Staying True To The Self

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If We have ever met in person and/or you have Witnessed the ‘About Ari’ section of my blog, You know that I really love to See folks wake up and Bee True to their Self–hopefully without getting too stung in the process! In fact, I don’t need to look further than yours truly to observe this unfolding process of Awakening. In the Spirit of that, all We really have is right Now and the process of staying True to the Self, is a process of integrating The Many aspects of Our Selves within the ever evolving Living Present moment.

In my experience, it is both a challenge and an opportunity to express Oneself authentically and respectfully in relationship to Self and Others. In my journey, I have been digging deep, unearthing, scuba diving into the mysterious Unknowing, checking in and getting honest with myself and learning to ‘Know Thyself’, as the ancient portals to the Mystery School’s once noted “a long, long time ago, in a galaxy far, far away”. Yes, there has been much pain and sitting with uncomfortable tension in the unfolding evolutionary impulse, but I trust the Universal pillars of wisdom that Love and Truth will illuminate the shadowy veils that keep Us separate and disconnected from Our Oneness. Although it is wise to let go of outcome, it is yielding the result of discovering a burning passion inside to naturally radiate a genuine sense of authenticity. Bill Murray’s character at the end of the film ‘Groundhog Day’ carries this kind of energy, so that like Bill’s character, when We clear Our own Karma and release aspects of Our Selves that no longer serve Us, We clear space for a perceptual shift that opens Our Higher Vision. And this benefits what psychologist Carl Jung called the ‘Collective Unconscious’, as We dream a New Dream for all humanity to enjoy, a la “what’s good for the Goose, is good for the Gander” (pronounced Gandah in this neck of the woods). This is how We learn to stop playing roles and just Be with One another. And sometimes, the way We need to Be with One another, changes like the caterpillar changes into Butterfly. To say, “that’s just the way I roll” is like saying “that’s just the way it is” when qualifying ‘separate but equal’, which cleverly protects status quo energetic patterns.

Finally, We live in a dying realm of conceptual, mental concepts that fuel and perpetuate the existence of the ego, which likes to hide on “the dark side of the moon” and the “ghettos of the mind”, behind fortresses of the Intellect and sometimes around the Heart. And the ego is a master trickster that likes to cleverly use the intellect and spirituality to hide behind and maintain the status quo of personal identity. I see the ego as semantically akin to a demon that likes to convince Us of “the better the devil you know” mantra. Really, it makes for a skillful meditation practice–even for some of the wiser, “advanced” healing-energy practitioners I’ve come to know. In the spirit of that, I invoke the Art of Persuasion  to encourage folks flocking in this neck of the woods to tap into Blue Jay’s lessons on being a master pretender and True Wizardship. Blue Jay doesn’t care, as it’s medicine will remedy either. However, I’d like to assert that in the spirit of the “power of Love, not the love of power”, I’d rather be a somewhat scorched Eagle soaring in Heaven, than a Crow comfortably, blissfully and ignorantly navigating through hell. On radio channel Now, I can hear Larry King interviewing Marlon Brando when he admitted something to the effect of, “all  we (actors) do is pretend”. If I have a choice, pun intended, why would I eat a hamburger when I can have a steak–so long as I remember to eat mostly veggies?

I Hopi You are well,

Ari

Am I Being A Bat and/or Am I Just A Man Wearing A Mask?

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For the first time in today’s moccasins, I had the honor and the privilege to venture out to Salem, Massachusetts with a bunch of kids and a handful of adults. I can’t imagine a more Spirited time to visit, being as close to Halloween and subsequent holidays that appreciate the ‘thinning of the veils’ honoring Our ancestors that have passed on. It was a bit surreal, visiting Old Salem and seeing how the Pilgrims lived in conservative quarters, mixed with liberal doses of paranoia. I can imagine why it might be enticing to be a Witch and fly away on a broom for a spell, especially back then with little time for fun to be had and skeletons in the closet were swept under the rug. Besides, I love working with stray cats and in the spirit of that, the Universe presented a moment to yours truly, where a Bat mask was calling out my name. I wonder if they have Witches in China, where my new mask was made? “Sacred Bat . . . Fly to me, from the darkness of the cave. Womb-like reflections, answers it gave. Birth, death, rebirth, cycles of the whole . . . never-ending just eclipsed, the journey of the Soul.”

