What's Coming in 2013 and Beyond - And How to Deal

What's Coming in 2013 and Beyond - And How to Deal with It

Winter Solstice of 2012 has come and gone; we are now part of a new "B'ak'tun" (or Mayan long cycle). And of course, our lives are physically the same as before. But is there something different? And if so, how can we deal with it?

To all appearances, one day is still pretty much like the next. And yet, there are huge changes - immense changes - going on all around us. And what is perhaps most indicative of the times is that all these changes are converging. We're dealing with not just one or two big things, but a great number of very big things, all of which are crashing into each other - more or less all at once.
 

Antarctic ice mass crashing

Climate changes are evocative of other sweeping forces impacting our lives

Last night, I read a column by Sara Nunnally, who described our current situation an economic winter. The contributing factors included an ongoing crisis in confidence, a credit crunch, falling interest rates (to be followed by a rise, then a much lower fall), and others. The overall impact pointed to long-term economic challenges.

So we start putting this together. Our big picture?

The earth seen from Apollo 17

We have a rate of change in our lives that is absolutely unprecedented in human experience.

It's not just one thing, or another. It's not just the collision of a growing world-wide population with a decrease in "cheap energy."

It's not just an maturing demographic, with more workers reaching retirement and wanting Social Security and Medicare, with fewer workers earning dollars to support the government expenditures. It's not just the financial collapse of 2008-09, with others on the horizon.

It's all of these factors, plus more.

It's the simple fact that our technical growth - the rate of change in our communications, in our data storage, and many other factors is now racing towards an unimaginable future. Literally. We're heading into scenarios where our minds - our imaginations of what the future will be - will not be able to keep up with what the future is actually becoming.

(To be continued ...)

Cultivating Our Core Power Archetypes: First Stage in Becoming a "Master of the Universe"

Six Core Power Archetypes: First Step in Mastery

Mastering ourselves is the first step in becoming a "Master of the Universe."

The Kabbalistic Tree of Life: A Roadmap for Personal Mastery

Several millenia ago, some very insightful mystics and seers somehow discerned that the "roadmap to God-consciousness" (and complete mastery of who they were as human beings) could be described as traversing through various "centers" or "realms of existence." They called these "centers" Sephiroth, and organized them in a map that has been called, throughout the ages, the Tree of Life.

There are ten Sephiroth. (These are the circles on the Tree of Life to the left.) Each Sephiroth represents something very specific - not only a "plane of existence" but also an aspect, or emanation, of God.

 

 

The Kabbalistic Tree of Life

These aspects (Sephiroth) are organized in a logical manner. The "softer, gentler, kinder" ones comprise the Pillar of Mercy (on the right), and the "harsher," more rigorous ones comprise the Pillar of Severity (on the left).

There are, potentially, 10x9/2 different connections between them. (Each one of the ten can connect with each of the remaining nine, and then these total paths need to be divided by two, so that they aren't counted twice.) This means that there are potentially 45 different "connection paths." In the Kabbalistic Tree of Life, though, only half of these paths - twenty-two of them - are actually defined and used.

This means that getting from one "center" (or state of consciousness, or realm of existence) to another is not just a "random-jump" sort of thing, but more like an ordered progression. Each step in this ordered progression has a certain meaning, and that meaning corresponds to an aspect of human experience. In fact, it corresponds to a significant step in our adult life journeys.

 

The Three Adult Life-Journeys

The last blogpost discussed this Tree of Life, and how the Major Arcana (from the Tarot) relate to the pathways between the Sephiroth.

We identified three sequences of seven steps (Major Arcana) each. Each of these sequences is a major adult life journey. From the previous blogpost, we recall that these are:

• The Worldly Sequence: We access and cultivate each of six Core Power Archetypes, and integrate them - we are able to use each one as appropriate.
• Turning Inwards: We begin to release our ego. At the end of this sequence, we start to access and cultivate intrinsic life energy, or ch'i.
• The Great Journey: A time of destroying the last of the old "structures" that keep us imprisoned, leading to full realization of our life's purpose and being released to do our "great work."

