Tag Archives: Darkness

Into The Deep

Posted on by under Consciousness, Energy Medicine, Native American, Original Prose, Shamanism, Uncategorized

We are Building a foundation of intimacy
by speaking frankly in the language of love unconditionally

Pisces is water under the bridge between
Winter and Spring transition
Permission to grieve yin’s dirge
While awakening to new beginnings
Darkness fades as light rises in intensity . . .

Sister chaos flows into brother order
Leveling the playing field
Holding peaceful prayers and meditations
for graceful transitional equanimity

A sense of freedom arises in
the sweet surrender to the illusion of control

Let your soul power shine on
by coming out of the closet of psychologically defended modesty

When feeling uncomfortably bugged . . .
Try heeding the ear-worm – Love is all you need
Might that unearth a private and victorious conversational metamorphosis within?

Noticing judgments without judging them
and then letting them go without clinging on to fixed ideas

Sitting with what is empowers us to focus on self

Is it the other person that should change
or could you adjust your own internal dialogue?

When abuses arrive – empower yourself by taking refuge

Imagine if we all dive into a killing with kindness mantra?
With recognition and appreciation of divergent perspectives
Energetically clearing space for welcoming like-minded birds of a feather

Whistleblowers are akin to canaries in coal mines . . .
Please heed their call!
Their messages manifest sustainable Life!
Born out of the Dreamtime . . .

A balanced Life diet of resting, eating well and physically exercising
moves emotions around –
Nourishing harmony in our daily walking meditative footsteps
With a minimally processed Carbon Footprint

Got boredom?
Remember to hold an eagle-eye vision of the valley ahead
Setting goals, while paradoxically letting go of outcome
Cleansing inner pollution by holding a clean vision for Mother Earth
The Golden Age is an unfolding process of possibilities . . .

Venturing out in Nature affords a doorstep into a portal of
open-hearted receptive listening . . .
Stoking the embers of sensuous and magical feelings by honoring our
mysterious and primal orientation

See you further down the trails,

Ari

The Ressurection of Groundhog and Feeling Seeds Underground Waking Us Up

Posted on by under Consciousness, Energy Medicine, Native American, Original Prose, Shamanism, Uncategorized

Groundhog reveals chiaroscuro
Shadowy death without dying in winter’s Dreamtime
Digging into Quantum shadowy unknown Twilight Zones
Closer to springtime

Surfing tidal waves of possibility
O’er a rainbow of spontaneity
Down yonder golden halo light of day

Yet with Mercury in Retrograde
We can dig on confronting our self-imposed limits
By accessing sensible, realistic pragmatism
While effectively reworking busyness in our business

Be careful of unintended consequences before diving into commitments
Self defense against burnout, compassion fatigue and spreading yourself thin

Money is energy and part of abundance
With positive or negative values attached to its manifestation
Like overfishing leads to swimming upstream
Does a forthcoming economic tailspin
Plunge us into a more equitable and sustainable unfolding Golden Age?

Imagine justice on Earth without a fight
If corporations are people too, then shouldn’t this process be more organic?

Remembering compassion toward others is empowering toward thyself
Designating a sacred space facilitates believing in yourself – Faith and Trust
“I can breathe here. I can relax here. I know I am safe here.”

Think before you speak while
Having a non-confrontational conversation with present moment

In stillness of winter
Can’t you hear the seeds underground thinking about waking up?
Waxing light ignites pregnant energies
Stoking the flames of rebirth
“It is in the still darkness of the void that the light is born.”

But birth is not without labor pains . . .
(Monsanto Genetic Engineering to repel Agent Orange?)
C’Mon Man!
Feeling restless, irritable and depressed?

Thank You goddess Brighid for wishing us mystically well
How do you like them apples?

Intuitive heart-minds assert that we are a healthy weight when listening
to our bodily signs singing songs about our buoyancy and agility

This Friday I’m in Love with a Full Moon
Won’t you join me in its becoming?

See you further on down the trails,

Ari

Welcoming 2014 and Soul Purpose

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

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

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

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

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

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

Sending You Much Inner Peace in 2014,

Ari

Spirited Seasonal Blessings

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

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

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

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

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

Sending much inner peace your way,

Ari

Remembering Past Family Members

Posted on by under Consciousness, Uncategorized

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

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

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

Wishing You Infinite Inner Peace,

Ari

Standing On The Doorstep of Infinity

Posted on by under Original Poetry, Uncategorized

We stand at the doorstep of Infinity . . .
Massive change is coming our way

A Full-Moon on Sunday . . .
Trailed by a Comet in its waning wake

Giddy-Up toward the darkest hour on the Winter Solstice . . .
Coaxing back the Light in the dark of the Night

