Podcasts about Northern Hemisphere

Futures mostly higher on good demand for world wheat amid Northern Hemisphere weather concerns; Wheat Tour Day 2 results; corn and beans firm on demand potential.

Northern Hemisphere investors are upbeat as the US-UK trade deal is hailed as a significant milestone, boosting the US dollar but sending US bonds lower as Trump pushes for riskier investments. Airline stocks climb as British Airways' parent plans to acquire 30 Boeing jets, while Tapestry gains on an improved outlook. Meanwhile, Krispy Kreme plunges 25% to a record low after cutting dividends. In Europe, stocks remain mixed following Trump's tariff deal with the UK. In commodities, oil rises 3% on US-China trade optimism, but gold and iron ore slip. Closer to home, Aussie shares are poised for a modest lift on Friday ahead of Macquarie Group’s earnings release. The content in this podcast is prepared, approved and distributed in Australia by Commonwealth Securities Limited ABN 60 067 254 399 AFSL 238814. The information does not take into account your objectives, financial situation or needs. Consider the appropriateness of the information before acting and if necessary, seek appropriate professional advice.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Rain and snow are returning to California and parts of the West, but significant drought relief remains unlikely for many areas in need. Also, it's the brightest time of the year across the Northern Hemisphere as solar summer is underway. Here's how it differs from meteorological and astronomical summer. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

May 2025 Astrology Forecast: Are You Ready to Blast Off?Welcome, star seekers! May is here, bringing a fresh chapter and powerful cosmic energy. In this episode we explore what this vibrant month means for you—whether you're navigating spring's awakening in the Northern Hemisphere or embracing autumn's sweet descent in the South. Dive in for astrology insights, practical advice, and inspiration to make May count!What's Unique About This May?Cross-Quarter Festivals and Zodiac EnergyBeltane & Samhain: May opens with Beltane in the North (celebrating spring growth and new beginnings) and Samhain in the South (honoring the wisdom of endings and quiet reflection).Taurus Season: The grounding energy of Taurus encourages savoring the present and nurturing growth, no matter where you are in the world.Planetary Shifts & Astrological HighlightsPluto Retrograde Begins: After a period of all planets moving direct, Pluto shifts retrograde on May 4th, inviting deep personal and collective reflection.Saturn in Aries: The big news is Saturn entering Aries, marking a phase of bold action, responsibility, and turning ideas into reality.Important Dates:May 9: Uranus sparks a collective soul destiny shiftMay 18: Jupiter expands your soul missionNeptune & Saturn: These two giants ask if you're ready to stop dreaming and start doing.Inspirational Quotes“Now's the time for the upgrade. Now's the time to get back to school or revisit your brand… It's time for your dreams to come true.”“You find your voice in those quiet spaces. And if you have found your voice already, now you get to sing in front of others.”Your May Astrology Action PlanEmbrace New BeginningsThe season invites planting new seeds—literally and figuratively. Use this energy to start projects, revisit old ideas, or clarify your intentions for growth.Time for ActionThis is not just about making plans; May challenges you to do something with your ideas. Saturn asks, “What have you done about it?” Whether it's a passion project, offering, or personal goal, now's the moment.Cosmic AlignmentTune into the supportive energies of the full and new moons for building reserves and manifesting success.Trust in the universe, feel safe to allow support, and let your authentic self be seen and heard.Key Questions Answered1. What does Saturn entering Aries mean for me?Saturn in Aries signals a shift from ideas to action. It's the "put up or shut up" moment: if you've been dreaming, now you're called to actually build or create. Saturn brings structure and accountability—embrace maturity, integrity, and practicality (4:16).2. How can I make the most of this month's energy?May is about aligning action with intention and not getting stuck in the past. Start or finish projects, let go of what's no longer serving you, and aim for steady progress. Trust your intuition and be open to support, especially around the full and new moons (10:09).3. Why is finding my voice important this month?Finding and using your voice is central this May. The energy supports speaking up, sharing your story, and stepping into the spotlight. Whether you're practicing in private or ready to sing out, your authentic self is needed in the world (11:28).Final ThoughtsMay 2024 is a powerful turning point—use this momentum to break through limits, realign with what's meaningful, and manifest your next chapter. Trust the cosmic support, let your authenticity shine, and make every step count on your star path to success.If you found value in this episode, please subscribe, rate, and review!

Our national arboretum near Gisborne encompasses over 131 hectares planted in exotic and native trees, shrubs and climber plantings. Eastwoodhill is regarded as the largest and most comprehensive collection of Northern Hemisphere trees south of the equator. Now it's entering an exciting new phase, with the appointment of a new curator. Internationally respected arborist Menno Kluiters, will take on the role next month.

Wheat holds steady while corn and soybeans push higher; rains coming to US plains while other regions of Northern Hemisphere stay dry.

On today's REX Daily Podcast, Dom talks with Anthea Dalton, Operation Team Leader at Eastwood Hill Arboretum in Gisborne, about the story of William Douglas Cook; a farm owner whose experience convalescing after fighting in Egypt, Gallipoli and France during the First World War led to him establishing what is now New Zealand's National Arboretum, containing the largest collection of Northern Hemisphere trees south of the equator. Tune in daily for the latest and greatest REX rural content on your favourite streaming platform, visit rexonline.co.nz and follow us on Instagram, Facebook and LinkedIn for more.

Are you ready for the Month of Miracles? May is often called the month of Mary, but Mother Mary has told me to call it the ‘month of miracles' because the seeds you sow in May will bring miracles into your life! The only question is… are you ready?? In this episode, I share all the ways the Earth is supporting you in May to help you get ready and plant your ‘miracle seeds' and how to access the incredible LIGHT and energy of this miraculous month! I also share why having a focus during this time is SO crucial! If you want to join us for the 54 Day Miracle Novena in the Magnify Your Miracles Membership and receive the energetic support of community for your novena, click here.   Key Learnings: May is often called the Month of Mary, but Mother Mary has asked me to call it the Month of Miracles! One of the reasons is that during this time in the Northern Hemisphere, we receive more light every day, and light is the great magnifier! It is SO important to keep your mind focused on what you DESIRE during this time, as the light will magnify whatever you focus on. One way to do that is to participate in the 54 Day Miracle Novena that we do in the Magnify Your Miracles membership. When you become a member of the Magnify Your Miracles membership, you have instant access to the Create Your Sacred Space course, the digital version of the Magnify Your Miracles Journal, and all the replays of previous messages and meditations! “The seeds you plant in May, through prayer, will bring miracles into your life!” Mother Mary   Click here to join the Magnify Your Miracles Membership Ready to manifest your purpose? Click here to schedule a Miracle Meeting with me If you love the image on the wall behind me of Mother Mary Blessing the World, you can order your own museum quality copy at www.deepaliu.com

During mid-spring, a trio of wide-spread stars covers a huge swath of the eastern sky after dark. It's the Spring Triangle signaling the move into longer days and warmer weather for the Northern Hemisphere.

In this holy season of spring in the Northern Hemisphere, with the earth reviving herself in greenery and flowers, birds, bees, and butterflies all around us, I am so pleased to be in conversation today with a gardener who will represent another gardener -one in the here now and one from more than a century ago, whose words resonate into the present. I believe in the future, so beautifully. John Stempien is the emeritus director of the Liberty Hyde Bailey Museum in South Haven, Michigan. He joins us today to share more about his garden life path, following in the footsteps of the great garden life path sown, grown, and walked on by Liberty Hyde Bailey, Jr, avid and reverent gardener, often considered to be the "father of modern [Western] horticulture” Cultivating Place now has a donate button! We thank you so much for listening over the years and we hope you'll support Cultivating Place. We can't thank you enough for making it possible for this young program to grow even more of these types of conversations. The show is available as a podcast on SoundCloud and iTunes. To read more and for many more photos, please visit www.cultivatingplace.com.

About 15% of the Northern Hemisphere is covered by permafrost.  Permafrost is soil and sediment that has remained frozen for long periods of time, in some cases as much as 700,000 years.  It contains large amounts of dead biomass that has accumulated over millennia and hasn't fully decomposed.  Therefore, permafrost is an immense carbon sink. […]

On Being a Sacred Changemaker in the Corporate World with Jayne WarrilowSummary: Welcome to the Brave Women at Work podcast. This is your host, Jen Pestikas. I'm so glad you're here.Hello everyone! How are you doing out there?Happy Spring to everyone in the Northern Hemisphere! I am so happy that we are starting to have slightly warmer and longer days. We had snow here in my area even in March, so fingers crossed that we are done with that business.Well, if you didn't listen to one of the January episodes, I mentioned that my words of the year for 2025 are energy and woo. Well, I met my guest, Jayne Warrilow, former corporate executive and now founder and CEO of Sacred Changemakers and learned that you can indeed mix corporate life and woo in one. It was so refreshing to freely talk about energy and other spiritual concepts intermingled with leadership.During my conversation with Jayne, we chatted about:What is a sacred changemaker?How did Jayne's health journey with cancer and her healing lead her to do this work?How Jayne protects her energy as a channelHow she mixes in the sacred with leadership in her work with corporationsWhat resonance codes are and how we discover our ownAnd so much more!If you are into the idea of mixing the sacred, spiritual, or woo with leadership, you will love this conversation!Here is more about Jayne:Jayne Warrilow is a global speaker, bestselling author and sought after business and executive coach, who is passionate about building the foundations of a more equitable, loving and resonant world.Jayne is an incredibly curious human who likes to push the membrane of possibility in our world. She is devoted to making unprecedented impact. Financial, human and social impact.For nearly 30 years, Jayne has brought purpose to business and guided the transformation of iconic businesses alongside extraordinary leaders.Who we are being matters.What we stand for matters.Who we partner with matters.As Jayne says, these are soul-defining times in our history, and the decisions we make today will shape our collective future.If the Brave Women at Work Podcast has helped you personally or professionally, please be share it with a friend, colleague, or family member. And your ratings and reviews help the show continue to gain traction and grow. Thank you again!Also, if you haven't yet downloaded my freebies from my website, check them out at www.bravewomenatwork.com.

Viburnums are a genus of flowering evergreen, semi-evergreen, or deciduous shrubs or (in a few cases) small trees in the moschatel family, Adoxaceae. There are more than 150 species and cultivars, many (but not all) of which are native to the temperate Northern Hemisphere either in North America or Asia. With this many to choose from, it may be hard to pick which might be appropriate for your landscape. Enter Eli Joseph-Hunter from Greene Bee Greenhouse ltd, located in Cornwallville (Greene County), NY. Greene Bee is a full service nursery that was started in 2007. Owned by passionate gardeners, it contains a wealth of herbs, perennial, and woody plants and is a delight to visit. Eli rejoins Nature Calls: Conversations from the Hudson Valley to provide us with a deep dive into this favorite landscape plant. The good news is that viburnums are adaptable to a wide range of growing conditions, whether it be wet or dry soil, or anywhere between full shade to full sum. In addition to providing beautiful aesthetics, once established, viburnums tend to be drought resistant, require minimal maintenance, and have relatively few disease or insect problems. Some compact species max out under two feet tall, while others grow to be 20 feet high. Considered mostly moderate- to fast-growing plants, viburnums typically grow from 1- 2 feet per year. Some varieties (like arrowwood viburnum) may take seven to eight years to reach their mature size of 15 feet. Viburnum leaves are opposite on the branches and can be rounded or lance-shaped, smooth, velvety, or rough, and are often deeply veined. They typically have attractive white or pink flowers that bloom between early spring and early summer. The individual florets that grow in clusters at the ends of branches attract many butterflies.. On the deciduous varieties, their fall color can be striking ranging from bright yellow, to glossy crimson, to a deep rusty maroon. Their fruit (drupes) contain a single seed, set in late summer, attract birds and other wildlife, and can be metallic blue, bright red, yellow, orange, or in some cases change from red to deep purple as autumn progresses. A heavy fruit set is more reliable when at least 2 different cultivars or seedlings of the same species are planted together. Most viburnums are dense shrubs, great as hedges or border screenings, forming a mass of green foliage. They also tend to be relatively deer-resistant shrubs, although recently planted ones should be protected from deer browse, at least for the first year. From a disease perspective, a variety of fungal leaf spots and a bacterial leaf spot may be fairly common in some areas. Viburnum leaf beetles, aphids, thrips, spider mites, and scale can also be problems, but they are relatively easy to care for. So don't hesitate to experiment with and enjoy one or multiple viburnum varieties in your landscape. Hosts: Tim Kennelty and Jean Thomas Guest: Eli Joseph-Hunter Photo by: Tim Kennelty Production Support: Linda Aydlett, Deven Connelly, Teresa Golden, Taly Hahn, Tim Kennelty, Amy Meadow, Xandra Powers, Annie Scibienski, Eileen Simpson, Robin Smith Resources

It's spring in the Northern Hemisphere, so what better time to talk about taking photos of flowers? Dwight, Dave and I talk about some different ways to captures these wonderful spring creations, plus we include some in Our Recent photos.⁠Reeflex Contest Winners⁠⁠Shayne's Fog Machine Video⁠⁠Voicecast⁠⁠Greg's Book⁠⁠The Podcast Website⁠⁠Dave on Instagram⁠⁠Dave on Threads⁠⁠Dave on Bluesky⁠⁠Dave on X⁠⁠Dave on TikTok⁠⁠Dave on VERO⁠⁠Dave on Mastodon⁠⁠Dwight on Flickr⁠⁠Dwight on VERO⁠⁠Dwight on Glass⁠⁠Dwight on Instagram⁠⁠Dwight's Art on Instagram⁠⁠Dwight on VSCO⁠⁠Greg on ⁠⁠About.me⁠⁠Greg on Instagram⁠⁠Greg on Threads⁠⁠Greg on Bluesky⁠⁠Greg on Glass⁠⁠Greg on VERO⁠⁠Greg on Flickr⁠⁠Greg on Twitter⁠⁠Greg's Website⁠⁠Greg on Mastodon⁠⁠The Podcast YouTube Channel⁠⁠Shayne Mostyn's YouTube Channel⁠⁠Smartphone Photography Club⁠⁠Smartphone Photography Club Forum⁠⁠The iPhoneography Podcast Facebook Group⁠⁠Shayne Mostyn's Bloody Legends Facebook Group⁠⁠Rick Sammon's Smartphone Photo Experience Facebook Group⁠⁠Reeflex's Facebook Group⁠Get your first year of Glass for $20: ⁠https://glass.photo/offer/greg⁠⁠Reeflex Lenses⁠ - Get 10% off Reeflex lenses with the coupon code 10%OFFGREGBuy me a coffee at ⁠https://www.buymeacoffee.com/mcmillan⁠The music at the end of this video was created on a Mac using GarageBand.

As the weather in the Northern Hemisphere starts to shift to spring and construction season gears up, we revisist an episode from 2021 about the costly ongoing problem of fires in buildings under construction. In the United States, there's a fire in a building under construction or renovation every hour and a half, according to NFPA data. On this podcast, Angelo speaks with Kevin Carr (4:15), NFPA staff liaison to NFPA 241, Standard for Safeguarding Construction, Alteration, and Demolition Operations, to learn more about construction site fires and how to prevent them. Plus, a safety executive with a large Maryland-based construction company and the chair of the NFPA 241 technical committee weigh in on why they think NFPA 241 is underutilized and how that could change (22:24). Links: Read more about the latest edition of NFPA 241 and NFPA trainings related to construction site fire safety: https://www.nfpa.org/safetyfirst

