Offering Inspiration and Practical Tools for the Spiritual Journey

December 2020

Winter Solstice Message

The Rebirth of Light in a Dark World

As we near the winter solstice this year, nearly 4,000 Americans are dying each day from the Covid 19 Corona Virus and hospitals in the US are on the brink of being overwhelmed. Last year at this time, the Virus was erupting in China and making its way to Europe and America.
     In just one year we have seen unparalleled death and suffering. Our economies have been weakened. Racism and injustice have been exposed. Selfishness and lack of kindness and compassion have run rampant. Yet for every human who has put himself first and turned away from his brother, there is another who has stood up to serve, to sacrifice, to do whatever is possible to help alleviate suffering and to save lives.
     This is just testament to the fact that the world is not good or bad. Humans make it good or evil. We are the architects of justice or injustice and the ministers of love or fear. Each one of us will decide the world that he sees, the ideas he believes, and how he speaks and acts.   And each one of us will reap from the seeds that we sow.
     At this time of darkness, light is coming. The recently approved vaccines are entering the arms of first responders around the world. In the US, a new President has been elected, promising to unite the country and bring us back from the edge of the abyss. Can we restore caring and compassion to a country shaken to its core by an unprecedented eruption of selfishness, greed, lies and brutality? While the challenge of racism and authoritarian runs deep, can we continue the fight to preserve our moral values and keep our democracy alive?
     When light rises, we must rise with it, reclaiming our right for a more just and caring world, where differences can be tolerated and we can begin to listen to each other again. The swords of hatred must be buried. Threats and hate speech must be recognized and rooted out at their rotten core.
      When the shadow rises as it has for the last four years, it is easy to dwell on the darkness, but if we do will reinforce it. We must turn our eyes away from the past and refuse to wallow in our collective victimhood. We are not powerless now, nor have we ever been.
     As the new year dawns, let us see the light and strengthen it. Let us face the shadow and recognize that it has no power over us. Indeed, its power comes from us. And when we stopping giving it our attention and feeding it with our fear, it will implode and fade away.
     In the face of lies and deception spoken or unspoken, let us see and live from the truth. Because it lives in us truth will prevail. Justice will prevail.
     From the darkness, light ascends. The phoenix rises.   Fear subsides and love reasserts its moral and spiritual authority.   With love as our compass and daily guide, compassion returns to the peoples of the earth and peace, the peace we all yearn for, can finally be restored.
    May this be our solstice prayer and our New Year’s Resolution.

Blessings,

Paul Ferrini

The Crucible of Relationships: Moving Beyond Selfishness and Co-dependence
A Virtual retreat with Paul Ferrini
February 12-14. 2021

Gathering together on the Valentine’s Day weekend, we will explore the intricacies of relationship, how we can be ourselves authentically and still create intimacy with our partner. Cost $299. Sign up now and save $100. Click here to register. Click here for more information. Can’t join us live? You can purchase the recordings of the retreat for just $99 and listen to them when it is convenient for you. Click here to purchase the recordings.

New Affinity Group begins in February 2021

Julie McClung, a certified teacher of Paul Ferrini’s work and an experienced therapist, will be starting a new 8 session bi-weekly group on Wednesday, February 24, 2021. at 11:30 PM Eastern. This group Is open to new people who are willing to make a commitment to attend all eight sessions. To join you must either be a weekly support member of our Virtual Community or you can purchase this offering as a stand alone option. If you do not have affinity group experience, please do the online Affinity Course prior to signing up for the group. Click here to purchase the course. Click here to join the group as a stand alone option.
Please see our community calendar for a complete schedule of video conferences and Affinity sessions.

Solstice Newsletter

This morning (December 21, 2020) at 5:02 AM Eastern Standard Time the winter solstice began.   From now on until the summer solstice in June daylight will be increasing in the northern hemisphere.
     This winter solstice is unique in that it coincides with the conjunction of Jupiter and Saturn, the largest planets in our solar system. In Astrology these two planets represent very different types of energy. Jupiter is expansive and creative. Saturn is contracting and reflective. Saturn provides order, discipline and structure. Jupiter liberates us from structures that limit or oppress. Saturn helps us contract toward the center and find our essence. Jupiter helps us to expand outward and express ourselves openly. Jupiter is exuberant and chaotic. Saturn is sobering and reserved.   Jupiter wants to find new approaches and explore new worlds. Saturn wants to establish order and return to what is tried and tried and true.
     While these energies are opposite and pull in different directions, it is their conjunction and the synthesis that results that enables us to find balance in our consciousness and our world.   As human beings, we need both energies and the domination of one over the other is neither healthy nor sustainable.

   Right now we have been experiencing great polarization between extreme social and political views. This has created deadlock in congress and alarming separation in society between people with differing perspectives and beliefs.
    Now, when Jupiter and Saturn come together, these forces either tear each other apart or they interpenetrate and synthesize. While the first possibility would be catastrophic for the world, even the second possibility will be uncomfortable for most of us. We will continue to experience a push pull energy, yoyoing between liberal and conservative agendas until some kind of balance is achieved. What we must understand is that this is a necessary part of the process.   As the swings diminish in intensity, stability will gradually be achieved.
    The result will be a synthesis of new discoveries and freedoms within a social structure that provides safety and clear limits for everyone. Law and order must not stand in the way of innovation or inclusion of new energies, but must provide structure so that new energies can be successfully integrated into the social fabric.
     The conjunction of these energies does not require a choice between one or the other.   The very concept that we must choose one or the other when we require both is dangerous and absurd. You don’t choose your left hand over your right hand or your daughter over your son. You need both. You affirm both. You draw strength and balance from both sides.
     Without balance the body politic spins out of control. It does not matter if it spins to the right or the left. Either way great damage is done.
   It is instructive to note that this conjunction of Jupiter and Saturn happens in the first degree of Aquarius, the sign of the water bearer.   Without water earth is barren and dry. With too much water, rivers overflow and coast lines recede. Global warming intensifies both extremes with raging wildfires and floods, drouts and hurricanes. A climate out of balance is emblematic of a body politic whose consciousness is still reeling from anti-science rhetoric, hate speech and conspiracy theories.
    The conjunction of Jupiter and Saturn in Aquarius suggests that it is time to get our emotions under control, open our minds to new ideas and discoveries and find concrete ways to realize our ideals. Our primary goal must always be to create safety and security for everyone.   This can only happen when we respect each other, listen with an open heart and mind, and tolerate differences. Patience and compromise will be necessary.
Love and blessings,