The Glory Of Coffee

In my native tongue a couple words for coffee are Pejuta Sapa, black medicine and Wakaliapi, which means Holy bean. Each word has it’s place of importance. When I awake in the wee hours of the morning it becomes the Holy Bean. I have a daily ritual that starts very early in the morning. Religiously loading the coffee pot with beans and water, I concentrate on the coffee maker until I am satisfied that the magic liquid is emerging from the pot. A very religious experience.

Coffee takes on the other name when the sun goes down and the moon comes out. It is that substance that helps us stay awake deep into the night. The life of the night owl, the Black Medicine. Romona and I both adhere to the practices of the bean, it’s holy nature and it’s darker staying awake properties. It is truly sent by the gods.

It is a multipurpose plant that has given us, the addicts of the world, a genuine reason to get out of bed in the morning and study late into the night, and to any scholarly individual world wide it has given a divine purpose. Thank you God for it’s creation.

Peace and Balance,
John

Spring

In the North Country, Spring takes it’s good time coming.  It lingers in the nether regions of the south and teases us with warmth and hope only to let winter come back again to torture us.  Today was no exception.
    On the first full day of Spring, we here in the North Country are being beaten back by yet more snow, ice, and cold, damp nastiness.  I’m tired of it and ready for flowers and warm.  I told Romona that it was snowing and she said, “Cool.”  She’s been effected permanently by bad weather so we have to forgive her. 
    I’m tired of the shoveling and coldness.  My body hungers for sunshine and warmer weather.  So, come Spring we beckon you, warm our space and let the flowers grow.

Peace and Balance,
John

Praise

  We often forget to give praise to those that have done the greatest in our lives in very subtle ways.
We
forget that behind our every day scenes there is that one person that drives us and supports us in ways that we don’t notice.  We forget, and when we realize what has been done it’s often to late.  That person more than likely sits in support of us still regardless of our thoughtlessness. 
    I have a person in my life like that.  She is the most substantial and strongest supporter I’ve every had in my life.  She stands by me through thick and thin ,silently ,protecting me and instructing me. 
    My supporter comes in the frame of my most favorite person in the world, my angel, Romona.  She is the one that has given her all to me.  Romona, if I’ve ever forgotten to give you praise and venerable respect, I apologize.  For I love you more than I ever have and you are my true Hero.

I love You,
John

Being Green

Kermit The Frog said once, “It’s not easy being green…” Thinking of the day, March, 17th St. Patrick’s day, I envision little green fellows that might be related to Kermit, or not, wandering the woods in high hats and funny shoes hiding away their many pots of gold. It’s not easy.


All dressed in green and smoking long pipes, these are the wee folk of Ireland, Leprechauns of old legend. The green of spring mixed with the wonder of a child, their magic is hidden in the imagination of every one light of heart with a twinkle in the eye. The true magic of the wood.

I’ve heard it said, “God invented whiskey so the Irish wouldn’t rule the world,” and, “Beer is proof that God loves us and wants us to be happy.” Both are old Irish curses. But, for all of us that have some Irish heritage I remember an old Gaelic poem,

“Ik Das Tir Nan Og
Ir Das Hombage
Ir Das Tir Nan Og
Ik Das Hombage…”

“This is Tir Nan Og, (Ireland, the land of the Ferries)
It our home
It is Tir Nan Og
This Our Home…”
Happy St. Patrick’s Day.

Peace and Balance,
John

Disaster

Human beings are resilient creatures.  We access future problems and make decisions that may or may not come to fruition.  We will even build our homes and live for generations in the most dangerous areas available, thinking we’re safe and sound.  This often leads to disaster.
    On the Japanese afternoon past one of the mightiest earth quakes that has ever been recorded shook the sea floor 45 miles off the coast north of the island.   The quake came in at a whopping 8.9 magnitude on the Richter scale.  Japan is the one country in the world that is most prepared for such a disaster and the quake actually did little damage considering is size.  What came next was another story.
    There was a 26 foot wall of water washing the coast of Japan away.  The tsunami that was created by the quake did the real damage.  Destroying homes, businesses, roadways, and brining down the infrastructure; the wave was the hand of the water gods brushing the sides of a quite, peaceful nation.  The loss of life at a little over a thousand is actually extremely low considering the size of the city of Myogi at over a million souls.
    The wave swept across the Pacific and struck every coast along the ocean.  Now the healing and cleaning will begin.  Let’s do the Zen thing and bow a low head holding the rice bowl forward for the people of Japan.

Peace and Balance,
John

The White Stuff

This past Monday, we experienced an unfortunate event. The Great North Woods, was covered by two feet of slushy, nasty, heavy snow. It was pretty to watch as it fell. It even gave us a warm cozy feeling deep inside, but that was not to last.


School was cancelled and the children of the area all hip hip hoorayed in harmony. Romona and I stayed in bed and enjoyed some needed rest and relaxation. Right about 3:00 pm. I decided to go out and shovel the stuff off of the drive way so we could get out the next morning and do something like, go to work.

I hadn’t calculated the depth or the weight of the white stuff correctly, no not correctly at all. After 6 ½ hours of shoveling I wandered back into the house tired and very sore. Romona had a hot cup of coffee waiting for me and I took a much needed shower.

Occasionally the creator puts before us a test. Monday’s test was the snow, a shovel, and much heavy lifting. I think I heard the voice, I can not be sure, after all that shoveling I was seeing and hearing many things.