I remember an adventure in the desert some years back (although I wasn’t on a ‘horse with no name’) when I traveled off the beaten path to a mysterious Batcave deep within the Earth. Prior to ‘Batman Begins’, I look back and empathize with Bruce Wayne when I shut off my headlamp and meditated in the damp underground cavern with hundreds of Bats hanging around and flitting about. Admittedly, the Joker in me couldn’t resist teasing my Bat comrades a bit vis-a-vis flashing my headlamp onto some of them just to watch in awe to see them fly . . . “will someone please tell me what kind of town we live in when a man dressed up as a bat, gets all of my press . . . this town (Old World) needs an enema.” Moreover, I have had other significant encounters with Bats and I am inspired by Bat medicine and the power of wearing masks to facilitate the alchemy process in becoming something greater. It is somewhat akin to Buddhism’s Idea of Reincarnation in breaking out Our fast in allowing Our old selves to die, so that We may clear space for rebirth–particularly in the Aztec, Toltec, Tolucan and Mayan traditions. Soaring backward to last Sunday, I put on my new mask and Native feather-necklace after playing morning football with some menfolk from around the way and saged myself to loosen up and lick my wounds. Part of the reason I keep up with my Shamanic-Taoist martial arts training is so that I can keep playing football without hurting myself or anyone else, so I’m learning new ways to play. What’s more, an Eagle in flight soared above to confirm my inner transmutation, as a Blue Jay on the ground gently reminded me of the Kingdom of Heaven within, a la ‘as above, so below’. Some moments thereafter, some Crows used their communicative magic in chasing away Hawk, while a red Squirrel chimed in and a flock of Geese reminded me of ‘High Fidelity’, though I heard the Boss but didn’t see John Cusack. But I’m pretty sure I glimpsed a Shrew before She scurried away, though I’m unsure if Shakespeare helped tame Her Nervous Woodland Creature energy.

Finally, I know the ‘powers that were’ and the properly indoctrinated ‘sheeple’ whom have towed the Coke and Pepsi party line, by pledging unconscious allegiance to the ‘Corporatocracy’, may hardly bat an eye at the Law of Impermanence. But it will not always be like this, as the only constant is change. Besides, Bats eat pests and help fruit a New Earth by spreading the manna, I mean mantra, ‘shit happens’. In my experience, it is more empowering and less work in the long run to face Our fears head on, rather than hide from them through skillful avoidance tactics. This Fall, as I Leave behind my old self, like Han Solo in Star Wars, I assert, “never tell me the odds”. Given that I took probability and statistics three times in College, hung out in the energy field of manipulation and intervention way too long, I now understand that the field of infinite possibilities is way more exciting and fruitful. Moreover, living Life as if it were a hedge fund might seem like a sure bet and a safety net. However, I’d rather fly into the zone of the Unknown (like the Bats that died from human wind power towers) with my trusted inner voice as my navigation device. While Divine Will is beyond the realm of predictability and comprehension, walking in alignment with It is a knowable experience. As I meditate on Bat, I hope it’s in the cards that I don’t get hung up on the man I am, but welcome who I am becoming. What a breath of fresh air in creating everything anew from the Ground Up . . . So long as I use my psychic abilities to read defenses and stay calm in the pocket like Tom Brady–even through I didn’t play at the Big House or grow up in California. Can you dig it?

I Hopi You are well,

Ari

If You Want To Bring Down The Horse, Giddy Up

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I remember when I was bucked off a horse when I was three, had another erratic experience with a horse at a camp while on the cusp of early adolescence and avoided horses like the plague until early adulthood.  But I faced my fears head on and got back in the saddle again on a family reunion at a Dude Ranch in Wolf, Wyoming some years back. It required trust and taking many deep breaths while traversing the narrow trails of the Big Horn Mountains, thousands of feet up from the deep valleys below. And today, I felt relaxed as I pet a horse at an Autumn fair with family. Has anyone out there ever seen the film ‘2001: A Space Odyssey’? If so, do You remember the razor-sharp cut from ‘The Dawn of Man’ scene tossing the bone in the air, to the floating Space Station? If I were re-imagining the film today, I might bridge the cut with a Unicorn gleaming the Heavens to the soundtrack Jimi Hendrix and Traffic jamming A Session together, “Excuse Me, While I Kiss The Sky”. “Mighty Horse . . . Power to run across open plains, or to bring the vision of the shields dancing in purple dream rain.” If only ‘the powers that were’ would join Us in tapping into the Power Animal of Horse, then We could all become ‘Captain Americas’ by accessing Our inner psychic shields when We need protection. In the Spirit of that, shamanic practices throughout the world, tap into Horse medicine to allow shamans to fly through the air and reach Heaven. In dreaming a New Dream, Horse represents freedom, basic instincts and personal power, which might mean taking more risks by embracing a Lao Tzu perspective, rather than strictly clinging to a Confucian one (not that the two are necessarily mutually exclusive). Giddy up Wayne, et. al., and “Do the Tao Now.” Thank you for inspiring Us to become the change We want to see in the world by sharing with Us Living the Wisdom of the Tao.

