Podcasts about Yin

For the first regular episode of the year (excepting our New Year's recap) we take a look at the New Year Traditions at Temmu's court.  How did the court celebrate the New Year in the late 7th century? For more, check out our blogpost:  https://sengokudaimyo.com/podcast/episode-141 Rough Transcript: Welcome to Sengoku Daimyo's Chronicles of Japan.  My name is Joshua and this is episode 141: Temmu's New Year's Traditions   The chill winter air meant that most of the assembled crowd had donned multiple layers of robes.  Men and women had assembled together, upon the open, rock-covered courtyard, both to see and be seen.  To the north and east of the courtyard were the walls and gates of the buildings that made up the royal palace, the rooves of the buildings just visible beyond the gates. The onlookers stood arrayed around the open lanes that had been created for the event—at one end of the rocky field were targets, while at the other were archers, also arrayed in their finest outfits.  While technically they wore hunting robes, cut to allow greater movement in the arm, many of these fabrics had no business being anywhere near a moor or the dirt of open fields.  After all, this wasn't just some hunt:  They were demonstrating their skills in the center of the State.  At the officials' command, the archers let loose their arrows.  The crowd murmured at the soft crack of the bowstring, the faint whisper of arrow as the fletchings cut through the air, and the thud as the arrows struck their targets.  Looking downrange, approval bubbled through the crowd: the targets were well-struck.  Behind the archers on the field, another group awaited their turn. The events of the day would be the talk of the court, from the lowest clerk to the highest prince , for days to come.   Not just the well-placed shot, but also the grace and poise of the one who had let loose an arrow of particular note.  And heaven forbid an arrow miss its target.  Even kicking up stones or scraping the earth could have negative social consequences.  A particularly good showing could inspire poetry, and beyond the prizes being offered to the winner, could also bring notice to those from more obscure backgrounds. The new year had just started, and a good performance might be just what was needed to help put the rest of the year on a good footing.     Welcome back!  This is the first episode of the new year, 2026, and we are still going through the reign of Ohoama, aka Temmu Tenno, covering the period from 672 to 686. Before we get started, though, a quick shout out to Suzuki for supporting us on Patreon.  It means a lot and helps us keep this thing going.  If you would like to support us or our efforts to maintain the website, where we also have the Armor manual, clothing, and a miscellany on various topics, we have information at Sengokudaimyo.com and we will have more information at the end of this and every episode.  Support is appreciated as I really do want to try and minimize ads—I don't put any into the podcast myself, though some platforms may place ads around the podcast, which I cannot always control.  Now we've covered a lot this reign, but this episode we are going to cover three things in particular.  First off, and perhaps a bit of a tangent, we'll talk about some of the issues with the Chronicles when it comes to reading it,especially in translation.  It seems quite clear to me that even the sources that the Chroniclers were using weren't always in agreement with each other on how they spelled certain things or even in properly recording when things happened. After that we'll cover the major topics of this episode, focusing primarily on the New Year traditions of the court—we'll look at the major events of the first month for each year in the reign, allowing us to see some of the similarities, and differences. Finally, we'll look at the last year of Ohoama's reign, particularly as he grew ill, because it can be a fascinating question:  What did people do when disease struck before we had modern medicine?  Here the Chronicles reveal a lot about not only the beliefs of the time, but of their syncretism: how people were willing to reach out to whatever power they could in order to cure disease.  Whether it was Yin-yang divination, beseeching the local kami, or attempting to make merit, all of these things were on the table when it came to illness and mortality. And so, let's get into it. One of the first things I want to talk about is the problem that we have in trying to read the Chronicles, both in the way they are written and then the translation issue on top of that.  Even in Japanese the Chronicles have to be translated out of an ancient form of kanbun—basically a Japanese version of Chinese, using Sinitic characters.  Like any document written by non-native speakers, the Chronicles have their idiosyncrasies that make it different from what someone in Chang'an might be writing at the same time.  There are times and places where it is clear that something is meant to be read in the Japanese pronunciation, which itself was different from modern Japanese.  Add to this the fact that there are many times that different Sinitic characters sound alike in Japanese—especially in modern Japanese.  So any English translation of the Chronicles which doesn't give the actual characters in the source text can add to the confusion.  This is why I like to consult either the Japanese Historical Text Initiative or an electronic version of the National History series text—though even those have issues at times when the characters used in the text don't exist in modern character sets, though that seems to be less and less of a problem. One example I want to give of the complexities of reading the Chronicles, and the need to dive deeper into the original language and consult multiple versions, is a set of records for Ki no Omi no Abemaro and others.  He is our first mention of a member of the Ki family: on the 9th day of the 8th month of 673, the first year since Ohoama's ascension and one year after the Jinshin no Ran, we are told that Ki no Omi no Abemaro and others were given favors and rewards for their service during the war in Iga province.  