Cosmic Connections

I follow an updated adaptation of the Mayan calendar called the 13 Moon calendar (1) associated with scholar and author of the Mayan Factor, the late Jose Arguelles.

At the same time, I have been tracking the recent galactic wave movements (and associated Earth consciousness changes)of a different interpretation of the Mayan Calendar from a different scholar, Carl Calleman (2))

Carl Calleman describes the “Universal Wave Movement” of the 9th wave (or 9th “underworld”) happening from March 9th through October 28th 2011 as alternating periods of “light” and “dark” of about 17 days apart. This Wave signifies an intense time of change, as it represents a previous cycle of evolution (millions of years) now compressed into an enormously short time period! 

 The 13 moon calendar is quite complex, and at a very basic level involves two concurrent cycles of a 13/20  ratio, where a constantly repeating cycle of ceremonial (organized) learning of 260 days is superimposed over a more traditional lunar calendar of thirteen 28-day “moons” (months). Hence, the 13-moon calendar. 

The13 moon calendar is a way to increase one’s daily episodes of synchronicity, by aligning one with a broad galactic pattern of learning. The motto for the Law of Time foundation, who maintain and promote this calendar, is “Time as Art”! They espouse this calendar as a “Fourth-Dimensional” creation.

Contrary to popular media beliefs, in this community, 2012 is simply seen as the end of old ways of being, and the ushering-in of new, more evolved ways of living. No violent explosions, no giant earthquakes tossing cars and water everywhere! The changes are mostly perceived to come about in CONSCIOUSNESS (in the Fourth dimension), rather than the third-dimensional realm of physicality.

As you might have often realized in your own life, sometimes it DOES takes dramatic changes in your actual PHYSICAL life and way of living, in order to make changes in your thinking. It is a truism, but we often don’t change until we are forced to! 

The “dark” times in the Universal Wave Movement happening through this October are times of integration and disintegration. They are times of introspection and internal shifts, that will lead to outward growth in the weeks to follow.

At this current moment, we are in “Heaven 10/ “Night 5” which is entitled, “Destruction”! Again come to mind, images of earth destruction and violent chaos! 

Some folks go back and forth in a panic about, “is 2012 going to happen? What’s it going to be like?” The gods/the Universe lately have been forwarding a big push towards conscious manifestation and the creator mindset. 

What does that mean? We all have the ability to affect OUR reality.  We can adapt the Mayan calendar to our own image of WHAT WE WANT. We can co-create our own reality!

 Professor Calleman challenges the idea that 2012 is happening in 2012; he believes that with the shifting of the times, the actual occuring dates of “The Shift” have shifted as well.  In a more specific sense, that means… <drumroll please> ALL DATES LISTED  are a GUIDE… They are not set in stone. YOU can choose your own PERSONAL date(s) of evolution! these particular dates are not “One Size Fits All”! Calleman says, “The Mayan Calendar is about YOU (emphasis mine) .” 

 ”..the Kingdom [of heaven] is inside of you, and it is outside of you.

—Coptic Gospel of Thomas II: (3)   

This is the second-to-last “dark” period of the 9th wave; we’ll only have one more before October. At this time, it definitely feels like big shifts that are building up to a close tomorrow. This time of year, corresponding with back to school time, Libra, and the fall equinox) always brings a need to harvest, to bring in more balance with the idea of “out with the old and in with the new.” 
The current 5th night draws to its deepest place tomorrow, corresponding with the upcoming new moon - which I see to be of harvest and new beginnings.


References:
1) Law of Time Foundation: http://lawoftime.org/home.html
2) Carl Calleman and the Ninth Wave: http://www.calleman.com/content/articles/ninth_wave.htm
3) Coptic Gospel of Thomas: http://www.sacred-texts.com/chr/thomas.htm 

Mayan Oracle: http://www.starroot.com/cgi/daycalc.pl

Mayan Calendar Portal: http://www.maya-portal.net/

Yesterday we began a new month, the second Lunar /Scorpion Moon of Challenge, of the 13 Moon calendar.