Can You Segway?Book 3 in 18 parts, By FinalStand. Listen to the ► Podcast at Explicit Novels.So exactly who was going to be sympathetic to their plight, who we cared about?Beyond my fevered dream of making a difference there was a pinch of reality. See, the Cabindans and the people of Zaire were both ethnic Bakongo and the Bakongo of Zaire had also once had their own, independent (until 1914) kingdom which was now part of Angola. The Bakongo were major factions in the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC) -(formerly for a short time known as the nation of Zaire, from here on out to be referred to as the DRC and in the running for the most fucked up place on the planet Earth, more on that later)- and Congo (the nation) yet a minority in Angola. Having an independent nation united along ethnic and linguistic lines made sense and could expect support from their confederates across international boundaries.The Liberation Air ForceThe Earth & Sky operated under one constant dilemma ~ when would Temujin make his return? Since they didn't know and it was their job to be prepared for the eventuality if it happened tomorrow, or a century down the line, they 'stockpiled', and 'stockpiled' and 'stockpiled'.That was why they maintained large horse herds and preserved the ancient arts of Asian bowyers, armoring and weapons-craft. That was why they created secret armories, and sulfur and saltpeter sites when musketry and cannons became the new ways of warfare. They secured sources of phosphates and petroleum when they became the new thing, and so on.All of this boiled over to me being shown yet again I worked with clever, creative and under-handed people. The Khanate came up with a plan for a 'Union' Air Force {Union? More on that later} within 24 hours, and it barely touched any of their existing resources. How did they accomplish this miracle? They had stockpiled and maintained earlier generation aircraft because they didn't know when Temujin would make his re-appearance.They'd also trained pilots and ground crews for those aircraft. As you might imagine, those people grew old just as their equipment did. In time, they went into the Earth & Sky's Inactive Reserves ~ the rank & file over the age of 45. You never were 'too old' to serve in some capacity though most combat-support related work ended at 67.When Temujin made his return and the E&S transformed into the Khanate, those people went to work bringing their lovingly cared for, aging equipment up to combat-alert readiness. If the frontline units were decimated, they would have to serve, despite the grim odds of their survival. It was the terrible acceptance the Chinese would simply possess so much more war-making material than they did.Well, the Khanate kicked the PRC's ass in a titanic ass-whooping no one (else) had seen coming, or would soon forget. Factory production and replacement of worn machines was in stride to have the Khanate's Air Force ready for the next round of warfare when the Cease-fire ended and the Reunification War resumed.Always a lower priority, the Khanate military leadership was considering deactivating dozens of these reserve unit when suddenly the (Mongolian) Ikh khaany khairt akh dáé (me) had this hare-brained scheme about helping rebels in Africa, West Africa, along the Gulf of Guinea coast/Atlantic Ocean, far, far away, and it couldn't look like the Khanate was directly involved.They barely knew where Angola was. They had to look up Cabinda to figure out precisely where that was. They brought in some of their 'reservist' air staff to this briefing and one of them, a woman (roughly a third of the E&S 'fighting'/non-frontline forces were female), knew what was going on. Why?She had studied the combat records and performance of the types of aircraft she'd have to utilize... back in the 1980's and 90's and Angola had been a war zone rife with Soviet (aka Khanate) material back then. Since she was both on the ball, bright and knew the score, the War Council put her in overall command. She knew what was expected of her and off she went, new staff in hand. She was 64 years old, yet as ready and willing to serve as any 20 year old believer in the Cause.Subtlety, scarcity and audacity were the watchwords of the day. The Khanate couldn't afford any of their front-line aircraft for this 'expedition'. They really couldn't afford any of their second-rate stuff either. Fortunately, they had some updated third-rate war-fighting gear still capable of putting up an impressive show in combat ~ providing they weren't going up against a top tier opponents.For the 'volunteers' of the Union Air Force, this could very likely to be a one-way trip. They all needed crash courses (not a word any air force loves, I know) in Portuguese though hastily provided iPhones with 'apps' to act as translators were deemed to be an adequate stop-gap measure. Besides, they were advised to avoid getting captured at all cost. The E&S couldn't afford the exposure. Given the opportunity ~ this assignment really was going above and beyond ~ not one of these forty-six to sixty-seven year olds backed out.No, they rolled out fifty of their antiquated aircraft, designs dating back to the 1950's through the mid-70's, and prepared them for the over 10,000 km journey to where they were 'needed most'. 118 pilots would go (72 active plus 46 replacements) along with 400 ground crew and an equally aged air defense battalion (so their air bases didn't get blown up). Security would be provided by 'outsiders' ~ allies already on the ground and whatever rebels could be scrounged up. After the initial insertion, the Indian Air Force would fly in supplies at night into the Cabinda City and Soyo Airports.The composition,14 Mikoyan-Gurevich MiG-21 jet fighters ~ though she entered service in 1959, these planes' electronics were late 20th century and she was a renowned dogfighter. 12 were the Mig-21-97 modernized variant and the other two were Mig-21 UM two-seater trainer variants which could double as reconnaissance fighters if needed.14 Sukhoi Su-22 jet fighter-bombers ~ the original design, called the Su-17, came out in 1970, the first 12 were variants with the 22M4 upgrade were an early-80's package. The other 2 were Su-22U two-seat trainers which, like their Mig-21 comrades, doubled as reconnaissance fighters. The Su-22M4's would be doing the majority of the ground attack missions for the Cabindans, though they could defend themselves in aerial combat if necessary.6 Sukhoi Su-24M2 supersonic attack aircraft ~ the first model rolled off the production lines in the Soviet Union back in 1974. By far the heaviest planes in the Cabindan Air Force, the Su-24M2's would act as their 'bomber force' as well as anti-ship deterrence.8 Mil Mi-24 VM combat helicopters ~ introduced in 1972 was still a lethal combat machine today. Unlike the NATO helicopter force, the Mi-24's did double duty as both attack helicopter and assault transports at the same time.4 Mil Mi-8 utility helicopters, first produced in 1967. Three would act as troop/cargo transports (Mi-8 TP) while the fourth was configured as a mobile hospital (the MI-17 1VA).4 Antonov An-26 turboprop aircraft, two to be used as tactical transports to bring in supplies by day and two specializing in electronic intelligence aka listening to what the enemy was up to. Though it entered production in 1969, many still remained flying today.2 Antonov An-71M AEW&C twin-jet engine aircraft. These were an old, abandoned Soviet design the Earth & Sky had continued working on primarily because the current (1970's) Russian Airborne Early Warning and Control bird had been both huge and rather ineffective ~ it couldn't easily identify low-flying planes in the ground clutter so it was mainly only good at sea. Since the E&S planned to mostly fight over the land,They kept working on the An-71 which was basically 1977's popular An-72 with some pertinent design modifications (placing the engines below the wings instead of above them as on the -72 being a big one). To solve their radar problem, they stole some from the Swedish tech firm Ericsson, which hadn't been foreseen to be a problem before now.See, the Russians in the post-Soviet era created a decent AEW&C craft the E&S gladly stole and copied the shit out of for their front line units and it was working quite nicely ~ the Beriev A-50, and wow, were the boys in the Kremlin pissed off about that these days. Whoops, or was that woot?Now, the Khanate was shipping two An-71's down to Cabinda and somewhere along the line someone just might get a 'feel' for the style of radar and jamming the Cabindans were using aka the Swedish stuff in those An-71's. The Erieye radar system could pick out individual planes at 280 miles. The over-all system could track 60 targets and plot out 10 intercepts simultaneously. NATO, they were not, but in sub-Saharan Africa, there were none better.Anyway, so why was any of this important?Why the old folks with their ancient machines? As revealed, since the Earth & Sky had no idea when Temüjin would return, they were constantly squirreling away equipment. World War 2 gave them unequaled access to Soviet military technology and training.Afterwards, under Josef Stalin's direction, thousands of Russian and German engineers and scientists were exiled to Kazakhstan, Turkmenistan, Tajikistan, and Kyrgyzstan who were then snatched up (reportedly died in the gulags/trying to escape) and the E&S began building mirror factories modeled on the 'then current' Soviet production lines.So, by the early 1950's, the E&S was building, flying and maintaining Soviet-style Antonov, Beriev, Ilyushin, Myasishchev, Mikoyan-Gurevich, Sukhoi, Tupolev and Yakovlev airplanes. First in small numbers because their pool of pilots and specialists was so small.The E&S remedied this by creating both their own 'private' flight academies and technical schools. They protected their activities with the judicious use of bribes (they were remarkably successful with their economic endeavors on both side of the Iron Curtain) and murders (including the use of the Ghost Tigers).By 1960, the proto-Khanate had an air force. Through the next two decades they refined and altered their doctrine ~ moving away from the Soviet doctrine to a more pure combined-arms approach (the Soviets divided their air power into four separate arms ~ ADD (Long Range Aviation), FA (Front Aviation), MTA (Military Transport Aviation) and the V-PVO (Soviet Air Defenses ~ which controlled air interceptors).).It wasn't until the collapse of the Soviet Union and the independence of the various former SSR's that the E&S program really began to hit its stride. Still, while Russia faltered, China's PLAAF (Peoples' Liberation Army Air Force) began to take off. Since the Chinese could produce so much more, the E&S felt it had to keep those older planes and crews up to combat readiness. The younger field crews and pilots flew the newer models as they rolled off the secret production lines.Then the Unification War appeared suddenly, the E&S-turned Khanate Air Force skunked their PLAAF rivals due to two factors, a surprise attack on a strategic level and the fatal poisoning of their pilots and ground crews before they even got into the fight. For those Chinese craft not destroyed on the ground, the effects of Anthrax eroded their fighting edge. Comparable technology gave the Khanate their critical victory and Air Supremacy over the most important battlefields.What did this meant for those out-of-date air crews and pilots who had been training to a razor's edge for a month now? Their assignment had been to face down the Russians if they invaded. They would take their planes up into the fight even though this most likely would mean their deaths, but they had to try.When Operation Fun House put Russia in a position where she wasn't likely to jump on the Khanate, this mission's importance faded. The Russian Air Force was far more stretched than the Khanate's between her agitations in the Baltic and her commitments in the Manchurian, Ukrainian, Chechen and Georgian theaters.With more new planes rolling off the production lines, these reservist units began dropping down the fuel priority list, which meant lowering their flight times thus readiness. Only my hare-brained scheme had short-circuited their timely retirement. Had I realized I was getting people's grandparents killed, I would have probably made the same call anyway. We needed them.The KanateThe Khanate's #1 air superiority dogfighter was the Mig-35F. The #2 was the Mig-29. No one was openly discussing the Khanate's super-stealthy "Su-50", if that was what it was, because its existence 'might' suggest the Khanate also stole technology from the Indian defense industry, along with their laundry list of thefts from South Korea, Japan, Taiwan, the PRC, Russia and half of NATO.Her top multi-role fighters were the Su-47, Su-35S and Su-30SM. The Su-30 'Flanker-C/MK2/MKI were their 2nd team with plenty of 3rd team Su-27M's still flying combat missions as well.Strike fighters? There weren't enough Su-34's to go around yet, so the Su-25MS remained the Khanate's dedicated Close Air Assault model.Medium transport aircraft? The An-32RE and An-38. They had small, large and gargantuan transports as well.Bombers? The rather ancient jet-powered Tu-160M2's and Tu-22M2's as well as the even older yet still worthwhile turboprops ~ from 1956's ~ the Tu-95M S16.Helicopters? While they still flew updated variants of the Mil Mi-8/17 as military transports, the more optimized Kamov Ka-52 and Mil Mi-28 had replaced them in the assault role.Bizarrely, the Khanate had overrun several Chinese production lines of the aircraft frames and components ~ enough to complete fairly modern PLAAF (Peoples Liberation Army Air Force) FC-1 and J-10 (both are small multi-role fighter remarkably similar to the US F-16 with the FC-1 being the more advanced model, using shared Chinese-Pakistani technology and was designed for export,).They did have nearly two dozen to send, but they didn't have the pilots and ground crews trained to work with them, plus the FC-1 cost roughly $32 million which wasn't fundage any legitimate Cabindan rebels could get their hands on, much less $768 million (and that would just be for the planes, not the weeks' worth of fuel, parts and munitions necessary for what was forthcoming).Meanwhile, except for the An-26, which you could get for under $700,000 and the An-71, which were only rendered valuable via 'black market tech', none of the turboprop and jet aircraft the Khanate was sending were what any sane military would normally want. The helicopters were expensive ~ the 'new' models Mi-24's cost $32 million while the Mi-17's set you back $17 million. The one's heading to Cabinda didn't look 'new'.The Opposition:In contrast, the Angolan Air Force appeared far larger and more modern. Appearances can be deceptive, and they were. Sure, the models of Russian and Soviet-made aircraft they had in their inventory had the higher numbers ~ the Su-25, -27 and -30 ~ plus they had Mig-21bis's, Mig-23's and Su-22's, but things like training and up-keep didn't appear to be priorities for the Angolans.When you took into account the rampant corruption infecting all levels of Angolan government, the conscript nature of their military, the weakness of their technical educational system, the complexity of any modern combat aircraft and the reality that poor sods forced into being Air Force ground crewmen hardly made the most inspired technicians, or most diligent care-takers of their 'valuable' stockpiles (which their officers all too often sold on the black market anyway), things didn't just look bleak for the Angolan Air Force, they were a tsunami of cumulative factors heading them for an epic disaster.It wasn't only their enemies who derided their Air Force's lack of readiness. Their allies constantly scolded them about it too. Instead of trying to fix their current inventory, the Angolans kept shopping around for new stuff. Since 'new'-new aircraft was beyond what they wanted to spend (aka put too much of a dent in the money they were siphoning off to their private off-shore accounts), they bought 'used' gear from former Soviet states ~ Belarus, Russia and Ukraine ~ who sold them stuff they had left abandoned in revetments (open to the elements to slowly rot) on the cheap.To add to the insanity, the Angolans failed to keep up their maintenance agreements so their newly fixed high-tech machines often either couldn't fly, or flew without critical systems, like radar, avionics and even radios. Maybe that wasn't for the worst because after spending millions on these occasionally-mobile paperweights, the Angolans bought the least technologically advanced missile, gun and rocket systems they could get to put on these flying misfortunes.On the spread sheets, Angola had 18 Su-30K's, 18 Su-27, 12 Su-25's, 14 Su-22's, 22 Mig-23's, 23 Mig-21bis's and 6 Embraer EMB 314 Super Tucano (a turboprop aircraft tailor-made for counter-insurgency operations), 105 helicopters with some combative ability and 21 planes with some airlift capacity. That equated to 81 either air superiority, or multi-role jet fighters versus the 12 Union Air Force (actually the Bakongo Uni o de Cabinda e Zaire, For as Armadas de Liberta  o, For a Area ~ Liberation Armed Forces, Air Force (BUCZ-FAL-FA) Mig-21-97's.It would seem lopsided except for the thousands of hours of flight experience the 'Unionists' enjoyed over their Angolan rivals. You also needed to take into account the long training and fanatic dedication of their ground crews to their pilots and their craft. Then you needed to take into account every Unionist aircraft, while an older airframe design, had updated (usually to the year 2000) technology lovingly cared for, as if the survival of their People demanded it.A second and even more critical factor was the element of surprise. At least the PRC and the PLAAF had contingencies for attacks from their neighbors in the forefront of their strategic planning. The Angolans? The only country with ANY air force in the vicinity was the Republic of South Africa (RSA) and they had ceased being a threat with the end of Apartheid and the rise of majority Black rule in that country nearly two decades earlier.In the pre-dawn hours of 'Union Independence Day', the FAL-FA was going to smash every Angolan Air base and air defense facility within 375 miles of Cabinda (the city). Every three hours after that, they would be hitting another target within their designated 'Exclusion Zone'. Yes, this 'Exclusion Zone' included a 'tiny' bit of DRC (Democratic Republic of Congo) territory. The DRC didn't have an air force to challenge them though, so,Inside this 'Exclusion Zone', anything moving by sea, river, road, rail, or air without Unionist governmental approval was subject to attack, which would require neutral parties to acknowledge some semblance of a free and independent B U C Z. Worse for Angola, this 'Zone' included Angola's capital and its largest port, Luanda, plus four more of their ten largest urban centers. This could be an economic, military and humanitarian catastrophe if mishandled.The Angolan Army did not have significant anti-aircraft assets. Why would they? Remember, no one around them had much of an air force to worry about. The FAL-FA in turn could hit military convoys with TV-guided munitions 'beyond line of sight', rendering what they did have useless. It got worse for the Army after dark. The FAL-FA could and would fly at night whereas the average Angolan formation had Zip-Zero-Nadda night fighting capacity.Then geography added its own mountain of woes. As far as Cabinda was concerned, there was no direct land line to their border from Angola. Their coastal road only went as far as the port of Soyo where the Congo River hit the South Atlantic Ocean. Across that massive gap was the DRC where the road was not picked back up. Far up the coast was the DRC town of Muanda (with an airport) and though they did have a road which went north, it did not continue to the Cabindan border.Nope. To get at Cabinda from the south meant a long, torturous travel through northeastern Angola, into the heart of the DRC then entailed hooking west to some point 'close' to the Cabindan frontier before finally hoofing it overland through partially cleared farmland and jungle. Mind you, the DRC didn't have a native air force capable of protecting the Angolans in their territory so,In fact the only 'road' to Cabinda came from the Republic of Congo (Congo) to the north and even that was a twisted route along some really bad, swampy terrain. This had been the pathway of conquest the Angolans took 39 years earlier. The difference being the tiny bands of pro-independence Cabindan guerillas back then couldn't hold a candle to the Amazons fighting to free Cabinda this time around in numbers, zeal, training and up-to-date equipment.Next option ~ to come by sea. They would face a few, stiff problems, such as the FAL-FA having ship-killer missiles, the Angolan Navy not being able to defend them and the Unionists having no compunction to not strike Pointe-Noire in the 'not so neutral' Republic of the Congo if they somehow began unloading Angolan troops. It seemed the Republic of the Congo didn't have much of an Air Force either.Before you think the FAL-FA was biting off more than they could chew, Cabinda, the province, was shaped somewhat like the US State of Delaware, was half the size of Connecticut (Cabinda was 2,810 sq. mi. to Conn.'s 5,543 sq. mi.) and only the western 20% was relatively open countryside where the Angolan Army's only advantage ~ they possessed armed fighting vehicles while the 'Unionists' did not (at this stage of planning) ~ could hopefully come into play.Centered at their capital, Cabinda (City), jets could reach any point along their border within eight minutes. Helicopters could make it in fifteen. To be safe, some of the FAL-FA would base at the town of Belize which was in the northern upcountry and much tougher to get at with the added advantage the Angolans wouldn't be expecting the FAL-FA to be using the abandoned airfield there, at least initially.Where they afraid attacking Angolan troops in the DRC would invite war with the DRC? Sure, but letting the Angolans reach the border unscathed was worse. Besides, the DRC was in such a mess it needed 23,000 UN Peacekeepers within her borders just to keep the country from falling apart. Barring outside, read European, intervention, did "Democratically-elected since 2001" President (for Life) Joseph Kabila want the FAL-FA to start dropping bombs on his capital, Kinshasa, which was well within reach of all their aircraft?Congo (the country), to the north, wasn't being propped up by the UN, or anything else except ill intentions. In reality, it hardly had much of a military at all. Its officer corps was chosen for political reliability, not merit, or capability. Their technology was old Cold War stuff with little effort to update anything and, if you suspected corruption might be a problem across all spectrums of life, you would 'probably' be right about that too.If you suspected the current President had been in charge for a while, you would be correct again (1979-1992 then 2001- and the 'whoops' was when he accidently let his country experiment with democracy which led to two civil wars). If you suspected he was a life-long Communist (along with the Presidents of the DRC and Angola), you'd be right about that as well. Somehow their shared Marxist-Leninist-Communist ideology hadn't quite translated over to alleviating the grinding poverty in any of those countries despite their vast mineral wealth,At this point in the region's history, little Cabinda had everything to gain by striving for independence and the vast majority of 'warriors' who could possibly be sent against her had terribly little to gain fighting and dying trying to stop them from achieving her goal. After all, their lives weren't going to get any better and with the Amazons ability ~ nay willingness ~ to commit battlefield atrocities, those leaders were going to find it hard going to keep sending their men off to die.And then, it got even worse.See, what I had pointed out was there were two oil refineries in Angola, and neither was in Cabinda. Cabinda would need a refinery to start making good on their oil wealth ~ aka economically bribe off the Western economies already shaken over the Khanate's first round of aggressions.But wait! There was an oil refinery just across the Congo River from Cabinda ~ which meant it was attached to mainland Angola. That had to be a passel of impossible news, right?Nope. As I said earlier, it seemed the people of northern