Guest Post

I am pleased to present a guest post from our fellow China traveler and skilled "Chi Master" who teaches in the Bay Area. May this "New Recipe" be a chosen option for many of us during these turbulent times. 

                                                      Desert Four O’Clock (Mirabilis multiflora)

“Mother Earth is Cooking Up a New Recipe!”

(You’re Gonna “LOVE” It)

Friday 09/18/20

(9 a.m.) I’ve experimented with this practice before and it proved beneficial.  Whenever I can… I provide the opportunity for the Body/Mind to experience the “Nurturing Yin State of Being,” by Staying in Bed for an Hour or so, consciously observing what it feels like to Relax into a relative State Free from Pain... and bathing in Serotonin, Dopamine and Endorphins.  

When you think about it, for the sake of Moderation and Relative Balance… how often in a day do we actually provide this experience for the Body/Mind?

When do we ever make a Deposit, into our Bank of Yin?  Because we live in a Yang Based Society, we tend to favor more Yang expressions, than Yin.  So where’s the Moderation and Balance in that?

The Cycle of Life is like a Pendulum.  It Swings in Both Yin AND Yang Directions!  Where we tend to throw things off, is because our Pendulum is Held in a Yin, OR Yang direction, rather than Swinging in both Yin, AND Yang directions.

In the training stage, I used to have to Hold Acu-Points to relieve Chi Congestion and trigger the Happy Hormones.  But after years of daily practice, the Body has been trained to maintain a New Norm... relatively free from the old discomfort of Chi Congestion.  

You see... if we don’t show the Body a New Way of Being... it will carry on in the same Old Way for a Lifetime!  To Earn the benefits for your Body/Mind, you’ve got to personally “Blaze Your Own Trail,” by Exploring.  Without Exploring, there’s no way of Discovering Better Ways of Doing and Being!  

“Happiness is a State of Being!”

We are Happiest, when Chi is Flowing Well... and Uncomfortable, to the point of Illness and Pain, when it’s not!  Holding Points and Stretching, promotes Chi Circulation... hence Feeling Better, because Chi is Moving and not Stuck!  

Lack of Exercise, Stressful Thoughts, Poor Posture, Poor Sleeping and Poor Eating Habits can disturb or interrupt Chi Flow and cause all kinds of Mental, Emotional and Physical Health Challenges.  

A current example is from the Stay At Home, Shelter in Place syndrome.  Most people are addicted to Yang Activities and have never been taught how to manage the habitual behavior expressed from an Excess Yang condition… to the point they’re Out of Control... and like a Firecracker or Pressure Cooker that can’t let off it’s steam, will naturally Explode!  

That’s what’s happening to people who can’t manage the Yang expression of Rage... hence all the Violence and Hostility.  

If you knew that the nature of a “Major Energetic Transition,” (Mom’s New Recipe), consists of Spicy Yang Fiery Chi and is meant to Stir Up the Pot… you’d stand a better chance of Managing the build up of Excess Yang and compensate with just the right amount of Yin to maintain Sanity and Control over Violent or Hostile Expressions.  

On the other side of the coin, you may be suffering from Worrying or excess Fear.  Whether it’s excess or deficient Yin or Yang... These are both indications of Imbalanced Chi.  

Some of us can afford to Let Off some Steam... while others may actually need to place a Flame underneath their butt!  Whatever method you need... consider using the method Gracefully, by being Mindful of others, as well as yourself.  

Those who are only familiar with Yang methods, may or may not get the job done… let alone succeed gracefully as those who are capable and familiar with expressing a method in relative Yin Ways.  

You see... a characteristic of Yin is “Consideration,” which is not a Yang Trait.  Yang will simply Act or Do, without considering any Consequence or Efficiency.  Yang will just take Action, while Yin would consider How to achieve a favorable result or outcome!  

This is why it’s best to be capable of Both Yin AND Yang beneficial traits.  It’s All About “Team Work!”  That’s the message Nature has been putting out, in the form of a Pandemic... suggesting, “This is what you guys need to learn!”  

As you can see... what so many people are demonstrating, is contrary to her message.  “Mother Earth is cooking up a New Energetic Recipe,” and if we don’t like it, we don’t hafta eat it… or maybe we can just leave this party.  But where ya’gonna go?  Mom’s Energetic Recipe affects the entire Planet! 

There’s a New Sheriff in town...

and there’s gonna be some Changes!

