A hiker stands on rocky cliffs overlooking the ocean at sunset.
“The early Buddhist texts view death not as a final end, but as a transitional gateway within a continuous cycle of existence (samsara). The Buddha taught that while grief is a natural response to the arrow of loss, true transformation occurs when we stop fighting impermanence and recognize our deeply interconnected nature.”
Moreover, a growing body of scientific research is further reinforcing the old spiritual truth vis a vis the quote above; as you will see in the video clip below:
Furthermore, notice that the Imbolc will be happening in the Souther Hemisphere in early August.
Remember that the Imbolc is the approximate halfway point between their Winter Solstice and Spring Equinox. Some folks celebrate the Imbolc on the first or second day of the month, while this year some focus on August 7 as the sacred date.
In the Northern Hemisphere, the Llamas will be honoring the approximate mid-point between the Summer Solstice and Autumn Equinox at this time.
Given that Mercury is still in Retrograde till July 23rd, check out the revisited related original past poetic prose by clicking on the link below.
Additionally, in much the same way as meditation,Pete Seeger’s pro-humanitarian civil rights protest music recognized that a good folk song can get the job done without the frills.
Together, we can co-create a more welcoming, accepting and fair and just society for everyone when we unplug from old scripts and co-author new narratives:
Andjust yesterday, I saw a bumper sticker that featured a picture of a Monarch Butterfly with the accompanying lyrics, “the only orange monarch I support.” Got a full bellied laugh out of that one!
Keep in mind that spirituality as a way of life embodies a playful, light-hearted, and healthy felt sense of detachment from the heaviness of the world.
We are all interconnected.
Besides, the heavily orchestrated shadowy program that parrots that we are separate from one another is merely a finely flat tuned illusionary chorus, if you’ll pardon the music pun.
May all Beings be free from suffering, and awaken to Unity Consciousness, Cosmic Consciousness, God Consciousness, Universal Pillars of Love and Truth, Inner Peace and Diversity within Unity!
A magical lion adorned with glowing flowers sleeps peacefully in a mystical forest at night.
“We are not human beings having a spiritual experience. We are spiritual beings having a human experience.”
-Pierre Teilhard de Chardin
Please enjoy the following videos below that capture the sentiment. Perhaps listening to them together in peaceful alignment, will be music to your ears, if you’ll pardon the pun . . .
We Shall Overcome
A Full Strawberry Moon on June 29 reflects lineage connections to the Algonquin and other North American nations who noticed the connection between the wild berry harvest to this Full Moon.
Also, Mercury will be in Retrograde on June 29 – July 23. These energies are in alignment with slowing things down, reflecting on the past, and focusing on the here and now.
Energetically, Mercury in Retrograde is a good time to be mindful of subconscious thoughts, including past programming. These energies can be a healing and highly intuitive time when we work with its energies intensionally.
Moreover, our psychic abilities and dreams can become triggered so that we can tap into deeper insights by working with our subconscious minds in ways where the unseen realms yield useful information to light our way.
A colorful New Moon in Cancer rises in the skies on July 14, 2026. Cancer season continues till July 22nd.
As always, new beginnings are in the air. And specifically, the new waves coming into the shores bring back feeling safe in family matters of the hearth, and other related activities like cooking and gardening.
Crabs are known to weather their emotional fluctuations. Might as well be mindful of co-creating a sense of belonging in the world.
Cancer the Crab is a time when we are encouraged to focus on nourishment, self-care, and our emotional health that breathes in a softer tone that supports reconnecting with ourselves and our hearts. Crabs reflect emotional sensitivity and tapping into the feeling realm.
Remember there is God in forgiveness, and it can be good to get out of our heads; especially when getting seduced into negative self talk narratives.
Or perhaps merely an atheistic appreciation the mysterious forces of Nature are enough to be shelter from the storm.
Looking ahead, a Full Buck Moon will happen on July 29. This Moon gets its name from the Native American observation that male deer antlers began growing in late spring and reach peak growth in July. Many Native Alaskans called this moon the Salmon Moon for its timing with salmon runs.
