Wednesday, February 4, 2009
Saturday, January 31, 2009
The Queen’s Chronicles: OUT WITH THE OLD, BLESS THE NEW
When Kate Clinton invited me to conduct the purification ceremony at a public event she organized for the eve of the inauguration called, Sage the White House, I was delighted. Certainly, after eight long years of dirty deals, dirty politics, dirty wars and dirty little secrets our country was in need of a deep cleansing. And I have a lot of experience as a public blesser.
But focusing our purification intention on the White House was too narrow, I thought. So I was pleased when we were forced to relocate the event to Dupont Circle. This way, we could direct our energy out in a complete circle. We can’t just focus on the president. What about Congress? What about the courts? What about Wall Street?
And most importantly, what about us? We have been culpable, too. We let it all happen through our complacent co-operation. Me might not have approved of what was going on, but what did we do about? We did protest the Iraq war, but where was the mass outrage as one by one our constitutional rights were revoked?
Who among us did not shop and enjoy the lucrative, good times? We need to remember that in a democracy we have not only the right, but also the responsibility to comment on the conduct and ethos of our nation — vociferously, if we have to.
So my ritual was about releasing all that we do not wish to take with us into this new era that we are now beginning — our attitudes and values, our culpability and our laziness, as well as the ill deeds of our government. Once we let all the negativity go, it was important to cleanse the toxic residue that it can leave behind. And then once the atmosphere was cleared and purified, we called in all our good qualities and intentions for a positive change for the good of all.
We accomplished all that in a big way. Nearly a thousand souls gathered at Dupont Circle in Washington, DC to participate in the Inauguration Purification Ritual.
Inauguration Purification Ritual Part 1:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=A1tkLlf5MXE&feature=channel_page
Inauguration Purification Ritual Part 2:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=TudynPUgnpc&feature=channel
We now have a fresh start. This time, may we step into the fray and involve ourselves, not only in discussions and complaints about our problems, but also in search of creative solutions to them.
With blessings of peace, sanity and sustainability,
xxQMD
But focusing our purification intention on the White House was too narrow, I thought. So I was pleased when we were forced to relocate the event to Dupont Circle. This way, we could direct our energy out in a complete circle. We can’t just focus on the president. What about Congress? What about the courts? What about Wall Street?
And most importantly, what about us? We have been culpable, too. We let it all happen through our complacent co-operation. Me might not have approved of what was going on, but what did we do about? We did protest the Iraq war, but where was the mass outrage as one by one our constitutional rights were revoked?
Who among us did not shop and enjoy the lucrative, good times? We need to remember that in a democracy we have not only the right, but also the responsibility to comment on the conduct and ethos of our nation — vociferously, if we have to.
So my ritual was about releasing all that we do not wish to take with us into this new era that we are now beginning — our attitudes and values, our culpability and our laziness, as well as the ill deeds of our government. Once we let all the negativity go, it was important to cleanse the toxic residue that it can leave behind. And then once the atmosphere was cleared and purified, we called in all our good qualities and intentions for a positive change for the good of all.
We accomplished all that in a big way. Nearly a thousand souls gathered at Dupont Circle in Washington, DC to participate in the Inauguration Purification Ritual.
Inauguration Purification Ritual Part 1:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=A1tkLlf5MXE&feature=channel_page
Inauguration Purification Ritual Part 2:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=TudynPUgnpc&feature=channel
We now have a fresh start. This time, may we step into the fray and involve ourselves, not only in discussions and complaints about our problems, but also in search of creative solutions to them.
With blessings of peace, sanity and sustainability,
xxQMD
Thursday, January 15, 2009
The Queen’s Chronicles: HAPPY NEW ERA
I don’t know about you, but I am so glad and relieved that we are finally in 2009. And just in time, is all I can say. The house-of-cards-culture of deception, cynical exploitation, excess and greed that has prevailed for the past decades has collapsed under the weight of its own consumption, crushing the lives and dreams of millions of people.
A new year, a new beginning, a fresh start is just what we need about now. New Year is a return to the eternal beginnings. Back to where there is only hope and promise and enthusiastic, well-intentioned energy. Back to the original big bang back seat cosmic conception where all things are possible.
Despite the dismal prognostications, there is definitely hope in the air these days, and excitement at the prospect of change. The freshness, idealism, and renewed faith in the future, even in the face of impending hardship, is palpable and vivifying.
Ironic, isn’t it? And so very heartening.
It is like the entire nation is waking up from a stuporous dream, drugged by too much food and drink, our adrenals depleted by years of operating in frantic overdrive racing to achieve, to succeed, to spend, to accumulate, to expand until we explode. Enough already. Basta!