Indeed, Ki no Omi no Abemaro is listed prominently in the records of the Jinshin no Ran and appears to have been one of the generals for Ohoama and the Yoshino faction in general.  Less than a year later, on the 28th day of the 2nd month, Ki no Omi no Abemaro died and was posthumously awarded the rank of Daishi, which was 5th from the top in the old system of 26 ranks.  A rather respectable rank, to be sure. Later that same year we get a note that Ki no Omi no KATAmaro—another member of the family, apparently--was appointed, along with a "Prince Mino" as a commissioner for the erection of the Great Temple of Takechi. Two years later, however, we get a record on the 22nd day of the 4th month of 676 that the sovereign, Ohoama, sent an order to the Governor of Mino telling him to let the children of Ki no Omi no Abemaro, resident in the district of Toki, be removed to the East country and become peasants in that country.  On the face of it, this appears to be an incredible fall from grace.  Ki no Omi no Abemaro is basically one of the top generals and heroes of the Jinshin no Ran, but his children are so unruly that they are banished to the East and stripped of their noble status?  There has to be a story there, right? Then in 679, on the 3rd day of the 2nd month, we are told that Ki no Omi no Katamaro died.  For his service in the Jinshin War he received the posthumous rank of Upper Daikin.  That would have been roughly the 7th rank—two below Ki no Abemaro.  So was the Ki family back in the good graces of the court?  What is going on? First off, when we go to the original text, we see that Aston, whose translation of the Nihon Shoki we've been working on Ihas made an apparent error in translation.  Remember, Aston was translating the Chronicles back in 1896, without the aid of modern computers, along with a lot of other research that has happened since then, and I can hardly fault him for missing things here and there.  This is why, if you cannot check the original, you may want to also look at the new translation from John Bentley.  Here we can see that he translates the name not as "Ki no Omi no Abemaro", but rather that of "Ki no Omi no KASAmaro".  And if we compare Ki no Omi no KaSAmaro with the previous entry on Ki no Omi no KaTAmaro we can see that these are actually the exact same names except for a single character.  Which leads us to the question:  Are these the same person, and the scribes simply miswrote one of the characters in the name?  It may not even be on the Chroniclers so much as whatever texts they were, themselves, working on.  This isn't helped by the fact that we later on see another entry for Ki no KATAmaro, but that one uses character for "KATA", meaning "hard", using the kun'yomi, or Japanese reading, rather than using two phonetic characters in the on'yomi reading.  So is this just another way to write "KATAmaro" or is this a different person altogether? Ultimately, we cannot be entirely sure.  It does seem wild that there would be two "Ki no Omi no Katamaro" at court at the same time and nobody otherwise distinguished the two.  The question about KaSAmaro and KaTAmaro, and whose kids were sent into exile, is a bit harder to untangle. And, truth be told, it is ultimately a minor point.  We have only a couple of lines here, and maybe these passages will help illuminate something later in the histories, but for now, they are just fragments of the story of what was happening.  Parts of the tattered tapestry from which the royal history was ripped out and restitched together, the rest of the story largely discarded, unless it made its way to us through other means. The Chronicles may be flawed, but they are still our main source for the period, and while we might challenge individual items, we still get a glimpse at how things operated back at this time.  For instance, if we look at the events happening around the New Year, we can see some common threads. The New Year is an important tradition in many cultures.  Whether it was a solar or lunar cycle—or some combination—the new year indicated a new cycle, and was often accompanied by associated symbols and rituals.  Today in the US it is often celebrated with fireworks and champagne, followed by making resolutions for the new year.  In Japan, people will often go to their local shrine or temple for an important first visit, and temple bells will ring out 108 times. Another tradition is the osechi-ryori, the  traditional new years foods.  This has grown over time from a tradition of eating a large bowl of rice to various other foods that are seen as auspicious or having special properties, such as the hardening of teeth—a major concern before the era of modern dental hygiene!  Then there are traditions such as the Kagami Biraki, or opening of the mirror, and the creation of special mochi, or rice cakes for the purpose.  Of course all of these traditions started somewhere and have evolved over time, so what do we know about the New Year celebrations during the late 7th century? One caveat: in the Chronicles, we only really see what was happening in the court, and the Yamato court at that.  There may have been local traditions that others were following that, unless we find documentation about them, we likely would never know.  But many of the court traditions were passed down to later generations. These traditions appear to include the giving of gifts; large, celebratory banquets; and the annual archery tournament. Banquets are some of the first and most common things we see.  We see a banquet as Ohoama assumed the throne in 673—which probably was the event that overshadowed anything else they might have done that year.  The following year, 674, there doesn't seem to have been much recorded, and I wonder if they were still pulling everything together after the turmoil of Ohoama's ascension.  And so it is that in the first month of 675 we really get to see the annual new year's events in their full form.  On the second day of that year, from the Royal Princes on down, all of the public functionaries presented their respects to the sovereign.  I suspect that this was a large ceremony, where everyone gathered in the courtyard of the palace together or something similar, not that each person individually went up and presented their respects—I doubt Ohoama would have wanted to sit through all of that.  