Whereas in Celtic culture, this moon has been known as the Wyrt (Wort), Mead or Herb Moon because most herbs can withstand harvesting by July. And in Anglo Saxon lineage, this moon was known as the Hay Moon. Bees buzzing out and about reinforce that honey is the elixir of life.
It is important for all humans to remember our shared history. This includes our lineage connections to our indigenous ancestral roots that are part of our planetary history before Colonization. This has impacted everyone and continues to do so.
Of course knowing our spiritual roots connects to that truth as well. Because we all have stardust in our DNA, not to mention oral traditions passed down about our cosmic connections to the Sky People.
Speaking of cosmic connections, a growing body of people are talking about Disclosure these days:
Late July’s full moon cycle amplifies a strong need for emotional freedom that can heighten emotional complexities.
Whether you’re an ET, human or otherwise; the resonate point is that harmonizing with groups can be challenging for everyone till you get into the right vibe, if you’ll pardon the multidimensional pun.
Moreover, Aquarian energies that also constitute July’s full moon cycle can intensify in those of us with strong rebellious streaks, our need to assert ourselves, and can make getting along in groups feel more challenging.
But then again, that’s just part of the human condition.
Speaking of the human condition, fear, anger and jealousy aren’t particularly healthy emotional cravings. And yet, all emotions are fleeting and transient, so we might as well see them as they are; no more or no less.
Besides, the power of community shows that people can be good mirrors for each other to reflect on what triggers us, and can shed light on better understanding of our humanity.
Finally, the tides of Leo season roll in from July 22-August 22. Tis the season to broadcast radically confident self-expression through the heart chakra, and a friendly reminder to nurture our inner child. Leo’s energies encourage movement out of the shadows, and stepping into the light with courage and passion.
Of course dominating the spotlight and always stealing the show can be blinding; as is self-stimulation as a form of meddling into the affairs of others. Besides, it can come across as an arrogant form of defensive pride.
Truly, the 3D realm we live in still carries a strong identification as an outer directed culture. Might as well see this reality as a friendly reminder that we stand in a deeper and higher personal authority when we stop chasing after happiness in the form of “praise, likes, or applause.”
May all Beings awaken to God Consciousness, Cosmic Consciousness, Unity Consciousness, Diversity within Unity, Inner Peace and the Universal Pillars of Love and Truth,
“The real measure of our lives has to do with your Values, not your valuables; by your Goodness, not your goods; by your Self-Worth, not the weight of your wallet.”
-Dr. Wayne Dyer
Following a powerful Wesak Full Flower Moon on May 1st, a New Moon in Taurus will happen on May 16th. Spring energies are springing, in the Northern Hemisphere at least. Everything is ephemeral, and it’s hard not to feel inebriated by the seasonal energies of growth and transience that are reflecting back to us from Nature.
This new moon gives us a friendly reminder that a deeper sense of stability comes from self respect. Deeper respect comes from accepting ourselves for who we are over what material things we manifest, and perhaps become identified with.
Nothing wrong with manifesting abundance in the 3D realm. But we can align with calmer and restorative energies by focusing on how short term actions may affect long term gains. Imagine the possibilities when politics and the stock market consistently reflect that kind of mindset.
When we accept that change is a natural part of life, then we are more equipped to embrace that change is the only constant in everyday living.
I focus on this when dealing with the losses that we face with our loved ones during our lifetimes here. As a human being, I still get sad when people (including animal friends) close to me get sick and suffer, die unexpectedly or those who have lived a good life or die by natural causes. And of course I grieve the death and dying process of those I have never even met. But what I am mindful of is reminding myself to have the self respect to not get sucked into the dirge.
Truly, facing our own mortality is sobering. Because I had to face my own mortality and loss of innocence at a younger than normative age, I woke up to the truth that doing so gave me an opportunity to work with the feeling of facing my own death. It isn’t that I don’t have my fears. I just move through them by trusting that the light of consciousness will guide me toward the end of the tunnel.
Many people, like my dad, have experienced that process during near death experiences. But you don’t have to physically die to know the experience. Just as an example, the sacred medicinal energies of Groundhog is a friendly reminder that the shamanic death without dying is a real possibility.