 

The Worldly Sequence: Cultivating and Integrating Our Six Core Power Archetypes

Our first adult life journey takes us through the Worldly Sequence. During this time, we learn to cultivate each of the six Core Power Archetypes, plus a seventh step (integration):

• Magician (Major Arcana Card I): Power to create "something from nothing."
• High Priestess (Major Arcana Card II): Contemplative inner wisdom.
• Empress (Major Arcana Card III): Nurturing and caring; runs on oxytocin, the "bonding hormone."
• Emperor (Major Arcana Card IV): Strength, stability, structure, and order; the perennial "Program Manager," thrives on building and maintaining structures and things (ranging from a business process to an actual empire).
• Hierophant (Major Arcana Card V): One of the least understood but most important archetypes, this is the mentor/teacher/guide, typified by fictional characters ranging from Albus Dumbledore (in the Harry Potter series) to Mr. Miyagi (in the Karate Kid) to (of course) Yoda and Obi-Wan Kenobi (in Star Wars).
• Love-Goddess (Major Arcana Card VI): All about pleasure and play; romance, love-making, sensual pleasure in all its forms; she runs on dopamine, the "ecstatic pleasure" hormone.

Various blogposts, as well as sections in Unveiling: The Inner Journey, have described these various archetypes, as well as the seventh step, integration.

Most MOST Popular Post on the Six Core Power Archetypes and Integration:

• How important is it to gain each of your six Core Power Archetypes?: Your Six Core Power Archetypes: What Happens When One is Missing?

The OTHER Most Popular Posts on the Six Core Power Archetypes and Integration:

• The Unveiling Six Core Power Archetypes map to six of the eight of the Jungian Psychological Types, two more are "reserve battery" or "rest and recharge" archetypes: Eight Core Power Archetypes
• Mapping the Unveiling archetypes correspond to the Jungian Psychological Types: Unveiling Archetypes and the Jungian Dimensions
• Moore and Gillette identify four masculine archetypes; two of these are an exact match to the Unveiling/Jungian types, one is a partial, and one is a mismatch (read why!): Moore and Gillette, King, Warrior, Magician, Lover: 2 1/3 Out of 4 Ain't Bad!
• Neurohormones and their potential relation with core archetypes: Dopamine, Oxytocin, and Estrogen: A Potent, Heady Mix
• Your eight Core Power Archetypes can help you with your Franklin-Covey roles and identifying life-priorities: The Unveiling Archetypes and the Franklin-Covey Roles: A Useful Synergy

Other Related Posts:

• Introducing the Major Arcana and their relation with core archetypes: Finding Peace and Happiness Through the Power of Your Archetypes
• Characters in The Lord of the Rings embody the six Core Power Archetypes: The Lord of the Rings: A Classic "Inner Journey"?
• What is integration?: Integration: The "Final Step" of Your Power Journey's First Stage

Becoming a "Master of the Universe": Three Essential Life-Stages

The Three Essential Life Stages: Why You Need Each, and How They Empower You

Don't we all harbor some secret longing to be a Master of the Universe?

Our ongoing fascination with (and often immersion in) the heroic actions of super-heroes tells us what is important to us: we desire to live a heroic life, to be much, much larger than the events and circumstances of our daily lives.

The way that we do this, in real life, is not to become a fantasy action-figure, but to go through each step of our adult life journey. This is actually a huge challenge, and one that taxes and challenges us as much as any story in myth or legend.

 

 

 

Congratulations - You've Found One of the Top Blog Posts in The Unveiling Journey

Congratulations!

Whether by luck or by design, you've come to the sixth most popular blogpost in The Unveiling Journey since the blog was started in 2007. (The six "most popular" blogs are selected by statistics current as of October 22, 2013.)

Since then, we've moved the entire blog series to a new location.

Here are some great reading choices:

• The Unveiling Journey - the most recent blog (we keep getting better!),
• Six Top Blog Posts for The Unveiling Journey - top six as of October 22, 2013 - gives links to this blog post plus five more (including the one I'd recommend the most), and
• Becoming a "Master of the Universe": Three Essential Life-Stages - the rest of this post (the one that you started reading here just now).

 

Why the Transition to a New Blog Site?

