Summer Solstice: Strawberry Fields Forever

 "Take the first step in faith. You don't have to see the whole staircase, just take the first step." 

- Martin Luther King Jr.

Hope everyone around the world enjoyed the first day of summer!

As we all know, it is the longest daytime of the year.  This also symbolizes optimistic energy at its peak, illuminating all that is possible for us during this time.  

With high vibrational energy comes high emotions, as we now enter the astrological season of empathic Cancer.  This is where we all need to be very aware, and not get too caught up in anything because we are too emotionally charged.  For the next several days, it might be a good idea to limit our time spent in crowded places; avoiding them altogether, if possible.

Luckily, we have a Strawberry Full Moon portal in pragmatic Capricorn.  This will help to ground our energies, so that we may see what we want in actionable steps, and not just whimsical wishes.  Having a plan (it can be good enough to start; we don't want to spend too much time here without action) and executing that plan is key during this time.  

Given we have the nuturing energy of Cancer, as well as the rational energy of Capricorn, it's a good time to take massive action toward our goals, while simultaneously engaging in self-care.  This involves self-compassion and patience with ourselves, as mistakes and adjustments will be made going for what we want.  Like world renown self-help author, entrepreneur and motivational speaker Louise Hay once said, "Be there for yourself."  

AMOR FATI

Thank you and good night.

New Moon in Gemini: Dichotomy Au Courant

 “The cave you fear to enter holds the treasure you seek.” 

-Joseph Campbell

It was once said by the late business philosopher and millionaire Jim Rohn, that the prediction of the future will always be the same: opportunity mixed with difficulty.  If we are going through a challenging time, as if it was hell, it is best we keep walking through.  The alternative is that we stay there; in self-imposed damnation!  

To reach higher ground, we must understand that what is placed in front of us is a blessing in a very ugly disguise.  We will become stronger and better people for what we accomplish during this New Moon portal in spontaneous Gemini and moving forward.  Don't be surprised if things seem to come up out of thin air.  It is either a test from the Universe or God, or a preview of life's coming attractions.

AMOR FATI

Thank you and good night.  

P.S. Happy Dragon Boat Festival in The Year of the Dragon!  This combination only happens every 12 years!  端午節快樂!

Video: How to Grow From Your Pain by Mark Manson

Photo credit: Maverick Paradox Magazine

Twin Tower Twofer

 "We can choose courage, or we can choose comfort, but we can't have both.  Not at the same time." 

-Brené Brown

It can be hard to believe that we are at about the halfway point of the year!  

We recently had some cosmic events, like the Full Moon in optimistic Sagitarrius, along with the alignment of fortutious Jupiter and romantic Venus. Currently, we have the Sun in spontaneous Gemini.

While there is a fun-loving nature in the air during this time, we can't take it too seriously.  In fact, we can see it as adding a glimmer of light to our lives versus the darkness currently in the world.  Much like the twins that make up Gemini, we now have the extreme dichotomy of intoxicating bliss and crippling sorrow.

Regardless of what is going on with us, perhaps even if we are in a situation in desparation to stay alive, luck is on our side to manifest what we are working for.  This is given that we are intuned with the optimism of Sagitarrius, the willingness to accept the benefit of Jupiter's support, and channel the intellectual curiosity of Gemini.

It's ok if we are afraid.  That's what courage is all about.  It's doing what's right for us, regardless of fear.

AMOR FATI

Thank you and good night.

[P.S. I don't own the rights to the above images.  This means at the request of the owner, they could get taken down. Credits: SoulKu (top photo), CNN (bottom photo).  I may also change them up if I see something I think is a better fit for the blog entry.]

¡Feliz Día de la Madre, a Todos!

"Her reverence for the divine, her generosity, her inability not only to do wrong but even to conceive of doing it. And the simple way she lived—not in the least like the rich."

-Marcus Aurelius 

[Referring to his mother in his journal, "Meditations"]

Happy Mother's Day, Everyone!  

Well, we survived crazy April!  There a couple of events, the big one being the Pink Full Moon in enigmatic Scorpio.  Hope you all had your seat belts on!

Now, we are in a calmer energy in the month of May and in the season of methodical Taurus.  Along with staying more grounded, this time of year tends to be a little more flirtatious lol.  It's of course a great occasion for manifestations.  

Also, let's appreciate all those we love and the life we have, while simultaneously going for what we desire.  Arguably the last great Emperor of Rome, Marcus Aurelius professed in his journal, Meditations, he wouldn't be the person he was without the profound guidance of his mother.  