Angola were the same racial group as the Cabindans AND majority Catholic while the ruling clique wasn't part of their ethnic confederacy plus the farther south and east into Angola you went, the less Catholic it became.But it got better. This province was historically its own little independent kingdom (called the Kingdom of Kongo) to boot! It had been abolished by Portugal back in 1914.The 'good' news didn't end there. Now, it wasn't as if the leadership of Angola was spreading the wealth around to the People much anyway, but these northerners had been particularly left out of this Marxist version of 'Trickle Down' economics.How bad was this? This northwestern province ~ called Zaire ~ didn't have any railroads, or paved roads, linking it to the rest of the freaking country. The 'coastal road' entered the province, but about a third of the way up ran into this river, which they'd failed to bridge (you had to use a single track bridge farther to the northeast, if you can believe it). It wasn't even a big river. It was still an obstacle though.How did the Angolan government and military planned to get around? Why by air and sea, of course. Well, actually by air. Angola didn't have much of a merchant marine, or Navy, to make sealift a serious consideration. Within hours of the 'Union Declaration of Independence' anything flying anywhere north of the Luanda, the capital of Angola, would essentially be asking to be blown out of the sky.Along the border between Zaire province and the rest of Angola were precisely two chokepoints. By 'chokepoints', I meant places where a squad (10 trained, modernly-equipped troopers) could either see everything for miles & miles over pretty much empty space along a river valley and the only bridge separating Zaire province from the south, or overlook a ravine which the only road had to pass through because of otherwise bad-ass, broken terrain.Two.Zaire Province had roughly the same population as Cabinda ~ 600,000. Unlike Cabinda, which consisted of Cabinda City plus a few tiny towns and rugged jungles, Zaire had two cities ~ Soyo, with her seventy thousand souls plus the refinery at the mouth of the Congo River, and M'banza-Kongo, the historical capital of the Kingdom of Kongo, spiritual center of the Bakongo People (who included the Cabindans) and set up in the highlands strategically very reminiscent of Điện Biàn Phủ.Of Zaire's provincial towns, the only other strategic one was N'Zeto with her crappy Atlantic port facility and 2,230 meter grass airport. The town was the northern terminus of the National Road 100 ~ the Coastal Road. It terminated because of the Mebridege River. There wasn't a bridge at N'Zeto though there was a small one several miles upstream. N'Zeto was also where the road from provinces east of Zaire ended up, so you had to have N'Zeto ~ and that tiny bridge ~ to move troops overland anywhere else in Zaire Province.So you would think it would be easy for the Angolan Army to defend then, except of how the Amazons planned to operate. They would infiltrate the area first then 'rise up in rebellion'. Their problem was the scope of the operation had magnified in risk of exposure, duration and forces necessary for success.The serious issue before Saint Marie and the Host in Africa were the first two. They could actually move Amazons from Brazil and North America to bolster their numbers for the upcoming offensive. Even in the short-short term, equipment wouldn't be a serious problem. What the Amazons dreaded was being left in a protracted slugfest with the Angolan Army which the Condottieri could jump in on. The Amazons exceedingly preferred to strike first then vanish.There was reason to believe a tiny number could have stayed behind in Cabinda to help the locals prepare their military until they could defend themselves. They would need more than a hundred Amazons if Cabinda wanted to incorporate Zaire. The answer was to call back their newfound buddy, the Great Khan. While he didn't have much else he could spare (the Khanate was ramping up for their invasion of the Middle East after all, the Kurds needed the help), he had other allies he could call on.India couldn't help initially since they were supposed to supply the 'Peace-keepers' once a cease-fire had been arranged. That left Temujin with his solid ally, Vietnam, and his far shakier allies, the Republic of China and Japan.First off ~ Japan could not help, which meant they couldn't supply troops who might very well end up dead, or far worse, captured.. What they did have was a surplus of older equipment the ROC troops were familiar with, so while the ROC was gearing up for their own invasion of mainland China in February, they were willing to help the Chinese kill Angolans, off the books, of course.The ROC was sending fifteen hundred troops the Khanate's way to help in this West African adventure with the understanding they'd be coming home by year's end. With Vietnam adding over eight hundred of her own Special Forces, the Amazons had the tiny 'allied' army they could leave shielding Cabinda/Zaire once the first round of blood-letting was over.To be 'fair', the Republic of China and Vietnam asked for 'volunteers'. It wasn't like either country was going to declare war on Angola directly. Nearly a thousand members of Vietnam's elite 126th Regiment of the 5th Brigade (Đặc cáng bộ) took early retirement then misplaced their equipment as they went to update their visas and inoculations before heading out for the DRC (some would be slipping over the DRC/Cabindan border).On Taiwan, it was the men and women of the 602nd Air Cavalry Brigade, 871st Special Operations Group and 101st Amphibious Reconnaissance Battalion who felt the sudden desire to 'seek enlightenment elsewhere, preferably on another continent'.They too were off to the Democratic Republic of Congo, man that country was a mess and their border security wasn't worth writing home about, that's for damn sure, via multiple Southeast Asian nations. Besides, they were being issued fraudulently visas which showed them to be from the People's Republic of China, not the ROC/Taiwan. If they were captured, they were to pretend to "be working for a Communist Revolution inside Angola and thus to be setting all of Africa on fire!" aka be Mainland Chinese.There, in the DRC, these Chinese stumbled across, some Japanese. These folks hadn't retired. No. They were on an extended assignment for the UN's mission in, the DRC. OH! And look! They'd brought tons of surplus, outdated Japanese Self Defense Forces' equipment with them, and there just so happened to be some Taiwanese who had experience in using such equipment (both used US-style gear).And here was Colonel Yoshihiro Isami of the Chūō Sokuō Shūdan (Japan's Central Readiness Force) wondering why he and his hastily assembled team had just unloaded,18 Fuji/Bell AH-1S Cobra Attack helicopters,6 Kawasaki OH-6D Loach Scout helicopters,12 Fuji-Bell 204-B-2 Hiyodori Utility helicopters,6 Kawasaki/Boeing CH-47JA Chinook Transport helicopters and4 Mitsubishi M U-2L-1 Photo Reconnaissance Aircraft.Yep! 46 more aircraft for the FAL-FA!Oh, and if this wasn't 'bad enough', the Chinese hadn't come alone. They'd brought some old aircraft from their homes to aid in the upcoming struggle. Once more, these things were relics of the Cold War yet both capable fighting machines and, given the sorry state of the opposition, definitely quite deadly. A dozen F-5E Tiger 2000 configured primarily for air superiority plus two RF-5E Tigergazer for reconnaissance, pilots plus ground crews, of course.Thus, on the eve of battle, the FAL-FA had become a true threat. Sure, all of its planes (and half of its pilots) were pretty old, but they were combat-tested and in numbers and experience no other Sub-Saharan African nation could match.The Liberation Ground Forces:But wait, there was still the niggling little problem of what all those fellas were going to fight with once they were on the ground. Assault/Battle rifles, carbines, rifles, pistols, PDW, SMGs as bullets, grenades and RPG's were all terrifyingly easy to obtain. The coast of West Africa was hardly the Port of London as far as customs security went. They were going to need some bigger toys and their host nations were going to need all their native hardware for their upcoming battles at home.And it wasn't like you could advertise for used IFV (Infantry Fighting Vehicles), APCs (armored personnel carriers) and tanks on e-Bay, Amazon.com, or Twitter. If something modern US, or NATO, was captured rolling around the beautiful Angolan countryside, shooting up hostile Angolans, all kinds of head would roll in all kinds of countries, unless the country,A) had an Executive Branch and Judiciary who wouldn't ask (or be answering) too many uncomfortable questions,B) wasn't all that vulnerable to international pressure,C) really needed the money and,D) didn't give a fuck their toys would soon be seen on BBC/CNN/Al Jazeera blowing the ever-living crap out of a ton of Africans aka doing what they were advertised to do and doing it very well in the hands of capable professionals.And politics was kind enough to hand the freedom-loving people of Cabinda & Zaire a winner, and it wasn't even from strangers, or at least people all that strange to their part of the Globe. If you would have no idea who to look for, you wouldn't be alone.That was the magic of the choice. See, the last three decades had seen the entire Globe take a colossal dump on them as a Nation and a People. They were highly unpopular for all sorts of things, such as Crimes Against Humanity and 'no', we were not talking about the Khanate.We would be talking about Република Србија / Republika Srbija aka Serbia aka the former Yugoslavia who had watched all their satellite minions (Slovenia, Croatia, Bosnia & Herzegovina, Montenegro, Kosovo and Macedonia) slip away. Despite being reduced to a tiny fraction of their former selves thus fighting two incredibly brutal and bloody World Wars for nothing, Serbia insisted on maintaining a robust armaments industry.Mind you, they didn't make the very best stuff on the planet. That didn't stop them from trying though. Of equal importance was their geographic location and the above mentioned desire for some hard currency without asking too many questions. The geography was simple, you could move even heavy gear unnoticed from central Serbia to the Montenegrin port of Bar by rail and load them up on freighters and off to the Congo you went.The Serbians produced an APC called the BVP M-80A's which weren't blowing anyone's minds away when they started rolling off the production lines back in 1982, plus some over-eager types on the Serbian Army's payroll sweetened the deal by offering 'the rebels' some BVP M-80 KC's and a KB as well.Then they slathered on the sugary-sweet Maple syrup by upgrading a few of the M-80A's to BVP M-98A's. Why would they be so generous? The KC's and KB were the Command & Control variants, so that made sense (C = company & B = battalion commander). The -98A had never been tested in the field before and they were kind of curious how the new turrets (which was the major difference) would behave. 'Our' procurement agents didn't quibble. We needed the gear.Besides, these Slavic entrepreneurs gave them an inside track on some 'disarmed/mothballed' Czech (introduced in 1963) armored mobile ambulances and Polish BWP-1 (first rolled out in 1966) APC's which were either in, or could be quickly configured into, the support variants those ground-fighters would need. The 'disarmed' part was 'fixable', thanks to both the Serbians and Finland. The 'missing' basic weaponry was something the Serbians could replace with virtually identical equipment.It just kept getting better. Unknown to me at the time, the Finnish firm, Patria Hágglunds, had sold twenty-two of their 'most excellent' AMOS turrets ~ they are a twin 120 mm mortar system ~ then the deal fell through. Whoops! Should have guarded that warehouse better. Those bitches were on a cargo plane bound for Albania inside of six hours.The ammunition for them was rather unique. Thankfully, it was uniquely sold by the Swiss, who had no trouble selling it to Serbia, thank you very much! Twenty-two BWP-1's became mobile artillery for the Unionist freedom fighters, though I understood the ship ride with the Serbian and Chinese technicians was loads of fun as they struggled to figured out how to attach those state-of-the-art death-dealing turrets to those ancient contraptions.To compensate, the Serbians added (aka as long as our money was good) two Nora B-52 155 mm 52-calibre mobile artillery pieces and one battery of Orkan CER MLRS (Multiple Launch Rocket System) for long-range artillery, two batteries of their Oganj 2000 ER MRLS for medium range carnage and six batteries of their M-94 MRLS for 'close support' as well. More field-testing new gear for the "freedom fighters" We also managed to 'purchase' ten M-84AS Main Battle tanks plus an M-84A1 armor recovery vehicle. It should have been twelve tanks, but two had 'loading issues'.Not to be deterred, our busy little procurement-beavers discovered four tanks no one was using, in neighboring Croatia. Why wasn't anyone immediately keen on their placement? They were two sets of prototypes, Croatia's improvements on the M-84; the M-95 Degman which was a 'failed redesign' and the M-84D, which was a vast up-grade for the M-84 line which had been sidelined by the 2008 Global economic collapse, after which the project stagnated.It seemed they were all in working order because late one night 'my people' exited a Croatian Army base with them, never to be seen again, until two weeks later when an intrepid news crew caught the distinctive form of the M-95 sending some sweet 125 mm loving the Angolan Army's way. Whoops yet again! At least they hit what they were aiming at and destroyed what they hit, right?By then, millions of other people would be going 'what the fuck?' right along with them as Cabinda's camouflage- and mask-wearing rebel army was laying the smack-down on the Angolans. That was okay; over a million 'free Cabindan Unionists' were in the same boat. Over a thousand Asians with their mostly-female militant translators were right there to prop up their 'Unionist Allies', but then they were the ones with the tanks, armored vehicles, planes and guns, so they were less worried than most.To pilot these tanks, APC, IFV and man this artillery, they had to go back to the Khanate. Sure enough, they had some old tankers used to crewing the T-72 from which the M-84's and -95 Degman were derived. They'd also need drivers for those BVP M-80A's and Polish BWP-1's and OT-64 SKOT's... who were, again, derived from old Soviet tech (just much better). The Serbian artillery was similar enough to Soviet stuff, but with enough new tech to make it 'more fun' for the reservists to 'figure out' how to use.More volunteers for the Liberation Armed Forces! More Apple sales, great apps and voice modulation software so that the vehicle commanders would be heard communicating in Portuguese if someone was eavesdropping. As a final offering the Turkish Navy spontaneously developed some plans to test their long range capabilities by going to, the South Atlantic.On the final leg they would have six frigates and two submarines, enough to give any navy in the region, which wasn't Brazil, something to think about. This was a show of force, not an actual threat though. If anyone called their bluff, the Khanate-Turkish forces would have to pull back. These were not assets my Brother, the Great Khan, could afford to gamble and lose.If someone didn't call that bluff, he was also sending two smaller, older corvettes and three even smaller, but newer, fast attack boats, a "gift" to the Unionists ASAP. The frigates would then race home, they had 'other' issues to deal with while the submarines would hang around for a bit. The naval gift was necessitated by the reality the Unionists would have to press their claim to their off-shore riches and that required a naval force Angola couldn't hope to counter.As things were developing, it was reckoned since a build-up of such momentous land and air power couldn't be disguised, it had to happen in a matter of days ~ four was decided to be the minimum amount of time. More than that and the government of the Democratic Republic might start asking far too many questions our hefty bribes and dubious paperwork couldn't cover. Less than that would leave the task forces launching operations with too little a chance of success.Our biggest advantage was audacity. The buildup would happen 100 km up the Congo River from Soyo, the primary target of the Southern Invasion, in the DRC's second largest port city, Boma. Though across the river was Angolan territory, there was nothing there. The city of roughly 160,000 would provide adequate cover for the initial stage of the invasion.There they grouped their vehicles & Khanate drivers with Amazon and Vietnamese combat teams. The Japanese were doing the same for their 'Chinese' counterparts for their helicopter-borne forces. Getting all their equipment in working order in the short time left was critical as was creating some level of unit dynamic. Things were chaotic. No one was happy. They were all going in anyway.What had gone wrong?While most children her age were texting their schoolmates, or tackling their homework, Aya Ruger ~ the alias of Nasusara Assiyaiá hamai ~ was getting briefings of her global, secret empire worth hundreds of billions and those of her equally nefarious compatriots. She received a very abbreviated version of what the Regents received, delivered by a member of Shawnee Arinniti's staff.When Aya hopped off her chair unexpectedly, everyone tensed. Her bodyguards' hands went to their sidearms and Lorraine (her sister by blood), also in the room on this occasion, stood and prepared to tackle her 'former' sibling to the ground if the situation escalated into an assassination attempt. No such attack was generated, so the security ratcheted down and the attendant returned her focus to her Queen. Aya paced four steps, turned and retraced her way then repeated the action three more times."How many people live in the combined areas?" she asked."The combined areas? Of Cabinda and Zaire?""Yes.""I," the woman referenced her material, "roughly 1.1 million.""What is the yearly value of the offshore oil and natural gas production?""Forty-nine billion, eighty hundred and sixty-seven million by our best estimates at this time,""How many live in Soyo City proper?""Roughly 70,000.""We take Soyo," she spoke in a small yet deliberate voice. "We take and hold Soyo as an independent city-state within the Cabindan-Zaire Union. From the maps it appears Soyo is a series of islands. It has a port and airport. It has an open border to an ocean with weaker neighbors all around.""What of the, Zairians?""Bakongo. As a people they are called the Bakongo," Aya looked up at the briefer. "We relocate those who need to work in Soyo into a new city, built at our expense, beyond the southernmost water barrier. The rest we pay to relocate elsewhere in Zaire, or Cabinda."By the looks of those around her, Aya realized she needed to further explain her decisions."This is more than some concrete home base for our People," she began patiently. "In the same way it gives our enemies a clearly delineated target to attack us, it is a statement to our allies we won't cut and run if things go truly bad.""In the same way it will provide us with diplomatic recognition beyond what tenuous handouts we are getting from Cáel Wakko Ishara's efforts through JIKIT. Also, it is a reminder we are not like the other Secret Societies in one fundamental way, we are not a business concern, or a religion. We are a People and people deserve some sort of homeland. We have gone for so long without.""But Soyo?" the aide protested. "We have no ties to it, and it backs up to, nothing.""Northern Turkey and southern Slovakia mean nothing to us now as well," Aya debated. "No place on Earth is any more precious than another. As for backing up to nothing, no. You are incorrect. It backs into a promise from our allies in the Earth & Sky that if we need support, they know where to park their planes and ships."Aya was surrounded with unhappy, disbelieving looks."The Great Khan is my mamētu meáeda," she reminded them, "and I have every reason to believe he completely grasps the concept's benefits and obligations."The looks confirmed 'but he's a man' to the tiny Queen."Aya, are you sure about this?" Lorraine was the first to break decorum."Absolutely. Do you know what he sent me when he was informed of my, ascension to the Queendom?""No," Lorraine admitted."We must go horse-riding sometime soon, Daughter of Cáel, Queen of the Amazons."More uncertain and unconvinced looks."He didn't congratulate me, or send any gifts. He could have and you would think he would have, but he didn't. He knew the hearts of me & my Atta and we weren't in the celebratory mood. No. The Great Khan sent one sentence which offered solace and quiet, atop a horse on a windswept bit of steppe."Nothing.Sigh. "I know this sounds Cáel-ish," Aya admitted, "but I strongly believe this is what we should do. We are giving the Cabindans and Bakongo in Zaire independence and the promise of a much better life than what they now face. We will be putting thousands of our sisters' lives on the line to accomplish this feat and well over two hundred million dollars.""What about governance of the city ~ Soyo?" the aide forged ahead."Amazon law," Aya didn't hesitate. "We will make allowances for the security forces of visiting dignitaries and specific allied personnel, but otherwise it will be one massive Amazon urban freehold.""I cannot imagine the Golden Mare, or the Regents, will be pleased," the attendant bowed her head."It is a matter of interconnectivity," Aya walked up and touched the woman's cheek with the back of her small hand. "We could liberate then abandon Cabinda with the hope a small band could help them keep their independence. Except we need the refinery at Soyo so the people of Cabinda can truly support that liberty.""So, we must keep Soyo and to keep Soyo, we must keep Zaire province. There is no other lesser border which makes strategic sense ~ a river, highlands, a massive river, an ocean ~ those are sustainable frontiers. You can't simply keep Soyo and not expect the enemy to strike and destroy that refinery, thus we must take Zaire province.""But the Bakongo of Zaire cannot defend themselves and will not be able to do so for at least a year, if not longer. That means we must do so, and for doing so, they will give us Soyo and we will be honest stewards of their oil wealth. We cannot expect any other power to defend this new Union and if we don't have a land stake we will be portrayed as mercenaries and expelled by hostile international forces.""So, for this project to have any chance of success, we must stay, fight and have an acknowledged presence, and if you can think of an alternative, please let me know," she exhaled."What if the Cabindans and Bakongo resist?""It is 'us', or the Angolans and they know how horrible the Angolans can be. Didn't you say the average person their lives on just $2 a day?""Yes.""We can do better than that," Aya insisted."How?" the aide persisted. "I mean, 'how in a way which will be quickly evident and meaningful?'""Oh," Aya's tiny brow furrowed. Her nose twitched as she rummaged through the vast storehouse of her brain."Get me in touch with William A. Miller, Director of the U.S. Diplomatic Security Service. He should be able to help me navigate the pathways toward getting aid and advisors into those two provinces ASAP.""I'll let Katrina know," the attendant made the notation on her pad."No. Contact him directly," Aya intervened. "We established a, rapport when we met. I think he might responded positively to a chance to mentor me in foreign relations.""Really?" Lorraine's brows arched."Yes," Aya chirped."Are you sure, Nasusara?" the attendant stared. She used 'Nasusara' whenever she thought Aya had a 'horrible' idea instead of a merely a 'bad' one."Yes. He owes me. Last time we met I didn't shoot him.""Didn't?" the woman twitched."Yes. I drew down on him with my captured Chinese QSW-06. I didn't want to kill him, but I felt I was about to have to kill Deputy National Security Advisor Blinken and he was the only other person in the room both armed and capable of stopping me.""Why is he still alive?""Cáel Ishara saw through my distraction and then took my gun from me, asked for it actually," she shyly confessed."Would you have shot him?" the aide inquired."What do you think?" Aya smiled.And Then:So, given t

