Halloween —> Hallow E’en —> Hallow Evening —> Holy Night

This venerable sacred night, called Samhain in the tongue of my Celtic ancestors, has a rich and controversial history. As with most ancient cultures, there was a powerful belief in the continuation of life after death. With that belief was an equal certainty that the dead still had ties of relationship and communication with us. The dead, the deities, and other spiritual beings could provide us - the “living” - with support, counsel, and blessings or troubles.

Among the Celts Samhain was the night when the veil that separated our world from the other worlds, including the worlds of the spirits and the dead, was the thinnest. On that Holy Night, our communication with the ancestor spirits was indeed powerfully present and vibrant. It was a time to remember, commune, laugh, cry, forgive, bless, and celebrate our loved ones who have journeyed to the “Summerlands.” Anyone who had died between the last Samhain and this one was believed to be still wandering the earth, awaiting the veil to thin enough to cross over. So remembering them and supporting them, we helped them to find their way into the next world.

Somewhere between the pages of history this awesome night became transformed into the Christian feasts of “All Souls Day” (10/31) and “All Saints Day” (11/1.) Yet the ancient memories and deeper realities still cling to these “baptized” pagan feasts. The soul’s memory is older and stronger than the passing tides of men and women’s religious affiliations and fancies.

True, modern culture has done much to erase the great spiritual meaning and longing in this holy night. Beasties, ghoulies, and various incarnations of nightmare and fairy-tale characters dance at parties, feast on sweets, and “trick or treat.” They are but pale remnants, true ghosts of a much richer, deeper, more powerful celebration.

Yet I want to call us back to our soul’s feast. A time of remembering that life in this world is but one glimmering of a far greater and mysterious reality we call LIFE. It is a time to remember that our dead are not truly gone from us. They live and move and dance and have their being with eternal bonds of affection with us. We are all still connected, a living communion of souls stretching from the dimmest sparks of the far-distant past into the ever arcing glow of our future lives.

Take a moment this All Hallow’s Eve to re-connect in a conscious way with all those you love who have passed through the veil into the other place. Clear a spot on a table or desk and place upon it pictures of them, and/or perhaps some mementoes that remind you of them - a treasured locket, an old fishing knife, a small toy, etc. Light some candles around these pictures and “sacred memory” objects. Dim the lights. Sit quietly gazing upon them, recalling fond and treasured memories. Slowly, when the spirit moves you, speak to them, sing to them, cry with them, laugh with them… and most especially forgive them and bless them, so that they can cross the veil knowing that peace and healing and love are the only ties that bind you now.

Then go out to dinner with friends, or prepare a special meal at the house for family and friends. Make a point of each person sharing silly, laughable, poignant and treasured memories around the table about their passed loved one(s). Let each person raise a toast to “dear departed______” with a delicious wine, mead, or favorite non-alcoholic beverage (just be sure to make it a beverage that you truly enjoy and relish.) Maybe if you are feeling really adventuresome - and you are blessed with understanding friends and family - set an empty chair at the table with its own place setting of food and drink. Then as each person round the table recalls stories of their loved ones - you can address your toasts and cheers to the “empty” chair - which we know is not truly empty at all! The point of it all is to feast and celebrate these loved ones with much laughter, tears, and soul-full memories.

Then maybe, just maybe, in a night of “trick or treats”, you will find All Hallows Eve to be one of the most special treats of the year. A moment when the veil parts and your treasured loved one touches your heart and reminds you that you are never truly alone.

Happy feasting blessed souls!

Martin Goldsmith has developed symbols for all 360 degrees of the zodiac. The symbols are meant to be evocative images that help unlock deeper levels of meaning and insight into the particular planet’s inhabiting that degree.

As I write the Moon is positioned at 16 degrees of Gemini. His symbol is:

“Alternately humorous and passionate, a soapbox speaker harangues a crowd”

(pg. 76, The Zodiac by Degrees, Martin Goldsmith)

The Moon… our urge for comfort, security, happiness. Often it reflects past lives experiences and thus relates to our comfort zone because we are often most comfortable with what we already know.

…in Gemini… an evolutionary purpose to teach the heart to be radically curious and open, to communicate one’s feelings openly and freely.

The phrase “get on a soapbox” refers to the old practice of street preachers, political pundits, revolutionaries, etc., standing on a wooden soapbox on a sidewalk - so that they are more easily seen and heard above the crowd. It was an opportunity to express one’s passionate views on some particular topic. Today we have blogs instead of soapboxes… but the effect is often the same. Blogs are our way to make our voices heard above the din and roar of the crowd.

I started typing this Blog with no idea what the symbol for the Moon position was at this moment. I find it curious, and eerie that the symbol for the exact moment in time for me to start typing a blog is this soapbox symbol. This Soul Blog will in effect be my virtual soapbox.