Peace and Balance,
John

The Politics of Children

Recently in the news we read, view, or listen to the many sudden upheavals in some of the Middle Eastern Governments. It started in Egypt with Hosni Mubarak’s refusal first to give up power to the people, then fleeing when his own military stepped in and took over. On the heals of awakening corruption charges Mubarak fled and his cabinet fell.


Next of all places to have political unrest, Tunisian president Zine el-Abidine Ben Ali age 74, accused of corruption and murder has been overthrown and the military has taken over. I should restate my previous paragraph, this happened before Egypt. Then spilled over to the Egyptian population. The countries that border Tunisia are in order from the Red Sea and Jordan, Egypt, Libya, Tunis, and Algeria. Is this a coincidence? I think not. Revolution and an awakening eye are focusing in Northern Africa, the Muslim world is feeling great growing pains. Who’s next, Morocco? I believe that’s already a Democratic nation.

Let’s discuss Libya for a moment. Col. Muammar el-Qaddafi, Libya’s autocratic leader and dictator has held power there for upwards of 30+ years. I remember the eighties when the US sent a hit squad and planes to rocket his house in Tripoli. We missed him, but that quieted him for a few years. No one took him to seriously because his life style began looking more akin to Hugh Heffner’s. However, there was the occasional story that made it’s way into our ears about people dieing, families disappearing, and large amounts of money flowing through Swiss banks supporting Terrorism. We pretended we didn’t hear and went through our daily lives blind and happy.

It has taken his own people to finely deal with the maniac in the castle. After seeing an interview on CNN, listening to what Hillary Roddem-Clinton has said about him, and watching his body language, I can comfortably state that President Col. El-Qaddafi is insane. He appears to be suffering from megalomania, delusions, and is slipping away into his own self created fantasy. Maybe, just maybe he is suffering from Alzheimer’s disease.

The northern parts of Africa for the most part are exploding into political turmoil. Change is painful, but sometimes very beneficial. Children do grow, and political children sometimes grow slow at first and explode to a death akin to re-birth.

Is it time?

Peace and Balance,
John

Being Serious

I admit that I have been irreverent in the past. I have spoken my opinions about various organizations and affiliates. I have written in jest about religion and it’s leaders. I have poked fun at everybody from the Catholics through the Buddhists‘, to the Jews. I’ve even poked fun at my own Native American brothers and sisters, usually ending at my own adopted philosophies of Taoist Zen and Reiki, I’ll make fun of anyone.


That aside I’m going to take a moment to express my pure and unwavering reverence for anyone who dawns the cloth and preaches his/her beliefs to the masses. Anyone that has the convictions to express themselves in hopes of teaching and preaching to others a certain point of view and perspective, should be respected and honored.

I follow many masters. I believe that every culture and every teaching philosophically and spiritually has a spark of the ultimate truth. We are all walking the same path, the manner in which we walk that path is purely a choice of personal preference and how we are going to except and understand that truth; how we follow our convictions. We accept things in ways that we are capable of understanding them.

If I’ve ever offended or seemed to speak cruelly of any other’s beliefs or organizations, I truly remain apologetic. To the many Ministers, Reverends, Priests, Brothers, Sisters, Monks, Iman, Shaman, Holy Folk, and Speakers of Truth, I bow a deep and respectful bow and send the blessings of the universe upon you.

Peace and Balance,
John

The Return

There are many stories from many cultures about the return of an individual of god like proportions. The Christians are waiting for Christ, the Jews a Messiah, Islam is waiting for the Mahdi, Buddhists are waiting for the next incarnation of the Buddha, Maitreya, the Lakota’s are waiting for the return of The White Buffalo Calf Woman, Pte San Wi, as are the Cheyenne, and various other tribes, the Hopi are waiting for the return of the Big Brother, the Navaho are waiting for the Hopi to release the sacred seals, and the Mexicas are waiting for the Aztec God, Quetzalcoatl to return. All of these apparitions are names to fame of the Returning. What form that it takes, we’re not supposed to know.


We have been searching the stars and approaching the astrological folk to give us guidance. “Prepare us oh faithful one’s, give us our path.”

Often the elders of our tribes laugh at us, often not. Sort of depends upon how serious they take themselves. There are movements to the right, and to the left. Politically our spirit is in limbo, spiritually we are still infants, and physically we are children.

There is an energy present on our Earth that is going to manifest itself. How and what form it takes depends upon us, the lost souls of Mother Earth. I’ve heard stories of 2/3 of the worlds population suffering at the hands of the other third. I wonder what that means.

Remember the mightiest power still present here is reality, who’s?

Peace and Balance,
John

Oil

The world revolves around a black sticky mass of goo, the blood of the planet. Human kind has been draining this blood steadily for hundreds of years. Not for thousands of years, or millions of years, but a short few hundred years. It hasn’t been that long since we started relying on oil to support the global economy. When did this happen?


I’m going to blame the creating of the automobile. The car in it’s many makes and models is the sole reason we are all about to either have to walk everywhere we go, or freeze to death because we’ve forgotten how to survive. Oil, the madness of modern man.

There are many ways for we small humans to go from place to place without the use of oil products. Most of them are much healthier than we currently use. There is technology available to us already that isn’t being used because those in power want to stay in power. The rest of us as far as they’re concerned might as well die. We are non people, we are nada.