Time to shake off the shroud of vacuous values and get back to the basics.
People everywhere are girding themselves for tough times ahead, but instead of resistance and resentment, I sense a sincere desire to live in a more conscientious, connected and authentic manner. A yearning for life built on principles that we can be proud of.
This fall I went to the 60th birthday party of a very old and dear friend. Due to budget constraints, the venue was the back room of a funkyish bar. The
refreshments consisted of pitchers of beer and sangria and scant little fried things. All in all, perfect for a college bash, but a bit strange for a room full of midlife women. Or so it seemed at first.
The birthday Queen specified no gifts, but requested a song, instead. And her adoring guests complied. They brought songs alright, complete with costumes and creative props. The show was fabulous — touching and hilarious. And there was dancing. Lots of dancing. It was a really great celebration, rich in all the right components. I can’t remember having so much simple down home fun at a party in a long time.
After all, how many poo-poo foodie parties can you stand? You know the kind I mean. “This cheese is so special, only two cows in the whole world make it! And it only costs $46. a quarter of a pound.” Pulease.
One of my New Year resolutions is to entertain more this year. Not big parties, but intimate dinners with six or eight people who can be depended upon for fascinating conversation and true communion. I am craving old-fashioned one-pot suppers — soups, stews, casseroles, salads. Good bread. Good wine. Good talk. Good quality time.
I remember my mother talking about the depression. It dashed her plans to go to college. Instead, she had to work in a fruit store. But she never complained about that. (Don’t get me wrong, my mother was a great complainer.) She always said about those years, “People stuck together then, and helped each other.” And, “We knew how to have fun.”
With this new year we enter a new era. The main challenge that we will face in these uncertain times is not the economy. Nor is it the unnerving and seemingly psychotic political scenarios being played out all around the world. Not to mention the grief that they create.
Our challenge is to stay in our center come what may. Our challenge is to breathe in the energy of the life force and to exhale respect, reverence and awe. Our challenge is to be unshakeable in our faith. To share our love. And to shine our spiritual light.
This year may we discover and embrace our own purpose, passion and power.
May we accept our responsibility and our rule. May we take our ideas and our skills and use them to create a viable, safe, sustainable and sane world for us all.
With blessings of peace and joy. Peace! And joy!
xxQMD
A new year, a new beginning, a fresh start is just what we need about now. New Year is a return to the eternal beginnings. Back to where there is only hope and promise and enthusiastic, well-intentioned energy. Back to the original big bang back seat cosmic conception where all things are possible.
Despite the dismal prognostications, there is definitely hope in the air these days, and excitement at the prospect of change. The freshness, idealism, and renewed faith in the future, even in the face of impending hardship, is palpable and vivifying.
Ironic, isn’t it? And so very heartening.
It is like the entire nation is waking up from a stuporous dream, drugged by too much food and drink, our adrenals depleted by years of operating in frantic overdrive racing to achieve, to succeed, to spend, to accumulate, to expand until we explode. Enough already. Basta!
Time to shake off the shroud of vacuous values and get back to the basics.
People everywhere are girding themselves for tough times ahead, but instead of resistance and resentment, I sense a sincere desire to live in a more conscientious, connected and authentic manner. A yearning for life built on principles that we can be proud of.
This fall I went to the 60th birthday party of a very old and dear friend. Due to budget constraints, the venue was the back room of a funkyish bar. The
refreshments consisted of pitchers of beer and sangria and scant little fried things. All in all, perfect for a college bash, but a bit strange for a room full of midlife women. Or so it seemed at first.
The birthday Queen specified no gifts, but requested a song, instead. And her adoring guests complied. They brought songs alright, complete with costumes and creative props. The show was fabulous — touching and hilarious. And there was dancing. Lots of dancing. It was a really great celebration, rich in all the right components. I can’t remember having so much simple down home fun at a party in a long time.
After all, how many poo-poo foodie parties can you stand? You know the kind I mean. “This cheese is so special, only two cows in the whole world make it! And it only costs $46. a quarter of a pound.” Pulease.
One of my New Year resolutions is to entertain more this year. Not big parties, but intimate dinners with six or eight people who can be depended upon for fascinating conversation and true communion. I am craving old-fashioned one-pot suppers — soups, stews, casseroles, salads. Good bread. Good wine. Good talk. Good quality time.
I remember my mother talking about the depression. It dashed her plans to go to college. Instead, she had to work in a fruit store. But she never complained about that. (Don’t get me wrong, my mother was a great complainer.) She always said about those years, “People stuck together then, and helped each other.” And, “We knew how to have fun.”
