciousness that Groundhog awakens as a metaphor for reincarnation?

There are evolving souls in the spiritual community, who have shared that they have an attachment to a desire to not incarnate anymore, and would prefer to stay in the spirit realm after their experience in this lifetime ends.

While I respect a person’s sovereign right towards self-determination, there is wisdom in the old saying, be careful what you wish for. In order to really trust the Universe, you have to do the shadow work. The voices of trauma can be exhausting at times.

Groundhog energy medicine awakens death without dying as a real perceptible reality during the gift and many blessings of this lifetime. In this experience, we are reminded of the cyclical death and rebirth aspect of life. In every breath we take, a part of us dies, while another part of us is reborn.

Besides, science has confirmed beyond a shadow of a doubt, that we have trillions of cells living within our bodies that change like tastebuds over time. From that perspective, we really aren’t the same person we once were, nor will be in the future. Might as well learn to illuminate every cell in our bodies and learn to make them smile. There’s God(ess) in that.

For you gamers out there, playing video games is akin to the shamanic death without dying experience. You get to hit the reset button, start over, get a new life, and explore different levels. The program is already there and reveals itself when the time is ripe. Beyond that, it’s up to you how to play the game. Freewill within the program’s matrix. Once you know the program, you can transcend it.

Knowing our true identities as mostly luminous, formless beings of light can be the torch that carries you toward the perceptible reality that there is light at the end of the tunnel. Sometimes, we have find the eyes to see that the sun is still there, it’s just hiding behind dark clouds. More importantly, there is light within, no matter how consumed with darkness we might feel.

Just as an example, the classic American film Groundhog Day captures the sentiment of moving beyond the egoic realm of egocentric manipulation to waking up to the realm of Oneness or Unity Consciousness. Remember that Groundhog Day, like Halloween, derives from ancient traditions honored by our ancestors. I first saw this movie in High School and thought it was hilarious. Little did I know that I would end up going to college in the Pittsburgh area of Western Pennsylvania, where the film takes place, and later realize the profound spiritual depth of this movie that stands the test of time.

And then in the next clip below, we have an open hearted and high minded spiritually oriented conversation between Oprah Winfrey and Eckart Tolle to further capture the sentiment. I remember when I first picked up Eckhart’s new book at the time, The Power of Now. This was back in my social work graduate school days in Miami in the late 90s. The trauma of my mother’s suicide was still a fresh deep soul wound, and I was craving finding deeper spiritual meaning in my life to deal with the loss so that I could move forward. Upon reading the this book, I was struck by how his own suffering transformed into a radical spiritual awakening. I was inspired back Zen, and continue to be right Tao.

Flash forward to March, 2009, when Oprah brought to life the first free online planetary book club that explored this spiritual teacher’s next book, A New Earth. Both of my grandmothers died earlier that Winter. I felt triggered by their deaths, my energy field was gravely depleted, and l really looked forward to their live weekly webinar sessions. It was a light at the end of the tunnel for me at that time. I had already been working for several years as a day treatment social worker, in the same Public School community that I worked in over the past couple of decades. I still don’t know how I got out of bed to go to work in the morning during that time. Because we had meaningful connection, a concerned School Nurse I worked with at that time could see auras, and commented that she could see how weak my energy field was. Between Winter’s dirge, and my own grieving process, the time was ripe again for some more transformational inner work.

Switching horses, we will officially enter into the Year of the Fire Horse on February 17th. Fire Horse’s energy reflects greater movement, decision, freedom and courage so that we can effectively gallop into unknown frontiers.

Perfect timing for much transformation on this year’s pathways ahead. But transformation isn’t all sunshine and rainbows. Growing pains are part of the process, and we do need to get off of our cushions and live our lives. May the Chi of the Fire Horse heat up our saddles, and get us off our bums, so to speak.

Speaking of blazing saddles, the Eclipse Season further fuels the flames of transformation with a Solar Eclipse on the Chinese New Year, and then a Lunar Eclipse on March 3rd. Many of you are already feeling these energies before the first eclipse takes place.

Of course, the aftershocks of the Spring Eclipse season will carry on through College Basketball’s March Madness, the Ides of March, Vernal Equinox, and into the Aries time of year. The season of Aries the Ram starts around the onset of baseball season, and energetically always feels like a new year because it is the first sign of the Western Zodiac.

As we already know, eclipses are catalysts for change and shaking up the status quo in our inner and outer worlds. There’s nothing to be superstitious about with regards to any of these energies because, like the present moment, they are what they are.

More importantly, what matters is how we align with the energies at play. Hunkering down and riding the storm out are typical conditioned human survival instincts. But instead of running away from the weather by heading down to the shorelines to get washed out; consider what the animals like rams do in times of alarming weather fronts.