• Better Intralinking: You'll find related blogposts easier (look at the end of this post on the new site for good links),
• Better Categories and Tags: Interested in a related topic? Want to see what else is covered? Look in the right-hand sidebar on the new site - check out the Categories (main topics) and Tags (people, books, events, and sub-topics), and
• Improved Resources: Look for a Resources Page (main header menu); it will give you a different kind of access to related topics - from the antecedents (books inspiring this ongoing work) to future directions.

 

See you over there - and thank you!

 

Alay'nya (Alianna J. Maren, Ph.D.)

 

Post edited and content moved to The Unveiling Journey website, specifically to the Becoming a "Master of the Universe": Three Essential Life-Stages blogpost on Tuesday, October 22, 2013. Original post October 9, 2012.

"God is the Biggest Joker of All" - Book of the Month, September 2012

God is the Biggest Joker of All, by S. Alice (Alicja) Jones, is Book of the Month and First "Recommended Reading" for Alay'nya Studio Members

S. Alice (Alicja) Jones has written a book that combines personal story-telling with themes similar to A Conversation with God.

In an easy, conversational, and personal style, Alice (Alicja) tells how she both developed her intuitive gifts and her spiritual walk.

	Paper		Kindle

S. Alicja Jones, a gifted intuitive, Reiki master, and spiritual teacher, has taught "A Course in Miracles" for many years, and credits it with saving her marriage.

In this book, her own "conversations with God" have no less spiritual truth in them than the sometimes more abstract and challenging "Conversations" and "Course in Miracles." However, the conversations in her book are often more personal, and more approachable, than either of the two aforementioned books. I find it helpful, in my own spiritual journey, to learn that others who have been on their path - diligently and for many years - still feel uncertainty, and have many questions.

While I've been studying (and grappling with) "A Course in Miracles" for almost a year, the "Course" is a multi-year, if not life-long challenge. It can be very "in your face" at times.

	Paper		Kindle

In contrast, Alicja's "God is the Biggest Joker" is a gentler, more humane approach. The issues are the same, and the "conversations" here are those that every person who seeks an honest relationship with God must ask. But somehow, as Alicja conveys them, they seem much more like the questions that an "everyday" person (not someone who is already a mystic or saint) might ask. And the answers are both surprising and comforting.

This is the kind of book that can be read in a few short hours, and is a "comfort read." It's a good one to pick up at the end of a long work day, while coming home from a business trip, or if staying at home with the flu. It is inspirational and heartwarming at the same time.

And God's sense of humor, as revealed in this book, comes across as gently loving - the way that a parent or favorite teacher might be, when he or she teaches us to not take ourselves - or our lives - so very seriously.

Z Helene - Dancer, Choreographer, Teacher - Reviews "Unveiling"

Z Helene - Noted Dancer, Choreographer, Teacher, "Herstorian," and Spiritual Visionary - Reviews Unveiling: The Inner Journey

The newest 5-star Amazon review of Unveiling – posted just last evening – is by noted dancer, author, choreographer, teacher and “herstorian” Z Helene Christopher.

Z Helene's review is absolutely wonderful! Not just because it’s a glowing endorsement (it is), but because she so adroitly summarizes the thoughts, themes, and interwoven concepts and sources for Unveiling: The Inner Journey.

By reading her review, you’ll get a great sense of Unveiling’s nature – and also learn how a creative dancer, thoughtful researcher, and spiritual leader such as Z Helene applies Unveiling to her own life.

Z Helene writes:

Alay'nya has created a cohesive and enlightening gestalt that is both relevant and extremely useable, and this, I believe, is her true gift as an authoress. Potentially difficult information is presented in a way that is digestible and immediately accessible. We get practical hands-on exercises throughout the book (and at the end of each chapter) to guide us on our quests towards individuation. From tips on posture, poise, and presence to breathing and journaling techniques, Unveiling can also be considered a workbook to be used for small group study, akin to Julia Cameron's The Artist's Way.

	Paper		Kindle

To read Z Helene’s review, please go to Amazon’s Unveiling page, and then scroll down and click on “See all 19 customer reviews”:

	Paper		Kindle

If you’ve already read Unveiling, please go to the Amazon page and “Find Helpful” Z Helene’s review. (Also, please “Find Helpful” other 5-star reviews by noted scholars and author such as Morocco (writing as Carolina V. Dinicu), Donald Michael Kraig, Julie Rahm, and others.)

