Astro Alchemy

In the thought-provoking new film Nomadland, someone refers to people like Fern, the character played by Frances McDormand, as homeless. “Not homeless,” she counters, “just houseless. It’s not the same thing.” Ousted from her long-time home after the company town she lived in went belly-up, the scrappy widow has taken

Recently I decided to clean all my light fixtures. In some cases, this had not been done in ten years. It’s amazing how much filth can accumulate in that length of time – and it definitely hadn’t been doing my feng shui any favors! The taking-down-and-cleaning part was easy, but

In early Feb. 1962, Hindu astrologers braced for a three-day period during which the earth would be “bathed in the blood of thousands of kings.” At the same time in Britain, others were also awaiting disaster, believing the earth’s poles would flip and 75 percent of the world’s population would

I’ve been loving all the hilarious Bernie memes flooding Facebook since the Inauguration. A bundled-up Bernie on the Dating Game, perched on the rings of Saturn, hanging with Crosby, Stills & Nash. It was an unexpectedly creative, slightly giddy reaction to our renewed hope for a better world. Over the

Is it possible to transcend difficult transits? In his article in the April/May 2019 issue of The Mountain Astrologer, “A Mystic Looks at Astrology,” Ray Grasse posed that question to occultist Shelly Trimmer. Trimmer replied with an anecdote about his teacher, Paramahansa Yogananda, renowned yogi and founder of Self Realization

At the holiday season, we all crave the comfort of family around us – as difficult as that may be this year while the pandemic rages on. But some people naturally create family all year ’round. Christie Purviance, for example, is known for treating her patients like loved ones. The

What would you do if you found a live koala nestled in the branches of your Christmas tree? When she first spotted the adorable cub, Amanda McCormick of southern Australia couldn’t believe her eyes. But the special visitor quickly brought a big smile to McCormick’s face. And luckily for us,

Last night my cousins and I held our Thanksgiving gathering over Zoom. The Nevada City contingent kept cutting in and out, but we made the best of it, thankful to see one another again after an entire year. For so many of us, the Internet has become a lifeline. Yet

Come gather ’round, people wherever you roam And admit that the waters around you have grown And accept it that soon you’ll be drenched to the bone If your time to you is worth savin’, then you better start swimmin’ Or you’ll sink like a stone, for the times they

In her wonderful book, Jambalayah, Yeye Luisah Teish tells of a strange event that happened near the end of 1982. She was alone, bedridden with a severe upper respiratory disorder. Between the congestion, high fever and sore muscles, she was on death’s door and could not muster the energy to

Years ago, a prominent spiritual leader shared an intriguing incident that impacted her life.  In the May 2020 issue of Science of Mind, Rev. David Ault recalled her story of attending her first high-profile political fundraiser. She said she suspected she’d been invited because she’d been strongly critical of certain

Some stars burn more brightly than others; Ruth Bader Ginsburg was one of them. She mightily stoked the fires of justice, leaving a legacy we’d all do well to emulate. In the wake of her recent passing, Marianne Williamson wrote: “As sorry as I am that she’s gone, for all

We are living through extremely chaotic times. As Thomas Paine said just prior to the American Revolution – another very volatile period – “These are the times that try men’s souls.” Yet great challenges can open the door to positive change, if only we can summon the courage to do

I’d paddled out far into the tranquil bay on that warm summer afternoon. Close enough that my parents could still see me, but far enough away that I was blissfully alone. With an inflatable device around my waist keeping me afloat, I surrendered to the salty green water. Seagulls were

It was July 21, 1944, a blustery day at Mitchell Field, Long Island. As gale-force winds buffeted the plane he was in, Dad’s heart raced. He knew it was not safe to jump. But his commanding officer was determined to impress a visiting general. So the signal was given. The