Skeptics & Language

Rambling On Skepticism

I recently spoke with someone who didn’t believe in astrology - the impact planets have on us. I’m a firm believer in questioning authority and “experts”, discerning truth that is relevant and resonant with one’s Self. Cultures and eras hold values that change over time, and what we deem important and true today will likely fade and be replaced with something else 50 or 100 years from now. What was critical and culturally relevant thousands of years ago - communing with the stars and plants, for example - was hammered out by religious and political dominance across the world. Learning from plants, animals and mountains were the norm back then, and humanity gained a great deal of knowledge for survival from elements that existed much longer in the physical world than us.

Wade Davis, author of Light at the Edge of the World, writes beautifully about the cosmology and traditions of the Amazonian, Haitian and West African peoples. He coined the term, ethnosphere: “the sum total of people’s thoughts and dreams, ideas and inspirations, myths and memories brought into being through the human imagination since the dawn of consciousness.” (You can watch/listen to him explain more here and here.) Since gaining knowledge through inanimate and animate beings is a foundational experience and reality for me, it’s a no brainer. But through indoctrination and institutionalized western education systems, we elevate certain ‘truths’ over others. And on top of that, the way teachers are taught to teach in the US, and those countries who look to the US education system as a measure of success, fail in the pursuit of knowledge - derived from the Greek word, gnosis - awareness, knowledge based on lived experience. I can ramble on about education, but the point I want to make is that there are many ways to learn and experience life - life that is not just seen but also experienced when you still your racing mind.

This is the way I describe astrology to skeptics: we are made up of 80+% water. The moon influences the ocean currents; when planets around us impact large bodies of water, it also impacts the water in our bodies. Same goes for the sun: the reason why I track the KP-index is for the same reason as the moon’s cycle that affect our waters - the electro magnetic force from the solar flares hits the earth, which impact our body’s electro magnetic field as well (thankfully, on a smaller scale). All energy carries information of some form, and it interacts with our bodies which then influence the way we feel, think and therefore, act. You need not understand all the astrological interpretations of the planet’s influence on your personality et al; but it’s like a weather forecast: you can use it to adjust and prepare for any major shifts that might influence you during their transit within our solar system. Intangible influences are aspects of the universe that we are simply unaware; once you become aware of them, they begin to interact with your consciousness and you can more easily understand the whys and hows just like a scientist exploring nature’s complex interactions and behaviors.

We just experienced the solar partial eclipse with the new moon, and are heading into a full moon this weekend. I won’t go into the larger planetary alignments - you can find those aplenty on Youtube and other sites on the internet. I invite you to consider, as you work with frequency, the practices and tools that work best for you to center during energetic, political or personal upheavals so that you are making decisions from your inner sovereignty rather than being influenced by other people’s noise. That you are coming from a place of inspired action that fuels you rather than fear, despair or hate.

The more you commit to Self, the less you are swayed by other people’s reactions and drama. And boy are we seeing a lot of that in the world right now. Let folks navigate their journey so that they can find their path of alignment without adding fuel to their fire. And if you’re weaving ideas with other people, practice your alignment to the highest outcome - the win-win scenario that doesn’t limit your (or other’s) vision of the future. Clear any fear from sneaking into your intentions that can impact the energetic output and response.

A good number of my friends find release in dance and other physical forms of activities that move the energy in and out of the body. Others go deep into biohacking sessions with likeminded souls. I like the polar plunge and morning showers, surrounding myself during the work hours with plants that remind me to breathe deeply and to hydrate with something other than coffee…. In the evening, I prefer to stretch and massage into pressure points after a walk among the Saguaros and Ocotillos that are in bloom right now.

What does your body tell you about yourself? Where can you shake off the skeptic in you and embrace new, unfamiliar information that expands your experience and understanding of the world?