Also, as we've already seen, there were limits on what parts of the palace different functionaries were allowed to enter.  So some of these well-wishers may have been "outside", others in the courtyard, and others in the palace building itself, depending on their rank and importance in the bureaucratic hierarchy. On the following day, all public functionaries, from the initial rank upwards, presented firewood.  Aston notes that this is the first mention of what would become a yearly practice.  Firewood may not seem like much, but it would have likely been important to keeping things running, especially given how early people were supposed to arrive at the palace and administrative complex each day.  This wasn't firewood for a fireplace—they didn't have those—but probably would have been used either for cooking or, I suspect, for the large braziers that burned with wood and pitch to light the darkness, particularly in the winter months.  Firewood could also be processed into smaller pieces of coal for other uses.  It is interesting that for the first ceremony, the Chronicles describe the court from the Royal Princes on down, while for the giving of firewood the order is from the initial—which is to say the lowest—ranks upwards.  This could indicate the order in which things progressed in these cases. Several days after that, on the 7th day of the first month, a banquet was given at court for the Ministers—so only the higher ranking functionaries.  But ten days later, on the 17th, everyone of rank—the Ministers of State; the Daibu, or high officials; and all of the public functionaries from the initial rank upwards had an archery meeting in the Court of the Western Gate. Archery and archery contests had been important to the Yamato people for ages—and the same on the continent.  Confucius, in his day, suggested that archery was a martial skill that even nobles should cultivate.  I believe we've noted before how archery could be used both for warfare and for just feeding your family.  As such, it was considered a particularly useful skill for just about everyone to have.  It probably also helped that it was a martial skill that noblemen and others could use to show off without actually risking any injury to themselves in the process.  I'm just saying.  And as we described at the top of the episode, this particular archery contest would, for both participants and spectators, likely have been a chance to show off the top of their game, whether in martial prowess, clothing, or behavior. And since we are looking at the new year's celebrations, let's keep this going and look at later years in Ohoama's reign. As I go through these you'll start to see the patterns, where the events I've just described will generally recur year after year, but not identically, sometimes with a shuffle in the schedule. In 676, we see that the Ministers and public functionaries pay their respects on the first day of the new year.  On the 4th day, the sovereign granted gifts to the higher level officials, from Royal Prince Takechi, down to the high officials, or Daibu, of Shoukin rank.  Their not so secret Santa gifts included robes, hakama, lined garments, obi for their waist, leg straps, and staves, or walking sticks.  We are also told that everyone above the rank of Shoukin also got an armrest thrown in, as well.  Further gifts or grants were given out several days later, on the 7th, to everyone from Shoukin on up, based on their individual circumstances.  Then, on the 15th, we again see all of the functionaries present firewood and then they were all entertained at a court banquet. The following day they held the annual new year's archery contest, with prizes, at the court of the western gate.  Those who hit the target received prizes of different values.  In his recent translation of the Nihon Shoki, Bentley references Kuroita on Article 41 of Miscellaneous Statutes, saying that this archery event was apparently a regular new year's occurrence, and even the prizes were noted as varying over time. The same day they held the archery contest, that year, Ohoama held a banquet at the Shima Palace.  Shima was the name given to the Soga Prime Minister, back in the day, so I assume that this was at or near the site of the old Soga residence? In 677, by comparison, we don't see nearly as much referenced.  There is archery at the South Gate, vice the west gate, but that is it.  The festivities in 678 similarly only talk about the archery at the south gate.  There is also mention of a preparation for worshipping the kami of heaven and earth, for which a purification was held throughout the state.  In addition, an abstinence palace, or saiguu, was erected on the bank of the Kurahashi river.  Kurahashi appears to refer to a tributary of the Ohara river, in Sakurai.  This feels less like a New Year's celebration, however, and more like a sign of merit-making.  The Saiguu would have likely been to prepare for a trip to Ise shrine, and three months later Ohoama was preparing to go to the Saiguu, but that is when Princess Towochi suddenly died, and they scuttled the plans. In 679, the court greeted the New Year with a new decree.  Ohoama declared that Princes, Ministers, and public functionaries—anyone in service to the government, basically, were to refrain from paying respects during New Years or other ceremonies to anyone except relatives of the grade of elder brother, elder sister, and above, or to the senior members of the Houses.  Princes weren't even to pay respects to their own mothers unless they were, themselves, princesses.  Ministers were likewise not to pay respects to their mothers if they were of "mean" rank.  In other words, if they were commoners. These kinds of statutes are interesting.  First of all, you ask yourself why?  In all likelihood, there were various local traditions and individuals paid respects to their parents as well as to others to whom they owed respect for one reason or another.  Here the State is ordering society such that there is a clear hierarchy, at least among the members of the court.   Since women often found advancement by marrying up, it was usual for one's mother to have been born a lower rank in society than oneself.  