Rather than resisting and fighting ominous weather, they head for the mountains to gain a better vista so that they can intelligently secure deliberate footing that harmonizes with Climate Change.

Or you can curse the weather, fight against the current or push the river, so to speak.

May all Beings be free and live in the present moment of Inner Peace,

Ari

Comets, Constellations & Climate Change

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I remember when I saw a fireball with my naked eyes, while driving to play with the old garage band one night, many moons ago.

Different from fireballs, comets are known to be harbingers of change.

Pun Alert: While comets and fireballs are out of this world; like them, we all have stardust encoded in our constitution.

Speaking of comets, has anyone heard about the arriving mysterious interstellar comet that scientists are calling 3I/Atlas?

This more recent timeline development reminded me that explorations of co-creating Heaven on Earth have been an intentional commitment regularly revisited in this blog over the years.

All that means is a shift in consciousness that awakens a more transcendental, expansive and open hearted and minded perception of the world we live in.

Evolutionary impulses are often led by a simple shift in mindset, even though it doesn’t appear to be simple at the time.

Worldviews collapse and realign led by individuals and small groups of people whose doors of perception are cleansed, and energized to see things as they truly are.

We all know the mountains of opposition that are at play to keep humanity in the dark about seeing clearly; as revealed in Plato’s classic book, Allegory of the Cave.

From a position of empathy and a compassionate approach, it’s really frightening to the powers that be to feel like their power and control structures are being dismantled and dissolved as we speak.

But a deeper sense of identity is awakened when we have the courage to leave behind the realm of manipulation; the place where we feel fed by manipulating and controlling others.

When you’re sitting atop the pyramid, it can be challenging to see that a more equitable triangle is far more buoyant than the one we’ve got going right now.

It’s reflective of a developmentally delayed system that supports the current inequities that we face, which is unsustainable. Many in various circles are fed up with this set-up.

Before my last 20 year gig as a school social worker, I worked as a day treatment clinician at a large mental health organization with a garden variety of special purpose programs that served children and families.

During that time period, I had the honor to work with a brilliant psychologist, who was a catalyst in transforming the culture at the time so that we could operate in a more collaborative way with students, their families and their sending school districts.

Back then, clinicians led the treatment team of teachers and other school staff. Each clinician carried a caseload of students. During these meetings, clinicians took turns presenting by prefacing our communication with a ‘frame’. All that means is that we would capture the focus of the treatment process with a sentence or even a word; such as “all family members will regulate themselves” or “accountability”.

It was at that time that a novel personal frame or mantra came up in meditation to co-create heaven on earth.

Nobody can do that alone because like the African proverb says, ‘it takes a village’. I remember learning the origins of that frame back in social work school from one of my favorite teachers who taught our policy classes.

In the brief year and a half I worked at the day treatment school, I gained invaluable systemic experience, from a mental health perspective at least. This was over several years before this blog existed, but I had started getting more disciplined about spending time meditating alone out in Nature.

In much the same way as the divisive us and them duality that is fading away in a dying old age; the special purpose school was going through an identity crisis of whether we were a treatment facility or an educational facility.

The reality is that we were both, but we were merely a microcosm of what we are going through now as we are transitioning a New Age and Paradigm.

Furthermore, there have been many different prophecies that have spoken of the Climate Change that we are going through on our planet today, humanity notwithstanding.

Back when the early signs of colonization were noticed by Indigenous shamans, these trusted leaders would then return to their villages, and tell folks about the changes that were on their way.

For example, these wise leaders noticed that the wave formations were changing by the shorelines; in a way that gave them the vision to see ships coming in on the horizon. Appreciate that these forthcoming ships had not yet been integrated into their worldview.

It’s like when you learned a new word that you believed you’ve never heard before. And then you hear it more and more after that till it becomes part of your common language experience.

Or like when wise Native American elders saw visions of big bugs crawling over the lands, and big birds flying across the skies before cars or planes existed. And then at some point after that, cars and planes became easily recognizable.

Perhaps someone noticed a comet or other celestial activity beforehand that aligned with the physical evidence of the changing wave patterns.

Prophecy is not the end of the world. But like the old REM song, it’s the end of the world as we know it.

The purification we are going through now reflects the beginning of a new reality. Heaven on Earth is a shift in consciousness; therefore a shift in reality.

It’s like when one door closes, another door opens. It was probably your anticipatory anxiety or projected fears about the forthcoming change that seemed spookier than when you began allowing the chips to fall where they may.

In the death of your old self, there was a new self that began to blossom.

Just like the transition from one season to another, seasonal changes aren’t only concrete. If you are paying attention to the shades of gray, you will see the subtle (and not so subtle) evidence of the changing seasons that are on their way.

