Failure of Family

By Rev. Amari Magdalena          

“It takes a village to raise a child;” a saying never truer than its very need today.  I’m watching families around me succumb to the maladies of the 20^th and 21^st century’s vision of nuclear family.  And, the concept is failing miserably.  Every day we are exposed to media stories of domestic violence, child abuse, and filicide.  I don’t know about you, but I’m wondering how on earth we got here?

What I see magnified here in my visit to Southern California is clarifying my feelings.  The nuclear family is failing.  I’ve previously written about boxes and how they enclose.  Yet it's more than that.  I feel our concepts and beliefs around family are seriously skewed.  Where did we get the idea that 2 adults with any number of children would function well in an enclosed rectangular structure?  The very nature of the squares and rectangles in most homes, large and small, is encapsulating.  No one can feel a sense of freedom therein.  No matter how many glass windows one has, the result of feeling captured is the same.

Add to the above, and both adults working for survival and personal sense of achievement, and you begin to flesh out the problem.  Who’s raising the children?  Teachers, television, iPod's, computers, smart phones, other unsupervised children, babysitters, daycare, shopping malls, and the accumulation of an amazing cache of stuff! Children today spend much more time away from family connection, in general, than with their tribe.

At one time in modern life, the nuclear family included more adult occupants than two adults.  Generations often lived together, or whole families for newly immigrated people.  That, at least, gave relief to the parents of full attention and responsibility for the children.  Extended family nearby further enhanced the picture.  If grandma and grandpa lived a block or two away, children had more access to possible nurturance.  Yet even that scenario was not ideal as all were still in boxes harboring their own dysfunction.

The inheritance then became behaviors that did not result in functional adults.  These adults propagated and resulted in family trees with a slew of problems: alcoholism, drug abuse, domestic violence, sex trafficking, depression, anxiety disorders, and a plethora of yet to be diagnosed mental challenges etc. The number of medications many young parents are on today is mind boggling.  If you take time to graph out your family tree, you may see my point. As an aside, I DO realize some of you had stellar childhoods and may not be able to relate, yet it is important that you understand the growing cancer of dysfunctional families among you.

I believe that if the human species is to survive, we must return to the concept of tribes.  Our physical structures need serious re-design.  Our neighborhoods need to develop as tribal communities devoted to the care and feeding of its inhabitants.  Huge cities need to end along with wall to wall freeways and endless shopping malls.  While technology advances us in many positive ways, it needs to be moderated in use for toddlers, children and young adults.  Education needs to return to human teaching and not depend on plasma, LED, and LCD etc.  We need to bring the human back into the development of our species.

There are many Utopian thinkers in this world.  It is time we culled their vision, listened to them, quit trying to replicate unworkable Band-Aid solutions or old unworkable moments in time like the 50’s, and envision a new world.  Let’s be brave, if it is to be the home promised is our national rhetoric.

What precipitated this tome was being immersed in a town that has grown and more than doubled since I lived here. Everywhere there are shopping malls.  Everyone is walking around with cell phones texting.  Commutes in traffic are normalizing at an hour or more. Smiles are few and far between except with clerks in stores trained to be approachable and friendly, so we are moved to purchase whether we need something or not. It’s all facade here.  Beautiful though that may be with the gleaming stores, sun and beach, it is not real.  I felt the same way almost 10 years go when I visited and was in Pacific Palisades.

Now I’m not targeting California for those of you whose feathers may be ruffled here.  Any populous state in the sunshine, tends to magnify what is not working.  Florida was the same when I lived there. Maybe cold and clouds mask some of it elsewhere; yet it is everywhere.  Denial is a luxury we cannot afford.

It is beyond time that we move past the unworkable rhetoric that most of our body politic is attempting to hypnotize us with. We need to deal with the very serious problem of failed family.  Mental, emotional and spiritual health is every bit as important as physical well-being.  Everywhere we see evidence that needs addressing.  To save the planet, we may want to think about healing its occupants so that they give the proverbial damn.  Whether you like Marianne Williamson’s bid for the presidency or not, she IS talking about the essence of our problem-Love! Let’s talk about this!