But it is also freeing to awaken to our soul purpose, know that our time here is limited and it’s what we do with this precious gift that counts. It’s like the old story about the zen master whose students are watching him die, and they are perplexed because as he’s taking his last breaths, he grieves his own death by asserting that he wants to live!
Speaking of death and rebirth, Gemini season will be in the air from around May 20 till the Summer Solstice on June 21st. During this timeframe energetically, our chi will be flowing from our lower chakras to our upper chakras to support creativity, self-expression and our desire to share. Communication is doubly powered up by Gemini, if you’ll pardon the astrological pun.
The Twins reflect our status as part creature and part divine. As spiritual beings having human experiences, we exist as the form of a mortal that has incarnated in this lifetime.
Coupled with our form identity, we have a formless eternal identity that reflects a central Law of Thermodynamics positing that energy cannot be created or destroyed. Our souls live within our bodies during the gift of this lifetime. Our bodies are our temple, but they are temporary because we all die. However, our souls live on. Interestingly, science and spirituality are converging on this Universal truth beyond a shadow of a doubt.
There will be a Blue Sagittarius Moon on May 31st. A Blue Moon only happens approximately every 18 months or so, and occurs when we have two Full Moons in one calendar month. Blue is symbolic of water, loyalty, trust, and faithfulness.
This extra Full Moon at this time invites us to release old aspects of ourselves that no longer serve us so that we can move forward in alignment with who we are becoming. The winds are at our back for taking risks and opening up to a sense of adventure in our daily lives.
An optimistic and longitudinal approach to life; such as communicating with our ancestors, can invite abundance and good fortune. Remember that there is so much help in the spirit realm just waiting for us to tap into, if only we ask and allow ourselves to receive their collective crystalized wisdom.
But then again sadness, sorrow and hardship are natural parts of reality that are not to be suppressed or repressed. We can lean into them, and discover acceptance of them as part of the totality of our experience.
Keep in mind that the forthcoming Summer Solstice reflects peak sunlight in the Northern Hemisphere. Time to frolic in the festivities of the season.
In the Southern Hemisphere, it will be the Winter Solstice or the darkest day of the year. Coaxing back the light resurrects a felt sense perception that there is light at the end of the tunnel.
May all beings be free from suffering and awaken to God Consciousness, Cosmic Consciousness, Unity Consciousness, Diversity Within Unity, Inner Peace and the Universal Pillars of Love and Truth.
Although Aries season is coming to an end, it’s fiery energies are not to be missed on a New Moon in Aries on April 17.
This New Moon is a powerful time for reaching out to the Universe, asserting our needs, asking for guidance, and then allowing for manifestation to show up in the creation of our lives.
Energetically, Taurus season is a period of grounding and embodiment. Time to slow down into a more deliberate rhythm that is in alignment with Nature’s cycle.
Following the spiritually assertive fiery energies of Aries, the Bull lands and builds foundations.
From an energetic perspective, the root chakra governs our sense of safety, survival, and belonging to the Earth.
I remember when I first felt drawn to spiritual power of shamanism by creating meaningful and purposeful rituals around mundane experiences.
Creating rituals can awaken seeing the sacred in everyday moments that can breathe in new air into the dead air of stale old ways of doing things that have become robotic.
Just as an example, we can help reduce anxiety and increase our sense of stability when we recognize our inner abundance, and imagine roots growing into the ground from the soles of our feet.
Besides, this practice makes for a healthy walking meditation ritual.
When people choose to work with these energies consciously, we are invited to reconnect with the physical world as a sacred space.
And we also become equipped to develop our spiritual fulfillment through the felt sense experience of the five material senses typically associated with the 3D realm.
We are in alignment with the spiritual nature of Taurus when we turn ordinary routines such as; making tea, showering, working out or even grocery shopping into intentional rituals where we are present.
Instead of spiritual bypassing, may we give ourselves permission to be fully present in the physical body rather than escaping into abstract thinking.
Because our bodies are our sacred vessels to connect with the present moment.