Like a wise spiritual teacher says, “Don’t argue with fear; comfort it. Be the calm in the current”.

Surrender to the process.

Inner stillness simply balances out opposition.

Enjoy the ride!

Ari

Thinning Veils, Rising Spirits, A Full Beaver Moon, Resting In Non-Striving, Letting Go Of The Need And Impulse To Struggle & Dropping Into The Felt Sense Of Peace And Love In Your Body

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We gotta make a change…
It’s time for us as a people to start makin’ some changes.
Let’s change the way we eat, let’s change the way we live
and let’s change the way we treat each other.
You see the old way wasn’t working so it’s on us to do
what we gotta do, to survive. —Tupac Shakur

A New Moon on October 21 marks the end of Libra season, and the beginning of Scorpio. Their seasonal energies are dominant through late November, right after the next New Moon and approximately a week before Thanksgiving.

I really appreciate the willpower associated with Scorpio. It’s a good trait to be mindful of when you need to tap into your personal will that makes its home in the solar plexus chakra.

The Samhain will happen on October 31st into The Day of the Dead and All Saints Day on November 1st, and then All Souls Day on November 2nd.

Many indigenous cultures and ancestors of ours honored the ‘Thinning of the Veils’ at this time; reflecting the blurred boundary between the spirit and material realms.

A growing body of people are reawakening to, and getting in alignment with Nature and Celestial cycles and power seasons.

That’s why Halloween features wearing masks, tricks or treats. Modern festivities and holidays are inspired by older traditions that predate colonization and rampant consumerism.

Just as an example, Chinese culture still follows the lunar calendar. Speaking of the Chinese Lunar calendar, we will be transitioning from the Year of the Snake to the Year of the Fire Horse on February 17th. Giddy up, and get ready to blaze new trails ahead. More transformation is in the air and on its way.

But before that, a New Moon in Scorpio on November 20, we are invited to delve deeply into our feelings. Desirous meaningful emotional exchanges are amplified now, even if it is not easy and you are called to make a myriad of perhaps unwanted changes in your life.

We don’t typically like challenging relationships because they can be unsettling and get us out of our comfort zones. And yet without them, we do not grow.

During these darkening days, it’s time to turn our clocks more ‘yin-ward’ as we move closer to the Winter Solstice on December 21st, the darkest day of the year. Keep in mind there is mystery and magic in everyday life. Darkness symbolizes creation. Humans are creative beings that need to cultivate creativity for life to have meaning that transcends robotic doings.

A Full Beaver Moon on November 5th reflects energies that reveal feeling safe being contingent on the need for stability. That’s tough to satisfy now, especially because change is part of life, and there are big changes happening and coming our way. The ego clings, grasps and resists what is in this world of 10,000 things…especially the material things.

This isn’t new to the human condition, but it is far more in our face with the rise of technology, fake news, etc. in the reform school called Earth. Isn’t ii poetic to notice those wearing The Emperor’s New Clothes (the ones rigging the system) throwing that term around by targeting those who have far less power than the Billionaire Class? Who payin’ you?

Part of the arriving New Aquarian Golden Earth Age is the death of an old world and old ways of being. Like any death, there is a grieving and letting go process.

Take movements like No Kings, Me Too, Black Lives Matter, Occupy Wall Street and Civil Rights as examples.

These songs of freedom and protests to the status quo reflect the will of the peoples spirit to build a more equitable, fair and just society.

We all lose (even the perceived winners) in the current paradigm. The playing field is leveling as we speak, even if it is hard for you to find the eyes to see that.

Check out the poetic song below that I reimagined many moons ago that was inspired by the legendary folk singer Woody Guthrie . . .

This Land Is Your Land Revisited

Accepting ourselves for who we are does make it easier for us to find peace and tranquility in the outside world. Be mindful that the old guard (including the Establishment and ‘Trumpamania’) wants you to believe otherwise.

Consider beavers for a moment. Even when humans try to squelch their development, they can often rebuild their dams faster than they are destroyed. Beavers have an intelligence about them that understands the process of maintaining their dams and constant water levels.

Accumulating points in life’s game is less about material success. Rather its about showing up and being of service to others without being a sacrificial lamb to yourself. What’s good for the goose is good for the gander. Remember the Golden Rule. We are all interconnected, part of the Earth and the Universes energy.

It is a real possibility to let go of the struggle through resting in a deep sense of awareness in restful stillness,; whatever side of the fence you are on or whatever belief system might look like.

But it is highly unlikely that you will know this experience without being present and meditating consistently. You don’t have to get sucked into the drama or the struggle. It’s hard to go wrong with a heart-centered loving kindness perceptual reality.

Demonizing and hate are easy. Beaming loving kindness to everyone and everything reveals the power of love.