And so we see them enforcing the social order. That new order was based on Confucian concepts of hierarchy, and this seems to go along with those same ideas. What we don't really see is how this was enforced—if at all.  The day after that, the yearly archery competition took place at the West Gate of the palace. The next year, 680, we see a New Year's Banquet at the Court of the Great Hall.  Ohoama himself occupied the Mukai-kodono, which appears to refer to one of the smaller wings.  Based on the palace layout that we see in the posthole remains, this probably means that he was set up in the smaller wing, likely in a more intimate space, while most of the other guests were in the large hall, maintaining that crucial separation of sovereign and subjects. This New Year's archery event included Princes of the Blood all the way down to the rank of Shouken—the very lowest rank in the court—and it was held at the South Gate. You may be noticing a pattern, that the archery competition is listed as being held at either the south or west gates.  The south gate probably refers to the main gate of the later Okamoto—aka the Kiyomihara—palace.  The West gate refers to the west gate of the Ebinoko enclosure.   We talked about these and the general layout of the palace back in Episode 134, and you can check out that podcast blog post for some images of what things looked like, as well.  These gates were on the north and east sides of a large, rectangular courtyard, which was likely the actual event location.  So it isn't as if these were separate areas, just a difference of where things were set up in what was otherwise the same relative space. The following year, 681, we see similar ceremonies.  We see offerings made to the kami of Heaven and Earth, and we once again see a note about various functionaries paying their respects at court.  Even though this wasn't mentioned every year, it could have been an annual thing and just wasn't always recorded so the Chroniclers just wrote down what they had records for.  There are certainly other things we don't necessarily witness in the records, such as the annual promotions and promulgations.  We see irregular promotions, of course, such as on someone's passing, but the regular administration of the government and promotions of people to new positions is not something we really see regularly documented, since it doesn't really shed much light on the sovereign and the royal household.  And so we sometimes see things if they get mentioned, but otherwise we only see glimpses.  That would change as records became more administrative and the histories were more about simply recording what was happening—though still from a particular angle.  At this point, however, we aren't dealing with a single court record, but rather with numerous records, stories, and recollections.  That same year, 681, we also see another banquet, with Ohoama situated in the Mukai no Kodono, while the Princes of the Blood and non-royal Princes were both introduced into the inner reception chamber.  Ministers attended in the outer reception chamber.  They all received sake and musical performances, and rank advancements were given out.  Kusakabe no Kihi no Ohogata was graduated from the rank of Upper Daisen to Lower Daikin, and given the title of Naniwa no Muraji.  A few days later, Sakahibe no Muraji no Iwazumi was granted a fief with 60 horses and received presents of coarse silk, floss silk, cloth, and one hundred mattocks—the last one being a rather interesting gift, I have to admit.  Of course, in true Chronicles fashion, we have no idea why these gifts were made—we don't even have another reference to Iwazumi around there, but he must have done something. We are later told that there was the annual archery shoot, and then a decree, possibly unrelated to New Years, that the various provinces were ordered to repair the shrines to the kami of heaven and earth. The year 682 is an anomaly.  There is no mention of a banquet, nor of an archery tournament.  I wonder if this may have to do with some of the sad events of that first month.  While it started fine—Toneri no Miyatsuko no Nukamushi was raised from Daisen to Lower Shoukin—we are told that on the 18th, Lady Higami, one of Ohoama's consorts, died in the palace.  The next day there was an earthquake, and she was buried on the 27th.  A prominent illness and death may have put a pall on the ceremonies, and could explain why we don't see any mention of them for that year. It is also possible that some of this New Year tradition had become so routine that people were no longer commenting on it, and therefore the Chroniclers weren't including references to it. The following year, in 683, we again see the functionaries paying their respects.  We also see the presentation of a three legged sparrow by the Viceroy of Tsukushi, Tajihi no Mabito no Shima, along with others.  A three legged sparrow would have been something: it is reminiscent of the three legged crow, often depicted in the sun.  It is unclear if it was still alive, but that wasn't the point.  They invited the Princes of the Blood down to the Ministers to great hall, the Daigokuden, for a banquet, where the three legged sparrow was displayed. .  Later that month, Ohoama issued a decree in regards to all of the auspicious omens and made presents to everyone, from Shouken rank upwards.  There was also a general amnesty—all crimes were pardoned, from capital offenses on down, and all forced labor was remitted, so that people didn't have to provide the normal service.  The phrasing for this particular entry is intriguing.  Ohoama is mentioned as Yamato Neko Sumera no Mikoto and is specifically called a "God Incarnate".  This is one of the rare times that we see the Chronicles explicitly call out the sovereign as a living deity.  Of course, they trace the royal lineage back to Amaterasu, but there isn't a lot suggesting that the sovereign is necessarily a deity. And in reality, this was probably something that was more honorific than anything else.  Heck, at times in Japanese history we would see sovereigns selling their calligraphy to help keep the royal palace funded while warriors went around actually being in charge of things.  