Mood:  lyrical

     Bear with me, Amoebites, I am having a flashback:  This morning the first thing that I opened in my inbox was a YouTube Video of the Grateful Dead doing So Many Roads at Las Vegas on June 26, 1994.  It makes me all nostalgic and warm and fuzzy...Thank You to My BESTEST FRIEND EVER.

     It makes me think about how it  was funny going on tour and telling people that you had to go "Back to Normal" after...and meaning the town you lived in...for real.  Normal is definitely a relative term...and has it's own meaning for everyone.  (Subjective).  It was on tour that I found this new place to live...Northwest of Normal.  It was on tour that I explored some of the many roads that tease, and ease my soul.  It was on tour that I lost and found my marbles...

     It was on tour that I really realized that there are no coincidences, and that there is such a thing as fate, and cosmic consciousness, and kindness, and love.  It was also on tour that I saw the parallel between micro and macro-chasm.  That on the lot, in our temporary society, there was all of the elements of the larger world...somehow I think that we all wanted to think that our kind thoughts could cancel out harsh realities, like drug overdoses, nitrous balloon vendors, fighting, and theft.  There was an element of hoping that good karma points meant that you would get a "miracle" and get into the show, or sell enough hairwraps to get to the next venue---some come to make it just one more day.  Tour gave birth to Mandalafly.

     May the music never stop...
 

Posted by mandalafly at 12:30 PM PDT

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Mood:  chatty

     The Sun and Mercury are in Aries, Saturn is in Leo, Pluto and Jupiter are both retrograde in Sagittarius--which only makes them even more Alchemical.  This is a Grand Fire Trine...with a really good lineup that hasn't been seen in 80 years.  Saturn is turning direct today, and we can start to feel things lighten up again...Put your plans in motion!   This one should light some fire under your booty!  

       That being said-dreamtime was a whole other world.  I found myself living in comfort on a houseboat.  I got the feeling that I was in California, like Sausalito or something.  Anyway, this girl showed up, and she appeared to have grown up "with privilege" and that this was her father's boat.  (haha-Gimme Shelter-by the Stones just came on...appropriate...read on!) I found myself not very happy to know that she was coming back, I really resented her for something, and I get the idea that it relates to how I think I might feel about people with money...I get the impression that I thought she was a snob, and that I didn't like her much, but when I got the opportunity...she and I were talking while putting away the dishes in the boat, I realized that I had really missed her, and the resentment disappeared and I found myself holding her and crying as though all was forgiven and we could be sisters again.

      Shortly after that we began to talk about the summer that I lived in San Rafael and San Francisco with my mom and sisters.  I was also remembering "Riviera Beach" in the town in Wisconsin where I spent my early formative years.  We (me and the "sister") were swimming the boat to a new location and preparing to weather a storm.  The waves got bigger and bigger, and there was some fear about where to put the boat.  But then things would get calm and almost tropical.  Our "father"  was watching us from the pier, and I felt like we were afraid of him being mad at us.  He was telling us where to put the boat, and we were pulling it there.  Something strikes me as we were swimming with Dolphins at the bow of the boat.  Everything became about the water, and how we react to it...roll with the flow, or swim against the tides...just looking for safe harbor.

     Here's to Smooooooooooth Sailing.  (Over the Lake of Fire?)
 

Posted by mandalafly at 9:19 AM PDT

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Mood:  a-ok

     Good Morning...and Happy Monday.

      Made it through early Saturday Market #2 this last Saturday.  April is always touch and go weather wise here in the PacNW.  It was raining most of the morning both Saturdays-but that doesn't stop us-we're DUCKS for a reason!  "Hippie Mart" gets set up rain or shine.  (details @  www.eugenesaturdaymarket.org)  That does not make it any more fun when you wake up on Saturday morning at 7, and it is cold and rainy, and you know that you have to load your booth into your car, be at the info booth for booth assignments by 8:15, wait for 45 minutes for your booth space, unload the car and set up entire "storefront" by 10, be smiling through the rain until noon or 1:00---thankfully I have been getting busy right around noon, and the rest of the day flies by and reminds me that it was worth it to peel myself from the pillow and get my booty out there.  Then at 5 the booth comes down, the car gets loaded, drive home, unload car again...then EAT!  because  I get so busy during the day, that I just put it off until the end...WHEW!!!