Additionally, given all the egoic pontificating over public-private budgetary issues and the sinking Titanic of the dying world, isn’t it empowering to know that Horse’s energy is free health care We may access, if only We allow for it? After all, Horse is responsible for allowing humanity the privilege of expanding into the Great Wide Open and freely mingling with diverse tribes. Now, I realize there are phallic attachments to 28 billion dollar nuclear warheads, Area 51 and black hole accounts that radically funnel monies from hard-working folks, whom are already pinching pennies to get by. We have blazed saddles in Monopoly, where the privileged few are trotting across the Globe, while the overwhelming majority watches “green fields turn to brown like paper in fire”. Moreover, if California is quenching Its thirst by drinking Its own toilet water, I Bee Leave that We can assist Frank Lloyd Wright’s Divine Hand in energetically flushing ‘the powers that were’ down his Guggenheim toilet in NYC without cutting down any trees or stinging anybody in the process. However, I strongly encourage the ‘Occupation on Wall Street’ to remember to keep their Underground Weather calm, so that Our Critical Mass will come about peacefully, as a developing Sacred Geometrical equilateral triangle becomes increasingly buoyant in the rising tides of Aquarian Sea of Consciousness. Here on Channel Now, We’re already inundated! We know that violence begets violence and those that rule by force and maximum economic profit only works in the Land of Make Believe. The Christ, Buddha, Gandhi, Mother Theresa, Dr. King and many other ancestors have shown Us the way, through their peaceful acts of civil disobedience and rebellion.

Finally, I recently released a Genie vis-a-vis a Chinese fortune stating, “LEARN Chinese Zodiac-Horse (and) don’t let your limitations overshadow your talents.” In one of my Shamanic animal books, Horse folks are described by Chinese Zodiac as friendly, adventurous and very emotional and also appealing and persuasive. In that Light, who needs Gallup Polls, when White Stallion said, “You Dreamwalker have made the journey to heal a brother in need, to share the sacred pipe, and to heal Mother Earth. You have the knowledge through humility that you are an instrument of Great Spirit. As I carry you on my back, you carry the needs of the people on yours. In wisdom, you understand that power is not given lightly but awarded to those who are willing to carry responsibility in a balanced manner.” Perhaps ‘Rocky’ channeled his Horse totem when he saddled up Mickey’s teachings about balance and keeping ‘Franky Fear’ in his stall. In carrying a balanced Medicine Shield, We must remember to access an internal space of empathic shapeshifting and the wisdom remembering that “compassion, caring, teaching, loving, and sharing your gifts, talents, and abilities are gateways to power.” Who needs to be a distilled ‘Evil Dewar’, when Horse might inebriate Us toward trotting into the Spirit realm to guide Us on Our travels toward New Vistas and mythical journeys? And given my propensity toward Alpha Male energy, I am so thankful to Horse for helping me tame my sexual desires and release them to Heaven, where they can be transmuted into a formless single malt beverage for God’s Holy Grail. After all, I’d rather be a True King than a fool’s gold.

 

