Change in the Air

This picture was taken on the last day of summer at the La Quinta Civic Center Park. It was such a perfect day with some cloud cover, comfortable temperatures and pleasing vistas. Fall was lingering just over the horizon of time and even though I was there by myself, somehow I felt an uncanny sense of anticipation. Perhaps this was due to Pluto getting ready to go direct again on October 2 at 11:39 pm Pacific Time. Whenever Pluto makes a move it spells

 M-A-J-O-R-- L-I-F-E--C-H-A-N-G-E 

and this was all too true for me on this date. Although Pluto moves extremely slowly and has been transversing back and forth over my natal Sun in Capricorn for quite some time now,  I don't think I realized the full ramifications of how things were unfolding until today. When Pluto wants to pull back the curtain of power in your life, there is absolutely nothing stopping it. For instance, when Pluto went over my Moon some years back, I lost my mother. Now that it is traveling across my Sun I am happily and unexpectedly losing myself  this time (thanks also to Uranus tip-toeing ever so closer to my lucky Jupiter in senses-loving Taurus.) This has created a colorful kaleidiscope effect that morphs in to exciting new discoveries each and every day, and I can't stop watching!

Remembrance

On Saturday I attended the last day of the Route 66 Exhibit at the La Quinta Museum. I experienced a lot of yesteryear nostalgia and felt a bit melancholy for having even existed through that many decades of this particular road's golden era.

 It occurred to me that each individual is their own museum, too. We store away memories only to be discovered once again at some future date in the attic of our minds. Perhaps in the future we will only need to hit some sort of 'replay' button in order to experience whatever memory we choose; much like we can do with recorded music of today. Perhaps we will be able to manipulate the outcome scenario of the memory, as well, to be in accordance with what we desired of that experience in the fist place. One can only hope.

Something occurred on this date 1/3 of my life ago that I wish I could entertain the thought of  being able to change the outcome of. But alas, I am a mere slave to the memory, only. It's permanently etched in to my soul and luckily I can still  replay, remember and treasure the record of its essence whenever I so desire for the rest of my life if I wish...simply by pulling it out of my memory bank like a book selected from library shelf.

YANNI...TO THE ONE WHO KNOWS

REFRESH

Sometimes we have to find respite wherever it might be hiding, just to refresh a bit. It's not all that elusive, really. It surrounds us...but you just have to pause long enough to let your senses take over from the logical overload of every-day life. That is just simply getting back to your natural self. To attain that state, I just need to see, hear or touch water in some way, and then the contemplative games begin. What is your trigger to refresh?

Here's some other FANTASTIC tracks from Eastern Odyssey after hearing 'Critical Mass' that I have immersed myself in lately in order to refresh. The overlays and timbres are decadently rich for the auditory palette.

SANCTUARY (great to drive to)

IVORY TOWER  (I feel like I'm in a movie theater with this one)

GREAT DIVIDE (found during the dream state)

VOYAGER (the journey to fully awake via beat)

COLOSSUS (yes to other-worldly)

KONG (overtones of belly dancing meets spy vs. spy)

First it was Enigma, and then E.S. Posthumus and now Eastern Odyssey that is definitely energy transference music...the power of 'E'!

To my surprise this little furry ball of fun was wandering outside my abode with no owner in sight. He was just a playful pup that I could see was well taken care of. But, alas, he only had a collar and no ID tag. This was on a Saturday night so there was nowhere to take him to see if he had a chip. He was very thirsty (after all it's the Desert!) and hungry. I posted on the Nextdoor neighborhood app hoping his owner could be located, but because he was so darn cute I didn't give any physical description because I wanted to make sure he got re-connected with his correct human. Low and behold after an hour had passed I heard some young lady walking through the complex calling out a name. Now she was very lucky I happened to be home and happened to be observant of both the dog and her. This is just a reminder to make sure your pet has the proper ID and is chipped because they can't tell us who they belong to when they get lost. Yesterday was National Dog Day, by the way.

Easy Going

Shade was possible to find in the Desert last week during National Psychic Week! This little spot just reminded me of that. Southern California has an easy going ambience and "feel" to it. It takes a little time getting used to that, but it's addictive. After awhile you start living inside the word "relax." The following YouTube musical selections really remind me of the Greater Palm Springs atmoshere, so far. Enjoy!

            

MISHEGAS...EPISODES

TOURIST...ELIXIR

ANDRE AGUADO...LUMINOUS

MARSH...ESTES

JONES MEADOW...ENZO

EASTERN ODYSSEY...CRITICAL MASS

***My adorable new grandson was just born during this particular National Psychic Week (ironic) and he's extremely easy going making me one happy MiMi***

Tonight, Tonight, Tonight

What is a Black New Moon?