“In families you can find the source of every human drama. It is interesting because the cell of a society, the cell of a country, the cell of humanity – everything lies in the family.” Alejandro Gonzales Inarritu

“The more dysfunctional, the more family members seek to control the behavior of others.” David W. Earle

“To put the world right in order, we must first put the nation in order; to put the nation in order, we must put the family in order; to put the family in order, we must first cultivate our personal life;  we must first set our hearts right.”  Confucius

Love in the Fifth Dimension

Love in the Fifth Dimension

By Rev. Amari Magdalena

Listening to Leon Russell’s, A Song for You, lyrics, “And, I love you in a place where there’s no time and space,” got me thinking.  That’s gotta be in the Fifth Dimension.  We’ve identified several types of love in our human dream:

Eros-Love of Body

Philia-Love of the Mind

Ludus-Playful Love

Pragma-Long Lasting Love

Agape-Love of the Soul

Philautia-Love of Self

Storge-Love of the Child

Hopefully, over a lifetime, we are gifted the experience of all types of love.  In sum, they cover the human journey and its evolution.  I have been, and my life is the richer for it.  I was going to say I’d missed out some on Pragma, yet I’m reminded that the two men I’ve loved the longest encompass decades.

So much capacity we innately possess to love one another, it seems. Yet so very many relationships are fractured for various and sundry reasons.  Personally, and I believe I’ve shared this before, love never dies.  Our relationships may end; the feelings of love that we held for another, do not.

That said, how would love be experienced differently in that place of no time no space dimension we’re ascending to? Scratching my head a bit at first, I got the Cosmic Aha!  There are no constructs of form.  At least the type of form we’ve become accustomed to in the physical vehicle. Love would not need definition or form in that dimension.  Love would BE the dimension.  With no necessity for duality and polarities, all constructs of other would simply vanish.

I’ve journeyed to the Fifth Dimension and lead journeys there.  My personal experience of it was much like those encountered at the end of the NDE (near death experience) tunnel.  People we’ve loved appear in wispy, undefined form-almost transparent.  I imagined if I’d reached out to touch someone, my hand would have moved through the illusion of their projection.

On psychedelic drugs, for any willing to admit indulgence, form can also disappear.  The constructs of the brain that create form, are loosened.  Love can become more evidenced, by many. Thus, the Peace, Love mantras of the 60's; a period of freedom of spirit.

It is Free Spirit that may be the term that exemplifies the fifth dimension.  No more constraints, no agendas, no terms of endearment, no competition, no jealousy or envy, nothing that smacks of separation.  Imagine for just one moment, what that might feel like.  No us. No them.

Which brings me to remark on all the vast experiences that a body allows us.  This separation thing can be daunting and yet amazing.  Form brings us beauty in multitudinous ways and demonstrations. Its very diversity enriches this separation experiment.  So I ask you, could you, would you be willing to love the now?  Appreciate the wonders of Earth possibilities?  Learn to be more Taoist by surrendering judgment like good and bad, happy and sad, etc.?  Surf your emotions? Explore your mind? Master the physical?  All without too much emphasis or grading?

Time and space may be inconvenient constructs yet in ways not all of us may be able to fathom, they are great teachers who are preparing us for the journey home.  We will all, one day, be in the Fifth Dimension.  Some perhaps sooner, others later.  No matter when, finally we will arrive at the exalted state of being, LOVE!

"Beauty is the moment when time vanishes.  Beauty is the space where eternity arises." Amit Ray, Enlightenment Step by Step

"I'm not cruisin' this opportunity in time and space for you to like or dislike my 'get-down." I'm here 'cause I'm down to get it right by the time I return to the "mothaship."  I remain a work in progress." T.F. Hodge, From Within I Rise: Spiritual Triumph Over Death and Conscious Encounters with "The Divine Presence"

"Use time and space; grow slowly into your dreams, infinity will fill you with peace." Sir Kristian Goldmund Aumann

Independence: What's It All About

By Rev. Amari Magdalena

Beyond sparklers, rockets and explosions in the July 4^th sky, just what IS independence?  To be independent is our desire to be free from outside control; not depending on another’s authority.  July 4, 1776, White America declared independence from the taxing tyranny of the British Empire. Yet, as we today know, that statement did not provide independence for captive or reservation contained people of color.  As America was colonized and populations spread westward, the cry of independence overlooked lands seized from original occupants.  Yet the cry of freedom rang at every flag rising.

Where does that leave us today?  I’ve been cogitating on that very question.  Independence today seems to mean, leave me alone so I can do whatever I want.  Want to stockpile assault weapons? No problem. Simply drag out the distorted version of the promises of the 2^nd Amendment. Want to play loud music with your windows down, oblivious to noise disturbance?  No problem, few noise abatements signage to prevent it.  Keep your neighbor, that you share thin apartments walls with, up all night as you enjoy all-night TV?  Take a judge to evict you.  Ignore the growing poverty? Turn up your subwoofer’s and deep shade your windows as you cruise in your Porsche or Mercedes Benz.  Untold ways to tune out anything but ourselves and our desires.

