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Ellen and I have just returned from a month’s long journey and exploration that took us to Italy, Sicily, Spain, and France. We explored hundreds of miles of archeological, geological, and theological splendors and ruins. From underground caves to vertical and sinking cities, stressed climates, Megalithic haunts, and Neolithic nuances, to the strange DNA of the Basque and Catalonian treasures. We saw fracture zones of volcanism bearing lush landscapes, the otherworldly landscapes of Mount Aetna, and the massive underground temple of the Hypogeum in Malta, as well as other sights that predate the temples of Ancient Egypt. Roman ruins abound everywhere. A truly haunting sense of the layering of civilizations, one built on top of the other. Great civilizations destroyed and rebuilt, power centers relocated, cathedrals constructed on top of Byzantine brilliance, wars upon wars, and the overwhelming sense of being locked within an eternal return.

“Brutal heat waves have baked the world this summer and they haven’t been contained to land. Earth’s oceans are the hottest they have been in modern history, by an unusually wide margin.” NY Times-August 3rd, 2023

Just a year ago we were on mandatory evacuation from our home and Acutonics headquarters. Our valley was under threat from the massive Hermits Peak/Calf Canyon Fires. We have never so totally embodied the Fire Element, but were among the fortunate as the raging fire never jumped the ridge into our valley.

Change, Transformation, Evolution, Visioning. In spring the Wood Element provides a burst of energy to examine our lives and dreams for the future. As Spring winds blow and flowers bloom, we have newfound creative inspiration to imagine, act and manifest. Hope abounds!

On January 22, 2023, the Lunar New Year of the Water Rabbit begins. This is a sign of peace, prosperity, fluidity, agility, abundance, longevity, and hope. Rabbit also associated with the arts and creativity provides the perfect opportunity to engage in new acts of creation. Additionally, Rabbit has a strong association with personal self-care serving as a potent reminder of the critical importance of personal nurturance to enhance our well-being.

May each spark of match, each candle’s flickering flame, serve to remind us of the creativity, possibility and mystery contained within the dark — the dark from which all light, and all life, is born. -Rabbi Adina Allen

“Autumn is a time of letting go of what is no longer of value as well as taking in the bright, crisp invigorating air of the heavens.  Autumn is full of red, gold and rusty brown leaves falling on the earth. It is cold and fresh.” — Debra Kaatz, Characters of Wisdom

Reading through the contributions this month I was struck by something Jude Ponton wrote, when she reflected that imbalances in the Yi spirit might present as Psychospiritual Indigestion. As we enter into the Fifth Season of Chinese Medicine, the Element of the Earth we have an opportunity to examine what we cannot digest, and to identify ways to nurture ourselves, embrace the bountiful abundance of Mother Earth, and find center physically, emotionally, and spiritually. When there is a lack of joy, or a crisis of values we find meaning and purpose by transforming the negative impulses that surround us. Judy Bernard’s contribution this month provides self-care strategies designed to address these deep and profound emotional feelings so that we are able to open our hearts to both give and receive Love.

Gratitude: An attitude of thankfulness develops humility, opens the heart, and brings our attention back to the Source…Gratitude acknowledges that life is meaningful and valuable, prevents our taking life for granted…and reminds us of our interconnectedness. —Lionel Corbett, Psyche and the Sacred