However, this divine language did show up in the 19th and 20th century, especially as the Tennou, now called Emperor in English terminology, once again was recognized as the Head of State, and people would actually pray to him.  Not necessarily like praying at a shrine, but out of respect.  And remember, a lot of time the Tennou was kept out of sight of regular people and hidden, much like the way that the kami were treated.  The concept of the Emperor's divinity was very much tied up in the elevation of the State and the general sense of Nationalism that had gripped Japan in the early half of the 20th century.  And so the allies quite explicitly had Emperor Showa renounce his divinity after Japan  World War II. Those studying Japanese history have probably heard of this concept, and so it is interesting to see evidence of it here, as well as the nature of the royal house, where the sovereign is kept at a distance from those of lower rank, unless they are directly serving him.  But it was not as though the sovereign was a god in the sense of being all powerful.  Even if he were considered a living, visible kami, the kami were not omnipotent, and there was no getting over the fact that our particular sovereign, Ohoama, was getting older.  Only a year or so earlier, he had suffered a rather bad illness, so he clearly was not invincible.  And it is of course possible that this language was simply royal exaggeration, rather than any attempt to define the sovereign as something more than he was.  Still, that concept would continue to play a part throughout Japanese history. The same day in 683 that Ohoama issued the pardons, we are told that there was a special performance at the Woharida Court of dance and music from Goguryeo, Baekje, and Silla—the "Three Countries" of the Korean peninsula, even if only one of them was still going strong.  The Woharida palace is thought to have been north, along the banks of the Asuka River.  It may have been moved over time—there appears to have been a palace in the Furumiya area, near Toyoura, but there is also evidence of a palace by a shared name over by Ikazuchi-no-oka, on the other side of the river.  Excavations at Ikazuchi no oka revealed pottery with the name of the palace, suggesting that this was the site, but even then, that pottery was from the later Tempyo era.  Regardless, it seems that the Asuka valley was just chock full of palaces, new and old, though the older ones were not as regularly used for government functions, one assumes. The following year, 684, we again get told about the annual archery shoot.  It took place in the Eastern court this time, with Ministers in attendance.  Apparently they had men skilled in archery shooting alongside palace attendants and little people—the word used in Japanese is "Shuju" or "Hikihito".  This word is often translated as "dwarf"; it appears to be a derogatory term for anyone considered short of stature, though it is also used to refer more generally to those seen as either lacking wit or to actors and performers. This isn't the first time we see the term.  Back in 675, about 9 years prior, Ohoama had sent orders to a number of regions near the capital, from Awaji to Tamba, to Afumi and to Mino and Wohari, among others, to send as tribute common people who could sing, shuju—or dwarfs—and jugglers.  More generally they seem to be referring to entertainers, and it strikes me that could be what is meant here.  Either way, the entertainment industry was hardly a lucrative one, and we can see that performers are almost more of a commodity, to be "paid" as tribute, rather than a professional who is "hired" to work.  I suspect that, as in many other times and places, individuals who were shorter than average often found work as entertainers in this sense—whether they wished it or not. The year 685 we don't see any mention of archery, though it probably still happened.  Instead the Chronicles focus on the various government officials paying their respects to their sovereign.  The rest of the entries for the month are largely concerned with changes to the rank system as of that year. The year 686, we get the last records of various new years festivals—four months later, the sovereign would grow terribly ill, and he would eventually pass away later that year.  However, for those still celebrating the new year in 686, that was all in the future. The last year of Ohoama's reign started out relatively like others. Ohoama went to the Daigokuden, the Great Hall of Audience, and gave a banquet to the Princes and High Officials.  There he decided to have something of a riddle challenge.  He would ask riddles, and then offer prizes for the correct answer. And no, unfortunately we don't have any of the riddles, at least that I have seen.  Aston calls these "conundrums" and notes that they are specifically nonsensical questions, and provides examples such as "Why does a horse, after a rapid run, listen to the earth? Why does a dog, when he goes slowly, raise his leg?"  Ohoama's son, Prince Takechi, answered correctly, and so did Prince Ise.  Their prizes differed in content, but in both cases were pretty extensive.  The winners received ceremonial robes, brocade or purple hakama, numerous bolts of coarse silk, many pounds of thread, hundreds of pounds of flossed Silk, and hundreds of bolts of cloth. I think that makes it quite a bit more lucrative than any of the quiz nights I've ever been to. Later that month, there was another banquet, this time for nine Buddhist monks of Daikan-daiji. Besides its status as a national temple, this may have also been related to the year before, when Ohoama had fallen ill, and prayers had been offered at Daikandaiji for his recovery.  The courthad likewise provided gifts to the temple in the last month of the previous year, and then, at the banquet, gave to the attending monks silk and cloth, based on their rank. But that wasn't the end of the gifts.  The following day the Princes and High Officials all received upper garments and hakama—likely referring to official garments—each getting one suit, each. Then, on the 13th day of the new year, the court invited 20 exceptional individuals to a banquet.  These were talented people, professors, divination specialists, and physicians.  