Then, go to Z Helene’s own site and read her excellent papers! I particularly like her one on Middle Eastern Dance: The Emergence of the New Sacred Temple Priestess. I’m finding what she writes is true in my own life, and you may find that you resonate with this as well. (Note also that Z Helene has produced some excellent instruction and performance DVDs; check them out – she’s received widespread accolades and respect for her work.)

If you haven’t yet read Unveiling, first read Z Helene’s review – which makes now for a total of EIGHTEEN 5-star Amazon reviews (yippee!!!), and then order your own copy as either a trade paper or Kindle edition.

Or if you’d like to get a dated, numbered, and signed copy, the Unveiling website gives info on book signings, radio and TV appearances, and other events.

You can purchase signed copies of Unveiling at these great independent bookstores:

North Virginia: One More Page Books in Falls Church, VA, offers books (with an emphasis on local interest/local authors), interesting wines, and exotic chocolates. What better combination for a sensual weekend of reading?

Tantalizing chocolates - right near the check-out counter at One More Page Books in Falls Church, VA.

(And just for fun, read Arlington Magazine's recent feature article about One More Page Books.

Albuquerque, New Mexico: Bookworks is a locally-owned, locally-operated, independent bookstore that was founded in 1984. "We were indie before indie was cool."

If you’re out-of-town, or can’t make it to either of these events (or to one of Unveiling's much-loved indie bookstores), you can STILL get a specially-inscribed (dated, numbered, signed) copy of Unveiling through Cleopatra’s Closet. (Order your copies now and stockpile as Christmas presents!)

If you’re teaching dance, consider using Unveiling as “recommended reading” for your students. And if you’re a member of a book circle, consider using Unveiling as one of your selected readings.

If you’re truly feeling ambitious, follow the Seasonal Study Guide with Unveiling, using the references for each chapter to augment your own self-discovery and unfolding.

Have a lovely, wonderful, and blessed day!

Yours in dance – Alay’nya

Book of the Month: Dr. Christiane Northrup's "The Wisdom of Menopause"

Dr. Christiane Northrup's The Wisdom of Menopause - Now Richer than Ever!

You probably already know that the women involved in dance tend to be a little above-the-average (sometimes a LOT above-the-average) in terms of intelligence. Emotional intelligence, body-intuitive intelligence, expressive and movement intelligence, and good, old-fashioned, intellectual intelligence.

If you’re like me, you’ve been taking little imaginary “mini-vacations” using books lately. (That’s using our intellectual intelligence and creative, imaginative intelligence in tandem.)

Are you nearly over your “beach reads”?

I’ll confess – I’ve been doing a little “staycation” this week. Still “clocking in” to work (at my home office) every day – but have ripped through two totally “beach-read” novels in past two days alone. (Yes, that means staying up real late.)

But within a week or so, I’ll be over this, and interested in something more “solid.” Which brings me to Dr. Christiane Northrup’s books. Her loving endorsement of Unveiling (see below) has me re-reading her works again.

Dr. Christiane Northrup, New York Times best-selling author.

We have something in common, Dr. Northrup and I. We’re both professionals – she’s an Ob/Gyn practitioner, and my Ph.D. is in theoretical physical chemistry. She’s done a lot of mainstream medical work over her career, and I’ve been an inventor, with four patents in computer science and a book about neural networks (the computer sort; think the android “Data” from the later Star Trek series, with his “neural network brain”). But both of us have examined our inner worlds – gone on our own “inner journeys” – and have observed and inquired into what other people have been learning. And we’ve each put what we’ve learned in book form.

We’re similar also in that our “writing voice” is very warm, intimate, and personal. Somehow, we’ve each managed to escape from the dry, distant “academic voice” with which we were taught, and learned to write in a way that makes you – the reader – feel connected.

And you know what? I’m really enjoying reading her book, The Wisdom of Menopause. It feels like we’re having a cup of coffee together, and she’s telling me about her life.

Dr. Christiane Northrup's recently revised and updated The Wisdom of Menopause (Jan., 2012) is worth our time. (And I'm rereading it - and loving it more than ever!)

