Category: <span>Doodles</span>

….feeling the need to re-post this today.   Om Shanti, Shanti, Shantihi. 

 

Within the city of Brahman,

which is the body,

there is the heart,

and within the heart

there is a little house.

 

This house has the shape of a lotus,

and within it dwells that which is to be

sought after,

inquired about,

and realized.

 

Even so large as the universe outside,

is the universe within the lotus of the heart.

Within it are heaven and earth,

the sun, moon,

the lightning

and all the stars.

 

Whatever is in the macrocosm is in this microcosm also.

Ancient Wisdom Astrology Dharma Doodles StudioIFC Yoga

Complete BlueGreen 8Fold acv

….and I’m still experiencing the joy of learning with every new pattern that I put together.  I’ve moved on now to what’s called stitching and weaving.  This pattern I focused on stitching.  I don’t have the energy right now to explain in words what that means artistically . .  Suffice it to say that I fell in love with the technique and choose to continue.  Here’s my latest, painted to celebrate grandson(s) and birthday’s.

I’m gonna start an absolute beginners yoga therapy class in June for 6-8 weeks, yoga….for the rest of us.

I sent an email newsletter to my list today.  Are you on it?  Do you want to be?  There’s a widget for easy signup onsite.

Asbury Park Blogging Doodles Geometric Art Yoga Therapy

 

canstockphoto15147107 (2)When an outer planet (Uranus/Neptune/Pluto) first enters a new sign or a new house it can be a momentous occasion and often manifests in some kind of (symbolic) event (major or minor) to announce the ‘new’ energy pattern that is about to unfold.  Of course, leaving behind the old sign, or old house also has its own significant events that sum up the lesson(s) of what’s being left behind, at least until the cycle repeats again.  Such is the ‘wheel’ of Karma, what goes around, comes around.

Neptune entered Pisces in 2012 and with all the turmoil in our mundane world, Neptune in Pisces can be a welcome antidote or a dangerous escape.*

Neptune rules all things ‘spiritual’. Spiritual yearning, spiritual awakening, spiritual enlightenment, spiritual growth, spiritual development are all indicated until it moves into Aries in 2026.  Many will be drawn towards exploration and experimentation during these years.  Ancient spiritual seekers spent whole lifetimes exploring these spiritual dimensions.  Along the way they developed many different techniques that helped them achieve enlightenment and higher consciousness  They showed us that transcendence and transformation is possible. Those that follow eastern philosophies and techniques are taught that “the guru is within” and enlightenment is possible at any moment.  Karma & dharma are the foundational principles and Astrology is a respected resource for guidance and comfort.

Today, we can’t go away and live in a cave for 30 years. We are ‘householders’ on the path.  We have worldly responsibilities to attend to. Still the yearning for spiritual communion persists.  And, the same practices that bring enlightenment can also bring us an expansive experience of happiness, health, and wholeness.  Rarely do these practices harm us in any way.

The explosion of yoga & meditation into today’s mainstream is one of the most visible manifestations of this illusive transit. Yoga, the original mind/body/spiritual practice, is a powerful practice to access the deeper parts of our consciousness, particularly when you go beyond asana to include off-the-mat techniques with an experienced teacher. Inner space explorations stir up the unconscious and help us to see places we don’t visit consciously. For this reason, it is important that people who do this work are prepared, willing and emotionally ready to do so.  Self-study (svadhaya) and discipline (tapas) are required.

When Neptune reached 8 degrees in spring of 2013, she slid into my ninth house. Neptune can deliver some frightening experiences if left ignored so its always best to find healthy ways to experience it.  Such is the gift of astrology, to make one aware of what is possible. So it’s my intention to use it wisely.  She’ll be there until 2029 after which she’ll connect with my midheaven and enter my 10th house.

During these  years  she will slowly dissolve what was before and invisibly recreate all ninth house affairs.  Our personal philosophy is described in the ninth house and with Neptune here I expect I’ll think about things quite differently before it’s over.

