Memorial Day was originally called ‘Decoration Day’ and was established as a day of remembrance for those who have died in our nation’s service. Memorial Day was first observed on 30 May 1868, when flowers were placed on the graves of both Union and Confederate soldiers at Arlington National Cemetery. It is a date of remembrance, honor and reconciliation. For many who have recently lost loved ones who served and gave their all for what they believed in, it can be a day of grieving over the fresh pangs of loss of their father, mother, son, daughter, brother, sister, friend, comrade or loved one.

Memorial Day is now celebrated in almost every state on the last Monday in May (passed by Congress with the National Holiday Act of 1971 (P.L. 90 – 363) to ensure a three day weekend for Federal holidays). For many this is most of what this holiday represents to them: a 3-day break from work or school to plan a vacation around.

Red Poppies began to be used as a symbol to wear in of honor those who had died in war or in service after Moina Michael wrote in 1919 the verse:

“We cherish too, the Poppy red
That grows on fields where valor led,
It seems to signal to the skies
That blood of heroes never dies.”

To help re-educate and remind Americans of the true meaning of Memorial Day, the “National Moment of Remembrance” resolution was passed on Dec 2000 which asks that at 3 p.m. local time, for all Americans “To voluntarily and informally observe in their own way a moment of remembrance and respect, pausing from whatever they are doing for a moment of silence or listening to ‘Taps”, a musical piece sounded by the U.S. military nightly to indicate that it is “lights out“.

Whether or not you ‘believe’ in war, military action, or the idea of choosing to serve your country, it is appropriate to give solemn remembrance and honor to the brave men and women who have chosen to preserve and protect us, our families and our nation. It is not a day for division; it is a day for unity.

Grief: Be aware that there will be some who are grieving their loved one on this day. Last Memorial Day fell exactly a week after my brother, TSgt John Bradford Thompson, had died after serving 30+ years in the U.S. Air Force. The day was filled with many tears as well as many stories and thoughts of my brother’s antics in childhood and when on leave from the military as well as his tales of some of his experiences while serving.

Remembrance vs. Honor: To remember someone is to recall them, their life, their stories and what they loved and believed in. To honor someone is to do more than remember; it is to pay respect to the greatest highest good that was reflected by that person in their life. When we honor someone, we acknowledge how they most brightly shone their inner Light in the world during their life. By honoring that Light within them, we continue to keep that Light flowing in the world today. It keeps them alive in our hearts and in the world. It brings inspiration to all of us to reach for our own highest potential in shining our own Light of our True Essence into the the world.

This post is dedicated to my brother, Brad, who will live on in my heart, will be remembered in the tales I tell to my children (and there are many… grin), and whom I honor on this Memorial Day. He stood up for what he truly believed in and gave his all to his family and his friends… and his country. When the fireflies begin to dance in the air this summer, I will recall chasing them with him in childhood and know that he is dancing in the light of the stars now as well as in the Light of his True Essence.

Let’s all take a moment this Memorial Day to be in meditation and get into our hearts to send out Love to all who are grieving, remembering or honoring their loved ones. Let us also surround those loved ones who are no longer walking the earth with compassion, peace, Love and Light as well.

Bright Blessings to all on this Memorial Day!

Tracy Thompson Latz, M.D. (with Marion Ross, Ph.D.) – The Shift Doctors

*****The Shift Doctors (Tracy Latz, M.D. & Marion Ross, Ph.D.) are available for keynote talks, classes, events or for seminars (1/2 day or up to 2 day) on personal transformation, team-building, motivation, anger management, intuitive development, or collaboration for private groups, conferences, corporations or corporate events. Contact them at info@shiftyourlife.com or find out more about them at www.shiftyourlife.com

*Check out The Shift Doctors’ books, videos & CDs at the Shift Your Life Site http://www.shiftyourlife.com/shift-store/

WE LOVE TO HEAR FROM YOU! All questions and comments are welcome and you can leave them at the ‘Ask The Docs’ page here at www.shiftyourlife.com. ☺

Throughout civilization many religious festivals have been held in conjunction with the full moon. What person has not at some point stood in reverence and awe of the moon’s reflected Light coming to us indirectly from the sun? The moon represents the unconscious, invisible, yin or feminine aspect. The sun represents the conscious, visible, yang or masculine aspect. Although spiritual inspiration is available to us at any time, it is more actively present to us during the full moon period because of the alignment set up between our planet and the sun. Because of this alignment, meditations done at this “power point” of the spiritual month tend to be more fruitful – yielding increased clarity in communication.

The full moon period is actually a 5 to 6 day period- the two to three preceding days, the day of the full moon itself, and the 2 to 3 succeeding days. The 2 days prior to the full moon is best spent in preparation to let go of that which is tethering you to negative situations, people or circumstances. During the day of the full moon (and in particular at the exact moment when the moon is full), one attempts to stand in spiritual being – acting as silent open channels in alignment with hierarchical intent, focusing thoughts/intentions upon the need of humanity and the planet. The 2-3 days after the exact full moon are days of distribution of the energies received during the full moon – which according to Alice Bailey are “shed abroad in our hearts, through our group and throughout the world.”

There are three major spiritual Festivals celebrated at the time of Full Moons which form the high point in the annual cycle. These are the Festival of Easter (at the Aries full moon), the Festival of Wesak (at the Taurus full moon), and Christ’s Festival or the Festival of Goodwill (at the Gemini full moon). Many individuals and groups in all parts of the world participate in these Festivals to achieve a global shift in the consciousness of mankind.

When are these “Festivals” in 2012?

Easter Festival (Aries full moon – April 6, 2012 2:20 pm EST – 7:20 pm GMT)

Wesak Festival (Taurus full moon -May 5, 2012 10:36 pm EST/11:36 pm DST -May 6, 3:36 am GMT)

The Christ’s Festival /World Invocation Day (Gemini full moon – June 4, 2012 6:13 am EST/7:13 am DST – 11:13 pm GMT)

However, we should not neglect the purpose and effect of each full moon period throughout the year. Meditation during the nine lesser Festivals infuses the “divine attributes” into personal and global human consciousness, while the three major Festivals establish the “divine aspects.” According to ‘The Tibetan’ channeled via Alice Bailey, the aspects are well known in terms of their basic energy qualities reflecting the underlying trinity of the God-head; will or purpose, love/wisdom, and light or intelligent activity. The divine attributes are based on: harmony through conflict, concrete science, idealism and devotion, and order and organization. These qualities are just as divine in their potential perfection as the three major aspects; all twelve Festival opportunities can be used to stimulate the evolutionary spiritual growth of all kingdoms in nature.

“He who faces the light and stands within its radiance is blinded to the issues of the world of men; he passes on the Lighted Way to the great Centre of Absorption. But he who feels the urge to pass that way, yet loves his brother on the darkened path, revolves upon the pedestal of light and turns the other way.

He faces toward the dark, and then the seven points of light within himself transmit the outward streaming light, and lo! the face of those upon the darkened way receives that light. For them the way is not so dark. Behind the warriors – twixt the light and dark – blazes the light of Hierarchy.” -Alice Bailey, Discipleship in the New Age, Vol. II

These twelve Festivals at the time of the full moon each month are used increasingly by people “on the spiritual path” as a means of service through meditation. Meditation opens a channel (or inter-dimensional portal) in consciousness through which energies are invoked, received and consciously directed. Energy qualified by the nature and influence of each full moon period, flows towards us on the tide of life from our solar center, the Sun. When such work is done in group meditation at the full moon Festivals (i.e., when the moon is “full” to our vision), the receptive path of energy communication is wide open, clear and unimpeded.

In 2012 the Wesak Full Moon occurs May 4-7 (exact 11:35 pm DST May 5). The Buddha is said to have been born, achieved enlightenment and left earthly incarnation under the Wesak (Sun in Taurus) Full Moon. Followers of this tradition also believe the Buddha returns each year for 8 minutes at the time of this Full Moon. Those who wish can attend the Wesak celebration in meditation to receive revelations from the Buddha. Each Full Moon, however, is a time for revelation and opportunity for healing body, mind and soul. Meditation, deep breathing, music and dance help open to receive. Spiritual energies flow strongly for 3 days following the Full Moon. Revelations come in dreams, chance encounters and flashes of inspiration.

