East of the Sun | West of the Moon

As this chaotic year draws to a close, Halloween is by far the most apt occasion to celebrate before voting in the US elections on November 8. We all need to bring back more fun and humor in our lives after the rocky horror show of this presidential campaign season. So much rides on our choice and our vote.  If it's not screaming, it's not a  TRUMPkin ! Read the full story at Change Warrior . 

Having gone through the trauma of past failed elections and their ridiculously fatal results for my homeland the Philippines, the US 2016 elections mean all the more to me as this is now the land I call home. Lest we lose sight of the importance of w hy this election matters, here are some truly valuable and valid points - borrowed from my sister,  Angelica  Berrie : For Filipino Americans like me, this election offers a historic opportunity to make a difference. Putting the first woman in the highest position in our country is a game changer, just as voting for President Obama was a game changer.   Hillary Clinton brings a consistent track record of public service, fighting for issues that touch our lives; healthcare, children, families, women, and immigration policy. A respected bipartisan Senate leader  and globally recognized world leader as Secretary of State, I trust her to make the difficult decisions that will impact our country. I want to see this first woman

light bearer, gate keeper, master story teller, spoken word artist We Were Made For These Times   My friends, do not lose heart. We were made for these times. I have heard from so many recently who are deeply and properly bewildered. They are concerned about the state of affairs in our world now. Ours is a time of almost daily astonishment and often righteous rage over the latest degradations of what matters most to civilized, visionary people.

This September 16 and 17 we are being treated to another lunar eclipse - the third in a string of cosmic eclipses.  The sun, moon, and Earth all become evenly aligned - the moon then passes behind our planet, where it enters the Earth’s shadow and the light from the sun is blocked from reaching it.  It falls in the watery and intuitive sign of Pisces, making this full moon a perfect time to focus on creativity and spirituality. 

The August Aquarius harvest full moon and eclipse heralds the manifestation of our intention. Moon over Manhattan This Corn Moon is all about laying the groundwork for things to come. In the same way that corn must be planted and cultivated in order to grow, you must set your intentions and see them through before you can reap the benefits of your work.

I turned 60 on July 12 and I had a blast - b irthdays are the best! A new beginning, the cycle of life completing its circuit of 365 days around our Sun.  Each year is a bonus and a blessing and yet few people look forward to ageing. Added years are equated with growing older. So focused on old, few are grateful for the growth. Why is that?

Last year on my Change Warrior blog, I wrote a poem to celebrate the 4th of July's  independence, freedom & blessings . green & growing I ended it hopefully with,  the unfoldment of a story strong enough to float me .

" [A]s the Philippines has learned to its sorrow, running a country by public putsch creates bigger problems than it solves. " ~ John Berthelsen , Editor, Asia Sentinel  Chakras chart courtesey of Gaia Heading home while elections were in full swing was bound to be stressful. Determined to optimize my holiday though I decided to try these chakra destressers recommended by sound healer and multimedia producer, Dudley Evenson . 

Progress unfolds and builds momentum as it goes on a roll.  View from the executive suite at the  Manila Marriot Hotel How consciously and ethical it does is largely in our hands. But more often than not greed and avarice rule over sense and sensibility. Nowhere is this more prevalent than in Southeast Asia. Compare the last decade in say the Philippines, Bali and Thailand. Only one has managed to stay true to its indigenous roots and heritage. Because it has done so it has had the most economic growth and local stability. Would that the the rest of the world is watching and inspired to follow suit.  *Originally posted on  Change Warrior . 

Noam Chomsky said the social conditions that are driving voters to Donald Trump also explain  the  rise of fascist leaders such as Adolf Hitler.  The famed linguist and political scientist discussed the presidential election in  a recent  interview  with Alternet , where he was asked to explain Trump’s growing popularity with  Republican  voters.  Photo Credit: Tony Webster/Flickr CC Superficial social media news feeds as well as a growing trend to skim read could well be  culprits to Trump's misleading misinformation campaigns. 

In conversation with a fellow seeker and healer a few days back I offered to contribute regular articles on the site  Pinay.com .  Pinay.com supports and celebrates the Filipina and hopes to present her to the rest of the world in all her glorious facets and assets.  A mutual agreement evolved organically from a few heartfelt shares between me and site maven and publisher, Perla Daly  [aka Omehra Sigahne].  This lead to a few more brainstorming sessions, more like mind mapping via back and forth picking of each other's brains. Aside from the fact that we were both born and raised in the same island of Negros, we soon discovered other boundless connections.  It is always a pleasure to harness good energy in good company - all aspects for each participant is generously enhanced. This is synergy is action and application.  The gist of it is they are launching a  life coach  segment this 2016 and that is what I have been  invited to write for. So here I am submitting my f