Her book is available in trade paper form from Amazon, and also as a Kindle download:

Dr. Northrup just sent me an email describing Unveiling as "delightful," and saying that it brings "divine sensuality to women." (Hooray for her! And hooray for me! So thrilled to get this accolade from an author as respected and loved as her!)

I reference The Wisdom of Menopause in Unveiling:

As described by Dr. Christiane Northrup in The Wisdom of Menopause, we become attuned to new pathways opening up for us at this time. With the monthly cycle of hormones diminishing, we have a more steady and consistent "baseline" for our self-observations. (Unveiling, p. 125)

If you're just beginning your "inner journey" - or are well into the midst of it - Dr. Northrup's book(s) and my own Unveiling make great hand-in-hand reads. Check us both out!

And as you make the transition from purely a "beach read" to something more substantial - what are you reading now? And what's "in your bag" for Labor Day weekend?

Comment below - nominate your favorite reads - and I'll select one to blog about the few days before Labor Day - so others will tune in to your favorite book!

"Unveiling: The Inner Journey" Celebrates First Year Anniversary!

The Unveiling Community Celebrates First Anniversary with Gala Party

On Saturday, July 28th, founding members of the Unveiling Community - and new ones as well - gathered at Alay'nya's home to toast the first anniversary of publication.

As featured in a McLean Connection article on "Pathways for Today's Heroine", by writer/photographer Lori Baker, guests each had a story to share about their own "inner journey."

From left to right, Kim Murray, Alay'nya (Alianna Maren), and Katherine ("Kate") Hanna. Photo by Lori Baker, McLean Connection. Used with permission.

(If this link doesn’t work, please go to: McLean Connection, click on “McLean” (upper right-hand corner of the title bar), and look for the article (central column) titled “A Pathway for Today’s Heroine.”

As described by Ms. Baker, writing for the McLean Connection:

"Last week, McLean author, Alianna Maren’s living room was filled with fascinating women. There were old friends, and new friends, several of whom edited or contributed to her recent book, "Unveiling: The Inner Journey."

"The women gathered in her home, on a wooded and peaceful neck of McLean, to celebrate one year of the book’s publishing. Each guest had a unique background, and a special reason for being there. Among them were authors, dancers, a women’s organizational consultant and life coach, and a spiritual teacher, just to name a few. Each had an opinion of the book’s message, and each articulated the need for such a book in today’s world."

Social commentator and activist photographer/videographer Kim Murray, whose thoughts on the Heroine's Journey were captured in Unveiling, advocated teaching young women to embrace their life's challenges. Her own story (for which her nom de plume Kirene is used) is featured in Unveiling's Chapter 6, "The Hero's Quest - and the Heroine's As Well!," pp. 72-74. As Kirene expresses it:

"If little girls were exposed to the female vision quest, and learned early on that life is full of victories and obstacles that must be overcome ... then girls growing into womenhood would be better able mentally and emotionally to navigate ... turbulent waters and resolve the perceived insurmountable."

Unveiling's editor, Katherine Hanna (seated right in the picture above) contributed to how Unveiling described the role of a Heroine's Journey, as distinct from the well-known Hero's Journey. Ms. Hanna offered the character of Lyra, in the movie The Golden Compass, and Sarah, in the movie Labyrinth, as examples of young women going on their Heroine's Quests. Lyra's goal was to rescue other children, including her friends. To do this, she had to do something in common with all Heroines - find and heal her most significant ally. Sarah likewise found and ennobled her allies. This characteristic of healing and empowering others is a distinguishing feature of the Heroine on her Quest.

Two other guests, Nicole Cutts, Ph.D., and Barbara Jewell, each spoke of how their lives had Heroic Quest aspects. Dr. Cutts (DC's "Success Doc") is a success coach for women who want to bringing their life-vision into reality. She was inspired by Unveiling's description of how Heroine's Quests are an important part of how we create our own success stories. She has hosted numerous women's Vision Quest Retreat, with her newest (the "Social Media Butterfly" event) to occur this weekend.

Nicole Cutts, Ph.D. (left) and Barbara Jewell (right). Photo by Lori Baker, McLean Connection. Used with permission.

Barbara, who has lived abroad extensively, talked about how the experiences of shifting from one culture to another created a Heroic Journey for many young people as they navigated cultural transitions. This same theme resonated with author Charise Hoge, who also attended the event.