“Last night the moon came dropping its clothes in the street.
I took it as a sign to start singing, falling up into the bowl of sky.”- Rumi

As more people take up the discipline of the full moon work, we can all collectively bring about real changes in the world. The power of group intention and invocation, working with selflessness for the good of the planet as a whole, is exceedingly strong. This is the premise behind much of the work of Heartmath and the Institute of Noetic Sciences.

Won’t you join us?

May your meditations bring you much clarity!

The Shift Doctors (Tracy Latz, M.D. & Marion Ross, Ph.D.)

*****The Shift Doctors (Tracy Latz, M.D. & Marion Ross, Ph.D.) are available for keynote talks, classes, events or for seminars (1/2 day or up to 2 day) on personal transformation, team-building, motivation, anger management, intuitive development, or collaboration for private groups, conferences, corporations or corporate events. Contact them at info@shiftyourlife.com or find out more about them at www.shiftyourlife.com

The Shift Doctors (Tracy Latz, M.D. & Marion Ross, Ph.D.) are  thrilled once again to have our good friend and guest blogger Steve Nelson return to share his wisdom. Steve is an astrologer who follows a Jungian mythological tradition. He was raised by a part Cherokee shaman Aunt Maude who learned much of her lore from Molly Runningwolf, the mother of Amanita Sequoyah, the last Cherokee medicine man officially recognized by the Eastern Tribe. Steve’s Indian name is Steven Red Wolf, his lineage is of the wolf clan, one of the 7 tribal groups of the Cherokee. Steve follows many of the Cherokee traditions especially as these relate to celebrations, the use of ritual fire and star lore. For more information about Steve Nelson see www.GaiaAstrology.com

This merry month of May brings many blessings. Psychic shadows come before the May Muse Gate to be transformed. As shadow patterns are broken, energy is set free for new creation. Celebration is key to transformation. Beltane festivities culminate on May 5, the mid-Taurus solar gate when the Sun spirit Bel unites with the Earth Spirit. The midpoint of each season focuses energy for the next. Creative ideas and dreams fertilized at Beltane bear fruit through the Summer to be. This year May 5th is also Wesak, the Sun in Taurus Full Moon. Wesak celebrates the birth, enlightenment and annual return of the Buddha. It marks the peak of the 2-month “higher interlude” or Springtide, the most creative period of the year.

Venus continues Out of Bounds above the zodiac all month working her magic from on high. In this evening star phase of her cycle, Venus is empowered to clear from the world all that stands in the way of natural grace and divine order, prosperity and Love.

The Gemini solar eclipse on May 20 releases the magic of the Pleiades to liberate the world. The global liberation begun in the Arab Spring and continuing through the Occupy Movement will bring dramatic results in the 10 months that follow this solar eclipse. This Saros cycle 14 eclipse favors revolutionary new ideas with commercial success. Breakthroughs in science and communications will transform the global economic and cultural order.

Shavuot/Pentecost Sunday, May 27 brings enlightenment to all who ascend a mountain to receive the new fire of inspiration. Understanding grows until we come to know and live our destined way to create a New World.

Walpurgis Night/ May Day Gate of Inspiration, Apr 30 – May 1

On May Eve, women dance with bells on their ankles and beat pots with wooden spoons to chase out shades of the old world. Such practices clear the way for the new world to be. May Day brings new light and revolutionary fervor to realize our dreams. In colonial America the Maypole became the Liberty Tree. Dancing clockwise around a pole or tree sets the soul free to realize destiny. A Muse Gate opens every 40 days, 9 each year. Whatever blocks creative flow comes before the Gate to be let go. This is a time to dissolve body tensions that hold outmoded ways of thinking and feeling. Breathe deeply, move freely, dance! Shed the old, open anew. Happy May Day! See our previous post on Gates of Inspiration!

Wesak Full Moon, May 4-7 (exact 11:35 pm edt May 5) – Illuminate

The Buddha is said to have been born, achieved enlightenment and left earthly incarnation under the Wesak (Sun in Taurus) Full Moon. Followers of this tradition also believe the Buddha returns each year for 8 minutes at the time of this Full Moon. Those who wish can attend the Wesak celebration in meditation to receive revelations from the Buddha. Each Full Moon is a time for revelation and opportunity for healing body, mind and soul. Meditation, deep breathing, music and dance help open to receive. Spiritual energies flow strongly for 3 days following the Full Moon. Revelations come in dreams, chance encounters and flashes of inspiration. Stay tuned.

Beltane Cross-Quarter Day / Cinqo de Mayo, May 5 – Celebrate!

The Beltane celebration culminates May 5 when bonfires light the night. Beltane fires fix the vital spirit in earth and stone fertilizing natural growth. People and animals pass three times between twin fires (2 candles will do) to clear away astral shadows so the Sun spirit Bel can enter into the fullness of Spring. “This was the time of fruitfulness, and time to plant. During Beltane (May 1-5) the Druids performed magical rites to encourage the growth of cattle and crops, and honored Belinus, their Sun god. Dancing was done in Sunwise direction, and torches were carried around the fields following the Sun’s path.” – Of Ritual Fire and Feasting, Victoria Williams

3rd Quarter Moon, May 12-13 (exact 5:47 pm 5/13) – Realize Dreams

This Moon cuts away all that distracts from putting dreams into action.  The 3rd Quarter integrates new ideas into creative expression; it’s time to follow our bliss and do what feels good in concert with the whole.

Mother’s Day, May 13 – Honor the Divine Source of Life

May is the month of Maia/Mary, the World Mother. Today we honor and celebrate our mother, mothers of the world, and the mother within us all.

Balsamic Moon, May 15-18 – Make a Wish!

This is the Wishing Moon, the best time to put wishes on the air. It is also called the Witches Moon, a time to bring to mind those who need healing.

Feeling invokes healing, the deeper we feel, the deeper we heal. The deeper we feel, the more Moon magic is invoked for this new cycle. Shadows that appear before the New Moon can be cleared through deep breathing with attention to the light within. See the wee waning Moon rising before the Sun.

Dark of Moon/New Moon/Solar Eclipse, May 19-21 – Go Within

The day before the New Moon until Sunset a day after is ideal for psychic and physical house clearing to make way for the new cycle; outer activity is favored when the crescent appears. This New Moon/Solar Eclipse (exact 7:47 pm edt 5/20) is a cosmic spring that flows freely as we slow down. This is when mystics descend to drink from the magic well within. An eclipse is Mother Nature’s most powerful editing tool. When an eclipse occurs above, outmoded patterns get eclipsed here below. This eclipse begins a month of transformation with some major breakdowns and many wonderful breakthroughs. As old patterns break, new worlds emerge.

Crescent New Moon, May 22-26 – Sow New Seeds

This Moon tide energizes whatever it touches; it is the time to bring forward what we wish to be realized. Farmers plant seeds after the crescent appears (Sunset May 21) when seeds become fertile on every level. New beginnings are favored. Seeds sown in our inner garden will flourish through this lunar cycle. Moon magic is strongest from Sunset to Moonset when the New Moon shines through the 7th House. Meditation opens doorways, wishes take wing and prayers bring blessings through the lunar cycle.

1st Quarter Moon, May 27-29 (exact 4:16 pm edt 5/28) – Choose

This Moon is like a scythe cutting across the sky; it’s time to cut free the trappings of the past and affirm our purpose moving forward. Sacred to the Druids, this lunar phase is pivotal in the cycle of creation. Choices made now are likely to be the right ones. Breathing deeply through the light of the crown frees energy flow up and down to power our dreams to be realized.

Bright Blessings to you on your New Creations this Springtime!

Steve Nelson, Mythic Astrologer with The Shift Doctors (Tracy Latz, M.D. & Marion Ross, Ph.D.)