I Hopi You are well,

Ari

Kundalini Rising

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I remember when my Mother was deathly afraid of snakes. Perhaps not coincidentally, I once killed many snakes ‘long, long ago, in a galaxy far, far away’, while visiting a magical place on Lake Michigan called Fox Island. Gravely but understandably, my behavior was liberally reinforced by a bunch of adults, mostly men, for ‘clearing vermin’. Today, I choose to say ‘peace out’ to the ‘powers that were’ by transmuting my relationship with Snake, gently facing my fears head on and killing them with kindness. “Snake . . . come crawling, there’s fire in your eyes. Bite me, I’ll learn to realize, the poison transmuted, brings eternal flame. Open me to heaven, to heal me again.” I so appreciate the power Snake medicine has to transmute Our physical, mental, emotional and/or spiritual dimensions, given that We humans are multi-dimensional, Universal Beings. Moreover, Snake medicine invokes creativity, sexuality, psychic energy, reproduction and Ascension (Immortality). When we tap into Snake’s energy, We uncoil Our Chi that has slumbered at the base of our spine and allow it to slither upward and onward, snaking its way through our Chakras and Energetic Beingness. What can I say, I like to enjoy cold, frothy beverages with a little head on them from time to time and didn’t a Wise One once Christen ‘water into wine’?  If you would like help with balancing your Chakras, please see my entry on July 18, 2011 entitled “Birds of a feather flock together and spinning Chakras”, in the archives. And if you would like another Auric energetic booster that mixes nicely with spinning Chakras, please see my July 8, 2011 entry entitled “Leave Me Alone”. I feel a sense of Nirvana striking a chord when I sing to myself, “what else can I say, everyone is a spiritual DJ”.

While tracking Tom Brown’s footsteps in his Field Guide of Nature and Survival Guide for Children (yes folks, all adults are big kids), I like what he says about Grandfather’s wisdom encouraging Us to carry a ‘meditation 101’ perspective–that having an open, passive attitude is a key ingredient to staying connected to Nature. Who knows, perhaps being a ‘snake in the grass’ will increase Our visionary and intuitive capabilities. However, with great power comes great responsibility, so it is always wise to look within first and ask One Self, “is that the voice of the ego, or the voice of spirit?” Further, Divine Energy is when Yin and Yang, Masculine and Feminine energies are balanced and coalesce into One–coming Full Circle, so to speak. In exploring the depth of this truth, One may awaken to the perceptual shift that in Creation, all things are equal and that even poison can be “eaten, ingested, integrated and transmuted”. While ‘watching bush T.V.’, I get fired up on the ground by breathing in passion, desire, procreation and physical vitality. Emotionally, I get a charge out of cultivating ambition, creation, resolution and dreams. Mentally, Snake stimulates my intellect, power, charisma and leadership. In the realm of Spirit, Snake uncoils wisdom, understanding, wholeness and connection to Great Spirit. There’s a great story of ‘Three Peaks Chang’ in a children’s Tai Chi book that talks about a Lao Tzu character studying the way that a snake ‘wards off’ an attacking bird until the bird finally gave up and flew away. When I read this story to my daughter, her old Preschool peers and teachers, I blew into my didgeridoo and We were all inundated.

In becoming True Shamans, Snake medicine offers Us the potential to shift Our consciousness, if We merely allow Our Selves to transmute Our energy by accepting the power of Fire. I take Snake’s lessons as somewhat akin to my Shamanic-Taoist Martial Arts training, in that it’s medicine reflects the ability to “kill or cure, ultimately leading to dramatic healings.” Shamans of the Americas have spoken of Quetzalcoatl–a snake-like god. I see Quetzalcoatl’s return as a prophetic metaphor for a Collective shift in Cosmic Consciousness as our old world dies and a New Age awakens, a la ‘out with the old, in with the new’. It’s not necessary to have the ‘Midas Touch’ and turn everything into gold (just look to Goldmember in Austin Powers–don’t be that guy). Just because I’m a man and ‘packin’ heat’ in a ‘Land Down Under’, doesn’t mean I have to act like ‘Multiple Migs’ in ‘The Silence of the Lambs’. Moreover, what is truly empowering is to notice the illusionary veils lifting, perceive through their thinning and begin to See the world as it really Is. In the exfoliation of Our dead skin process, We may transparently slither through wide open fields . . . And then We shall become Our own Boss as We sing, “were the green grass grows, tomorrow never knows.”

I Hopi You are well,

Ari

Am I Wearing A Mask, Or Just Being A Racoon?

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While walking in the woods recently, I found myself Falling back into some darker feelings, singing the blues to myself, if you will. Then I noticed the foliage changing colors and said to myself, “tis the season”, as I was able to leave those feelings  behind for a spell and shift in alignment with Inner Peace, while remembering gratitude for what is. Simultaneously, I heard a Blue Jay calling out to me and then watched another bathing himself in a creek after I found a place to hide.  From the Ground, I looked Up and said, “thank you” . . . the most important prayer I know. And just a few moments ago, I heard a Woodpecker reminding me to follow my own internal rhythms, while My Blue Herons encouraged me to stay rooted as I determine my own Destiny.

