Hello dear Ones,

So much has happened since my last post. A near direct-hit from a catgory-3 hurricane! My art book’s (WE ARE ONE) launch postponed because of it. Travels with Eckhart (attending Tolle’s conference “Living Presence” in California) not to mention surgery for my cataracts, and lastly, the upcoming-surgery for the entire USA with our soon-happening Presidential Election just around the corner.

Where to begin?

I try to always make life simple by keeping things close to my heart, and in alignment with my conscience. So let’s begin with what’s on my mind today that covers all topics: Balance.

All around me I hear how horrible people feel, how torn, how angry, how worried, how anxious, etc. even violated about the election happening in our country. I can’t not comment. So here goes. Remember as you read, that to me, and to many, the biggest indicator of how evolved any of us is is … how light-hearted we are, how healthy a sense of humor we have. So … lighten-UP my friends, and keep a smile on your face no matter what.

I will vote. I will let my conscience be my guide. But in all honesty, because I am not a political animal but prefer to call myself a spiritual activist (and do a LOT to honor that role I’ve taken on) … I won’t comment on the positives or negatives of either candidate. They both exhibit plenty of both negatives and positives, c’mon, really! This is a political race! Because I keep my posts aimed at the heart, not the head, I won’t present my preference here. What I will offer, and proudly say is the ONLY truth I know in this campaign is that whomever is declared the winner, I believe will be the BEST choice. Because I believe in the Democratic process, and I believe in the power of the collective unconscious. I have also lived in dictatorships. So I know what kind of government I want and don’t want to live under. I also know what it’s like to not be free to voice my choice.

Hurricane Matthew was a real live physical trauma, not just a threatening political one like the election is interpreted by many as being. Many of you who know me know that I have lived in hurricane territory for many decades. Even the most recent book I’m working on is about that subject: the true story of teaching yoga and meditation to juvenile girls in hardcore lockup, deep in the heart of central Florida, and how these stressed-out, but meditating girls were better equipped because of my yogic sharings, when they had to endure the eye of Hurricane Charley, huddled in their fortress-like facility in the summer of ’04.

When I went to visit an old friend of mine (whose house escaped flooding in the most severely damaged area of historic old Saint Augustine, my home town) she said, “No, I didn’t know you ever went through a hurricane before.” Most of us live our lives close to our homefront. We are concerned with–only what concerns us. So let me state right here for the record: When it comes to surviving life-storms, including Nature’s variety, I am as expert as a survivor of killer hurricanes and himmicanes (David and Frederick of 1979) as a person ever wants to be. Amen and ahhh-women, too!

Here, I’m going to attempt to give my three-step way of keeping balanced, whether facing a blowhard persona (friend or foe) or a dangerous slice of Nature (storm, disease, etc). I’ll use the letters (H) for hurricane-force storm; and (P) for the political storm many Americans feel victim to, these daze leading up to the November8th election.

Just like a hurricane, a storm of nature (H) and a political storm(P) can be dealt with in the same exact 1-2-3 step way.

Awareness — Acceptance — Action

I use this foolproof formula for keeping balanced in all ways of life. So let’s see how it works with the current election debacle we Americans face today, as conscious social beings trying to have a spiritual life as well do the right thing, politically, morally.

Spiritual politics is an oxymoron. Sorry, but it is.

To not feel like we’re being swept away by any kind of whirling madness, when storms descend upon us we can maintain our inner peace, our balance, by holding these things in our consciousness:

Awareness:

• yes, accept a storm is coming, or even here (in both H & P cases)
• the process of changing presidents is always tumultuous (P), whether that involves party-change or not.
• Change is hard, period: Trees might get blown down, people might suffer (H)

Acceptance: we must prepare by

• (P) listen to political stance of candidates and keep open minded till very end;
• (H) watch storm track closely (NOT on the weather channel, which over-dramatizes, but use a track app). (P) Listen to opinions on “other party” media sources to keep truly balanced

Action:

• (H) guard against damage by boarding up home, taping windows, removing fly-ables. evacuate when necessary; pray the eye away (prayer really works!)
• (P) dig deeply for truth and don’t take media’s word for things
• most importantly, VOTE, no matter what; VOICE your CHOICE (P)
• pray for Highest and BEST result to happen: It will! (H P)
• accept the people’s choice and shut up already, after November 9th
• accept and dig out of mess the storm created (H P)

I know in my heart, soul, and not-too shabby intellect that the best person for our future (humankind’s, America’s — the entire world’s good I’m talking about here) will win this election! Whoever wins.