With this new year we enter a new era. The main challenge that we will face in these uncertain times is not the economy. Nor is it the unnerving and seemingly psychotic political scenarios being played out all around the world. Not to mention the grief that they create.
Our challenge is to stay in our center come what may. Our challenge is to breathe in the energy of the life force and to exhale respect, reverence and awe. Our challenge is to be unshakeable in our faith. To share our love. And to shine our spiritual light.
This year may we discover and embrace our own purpose, passion and power.
May we accept our responsibility and our rule. May we take our ideas and our skills and use them to create a viable, safe, sustainable and sane world for us all.
With blessings of peace and joy. Peace! And joy!
xxQMD
Saturday, December 20, 2008
The Queen’s Chronicles: THOUGHTS ON EARLY MORNING SOLSTICES
I've been getting a lot of calls from folks asking about when this year’s Winter Solstice is.
“It's this Sunday,” I tell them.
“Oh, great! Sunday!” they happily reply. (Meaning “Finally a day when I can actually come, because I don't have to work.”) Then they ask, “What time?”
“The ceremony starts at 6:30 AM,” I cheerfully inform them.
“Oh. Well, have a good time!” (Meaning, “I'll think of you out there in the freezing snow as I roll over for four more hours of sleep.”
Every soulstice for the past 34 years I have trekked out — no matter what time, what weather, what infirmity — to invite the sun back into our lives.
Every year, I think that I will be all alone in the dark-freezing-wind-rain-snow at some weird inconvenient hour. That no one else will get up out of their flannel sheets to drum and chant the sun back.
But every year, people do come. And you know what? The toughest, hardest, worst weather, worst-timed events are always everybody's favorite. They are the best memories!
And there is always something hard about the Winter Solstice!
“Remember when it was pouring and we fanned the flames of the fire with our umbrellas?”
“Remember the time the ritual bus broke down in Brooklyn? Broke down in Staten Island? On the Verrazano Bridge?”
“Remember when I wrapped the cast on my broken ankle in a garbage bag so I could walk on the sand of the Atlantic Ocean beach for the solstice fire?”
“Remember when we were all arrested? And ultimately vindicated?”
Oy! During the past 34 years I have learned that it is a very difficult thing, indeed, to bring back the sun. To encourage light and warmth in a cold, dark environment.
But it is so worth the effort!
The exact solstice moment is 7:04AM EST this Sunday morning. Adjust the time to your local zone.) You can celebrate wherever you are. Just get up and go outside, preferably somewhere green. And greet the sun. Align your energy with it. Pledge to be a light in the world. What better ritual could there be?
With bright soulstice blessings,
xxQMD
“It's this Sunday,” I tell them.
“Oh, great! Sunday!” they happily reply. (Meaning “Finally a day when I can actually come, because I don't have to work.”) Then they ask, “What time?”
“The ceremony starts at 6:30 AM,” I cheerfully inform them.
“Oh. Well, have a good time!” (Meaning, “I'll think of you out there in the freezing snow as I roll over for four more hours of sleep.”
Every soulstice for the past 34 years I have trekked out — no matter what time, what weather, what infirmity — to invite the sun back into our lives.
Every year, I think that I will be all alone in the dark-freezing-wind-rain-snow at some weird inconvenient hour. That no one else will get up out of their flannel sheets to drum and chant the sun back.
But every year, people do come. And you know what? The toughest, hardest, worst weather, worst-timed events are always everybody's favorite. They are the best memories!
And there is always something hard about the Winter Solstice!
“Remember when it was pouring and we fanned the flames of the fire with our umbrellas?”
“Remember the time the ritual bus broke down in Brooklyn? Broke down in Staten Island? On the Verrazano Bridge?”
“Remember when I wrapped the cast on my broken ankle in a garbage bag so I could walk on the sand of the Atlantic Ocean beach for the solstice fire?”
“Remember when we were all arrested? And ultimately vindicated?”
Oy! During the past 34 years I have learned that it is a very difficult thing, indeed, to bring back the sun. To encourage light and warmth in a cold, dark environment.
But it is so worth the effort!
The exact solstice moment is 7:04AM EST this Sunday morning. Adjust the time to your local zone.) You can celebrate wherever you are. Just get up and go outside, preferably somewhere green. And greet the sun. Align your energy with it. Pledge to be a light in the world. What better ritual could there be?
With bright soulstice blessings,
xxQMD
Monday, December 8, 2008
Thursday, December 4, 2008
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)