In the midst of our hard one independence, it seems, more and more people are depressed and feeling alone and isolated.  Countless articles are addressing this isolation.  We’ve mastered being islands unto ourselves at the expense of the collective or collaborative.  We eschew belonging; yet bite off the extended hand of inclusion.  No wonder we are collectively becoming more mentally unbalanced.

What we’ve lost in independence is the concept of Interdependence.  Tribes knew of the importance of valuing every individual.  As people were treated well and honored, they enjoyed the benefits of the tribe and clans.  Yes, no doubt survival was at the root of this brand of socializing.  Yet, today, even more our survival as a planet depends on our thinking beyond our own individual selves.  The greater good is calling us to re-embrace interdependence, planet wide.

Another aspect of independence is not understanding what it means on an individual level.  It means we must take full responsibility for all our outcomes.  No blame, no shame, no deflection, no scapegoats. Hah!  Didn’t see that one coming, did you?  No priests or politicians to wholesale give our power to.  No Momma or Papa to keep saying are the excuses for the way we are.  Having to be absolutely involved in our own survival.  All costs we shoulder.  Maybe not such a hot deal after all? 

The point of this little Independence Day tome is that it is past time to return to interdependence. Our future holds multi-family living over individual dwellings.  Economics and mental health demand that we create tribes.  Is it going to be easy or comfortable?  Probably not initially.  We love our space!  I love my space!  A necessity to conserve energy, water, land, food supplies, economic alterations, Yes.

In a political year that again the discussion of Democratic Socialism raises hackles of resistance, we cannot afford to keep denying that some form of “you are your brother’s keeper” is in the future. People were awed when Andrew Yang mentioned a country wide living wage.  Robots are more and more performing human tasks.  Robust employment will not be a future in their presence.

How do we find now a comfortable balance between independence and interdependence?  Learn to ask for help.  Open your door and walk out among people.  Engage people wherever you go.  Talk to them about the future of the planet and their vision for a global future.  Join something!  Learn excellent communication skills that you can bring to groups to deal with conflict.  Keep a global perspective along with local concerns.  Become a citizen of the world and care about the people and the planet. Take responsibility for your outcomes.  Make tough decisions. Keep faith in the ability of humanity to recognize our planetary interdependence and take steps for preservation of the Earth.  Give your egos a Golden Parachute, the gold watch, and a lovely early retirement!

As the sky fills with fireworks tomorrow evening, let the sparkles shower your consciousness with “What can I do” to make this a better place for you and me.  Love more, hate less. Say hello in there to fellow travelers on this life journey.

“The whole idea of compassion is based on a keen awareness of the interdependence of all these living beings, which are all part of one another, and all involved in one another.”  Thomas Merton

“I have an interesting perspective on depending on others.  I think it gives people a chance to serve. And I’m not so much big on independence, as I am on interdependence.  I’m not talking about co-dependency; I’m talking about giving people the opportunity to be practicing love with its sleeves rolled up.”  Joni Eareckson Tada

Interrelated Structure of Reality

By Rev. Amari Magdalena

With so much belief in separation of our realities on the planet, it seems appropriate to address our common link.  This is a talk I very often share with students and attendees at ceremonies and other events.  It is true, that we came to this plane to experience separation.  The reasoning proffered by some masters suggests the purpose of this is for soul’s growth.  Some believe, as do I, that it is expanded to include our soul group’s growth. The greater purpose is perhaps to appreciate Oneness.

I believe that the plan was that at some point, having experienced the dichotomies of separation and learned from them, we would wake up and master this human experience by walking deftly in both worlds. This has been called The Great Forgetting and, subsequently, The Great Remembering.

So much of the media reminds us of the forgetting.  That news can at times be daunting. Some choose to tune it out for their sanity.  Others mourn such a separated, and sorry, state of being. Others choose early checkout. Many throw up their hands in despair. Some say, “what the hell” and participate wholly in the separation.  The judgment as to the choice, is not ours to rule on.