***Steve Nelson is a professional astrologer who uses Tarot, name analysis, and traditional astrology to help clients understand personal myths and realize natural abilities. He can be reached at www.gaiaastrology.com

*****The Shift Doctors (Tracy Latz, M.D. & Marion Ross, Ph.D.) are available for keynote talks, classes, events or for seminars (1/2 day or up to 2 day) on personal transformation, team-building, motivation, anger management, intuitive development, or collaboration for private groups, conferences, corporations or corporate events. Contact them at info@shiftyourlife.com or find out more about them at www.shiftyourlife.com

The Shift Doctors (Marion Ross, Ph.D. and Tracy Latz, M.D.) have taught classes and seminars in personal transformation since 2002. They have come together to assist people with transforming anger/resentment, guilt/shame, disappointment/heartache, stress, fear/anxiety, lack of self-love, & grief/loss, and then reacquaint people with their True Essence (who they really are)- which is essential to understanding what holds each of us back and causes us to feel stuck in our lives, circumstances, relationships and career paths. They also teach courses in Reiki, Color and Sound Healing, Energy Psychology, Energy Medicine, Meditation and other Metaphysical Topics.

How To Find Your Passion/ Purpose

Wouldn’t you just love to jump out of bed every morning filled with fire and enthusiasm for something? Perhaps you have been searching for that something for years or have just settled for a more mundane life out of not knowing any better way. Perhaps you feel that you have too many responsibilities to change course, or that you don’t deserve anything greater or have a fear of the unknown. Finding & Following your passion can be a difficult journey but consider it a journey not an instant revelation

Consider taking an expedition into your past for starters. What life plan got you to where you are now? Did you even consciously have a plan? Were you driven by the desire to be a dad, mom, nurse, doctor, plumber, Indian chief, accountant because it was lucrative or ‘Cool’, to impress your family or friends, perhaps to pay the bills or was it something you really wanted to do?  Did you choose a life of hiding your talents and brains so people wouldn’t expect too much of you? Were you afraid of success or did you have a fear of success or failure? What choices did you make that led you to your current job, personal /family situation, hobbies, what you do in your downtime, etc..  Take some time to evaluate how you got where you are now so you can understand how you have been creating your life.

Remember what Einstein said:  “We can’t solve problems by using the same kind of thinking we used when we created them.” To discover your passion you have to expand the way you think, recognize what you wish to eliminate or change in your life and have the motivation to do it. Your current thought process might have limited your options, to provide you with a certain level of security, comfort, survival and maybe has given you a comfortable enough box to nest in which you call “my life”.

“Choose a job you love, and you will never have to work a day in your life.” – Confucius

If you want to discover your true purpose in life, you must first rid your mind of all the parental and societal expectations that have filled your awareness since childhood. Sort out what is significant for you.

1. Recognize your gifts and abilities.

Teaching, coaching, selling, painting, listening?

Figure out what are you good at and what you enjoy doing.

2. Define Your Interests!

What makes your heart sing? What have been your hobbies since childhood? Do they give you a hint as to what lights your fire? What have you been afraid to pursue because of money or other barriers that you always wanted to do?  What do you love to research on the internet ? What section of the book store do you hang out in & which magazines do you enjoy reading? What inspires you? Bring all of this to mind and write it down and then refine the list after you review it in a few days.

3. What have you fantasized about doing that seemed too crazy to pursue?

Did you ever have a dream that you never realized such as being a writer, journalist, painter, which internal self-doubt or fear prevented you from pursuing?

Take another look at your life dreams! It is never to late to create your self anew. If you have an inhibiting belief that limits you from moving forward in your life, we have tools to assist you with removing the obstacles that cause a sense of being ‘stuck’ in our book “SHIFT: 12 Keys to Shift Your Life” . The tools and meditations that we offer can help get you centered and silence the internal ego fear-based chatter in your mind so that you can connect with the  wisdom of the ‘inner still small voice’ of your True Essence. Your True Essence knows your gifts, your Purpose, and how you may best shine your Light on your path in this world.

Get centered everyday  and  access the wisdom of your heart!

Loads of Light to you on your journey

The Shift Doctors (Marion Ross, Ph.D. & Tracy Latz, M.D.)

*****The Shift Doctors (Tracy Latz, M.D. & Marion Ross, Ph.D.) are available for keynote talks, classes, events or for seminars (1/2 day or up to 2 day) on personal transformation, team-building, motivation, anger management, intuitive development, or collaboration for private groups, conferences, corporations or corporate events. Contact them at info@shiftyourlife.com or find out more about them at www.shiftyourlife.com

This article is from Robert Peng’s latest newsletter. Robert is an extraordinary Qigong Master and the author of the book “Qigong Master: My Life and Secret Teachings”, which we have reviewed on this website and highly recommend, as well as his CD’s and DVD’s. We believe so much in his heartfelt teachings that we have recently just completed his intensive 3 month 12 Cycle Yang Qigong course.We have also been doing Seasonal Empowerments for a year and it has strengthened our spines, helped increase flexibility and is a wonderful exercise to connect with the Cosmos.  Sign up for Robert’s newsletter and receive free video instruction for Jieqi Qigong and find out about his qigong courses, books, and other teaching material at: www.robertpeng.com . The following is directly from Robert Peng’s most recent newsletter and is in his own words:

On Thursday, April 19th, the sixth phase of the Chinese seasonal calendar begins. This phase, Grain Rain (Guyu Jieqi), starts at 12:12 PM EDT as the sun crosses 30° Longitude (0° Taurus). Please join the thousands of practitioners worldwide who will usher this event by practicing the Grain Rain Empowerment.

The Meaning Of Seasonal Empowerment

GRAIN RAIN (GUYU JIEQI)

The theme of springtime is new possibilities and the excitement they generate, and in this edition of the newsletter we will explore the meaning of Grain Rain, the final stage of spring. First we consider how nature transforms during Grain Rain and then we explore how you can leverage the qualities emerging in nature at this time to align with the movement of life.
If you think of the cosmos as an oven and the earth as a pie, then Grain Rain represents the the time of the year when the earth’s crust, the ground, gets warmer. Over the next fifteen days, as the temperature continues to rise, the surface of the earth will become noticeably toastier. If you walk barefoot before Grain Rain the ground still feels nippy. After Grain Rain the ground feels comfortable.
As the surface temperature of the earth rises so does the surface temperature of the oceans. During Grain Rain, water begins to evaporate and as a result humidity and rainfall increase. The distinctive characteristic of Grain Rain is the warming and moistening of the earth which primes the ground for planting.
Now, let’s explore how you can synchronize your daily activities with the qualities of Grain Rain. We use an expression like “He’s standing on shaky ground,” to indicate a person in a situation that lacks certainty, confidence, and practicality. And conversely, we use an expression like “She’s standing on solid ground” to indicate a person in a situation that is workable, realistic, and practical. “Ground” is a metaphor for confidence. Which inspires more self-assurance: thin ice, quicksand, or concrete? Which ground you rather stand on?
Grain Rain is the time when you are encouraged to make your “ground” more solid, comfortable, and inviting. In practical terms this means taking the kinds of actions that lead to greater stability, security, and peace of mind. Here are three affirmations to guide you during the upcoming seasonal phase: I am realistic, I am sensible, I am pragmatic.
You have conceived, nurtured, and empowered a springtime vision over the past few months. Now is the time to ground your vision by taking practical steps to make it real. Do this and you’ll be ready to move into the first phase of summer with both feet planted on solid ground.
I encourage you to practice the Grain Rain Empowerment on Thursday, April 19th, between 12:12 PM – 2:12 PM EDT. ((Remember to adjust for the time difference if you live in another time zone). Doing this practice will raise your energy level and help you achieve more concrete results. On Friday May 4th, at 10:19 PM EDT a new seasonal phase begins, Start of Summer. On that date a new energetic pattern will orient the flow of nature. Between now and then, grow confidence under your feet.

Click Here for the Practice Guidelines for the Empowerment.

Watch the Video!