 <read more>

Traditionally the number two — the number of polarity and direct challenge— has always been the most challenging and frightening “tone” (primal archetypal energy vibration) for me.  What do you think of when you think of challenge? Conflict… fighting… arguments… directly opposed opinions… 

It’s not always an easy energy, and can be a bit bumpy..or even rowdily exhausting!  On the other hand, it can be quite liberating. 

How does it feel when you are really direct and honest with someone else— perhaps telling a truth, opinion, or sentiment that has lain hidden for some time, unacknowledged? This is colloquially sometimes known as the “elephant in the living room.” Physically …how does it feel? Kind of the wake-up call of a cold shower, or the adrenaline rush of a roller coaster, perhaps?

Imagine you have something important that you’d like to confront someone with. At first blush, you might be a little shaky. You might get cold feet & want to back out! You might even have thought of many excuses to avoid challenging them. “Well, I really SHOULDN’T think that way… I need to be more  ____” 

You may encounter a few rounds of this self-censorship, and then, just finally get fed up enough to say something.

Polarity represents rebirth. The energy of Challenge transmutes a stuck situation by bringing everything into the light, and to the table.

Often in our society, I feel that we tend to hide our feelings out of consideration or fear— or water down our messages in order to be “politically correct”. However, I feel that that is enabling behavior… codependent thinking.. assuming that someone has a personality “flaw”. Do you really think that someone isn’t able to handle you? Did they tell you that- or are you just secretly condemning them behind their back- without giving them a chance?

Many years ago, I was considering whether or not I should come out as gay/ bisexual to my mom. She is a traditional/ conservative Christian who constantly quotes the Bible, so you can understand that I had some trepidation when it came to telling her!

A trusted advisor whom I saw regularly suggested that NOT come out, in order to “save the relationship that I have” with my mom. I believed her until I went to a stand-up comedy show, where the comic asked all of the gay folks to raise their hands who had NOT come out yet to their parents. With my hand raised, the comic implored us to, “Give your parents a chance… ”  to accept us, to love us unconditionally.  It was almost like s/he was saying, “Give people a chance to take on fully who you are.” 

In the end, I did choose to come out to both parents. Yes, we are still on fairly good terms. And, though it has been a bit rocky, at times, I can’t imagine not having told my mom. 

On the 13 moon calendar that I follow (an update & adaptation of the Mayan Calendar) the symbol for today is a lightning bolt- the Solar Ray that Transforms the Initiation.

This morning, I thought about it and asked myself, “What can possibly happen today? Both of my bosses are gone, I’ve finished most of my tasks, and overall, it should be a fairly quiet day.” 

I walk into the office kitchen and start making some iced herbal tea for the day. I’m jolted out of my wits by a giant striped house centipede flailing around in the sink and attempting to scurry up the pitcher’s side!

I start sqealing, about to the flush the little dude down the drain, when a brave(r) coworker comes to my rescue, and fishes him/her out with a glass and a piece of paper.

If you are not aware, centipedes have… a lot of freaking legs. Inadvertently, my coworker caught a few of those legs under the edge of the glass and on the side of the sink. They kept wriggling and twitching! “EW EW EW EW EW EW!!!”  I kept squealing.

Folks had started to arrive, and gathered to see what the commotion was. The server was also in the midst of updating, so we couldn’t use our computers —and thus had an excuse to stand around and chat for a few moments.

We were all still giggly, giddy, and uproarious from the morning’s antics. Some folks, like me, had phobias of certain bugs (for me, it’s centipedes) .. and others (like me) get more freaked out by the speed of critters taking us by surprise!

Some of us started talking about folks’ family members that are in the hospital right now, and then next, we somehow diverged onto the topic of breast cancer and mammograms. Loud guffaws came as we were talking about the whole annoying process- boobs being squished VERY uncomfortably between cold & heavy steel plates, in an even colder room..

