From the redwood-topped hills of Berkeley, California to the air of New Jersey, oppressive with rain, from the taste of potato skins fragrant with the soil of Idaho to the blazing white Sangre de Christos mountains of New Mexico, the images conjured in The Intent On by Kenneth Irby are as varied and powerful as the American landscape. In the second addition to North Atlantic Books’ series on unheralded yet significant figures in American literature and poetry, The Intent On collects and celebrates the work of Kenneth Irby, with his poems gathered together for the first time in one text. Irby experiments with poetic structure in his work, deliberately and precisely peppering sound with silence.

With the America as a backdrop, he cements melodic picturesque with relentless calamity. Irby calls writers such as Robert Duncan, Ed Dorn, and Robert Creeley close colleagues and is associated with the Black Mountain poets as well as the L=A=N=G=U=A=G=E group. Irby’s voice is clear and complex, as well as geographical and psychological as he maps a phenomenological landscape that is all his own.

From The Intent On:

January 1965, Looking On

Moss in the gratings
of a sewer vent

And past me have gone
a lady cop in a yellow slicker
ticketing in the rain
and those who have come in and out
after books

There is no image the flesh
does not take in, sink, the hook, there is
a weight beyond me all afternoon, into the drizzle
uncertainties of
how to look

A man comes in selling ballpoint pens
“I won’t be back to bother you for a long time, not till April–
I’ll let you have all three for 75¢ –they all write”

And in the dust on the floor of that used-book store?
So seared, the scars he must have had so long
any look back at him
is not even felt?

Moss
on the sewer plates

And on Clement Street
leads straight to the Pacific
men dead on their feet
come–back? home? down hard–
to die. The clod prim slickered copess

And there is no footprint
no print in the moss
the wet, sopped weeks of rain
does not take out of men, bodies
the bodies sopped
staining the filthy concrete

The rancors or texts and elucidations

And the quiet light down on the dust, in the windows, in this store

My God, my hands stuffed in my dirty pockets

– 11 Jan 1965

The holidays are fast approaching and it is time to start thinking about gift giving (and receiving). With every topic covered from the Mayan calendar to metaphysics, Buddhism to health and healing, North Atlantic Books has the perfect book to match your loved ones’ interests, and some you’ll want to add to your own holiday wish list. You’ll find something for everyone among our newest titles this season.

To order, please visit www.northatlanticbooks.com.

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The Cracking Tower: A Strategy for Transcending 2012
by Jim DeKorne

With the end of the legendary Mayan “long count” calendar looming on December 21, 2012 and recent threats of a worldwide economic collapse triggering widespread apprehension and a search for answers, The Cracking Tower offers an arsenal of strategies to turn these fears into an opportunity for spiritual and personal growth. Shaping the discussion is the fascinating metaphor of the cracking tower, an apparatus for distilling gasoline, as a vehicle for distilling our awareness. Rather than speculating on what might occur in 2012, DeKorne proposes vigilance of a more introspective sort. “The important thing,” he says, “is to ignore the finger and strive to comprehend the moon,” to see what our apocalyptic tendencies reveal about ourselves.

$16.95 US/ $21.00 CAN
Trade Paperback
978-1-55643-816-5
232 pages, 6 x 9
On Sale November 3, 2009

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Uncommon Happiness: The Path of the Compassionate Warrior
by Rinpoche Dzigar Kongtrul

From 2005 to 2007, Dzigar Kongtrül Rinpoche gave classes on Shantideva’s The Way of the Boddhisattva. His commentaries revealed such a deep understanding that Marcia Binder Schmidt decided to collect them for other students of Buddhism as an independent work. This book is the result. Kongtrül Rinpoche examines different aspects of Shantideva’s text, always relating the teachings to individual experience. He explores the training of the four immeasurables—equanimity, loving kindness, compassion, and sympathetic joy—and discusses the importance of wholehearted engagement in the process. In the words of the editor, “Dharma needs to be trained in, integrated into our lives, and embraced by wisdom.” Uncommon Happiness contains the guidance to undergo that training with the right attitude of clarity and commitment.

$16.95 US/ $19.95 CAN
Trade Paperback
978-962-7341-63-5
192 pages, 5-1/2 x 8-1/2
On Sale November 10, 2009

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Rhythm and Touch: The Fundamentals of Craniosacral Therapy
by Anthony P. Arnold, PH.D.