Enjoy Your practice!

Good Qi,

Robert Peng with (Tracy Latz, M.D. & Marion Ross, Ph.D.)

The Shift Doctors give Robert Peng‘s book “Qigong Master: My Life and Secret Teachings” two thumbs up!! It is a must-read for any serious metaphysical student or student of qigong… and you will learn how to change the taste of your favorite beverage in the process!! See Robert’s full newsletter and details of how to perform the empowerment at: http://robertpeng.com/jieqi/Grain_Rain.html

**Find out more about Robert Peng, his workshops and his book and accompanying CD’s and DVDs as well as sign up for his newsletter at: http://robertpeng.com.

**Check out The Shift Doctors’ books, videos & CDs at the Shift Your Life Site http://www.shiftyourlife.com/shift-store/

**The Shift Doctors are available for keynote talks, classes, events or for seminars (1/2 day or up to 2 day) on personal transformation, team-building, motivation, anger management, intuitive development, or collaboration for private groups, conferences, corporations or corporate events. Contact them at info@shiftyourlife.com or find out more about them at www.shiftyourlife.com

To experience a vibrational healing with a monochord table is a truly magical and cosmic experience. It not only lifts one to the level of the “Music of the Spheres” it can assist in raising consciousness as well as relaxing and aligning the body.

Overtones, known also as harmonics were first discovered in the West over 2600 years ago by Pythagoras. This well known Greek philosopher, mathematician and musician spent years studying sound and vibration. His study of ratios on the monochord led philosophers to believe that these ratios also governed the movement of planets and other cosmic elements. Not only did this provide a link between the world of physical experience and numerical relationships, giving birth to mathematical physics, it explained that all sounds were composed of multiple vibrations or frequencies, not just one, as our ears generally perceive.

In addition, this raised music to one of the highest intellectual pursuits. Furthermore, since the “perfection of sounds” could now be revealed by numbers, all simple numeric ratios could be visualized as sounds. Kepler’s “harmony of the spheres” is based on this, as well as harmonically resounding architecture.

Enjoy your journey!

The Shift Doctors

*****The Shift Doctors (Tracy Latz, M.D. & Marion Ross, Ph.D.) are available for keynote talks, classes, events or for seminars (1/2 day or up to 2 day) on personal transformation, team-building, motivation, anger management, intuitive development, or collaboration for private groups, conferences, corporations or corporate events. Contact them at info@shiftyourlife.com or find out more about them at www.shiftyourlife.com

  The Shift Doctors (Tracy Latz, M.D. & Marion Ross, Ph.D.) are thrilled to share this excellent article from Joe Mercola. Dr. Mercola is the founder of the world’s most visited natural health web site, Mercola.com

The Hidden Food in Your Yard – You May Walk By It Every Day By Dr. Mercola

A major part of achieving optimal health is living in partnership with nature. Growing your own food is a great way to rekindle this connection with nature. But have you thought about eating plants that grow wild—perhaps in your own backyard? Some “weeds” can be delicious if prepared properly, and they are absolutely free.

In an article published earlier this summer, Live Science collected some easy-to-identify healthful weeds, including:

• Dandelion: The entire plant is edible, and the leaves contain vitamins A, C and K, along with calcium, iron, manganese, and potassium.
• Purslane: Purslane tops the list of plants with omega-3 fats.
• Lamb’s-quarters: Lamb’s-quarters are like spinach, except healthier, tastier and easier to grow.
• Plantain: Not the better-known banana-like plant with the same name.  It has a nutritional profile similar to dandelion.
• Stinging Nettles: If you handle them so that you don’t get a painful rash from the tiny, acid-filled needles, these are delicious and nutritious cooked or prepared as a tea.

This is of course how our ancestors ate. They hunted and gathered, and ALL of it was wild. And by all accounts, they were far healthier than we are.

Of course, like anything else, identification and use of wild plants requires spending some time educating yourself, lest you eat something inedible or even poisonous. But with some attention to learning what to look for, you can avail yourself of some of the most highly nutritious, health-promoting plants for FREE—and have a lot of fun doing it. With the availability of the Internet, in addition to a number of excellent printed books and even wild-food foraging classes, this information is now easy to access.

So, grab your favorite weeding tool and a basket, and step outside to see what little gems you can find in your own backyard!

Major Groupings of Wild Edible Plants

Plants are classified into groups based on their botanical family, and there are hundreds of families within the plant kingdom. For the purpose of this article, we will focus on a few select members of the following five families:

Purslane family (Portulacaceae), includes miner’s lettuce, red maids, rose moss and purslane    Sunflower family (Asteraceae), includes dandelions, daisies, and thistle (largest plant family with more than 22,000 species)    Goosefoot family (Chenopodiaceae), includes spinach, Swiss chard, beets, quinoa, and lamb’s quarter
Plantain family (Plantaginaceae), includes common plantain, water plantain, and Northern plantain    Nettle family (Urticaceae), includes stinging nettle, wood nettle, and clearweed

Purslane

First, let’s take a look at the rock star of wild edibles: purslane—from the Purslane family, of course. Purslane, or Portulaca oleracea (also called duckweed, fatweed, pigweed, pusley, verdolaga, ma chi xian in Chinese, munyeroo, or wild portulaca) is the omega-3 powerhouse of the vegetation kingdom, and there’s a high probability it’s growing in your yard right now. According to Mother Earth News, it’s the most reported “weed” species in the world.

Purslane looks very much like a miniature jade plant, with fleshy succulent leaves and reddish stems. The stems grow flat to the ground and radiate outward from a single taproot, sometimes forming large, flat circular mats up to 16 inches across. In about mid-July, purslane develops tiny yellow flowers about one quarter inch in diameter. Seeds of purslane are extremely tough, some remaining viable in the soil for 40 years. A single purslane plant can produce up to 200,000 seeds! And purslane can grow in almost anything, from fertile garden loam to the most arid desert soil, and even in your rock driveway.

Be careful not to confuse purslane with spurge, because they can look similar, and spurge will make you sick. This video shows you how to tell them apart. In the plant kingdom, similar appearing plants often grow next to each other—and often one is poisonous! Purslane has a stellar omega-3 fatty acid profile, compared to other vegetables. As you can see from the chart below, purslane beats all of the other veggies for omega-3s.

Omega-3 Levels in Common Foods:

In addition to its bounty of omega-3 fatty acids, purslane has other nutritional benefits:

• SIX times more vitamin E than spinach

• SEVEN times more beta carotene than carrots, providing 1320 IU/100g of vitamin A (44 percent of the RDA), which is one of the highest among green leafy vegetables

• 25 mg of vitamin C per cup (20 percent of the RDA)

• Rich in magnesium, calcium, iron, riboflavin, potassium, phosphorous and manganese

Purslane is reportedly beneficial if you have urinary or digestive problems, and has antifungal and antimicrobial effects. It has also been found useful for skin conditions such as acne, psoriasis, and sunburn. Some people compare purslane’s taste to spinach or watercress, with a “crunchy lemony” flavor. Look for tender young leaves and stems, which are good in salads or sandwiches. Purslane is also rich in pectin, so it can be used to thicken soups and stews. According to Weston A. Price Foundation, the ancient Greeks made a bread flour from Purslane seeds and pickled its fleshy stems; the Mexicans enjoy it with eggs and pork, and the Chinese toss it with noodles.

If you need a little culinary advice, there are quite a few purslane recipes out there—check out Prairieland CSA, Weston A. Price, Sunset Part CSA, and Epicurious.

Dandelion

You are probably already familiar with dandelions. There isn’t a yard in America that hasn’t sprouted a dandelion or two, usually greeted with vitriol by gardeners everywhere. But, in the words of The Daily Green, “If you can’t beat ‘em, eat ‘em!”

Every part of the dandelion is edible and full of nutrition. Dandelion, or Taraxacum officinale, is part of the Sunflower Family (Asteraceae). It also goes by other common names, including priest’s crown, Irish daisy, monk’s head, blowball and lion’s tooth. Dandelions have antioxidant properties and contain bitter crystalline compounds called Taraxacin and Taracerin, along with inulin and levulin, compounds thought to explain some of its therapeutic properties.Dandelions offer you a wealth of nutrition!

