My sister Shawn loves Mickey Mouse, cats and shopping at Wal-Mart.

This year, I want to share with you a love of my life who seeks nothing in return for the love she freely shares with anyone…and anything. For you see, my youngest sister, Shawn, never learned that strings are attached to love. She never learned that love could be used as a tool to get what you want. And she never learned that the heart is anything but open.

When I was 10, Shawn came into this world and immediately faced more challenges than most of us can imagine. Cerebral palsy. Grand mal seizures. Intellectual challenges. We say people like Shawn have “special needs,” but people like Shawn are models for the rest of us who become trapped in our minds and led by our egos.

Any parent or family member of a “special needs” child will tell you this. They are fully aware that their child is love incarnate, and just as aware that they have so far to go just to measure up to this guide who has come into the world with such a pure heart.

Shawn doesn’t expect anything in return for the love she shares. She is present with those who are with her. And in her presence, it feels good just being, whether that means holding her hand while looking at watches in Wal-Mart, sitting next to her as she colors a picture of a cat, or sharing a bowl of popcorn as we watch a video.

I’ve always believed that the people who suffer the most prejudice, the most ridicule, are the souls who are the bravest among us – for choosing what appear to be the most difficult roles to play in this lifetime.

But now, I see it differently. They didn’t choose the toughest path, but the easiest. All they have to do is be themselves, and be love, while the rest of us stumble over our insecurities and struggle on our eternal quest to be happy — just to be like them.

Aries (Mar. 21-Apr. 19)…You’re working hard, you want to get into fighting shape, and you’re determined to master this relationship thing. You know what would help lighten your load? A weekly meet-up with a progressive, like-minded friend (or group of friends) who can inspire you and remind you why you’re working so hard in the first place. You’re as good as the company you keep this month.

Taurus (Apr. 20-May 20)…You’re trying to get a home or family situation in order at the start of the month so you can focus on the big picture. You’ve got lots of career mojo happening now, so you don’t have to be in a hurry. The most important thing is to be yourself. Comparing your life or your timeline to what others have done just puts you in a negative space. Trust your direction, one step at a time.

Gemini (May 21-June 20)…You start a new project or decide to take a fresh approach to your career. This could be the Big One, but you’re really going to have to trust your vision. Half-measures won’t get it. That said, staying grounded is equally vital to your success. Sinking your roots deep into the everyday experience of your life gives you the freedom to shine now.

Cancer (June 21-July 22)…It’s all in your mind. Really. So what can you do to tap into the stream of good intentions that will make your life more like what you see in your dreams? First, respect the power of your thoughts. Don’t let negative habits slide, telling yourself it doesn’t really matter. Second, consciously court your Higher Self. Make it a priority at least once a day to turn down the world and tune in to that wise part of you that sees and knows all.

Leo (July 23-Aug. 22)…If you’re thinking about ways to make more money, you’re probably in the wrong place. Your self-esteem – which is key to attracting the money you want – grows when you exercise your creative power. Instead of analyzing potential opportunities, deal with your money worries by singing, making art and dancing them away. I’m serious – try it and see what happens.

Virgo (Aug. 23-Sept. 22)…You’re learning how to use your aggression as propulsion this month. Master this vital lesson by making a list of all the ways you use anger against yourself. And then develop a plan to stop doing that. A new relationship – or a new beginning in a current one – is on tap mid-month. Visualize your ideal, but leave the rose-colored glasses behind.

Libra (Sept. 23-Oct. 22)…Don’t fall prey to the all-or-nothing relationship myth. Your job is to stay true to your core principles, no matter how tempting it might be to fall back into old codependent or thrill-seeking patterns. The partnership opportunities worth pursuing now are the ones you can afford to develop slowly.

Scorpio (Oct. 23-Nov. 21)…You get a career opportunity – or recognition for a job well done – near the Full Moon on the 7th. Recognizing your own value in the market place enables you to see how far you’ve come in learning how to feel safe. Use this sense of security to move into joy in the second half of the month. The New Moon on the 21st challenges you to open your heart and let the energy of your ideals flow into the world.

Sagittarius (Nov. 22-Dec. 21)…Slow and steady continues to win the race. You’ve got until June to figure out your career situation, so bear down and get organized. You need a coherent plan and attention to detail; you might benefit from a dispassionate observer who can give you an objective perspective. You’ve got a ton of creative ideas but you might need help grounding them into reality.

Capricorn (Dec. 22-Jan. 19)…You might have to make a tricky financial decision early this month. Visualizing what your life is going to look like mid-summer can help you create a coherent picture and buy yourself the time you need. Someone is willing to invest in you; your challenge is to own what you really want while remaining grounded in the day-to-day.

Aquarius (Jan. 20-Feb. 18)…And just like that, your life is humming again. After a long spell on the back burner, you’re front and center this month. You get relationship clarity at the Full Moon on the 7th, and you might just see a wish come true. Speaking of wishes, the New Moon on the 21st invites you to name and claim what you need on a money level. Be willing to let go of an income source you’ve outgrown.

Pisces (Feb. 19-Mar. 20)…The life you’ve been imagining for yourself lo these many years begins taking shape before your very eyes. “You dreamed it all / And this is your story,” to quote the Talking Heads. You are the dream-master so accept the responsibility of creating the life you truly want.

Listen to “Edge Astrology with D.K. Brainard” at 6 p.m. Central on the first Wednesday of each month, February 1, by calling 1.714.364.4750 or go to BlogTalkRadio.com/edgemagazine. Listen to all archives at Edgemagazine.net/edge-talk-radio.

As we proceed into 2012 we must be clear on our vision of who we are, the goals we hold most sacred, and what we deserve. In the Jewish religion, at the outset of the New Year, adherents offer each other the blessing, “May you be inscribed in The Book of Life,” meaning, “May you live healthfully and joyfully during the coming year.”

The Book of Life contains a chapter called “The Book of Deservingness.” Its appropriate blessing might be, “May you know deep within your soul that you deserve to have all the good things your heart desires.” Abraham-Hicks explains that there are two key elements to achieve any manifestation: desire and deservingness. When you seek to attain any goal, Abraham suggests that you focus on two questions: “Why do I want this?” and “Why do I deserve this?” When you are clear on those two answers, all the good that is yours will come to you.

Here are three true stories from “The Book of Deservingness”:

1. I occasionally visit a lovely retreat center, Harbin Hot Springs, near Calistoga, CA, where some of the best massages on the planet are generously doled out. I used to go to Harbin for three or four days to renew myself before or after a lecture tour. During that period I would usually sign up for one massage. Soon after I arrived, one day I went to the massage register to record my name in the blank for my massage appointment. Looking through the schedule of signups, I noticed that one fellow had signed up for a massage every day for three days. The idea of doing this struck me as a revelation — a person could have a massage three days in a row if he wanted! I had never even considered this possibility, since on some subconscious level I considered so much pleasure to be gluttonous or self-indulgent. But when I saw that this fellow had dove into the very heart of the pleasure machine, I realized that such an act was doable — and I really wanted to do it, too. I gleefully registered for massages three days in a row, and went on to love every minute of them. I don’t remember that fellow’s name, but if I did I would thank him profusely for serving as a mind stretcher and helping me inscribe myself in “The Book of Deservingness.”

2. I was presenting a seminar on prosperity when a woman raised her hand and posed this dilemma: “I am a Red Cross fundraiser. After a hurricane or flood I swing into action and raise millions of dollars in a short time to aid the victims. Meanwhile, I’m struggling with my own finances and I have hard time paying my rent and other bills each month. Why is that?”

I thought about her situation and told her, “When you know that you deserve to have your rent and bills paid as confidently as you know that the disaster victims deserve to have their needs met, you will raise the funds for your own important needs.”

3. My coaching client Ted has served as a firefighter for 25 years. Recently he told me that he is retiring and he would like to move with his wife from New Hampshire to Florida. The couple is tired of the cold New Hampshire winters and ready for some sunshine. “We’ve made an arrangement to rent a Florida home for a month this winter,” he told me. “We’d really like to stay for three months,” he admitted.

“Then why don’t you stay for three months?” I had to ask.

“That seems like a lot to ask,” he answered shyly.

I told Ted, “You have been saving people’s lives for 25 years. You’ve courageously burst into burning buildings and rescued adults, children, their pets, and possessions. Many people are more grateful to you than most other people in their lives. Don’t you think someone who has offered such service deserves to have three months in the sun — let alone the rest of your life?”

“When you put it like that, it makes sense,” Ted replied. “I’ll stretch the one month to three,” he added.

We all have a part of our mind that feels limited to a one massage only; other people deserve, but not me; one month but not three mentality. To step into our true deservingness, we must question that limit and find reasons for our greater deservingness, reinforced by models of those who are manifesting what we desire and demonstrating that the bigger vision is possible and doable.

Many predictions for 2012 are linked to the Apocalypse. While the word has many dark connotations, its literal meaning is “the lifting of the veil,” the drawing aside of the curtain of illusion and the revelation of the greater truth. One of the most formidable illusions under which we have suffered is the illusion of unworthiness. That illusion is written nowhere in “The Book of Deservingness.” Perhaps we would all do well to take that volume from the shelf, dust it off, and give it a good read. You might just find your name in it.

As humans, we sometimes make choices based on beliefs that are self-limiting and rob us of the radiant joy we so generously deserve. Dwelling in possibility and opening ourselves to unlimited good can definitely feel a little un-comfort zone-y, but relaxing and embracing our divine infinite potential is a sure-fire key to real happiness.

One of my favorite quotations comes from inner peace guru Wayne Dyer. He talks about “having a mind that is open to everything and attached to nothing.” This means that, even if an outcome looks differently than we expected, we stay in the flow and meet it with gratitude and grace, knowing there is always possibility at every turn. And later, we are usually grateful for the turn of events.

I observe my cats doing this very thing. Cats follow their bliss. Whether it’s napping, going after a catnip banana, or trying to steal a piece of cheese from the counter, they know what they want and they go for it! You remove them from the counter and they head over to a shoebox and chill for a few hours. They don’t look back and mourn the cheese that might have been; they move on to the next great experience and fully embrace it.

How many times do we mourn the cheese that might have been? What would it be like if, after being removed from the counter, we lovingly affirmed the shoebox…and ourselves? I mean, seriously, who loves themselves more than cats? Sure, the cheese would have been nice, but the shoebox is so cozy…with a great view of the birdfeeder!

Let’s look to our feline friends as models of thinking big and staying in the flow. Why not go after what we want? Whether it’s a job, a relationship, a project, or some healing work you know needs to happen. Do it! Go after the cheese, releasing all attachment to outcome! You’ll never know success if you don’t try, right? If you happen to get removed from the counter, find that shoebox and love it. And when the birds show up at the feeder, you’ll think, “Boy, I’m so glad I was removed from that counter and found this box!”

Dear Nadine,
My Spirited big kid (a high school senior) recently attended a party where he apparently played with an Ouija (Yes-Yes) Board. I don’t like the sound of them myself. Should I tell him it’s a “No-No?”
Sincerely, Dubious Dad, Shakopee

Dear Dubious Dad,
It’s February, the month to talk love and passion. Personally, I’m passionate about the magical, the mystical, the weird and the wonderful — but does that extend to the Ouija?

The Ouija board celebrates its 121st birthday this year. Its original 1891 patent followed fast on the heels of other “talking board” creations that sought to help bridge the communication gap between this world and the next. At its height, Ouija boards were sold to every Tom, Dick and Harriet interested in the home-made séance. Toted as a “parlor game,” Ouija boards proved so popular that by 1920 William Fuld, the man in charge, became (by his own conservative estimates) a millionaire. By 1966, Ouija — under the auspices of the Parker Bros., — had outsold Monopoly!

Although skeptics have rubbished Ouija boards for years — Mad Magazine famously noted, “If there really is an afterlife, I’ll bet the best way to contact it is through a plastic, mass-produced game board from Milton Bradley” — there are many reports of successful out-of-this world communications channeled through the board, a standout being Jane Roberts’ original communications with Seth (Seth Speaks), for example. But does that mean teens should go out and try one?

With movies like The Exorcist, Witchboard and The Others firmly planted in our modern minds, the paranormal and the Ouija board today hold a slightly spooky allure. But whether played by a firm believer or by an I’m-trying-this-for-thrills kind of gal, a person’s purpose in opening up the Ouija board remains the same as it’s always been: an attempt to connect to something beyond the brick and mortar of the world around us. I call that Mediumship, and as any dedicated Medium will tell you, practicing mediumship without prayerful preparation, positive intention, knowledge and understanding is just asking for trouble.

In our (supernatural) world, like attracts like. If playing the Ouija board does open up a preternatural portal, then it begs the question as to what kind of “messenger” is going to want to hang out with someone (teen or otherwise) whose main motivation to connect is for thrills and spills? And what kinds of messages is that other-worldly messenger likely to bring? My hair stands on end just thinking about it!

The fact is that whether the Ouija is a fantastical form of psychic Scrabble or merely a game that elevates the blood pressure and causes irregular heartbeat, it is open to pranks and manipulation, whether from ETs or ordinary mortals. And therein lies the real heart of the question: should teens play with Ouija boards?

You see, teenagers worry! They worry about their hair, their skin, their clothes and their body shape — and no, I’m not just talking about the fairer sex here. They worry about being in, being out, making friends or not. Some even worry about grades. Receiving a detrimental, weird or negative message via an Ouija board could upset a sensitive teen or even alarm them. Just check out any online chat room regarding Ouija for proof of that. Even a “positive” message received through the board could be mulled over, scrutinized and studied by a perplexed teen who is led right back to the Ouija board to find out more.

I’m not against teens learning about the paranormal — far from it. But Ouija teaches nothing constructive and is, at best, something to be handled with care and in my own humble opinion, better left well alone.

You may argue that I’ve given the Ouija board a bad rap, rap, rap — and you might be right! But as your son heads off to the next party this Valentine’s, advise him to embrace the warm, friendly fun of that second game of choice — Monopoly — where the worst that could happen is he makes some bad buys, loses his money and gets thrown into jail.

Two decades ago, before the human potential movement morphed into Oprah and Buddhist principles paved the way for Presence studies, The Edge was created in the Upper Midwest to share insights on the essence of spirituality and the integration of alternative healing and conventional medicine.

It was a time of great expansion. Holistic business was booming as new centers opened far and wide to offer treatments and classes on complementary therapies. New shops opened to share books and gifts to support body, mind and soul.

Every month, and every year, revealed more. The Edge continued to evolve in concert with the holistic community, ever mindful of the need to offer support in an era filled with uncertainty. Contributors wrote articles that uplifted our spirits, all the while knowing that transformation is not an easy business.

Now it is 2012. We’ve witnessed incredible upheaval on this planet in recent years. It has taken a toll. Climate change has taken many lives; the collapse of the stock market has erased many life savings. And many of the people who opened small businesses to support body, mind and soul have had to shut their doors.

The Edge, which turns 20 in 2012, remains here to offer its support. Each month in 2012, we will celebrate the legacy of this publication [Explore The Edge's legacy here].

Chinese astrology proclaims 2012 as the Year of the Dragon, the mightiest of all signs, regarded in China as a divine beast, not one we should seek and destroy. The dragon symbolizes ambition, dominance, bravery and success. Dragons are free spirits with great passion.

It is fitting that 2012 is a dragon year, not because it will take dragon powers to overcome all of the doomsday hype attached to the end of this year, but because the transformation every one of us is going through requires dragon-like resiliency and determination.

Your experience — with spirituality, with healing, with magic and inspiration — has prepared you for this moment. Be strong and be bold!