With that, we must all cherish our mothers, particularly on this day.  Let's be present with our moms; embrace them, kiss them, and always say, "I love you, Mom."  May we do the best we can here, even when things get rocky.  Try to make amends while they're still here.  We don't know when it will be the last time, before we finally also say, "Goodbye, Mom."  

I love you, Mommy.  Happy Mother's Day!

AMOR FATI

Thank you and good night.

5150 vs. Area 51: Between a Rock and a Hard Place

“Some lose all mind and become soul, insane.

Some lose all soul and become mind, intellectual.

Some lose both and become accepted.”

― Charles Bukowski

Sorry for the delay in writing this blog.  I'm currently having difficulty getting my site to appear on Google.  If you type my URL there, an "Error 404" may still pop up.  I've spent all evening trying to resolve this.  Luckily, I'm still able to write using other search engines.  Hopefully, the issue gets resolved soon.

Anyway, today is my birthday!  I have officially turned 51.  I was trying to come up with an interesting title.  I thought about "5150", since I'm a rock guitar player and a fan of Van Halen.  Then I thought about "Area 51", since I love sci-fi (e.g., X-Files, Star Trek, The Twilight Zone, etc.).  Finally, I just said, "Fuck it!  Let's have both."  So, 5150 represents rock music and Area 51 is that highly classified USAF facility, that is a hard place to access.  Couldn't decide between them.  Hence, the idiom.  Get it?

I did have fun today, despite the URL hiccup.  It's one of life's curveballs that we roll with.  My motto when shit happens is: "Seriously?...Of course."  They come in Divine timing, for reasons that we sometimes can't fathom at the moment; if at all.  Whether we like it or not, they present themselves to make us better.

So, yesterday I went to the beach on a clear sunny day to meditate and exercise.  One of the things I did was Shavasana ("Corpse Pose") directly on the sand near the shoreline, secluded away from passer byers.  It was one of the most blissful experiences I ever had.  It would be the last time, for the rest of my life, that I'd be at the beach as a 50-year-old man.  Tomorrow, it will be the first time in my entire life that I set foot onto the beach as a young man of 51.  

Today, I cleaned my turtle's tank.  I proclaimed today is her birthday as well.  My mom had rescued her (on a rainy day from falling to her doom on the edge of a sidewalk drain) when she could fit in the palm of my mom's tiny hand.  Because of this little one's surprising agility and quick wit, mommy named her "Speedie".  When asked how old Speedie was a couple of years back, my mom immediately said, "22."  That makes it easy, because the suffix of this year and the age of the amphibian are both 24.

After cleaning the tank, I went to get my first Michelada ever.  I had it with the Camarones Costa Azul (Blue Coast Shrimp).  It was some of the best Mexican food I've had in a while.  Wait, I did have an amazing Mojarra Frita at a different place a couple of weeks back lol.  Still, when you compare it to a year or even an entire lifetime, it sure has been a while.  It truly is a matter of perception.  After that, since it was such a nice clear sunny day, I walked around for a bit and picked up a couple of avocados and kiwis before heading home.  

It was a good birthday.  I'm grateful for all the birthday wishes from those that remembered.  Muchas gracias!  Disfruta tu fin de semana, Todos!

AMOR FATI

Thank you and good night.

P.S. I share the same birthday with the late Jimmy Kim (1988 Olympic Gold Medalist - Taekwondo - Men's Heavyweight).  We also went to the same school (Cal).  I'm honored to have met such a kind and wonderful human being.      Rest in Power...

Wikipedia: Jimmy Kim

The Total Eclipse: A Cosmic Reset Button

"You have to take risks. We will only understand the miracle of life fully when we allow the unexpected to happen."

-Paulo Coelho

So, tomorrow April 8th, 2024 will feature the globally much anticipated Total Solar Eclipse.  Let's take a moment and appreciate just how awesome it is that the Sun, Earth and Moon are at the right distance and positioned in the right order for us to witness this thing we call an "eclipse".  If that's not mind-blowing, I don't know what is!  

 

The eclipse will be in ambitious Aries, in alignment with Chiron or Χείρων (pronounced "HEE-rown"), a small solar body named after the centaur in Greek mythology (son of Cronus: God of Time [Roman: Saturn], mentored by Apollo, and teacher to Achilles), who is also known as "The Wounded Healer".  This means that anything significant that remains unresolved will likely rise to the surface of our consciousness.  