Dandelions contain:

• One of the richest sources of beta carotene of all herbs (10161 IU per 100g, which is 338 percent of the RDA)
• Numerous flavonoids, including FOUR times the beta carotene of broccoli; also lutein, cryptoxanthin and zeaxanthin
• Possibly the HIGHEST herbal source of vitamin K 1, providing 650 percent of the RDA
• Vitamins, including folic acid, riboflavin, pyroxidine, niacin, and vitamins E and C 
• Great source of minerals, including magnesium, calcium, potassium, manganese, and iron
• Leaves rich in dietary fiber, as well as a good laxative

Dandelions are found abundantly in fields, lawns and meadows. They have a long, stout taproot from which long, jagged dark green leaves radiate. The yellow flower rises straight up from the root, which matures into the fluffy white puffball you remember blowing away as a child. All parts of the plant exude a milky white “latex” fluid, if broken. The root is filled with a somewhat “yam-like” white pulp and can be harvested in summer for medicinal purposes. The Japanese actually use the root in cooking.

Dandelion leaves can be used in salads, soups, juiced, cooked the same way as spinach, or dried (with flowers) to make dandelion tea. The root can be dried and roasted and used as a coffee substitute, and the flowers can be used to make dandelion wine.

Dandelions are known for the following therapeutic properties:

• Laxative and diuretic; useful for premenstrual bloating and edema
• Normalizing blood sugar and cholesterol (dandelion root)
• Tonic; appetite stimulant and a good general stomach remedy
• Liver cleanser; remedy for liver and gall bladder problems
• Agent for treating burns and stings (inside surface of flower stems)
• Dandelions also have antiviral effects so may be useful in combating herpes and AIDS.

For more information on the nutritional and medicinal properties of dandelions, go to this article by Leaf Lady. Be careful not to confuse dandelion plants with Hawksbeard, which can look very similar. Hawksbeard won’t kill you, but it certainly doesn’t offer the great nutritional benefits of dandelion. Here is a video showing how to tell them apart.

Lamb’s Quarter

The third weed-gem is called Lamb’s quarter (or Chenopodium album), also called goosefoot, wild spinach, pigsweed or fat-hen. Lamb’s quarter is a European relative of spinach and beets. It can be found along roadsides, in overgrown fields, on vacant lots, in disturbed soil, and is probably growing in your own backyard. The plants get to be quite tall, reaching up to 6 feet or even taller. But after flowering, they are usually found lying down if not supported by neighboring plants.

Lamb’s quarter has diamond shaped leaves with shallow “teeth” and a telltale white, waxy powder on the undersides of its leaves, which makes identification relatively easy. This powdery substance gives it a dusty appearance at a distance, which is why lamb’s quarter is sometimes called “white goosefoot.”

Lamb’s quarter contains:

• A whopping 11,600 IU of beta carotene per half cup (compared to 6500mg for Swiss chard, and 8100mg for spinach)
• 300mg calcium per half cup (compared to 88mg for Swiss chard, and 93mg for spinach)
• More than 4 percent protein

Lamb’s quarter is also rich in vitamin C, riboflavin, folate, magnesium, potassium, vitamin E, B6 and thiamine. Wild spinach is much more nutrient rich than its cultivated cousin and tastes very similar. You can prepare lamb’s quarter in the same ways as you fix regular spinach. Make sure your specimen is CLEAN because lamb’s quarter is a “purifier herb” that pulls pollutants out of the soil, concentrating them in the leaves.

According to Wildman Steve Brill, lamb’s quarter, which is odorless, looks much like a mildly poisonous plant called epazote, which smells resinous—so become familiar with both so you don’t confuse the two. Here is Steve’s video tutorial on lamb’s quarter, with lots of visuals to help you learn to identify it.

Plantain

Plantains, or Plantago major, have a family all their own—the Plantain family (Plantaginaceae). It goes by many names, including common plantain, broadleaf plantain, ripple grass, waybread, snakeweed, Cuckoo’s bread, Englishman’s foot and White Man’s foot, because it was said to grow wherever your feet touch the ground. By the way, this is not at all related to the banana-like fruit called “plantain,” which is part of the Banana family (Musaceae).

This cool season perennial herb loves damp, infertile soil and fertile lawns, and has broad oval leaves (up to 10 inches long) with fibrous roots that spread out in a rosette. The plants produce numerous, small flowers along the ends of a long stalk, between 8 and 20 inches tall.

The young leaves of plantains are edible raw or cooked and are rich in vitamin B1 and riboflavin. This herb has a long history of medicinal use, dating back to ancient times. It truly seems to be a panacea for everything, as the list of its uses is extensive. One American Indian name for plantain translates as “life medicine,” which says it all.

Part of plantain’s nutritional power comes from a remarkable glycoside called Aucubin, which is reported in the Journal of Toxicology to be a potent anti-toxin. In fact, this “weed” is full of effective agents, including ascorbic acid, apigenin (a phytonutrient with strong antioxidant properties), benzoic acid, oleanolic acid, and salicylic acid, among others, which give the plant a wide range of uses as an antiseptic, poison antidote, anti-inflammatory, antitussive, diuretic, hemostatic, and even a heart remedy.

There is medical evidence that plantain can help with a variety of health problems, including:

• Asthma, coughing, sinusitis, bronchitis tuberculosis and emphysema
• Bladder problems, cystitis
• Fever
• Hypertension
• Rheumatism
• Blood sugar control
• Diarrhea, dysentery, gastritis, peptic ulcer, Irritable bowel syndrome (IBS), hemorrhoids and constipation
• Allergies and hay fever
• Providing a natural aversion to tobacco
• Stopping bleeding
• Skin inflammation, wounds, stings, and malignant ulcers
• Rattlesnake bites

Stinging Nettles

Last but not least is the wickedly fascinating stinging nettle, a member of the Nettle family, Urtica dioica. This nettle’s nasty sting is well concealed behind its beautiful lacey leaves, which can shoot little poison darts into you if you aren’t paying attention. The leaves look a great deal like mint… but they certainly don’t behave like it!

The nettle’s sting comes from tiny hollow hairs on its stems and on the underside of its leaves. Inside these hairs is a mixture of chemicals, including histamine, acetylcholine, serotonin, and formic acid. Whey you touch the hairs, they break, exposing sharp points that inject your skin with the toxin. Ouch!

The sting of the stinging nettle is a pretty good way to positively identify it. But there is another stinging plant, the Cnidoscolus stimulosus (or spurge nettle, which isn’t actually part of the Nettle family) that you could confuse it with. Spurge nettle has palm shaped or hand shaped leaves, as contrasted to the stinging nettle’s hock shaped or lance shaped leaves. You can learn more about stinging nettle in this short video tutorial by Green Deane.

David Wolfe shows you how to pick stinging nettles without getting stung in this video. If you do get stung, applying a paste of baking soda and water is said to effectively soothe local pain and inflammation.

Nettles are high in iron, potassium, manganese, calcium and vitamins A, C, D and K. Each cup of nettles supplies you with a whopping 1,790 IU of vitamin A, which is three days’ RDA. The parts of the nettle most commonly consumed are the leaves and roots, as the stems are quite tough on a mature plant.

Stinging nettle has the following medicinal uses:

• Treating anemia and fatigue, due to its high iron and chlorophyll content
• Relief of arthritis, joint pain, and gout (internally and externally), by promoting elimination of uric acid from your joints
• Nettle root is reported to be helpful for enlarged prostate (Benign Prostate Hyperplasia, or BPH)
• As a styptic (an arrestor of local bleeding)
• Urinary tract infections
• Breaking down urinary stones
• Relief from hay fever and seasonal allergies
• Treatment for hives, rashes, and other skin irritations (especially reactions to shellfish) by virtue of its antihistamine properties
• Diuretic
• Stinging nettle is even rumored to be an aphrodisiac

Most people cook stinging nettles because cooking neutralizes the sting, although there are some uber-hard core foodies who eat them raw. Soaking them also reportedly helps remove the stinging chemicals, so do that first if you want to try them in a salad. For some great sounding nettle recipes, see this article by HonestFood.net.