Aries (Mar. 21-Apr. 19)…You are the trailblazer of the zodiac. With Uranus the Awakener in your sign for the next six years, you can bring innovative, next-level ideas into the world. To do this, though, you need to live and work in an environment that is open to what you have to offer. Set your intention and commit to the work necessary to make it so.

Taurus (Apr. 20-May 20)…You can have your cake and eat it too — if you’re willing to get fanatical about self-discipline and routine. Pulling off the feat you envision in your life requires a tremendous amount of focused energy. Commit to a spiritual practice that brings you into energetic integrity and you’ll see your dreams blossom in 2012.

Gemini (May 21-June 20)…Building win-win relationships is a major theme for you in 2012. To do that, you need to get really clear on your mother or father issues. Make a commitment to clear that old stuff so you can be free to attract the relationship(s) you really desire. Your formula in 2012: Creating from the inside out.

Cancer (June 21-July 22)…What if you could quit fighting for the relationship you long for and instead discover the secret key that allows you to attract what you most desire? You can – by cultivating a ruthless awareness of the thoughts you hold about your own worthiness and the corresponding expectations you send out into the world. You can do great things this year and they all start in your own mind.

Leo (July 23-Aug. 22)…Finding your right work is a major theme this year. You’re so talented you can do many different things and make them all look effortless. But there’s one direction that calls your soul and your challenge in 2012 is to commit to it so fully that you’ll do whatever it takes to succeed. If you sell out for your soul, by the way, you’ll always have what you truly need.

Virgo (Aug. 23-Sept. 22)…Recovering your personal power is a major theme in 2012. Being of service from a sense of guilt or shame is no longer good enough. January’s astrology asks you to see your life as a work of art and commit to making it as beautiful and useful as you possibly can. If this feels impossible, start with the most important act of power: claiming what you really want from life and committing to this vision.

Libra (Sept. 23-Oct. 22)…If you can believe it, the first half of 2012 asks you to let go of even more old stuff. This time, your challenge is to release the relationships (and ideas about relationship) that sabotage you when you try to step into your life’s work. The Full Moon on the 9th sheds light on this process. Remember this proven formula: Addition by subtraction.

Scorpio (Oct. 23-Nov. 21)…Your challenge in 2012 is to take your formidable emotional intelligence and put it to the service of your life’s dream. You can see this so easily for other people; now it’s time to understand the thought patterns that keep you from recognizing your own value and living up to your own ideals. This is where your energy wants to go – why not cooperate with it?

Sagittarius (Nov. 22-Dec. 21)…You’ve come to a new understanding of who you are and of the programmed behaviors and received ideas that keep you from bringing your authentic genius into the world in viable ways. Your mission in 2012: Take that new awareness and use it to create a sustainable career path that brings you the abundance you desire – and deserve.

Capricorn (Dec. 22-Jan. 19)…You’re the master builder of the zodiac. You are meant to play a vital role in the Great Transition to a new, more human global society. Start 2012 with a renewed commitment to your spiritual practice. Showing up for your Higher Self every day will expand your intuition and keep you energetically fit for this awesome challenge.

Aquarius (Jan. 20-Feb. 18)…You’re doing some deep soul-searching as 2012 begins. You realize you need to surround yourself with people who really get you on a deep level – trying to fit in with people who are stuck in the old paradigm just isn’t working anymore. Use the first three weeks of the year to look within and plan your strategy – you’ll get a big boost of energy and confidence when the Sun enters your sign on the 20th.

Pisces (Feb. 19-Mar. 20)…You’re reaching for what your soul most desires to create in this lifetime and, believe it or not, the Universe has been waiting for you to do just that. You can’t afford to burn energy maintaining the status quo in a relationship that holds you back. Own your power and make room for the powerful, helpful people who want to partner with you to enter your life.

Listen to “Edge Astrology with D.K. Brainard” at 6 p.m. Central on the first Wednesday of each month, January 4, by calling 1.714.364.4750 or go to BlogTalkRadio.com/edgemagazine. Listen to all archives at Edgemagazine.net/edge-talk-radio.

2012 is here. Finally. After many years of anticipation, sensationalism, foreboding, titillation and wild prophecies, we’ve reached the end of the Mayan calendar. The era of momentous astrological configurations. World upheaval. Apocalyptic destruction. Dissolution of the world as we know it. Mass landing of UFOs. The spiritual ascension of humanity. The dawn of a new age. And on and on and on….

Prophets, authors, soothsayers, shamans and Hollywood have had a field day predicting, explaining and dramatizing the events to come. Will this year be a turning point in human history? Massive suffering leading to spiritual resurrection? The annihilation of evil and the restoration of virtue? The second coming of Christ? A redux of the Y2K dud? Just another year?

I have a prediction in which I am quite confident: 2012 will be what you make of it. Your whole life is what you make of it, and 2012 is no exception. Your thoughts, feelings, attitude, words and actions will determine your experience and the events you attract. What you want and expect to happen will happen. If you are immersed in the Hollywood terror version of 2012, watch out. If you value the upliftment of humanity, transformation will ensue. If you expect just another year, so it will be. Your pen is scribing the novel of your world. What will you write?

The universe is brimming with infinite parallel realities. All events and experiences that have ever existed, do exist, will exist, or could exist, already exist. In one reality, the 2012 earth will be blown to smithereens. In another, the planet will be transfigured to heaven. In another, it will be the same ol’ same ol’. A dozen different movies are playing under one roof of the multiplex of life, and you sit in the theater that matches the ticket you paid for. In one room a love story is unfolding. In another, social and political drama keeps viewers on the edge of their seats. In another, bombs are exploding and the walls are shaking. One theater, many shows.

Just as in the multiplex, you are free to exit one theater and enter another. If you’re tired of the terrorist movie, you can watch a romance instead. If you’ve had it with drama, you can pick a comedy. If the horror movie gets too dark, try a kid’s feature. The theater manager will tell you that you have to stay where you have been sitting, but you can move if you want. Every reality is self-reinforcing, insisting that you keep playing by the rules it dictates. But the rules change from reality to reality. If you have the guts to change theaters, everything changes with you. A Course in Miracles reminds us, “I am under no laws but God’s.”

The Course offers a profound prophecy about how the world will end. “The world will end in an illusion, as it began. Yet will its ending be an illusion of mercy. The illusion of forgiveness, complete, excluding no one, limitless in gentleness, will cover it, hiding all evil, concealing all sin and ending guilt forever… The world will end in joy, because it is a place of sorrow… The world will end in peace, because it is a place of war…The world will end in laughter, because it is a place of tears.”

Werner Erhard noted that the world coming to an end would be the best thing that could happen, because the world as we know it has not been working very well. The institutions and systems to which we have looked for security are not serving their purpose, and need to be replaced by systems that actually help people. But we have to let go of what is not working before we can step into what would work better. We have to trust the process of transformation.

Two caterpillars sat on the ground looking up at a butterfly flittering above the trees. “You’ll never get me up in one of those things,” one caterpillar remarked to the other.

The irony, of course, is that the caterpillar already is one of those things. While you and I envision a world transformed, we may be so steeped in the identity of who we have been and the “reality” of how things have been that the idea of living a better life in a new world may seem fantastic, even ludicrous or frightening. Yet the butterfly is so much freer than the caterpillar that any caterpillar in his right mind would be exhilarated to step into the dreamliner.

2012 will be the year of just such a transformation if we choose to make it so. Leave the hoo-ha to Hollywood and create the year you would have. Perhaps the end of the Mayan calendar signals that we will move beyond the limits of time as we have known it, and dwell in a consciousness free of time and space. Perhaps the changes we experience in and around us are the runway on which we take off to soar through skies we once only looked up at, but are now ready to explore.

All end times lead to beginning times. Now there’s a prophecy we can live with.

Joseph Campbell once said that people aren’t so much interested in the meaning of life as they are in having an experience of life. Terrence Malik’s latest movie, The Tree of Life, seeks to uncover that experience in us. It is an exercise in being alive in the moment. I say “exercise” because it is two hours and eighteen minutes long. You really have to want to be there. But if you are in a meditative mood and you trust Malick’s ability to show you what you’re missing whilst you’re dreaming you’re awake, this is the movie for you.

The setting for this movie is a little difficult to describe. You might say that it takes place somewhere in small-town America in the 1950s, or you could say it spans the entire lifespan of our solar system. Either explanation would be correct, but only partially. More accurately, it is a delving into the soul, mostly that of the main character, a boy/middle-aged man struggling to understand his relationship with his father and mother and, ultimately, with God. Told through symbols and metaphor, this soulscape is the main backdrop of the story. Industrial settings are cold and vacuous, bereft of meaning, surrounded by opulence and yet utterly impoverished. Early childhood memories are shrouded in mist and fraught with contradiction and ambiguity. The father’s earthly dream of success becomes the nightmare for those who have to share the same house with it. Prehistoric battles for survival presage sibling rivalry – who will be loved, and who will not? Cosmic beginnings rumble with deafening silence, echoing in our deepest chambers the litany of fire that can either transform or obliterate.

Because of these monumental images, The Tree of Life is one of those movies best seen on the big screen. It is artistically stunning – the best inspirations from Hubble laid out in National Geographic-style glossy detail. Interspersed throughout are visions of the dawn of creation, rendered with rich color and vivid imagination. The world feels stripped of its future – you see it without a sense of time or direction but rather like a dream drifting in its own tempo. Suns are born from gas clouds, the Earth boils with fire, slowly cooling and setting the stage for the first squigglings of life. Jellyfish billow up from the depths toward the light. A plesiosaur lies on the beach contemplating the wound that life is, while a school of hammerhead shark swirl, searching for its bloody trail – life’s raw energy fiercely ignorant of all but its own exigent purposes.

In all of this, the arrogance of a modern perspective is swept aside, subdued by the grandeur and sheer presence of a world so remote that our own time, with all of its complexity and self-importance, ceases to exist, not even as a possibility. Later, when we enter the family life of the main characters, this same mood of timelessness overshadows everything. Past is present; present is past. Even the future, as revealed in the end, shows itself as the underlying reality of all that is or ever was.

When we, like the characters in The Tree of Life, have to endure the travails of human existence, we look toward the heavens and ask, “Why? Why me, why here, why now?” We look at the frailty of our skin and wonder why we are made to bruise so easily, our eyes and why they must see brutality, our ears and why they are pierced by lies and the screams of the dying. Why have the ability to feel with our hearts in a world where only the callous seem to get by? Why soft feet when life is sharp and unyielding? Are we a mistake? “Who are we to you? Answer me.” – our prayer spoken for us by one of the characters. And as to Job, God seems to reply, “Who are you to ask such a question? This is big – you have no idea.”

This movie is a slice of life that cuts to the core – profoundly spiritual and moving, a prayer, at once drenched in sorrow and lifted to the highest ecstasy. Of our childhood, we remember that which touches us most deeply. We remember what we have witnessed with the eyes of our soul, those events that shape us, that define us to ourselves, that tell us who we are. There is never a moment when our soul is not aware of the planet we live on, its place in the cosmos, the immensity of the solar wind constantly pouring down upon us the fiery graces that wear away the illusion of a separate life. We know that we are known, but we are mystified by the meaning of it all. Where are we going, what is our purpose here, why do we feel so alone? These are the questions that propel us forward into the mystery of life. And in the end, it is our connection with each other that gives us the answers. We are here together, and by accepting each other and ourselves with grace and humility, we will find our way.

Dear Nadine,
My daughter Ella is 16 and very psychic. She knows things before they happen and she doesn’t know what to make of it all. I want to help her, but I’m not sure where to start and sometimes, our relationship gets a little strained when I bring things up. Any help is appreciated. ~ Concerned Mum from Minneapolis

Dear Concerned Mum,
The teenage years aren’t easy are they? Take a vat of tumultuous hormones, throw in a need for independence, a quest for identity and add a tablespoon of insecurity and you have a recipe for trouble. Mix a little psychic development into the pot and we have a bubbling cauldron that’s enough to turn any mum’s hair white. But don’t worry, help is on hand.

The first thing your psychic teen needs to know is that her sensitivity is absolutely normal. Teens generally want to run with the crowd, not stand out from it. Explaining to Ella that we are each a spirit in a body taking a journey called life is a simple way to kick off a conversation about those psychic senses and why we have them. You might even like to explain that psychic talents run in families. If you and your daughter get on well, then now’s the time to own up to your own gift. If not, blame dad!

Take Ella to the New Age bookshelves and show her how many books deal with the paranormal. If she’s comfortable, point out those books that talk about being a teenage psychic. Dougall Fraser, for example, writes about his experience as a gay psychic teenager and how awkward that was for him. Books by Doreen Virtue discuss Indigo children and Crystal children and also provide a great reference point. Ella might see herself in Virtues’ descriptions.

If Ella does choose a book, buy two copies. Reading in tandem means shared understanding and opens up a path to discussion. It’s a great way to let Ella know you care about her and what’s going on for her. She’ll appreciate that.

Of course, the paranormal is a pretty hot topic for teenagers at the moment thanks to Harry Potter and Twilight. There are TV shows like A&E’s “Psychic Kids” [www.aetv.com/psychic-kids/] and online sites where teens can chat about their psychic experiences and what it’s like for them, which could provide a forum of support for Ella. Just ensure that you are familiar with the online resources that Ella uses and that they are sites that are helpful and safe.

Of course, in all of these chat rooms the topic of religion versus spirituality will come up. Be honest with Ella. Talk about the different religions, what they believe and why. It’s okay for Ella to know that for all those people who do believe in the paranormal, there are just as many who don’t. In fact, after all of your joint investigation, Ella might turn around and say that she doesn’t want to develop her gifts — and that’s okay. There are many talented artists out there who don’t draw, people with great voices who don’t sing and yes, intuitives who’d rather watch football than read their horoscope. The most important gift you can give your daughter is a rounded investigation of the subject and the right to make up her own mind.

Being a psychic teen isn’t easy. I know. I was one. But to be honest, it’s not the psychic bit that’s really hard, it’s that whole teenage thing that’s the real fly in the ointment. Having a mum at hand who listens, empathizes and is there through the good, bad and indifferent is the secret to any teen’s success, whether tall, short, scientific or psychic.

Hope this helps!

December marks the beginning of whale season in Hawaii. Around this time majestic humpback whales appear in Hawaiian waters, having traversed 3,000 miles of deep blue sea from offshore Alaska. The whales stay through the winter, mating and bearing their young. To watch them cavort is a spectacle for the senses and the heart.

Last Valentine’s Day, Michael Fishbach and Gershon Cohen were fishing off the coast of Baja when they encountered a humpback whale tangled in a myriad of fishing nets. The animal’s fins were encumbered to the point that she could not swim and, if she remained fettered, would soon die. Armed with but a pen knife, Fishbach and Cohen worked diligently for over three hours, cutting away one small section of netting at a time, until “Valentina” was free. As soon as she gained a distance from the small boat, Valentina put on a freedom show to bring tears to any eye. [Check out the YouTube video here.)

I was amazed that such a huge creature — as large as 40,000 pounds — could be imprisoned by relatively fragile nets. In a way that’s what happens to human beings. Spiritually we are huge, free and unlimited — literally children of God, with all the powers of the divine imbued within us. Yet we become encumbered by the nets of earth and we experience being imprisoned. Our nets are not physical, like Valentina’s, but mental and emotional. We have been conditioned to believe we are small, frail, lost, and limited, and those thoughts are enough to keep us so.

One of my favorite “Star Trek” television episodes, Menagerie portrays Captain Christopher Pike (Captain Kirk’s predecessor) imprisoned on a planet supervised by mentally powerful aliens. At one point Captain Pike begins to sense that his jail is not physical, but an illusion created by his captors. The next time one of the aliens comes to feed the crew, Pike grabs the alien by the throat and tells him that he believes the jail is just a trick of the mind, and he demands to be free. At that moment the appearance of the jail disappears and the crew is liberated.

