PREDICTIONS?

Here we go again...

2009 July 22, a total eclipse of the Sun is visible from within a narrow corridor that traverses half of Earth. The path of the Moon's umbral shadow begins in India and crosses through Nepal, Bangladesh, Bhutan, Myanmar and China. After leaving mainland Asia, the path crosses Japan's Ryukyu Islands and curves southeast through the Pacific Ocean where the maximum duration of totality reaches 6 min 39 s. A partial eclipse is seen within the much broader path of the Moon's penumbral shadow, which includes most of eastern Asia, Indonesia, and the Pacific Ocean. This eclipse of 2009 is particularly special as it will mark the longest eclipse of the 21st century at 6 minutes and 39 seconds.

If you'd like to brush up on some of the ecliptic info go back to last issue summer of DiamondStar and click on the Summers Blessings page. Or visit my friend Tim Freeman's internet link.

I am not going into the technical descriptions of the eclipse since you can explore many on the internet. My question will be why do you think we are having this next one which will be considered the longest of the century? It is predicted that there will not be another eclipse that compares to this one's duration for another 123 years.

Something that lasts a while in time is significant, no? Usually there is something achieved in a passage of time. Mathematically if one sticks to something through a duration of time it is almost inevitable that a thing of value will come from the experience. Marcus and I just recently went to a celebration for some friends wedding anniversary of 33 years. They married on Valentine's day years ago and celebrating it was a blast! I hadn't laughed and had so much fun in my life. Really celebrating is paying attention to the duration of maturity that one can appreciate and honor. Celebration is the atonement from a passage of initiation.

Back to the eclipse: If we look at the path of the umbral shadow we see that it travels across countries whose civilizations have an ancient past and still to this day practice cultural traditions. In addition these peoples hold a strong sense of cultural connection even though their regions have been overthrown and stripped much of its original identity. I find this very significant since most of our modern world behaves as if its in Las Vegas with constant upgrading and homogenizing.

I've been fortunate to have some acquaintances that I've befriended here in Hawaii from Micronesia. Even though they are scattered without a real homeland (Bikini island devastation) they will not forget who they are. I find that goes hand in hand with any people who have gone through deluge: Native American, Irish, Jewish, Hawaiians, etc.

My take on this eclipse is that its the last (symbolic) round or opportunity for us earthlings to 'get it' as planetary citizens in order to be initiated into becoming Universal Citizens. What does that mean?

I suppose I have to step back a bit and mention the bombardment of emails I keep getting by well meaning enthusiasts that the new configuration of the Aquarian Age is upon us. Zap, Valentine's Day 2009 now its here! I'm sorry but unless one can live joyfully and willingly upon our planet now, how can one celebrate a universal age of Aquarius in which they know nothing about? We all must stand up right, feet planted firmly on this planet's soil and do the work... get dirty and tired but feel the sense of some kind of accomplishment that we did a part in making a difference for THIS planet first. Yes, meditation and prayer are very significant but the balance is giving of our selves 'Leo' to others humanity/'Aquarian'. Actively doing something!

Leo the sign of the Eclipse (as was the last and the total eclipse in 1999), was/is to awaken the heart and soul of humanity to learn to love and generously give and receive that love. The Lion to lie with the Lamb, that is the image of the Aquarian consciousness.

I am writing this as the sun is in Aquarius, the human being that pours out his/her spiritual energy that is love, as the waters of wisdom are rich within the ocean and the stars within the universe. We all have this wisdom from within ourselves.

It is each one of us, our own individual responsibility that needs to get 'it' together. There's no time for some kind of Messiah, that's what the long past and opposite Age of Leo was all about.

Capricorn teaches us to pull up our boot straps and quit complaining and do the work. Look at Martin Luther King Jr., was he given handouts? He earned his way in life. So must we all. I find that most spiritual folks like to think that the light from some space craft or winds of the Divine will come along and make life a paradise. Well I hate to burst our bubbles but I live in Paradise and its paradise if you contribute to it, or else it can be a very scary jungle. Those that come to the islands and want the world to operated like its suppose to (as on the mainland) get a sober awakening. Aloha, is love, if you are love you will know aloha. If you expect love, then aloha or the island will expect it from you. Very simple mathematical formula. That's life.

I find that the western world has colonized and homogenized the planet to the point that anything that isn't the familiar and the comfortable has to be changed. Power and control over the different and the uncomfortable are necessary for the 'west' to be happy and thrive well over others. To be a universal citizen one has to love his fellow brothers and sisters. To respect who they are whether different and strange (like Yoko) and realize that they are significant to be here. Their contributions and presence is valuable and they help make the planet we live in so beautiful and amazing.

I've traveled with folks that complain constantly when they visit a foreign country because they don't have this or that or the food is bad, etc. Its just different, but they are extremely uncomfortable because they are inconvenienced. Perhaps if these folks were to have to live somewhere else and learn the meaning of temperence they may have the opportunity to see the beauty of people who live simply and purely who are far less conditional and more real then they will ever be. Perhaps then they may mature and grow up.

Why is it that most folks don't like winter? Because they have no choice but to deal with the elements. When you deal with the elements (instead of flying off to some paradise island to escape it) you will appreciate the beauty of the seasons right in your own back yard. Even those that run to escape, their conditions always find un comfort where they are escaping to. Local Hawaiians get inundated with over 8 million tourists a year. Most of the waste and destruction that happens on the islands are from the tourists. Hawaiians for sovereignty don't want the tourist here. The natives and residents who choose to live here are second rate compared to the revenue and demands from the tourists. Why is this so? Because of capitalism and the demands of the capitalists, those that rule the 'heartless and inhumane' world.

As a Native Indigenous person, my heart breaks to see the struggles that the indigenous people have to endure here. Oprah Winfrey and Donald Trump increased their struggles by advertising the land available at the time. Now the local and indigenous folk will never have a chance to own anything or live anywhere other than HUD homes or shanties. Much as have been everywhere where dominating capitalists/colonists have stolen.

The world must be educated about such things that happen right in front of everyone's eyes and lives. Those that don't want to give up their comfortable life styles do not believe in equality, or else they would never allow starvation or poverty to prevail on this planet.

I challenge any one of you that speak of justice and equality to do something about it yourself. I challenge you to make a difference. I challenge you to be a human being and rightful citizen of our planet.

It doesn't take much out of someone to visit someone that is alone or ill or feeble or hungry. If we look around us, we don't have to go very far. Let's get off the comfortable arm chair and be an active spiritual person.

Then come to paradise and visit Pele with me. She will help you acknowledge what you've really been authentic and valid with. You will then appreciate your own life and how grand it really is or can be.

You don't have to come to Hawaii to let go of what is outgrown and useless, whether it is in the material realm or in your thinking. Attitude is everything.