With its low-impact, nurturing approach to working with the spine, the skull, the diaphragm, and the fascia to release pain in the body, Craniosacral Therapy has become an increasingly popular healing method. Rhythm and Touch explains in detail how it works, following a simple, step-by-step instructional model. Part one guides the practitioner in discovering the craniosacral rhythm and learning how to interpret and respond to its cues. Part two offers a thorough review of the brain’s protective and nourishing environment, the cranium. This section describes the bones of the mouth and face, their interrelationship and motions, and how to assess and release the results of injury. The final chapter offers reflections and recommendations for using this vast array of knowledge effectively.

$27.95 US/ $34.00 CAN
Trade Paperback
978-1-55643-819-6
280 pages, 7 x 9-1/4
On Sale November 17, 2009

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Meditations on Nature, Meditations on Silence
Edited by Roderick MacIver

Meditations on Nature, Meditations on Silence is a collection of hundreds of quotes on the beauty and mystery of the natural world by writers and thinkers, including Aldo Leopold, Rachel Carson, Edward Abbey, Rainer Maria Rilke, Henry David Thoreau, Louise Dickinson Rich, and Lewis Thomas. Through their inspirational poetry and other writings and Rod MacIver’s beautiful watercolors, Meditations on Nature, Meditations on Silence offers readers a retreat from our complex, fast-paced world. This book explores the beauty, strange cohesion, and complexity of the natural world and universe, drawing on sources as diverse as ancient Chinese poets, contemporary songwriters, wilderness adventurers, homesteaders, and modern scientists.

$16.95 US/ $21.00 CAN
Trade Paperback
978-1-55643-916-2
96 pages, 8-1/2 x 8-1/2
On Sale November 18, 2009

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Where Pharaohs Dwell: One Mystic’s Journey Through the Gates of Immortality
by Patricia Cori

In this thought-provoking book, Patricia Cori focuses on her past-life experiences in ancient Egypt. The book begins with the traumatic recall of a past Egyptian life, when Cori relives a horrifying death by suffocation—from being buried alive. This experience propels her on a journey of exploration into the question of human immortality, leading her back to Egypt where she unravels the origins of the ancient Egyptians’ obsession with the resurrection of the soul. This exciting book weaves strands of science, history, and metaphysics into a shimmering tapestry of personal discovery.

$16.95 US/ $21.00 CAN
Trade Paperback
978-1-55643-830-1
264 pages, 6 x 9
On Sale November 24, 2009

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The Circle of Fire: The Metaphysics of Yoga
by P.J. Mazumdar

The Circle of Fire examines the eternal metaphysical questions “What is God?” and “What is the purpose of life?” The book discusses the answers to these questions given by Western science and different schools of Indian thought, specifically detailing the answers to be found in India’s two most developed atheistic traditions, Hinduism and Buddhism.

Representative of a generation of Indians who have grown up with the best in scientific education and spiritual values, author P.J. Mazumdar takes a hard look at religion, science, and how two seemingly divergent bodies of knowledge can be brought together. Acknowledging the metaphysical insights to be found in both Western science and Eastern spirituality, Mazumdar pays special attention to the highest school of philosophy of Hinduism, Advaita, and its application to practical spirituality through the teachings and practice of Yoga.

$22.95 US/ $27.95 CAN
Trade Paperback
978-1-55643-670-3
400 pages, 6 x 9
On Sale November 30, 2009

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The Intent On
by Kenneth Irby

Kenneth Irby has practiced his craft at the center of the American poetry scene for decades. An associate of the legendary Black Mountain poets, he was a close colleague of writers such as Robert Duncan, Ed Dorn, and Robert Creeley. This comprehensive collection marks the first time the full range of Irby’s artistry has been presented in one place.

Irby’s early career, starting in the 1960s, paralleled the late Beat era and the counterculture, and his blend of innovative wordplay with personal and political themes made him an important voice of that era. At the same time, he was able to forge his own path, conjuring a style that was both universal and distinctly American. Critics and other poets especially have noted his avant-garde use of sound, silence, and unusual sentence structure to seduce readers.

$40.00 US/ $49.00 CAN
Hardcover
978-1-55643-833-2
704 pages, 6-3/4 x 9-1/4
On Sale December 1, 2009

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Ortho-Bionomy: A Path to Self-Care
by Luann Overmyer

Ortho-Bionomy is based on the premise that the body inherently knows how to heal and self-correct, given the opportunity. This user-friendly guide by one of the pioneers of the approach presents positions, postures, and movements designed to release tension and ease pain. Positions for each part of the body are clearly described in lay terms and illustrated with photos and drawings. Quick fixes for sciatica, suggestions for dealing with menstrual cramps, and exercises to address posture, scoliosis, and flexibility of the spine are just a few among 150 techniques described. The book also includes simple exercises to increase ease, function, strength, and flexibility once the pain has subsided. Rounded out with human-interest stories and client examples, this accessible work can be used quickly and effectively by anyone with pain.