The symbology of this scene goes far beyond fiction. Human beings have been subjugated to what Ernest Holmes called “race thought” — the cloud of fear, separateness and limitation that hangs over the world because people subscribe to beliefs of lack, loss and divisiveness. This sense of alienation from love is not real, but a mind-net we strengthen by believing in it. Indeed, there have been many noble individuals who have transcended their sense of limits and served as models of freedom. We call them saints, gurus, healers, free spirits, and sometimes lunatics. Yet, they are no freer than we are. They have simply recognized the freedom we all own, claimed it, and lived it.

Jesus told his fishermen disciples, “leave your nets.” This advice was a double entendre. On one level he was telling them to let go of their profession as fisherman and come with him. On another level he was telling them — and all of us — to let go of the mental and emotional nets that have encumbered our fins, so that we can swim in the great ocean granted to us as our divine domain.

I am very interested in the phenomenon of hypnosis. When hypnotized, subjects can be burned with a lit cigarette and develop no blister because they have been told that they were being touched by a finger. Others can be touched by a finger and develop a blister because they were told it is a cigarette. The power of the mind is phenomenal, creating very real physical results. A normal person can lift a car leaning on someone stuck under the car, when under less dire circumstances the weight would be unbearable. These examples are insignificant compared to the entire world we have created because we believe in it. A Course in Miracles tells us, “Illusions are as strong in their effects as the truth,” and that there are no idle thoughts, because “that which gives rise to an entire world can hardly be called idle.”

For this reason we must constantly examine our thoughts to discern between thoughts that imprison us and thoughts that liberate us. Every thought is taking us either deeper into illusion or toward greater freedom. If you monitor your thoughts you will be amazed at how many nets you have wrapped around your massive fins. While this realization may be startling and even feel daunting, there is a gift in it: If you have the power to net yourself, you have the power to release yourself. Herein lies the method and path to freedom.

We are living during a time of great awakening. The ills that seem to plague our world must be undone from inside out. Each of us must find our way to freedom so that we may show others the way. You may feel netted but you have also been given a knife. The freedom available at the end of the knife is one that will give rise to a most glorious show.

With Mercury retrograde through the middle of the month and a Gemini lunar eclipse on the 10th, December urges us to learn from the past and clear away the stale mental patterns that keep us from living our highest truth.

Aries (Mar. 21-Apr. 19)…Your thoughts are the key to everything that concerns you. The lunar eclipse on the 10th illuminates a pattern of thinking that comes from your family history. Be open to recognizing this old energy and processing the emotions that have gotten stuck because of it. Releasing these old feelings clears the way for you to step into your power in 2012.

Taurus (Apr. 20-May 20)…You might feel as if you’re stuck in first gear when it comes to money this month. In reality, this is a lesson about how powerful your thoughts are in manifesting (or not) the abundance you desire. You’ve got a tremendous desire to create something beautiful and useful now, so rather than getting bogged down in what you don’t have, get your creativity in gear.

Gemini (May 21-June 20)…You get powerful insight into the image you’re projecting out into the world, thanks to the eclipse in your sign on the 10th. Updating your self-image to reflect more of your true self can radically rewrite your money script. Be willing to look at all of your relationships and bring them into integrity.

Cancer (June 21-July 22)…You might experience a shocking eruption of subconscious energy, thanks to the lunar eclipse on the 10th. This is intended to liberate you – it takes a lot of energy to keep those unruly parts of the psyche hidden in your mental basement. Plus, working consciously with this previously hidden aspect of yourself can help you derail a consistent pattern of self-sabotage.

Leo (July 23-Aug. 22)…You’ve got your creative mojo back after a difficult period of introspection. Now you’re trying to understand what you need to do in order to bring your creative gifts into the world and connect with the audience who will support you – and benefit from your creations. Be willing to experiment with new friends and connections. Someone in your network has the answers you’re seeking.

Virgo (Aug. 23-Sept. 22)…A major career opportunity/challenge arises this month. Your family history contains the clues that will help you rise to the occasion. One of your parents faced a similar opportunity and may not have been able to handle it in a positive way. Getting curious about the reasons your parent fell short clears the way for you to make a transcendent choice.

Libra (Sept. 23-Oct. 22)…“In all thy getting, get wisdom,” says the proverb. The lunar eclipse on the 10th illuminates your 9th House of wisdom, spirituality and beliefs, bringing you powerful insight into a belief system that has limited your ability to pursue your life’s work with intelligent abandon. How awesome is that?

Scorpio (Oct. 23-Nov. 21)…This story about the other person not living up to your expectations is an old one. You could sink into a depression about this, or you could get curious about the many ways this pattern of disappointment has played out over the years. Once you get a grasp on the pattern, you might find that the relationship is not only salvageable, but carries a lot of positive potential.

Sagittarius (Nov. 22-Dec. 21)…You have the opportunity to rewrite your relationship script, but it’s going to take patience, persistence and attention to detail. It’s not as though you have a choice here, so just make up your mind to slow down, pay attention, and learn from the past. Remember that money doesn’t grow on trees; healthy relationships hold the key to abundance.

Capricorn (Dec. 22-Jan. 19)…Focus on managing your energy this month. The lunar eclipse on the 10th brings lessons about impeccability and integrity, particularly where other people are involved. Committing to your own energetic integrity will solve most relationship problems. You make a deep commitment to yourself over the Christmas holiday as a powerful New Moon in your sign compels you to let go of the old and embrace the newest version of yourself.

Aquarius (Jan. 20-Feb. 18)…You’re learning how to infuse your work or your duties with heart energy. Living creatively means more than just making art or thinking outside the box. The new paradigm – of which you are prophet and avatar – demands that we infuse every situation with creativity and joy. Take the responsibility of leading by example this month.

Pisces (Feb. 19-Mar. 20)…You’ve just received a major download about your career or your public persona. In order to implement this new vision of who you can be in the world you need to make some fundamental changes on a deep emotional level. Embrace the person who is triggering you emotionally – you’ve called this individual as a teacher to show you how to own your emotions and create lasting security.

Listen to “Edge Astrology with D.K. Brainard” at 6 p.m. Central on the first Wednesday of each month, December 7, by calling 1.714.364.4750 or go to BlogTalkRadio.com/edgemagazine. Listen to all archives at Edgemagazine.net/edge-talk-radio.

The first time it happened was in the early 1990s. I had been a daily newspaper writer in Missouri for about ten years, and I was toying with the idea of making a career change. I set up an interview at a school of traditional Chinese medicine in Santa Fe and, before I knew it, I was throwing my bags in the backseat of my VW and heading down the road to New Mexico.

As the miles passed behind me, I thought about how I needed a change in scenery, about how rewarding it would be to help people with a natural system of healing that dates back thousands of years.

The outskirts of Santa Fe were on the horizon, and suddenly the engine light went on, the temperature gauge suddenly pegged to hot, the car sputtered to a stop and I was sitting still on the shoulder of the freeway. I was shocked. The car was in good mechanical shape before I left home, and now, seemingly dead on the highway. Before I could decide what to do next, I heard a voice in my mind as clear as day: “When you cool down, the car will cool down.”

And at that moment, I realized that I had been totally unaware of my body and what it was telling me. Inwardly, I was freaking out about making such a dramatic change in my life. I was boiling over with anxiety. I didn’t really know if this trip was just me grabbing for something…anything…that represented change.

I took the voice’s statement as fact. I worked to calm my inner being. I told myself that no decisions were going to be made today, and that all I needed to do was relax, breathe, and know that everything was okay. And then the car started. The temperature gauge read normal and I was driving into Santa Fe as if nothing had happened. But it did.

Fast-forward to February 2011 when my wife and I were headed east on Interstate 94 from the Twin Cities to Madison to look for a home to rent. I had spent the past month searching on craigslist, but I was unsure if anything would pan out. And beyond that, I was anxious whether the move to Wisconsin was right for us, that my wife truly supported my need for change.

Then the engine light went on. Our hybrid Civic kept running, but we didn’t know if it would die at any moment. I was a bundle of nerves sitting next to my wife, as she drove the wintry highway. We had a blizzard the week before, and the whole trip seemed to be full of doubt.

And then I remembered Santa Fe. I tried to calm myself down. I told myself things would work out — and they did. One of my craigslist leads turned out to be the perfect choice, and the car ran normally all the way home. And all the way home I sat in gratitude to my body for helping me to awaken — and to my car, for communicating to me, in the only way it could.

A Zen story tells of a man who came home one evening and found a thief tossing his possessions into a sack. In Zen fashion, the homeowner decided to just sit outside the door and meditate. At some point the thief saw the man and dashed out of the house. In the commotion the homeowner opened his eyes and saw that the thief had dropped a bowl from his sack.

“Wait, you forgot something!” called the homeowner as he picked up the bowl and tried to catch the crook. But the thief was running fast and soon disappeared into the night.

The owner stopped and took a breath. He looked up into the sky and noticed the night was illuminated by a stunning full moon. “I wish I could give you the moon,” he whispered with a sigh.

This story makes no sense from a worldly point of view, since most people who discovered a thief would likely be outraged. From a higher vantage point, however, it makes perfect sense. The world as God created it is far more meaningful and valuable than any object we might possess. We already own everything worthwhile. The homeowner in the story sighed because he felt compassion and pity for the thief, who missed the magic of the moon because he was distracted by a few paltry possessions.

We all have possessions and we want to keep them. The question is, do you own your possessions or do they own you? If your possessions bring you joy, they are serving their purpose. If you worry about them, you have missed the moon. No one possesses the moon, yet everyone does. It is a gift for everyone to enjoy. If you are worried about your iPhone, car, or house, stop for a moment and look up. No one can take from you what God has given you. The appreciation of simplicity only increases with maturity.

At this year’s Academy Awards ceremony, best actress Oscar winner Natalie Portman was interviewed as she strolled down the red carpet en route to her win. “Do you enjoy all the glamour and attention?” a reporter asked Natalie. “Actually, my most delicious luxury is getting home, taking off my makeup, and lounging on my couch in sweats,” she replied.

While many of us dream of glamour and some of us actively pursue it, there is an internal reward that runs far deeper than attention or accolades. Your spirit is already bathed in a light brighter than spotlights. Jim Carrey noted, “I think everybody should get rich and famous and do everything they ever dreamed of so they can see that it’s not the answer.”

If riches and fame are not the answer, what is? A Course in Miracles tells us that the only gifts worth having are those that increase when you give them. These are the gifts of the spirit, all variations on the theme of love. When you give kindness, compassion, understanding, laughter, or forgiveness, you do not lose anything by giving. To the contrary, both giver and receive gain, and the blessing of the gift expands in your life and the lives of those you touch. You are bringing the eternal to earth and growing it in your experience.

When you give a finite gift such as money or an object, the giver has less and the recipient has more. The Course would say this is not a true gift, since in the process someone lost and someone won. The only true gifts are those in which everyone feels fulfilled.

When you give money or an object, the real question is, “What is the spirit in which the gift is given?” If you are giving with a sense of guilt or obligation or you hold the receiver indebted, no gift has changed hands because the spirit of the transaction is void. If, on the other hand, you give with love, generosity, and delight, and you are happy for the recipient, the gift is real and it enhances the lives of both parties.

In a culture hell-bent on doing, the experience of being is extremely refreshing, even healing. While many people can do, only a small number can be. Yet there is a part of each of us that knows how to be. Metaphorically, while a part of us is gathering stuff in our sack like the thief in the Zen story, another part recognizes the magic of tonight’s moon. Whether you experience the stuff in the sack or the moon depends on where you choose to place your attention.

At some point the thrill of seeking gives way to the deep satisfaction of finding. We value innocent pleasures more than contrived ones. Then we understand Leonardo DaVinci’s message: “The greatest sophistication is simplicity.”

Many of us have read books and gone to seminars to practice manifestation. After a while, you become more interested in de-manifestation. Many of us would gladly trade a sack of stuff for the moon. If so, just look up. It’s waiting for you to be full.

Star Wisdom

Enthusiasm builds and inspiration abounds. We seek the truth and suspect it just might set us free. The mood intensifies at Thanksgiving, when a solar eclipse and the last Mercury Retrograde of 2011 show up for dinner hand-in-hand. It will be a holiday to remember….

Aries (Mar. 21-Apr. 19)…It’s time to get to work creating that vision you see in your heart. You are your ruler Mars in your house of work: You’ve got plenty of drive and the ability to focus on tasks you’d normally ignore. You’ve also got a direct channel open to your Higher Self this month, so tune in, take notes – and then act on the wisdom you’re downloading.

Taurus (Apr. 20-May 20)…Look seriously at what’s being reflected to you from the important people in your life because you can make a powerful identity shift that will help you create more of the life you want. You’re driven to revive a stalled creative project and you’ve got the focus to see it through. If you need financial support, ask. You might be surprised at someone’s generosity.

Gemini (May 21-June 20)…You’re trying to figure out how to restructure your job, your routine or your health in order to have the energy you need to move forward. At the same time, you just can’t help but relate. People are magnetically drawn to you but pay attention to the people you’re attracting. The solar eclipse on Thanksgiving wants to help you bring a powerful new soul into your life.

Cancer (June 21-July 22)…Life lurches forward this month, at long last. Your energy has been so internal for a while, but you suddenly feel like getting out and having fun again. You’ve got a ton of creative energy after the 10th, though you may have to force yourself to make a start. If you’ve been meaning to write a book or finish that website or blog, you’ve got the drive, energy and focus to make big progress.

Leo (July 23-Aug. 22)…You might be spending more money than you wanted to this month, but you can take heart knowing that the infrastructure you’re building is leading directly to the realization of your dream. Look for a career opportunity to show up around the 10th. This looks solid but someone involved could be a bit slippery. Make sure you’re very clear about what’s on offer and who is agreeing to do what.

Virgo (Aug. 23-Sept. 22)…The plans you’ve been hatching over the often-difficult course of this year start to take wing this month as energy planet Mars moves into your sign on the 10th. Mars has been holding you back and forcing you to get rid of old baggage; now you’re traveling light – and you have the energy, drive and willpower to move forward with newfound assertiveness.

Libra (Sept. 23-Oct. 22)…Some of the pressure comes off this month and you might feel the need to crash a little bit. If so, give yourself extra time to rest and recuperate. You’ve earned it – and you’ll get valuable insights during your down time. With Mercury and Venus together in your communications house, you’ve got the silver tongue. Great time to pitch a project, do some PR, or start on that book project.

Scorpio (Oct. 23-Nov. 21)…The more fully you come into yourself the better your relationship options get. You’ve dumped a ton of baggage in the last couple months, you’ve gotten clearer on who you are and how to communicate that to others, and you’ve been working like a fiend on your life goals. Use this month to take a step back and honor all you’ve accomplished – and to focus on what you want to create next.

Sagittarius (Nov. 22-Dec. 21)…This is a big one, Sag. Although you continue to be a bit preoccupied by all the percolation happening in your subconscious, you’re getting clearer and clearer on who you are, what you want, and what you need from a partner. This all comes to a head at the solar eclipse in your sign on Thanksgiving. Speak your truth, clearly and kindly – your words hold great power to make it so.

Capricorn (Dec. 22-Jan. 19)…This may be one of those hermit-type months for you. You’ve got so much happening in your unconscious mind, you need extra time to filter out the gunk and tune in to the messages trying to flow through to you. Show up for your spiritual practice. Yoga, meditation, and other body-centered methods are especially good for grounding you and keeping your psychic energy flowing.