Remember that a sense of Divinity awakens by stopping to smell of flowers, mindfully tasting a meal or feeling the grass underneath your feet.
Does your daily life align with your soul’s true values?
Keep in mind that when we are working with our shadow sides, it is wise for us to be mindful of the cravings to our creature comforts or familiar routines that ends up avoiding deeper inner work.
Perhaps instead, choosing rest or a walk out in Nature could be better options for you than attending a ritualistic social engagement that will probably leave you feeling exhausted at this time.
The Wesak Full Moon will happen on Friday, May 1st, which is in alignment with the Buddha’s birth, attainment of enlightenment and physical death.
Further, the spiritual and sacred ceremony around these energies reflects Divine Love, Divine Light and Divine Power flowing down to Gaia and all Sentient Beings.Friday, May 1, 2026.
Many of our ancestors considered the Wesak Full Moon as the most powerful full moon of the year. And to this day, many spiritual travelers honor our sacred connection to the consciousness of this full moon as Master Co elaborates on in the video below (with Master Choa Kok Sui’s picture in the background) :
As you can see, May can be seen as a high octane spiritual portal month, amplified by many powerful energetic shifts and new beginning frequencies beaming in. Wide open windows to cosmic vibrations are more perceptible at this time.
For example, 2026 marks the start of a new 9 year cycle.
The beginning of May is a good time for initiating new projects, setting new foundations, emphasizing independence, leadership, and authentic identity.
See revolutionary changes in communication, connection, and social networks as on their way.
Manifestation is in the air, and those of us on a spiritual path should especially be intentional with our words and thoughts because they will carry unusual weight this year.
Keep in mind that spiritual awakenings are part of these manifestations.
Are you experiencing sudden inspirations, intense dreams, or emotional highs and lows?
Will old patterns or relationships that no longer resonate gently fall away during this time to make room for a deeper frequency version of yourself?
May all beings be free from suffering, and awaken to Inner Peace, Diversity Within Unity, Unity Consciousness, Cosmic Consciousness and God Consciousness.
Back in my Preschool social work practice days, I remember sometimes singing with the students during circle time.
One way I started to get out of my comfort zone, and work with stage fright aka performance anxiety at that time of my life was to play my guitar and sing to them. Like when I first sang aloud with the animals, the littles made me feel more welcomed and relaxed.
Given that we were a special purposed program to help students overcome their developmental delays, I came up with a replacement chorus to the classic old tune, Oh My Darlin’ Clementine.
The message was a simple way to use humor to normalize experiences with anxiety, and went as follows:
“Anxiety, anxiety, anxiety is the root…whether rationalizing or in denial of…Anxiety…The point is moot.”
Over the years, that little jingle has served as a positive self talk mantra, as well as the clip below.
Keep in mind that therapists are human too. And the good ones have a sense of humor, and don’t take themselves too seriously. You can say the same about folks on the spiritual path or any of us for that matter:
Furthermore along the trails this spring, amphibians like salamanders, wood frogs and peepers make the trek toward vernal pools for their breeding season on what’s called Big Night.
Their great migration and safe passage requires overcoming dangerous obstacles like human trafficking patterns, such as driving cars on roads, etc.
Of course humans do many disgusting things, and have shady tendencies that reflect in the 3D realm.
But we can move beyond the victim and perpetrator behavioral trap by being mindful of our shadow work.
We can do this by working with our karmic issues by letting go of, and releasing our old soul wounds.
And then in that process, we are becoming more deeply in touch with our better angels.
Have you felt tempted by fate recently?
Are you noticing any old energetic patterns of yourself rising back to the surface?
Loving Kindness is one way to embody this transformation when sitting in meditation; as well as in our everyday footsteps.
Besides, Life is springing up everywhere as singing peepers and wood frogs signal to us that spring is arriving with glee, rhythm and blues:
A New Moon in Pisces today reflects deeper sensitivity and perceptiveness in the social environment, as does engaging in creative or spiritual forms of imaginative Pisces energy.
Moreover, the Vernal Equinox or the first official day of spring will take place on Friday, March 20th. This date also marks the beginning of Aries season, as well as baseball season aka America’s Pastime at the tail end of March.