What is at stake here in all of this, is losing a planet and the human experience.  It matters not which origin story you subscribe to, humans got here amidst a plethora of other species.  We are part of one kingdom.  Others include the Mineral Kingdom, Plant Kingdom, and the Animal Kingdoms. Divine plan was not for the Human Kingdom to be superior to the others, rather a peaceful coexistence. As the Great Forgetting took stronger hold, concepts of separation elevated the human kingdom above the others.  Man was deemed superior to all life forms.  That believe was concretized in many religious dogmata.  Also, it fed the ego: We’re Number One.”

Today many of us are acutely aware that an egoic posture over nature and the other kingdoms is dooming the air we breathe and contributing to an accelerated climate change moving towards crisis. We are seeing loss of species, severe weather patterns, changing geography, and a human doomsday clock ticking. The game of denial at the top of our own government is placing us at greater and greater risk.

The question becomes, are we the last generations to experience this good earth?  Will we hand off a decimated planet that is uninhabitable.  Do we close our eyes tightly against starving and dying polar bears? Against caged children? Famine? Violence? Is our theme song, “la de dah?”

Science is proving daily that all kingdoms on earth are sentient beings. We respond to one another energetically and it’s either thrive or descend into oblivion. Water experiments demonstrate capacity for memory. Even what we may deem as inanimate objects respond to energies. 

It is my firm belief that animate and inanimate objects on this earth are ALL made of the same essence; our difference is form.  If we were to take that a step further, and accept that we all came from the same source, then how is it possible that one object is more important than another? 

 Separation is the grand illusion. We are indeed all interrelated structures participating in a reality we call life.

I wrote years ago: “For all we touch bears us; and all that touches us we bear.  And, we are either full harvests or famines of our own delusion.”  Beyond the Great Remembering, we are now called to The Great Awakening. Let us move forward each day with absolute cognizance of our interconnectedness, thoughtfully, purposefully, and respectfully. Let every day be lived with grace and gratitude.  Walk carefully. All the ancestors, of each kingdom, are beneath us.

“In the final analysis, our most common link, is that we all inhabit this small planet.  We all breathe the same air.  We all cherish our children’s future and we are all mortal.” JFK

"...the care of the earth is our most ancient and most worthy and, after all, our most pleasing responsibility.  To cherish what remains of it, and to foster its renewal, is our only legitimate hope."  Wendell Berry

"The rule of no realm is mine, neither of Gondor nor any other great or small.  But all worthy things that are in peril as the world now stands, those are my care.  And for my part, I shall not wholly fail of my task, though Gondor should perish, if anything passes through this night that can still grow fair or bear fruit and flower again in days to come.  For I also am a steward.  Did you now know?"  J.R.R. Tolkien, The Return of the King

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Frustration: The Distant Cousin of Expectation

by Rev. Amari Magdalena

Frustration is defined as the prevention of a progress, success or the fulfillment of something. The last week has been personally very frustrating as I dealt with publishing my newest book.  I’d not used this publisher’s platform before (they shall remain unnamed).  Thinking I had finally mastered how to use it, I blithely ordered a proof copy of the book. No problem it seemed; everything looked fine. Progressed to the final step and hit the wall of rules!  It seems that while my proof copy was capable of printing on the spine; the finished copy could not as it required a certain minimum of pages. My tome was short 17 pages.

Frustration raised its irritable head while I fumed a bit and had multiple conversations with the publisher.  The plot thickened as, at one point, they mixed up the new book with an old one. My new book disappeared!  Almost in tears at this point, I had to retreat a bit an investigate why I was feeling this way.

And, then it struck me, Expectation!  How very often, knowingly or subliminally, we engage a process with the expectation that all will go well.  Often that supposition works rather well.  We able to manifest after our heart’s desire. Sometimes there is cosmic interference. When Plan A is thwarted frustration does a little hoochie-coochie dance with the expectation.  I suspect she was laughing at me rather gleefully.

After all the gesticulating, posturing, swearing, wringing of hands, and table pounding subside, one must deal with the limitation imposed. Took some time for me to blather out, “It is what it is.” In my plans, the one the Gods make fools of us over, I had perfect timing in mind.  The numbers all lined up beautifully.  Every step of the way, master numbers prevailed.

Oh, the cosmic joke of it all!  Humor is the only ultimate salvation when we get too far down the slippery slope of frustration.  That, or go over the edge.  And, then, one must assess their demands on the Universe and surrender to Universal timing. Ah, the letting go thing!  At some point in the scenario of our not getting what we expected, there comes a moment when we have to push off the edge in the current that is flowing  It may not be the direction we’d mapped out, though it is most definitely is the course this river is taking.