Following a Tai Chi workshop last weekend, I picked up some Thai food to go and while driving along the Road Less Traveled, I noticed a Racoon watching me as we shared a heartfelt gaze, if only fleetingly (I didn’t want to crash and burn into either of Us). In the spirit of darkness and disguise, I took my encounter with Racoon as an immediate connection to the self-defense aspect of the internal martial art that I’ve come to love, master of self-defense raccoons are. In fact, the “real master” that taught the workshop struck me as True to His Self, rather than a master pretender. When he spoke of closing Our eyes, if only briefly, it was as if he channeled Racoon’s Medicine to put on a mask and access a primordial space within.  I took this lesson as somewhat akin to when Obi Wan Kenobi instructed his late-blooming student to put on a mask and “use the force Luke.” In this way, We may step into a New dimension and access deeper realms. Has anyone out there ever heard of the ‘Johari Window’? In the Spirit of that, Racoon Medicine reminds Us that We have the opportunity to dive into the Unknown and retrieve New Vistas from aspects of Our Selves that might otherwise be unavailable. True, this process elicits ambiguity and equivocation because there is the sense of a ‘death of the old self’ and letting go of ‘who I am’. However, in this process of Alchemy, a re-birth and ‘who I am becoming’ lies on the Horizon. In much the same way as my Nervous Woodland Creature (NWC) friends–well, that’s something I can dig on, Ma Chucka.

Finally, the implications for Racoon Medicine are mind-bending and leaves plenty more to digest through the seasons, even as Chlorophyll wanes and meanders into the Dreamtime. Perhaps an Occupational Therapist might integrate a Shamanic perspective by tapping into Racoon’s energy when working with folks in developing their ‘fine motor’ dexterity and manipulation, while prescribing a ‘sensory diet’. Next time I’m ‘Chi washing’, I’ll marinate on Racoon Medicine when cleansing my Auric energy field and think of my martially masked friend as inspiring me to eat more fresh fruits and vegetables, as I remember to wash them clean. While sleeping, I’ll dream a New Dream of putting to bed old aspects of myself, welcoming changing faces and exploring New Awakenings. Who knows, perhaps Racoon’s medicinal offerings might include some shapeshifting Gateways into my T’ai Chi martial arts explorations.

I Hopi You are well,

Ari

Am I Sharing Here Or Just Being A Turkey?

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On this Autumn Equinox, I am in a deep place of gratitude as I remember walking with a student out on the trails recently. After detecting a subtle movement down yonder, We quieted our chatter and crouched out of their field of vision and watched a flock of Turkeys reminding Us to honor the shared blessings and harvest atmosphere of the crisp Autumn air.  Once the Turkey caught wind of our scent (including gobble sounds emanated from student) and fled the scene, I was so grateful to see that one left a beautiful feather just for me.  The last time one left an offering like that, was probably about a year ago somewhere else along that path. And I just let go of that feather circa “Am I Going Nuts, Or Have I Just Forgotten Where I Buried My Acorns” blog entry. “Ho, Brother Turkey! So freely you give of everything you are, so others may truly live. Give away Eagle . . . Deep and abiding recognition of the sacrifices of both self and others.”

Additionally, I wonder if Lao Tzu would concur that Turkey medicine might be a remedy to “the boasting of thieves after a looting”? Would He feather Our modern world’s ripple by calling on Turkey to quiet Our obsession with “rampant consumerism”, by tickling Us into channeling Our Chi in a more egalitarian way? Admittedly, Turkey medicine might be a threat to national security, given that it might be a hard sell to the gravy train Military Industrial Complex, Medical Model Establishment, an Economic Hit Man and/or a Big Pharma Executive, given that it’s free and generally has positive side effects associated with Inner Peace. I remember dreaming a new dream that looks like a free for service economy–vis-a-vis a philosophically free market based on bartering that honors Unity Consciousness and the Diversity within an organically more equitable global village, where resources are shared.  In the spirit of what’s good for the goose is good for the gander, “there’s enough and we can all win.” Further, I enjoy Native American stories that share that Turkey was a co-creator of the world by teaching Us how to raise corn and protect Us from the ‘Evil Dewar’s’. In the spirit of that, I wonder if Indian Shamans sought Turkey’s council regarding the original intention of the first Thanksgiving Harvest? Now I don’t know about that for sure, but I hear Turkey drives Squirrel nuts when Turkey steals Squirrel’s acorn stash. If We were talking baseball and Squirrel was pitching, that’d be a foul ball.