Aquarius (Jan. 20-Feb. 18)…At least one person close to you understands what you’re trying to do and wants to help you make it happen. You are able to talk about your ideals – both to yourself and others – in a way that inspires real change. Connect with friends, colleagues and members of your network with this enthusiasm and just watch what starts taking shape.

Pisces (Feb. 19-Mar. 20)…You’re highly motivated to work with others this month. Beware of leaning too hard on any one person, though. Set your terms, be firm and know that there are plenty of other fish in the sea. People and opportunity are gravitating to you this month – your words seem to be alive and glowing. So don’t hide your light under a bushel.

Listen to “Edge Astrology with D.K. Brainard” at 6 p.m. Central on the first Wednesday of each month, November 2, by calling 1.714.364.4750 or go to BlogTalkRadio.com/edgemagazine. Listen to all archives at Edgemagazine.net/edge-talk-radio.

Every week, talk show host Jimmy Fallon does a regular segment on his “Late Night” program in which he scribbles brief thank you notes to random things and people. When I first saw the sequence, it was Christmas time and I assumed the host was showing his gratitude in the spirit of the holidays. Over time, I realized the show’s writers were just having fun…for example, “Thank you, tanning beds, for looking like human Panini makers.” Jimmy’s crew has inspired me to offer some Thank You notes of my own:

THANK YOU, ASTROLOGY, for giving us a cosmological explanation for the challenges we go through each month, and particular thanks goes out to Mercury Retrograde, for taking most of the blame for almost everything that goes wrong.

THANK YOU, ORGANIC FOOD, for giving holistic types something they can talk to average people about without appearing too strange.

THANK YOU, EXTRATERRESTRIALS, for giving us humans ideas for incredible scientific discoveries without taking any credit, and for your light shows in the sky that demonstrate that people really are no different than cats who chase flashlight beams up the wall.

THANK YOU, DEEPAK CHOPRA, for being able to say anything at all and make it sound so inspiring.

THANK YOU, FENG SHUI, for encouraging us to clean our house and for giving us more mirrors on the walls to show us when the stuff is piling up again.

THANK YOU, BUDDHA, for not only inspiring a major religion, but being able to show others with pot bellies that it’s okay to laugh at yourself and not take yourself too seriously.

AND THANK YOU, MAYAN CALENDAR, for having the courage to admit you’re tired and finally have to quit after counting down every day for 5,126 years.

Despite the prophecies of Mayan calendar theorists who predict the world will end this month, the rumors of our collective demise appear rather exaggerated. In fact, cultivating win-win relationships gives us plenty of opportunity to step into our potential.

Aries (Mar. 21-Apr. 19)…Your energy, which has been held in check for the last little while, explodes outward. Having gotten to the bottom of a draining emotional issue, you shine forth now with a sustained burst of creativity that lasts all month. Take responsibility for what’s happening in a key relationship – be willing to hang in and fight for a win-win outcome.

Taurus (Apr. 20-May 20)…October is back-to-work month for you. You’re getting serious about taking the creative project you kick-started in September and getting it ready for the world. This involves structuring your time and social commitments so you’ve got the energy you need to move forward. Later in the month, you decide to get serious about a certain relationship. Juicy!

Gemini (May 21-June 20)…You can probably see in hindsight that the last couple difficult months were surprisingly productive. But you’re going to like this month’s creative energy. In fact, this is the time to get serious about your three-year Saturn lesson: developing your creativity into a wealth-creating, soul-affirming channel of power. Make a plan, show up every day, and do the work.

Cancer (June 21-July 22)…You need to pay attention to your foundations this month. Something that involves a spouse, business partner or other key person needs to be negotiated, nailed down, redefined or otherwise solidified. Once you get this situation squared away, you move into a much more creative and free-flowing energy.

Leo (July 23-Aug. 22)…Even if it feels as if you’re struggling with a writing project (or with your thoughts in general) keep putting the work in. What you’re doing now has the potential for long-term success, so don’t let frustration cause you to give up just when you’re actually gaining momentum. Besides, with Mars in your sign, you’ve got energy to burn – so use it!

Virgo (Aug. 23-Sept. 22)…Money is a huge focus. Luckily, you come into October with a fund of momentum you haven’t enjoyed in quite some time. Combining your creativity and your ability to work hard fuels your rise to a new level of self-sufficiency this month. What you’ll find, if you’re willing to really sell out and believe in your own value, is that the Universal Matching Fund meets you halfway with unexpected support.

Libra (Sept. 23-Oct. 22)…You get multiple chances to redefine yourself and strengthen your ‘personal brand’ this month. Say ‘yes’ to opportunity, even if it means more work. With Saturn in your sign between now and late 2012, the hard work you put towards developing your inner strength, setting boundaries and mastering new skills will pay off in spades for the next thirty years.

Scorpio (Oct. 23-Nov. 21)…You’re working hard for what feels like the umpteenth month in a row. With your ruling planet Mars in your career house all month, you surprise even yourself with your stamina and drive. Do take the odd break in the first half of the month to focus on your subconscious mind because you’re getting lots of valuable chances to release old programs of self-harm and self-sabotage. A relationship grows quite serious near your birthday.

Sagittarius (Nov. 22-Dec. 21)…Friends and colleagues can help you unleash your creativity and create a sustainable strategy that will lead you to your dream. Be willing to partner with others this month. Make yourself available to connect, whether physically or virtually. And then recognize that enthusiasm and optimism are good conversation starters but you need to be willing to negotiate win-win agreements to make things happen.

Capricorn (Dec. 22-Jan. 19)…You get more and more certain of your strategy and increasingly confident that the integrity with which you’re pursuing your personal vision will pay big dividends. While others around you flail in fear and uncertainty, you’re solid as a rock this month. No surprise, then, that this aura of stability you’re exuding brings you at least one plum opportunity.

Aquarius (Jan. 20-Feb. 18)…A lovely bridge appears that links your spirituality and beliefs with your relationship sector. Many of you have had an interesting go of it in relationship the last few months; you seem to get a new lease on partnership in October. It’s as if you finally understand what you’re looking for and this knowledge enables you to quit pushing so hard and let it happen. Good for you!

Pisces (Feb. 19-Mar. 20)…If I didn’t know you better, I’d say you were completing some kind of merger and acquisition deal this month. Maybe you are! You’re growing into your power in a very organic way and you feel ready to step forward in your community or profession. The resources you need are available; be ready to demonstrate how you’ll put them to good use.

Listen to “Edge Astrology with D.K. Brainard” at 6 p.m. Central on the first Wednesday of each month, October 5, by calling 1.714.364.4750 or go to BlogTalkRadio.com/edgemagazine. Listen to all archives at Edgemagazine.net/edge-talk-radio.

When the Wright brothers achieved the first airplane flight at Kitty Hawk, NC, on Dec. 17, 1903, they likely had no idea how much the world would change as a result of that single event. The flight lasted only 12 seconds and distanced only 120 feet (shorter than the wingspan of a Boeing 747), but it marked a milestone in human history. In that one instant, humanity recognized that powered flight was real and we were no longer bound to the earth.

Each of us has our own “Kitty Hawk moment” — a term used to describe an event or experience that previously seemed impossible, but is now a reality. Do you remember the first time you typed on a personal computer, used a fax machine, or surfed the Internet? Where were you the day a man walked on the moon? Did you watch the celebration of President Obama’s election? In each of those moments, what was once a dream became reality.

Kitty Hawk moments do not need to be cosmic or world shaking. They can be a simple “aha” that opens you to a new possibility. I remember visiting the Kripalu Yoga Center and noticing that their auto mechanics garage was spotless. That vision dissolved my belief that garages are oily and messy. From that point on my garage became cleaner.

As you strive for greater success and happiness, you may experience a Kitty Hawk moment that does not sustain. You may meet someone you love, but that person is not available to be your partner. You may feel healthy for a while after long chronic pain, or happy after being depressed. You may write a piece of music or create a new painting that gets your juices flowing like none before it, yet after that moment you slip back into a sense of uncreative mediocrity. At that point you may feel discouraged because you tasted well-being or greatness for a flash, and then it dissolved.

But the Wright brothers did not wring their hands and give up because their flight was so short. Instead they celebrated piercing the veil of impossibility to let a crack of light into human consciousness. It would only be a matter of time until jetliners cruised the atmosphere at 600 miles per hour, carrying 500 passengers halfway around the globe in 12 hours. The first moment was not ultimate, but it was pivotal.

What your mind can conceive, you can achieve. The very fact that you have an idea means that it is possible. On some level, the idea is already a reality. Jesus said, “In my Father’s house there are many mansions,” meaning that there are infinite possible realities, all of which exist simultaneously. When you have a clear vision, or a Kitty Hawk moment, you have found the key to the room you wish to enter. Keep turning it, and you shall gain entrée.

Let’s play with the quantum mechanics of Kitty Hawk moments. In your mind, fast forward to realities you would like to see come about, as if they are already done. Do you remember the day you turned on the television and heard the thrilling news that a cure for cancer had been found? Where were you when UNESCO made the announcement that every child on earth was being fed a healthy diet? What did you feel when you learned that the national budget for education exceeded military expenditures? How did you celebrate when the last war on the planet came to a truce?

While some or all of these ideas may now loom as fantasies or far-remote possibilities, one day they will be so. Air flight, television, an African-American president, and a mobile phone for nearly everyone on the planet once seemed just as chimerical. Yet, now we take all of these one-time dreams for granted.

While visionaries are often scoffed at, they are the magi who move the world forward. A visionary is a time traveler who casts his or her mind forward and accepts ideas as done as soon as they are conceived. Then it is only a matter of closing the gap between belief and manifestation.

One of my favorite bumper stickers proclaims: Reality is for people who can’t handle imagination. Imagination is not separate from reality; it is the beginning of it. All belief systems (initials B.S.) give way to broader belief systems. No belief system is ultimate or final. For every belief system you can think of, there is a greater one. Never argue for your belief system when confronted with a broader one. Stephen Wright declared, “A conclusion is where you got tired of thinking.” Sir James Jeans said it this way: “Science should give up on making pronouncements. The river of truth has often turned back upon itself.”

Life is a series of Kitty Hawk moments that lead us from good to better to best, and beyond. They are the moments when earth no longer contains us and the heavens become our new playground. May you have many.

We’re still operating under our now-familiar backdrop of transformation and “danger opportunities,” but with Mercury back to direct motion, at least life is moving forward again.

Aries (Mar. 21-Apr. 19)…You start the month with the same strong emphasis on work, health and your emotional state. The difference this month is that you’re starting to feel empowered to shift things. By mid-month you’re feeling creative and expansive and, dare I say, downright playful. Is it any surprise some cool new collaborators show up to play with you?

Taurus (Apr. 20-May 20)…A creative project finally comes back on line as Mercury goes direct and activates your playful-yet-focused side. It looks like you’re working hard this month but playing hard too – just the way you like it. To keep the peace on the home front, have at least one home-based project going after the 18th when warrior planet Mars moves into your 4th House of home and family.

Gemini (May 21-June 20)…Lots of good news this month. Mars finally leaves your money house on the 18th, stopping the flow of unexpected expenses and re-energizing your mind. As the month goes on first Venus, then the Sun moves into your house of creativity, romance and play, bringing opportunities for creative collaboration – and some good old-fashioned fun.

Cancer (June 21-July 22)…Use the first half of the month to align your thoughts with what you want to create. You’re thinking more clearly this month than you have in some time. With Mars in your sign through the 18th, you’ve got a tremendous amount of drive that needs to be focused outward, preferably on career-related projects.

Leo (July 23-Aug. 22)…Money makes more sense as Mercury reenters your 2nd House in direct motion, enabling you to piece together the flashes of inspiration and partial ideas you received during the August retrograde. To top it off, Mars enters your sign on the 18th, bringing a huge amount of energy and drive you can put towards your dreams.

Virgo (Aug. 23-Sept. 22)…September looks like the month you’ve been waiting for all year long. With your ruling planet Mercury direct in your sign, you finally get a clear picture of what the many lessons of this year were meant to teach you. You might even get some surprisingly good money news later in the month, if you’re willing to take a risk and go for what you want.

Libra (Sept. 23-Oct. 22)…Although the emphasis on your relationships and your family/emotional space remains intense, September moves you back into the driver’s seat of your life. Plan to make a big burst after the 14th when Venus enters your sign, bringing love, luck and opportunity. Friends, networks and social media connections are energized after the 18th.

Scorpio (Oct. 23-Nov. 21)…You’ve been in this deep space in your mind, making sense of the last phase of your life’s journey. Now it’s time to put the wisdom you’ve gleaned into action. Your willingness to take center stage this month might shock a few people but you know you have the ability to move mountains when you’re this highly motivated.

Sagittarius (Nov. 22-Dec. 21)…You finally get out from under a mountain of yucky debt or relationship energy. Even if the challenging person or circumstance remains, you’ve made your peace with it and you’re determined to move forward. Good news – Mercury direct in your career house gives you the clarity about your life and position you’ve been seeking for some time now.

Capricorn (Dec. 22-Jan. 19)…You’re ready to start a new chapter in your life and you have the cosmic wherewithal to do just that. It’s so important to consciously detach from other people’s ideas about who you’re supposed to be and march to the beat of your own inner drummer. Nothing but your Authentic Self is going to bring you the rewards you seek.

Aquarius (Jan. 20-Feb. 18)…With a host of planets activating your 9th House, you’re receiving blasts of insight and intuition this month. These new thoughts can revolutionize your mental outlook and open up new spheres of creative possibility. It’s a good time to go back to school or start an apprenticeship with someone who has mastered one of the skills you’re trying to acquire.

Pisces (Feb. 19-Mar. 20)…Use this month to forge powerful and mutually beneficial agreements with like-minded people. You’ve got an almost overpowering desire to push your ideas forward and create more wealth and security; the best way to do this is by partnering with trustworthy, responsible people who share your goals.

Listen to “Edge Astrology with D.K. Brainard” at 6 p.m. Central on the first Wednesday of each month, September 7, by calling 1.714.364.4750 or go to BlogTalkRadio.com/edgemagazine. Listen to all archives at Edgemagazine.net/edge-talk-radio.

Do you have any doubt that you can be everything you want to be? Do you believe you are limited by your history, genetics, karma, or any other factor? If so, take heart. Your destiny far outshines your history.

Scientists tell us that dogs evolved from the wolf. About 10,000 years ago, people began to breed dogs to draw forth traits they valued. Wolves were selected for hunting skills, herding and loyalty. Over time breeding became more and more specialized, until today we have over 150 registered dog breeds and a total of 500 breeds created by specifically mixing the registered breeds.

This theory does not explain why my dog looks and acts nothing like a wolf. Our little Maltese weighs eight pounds, with long white fluffy hair, and a pushed-in nose. She is the cutest creature you have ever seen (I know, except for your dog or cat), with infinite affection for everyone she meets. Yet scientists swear she descends from a wild, scary-looking predator virtually impossible to tame.

If that’s true (unless my secret belief that visitors from another planet created genetic variations is borne out), then we have a monumental lesson: You can make anything out of anything. Everything has the potential to become anything you want it to be. If, through focus, intention and perseverance, you can pull an adorable, tame, loving, loyal, playful creature out of a vicious killer, you can draw forth the noblest qualities from the worst of people or situations.

I saw a news story about a murderer who escaped from prison, found his way to a neighborhood, and took a single female homeowner as a hostage. The woman happened to be a psychologist who was more sympathetic to her captor than afraid of him. As a legion of police and SWAT team surrounded the house, the psychologist persuaded them to give her some time with the convict. Over a day or two the woman encouraged her uninvited guest to talk about what was going on within him and what he wanted for his life. She served as a compassionate listener and supported his well-being. After a day, he surrendered himself. Later she became his advocate and worked to get him out of prison and get back on his feet in society.