There are certainly more good wild edibles out there. Prickly lettuce, chickweed, sow thistle, red clover, burdock, cattails, Japanese knotweed, and sheep sorrel all deserve attention but are beyond the scope of one article. As you expand your wild palate, you can gradually learn about some of the other wild edibles just waiting for your discovery.

Safety Tips for the Frolicking Forager

Before foraging out your new wild-edible adventure, there are some precautions to take, since not all wild plants are safe to eat.

You should never eat a plant unless you are entirely sure it is not poisonous.
According to raw food and wild plant expert Sergei Boutenko: “When you harvest wild plants for food, there is a high guarantee that edible plants will be sharing their living space with non-edibles. These non-edibles may range in toxicity from mild to extreme. If you are anything like me, then you too prefer to avoid any form of poisoning whether it is mild or severe. For this reason it is a good idea to first learn how to positively identify wild plants and then exercise caution when gathering them for food.”

Fortunately, there are far more edible plants than poisonous ones. Boutenko claims there are thousands of safe, edible plants growing wild in North America, but there are only 150 listed by the American Association of Poison Control as poisonous. Of those 150, only about 50 are considered to be “highly poisonous” (i.e., can be fatal), and the rest are classified as “mildly poisonous,” which means they may cause nausea, diarrhea, or headache, but probably not kill you.

Boutenko argues that it isn’t too difficult to learn what you need to know to avoid the 50 dangerous plants, and once you’re familiar with those, your chances of getting poisoned are almost nil. Some communities even offer classes that teach you how to identify safe, edible plants, so you might want to investigate the possibility of a “foraging,” “grazing” or “wildcrafting” workshop in your area. And purchasing a good field guide will get you off to a good start.

Some of the most common poisonous plants you will need to familiarize yourself with are listed below. Please understand, this is NOT a comprehensive list, but just a sampling.

• Hyacinth, Narcissus, Daffodil
• Oleander
• Rosary Pea, Castor Bean
• Monkshood
• Foxglove
• Daphne
• Yew
• Moonseed
• Mistletoe
•  Water Hemlock and Poison Hemlock
• Nightshade
• Jimson Weed (Thorn Apple)

According to Wilderness Survival, if you see a wild plant you can’t identify, the characteristics that you should regard as “red flags” for toxicity include:

• Milky or discolored sap
• Beans, bulbs, or seeds in pods
• Bitter or soapy taste
• Spines, fine hairs or thorns
• Dill, carrot, parsnip, or parsley like foliage
• “Almond” scent in woody parts or leaves
• Grain heads with pink, purple, or black spurs
• Three-leaved growth pattern

The fact that a plant has some of these characteristics doesn’t necessarily mean it’s poisonous, but if you can’t positively identify it, you’re better off not adding it to your salad. And remember to NEVER harvest plants that have been exposed to herbicides or pesticides, road salt, asphalt runoff, paint or pet waste. Here is one helpful site that includes pictures of poisonous look-alikes, side by side with the edibles.

One last word of caution: Introduce new wild foods to your body gradually.

Even a high-quality, nutritious wild plant or herb can cause an unexpected reaction in some people. Try them one at a time and in SMALL amounts to see how your body is going to react. If you feel good, have at it! But don’t consume a big bowl of wild greens all at once that you’ve never eaten before, because if you DO have a bad reaction to one of them, you won’t know WHICH one.

Additional Resources:
Edible wild plant expert John Kallas recommends that, if you want to begin a foraging lifestyle, you should have a “starting library” that consists of the following:

Three books about edible wild plants
Three books about plant identification
Three books about poisonous plants
He also makes suggestions about what books to choose in each category.

The following are a few book suggestions, to get you started:
Edible Wild Plants – Wild Foods from Dirt to Plate Volume 1 by John Kallas
The Forager’s Harvest: A Guide to Identifying, Harvesting, and Preparing Edible Wild Plants by Samuel Thayer
Nature’s Garden: A Guide to Identifying, Harvesting, and Preparing Edible Wild Plants by Samuel Thayer
Identifying and Harvesting Edible and Medicinal Plants in Wild (and Not So Wild) Places by Steve Brill
The Wild Table: Seasonal Foraged Food and Recipes by Connie Green and Sarah Scott
If you prefer to learn by video, you might want to take a look at Green Deane’s video series about edible plants. He has 125 videos on YouTube, most of them about foraging.

Lastly, Sergei Boutenko has released an iPhone app called “Wild Edibles” for those of you who want a field guide right inside your smart phone.

Happy foraging!

Dr. Mercola with the Shift Doctors (Tracy Latz M.D., Marion Ross PhD.)

The Shift Doctors (Tracy Latz, M.D. & Marion Ross, Ph.D.) are  thrilled once again to have our good friend and guest blogger Steve Nelson return to share his wisdom. Steve is an astrologer who follows a Jungian mythological tradition. He was raised by a part Cherokee shaman Aunt Maude who learned much of her lore from Molly Runningwolf, the mother of Amanita Sequoyah, the last Cherokee medicine man officially recognized by the Eastern Tribe. Steve’s Indian name is Steven Red Wolf, his lineage is of the wolf clan, one of the 7 tribal groups of the Cherokee. Steve follows many of the Cherokee traditions especially as these relate to celebrations, the use of ritual fire and star lore. For more information about Steve Nelson see www.GaiaAstrology.com

This month everybody comes on stage for the great mythic drama of 2012. All of us have a special role in this new story. Everyone has a unique essence Carl Jung called the “osob” (os-ob). When the osob is brought to awareness, it magnetically attracts all that is needed to realize its creative purpose. In Spring 2012 the astral veil dissolves so all come to realize their true calling. Each who awakens becomes a catalyst for others becoming aware of their own guiding star.

Individual life essence and soul purpose is coded into the pattern of the planets and stars at birth. The nature of each year is coded into the chart of the Spring Equinox when the Sun enters Aries, the first sign of the zodiac. Moon in the 7th House with Jupiter aligned with Mars at the Zodiacal New Year means we are entering the New Age.

In this zodiacal year 3/20/2012-3/20/13 the prophecies of the ages will be realized: all that has been hidden will be revealed, there will be “a New Heaven and New Earth” and the last will be first as innovators take precedence over the status quo. There will also be “war in Heaven and Earth,” a war more psychic than physical as the old world’s shadow comes to light and is dissolved at the dawning of this new age. The more this war is won in the inner realm the less war will be in outer world. How this war is won is the subject of Lord of the Rings, the Harry Potter books and countless other mythic tales.

April is the month of Aphrodite, the Greek goddess of love. Everyone is a fool for love as spring comes to flower and Venus shines brightly in the evening sky. Evening Star Venus is called Venus Hesperus after the Western Isle where the golden apples of Aphrodite grow. The Evening Star is also known as “Venus Cerridwen” in honor of this Queen of Avalon, the Apple Isle. Cerridwen keeps a magic cauldron here that is the original Holy Grail. The dead hero goes into Cerridwen’s cauldron and re-emerges healed and whole and fit for the time. In her Evening Star phase Venus presides over the death, rebirth and healing of the king and the bringing forth of the true king.

“Venus is to the Earth as the soul is to the personality” according to Alice A. Bailey in Esoteric Astrology. Venus represents the Anima Mundi, the soul of the world. Venus rules the thumbs, thumbs up means the soul is in control. Venus rules the Libra decan of Aquarius we’re entering in this shift of the ages. Love rules, the soul controls in this new time. Venus is given power to restore the natural order and she does this by clearing from the world all that stands in the way of love, grace, beauty and higher truth. As old world shadows are dispelled Venus brings good fortune in love, money and the arts: visual, performing, healing and magical arts.