Finally, Turkey’s energy connects Us to Our Third Eye in that Our “collective consciousness” is waking up and flowering as We become the change We want to see in Our world. Our waking up is tied to Our Mother waking up and of course how We treat Her. At the end of the day, I say Thank You to Our Mother and send her lots of heartfelt loving energy. Further, Turkey alludes to strength in numbers, which hints at Our growing Critical Mass . . . a rising tide sea of consciousness that will tip the iceberg and lettuce effectively transition into a New Age and Paradigm, a la “birds of a feather, flock together.” Now as I look for a carrot in this New World, I am inspired to perceive humanity from the standpoint of a ‘cultural salad bowl’, chock full of mixed greens.

I Hopi You are well,

Ari

Trotting With Fox

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After waxing on a bit of a lather during a waning run recently, I noticed a Fox not noticing me as She crossed the road with a fresh kill in Her mouth.  Some kind of rodent, maybe it was a Mouse or a Rat, but admittedly I couldn’t quite zone in enough to attend to the detail or shrewd enough to say for sure. Whatever Nervous Woodland Creature (NWC) it was, perhaps it was down with ‘investing in loss’, less wily  than Fox, let go of a fight and accepted the ‘death of the old self’ without going Straight Outta Woodland. As it were, I remained camouflaged until Fox became aware of me at the border area to the wetlands and scurried away to secure its catch.  I wonder if Ralph Ellison was inspired by his Fox totem when he wrote Invisible Man?

I remember when I was in the woods a while back for a spell, just coming out of my meditation, as I observed Fox trotting merely a stone’s toss from me without flickering an eye as it passed me by. Given Her keen sense of smell and heightened capacity for discrimination and discernment (and my doubly large energy field), Fox’s Sacred Feminine energy is teaching me well in learning Merlin’s skills of concealment, as I learn to fade into the background and adjust my aura to the social environment accordingly (without giving up my power or taking someone else’s). And then a Blue Jay did a ‘fly by’ and rang like a ‘bell of mindfulness’ that I’d rather be a True Wizard than a master illusionist. Moreover, a Grasshopper’s quantum leap reminded me to venture out and take some risks in order to evolve and broadly jump forward.  In blazing my own trail, especially as We approach Fall, I am encouraged to release my fears of leaving others behind and fall back, while springing forward–for there is always freewill and what works for others probably won’t work for me and vice versa.  And then a Praying Mantis encouraged me to listen to my Inner Voice and remember Star Wars Jedi Qwi Gong Jin and spiritual teacher Eckhart Tolle’s combined wisdom to quiet my mind, heed stillness, continue to cultivate my internal martial arts practice vis-a-vis remembering to breathe in ‘Righteous Chi’ . . . a walking meditation that is nothing to sneeze at during these changing seasons.

Finally, while recently watching “bush TV” in my backyard garden, I glanced up from the fire and gazed at the glowing Moon illuminating the golden Black Eyed Susan reflecting back my way. I could smell my fragrant flowering consciousness blooming in my own inner garden, even as Summer’s petals paradoxically wilt away.  In the Spirit of nocturnal power, Fox reinforces to Us that We can become the change we want to see by cutting back to Inner Peace, walking with joy in Our steps and following Our bliss.  As We rapidly approach and soon pass the transient Autumn Equinox and Light and Dark become equal as One . . . dare We enjoy the waning Light, welcome the forthcoming Dark and turn Our focus “Yinward”.  When We open Ourselves up to trotting in step with Fox’s tracks, We open up to allowing Ourselves to tap into Our creative energy and act from a heartfelt Inner Space. My encounter with Fox reminds me to be an open conduit for the Universe to flow through my human form in a way that represents Oneness, Diversity in Unity and sheds light on the shadowy veils that try to keep Us in Plato’s Cave. Now, isn’t that Foxy Aquarian footing out of this world?  Excuse me, while I kiss the sky . . .

