Greetings beautiful souls,
One day last week, I took these photos of an immense and textured sky. We had just been through a “bomb cyclone”, a storm of hurricane proportions, here in northern California. And of course there had been the election. John Coltrane was playing “After the Rain” on my car radio. I thought: After the rain comes fire.
When I woke up the morning after the Presidential election a month ago and heard the results, I said to myself “Huh.” So there’s that. Although I had been engaged and active, obsessively following the news, writing postcards and making calls, completely convinced that we were finally on the brink of electing our first woman President. Finally ready to fulfill the promises and potential of the birth of this nation. Finally ready to live in our sacred creation story, to bring our original medicine – freedom, justice, equality- to all. Such hope. Such joy. It all fell away in an instant.
Somehow, I was not surprised. “Huh”. So we’re not done yet. There is more shadow to be revealed, more unresolved and denied grief and guilt to be experienced. It felt very different than the similar horrible news in 2016. This year I lay for a long time watching the ruby red leaves of the maple tree outside my bedroom window. A flurry of cheery sparrows danced on and off the branches. In a state of quiet and stillness, enjoying komorebi– the scattered light that filters through when sunlight shines through trees”. (A Japanese word I learned by watching Wim Wenders film “Perfect Days” which I highly recommend for a meditative break of beauty and wonder.)
I didn’t stay in this peaceful state of Tao.
Grief flattened me. Deep grief at the probable harm that will come to our children, the planet, women, our democracy. The shock at the millions of Americans who voted for 45, and the dangerous and destructive Project 2025. It has taken me a few weeks to find my fire again. A few embers are stirring. Sparks of inspiration. Of resistance. A renewed commitment to mitigating harm where possible, and even more focus on how something new might be created. Watching the sky after the unusual “bomb cyclone”, the hurricane of rain and wind here in northern California, I began to think of my own Project 2025. And what we might do together.
“The human heart is the first home of democracy. It is where we embrace our questions. Can we be equitable? Can we be generous? Can we listen with our whole beings, not just our minds, and offer our attention rather than our opinions? And do we have enough resolve in our hearts to act courageously, relentlessly, without giving up–ever–trusting our fellow citizens to join with us in our determined pursuit of a living democracy?”
― Terry Tempest Williams
It is a precarious time for the future of all of humanity It is the moment, a hinge in history, the threshold of choice which will affect the lives of generations to follow. Which path will we choose? What part can each of us play? I have not lost my faith that we are here for a reason. That we chose to be here at this time, at this critical moment, to participate in shifting consciousness away from death and destruction to regeneration and restoration of life. Some people have a darker role, but they, too, are part of this awakening. Everything is turned upside down, inside out, and has so shattered our sense of what makes sense, what is real, or believable, that our heads spin. In this field of extreme turbulence, we can imagine and form something new which previously seemed impossible. There are many degrees of freedom in chaos.
We are ready. Or soon will be. I have taken several weeks to calm and nurture myself. Here are some activities I have found enormously restorative, calming and inspiring which might be useful:
- Be sparing in watching the news, or stop entirely, especially mainstream corporate media. Over-analyzing, perpetuating old worn narratives or fostering outrage and shock will not help you to be free, to use your own wisdom, knowledge, genius creativity for innovative solutions and joyful projects.
- Spend time in Nature every day. Moments near a favorite tree, a short walk, will do wonders for your soul.
- Music, poetry, novels have allowed me a bit of sanctuary and reminded me of what I truly love in this life. (Message me if you want some personal suggestions. Most importantly, allow yourself to be still, quiet, reflective so you can connect to your intuition and spark your imagination. Find joy where you can. Love your people. Let the mud settle. This story is unfolding, not finished. Let it unfold until you are ready to take action to make your dreams real.
Now, finally, Pluto has finished taking the USA down to the roots of our birth, revealing the shadows of rot and corruption at our roots. There is no way to avoid seeing who we are. It is a time of reckoning. And a time of awakening. Eight years ago, on the post election morning of 45’s win, I became deathly will and barely able to get out of bed. But also on that post-election morning in 2016, I also had a powerful experience and connection to Sophia, Goddess of wisdom, and dreamed for the first time of the Motherworld. That dream has now ripened and is ready to be born. As I find my fire again, as Pluto (death, rebirth, transformation and power) has moved into Aquarius (humanitarian, future, innovation, revolution)with both Venus (love, beauty, values, self-worth) and Ceres (the Great Mother). The Sagittarius new moon November 30/December 1 includes a Grand Trine (auspicious, activating, amplifying) in the fire signs, with the slowing down and thoughtful retrogrades of Mars, Mercury, Saturn. We need to go slow, to be strategic, to trust Divine timing. Jupiter and Mercury our having a rich conversation, each in the ruling sign of the other, trading ideas, philosophy, beliefs, how to communicate, and where do we anchor ourselves in faith? What do we believe? Perhaps this is changing. Perhaps you and what you want to do, is changing. Mars (aggression, action, dynamic) is retrograde until February so take some time to seed your new story, to find and develop your dreams or perhaps a new, surprising soul calling. The cosmic energies, our starry heaven, are supporting your renewal. We are building a more spiritual foundation for ourselves, for humanity. It is time to make the dreams real and build something lasting. Together. In community (Aquarius).
Nicholas Roerich Motherworld
Feed your heart. Join with others to seed your new story. What we feel in our hearts can be made manifest. What is sacred to you? Become a vessel for that. Dedicate yourself to what you love, fiercely. Ask for help. From mentors, communities of like minded people, your ancestors, the spirit world. Be a vessel for the divine spark that is in you. Gaia wisdom. Sophia wisdom. Star wisdom. It is all available to you.
The Sagittarius New Moon, usually a full steam ahead lunation, is accompanied by both a Mars and Mercury retrograde slowing us down into reflection, refinement, redoing. Pluto has just moved into Aquarius for the next twenty years. This is not a time for more political analysis and rational argument. That is futile. It is a time for imagination. It is a time to follow the imaginatio vera. Connecting us to Source and our deeper reality as spiritual beings.
Hannah Arendt: “We are free to change the world and to start something new in it.”