If you happen to live in the Northern Hemisphere, April is a time when days get longer, the temperature gets warmer, and things start to become green again. It is also the month of National Unicorn Day, National Superhero Day, National Take A Wild Guess Day, and, of course, National Hairball Awareness Day. More important than any of these august holidays, it is the month where I answer your question.  Stay tuned for another episode of Questions and Answers on this episode of Everything Everywhere Daily. Sponsors Mint Mobile Cut your wireless bill to 15 bucks a month at mintmobile.com/eed Quince Go to quince.com/daily for 365-day returns, plus free shipping on your order! Stitch Fix Go to stitchfix.com/everywhere to have a stylist help you look your best Tourist Office of Spain Plan your next adventure at Spain.info  Stash Go to get.stash.com/EVERYTHING to see how you can receive $25 towards your first stock purchase and to view important disclosures. Subscribe to the podcast!  https://everything-everywhere.com/everything-everywhere-daily-podcast/ -------------------------------- Executive Producer: Charles Daniel Associate Producers: Austin Oetken & Cameron Kieffer   Become a supporter on Patreon: https://www.patreon.com/everythingeverywhere Update your podcast app at newpodcastapps.com Discord Server: https://discord.gg/UkRUJFh Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/everythingeverywhere/ Facebook Group: https://www.facebook.com/groups/everythingeverywheredaily Twitter: https://twitter.com/everywheretrip Website: https://everything-everywhere.com/  Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Hey y'all! Spring is springing in the Northern Hemisphere, and I'm excited to share this special new promo podcast with all of you… a full two-hour set of high-energy house music. I'm honored to be playing Saturday, April 5th, at HERETIC in Atlanta, for the incredible non-profit, JOINING HEARTS. Founded in 1987, Joining Hearts, a 501c3 organization, began as a group of friends raising funds to help a loved one with HIV/AIDS stay in their home. Recognizing the growing need, they turned their efforts into an annual event, supporting Atlanta-based organizations dedicated to HIV/AIDS care. Over time, as medical advances and community needs evolved, Joining Hearts expanded its mission beyond housing to include care and prevention, amplifying its impact across Atlanta. Now more than ever, non-profits like JOINING HEARTS need our support. As current U.S. elected officials continue their campaign of cruelty to defund HIV-prevention efforts, the LGBTQ+ community is more vulnerable than ever. Most at risk are LGBTQ youth and the transgender community, and funds raised by JOINING HEARTS go directly to grassroots organizations on the ground that provide life-saving services and health care. I have always believed that queer dance floors are spaces of resistance. And music is the energy that powers our fight. I hope you enjoy this journey into sonic joy. And if you feel inspired, please repost and share. I'll see you in Atlanta soon. And remember always... #HouseIsAFeeling Follow me:Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/djblacklow/Soundcloud: https://soundcloud.com/djblacklowMixcloud: https://www.mixcloud.com/djblacklow/ Podomatic: https://www.podomatic.com/podcasts/djblacklow Amazon Music: https://bit.ly/47Ra71P Spotify: https://spoti.fi/3XVVmG7 The Tracklist:1) A Feeling (feat. Jasper Street Co.) (Extended Mix) - Nicole Moudaber2) Disco Verbena - DJ Chus, Rob More3) Zapata (Extended Mix) - Illyus & Barrientos4) Infinity (Extended Mix) - Infinity Ink, Alan Dixon5) Life Is Simple (Move Your Body) (Move Your Body) - Marshall Jefferson, Maesic, Salomé Das6) We Are Free (Extended Mix) - Earth n Days7) ONE MORE TIME (DJ Blacklow Edit) - WEISS UK8) You Must Feel (Extended Mix) - CASSIM9) Escape From This House (Extended Mix) - Zsak10) Share Your Love (Extended Mix) - Lizzie Curious11) My Lovin (Tom & Mikey Remix) - Mike Newman, Tom & Mikey12) DIY (Extended Mix) - Boogietraxx, SCHROEDS13) Do It Y'all (Extended Mix) - Mark Knight, Grant Nelson14) Fixed For Love (Extended Mix) - Chaney15) Beatbox (Cheesecake Boys Remix) - Crazibiza, Cheesecake Boys16) I Am Ready - Fedde Le Grand17) Anxiety (Tim T 'Meet Her At The Loveparade' Mashup) - Doechii x Da Hool, B00ST18) Fallin In Love (Extended Fierce Mix) - Armand Van Helden, A-Trak, Duck Sauce19) Just Stay The Night (Extended Mix) - David Penn, Raphaella, Vintage Culture20) Give Me Desire (Extended Mix) - Alex Mills, ESSEL21) Abracadabra (Matt Suave's Passion Edit) - Lady Gaga22) The Preacher (Extended Mix) - HP Vince, KPD23) Sunday Shoutin' (TSHA Extended Remix) - Johnny Corporate24) I've Got The Music In Me (Slick's Discotizer Extended ReCut) - Sgt Slick, Marcia Hines25) A Higher Place (Extended) - Revival, Peyton

