As a teenager in the 1970's when people asked what I wanted to study in college or what I “wanted to be”, I usually said I wanted to become a psychologist or a photojournalist. Looking back, my real desire was to understand humanity and our connection to this beautiful planet and the universe beyond. I sought these answers because, at the time, everything felt confusing; my reality didn’t align with the teachings I received from established institutions.

 

Many things I was taught were "good" felt bad, and those I was told to trust often proved untrustworthy. This is a common experience for anyone alive today. We have all been conditioned to trust external sources rather than learning to build personal integrity and connect with our innate internal guidance.

 

Without delving into specifics, I spent most of my adult life making poor decisions and grappling with the consequences. The only assets I had were a "keep putting one foot in front of the other" attitude and the memory of those trustworthy, loving individuals from my early childhood who acted with consistent integrity. Often, I would take two steps forward only to fall three steps back, but I kept going.

 

My introduction to astrology came in 1999 when I discovered C.G. Jung's book On Astrology, and I have been a student of astrology ever since. This exploration opened doors to other esoteric and occult teachings, as well as philosophy. However, it wasn't until 2020, when I lived alone for the first time in my 59 years, that I finally had the time and means to study in earnest.

 

I believe humanity is at a pivotal moment in history where understanding ourselves and taking responsibility for our lives is essential. These insights are crucial for transforming the world around us. As we navigate what some call "The Great Awakening," we must collectively reflect on:

 

What are we awakening from?  

What are we awakening to?  

What response is necessary?  

 

On a personal level, this also requires us to contemplate:

 

Who am I?  

Why am I here?  

What am I supposed to be doing?  

 

While I approach these questions from a metaphysical or esoteric perspective, I firmly believe that the true purpose of these inquiries is to find practical applications in our daily lives. I refer to this approach as "Boots on the Ground or Practical Spirituality": merging the spiritual with the material and the material with the spiritual.