Don't be too surprised if people whom we haven't been in contact with suddenly reach out during this time.  If there is anything that needs to be addressed, either with that person and/or within ourselves, this provides a great opportunity to let go of any remaining negativity, if it still exists.  We can choose to enhance our path to healing this way.

With this new chapter, we must make space for the arrival of positive abundance.  This means letting go of the attachment to things and people that we have outgrown and/or have said goodbye to.  When one of our dogs would die, my mom would always say that our time with them has concluded.  They were in our lives to enrich us and teach us, but when the purpose of that relationship has been fulfilled, then either they will pass on or we will or both.  

The same goes for our possessions.  I lost my garnet stone necklace of many years last week; its purpose to booster my confidence.  With my recent growth and self-discovery, along side the help of my therapist, the garnet stone simply vanished.  Its job was done, so it had to be no more.  Of course, I'm both puzzled and upset that I lost it, but those are the facts.  I'm learning to let go.  Life is so transient.  Why waste time with the life I have remaining fretting over something now gone, that I would've lost anyway when I die?

We certainly can draw parallels to our lives and the eclipse.  There is no real separation between us and what happens in the Universe.  Hence the name, "Universe" ("One Song").  Our attachment to what no longer serves us is the darkness (like the Moon covering the Sun), because it can be scary to detach, even though it keeps us from the enlightenment of our true greatness.  When we do let go and take that step out of our comfort zone, that now becomes our shadow behind us; as we walk towards the light that is in front and ahead of us. 

AMOR FATI

Thank you and good night.

Happy Spring Equinox!

"Do the best you can until you know better.  Then when you know better,            do better."  - Maya Angelou

Happy Nowruz, Everyone!  

مبارک نوروز

(Mubarak Nowruz)

This marks the official astrological New Year 2024!  

With the recent New Moon in intuitive Pisces, guiding us in introspection for what we really want to manifest, we are now moving into the season of ambitious Aries; seeing those desires come to fruition through right action.  It's a time for new beginnings; whether that be new projects, new ideas, new adventures, new relationships, or even rekindling current ones.  We must understand that with things blossoming anew, that which no longer serves us must depart.  It can be easier said than done, especially if we have attachment to that which is required to let go of, in order to have a better life.  

AMOR FATI

Thank you and good night. 

P.S. The Spring Equinox happens to fall on a Taco Tuesday this year!  

Happy 88th, Mommy!

Just wanted to do a birthday blog, as a tribute to my mom, who turns 88 years young today!  There are a couple of photo collages at the end (click on them to enlarge).  Hope those reading enjoy them as well!  So, here it is:

She has always been the person in my corner, even when I am in a room full of doubters, naysayers, and narcissistic people.  Whether or not something negatively said or done is directed towards her, she doesn't get easily offended, angry, or "thin-skinned".

She never tried to make me feel inferior or play mind games with me.  Loving me unconditionally, regardless where I am in my life, she has and always will be the unsung and silent backbone to which I can lean on; with complete trust and authenticity.  

She is one of the few people I feel comfortable being totally myself around.  There is never ill-will or hidden agenda when it comes to this wonderful human being.  It comes as no surprise that animals, wild or domestic, always gravitate toward her nurturing aura.  

-----------

We'll go to the beach for your birthday, have a nice meal, connect with nature, and have a carefree day.  Time will stand still in our moments of joy, as they always do.  It will be like a dream...

Thank you for always supporting me, and being there during my darkest times, including a couple of dark nights of the soul.  

When I was down, your presence always lifted me up, without any harsh judgement or criticism.  You didn't have to say a word in those moments of utter despair.  There was also no need to express how I was feeling, as you always knew.  Even then, deep in the abyss of the valley, I felt your light, as if there were sunny days soon ahead.  

Happy Birthday, Mommy.  Thank you for being my angel.  I love you so much!  Always...  

AMOR FATI

Thank you and good night.

P.S. 2/26/1936: 2+2+6+1+9+3+6 = 29; 2+9 = 11

P.P.S. The photo on the upper right of the 1st collage is when we lived in Arizona at Luke Air Force Base (LAFB).  Here, she is wearing one of her uniforms as the rank of Major.  My nickname for her is "Major Mom" ("Ground control to Major Mom..."). 

P.P.P.S. With the recent Full Moon in systematic Virgo teamed up with intuitive Pisces, is where the "rubber meets the road" in terms of manifestations.  There will be a lot of whimsical emotions during this time.  Creating and sticking to effective routines for innovations will likely bring them into fruition.