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IN THE MAY ISSUE
- QUETZALCOATL THE FEATHERED SERPENT >>>>>>>>>> by Bruce Johnson
- CARING FOR LOVED ONES >>>>>>>>>> by Bob Romero
- IN HONOR OF TAURUS >>>>>>>>>> by Roy Neal
A VIRTUAL BOOK TOUR WITH SADHGURU
KARMA – CONFUSION TO CLARITY
A LIVE STREAMING DISCUSSION WITH
SADHGURU AND PHILIP GOLDBERG
May 20th, 5:00 pm MDT/ 6:00 pm CDT
Duration: 75 minutes
Wonder how karma impacts your destiny, health, memory, suffering & the environment?
Each event ticket includes:
1. A hardcover copy of the book “Karma – A Yogis Guide to Crafting Your Destiny”
2. Access to the event recording for 6 hours after the stream
How are karma and memory connected?
Do my actions determine my karma?
Can I go beyond my karma?
Author and speaker Philip Goldberg will join Sadhguru to explore the complexity of the karmic structure and the integral role of memory in its making. They will tap into the connection between action and karma — how you perform your action determines what kind of karma you build or even dismantle. This discussion will clarify many misconceptions and point us to life’s tremendous possibility: that of absolute freedom.
About Philip Goldberg:
Philip Goldberg is the author or co-author of numerous books; a public speaker and workshop leader; a spiritual counselor, meditation teacher and ordained Interfaith Minister. His latest book, published in August, 2020, is Spiritual Practice for Crazy Times: Powerful Tools to Cultivate Calm, Clarity, and Courage.
Each event ticket includes:
1. A hardcover copy of the book “Karma – A Yogi’s Guide to Crafting Your Destiny”
2. Access to the event recording for 6 hours after the stream
KARMA: A Yogi’s Guide to Crafting Your Destiny
by Sadhguru
A new perspective on the overused and misunderstood concept of “karma” that offers the key to happiness and enlightenment, from the New York Times bestselling author and world—renowned spiritual master Sadhguru.
What is karma? Most people understand karma as a balance sheet of good and bad deeds, virtues and sins. The mechanism that decrees that we cannot evade the consequences of our own actions. In reality, karma has nothing to do with reward and punishment. Karma simply means action: your action, your responsibility. It isn’t some external system of crime and punishment, but an internal cycle generated by you. Accumulation of karma is determined only by your intention and the way you respond to what is happening to you. Over time, it’s possible to become ensnared by your own unconscious patterns of behavior.
In Karma, Sadhguru seeks to put you back in the driver’s seat, turning you from a terror—struck passenger to a confident driver navigating the course of your own destiny. By living consciously and fully inhabiting each moment, you can free yourself from the cycle. Karma is an exploration and a manual, restoring our understanding of karma to its original potential for freedom and empowerment instead of a source of entanglement. Through Sadhguru’s teachings, you will learn how to live intelligently and joyfully in a challenging world.
QUETZALCOATL THE FEATHERED SERPENT
by Bruce Johnson
The mysterious Initiate-King Quetzalcoatl was a descendant of the Atlanteans, who were the ancient progenitors of the Mayans and Quiche of Central America. The name Quetzalcoatl, like Zoroaster and Hermes, is a generic title and is used to label both the original Quetzalcoatl and his descendants. Quetzalcoatl is also recognized by the Mayans as Kukulcan, the Quiche as Gucumatz, and is Votan, the “Son of Snakes”. Quetzalcoatl the sun-god was the physically incarnated leader of the advanced and civilized Toltec race, who unlike some Mayans and the Aztecs, never participated in human sacrifice. Quetzalcoatl is also called the Lord of the Eastern Light and was specially linked with the morning star Venus.
Quetzalcoatl, as the enlightened ruler of the Toltecs, taught occult and physical sciences, astrology, magic, art, civilization, agriculture, jewelry making and architecture to the indigenous people of Central America and Mexico. Spiritually, Kukulcan was the High Priest overseeing a hierarchy of priests called “serpents”, that taught the Secret Science to Initiates within their temples. These temples often took the form of step pyramids, beneath which were rooms and galleries where the inner teachings were given to the worthy. Two outstanding examples of Quetzalcoatl inspired temple/ pyramids are the Temple of the Quetzalcoatl at Teotihuacan, and the Temple of Kukulcan at Chitzen Itza.
The sacred bird of the Maya is the Quetzal-bird with its brilliantly colored plumage. Esoterically, feathers are symbols of truth, righteousness, a pure heart, justice, lightness and order. Kukulcan wore a headdress of radiant blue and green Quetzal-bird feathers. Coatl was the word for snake or serpent among the early Toltecs, who were very much involved with snake-related symbols. Serpent symbolism, which is interchangeable with that of dragons, can be either positive and creative or negative and destructive depending on the serpent or dragon. In the schools of Kukulcan, like in Egypt, the serpent was a symbol of wisdom, immortality, and an Initiate of the Mysteries. Uniting the Quetzal [bird], with the Coatl [snake], creates the winged snake that flies, the Adept.