There is an order to the Universe. Of course there is also an interplay between order and chaos, like the fluidity of the yin and yang. Have faith and trust in the process. Don’t get sucked into the fear mongering. We don’t have to draw our swords or go to war with one another. Lighten up folks.

Rest in non-striving. Rest the need and impulse to struggle. Drop into the felt sense of peace and love in your body.

May all beings experience a letting go of the struggling and suffering; while at the same time, an awakening to inner peace as a way of free and clean living.

Ari

A Passing Eclipse Season, Autumn Equinox, ETs & Powering Up Into A New Age and Paradigm

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Holy Cow, we have made it through the Autumn Eclipse Season! Of course, the aftershocks will linger for some time; which is somewhat akin to the way Mercury in Retrograde takes time for the fog to lift, and we can reflect back with more clarity.

Eclipses have the potential to shake up your consciousness, invite spiritual awakenings, and loosen up the grip of the ego. Recently, I heard a spiritual teacher share a story of how she forgot how to drive a car after having a spiritual awakening. It isn’t that the ego doesn’t serve. Rather, after such an awakening, a new way of shifting gears can be discovered after a healing, if you’ll pardon pun.

Use the energies now to cleanse and purify any old emotions and memories that you are still holding.

What needs to be released in your soul at this time?

What has shifted within you?

How have you grown?

What have you released that no longer serves your personal empowerment and sovereignty?

Today, September 22nd, marks the Autumn Equinox because we officially say goodbye to summer and hello to fall, in the Northern Hemisphere at least. The leaves are changing, days are getting shorter, and the temperatures are dropping.

Or if you’re in the Southern Hemisphere, you’re saying peace out to winter and good day mate to Spring because it’s the Vernal Equinox.

Regardless of wherever you are on the Planet, the energies of Light and Dark, Masculine and Feminine and Yin and Yang will be in equal alignment with each other.

A New Balance of creation is in the air and will show up in our footsteps, if we are paying mindful attention.

Whether you call it a Dimension of Spaciousness, the Kingdom of Heaven or the Light of Consciousness; the energy of these words describe a real attainable experience that exists within you, and is everywhere.

But we all know that the Empire are protecting old ways of manipulation that wants us to think otherwise. The clinging and grasping of the Old Guard continues to try to control us so that we behave as sheeple by convincing you that you are not worthy. Think of it as a commercial that wants you to buy into an idea that you are separate from everyone and everything; God included.

The truth is that we are awakening into a New Age and Paradigm where Diversity within Unity will become the new normal. All that means is that we will know our Oneness with each other, while at the same time discovering our individual uniqueness. What’s good for the goose is good for the gander.

Our interconnection with all sentient beings will become a self evident truth. Remember that Love and Truth are the Pillars that hold up the Universe. It has to be felt in the heart and without forgetting in the head.

During the season of Libra on September 22 through October 21st, we are always inspired us to balance what we give to our relationship with our self with what we give to our relationships with others.

A Full Harvest Moon will occur on October 6, 2025. This Full Moon gets its name because it is the closest to the Fall Equinox, and usually takes place in September. It is symbolic of the peak harvest of crops in many places. And it will be the first of three consecutive supermoons, which is like a Full Moon on steroids.

As Libra season ends on the New Moon on October 21, a doorway into deep healing in our relationships; including blood or extended family is possible, if only we are open to seeing beneath the surface of our long held patterns.

For example, most couples have known the experience of developing deeply ingrained and dysfunctional patterns in their current or past relationships. Whether or not you are still in the couple relationship, you can still heal and change these dysfunctional patterns within yourself, and the relationship can change. Or you can change the way you experience the relationship within yourself at least.

As this writer shared with you in the last blog post, he is on a Leave of Absence after serving as a social worker in the same school community for the last 20 years. Recently, he followed the wise guidance of a soul psychotherapist, and did an identity ceremony to honor, release and let go of who he was, his accomplishments, and also let go of what no longer serves him as he moves forward.

During the process, I thought about the good fortune it has been to have meaningful work. While trauma- informed practice in schools isn’t easy by any standard, it was important for me to honor the big changes that occurred, look upon them as all blessings, and choose what parts of them no longer serve me, and what I want to bring with me into my next chapter. It’s not a coincidence that we’re in the Chinese Year of the Snake, which symbolizes the shedding of the old skin, and transformation.

For those of you hip to the Chakras, my Solar Plexus Chakra was prompting me to do this identity ceremony, and has been giving me the clear message that it was the right thing to do.

Furthermore, as I look back upon the Mount Shasta retreat that I wrote about in the last blog post, I think about the arriving Massive Changes coming down the pike, as we move further into a New Earth Aquarian Age, and deepen our alignment with Unity Consciousness.