Our little group split up and I moved on to a do a few other office tasks (in the process managing to spray my shirt in the breast area with WD-40- NOT on purpose).

I blew through some travel arrangement tasks that had been lingering and had THOUGHT would take me at least a day to do… in an hour. 

Now, I’m sitting here, realizing, “Wow, I’ve already lived through quite the day…”And it’s only 10:30!

I love Whole Foods. This is a rant, but don’t get me wrong. I love Whole Foods because it is convenient, open late, and sells all the organic foods I could ever want.

I just have some ideas on how they could improve.

Lately, they’ve been advertising their “Health Starts Here” campaign. Good start; I can get behind that. I like that they post ANDI (Aggregate Nutritional Density Index) figures for fresh produce and dried legumes. I even like their “Four Pillars” approach to healthy eating (Healthy Fats, Whole Foods, Plant Strong, Nutrient Dense.)

I just wish they wouldn’t exhibit conflicting messages.

See, I understand that they are a “healthy” grocery store, and yes, a mainstream grocery store at that. But to pick one tiny-but-glaring fact: what is healthy about selling products that are extremely high in sugar, for example? Their yogurt-covered pretzels, trail mixes, dried fruit (basically anything in the store label bulk containers) are often EXTREMELY sweet, much more so than they need be.

What about refined flours? And the bulk bins FULL of cookies? Conventional grocery stores are way worse, where about 1 in 10 items is something I will eat. (hence why I only shop at a handful of stores). But even at Whole Foods- it takes a concerted effort (as a sweet addict who is trying to lose weight) to stay far, far away from the bakery counter, dessert counter, and all the other tempting places that harbor these ridiculously sweet items. 

Even picking up one small, well-known granola bar targeted to women ends up burning my mouth with its nuclear sweetness, and I’m left with a lingering headache. Some studies show that sugar is the basis for all other drug addictions, and is a precipitating factor in all kinds of chronic disease, including obesity and diabetes. These are not “healthy” any more than Nutella is healthy.

I’m not trying to be mean, but rather, honest. Trumpeting a message about health on one hand, and selling UNHEALTHY products on the other, is an instant recipe for backlash. It smacks of hypocrisy and corporate… it’s not greenwashing, but washed in some other color that would indicate health. Redwashing?

If Whole Foods really wants to promote health, they should do it quietly, starting with their actions- namely, altering their product selection. Obviously, they may fear that doing this would reduce their revenues. However, a tighter alignment of their branding strategy to their core values would allow them to run a tighter ship, I would argue.

Assuming they don’t want to keep or extensively remodel their real estate (read: expensive overhead) They could start by creating a a store-within-a-store “Premium Health Food” section in their stores, like in my Arroyo store, maybe separating upstairs or downstairs. They could create a “honors” category for foods that are the healthiest, and make it faster and easier to get to them. They could have more continuously active demonstration cooking kitchens- perhaps with paid and highly visible classes.. to TEACH people at low cost, how to cook and feed themselves better.

They could either move the unhealthy products out altogether, or simply narrow or segregate their selection of questionable foods. While they are at it, they could increase the size of their cooking/ made-to-order restaurant facilities, that way continuing to provide their tasty and fresh organic food to a wider audience with less wait time. 

The other option would be to are to make separate or smaller stores. In this economy, downsizing would probably be the better option in the the long run.

Could they open a smaller “boutique” line of stores, maybe called “Whole Foods Platinum” or “Whole Foods Gold”? What about “Fresh and Sleazy”? (just kidding!) They could have a similar feel to the old Wild Oats chain, or more like a co-op, with premium, local, handselected foods? That is one of the things I miss most about Portland and the (San Francisco) Bay Area- like Zupan’s and Canyon Market and Bi-Rite Market= tiny family-owned hole-in-the-walls, that sell only the best items, taste-tested by staff and often handmade, gourmet imported, fair-trade or otherwise sustainably certified.