I want to use this space to speak “passionately and humorously” about issues important to Soul. Hopefully I can avoid the “harangue” part and instead speak deliberately, with a deep intention to bring healing, purpose and understanding to some corner of our lives. I want to communicate (Gemini) my heart and soul (Moon) as openly and freely (Gemini) as possible. I want to arouse your curiosity (Gemini) to explore your own soul and heart (Moon).

Our personal soapboxes can be pretty comfortable places. I intend to keep a Gemini-mind as I write these blogs… in others words staying open and curious to whatever mysterious movements my soul is prompting me to investigate, no matter how weird, humorous, uncomfortable, frightening, delightful, evocative, confusing, stupefying, entrancing…it may be.

I invite you to follow me along a path of Soul… a wonderfully lunar thing to do… and see what surprises and delights wait you around the next corner…

Paul has achieved a reputation as a highly dynamic and motivating public speaker. He is known for his ability to present materials in an entertaining and easily understandable manner — even if the material is complex, or traditionally dry and scholarly. Paul is known as a “change artist”, “motivator”, “innovative teacher”, and “visionary”.

Paul can create a workshop, class, lecture, or training program for your group on any of the topics referred to in this web site including: Celtic Spirituality, Native American Spirituality, Personal Development and Empowerment, Business Ethics, Workplace Spirituality, Evolutionary Astrology, Enneagram, Story-telling and Myth, Professional Development, Team-building, the Bible, Diversity Training, etc.

Gay, Lesbian, Bisexual, and Transgender persons often find closed doors, closed minds, and closed hearts when it comes to addressing the life of their Souls and spirits. Because so many of us have been rejected, ridiculed, and even reviled by traditional religious communities, many of us avoid investigating and deepening the lives of our Souls and spirits. Yet GLBT persons have always been (with the exception of 19th and 20th century western culture) revered leaders of spiritual, artistic, and Soul life. GLBT persons have functioned as the bearers of art, culture, Soul, and spirit for countless centuries in thousands of societies and settings. We should embrace our proud, rich heritage as Soul elders and spiritual leaders.

Paul seeks to provide the GLBT community and individuals with compassionate support and gentle guidance for their own unique emotional, Soul, and spiritual growth. Trained in psychology and spirituality, and experienced in GLBT issues, Paul is a empathetic and knowledgeable of our unique needs and challenges to find healing, wholeness, passion and direction for ourselves and our community.

Evolutionary Astrology is:
· an astrology about the freedom written in our Souls… not our fate written in the stars;
an astrology of prescription for personal growth and fulfillment — not a description of our pre-ordained and unchangeable character traits;
· an astrology of conscious spiritual evolution — not an astrology of fortune-telling and newspaper columns.

We are each created to be passionately alive and fulfilled. Bliss is our birthright. Evolutionary Astrology is a profound art that helps us achieve a higher, more fulfilled state of conscious being and thereby claim that birthright.

Evolutionary Astrology is grounded in the firm belief that we are each responsible for our own choices and life paths and that no planet or sign pre-determines our future or how we express our personality. Our Birth Chart is a blueprint of our possibilities and potentials — not simply a character description.

Through Evolutionary Astrology, the Birth Chart can eloquently describe your highest possible happiness and fulfillment, a life in complete harmony with your Soul’s deepest intent. It can show you what tools and abilities you have to achieve that life, and the best ways to use them. Finally the Birth Chart can alert you to the possible pitfalls, roadblocks, and dead-ends that can prevent you from achieving your highest purpose and happiness.

Paul is an experienced and gentle guide in helping you unlock the mysteries of your life’s purpose through an analysis of your Birth Chart by an in-depth dialogue with you about your life’s purpose and meaning.

An initial session focused on the birth chart and providing an overview of all of your life dynamics, karmic issues, and evolutionary goals typically lasts 2 hours. You will be provided with a printed birth chart and a recording (CD or a digital file emailed to you) of your session.

Further sessions to explore, at a more in-depth level, your unique life path are scheduled as you desire and feel the need. Many of Paul’s clients work with him over an extended period of weeks and months, or schedule annual up-date consultations.

Imagination is the language of the Soul. Using ancient and modern arts of Soul work and Soul nurturing, Paul seeks to help you rediscover a profound, living connection to your dreams, passions, and yearnings.

Paul provides individual or group consultations on discovering and honoring the Soul’s wisdom in your personal life. These consultations seek to provide you with the tools and guidance to more clearly hear the promptings of your Soul so that you can create the life your Soul has imagined for you — a life of passion, purpose, and meaning.

Sessions can focus on any of the following arts and processes; or can be designed to meet your specific purpose.