$26.95 US/ $33.00 CAN
Trade Paperback
978-1-55643-791-5
344 pages, 8 x 10
On Sale December 15, 2009

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Heart Lamp: The Heart of the Matter and Lamp of Mahamudra
by Tsele Natsok Rangdrol

Tsele Natsok Rangdröl is renowned in the Kagyü and Nyingma schools of Tibetan Buddhism for his brilliant scholarship, profound exposition, and meditative accomplishment. This collection presents four essential Buddhist strands of philosophical viewpoint and meditation technique: the teachings of the Prajnaparamita (Perfection of Wisdom) body of literature; the philosophy of the Middle Way; Mahamudra meditation; and Dzogchen teachings and practice. The focus is on how to realize that essence through “effortless” training based on the four techniques. Since the training is unbound by cultural or temporal limitations, the truth the book conveys is as valuable today as it was in centuries past.

$17.95 US/ $21.00 CAN
Trade Paperback
978-962-7341-60-4
224 pages, 5-1/2 x 8-1/2
On Sale December 15, 2009

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Art as a Way of Life
by Roderick MacIver

Filled with elegant watercolors and inspirational prose, Art as a Way of Life offers reflections on art and creativity, empowering us to discover and nurture the creative spirit within. It is an encouraging book for people wanting to live, work, and love in the creative spirit.

A wide range of creative innovators, including Carl Rogers, Robert Henri, Tom Jay, Henry David Thoreau, Ansel Adams, and Vincent van Gogh, contribute poignant and moving thoughts, quotes, sayings, interviews, and poems on the beauty of love and art. Through these contemporary and past theorists, musicians, artists, writers, and poets, Art as a Way of Life explores what it is to be passionate, inspired, and blissful.

$16.95 US/ $21.00 CAN
Trade Paperback
978-1-55643-920-9
96 pages, 8-1/2 x 8-1/2
On Sale December 15, 2009

Each month author Lucy Harmer dedicates her journal entries to the theme of “transformative and inspirational living” – finding the fun, magic and laughter in everyday occurrences! She explores ideas, thoughts and quotes from her two books, Discovering Your Spirit Animal and Shamanic Astrology.

December 2009

Lions, Bears and Elephants!
How to Recognize Your Spirit Animal

© Copyright 2009 Lucy Harmer

I have just returned from being a guest speaker at the national Shamanic Conference in Switzerland and the Mind, Body, Spirit Festival in Geneva. A question that I am frequently asked is: “How can I be certain that a particular animal is really my spirit animal?” This month’s journal entry explores this question.

In my book, Discovering Your Spirit Animal, I present many different techniques to help you find your spirit animal, whether it be through dreaming, shamanic journeying, dancing your animal, going on a vision quest, observing your aura, or creative visualization. You can use whichever method feels best for you.

The people I speak to in courses, seminars and conferences have often completed an exercise to discover their spirit animal. However, they sometimes question what they have experienced and are not sure whether to trust their intuition. They want to know how they can be sure that the animal they have met is really their own personal spirit animal.

One of the ways you can be certain is to ask your spirit animal to give you a really clear sign. One of the stories I tell in my book is of a friend who discovered his spirit animal through creative visualization. During his visualization he felt as if he was on the back of a lion for a few seconds. However, he didn’t feel any particular affinity with the lion and a year later he was still wondering if this was his own personal spirit animal. Every year I organize a party at Christmas and ask everyone to bring a small gift to put into a lucky dip. This particular year, my friend mentioned his frustration at not knowing his spirit animal for sure; he questioned again whether it was in fact the lion. I told him to ask for a clear sign from his spirit animal, which he did. Just before leaving, he put his hand into the lucky dip and drew out a small packet. He was absolutely delighted upon opening it to discover a miniature lion!

Getting to know your spirit animal is a process of trusting your own intuition and reading the signs that present themselves in your life. All you need to do is to ask for a confirmation from your spirit animal and keep your eyes and ears open to the different signs that can present themselves.

A few weeks ago, one of my readers wrote to me about her experience of discovering her spirit animal (an elephant). She wrote:

“I was traveling home on the train from work and reading your book, Discovering Your Spirit Animal. I asked my spirit animal if it would reveal itself to me as I opened the book up at random… and as I turned a page, there it was! I asked that night for a confirmation through a dream and I got one – it was incredibly thrilling! I cannot remember ever having had a dream about this animal before. I would never have guessed it to be my spirit animal, but since that night it has appeared frequently in my life. Thank you for this thrill of knowing I have an animal which accompanies me on my journey! The morning after my dream, I saw a statue of my particular animal at a shop I often go to. There had never been a statue of this animal there before, so I took it as a sign and bought it. It is now in pride of place on my balcony, looking very regal – as it should.”