Other ninth house  topics include: long distance travel,  foreign or distant places, aliens, immigrants, as well as judges, religious authority figures, philosophers and athletes.  Travels need not be physical, but could be intellectual or spiritual .

In order to understand a transiting planet in one’s personal horoscope, you must first investigate the natal placement of that planet first.  And that’s where it gets impossibly ridiculous for me!  Because, you see, I was born in Neptune, NJ, and lived from 0-8yrs in Neptune City, NJ.  Natal Neptune is in my 4th house of home, real estate, and early childhood.  Neptune is demanding my attention!

*Neptune rules a lot of other things too. Keywords are here.

 

Astrology Doodles Planets and their Cycles

My doodle-a-day practice is morphing.  Is that a word?

It’s been interesting to see patterns beginning to develop in these seemingly, unconscious, totally right-brain doodles.

Mostly, I’ve observed a preference for circles, swirls, dots, and sinuousmany circles doodle 001 curves over lines, dashes, and ninety degree angles.  That said triangles are a blast.

No doubt my art, if I were to call it that, reflects to me  the daily struggle of my brain to balance out the extreme Uranian energy that has taken over the planet.signed one whirl circle

 

Doodling helps….   I think of it as ArtYoga.  Keep your mind on the ‘working surface’ and be present, as best you can.   See what happens.

 

 

 

 

 

Blogging Doodles

img_1946  SUNDAY, OCT 9, 2016 

1:30 pm

East Brunswick Public Library, 2 Civic Center Drive. NJ

 I’ve attended the Harper’s Escape weekend intensive maybe 6 times, and now that I’ve finally gotten the ‘hang’ of it, it’s ending.  After 25 years Kathy, the director, and one of my most favorite teachers,  is retiring this event.  So sad.  But, I do understand.    The details above is for the final public concert that completes the weekend event.  I’ll be there and, it’s free.  Come!  It’s always a full house so get there early for a good seat, not that it matters.

 

 

harpdoodle-001Taking up the harp at 50 changed my life brain.  Switching from piano to harp as my primary musical instrument was a learning curve that proved frustrating, challenging, and incredibly rewarding.  More on that another time.  Suffice it to say, 8 fingers on 36 strings, re-wired my brain in ways only a yogi could understand….or a brain scientist.

Next year Kathy is taking a group to Ireland!  OMG.  For those who know me,  you know how much I want to go on that trip!aran-islands-inisheer-001  In August, 2002 my daughter and I traveled there and searched for all-things-harp for 2 weeks. We landed in Shannon and made our way to  Galway during  the big horse race event. We journeyed thru dense fog to Inisheer, one of the  Aran Islands.  We drove on the wrong right long straight road running from the west coast all the way to way to Dublin. The only harp I found was  in a glass case at Trinity Library and I wrote about it here. Of course there were images of harps on coins and beer cans everywhere, but, no harp music anywhere.  Still, the music we did find was damn good!  Money is tight right now so maybe I’ll crowdfund the trip?  If everyone I know/love could send me $5. I bet that might get me there!  I’ll be happy to entertain you all with my harp when I return.

Just kidding….

 

 

Anyway, Wally, a Camac Aziliz, (who I still want to swap/sell/trade  for a Fisher) needs some serious tuning after a hot, humid summer and weeks of neglect.  But, he’ll sing next weekend at the Harpers Escape for sure.

wallyalone

 Learning to play the harp, and developing a repetoire that suits me and my abilities has been so much fun.  It’s taken me to places both musical and geographical that wouldn’t have happened otherwise. I am blessed.

Here’s a story I wrote about one such experience.  It happened in July, 2007.

Come to this concert….your heart will thank you. 

                                                                    May all beings feel love.  willaangelina-001

 

Blogging Doodles Harp My photos StoryTelling

1. Put the pen to the paper.

2. Draw a line or a dot.

3. Repeat.

4. Begin Again

5. Stop when it feels complete.

Doodles Meditation

rwbdoodleifc Last Saturday I logged onto a webinar offered by Kepler College of Astrological Arts & Sciences.  A panel of five mundane astrologers discussed politics, race relations, the economy, and other various hot topics.