Releasing egoic entanglements with form . . .
Spirited energies realigning who we are

Rising tides of oceanic waves flooding our sea of consciousness . . .
Slumbering sheeple waking up from napping while under the influence of conditioning

I’m sitting at the dock of the bay in my meditation space . . .
Theta state in my green lantern heart space

Feeling waters of empathy bubbling up wells of Love . . .
Illuminating my soul

O darkness of yin . . .
Light a moonshadow o’er my inner landscape

I’m checking out energetic pulsations of neurotransmitters traveling through my bodily pathways . . .
Portals to consciousness are they

Colorful Blessings

Posted on by under Original Poetry, Uncategorized

Fall is upon us

Giving permission to grieve Yang’s dirge
Football and soccer games help keep us on the ball
Squirrels driven nuts by forgotten acorns
Mental health returns with a keen sense of smell

Leaving behind egalitarian Autumnal dance-steps
Perfect harmony with masculine and feminine synergy
Nature reflects our inner shifts n’ energetic rifts

Turning yin-ward
Waning Light
Soon outta sight
Tunneling toward our darkest hour
But not before many spirited blessings

Dancin’ Again

Posted on by under Original Songs, Uncategorized

Dancin’ Again

I know a time . . .
I make’s no sense at all.
May weather this flood . . .
Season through reason and fall.

Fire with fire, n’ head to head . . .
Boilin’ and fumin’, our faces are red.

And here we are . . .
Dancin’ again.

You am I and I are you . . .
One up, one down, one is two.
Assumin’ n’ askin’, through n’ through
Sleepin’ n’ weepin’, n’ smilin’ wit chu.

And here we are . . .
Dancin’ again.

Fire with fire, n’ head to head . . .
Boilin’ and fumin’, our faces are red.

And here we are . . .
Dancin’ again.

Light equals dark
Dark equals light
Yang diming to night
Yin fading from light

And here we are . . .
Dancin’ again

Eagle In Flight

Posted on by under Original Songs, Uncategorized

Eagle in Flight

A step from the light
A step from the dark
Close to fallin’
Close to flight

And I’ve got stage fright . . . In the dark tonight
A Soarin’ Eagle in Flight . . . In the skies tonight
A sunlit moon twilight . . . On A Starry Night

A leap of faith
Into an ocean’s abyss
Close to drownin’
Close to fate I’d miss

And I’ve got stage fright . . . In the dark tonight
A Soarin’ Eagle in Flight . . . In the skies tonight
A sunlit moon twilight . . . On A Starry Night

Here I’m standing still
Life’s pulse I can feel
This moment surreal
This experience is real

And I’ve got stage fright . . . In the dark tonight
A Soarin’ Eagle in Flight . . . In the skies tonight
A sunlit moon twilight . . . On A Starry Night

Now my Heart beats alive
My emotions I drive
Your perspective I see
In my own arms I am me

And I’ve got stage fright . . . In the dark tonight
A Soarin’ Eagle in Flight . . . In the skies tonight
A sunlit moon twilight . . . On A Starry Night

Turtle Meditation

Posted on by under Meditation, Shamanism
Here is one possible Shamanic journey that I would like to share with you.  In a watered down sense, the journey process is about shifting our consciousness–merely a perceptual shift, potentially leading us into a transformational experience with reality.  We journey to become more conscious and awake during our travels in our material realm, giving us more power and freedom in our lives.  Journeying and meditation aid us in becoming the change we want to see in the world.  For example, during a journey meditation this week, I encountered a huge whale while swimming as a sea turtle in the ocean.  Although the sight of the whale was overwhelming, I allowed myself to hold a position of curiosity and empathy, while simultaneously realizing that the whale meant me no harm.  Remembering to be conscious of our breathing helps us calm our anxieties and remain in the present moment as it unfolds, but intentionally without projecting spin onto whatever front comes our way.
  • Light incense/candle
  • Start by drumming or rattling to a consistent beat in your sacred space.
  • Picture a turtle in your imagination.
  • Feel and perceive turtle energy in your consciousness.
  • Ask turtle for guidance, let go and then follow turtle wherever it takes you during your journey.  Be sure to thank turtle for its gift to you.
  • Before returning to this reality, it is important to change your beat to a call back for an effective transition.  For example, after 10-20 minutes of drumming, I open my eyes and then hit the drum 8 times for 3 repetitions, then 3 times for 3 repetitions and then 7 times for 3 repetitions to signal the end of my journey.  But your call back can be in the form of a word, a thought or a mantra that works for you.
  • Record what arrives to you from your journey.