Check out the short video clip (approximately 2 minutes below) to see what we experienced as a group together on our retreat.

According to Gene Ang, our facilitator at the Mount Shasta retreat:

“We had a series of sightings over five consecutive nights where in the night sky you can see what looks like a star powerup to a tremendous amount and then power down.  The series looks like 6-8 of these power ups occurring one after the other with about a 30 second to a minute pause between each power up.  You can see a version recorded by Dr. Steven Greer . . . In the video, you will see Dr. Greer point out an object in the night sky with his laser which gets intensely bright and then powers down.  What we saw this past August was the same thing but the object would power up and power down 6-8 times in a row before disappearing.  The group saw this same pattern in some version on five consecutive nights . . . When I took my initial trainings with Steven Greer regarding extraterrestrial contact in 2009, he said that when a group in a circle outside sees these power ups, there is a tremendous amount of light and information that is sent into the group that assists in transforming their consciousness.  Even healings can occur.”

During the various debriefing sessions and sub-grouping conversations, I repeatedly shared that it felt like we were being winked at during the powerups. Moreover, I drew the analogy of when we were kids and someone would signal to the highway trucker to pull his horn, and they would.

Finally, most adult children can remember magical experiences at some point during their childhood. Even if it was the sense of adventure and promise that a new day might offer; whether a specific encounter with an animal, a field trip at school or an unscripted experience on a summer day during unstructured play, or dreams or visions that resonated and felt so real they were hard to shake. Perhaps it was an experience that your known paradigm couldn’t explain. Not everybody remembers or even had these experiences necessarily. Today, people are far more plugged into their devices, and are more likely to miss these opportunities. But there is a growing body of people who are intensionally experiencing them more than ever by slowing down their pace, stopping to smell the roses, and being mindful of the sacredness of the living moment.

May all Beings be free and awaken to the vibrational shift into the dimension of Inner Peace,

Ari

Back To School, Back To Business & Movement Towards The Autumn Equinox

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Ari & Elisha at Mount Shasta

A Full Corn Pisces Blood Moon Lunar Eclipse will happen on September 7, 2025. This full moon is a Total Lunar Eclipse, which is like a full moon on steroids. Sensitivity and perceptiveness of surroundings are greatly amplified now. It’s hard to go wrong with sensitivity and perceptiveness.

Yes, powers of perception do have their egoic enticements. But that’s OK, it’s just something to be mindful of is all. Nothing to get hung up on, develop an attitude about or demonize.

Looking ahead, another New Moon in Virgo will happen on September 21, 2025. This new moon is a partial solar eclipse. A sense of order and clarity can breathe in feelings of safety and security.

Energetically, Eclipse seasons are always reflective of shakeups in consciousness. It’s as if the old ways of being and paradigms of thought are blown away with the winds of change.

Eclipses are uprooting and are certainly inviting opportunities for spiritual awakenings and getting out of our comfort zones.

Getting uncomfortable and dealing with unpleasant experiences are typically not our preferred outcome measures. And yet, they are necessary for growth so that we can grow and move forward along the trails.

Insecurity is part of the human condition; as well as being heightened at this time. Allowing for creative and spiritual rituals that are organically built into our daily routine flows very naturally with imaginative Pisces. Fish are good reminders about going with the flow, and mindfully surfing the waves of life.

Like in football, we don’t need to get too cute; we can just just run the ball. In the spiritual community, there’s plenty of ‘Kitch’, and show and tell, like in other circles. There’s nothing wrong with show and tell or spiritual bling. It’s just that what’s beyond those items of power that really matters, if you’ll pardon the spirited pun.

Uncertainty is a cold hard fact of life that can bring up plenty of excitement, anxiety and of course fear. Feeling uncertain can be terrifying. And yet, there is predictability within the unpredictable.

For example, we know for certain that the Empire’s rule by few mindset, and power and control issues have been a longstanding behavioral trap in human history. On some level, we have all been conditioned.

What is uncertain is that because these old systems are breaking down, we can see that the chinks in the Military-Industrial Complex’s armor are being revealed. There’s a heightened and amplified sense of uncertainty in the airwaves these days.

The bad news is that we will not be solving the problems of the human plight with the current or devolved consciousness.

The good news is that; from an elevated state of consciousness that is aligned with the figure 8 sign of infinity . . . Perceptible solutions abound. Alas (and this is a big thing), it’s pretty impossible to do this without trust or an open heart and mind.

Some pragmatic and practical ways to explore uncertainty is to answer (or don’t answer) your phone without screening your call. Many people really struggle with even entertaining this possibility even in their minds. Just another way to play with life’s creative juices. Take a different route, use your non-dominant hand to do mundane tasks, like opening a door. I don’t know about you, but I’m a big fan of the KISS (keep it simple sweetheart) model.

