My philosophy for a happy life: Sam Berns at TEDxMidAtlantic 2013

Wednesday January 29th

Wednesday January 29

The Day of Mercury, the Messenger of the Gods, in the World/Week of Earth.
The stones attributed to Mercury are Opals and his metal is of course,
Quicksilver. All the action today is over by 8:47 am, giving us a day
to integrate, reconnoiter, and complete as we end the current lunar cycle
under a void moon. The Sun sextiles Uranus, a step in the closing of the
yearly cycle of quantum change that started last March 28. What progress
have you made since then? At 8:33 pm, the Moon’s entry into Aquarius
activates a flow of New Moon energy. It’s an easy, calm evening as
Moon in Aquarius connects with Mercury, the sole connection of the night.
It’s a great time to talk things out. It’s a dual use apocalypse. It is
granting sight on the one hand and it is creating blindness on the other.
For those being made blind, there is no awareness that this is taking place.
The adjustment of vision immediately transforms into normal, as if it was
always so. So many things are happening on so many levels. From the
cultural, to the financial to the governing bodies, reeking with corruption,
like a burning landfill in a third world country; the remnants of
civilization are picking through the wreckage. Today is a good day to make
our wishes for the new lunar cycle.

Mercury in Capricorn

On Tuesday, December 24 cerebral Mercury entered orderly Capricorn. This began an 18-day period when minds seek structures and patterns in which to anchor our ideas. Organizing the details of our lives is a positive expression of this transit, yet there is also a risk of becoming intellectually rigid and obsessive about putting information, objects and people in the “right” places. The potential of locking into mental immobility plays an even more important role when Mercury joins the Sun in Capricorn on December 28. While there is hope that the creative solar force can spice up thinking with bright ideas, the Sun’s involvement puts will and ego into play, which can amplify the instinct to restrict reality with our minds. The cosmic message is to reform, renovate and make new traditions instead of rigidly holding onto the old ones. Whether we succeed or not will have a lot to do with how we handle Mercury in Capricorn. Rigid thinking can exacerbate the potential explosiveness of December 25 and leave chaos and confusion in its wake. So the irony is that the more tightly we try to control our world the more easily disrupted it becomes. It’s difficult to adapt to the surprises that appear to be in store for us when we’re stuck with an old rulebook that doesn’t leave room for exceptions. Mercury’s conjunction with the Sun on the 28th, therefore, could represent the last stand of old ideas that are not suited for the new world. Happily, there are other ways to use our minds that should prove to be effective under these volatile circumstances. Clear thinking is different than conditioned thinking. It has an inherent objectivity that offers the widest range of perception possible. Cerebral Mercury is naturally objective until it’s colored by rules and dressed in regulations that inhibit original thought. Conditioned thinking is about preservation rather than discovery, which might be useful in a museum but isn’t valuable in a living, breathing, changing reality. Capricorn, in spite of its reputation for authority and control, is a practical, season starting Cardinal sign whose conservatism is meant to nourish growth rather than to stop it. The pragmatic way to go these days is not to retreat from the rising tides of change, but to build a vehicle of clear consciousness that allows us to lead the way. In fact, the primary challenges of these times and through next two years is to become leaders instead of being followers. Resistance to change is futile but energetically engaging in forging ahead with new personal habits and professional aspirations is how we can succeed. Practicing these habits by making small changes in safe areas of life is perfect preparation for taking bigger steps in riskier areas. Whether it’s opening our hearts in spite of fear of intimacy or shifting careers in an uncertain economy, the solutions we seek come from the courage and creativity of our actions rather than the rules imposed by external authorities. Clear thinking frees us to be in the present, which is the best place from which to create the future.