Mercury also goes back direct on the first day of spring. No worries, mate… things tend to clear up about 10 days or so when the fog lifts.
In many ways, it’s like a new year because Aries is the first sign of the Western Zodiac.
This writer doesn’t think its a coincidence that the fire element is the ‘I Am’ consciousness of Aries the Ram’s primary driver.
Like any of our gifts, we have to temper them, and not throw caution to the wind, so to speak.
A Full Pink Moon will happen on April 1st…aka April Fools Day.
Synchronistically, The Fool card in the Tarot deck is symbolic of new beginnings, limitless potential, and the courage to step into the unknown.
Indeed, it takes a leap of faith to step into the mythical quest…one step, one foot, one breath at a time.
Spring energies reflect another positive self talk mantra; as in, out with the old, in with the new.
Tis the season for setting new intensions, seeing things from new perspectives, and planting new seeds to spring forth.
Moving our bodies is a good way to cleanse and release every cell.
Remembering to take a deep breath to support new life, and then breathe out all the dead air of old ways is good Sacred Medicine; as is holding the highest vision of yourself.
Light and dark energies are in alignment again on the Spring Equinox.
In the Northern Hemisphere, the sunlight will rise till its climax with peak light on the Summer Solstice on June 21st.
At the same time, the darkness will rise till it reaches its zenith on the Winter Solstice in the Southern Hemishere.
The Winter Solstice is a powerful time for letting go, while the Summer Solstice is a powerful time for manifestation.
Gratitude is always a powerful attitude to walk with in our footsteps, as is an openness to the present moment as it is.
May all Beings be free from suffering, and experience an awakening to Inner Peace, Diversity within Unity, and Cosmic Consciousness.
Since the birth of this blog back in 2011, we have explored expanding consciousness together.
I remember when I was in social work school and living in Miami, and the need to learn how to meditate was calling out to me loud and clear. Like most of us, I white knuckled it for most of my life beforehand. Yeah, I had learned some effective coping strategies, but nothing like the consistent mindfulness practice that helps me stay in the flow, zone or alignment today.
Back in my Miami days, I had developed a nice connection with a teacher at my second internship who knew that I had started meditating. And he was excited to tell me about a hypnotherapy session that he had gone to with a licensed therapist who specialized in clinical hypnosis in his practice. After hearing about it, I wanted in, as did some of my social work peers.
Subsequently, the hypnotherapy session was the first time where I had a direct perceptible experience where I clearly glimpsed my soul’s essence. As in the formless part of my consciousness that was the deepest part of my identity that I had ever experienced till then. What was also clear was that I recognized that the formless part of me was also part of a collective consciousness that we are all part of.
And then many years later, I had a similar experience in a tai chi workshop; when I closed my eyes and saw both my formless self, as well as the formless selves of the other students in the workshop. Colorful prisms of the rainbow were also part of the experience.
Like the hypnotherapy session, I got feedback that I had “gone very deep”. The best part of the experience was that it wasn’t coveted or scripted because I did not have a sense of expectation, was in a really open place on the inside, nor had any idea that I could experience such a thing. Both experiences were spiritual awakenings, and a portal into deeper and higher form of consciousness.
At the end of the day, we have a choice to be a teacher of suffering or a teacher of presence. For those of you who have tried on both hats and know the difference, you already know the latter is the preferred way to go. If you find yourself arguing with that, then hopefully you’ll awaken to the truth that you are reinforcing the point.
But then again, suffering is always a catalyst to opening portals into consciousness, and being present with what is. From that perspective, the curse becomes the blessing or the blessing itself is the curse.
Or like George Lucas said about the Star Wars story, “the Empire is the Republic and the Republic is the Empire”.
During Mercury in Retrograde, and this Pisces season, we truly are fish in water swimming in a larger sea of consciousness, including soul travel.
Just as my old spiritual counselor would say about Pisces, “it is the best of signs and the worst of signs.”
What he meant by that is like all energy, we can work with it in the positive or negative. At its best, Pisces best trait is empathy. At it’s worst, their energies can be like sacrificial lambs.
