Journal

“Jesus” was the man’s name but “Christ” was the title bestowed upon him. “Christ” signifies that he had achieved realization of his innate divine nature: a nature we all possess but few have sought it and fewer still have yet to “become One with the Father.” To do so, however, is the purpose for which we were created. It is our destiny to achieve this oneness, but it is only by the free choice of our hearts that we begin the journey “home” to claim our royal birthright just as in the beautiful story of the Prodigal Son. (You might find it interesting to know that the title of “Christ” is etymologically connected with the word “Krishna” and carries the same significance.)

There is a single solution to every problem we face in life. Whether a challenge of health, attitude, or outer circumstance, the inner light experienced in deep meditation is the supreme fixer. Why? Because deep concentration on the inner light calms our emotions, and raises our consciousness to a state where we are able to receive intuitive guidance, understanding, and healing. May it be a light to you in dark places, when all other lights go out. ― J.R.R. Tolkien, The Fellowship of the Ring

Ethan: You seem to have some special knowledge about shamanism. Can you tell us what it means to be a Shaman and what your interest in Shamanism is? Jan: That is kind of you to say, but I don’t think I have any special knowledge. I have just been very fortunate to study with the elders and shamans of the Ulchi tribe in Siberia. Now the question about what it means to be a shaman would take a very long time to explain, so I suggest that you go and read my book-LOL. My interest wasn’t about shamanism per se as it was more about learning an ancient tradition of animism by a very remote tribe in eastern Siberia.

The term "shamanism" is a hotly debated topic in the discipline of anthropology. Half of the field either uses it to denote "practitioners of animism" in indigenous societies (replacing the mid-20th-century terms like Witch Doctor or Medicine Man) or practitioners who come from Manchu-Tungus groups in which the word originated

The Japanese call it “Shinrin Yoku” or “Forest Bathing.” Fast becoming one of the hottest new trends in healthcare, it’s a natural lifestyle fit for us in the Pacific NW. Transcendency awaits in a forest near you.

The days leading up to this New Moon have been full of change. And indeed, change seems to be the name of the game for the next 28 days. We’re dealing with a lot of discomfort right now. It’s never helpful to blame the planets -- that’s a surrender of power we cannot afford. It is helpful, however, to understand the ways they reflect what’s going on, connecting us to the archetypal realms which offer insight and guidance. At the collective level, there are some things that are in massive dying processes right now. Distortions of power. Manipulations and exploitations of bodies and hearts. The veil is so thin we’re no longer able to pretend it’s even there. It can be pretty difficult to know how to breathe, let alone act, in that level of chaos. Scorpio knows the way through, though. Scorpio is ferocity all grown up and made wild and fierce with remembrance of constant evolution. In October of 2017, Jupiter entered Scorpio for its 13 month tour through the depths. Jupiter teaches us about truth, belief, intuition and expansion. In the sign of Scorpio, it can magnify fears and emotional residues, especially when it comes to themes of sex, power, death and anything hidden. This New Moon sees Jupiter in the last degree of Scorpio, magnifying all we’ve learned in the past year.

The world’s collective wisdom about addressing life’s obstacles is tremendous. And yet, day to day, we seem unable to answer these deceptively simple questions: Am I on the right path? Am I doing the right thing? Sometimes, it seems the world has conspired against us. Maybe on the way to that new job interview, every light we come to turns red, and every door seems to close, then we get in a fender bender. Or when we date someone new, our friends yell at us, our parents chastise us, we lose money, things break and fall apart. After a long day, it seems like the universe couldn’t have made it any more clear that we were heading in the wrong direction. Then we wake up the next morning, and our current job seems so boring and pays so little that there has to be a better alternative, and so-and-so’s “good morning” message to us was so sweet, how could we not go on another date with them?

"I wonder how it is that people's philosophies have come to spin faster than the changing seasons." Masanobu Fukuoka, author, One Straw Revolution Well, the season has officially shifted. The days, getting shorter. The big leaf maple trees, dropping their magnificent, big leaf maple leaves, all over the farm, and all over western Washington. The mornings alternate between moderate and near frosty temperatures. Just ask momma goat and her morning milker in the lower field! The Foghorns in the Saratoga pass often echo throughout the early hours, giving amplification to the magical mist which fills the air all around, before giving way to vast blue sky of the afternoon, and the blissful hue of golden hour in the early evening. A perfect time to visit the alpacas and bench on sunset hill.

This month presents us all with an opportunity to hit the reset button and begin a new phase in our spiritual and political lives.

In my last blog I talked about what Reiki is and what my clients say about it. Now I would like to share with you some ways I like to use Reiki. Besides being a Reiki master, I am also a court certified Spanish interpreter. I interpret mainly in superior court and specialize in sexual assault and child abuse crimes. As you might imagine, it is quite terrifying for a victim to have to sit in the witness chair during a jury trial and tell their horrific story to a jury and courtroom full of people she or he has never met, in front of the defendant who caused such pain.

This episode explores two dreams about spooky old houses, one about a magical trip to New Orleans, and Mimi shares a dream of her own about dancing glow-in-the-dark skeletons. We delve into the paranormal, intuition, the creative process, and the experience of sheer delight! Each dream is set to music and explored on its own, and some common threads are revealed as well.