This woman’s courage and skill drew a good man out of an apparently bad one. You and I, too, have the power to reinforce the traits we prefer from those around us. (Dale Carnegie: “Give that person a fine reputation to live up to!”) Actually, we are already creating the people around us by our expectations of them and their traits we focus on. Every time you complain about your husband leaving crumbs on the kitchen counter, or you compliment him for taking out the garbage, you reinforce the characteristic you are focusing on. Complaint and praise accomplish the same results — manifesting more of whatever you are giving your attention to.

Belief and vision are crucial factors in bringing forth positive attributes. A story from education annals tells of a teacher who opened her roster on the first day of the semester and was delighted to find high IQ scores next to the students’ names: 125, 136, 131. Thank goodness, Miss Matthews thought to herself, finally a smart group. The teacher gave her students challenging lessons, stimulating projects and creative freedom. At the end of the semester all the students got A’s and B’s. The next day the principal called the teacher into his office and asked her, “Miss Matthews, how did you take a group of low-functioning students and turn them into geniuses?” Puzzled, the teacher showed the principal her roll book with their listed IQs. “Those are not their IQs,” the principal laughed. “Those are their locker numbers!”

The universe, quantum physics explains, is made of energy more than matter, and energy is highly amenable to the power of thought and intention. You can pluck anything from the universe by focusing your attention on an object. Spiritual masters and yogis have demonstrated this over millennia. Jesus turned water into wine, and in more current times Satya Sai Baba has manifested many objects out of thin air. My mentor Hilda Charlton was traveling with Sai Baba when their car ran out of gas. Baba called for a bucket of water, poked his finger in it, and ordered the liquid to be poured into the gas tank. The auto ran fine on the new fuel. (At today’s gas prices, wouldn’t you like to be able to do that?)

As we enter a new season of school and business, it might be worth our while to think clearly about what we want to create. What is your most valued goal for this coming school or business year? How much attention are you giving your highest priority, and how much attention are you giving to lower priorities, or things you do not wish to experience? Each day take a few sacred moments to remember what’s important.

Be not deceived by the appearance of the wolf. There is a marvelously friendly dog hiding inside.

One can only admire Lake Harriet Spiritual Community’s effort to rebrand itself as the “Center for Conscious Living” for the Twin Cities. Of course, it always was so, but who really knew? This move will not only focus LHSC internally to create events that attract a conscious-seeking, mainstream public, but it will help remove whatever mystique may have prevented people from visiting the community before now.

As much as they may pride themselves for being open and accepting, holistic groups tend to speak a language that is not always understood by new arrivals, and newcomers may feel intimidated by the tight-knit clan already in place.

And individually, many holistic types don’t like to make waves. They are sensitive to criticism and judgment, so they tend to keep to themselves and avoid setting themselves up to be burned at the stake. The fear of reaction is what stops many of us from stepping out of the closet and allowing the full expression of our souls to be seen.

The key is knowing that the public is seeking a more holistic way of life – through spirituality, healing, natural products, and a natural perspective in this all-too processed world.

The key is collaboration, exactly what Lake Harriet and other groups are doing. By partnering with more mainstream neighbors, it allows groups to embrace values they share in common. Seek ways for everyone to come out a winner. Collaboration  is the key to the evolution of consciousness in the 21st century.

from the editor

I have to admit that it was a trip getting through Dolores Cannon’s new book, The Three Waves of Volunteers and The New Earth [read interview online]. I did so on the advice of longtime friend Ralph Wolf of Mason City, IA, who emailed me that he had already read half the book and considered it a significant piece of work.

I have read several of the many books in which Dolores has reported on actual case studies of hypnotherapy sessions. She uses a unique technique to delve deeply into the “Superconscious” and retrieve information beyond this reality. And if that weren’t enough, her technique includes a healing component, an immediate restoration of the body to health, even for those who suffer from life-threatening conditions.

During sessions, some of her clients describe themselves as light beings before they came into human form. They describe crystal cities and holodecks. They talk of space travel and what we would call alien abductions…but what they call our willing participation in scientific research.

And while under hypnosis, speaking from past lifetimes off of this planet, clients express the concern of members of interstellar councils about the monumental transformation now underway on Earth. They say extraterrestrial beings are jumping at the chance to be born into a human body…now…at this very time in Earth’s history, to witness the vibrational shift taking place on this planet firsthand.

I’m aware that for many casual readers of The Edge, it may be too far out there to suggest that ETs are being born into human bodies in order to save the planet, and that people are being cured of cancer by their own “Superconscious” selves.

But what is science fiction for some people is reality for others. Some find it comforting to read books or attend lectures and receive confirmation that they indeed are multi-dimensional beings living a human existence. Some people find that information reported by Dolores Cannon and others helps to answer questions and explain feelings that are surfacing from the depths of their being.

The beauty of life on Earth is that each of us, a fragment of God, creates an experience of life that is so profoundly personal – and yet, one that is always connected to All That Is. While we don’t all believe in the same things, we share more than we know in common.

An eternal optimist, I hope that what Dolores is writing about, essentially, is an awakening of humanity. After a deep sleep, a self-induced coma perhaps, humankind is opening its eyes and is beginning to recognize the love that connects its parts.

When tornados destroy homes and floods swallow cities, people respond with love and generosity. They pull together and share their resources to help the disenfranchised to rebuild their lives. On 9/11, an entire nation came together as one.

I believe that’s what Earth needs now from us. Oneness. A shared commitment to assist those in harm’s way. Open hearts.

In the end, I sit in my body and you sit in yours. Together, we ride this planet as it revolves, and in this moment, we can choose how we want to proceed.

With fear? With hope? In love.

Mercury, the planet of thought and communication, is retrograde from August 2-26, bringing an appropriate slowness to the deepest part of summer while Mars in Cancer keeps the waters of transformation on a slow boil.

Aries (Mar. 21-Apr. 19)…Someone from the past comes back into your life, bringing a much-needed shot of fun. Even though you’re a little preoccupied with an intense emotional or family drama, remember that activating your creativity is one of the easiest ways to release the pent-up emotions of the past.

Taurus (Apr. 20-May 20)…This is a month for hanging out at home, recharging your batteries and enjoying your family or domestic life. Although a part of you wants to continue to charge ahead, do try to slow down and flow with this energy. You’ll have plenty of opportunities to shine in the fall, so rest, relax and gather your energy now.

Gemini (May 21-June 20)…This is a bit of a weird month for you. Your ruling planet Mercury retrogrades in your 3rd House of thoughts and communication, making you much more interested in looking inside to learn how your mind works than in your normal outer-directed effervescence. Mars in your money house pushes you to get clear on exactly what and how much you need to move ahead.

Cancer (June 21-July 22)…Your happiness this month depends squarely on how in touch you can be with your anger and assertiveness. Mars in your sign gives you the energy and willpower to move forward, but only if you’re able to admit how much you need the success or status you’re seeking. This is not a month to play the victim. It’s a time to pull on your armor and charge into the fray.

Leo (July 23-Aug. 22)…Just remember that slow and steady usually does win the race. You’re chomping at the bit because you’re feeling who you are and what you want on a whole new level and you want to share it with the world. But Mercury retrograde is telling you that minding the details and learning to convey your vision with precision is what will take you over the top.

Virgo (Aug. 23-Sept. 22)…You spend the first three weeks of the month getting clear on why you’re here. If you’ve felt stuck trying to “name and claim” your goal, use the Mercury retrograde to get clear on what you don’t want in your life anymore. When the Sun moves into your sign on the 23rd you’ll be free to move ahead with power and clarity.

Libra (Sept. 23-Oct. 22)…This new career, job or life path you’re on is not without its frustrations, but my goodness aren’t you a sight to behold? You’re so motivated right now you could move mountains. So do it. Even if this position isn’t the perfect fit, your assertive action this month will move you closer to the one that is.

Scorpio (Oct. 23-Nov. 21)…You’ve been questioning for some time (a) if you’re doing the work you’re meant to do or (b) what you need to do in order to do the right work and get paid for it. Mercury retrograde in your career house this month urges you to stop mooning around and make a detailed investigation. Start with an honest assessment of what you like and don’t like about your current position.

Sagittarius (Nov. 22-Dec. 21)…Amazingly enough, you’re reformulating your metaphysical system and questioning your whole outlook on life. A key relationship seems to be the impetus for this inner work – which will be even more liberating than you hope. Don’t take for granted the apparent fact you need support from a certain someone; consider that you might be better off creating it on your own.

Capricorn (Dec. 22-Jan. 19)…If you’re not careful you could end up turning your most important relationship into a replay of your childhood. You have a strong tendency to project a mother or father image from the past onto your current relationship this month. Recognize this fact and you can liberate yourself from the emotional ghosts of the past. Ignore it and you’ll be doomed to repeat that family drama.

Aquarius (Jan. 20-Feb. 18)…You’re rethinking a key relationship this month, as Mercury retrogrades in your partnership house and a Full Moon in your sign sheds new light on the person you’ve become. Ask yourself what the creative response is. Rather than doing the easy thing and distancing yourself emotionally, dig in and find out what action you can take to make things better.

Pisces (Feb. 19-Mar. 20)…You have a powerful drive to create, create, create this month. You are so passionate in August, the people around you might not recognize you! It’s important to have an artistic outlet for all this energy; otherwise you’re likely to act out the shadow side of your inner child. So find your bliss, or the closest thing to it, and give it all you’ve got this month.

Listen to “Edge Astrology with D.K. Brainard” at 6 p.m. Central on the first Wednesday of each month, August 3 and September 7, by calling 1.714.364.4750 or go to BlogTalkRadio.com/edgemagazine. Listen to all archives at Edgemagazine.net/edge-talk-radio.

Are you concerned about how you look in your bathing suit? Do you worry you don’t look as good as you did last year, or ten or twenty years ago? Are you struggling with friendships or business ventures that once worked for you, but do not offer the reward they once did?

If so, George Bernard Shaw might show you the door to peace: “The only man I know who behaves sensibly is my tailor; he takes my measurements anew each time he sees me. The rest go on with their old measurements and expect me to fit them.”

To plumb to the core of happiness and success, we must recognize the difference between the present and the past: The present exists. The past doesn’t. If you have ever tried to go back and relive or rekindle the past, you have probably discovered that you can’t. What was, was. What is, is. If something is now, it is because it has life now. If it isn’t now, it doesn’t exist.

Since the advent of the Internet and Facebook, I have received many contacts from people I once knew. My best buddies from elementary school, high school and college have reached out to say hello. I have enjoyed hearing from them, and in most cases we corresponded by email for a bit, and even got together for lunch. Yet in nearly all cases, those connections did not last very long. When this occurred, part of me felt disappointed, since these friends represented some of the best times of my life and I hoped they would renew. Instead, I found that we no longer had as much in common as we did years ago. While our new times together were pleasurable and rewarding, after reminiscing over old times, we simply did not have that much to say to each other now.

Every relationship exists for a reason, a season, or a lifetime.  You intersect paths with some people for a momentary experience, and that is the purpose of the meeting. You were not meant to be together for a longer time. Ken fell in love with Cindy, and several months later she got pregnant. The couple married and had a beautiful little boy who became the light of their lives. A few years later Ken and Cindy divorced and chose different paths. Yet they both love their son very much, and to this day over 20 years later, he is the best thing that ever happened to them. Ken and Cindy came together to have that child, but they did not have a purpose as life partners.

Some relationships exist for a season. You might have a friend, business colleague or romantic partner for a number of years. Then you grow apart and the relationship changes form or dissolves. You may believe you made a mistake or something went wrong. But it did not. If the relationship lasted for seven years, that was the true lifespan of the relationship. If you tried to stop it before its appointed time, or you try to prolong it after it is complete, your efforts would not work. Its appointed time is perfect.

Some relationships last a lifetime. These might include family relationships, marriage partners, significant friendships or career colleagues. Such relationships are a blessing, for they run deep and the loyalty and support you share is a true gift. Appreciate such relationships with all your heart. Such people are genuine soul partners.

In truth, all relationships last forever. The nature of relationship is eternal. It’s just the earthly form that goes through changes. If there was once love, there is always love. The part of us that gets hurt, upset, or angry, or turns its back on another person is not our true self. Our reality is love. Likewise, if someone leaves this world, that is not the end of the relationship. As spiritual beings, your relationship goes on and continues to blossom. Only love lasts.

There are several ways we hold onto the past in self-defeating ways. One is by clinging to past hurts or resentments. “We bury the hatchet but then we remember where we buried it.” Someone hurt you a long time ago, and that is all you remember about this person or relationship. Or you hurt someone and you cannot forgive yourself. Since then the other person has remarried, or passed away, or has left your life. You prolong the pain by focusing on the past hurt.

Another way we keep the past alive is through a sense of indebtedness. Someone helped you with a loan, job, or act of kindness, or they got you out of a jam. Since then you hold them on a pedestal as a kind of savior and you feel forever indebted to them. Or you helped someone and you believe they are indebted to you. Plato said, “True friendship can occur only among equals.” A Course in Miracles tells us, “Miracles are performed by those who temporarily have more for those who temporarily have less.” It is holy to ask for help, and holy to give it. But that interaction lives in that moment, and afterward we must release it as giver or receiver.

We also keep ourselves small by holding onto an identity related to a past success. You achieved something admirable long ago, but you milk it forever. There are new and equally wonderful things about you now. Can you stand in today’s magnificence as well as yesteryear’s?

You don’t need to resurrect the past because the power that made the past beautiful is making now wonderful. That’s why they call it the present.

The year 2012 is only five months away, and the date of Dec. 21, 2012 – which is either the most magical day ever in the history of the world or just another day like any other day there’s ever been, depending on who you ask – will be upon us sooner than we realize. To which I respond: In my opinion, there is no special date to prepare for and no predetermined time when the world will end. I’ve come to consider now as the most vital moment worthy of consideration – and there’s no waiting or preparing required for that.

Having said that, I support the suggestion that this is a pivotal moment in the evolution of human consciousness. Despite the hype and misinterpretations related to 2012, my bones tell me that the entire natural world is undergoing a metamorphosis, a vast shift that is transforming life as we know it. People are experiencing physical symptoms that cannot be explained by medical science. People are being healed of physical ailments spontaneously. And many people are experiencing an altered perception of time (slowing down, speeding up, disappearing) that cannot be put into words.

Some call this the Shift of the Ages. Some suggest that we are entering a New Age, a Golden Age of peace. The following are a just a few of the many comments that have been made about this time in which we now live:

• “Many believe that the dawning Age of Light or Age of Consciousness defines itself in relation to our capacity for unconditional love, our ability to transcend enemy patterning and victim consciousness while adopting unity consciousness that sees divinity in all things. From this standpoint, it might be said humans are evolving into a ‘biologically conscious’ species capable of holding and sharing the full light of unconditional love.” – Sol Luckman, author
• “From what the indigenous people (are saying), from all over the world are in agreement…we have entered into a unique and a special time in the history of the world. It is a time where we are about to move from one way of being into a completely different way of being. It is a time of great hope we are entering into.” – Drunvalo Melchizedek, author and speaker
• “What we are expecting, after 2012, is a one hundred more times, more harmonious, Utopian world, where things like, time travel, levitation, instant telepathy, instant healing, telekinesis are as common and as everyday as breathing. And I look forward to that time…. I see a very, very positive future coming.” – David Wilcock, researcher, author and speaker

Reading such statements reminds me of one of my favorite movie quotes of all time. The film is Easy Rider, and the campfire scene shows “Captain America” and Billy sharing a joint with hitchhiker George Hanson, an ACLU lawyer, who looks up at the stars and begins speaking of Venusians:

“Well, they are people, just like us – from within our own solar system. Except that their society is more highly evolved. I mean, they don’t have no wars, they got no monetary system, they don’t have any leaders, because, I mean, each man is a leader. I mean, each man – because of their technology, they are able to feed, clothe, house and transport themselves equally – and with no effort…. For once man will have a god-like control over his own destiny, he will have a chance to transcend and to evolve with some equality for all.”