I received another email from a reader who wrote to me after trying out the dream exercise in my book. In her dream she heard a roar and wasn’t sure if it was a lion’s roar. She researched lion roars on the internet and listened closely to them, but could not duplicate the sound she had heard. Finally, her boyfriend suggested she try bears roars – because her mom was always saying that she was “like a bear” in the mornings! She found a roar that matched the one in her dream exactly.

When asking for a sign from your spirit animal, don’t forget that animals don’t always appear in the form you want them to appear; you may hear sounds, smell, or “feel” them, rather than see them. Keep all your senses peeled and enjoy finding the clues! I always enjoy hearing the stories of how spirit animals show themselves in different ways in people’s lives.

This month I wish you every success in your journey of discovering and developing a relationship with your spirit animal. I wish you lots of fun together over the holidays!

Love and blessings,

Lucy

Shamanic Astrology is available for purchase directly through NorthAtlanticBooks.com, as well as major book stores and online retailers.

CLICK HERE to learn more about courses, seminars and workshops offered by Lucy Harmer.

CLICK HERE to learn more about Shamanic Astrology.

CLICK HERE to learn more about Discovering Your Spirit Animal.

FREE WILL ASTROLOGY
December
© Copyright 2009 Rob Brezsny

ARIES (March 21-April 19): When Carolee Schneeman was a kid, her extravagant adoration of nature earned her the nickname “mad pantheist.” Later, during her career as a visual artist, she described her relationship with the world this way: “I assume the senses crave sources of maximum information, that the eye benefits by exercise, stretch, and expansion towards materials of complexity and substance.” I hope that you’re attracted to that perspective right now, Aries. To be in most productive alignment with the cosmic rhythms, you should be in a state of nearly ecstatic openness, hungry to be stretched — like a mad pantheist.

TAURUS (April 20-May 20): “Dear Rob: Last night my son and I were star-gazing. When we focused on the constellation Cassiopeia, an owl started hooting. Then a brilliant shooting star zipped by as a huge bat flew right over our heads. Was this a bad omen? Bats are creepy — associated with vampires. And in Greek mythology Cassiopeia got divine punishment because she bragged that she and her daughter were more beautiful than the sea god’s daughters. But I don’t know, maybe this blast of odd events was a good omen. Owls are symbols of wisdom and shooting stars are lucky, right? What do you think? Are we blessed or cursed? -Spooked Taurus.” Dear Spooked: The question of whether it’s good or bad luck is irrelevant. Here’s what’s important: You Tauruses are in a phase when the hidden workings of things will be shown to you — the mysterious magic that’s always bubbling below the surface but that is usually not visible.

GEMINI (May 21-June 20): The weeks ahead will be a ripe time to pull off magic reversals. May I suggest that you try to transform dishwater greys into sparkling golds? Or how about recycling the dead energy of a lost cause in such a way as to generate raw fuel for a fresh start? I’m confident, Gemini, that you’ll be able to discover treasure hidden in the trash, and that you’ll find a way to unleash the creative zeal that has been trapped inside polite numbness. Now ponder this riddle, please: Do you think there’s any mystical significance in the fact that the word “stressed” is “desserts” spelled backwards?

CANCER (June 21-July 22): Lately you remind me of the person Robert Hass describes in his poem “Time and Materials”: “someone falling down and getting up and running and falling and getting up.” I’m sending you my compassion for the times you fall down, and my admiration for the times you get up, and my excitement for the times you run. It has probably become clear to you by now that the falling down isn’t a shameful thing to be cursed, but rather is an instrumental part of the learning process that is teaching you marvelous secrets about getting back up and running.

LEO (July 23-Aug. 22): “I burn for no reason, like a lantern in daylight,” writes poet Joseph Lease. I think that’s a succinct formulation of one of your central issues, Leo. Burning for no reason, like a lantern in the daylight, can be the cause of either failure or success for you, depending on subtle differences of emphasis. This is how it can be failure: When you’re mindlessly and wastefully burning through your prodigious reserves of fuel without any concern for the benefits it may provide you and others. This is how it can be success: When you are exuberant and self-disciplined in shining your light and radiating your warmth just because it feels so good and so right and so healthy, and without any thought about whether it’s “useful” to anyone.