Might as well say yes to the Climate Change and move with the process as gracefully as possible. But as you already know, all systems naturally resist change, humans notwithstanding.

Remember that the theater of life reveals the interplay between order and chaos. Try to have a more tolerant and accepting attitude of life’s imperfections; as well as allowing life to unfold as it does.

When we trust the process of the river of life, we are more equipped to let go of our expectations and wake up to what might spring up around the bend, if you’ll pardon the water pun.

Paradoxically, this invites a deeper sense of power and control by opening up to the organically sensuous and mysterious fruits that the Universe has to offer.

Besides, like the old taichi meditative joke goes: “one more case of getting what I no longer want.”

The Autumn or Fall Equinox will happen on September 22nd, in the Northern Hemisphere at least. Light and dark energies are in equal alignment at this time in both hemispheres. Our days will start getting darker after that, as temperatures are also cooling down, and leaves are changing color.

But in the Southern Hemisphere, it will be their Vernal or Spring Equinox. Feminine and Masculine energies will also be equal. Their days will start getting longer after that, while temperatures will rise.

Recently, I went on a spiritual retreat at Mt Shasta in Northern California. To say the energies there were majestic would be an understatement. Like a wise guide said, “there’s a lot going on in Mt Shasta.” I have always wanted to embark on a spiritual retreat, and I’m so thankful I did. I feel that the digestion process will be unfolding for quite some time. Our group was larger than I had thought- approximately 25 people or so. We had some downtime to socialize, sub-group or whatnot, which was nice. However, our daily routine was filled with lots of meditation, group process and debriefing, some hiking and connecting with nature spirits on and around the mountain, and skywatching at night. For many of us, that was a highlight, if you’ll pardon the skywatching laser pun.

In my estimation at least, part of what the ETs love about us is that we are on the cusp of an awareness that is old news for many of them. This is part of why they are so interested in us. They want to engage with us in a playful way that includes co-regulation and positive self talk. This is the mindset of Unity Consciousness. From this perspective, contact is safe and healing. Earth is like a reform school and we are here to learn. Unity Consciousness is in alignment with the Universal Pillars of Love and Truth; beyond the realm of manipulation. From this dimensional and vibrational frequency, we are in alignment with welcoming, allowing and arriving in Unity Consciousness. It would be absurd to manipulate, exploit or try to control someone else’s energy in this space. But really, this isn’t a far cry from the Golden Rule.

I feel deep gratitude for being around a group of people that are in alignment with a heartfelt and high minded commitment to operate from that place consistently; as well as help others along their way as needed.

When we skywatched and saw them ‘power up’, it’s like when we were kids and someone would make the pull gesture to a highway trucker to blow their horn, and then they would. The trucker and the passerby travelers awaken to a peaceful easy feeling that captures the G’Day Mate sentiment. Of course the internal telepathic communicative experiences folks had during the retreat were what made everyone’s collective experiences unique. In sum, “Mt. Shasta was the perfect place for deep connection, reflection, and realignment.”

Finally, after almost 20 years of working in the same school community as a social worker, it’s a very strange and surreal feeling to not be returning this Fall. However, I’m looking forward to awakening to what will be the unfolding new book of my journey. As such, I will use this Leave of Absence period wisely, and give myself spaciousness to make room for what’s next. I feel this aligns with the time to let go of our collective trauma. Everyone needs to hit the pause button and reset for self-care, healing and support their mental health.

May all beings be free and awaken to the dimension of inner peace.

Ari

Swimming Further Into The Natural Waters Of Life By Staying Grounded & Anchoring Into Mother Earth

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A Full Sturgeon Moon jumps out of its murky waters today on August 9th, 2025. Their prehistoric experiential intelligence is worth reflecting on.

Unlike modern humans, these ancient fish do not appear to argue about their beliefs or pontificate about whose systems of thought should be more alluring than others, if you’ll pardon the pesce pun. Humans can stand to aquire and access their mirror of resiliency. We need to build resiliency now more than ever. We can swim through our murky waters and find common schools of thought, regardless of our superficial differences.

Everyone has bias, and of course this is part of the human condition. It isn’t about setting aside our biases, beliefs or judgments. Rather, it’s about moving beyond them. Perhaps humanity’s violent tendencies are waking us up. Abusive language, temper tantrums and micro-aggressions or even giving someone the cold shoulder are subtler examples of this. That’s why there is a growing trend of non-violent communication workshops out there so that we can wake up in the ways we relate to each other.

Remember Ghandi’s wisdom, “an eye for an eye will only make the whole world blind.” Or President Lincoln’s assertion that we need to evoke our better angels, instead of devolving into drawing our swords or going to war with one another.