They were also wined and dined and presented various gifts. On the 16th day, the Princes and High Officials were then invited to a banquet in the Daigokuden.  They were given gifts of silk and cloth, based on their rank.  Then they held another riddle competition, with correct answers rewarded with gifts of coarse and flossed silk. This was only a short time after disaster had struck, though a bit removed—two days earlier, in the evening, the royal storehouse at Naniwa had caught fire, eventually burning the entire Toyosaki palace complex to the ground.  Some claimed that it was actually started at a private residence,  that of Ato no Muraji no Kusuri, and then spread to the Palace.  In the end, only the military storehouse was spared. This would have been quite the tragedy for the government, but it did not halt the festivities happening down in Asuka.  The Naniwa Palace appears to have been a major government center for the administration of the state, but it was not the royal court which had been in Asuka for over a decade.  Indeed, I imagine that the news probably reached Asuka around the time of the Banquet itself. And yet, rather than putting a damper on the festivities, they continued another couple of days – presumably everything was already prepared and there was no point in canceling.  On the 17th, the court sponsored a banquet in the rear palace, presumably for the Queen and members of the imperial family.  Then the following day there was a great revel at the palace.  Ohoama took his place in front of the royal muro and made presents to performers, as well as to the singers.  As before everything varied according to rank. Asuka wasn't the only place to get in on the festivities.  The same month, the court also sponsored a banquet for the Silla envoys in Tsukushi, sending Prince Kawachi and others. Regrettably, that would be the last new year that Ohoama would see.  In the fifth month, he grew ill, and what we see in the Chronicles after that is an interesting look into how people of the time dealt with sickness. First, the court had the Sutra of Yakushi expounded at Kawaradera and held a Buddhist retreat in the palace, inviting monks to come and expound Buddhist teachings.  Yakushi, or Yakushi Nyorai—Bhaisajyaguru in Sanskrit—was known as the Medicine Buddha, and his name in Sinitic characters was basically "Master of Medicine".  It is said that he was responsible for the Eastern Pure Land, and that, as a Bodhisattva, he had made 12 great vows to cure the illnesses of all living beings in the world.  For that reason, Yakushi Nyorai was often called upon to cure illness.  In fact, six years earlier, when the Queen, Uno no Sarara Hime, had taken ill, Ohoama erected an entire temple to Yakushi Nyorai, known as Yakushiji.  He then had 100 people take vows as priests, and they attributed her recovery to this effort. In this case, however, it seems that it didn't have quite such an effect, and Ohoama remained under the weather.  We are also told that the court sent Palace Attendants, the Oho-toneri, to clean the pagodas of various temples and that a general amnesty was announced for all under heaven, emptying the prisons.  All of this points to the idea of making merit in the hope of bringing good karma, and thus healing. But the following month, Ohoama was still ill.  Divination was performed by the Onmyoji, the court diviners, and they claimed that there was a curse from Kusanagi, the sword that is considered one of the three main royal symbols.  This is the sword that was said to have been found by Susanowo in the tale of Yamata no Worochi, and which gained its name, Kusanagi, when used by Yamato Takeru, cutting down the grass to save him when his enemies tried to catch him by setting fire to the field where he was hunting.  For more on that, check out Episodes 34 and 35. Given the importance of Kusanagi, I suspect that the idea of destroying it to remove the curse was out of the question, and so it was sent to Atsuta Shrine, where it was enshrined and would largely stay except when needed for enthronement ceremonies.  And yet, even after the sword was taken away, the illness remained.  Six days later, on the 16th day of the 6th month, the court sent Prince Ise and officials to Asukadera and asked the monks there to make and oath with the Buddha to make Ohoama whole through the power of the Three Treasures of Buddhism.   For their work, the three Buddhist Officers, the Master of the Law, and the Upadhyaya and temple directors, as well as those monks with the rank of "master" each received a donation of one robe and one cover, or "Ohi". Three days later, the court ordered the hundred officials to go to Kawaradera and perfom the ceremony of lighting lanterns and giving offerings to Buddha.  Then they held a great feast and offered repentance for their transgressions.  All of this sounds like a continued attempt to make merit for the state, and thus for Ohoama. We then see the court granting the monks Hounin and Gishou 30 stipend-households to provide for them in their old age, which may be more merit-making, or possibly was related to some of the many other activities so far.  There are a few issues with this entry, and Aston and Bentley don't seem to agree on the actual date.  Bentley has it on the 28th, but that seems odd as it comes before the entry for the 22nd of the same month.  Aston has it as the 20th, but then claimes that there is something odd about the date of the 22nd. On the 22nd, we are simply told that the district kitchen of Nabari caught fire.  Aston notes that this would have been the official government arm in the district gathering food to supply the royal household—rather than being a kitchen in terms of a place to prepare food. Merit-making continued into the 7th month.  We see the Soujou and Soudzu, the primary and secondary prelates of the Asukadera, performing ritual repentance.  The following day there is another general amnesty, and Aston specifically mentions performing a Oho-harai, or cleansing. The day after taxes were halved from the provinces and corvee labor with local conscripted labor was exempted for the year.  Then we see the court presenting paper offerings to the Kunikasu Kami in Ki provinces, as well as the four shrines in Asuka and the Great Suminoe—aka Sumiyoshi—shrine. On the 8th day of the 7th month, 100 monks were invited to the court to read the Golden Light Sutra—Konkoymyou kyou.  