VIRGO (Aug. 23-Sept. 22): In one of his short poems, John Averill (twitter.com/wiremesa) describes a scene that I think captures the essence of your current astrological omens: “Today is the day of the photo of moonrise over Havana in a book on a shelf in the snowbound cabin.” Here’s a clue about what it means: The snowbound cabin is where you are right now in your life. The moonrise over Havana is where you could be early in 2010. How do you get there from here?

LIBRA (Sept. 23-Oct. 22): An estuary is a bay where the salt water of a sea mixes with the fresh water of rivers. These days you remind me of such a place. You are two-toned, Libra. You’re dual-purpose and double-tracked. You’re a hybrid blend of the yes and the no, the give and the take, the extravagant and the traditional. And somehow this has been working out pretty well for you. You’re not so much a dysfunctional contradiction as an interesting juxtaposition. You’re not being crushed by a squeeze of opposites so much as you’re getting massaged by the oscillating throbs of complementary influences. Keep doing what you’ve been doing, only more so.

SCORPIO (Oct. 23-Nov. 21): Big shiny egos with flashy tricks may be mucking around in everyone’s business, calling narcissistic attention to themselves as they pretend to do noble deeds. Meanwhile, I hope you’ll be doing the hard, detailed work that must be done to serve the greater good — quietly and unpretentiously improving people’s lives without demanding major tribute. That approach will stir up some sleek, silky karma that will come in handy when you undertake the building of your masterpiece in 2010.

SAGITTARIUS (Nov. 22-Dec. 21): “Dear Rob: I love to be proven wrong. That’s not an ironic statement. I actually get excited and feel creative when I acquire new information that shows me I’ve been operating under a misunderstanding. One of my very favorite life moments occurs when I am convincingly liberated from a negative opinion I’ve been harboring about someone. As you can tell, I’m quite proud of this quality. The way I see it, emotional wealth and psychological health involve having so much self-respect that I don’t need to be right all the time. -Sagittarian Freedom Fighter.” Dear Freedom Fighter: Thanks for your testimony. The capacity you described is one that many Sagittarians will be poised to expand in 2010. And this is an excellent time for them to start getting the hang of it.

CAPRICORN (Dec. 22-Jan. 19): In an early version of the tale of Pinocchio, friendly woodpeckers chiseled his nose back to its original size after it had grown enormous from his incorrigible lying. From a metaphorical perspective, Capricorn, a comparable development may soon occur in your own life. A benevolent (if somewhat rough) intervention akin to the woodpeckers’ assistance will shrink an overgrown, top-heavy part of your attitude, allowing you to proceed to the next chapter of your story with streamlined grace.

AQUARIUS (Jan. 20-Feb. 18): “There is light enough for those who wish to see,” wrote French philosopher Blaise Pascal, “and darkness enough for those of the opposite disposition.” I’m hoping you will align yourself with the first group in the coming weeks, Aquarius. More than ever before, what you choose to focus on will come rushing in to meet you, touch you, teach you, and prompt you to respond. Even if all the smart people you know seem to be drunk on the darkness, I encourage you to be a brave rebel who insists on equal time for the light.

PISCES (Feb. 19-March 20): White dwarfs are small and extremely dense stars. They’re typically no bigger than the Earth but as heavy as the sun. You currently have a resemblance to one of those concentrated balls of pure intensity. I have rarely seen you offering so much bang for the buck. You are as flavorful as chocolate mousse, as piercing as the scent of eucalyptus, as lustrous as a fireworks display on a moonless night. Personally, I’m quite attracted to your saucy and zesty emanations, and I think most people with strong egos will be. But some underachievers with lower self-esteem may regard you as being more like astringent medicine. My advice: Gravitate toward those who like you to be powerful.

Homework: Go to YouTube and watch me give some pep talks and crazed lectures. Start here: http://tinyurl.com/lyr99n

CLICK HERE to learn more about Rob Brezsny’s “Free Will Astrology.”

CLICK HERE to subscribe to Rob Brezsny’s newsletter.

CLICK HERE to learn more about Rob Brezsny’s book, Pronoia is the Antidote for Paranoia, Revised and Expanded.

Vegan Ice-Cream...Yum!

Everyone’s talking about veganism—from my college roommate to talk show host Ellen DeGeneres. Alicia Silverstone even wrote a new book about her experiences as a vegan.

That’s Why We Don’t Eat Animals couldn’t have come at a better time. Author and illustrator Ruby Roth explains vegan- and vegetarianism to kids using simple text and striking artwork. Praised by Booklist as “A unique effort that is to be applauded,” this book has been discussed all over the web. If you haven’t had a chance to read That’s Why We Don’t Eat Animals, or if you’ve read it and want more, bring your children by Café Gratitude in Berkeley on December 12 for a vegan ice-cream social, reading, and book signing! Admission is FREE!