Wednesday December 11

Wednesday December 11


The Day of Mercury in Waterweek. Expansive Sagittarius can be overwhelming to detail-oriented Mercury. Small things are easily blown out of proportion. Facts are out of whack. Tall tales abound. Yet, this is also when the lens of perception is widened and the mind opens. We could charm a snake from a cat’s vagina just by snoring. We could steer a tank with our diction even if you numbed our tongue with a lethartonic unguent. Mercury in Sagittarius can be a time of enthusiastic words, confident messages and creative communication, but big promises may stretch the truth. The trick is to drop your prejudices, but not your reason. In the desire to find one big answer to all of life's questions it is easy to overlook nuance and
appreciate different points of view. Sagittarius looks toward the future, so that perceptive Mercury's presence here
supports visions of tomorrow. The trick is to fill in all the details so that the picture you're selling is the one
that actually develops. The Moon carries on in Aries, completing its activation of the Cardinal Cross with contacts
to Pluto and Jupiter, providing hints into what we will gain through Jupiter’s retrograde and an opportunity to further
our goals.

December 4th: Mercury shoots into Sagittarius

Wednesday December 4

The Day of Mercury in the kabbalistic World of Fire, Atziluth. Visualize your self wearing sneakers with wings as you read this. Mercury's function is to think. To know. To reason. There is no foot race to win here. Language is his playground. The Akasic Library is his home. And oh yes, Hermes is a Love god. He likes the sound of his own voice. Write a poem, a sonnet, or some erotica today and them transmit that information to at least one other person. Cerebral Mercury, the master of data and details, is less concerned with practical matters during its three-week transit in big-thinking Sagittarius. This farsighted point of view is useful for spurring intuition, inspiration and recognizing lofty principles, but can make us less effective at dealing with facts. Aspirations may blossom in this high-minded environment, yet a failure to ground them in reality is a possible risk..The Moon enters Capricorn just before sunrise. Capricorn represents, on the level of the first octave, the period between 7 weeks until 12 weeks after Conception, when the embryo becomes a fetus, and the sex and physical appearance are determined. The body takes form through it's skeletal system. On the level of the fourth octave (see Chapter 9 of the Metaversal Lightcraft Training Manual for more on the Four Octaves), Capricorn represents the integration and structuring of the higher perceptions of the Self in the World on a practical level. On the World scale, Capricorn occupies the period between AD 1750 and AD 1840. This was the time when the ideology of Sagittarius was translated into material form. Humanity evinced a superiority over the forces of nature, and the Industrial revolution began. Romanticism surrounded the likes of
Shelly, Goethe, Byron, and Chopin, reacting to the cold prevailing mechanistic World view. Rudolph Steiner said
that the human being is created, and destined to be, a self-defining creature. Are we slightly higher than monkeys
or slightly lower than angels? Good old fashion hard work yields the answer. Monkeys and Angels are set to grind
corn with the Sun in Capricorn. Tackle those long term projects and remember, the Mountain must be tackled one step
at a time.

Wednesday, November 20

Wednesday November 20

The Day of Mercury in the week of active Air, and the communication planet, now moving forward, reaches the thick of the
planetary degree-cluster for the third of three times (prior hits October 6-8 and November 1) as it links with Uranus,
Pluto, and Chiron today. What more do you know now than at the beginning of October? How have things changed for you?
The Moon goes into instinctual Cancer at 3:23 am, to take us through the gauntlet of Cardinal planets once again, from
an emotional perspective. Thought and heart reach harmony by day’s end. Tear down the pyramids and let whales dine on the
mummies of kings! Let it spur you into action if you are following a plan. Do not expect curb service with the mind that we had previously, because we now Have a Quantum Mind Deluxe . Love is the Law. With the subtlety of a sledgehammer, thought and expression, the depth of imagination, and the ability to think non-verbally inspire you to create beautiful art and music. Cyclonic Banshee Satori is the new mantra we assign to you free of charge. You want one of the round thingies, too? A mandala? All we have left are the ones with Aztec Mermaids in Cowboy Hats Riding Turquoise Emus. Oh, you’ve already got one of those? Well, you’ll have to wait if you want the Hedge-Devas on Bumblebees. The monkeys saw this coming and stayed in the trees, but now they descend to raze our mini-golf shrines and cut loose our pets from their leashes. v

IAO CORE singularity RADIO SATURNSDAY 10-26-13

IAO CORE singularity RADIO SATURNSDAY 10-26-13

Mercury Retrograde in Scorpio: Revising Perceptions by Jeff Jawer

The communication planet Mercury turned retrograde on Monday, October 21 and will continue moving in reverse until November 10. Astrologers describe this thrice annual event as a period when we tend to make more mistakes. Misunderstood messages, misinterpreted information, technology and travel troubles are expected more frequently during this period. However, this is an extra special Mercury retrograde cycle that presents additional problems as well as unique opportunities.