A fish going with the flow and swimming downstream is a very different experience than fighting the current and swimming upstream. I’ve done both, and prefer to swim with the current rather than against it.
Or like Colin Hay (from Men At Work) sings, “My, my, my, it’s a beautiful world . . . I like to swim out beyond the white breakers, where a man can still be free (or a woman if you are one)”.
Through the echoing channels of Spirit, I can hear my old Teacher saying that we all have the signs of the zodiac within our being, in much the same way as we have the entire Universe within us.
Pisces energies are unique, in the sense that they are the tail end of the zodiac- so just as all rivers and lakes eventually empty into the oceans, all signs eventually flow into Pisces.
Just as an example, science has revealed that we all have stardust encoded in our human DNA.
Interestingly, Starseeds are said to descend from various star systems that incarnate as humans or are perhaps visited by ETs or trans-dimensional beings in the form of downloads in consciousness.
Stories about dolphins and whales are said to originate from watery Sirius:
To Wit: Have you heard the one about the treatment facility for dolphins with major mental health issues?
It’s called the School For Intensive Porpoises.
When contemplating human spiritual DNA, lineage or ancestry, consider the African Dogon Tribe’s connection to ancient Egypt, and Sirius in the Dog Star constellation.
What a long, strange, trip it’s been:
Regardless of where we come from, were we are going or what lifetimes we have lived; when you get down to it, it’s the now, the eternal moment or presence that really matters. It Is What It Is . . . Everything else is really just chatter. And while you’re at it, “keep hope alive”.
May all Beings be free of suffering awaken to the dimension of Inner Peace, and Cosmic Consciousness.
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,
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,
A Full Wolf Moon on January 3, 2026 lays early tracks into the New Year. May our inner Wise Wolf guide us into new pathways in consciousness. The energy of Wolf is a powerful teacher in soul development. Humans have much to learn about the governance of wolves. Their politics of living reveal a hybrid approach that balances a healthy sense of both individualism and collectivism. Like the old saying, no man (or woman if you are one) is an island. Wolves have a clear pecking order but rely on each other for interdependence.
When I think about the wisdom of Indigenous People, it’s hard not to remember the longitudinal seven generations ahead perspective from the Iroquois Nation of the Americas. From a politics of living standpoint, we give purposeful attention to the way our actions now will impact seven generations ahead, or approximately 150-210 years into the future, in human-centric terms at least. And of course the converse is true in the way that we look at the past and how it affects us right now. We have relationships with everything, whether realized or not.
New beginnings on the New Moon in Capricorn on January 18th heats up our saddles, so that we are equipped to blaze new trails into vast frontiers of our technological and social emotional learning in the new year ahead. A lot of people are talking about AI these days. Of course there are both positive and negative applications in the advancements in AI. Find a middle way when walking in the circle of romanticizing or demonizing AI, technology, the human and planetary plight, etc.
And then when we talk about Chinese astrology, it will be the Year of the Fire Horse on February 17th. Unlike the sun based Gregorian calendar, the timing of the lunar-based calendar changes from year to year, depending on where the lunar cycle falls.
An awakening of Fire Horse’s archetypal forces reveal greater movement, decision, freedom and courage so that we can effectively giddy up into unknown frontiers.
The forthcoming Eclipse Season further ignites the changes coming down the pike in 2026; starting with a Solar Eclipse on the Chinese New Year, and then a Lunar Eclipse on March 3rd.
Remember that eclipses are catalysts for change and shaking up the status quo in our inner and outer worlds. New and Full Moons during eclipses are like regular New and Full Moons on steroids. New Moons are always associated with new beginnings and Full Moons are always associated with heightened energies. There’s nothing to be superstitious about with regards to any of these energies because, like the present moment, they are what they are. What matters is how we align with their energies.
In much the same way as horses being key drivers in expanding humanity’s sense of collective freedom; advancements in AI, robotics, and celestial discoveries will be amplified over the next several years. We will be reworking the way that we take care of ourselves, and organize the business of our lives.