     This week is supposed to be a good one for taking charge and putting ourselves in the right space for business to grow.  Tomorrow is the Aries New Moon, and it is all about new beginnings, new ideas, and action.  This is a take charge of your life moon.  Make decisions for yourself...what do you want to be responsible for?  If you don't take the reigns, someone else may be waiting to take them over for you...who do you want to drive your chariot?

     On Thursday, Saturn finally turns direct again.  The last few months have given us time to examine our motives and learn from our lessons.  Now it will be time to move forward to the next level.  Leo is a house of freedom and instinct, and Saturn is the planet of rules and restriction, so it does not really feel at home in Leo, but it can help us to see where we need to reign ourselves in, and also where we need to let ourselves out!  One thing I have learned from my Leo Lion Boy is GET OUT AND PLAY SOMETIMES!!!  Being the Capricorn that I am, my work is my play...that is why it is so important that my work be fun!   Maybe that is the theme for this week...how to make work be fun...

for me?---MANDALAS-MANDALAS-MANDALAS!!!!  On that note...I've got PLAY to do!!!   AND SO DO YOU!
 

Posted by mandalafly at 9:39 AM PDT

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Mood:  happy

     I was dreaming that I was at this house in the country with a number of other people, and that I went with a couple of older women to some sort of a museum.  When we left the house in the country, we had to drive up this steep, wooded drive and the orange Volkswagen bug that I was driving wouldn't make it up the slope because it was wet and muddy. 

      The two women and I got out and I noticed that the others were carrying orange purses, and that there was a running orange theme, and I thought right away that it was about the second chakra-called Svadisthana.  This chakra is related to the imagination-spiritual, artistic and personal.  This chakra is located at your coccyx in your lower abdomen and is connected with the sexual and reproductive system.  It is also connected to the lower dan tien, which is a creative vessel.  This chakra helps us sustain long term friendships and intimate relationships.  I am aware that the women that I was with have been a part of my soul's journey for lifetimes.  The second chakra is associated with water, so it is not surprising that it was raining:)

     Anyway----as we were climbing up the drive, I pulled the bug behind me.  I was surprised that it was really light and no trouble at all to bring with.  I think that is probably related to the fact that my second chakra is one of my favorites...(wink wink)

     So, once we got to the top of the drive, we arrived at what appeared to be a library/museum.  We walked in and this woman started to talk to me.  She seemed to be a little..."out there" (even to me...) and I didn't think I had time to let her ramble at me, so I made an escape move, and one of the women that I was with let me know that this women too was one of my teachers, and that one of my tests was to see how I related to her.  There was a bit of admonishment from them because they could tell that I had not seen this woman as "important" to my mission at the time...they basically reminded me about "entertaining angels, unaware..."

     We quickly began our lesson which was a lecture on geology, and had to do with cave painting, like in Lascaux, France.  In the dream we were watching as this beautiful ink kind of leaked out of the walls and created these beautiful pictures.  There was something about us being able to work with the cave itself and create with our minds.  There was also a guy doing a lecture about creating these models of creatures.  He had the head of a panther that he was working on, but it was more like the Pink Panther, or something from Disney than anything truly representing an actual panther.  Everything was about creating.  

     The second chakra is attributed to the subconscious mind.   "It is a great mistake to underestimate the influence of the unconscious mind in daily life.  It follows it's own hidden agenda until we give it's small voice our attention." (Naomi Ozaniec-from Chakras-a Beginner's Guide)   This calls to mind Mandalafly's "How to be an artist in three easy steps..." 

•  1.  Forget Money Exists (See No Evil)
  
•  2.  Listen to Your Inner Voice (Hear No Evil)
  
•  3.  SHUT UP AND WORK (Speak No Evil)

Posted by mandalafly at 10:02 AM PDT

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Mood:  bright

     Good morning, and welcome back.  I swear that I actually wrote a blog entry between now and last Thursday, but it must have been on another time space continuum since it doesn't appear to be here....hmmm-how many other things have I misplaced in other dimensions?  I swear I need a cleanup crew.  I'm a VISIONARY, people---I don't have time to tend to the minor DETAILS...even though my Virgo house is loaded with planets-which is supposed to help with that.  Mine, I'm afraid, are just there to remind me of all of the things that get left in the wake of my 5th house which basically has the energy of a CIRCUS!  (what fun!)  We high wire folks are not the ones that clean up the elephant dung-but somebody has to---so why should I be above it?  I'll let you know when I come up with a good enough excuse.

     So, in my typical Roundabout kind of way, I am getting to something that has been on my brain since the first day of Saturday Market (which, by the way was wet, but good-we'll talk about that later...)  I was in a really good spot this week, on the opposite side of the block from where I usually set up, right at one of the main corners of the park.  It was highly visible, and I had a lot of traffic and interest (yay!). 