First, its occurrence in mysterious Scorpio can drive minds deep below the surface to uncover hidden fears and desires, which can be painful but is excellent for gaining psychological insights. It’s vital to work with these uncomfortable truths rather than sweeping them under the rug. Trust is at a premium in this sometimes suspicious sign, so don’t share your secrets or those of others unless you have complete confidence in the person with whom you’re talking. Discretion is a must and when in doubt keep intimate information to yourself until you can express it in complete safety.

Second, Mercury meets stern Saturn, which is in the midst of its two-year stay in Scorpio. The first of their three conjunctions occurred on October 8, the second (and the only one during this retrograde period) is on October 29 and the last is on November 25. This triple transit of mental Mercury and exigent Saturn can force the mind into narrow spaces and manifest itself as depression or doubt. Yet the focus of these aspects can also filter out distractions and enable us to deepen thinking and master critical details.

A key quality of any Mercury retrograde is that it offers second chances to correct errors, reconnect with people and absorb information that we didn’t get the first time around. Doing this in dense dark Scorpio requires us to stay calm in what can feel like threatening situations. True, change is inevitable and in many cases scary, yet the constant movement of the planets is a reminder that life is a dynamic process and that there are times like these when standing still is more dangerous than making changes.

Mercury in Scorpio, retrograde or direct, conjunct Saturn or not, represents the mind of a skeptical researcher. It’s about using negative thinking to get positive results. This is addition by subtraction as we eliminate ideas that don’t serve our needs to make room for those that will. Still, Mercury is a trickster and is especially adept at fooling us when retrograde and in mysterious Scorpio. Therefore, this is a time to learn (or relearn) that thoughts and reality are not the same thing. Our perceptions can mislead us with false clues and erroneous assumptions, which is where the value of a doubting mind comes in. We can and should question facts and conclusions based on what we see and hear.

The truth, or at least a version of it, lies in our emotions. Those feelings that lie below the level of conscious thought and those aspirations that exist beyond the limits of reason are powerful and meaningful forces. Perhaps we can use this Mercury retrograde period to take a step back from the obvious to sense, feel and connect with the unexplainable mysteries in ourselves and in the world around us. Maybe letting go of the intellectual certainty we seek is what it takes to open doors of consciousness to other dimensions. Since the primary explanations we collectively have about human existence are either dimmed with religious faith or limited by scientific analysis it’s time to open new channels of information, and by the force of our will, if necessary. Don’t let doubt and fear extinguish curiosity or allow the walls of the obvious keep us from discovering the deeper answers that we need to face the challenges of these transformational times.

The Fool's Journey: How I Spent My Sumnmer Vacation by Western Tantric Yogi, Johannes Ayres*