It might be to late, the powers that be might or might not care. Reading between the lines and listening to what they say will give you that answer. I don’t trust them.

So as the rest of us digress into the stone age and those that have go to their golden towers, I’m hoping someone returns very soon.
Peace and Balance,
John

Angels

If you’ve ever had the feeling that you were being watched maybe you have been. Have you ever made a mental call for help? Or, have you ever felt real guilty about something you’ve done? Could be your being talked to by an angel.


Angels are forces of nature. I’m taking a slightly Gnostic bend here, but every natural force has an intelligence that guides it. This is the angel of that element. The Celts would call these intelligences Fairies, the Kahuna call them Loa, and the Europeans, Angels. All forces of nature, the elements that make up our environment and keep us alive and well.

These forces of nature are Super Intelligent and get their instruction directly from the Creator themselves, God. We all have different names for these creatures, but they are all basically similar to our experiences.

For our understanding there are three basic realms, the lower realms where the denser creatures live, the middle realms where man lives, and the higher realms where the angels live. Sort of a breakdown in our psyche, the physical, the mental, and the spiritual.

I’m going to give you your first lesson in speaking to angels, listen. That’s it. Now you ask what to listen to? Everything, but really pay attention.

Peace and Balance,
John

HD

I’d like to take a moment to comment about the next wave in audio/visual technology, three dimensional high definition television. I understand that high definition or HD as it is commonly referred to isn’t really new, but it isn’t old either. A short couple winters ago, Romona and I went out and purchased one of those really cool wide screen TV sets. It’s a 52 incher that has a resolution of 1080p. That means the picture is very, very sharp when watching HD programming. We then upgraded our TV programming to include HD, and she came home one day with one of them new fangled Blue Ray players. I am in HD heaven. Having spent the money on a high performance 5.1 Dolby digital surround sound receiver and stereo a few years ago, we are now set for the top in couch potatoness.


When I was a younger man I played bass guitar in a jazz band, a big jazz band. I also doubled as the bands tech dude. That means I learned to hook up sound equipment to all sorts of stuff. So, the house is wired to the hilt. My next step is to go all wireless, wireless speakers, wireless computers, wireless everything. That would mean no more tangled mess hidden behind the really cool stuff.

Today our number one son, Lee introduced us to the next level of computing technology, the Air Mac. It’s an ultra thin HD laptop computer that has no hard drive and no disc drive. It is composed completely of Flash technology. That means the world is going all solid state, the Transformers are going to take over soon and we small humans will be the slaves to our own technology. Oh wait, that’s the way it is now…

Peace and Balance,
John

Gulf Breeze

From time to time we hear about UFO sightings off a point called Gulf Breeze, Florida. I’ve seen some of the photos and have wondered. My wife, Romona has speculated that the military could be testing some top secret stuff down there, Gulf Breeze is near a very active Naval base with an Air base attached.


I suppose that the interesting craft and other flying bogies could be our military testing out cool flying things. I also suppose that there is the outside possibility that another higher intelligence is bebopping around laughing it’s proverbial hind quarters off at we intelligent human beings. Romona looks at me funny when I mention this.

We have a couple of friends that are now playing pirates in the gulf of Florida at this very moment. They are sailing away in the sun with their mascot in tow. I understand there have been abductions down in the Gulf Breeze area. So, to all of you pirates down there, sharpen your knives and make sure your powder is dry. You never know what is lurking in the briny waters of the deep.

Peace and Balance,
John

Come On Spring, I Dare You.

There comes the time when all good warriors go to the mountain tops and cry out to the heavens. They cry for attention from the gods when feelings of inadequacy and child like behavior pushes forth from their intestinal fortitude.

I remember listening to stories told of Thor, the Thunder God, who would climb the steps to the top of Valhalla to raise his mighty hammer bringing down lightning thunder on the humans below. Bellowing out his screams man would run and hide for fear of angering this God of Thunder. Or, when the time of Loki the wolf, is upon us and the land is nothing but frozen and cold, man again hides in fear. Not I.

There comes a time when a warrior climbs to the top of the mountain and screams back at the heavens, “Let My People Go!” It’s time for spring to be sprung, the warmth of the day to return, the growth of new things.

Come on Spring be not a coward and push Loki off the mountain, let Thor reign again, let there be light, let there be warmth. The people of the Earth Mother have had enough winter for this year, it is time.

So, from all warriors atop mountains, Come on Spring, I Dare You.

Peace and Balance,

John

Into Love

According to ancient mystics, some of the prophets, and ascended masters, there are only two true emotions, Love and Fear. Fear is the emotion that guides all negative things in our lives. Fear creates hate, war, and the many atrocities that man has done because he can’t handle fear. Love is the emotion that creates, truly creates all positive things in our lives. The things that lead us to greatness and bind us to the universe.


When a man and a woman come together in true oneness they are communing in the principles of love. The nature of that love is the force that has created all other things, God. Fear is nothing and stands alone.

I am very fortunate in this life, I have found my one true love. She and I share a soul, we share belief, and we share our faith. We are one being in two bodies. I am very fortunate in this life. What I’m experiencing with Romona only happens once in a hundred years or so, she is my other self, she is my muse, my heart, my life, she is my wife.

Romona thank you for being here with me in this life, you have made me whole and I love you.

Peace and Balance,
John

2012

Today I heard some statistics that surprised me. These stats came from about three years ago. The main point of the statement was, “We have four years to do something or the planet will go beyond the point of being able to heal itself.” That was said in 2008.