Click on the link above for a quick and simple explanation of tonight's event that won't really be seen all that well (since it's a New Moon and in shadow, anyway.) Those that reside in the Western Hemisphere are the only ones that will be able "see" it, this time around. Keep in mind, also, that the video was used to announce the 2016 Black New Moon. I'm CONFUSED already. You can blame the culprit, Mercury Retrograde, for that.

Good riddance to Mercury Retrograde, also. tonight! Just when I think I have experienced every single communication/technology faux pas that exists during any given MR, a horse of a completely different color comes galloping in. This time my regular cell phone (that was deactivated because it's screen was being replaced)  received all my voicemails and some text messages.  And the exact same model phone that was activated during the repair, did NOT...
go figure! That is just plain weird. Now I'm DAZED and CONFUSED...what else is new?

Art.Imitates.Life

Or...is it the other way around?...life imitating art? Hard to say which came first in this concept, the chicken or the egg. Regardless, it is all about creativity no matter how you look at it. Without that essential "spark" sprinkled with some kind of passion, our existence could possibly be totally meaningless. So we strive to fill our days with those things that bring us the most joy. We do the essential things that are required of us, sure, but after that...what is it you can't wait to experience? What drives your curiosity? What floats your boat? Make time and take time to strive for and pursue that which gives you the feeling of your own unique completeness as a human being.

Click the link above to listen to another thought-provoking instrumental track by the talented artist, Enamour.

Preparedness

Hey...nothing says "welcome to California" better than back-to-back earthquakes...unprecedented! Given the 6.4 magnitude quake on Independence Day and last night's 7.1 shaker, I decided it was time to take stock of my emergency supplies tub. When I lived in WA,  I experienced 4 good shakers in 40 years, so I was stocked with stored water and ample wood for cooking outdoors, along with all the equipment and items to be self-sufficient for awhile. But since I had moved to CA on June 1, the only thing I had done was move the emergency supplies tub to an area that it could be easily accessed. In light of the last few days' events, I got busy today and got both my home and car prepared. Thats one of the keys to preparedness...DO IT NOW, NOT LATER! There are tons of lists out there to help you prepare for any kind of disaster, but I would like to suggest 5 items that I think are must-haves:

1. A flashlight that you shake to generate power

2. A portable radio that you hand-crank for power

3. A water filter that you can literally drink from any 

kind of water source out in the field

4. A well-stocked First Aid kit (mine can supply 25 people)

5. Flint, matches or any other kind of fire-generating implements

I hope my small list is enough to get you inspired to create your own disaster preparedness kit or tub. Stay safe out there.

 

Love Syndrome

ENAMOUR...LOVE SYNDROME

Click on the song above to hear this fantastic track!

Literally every time I have gotten into my car since moving to the Greater Palm Springs area a month ago, I have heard this song, 'Love Syndrome.' It really represents  the easy-going, care-free, sunny atmosphere of this area. This valley is multi-faceted with layers of activity that are deliberately designed to give one a sense of "hometown community" within a nuance of sophistication.  What a delightful combination THIS is. I wasn't sure how I was going to adapt to the desert after 40 years of living in the lush Pacific NW...but I am already enjoying the charismatic charm of the surrounding mountains at twilight, the genuine friendliness of the residents, the sounds of the cicadas, the beauty of the ever-blooming bougainvilleas, the glistening palm fronds in the breezes and the occasional quirky roadrunner or tiny hummingbird that visit right outside my door. Kismet meets Shangri la...perfect.

Bittersweet Symphony

My absence, here, has been precipitated by more than 30 hospitalizations over a 2-year period for a dying family member. Life, for me, has changed a great deal, especially in the last 5 months since the loss. During these many months,  music played a big part in keeping me both calm and energized whenever it was required. The daily sojourns between hospitals, rehab centers and home afforded me ample time to keep focused via these auditory-stimulating means...thank goodness! Soon, I will share what songs touched my psyche in a wide array of emotional context.

Then, early this morning, I awoke from a dream of  hearing the rushing waters of a beautiful,  multi-faceted waterfall...the fresh waters churning in multiple locations at various low heights was a delight to see in itself...but, then came a grand specimen of a horse slowly walking through the shallow waters at the precipice...it immediately made me feel refreshed, rejuvenated and uplifted.  I never dream or think about horses, so this is a first...

Sights and sounds, alone, can do wonders to stimulate the soul...