Many Blessings and greetings upon this new season. I use to think that this was the wrong time to write about the honoring of a new passage of change but now I see it is the most perfect time. By these in between times we have all individually formed a conception of what our experience through summer has been, so that what I express here in words only enhances what we all can affirm. We know it's vibrations and we can honor it together. Summer time is a time of the most precise astute recognition of gratitude. What we can clearly see before our eyes is what we have dreamed into our lives. In manifestation we see our love and life force energy fully displayed. What is good must be honored. When we take time to honor our works and our lives we show ourselves and the universe that we have consciously been a part of the ever unfolding changes. Gratitude is the main acknowledgement in any spiritual endeavor practiced by indigenous peoples, or at least I can vouch for Native Americans through my own spiritual practices as well as my Ohana relatives here in Hawaii. Even Joanna Macy, scholar and activist speaks about change and our place in it. These are hard things to face in our world today, if we want to be of use. Gratitude, when it is real, offers no blinders. In the face of devastation and tragedy it can ground us, when we are scared. It can hold us steady for the work to be done. Joanna says there is a spiral process of: Opening to Gratitude, Owning our pain for the world, Seeing with new eyes and going forth and making ourselves useful within the universe. Even when our plans don't pan out, if we go back to being grateful for the chances we took and the lessons we learned, the spiral will begin again.
This spiral is the spiral of life. When we look upon our planet we see that life continues to peek its head out of even realms of obscurity. Life tries again and again.
We may have beliefs that we die and return to another existence. Yet, what we do know is that life is the most important essence and the most joyous experience. During this season's pronounced exaltation of life, if we honor it we can not help but be grateful. .
We are never guaranteed where our life may lead us but we will try to do what ever we can to continue to taste it.
Photo by Diveena - Akaka Falls, Big Island of Hawaii
The Oxford dictionary states that Life is: capacity for growth, functional activity,and continual change. That was the first definition and it goes on to 8 more along with sub definitions to their support.
. The most significant change we can honor this season has been the rare natural phenomena of the total eclipse of the sun on August 1, 2008. Included in this issue is an article about the eclipse phenomena and also some esoteric and spiritual ideas on the effects of eclipses.
In addition,of all the years I've devoted to Astrology I've decided to include a page or at least an article in the newsletter in honor of the practice as well. It has been a tradition in DiamondStar to include acknowledging a person living doing good work, that will be a given but included will be an acknowledgement for a special person that has also transitioned, for transition (change) is a part of life and without it life would have no meaning. Also included will be a personage of great repute that would be considered an elder. In indigenous culture an ancestor who has left much for the tribe (humanity) is never forgotten for the traditions of good things keep the evolution of quality and growth in the spiral and alive.
I would like to acknowledge Nancy Potter my long time and Ohana friend from Saint Louis Missouri who will be a familiar voice here on DiamondStar pages. She was a support to me during the early stages of getting this newsletter out some 14 years ago when it was a hard copy mailer. She has an extensive background in the media industry and says she wants to utilize her talents in something that inspires others through spirituality and reform. The main reason why she is here also is not because she has the talent and background but because she has her heart and passion to contribute in assistance to the changes coming upon us.
If you wish to offer a story or information please contact us.
One of the most exciting events that has taken place for me this summer has been to plant a garden. Believe me I've been trying since I've moved here in Hawaii to start a garden but it has never gotten off the ground, rather up from the ground until now. I am so filled with joy and ever so excited. A significant factor for us living in Hawaii is that 98% of all our resources and sustainable goods are from off the island and all the wonderful produce grown here are shipped away and we locals are left with a minimal portion. We are dependent on shipments to our shores. We are now as a community at the grass roots level of becoming self sustainable. Actually for most of us in the village, we solely support our farmers at the local farmers market. Unfortunately we have to venture in to the marketplace for sundries etc. Yet it is a most rewarding experience to have the knowledge that you are working on self sustainability, and there is a relationship that one learns to become so attached to the earth when you garden. Since I've taken a break from academia for a couple of months I was able to devote my time to my garden. The secret of growing a garden, as in all relationships,is making the commitment. Constant attention and concern must be a part of the commitment, at least at the beginning. Yet, before that can be made we have to take that leap of faith for there are no guarantees that what we are assigning ourselves to do will actually grow. Now mind you, I've grown gardens on the mainland but here in the jungle, ground to grow must be worked and worked for weeks and sometimes months. Of course the connection to the earth is paramount (I suppose Pele requires this). A
mistake I made was trying to grow seeds I brought from the mainland. Pele (this land) would not support any that is not indigenous, they had to be seeds grown here. So by the time my little seedlings finally grew it was like a miracle happened...and that isn't the end of it. For them to continue to thrive I must protect them. The rewards of this first harvest is a tremendous blessing. May you be Blessed by all of yours. Aloha