The rain forest in Brazil is being destroyed at the rate of a football field per second. The oceans are being desalinated at the poles due to melting ice. Jet streams are dipping low to the ground due to “Heavy” atmosphere. That is an accumulation of pollution that effects the tract of the wind. This causes more severe hurricane and tornado activity.

The ambient temperature of the planet has been raising steadily for the past decade, and it has been suggested that a rise in global temperature of as little as two or three degrees will permanently change the weather patterns of the planet.

Hollywood has been glamorizing this sort of effect for most of it’s scifi history, maybe some of the old writers have been tapping into the Akahshek.

I’m not a true believer in the 2012 thing, nor do I believe that the planet will die, however there is a very real possibility that human kind will disappear. Maybe we’ll be reincarnated as a cockroach?

Peace and Balance,
John

Why Snow?

Some think we in the North Country are touched. Living up in the tundra as we do, the weather seems to average in the neighborhood of very dang cold. I used to be sane, not sure when, but I used to be sane. Normal weather patterns were the thing for me. I enjoyed seventy degree weather and green grass most of the year. I imagined the perfect season being Spring to Summer. My delusions were complete with island fantasies and coconuts. But, alas that was then and this is now.


Some time about twenty years ago my rational brain began to change. I found that I didn’t mind the snow to much, that winter wasn’t the bane of the North, but rather the cleansing of the earth. Then it happened, I believe Romona had something to do with this, I lost all rational reason and found myself enjoying the really darn cold stuff and winter became an extended Christmas time. I get recreation by traveling to the driveway and shoveling snow into higher and higher piles. Maybe I’ll break a world record.

Romona and I gain sick pleasure from watching snow fall by the feet saying, Ohhh, and Aahhh as we go. Then it’s off to the shovel.

So here’s to the back aches, the sore mussels, and plenty of hot coco, Winter’s back and onward Ho.

Peace and Balance,
John

The Sailor's Dance

Wind in our sails, the swells rise and fall.

St. Elmo’s fire comes at night to call.

Polaris in the distance pointing out our way

The Great Swan to the South of us as if to say,

This way young man, this way to heaven

Carry your heart on your sleeve

The pirates come a callin.
Her name is Romona after the girl
That hath changed all for me
The Caribbean’s sail.
To heaven young lad
To the sky in your ship
There is no greater glory
Than this, a pirates trip.

Peace and Balance,
John

Weather Rodent

I’d like to take a few moments and talk about what I’ll coin as the “Great Groundhog Conspiracy.” It happens every year when the American masses take the future weather reports from a large rodent that in any other situation would be a pain in the butt. Groundhogs are the bane of many gardens, lawns, and sheds that they dig under for a den. The Groundhog, that evil menace that lurks on February 2nd.


The thing about this that makes it a conspiracy is that our government seems to be pushing the whole idea upon us by advertising this, Puxatony Phil character. What are the motivations behind the scenes?

Here’s the scoop, on the day when we stare at our screens waiting to find out how long winter will last, the school system in our fair community closes for the day due to snow. This is a weird chain of events and has me wondering who’s in control? Did Uncle Sam call our main offices and “Highly” suggest the closing due to snow this day? After all, we didn’t get that much snow. I have my concerns.

Peace and Balance,
John

Top Gun

This morning whilst taking my morning sabbatical and listening to the NPR, I heard that China was guilty of using footage from the movie, Top Gun, claiming it to be real footage and proof of their air superiority.


Ok, here’s the poop. F14 Tomcats have been out of production here in the United States for almost twenty years. Impressive the footage may be on Chinese TV, however we Americans will recognize our own propaganda. Not that we aren’t guilty of using such footage ourselves to impress the world masses, but we use our own footage, and it’s up to date in technology. China made a booboo. I am now wondering about the validity of the information I wrote about a few days back. Is China really in the lead?

I don’t know for sure, but will still keep my eyes open and ears low to the road. You never know what you might hear before you see it.

Peace and Balance,
John

Tornado

A long time ago a young boy was born to the spirit clan. He was given the name Yumini, the unborn. His four elder brothers had left to set up their own tipis many years before in the beginning time. His eldest brother, Waziyatta the north, lived in the farthest reaches of the northern ice and snow. Waziyatta had a wife named Waziri, who had powerful medicine and could heal the people through change and cleansing. However, because they were elders their tolerance for young ones was low as they thought about clan matters rather than personal ones.


His second eldest brother Io, lived alone in the far reaches of the west. Io had a tipi made of black buffalo robes. He had brother bear, Hunglaska the monster, living with him. Hunglaska’s purpose is to help Io walk souls through the unknown into the spirit world or back into life depending on choices made during life.

Yumini’s favorite brother was Okaga the protector, who lived in the south. Okaga would travel from the southern sun to the center of the earth, his mother’s tipi, bringing knowledge and nourishment to the people. Okaga had a wife who’s father was Skan Skan the sky, her name was Pte San Wi, who was the white buffalo calf woman for the people. Okaga is the protector of the people.

His brother nearest him in age is Yappa the rising sun. Yappa brings youth and rebirth to the land nourishing it with the rays of the rising sun. Like his brother Io, Yappa lives alone to travel across the skies. Each day he walks across the land to visit Io and Hunglaska bringing them new things.

