Urban Shamanism

^{Naomi Osaka receiving the Olympic Flame}

Full Moon, the Olympics and Interconnectedness

Before I began this post, I paused for a while to watch the last part of the Inauguration Ceremony for the Olympic Games. This was the first time that I'm truly moved by the lighting of the Flame, not only because of the beautiful display of Japanese ingenuity and knack for ceremonial splendor, but also because of everything that we've been going through as a species and the transformations that I've had to experience myself in order to reach this moment. We also have a vested interest in this Olympics as a family, because my nephew Joshua Liendo is going to participate in several swimming competitions in representation of Canada. The picture above is rather poor but I decided to use it precisely because it stresses the point that I'll talk about here.

This pandemic, and everything leading to it, from wars to social and political conflict, economic hardship and the collapse of civilization as we know it, are demanding that we take a serious look to how we've been leading our lives, personally and collectively. Clearly we've made a few mistakes along the way, haven't we? Otherwise we would've never reached this point where even what people choose to allow into their bodies or not is a matter of contention and heated debate in households worldwide. What we've also done things right, or an event such as the Olympics would be impossible to organize and carry out. We've managed to fix some of our problems, what's stopping us from fixing the rest? The answer is multifaceted, and surely a matter of contention itself, but I think the event itself can help us glimpse a few options.

^{Joshua's athlete profile in the Olympics}

I've talked about the design of the Universe before, stating that everything happens because it must, which is a strange point of view when discussing mistakes. How can something be a mistake and still be as it is meant to be? Fortunately, in the Light of Consciousness all paradoxes are reconciled, for even the worst of crimes is required for the pain of ancestral wounds to surface, thus allowing us to acknowledge it and do something about it. That requires the harshest self-questioning and the deepest discipline, which is also why I mentioned my nephew here. He's been swimming professionally for about three years, and when I see him swim now, I see how well he understands his body, how he manages his energy. He takes care of his own nutrition and training schedule, and he's very observant of his own behavior when swimming. All of the athletes that are in these competitions share this to a lesser or greater degree, and we should pay great attention and tribute to that.

There's a Full Moon today in Aquarius and both Runes speak of the connection with everything around us, with the society we've built. The call is to make the public intimate, to embrace all peoples as one. For that, we have to accept that we're on this Earth-Ship together, that our actions affect everyone and everything at some level; we have to integrate our wounds, sins, flaws, errors, and be kinder, more benevolent toward ourselves and one another. As Humans, we're the only entities that we know of in this material world that can grow aware of our own actions, that have the potential to create new things. We do this better in groups than alone, even if conflicts and noises do arise from time to time as our wounds and the wounds of others clash and intermingle. Embracing our individual mistakes allows us to accept our mutual presence more easily, to cooperate more fluidly, because my failings are offset by the edges of others and vice-versa.

I've met too many people both in person and digitally who feel ashamed of humanity, who often declare their lack of faith in our progress, without realizing that by doing so, they make it true for themselves and others, they give power to the very reality that disappoints them. What we see is a mirror of what we are. The time we're living now is permitting us to redefine our identity, and precisely at this moment, with the start of a global event based on unity and fellowship, under the auspices of the Full Moon with the Sun in the Sign of Innovation and Playfulness, we have a genuine chance to focus on the Beauty and do something to mend what's broken.

Night Rune: Mannaz

Great social activity, many conversations with diverse peoples in equally diverse spaces.

Daylight message: Berkano inverted

Allow that which must end to end, open the way for what must begin. The challenges of the Future are in the Present, if you do not accept the facts, you cannot transform and the vulnerability that you feel and fear now is not even a percentage of the one you will experience if you do not prepare yourself. Open your mind, your perspective and your heart, do not delay your inner work any further, discipline yourself and surrender at the same time, let the new version of you be born. You have lived this before, what do you choose to do now? The Universe expands through errors and corrections, mistakes are a blessing, do not be ashamed or attempt to deny your faults, improve and grow. Seek the information that you need, ignore the one that hinders you, it is not your duty to involve yourself in the transformations of others.