I’m okay with companies on a mission. In fact, I think every company SHOULD have one, otherwise… well, they are certainly just mostly confused. But… people! Make sure your mission is is in ALIGNMENT with your ACTIONS.

Or, at least, keep your (corporate) PR mouth firmly shut until all your ducks are in a row and can stand up to the scrutiny of a normal, reasoning person with a critical eye. We’ve had enough lately of empty proselytizing from corporations trying to jump on the social responsibility bandwagon and make a buck with fake campaigns

Please prove to us that you have INTEGRITY. Please don’t throw your values in my face without having the actions.  In other words- don’t get in my face unless you got the cred to back it up.

Some informational posters or flyers formally announcing the new action plan for this addition to your corporate values would be a good start. 

“Whole Foods Parking Lot” video:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2UFc1pr2yUU

I love Whole Foods. This is a rant, but don’t get me wrong. I love Whole Foods because it is convenient, open late, and sells all the organic foods I could ever want.

I just have some ideas on how they could improve.

Lately, they’ve been advertising their “Health Starts Here” campaign. Good start; I can get behind that. I like that they post ANDI (Aggregate Nutritional Density Index) figures for fresh produce and dried legumes. I even like their “Four Pillars” approach to healthy eating (Healthy Fats, Whole Foods, Plant Strong, Nutrient Dense.)

I just wish they wouldn’t exhibit conflicting messages.

See, I understand that they are a “healthy” grocery store, and yes, a mainstream grocery store at that. But to pick one tiny-but-glaring fact: what is healthy about selling products that are extremely high in sugar, for example? Their yogurt-covered pretzels, trail mixes, dried fruit (basically anything in the store label bulk containers) are often EXTREMELY sweet, much more so than they need be.

What about refined flours? And the bulk bins FULL of cookies? Conventional grocery stores are way worse, where about 1 in 10 items is something I will eat. (hence why I only shop at a handful of stores). But even at Whole Foods- it takes a concerted effort (as a sweet addict who is trying to lose weight) to stay far, far away from the bakery counter, dessert counter, and all the other tempting places that harbor these ridiculously sweet items. 

Even picking up one small, well-known granola bar targeted to women ends up burning my mouth with its nuclear sweetness, and I’m left with a lingering headache. Some studies show that sugar is the basis for all other drug addictions, and is a precipitating factor in all kinds of chronic disease, including obesity and diabetes. These are not “healthy” any more than Nutella is healthy.

I’m not trying to be mean, but rather, honest. Trumpeting a message about health on one hand, and selling UNHEALTHY products on the other, is an instant recipe for backlash. It smacks of hypocrisy and corporate… it’s not greenwashing, but washed in some other color that would indicate health. Redwashing?

If Whole Foods really wants to promote health, they should do it quietly, starting with their actions- namely, altering their product selection. Obviously, they may fear that doing this would reduce their revenues. However, a tighter alignment of their branding strategy to their core values would allow them to run a tighter ship, I would argue.

Assuming they don’t want to keep or extensively remodel their real estate (read: expensive overhead) They could start by creating a a store-within-a-store “Premium Health Food” section in their stores, like in my Arroyo store, maybe separating upstairs or downstairs. They could create a “honors” category for foods that are the healthiest, and make it faster and easier to get to them. They could have more continuously active demonstration cooking kitchens- perhaps with paid and highly visible classes.. to TEACH people at low cost, how to cook and feed themselves better.

They could either move the unhealthy products out altogether, or simply narrow or segregate their selection of questionable foods. While they are at it, they could increase the size of their cooking/ made-to-order restaurant facilities, that way continuing to provide their tasty and fresh organic food to a wider audience with less wait time. 

The other option would be to are to make separate or smaller stores. In this economy, downsizing would probably be the better option in the the long run.