Yumini was to be put under the charge of one of his brother’s. Great Grandfather, Wakantanka tungasila, had council with Grandmother Earth, Inamahka Kunsi ye, to decide who would be the teacher of Yumini. They counseled for many moons.

At the end of the discussion it was decided that the elder Waziyatta was to set in his ways to care for a young boy. That he would not be flexible enough to bend to the needs of a child. That Io would have good influence on him later in his life when he would reach that age when questions of immortality and life would impress him, later. It was decided that Yappa would be to young to care for Yumini. A good playmate he would make always bringing new things, but Yappa lacked the discipline to teach a young boy.

Finely, Great Grandfather and Grandmother Earth each turned their gaze upon Okaga of the south. They looked upon Pte San Wi, knowing the future she would bring, and saw in them a family for a child to grow. They saw a protector and provider, and a teacher who would make Yumini a just man. So it was said, so it was done.

Within the tipi of Okaga and Pte San Wi was born the unborn spirit of man, the wirlwind, the tornado, Yumini. Many years later man was born with a piece of the unborn within him, but that is another story. A long time ago.

Mitakuye oyatsin hetchetu yelo, HO. For all of my relations it is so.

Peace and Balance,
John

Cold Wars

I grew up during the Cold War. Later I worked for Uncle Sam during the Cold War. I remember the “Duck and Cover” drills, the funny looking signs we were taught to recognize, that pointed to a nuclear tomb, and JFK threatening to start trading our arsenal with the Soviets over a pig filled bay. I remember once President Regan took office we, the military body, were on constant “Alert” status until the day he left office. I remember. These are just a few of the warm and fuzzy feelings cast down from my generation to the next. However, I remember when we won that war, hurray. Or did we?

I was reminded today by one of the high school seniors that China has just passed the United States in technology and gross national product. China is now, according to my sources, the leading Super Power in the world. So, I’m remembering predictions laid out by a doom speaker of the last group of doom sayers, Ed Dames. Mr. Dames claimed that China would eventually be in the position of making us capitalistic types very uncomfortable about our global position. Ok, I’m uncomfortable.

There are many Sci Fi books and movies that subtly suggest that the oriental world gains a majority of the global power. Just watch, “Blade Runner,” or “Serenity,” that started as the TV series, “Fire Fly.” Both of these are infiltrated with Chinese language and customs. Yet another prediction from, Hollywood? Maybe.

So folks, keep your eyes and ears open, watch the stock market and listen to the political rhetoric coming from Asia and Washington. You might here some interesting things.

Peace and Balance,
John

Frost Bite Falls

Welcome to Frost Bite Falls, Minnesota the home of Bullwinkle Moose and Rocket J. Squirrel. I know that we don’t live near there here in the North Country, but people are the same everywhere. Rocky and Bullwinkle evading and battling with riffraff such as Boris, Natasha, and of course Fearless Leader. O’l Fearless has that interesting scar across his face, sports a monocle, and has one of those eastern European accents that makes you remember eviler days.


I’m thinking of human kind. Often we look at ourselves and other folks with that certain squint and tilt to the head that makes us look like we might not be believing what is being said to us. We’ll get that bulge in our jaws telling other’s we’re grinding our teeth due to irritation and or frustration. After a certain period of disappointment in our fellow beings we start avoiding said beings in hopes things will change and the people will become enlightened to certain personal behaviors. Most of the time this hope gets dashed on the rocks of reality and we retreat further into our caves.

Frost Bite Falls is a place where the battle of the East and West is still playing itself out in time honored tradition, and we are entertained through the satire of it all. Boris and Natasha always loose and our Great American Way prevails, or does it?

As I awake from my drunken capitalistic stupor I realize my piece of the pie is about to bite me in the behind. I was not prepared for it’s reality. I have some advise for the reader, Start stuffing dollars into your mattress.

Peace and Balance,
John

Darn Chilly

I’ve forgotten. I forgot how cold it can get in New England. I’ve lived here for almost thirty years now including the time I spent wandering around Pease Air Force Base, but I’ve forgotten just how darn cold damp cold can be. Now, mind you I grew up in Montana where it routinely gets cold. In the winter in Montana, thirty or forty below zero is a common occurrence. But there the only moisture in a year ranges around an inch. So the coldness was a dry coldness. It was a coldness that if you kept dry and out of the wind you could manage and if you’ve got a strong shelter with a decent fire going the coldness stays at bay.


New England Coldness is a damp sticky coldness. At twenty below zero with just a little wind blowing bringing the chill down to ungodly levels the coldness sort of penetrates the fabric of your outer garments and sticks to you like an evil entity trying to rob you of your soul, and it doesn’t let go. You may say to yourself, “I’ll go inside and keep warm.” But alas no, there is no escape from the frigged devil.

They say that Hell is a burning place, but I disagree. Hell is a cold place where you can’t escape nor warm yourself from the ever present chill. The devil is an old crippled demon with a perpetual drip frozen to the end of his nose and a pitch fork frosted with black ice, but I digress.

I forgot, Now it’s time to pray and bring in the spring warmth. Demon be gone.

Peace and Balance,
John

Dear Mr. President

The other day I noticed a Google ad with a link that was supposed to allow the reader to send a message to our President on the eve of his State Of The Union address. What happened was much different than sending a message, instead my message got circulated back to me and had to be deleted. I tried three times before I gave up. I’m under the impression that he doesn’t really want a message from me.