Kathleen Aspenns and Rochana Felde are joined by Ruth Toledo Altschuler to embrace the energy of creativity as a lifeline that sustains us with aliveness during challenging times.  We discuss: How flower essences and gem elixirs can be used to spark and nourish creativity whether or not we think we're creative How the creative process itself can be liberating and an integral part of healing because it's connected to the vital life force within us How using art, writing, and creative acts as therapeutic tools in conjunction with Flower Essence Therapy can be synergistic for both processes And we honor the creative energy of Spring bursting forth in the Northern Hemisphere. Happy Equinox!   Full show notes and transcript on the Flower Essence Podcast website.

The first Ishara open  House Challenge .Book 3 in 18 parts, By FinalStand. Listen to the ► Podcast at Explicit Novels.Odd Happenings{8:58 am, Wednesday, Sept. 3rd ~ 5 Days to go; the Final Salvo ~ at this time}I had deposited my Mother in the place I felt was safest for her   with OT (Oyuun T m rbaatar) at the Kazakhstan's UN mission. Her being my family was what mattered to them most. I picked her up on my way to work, which made my entrance into the lobby all that much more cataclysmic.I was traveling light with only Wiesława Živa providing me with security. Chaz, Pamela and Juanita were catching up with their sleep, with a promise of taking me out for a late lunch. That was really them telling me to not leave JIKIT until they came for me around 2:00 pm.So anyway, me, Mom and Wiesława walked into the ground floor of the Mil Ma Towers to find eleven people waiting on us. We were in downtown Manhattan in a part of town the NYPD paid particular attention to. What could go wrong, right? Two of the people were Amazons from Havenstone. With them were two fine young men from the US 'don't make me kill you' Department. By this time in my life I was sure they had one   which no one talked about.Five of my expectant visitors were of the same mold as those who protected Hana for me. Not the Ghost Tigers   that would have put me at ease. Sure, they were a gang of assassin and in this circumstance; I would have preferred them. As it was, ten sets of highly-trained Illuminati operative eyes kept me, my party and the four guardians of JIKIT in their overlapping fields of vision.The last two, were doing an impromptu family reunion. They were Aunts 'X' and 'Y', and neither of them smelled like fish, or crab."Aunt Deidre," I tossed out there. "What brings you here today?"It looked like clobbering time! No. Wait. Neither Mom, nor my aunts, were saying anything and they were normally so verbose."Sibeal.""Imogen.""Sibeal, you are looking surprisingly well for a dead woman," the other one said."Deidre, you are looking surprisingly alive for someone who deserves to be dead," Mom bantered back."How long have you known about this?" Imogen's eyes flickered my way."Not long, a while, more than a day, ah, take your pick," I mumbled. I decided to turn that frown aka 'my gut wrenching terror that my Mother was about to die' upside down aka ramped up my sexy, 'glad to see you in a totally incestuous way'."So, what brings you here today and why aren't you waiting upstairs with the rest of my band of cutthroats, malcontents and ne'er do-wells? Oh, and I'm happy to see both of you." Karma was about to bitch-slap the shit out of me and it was so well deserved."I'm pregnant," Imogen studied my reaction. Yeah, I had banged her after Deidre, but before Baibre because I am a fucking reprehensible human being and sometimes, I feel I am utterly irredeemable."Great news," I exhaled. I so wanted to ask 'so, who is the father?' except that was too cruel, even for an O'Shea.No one stopped me from stepping up and hugging her. Everyone in the lobby had heard her loud and clear. Anyone who knew me, or even about me, knew she wasn't passing on the information because Imogen liked sharing good news. I kept my hands on her hips while I leaned my torso back until we could make eye contact."Does Granddad know?" It occurred to me in that second that Pamela was going to kick herself for missing this and the opportunity to kick me as well."I told him over the phone. His reaction was neutral," she responded."Whoa, girl? Boy? How are you doing? When are we going to sit down and figure out a name? Is there anything I can do for you?""Come home with me," she suggested."No," Mom snapped. "Next time he steps into your custody, we all know you won't let him get away." She meant the plane trip to Ireland."No, Mom," I countered. "I'm a grown man now and I make my own decisions. That being said   no, I'm not going home with you.""Not only am I still in love with the concept of my personal freedom, I have important work to do. People are counting on me.""We are counting on you too," Deidre stated. "In fact, that is the other reason we came here. We need you.""Why do I feel that has to do with something besides sex?""Can we talk to you in private?" Imogen requested. There were a thousand and one reasons to say 'no'. Things like 'common sense', bad behavior   they had murdered my homicidal uncle   and the fact they were as morally twisted as their creator. Oh   and they were hot and I hadn't been laid in forever."Sure. Let's go upstairs. You can have your people sweep the room to ensure our privacy then the four of us can sit down and have a family chat," I offered."We don't want her in the room," Deidre indicated Mom."We are a package deal," I denied her. "Like her, or not, she is as much family to me as you both are."They consented far too fast. Either I was falling into their masterful trap, or something horrible had happened. Neither options was palatable to me. The bodyguards departed, Wiesława last of all."What's gone wrong?" Mom preempted me. Her sisters glared."Father's body is not his own," Imogen told us. I was trying to figure out the relevance of that when Mom gasped."Oh fuck," she said in a small voice. "No serum?" Oh yeah, the refinement of those addictive pheromones Grandpa Cáel had gifted me with. Whatever flesh-form he currently inhabited wasn't one containing his genetic make-up meaning,"Oh shit," I mumbled. "What can I do?""Yes," Deidre replied to Mom."Let them die," Mom insisted (to me). Less I forget, she was raised by Grandpa Cáel too. Her being a loving mother to me didn't translate over to her being a humanitarian of any kind."The Hell you say," I jumped up and stared down at Mom. "You hate them. I don't. Letting them die makes me worse than him." Grandpa."So you will help us?" Deidre moved to the edge of her seat."Okay. This is the point where I threaten you into making some concessions, we argue then you eventually cave in because no matter how terrible your futures look, you aren't willing to give up on living. None of that is going to happen. What do you need from me?""Come back with us to Ireland so we can finish our experiments," Imogen joined me in standing. Unwilling to give her sister any physical advantage, Mom stood as well."No. That isn't even a believable lie," I scolded her. "You don't need to blackmail me into helping you. I'll do it gladly. That doesn't mean I'll let you trick me into doing something stupid. I do 'stupid' all the time. I'm accustomed to it and I know it when its ugly head rises up before me. Try again.""We could pick a neutral location," Deidre suggested."How about Havenstone?" They didn't look like that plan was even worthy of their consideration. "Imogen, inside you is growing a possible heir to House Ishara. An attack on you would be an attack on Ishara. Barring you betraying the Amazons, you would be perfectly safe.""Wonderful," Mom's sarcasm dripped off every word. "I'm going to be a grandmother to my nephew while my son is bringing a child into the world that can double as his cousin.""That sound pretty horrible, Mom. It is the truth, but it still sounds pretty terrible."While those words tumbled out of my mouth, I did a little soul back-searching. How in the fuck was   outside of the actual fucking   was Imogen pregnant? My existence was a freaking fluke of nature. A few words were bandied about the room while I was lost in deductive reasoning and turning hunches into assumptions and turning those into reasonable mystic hypotheses.I created the Mojo-Little Engine that thought it could. Specifically, the legacy of Vranus. Legions of little Vranusian sperm had been jumping hurdle after hurdle to keep the faith alive   that Vranus would meet his Ancestors with his mission accomplished. I was already half way there.Still, the legacy of Vranus and the hopes of Dot Ishara hadn't stopped in their struggle just because I had been born. They were still trying to restore the mortal descendants of a Dead House. They were also still spiritually pushing me on to fulfill his last command   to save the Arinniti sons.I was halfway there by returning the offspring of Bolu, Vranus' fellow guardian, back to the fold. It remained for me to round up the purpose of the whole mission in the first place. My semen weren't taking a chance that I could get gakked before that was accomplished. Having knocked up an augur despite the toxic soup she called blood should have been a dire warning to me, I'm an idiot.When the curse of Sarrat Irkalli clashed with the actions of Dot Ishara, Ishara had won. Sarrat Irkalli sought to deny Alal any children of his own. Dot was insisting the male line of Vranus Ishara continue on. The end result was Alal received his long-denied grandson, who just happened to also want him dead because of a feud that stretched back over two millennia.As an added insult, his grandson then knocked up one of Alal's genetically manipulated daughters, again giving him something he couldn't accomplish on his own   heirs   grand-sons and  daughters, most who would also want to kill him, being Amazons and members of the 9 Clans after all. Why? Cause Goddesses are bitches, that's why.That got me to wondering when would be the next time I was going to meet Ishara. I hadn't suffered severe head trauma in while and she was overdue for some snuggle time, witty banter and a fortune cookie. I'd try to be careful. It wouldn't do any good, but I had to try."Why are you crying?" Mom touched my arm."No reason," I lied."Why don't we make plans for tonight?" Deidre insinuated herself next to me. "We'd like to meet Hana. From what I understand, Father likes her.""No can-do," I sniffled. "I've got an orgy with 159 women at 8 o'clock, except there won't be any sex, or fun of any kind. Basically, I have to convince a roomful of women to not beat me up and take my stuff.""You don't have to go," Imogen had finished boxing me in   I had a chair behind me and Momma-clones all around."For the same reason I'm going to take care of our child, Imogen, I have to go to this meeting. People are counting on me to do the right thing without telling me what the right thing to do is.""That's unfair," Deidre empathized by stroking my chest."Not so. This is just another day in the life of a new hire at Havenstone Commercial Investments. Every day is like this and in five more days, the real fun beings." That wasn't entirely accurate. I had one good, stress-free week. It was when Carrig put me in a coma. That week I had done pretty well for myself.{9:28 am, Wednesday, Sept. 3rd ~ 5 Days to go}I trundled my latest 'Assistant-in-Charge of keeping the hopes of future Isharans alive' (I didn't want to call Aunt Imogen, or any other woman, my 'Baby-Mamma'), along with Mom and Deidre, for a meet-and-greet with Buffy. I had spelled out in no uncertain terms that Buffy was the power behind the Ishara Throne and thus making 'her' believe they were playing on the up-and-up was their best hope for easing relations between the O'Shea and the Amazon Host.After they left me (with the assurance we'd be getting back together for lunch, with Hana), I made three calls. I needed to make a formal request to Katrina (any Illuminati member(s) entering any Amazon facility was her purview) and another to Elsa (as a sign of respect) that Aunt Imogen and two unarmed bodyguards, max, needed to see our medicos about a delicate issue.The third call was to Buffy to enlighten her as to both the arrival of another one of my aunts (so we needed to get along peacefully with her) and that Aunt Imogen was carrying yet another potential heir to House Ishara. I suggested it would be a symbolic gesture if a member of House Ishara could hang around for the visit, as it might impress upon Imogen our House had a vested interest in keeping her alive."Another one?" Buffy sizzled. "And this one is your aunt?""It is a date then," I stumped her."You are going to take your pregnant aunt out on a date?" Buffy's sizzle meter was rapidly climbing to Krakatoa proportions."Nope. I'm setting up a date for us. You, me and a quiet location at 12:01 am Tuesday morning, my First. Later in the morning, I'll be heading out to wherever they have stored Felix so we can work on some cooperative strategy.""And if I say 'no'?" She was terribly grumpy."Ugh, I guess I'll go bar-crawling with Odette and Timothy, Gay and Lesbian bars only. That way I know I'll behave.""And if they say 'no'?" she was slightly less hostile."I'll know you threatened their lives, and then you and I will finally find out who is better on the mats. Trust me, it will not be an experience you will enjoy.""I don't know. I think I'd like that.""No. You start threatening the other people I love and you will not be happy; I guarantee that, Buffy."She realized I was both serious and angry. She had stepped out of bounds, the 'bounds' I had set up two hours earlier during our elevator ride."Is the meeting still on for the night?" she evaded my disappointment."Yes. Will you be there?""Of course," she grumped."Buffy, don't bother showing up if you can't separate 'us' as friends, 'us' as Wakko Ishara and my First, and you as my apprentice."Making me miserable in the first relationship doesn't help the latter two one bit. I try not to be an irresponsible asshole as House Head. More than anyone else, you know what I will sacrifice to be Ishara and one with my Isharans. I'll also step out and be plain ole 'Cáel Nyilas' when events permit.""But I am sick and tired of people not taking my desire to be foolish and care-free seriously. Being a dogmatic ass-hat isn't in me, but if you can't work with that, from here on out we are Wakko Ishara and Buffy Ishara and nothing more. I will still trust you as an Isharan, but not as a friend. Your choice.""Don't be such an asshole!" she snapped."Screw you!" I fired back. "I made a fucking effort to plan out some personal time with you, disguised as a joke; you knew it and you still decided to be a ball-buster. Like I need another fucking ball-buster right now, with all the other shit on my plate. You know better!" I was screaming. The people in JIKIT were working overtime at not staring at me."I'm under a ton of stress here too," she snarled. "I have to deal with the Council, keep our House growing and fulfill my obligations with Executive Services.""Do you want to quit? No longer by my 'apprentice'? Go back to working for Katrina full time?""Really?" she whispered."Of course the fuck not!" I shouted. "I didn't pick you for the job because of your sterling personality, or your bedroom excellence. I picked you because I had, and still have, utter faith in your ability to do whatever is necessary to overcome the landfill-sized colossal ill-fortune the Ancestors have dumped in our lap.""I'm just asking you to stop being a whiny, over-sensitive cunt and remember: it was the psychotic bitch who I chose for the top spot," I rumbled."I'm going to kick your ass," she seethed."Nice to know. We on for Monday night?"Pause."Yes," and she hung up. Two seconds later my phone rang again. "Buffy?" I answered. "And don't be late!" she menaced, then hung up again."So," Addison turned my way, "are you praying for World Peace to break out, or Nuclear War?""Hardy-har-har," I griped."Now that your personal drama is temporarily derailed, we have something for you to look at," Mehmet motioned for my attention. "Ever heard of Kōfuku no Kagaku?" I shook my head. "It translates over as 'Happy Science' and it is a cult-like organization in Japan.""Cool beans. Why do I have a sinking impression it is not a front for the Ninja?""That is what we want you to find out," Addison took over. "Of critical importance is the news conference their leader, Ryuho Okawa, gave earlier this afternoon/morning (~ 3:17 pm Tokyo time = 2:17 am East Coast time ~), especially a very relevant part of his interesting public announcement."He claims to be the Earthly manifestation of the Supreme Being. That is old news. Today he claimed that Temujin of the Khanate was the reincarnation of the original Genghis Khan and, with him, Ryuho, as the unifier of theological forces and therefore serving as spiritual advisor to Temujin, they would usher in a new period of Peace throughout Asia.""I'm waiting for the other shoe to drop," I exhaled."He also claims that Japan is in the midst of an epic struggle, both spiritually and in the physical sense. The 'ancient guardians' of Japanese purity, the 6 Ninja Families, are at war with the depth of all Evil, the Chinese Seven Pillars of Heaven by name, who are determined to drag all of Asia away from the Light and into the Darkness of pain, degradation and slavery."In fact I quote: 'Alone among the nations of the Earth, only the Japanese cultural identity can stand firm against this global menace. Only the Japanese can keep the torch of true Enlightenment aloft. Only the Japanese can guide the development of the Khanate into the Supreme Empire it is meant to be'.""I'm going to go out on a limb here and say this guy is pseudo-religious, a Japanese ultra-nationalist as well as anti 'all things Sino'," came out of my mouth."Correct.""None of the Secret Societies would do something so public. Temujin's background is a mystery, but no one in the Khanate is calling him a reincarnated spirit, and they know the truth," I continued."This guy is pretty nutty," Mehmet confirmed. "He also claims to channel Buddha, Mohammed, Christ and Confucius. His followers worship him as the Earthly manifestation of the 'Supreme Being' named El Cantare, which is yet another name for any number of ancient supreme deities. And he claims to consult with the 'spirit guardians' of national leaders and aids in their mystic defense, with the aid of the Five Sacred Sisters' Spirits."Clearly this man was insane. Unfortunately, insane didn't make someone wrong,"Ah Hell," I muttered.Mehmet and Addison perked up; after all, figuring out the bizarre was my position on the team."He probably is insane, and I can't blame him," I sighed. "He isn't El Cantare; he is in touch with the Weave.""I have a feeling this is 'not good'," Addison murmured. "How bad is it?""The Five Sacred Spirit Sisters are most likely the five augurs who died in order to save Temujin, which, in turn, allies the 9 Clans with the E&S and Amazons to 'save' Japan, though it is not 'saved' yet.""Technically, the Weave IS the Supreme Being. It's largely indifferent, yet capable of doing both good and ill in response to outside (aka mortal) stimuli. If you can observe the Weave, you might be able to see the most likely path destiny is taking as well as the key players screwing with that destiny."That would include the Gong Tau sorcerers and the ninjas use of their own brand of magic; and God only knows what other mystic tricks the others have been attempting.""How do we get them to stop?" Captain Delilah Faircloth muttered."Not that easy Delilah. Everyone in this room has intersected because of a magic experiment that happened before any of us were born (Mom).""The fight at Summer Camp was flipped on its head because I saw the ghost the 7 Pillars sent to scout the area. My freeing of one of those trapped and tortured souls led to the calamity at the Barbeque Pit. I didn't use magic. I countered it. Still, my actions were interfering with the Weave."All four people the augurs, those Five Sisters, told me about had been dead at some point in time, some for thousands of years. Ajax didn't kill anyone using magic. Neither has Saku, yet both of them are products of disruptions in the Weave. 'Me' being alive and breathing is yet another disruption, since I shouldn't exist because of another mystic curse from five thousand years ago."Being alive and killing people means I've killed people who shouldn't be dead. Do we need to go into all the millions that have died in the Khanate war? Which was a combination of a resurrected Temujin and the 7 Pillars hunger for World Domination, if we do nothing, the rippled of those other disruption will still carry on."Except for me, no one on this taskforce has used an iota of magic, yet we are all dedicated to combatting mystical forces," I related to the group. I wondered where Rikki (Martin) and Beatrice (Ya Konan) had gotten off to. Lady Yum-Yum being absent only made my 'Scooby' senses tingle more."You use magic?" Agent-86 tilted his head in curiosity."I talk to a Goddess on a semi-regular business. I see ghosts. I've been the conveyer of messages from dead people and I've killed an un-killable man. Do we need to go back over my kidnapping by the 7 Pillars? The memories of my undead Grandfather floating around in my head?""I'm not calling thunderbolts out of the sky and shooting fireballs out my ass, but what I am doing is magical, nonetheless.""So, what do we recommend to our allies and benefactors (i.e., our sovereign governments)?" Mehmet inquired."Hmm, we tell our governments this crackpot is a Prophet of Doom who could be turned into an asset," I rubbed my brow with all four fingers and a thumb. Rikki, Beatrice and Lady Worthington-Burke quietly entered the room. They were all highly pleased in a 'I just won the lottery' kind of way. I was curious, but had to carry on with my train of thought."Quietly start seeking out other mystic societies, preferably low-key, quiet types who avoid the limelight, and start looking into other forms of magical insight and, quite frankly, protection. If the Weave has let this happen, we can expect worse. Lastly, I'll ask my 'Brother' to meet with this guy and get a feel for his personality.""That will only increase the believability of his ramblings," Addison protested."The boat called 'Denial' has already sailed. The World is in crisis. People are going to look for non-conventional answers. It is better to get ahead of this and bring Ryuho Okawa on board as a 'consultant'. Don't give him the whole picture by any means. The guy is definitely a loose cannon. Even worse, he is also a loose cannon the Weave has touched.""Besides, the Seven Pillars are going to figure this out pretty quick, their Weave sensitivity, ya know, and either kidnap him to be their own spiritual seismic sensor, or kill him for being both a loose cannon and yet another person screwing with their 'best laid plans'. Keeping him alive has the added benefit of making the Seven Pillars expend resources trying to get at him. Japan needs every bit diversion they can get."Let's not forget to tell our Secret Society allies of our plans, lest they kill him too. His babblings aren't going to make the 9 Clans or the E&S happy with him. They both have an established habit of making perceived enemies dead. Let's keep him alive and utilize this opportunity.""I like this plan," Addison nodded. Mehmet was clearly on board as well. Agent-86 clearly was playing the best on-line mystic MMORPG ever! (And with the added bonus that his team's action had real-world consequences.) The three 'ladies' new to the room received an abbreviated version of our discussion and my 'suggestions'. They weren't really suggestions. Barring a few insanely criminal endeavors, JIKIT treated me like a true asset."Something else big?" Addison looked to her British counterpart (Yum-Yum)."The Japanese Diet has voted for a public referendum on a Constitutional Amendment to repeal/revise Article 96 of the Japanese Constitution.""Oh fuck," was echoed, either verbally or subliminally, by everyone in the room except for me, Delilah and Agent-86.'Cáel' knew Jack and Shit about the Japanese Constitution. Hell, I barely knew about the US one and I was a native. However, Alal did know it, and knew both what Article 96 was and what its amendment really meant. Good-old 96 was the rolling dark cloud across the political Great Plains that heralded a swarm of tornados. Clouds were clouds and their arrival could mean anything.Article 96 dictated how the Japanese Constitution could be amended. The current process was a 2/3rd vote in both the House of Councilors (the 'Upper House', roughly equivalent to our Senate) and the House of Representatives (the 'Lower' House) followed by a public referendum. The proposed amendment to Article 96 would transform the process to a mere majority vote in both Houses.Imagine the shit-storm which would be unleashed if the US Congress tried to pull that shit. The biggest political issue was that the Japanese Liberal Democratic Party (LDP) held 294 of the 475 seats in the lower house (a clear majority) and 115 of the 242 in the Upper House (7 seats short of a majority). If the amendment passed next month (October 14th to be precise), the LDP could pretty much do as they pleased.And what was the first thing they were going to do? They were going to put to rest another part of the Constitution, namely the far more globally important Article 9. And what was that?Real World Stuff: WarningsArticle 9:(1)Aspiring sincerely to an international peace based on justice and order, the Japanese people forever renounce war as a sovereign right of the nation and the threat or use of force as means of settling international disputes.(2)To accomplish the aim of the preceding paragraph, land, sea, and air forces, as well as other war potential, will never be maintained. The right of belligerency of the state will not be recognized.If Article 9 was repealed, the Japanese nation could exercise diplomacy by military means, aka declaring an offensive war against a foreign power. Currently Japan had a modest budget military budget of $48 Billion a year (Earth's 10th largest). It was modest when you considered it was a mere 1% of the Japanese GDP. Great Britain, France and South Korea's smaller economies all functioned nicely with double that percentage for their military budget.Regionally, every other nation was increasing their military expenditures, except Japan's protector, the US and (perhaps) North Korea, who's spending on anything was a closely guarded state secret. Right now, China and the Khanate's military expenditures were running roughly even at $180 billion each, but this was an arm's race the PRC would eventually win, they had too great an advantage in the size of their workforce and a far larger industrial base.The truth was, if the PRC couldn't win this race fast, she was facing a long, grinding war reminiscent of the Communists' Long Rise to Power that wrecked their country a century ago. The monetary dynamic was shifting badly against them because the Khanate wasn't alone.India, Taiwan and Vietnam were also ramping up their war spending to a combined tune of $34 billion and now allied with the Khanate, equating to an additional $90 billion the PRC had to overcome. South Korea was already adding $8 billion to their military and Russia was taxing the fuck out of Manchuria to both pay for their 'Peaceful Intervention' and to increase the 'Readiness' of their other forces.All of this military spending was bad for both the regional and global economies (unless you were Israel who was turning out hardware 24/7/365 for the Khanate and Indian war machines). So at this point, Japan doing 'nothing' was possibly more disastrous than doing 'something' else.They were already spending $50 fucking billion on glorified policemen while the future of East Asia was being decided without them. Doubling the military budget would place a huge burden on the largely pacifistic population. It would also put Japan in the position of deciding the Fate of Nations.With the repeal of Article 9, Japan could utilize 'proactive means' to keep the naval supply routes to China open, not even the Indian's had the naval presence to confront the Japanese. Such a policy was a nice, friendly gesture to the Asian Colossus, who wasn't likely to show a shred of appreciation for their efforts.No, China had spent the last 60 years stoking the hatred of the Land of the Rising Sun among their people. (Many Japanese forgot current Chinese hatred was based on the Japanese butchering their way across China for nearly a decade between 1937 to 1945).(The Cornerstone) There was a truism which had guided American, Chinese, Japanese and Russian political thought for 150 years: 'There could only be one supreme power in East Asia and the Eastern Pacific'. Japan had followed the logical expression of that paradigm by invading Taiwan (1895), Korea (1910), beating up on Imperial Russia (1904), taking Manchuria (1931) and going to war with China (1937) while that country was trapped in a bloody civil war.To stop the Empire of Japan's rise, the US had attempted to cripple the Japanese economy before the Empire could harvest their just-acquired Asian natural resources. In response, Japan had thrown its soldiers and sailors into a futile effort against the British Empire, the United States and China and lost.With Imperial Japan crushed and the Soviet Union preoccupied in Europe, China had risen. The irresistible force of China's rapidly increasing population, natural resources exploitation and extensive land mass took hold. Japan couldn't compete in a 'fair' fight. Since 1945, the Japanese government had lived with the fear of aggression from Russia and/or China aimed their way.The US felt the same way, or they had. The fear produced by the broad acceptance of 'Only-One-Shall-Rule-Asia' had led to the Korean War, the half-century cease-fire along the Demilitarized Zone in Korea and the Vietnamese Civil War. The Communists in China and Russia had feuded until the Soviet Union collapsed under its own economic inadequacies.A reborn Russia, even with the ultra-nationalist Putin at the helm, couldn't stop China's growing domination. Asia was China's for the taking, until the Khanate rose up like some desert mirage in the Western Steppe, one that turned into the Mother of All Storms. So now, miraculously, the dominion of Asia was up for grabs once more.Japan could not overcome China; that was a given. The Dragon had more people, more resources and an almost three-fold larger economy. Given a decade, the PRC would grind the Khanate down. Once more it was the tyranny of numbers. Even India, Taiwan and Vietnam could only slow down the inevitable.India's subpar economic output marginalized the power of their citizenry. Taiwan had the proportional economy, but not nearly enough people. Vietnam had neither and had always had a rough time defending themselves, much less been successful confronting powers beyond her homeland. Putin's Mother Russia had a host of other problems, internal and external, so she had already contributed as much as Putin dared.Until Thursday morning, Tokyo Time, the undeniable Destiny of Asia remained in the hands of those men in Beijing. The dominoes were falling in a way those rulers had not foreseen and now fumed over. But on Wednesday night, there was no industrial power (with the population to back it up) which could threaten the People's Republic of China.Europe and the US wouldn't intervene. Much like the leadership in Japan, the Communist Chinese Politburo believed Putin had wagered as much as dared. No other nation on Earth mattered. Japan? That was laughable. Their Constitution bound the hands off their military behind their backs with a pledge of eternal pacifism.The Chinese weren't blind to the 250,000 men and women of the Japanese Self Defense Force. Without the political will, those troops might have well have been in Brazil. A hostile Brazil was actually a greater worry because Brazil was the powerhouse of South America, a G-8 economy and hungered for a Permanent Seat on the UN Security Council. The PRC was dedicated to denying their desire as it would have diluted the PRC's burgeoning diplomatic power.Japan? Ha.Thursday morning, in what was essentially an undetected (by anyone except the Ninja and JIKIT) coup d' tat, pacifism was sacrificed on the Altar of Nationalism. Article 96's demise was pre-ordained. A poll taken on July 1st, 42% of Japanese felt positively about the repeal of Article 96 while 46% opposed it.The same agency took a new poll on August 28th. The economic-political situation of Japan was going through a titanic tidal shift. If Buddhism moved you toward devout pacifist, the Khanate had liberated Tibet and was clearly withdrawing as the UN troops' boots hit the ground.If you were a Nationalist of any kind, you were seeing a whole lot more people at your rallies, accessing your websites and signing up to join your formerly fringe parties. If you were a Socialist, you were scared. Why? The PRC was in the process of nationalizing all of Japan's (and South Korea's and Taiwan's) business interests in China, for the 'Duration of the Emergency', or so they said.That meant plenty of Japanese workers were losing their jobs and looking to blame someone. You couldn't blame the centrist LDP. The LDP had been working alongside the Japanese Communist Party for months. They had done nothing wrong and had worked tirelessly for a peaceful diplomatic solution. It was their 'comrades' in China, their Marxist confederates, who were costing the hard-working Japanese workers their jobs.If you were in the Establishment, all of the above worried the crap out of you. Japan's economy had been limping along at barely-positive growth for a decade. Your aging population needed more and more from their public services and, worst of all, you had nothing in your political and economic tool box to escape the obvious oncoming national catastrophe.The possibility of a Global Recession loomed on the horizon, if they were lucky. Highly respected economists in Japan and elsewhere were examining all the key indicators over the past three months and were suggesting hording as a viable policy for middle class households to consider. If you were in the Developing World, worse was heading your way.The word being bandied about on those esteemed academic internet websites wasn't 'recession', it was depression. Global prosperity thrived on nations investing in both their own economy and the economies of other nations. The governments representing a third of the World's population were not investing in their economies.Unless you were a war profiteer, you could expect fewer consumer goods on the shelves; and what was there would cost more. Your income wasn't going up; your expenses were. If you were an Atheistic homeowner in the Western World with a secured 3.25% fixed rate home loan, you took up religion. The prime interest rate would be racing for the 20% mark and that was only if your economy was stable.If you lived in a country in the Developing World, your trade goods didn't compete with those created in the G-20. Your competition was with other Developing World businesses and the prize was the pocketbooks of those consumers in the G-20, which was a shrinking purse.It wasn't like you were being paid all that much to begin with; and now those once poor-paying, but at least plentiful, jobs were drying up. You needed your government to help you out. It wasn't like those governments could raise money by taxing the unemployed and under-employed. They didn't have money. And the rich in most of those same nations had a long and successful legacy of avoiding paying.Those growing economies had a few tried and tested 'solutions' for getting their countries through these rough stretches.The IMF? 'We are out to make 'positive' capital investments and your economic outlook doesn't look promising. We suggest 'austerity'.'The BRICS? Since India and China were basically in an undeclared state of war: 'we won't be loaning anyone anything for a while.'The BIS? 'As soon as the People' Bank of China, the Reserve Bank of India, the Central Bank of Ireland, the Bank of Israel and the Central Bank of the Republic of Turkey get back to us about their sudden, serious lack of transparency, we'll call you back.'World Bank? Holy Shit! 'The world's going down the toilet, we will do what we can.'F Y I, I (as in Cáel) had been wrong. The 6 Elders of the Ninja families didn't talk to Japanese Prime Minister, Shinzō Awbee. They talked with another, far more immediately important man. So sue me (Cáel) for not knowing the inner workings of various world governments, and creatively interpreting events surrounding all those people I (Cáel) didn't. I'm a freaking Liberal Arts major with a fertile imagination, not a superspy, or even a competent Intelligence Analyst!}The Japanese government had appealed to the U.S., U.N., P.R.C., A.S.E.A.N., India; and (through back channels aka JIKIT) the Khanate for an end to this madness; all with typical results:The U.S.A: We are working on it (without letting them know what precisely they were working on)Japan: Well, do something fast. Our Government Bonds are about to be more useful as wallpaper.The U.N.: We are working on it (with their long-established tradition of not doing anything until the crisis had passed)Japan: You are preparing to pass a Resolution to move this matter from the First Committee to the Fourth Committee, gee, thanks guys. Will they be meeting sometime before Christmas?The PRC: We are too busy right now, so shut up, keep the trade lanes open, and was that your submarine we detected sneaking into our territorial waters?Japan: What? What do you mean you are 'too busy?' You are one of our biggest trading partners, your economy is going down the toilet, and, No! That was not our submarine in your territorial waters. That accusation is absurd.(Note from Japanese Prime Minister, Shinzō Awbee, to Admiral Katsutoshi Kawano, head of the JMSDF {the de facto Japanese Navy}), The PRC has made this outrageous claim that one of our submarines has been sneaking around their territorial waters. There is no truth to that rumor, right?Kawano: Which time?Prime Minister: Oh My God! What have you people been doing and why is this the first time I'm hearing about it?Kawano: Sir, if you are just now getting around to asking us, you don't want to know.Prime Minister: What do you mean 'I don't want to know?' I'm the head of the damn government and, you are right. Fine. There is no way I'm going back to the Chinese Ambassador and apologizing for any this. Is there any way this can come back to screw us over?Kawano: With all these US and British submarines helping us out, not very likely, Prime Minister.Prime Minister: Oh, very good. You are correct, I don't want to know what you 'haven't' been doing. I am ordering you to destroy all transcripts and recordings of this conversation.Kawano: It has been my distinct honor not having this conversation with you, Prime Minister. Sayōnara.ASEAN, What do you expect us to do about this? Have you seen the unimpressive combined sizes of our members' air forces and navies? Did you see the smack-down the Khanate has inflicted on the PLAN's South China Sea Fleet?Besides, the PRC is claiming that the Khanate launched covert attacks against the Parcels and Spratly islands which originated from Indonesian and Filipino waters. We are investigating the issue. If you are asking us for help, you are truly screwed. Don't call us. We will call you.Japan, {muttering} Investigating the attacks that came from your territory, bullshit! You are covering your own asses, damn it!(Note from Prime Minister, Shinzō Awbee, to Shotaro Yachi, Japanese National Security Advisor), I've heard an ugly rumor that the Khanate has forces secreted in the Philippines and Indonesia. Do you happen to know anything about it?Yachi: Yes Sir. We had advance notice of the organization, composition and destination of those forces.Awbee (while muttering 'no one tells me anything anymore'): What the! Would you please tell me what is going on.Yachi: We have made critical steps toward future alliances which will guarantee Japanese security for decades to come.Awbee What does that mean, and since when have you been creating and implementing foreign policy? We have a Minister for that, in case you somehow over-looked him at the last cabinet meeting. Wait! Does he know about this too?Yachi: No Sir, Foreign Minister Kishida is currently unaware of the Kinkyū tokushu sakusen tasukufōsu (Emergency Special Operations Task Force). Admiral Katsutoshi knows the basics of our operational policy, since we need to borrow some of his assets from time to time. Director-General Kitada (of the Public Security Intelligence Agency) and key personnel from the Foreign Ministry's Intelligence & Analysis Service and Security Bureau make up the majority of the task force's operatives.Awbee: What have you been doing?Yachi: You don't want to know, Mr. Prime Minister. It would make things, awkward.Awbee: 'You don't want to know', of course, I don't. I'm only the elected head of this government. Why would I possibly want to know what acts of espionage and war my deputies are executing?Yachi: I am glad we are on the same page, Sir. Will there be anything else?Awbee: No, wait. Do you have any intelligence on what the Khanate is up to?Yachi: Yes Sir. Is there anything in particular you want to know?Analysis Services: Can you contact someone in their leadership willing to discuss regional affairs?Yachi: I can put you in touch with the Great Khan himself if necessary.AS: What!Yachi: Sir, I would hardly be acting in our nation's best interests if I couldn't divine the intentions of the key players on the stage. Shall I initiate the necessary communications to facilitate that level of clandestine diplomatic contact?AS: No. Yes. No, I need to think about this. Hmm, have you been conducting any domestic espionage missions?Yachi: You don't want me to answer that, Sir.Awbee: of course I don't, I'm only the damn Prime Minister. Shotaro, I'm still Prime Minister, aren't I?Yachi: Yes Sir. We have been working overtime to ensure that. We've foiled two enemy assassination attempts and one attempted kidnapping so far. We remain vigilant.AS: How come this is the first I'm hearing about it? Is the head of my security in on this conspiracy of yours too?Yachi: No Sir. These particular guardians wish to avoid notoriety at all costs.Awbee: Okay. Good to know. Ah, keep up the good work and destroy any trace of this conversation.Yachi: Way ahead of you, Sir. Have a good night.India, Yes, we are more than willing to work with you toward regional stability. Care to acknowledge the Khanate's legitimacy first? We'd really appreciate it. Sure, get back to us when you've done that. Until then, the South China Sea Awaits! Yes, we plan to keep what we've earned. Later now. We think there is going to be further instability in Southeast Asia.Japan, Ya think? It is your damn warships sailing around the freaking South China Sea enforcing your utterly un-secret alliance with the Khanate. Why are you doing this to us? What have we ever done to you?The Khanate, We are not out to damage your national interests. We apologize, but there is now way we will call off this war with the Communist Chinese. It is them, or us, to the death. We have already received and agreed to your request to allow all Japanese flagged ships safe transit through the South China Sea. We really wish to be your friends this time, to make up for those two invasion attempts seven hundred years ago.(Note from  Prime Minister to Self) Great. The only reasonable people who aren't out to kick me in the nuts are also the ones I can't acknowledge talking to. I've got to do something a