They posted the charts they used online which made it quite easy to  follow the discussions. It was fascinating to see the variety of techniques and charts they used.  As always, the astrology of current events leads one to a much more comprehensive understanding of what is going on at any given time.  Astrology reveals the nuances and hidden subtleties that are often overlooked by the current herd-mind*  (*I refer you to the brilliant Jeffrey Wolf Green, one of my earliest teachers.)

Astrology, is a language of symbols, which creates a much broader, wider, context by which to understand & discuss events.  Dane Rudyar, another one of my most inspirational teachers,  writes, “…astrology is always symbolical when properly understood. All depends on what is meant by symbol. Algebra is also purely symbolical, and yet algebra and higher mathematics have made possible modern science and the age of machines. Astrology is fundamentally the algebra of life.” (AP p.18)

Anyway, each panelist mentioned the August 24, 2016 conjunction of Mars & Saturn in 10 Sag. as a notable upcoming transit.  They all agreed  that regardless of who gets elected,  the USA is in for a difficult time ahead.  The transits to the chart of the USA are nothing less than transformational.  That’s the bad news.   And, that’s the good news too.  (I published the chart of the USA in my previous post)

After the webinar I was inspired to spend some time on my own studying the algebra of this upcoming cycle and even before I write any commentary I want to go on record with the following dates which mark the more stressful moments.  Please allow a 2-3 day orb…..

  • Aug 24 2016
  • Nov 9 2016
  • Jan 19 2017*
  • Mar 27 2017
  • May 29 2017*
  • July 30 2017
  • Oct 11 2017*
  • Jan 5 2018
  • Apr 2 2018*

What’s important is to think of this time period, 8/24/2016 – 4/2/2018 as one complete cycle of Mars/Saturn.  The dates represent  ‘hot’ spots. And those dates with an * are hotter than the others.  More on this later.  An important detail to note is that right now, these weeks leading up to Aug 24, are the balsamic (closing) phase of the current cycle which is coming to completion.  That cycles was birthed in Aug of 2014 at 17 Scorpio.  Masters and teachers alike have always asked us to move towards our conscious connection to spirit during balsamic times.  Solitude, contemplation, prayer, meditation, those are the preferred activities during the balsamic phase of any cycle.   If the Mars/Saturn cycle represents (among other things) our evolving/devolving/revolving relationship with: authority, police, military, power, the law, rules, aggression, violence, malevolence, and that sort of thing, we have much to process and heal from before Aug 24, 2016 otherwise,  whatever is unresolved gets dragged into the new making it not-so-new at all and complicating any efforts to really start anew.

What was not discussed during the webinar was how to move thru these difficult times.  That’s what I want to talk about……there’s much to discuss. It’s definitely time for another Salon for Astrological Discourse.  Stay tuned for date.

Astrology Doodles Planets and their Cycles Time Management

rwbdoodleifcAll three top presidential candidates have Pluto in Leo at their birth.

Between 1937 & 1956  Pluto moved thru Leo and the “Baby Boomers” were born.   Astrologically speaking, all those born during the same Pluto placement have the same evolutionary/generational challenge: to transform, revolutionize, and bring to a higher level all the issues of what the sign, LEO,  represents.  Being the largest population group for a long time, we’ve made some fundamental changes in our society, beginning in the 60’s.  But the balance of power is changing now and the Millennial population is beginning to en mass as per their particular Pluto placement.  More on them another time.

Pluto represents transformation,  guaranteeing that something gets birthed, something dies, and something is reborn.  That is the essence of what transformation is.    It takes about 20 years for Pluto to move thru a single zodiac sign, 248 years to make one orbit around the sun.  Each human generation is measured by the movement of Pluto thru the  zodiac.  Each zodiac sign symbolizes a whole different  life-lesson or soul’s purpose for those born during this time.   It all gets clearer as you age. Wisdom has its own rewards.   The stress points (hard angles) are particularly revealing.