I Hopi You are well,

Ari

Barefoot In The Woods

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While flying solo in the woods recently, I considered whether or not I’d bring my Aboriginal didgeridoo (bought in USA made in Indonesia) to blow in the wind. However, I shifted gears and opted for a standard low tech experience and ‘invested in loss’ by passing on carrying a big stick.  After finding a favorite hiding spot, I settled into a somewhat ‘Lotus’ meditation position and enjoyed significant encounters with Turtle and brother Frog and Frog (remember T.V. classic Newhart and characters Larry, Darryl and Darryl?).  Although Turtle was alive and well, I couldn’t detect any movement in the hour or so I watched Her–even with my Grandmother’s trusted field glasses.  In the spirit of the Art of Persuasion, I invite folks to bow to the wisdom of Turtle and Her knowledge of patience and longevity and Frog’s beat boxing of forthcoming changes in weather patterns.  Wood You Bee Leave that I heard many Ma’ Chuckin’ Nervous Woodland Creature (NWC) peeping their version of The Boss, “when I’m out in the trails, tweet, tweet, tweet . . . I stick where I want to stick.”

Coincidentally, my shared encounters with Frog and Turtle represent linkages to the Moon and Tides and portals into the Faerie Realm.  With my trusted faggot of Tibetan incense sticks to burn, I put a little Fairy Creme on my face to set the mood.  As I listened to Frog and Turtle, I heard the lyrics, “I miss the rains down in Africa . . . can’t you hear, can’t you hear the thunder, you better run, you better take cover . . .  rock me mama like the wind and the rain . . . (and) here comes the story of the hurricane.”  And while I may no longer be physically residing in Australia or Africa, I am protected by Mother’s shell, inspired to create life anew, welcoming the tears and rains as cleansing rituals to clear space for the shifting tides and changing seasons–hopefully without getting too washed out in the process, given tumultuous weather patterns (come on Irene) and a splitting Comet Elenin.  By calling on Frog, we invoke its medicine to breathe in new life, live joyfully and harmoniously . . . cleansing ourselves of “any person, place, or thing that does not contribute to your new state of serenity and replenishment.” Soaking in a bathtub with a little sea salt and perhaps a few drops of lavender has a relaxing, cleansing and detoxifying effect.  Got a frog in your throat?  Please consider gargling with warm sea salt water to open up the capillaries. Spraying liquid from your mouth into a fire in the spirit of manifestation and/or letting go and more importantly gratitude has a powerful Shamanic cleansing effect as well, a la ‘out with the old, in with the new’.

Finally, please consider Turtle’s patient and kind reminders for Us to stay slow and low in the tempo of life.  Given how nuts things can get in the transition from Summer to Fall, Turtle inspires Us to allow the river to flow to Us, rather than trying to levy its waters.  By staying grounded and honoring Our Mother, We co-creatively build the New Earth together. In this process, “Turtle medicine can teach new perceptions about time and our relationship with it.”  I’ve also seen that it stimulates clairvoyance and heard it amplifies clairaudience, as well as improving Our capacity to smell the scents of Life in more discriminate ways.  It’s as if Turtle and Frog are beckoning Us to stop and smell the roses–even if it means hoppily standing in the rain once in a while.  And while noticing the flowers in your garden, please remember to soak in the magical Full Moon on Monday into your sea of consciousness.  I’m glowing already merely envisioning it in my Third Eye!

I Hopi You are well,

Ari

You And Me Standing Here My Deer

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Following a recent gathering at The Clubhouse, I climbed down the stairs, jumped o’er river to call it a night and I spotted two deer en route home. I’m always excited about my Deer encounters and remember gratitude for their gentle reminders that steer Us toward new adventures awaiting around the bend. Deer medicine is especially powerful this time of year, as we approach the Autumn Equinox and Light and Dark become equal, if only briefly.  Isn’t it poignant that Deer’s coat is somewhat akin to the symbolic Yin and Yang and oscillations of Light and Dark energetic vibrations within?  Between Irene and other erratic weather patterns whirling around our waste, perhaps this forthcoming comet Elenin will really wash Us out and clean things up, a la ‘out with the old and in with the new’.  Who knows, maybe even the Man from Ajax will be out of a job, as A New Earth becomes greener from less pollution for Seven Generations to come?