     I happened to be across from a vendor who was very "opinionated" and was sharing this with anyone who stopped by...Being her "neighbor" and being someone who likes to be a part of the community, I did my part to enter into conversation with her, and the people around me.  However, the few times that I talked directly with her, I realized that it was best to let her go off, and not try to convince her that there was another way to think about whatever it was she was on a rant about.  It was obvious that she was probably a fan of Rush Limbaugh, and Fox News, and had quite a bit to say about Global Warming ("not true") and Environmentalist "Wackos"...and how the fact that it was snowing so bad in Cleveland meant that the Global Warming theory is fantasy.  There was some mention of the fact that Venus and Mars were also getting warmer and that this was proof that global warming was not manmade...and that we should just stop worrying about it.  WOW!!!  Fortunately I got busy enough after noon to not have to hear her much for the whole day.

     I realize that she is not the only person who thinks this way, and while we are all entitled to our opinions on these issues, I can't help but wonder what makes people feel like our impact here doesn't matter, when it is GLARINGLY APPARENT by the way that we have been able to engineer our environments to not include the environment, that we DO have a huge impact on the world around us.  My question for these people (and everyone else, for that matter) is this...Even IF global warming, ocean pollution, landfills, digging for oil, mining coal, and clear cutting trees, and all of the other things that the "Environmental Wackos" (guilty) are on about, are not a really big deal, but you could find cleaner and more efficient ways of getting the energy and needs met (i.e. recyclables, hemp instead of trees, wind and solar power,,,etc...) WHY WOULDN'T YOU DO IT JUST FOR THE SAKE OF BEING MORE EFFICIENT?  It is much easier to NOT make a mess in the first place, than to have to clean it up later...(now where did I put my shovel...if my studio is any microcosmic example...we'd better ALL get to cleanin!)

     Thanks for reading MY opinion...maybe it won't matter to anyone else but me, but I am trying to do what I can to tip the scales in favor of the planet so she will continue to be able to hold our weight.  I hope you will join me...One person DOES make a difference!  OM.
 

Posted by mandalafly at 10:12 AM PDT

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Mood:  lucky

     Hey,  I just took a "Life Quiz" on one of those websites...and GUESS WHAT...I HAVE ONE!!!  

 Here Are My Results:

Life:	9.2
Mind:	8.9
Body:	8.4
Spirit:	10
Friends/Family:	8.6
Love:	9.1
Finance:	7

     Makes me feel like I'm doing something right that Spirit is a 10 and the lowest score is Financial...but I didn't probably need to take a quiz to know that...I can tell by the way that I'm always praying that I can pay the next bill...

     Anybody wanna buy some art?  (Saturday Market starts this weekend!)

P.S.  You can find this quiz and others at www.monkeyquiz.com---have fun!

Posted by mandalafly at 9:22 PM PDT

Updated: Thursday, April 5, 2007 9:25 PM PDT

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Mood:  spacey

     So-this is the day that Jupiter goes Retrograde...the Gentle Giant begins moving "backwards" in the sky in the sign of Sagittarius (it's home placement) from now until August 6.  This gives us an extended period to enjoy Luck and Expansion in the sign of Luck and Expansion!!!  But since it is moving retrograde, it slows things down so that we can examine them. 

     I'm gonna have to say "WHEW!"  I hope it works---I, for one,  could use a little breathing room---things are moving at light speed right now.  Jupiter was retrograde in Taurus on the day that I was born, and that indicates delays in things that deal with money and possessions---and means that business success comes in it's own sweet time...I can attest to that!  But it does come...when it is good and ready...during this retro period we should all keep that in mind during the more trying times!

     Jupiter is joining Pluto which is already retrograde in Sag, and this makes for some major transformation energy.  This will appear to slow things down maybe more than we would like.  It has the potential to throw a monkey wrench into things that we thought were just swimming right along, but DO NOT FEAR...it is in your best interest.  This is gearing us up and placing us in the right position to really benefit by the time August rolls around, and we can begin to harvest the fruits of our labors!  I know that seems like a long time from now, but think back to Christmas and you will realize how fast it really goes!!!

     In a couple more weeks, the next biggest planet, Saturn-the taskmaster, comes OUT of retrograde in Leo, the sign of self,  and will help us with our divine timing...the meditation for this period should go something like..."I am in tune with the timing of the Universe---all is as it should be RIGHT NOW!"  Ommmmmmmmm......and remember-successful people aren't always the ones that try HARDER, but the ones that try LONGER!!!               