Venus chi is gathered by simply gazing into the light of the Evening Star and breathing deeply. Chi reception may be facilitated by raising left palm toward the Evening Star and holding right palm over the hara chakra just below the navel. Breathe deeply to absorb the subtle energy of Aphrodite.

Venus brings us into the new world as she moves “out of bounds” north above the zodiac from April 2 to June 3. During this time we can get a more full view and clearer perspective about what is occurring now and what can be created new following the New Venus on June 5.

This month before the new Venus cycle begins is the Balsamic wishing phase when we can best feel our needs and invoke their fulfillment through the great creative cycle that begins with the mythic Venus Transit of 2012. The 19-month Venus cycle that follows bridges our way into the new world.

2012 is a Year of the Moon so lunar cycles have more power most especially the Spring Full Moons, July’s Sundance Full Moon and September’s Harvest Moon. The April 6 Shamballa Full Moon begins the 2-month “higher interlude,” the most creative period of the year. This is when the year cycle is seeded and all is set to unfold its magic. This Sun in Aries Full Moon powers our way forward. We begin to live our new story when Mars moves forward on Friday April 13th. All will then instinctively begin to live their unique role for this new time. More consciousness comes with the following Full Moons until we all come to know and live our destined way weaving together a new world.

White Rabbit / April Fool’s Day Apr 1 – Be a Fool for Love

Say “White Rabbit” first thing today for good luck throughout the month. The Magician pulls another rabbit from his hat and this is Eostre’s magic bunny who brings the new World Egg painted with all that will be.  This “Egg” appears in the April 6 Eostre / Easter Full Moon. April Fool’s Day is the original Aphrodite’s Day. April is sacred to Aphrodite, the goddess of love and laughter. Pranks in good humor awaken the light-hearted spirit of Spring – and all become a fool for Love. Happy April Fool!

Mercury Direct / Prometheus, Apr 4 (6:11 am) – Spread the News

Mercury moves forward rising before the Sun as “Mercury Prometheus” bringing new fire to mortals. This begins 3 months of world changing new discoveries, inspired social interchange and successful enterprise. This Aries New Mercury cycle brings a special magic to realize dreams. This is when Gandalf the Grey returns as Gandalf the White. We will have 3 months to bring this new magic down to Earth.

Easter / Passover Full Moon, Apr 4-8 (exact 4/6 3:19 pm) – Illumination

Each Full Moon is a time for revelation and opportunity for healing body, mind and soul. This Full Moon begins the 2-month “higher interlude,” the most powerfully creative time of the year. This Moon is also known as the Shamballa Full Moon because of it’s connection with the celestial city (Tolkien’s White City) and the spiritual will of the world. This is when we can align with our own divine will and purpose. Our knowing of this is now more instinctive and intuitive, it becomes much more conscious with the following Full Moons. The Full Moon is like a pitcher that pours out an illuminating, healing, empowering elixir we raise our cups and breathe in to receive. Meditation, music making, dancing – all can help us open to better receive. Cosmic energies flow for 3 days following Full Moon. Revelations come in dreams, chance encounters and flashes of inspiration. Stay tuned!

Easter Sunday, Apr 8 – Greet the Sun, Find Your Way to the New Day

The Spiritual Sun is reborn in everyone as the Sun rises on this 1st Sunday following the 1st Full Moon after Spring Equinox. Greeting the rising Sun on Eostre Sunday is ancient shamanic tradition. As the vital spirit of Spring awakens within, we become conscious of our unique role in this new cycle  of creation. (For more information on the linking of Spring Equinox, Easter and the Summer Solstice, see our previous post on The Green Man.)

3rd Quarter Moon, Apr 12-14 (exact 6:15 pm 4/13) – Realizing Dreams

This Moon cuts away all that distracts from putting our dreams into action.  The 3rd Quarter integrates new ideas into creative expression; it’s time to follow our bliss and do what feels good in concert with the whole.

Friday the 13th!  – Break Old Patterns and Open to New Luck, New Love

Every Friday is a day of Venus, a day of grace, love and beauty. This is why we say TGIF – Thank God It’s Friday. Some days are luckier than others and many believe Friday the 13th is a very lucky day. Why do some think this way while others believe just the opposite? 13 is the number of the Death card in Tarot which might be thought unlucky except that Death is half the cycle of Life.  Biologists call the de-structuring phase of the natural cycle catabolic and the creation phase anabolic. Growth occurs as old forms die, without death there can be no new life. So why would 13 be unlucky? Perhaps because of attachment to old forms that stand in the way of emerging new life. 13 is key to letting go the old and opening to the new creation. Friday the 13th is special because on this day Lady Venus hooks up with Death (Key 13 in Tarot) to clear from the world all that stands in the way of True Love.

Moon at the Equator North, Apr 17 (7:34 am – 6:08 pm) – Imagine!

Lunar 0 Points are cosmic balance times for creative imagination. Moon at the Equator going North is a time to envision what we wish for the future.

Balsamic Moon, Apr 17-19 – Make a Wish!

This is the Wishing Moon, the best time to put wishes on the air. It is also the Witches Moon, a time to bring to mind those who need healing. Feeling invokes healing, the deeper we feel, the deeper we heal. Needs felt now bring magical response from the new lunar cycle. Shadows before New Moon can be cleared through deep breathing with attention to the light within. See the wee waning Moon rising before the Sun.

Dark of Moon/New Moon, Apr 20-22 – Time to Go Within

The day before New Moon until Sunset a day after is ideal for psychic and physical house cleaning to clear way for the new cycle, outer activity is favored after the crescent appears. The New Moon (exact 3:18 am 4/21) is a cosmic spring that flows freely as we slow down. Nostradamus calls this “the day of Diana, a time for silent rest.” It is when mystics descend to drink from the magic well within.

Earth Day, Apr 22 – Celebrate the New World!

The Earth is alive and becoming aware as we become aware of our global interconnectedness. Mercury with Uranus highlights our interdependence, diversity within unity, liberty and justice for all. We are a new world becoming, uniquely gifted each in our own way and we are one. (This is a perfect day to reconnect to the Earth! )

Crescent New Moon, Apr 22 -27 – Time to Sow

It’s time to bring forward what we wish to be realized. Farmers plant seeds when the crescent appears, seeds are fertile on every level. Moon magic is strongest Sunset to Moonset when the Moon is in the 7th House. Meditation now opens doorways, wishes take wing and prayers bring blessings for this Moon and year. Crescent Moon with Jupiter and Venus brings abundance and love. Whatever we plant in our inner garden grows and flowers for many Moons. All new beginnings are favored.

1st Quarter Moon, Apr 28-30 (exact 5:57 am 4/29) – Time to Choose

This Moon is like a scythe cutting across the sky, it’s time to cut free the trappings of the past and affirm our purpose moving forward. Sacred to the Druids, this lunar phase is pivotal in the cycle of creation. Choices made now are likely to be the right ones. Breathing deeply through the light of the crown frees energy flow up and down to power our dreams to be realized.

May Eve Gate of Inspiration, Apr 29 12:45 pm – May 1 12:45 am

A Muse Gate opens every 40 days, 9 each year. (For more information on Muse Gates see our previous post on “Nine Gates of Inspiration” )Whatever blocks creative flow comes before the Gate to be let go. This is a time to dissolve body tensions that hold outmoded ways of thinking and feeling. Breathe deeply and move freely (yoga, tai chi, dance!) to shed the old and be present to the blessings of the new. Happy May Eve!

Bright Blessings to you on your new creations in April!

Steve Nelson, Mythic Astrologer with The Shift Doctors (Tracy Latz, M.D. & Marion Ross, Ph.D.)