Today we celebrate the possibility of new beginnings. The spring equinox in the Northern Hemisphere is celebrated by planting new ideas, celebrating love, and acknowledging the return of the light.  This Sunday let's have a spring awakening in our spiritual practices by setting our intentions and consciously using the Creative Process. It is a good day to begin again! 

When does Spring start? In 2025, the official first day of Spring is Monday, March 20, at 4:01 am central time. This date marks the "spring equinox" in the Northern Hemisphere and the beginning of fall in the Southern Hemisphere. It also marks the start of the new astrological calendar.  This is a powerful time for new beginnings and fresh ideas to start flowing in. We typically associate Spring with flowers blooming and the earth becoming green again after a long, cold winter.  It is a time of new beginnings and planting seeds for the year.   The word equinox comes from the Latin words for "equal night"—aequus (equal) and nox (night). On the equinox, the length of day and night is nearly equal in all parts of the world.  The equinox is equal - equal light and dark - or balance, and the universe allows us to define our personal definition of dark and light and what balance means to us.  This year, the Astrological New Year's Spring equinox sits between powerful eclipses. The full moon eclipse in Virgo on March 13/14, and the solar eclipse on March 29 in Aries.  Neptune also moves into Aries on March 30, so force is in the air.   How will you use this energy? Listen as Laurie covers the energy impact of each astrology sign. Listen to your sun, moon, and rising signs for the best understanding of the energy impact on you. Send us a textSupport the showThanks for listening - For questions or comments email Laurie at Laurie@yourlifecore.comInstagram @yourlifecore or Twitter @yourlifecore Facebook https://www.facebook.com/YourLifecoreWebsite www.yourlifecore.com

“SPRING EQUINOX VIBRATIONS The Turning Season”! The quarterly panel profoundly introduces each new season initiated by either the Equinox or Solstice.“Master Vibrational Astrology author, researcher and instructor Linda Berry, along with Robert Pacitti, interpret Vibrational Astrology patterns specifically to this upcoming season. The Spring Equinox chart becomes a seed chart to understand the potential themes revealing core consciousness themes to connect with for Spring.”Spring Equinox – means the ‘equal - night'“The spring equinox occurs when the sun enters ° Aries. In both the Northern and Southern Hemisphere Day and night length are approximately equal. The Spring Equinox is celebrated worldwide as Astrology Day because it begins the cycle,” said Sue Minahan host of the weekly show.” Deeply spiritual, the equinox symbolizes nature's cycles. A balance between the solstice where the light now returns for the Northern Hemisphere and retreats for the Southern Hemisphere. Light returning offers seeds growing and new life.”The gift of Vibrational Astrology (VA)This exciting ‘evidence-based' system understands patterns through extensive research. The process discovers deep energetic vibrational frequency patterns beyond the natal 1st Vibration chart. VA looks at each vibration frequency as an entire chart, discovering further specific vibrations unique within a vibrational frequency chart.THE TURNING SEASON PanelJoining Sue ‘Rose' Minahan of Kailua-Kona, Hawai'i will be professional astrologers Linda Berry MA, of Louisville, Kentucky, and Robert J Pacitti of Penn Run, Pennsylvania. Find their bios/contact info below, and at the Talk Cosmos website.You can follow us on Talk Cosmos YouTube Channel, Facebook, radio, & podcasts, or subscribe on https://www.talkcosmos.com.LINDA BERRY, PAC, MSSW: received her Professional Astrology Certificate (PAC) in Vibrational Astrology January 2015 from Avalon School of Astrology studying with David Cochrane the Founder of Vibrational Astrology (VA). They continue to share their research material to build Vibrational Astrology knowledge. Linda created “Frequency Finder”, a VA Add-on to Sirius and Kepler Astrological Software. www.Astrosleuth.orgROBERT PACITTI: has over a decade of experience in the world of natural magic. A Druid by calling, he currently holds the position of Grand Pendragon in the Ancient Order of Druids in America and is the Director of the MAGUS Druid Gathering in Gore, Virginia.SUE ‘ROSE' MINAHAN: Evolutionary/Mythology Astrologer & Consultant. Speaker, Writer, Artist, Musician. Student of Vibrational Astrology, Dwarf Planet University graduate, Kepler Astrologer Toastmaster (KAT); Associate of Fine Arts Music Degree; a Certificate of Fine Arts in Jazz. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoicesSee Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

“SPRING EQUINOX VIBRATIONS The Turning Season”! The quarterly panel profoundly introduces each new season initiated by either the Equinox or Solstice. “Master Vibrational Astrology author, researcher and instructor Linda Berry, along with Robert Pacitti, interpret Vibrational Astrology patterns specifically to this upcoming season. The Spring Equinox chart becomes a seed chart to understand the potential themes revealing core consciousness themes to connect with for Spring.” Spring Equinox – means the ‘equal - night' “The spring equinox occurs when the sun enters ° Aries. In both the Northern and Southern Hemisphere Day and night length are approximately equal. The Spring Equinox is celebrated worldwide as Astrology Day because it begins the cycle,” said Sue Minahan host of the weekly show.” Deeply spiritual, the equinox symbolizes nature's cycles. A balance between the solstice where the light now returns for the Northern Hemisphere and retreats for the Southern Hemisphere. Light returning offers seeds growing and new life.” The gift of Vibrational Astrology (VA) This exciting ‘evidence-based' system understands patterns through extensive research. The process discovers deep energetic vibrational frequency patterns beyond the natal 1st Vibration chart. VA looks at each vibration frequency as an entire chart, discovering further specific vibrations unique within a vibrational frequency chart. THE TURNING SEASON Panel Joining Sue ‘Rose' Minahan of Kailua-Kona, Hawai'i will be professional astrologers Linda Berry MA, of Louisville, Kentucky, and Robert J Pacitti of Penn Run, Pennsylvania. Find their bios/contact info below, and at the Talk Cosmos website. You can follow us on Talk Cosmos YouTube Channel, Facebook, radio, & podcasts, or subscribe on https://www.talkcosmos.com. LINDA BERRY, PAC, MSSW: received her Professional Astrology Certificate (PAC) in Vibrational Astrology January 2015 from Avalon School of Astrology studying with David Cochrane the Founder of Vibrational Astrology (VA). They continue to share their research material to build Vibrational Astrology knowledge. Linda created “Frequency Finder”, a VA Add-on to Sirius and Kepler Astrological Software. www.Astrosleuth.org ROBERT PACITTI: has over a decade of experience in the world of natural magic. A Druid by calling, he currently holds the position of Grand Pendragon in the Ancient Order of Druids in America and is the Director of the MAGUS Druid Gathering in Gore, Virginia. SUE ‘ROSE' MINAHAN: Evolutionary/Mythology Astrologer & Consultant. Speaker, Writer, Artist, Musician. Student of Vibrational Astrology, Dwarf Planet University graduate, Kepler Astrologer Toastmaster (KAT); Associate of Fine Arts Music Degree; a Certificate of Fine Arts in Jazz. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Episode 215 has a rather grandiose title but let us stop for a second and take stock. This southern land, swept by thunderstorms that appear as if by magic, and lash the landscape, rumble across the stubby veld, slinging lightning like a million volt silver sjambok, shaking rocks with their deep growls, bring everything back to life. The air before this denizens of the blue sky pass by is sullen, the horizon hazed over, after the rains everything is crisp, visibility can change in seconds from a few hundred metres to a few hundred kilometres. I was raised in Nkwalini valley in northern Zululand, where the mysterious Mhlathuze River flows powerfully after these storms, the valley is ringed by mountains that rise from 650 feet above sea level feet to over 3000 feet a few minutes drive up around Melmoth. And from these heights, you can see the Indian Ocean 40 kilometres away after one of these refreshing storms. Southern Africa had been drying out substantially throughout the first half of the 19th Century. Historian Charles Ballard notes that climatic research has pointed to opposite extremes of weather patterns in the Northern and Southern Hemispheres. The climatic regime in southern Africa of dry and warm conditionsin the early nineteenth century was the reverse of the Northern Hemisphere's colder and wetter weather at this time. Some animals, like humans, would not survive this —others like the ostrich were in their element. Turning to Natal, much of the interior was unstable, drought and famine led early white settlers to believe it had always been devoid of people whereas it had been abandoned. There is a difference between the two concepts — never settled or previously settled? Nguni speaking refugees, not always amaZulu, arrived back in their homes in Natal through this period only to find that the settler community considered them to be aliens and a race of "vagabonds." It became a conventional ideological tool for those who sought to justify the expropriation of land. The people were driven away by a long list of threats, military, environmental, meteorological. With that preamble, let's focus initially on the strange saga of John Dunn who has appeared in all his curious glory in prevous episodes. Cetshwayo gave John Dunn ten oxen and a tract of land. By July, the former border agent had resigned his job and moved into Zululand permanently. He'd had it with the British. The tract of land given to Dunn was extensive, in the immediate coastal region of southern Zululand known as Ungoye, which extended from Ngoye forest all the way down to the lower Thukela. Shortly after he moved in, Dunn took many wives. By1860 he was regarded as one of the most influential chiefs in the Zulu kingdom, ruling over more than 50 square kilometers of land and thousands of subjects. By 1860 Dunn was the main source of fireams entering Zululand, and these items rapidly replaced cattle as the main payment for lobola.

The sauropodomorph Ahvaytum is several million years older than any previously known dinosaur from Laurasia. And there are some even older tracks. Plus the results of the sweet sixteen round of our dino duels bracket.For links to every news story, links to our new book, and our fun fact check out https://iknowdino.com/200_years_of_dinosaurs-Episode-531/Join us at www.patreon.com/iknowdino for dinosaur requests, bonus content, ad-free episodes, and more.200 years of dinosaurs, our book titled I Know Dino! will be published soon with National Geographic Kids! Pre-order your copy at https://bit.ly/ikdbook2025 if you tell us you ordered it at https://bit.ly/iorderedthebook we'll send you an addendum with a dozen more dinosaurs we had to cut from the book.In dinosaur news this week:A new sauropodomorph shows that dinosaurs were living in the northern hemisphere way earlier than previously thought This episode is brought to you by the Colorado Northwestern Community College. Join them for two weeks digging up dinosaur bones from the Jurassic Period in Northwest Colorado this summer. For details go to CNCC.edu/dinodigSee Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

The first day of Spring is hereToday we'll talk about the vernal equinox, the first day of astronomical spring in the Northern Hemisphere. Did you know that the sun rises exactly in the east today and sets precidely in the west? We'll talk about this and other interesting fact about the first day of spring.