Leo, is possibly, the most self-absorbed sign of the entire zodiac, most especially about aging, and those boomers are the seniors now.    The youth driven culture that we initiated in the 60’s is now poised to take over the governance of our nation, again as evidenced by the majority of this years presidential nominee’s.

Part of a boomers charm is the ability to remain the eternal child,  the puer aeternus. and that about says it all.  We are the kids who just want to have fun.  It’s a natural response to our Pluto in Cancer parents.  Leo is all about ego and prioritizing ‘self’ over group.  Pluto in Virgos & Libra are our kids. And, Pluto in Scorpio and Sagittarius are our grandkids.   But I digress.

 

USAMundane astrology is the study of world events, rather than people.  I don’t spend much time with event charts, but there is a lot you can glean from them.  This chart here is the birthchart of the USA.  There is some disagreement among the astrologers as to exact time of birth and other charts have been put forth and argued for.  I choose to use this one.

I bring it up because it’s important to note, even before this election cycle began, that Pluto has been making some serious aspects to the chart of our country.  There’s no denying the fact that we are in the process of re-birthing our nation.  It’s very serious and we need to understand that regardless of how the media (transformed when Pluto traveled thru Sag from 1995-2009), portrays the news and the candidates.    Once again I refer you to the mundane astrologers who have analyzed this better than me.

That said, the candidates are, as usual, perfectly suited to represent the times we are living in.   Bernie & Hillary actually have a lot in common and seem to be quite compatible in many ways.  Jupiter is at the midheaven for both of them and that bodes well.  Donald, on the other hand, well, it’s frightening to consider.  Seriously.

Anyway, that’s enough for now.  Look at the charts for yourself.  It’s a good way to begin studying astrology….watching famous people be who they are.

If you want more of my humble opinion you can sign up for my newsletter on a widget over there on the right.    The Salon for Astrological Discourse will be returning later this summer.

Charts here.

2016 Presidential Candidates
2016 Presidential Candidates

 

 

 

 

 

 

….more later

 

Astrology Blogging Doodles Planets and their Cycles Pluto

blue doodle 001It’s been a while since I’ve blogged anything, but, I have been writing….

a lot.

Last December I took a 4-session workshop on Writing Memoir, and in January I began to audit a local college course on Creative Non-Fiction.  It felt so good to have a pen in my hand again.  I’d forgotten how the kinesthetic experience of scribbling words on paper could be so immensely satisfying., especially with the right pen.  There is a certain pleasure from typing too, particularly the sound of the keys as they make contact.  But, writing more by hand over the last 4 months has reactivated older neural pathways and lit them up with new creative impulses.  Typing just doesn’t tap into the memories the way handwriting does.

In class we’ve been doing things like: free writing, writing from prompts and pictures and maps, and learning how to craft scenes, dialogue, and sensory information.  All the assignments are to be drawn from our personal life…..aka: non-fiction.   Although I had plenty of english and writing courses in school, this is the first course like this I’ve ever taken and just as I’d hoped it’s the genre that suits me most.  Putting my stories on paper, breathing some life into the characters that inhabit my life, and then sharing the stories has been immensely humbling and satisfying.  It feels more like therapy then entertainment.

Not sure yet how all this comes together, but I have faith that it will.  My goal, if I were to have one, would be to assemble all these stories into a hard copy book. But in the meantime it shouldn’t hurt to publish a tale or two here online on my website?   What do you think?   Who’s reading this?   That’s the amazing thing about the internet, you’re writing for who?

New Moon yesterday in Aries.  We’re in an action oriented cycle right now, but speed has nothing to do with it.  As Confucius says,

” It does not matter how slowly you go,  So long as you do not stop.”

 

 

Blogging Doodles journal entry

doodles 001

Doodles