I don't want to alarm anyone

I just want to inform you that Mercury is about to go Retrograde.

This can cause challenges in communication and information and Mercury rules these domains.

This need not be catastrophic, in fact, simple awareness of it can help.

But we are heading into the high travel season of the holidays and one of my favorite astrologers, Dipali has some helpful hints for us:

Best Way to Prepare & Suggestions:

The suggestion is: to finish up Holiday shopping in advance, writing out cards and any other preparation ahead of time. Due to Mercury being retrograde during most of December, people may encounter more mental stress and strain with delays or snags in travel. It is best to value the quiet time and appreciate the fact that the things slowing down will ultimately help you if you have the understanding. -Complete things that are left undone, projects, organizing, sorting out. -Triple Check all appointment details -Add extra space between appointments and while traveling -Back up your important documents, files and pictures onto an external hard drive. -Leave time to mediate, relax, dream and be in the non-linear space -Try not to force the mind to produce if you don’t have to. -Wait to sign important documents or make major decision until early January 2011. -Wait to purchase “brand new” electronic items if possible (renewal is fine) -Clear Away Clutter: old documents, paperwork, files & sort through the last 3 months. -Renew commitments. -Now is the time to review your thoughts, perceptions, words and actions to see if they are in alignment (Capricorn) with your goal(s).

the good news is there is a huge potential for transformative energy in the coming weeks.

I'm going to go back to painting my nails.

litmus test

What if time is the only true litmus test?

I recently heard a guy say as a child he was a slave to his impulses.  Now he's a slave to his habits.

This morning I was a slave to my sleep habit not my yoga habit.

I predict the same scenario for tomorrow.

Am I repeating myself?

Blogspot is stupid and has rejected all the photos I've tried to upload.

PS I lied, I don't believe in litmus tests.

In The Beginning

Should We Talk About The Weather?

ladies and gentlemen,  Jupiter has entered Pisces.

as such, this is an excellent time to give back or to "pay it forward."

don't judge the expression "pay it forward" by that movie with that kid who sees dead people.

but it's one way to keep the energy flowing.  

flow and movement are good in my book.

additionally, full moon in taurus today.

we might be feeling over sensitive during this time

your friendly neighborhood astrologer might recommend taking it slow around the full moon.

in other news, it's snowing again and we are officially 3 working days from thanksgiving.

beets taste like dirt.

brussel sprouts make my apartment smell like pee.

I love 'em both.

Thanksgiving Feast, bring it.

Expressions of gratitude are not limited to this one day.

But I do like the swollen size of my belly to be proportional to the ongoing gratitude that I feel.

elucidate

there have been a lot of seemingly untimely passings lately. 

I wish it all made sense.

I take them as reminders of love.

I light a candle to each of them.

miracles happen and shit happens.

I'm going to be chewing on this one for some time.  

Kind of like a cow's digestive system.  

Four stomachs!

According to Judith Lasater: svadhyaya as "more than just mental clarity. It is the deep acknowledgment of the oneness of Self with all that is. In other words, to practice svadhyaya is to begin to dissolve the illusion of separateness we feel from ourselves, those around us, and our world. To practice svadhyaya is to find God in the person standing in front of us at this very moment."

the Samarya Center newsletter is chock full of brilliance this month.

here's the link but November's isn't posted yet.  

patience.

or scroll to the bottom of any page of the website and subscribe for the sneak peak.

Miracles Happen and Shit Happens.

I have consciously adjusted my life because of the life events this year. I can't fully say why it takes a series of crisis events to begin to live more fully, and I have.   I have slowed down a bit more. Hold my loved ones closer and longer. Turn off my phone and really be with the person I am with. Smile more. Give more -I saw a man asking for money with a sign that he had colon cancer and no money. I walked right by-- a block later I turned around, walked back and gave the man some money. I drive slower and let more people in on the freeway. I find myself more willing to let someone have the arm room on a crowded airplane. Hang with a friend having altitude sickness rather than bagging another mountain summit, and be thankful and feel better for the time with this friend. People I have perceived as competitors have become significant friends.

A part of the gift I have received is that I am less worried about my fears of future events, how much I will have and why someone said what they did. I am living now and my life is more full than ever.

Jim Hayden, Board President

I do believe we are not dealt more than we are able to handle.

We have the capacity to hold a space for it all.

it'll all work out

sometimes it's hard to believe but i'm pretty sure all of it all works out

in the end...perhaps

but maybe universally.

continuously.

like a dj looping your favorite sample

if you can get past the moment of hesitation and fear...

an update:

venus returns to direct motion today and jupiter tomorrow. 
four day weekend is four work days away.

a kitten on fire

a baby in a blender

Both Sound As Sweet As A Night Of Surrender.

I Know It Ain't Easy - But You Do What You Can. 

If Your Livin Gets Weezy - You Can Follow This Plan:

Put In More Than You Could Ever Get Out. 

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=dNkBlm44lTQ

he who feels punctured

must have been a bubble.

maybe the point is not to be humble.

maybe the point is to be honest.

it's so easy to forget

ahimsa

a friend of mine just posted that she is dedicating herself to living life with intention.

she's starting with ahimsa and i'm thinking i'll join her.

ahimsa is the first of Patanjali's 8 limbs of yoga.

it's the principle of non-harming.

the hardest aspect of my life to which i try to apply this principle is in right thoughts.

non-harming thoughts to myself and to others.

from right thought comes right action.

i'll be trying to explore this over the next month.

it's a grind

40 hours got me down.

bacon tastes better when someone else makes it.

But who's counting?

Venus goes direct on November 18th and Thanksgiving weekend is 8 working days away.

I'm ready for both.

who who & who

five faculties, capacities, powers

i like capacities and capacitation.

confidence / faith

effort / persistence

presence / mindfulness

focusing / concentration

discernment / wisdom

peter bjorn and john

Ode to Brussel Sprouts

that's all I got so far...

Killing a Goat

It will always be difficult.

But if you cry like this every time, you will die of heartbreak.

just know that it is enough sometimes to know that it is difficult.

chris abani

Yoga for Drummers

I already was a yogi.

Now I'm a drummer.

This is very relevant.

Humus

Humility is when the love of truth is greater than the love of self.

In other words.

love of truth > love of self.

92nd Rule

I just heard this idea of the 90 second rule.

If you don't do anything about a strong emotion that's happened, emotions don't last more than 90 seconds no matter how intense or strong it is.  

It lasts longer if we get involved.

Getting out of the way of an emotion.

Emotions are processes that we can get out of the way and allow them to pass through.

Can you be patient for 90 seconds?

check out gil fronsdal.  he knows what's up.

so does speech.

New Moon in Scorpio for Diwali

You can't really go wrong with Helvetica.  

Until a week ago when I was sent an evite for a Diwali party I had never heard of the Festival of Lights.  Combine that with a new moon and it seems like an auspicious time.

My horoscope is telling me to be spontaneous without being impulsive.  Oooh, that advice could have been handy several times in this lifetime.

Ladies and Gentlemen, Craig Etheridge!