So this finds me at the eleventh hour waiting for the cosmic nod, knowing that it will most definitely come.  As always, there is a reason and usually it is for my highest good.  Pumping out another 18 pages, one extra just to spite them, I was able to add value at the direction of my inner muse. Ultimately, it is a better book for it.

Tomorrow, or the next day, or even next week, I will be guided to push the “publish” button with the confidence that it is the right time.  As I instruct in the book, I will stop breath holding and breathe deeply.  So next time frustration comes your way, perhaps you may draw a little wisdom from this tome and STOP! Trust the Universe; trust yourself.  When it is time, when we quite trying to paddle against the current, we free up flow and the Universe will carry us to the fulfillment of our dreams.

The Blue Iris represents hope whose wisdom I commit to follow now!

“At times it is folly to hasten, at other times, to delay. The wise do everything in its proper order.”  Ovid

"Laughter and tears are both responses to frustration and exhaustion.  I myself prefer to laugh, since there is less cleaning to do afterward." Kurt Vonnegut

When Not to Help Others

Rev. Amari Magdalena

Most of you reading this are innate helpers.  You care deeply about others, are empathetic, and a natural helper/healer.  What a gift you have!  How wonderful that you can offer yourself in service to others in your unique way.  So your asking yourself when is the ‘but’ coming or why is there a problem with this. My answer is timing and request.

This is a tough one for many of us, me included.  I was so often problem solving in my kids lives that I’ve often been informed by them that they are adults. I’ve had to learn to listen better when they share, not respond with my similar story, and only then, ask if they would like to hear a suggestion. Of course, preparing for the answer that they may not want my suggestion.

I’ve observed the help issue in many situations lately with some of my metaphysical friends.  As I reacted to unsolicited help, expertise, or unwanted divination with some degree of irritation, I thought it time to talk about it.  Why would I react away from help?  Because, I only needed an ear, not a solution.

I believe that what will ultimately heal humanity is when social/emotional environments are created in which people feel fully independent, empowered, and capable of handling their lives. In other words, that evolved human can say to themselves as issues arise, “You got this babe!”  The reasoning behind my belief is that when we are too dependent on others to solve our problems, we don’t own the results. Thus we always perceive ourselves as less capable, able, etc.

When we jumped to problem solving for others without giving them time to reflect, absorb, comes to terms with, etc., we can cause psychic and emotional harm.  Oh, yes, we intended for good but missed the mark. My question is, did we ask you?  No. When you jumped in with your solution, did we feel listened to?  No. When you consulted your own guides instead of giving us space to consult our own, why did we shrug you off? It was interference, plain and simple.

Well intentioned you may have been, I totally understand that.  It’s also possible that at some unconscious level, you were playing a little one-upsmanship. We can often get so full of ourselves we forget the source of our healing talents-Spirit. When I follow guidance, all is well.  When my ego gets in the way, no good comes of it.

I’ve been a Reiki Master for 25 years and a Shamanic Healer for almost 30.  If there is anything I’ve learned along the way, it is to get the hell of the way so Universal Life Force Energy can use you as a channel.  I had the wondrous experience of positively transmitting energy to heal burns, shoulder displacement, breast cancer tumors, gallstones, ovarian cancer, chemo aftereffects, troubled pregnancies, paralysis, tendon tears, hiatal hernias, psychological issues, anxiety, trauma etc.  And, I know without a doubt, I am the vehicle not the source.

When people have come to me for healing, the first thing I ask is: “Are you ready to be healed?” This is to make them a partner in the process.  I often spend time in a platica (heart talk) to discuss contributing factors like diet, stress, relationships etc. before we do the actual hands on work. I’m prone to giving homework to people so that clients can make claim to their own healing.  If this isn’t integrative medicine, I don’t know what is.

But I digress.  It is a wonderful thing when people reach out to help us when we are faced with an illness.  The feeling of having people who care is immeasurable. That said, please take time to truly hear the person and support all the emotions they may be having over a disagreeable diagnosis. * Give them space to cogitate, ruminate, and masticate the situation.  Trust that they have consulted their own inner physician for information. When they ask, oh Yes, show up. If I ask for a little energy or prayer on FB, I am very grateful that you are willing to do that and care. And, I will ask!  I’m in hopes you will also ask me.

Be the help that is invited, and you will be providing an amazing service. Know the right moment and you’ll have loving, devoted friends forever.  They’ll love that you gave space and then showed up when the team (tribe) was called in. Then, and only then, will you serve to uplift and carry out your service.