Mercury In Retrograde goes back direct on August 11, after being in Retrograde since July 18th. Time to tend to what needs to be addressed, as in dot your i’s and cross your t’s.

Keep in mind that it usually takes about 10 days for the fog to clear till Mercury’s shadow leaves the dirge of its wake behind. Until this time, we are guided to listen to our inner voice and not get caught up in the voices of the world around us.

Knowing the difference is key. Parroting FOX News talking heads, or other media outlets, including social media, isn’t your inner voice. That can be tricky because it can be difficult to recognized when getting sucked in to those experiences, like conspiracy theories. Truly, these Deep States can be suffocating and feed on us like parasites, psychic vampires, bloodsuckers or leeches.

What lost messages or hidden information need your attention so that they may step into the light? May we allow the light to illuminate the shadows so that they may be a sound mantra in your river of dreams and a life preserver in your waking reality.

Speaking of messages and hidden information, has anyone else out there experienced their neurological systems triggered to the point of seemingly no return? Wow, to say that I had some intense experiences with anxiety recently would be an understatement. To someone who likes to stay ahead of the weather, these moments of crazed inner circuitry reared their ugly head seemingly out of nowhere without rhyme or reason.

Ah, but we know better because they do serve their purpose, even if unrecognizable at during the moments they occur. It’s easy to forget that purification comes often during unpleasant episodes in the body, the most powerful portal to consciousness. I try to remember that during episodes like these, but it can be really challenging, to put it lightly.

A New Moon in Virgo will happen on August 23. Earthy, organized, efficient and often perfectionists; the critically acclaimed Virgo energies remain dominant till September 23rd . . . Only a day after the Autumn Equinox in the Northern Hemisphere at least. Light and dark energies will be in equal alignment by then.

Feeling safe now connects to breathing in order, clarity and emotional regulation. It’s back to school and back to business coming down the pike. Tis the season to bring order into chaos and organization into disorganization. Building in tolerance and acceptance with life’s imperfections are key dynamics to mental health.

But if only we can allow for things to unfold in their own due time. There’s so much beauty in the cracks and crevices of the tapestry of life.

Meditate on the Japanese spiritual tradition of Wabi Sabi; as well as the spirited guidance of Swan. It is better to trust life and let it run its own way. Meeting expectations can be a good egoic reinforcer. Educators especially like to talk tough about expectations and striving in education. Nothing wrong with that. But it’s critical to emphasize letting go of expectations and focusing on arriving too. Walking in the center of the circle of paradoxical thinking isn’t always easy, if it ever is.

We are living in a time to let go of trauma, and remember our primal first stage of psychological development; trust versus mistrust. It’s a personal choice of freedom versus victimhood. To blame is to be a victim.

By the way, you can’t let go of something until you acknowledge the reality of its grip on you. For example, trauma isn’t an excuse, it’s an explanation. If you don’t own the reality of it, then you are in denial of it. Denial is a primitive, yet powerful defense mechanism. And it a’int just a river in Egypt.

Appreciate the subtleties of messages as they become louder while approaching the Virgo New Moon on August 23rd. Consider this New Moon an official portal into the Eclipse Season. Major shakeups in consciousness take place during Eclipses, especially the more consciously we work with these energies.

Or you can hunker down and ride out the storm front until the dust settles. But those of you that still do that already know that’s getting harder and harder to do these days.

Furthermore, as we switch horses from Leo into Virgo season, notice feeling much better preparedness for the strong winds of change that are on their way. The season of Virgo will help us to ground our energy, and create some structure and routine amidst any of the chaos that may be happening.

Like Master Yoda says; the future is fluid, rather than etched in stone commandments. Let’s use the Force aka Chi to state our desires to the Universe, and imprint on the reality we envision. This is a powerful time for us in our individual and collective consciousness to get out our paintbrushes to co-create the canvass of New Earth we envision together.

Spending time in meditation, focusing on positive energy, abundance, hope, etc., will be incredibly powerful and healing, not just for ourselves, but the entire planet. Keep hope alive, like my wise old spiritual counselor Leo would say.

A Full Corn Pisces Blood Moon Eclipse will happen on September 7. Given the energies of the fish, this Full Moon embodies their sensitivity and perceptiveness of surroundings.

Additionally, feelings of insecurity can be mitigated by being passive, and a wait and see approach to what is unfolding in your life. A creative and spiritual way of being aligns nicely with imaginative Pisces.

I can dig on how Ram Dass says that he has become identified with Love. Back when he left Harvard and went to India in the late 60s, he didn’t believe it was possible when his guru told him that he was called to love everybody in his lifetime.

Or like how Dave Chappellle says that he doesn’t hate anybody, he just works with that feeling. Comedy has a way of getting us to look at things differently.

