Greetings,
2012 is now on everybody’s mind. The release of Roland Emmerich’s film, 2012, has popularized this date on a planetary scale. What does it mean? Where did it come from? As awareness of 2012 becomes an event of mass consciousness, we begin to sense something of the greatest magnitude, a veritable world shift. The ripples from this shift are already creating waves washing up on the shores of the old consciousness. What is behind December 21, 2012, and what does it really augur?
“For millennia, mankind had wandered in the darkness…but now, as had been prophesied, there was a change coming. After hurtling blindly through history, mankind has reached a crossroads. This moment had been predicted long ago, prophesied by the ancient texts, by the primeval calendars, and even by the stars themselves. The date was specific, its arrival imminent. It would be preceded by a brilliant explosion of knowledge…a flash of clarity to illuminate the darkness and give mankind a final chance to veer away from the abyss and take the path of wisdom.” —Dan Brown, The Lost Symbol
You can read in this newsletter what modern day prophet, Jose Arguelles, has to say about the next three years and the approaching Apocalypse which many have predicted as the “end times” foreboding disaster of a global magnitude. In actuality the word apocalypse is Aramaic and literally translates as the great revealing or unveiling, a time of a mass awakening of consciousness. It does foretell of a time of endings as well as a time of new beginnings. What does this mean for humanity? What does this have to do with you?
Amidst concerns over global warming and fears of everything ending by 2012 the age of anxiety is gaining momentum. When it appears that there is very little time left, Mythologist Michael Meade, suggests that, “It isn’t time that people need, but the touch of the eternal that renews imagination and reveals meaningful and healing paths even in the darkest times.”
Michael goes on to say that, “Everyone now suffers from over-exposure as Culture and Nature, the ‘two great garments of life,’ seem to unravel at the same time. Culture no longer protects against growing threats of global terror, while Nature becomes increasingly endangered by the effects of climate change. Science and religion, so often opposed, arrive at similar conclusions as statistics and scriptures each predict the ‘end of the world.’ Is it the end of all time or a time of many endings secretly seeking the vital ground of renewal?”
Michael posits the notion of an intelligent light hidden in the darkness addressing the increasing troubles throughout the world and pointing to the importance of increasing soulfulness at this time. “The soul is the secret connective tissue of life and the essence of community. Soul is the glue that holds things together, the ‘stickiness’ of life, and the deep root of grassroots movements. When there’s enough soul present, people stick together and stick it out no matter what. Amidst the speed of changes and the depth of current troubles, soul often goes missing just when more soul is needed.”
Michael reassures us that in dark times things become both impossible and more possible at the same time. Heralding a return of wisdom and encouraging a need for more Eros and relatedness, he suggests that more soul can lead us to the spirit of renewal.
As we look forward, Sacred Path will be hosting a day-long event for men at Holy Spirit Retreat Center in Encino on Saturday, February 6, 2010 followed by our longer retreat in April, the 15th-18th. Both of these events will focus on the importance of self-renewal, the unveiling and expansion of consciousness and increasing the amplitude of Soul in your life. You can read about and register for the Day for Men in this newsletter and mark your calendars for the 23rd Annual Spring Sacred Path Men’s Retreat, April 15-18, 2010.
We need your feedback and support if we are to move forward with a combined Sacred Path Men’s Retreat and Call to Adventure Rites of Passage Retreat for Fathers and Sons, Boys and Mentors. We have no money in the scholarship account at this point. We awarded several thousand (what was remaining in our account) in scholarships last April and now our coffers are empty. We had hired a grant writer to secure funding for us but due to her personal and compromised integrity issues we were required to sever the contract after having paid her a retainer of $1,000.
We are not in a position at this point to provide scholarships to the youths and men from South Los Angeles or other areas and agencies. Unless we are gifted donations to support this program and unless we have commitments from fathers and sons, boys and their mentors indicating that they are planning to attend the CTA portion of the retreat, we will not conduct the CTA this year but we will hold the men’s retreat. We need to have assurances before January 1st that we will have the scholarship funds available and the commitments to attend before we will green-light the CTA for this year. We acknowledge that money is tight and that is why we have kept the fees low for our retreats. Perhaps during the month of December the spirit of giving will prevail and we’ll get a clear signal to move forward with the CTA part of the retreat for this April.
Wishing you and your family a Very Merry Christmas and a Happy Chanukah! Peace and Light,
Stephen
To Download the Flyer/Application for the February 6, 2010 DAY FOR MEN, Click HERE
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