It’s as if these shifting energies in consciousness are hitting the reset button. As such, we will be equipped to upgrade our internal systems so that we can effectively integrate, and align with the changing frequencies that we will continue to be faced with, and need to tune into.
Our humanity needs to catch up to our significant technological advances during the digital age we have been living in. This transformation will lead to our collective consciousness evolving into alignment with Cosmic Consciousness, Diversity in Unity, and a generalized sense of Oneness. Check out the short clip below from the 1995 film Powder that illustrates the point:
Keep in mind that the changing tides and new waves of spirituality and consciousness will continue to gain momentum by flowering and blooming into a New Earth; where we are literally co-creating Heaven on Earth in more healthy normative ways.
Like the old REM song, it’s the end of the world as we know it. Gone With The Wind will be the dying old segregationist ways of Us and Them. Rather, we are moving further into a We and Us approach. Check out their music video that artistically amplifies the sentiment:
In this frequency, everyone belongs, and awakens to their soul purpose and recognizes their unique role to play during the transitional process of a New Aquarian Golden Age and Paradigm. When enough of humanity shifts into this frequency in a normative way, consciousness transforms into harmonization with Cosmic Consciousness, aka God, Christ, Unity, Collective Consciousness etc.
Truly, the escalating violence, dirty energy, emphasis on maximum economic profit, rise in polarity consciousness, or the duality playing out in the 3D realm are catalysts to the break down of the old ways that no longer serve. Moreover, these systemic breakdowns will create spaciousness and make room for what’s next for us as we make forward progress in our evolutionary process. The more present we are, the less our suffering will dominate the playing field.
We will continue to move away from the past coveted egoic positions of power, towards soul power, standing in our personal authority, and becoming the change we want to see in the world.
Otherwise, if you are not part of the solution, then you are part of the problem, so to speak.
Paradoxically, living through the digital age gives us incentive to enter into a new chapter of universal planetary consciousness. The Earth already has a heartbeat. Might as well listen to it with an open heart and mind. The ride is far more graceful and joyous when we say yes to it because what we resist persists.
Everything is accelerating and revolutionizing. This is why it is more important than ever to slow down, be mindful of our breath and stop and smell the roses. Think of the revolution as something different from anything that we have ever gone through yet.
Speaking of revolutionary energies, it’s always a good idea to check your own inner state of consciousness as you navigate life’s everyday aches, pains, pleasures, situations and moments. Remember that you can’t feel good when you’re feeling bad about feeling bad!
As mindful meditation becomes the new normal; these awakening truths will become self-evident within our individual and collective constitutions, if you’ll pardon the Declaration of Independence pun.
Artistic, philosophical, spiritual and technological movements will become further aligned and harmonize with each other toward a deeper and higher reality than the conventional one we have known.
As the old narrative fades away, emerging healthier relationships will leave us with a more perceptible sense of emotional, financial, and spiritual rebirth.
2026 will reinforce awareness and presence in humans embodying love, empathy, compassion and kindness. May we recognize ourselves in the mirrors reflecting back to us any blind spots we might have missed. Everyone matters, and we can all win.
May all people be free and experience inner peace as a way of life,
I first wrote this poem in November 2013. Feeling moved to revisit these comet inspired poetic synchronicities. That was Zen my friend and this is right Tao . . .
The weather underground is akin to the air up there A Full Moon and Comet are coming soon to a theatre near you
What do we do? Well it’s up to you . . .
Surfing the energetic waves rolling into the bay of emotional tides . . .
Do you bear witness to a fading Twilight Zone curtain? (With or without the applications of technology)
An Empire burns while the Cosmic Chakra Wheel in the Sky turns . . .
Peace in the Middle East Peace in the Americas Peace in Africa, China, Tibet, Planet & Universe throughout
We are the Dali Llama We are Malcolm X We are Universal spirits in a material world
Healing our polarity consciousness Integrating our Yin-Yang Twin Flame Soulful feminine Moon and masculine Sun
Tunneling inward into the dark toward the Winter Solstice
And from the ashes a Phoenix Rises – Clearing dust settles with meditation as shelter from the storm
Classroom Mothership Earth 