Here’s what I was going to ask, “Sir, there are millions of Americans that work hard every day. Americans that try to bring home a dollar and some gruel to feed and house family. Why is it that you sit in your office making decisions based on public opinion that have nothing to do with the average every day citizen of our country? Many of us went back to school later in life to catch a piece of the intellectual prize to have that dream squished under the government boot. How is it that there is no help for the lost ones, the citizen that has drifted beyond poverty and out of the reach of the middle class? I am one of those citizens Mr. President. I voted for you hoping that you would make that change we so desperately need. Instead I see your focus on the middle east and not here at home. When will you focus sir? An unfocused fighter often slowly bleeds to death from unforeseen wounds.”

So, reader this is what I want to say to our President, our leader. Maybe it will get to his ears after all.

Peace and Balance,
John

Gabriel Come Blow Your Horn

Normally I’m a fairly modest fellow. I don’t tell people much about myself, and I don’t voice opinions unless there is an importance to that voice. I have been recently reminded that informing people and getting information out there is important for professional growth. So here it is.

I grew up in the state of Montana during a time of political and racial turmoil. I remember when driving from Havre, where I lived, across Belknap Reservation to Billings and Crow agency was very hazardous to personal safety. There was a time when my Dad told me that I should drive around Belknap and take an alternate route to Billings. I of course ignored his warning. Outside the town of Belknap I was pulled over by what turned out to be one of my more militant cousins. This is the only reason I was able to cross the res., I’m related. This was at the time when a fellow named Pelletier was arrested at Pine Ridge in South Dakota.

I played sports as a kid. Starting the year off with Football, moving into Wrestling, and ending with Track and Field, I was a field guy. I lifted heavy things and through stuff for distance. I was a pretty big kid in high school, haven’t changed much since then. At 230 lbs, I’m a lean mean fighting machine. Of course I’m getting old enough not to play games. If I’m attacked, I kill. Tends to avoid any middle interference.

I joined the USAir force a couple years out of high school and became one of the silent few. When I left the service I began teaching the martial arts, one of the things I did all my life. May not have mentioned that. Twenty Five or so years later I’ve inherited my family style and am it’s Grandmaster. I’ve been practicing now for well over forty years.

I went back to school a few years back and eventually earned a degree in science education. I was at the top of my class, now I need to find a real job, and I’m an old guy.

As trumpets go, Gabriel has a horn to blow. I follow the tradition and let the world know that I’m here and I’ll be writing everywhere.

Peace and Balance,
John

Installments On Life

Friday evening a friend died while at home in his bed taking a nap. His wife left him to do some errands to come home and find him cold on the bed. This friend was a good man. He was fair, a good provider to his wife and children, and a good boss. He will be missed.

It makes me think about health and frailty. My friend wasn’t much older than I and seemed to be in good health. Recently he had passed a physical with flying colors, all was well. This was an illusion. I am now looking at my own habits, scary.

My friend had just retired with a good package, benefits and all. He would have been making enough on his retirement to keep food on the table and enjoy his grandkids and family, along with the little things that guys do.

We are all frail beings, our lives can click off like a light bulb at any moment. We should enjoy what we have, Love our family and friends, and spend as much time with our spouses that we can to share and grow. In that department Romona and I are ahead. We freely express our love with each other every day.

Hug your mate, your children, and tell your parents you love them. You never know what may happen a moment from now.

Peace and Balance,
John

Winds Of Change

It’s been said that there are only two inevitable absolutes in life, Death and Taxes. The first mention of an income tax came around the War Of 1812, to help pay for the war effort. Then again in 1861 the United States imposed the first personal income tax as part of the Revenue act of 1861, to help again support the war effort. This was repealed and imposed again in 1862, again as part of a war effort. This was the pattern of taxation in our country for a greater part of our existence.


Along comes the sixteenth amendment to the constitution which lays out the guide lines for taxation in our country. I’ll skip forward a few years, 1955 a ratification of the amendment and Congress imposes a tax on our gross income. So begins the fall from grace.

Wars come and wars go, struggles begin and stop, monies collect and disappear, where they go we don’t always know, but they pile up and back up and we end up collectively in dept, big dept.

In the thirties we has a world wide depression, they promised would never happen again, now we have a recession in which the monies involved make the depression of the thirties look like a walk in the park. Is the Dog walking the Master or is the Master walking the Dog?

I have friends that hide, they live in the woods and have gone off the grid hoping that Big Brother forgets them and or doesn’t come looking. Of course we all know it’s darn near impossible to hide anywhere these days due to technology. The eye in the sky looks ever earthward, Good luck.

The political spectrum in our country doesn’t give me warm and fuzzy feelings. I get the creeps and looks at Washington as a place to avoid at all costs, we can’t afford to visit there anyways. Our leaders bother me allot, and have been caught in many corrupt comings and goings for many years. God save the King.

We don’t exist in a capitalistic for of government anymore, and we aren’t communistic, but we’re closely creeping toward socialism with outlines of a proletariat. That is the poor are poorer and the rich and filthy. Canada is an example we might follow, but they have problems to. Maybe hiding is the thing to do.

Taxes and Death, two of the inevitable absolutes in life. Hold on to your loved ones and keep your nose to the wind, things are changing.

Peace and Balance,
John

Dreams

When two people come together and share similar wants and desires it can be said that they are experiencing the same dreams. The two have yearnings for sameness and shared experiences. This yearning and desire is a reflection of the dream within both of them, they share the dream.