A belief in the good and evil hierarchies was core to early Mesoamerican philosophy. Like Ormazd[ good/light] and Ahriman[evil/darkness] of the Zoroastrians, the creative magician-god Quetzalcoatl and his followers were opposed by the evil sorcerer Tezcatlipoca along with his cruel and destructive allies in various conflicts.
With the intention to block invisible negative forces, the Toltecs, Mayans and Aztecs used amulets and talismans for protection. Mayans often used carved figures representing gods for protection amulets. A favorite Toltec amulet was a travelers staff decorated with feathers for safety during journeys. Magical staves and wands were utilized by both good magicians and evil sorcerers. Quetzalcoatl possessed not only his enchanted staff called the Staff of Quetzalcoatl, but also a special rattle-staff that he used to generate rainfall.
Quetzalcoatl is described as wearing or carrying the following accessories and symbols of resurrection- magnetized staves, a crown of feathers, a long robe, a necklace of jaguar teeth, a neck appendage of feathers, a breastplate made from a portion of shell, a necklace of spiral snail shells and hook-shaped white earrings. When his work with the Toltecs was finished, one legend states that Quetzalcoatl rode out to sea on a raft of serpents back to the mystical land of the East from whence he had originally arrived.
Bruce Johnson has over 30 years of study in the fields of Ancient Wisdom and occultism. He has taught classes on a wide range of topics, from Atlantis to mediums to Zoroaster. He is also a spiritualist minister, with a background in spiritual astrology. He lives in Colorado with his wife and their cat.
CARING FOR LOVED ONES
by Bob Romero
There were two recent stories that resonated with me. One was on the TV news about a husband with a wife in memory care. He had to visit her every day from outside her window because of COVID-19. He finally got to see her in person when the restrictions were lifted. You could see the glee in his eyes when he finally saw her even though he didn’t know if she would recognize him. He started singing some songs that were their favorites and she sang along with him. They had had a long happy marriage until she developed Alzheimer’s. But now he is ecstatic that he finally got to be with her.
The next one was about a member in my golfing league that some golfing buddies told me about. He is a kind elderly man who sometimes will have the highest score in the field, but he is well respected and well-liked by everyone. A fellow golfer informed me that this gentle man had an invalid wife that he took care of night and day. Mondays were his only day off so that he could play golf. We never hear him complain about his situation.
The reason that these two stories resonated with me is because two of my siblings have had to care for their spouses with severe dementia for several years. It has been heartbreaking to see these once vibrant loved ones succumb to this terrible disease. They have passed away, bringing both sorrow and relief. I can only imagine how difficult it has been taking care of them. The sacrifices that were made are comparable to ones that saints have made. My sister and brother somehow endured with this heavy burden one day at a time, with the stress taking a toll on their health. And even through this tough time, their attitude has remained positive. Seeing their resilience gives me strength to take on any challenging situation in my own life.
Those who care for others in this way, do so, not just because it is the right thing to do, or just as service to others. They do so, because of an eternal bond of love that was established during much happier times. It’s a bond that raises the vibration of both the caretakers and their loved ones to a very high level and causes the radiance of both to shine brightly in the eyes of Spirit. Thus, the survivors carry the energy of their loved ones with them, and so while the departed are missed, their energy remains present. If you could see their auras, I’m sure that they are a beautiful glowing color that reflects more than one individual. Even through there were some sad periods, there were many more joyful times, and I have been fortunate to have had all of these people in my sacred circle to help me on my spiritual path.
Bob Romero has been a diligent student of esoteric spiritual subjects and metaphysics for many years, with a life-long quest for answers. He has submitted new and original articles that focus on life lessons and experiences he wishes to share with our readers and the world.
IN HONOR OF TAURUS: THE BULL
by Roy Neal
Taurus is an earth sign ruled by the planet Venus. Both Mercury and the Sun enter the sign of Taurus on Monday, April 19th. The earth is now greening with life.
Venus is the planet of attraction and beauty. It is time to plant your garden and reconnect with the earth. Earth Day is Thursday, April 22nd. It is time to grow the garden of your own value. A Full Moon in the sign of Scorpio occurs on Monday evening, April 26th.
This Full Moon is known as the Wesak Full Moon. The sign of Scorpio is ruled by Pluto and indicates the transformation of consciousness that allows for humanity to heal and release the dark shadows of fear and pain from the past. It is a time of ritual and renewal. The death of the old precedes the birth of the new. What better season to celebrate this process than the time of Spring.
On a personal note: If you want reliability and loyalty in a partnership, you can benefit by relating with a Taurus.
Roy Neal is a professional astrologer with a private practice in the Denver area. He is available for personal readings at 720-962-4633.
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