if not now - when?

Native tribes practice a tradition known as leveling the waters. When young braves took part in a hunt or raiding party, upon their return they did not enter their village immediately. Instead they sat apart and away from them - watching in silence from a distance.

The benefit of this was two-fold. First, it allowed them the time to bring down their adrenaline or blood rush. Plus the wait and watch created the space to connect with their community and villagers. Once that bond was made solid and steady once more, then they could enter and be a part once more.

cause for celebration

As my father celebrates his 95th birthday across the globe we browse through years of past celebrations together. At his 80th birthday he announced that from then on he was going to celebrate his birthday every year. Bonus years we all call them.

True enough each year has been precious to each of us who count ourselves part of the Gregorio Zayco Urra clan. Wife, children, in laws, grandkids, spouses, great grand babies - mga bata tanan ni Goyo. All his descendants.

my creation story

I was born into this world, seeded from the stars
bourn on the wind, rooted into the earth
nurtured by sunlight, nourished by rain

tentatively breaking ground
from deep in the dark and dank
rich core of Mother Gaia

blessed Palm Sunday

Palm Sunday and Passover are major occasions evoking sacred rites, rituals and communal practices among many. 

Palm Sunday marks the first day of Holy Week, the last week of the Christian solemn season of Lent that precedes the arrival of Eastertide. The beloved palm frond has become for many a precious symbol of triumph and victory. 

The origins of the Passover festival predate the Exodus. The Passover ritual, prior to Deuteronomy, is widely thought to have its origins in an apotropaic rite, unrelated to the Exodus, to ensure the protection of a family home, a rite conducted wholly within a clan. 

When done properly, their preparation is Sacred Alchemy - balancing mythology with technology and philosophy. 

Ganachakra (a Dakini feast) is a sacramental meal and festive celebration invoking an alchemical transmutation from base to higher vibration. 

In this process, the negative energy of baser emotion or klesha (poison) is transformed into the luminous energy of enlightened awareness or gnosis (jnana). 

Its ingestion is highly intoxicating where the physical digestion leads to spiritual unfolding and God realization. 

rabble rouser

their world is not our world

conflict and chaos reign supreme
in our current covid-19 crisis
as China sweeps ahead

an unimaginable horror
hidden from us all
exploding beyond belief

invisible and boundless
mutating faster than
our speed of comprehension

in a global stage
occupied by the scared and witless
a big bully projects itself well

be aggressive not passive
protest and persist
be unreasonable

demonstrate and demand
fair trade for you and me
equality for art and science

call a strike
for a bluer planet
for a greener earth

bypass politics
stage a shutdown
united we stand

a reflective St. Patrick's Day 2020

Lucky stars above you,

Sunshine on your way,

Many friends to love you,

Joy in work and play.

Laughter to outweigh each care,

In your heart a song -

And gladness waiting everywhere

All your whole life long.

Prayer of St. Patrick

shepherd, slave, snake wrangler, saint

This year the parade was cancelled as New York City shut down amid the pandemic spread of coronavirus [COVID19].

It is a strange time and a shock to us all as we start 2020 and the new decade under the weight of its uncertainty and pandemonium.

All have been advised to self isolate as much as we can since it is the most reliable option we have at the moment. Many cities and countries are already under imposed quarantine in the hope of diminishing its spread and devastation.

For the first time in many years, more of us now have the time and space [enforced or otherwise] to quiet down and reflect on much to consider. Many believe life as we know it is eternally altered as a result of this. For better or worse we are all encouraged to self isolate and practice social distancing.

Blessing or inconvenience - Happy St. Patrick's Day to us all. Let us celebrate all the leprechauns, miracle workers, rainbows and pots of gold in our lives.

Luck of the Irish [and our own] to ya ! ! ! Until we meet again, may God hold us in the palm of His hand.

March 8 is International Women's Day

March is Women's History Month and 2020 we commemorate 100 years the struggle for women's rights. Celebrating the political, social, economic and cultural achievements of women throughout history.

A focal point in the movement for women's rights, 2020's theme is "Valiant Women of the Vote." At the start of a new decade women of the world are asking, now what?

Hulu just released a biopic on Hillary Clinton. So sad and heartbreaking to hear how hard this worthy woman worked to make our world a better place.

America deserves Donald J. Trump for rejecting her the way we did. We all know now that things will only get so much worse before there is any hope to look forward to.

Too bad. So sad. After struggling for 100 years let's hope it does not take as long for us to wake up.