Coincidentally, I remember the story of the Buddha first preaching in a Deer Park.  Wasn’t it the Rat that first arrived to heed the Buddha’s calling and now claims Chinese astrological posterity?  Moreover, I find it synchronous that an Angry Red Squirrel friend got fired up in his recall of some past negative experiences with Rats.  After my friend recapped going Straight Outta Woodland on his apparent Nervous Woodland Creature nemesis, I heard my Chinese acupuncture friend angrily assert, “in West, answer is to kill . . . don’t always have to kill everything!” Although I remained silent, I sent my Angry Red Squirrel friend a telepathic message asking him to consider giving peace a chance vis-a-vis an agreement with Rat consciousness and watching The Rats of Nihm for cinematherapy.  Personally, I’ve come to appreciate Rats–particularly their shrewdness.  And the social scientist geek in me remembers that unlike humans, Rats will learn new pathways to cheese, after discovering that once coveted cheese, regardless of how Gouda it tasted, disappeared from once familiar territory.  Curiously, humans have a tendency to heed the ‘better the Devil you know’ mantra and will continue to go back to the same place, even when no cheese remains, given our propensity to get scaled back in Our Reptilian brain.  Ah, but Deer teaches Us to gently gaze onto demonic energy, while singing the Beatles hit “All You Need Is Love”, in a way that dissolves fear and reminds Us that Great Spirit so desires Us to join Father Sky and Mother Earth on Sacred Mountain and a return to our innocence.

Finally, in the film saga Star Wars, I remember Master Yoda training Luke Skywalker in the Jedi Arts so that Luke is equipped to stand up to the imbalance of the Dark side of the Force.  As such, Yoda teaches, “for my ally is the force and a powerful ally it is . . . life creates it . . . makes it grow . . . it’s energy surrounds Us and binds Us . . . luminous beings are We . . . not this crude matter . . . You must feel the Force around You.”  In the spirit of that, Deer reminds Us that It’s medicine allows for the welcoming of increasing powers of perception, noticing chiaroscuro, detecting subtle movements in border areas and clairaudience . . . so I’ve heard.

I Hopi You are well,

Ari

Am I Going Nuts, Or Have I Forgotten Where I Buried My Acorns?

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I remember puttering around in the shed recently when a Chipmunk came in to greet me from the outside.  I don’t know if it was the welcoming colors of the Tibetan Prayer flags hanging on the doorway and/or the inviting scents of burning sage and incense, but in this encounter, his unscheduled and unexpected visit encouraged me to continue welcoming abundance and accumulating virtue–vis-a-vis thrift, efficiency and hard work.  I thanked my Chipmunk friend and he roosted without seeming too chicken . . .  

Following a grasshopper’s leap in the week, I found myself in the company of men again on an overnight disc golf/camping excursion.  Perhaps it was a coincidence that some squirrely man friends and Our “sentinel of the forest” comrades all chimed in with a chorus of peanut gallery comments–without driving One another too nuts in the process.  Has anyone else out there played disc golf?  This grounding sport closely parallels regular golf, absent Country Club fees, golf carts and fancy ironed shirts (albeit a couple of die-hard friends carry man purses with a variety of discs instead of clubs and other Nervous Woodland Creature gadgetry).  Now, my old self formerly avoided sports involving frisbees for a myriad of good reasons.  However, in my ongoing desire to evolve and fly outside my comfort zone, I’m learning to enjoy new frisbee games like “Kan Jam” as well.  Although my neck’s not so red and it’s been 20 years since I sported anything that remotely resembles a mullet, I concede that sporting without killing (admittedly some of us killed a mosquito or two, we ate meat and expelled dead air) is a great way to get outdoors and have fun in Nature.

Finally, “Squirrel . . . you have gathered nuts by the score, exactly predicting if you’ll need more.  Teach me to take no more than I need.  Trusting Great Mystery to harvest the seed.”  I wonder if President Gerald R. Ford had a squirrel totem, given that he was an Eagle Scout and was always prepared to deliver impromptu speeches at the trip in the step, I mean drop of the hat?  Given Squirrel’s connections to 12 week cycles, I see meaningful encounters with Squirrel encouraging Us to prepare for the forthcoming transition between waning Yang of Summer to waxing Yin of Fall.  Since We are all mirrors for One another in the Universe, Squirrel offers Us the opportunity to learn from One another through imitation and striking a balance between Our gathering and Our emissions.  I can hear a scratching mix of Mr. Miage and Mickey from The Karate Kid and Rocky reminding Us to nevermind footwork and punching so much as remembering balance–without going Straight Outta Woodland on Ourselves by throwing acorns and/or going nuts in the forgetting.

I Hopi You are well,

Ari