I’d like to believe that humanity is moving that direction. Whether we get there, and when, is up to us. How we get there is by making that journey the greatest priority in our lives.

Aries (Mar. 21-Apr. 19)…Remember that all of this inner conflict is trying to set you free. What does that mean? It means being open and honest with your emotions. It means releasing family and social expectations and pursuing your true life’s work. It means letting go of “should” and learning to trust your heart.

Taurus (Apr. 20-May 20)…You’ve got more lucky energy this month than you’ve had in a long time. With Jupiter in your sign, life just naturally wants to bring you positive experiences. Mars in your money house could bring unexpected expenses but as long as you stay focused on the good, you’ll breeze through with room to spare.

Gemini (May 21-June 20)…July is like waking up in a different world. Last month’s eclipses changed your trajectory and showed you the person you are evolving into. Now is the time to get down to work and use your willpower to step into that vision of the ideal you. You’ve got plenty of energy this month, so use it for your own highest good.

Cancer (June 21-July 22)…Life has been relentlessly teaching you to let go of the past, specifically old ideas of who you are and how you must behave. This month you get to remake yourself in the image of the person you most long to be. This includes your key relationships so be willing to let go of one that will never be what you need it to be. This opens up room for a more aligned person to enter your life.

Leo (July 23-Aug. 22)…The first three weeks of July are ideal for reviewing your progress since your last birthday. Not a time to push for glory, but rather a time to work hard, demonstrate perseverance and commitment, and trust your intuition. Wait for the cosmic green light on the 23rd, when the Sun enters your sign and activates lucky Jupiter in your career zone.

Virgo (Aug. 23-Sept. 22)…It’s so important to choose your friends wisely this month and spend time with people who understand your goals and share your vision of the world. So many good things can come to you through your professional and community connections, but only if you’re connected to people who share your vibe.

Libra (Sept. 23-Oct. 22)…Although it may be a little intense for your tastes, there’s a lot to love about July. After the eclipse on the 1st blows through, you’ve got fabulous career energy through the 22nd. With Saturn direct in your sign now, people take you seriously and treat your ideas with respect. So whether you’re taking the next step or starting over, throw yourself wholeheartedly into this new chapter.

Scorpio (Oct. 23-Nov. 21)…You may continue to have to set boundaries in a key relationship but other than that, July looks so much easier than June. Your third eye opens up and gives you a bigger, more holistic perspective on your relationship struggles of the last few months. And this new understanding opens the door for you to enjoy the kind of relationship you dream about.

Sagittarius (Nov. 22-Dec. 21)…Money continues to be a huge part of your evolutionary game. You’ve got plenty of energy, so if you need more of the green stuff, why not go out and get it? With your ruling planet Jupiter in your house of work and service for the next year, work is what makes you happiest anyway. Get off the sidelines and get in the game.

Capricorn (Dec. 22-Jan. 19)…With an eclipse in your relationship house on the 1st and a Full Moon on the 15th in your sign, you gain more clarity as the month goes on. You’re good as long as you understand the rules and it looks like you finally grasp the changes you need to make in order to move forward. With Saturn direct in your career house, hard work will pay off, so keep at it.

Aquarius (Jan. 20-Feb. 18)…As long as you’re learning, everything else will somehow take care of itself. Curiosity may have killed the cat, but it’s your lifeline right now. Refuse to tolerate boredom. Your mind is a portal to infinite realms of experience but you’re the one who must command and connect.

Pisces (Feb. 19-Mar. 20)…Your challenge this month is to catch yourself when you slip into whining mode. Focusing on your dissatisfaction only increases it. Your soul is longing for the experience of flow right now so connect with the creative project or activity that opens your heart. That’s what brings the abundance you long for.

Listen to “Edge Astrology with D.K. Brainard” at 6 p.m. Central on the first Wednesday of each month, July 6, by calling 1.714.364.4750 or go to BlogTalkRadio.com/edgemagazine. Listen to all archives at Edgemagazine.net/edge-talk-radio.

An experience as devastating as the earthquake and tsunami in Japan causes us all to wonder why and how such an event can occur. The loss of human life and damage to property poses many sobering questions to a person of compassion and conscience. It touches us at the deepest level and forces us to confront the experience of suffering.

Yet there are lessons, insights, and healings that come from even the darkest night of the soul.

Disasters move us to revisit and reorder our priorities, and transcend old limits and patterns through kindness and caring. If we have become distracted from the values that make life work, upsets can serve as a valuable course correction.

When the Japanese earthquake hit, English teacher Anne Thomas was living in Sendai at the heart of the devastated region. A few days after the disaster I received a forwarded email from one of Anne’s friends, sharing her gripping and inspiring view of the difficulties. In the aftermath people had to come together. They shared water, food, and a kerosene heater. “We sleep lined up in one room, eat by candlelight, and share stories. It is warm, friendly and beautiful.” Those with the good fortune of running water posted signs so others could come and fill up their buckets. “People keep saying, ‘This is how it used to be in the old days when everyone helped one another.’ ”

Without water, people could not bathe or shower. Yet Anne saw a blessing even in this. “We feel grubby, but there are more important concerns than that for us now. I love this peeling away of non-essentials. Living fully on the level of instinct, of intuition, of caring, of what is needed for survival, not just of me, but of the entire group.” And most poetically, “The heavens at night are scattered with stars. I usually can see about two, but now the whole sky is filled.”

Anne’s conclusion: “An enormous cosmic evolutionary step is occurring all over the world…I can feel my heart opening very wide…I feel part of something happening much larger than myself. This wave of birthing worldwide is hard, and yet magnificent.”

While many people are focusing on the tragedy and devastation associated with the disaster, this woman found majesty in the way people were coming together to help, and the rewarding return to essentials. Everything is what we make of it, and some good comes of every bad. The outpouring of love and support to the people of Japan has been phenomenal. So many people have donated money and prayer, and many have traveled to the affected zone to lend a hand. Giving love is healing to those who extend it, and for the Japanese, generally a proud and independent people, receiving love is equally healing. A Japanese friend told me, “I heard about a team of Israeli doctors who came and donated their services. I had no idea anyone in Israel cared about us and would make such an effort. Maybe kindness is still alive in the world.”

A Zen master said, “Now that my house has burned down, I have a much better view of the sky.” Sometimes when something we thought we needed is taken away, the space reveals riches we were missing because we were distracted by our assumed source of security.

In one of my favorite movies, Starman, an extraterrestrial comes to earth for a short but intense adventure. When he has to return to his planet, someone asks him, “What did you learn about human beings?”

He answers, “When things are at their worst, you are at your best.”

Things don’t always have to get to the worst before we bring forth our best. We can offer kindness, compassion, clarity, and appreciation for the simple things without needing a cosmic whack to get our attention. If we appreciate the night sky without an earthquake, we may not need a disaster to remind us of the star-borne gifts it offers.

Metaphysically, an earthquake represents that the ground of our being is shaking. Simple observation reveals that nearly every human institution we have depended on is shaking — economics, education, government, religion, marriage, and how we relate to the environment, to name a few. The Japanese earthquake is not restricted to that foreign island; it represents a worldwide shakeup affecting us all. The event is less important than how we react to it. We can choose fear or love, with no real options in between. You can go into panic and insecurity, or like Anne Thomas, you can relax into security of a higher order than the one we have been trained to depend on.

Shake up can lead to break up or it can lead to wake up. Let’s use the experience as a call to remember how we were born to live.

Devastation, personally or geographically, is never an end. It is always a means to a greater end. For everything taken away, something greater comes to replace it. As Japan rebuilds to become even stronger, may we all find new stars in the sky.

“If you can imagine it, you can achieve it; if you can dream it, you can become it.” — William Arthur Ward

A friend — Giselle Massi, author of We are Here for a Purpose: How to Find Yours — last month emailed me about an encounter she had with her grandfather. What she wrote has stuck in my mind ever since, and I want to share it with you:

“I had a stunning vision yesterday. My dad’s dad, Victor showed up. He’s been dead nearly 30 years and this was the first time. The message Victor spoke is essentially this: It’s all about kindness. The whole earth journey. Kindness. That’s it. Kindness.

“It was tremendously emotionally rich for me to see and hear him give me his wisdom and to know he is one of my spirit guides working with me.

“So I’m passing on his beautiful wisdom today to you too.”

Can you imagine a society, even a world, based on kindness?

What would happen if politicians and lawmakers were no longer beholden to corporate donors, but to kindness itself? If corporate leaders were no longer beholden to shareholders, but to kindness itself? What would happen if people began to listen to each other with respect, and they began to respond with compassion, and from a sense of compromise?

Perhaps longstanding disputes over land and between religions would be resolved. Perhaps fewer wars would be waged, and less blood would be shed. Perhaps the growing stress carried in our bodies would lessen. Perhaps longstanding disputes over land and between religions would be resolved. Perhaps fewer wars would be waged, and less blood would be shed. Perhaps the growing stress carried in our bodies would lessen. And perhaps more people would be happy and well.

Those in control — financially — undoubtedly would respond that the cost of living from kindness would be prohibitive. Kindness would eliminate the need for so many companies competing over the same products. Kindness would reduce executive salaries.

But in this dollars-and-sense mentality we find ourselves in now, I urge you to add it up. And then tell me kindness is not the solution we seek.

Fasten your seat belts. After a comparatively mellow May, June starts off with a solar eclipse in Gemini on the 1st. We get a lunar (full moon) eclipse in Sagittarius on the 15th, and then another solar eclipse in Cancer overnight on the 30th. Three eclipses in one month makes for some intense transformational astrology. Can you say “grounding and centering”?

Aries (Mar. 21-Apr. 19)…You’re probably going to need to spend more this month with Mars in your 2nd House of money and possessions. Fortunately, though, Jupiter moves into your money house on June 4 to stay for an entire year. Jupiter will not only help you pay those bills, but it will also help you expand beyond your current financial state.

Taurus (Apr. 20-May 20)…What a change a few weeks can bring. Lucky Jupiter moves into your sign on June 4, bringing a wave of good fortune into your life. Jupiter will expand your sense of self, generosity and vision, making you an abundance magnet. June’s eclipses push you to let go of a bad money situation and tune into something better.

Gemini (May 21-June 20)…Redefining who you are at this stage in your life is the key message of the June eclipses. Surprising news or insight into a key relationship might come as a shock, but it helps you get clearer about your own role. With Jupiter now in your 12th House, you have a guardian angel looking out for you.

Cancer (June 21-July 22)…June has the potential to be extremely weird at times. Fortunately, Jupiter’s shift into your 11th House gives you access to important and helpful connections, both social and professional. Friends are also there when you need them. Use the eclipse energy to learn where you’ve been sabotaging your own progress.

Leo (July 23-Aug. 22)…Your career prospects get a huge boost at the start of the month when Jupiter, bringer of good fortune and expansion, moves into your 10th House for a one-year visit. You may quite suddenly realize that you’re not in the right field or that you’ve been chasing success in the wrong ways. Shifting your focus brings positive outcomes.

Virgo (Aug. 23-Sept. 22)…Eclipses in your 4th and 10th Houses bring a major reevaluation of your career strategy and a revelation about your home, family or emotional state. You roll with this data, though, because you’re flowing much more freely in June than in previous months. Jupiter in Taurus heightens your intuition, so listen up.

Libra (Sept. 23-Oct. 22)…You get a blast of insight from the June 1 eclipse that shows you how to change your self-presentation in order to get more of the results you want in the world. Even though this feels big, it’s remarkably easy to digest and assimilate, once you perceive how this shift fits in with the big picture of your life.

Scorpio (Oct. 23-Nov. 21)…You could get major money news this month, thanks to two eclipses on your financial axis. The June 1 eclipse shows you why it’s so important to stop holding yourself back: Get serious and clean out all that psychic junk that keeps you trapped in the past. Jupiter in Taurus brings you the best relationship energy you’ve had in a long time, so enjoy it!

Sagittarius (Nov. 22-Dec. 21)…You might have to give someone his or her walking papers this month; at the very least you clarify your relationship roles. You’re coming to a new vision of who you are and you’re not going to be held down in chains any longer — it’s time to walk your talk in a big way.

Capricorn (Dec. 22-Jan. 19)…It’s a good month to get real serious about managing your energy. If you need help with an addiction or with just feeling overwhelmed, reach out and ask for it. The other great place for you to go is art. Any creative project that gets your energy flowing will magically attract joy and romance this month.

Aquarius (Jan. 20-Feb. 18)…The June eclipses are basically friendly to you — you may wonder why others are running around as if the sky is falling while you start a major new creative project (or romance) and commune with your Higher Self. Nature continues to be very healing and grounding.

Pisces (Feb. 19-Mar. 20)…You may suddenly decide to move or you could get news about a parent at the June 1 eclipse. It looks like you have support for whatever comes up — just ask for what you need. The lunar eclipse mid-month brings major career news, possibly including media attention or the chance to teach or speak.

Listen to “Edge Astrology with D.K. Brainard” at 6 p.m. Central on the first Wednesday of each month, June 1 and July 6, by calling 1.714.364.4750 or go to BlogTalkRadio.com/edgemagazine. Listen to all archives at Edgemagazine.net/edge-talk-radio.

From the editor

Minnesotans have pride in their state, and a new statistical index backs up their instinctual love for the place they call home.

The inaugural U.S. Peace Index, created by the Institute for Economics and Peace (IEP), ranks the Gopher State the fourth most peaceful in the nation. Did you know Minnesota leads the nation in the percentage of its population engaged in the workforce and having access to basic services? It has the lowest percentage of the population with diabetes and boasts the highest life expectancy, at 80 years. It also scores notably high in percentage of people with at least a high school diploma and in high school graduation rate.

North Dakota is the fifth most peaceful state, though it is now ranked lower than it would have been at any time since 1991. Data used for the U.S. Peace Index shows that North Dakota would have ranked the most peaceful state from 1991-1999.

The aim of the U.S. Peace Index is “to further the understanding of the types of environments that are associated with peace and to help quantify the economic benefits that could result from increases in peace.”

“Peace translates into dollars and cents,” says IEP founder Steve Killelea.

The most peaceful state in the nation is Maine, and the Northeast is the most peaceful region. The least peaceful state is Louisiana, and the South is the least peaceful region, according to the index. The nation as a whole has become 8% more peaceful from 1995 to 2009 due to fewer homicides and less violent crime.

Visit VisionofHumanity.org to read more about the new study.

We all want peace, if the truth be told. Every one of us. What would it take? Perhaps being more kind to each other. Perhaps being willing to compromise with each other. Perhaps realizing that the most important things in life have everything to do our connection to each other.

We get something of a break this month between April’s Mercury Retrograde and June’s eclipses. Hope you enjoy May’s mellower astrology!

Aries (Mar. 21-Apr. 19)…Can you take all of this enthusiasm (or desperation) and channel it into making the money you need to manifest your big plan? Yes you can, but you might need to let go of a self-centered or self-defeating way of thinking about money and values. Focus on creating win-win relationships and the money will take care of itself.