The March Equinox: A Beneficial Gateway to Renewal and Cosmic AlignmentHappy Equinox! On March 20th, we arrive at the powerful Equinox point—a beautiful moment of balance marking the start of a fresh astrological year. This is a time when day and night dance together in perfect harmony, recharging Earth's life force energy and opening a doorway to deep transformation and renewal. Cosmic waves of supportive energy, love, and divine wisdom are streaming in, inviting you into alignment, clarity, and Divine Coherence. It's an invitation to pause, breathe deeply, and create space to tune into your heart—awakening the inner light of harmony, truth, and unconditional love already within you. The Equinox energies empower you to anchor these waves of transformative energy and blessings into your life, benefiting you and the collective. Now is your moment to anchor powerful new possibilities into being!March 20, 2025, marks a moment of profound equilibrium—when day and night stand in perfect balance, mirroring the deeper harmony available to us within. This sacred threshold signals not just a shift in seasons—welcoming Spring in the Northern Hemisphere and Autumn in the Southern—but a powerful recalibration of energy, guiding us deeper into heart-centered consciousness, both planetary and personal.During the Equinox, the Earth's energy grid becomes particularly attuned, vibrating at a heightened state of coherence. This amplified resonance supports our journey into the heart, enabling easier alignment with the natural rhythms of creation, allowing us to absorb the Earth's restorative frequencies and harmonize our own energy centers. As the planet pulses with renewed vitality, we are invited to pause, reset, and intentionally send forth clarity-infused intentions from a heart-centered space.Beyond the seasonal transition, the Equinox is also the gateway to a new astrological year. In Western astrology, this cosmic turning point coincides with the Sun's entry into Aries, the first sign of the zodiac. Aries, the spark of initiation, propels us forward into fresh cycles of growth, passion, and possibility. Just as nature stirs from dormancy and bursts into new life, we, too, are called to step into the next evolution of our personal journey.With the Sun crossing this celestial threshold, we embark on another full rotation through the twelve archetypal energies of the zodiac—each offering lessons, expansion, and transformation. The March Equinox, therefore, is not just a seasonal event but a potent cosmic portal—one where we can consciously honor new beginnings, activate our highest visions, and align with the flow of universal energy.As you step intentionally into this renewal, allow the cosmic currents to carry you forward into your next chapter of heart-centered evolution. The gateway of the Equinox is wide open, and you may have already sensed a significant shift in frequencies, energies, and the tangible presence of Mother Plasma intelligence, signaling a period of profound LightBody enhancements and more so rooted in heart awareness. Navigating Cosmic Shifts:Understanding the impact of Venus and Mercury Retrograde during the Equinox, prompting reflection and emotional clearing.The powerful influence of Neptune completing its cycle in Pisces, urging introspection about past dreams, illusions, and future visions.Guiding Questions for Reflection:What am I ready to complete and release?What new inspirations are stirring within me?How can I embody resilience, grace, and heart-centered awareness?Step through this sacred Equinox gateway with intention, clarity, and an open heart, and anchor powerful new possibilities into being.Remember, your mindful alignment during this Equinox doesn't just benefit you—it uplifts and supports the entire collective. Wishing you clarity, renewal, and heart-centered alignment this Equinox!With love, care, and gratitude,Henri

Aries Season Tarot Forecast March 20th - April 18th, 2025 In this episode we dive deep into Aries season, running from March 20th - April 18th, 2025. This season is a major transition point for the entire year! Fresh starts and new beginnings are here. The Sun moves into Aries on March 20th, 2025. Marking the Spring Equinox in the Northern Hemisphere. Globally recognized as the astrological new year! Universal Energies, Different Seasons Both Northern and Southern Hemispheres experience the same zodiacal energies simultaneously. Farewell Pisces, Hello Aries: Shifting Energies Transition from the compassionate, creative, intuitive energy of Pisces. Aries season ushers in: bravery, ambition, independence, creativity, impulsivity, impatience, quick temper, and headstrong mood swings. Time for Action: From Planning to Doing Aries season is the time to act on plans made during fall and winter. "Go time!" - Plant, do, shift, change, or start! The completion point of 2024 is officially here. March 20th, 2025, marks the true beginning of the new year. The Tangible Shift: Dreams into Action The host's personal favorite transition - the tangible feeling of change. Wake up and things feel different - a call to action on dreams. Simple concept: take dreams and put them into action. Encouragement to take small or large steps forward towards goals. Small steps accumulate over time. The marathon analogy: focus on crossing the finish line, not necessarily being first. Pace yourself. What You Need to Know: The Current Cycle The Nodes of Fate: Pisces/Virgo Axis Continues Influence continues through July 2026. Focus on balancing feelings with astute processing. Discerning between feelings and facts. Navigating new and unusual energies. Importance of a relationship with spirituality. Working to release perfectionism or feelings of futility. Emphasis on tiny and mighty day-to-day actions supported by spiritual practices. Significant Shifts in This Cycle March 27th: Venus Retrograde Enters Pisces Venus passed her halfway point in retrograde. Emergence as the morning star after her "powerwash" from the sun. Evaluate what no longer serves wants, wishes, desires, pleasures, and finances. Potential for insights and answers on how to shift forward. March 29th: New Moon Partial Solar Eclipse in Aries Energetic lightswitch flickering on and off. Offering a truly new fresh start in the astrological house it occupies in your natal chart. This house has undergone a full eclipse season refresh, release, and restart (nodes in Aries/Libra July 2023 - Jan 2025). Exciting and seemingly softer than past eclipses due to prior release work. This eclipse feels like saying yes to an opportunity before feeling fully ready, with the Universe indicating readiness for growth. A "good growth" eclipse versus a painful one. March 29th: Mercury Retrograde Enters Pisces Mercury continues its retrograde journey, moving back into Pisces. Potential feeling of stagnation or moving backward when forward momentum is desired. Feels like revisiting old lessons or losing something again. Backtrack into Pisces may evoke feelings from the distant past. Not just about exes resurfacing, but a final cleanup of "ghosts of Christmases past." March 30th: Neptune Enters Aries - HUGE NEWS! Neptune spends approximately 14 years in a single zodiac sign (168-year cycle). Last time in Aries: 1861-1873. An energy signature no one alive has experienced. High vibration; Neptune as the higher octave of Venus, governing dreams, intuition, spirituality, and delusions. Capacity for cleansing, clearing, and offering massive dream and manifestation potential. Can also bring chaos and destruction for reimagining and rebuilding. Uncertainty about how this new 14-year signature will play out. Old ways are definitely up for destruction. Question: What new dream will we create? Personal impact: Focus on the house Aries occupies in your natal chart for bold new dreams. Emphasis on fresh, strong, new, and spiritually grounded dreams. Abundance flowing from imagination and magic. Call to honor ocean goddesses (and Aphrodite) if it resonates. April 7th: Mercury Stations Direct Relief from communication, schedule, and financial snags. This marks the third pass over the same ground in the last four weeks. Two-week post-shadow period as Mercury regains speed. The third pass offers the final lesson or blessing from recent events. Encouragement to stay present and grounded. Pause and take breaths before responding. Direct station in Pisces: deep feels, tears, release, and healing are prominent. April 12th: Full Moon in Libra Gratitude to the goddesses, eclipse season is over until September! A regular full moon for revealing and releasing (in that order). All clear for spellcasting! Libra focus: balance, people-pleasing, and surface beauty. Community call-out (with a nod to Kali Ma) for individual scales of Justice. April 12th: Venus Direct - WHEEE! Blessed be, Aphrodite is reborn! Stations direct in Pisces, bringing a dreamy quality. Tenderness, emotions, and tears likely herald the healing that has occurred. Tears of growth, gratitude, and honoring the inner child/teen and current soul self. This deep cleanse cycle returns "YOU" to yourself at a heart-centric level. Clarity on what is needed for more joy and abundance. April 16th: Mercury Moves into Aries (Again) The narrative continues, but with forward progress this time. Shift in communication to self-centric intentions stated clearly (possibly bluntly). Universe urging clear communication in leadership roles for self-empowerment and modeling equitable behavior. April 18th: Mars Moves into Leo - Exciting! Boost in physical energy. Inspiration and a fire are reignited. The "fill up" that has been missing. Mars (action, drive) finally in a fire sign (Leo) wired for being out front and adored. Potential for significant progress if small actions have been taken during Sun in Aries. Burning off "slow sads" - a welcome energy shift. The Nutshell Story of This Cycle Key takeaway: Take action. Follow excitement and listen to "no." Decisions won't be clear-cut; balance facts with intuition. Venus recharged, Mercury cleansed, Neptune in a new phase, Mars finally moving comfortably. Listen to your body - it holds the energetic score. Everything is changing for the ultimate best. Embrace evolution and change. "Grab the wheel" and direct the new energies. The path won't be linear, but progress will be made. Stirrings that 2025 is a "mash up of all the best parts of our life thus far" - a wild, liberating, blessed, and manifesting "zine." Supportive Practices for This Cycle Meditate Hydrate Move your body Aim for self-advocacy Aim for equity Anchor in your spirituality Pisces Season Recap & Aries Season Intentions Pisces season offered massive somatic healing potential and deep release. Aries season (Sun in Aries) marks a new beginning: rebirth of leadership, hope, potential, and the fire to ignite something wonderful. Cycle directive: Continue to remain present and focus on your vessel. Aries as the Athlete & Warrior: Prioritizing Your Vessel Aries embodies the athlete and warrior. Cannot stand for, protect, or create effectively without an optimally functioning vessel. Learning from athletes: value of repair, recovery, nutrition, and hydration. This cycle is a collective call to prioritize vessel care. Not about perfectionism, but celebration and respect for the soul's home. Caring for the body is loving and supports desired creations and actions. It's Spring! Emerge from the Underworld Emergence from the darkness may feel overwhelming initially ("too bright and too big"). It's okay to go slow ("throw on some shades"). Cannot stay in the "cave" forever. Take the step out. Evaluation phase is over. Feel the wild unknown where anything is possible Aries Basics: Mantra, Place in Zodiac, Element Aries' mantra: "I am." First sign of the zodiac. Cardinal fire sign. "I Can Do This! Let's Start Something." Aries' inherent drive to initiate. Excellent at starting things - "OFF AND RUNNING." Carries strong manifestation energy due to its "young," "new," and often "naive" energy. Prone to beginner's luck. Aries as the Warrior Wired for battle and a valuable ally. Relentless and fresh energy with "sassy salty vibes." Thrives on feedback and pressure - needs resistance. The analogy of two rams butting heads (establishing dominance, training, communication, play). Balanced vs. Imbalanced Aries In Balance: Fights to protect loved ones and the vulnerable; evolves into a benevolent leader (connection to The Emperor tarot); passionate, driven, enthusiastic, and inspiring. In Imbalance: Egocentric, puts self first; argues to win everything (even trivial matters); immature; stirs things up for the sake of it; needs feedback/pressure (workouts as a constructive outlet). Movement for Aries: Burning Off the Heat Aries energy is hot, fast, and furious and needs movement to release heat. Caution against excessive cardio, which can overheat the system. Analogy to a Jack Russell Terrier: smart, energetic, needs engagement and novelty. Think "neuro festive brains" needing stimulation and interest for focused engagement. Requires both movement and cerebral activity. Hydration and Cooling Foods for Aries Season Hydration is crucial Recommendation: half your body weight in ounces of water daily with a teaspoon of pink salt for electrolyte absorption. Importance of cooling foods: green and mint (all forms). Aries Rules the Head, Eyes, and Adrenals: Wellness Practices Connection to headache/migraine issues. Mention of Unicorn Wellness Studio member practices: headstand preps/headstands (7th chakra connection, fresh perspective), crab series/rabbit pose (playful, grounding, cooling, circulation). In Aries Season, Stop and Ask: What am I thinking but not saying? What messaging is trying to get through? What am I subconsciously blocking or pretending not to know? Wellness Bullet Points for Aries Season: Begin or prioritize a movement pattern (unicornwellnessstudio.com). PRIORITIZE hydration. Meditate (5 min frequency reset or 8 min chakra balance). Set a bedtime (7-10 hours, address FOMO). Put time limits on gaming and social media (reduces energetic "heat"). Make time to play outside in fresh air. Share thoughts and feelings with trusted humans. Increase green intake (juice, meals, mint). Lighten scents (peppermint EO, lemon/wild orange incense Additional Resources: Activate 30 - days Guest Access on UnicornWellnessStudio.com Offering 30-min classical Pilates workouts in alignment to the astrological season and lunar cycles and Tandy's 41-day food reset at this link here in preparation of the astrological new year. My Healing Protocols signature movement series, not included in a Unicorn Wellness Studio membership. Subscribe to Tandy's weekly newsletter for more astrology insights and practical tips. Follow and DM on Instagram @tandy_gutierrez Additional Episodes You Might Enjoy: EP 118: Astrology and Wellness Forecast March 17 - 23 2025 EP 117: Cosmic Chaos: Navigating Retrogrades, Eclipses & Goddess Energy EP 95: Nodes of Fate: Stepping into the Pisces Dream and Leaving Virgo Perfectionism Behind

This week, the Sun conjoins the North Node and Neptune, then enters its Aries Season and the equinox. Venus comes together with Pluto and with the Sun to explore what's truly essential and joyful. The Capricorn Last Quarter Moon calls for an examination of what we've accomplished during this lunar cycle and how to reach the finish line successfully. And April offers a mini-lesson on the Venus Star Point. Plus: Delicious cazimi, becoming what we idealize, and a personal Venus story of love and music! Read a full transcript of this episode. Learn about April's personalized eclipse report! Have a question you'd like answered on the show? Email April or leave it here! Subscribe to April's mailing list and get a free lunar workbook at each New Moon! Love the show? Make a donation! Timestamps [1:19] The Sun conjoins the Moon's North Node (March 17, 11:03 am PDT) at 27º23' Pisces on Sabian symbol 28 Pisces, A fertile garden under the Full Moon. In this week between eclipses, recommit to taking a step toward what's important to you. [2:58] The Sun conjoins Neptune on March 19 (4:25 pm PDT) at 29º36' Pisces on the Sabian symbol 30 Pisces, A rock formation like a face is idealized by a boy who, as he grows up, begins to look like it. This transit reminds us that no one has all the answers, and we're responsible for making something of our lives and our world.  [5:35] On March 20 (2:01 am PDT), the Sun enters Aries (through April 19). This marks the vernal equinox in the Northern Hemisphere and the autumnal equinox in the Southern Hemisphere. The Aries Ingress chart is used by astrologers to cast a chart, using the capital of their country, to get a feel for what the upcoming year could look like. (Astrologers Nina Gryphon and Wade Caves were mentioned.) Aries is the opening of the new astrological year and is the sign that's closely associated with all new enterprises. [8:58] Venus sextiles Pluto (March 21, 2:32 pm PDT) at 03º22' Aries-Aquarius. The Sabian symbol for Venus is 4 Aries, two lovers strolling through a secluded walk, and Pluto is on 4 Aquarius, a Hindu healer. The challenge is to reconcile how to love life and people, even though we know that they're not perfect and will not last forever. Measure the importance of financial matters against the importance of relationships. [11:44] Moon Report! The Capricorn Last Quarter Moon is on March 22 (4:29 am PDT) at 02º05' Capricorn and Aries. Time to complete projects from the Pisces New Moon (Feb. 27). The Moon is on the Sabian symbol 3 Capricorn, The human soul receptive to growth and understanding.  [14:00] Lunar Phase Family Cycle (LPFC). This is the Last Quarter in an LPFC that began with a New Moon at 01º32' Capricorn on Dec. 23, 2022. The First Quarter Moon in this LPFC was on Sep. 22, 2023, and the Full Moon was on June 21, 2024. Don't back away from your wishes, dreams and ambitions. [15:49] Void-of-Course (VOC) Moon Periods. On March 19 (12:28 pm PDT), the Moon in Scorpio makes a trine to Neptune. It's VOC for only 49 minutes and then enters Sagittarius (1:17 pm PDT). Use this VOC period to practice tapping into your intuition. [17:54] On March 21 (11:53 pm PDT), the Moon in Sagittarius squares Neptune. The Moon is VOC for only 36 minutes, then enters Capricorn on March 22 (12:29 am PDT). Accept whatever truths come your way instead of spiraling down a path of gloom and doom. [19:13] The Sun and Venus come together in a conjunction on March 22 (6:07 pm PDT) at 02º39' Aries. This conjunction is called the Venus Star Point. It's a powerful day to manifest the situations and relationships that are truly in line with your heart and values. You may gain insight into an important relationship. [21:11] The Sun sextiles Pluto at 3º24' Aries-Aquarius (March 23, 12:32 pm PDT). This transit reinforces a message of accepting yourself exactly the way you are.  [23:11] Mini-Lesson: The Venus Star Point. Check out Arielle Guttman's book, Venus Star Rising: A New Cosmology for the Twenty-First Century. Here is a link to Guttman's page that has the PDF to find your Venus Star Point. This episode of The Astrology Podcast is a great resource as well. [28:42] If you'd like to have a question answered on a future episode, leave a message of one minute or less at speakpipe.com/bigskyastrologypodcast or email april (at) bigskyastrology (dot) com; put “Podcast Question” in the subject line. Free ways to support the podcast: Subscribe, like, review and share with a friend! [29:13] A tribute to this week's donors! If you would like to support the show and receive access to April's special donors-only videos, go to BigSkyAstropod.com and contribute $10 or more. You can make a one-time donation in any amount or become an ongoing monthly contributor.

In this week's episode of Soul Archaeology, our host, quantum healer and evolutionary astrologer, Ali Ofstedal, discusses the current energetic climate. She does a full breakdown of the collective astrological energy, and how it will impact you individually.Ali does an energy forecast for for the week of March 16-22. She breaks down the energies of March, including the Total Lunar Eclipse in Virgo, Mercury and Venus Retrograde, the Solar Eclipse in Aries, and Neptune's shift into Aries. She goes into the energy of the Sun meeting with the North Node, Neptune, and Venus this week, as well as the Vernal/Spring Equinox in the Northern Hemisphere and the beginning of Aries Season. She discusses the emegrence of new beginnings as we end one chapter and begin another. THANK YOU for being here.⁠⁠⁠Eclipse Portal Workshop⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Private Mentorship Clarity Call⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Pound Jewelry⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ use the code ALI20 for 20% off⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠The ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠LUME⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ red light therapy box⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠for $260 off⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Earth Archive's Rainforest Serum⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ - use the code ALIOFSTEDAL for 11% offUse the code "PODCAST" for 10% off an⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠astrocartography or astrology session with me.⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Catori Life⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ jewelryThank for you being here.Your presence means the world. I would love to hear from you.Ways you can support Soul Archaeology: subscribe, rate & review on iTunes or Spotify, share on social media & tag Ali (⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠@aliofstedal⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠, ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠@soul__archaeology⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ on Instagram).Stay Connected:⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Soul Archaeology⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ on Instagram⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Ali Ofstedal⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ on Instagram⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Mentorship Waitlist⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Work with Ali⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠

The spring equinox, also known as the vernal equinox, is when there are equal amounts of daylight and nighttime, around 21st March in the Northern Hemisphere and 21st September in the Southern Hemisphere. It is the perfect moment to explore balance in our lives. I invited medical herbalist Lucy Blunden to explore what balance actually is and how we can move towards it in our lives. Lucy Blunden is a Medical Herbalist and EFT-Tapping practitioner in Hertfordshire UK. She has been in practice since 2008 working with people to support them in finding their desired health changes. She loves to work with digestive concerns as herbs have such great affinity to the gut. Lucy's specialist area is where the emotional and physical meet and she works with her astute understanding of folk in combination with herbal medicines and EFT-Tapping to find the perfect path for each patient. We also covered:What herbs will bring balance at this time of yearHow transitions can be challenging timesFinding rhythm after perimenopauseThe paradox of Spring, how new life requires letting goForaged and cultivated foods to support you in springHow to recover from a challenging yearRituals for the equinoxWhy Lucy doesn't use the word 'holistic' any moreHow Lucy navigated 'too-muchness' and found the best place for EFTPrompts to help you gain the benefit of the seasonLucy's LinksWebsiteInstagramFacebookRecommendationsKirsty Galagher's books Sacred Seasons and Lunar LivingRebecca Beattie's book The Wheel of the Year That chocolate and tahini recipe from Dominique LudwigYou can buy me a cuppa here Buy The Perimenopause JournalKate's free resource libraryInstagram @kate_codringtonBuy Second SpringPerimenopause Unwrapped online course Perimenopause Starter Kit MusicTrust Me by RYYZNArtworkKate's portrait by Lori Fitzdoodles

The Sun (Conscious Self) is conjunct Neptune (Dreamer) at the very end of Pisces inviting you to witness with love your visionary and escapist nature. The Sun enters Aries to mark Spring Equinox in the Northern Hemisphere. Attune with the potent energy of rebirth and the balance between light and darkness. Acknowledge what you've learned from the winter parts of you and nature's seasonal dance and find congruent ways to open to life returning. The Sun conjoins Venus (Relational One) in Aries. This is the halfway point in the forty-day Venus retrograde cycle. Witness the changes you've noticed since March 1st. What patterns in relationships, stewarding your resource (like money and time) and core values have shifted. What needs to be released? Plus remember that Mercury (Storyteller) just went retrograde in Aries so acknowledge any narratives in those areas that you've outgrown.Podcast poem: "Between Winter and Spring" by Rosemerry Wahtola Trommer Support the showGo to Sheila's website for information for transformational resources: https://www.ontheedgesofchange.comFollow Sheila: https://www.instagram.com/ontheedgesofchange https://www.pinterest.com/ontheedgesofchange

Happy Ostara!