Could they open a smaller “boutique” line of stores, maybe called “Whole Foods Platinum” or “Whole Foods Gold”? What about “Fresh and Sleazy”? (just kidding!) They could have a similar feel to the old Wild Oats chain, or more like a co-op, with premium, local, handselected foods? That is one of the things I miss most about Portland and the (San Francisco) Bay Area- like Zupan’s and Canyon Market and Bi-Rite Market= tiny family-owned hole-in-the-walls, that sell only the best items, taste-tested by staff and often handmade, gourmet imported, fair-trade or otherwise sustainably certified.

I’m okay with companies on a mission. In fact, I think every company SHOULD have one, otherwise… well, they are certainly just mostly confused. But… people! Make sure your mission is is in ALIGNMENT with your ACTIONS.

Or, at least, keep your (corporate) PR mouth firmly shut until all your ducks are in a row and can stand up to the scrutiny of a normal, reasoning person with a critical eye. We’ve had enough lately of empty proselytizing from corporations trying to jump on the social responsibility bandwagon and make a buck with fake campaigns

Please prove to us that you have INTEGRITY. Please don’t throw your values in our face without having the actions to back it up.  In other words- don’t get in my face unless you got the cred to back it up.

Some informational posters or flyers formally announcing the new action plan for this addition to your corporate values would be a good start. 

“Whole Foods Parking Lot” video:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2UFc1pr2yUU

Spring means lightening your load, letting loose and loving little luxuries -like ice cream, picnics, and little slivers of nature- that at other times we may deem frivolous. Why not eat outside? Why not hang out at the park for a while? Why not look for eggs under some shrubbery? 

It is 71 degrees today as I lock the door & head to work. When the temperature rises and the days start to get longer, I find myself daydreaming of vacations and just generally feeling wistful. I want color, and life, and companionship, and FUN!!

I soon realized that the escape of vacation was really not what I wanted. I love my life, I have so much beauty & flowers & nature right here in my neighborhood! I just want a change of pace, less pressure, more creativity. It is a fundamental change that I am searching for.

With this realization comes strong feelings, but this time, I will not allow myself to think that I have done my lifestyle “all wrong”. Instinctively, I know that self-negation is not going to be helpful. What kind of small, positive, incremental changes can you make in your life at this time?

What do you want? It always boils down to this very simple but perenially powerful coaching question of intention.

Well, I know I can’t live the same lifestyle that I typically do in wintertime. I know that I can’t maintain that rigid and monotonously overserious focus on task and results that winter manifests i me. I want to explore new things! Spring brings intense wheels of change that power the internal desire, the life force, that is needed for growth. Old habits, dusty clutter, and outmoded thinking has to be pruned away in order to make a path for your new & slightly altered path to follow.

What makes life fun? Well, what makes life worth living? What is exciting and gets your creativity, motivation, or ambition flowing? Something that you’ve left up on the shelf for a while? Sometimes it means reading a good book, lightening your eating habits, or cleaning your house if the dirt’s been annoying you for weeks.

What are some outdated habits for you that are no longer working? I know that I have tended to not allow enough time for rest. I burned out constantly, thinking that I needed to exhaust & overextend myself simply to keep afloat! What are some ways you could live your life differently?

I also looked over my wardrobe, and realized that I’m tired of all the heavy fabrics & dark colours! I guess you could say… I just want to: LIGHTEN UP!!!

Today I walk down the street noticing the sun shining on the tops of the trees, and think, I’d love a vacation. But, what about life could MAKE it a vacation? 

And we live / a life of ease / Every one of us / Has all we need

Sky of blue / and sea of green/ in our yellow / Submarine!

These lyrics from “Yellow Submarine” drifted from a car passing by. And it’s true! What could we do every day in order to live a life of ease? 

What more could we do, to live a life of ease?

For starters, we could spend more time outdoors. On a beautiful sunny day today… one could walk to the park or any nearby grassy area on lunch, or after work. I could ensure that I cook an easy, light meal- or just prepare enough ahead so that I can have some evenings totally free.

We could get up first thing in the morning and spend some enjoyable de-cluttering or crafty time in the morning - or exercise - or walk to the corner store & get a bagel, coffee, and orange juice.

