I’m attending an astrological conference at the moment, and I’m struck by a number of things. The first and most important is that whether I focus on Chinese Medicine, Qigong, or Astrology it is all about vibration. Here people are describing the Cosmic flow in terms of vibration. And while I usually don’t use the word vibration when doing energy work, it is one of the ways to describe Qi. Qi flows through the universe, the earth, our bodies and in effect one could say that it is vibration.
Everything is Vibration
Mar 10, 2025
Happy Year of the Wood Snake
Jan 29, 2025
For the past year we have traveled through the time of the Wood Dragon. You might be noticing some ending of the energies of the dragon toward something different. That difference is the energy of the Yin Green Snake or Wood Snake. The Chinese New Year begins the second new moon after the winter solstice. This year it lands on January 29th. Forget the confusion caused by looking at the Gregorian Calendar. The timing is the same every year. This time we are in another wood year and move to the next animal on the list the Snake.
Spiritual Practice in Difficult Times
Jan 04, 2025
On Friday mornings I lead two classes. One is a Heart Meditation, and one is Slow and Easy Qigong. Before we started Friday morning, one very experienced meditator was saying how some people are having trouble keeping up their spiritual practices at this time. It is always challenging, but now it is easy to be overwhelmed.
Happy Happy
Dec 14, 2024
We are fast approaching the Winter Solstice. It is that moment when the night is the longest night, and the day is the shortest day. As all of you know I enjoy being active and walking to the beach to watch the sunrise. However, I feel these long nights conspire against the walk. I remain tucked under the blankets getting more shut eye than I would normally tolerate. And this is because of yin/yang. The traditional definition is that yin is the dark side of the mountain and yang is the sunny side of the mountain.
Astrology corner
Nov 17, 2024
So much is happening right now. We just had the last of the four Super Full Moons on Friday. So many people who are Scorpios reported feeling aggravated and out of sorts from this particular full moon as the full moon in Taurus was conjunct Uranus. What in the world does this mean? Uranus brings the unexpected, the innovative, the move to outside your comfort zone. As such it also brings surprise and even losses as you sometimes need to release old ways of doing things. So yes, for some of you who have the sun, moon, or rising sign in Scorpio or Taurus this might have been difficult. The hope is that this will be an evolutionary movement to take you on a path that will give you a better sense of yourself and life path.
Relying on the Magic of Crystals
Sep 04, 2024
I went to a Qigong Teachers Training with Robert Peng well before the pandemic- maybe 2016. I don’t know the exact number of people there, but for argument’s sake, let’s call it 100. After a couple days of training, he gave each student a number and then picked a number out of a jar to see who would teach first. This way the frequent volunteer wouldn’t stand a chance. However, I was the person whose number was picked so I was going to be the one in front of the whole group.
Radiance
Aug 17, 2024
Behold an amazing moment around 7:30 in the morning. It struck me how the light blazed through the layers of grey and white clouds. While the sky was dark, the light could be seen and felt. I was mesmerized by the feelings of light. Different from the sunrise this light managed to penetrate deep within me and bought with it sweetness. How does light do this?
What are your great passions? Are you living your life with these in mind? Do you find a relationship to yourself through these passions? Within this context does your life make sense? These are very simple questions but sometimes difficult to answer.
Preparing for the Year of the Wood Dragon
Jan 21, 2024
The year of the Wood Dragon is almost upon us. The Chinese New Year begins the second new moon after the winter solstice. This year it lands on February 10th. Each year we mark the rotation to a different element and a different one of the 12 animals. What can we expect as we transition from water to wood and from Rabbit to Dragon?
When we are in the water years as the past 2 years, we can find stillness and take a deep dive into the things that we want and desire to create. Each of us needs time to germinate ideas and projects and realize what are the priorities in our lives. This quality associated with water is will and during these time periods it is best to learn and discover our will.
Now we move with the wood element. Wood is how we experience the energy that rises in the spring. The nature of wood is birth and expansion. Think of the way it must feel now in the cold with the bare trees and you are in anticipation of those first green leaves. When they arrive, it is like a sudden burst of energy. With this energy shift it is an excellent time to vision for the upcoming months. Whenever there is a shift in the animal cycles to wood one thinks of prosperity and future visions. I think of it as an outstanding creative period. We have an expansive time ahead. The spirit associated with this element is benevolence. May the visions be able to benefit all.
With the dragon you have the lucky sign of the 12 animal signs. Dragons in Chinese culture are found in water or in the clouds. For one thing the clouds depict how close to heaven they are and the water within the seas there are 4 dragons for the King of the sea. On an earthly level the dragons bring healing, rain, and dancing; and on the heavenly level they are thought to be benevolent creatures associated with kings and rulers. Within Taoism the dragon represents the centered way. In Chinese Medicine there are dragon treatments necessary to do major energetic resets. The dragon is important in all cultures but especially in Asian cultures.
Those born under the dragon sign are not only lucky but are bold, charismatic, ambitious, and are strong. A wood dragon will be expansive, lucky, and strong. The triad of the animals associated with the Dragon are dragon, monkey, and rat. It also has a special relationship with roosters. So, all those individuals born under these signs will likely be taking advantage of this shift. The rest of us will benefit from it as well, but maybe not as dramatically.
From now until the 10th there is much to do in order to celebrate the New Year. The first thing is to clean the house. This means every cabinet and take the time to release any things that no longer serve you to have a home that truly gets rid of the old making room for the coming blessings. If you need to take time for yourself and get a haircut. Do it now. It’s good to set off fireworks in celebration.
And then there are the making of red lanterns to welcome the new year. I had to attach this lovely photo. https://thewalters.org/wp-content/uploads/2021/10/lunar-new-year-paper-lanterns.pdf
It’s a time to gather with your family and visit the relatives. You want to share in the excitement for the upcoming change. And last but not least you make prayers to your ancestors or as I like to say the beings around you who protect you.
I just started the cleaning up this week and I have a long way to go, so I want to give you all the opportunity to have at it as well. The more that you do the more that you are in the spirals of time. Through ritual and practices t these moments is how astrology whether western or eastern becomes real.
Moving toward the Fall and letting go
Sep 10, 2023
On August 7th, according to the Chinese calendar, the movement to the Autumn season and the Metal Element begins. It’s easy to lose track of it as there is really another element that forcefully makes an appearance before we feel the Metal element. This is the Earth element which is the first sign of the slowdown from summer and tends to be realized as a kind of sinking into relaxation. The fruits and vegetables are glorious at this time and the bounty often requires canning, making jam, pickling, or preparing dishes that you can freeze. Often this late summer weather is humid. And it is a time I find that I languish in the accompanying stillness. I recall the hammock often used in the backyard when I was younger.