Taurus (Apr. 20-May 20)…Last month you learned how to take time out and check in with your inner guidance system. Use this month’s strong Taurus energy to update your personal brand based on the soul data flowing to you now. Stepping into the new you gets easier as the month goes on — and you should see a positive relationship shift as a result.

Gemini (May 21-June 20)…The first two weeks of May are prime time for working the phones, connecting with contacts and taking advantage of the sparkling career energy that kicks in after April’s Mercury Rx. Mid-month starts a more inward, visionary period. Focus on clearing out old, stale energy to make room for new inspiration in June.

Cancer (June 21-July 22)…You finally get a break on the relationship front, freeing you up to go for the opportunity that suddenly abounds. Friends, colleagues and community are super supportive this month, helping you take the next step in your life’s work, rejuvenate your creativity and generally feel better about life than you have in some time.

Leo (July 23-Aug. 22)…All of those insights you’ve been having suddenly reveal themselves as not only exhilarating, but real-world ready. A chance to travel, study or teach opens up in a way that connects directly to your career goals. Success feels much easier when you see opportunity everywhere you look.

Virgo (Aug. 23-Sept. 22)…Life feels a lot safer and more sensible by mid-month, as the planets parade out of your 8th House of transition and surrender into your 9th House of the higher mind. This planetary shift into a compatible Earth sign enables you to start making sense of the intense emotional experiences you’ve been having in your relationships. Turns out what didn’t kill you in April really did make you stronger.

Libra (Sept. 23-Oct. 22)…Relationships and money interact this month, and you’re likely to either love it or hate it – most likely a little bit of both. Resist the temptation to play Mr. Nice Guy because learning to fight fair for what you want in May enables you to benefit from the major financial and partnership energy that kicks in next month.

Scorpio (Oct. 23-Nov. 21)…You’ve been working hard on yourself, learning to live like a sacred warrior, and now you get to put your new skills to the test. That’s right — relationship alert! The new person coming in this month actually looks like someone who knows how to play fair in love and war. Lucky you. P.S. You are ready for this.

Sagittarius (Nov. 22-Dec. 21)…Get to a good place with an amour or creative project by mid-month. Even though your creative/love energy stays strong all month long, you’re going to be working very hard after the 15th. So give it all you’ve got and express yourself fully before then. That way when it’s time to get down to work you won’t have any regrets.

Capricorn (Dec. 22-Jan. 19)…You finally get off the hot seat! After a couple months of pretty intense home, emotional or family drama, May brings a much more creative, outgoing, romantic vibe. Time in Nature is very rejuvenating, as is any kind of artistic or creative activity. You might even find yourself feeling surprisingly frisky for an old mountain goat.

Aquarius (Jan. 20-Feb. 18)…Soak up all of the springtime Nature you can this month. Every moment you spend with your feet in the grass or your fingers in the earth is magically bringing more of what you want into your life. It makes sense really — when you feel good, you’re saying yes to life. And when you say yes to life, life naturally says yes back to you.

Pisces (Feb. 19-Mar. 20)…You’ve been working hard, making money and trying to make sure everyone is taken care of and now you need to lighten up a little. Take at least one short trip that puts you in touch with Beauty and gets you out in Nature. Remember that one secret of successful people is that they know how to reward themselves for their hard work.

I was invited to present a seminar in Hiroshima, Japan, the city devastated by the atomic bomb in 1945. As I approached the Hiroshima train station via the bullet train, I felt uneasy, wondering if the psychic shadow of the holocaust would linger unto this day. To my surprise, Hiroshima Station felt light and airy, passersby friendly and upbeat. At initial encounter the place actually felt more peaceful to me than the dozen other cities in Japan I have visited.

As my host drove me through Hiroshima’s streets, I was impressed by the comeliness of the area. Rivers wended beneath many bridges, banks highlighted by cherry blossom trees in full bloom. Families picnicked by the riverside as children laughed and played. Was this the same city instantly burned to a crisp by the world’s most dire single act of man-made destruction?

At the center of Hiroshima resides a lovely manicured park, dedicated to the intention that peace prevail on earth. Manicured green commons create a soft backdrop to fountains and a waterfall. At one end burns an eternal flame set atop a simple altar where people from all over the world pray and leave flowers as a symbol of their wish for peace.

There my host told me that various seers at this site had explained that in the wake of such massive destruction through warfare, the desire for peace has magnified to an extraordinary degree. Hiroshima has become a nexus for many gatherings in the name of world harmony. Recently His Holiness the Dalai Lama was joined by Bishop Desmond Tutu and another Nobel peace laureate, Betty Williams, for a conference, ceremony, and prayer to further world peace.

As much as the name Hiroshima was once synonymous with decimation, the name is now being associated with healing. Abraham (of Abraham-Hicks) underscores the value of contrast. Negative events generate intense motivation for their opposite. When you get what you don’t want, you are more highly motivated to create what you do want. A bad marriage moves you to have a better one. Physical illness amplifies your intention for wellness. A business failure induces you to generate more success. When you experience what is clearly Not It, the next question is “What is It?” and “How can I get It?”

A few blocks from the peace park stands a small monument indicating the exact spot where the atomic bomb fell. That spot now has a grocery store on one side of it and a parking lot on the other side. The street is busy and unless you notice the stone slab you might overlook it altogether.

That night as I lay in bed in my hotel room a few blocks from the monument, my mind was spinning. I had no box in which to file such an experience. I was about to go to sleep a few hundred yards from the hypercenter of where an atomic bomb had once exploded. When the bomb went off, it instantly reduced to ashes practically everything in a twenty-kilometer radius. Yet, now there stood parks, hotels, stores, restaurants, apartments and people in the midst of a vital, colorful life. What was the truth about that place on the globe? How did I fit into it? What could I learn from it?

I was slipping back and forth between parallel realities. In one, a huge mushroom eclipsed the sky, signaling the beginning of humanity’s ability to wipe itself off the face of the earth with one careless press of a button. In another reality life was blooming in glorious, productive ways, love was clearly present, and the greatest respect for peace on Planet Earth prevailed.

On some level I was being prompted to choose which reality I would live in. The more I focused on the idea of an ominous megalithic cloud overtaking life with all its evil consequences, the more unsafe and depressed I felt. When I looked out the hotel window and saw Hiroshima’s main promenade with people driving, walking, talking, laughing and listening to iPods, I felt encouraged. Then I recognized that I serve far better to focus on life rather than death.

All things change. Nothing is always one thing or one way. Before I went to Hiroshima I spent a week in Tokyo. Considering the radioactive pollution from the Fukushima nuclear plant, I thought, “I’m looking forward to going to Hiroshima to get away from the radiation.” While at first this felt like a bad joke, later I realized the profound lesson of juxtaposition. Life rushes to replace death and healing seeks to erase wounds. As the bumper sticker says, “Nature bats last.” Human beings can do an act as heinous as dropping an atomic bomb on their brethren, and horrific as that act is, life will return. With the exception of one skeleton of a building now used as a tourist attraction, Hiroshima has been resurrected. Not just as a city, but as a city of determined peace.

You and I, too, have had our moments of pain, destruction, and perhaps even decimation. Yet, those experiences always give way to life, and sometimes even greater life. May we all learn from the contrast in our lives, individually and collectively, so that we may build parks of beauty over the ashes of war. As A Course in Miracles tells us, “The holiest spot on earth is where an ancient hatred has become a present love.”

Roger Kirschbaum | Photo © Eric Keith

I remember his easy smile, the sway as he walked, the lean of his body, fingers twirling the red ponytail behind his ball cap, stained with the sweat of summer and the challenge of life itself.

On this day, Saturday, March 19, I join many others who gather to say goodbye — his mom, his brother, and his greater family of friends who have never forgotten despite the passing of time. And his son. Jhett, a boy of 4 when I last saw him, is now twentysomething and about to graduate from college. Philosophy, he said, when I asked about his major. When his Dad and I hung out, Edie Brickell sang that philosophy is the talk on a cereal box.

What I am…here — standing before Roger’s son, a young man with the same present eyes, the same easy smile and the same lean of the body — is empty. I want to sit down and learn everything there is to know about the past 15-plus years since I last saw him and his dad, since those of us here all buried his mom and I moved up north away from Missouri, away from the sadness that lingered in the muggy air.

But no words come.

I listen with tears in my eyes as friends read Roger’s poems. Here in this small F.O.P. Lodge, on this dark, rainy night of the supermoon, I hear Roger’s voice in my head, and I see him in my memory, reading to us once again. It is now, in this moment, when I feel the sting of pain and allow the sadness to rise from the depths where I stuffed it away so many years ago.

Many of us sit here wearing white baseball caps in his honor, not Detroit Tigers caps, but ones emblazoned with a blue Old English “R,” the back of the cap reading: The Poet Roger Kirschbaum, 1962-2011.

It still hurts as I read one of my favorite poems of his, “Cycles — for the Buddha,” in which Roger writes:

“…When the earth has watched the labor of seasons
roll our deeds up against
the weight of consequence
we’ll once again accept the pain,
step gracefully
into another lifetime
thankful for a chance
to love our sisters and brothers
as we should have loved them
too many lives ago.”

That love, between him and all of his friends, was too fleeting. I understand the reflex to walk away when the emotions get too strained, so as to not disrupt the status quo. I walked away silently from most of the people in this room long before Roger sensed the end, spending his final days in Oregon, his liver no longer able to cope with the iron that once kept him strong.

Walking away, and staying silent, are carved in my family tree, as well. I sit here now, about to move away from Minnesota, wondering how it feels to live in one place all of your life.

Aries (Mar. 21-Apr. 19)…Every month is like a new year these days, or a new lifetime! This is it — are you going to be your true Self or are you going to let fear convince you to keep playing small? Use the Mercury retrograde in your sign to let go of all of those false, limiting ideas about yourself that stand between you and a life fully lived.

Taurus (Apr. 20-May 20)…April activates your unconscious mind more powerfully than perhaps at any other time in this life. Your soul can make you whole, but only if you get serious about learning how to meditate, contemplate and self-examine. Intend to see your whole self, not just the parts you’ve labeled “good” or “strong.”

Gemini (May 21-June 20)…You’ve just completed a long cycle of career growth and you might find your goals are changing in surprising — even shocking — ways. With Uranus in your 11th House for the next seven years, both your dreams for the future and the people you want to spend your time with are going through a radical shift. Find at least one person or group that shares your new interests this month.

Cancer (June 21-July 22)…Some people are going to be shocked by the changes in you. Some people are going to whisper you’ve finally lost your mind. Some people are going to claim you can’t possibly pull it off. You know what the greatest thing is about all of this? You really, maybe for the first time ever, don’t care. You know what you’ve got to do and nothing is going to stop you.

Leo (July 23-Aug. 22)…You are seeing the world — and the people around you — in the context of a much bigger picture. This new vision gives you the confidence to do what’s right, even if some of the others don’t fully understand the enormity of the changes we’re going through as a society. Trust your guidance.

Virgo (Aug. 23-Sept. 22)…You are finally realizing that what you hate about your partner or friend is a reflection of what you have repressed within your own soul. When you actually feel the truth of these words in your own experience, you are blessed with choices you didn’t have a moment ago. Make the choice to live a little larger and dare a little more.

Libra (Sept. 23-Oct. 22)…Your biggest challenge this month is to refrain from absolutely torching that person or those people who have been taking you for granted, trampling your boundaries and mistaking your kindness for weakness. Recognize that people only take advantage of you if you allow it in your own psyche. Use your anger to set stronger, clearer boundaries than ever before.

Scorpio (Oct. 23-Nov. 21)…You must activate your sacred warrior self this month. With Mars, Jupiter and Uranus blasting energy into your 6th House, you have to get super-focused on how you manage your energy. This may involve a radical change in exercise or diet or it may mean getting fanatical about your schedule and your focus at work. A long-term strategy will keep you from overdoing it initially and then fading out.

Sagittarius (Nov. 22-Dec. 21)…The difference between Armageddon and the Promised Land is what we do with our creativity and our love energy. You can literally re-create your Universe with your passion this year. April challenges you to break the bonds of shame, fear and family karma that tempt you to hold back, swallow it down, and suck it in. You are not a consumer, you are a creator.

Capricorn (Dec. 22-Jan. 19)…The elephant in the room is the emotional pollution that keeps us all trapped in cycles of rage, addiction and powerlessness. This month challenges you to come clean with yourself about how hard it was for you growing up and the negative emotional patterns you still carry. It’s time to clear that old trauma so you can finally feel at home in the world.

Aquarius (Jan. 20-Feb. 18)…Your mind is blown open. You know what you see, but you’re not sure how to say it so other people can share the view. April condenses the challenge of your entire lifetime into the span of a month. So you don’t have to get it perfect. Just experiment as soulfully as possible and learn from the feedback you get. And remember, your words have extraordinary power.

Pisces (Feb. 19-Mar. 20)…Saying you don’t care about money is like saying you don’t care about water or sunshine. Money is a form of energy and it’s one of the most potent symbols we share. You are being offered the chance to make much more of it; use this month to find your motivation and dismantle the old programs that keep you from allowing it to flow to you.

Listen to “Edge Astrology with D.K. Brainard” at 6 p.m. Central on the first Wednesday of each month, April 6, by calling 1.714.364.4750 or go to BlogTalkRadio.com/edgemagazine. Listen to all archives at Edgemagazine.net/edge-talk-radio.

I was surprised to receive a Facebook friend invitation from Eric Butterworth, a respected author and minister who introduced me to the New Thought movement many years ago. The astounding element of Dr. Butterworth’s invitation is that he is dead. He passed away eight years ago. How he found his way onto Facebook is a matter of great interest to me.

The Internet and Facebook bear huge metaphysical lessons. In truth, no one ever dies and we are capable of communicating interdimensionally. In the movie The Last Starfighter, a young Jedi-like disciple grows sad when he learns that one of his heroes has been killed. His mentor tells him, “He is not dead. He is just battling evil on another dimension.” On a more earthly plane, a friend of mine told me that his mother had just passed away. When I offered him my condolences, he explained, “She really just changed addresses.”

Just as the essence of a person never dies, neither do relationships. All real relationships are eternal. You might break up, get divorced, move away from each other, or one of you might pass on. None of these logistical shifts diminishes the relationship. Only the love is real. Everything else is just storyline. A Course in Miracles tells us, “Nothing real can be threatened. Nothing unreal exists.”

One of my favorite John Denver songs is “Annie’s Song.” When I attended one of John’s concerts, he mentioned that Annie’s Song is the most popular of all of his compositions.

“When I went to India,” he said, “people would stop me on the street and sing to me, ‘You fill up my senses….’” When I read John’s autobiography, Take Me Home, I learned that he wrote the song for his wife Annie, from whom he later got divorced. Initially, I felt sad that such an exhilarating romantic song yielded to divorce. Then I realized that the love John expressed when he wrote the song was genuine. What happened after that is less important than the passion that flowed through him at that moment. Though the marriage ended, the passion that inspired the song is eternal and available to anyone choosing love at any time. Forms of relationship may change, but the energy that joins people in their finest moments cannot be destroyed.

I met John Denver when I was walking along a remote road on Maui. Driving a rental car, he pulled over and asked me if I wanted a ride. I was enjoying my walk, and much as I would have liked to ride with him, I told him thanks but I would continue walking. I took John’s hand and told him how much his music had inspired me over many years. He smiled, told me, “Thank you,” and continued on his way. A few years later I learned that John had died in a small plane crash. Upon hearing that news, I was so grateful that I had that moment to touch him and say thank you. Like John’s music, that moment is mine forever.

If you have gone through a breakup or divorce; or parted ways with a friend; or experienced the death of a loved one, take heart. The precious elements of the relationship are yours always. People and circumstances come and go, but your connection in Spirit is inseparable.