December 12, 2009, 1-3pm
Café Gratitude
www.CafeGratitude.com
1730 Shattuck Ave @ Virginia
Berkeley, CA 94709
510-725-4418

To learn more about Ruby Roth, That’s Why We Don’t Eat Animals, and the upcoming vegan ice-cream social, please visit www.WeDontEatAnimals.com.

“Lucy Harmer’s shamanic astrology book is truly amazing. I use it in my work every day as a therapist to help people understand their personality and find their pathway through life.”
–Jean-Francois Beltrami, counselor and kinesiologist

Welcome to Lucy Harmer’s Shamanic Astrology monthly forecast for the Northern Hemisphere! Each month Lucy shares inspiration and ideas for the coming weeks from her book Shamanic Astrology: Understanding Your Spirit Animal Sign.

Shamanic Astrology is based on the study of the movement of the sun and the moon during the different seasons of the year. There are twelve astrological ‘”signs” which are represented by twelve different spirit animals. To find out your own personal spirit animal sign (the sign you were born under), please check the table of spirit animals at the end of this article. Shamanic Astrology teaches us that inner power derives from knowing the properties, characteristics, and qualities of each spirit animal (known as their “medicine”), and applying this in our own lives.

Each month I will focus on the spirit animal for that month, and describe the “energy” of the month itself and also the influence of the moon. I will also indicate which other spirit animal signs will find this month to be particularly beneficial, and why.

November 22-December 21: OWL

Month of Hibernation and Long Nights

Spirit Animal Sign of the Month:
Owl is the spirit animal which corresponds to November 22 – December 21 (in the northern hemisphere). If you were born at this time, your spirit animal sign is Owl and you share Owl’s strengths of being fair, honest, wise, philosophical, idealistic, optimistic, and independent. You are someone who enjoys the good life! You may also share some of Owl’s weaknesses and can have a tendency to be restless, negligent, intolerant, proud, irresponsible, tactless, superficial and excessively optimistic.

Medicine: Owl’s medicine is the ability to seek out truth and justice in all
circumstances. This can be used in any ambiguous or unclear situation, to find the path to follow and to restore order.
Element: Fire
Stone: Obsidian
Color: Gold
Plant: Mistletoe

Energy of the season:
Owl’s month, which ends with the winter solstice, is that of hibernation and long nights. The sun is at its lowest in the sky and the nights are at their longest. This is a period for introspection, spiritual seeking, visions, plans and preparation for the future. Everything undertaken during this month will need a greater dose of enthusiasm, spontaneity, and optimism than at other times and will have to be on a sound ethical basis. Projects conceived now are often highly ambitious.

Energy of the moon:
Owl’s new moon started on Nov 16th and the full moon is on December 2nd 2009. The period from November 22nd until December 2nd is the ideal time for conceiving or launching projects. These will have a high rate of success, as long as they have a sound ethical foundation. After the full moon, from December 3rd until 15th December, time is best used for introspection and deep spiritual growth. This is a time for learning from the past and for setting new goals for the future. December 16th brings the new moon in Snow Goose; this is a time for putting new structures in place for the year to come, with much determination.

This month is particularly favorable for the following signs:

Owl:
If your sign is Owl the energy of this month is very favorable because it corresponds to the month and the moon of your birth. A new cycle is about to start in your life and this is the best time to start planting seeds. Use the sun’s energy to take stock and head off in a new direction.

Falcon/Salmon:
If your sign is Falcon or Salmon, this is a very lucky month for you, with lots of harmony because you are in your own fire element. A multitude of opportunities will open up for you in this period and this is the best time to give destiny a helping hand!

Raven/Otter:
For Raven and Otter people, this is a very dynamic month, full of energy which favors the conception and birth of new projects. You will feel new motivation and a renewal of your energy at this time.

Table of Spirit Animal Signs:

To find your spirit animal sign, just locate your birthday from the dates below, according to your place of birth. If you were born north of the equator (eg; USA, Canada, Europe), then look for your date of birth in the column headed “Northern Hemisphere.” If you were born south of the equator (eg; Australia, New Zealand, South Africa), then look for your date of birth in the column headed “Southern Hemisphere.”

© Copyright 2009 Lucy Harmer

Shamanic Astrology is available for purchase directly through NorthAtlanticBooks.com, as well as major book stores and online retailers.