And let’s echo Mother Theresa’s wise heavenly callback to stay as close to Love, and as far away from fear as possible while we are breathing.

Love is all around us. Don’t get sucked into the fear because fear is chock full of trigger happy weapons of mass deception.

May all sentient beings be free from suffering, live in harmony, and awaken to the dimension of Inner Peace.

Ari

Keeping The Flame During A Fiery Late July Leo Season & Swimming Into A Full Sturgeon Moon In August.

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A New Moon in Leo will arrive on July 24, 2025.

About a week before the New Moon, Mercury will be in Retrograde on July 18 and stay there till August 11; just after the Full Sturgeon Moon on August 9th.

Transformation is in the air. Be mindful of a rising tide of emotions that may surface in your waking reality for self-examination.

Are you experiencing power struggles? Are you feeling displaced or taken advantage of?

Leo’s fiery energies inspire us to frolic, play and enjoy drinking in summery energies.

Humanity can look upon this time as a friendly reminder that we are social creatures by nature.

May we access our social butterfly at this time, and build confidence in social situations so that we can effectively step into the limelight.

Tap into the fire element to access your intuitive spiritual wise warrior now to face any old ghosts or wounds.

And then transform them into spirit guides that support you along your way. Doing so is far more worth your time than getting your fix of the daily news to ‘keep informed’.

Our ancestors named this Moon after the Sturgeon because they were a primary food source to Indigenous people and colonists, and peak seasonal catch at this time.

If it seems like something fishy is going on during this Nature cycle, Mercury in Retrograde can feel like an old Twilight Zone episode; where communication can break down. Moreover, logic and reason of left brain systems of thought lose their power.

At the same time, we are invited to move into creative, right brain realms, like meditating, journaling, singing, playing music, and movement.

It’s also a good time to rewind and review where we have been, and explore the direction we want to move toward that awaits on the horizon.

Further, Mercury in Retrograde gives us the opportunity to let go, surrender and go with the flow.

Try to let rigid thoughts relax into the ebb and flow of the tides. Shorelines are magical places to meditate on for that.

Sturgeon’s have a prehistoric intelligence, and are good at swimming through murky waters. This reflects their survival instinct and resilience.

Humanity can stand to build our collective resiliency. Just imagine the infinite win-win possibilities!

Nowadays, mental health is paying more attention to learning how to swim in mental waterways that access happiness as a way of life.

Inner peace is a real deep dive; a dimension where following your bliss and discovering what awakens joy within your being are key dynamics.

I like breathing in the energy of new beginnings around New Moons. This one is a good reminder to accept feedback for the sake of personal growth.

Back in my late teens and early 20s, I remember when my thespian friends encouraged me to get into acting. Given my tendency to be less open to stepping outside of my comfort zone at that time in that way, I dismissed their recommendation; in spite of a natural gift for entertaining fantasy, pretending and playing cat and mouse in the theater of life.

But then again, that’s just part of being human. And learning how to be human is a process, and works best when we’re patient and kind to our minds and our selves.

Looking back in the rearview mirror, I wasn’t foreign to the spotlight following me around or having an audience. In my experience, I felt safe with impressing others, and receiving praise and admiration from them. Truly, a disease to please was a good frenemy, and security in my consciousness for years to come.

And yet, when I would become conscious of stepping into the limelight, it was easy for me to clam up, get taken over by stage fright, and then feel at a loss. Given my hard times with criticisms, it’s taken me a long time to learn how to be vulnerable by leaning into them and embrace criticisms as agents of change.

During my tenure on the planet, I have noticed how challenging it can be to not get defensive with folks; especially the ones whose criticisms pour liberally from their mouths, like an unsolicitedly peddled powder keg.

However, a gentle and open gaze at criticisms can open up pathways for internal shifts to take place so that we can move forward.

As I look back on an old friend’s High School yearbook quote, it does make sense to rather be hated for who you are than loved for who you are not.

A compassionate gaze reveals that hate is a strong term and an unsustainable way to live. But the idea of being true to yourself allows for more abundant inner peace. Besides, giving up your power to acquiesce to the desires of others is a recipe for digesting bitter.

May this Full Sturgeon Moon light up your sea of consciousness. People talk about the dog days of August. But it is our approach to the internal and external weather patterns, and changing seasons that matter.

Fish Philosophy speaks of the critical ideas that we all have the power to choose our attitudes, and make someone’s else’s day through kindness, etc. Of course there are many ways to do this. But probably not getting into a heated debate with someone else about whose beliefs Trump another’s, if you’ll pardon the political pun. Besides, you wouldn’t really be listening to the other person anyway; rather, you’d be reacting to the voice in the head.

Take care of yourselves everyone,

Ari