***Steve Nelson is a professional astrologer who uses Tarot, name analysis, and traditional astrology to help clients understand personal myths and realize natural abilities. He can be reached at www.gaiaastrology.com

*****The Shift Doctors (Tracy Latz, M.D. & Marion Ross, Ph.D.) are available for keynote talks, classes, events or for seminars (1/2 day or up to 2 day) on personal transformation, team-building, motivation, anger management, intuitive development, or collaboration for private groups, conferences, corporations or corporate events. Contact them at info@shiftyourlife.com or find out more about them at www.shiftyourlife.com

The Shift Doctors (Tracy Latz, M.D. & Marion Ross, Ph.D.) are thrilled to have our friend and colleague Cal Garrison share her wisdom on metaphysical topics. Cal is a practicing astrologer with 40 years of experience. At present she goes between casting horoscopes, writing books, and working as the personal assistant to Drunvalo and Claudette Melchizedek. Editor in Chief at Drunvalo’s online magazine, ‘The Spirit of Ma’at’, Cal is also a syndicated columnist for the Associated Press. An author with five books to her credit, and another one on the way, Ms. Garrison is well known for her affiliation with the late Slim Spurling. Out of love for her mentor she continues to support his research with her dowsing, through her articles, and as the spokesperson for Slim’s tools at all of Drunvalo’s workshops. A single mother with three grown daughters, Cal lives happily in the Red Rocks of Sedona, Arizona. Find out more about Cal and read some of her other metaphysical articles at www.spiritofmaat.com

‘Who Wrote the Book of Love?’ by Cal Garrison

A few months ago, I wrote an article that stirred up a little trouble with the powers that be. The details around all of this would be of interest to you I am sure; unfortunately talking about it would only stir up more trouble. The reason I bother to bring it up is because the experience taught me a good lesson in what happens when you tell the truth.

At this point I am wondering if it’s worth it to be so dedicated to the thought that knowledge is power – or that the pen is mightier than the sword – because it seems as if the pen is only mightier until the sword cuts off the hand you write with. And what I have learned from this is that anyone who justifies their existence by writing for a living has to find a way to tell the truth without pissing people off.

I am not sure it’s even possible – but let’s give it a whirl and see if we can wring a little truth out of the question that 99% of us a) don’t know the answer to, and b) seem to be having a huge amount of difficulty with at the moment. I realize that we are diving right into things, but let’s go for it and see what happens if we start talking about relationships. Anyone out there who happens to occupy the 1% of the relationship pie that has it all figured out doesn’t need to read this; those of us who are still wounded, and/or deluded by whatever love has done to us are advised to proceed with caution, because even I am not sure where we are going from here.

“Existence is relationship; to be is to be related. Relationship is society.” -Krishnamurti

The above quote showed up on the screen on a day when I asked the universe to tell me what I needed to know. That it brought up the whole subject of relationships reminded me that lately, that particular issue has been keeping me awake at night, wondering why relative to what all of us were led to believe, my experience of love bears no resemblance to the Fairy Tale. After 63 years of trying to fit a round peg into a square hole, teetering on the brink of cynicism, the Holy Grail of marriage and any dream of a ‘perfect union’ now seem like nothing more than a huge lie that someone invented just to drive us nuts. And the part of me that no longer has any reason to keep trying to replicate the myth was ‘born again‘ on the day that this quote fell into my lap; because if ‘existence is relationship’, if ‘to be is to be related’ it means that all of us have the capacity to get it right.

The more I think about this all inclusive view of things, the more I see how much it has screwed us up to be saddled with the notion that the only way to experience relationship is to hook up with one other human being and stay with them forever; talk about a ‘life sentence‘. In a realm where all of our relationships are temporary, the concept doesn’t even make sense. And while I don’t discount the existence of soul mates and twin flames, the statistics make it plain that these types of connections are extremely rare. Based on forty years of astrological counseling I would say that 1% of my clients have been able follow the standard prescription for relating and get it to work – the other 99% have had no success whatsoever – and what this tells me is that if the relationship paradigm as the culture defines it for us is only working for 1% of the people, it isn’t working for anyone.

So why do we insist on perpetuating the myth? We perpetuate the myth because we believe in it and because we don’t think long enough to know any better; it’s as simple as that. It’s safe to say that everyone in the civilized world lives with the idea that being in that type of relationship is what it takes to make everything happier, better, and more secure. While this can and sometimes does happen, more often than not falling in love becomes the source of too much pain to make anyone in their right mind want to keep searching for it. If our pictures of perfect union limit us, in adhering to them we lose any sense that there just might be more to it than this.

So when the poster child for the Aquarian Age comes along to inform us that ‘existence is relating’, wondering whether or not ‘there’s more to it’, becomes a moot point. That we are intrinsically and inextricably related to everything, including ourselves, suggests that love was, is, and never will be, in short supply; we seem to be made of it – and I suspect that it is our connection to the love that lives within our own hearts that matters more than anything. For those of us who struggle with any apparent lack of affection, or any sense that we alone are unworthy of love, it feels good to know that what we have always longed for lives in us – and it makes me wonder why we are so stuck on the idea that, that longing can only be met by someone else.

Krishnamurti’s quote goes on to say that any relationship based on ‘need’ and/or ‘use’ is not based on love and leads to nothing but violence.

“Existence is relationship; to be is to be related. Relationship is society. The structure of our present society, being based on mutual use, brings about violence, destruction, and misery. …As long as we psychologically need and use each other, there can be no relationship. Relationship is communion; and how can there be communion if there is exploitation? Exploitation implies fear, and fear inevitably leads to all kinds of illusions and misery. Conflict exists only in exploitation and not in relationship. Conflict, opposition, enmity, exists between us when there is the use of another as a means of pleasure, of achievement. This conflict obviously cannot be resolved by using it as a means to a self projected goal; and all ideals, all Utopias are self projected. To see this is essential, for then we shall experience the truth, that conflict in any form destroys relationship, understanding. There is understanding only when the mind is quiet; and the mind is not quiet when it is held in any ideology, dogma, or belief or when it is bound to the pattern of its own experience or memories.” -Krishnamurti: “Commentaries on Living; Second Series” – p. 31

Interesting; I don’t know about you but if there is any truth to what he is saying, it certainly explains a lot about why my relationships wound up in the toilet. Don’t worry; I am not here to whine about my love life – but I will tell you that on the day that Krishnamurti’s quote turned out to be what I needed to know, I had already been thinking long and hard about love, connection, and the whole mystery of relationships. What got distilled out of this mind bending was the sense that to ‘Be in love’, and to ‘relate from the heart‘ is a state of Being; it is where we come from. And the thread of remembrance that knows this, also understands that if we are made of the very thing we long for, we are ‘In love’ all of the time.

So why do we go nuts looking elsewhere for it?

It wasn’t until I decided to write about all of this that I realized that this love that we are made of doesn’t require anything other than it self to feel whole and fulfilled. When we are in it, everything in our inner and outer reality resonates at exactly the same frequency. And what comes out of this ‘Beingness‘ evokes nothing but love in response. Is this what Krishnamurti means when he says, ‘To be is to be related’?

Between my own stuff and the stuff that my friends and clients have shared with me over the years, I could tell you endless stories about the sorrows that the old paradigm prescription for relating has birthed. Every single one of these sagas is a tale of ‘exploitation’ and ‘use‘ – and in no instance do any of these stories suggest that the teller knows they are made of love and therefore, ‘in love‘, and related to everything. If only someone was kind enough to tell us these things life would be so much easier and happier. I don’t want to give Mr. Krishnamurti more credit than he deserves, and I certainly don’t want to upset anyone who is happily cocooned in a relationship, but I think he’s got a handle on something here – what do you think?

Cal Garrison with The Shift Doctors (Tracy Latz, M.D. & Marion Ross, Ph.D.)

***Find out more about Cal, how to contact her, and read some of her other metaphysical articles at www.spiritofmaat.com

***To learn more about “The Shift Doctors”, their books, videos & meditation CD’s visit www.shiftyourlife.com   **The Shift Doctors (Tracy Latz, M.D. & Marion Ross, Ph.D.) are available for keynote talks, classes, events or for seminars (1/2 day or up to 2 day) on personal transformation, team-building, motivation, anger management, intuitive development, or collaboration for private groups, conferences, corporations or corporate events. Contact them at info@shiftyourlife.com or find out more about them at www.shiftyourlife.com .