Those same two people can manifest that dream through concentration on the appropriate resources and their unity to bring about the desired goal, their dream. This, more often than not, takes much hard work and focus.

After many years of practiced dreaming and shared experiences the dreams will penetrate the psyche of the two and they literally will be sharing the same sleeping, or waking dream. This is said to be, “The Art Of Dreaming.”

Carlos Castaneda, wrote a series of books about dreaming and it’s enterprises. Carlos learned the art from an old Yaqui shaman named Juan Matus. The art Juan taught Carlos was an advanced form of sharing and hard work.

Hard work is the key to manifesting a dream, making it real. Don Juan may or may not have been real, but his dream is true. My grandfather, Henry “Hoot” came from the same area, the desert. Dreaming is a big thing in the desert, when we dream and our dreams come true it’s said we’re walking out of the desert. There are many stories about walking the desert and facing dreams. What dreams may come?

Peace and Balance,
John

Human Nature

I would like to take a moment to write about human nature। Human Beings are endowed with the ability to think and reason. We have the inherited ability to rationalize our actions and even our reactions before they happen. Within us all there is that part of the creature that feels and expresses emotion. Emotion can be very positive, it can build things, it can strengthen things, and it can be the force behind some of the coolest creations that people have made throughout history. Emotion can also be the root of negative things, there are those emotions that are destructive, and those that are jealous. These negative emotions lead to our bad behavior and can disable our rational thought processes. They can kill us.

We can, through training and practice, control our negative emotions and use them to teach us about ourselves। We can ascend beyond ourselves and reach a certain amount of enlightenment through the practice of self control।

Human Nature has the ability to take control of us before we take control if it। I’ve walked down both path’s of the rational and irrational. I choose to be rational and take control of my human nature. We are not Vulcans like Mr. Spock of “Star Trek”, but we can learn to use the teaching of the negative feelings and the nurturing of the positive ones in order to grow and become a more enlightened, rational, and sensible human beings.

Take the challenge।

Peace and Balance,
John

My Friend Fred

When I was young I had a friend named Fred. The thing about Fred was that I was the only person that could see him. He would go where ever I went and do what ever I did. Fred was the perfect friend, he was imaginary.


My folks just pretended that Fred was real and played along with my fantasy. My dad even invited Fred along on a baseball game day. That was cool, Fred was a much better catch than me.

Fred and I had a real big fight on a Saturday before dinner. I came in with a black eye and scrapes on my elbows. My mom asked me what happened and I explained that Fred and I had a fight. Fred was a better fighter than I was.

Latter that week my folks took me to visit this funny looking guy with thick black glasses. He had funny toys for me to play with while he asked me questions about Fred. I answered as best I could and was eventually asked to wait out in the outer room while he talked to Mom and Dad.


Fred and I did a puzzle and waited. My folks came out a few minutes later with and astonished look on their faces. The funny looking guy told them that Fred was most likely real. I don’t think they took that news with the best of graces.

When I became older I heard Fred more than saw him. I learned to catch real good and became a fair fighter. Fred became more interesting. Today he still cheats at cards every now and then.

Peace and Balance,
John

The Power Of Faith

Occasionally we have accidents. Little booboo’s that we collect while walking through our every day lives. Sometime’s our little booboo’s aren’t that little. We run into things, fall down, and trip over stuff that we don’t see in the night.


One of these little booboo’s has recently plagued my Dear Wife, Romona. She has a booboo that has almost miraculously healed itself in a little less than a week. I personally believe that her fast healing is due to her faith and natural ability to heal herself and others. Romona has the ability to be with people and make them feel better and occasionally have interesting spontaneous little miracles. I believe this is the reason her booboo’s have mostly gone away.

I know for example that I feel much better by being near her on a daily basis. Of course I’m a little prejudice on this matter being in love with her and all that, but hey. I’ve witnessed some wonderful things happening around my Beautiful Romona. I am graced with the presence of an angel.

Faith heals many things, the spirit, the soul, and yes the physical body. May yours be as strong.

Peace and Balance,
John

Who's Zodiac Now?

It seems we have a new, or rather old, visitor in our skies. Those of us that were getting used to the, “sign”, we were born under now apparently have to re-align ourselves to the new zodiac. Standing high in our night skies again is the son of Apollo, Ophiuchus. To be completely honest with you I didn’t know there was such a character in the stars. So I did a small amount of research and discovered who he may be.


Ophiuchus’ mother was impregnated by the god Apollo, but was burned to death after having an affair with a mortal. Apparently it isn’t good to piss off Apollo the Sun God. When she was burning Ophiuchus was torn from her womb and was given to the Centaur, Chiron the Wise as a son who raised him as his own.

Ophiuchus grew to be a very wise man himself and is said to have tamed the great serpent, Laocoon. The serpent is still considered the sign of wisdom and healing. Ophiuchus apparently had the power to heal the sick, send away demons, and raise the dead. Because of his similarity to Jesus, Christianity removed him from their minds eye. This is a practice all to familiar with these fellas, but that’s another story.

The gods were jealous of Ophiuchus’ abilities and removed him from the memory of man. He was set in an obscure place in the heavens and left there to live alone. Sound familiar? Was he monsteratized, a devil, or Satan himself? Zeus finely killed him with a single bolt of lightning.