CLICK HERE to learn more about courses, seminars and workshops offered by Lucy Harmer.

CLICK HERE to learn more about Shamanic Astrology.

CLICK HERE to learn more about Discovering Your Spirit Animal.

Christo & Jeanne-Claude

In the whirlwind of information crammed into my brain as a college student, there are many things that I learned throughout my classes that I have since forgotten. I remember reading a book really enjoyed in my Literature courses, but I can’t recall the author, or even the exact plotline, or listened to a particularly compelling lecture in History, which conclusion or ideas presented have since escaped me. But regardless of how foggy my memories of some of my favorite moments as a student become, I will never forget the first time my Art professor presented the vivid oranges and blues of art pieces created by husband-and-wife team Christo and Jeanne-Claude.

Their story of life-long love and companionship is as compelling as the bright hues that appeared in their art, and perhaps even worth noting – Jeanne-Claude’s signature blazing red hair. Collaborating on Christo’s artwork for over 50 years, their relationship rested on deep respect and true teamwork, rather than a muse-artist or assistant-manager relationship, translating into profound and globally famous works for decades. While Christo’s art is known for its temporary outdoor installations, works such as The Gates, which created an orange trail of rich orange fabric draping tall beams throughout a Central Park have created long-lasting impressions. Their work was meant to give viewers a new appreciation for their environment, whether it was a bridge or a landscape or a park.

The Gates in Central Park

The world will miss Jeanne-Claude, who died this week at age 74. Though she famously espoused, “Artists don’t retire. They die. That’s all. When they stop being able to create art, they die,” she and Christo had in fact been working on their next installation, which he will continue on without her. perhaps, if for no other reason than to live by her very quote. Her many achievements as an artist may only be shadowed by her successes in her personal journeys, a life many only dream of; she died having found the ability to make a living doing what she loved while continually inspiring people world-wide, all while finding a deeply profound love in a partner of kindred spirit.

Even as our memories fade to make room for new information, if nothing else – not even her fiery red hair and creative statements that have captivated art-lovers for a half a century – remember her passion for life, and ability to continually create and inspire the world, and use it as an example in your own life.

For an obituary on Jeanne-Claude from the Washington Post, please click here.

Its opening weekend, the movie 2012 topped the box office charts by pulling in $65 million. In the film, Jackson Curtis and his family attempt to survive the catastrophic events taking place all around the world–from earthquakes in California, to erupting volcanoes in Yellowstone, to overwhelming tsunamis in Washington, D.C., the world falls apart around the ears of the Curtis family, and in front of our eyes.

But the movie 2012 is only one prediction in a slew of other prophecies regarding the events of December 21, 2012–the end of the Mayan Long Count Calendar and the date of the winter solstice in the Northern Hemisphere. Author Jim DeKorne of The Cracking Tower: A Strategy for Transcending 2012, explains:

Within the past twenty years a growing body of literature has emerged to advise us of a major cosmic alignment focused around the date of December 21, 2012. Many of these prophecies are deduced from the Mayan calendar, others from shamanic vision quests using psychedelic drugs. Some groups imply this date will mark the end of the world [Filmmakers of 2012: Raise your hands]; a few declare that humanity will ascend (apparently en masse) to a higher level of awareness; still another asserts that we’ll either be absorbed or destroyed by a computerized ‘Artificial Intelligence.’

So what’s the answer? Jim DeKorne has a piece of advice: whatever happens in 2012, “it is totally irrelevant to your private welfare.” The world’s future is not in your hands, but your own future is. The major refrain of the book–”Do the Work in the space in which you find yourself”–is one of the many times when DeKorne begins with a overwhelming topic–The End of the World–and zooms in to the reader. And even though The Cracking Tower delves into a discussion about the end of the world later on, it first sets up a framework for us to evaluate its meaning.

Applying the principles of Perennial Philosophy—concepts that appear in every world religion and correspond to the paradigm of human awareness—Jim DeKorne urges us to “Wake up, Turn inward, Meet Essence, Do the Work in the space in which you find yourself.” He explains:

‘Wake up’ means to extract your focus from the prevailing consensus trance. ‘Turn inward’ means to become acquainted with your personal sector of hyperspace…’Meet Essence should be self-explanatory. ‘Do the Work in the space in which you find yourself’ is the mantra my own Essence gave me many years ago. For me, it means to work from the center of the Cube of Space…It’s where the ego and the Self meet….The first phase of the Work is to determine your dharma (duty). After that, you can just do it to the best of your ability. It’s really all you came to do here anyway.

The world may very well end on December 21, 2012, but those who have read The Cracking Tower know that the world within is more valuable, more precious, and more rewarding than the world outside.