And on the 15th there was another court issued amnesty. Despite all of these attempts to make merit and intercede with the Buddha or with various kami, Ohoama's illness continued.  We see that the court issued a decree that all things that should occur, great or small, should be reported to the queen and the crown prince—presumably because Ohoama was no longer in a state to be able to do so. Continuing with their efforts, the court declared that destitute commoners who had been forced to borrow rice seed or money before the 12th month of the previous year would be exempted from repayment.  And then the court changed the name of the year to Akami-tori, or Shuuchou.  They also renamed the palace in Asuka to "Kiyomihara"—again, go check Episode 134 for more on the palace.  "Shuuchou" is the Red Bird, likely referring to Suzaku, though Aston also points out that "Asuka" here is given as "flying bird", as well, and there had been numerous bird-related omens reported throughout the reign. Although these names would not have been used prior to this point—the 7th month of the final year of the reign—the Chroniclers applied the nengo, Shuuchou, to all of the entries for this year, and the name of the palace is often given as "Kiyomihara" is given to distinguish it from the Later Okamoto Palace, even though it was simply the latter palace with the addition of the Ebinoko enclosure. The changing of the era name was likely another attempt to change the seemingly inauspicious year, along with all of the merit-making that the court had been undergoing. And yet they kept going. The court selected 70 people who were diligent in keeping Buddhist laws and had them take the tonsure, and they sponsored a feast—or festival—in the Royal Muro of the Palace. At the same time the various princes had a statue of the Boddhisatva of Compassion, Kannon, made for the sovereign and had the Lotus sutra—the sutra where Kannon is first mentioned—read out at Daikandaiji. Kannon, or Avalokitesvara, was originally seen as a male Boddhisatva, but is often depicted as a woman.  They are also known as Guanyin, from which we get Kannon in Japanese.  Guanyin is also seen as Goddess of Mercy, and is one of the most popular figures across multiple sects of Buddhism and even outside of the Buddhist faith, where she is still seen as a goddess.  In this case, however, it seems clear that the princes were seeking compassion to relieve the sovereign of his affliction. And yet it persisted. They had 80 more people take the tonsure, and then 100 more men and women, placed 100 statues of the Boddhisatva, Kannon, in the palace, and then read out 200 volumes of the Lotus Sutra. And then they made prayers to the kami of Heaven and Earth.  And they dispatched Hata no Imiki no Iwakatsu to present paper offerings to the Tosa great shrine.  Nothing seemed to be working. In the 9th month, we see the royal princes and others, down to the various ministers, all gathered at Kawaradera making oaths for the health of the sovereigns.  This last ditch effort would go unrewarded.  Five days later, and Ohoama would pass away.  Of course, they couldn't just say that he died:  The Chronicles actually say that he divinely departed.  After all, didn't they call him an incarnate kami? Two days later, the court began the ritual of mourning, raising voices in lamentation, and setting up a temporary palace of interment in the courtyard, south of the palace.  Ohoama's body was placed there some thirteen days later, and people mourned his passing. For the rituals, we see monks and nuns performing ritual lamentation in the courtyard between 3 and 5 am, around the time that court officials would normally be waiting at the gates.  Over the next several days, various ceremonies were held and eulogies given.  We are told that the court presented offerings of food for the dead for the first time, and over the next several days monks and nuns would offer their laments and then various individuals would provide their eulogies.  Finally, on the last day of the ninth month, the eulogies concluded with Nyang-u, a Baekje prince, who pronounced a eulogy on behalf of his father, and then the Miyatsuko of various provinces came and did likewise.  There were also performances of all manner of singing and dancing. With that, the reign of Ohoama would come to an end.  The government would continue under his wife, the Queen, and Crown Prince.  We'll get into the succession in a later episode.  For now I'll just say that he was eventually buried in a large tomb in the modern Noguchi area of Asuka, and you can still go see it. And while that does bring us to the end of the reign, we still have a few more things that I want to discuss.   This episode just seemed a good time to talk about all of the various new years ceremonies, and that seemed to lead naturally into the very last year, but there is still more to discuss.  For one thing, we still haven't quite covered the spread of Buddhism and the changes in the structure.  There are also various laws and punishments that are worth covering.  Finally, there are the Chronicles themselves: we've talked about it all along, but the Nihon Shoki and the Kojiki are attributed to this era, as is the start of what would become the capital of Fujiwara-kyo—many works that Ohoama would not live to see to the end, but is largely held responsible for starting. But until then, if you like what we are doing, please tell your friends and feel free to rate us wherever you listen to podcasts.  If you feel the need to do more, and want to help us keep this going, we have information about how you can donate on Patreon or through our KoFi site, ko-fi.com/sengokudaimyo, or find the links over at our main website,  SengokuDaimyo.com/Podcast, where we will have some more discussion on topics from this episode. Also, feel free to reach out to our Sengoku Daimyo Facebook page.  You can also email us at the.sengoku.daimyo@gmail.com.  Thank you, also, to Ellen for their work editing the podcast. And that's all for now.  Thank you again, and I'll see you next episode on Sengoku Daimyo's Chronicles of Japan.  

Happy New Year!