That’s why and how dead people can friend you on Facebook. They don’t really go very far from you, just behind a curtain. You can’t touch them with your fingers, but you can touch them with your mind and heart. That’s why I’m establishing an alternative to Facebook. I’m calling it Faithbook. We’re making a movie about it called The Spiritual Network. On Faithbook you are connected to everyone everywhere all the time and you don’t need a computer to communicate. There are no annoying ads or silly games, and the organizers don’t keep changing the rules. You make friends only by the Law of Attraction, and messages that you would have to block on Facebook never get to you on Faithbook because they don’t match you. You can easily communicate with departed loved ones, because on Faithbook no one ever dies.

All relationships offer us the opportunity to discern between reality and illusion. We make up all kinds of stories in relationships that cause us pain and sorrow. The relationship journey evolves from the stories we made up to stories that are true. Contrary to what soap operas, romance novels and movies tell you about relationships, the only real purpose of relationships is to experience deeper love. That love does not depend on what our bodies are doing. It depends solely on what our heart and minds are doing.

When Facebook became popular, I resisted joining because I did not want to spend any more time on the computer. Now I like it. Where else can you get messages from dead people you love? In the old days you would have to go to a medium to get messages from the departed. Now you go to social media.

It’s kind of cool when you think about it: No one ever dies. They just move to Facebook.

From the editor

On this day, as I sit and write to you, it is February 18 and protesters in Egypt celebrated “Victory Day” in Cairo’s Tahrir Square during the 18th day of the populist uprising, which has led to the exile of President Hosni Mubarak and has spread to neighboring countries where similar anti-government campaigns are underway.

Closer to home, at the Wisconsin state capitol in Madison, a throng of people carry on during the seventh day of protests against a proposed bill that would curtail the right of state workers to negotiate for benefits above base salaries.

Protest, it seems, has gone viral. Or perhaps it is more accurate to say that transformation is in the air — manifesting personally and collectively.

It’s been long suggested that this is the age in which paradigms would be busted and rebuilt to reflect the will of the human spirit. The rise of Democracy in the Middle East seems to be a perfect example of that.

A change just as profound is underway here. The outsourcing of American jobs overseas, combined with the rapid collapse of the U.S. housing market — and simultaneous escalation of personal fortune for the wealthiest among us — have resulted in a perfect storm that already has hit our shores. People have lost their jobs and their homes, and states are beginning to cut lifelines to the least among us.

The end result is still ours to determine.

The first step toward the rest of our lives is our commitment to listening to our soul.

Mine tells me to begin to express myself more creatively and become more involved in helping others. By picking up my old brushes and paint with acrylics like I used to years ago. By writing those novels that have been gestating within me. By volunteering regularly.

I hear within that there is nothing to wait for, that there is only now. As a result, my wife and I are close to selling our home in the suburbs. We will be downsizing next month to a townhome on the eastern edge of this magazine’s region, in Madison, where I will paint, write and begin to volunteer regularly.

And I look forward to hearing how your soul’s whispers are leading you through this time of transformation. Submit your story to The Edge so I can share it with our readers. I can’t wait to read it.

I recently made a pilgrimage to the ancient Mayan temples at Chichen Itza and Tulum in Mexico. I was impressed by the staggering structures the Mayans created, demonstrating their sophisticated understanding of mathematics and astronomy, and a deep inherent spirituality.

At one pyramid our tour guide informed us that the Mayans regularly offered human sacrifices to appease their gods. “The Mayans feared that if they did not make sacrifices to the sun god, the sun would not rise the next morning,” the guide explained. “In times of drought, they sought to appease the rain god with multiple sacrifices.”

While we would regard such offerings as primitive and even abhorrent, the mindset of sacrifice is still very much alive in the modern world. Many of us believe that we must sacrifice something we value to gain something else we want. We believe that struggle, strife, sweat and sorrow are required to get anywhere in our career; that we must deny our joy so others can have theirs; and, under a “no pain, no gain,” mentality, we believe that if we are not suffering we have it too easy. While we are not sacrificing whole bodies as the Mayans did, we do sacrifice our emotions, our happiness and often our health. Our sacrifices do not rob us of life in one dramatic moment, as the Mayans experienced, but they rob us of life a little bit more each day. We die not under the knife of the shaman, but under the whip of ongoing self-recrimination.

Many religions thrive on the tenet of sacrifice and even glorify it. (It is said, “the Jews invented guilt and the Catholics perfected it.”) Many sects of Christianity extol “the blood of the lamb” and seek to emulate the crucifixion of Christ. Yet, many of them never arrive at the resurrection. They emulate the sorrow of Jesus, but not his joy. I wonder if Jesus would be pleased to see people suffering in his name, or if he would find deeper reward to see them happy.

When the Mayans believed the sun would fail to rise if they did not offer it blood, they labored under the illusion that sacrifices were causing the sun to rise. Thus, superstition reigned over science. If the culture suspended sacrifices for any length of time, they would have discovered that there was no relationship between the loss of life and the gain of sunlight. They would have found that the sun is happy to shine on all things unconditionally, delivering its blessing because that is its nature and what it loves to do. No payment required.

If we suspended our belief in personal sacrifice, we too might discover that, metaphorically speaking, the sun is happy to shine on us without exacting a fee. In classic anthropomorphic fashion, the Mayans projected human emotions and ego onto the sun. People in fear and pain may demand sacrifices, but the sun does not, and neither does anything in nature. If we questioned fear, we would realize it is void of substance. In its stead we would find well-being sufficient for all to bask in.

The assertion that you do not owe is a radical one in a society where debt is one of our most predominant and pressing themes. The jaw-dropping volume of personal and national debt reflects an underlying belief that we must lose in order to get. Rather than working harder to pay off our debts (meanwhile accumulating more), we might do well to instead look within to examine our core belief of indebtedness. We would thus address the source of the debt rampage and begin to heal our belief in paying blood for what would otherwise come to us by grace.

The Mayans have been in the headlines for the past few years, and will be increasingly spotlighted because their calendar ends in 2012, which has created a lot of hoo-ha as the supposed end of the world. Not exactly. It’s not the world that will end, but the old world, which, as far as I can see, wasn’t working so well anyway. Even unto the 21st century, the belief in psychic self-mutilation still rules the masses. Wouldn’t it be wonderful if 2012 marked the end of the world of sacrifice? If so, bring it on!

Life takes no joy at your loss; to the contrary, a part of the heart of God cries when you do. If you and I could suspend our belief that death keeps the sun rising, we might find that our blood serves far better in our veins than spilled. Then we shall erect new temples where we deliver to its altars the fruits of our joy, not our tears.

Aries (Mar. 21-Apr. 19)…That pain or fear or frustration you feel is your Authentic Self trying to break down the walls of false beliefs and limiting self-constructs that keep you trapped in a life that is less than you deserve. Yes, change often hurts, but this kind of change will free you into a life worth living passionately and enthusiastically.

Taurus (Apr. 20-May 20)…Your friends, networks and community are the key to your happiness and success this month. You have resources, so don’t play the isolation game. One of your connections may come through with major assistance on a creative, artistic or child-related matter. But you’ve got to get connected first.

Gemini (May 21-June 20)…Put your energy into activities that build your career, status and reputation. With the Sun and Mars in your 10th House, this is a great month to put your products or services out there. You naturally want to communicate about what you’re doing, building, or making, so stop making excuses and just do it.

Cancer (June 21-July 22)…You start to get intuitive nudges about new career or “public self” opportunities right at the beginning of the month. Between self-abasement and ego inflation lies a path of abundant growth. You’re going to have to grow past your old ideas of safety and security, but the rewards for that risk are great.

Leo (July 23-Aug. 22)…How you spend your energy is a big theme in March. You may need to renegotiate your agreements with your lover, spouse, or other collaborators in order to restore an equitable flow. Doing this opens you up to benefiting from your relationships, rather than feeling drained by them. That in itself will make a huge difference in what you accomplish this year.

Virgo (Aug. 23-Sept. 22)…You may need to let someone leave your life near the New Moon on March 4. Use this energy to look back on your relationship patterns from the last year; in order to attract the opportunities and people you deserve, you need to get clear on what you need. You’ve been learning so much about yourself in the last few months; March shows you how much you’ve grown.

Libra (Sept. 23-Oct. 22)…Work and health issues in the first half of the month are trying to teach you how to manage your energy better. You’ve got some incredible relationship mojo starting around the spring equinox, as the Sun, Mercury and Uranus radically energize your 7th House. Get clear on the kind of person you want to show up in your life and then open yourself to extravagant surprises.

Scorpio (Oct. 23-Nov. 21)…Life is trying to connect you with your gift, that thing that you love to do and that also enriches the world. If you don’t know what this is yet, allow yourself to remember something you used to love in childhood, but that the grown-ups told you was a waste of time, living in a fantasy world, etc. Finding the adult version of this energy will lead you straight to your gift.

Sagittarius (Nov. 22-Dec. 21)…Something needs to be taken care of at home. Go ahead and focus on fixing this issue in the first half of the month. You need your home/family space to be what Hemingway called “a clean and well-lit place” — a safe foundation from which to launch the creative, adventurous journeys of self-exploration that are calling you in March and April.

Capricorn (Dec. 22-Jan. 19)…Watch your words this week. You’re more motivated than usual to communicate your views to others this month, but you need to be aware of the emotional elements that are pushing you to express your views so strongly. With a little self-awareness, however, this is a great energy for writing, teaching or otherwise influencing the world with your thoughts.

Aquarius (Jan. 20-Feb. 18)…You might incur more than your share of expenses with Mars in your 2nd House, but Mars also gives you the energy and drive to go out and make more money. Both the Pisces New Moon and the Virgo Full Moon ask you to get clear on money, resources and what you value in life. Knowing what you need is the first step towards having what you need.

Pisces (Feb. 19-Mar. 20)…You can make a quantum leap forward this month. Focus on what you really need as far as income, money, resources and support from the Universe. You usually don’t get what you need either because you’re not asking for it, or because you’re not asking the right questions. Learn how to ask for what you want and you’ll probably get it.

February should be a much mellower month than January. The emphasis is on creativity, friendship and community.

Aries (Mar. 21-Apr. 19)…Pay attention to your changing goals, because you’re rewarded this year when you reach for the highest and best. Make a long-range plan and start taking baby steps to get there. (If you need help, by all means spend the money on a coach, career planner or other professional.) Now is so not the time to sell yourself short.

Taurus (Apr. 20-May 20)…A new way of perceiving your status or reputation is emerging this month. Your career has felt amorphous, in flux, for so long now, but it’s starting to become clearer. This may involve letting go of one of your sacred cows — a career or status goal that secretly holds no meaning anymore. Embrace this new direction — you have to trust your intuition.

Gemini (May 21-June 20)…Life gets a whole lot lighter this month. You’re still learning a lot but in a much more social, outer-directed way. Publishing, higher learning, foreign travel and metaphysical studies are lit up this month and you’ve got money luck on your side too. Watch for career opportunities after the 18th.

Cancer (June 21-July 22)…Against all odds, seemingly out of nowhere, your career catches fire. This could cause tension within an existing partnership. But you’ve been building up to this moment for months now. Better to just dissolve a relationship that isn’t working and put a new framework in place. You give so much to others; you deserve to be supported as you reach for your potential.

Leo (July 23-Aug. 22)…It’s time to drop some of the charity cases from your life and focus on maximizing your strengths. You’re usually a soft sell, but you will not suffer fools gladly this month. That’s good — the best way to make the world a better place is to set a shining example of a life lived creatively.

Virgo (Aug. 23-Sept. 22)…You’re going to be working hard this month, so put your mind to the task from the outset. You may also decide a new job is in order — if so, you’ve got Mars in your work sector giving you all the drive you need to find better employment and Mercury bringing genius-level ideas to help you work smarter.

Libra (Sept. 23-Oct. 22)…Your creativity is off the charts this month! Navel-gazing is out and masterpiece creation is in. Of course, when you’re feeling this energized and passionate, it’s only natural to attract new people into your life. This month kicks off an extremely positive relationship period, so get clear on what you want in a lover, friend, or business partner.

Scorpio (Oct. 23-Nov. 21)…You’ve got a new mindset this month; you’re finding it much easier to access positive thoughts, both about yourself and about others. This is good news, because you’re still engaged in some deep emotional archeology. Make sure you’ve got a compelling project to work on at home, or Mars in your 4th House could cause domestic strife. Things start to lighten up after the 18th.

Sagittarius (Nov. 22-Dec. 21)…This month is fabulous for writing, teaching, presenting and generally putting your hard-earned wisdom out into the world. You also find money flowing much more easily than in the last two months. With so much creative energy moving, get your ideas out there — something good is bound to come back.

Capricorn (Dec. 22-Jan. 19)…You seem to be either moving or setting down roots this month; either way, the transformation you’re going through is changing how you feel about place. And this feels surprisingly liberating. Although Mars brings extra — but necessary — expenses, Venus in your sign gives you the attractive power to recuperate any losses.

Aquarius (Jan. 20-Feb. 18)…Your time in seclusion has brought new insight into yourself and your relationships, but you’re finally out of the dark ages and back in the saddle this month. Feels good to be back on your horse, but careful where you swing that sword! With Mars in your sign, you might not know your own strength. Expect important relationship news around the 18th.

Pisces (Feb. 19-Mar. 20)…Let life come to you until the Sun enters your sign on the 18th. This is a time to review and dream, learning from the events of the past year what you want to emphasize in 2011 and what you’d prefer not to repeat. You have a strong desire to be with friends, but monitor your energy and don’t overbook yourself.

From the Editor

Decades from now, textbooks describe the early 21st century as a time of unparalleled earth changes, widespread collapse of global financial markets, as well as incredible technological innovations in social networking and medical science. The texts inform students that there were mass casualties due to war and natural disaster, and topics of the day ranged from terrorism to safe food and drinking water.

But teachers, knowing full well that history books only tell part of the story, turn to the oracles, the intuitives, to relay the true history of our time. They tap into the consciousness of the past and translate it for the present moment.

One such intuitive, dressed in a black bodysuit, touches the oracle disc in front of her, and she begins speaking, in a hushed tone, with eyes closed:

“I touch upon 2011, fifty years past, and reflect this from that time. Incredible change and hardship faces this woman. Loss of job. Home flooded two years prior. Two children to support. She is applying for work via the global network. Now she is sitting still, in meditation. She opens her eyes and picks up a cellular phone. She speaks with her sister, saying this:

‘Sis, I know times are tough. Half of the homes on my block are in foreclosure. But I know things will work out. What I received in meditation is that the less we resist, the easier things will be. We need to be like the water in the stream and flow. Flow is the way forward. Yes, I know it’s a tough challenge for you. I know that few companies are hiring. But do not fear. Be present. Look at what you need to do now, do it, and move forward. Do not dwell on what’s not working. Just flow like the wind in the trees. Be alert for opportunity. Breathe and relax into the flow. Spend time in stillness, and silence the mind. We were not given this opportunity without the ability to achieve our soul’s purpose.’”

The oracle opens her eyes, turns and walks out of the room toward a different class down the hall. The teacher smiles to the class, arms outstretched, pleased that the oracle was able to share such wisdom.

One student, bored, watches clouds float by overhead, moving over the translucent ceiling. Other students squirm in their chairs, whispering that they learned about meditation and the stillness when they were babies.

The teacher senses the sentiment and reminds her students that knowing about meditation, about sitting in the silence, is one thing. Applying it to your life, when you face the most difficult of circumstances, is something else entirely.

“It is only when we are truly tested that we grasp the wisdom of our souls,” she said. “May you have the courage to be still when your fears tell you to run.”