What is your Work? How are you accomplishing it in the space in which you are finding yourself?

An acupuncturist, a Reiki teacher, and two artists who work with chi and creativity and chi gung will present their healing arts on Saturday, Nov. 21 from 2-4 p.m. at Berkeley Public Central Library in downtown Berkeley. This is the second author panel in the free series Get Well! Alternative Practitioners Talk With You About Healing, sponsored by North Atlantic Books and Berkeley Public Library.

Moderator for the Nov. symposium is Lindy Hough, Co-Founder and Publisher of North Atlantic Books in Berkeley.
The panelists:
- Kaleo and Elise Ching, Chi and Chi Gung;
Authors of Chi and Creativity: Vital Energy and Your Inner Artist
- Don Beckett, Reiki healer;
Author of Reiki–The True Story: An Exploration of Usui Reiki
- Robert Johns, Acupuncturist;
Author of The Art of Acupuncture Techniques

Authors will describe their practices and theoretical framework and read from their books. Audience questions will be followed by a book signing.

Kaleo and Elise Ching live and practice in El Cerrito, Robert Johns practices in Berkeley, and Reiki teacher Don Beckett is from Mesa, Arizona.

“We’re interested in helping people understand how these modalities work and how effective they are. Hearing how our authors, who are also practitioners, treat different diseases helps people see whether a given modality might be helpful with their own troublesome conditions or something a loved one is struggling with.” Most people who don’t use alternative medicine find it hard to distinguish how these different systems work. “The goal of the November panel is to have the audience come away with a clearer idea of how chi energy works in Reiki, acupuncture, chi gung and creative work,” Hough said.

“The Berkeley Public Library is excited to be working in partnership with North Atlantic Books to better serve the interest in mind/body/spirit their readers are seeking,” said Douglas Smith, Deputy Director of the Library. “We’re pleased to be expanding our programming, outreach, and collections in these important directions.”

ALL ABOUT CHI
Get Well! Alternative Practitioners Answer Your Questions About Healing series
Saturday, November 21, 2009
2pm-4pm
Berkeley Public Central Library
3rd Floor Community Meeting Room
2090 Kittredge Street
Berkeley, CA 94704

Do you plan to attend this event?

Wheelchair accessible. To request a sign language interpreter, real-time captioning, materials in large print or Braille, or other accommodations for this event, please call (510) 981-6107 (voice) or (510) 548-1240 (TTY); at least five working days will ensure availability. Please refrain from wearing scented products to public programs.

If 10,000 households spend their Thanksgiving meal dollars on local food, we’ll invest about $446,100 into our communities. Sounds pretty good to me! But for those who won’t be preparing their own holiday meal this year, Café Gratitude will be serving a FREE Thanksgiving Meal at each of their restaurants.

For the past 5 years, every open Cafe Gratitude location (all in the San Francisco Bay Area) has served this free meal to an average of 300 people, as a way to give back to customers and to the community for their support and patronage all year long. On Thanksgiving, the cafes operate on 100% volunteer efforts, of both employees and non-employees. This year there will be four Cafe Gratitude locations serving the Thanksgiving Appreciation Meal, all open from 11am to 3pm. Please join in the festivities and bring your friends and family, bring someone new, or come serve your community!

Participating Locations:

San Francisco
2400 Harrison Street (@20th Street)
San Francisco, CA 94110
Phone: 415-830-3014

Berkeley
1730 Shattuck Avenue (@ Virginia)
Berkeley, CA 94709
Phone: 510-725-4418

San Rafael
2200 Fourth Street
San Rafael, CA 94901
Phone: 415-578-4928

Healdsburg
206 Healdsburg Avenue (in the Olive Leaf)
Healdsburg, CA 95448
Phone: 707-723-4461

To volunteer for the Thanksgiving Appreciation Meal at Café Gratitude, please arrive to the location nearest you, between 11am and 3pm. There is no need to RSVP. Together, all volunteers will serve as many meals as possible, until all the food is served.

Café Gratitude gives special thanks to Veritable Vegetable, Bariani Olive Oil, and other local merchants, who have donated food to the Thanksgiving meal in past years. To donate this year, please contact info@cafegratitude.com.

Will you be attending? If you don’t reside in the Bay Area, is there a free Thanksgiving meal in your city?

Café Gratitude has published several books with North Atlantic, including I Am Grateful, Sweet Gratitude, Sacred Commerce. They are all printed on 100% recycled paper!

CLICK HERE to learn more about Café Gratitude and to get more details about the Thanksgiving Appreciation Meal.