Spring makes one think of enjoyable times with loved ones. How could we fit in more “fun time” with pleasant company? 

What better time for a total cleanse? For me, “spring cleaning” includes a thorough cleaning of my behaviors & thought patterns, with myself & with other people.

How have I been holding myself back from intimacy?  I am reminded of the quote by Lebanese poet & mystic, Jalal ud-Din Rumi:

 Your task is not to seek for love, but merely to seek and find all the barriers within yourself that you have built against it.

How have I walled myself off from other people? How have I worn so many layers, heavy winter clothing, if you will? The real me has been insulated with so many protective layers of personality.

In all, spring for me is about acceptance and the flowering of love- for self, for Other, and for the world. That incorporates self-forgiveness— allowing the truth and reality of my life previous to sink in— while being increasingly kind to oneself, opening up to long-lost old dreams (or totally new ones), and focusing on what will sustain you and bring you joy and self-nourishment in the days to come.

I may not get all my tasks done from day to day. But doing nothing, procrastinating, and idling is really more valuable than it may appear. I believe that a lot of us have forgotten the satisfying & restorative aspects of giving ourselves permission to be still… to be open, and let thoughts linger and come and go in a flowing way. After all, what is meditation if it’s not —that!

Spring means shedding accumulated, worn-out layers- of prevention, pretense, pretending, and protective personalities (however many we have). How does it crop up in your own life? Self-censoring before you say anything? Avoiding certain behaviors for not being “right”? So many times we forget… that sometimes, it’s OK to not know, and just do… NOTHING.

I was asked recently if I missed going to church.  

I had to think about that for a bit, and turn it over in my mind. It seemed a bit of a strange question. Does God only reside in a Church? If Spirit is in Everything, All That Is, I do not feel the need to designate a certain day and time as “God Time.”

I regard every day as sacred.

Each morning ritual of getting out of bed and starting the day is a gift of ritual. It allows a grounding space in which to connect with the memory every other day that I’ve ever got up out of bed. 

Each passing connection with a stranger on the street, on the phone, or in the supermarket is a chance to spread some love, humour, and compassion— improving both of our lives, if only for that moment. 

Going shopping for groceries is a real way to feed oneself- explore a myriad of textures, tastes, colors, and flavors… to explore choice & create art out of what, carelessly, could otherwise be considered a “mundane” task or chore. 

Granted, I miss the safety, community, and regularity that comes from meeting all together in a physical building. Church was a refuge for me growing up; a place where I could get hugs, drink some wine, and relish the sensuality of beautiful music- as well as be inspired by the exalted feeling of being around others for purposes of inspiration & upliftment.

There is something magical that happens when people gather together about self-development, service, and worship in a manner of gratitude, honor, and humility. But I find that every day when I am communion with my loved ones near and dear to me: my other half, my friends; my family, colleagues, etc.

The great thing about the digital age is that our world is so much larger and smaller at the same time! I have friends on Facebook with whom I had instant and lasting connections with. Telephones, IM, and video chat make it possible to connect instantly with anyone, anywhere, at any time— mirroring our “always on” connection to the Great Mystery, ourselves, and the Beyond.

Today, we can create near- instant community with people across the globe - even more so, by focusing on issues of global significance! You’ve probably heard the saying that the Chinese character for “challenge” is the same as “opportunity”. Who’s to say that the recent triple tragedy in Japan, for example, isn’t an amazing OPPORTUNITY for us all to connect?

There are so many chances to give, to love, to serve for ANYONE that feels called, even in the slightest manner.  You can donate your frequent flier miles… make a donation through Paypal… volunteer… send loving thoughts, vibrations, and prayers… make paintings… or throw a dance benefit! The possibilities are endless.

No matter your race, gender, origin, religion, or cultural background, there is always a way to connect with others in global community. Living in human suits on the body of this Earth, we may have had terrible circumstances come to pass; but we also really have more in common than we do have different.

=