While we're going into meteorological spring in Northern Hemisphere and autumn in the Southern Hemisphere the timme differences are aplenty......so the motto of this show is that it's 'Disco O'Clock' somewhere.  So get your dancing shoes on and get moving...

Spring Equinox is approaching in the Northern Hemisphere, bringing with it powerful lessons about renewal, rebirth, and fresh starts. In this episode, Joanna draws on her 20+ years of studying seasonal wisdom to share a transformative 5-step coaching process for breathing new life into stagnant areas of your business, relationships, and personal practices. Whether you're looking to revitalize your marketing strategy, reconnect with old friends, or restart a neglected habit, this episode provides a thoughtful framework for moving from Winter's rest into Spring's vibrant energy. Learn why periods of stagnation are not just normal but sometimes necessary, and discover how to intentionally bring things back to life in ways that truly serve you. In This Episode You'll Discover: A powerful 5-step coaching process you can use to revive any stagnant area of your life or business Why Winter phases and periods of stagnation are natural and sometimes necessary parts of growth How to identify the root causes of stagnation and use those insights to create lasting change The critical role of beliefs and energy in successfully renewing projects or habits Practical strategies for moving from vision to action with accountability and commitment Episode Highlights For Your Journal: Grab your journal and pen! This episode includes specific coaching questions and journaling prompts designed to help you: Identify what's ready for renewal in your life Understand your true motivation for revival Create new, energizing beliefs that support your vision Take concrete action steps toward renewal This is definitely an episode you'll want to return to whenever you're ready to breathe new life into any area that's grown stagnant or lost its spark. If you like this podcast episode, please give us 5 stars, a great review…and share with your friends. We appreciate the love!   Join our newsletter community and get a copy of 55 Effective Breakthrough Coaching Questions  

The Polar Star and Operation Deep FreezeEach year the USCG heavy icebreaker Polar Star heads to Antarctica to spend the Northern Hemisphere winter opening a channel through the ice during the Antarctic summer.The ship has just completed her mission and is heading home to Seattle. We'll talk about why this unique ship was there, and why her mission is so important.

As the Southern Hemisphere bids farewell to Summer and the Northern Hemisphere bids farewell to Winter we talk about how 2025 is shaping up! Every now and then a hard conversation needs to be had, is it a skill?  What are factors in ensuring they are effective and beneficial?IRONMAN reduce the penalties for drafting and safety first when it comes to too much fluid on the front end of the bike.  Fascinating stuff.Like the sands through the hourglass, these are the days of our lives.Join the Tribe.

That time of year is coming very soon, and it's time to start preparing for your outdoor grow if you're in the Northern Hemisphere! In this episode, we speak with South Gorilla Army about how to prepare a plot for a guerrilla grow, how to plant seeds, what strains work best, and much more. All the information you need to set up the perfect guerrilla grow this year is right here in this episode, so make sure you check it out if you're planning to do some guerrilla growing! If you have any suggestions for guest to be on our cannabis podcast then please feel free to contact us on our website, Discord server, or any of your favourite social networks. Visit our website for links.  Website: https://highonhomegrown.com Discord: https://discord.gg/sqYGkF4xyQ Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/highonhomegrown Thank you for downloading and listening to our cannabis podcast! 

Sadhguru talks of how Shiva, the first yogi and first guru is the greatest zen master. He tells the story of how Shiva expounded the mechanics of creation, and explored the 112 ways in which a human being can attain to the ultimate. Responding to a question on whether youth should celebrate Mahashivratri, and whether it is an outdated religious ritual in modern times, Sadhguru speaks about the science and significance of Mahashivratri. He talks of why one should stay awake on this night to reap the maximum benefits of the natural upsurge of energy that takes place in the Northern Hemisphere. Set the context for a joyful, exuberant day with a short, powerful message from Sadhguru. Explore a range of subjects with Sadhguru, discover how every aspect of life can be a stepping stone, and learn to make the most of the potential that a human being embodies.  Conscious Planet: https://www.consciousplanet.org Sadhguru App (Download): https://onelink.to/sadhguru__app Official Sadhguru Website: https://isha.sadhguru.org Sadhguru Exclusive: https://isha.sadhguru.org/in/en/sadhguru-exclusive Inner Engineering Link: isha.co/ieo-podcast Yogi, mystic and visionary, Sadhguru is a spiritual master with a difference. An arresting blend of profundity and pragmatism, his life and work serves as a reminder that yoga is a contemporary science, vitally relevant to our times. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Sadhguru talks of how Shiva, the first yogi and first guru is the greatest zen master. He tells the story of how Shiva expounded the mechanics of creation, and explored the 112 ways in which a human being can attain to the ultimate. Responding to a question on whether youth should celebrate Mahashivratri, and whether it is an outdated religious ritual in modern times, Sadhguru speaks about the science and significance of Mahashivratri. He talks of why one should stay awake on this night to reap the maximum benefits of the natural upsurge of energy that takes place in the Northern Hemisphere. Set the context for a joyful, exuberant day with a short, powerful message from Sadhguru. Explore a range of subjects with Sadhguru, discover how every aspect of life can be a stepping stone, and learn to make the most of the potential that a human being embodies.  Conscious Planet: https://www.consciousplanet.org Sadhguru App (Download): https://onelink.to/sadhguru__app Official Sadhguru Website: https://isha.sadhguru.org Sadhguru Exclusive: https://isha.sadhguru.org/in/en/sadhguru-exclusive Inner Engineering Link: isha.co/ieo-podcast Yogi, mystic and visionary, Sadhguru is a spiritual master with a difference. An arresting blend of profundity and pragmatism, his life and work serves as a reminder that yoga is a contemporary science, vitally relevant to our times. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Responding to a question on whether youth should celebrate Mahashivratri, and whether it is an outdated religious ritual in modern times, Sadhguru speaks about the science and significance of Mahashivratri. He talks of why one should stay awake on this night to reap the maximum benefits of the natural upsurge of energy that takes place in the Northern Hemisphere. Set the context for a joyful, exuberant day with a short, powerful message from Sadhguru. Explore a range of subjects with Sadhguru, discover how every aspect of life can be a stepping stone, and learn to make the most of the potential that a human being embodies.  Conscious Planet: https://www.consciousplanet.org Sadhguru App (Download): https://onelink.to/sadhguru__app Official Sadhguru Website: https://isha.sadhguru.org Sadhguru Exclusive: https://isha.sadhguru.org/in/en/sadhguru-exclusive Inner Engineering Link: isha.co/ieo-podcast Yogi, mystic and visionary, Sadhguru is a spiritual master with a difference. An arresting blend of profundity and pragmatism, his life and work serves as a reminder that yoga is a contemporary science, vitally relevant to our times. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Responding to a question on whether youth should celebrate Mahashivratri, and whether it is an outdated religious ritual in modern times, Sadhguru speaks about the science and significance of Mahashivratri. He talks of why one should stay awake on this night to reap the maximum benefits of the natural upsurge of energy that takes place in the Northern Hemisphere. Set the context for a joyful, exuberant day with a short, powerful message from Sadhguru. Explore a range of subjects with Sadhguru, discover how every aspect of life can be a stepping stone, and learn to make the most of the potential that a human being embodies.  Conscious Planet: https://www.consciousplanet.org Sadhguru App (Download): https://onelink.to/sadhguru__app Official Sadhguru Website: https://isha.sadhguru.org Sadhguru Exclusive: https://isha.sadhguru.org/in/en/sadhguru-exclusive Inner Engineering Link: isha.co/ieo-podcast Yogi, mystic and visionary, Sadhguru is a spiritual master with a difference. An arresting blend of profundity and pragmatism, his life and work serves as a reminder that yoga is a contemporary science, vitally relevant to our times. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

In this episode we dive deep into Pisces season, running from February 19th to March 19th, 2025. This season is a powerful time for compassion, creativity, spirituality, and intuition. We'll explore the astrological influences, key transits, and practical tips to navigate this watery, emotional time. Key Themes: Transition and Completion: Pisces season marks the end of winter (in the Northern Hemisphere) and a liminal space before the Spring Equinox. It's a time for reflection, releasing what no longer serves us, and finalizing plans for the new astrological year. Emotional Depth and Healing: Pisces' watery energy amplifies our emotions, offering profound opportunities for somatic healing and releasing deep-seated wounds. Navigating Feelings vs. Facts: This season can blur the lines between emotions and reality. We'll discuss strategies for discerning between the two and processing feelings in a healthy way. Spiritual Connection: Pisces season encourages a deeper connection to something bigger than ourselves, emphasizing soul and spirit over material possessions. The Importance of the Vessel: Taking care of our physical and energetic bodies is crucial during this time of heightened sensitivity and psychic messaging. Astrological Highlights: Nodes of Fate in Pisces/Virgo: This long-term transit emphasizes the balance between emotions and practicality, pushing us towards spirituality and self-care. (Refer to Episode 96 for more on the Nodes of Fate) Mars Stations Direct in Cancer (Feb 23): While Mars moving forward is positive, its placement in Cancer can create challenges with emotional processing. It can also bring empathetic warrior energy. Venus Retrograde in Aries (Mar 1): This retrograde encourages reevaluation of wants, desires, pleasure, and finances. It also highlights the dark feminine and setting boundaries. Mercury Enters Retroshade/Stations Retrograde in Aries (Mar 1/Mar 15): This retrograde focuses on inner child issues, anger, and communication. Double-check everything and avoid major decisions without support. Full Moon Total Lunar Eclipse in Virgo (Mar 14): A powerful time for releasing old emotional patterns and addressing perfectionism. (More details available for Unicorn Wellness Studio community) Overall Energy of the Cycle: This Pisces season emphasizes emotional regulation, nervous system support, and somatic healing. It's a time for deep release, acknowledging our feelings (without letting them consume us), and cultivating self-compassion. We may witness traumatic events in the collective which can trigger our own past traumas. Remember, in the moment, we are safe, we are the grownups, and we can choose our bandwidth of participation. Channeled Information: Pay close attention to your body's signals. It will be communicating messages about both physical and spiritual needs. Prioritize self-care, including sleep, hydration, and a supportive diet. Mindful movement and meditation are essential for grounding and navigating the heightened energies. Pisces Deep Dive: Mantra: I believe Significance: 12th and final sign of the zodiac, mutable water sign. Qualities: Mystical, healing, spiritual, compassionate, creative, escapist, sensitive, intuitive. Balance: Offers soft power, clarity, and the ability to process emotions effectively. Imbalance: Can lead to emotional overwhelm, victim mentality, and difficulty setting boundaries. Key Lesson: Discerning reality from fantasy. Practical Tips for Pisces Season: Prioritize sleep and rest. Hydrate consistently. Incorporate ginger into your diet. Schedule alone time. Engage in creative activities. Practice somatic movement (yoga, etc.). Support lymphatic flushing (foam rolling, cardio, etc.). Perform a belief inventory. Additional Resources: Group Magical Mentoring begins March 7th 2025 and exploration calls begin February 18th! This is mentoring via the tarot to heal core wounds. It's a fit if you're ready to dismantle internalized patriarchy to live a life by design, rather than a life by default, step into empowerment, manifestations, and confidence through shadow work, the witch narrative, and dark goddess energy. Or skip the details and head straight to the calendar to ☎️ Schedule a call. UnicornWellnessStudio.com Offering 30-min classical Pilates workouts in alignment to the astrological season and lunar cycles and Tandy's 41-day food reset. Subscribe to Tandy's weekly newsletter for more astrology insights and practical tips. Follow and DM on Instagram @tandy_gutierrez Additional Episodes You Might Enjoy: EP 108: From Saturn's Return to Self Empowerment Through Mentoring EP 103: Year of the Snake: A Journey into the Heart of Lilith EP 95: Nodes of Fate: Stepping into the Pisces Dream and Leaving Virgo Perfectionism Behind

Permafrost covers about a quarter of the landmass in the Northern Hemisphere.  It stores vast quantities of organic carbon in the form of dead plant matter.  As long as it stays frozen, it is no threat to the climate.  But as permafrost thaws, microorganisms start breaking down that plant matter and large amounts of carbon […]

After breeding on Arctic cliffs and tundra hillsides in summer, Rough-legged Hawks winter throughout the Northern Hemisphere. Open country is their ideal territory, where the small rodents they depend on are usually so plentiful that the hawks have enough to eat. But the rodents are cyclic, with lower populations in some years, and in those winters, Rough-legs may migrate farther and be more abundant in the contiguous United States.More info and transcript at BirdNote.org. Want more BirdNote? Subscribe to our weekly newsletter. Sign up for BirdNote+ to get ad-free listening and other perks. BirdNote is a nonprofit. Your tax-deductible gift makes these shows possible.  

It’s the middle of winter in the Northern Hemisphere, and while it might not feel like the season for jumping in the water, more and more people are finding an icy plunge invigorating. William Brangham takes a look at the world of winter swimming and both its potential benefits and risks. PBS News is supported by - https://www.pbs.org/newshour/about/funders

Common eiders are the largest duck in the Northern Hemisphere, with some tipping the scales at nearly 6 pounds. They are also the most widely distributed and heavily harvested sea duck in the world. In North America alone, there are 4 subspecies of the common eider. On this episode, Dr. Sarah Gutowsky and Kate Martin join Dr. Mike Brasher for Part One of our in depth discussion about this highly prized bird. This episode covers all the basics, including how to identify them, where they breed and winter, what their nests look like, and what we've learned from recent research about their ecology and unexpected shenanigans during the nesting season. Tune in for a wealth of information as we lay the foundation for even more discussions to come.Listen now: www.ducks.org/DUPodcastSend feedback: DUPodcast@ducks.org

Professor Suzannah Lipscomb discusses the impact of the Little Ice Age, a period of significant cooling from the 15th to early 19th centuries that caused widespread famine, drought, and socio-economic upheaval across the Northern Hemisphere. She's joined by Professors Madeline Bassnett and Laurie Johnson who share insights from their joint research project on how England adapted to severe weather conditions. Discover fascinating historical accounts and learn about humanity's resilience in the face of climate adversity.Presented by Professor Susannah Lipscomb. The researcher is Alice Smith, audio editor is Amy Haddow and the producer is Rob Weinberg. The senior producer is Anne-Marie Luff.Theme music from All3Media. Other music courtesy of Epidemic Sounds.Not Just the Tudors is a History Hit podcast.Sign up to History Hit for hundreds of hours of original documentaries, with a new release every week and ad-free podcasts. Sign up at https://www.historyhit.com/subscribe. You can take part in our listener survey here: https://uk.surveymonkey.com/r/6FFT7MK

In this episode, my guest is Dr. Brian Keating, Ph.D., a cosmologist and professor of physics at the University of California, San Diego. We discuss the origins of the universe and how humans have used light and optics to understand where and how life on Earth emerged. We explore how early humans charted the stars, sun, moon, and other celestial events to measure time and track seasons, as well as how stargazing continues to connect us to a shared ancient experience. Additionally, we examine the scientific process, the practical and ethical challenges of pursuing groundbreaking discoveries, and the emotional toll of striving for recognition in one's profession. Finally, we discuss whether astrology has any scientific validity and consider the possibility of life beyond Earth. Read the full episode show notes at hubermanlab.com. Thank you to our sponsors AG1: https://drinkag1.com/huberman LMNT: https://drinklmnt.com/huberman BetterHelp: https://betterhelp.com/huberman Function: https://functionhealth.com/huberman Helix Sleep: https://helixsleep.com/huberman ROKA: https://roka.com/huberman Timestamps 00:00:00 Dr. Brian Keating 00:02:07 Cosmology, Origin of Universe 00:05:41 Sponsors: LMNT & BetterHelp 00:08:33 Stars, Planets, Early Humans, Time 00:14:53 Astrology, Ophiuchus Constellation 00:19:58 Pineal Gland, Time-Keeping & Stars, Seasons & Offspring 00:29:19 Humans, Time Perception, Astronomy 00:36:08 Sponsor: AG1 00:37:47 Brain & Prediction; Moonset, Syzygy; Telescope, Galileo  00:46:36 Light Refraction; Telescope, Eyeglasses 00:51:36 Earth Rotation & Sun 00:53:43 Glass, Microscope, Telescopes & Discovery 01:02:53 Science as Safe Space; Jupiter, Galileo, Discovery, Time 01:10:48 Early Humans, Stonehenge, Pyramids, Measurement Standards  01:15:54 Giants of Astronomy  01:20:04 Sponsors: Function & Helix Sleep 01:23:10 Origin of Life, Scientific Method & P-Hacking; Nobel Prize, Big Bang, Inflation 01:30:20 Cosmic Microwave Background Radiation, BICEP 01:37:58 Father & Son Relationship, Science & Rewards 01:44:06 Loss, Mentor  01:49:55 Antarctica, South Pole 01:56:49 Light & Heat Pollution, South Pole 02:01:09 Prize Pursuit, First Discovery; Star Collapse, Micrometeorites, Polarization  02:08:26 Sponsor: ROKA 02:10:08 Moon, Size & Horizon; Visual Acuity; Rainbow or Moon Bigger? 02:15:21 Sunset, Green Flash, Color Opponency 02:23:05 Menstrual & Lunar Cycles; Moon Movement 02:26:36 Northern Hemisphere & Stargazing, Dark Sky Communities, Telescope 02:29:51 Constellations, Asterism; Halley's & Hale-Bopp Comets 02:32:13 Navigation, Columbus 02:36:29 Adaptive Optics, Scintillation, Artificial Stars 02:48:28 Life Outside Earth? 02:57:50 Gut Microbiome; Building Planet 03:05:00 Zero-Cost Support, Spotify & Apple Follow & Reviews, Sponsors, YouTube Feedback, Social Media, Protocols Book, Neural Network Newsletter Disclaimer & Disclosures