The ability of Accepting or Embracing Change, is a Yin Virtue.  Regardless of personal style… we’re all faced with a Major Energetic Transition, that will eventually settle into a dominant vibration of Love, Peace and relative Harmony.

These are the main ingredients for “MOM’s New Recipe!”

Peace and Good Health... Namaste,

 

Autumnal Equinox

At the present onset of Fall, aka Autumn, there is a chill in the air; the days are becoming shorter with the nighttime darkness extending. Hopefully each and every one of us is observing and connecting with this seasonal cycle. By participating in this way we assist in grounding ourselves and pulling away from the fear floating above each and every one of us.

“The coronavirus pandemic, 

together with recurring natural phenomena 

brought on by climate change 

[aka Climate Catastrophe], 

is sharply altering our sense of the seasons.”

Paul Elie in The New Yorker

Apache Plume (Fallugia paradoxa) 
in the New Mexico evening sunlight

"Our shared biology unites all life on Earth. 

The coronavirus pandemic made evident 

that protecting ourselves also protects others. 

This applies directly to climate and sustainability: 

preparing your country, city, and company 

for the future is essential for you, 

while also beneficial for everybody else."

The Living Planet Report 2020

This Autumnal Equinox occurs amidst the dramatic collision with the Climate Catastrophe demonstrated by how the Western part of the United States from Tijuana, Mexico, to Vancouver, British Columbia is in flames. In the Southeast slow moving hurricanes are plummeting the countryside.

And this Autumnal Equinox is also happening during the most important Presidential campaign in the history of our country. On one hand, Trump wants us to revert to the early 1950's when patriarchy ruled. His perspective is the worst of television: a reality show in which the solution to the wildfires is "forest management".  "Science does not know, just wait it's going to cool", Trump told officials in California during a meeting there.

"As raging wildfires burn vast swaths of the West Coast, 

and as the molasses-slow Hurricane Sally pounds the Gulf Coast, 

scientists say we are witnessing, again, 

the role of climate change in exacerbating natural disasters."

New York Times morning brief on 09/16, 2020

This sculpture was created during the 2016 elections 

by a friend in Northern California working with clay 

at the same studio Dwight did his sculptures.

On the other hand, Joe Biden and Kamala Harris want to heal our country and move forward in dealing with racial injustice and the climate catastrophe. And their joint focus is on restoring democracy to the United States. If elected their challenge to heal and lead will be fraught with challenges heretofore not dealt with openly.

"The most effective way to transform 

societal priorities and public policies 

is to change the balance of power, 

not change 

the minds of those who hold power.

. . . When government is responsive to — 

and, frankly, fearful of — 

the people who most bear 

the brunt of inequality and injustice, 

then better 

priorities, practices, and policies follow." 

Susan Sandler

So in light of Sandler's words VOTE. VOTE early and by mail if at all possible then follow up to be sure your ballot has been received so it can be counted. 

As we each struggle with the global upheaval and remember we are all in this together, may we

    

Wacky

To cherish what remains of the Earth 

and to foster its renewal 

is our only legitimate hope of survival.

Wendell Berry

Winter in a nano second. The temperatures have been hot, hot, hot here in Santa Fe, NM, in the 90s. Overnight the temperature plummeted into the 30s as a Canadian air mass moved into New Mexico.

Morning scene from dining room 

looking out to the back yard.

Just yesterday I was admiring the blossoms on the Desert Willow. I do not

remember seeing flowers at this time of the year. Other Desert Willows about the neighborhood are also blooming. Seems the weather is not the only wacky happening.

Predictions for snow in Santa Fe have been the highlight of the weather news for a number of days. With that in mind yesterday I picked all the ripe tomatoes and those almost ripe; otherwise the garden has been left to the elements. Covering all the vegetation just seems a way too big of a project this late in the season. I have just developed a sense of allowing . . . whatever the climate crisis delivers is what it is.

We recently had air conditioning installed along with a new furnace and HEPA air filter. All of the original ducts have been well vacuumed out. So we are now set to BE comfortable in our small pueblo style 1950's Stamm home in spite of the weather conditions outside. The week after the AC was up and operating it was hot, hot, hot outside. Now Arctic air has arrived and temperatures have plummeted. If we old people can figure out the complicated digital thermostat we will be all set.

As we all prepare ourselves for wacky: wacky politics, wacky weather, wacky animal and plant behavior, wacky people and just general wacky-ness, may we