Posted by mandalafly at 9:47 AM PDT

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Mood:  chatty

     Hello there, and welcome back to the sunny side of the street...maybe you can't see it right now, because here in the beautiful Willamette Valley it is raining, as I'm sure it may be elsewhere, but the sun ALWAYS shines...don't you forget it!

     I didn't really get to talk about the beautiful Libra Full moon that we just experienced (and are still under the influence of...)  but it really was pretty.  Libra has an influence over partnerships of all kinds, and when the moon is in Libra there is a lot of activity in the EGO...in dreams we may find ourselves examining our motives and becoming a judge of our own actions.  You may find yourself responding in the daytime to the lessons that your Guardian Angel has given you during the night.  (some of this information is from the WONDERFUL book called Watch Your Dreams   by Ann Ree Colton) 

     I can tell you that Mandala-night-flight was fast and furious, (as if that's a change...) and that yesterday I dreamt that I was making fruit shakes for a large group of people who had come to meet a little girl who had big brown eyes like saucers.  They told me in the dream that she could "change your DNA just by looking into your eyes."  It was unclear to me what her motivations were...there was something a little unsettling about her, but when I think about it now it has something to do with the way that these changes worked with the person's free will.  I tried not to stare!  I was "told" yesterday that the little girl's name was Annie.  I have a feeling that I was instrumental in bringing this little girl to help the group that I was hosting in the dream.  This is directly in line with my motivations to help others realize their divine nature...that's why I'm here!!!  Thank you for joining me!!!

     Last night my dreams centered on this HUGE yellow house that had room after room and a lot of angles and windows.  It overlooked a big park, and was very spacious.  I walked into the kitchen and it was very large and messy---but at least the deluxe kitchen sink overlooked the beautiful park...and I set about to cleaning it.  As I did, I realized that it had something to do with the Paternal Grandmother of Things One and Two...and at times, she was there with me, however I was the only one that was doing any cleaning...but for some reason it had to do with doing it for her (it was her house?--or maybe her mess?)  It didn't seem like I was bothered by the chore-even though it was large, I was just doing it for the satisfaction of getting it done...which I did, and then went upstairs to pick out a room for myself.  This obviously has something to do with how I still fit into the picture of my children's father's family.  Hmmm....

       As for the Astro-report, stay tuned---and we can talk about YOU instead of me...in the next entry-which I will try to offer up this evening, I will talk about Jupiter Retrograde, which will happen tomorrow...tighten your belts, and slow down for a bit...big daddy Jupiter is slowing down a bit...more on that after my daily tasks...

NOW-GET TO WORK!!!

Posted by mandalafly at 10:13 AM PDT

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Mood:  down

Well, Bloglodytes and Amoebites...since no one seems to give a rat's patoot about me and my stupid endeavors, and all this talk about the woogie woo-woo astrological signs, symbols and omens and what to do about it seems to be a big waste of your precious time, I am giving up...who am I to think that you should take my stupid advice anyway.  I realize that this world is just that, and that we came from dirt and will go back to dirt and it's just one big ordeal after another in between!  Why bother...

(APRIL FOOL'S!!!  YOU'RE STUCK WITH ME!  AND I STILL LOVE IT HERE!! HA) 

Posted by mandalafly at 10:10 PM PDT

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Mood:  smelly

Pluto, a non planet, but certainly not a non-entity, rears it's backside and revisits old battle grounds with the fervor of a preacher-man as it retrogrades in Sagittarius-the sign of the Philosopher, and the Madman?   Pluto is  aspecting Sag's Jupiter which is at home where it is sitting in the 9th house, and we get to expand our understanding of some pretty deeply rooted issues.

Now, thankfully this is taking place in a most upbeat place in the wheel--Sagittarius has a way of making light of things, which is what we are looking for...and we can look to the Wild Horses that they are-(most of the lot of them)......like a carousel at the carnival that breezes in and out of town...Sagittarius...fun while it lasts..."whew" once it's gone.  Pluto-getting down to the real nitty gritty...bringing the truth up from the depths.  Maybe you feel as though you can't settle down, and to this I say...keep things light---go about things in the next few months in a "Merry-Go-Roundabout" way....This is a time to clean out the skeletons from your closet, and get things aired out in the open.  Soon it will be time to plant the garden, and entertain friends.   OM.

Posted by mandalafly at 11:13 PM PDT

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