Author: SP

One Last Time

If you’ve been in touch with me over the past month or two you’ve heard me rave about Hamilton. I haven’t seen it yet, but I fell in love with the Original Broadway Cast Recording. If you don’t have it, I highly recommend it – almost all of the show is on the recording, so you can follow along through the whole story.

In my quest for more though – I found the clip below. It’s from a scene where George Washington has decided to not run for a third term as president – setting that precedent that finally became law with the ratification of the 22nd amendment in 1951. Washington calls Hamilton in to help him draft his remarks to the nation – and it’s a beautiful testimony to the sacrifice inherent in leadership.… More...

Solace

Well – this is different, right?

This past Tuesday morning at 5:28am the moon was new again, so I knew it was time to write another of these – but then I thought ‘nothing is normal’, and is it just going to be irritating to publish this now? Then I decided to not take that decision away from anyone – I wanted to see what words came out and if someone else needs a different kind of distraction they can stop reading now.

The theme for the past lunar cycle was one of Resonance, and when I think about it I can see examples of resonant effect in many places. The way that the harmonics of this virus and response have hit a crescendo and reverberated through every area of our lives is indeed resonant – but certainly not in the way I would have imagined.… More...

Resonance

Now that I’ve got most of my faculties back, I feel like I can finally write this month’s New Moon post. The moon was new at 10:32am this past Sunday morning – while I was enjoying a brunch cocktail with a friend and former work colleague who was visiting from Denver. It was good to see him, and a good reminder that there are professional relationships that transcend the profession. Souls meet, they react, then they sustain or they fade. I’m grateful for all the souls who touch mine – regardless of whether they linger for a reason, a season, or a lifetime.

The focus last month was on Curation, and in the post I justified my concept of Curation by saying that “there are times when we welcome the energies that resonate with our own, but there are also times when we need to let energies wane that no longer have a place.”… More...

Curation

At 4:42pm this afternoon we have another New Moon – and another chance to pick a facet and devote some intent attention to it.

This past lunar cycle I focused on Balance – and through it, I wrote that “finding Balance in the dark will involve a lot of acceptance. I can’t fix everything, I can’t keep everyone happy all the time, I can’t do everything right.” I came to understand in these past days and weeks that making those kinds of choices does come with a cost, but part of the process is weighing cost versus benefit – again, another example of balance. Overall, I think I’ve been doing well – and despite some disappointments, I do feel healthier.

So now as we enter the Year of the Rat, I’m going to take Balance to the next level and move to Curation.… More...

Balance

At 12:13am (EST) on December 26th the moon is new again, so in the glow of all of the seasonal holidays of rebirth and renewed light (Yule, Hanukah, Christmas), it’s time for another moment of reflection.

This past cycle the focus was one of Reconciliation. When I wrote last month and announced the theme, I’d said “Reconciliation – in this context. Not actually ‘rejoining’ but more ethereal than that. A state where things fall into balance, where you realize that while the road not taken would have been awesome, and the road you chose had more than its share of bumps, you ended up exactly where you were supposed to be.” The manifestation of that this month was similar to how the band has begun to load equipment into venues – we pull everything from the cars and stack it by the front door – staged for the final step of loading everything in.… More...

Reconciliation

First things first – yesterday was a new moon, so it’s time to examine the last cycle and see what the new one might hold. The last cycle I decided to focus on perspective. There were a lot of things swirling and pending, that could be seen as positive or not-so-positive, depending on the light in which you viewed them. Even the not-positive and hard times are there to teach up lessons – so knowing that I was being mindful of perspective really helped to navigate some tough situations. Keeping not only my needs but those of the people I interact with in mind, really helped me to see if I was showing up as the person I wanted to be.… More...

Voice

On Saturday afternoon the moon was new again; time to take stock of where I’ve been and what might be next.

The last cycle was about Presence. Through it, I tried to focus more on being in moments instead of fearing them or reacting to them without intention. I wasn’t all that great with it, to be honest. The band had a gig a couple weeks ago and I just couldn’t hold the moments – I was thrown off way too easily. Work has also been a stressor. There is continuing and abundant pressure (beyond the mere workload) – however well-intentioned – that is definitely triggering. I had a one-on-one call with my supervisor’s supervisor on Thursday and felt like, while close to the moment, I may have been a little too high strung.… More...

Presence

Another new moon greeted us on Friday morning so it’s time to see where I’ve been and where I’m headed.

The theme for the last cycle was “Elevation”. A lot of things in August were calling me to step up my game both personally and professionally. A major presentation for work could have long term ramifications on my current position, and I’m grateful that I was able to live up to my own expectations on that one. The company is going to do what they’re going to do – but to borrow a baseball analogy, I’d rather go down swinging than watch a pitch fly by. I definitely put the ball in play, so we’ll see how the fielders do.

I realized I needed to think a little bit bigger personally too.… More...

Elevation

Last night at 11:12pm the moon was new, and 46 minutes later Mercury went direct from retrograde. The whole Mercury Retrograde thing resonates with some people – the idea of communications being wonky and holding off on bigger choices until it goes direct again. I wasn’t really paying attention to it this time around, but as I sit to write this month’s intention, it seems relevant.

The last lunar cycle was about “Resolve”. For me, this was a concerted effort to be less obliged to assumed responsibility, and lacking an expressed “need” from elsewhere, giving credence and validity to my “wants”. I feel like I did this in spirit even when I didn’t have an opportunity to do it in practice.… More...

Resolve

This past Tuesday afternoon the lunar cycle was new again, so it’s time for another of these posts. I’d like to thank everyone who tunes in every month for these. They’re just mileposts on my journey, but posting them here helps me feel accountable – so thank you for your witness.

Last month was about clarity, the need for it and the search for it. The trip to Australia was exactly what no doctor ordered, but exactly what I needed in the way it unfolded. It was physical endurance, it was the exploration of other cultures, it was immersion in the creative arts, and it was an exercise in self-reliance and self-expression.

So what’s this month about? The word is “resolve”.… More...