As summer has ended I felt it incumbent on me to invite you to a thunderstorm which is scheduled to take place inside my trousers as well as relate to my fellow Lightpilots some of the highlights of this past summer, in this, the
Post Apocalyptic Renaissance. This was White Rabbit Season, when we could say “White Rabbit!” upon awakening to activate
unconscious forces of magick and in where the slow motion trainwreck that is life on planet Earth at this point in Post-Time both shocks and awes anyone paying attention. Accessing the Divine. Lighting up like a firebombed motorcade. Becoming the oracle. Heralding the new foundation and learn to surf
the cool lava which even now fills the mould of this exalted collective spiraltechnic thoughtform. The least I could do was be magnificent. Reaching through the television haze and strangling my archetypes. They were beginning to wonder if they’d ever feel my hands around their throats. If I succeeded, all the rats will wear jewellery. The trees will be raked of lizards nightly. No one will ever go hungry without a permit. Skyscrapers will be
renamed cloudsnaggers. Giant maple keys will come spiralling from the sky to cut off the heads of the Evil Ones and delight the children. Pussycats will climb willow trees to eat the cicadas, but the cicadas’ wits will be sharpened by this and they will never be caught, their wings will sing forever until they evolve beyond us into the supercreatures of the new millennium (meantime, we put them on our flag). Horses will get birthday cakes. Punches will be thrown out of windows, showering spirits upon those living below the party line. Nightcaps will be dislodged an hour later on holidays, extending daylight for the revellers and looters. Aperitifs will be served in the deserts and a pair of teeth will be served in the desserts. I will say no more on the subject.
BUT IF I DID NOT SUCCEED, an era of dark depravity will reign, such as you’ve not seen since the mid-70s or so. The tails of your chihuahuas will droop. Caterpillars will not turn to butterflies but instead grow to monstrous size and lie rotting on our thoroughfares, tying up traffic in the Grape Vine and stinking to the heavens. The elderly will wear hotpants. No one will ever know what time it is, but all will have the sense that it must be getting very, very late. Forget-me-nots will be renamed what-the-hell-are-these-things. The Beast of War will ravage the globe, and there will be nothing on TV except reruns of curling matches and infomercials about wheatgrass grow-kits. Chickadees will fornicate with badgers. Car alarms will become contagious, a single incident setting automobiles squonking and whooping for miles. It will become impossible to get a decent sandwich anywhere. The denizens of Hell will walk the earth in pink lycra gymsuits, their Walkmans blaring Vivaldi. And moths will eat your pillows. Equinoxes usher in the autumn and spring seasons, when life’s seasonal rebalancing occurs. We can invoke appropriate rebalancing for this next quarter, as we celebrate the Autumnal Equinox. You needn’t dress in any but the most perfunctory manner nor bring any crickets
(there will be plenty of those!)In her maturity Libra’s vision expands from her early romanticism to encompass a love so balanced that the beloved is not placed higher than the lover, and selfish ego concerns do not motivate the relationship. Lover and beloved, friend and friend, are equal; their needs are not in conflict or bargained over but pooled and shared openly in Libran trust. Libra loves her friend as she loves herself, for she knows that the breath of Maat, the Cosmic Consciousness, flows equally through one as through the other. By the way, I can see the dunes from the third-storey window of my cabin, and they are
absolutely still – not a grain moving – at this time of year. A few weeks ago, transiting Mars was squaring Jupiter in the chart of the of 2011 Kazuo Hirai, Shiro Kambe, Shinji Hasejima crisis in Japan — when a flurry of news stories appeared about the Fukishima reactor. One featured a shamefaced confession by the plant’s directors, who have been lying through their teeth for two years
straight. Enough of them are working around the clock to uphold the brutal vision of misery, the current temporal quotient of suffering, despondency, and total abject dread. Now they were confirming that the amounts of radioactivity detected in surrounding groundwater have increased steadily since the meltdown. The official story now matches up with what residents and investigative journalists have known for a while. As the plant has been leaking contaminated water into the
ocean, the truth has been leaking into the collective mind. Pluto governs plutonium, of course, and Uranus uranium. It took a quarter turn of Jupiter (widespread dissemination) for the information to fully break through the crust of humanity’s denial.
The sky is reverberating with the events of two years ago, and so are the Japanese people. On the day Uranus (protest) stationed, July 17th, there were huge anti-nuclear rallies in Tokyo —
the largest that nation has ever seen. Not known for being politically demonstrative, the Japanese public poured into the streets in the hundreds of thousands, demanding an end to the nuclear industry and the resignation of Prime Minister Yoshihiko Noda for having enabled the cover-ups. Mercury enters its Retrograde Shadow October 3rd. when it reaches 2°29' Scorpio, forming the echo chamber that will bring events in
threes. What we say and the connections we make now, both internal and external, take on more significance as part of a
cleansing process.