"When we give cheerfully and accept gratefully, everyone is blessed." Maya Angelou

"It's impossible to hold up the banners of victim and victory at the same time." Lysa TerKeurst

"Be helpful but don't allow others to depend on you too much.  Help by teaching them how to help themselves."

*One exception is when the person is unconscious or unable to respond. In that case, the family may ask for your healing help.

Circles That You Find

By Rev. Amari Magdalena

Our outer and inner Cosmos’ contain many circles.  Our planet and others in our solar system are round. In our lifetimes, we will be participants in circles; some beautiful and fulfilling, others perhaps challenging.  The unbroken symmetry of circle moves us through the medicine wheels of our lives.

We are born, pushed through a circle as the womb and cervix dilate and the round head presses through the opening of the vagina.  Most of us were surrounded then by welcoming family and/or the attendants at our arrival.  Some would go on to know siblings, grandparents, aunts, uncles, cousins, and peripheral family and close friends.  Others would not be so fortunate yet would still be in circles institutionalized though they may have been.

As our lives progressed, we would join other circles of marriage, unions, fraternal organizations, institutions of learning, celebratory, social, life passages etc.  Our inherent need for socializing moves us throughout many circles as we spend time on this planet.  Yet sadly so many of us live alone now, in boxes.

One wonders, why we’ve constructed structures in square and rectangular fashion.  We are most often housed in structures with corners and right angles. Having lived in the great American Southwest many times, I was often struck by the adobe homes.  Corners were rounded.  Archways prevailed between rooms.  Everywhere there was demonstration of the feminine hand working what might have been angles into curves. Though the structures themselves were not round; the curves compensated.  Perhaps these constructs represented both the Yin and Yang aspects of the builders.

Why then do we live in these confining structures?  I am reminded that most laboratory experiments with animals find them contained in square or rectangular cages.  When we visit a zoo and see the animals in their respective indoor enclosures, they too are in right-angle structures.  No wonder they pace; we all would if so enclosed.  Yet we are; just bigger cages.  Confinement is the name of the game. We need to find ways to spend more time in circles, for sanity.

One of my great attractions and love of shamanism came from joining rituals that were conducted in circles-indoors and outside.  When I lived in Sedona with an accessible roof top garage, I was gifted the ability to create an outdoor medicine wheel on it.  In South Albuquerque, I celebrated the moons and seasonal changes in a Kiva.  In Tucson, I had a beautiful outdoor altar for ceremonies.

Indoors and out, except for my current small apartment, I’ve had a large floor medicine wheel defined by hand-made Ruins tiles.  When I can sponsor a small moon gathering here, I create the same on a small round coffee table.  Yet I so miss my big medicine wheel.  I also feel the loss of participating in more outdoor circles due to my physical walking limitations.  Yet the memories of many beautiful circles keep me at peace.

Circles remind us that life is always moving.  As we move around one, we experience the rhythmic movement of the sun and moon from ascending energy to descending-rising and falling.  This, for me, helps me stay in touch with a concept that all things change.  We experience birth, growth, and death. We also experience community in circles-vital social connection. 

Ultimately, I believe, it is in sharing circles that we build our tribe.  I feel tribal connection is the missing piece of experiencing greater peace worldwide. I’m reminiscing about the Coca-Cola commercial with “I’d like to buy the world a home and furnish it with love… I’d like to teach the world to sing in perfect harmony” with people of all colors, races, etc. gathering.  It was about connection and finding something everyone enjoyed sharing-commercial though it was.

In Atlanta, for the three years I lived there, Jeni and Rick Prigmore sponsored a Peace Circle every Wednesday evening.  For that night, in the middle of the week, we sat in circle holding Earth Globes or imagined ones and affirmed for peace.  It was a family (tribe) of love.

Our chaotic times and fractured attention from digitized living, call for more circles.  My hope would be that wherever you are, be moved to restore circles; all kinds of circles.  Bring people together!  Build sweat lodges and round structures.  Celebrate those influential globes in the heavens that so affect our living.  Foster tribes for good. Get out of the windmills of your mind and engage in the circles that you find.

“A circle is the reflection of eternity.  It has no beginning and it has no end-and if you put several circles over each other, then you get a spiral.” Maynard James Keenan

“The whole universe is based on rhythms.  Everything happens in circle’s, in spirals.“  John Hartford

“Circles create soothing space, where even reticent people can realize that their voice is welcome.” Margaret J. Wheatley