His father, Apollo raised him from the dead and Ophiuchus became the god of healing and wisdom, the phoenix re-born.

I find it interesting that such a character would not so quietly rise out of the ashes of ancient literature and into the astrological hearts of modern times. I realize that a thirteenth symbol has been around for a very long time on different charts, but at this time of change, at this time of upheaval, at this time when we find our planet shifting polarity and the warble changing slightly, we have a new herald in the skies.

So, are you going to adopt a new astrological sign or are you going to remain steadfast to the one you have? Romona likes the idea, but as for me, I like the one I’ve had, it’s easier to remember.

Peace and Balance,
John

Bali Hei

Romona and I are admirers of old movies as shown on TCM, “Turner Classic Movies.” We enjoy watching actors and actresses of times gone by that remind us we once had what are considered family values in our land. Today I have the pleasure of watching, “South Pacific”. It’s a musical based during WWII on a Polynesian island somewhere in the South Pacific, makes sense.


In this film there is an older woman that is one of the main characters. To the sailors in the film she is known as, Bloody Mary. She comes by this name honestly by being just a tad morbid. As you watch this character in the film you can get a grasp on grandmotherly attributes that the schooled eye will see are the signs of a Kahuna. A Kahuna is a Polynesian holy man or woman, the priest of Huna. Huna is the ancient religion of the islands of the South Pacific that include Hawaii.

Bloody Mary is the Kahuna in the film. The instigator of many marriages, economy, and politics; Kahuna have been known to be interesting folk.

In the movie there is a forbidden island called Bali Hei. The unknown off the western shores of the main island. There is a similar forbidden island off the coast of the big island of Hawaii. Only Kahuna may go there and perform the secret sacred rights. I believe that every culture should have such a place, for in this place the important stories and myth are born that hold that culture together.

Modern America, where’s your forbidden island?

Peace and Balance,
John

A Living Wage

I often wonder what is considered a living wage. I know my income isn’t it, and the combined income in our household isn’t it. Then what is a living wage?
The minimum wage for this country is now, $7.50, an hour. We all know that’s not a living wage. Anyone trying to work out a living on $7.50 is starving to death one paycheck at a time.

In the fair community that I’ve called home for the past almost thirty years hard times have come, gone, and come again. Very few of the folks that we call neighbors and friends make a living wage here either. I often find myself staring teary eyed at nothing wondering how and where a living wage will come.

I’m an educated man. Having done many different kinds of work and gained many different kinds of education. Romona is a very educated woman who has had even more employment than I. Yet we still don’t enjoy a good living wage.

Prayer works to sooth the soul, and give warm fuzzies, but it doesn’t bring in a wage, unless your teaching prayer for a living. In this case one would be considered a cult leader. Not a choice of employment.

After a meeting at work I am left wondering just how long the fair people of the community I live will be enjoying their almost, but not quite living wage. Our city is no longer a city, but a town and is dieing, not a living at all.

So, I hold out my rice bowl, head bowed staring at my feet and ask for alms. To you the Reader send one dollar bill in an unmarked envelope and those who I have taught to pray will pray for you. We’re not a cult…



If your sincere about sending that dollar, email us and I’ll personally make sure that favor is returned ten fold someday.

Peace and Balance,
John

Snow

The Inuit have hundreds of words to describe snow and snow fall. There’s a word for white snow, there’s a word for dirty snow, there’s even a word for just so snow. When you come from a land of snow and ice and that’s all you see in a day I suppose you’d come up with a great many words for snow.


Here in Berlin we too have many words for snow. There are words that describe the play children do, “Look at that tobogganing snow.”

There are words for what adults do, “Look at that skiing snow.”

They’ve even dedicated a work load to snow, “Isn’t it wonderful all this tree cutting snow?” Some of the words we use here in Berlin for snow I can’t share here. The reader may have sensitive eye’s and ears, but I’m sure you understand.

Yesterday when I left for work there was no extra snow on the ground. We only had our usual dirty snow that had been sitting for a couple of weeks, however sometime during the mid morning fluffy stuff began falling from the sky. At first it was sort of pretty to look at, then the rational mind kicked in and said, “Oh, that’s not good.”

It snowed better than a couple inches an hour most of the day. When it was time to return home at the end of the day I had discovered my Jeep was up to it’s side walls in snow. I brushed her off and four wheeled out into the street and off to home.

I reached my destination with only a slight delay when I found a four foot snow bank at the end of my driveway. What a wonderful sight. I four wheeled through and parked my Jeep.

My beautiful wife, Romona, was waiting for me when I walked into the house and little dusty with the cold stuff. I said, “Hi.”, gave her a kiss and announced that a battle was about to ensue with the snow gods.

She said, “Ok dear,” and I put on my cold weather armor.

I began the manual snow blowing, that’s using a shovel when your blower is busted, and only came in occasionally to announce my progress and ask for a cheering section. I got a cup of coffee and a, “Hurray”.

The sun went down and I was still shoveling. When I was not quite half way through the battle with the white beast a large snow plow appeared on the horizon. The driver seemed quite amused as he looked straight at me and commenced to plow my driveway in again. Now, I must say that I was tempted to speak all sorts of ill words and curse the machine he was driving, but no I held my tongue at bay and just shook my head.

I shoveled from three until nine yesterday evening. It was a good workout, but I believe I should fix the snow blower. As for the fella driving that big orange plow thing, I’m sure his Karma will get him.

Peace and Balance,
John