In this week's episode, soul-centered astrologer Diana Westly @thecelestialseed returns to share her celestial insights for the year ahead as I channel some messages for 2026 with the Law of Positivism Healing Oracle Deck. Together we explore the major energies and astrological happenings for the year ahead...The 2026 Astrology with its major events and transitHealing Guidance from my Healing Oracle CardsThe Saturn-Neptune conjunction in AriesChiron's entry into TaurusUranus in Gemini & Pluto in AquariusJupiter's Transit Through Cancer & LeoThe North Node in Pisces & AquariusThe Era-Defining Shift from Yin to Yang EnergiesThe Epic Rebalancing of Masculine & Feminine EnergiesAncestral Work & The Power of PilgrimageHealing Our Relationship to the Earth, our Bodies, and the World of MatterMy Law of Positivism Healing Oracle Card Deck:https://www.lawofpositivism.com/healingoracle.htmlMy book The Law of Positivism – Live a life of higher vibrations, love and gratitude:https://www.lawofpositivism.com/book.html My readings and healing sessions:https://www.lawofpositivism.com/offerings.htmlVisit Law of Positivism:https://www.instagram.com/lawofpositivism/Website: https://www.lawofpositivism.com/Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/lawofpositivism/ YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/lawofpositivismVisit Diana:https://www.thecelestialseed.com/ https://www.instagram.com/thecelestialseedhttps://www.facebook.com/thecelestialseed

What if 2026 isn't about trying harder - but about aligning deeper?What if it wasn't about resolutions - but an opportunity to reclaim your joy and the magic of who you are.In this very special New Year's Eve episode of The New Truth, I'm joined by one of my oldest and dearest friends - we've walked beside each other through every new beginning since I was 19 years old.Farhad Khan is a world-class yogi, sound bowl healer, entrepreneur extraordinaire and overall magical human - and in this conversation, we drop into something far more powerful than New Year's resolutions.You will learn:Why 2026 is a potent energetic reset — not just another yearHow to consciously close cycles instead of dragging them forwardThe difference between forcing goals and allowing magicNervous system regulation, embodiment, and why your body must feel safe to receive moreThe spiritual AND practical foundations of creating a truly aligned lifeWhat it actually means to live in devotion to your truthThis episode is grounding, expansive, deeply loving and so real- and the perfect way to cross the threshold into a new year with intention, clarity, and an open heart.If you're ready to stop surviving and start receiving…If you're calling in more ease, pleasure, love, purpose, and magic…This conversation is your invitation.About The Guest:With a deep passion for sound healing, Farhad Khan brings a truly devotional and expansive healing quality to his work and performance. Using sound healing as a wellness therapy tool, Farhad's intuitive way of weaving all that he has learned on his path is memorable and leaves your mind elevated and your heart full of joy.Farhad's journey with yoga began in 2001. The profound impact of yoga on his well-being led him to fully embrace its principles and philosophies, making it his life's purpose. Having studied with various teachers from around the world, Farhad teaches from his heart and welcomes everyone to bask in the many gifts this practice offers. He has over 10,000 hours of Yoga Alliance certifications, skilled in a variety of styles including Hatha, Vinyasa, Restorative, Yin, Somatic, Nidra, and Kundalini. His extensive training includes time spent in ashrams in India, where he deepened his understanding of yoga and meditation.Farhad founded a Yoga & Wellness Studio in North Vancouver in 2007, where his dedication to the essence of yoga and sound healing flourished. After 15 successful years, he sold the studio to focus on meditation and sound healing, inspired by their profound effects on the brain and nervous system. Since then, he has facilitated workshops, sound baths, and teacher training sessions across Vancouver and abroad, integrating Eastern wellness practices into modern life.Farhad is also a certified yoga life coach, meditation teacher, and sound healing practitioner. He has worked with various sound healers over the years and continues to offer his transformative services to elevate spirits and support healing. Having personally battled anxiety and depression, Farhad shares tools and practices from his own journey, aiming to offer peace, empowerment, and joy to all those who attend his teachings. His mission is to elevate the spirit through sound and experiential journeys.Additionally, I've created the Farhad Khan Wellness line,...

Brent Axe chats live following Syracuse basketball's 91-83 win over Northeastern.   Free Throws Mattered! SU was 34-of-48 from the charity stripe and anytime SU shoots 70% from the free throw line, you'll take it.  With the Yin comes the Yang and SU's defense was lacking against 4-6 Northeastern, allowing 52 points in the second half and getting outscored in the paint by the Huskies.  Brent Axe discusses why the Orange are lagging in these buy games and what the return of Donnie Freeman will do to fix that (if it does).  The conversation on Syracuse Sports and our live Syracuse football and basketball postgame shows is always shaped by terrific insight from Syracuse Sports Insiders.  Become a Syracuse Sports Insider today!  Sign up at joinsubtext.com/syracusesports to get your voice heard on the SU football postgame show and have direct text message access to Brent Axe anytime. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Brugada Syndrome is a genetic condition that predisposes to sudden cardiac death. In this video we cover the Brugada Syndrome ECG changes and Brugada Syndrome Pathophysiology, as well as symptoms and treatment. PDFs available here: https://rhesusmedicine.com/Consider subscribing (if you found any of the info useful!): https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCRks8wB6vgz0E7buP0L_5RQ?sub_confirmation=1Buy Us A Coffee!: https://www.buymeacoffee.com/rhesusmedicineTimestamps:0:00 What is Brugada Syndrome? 0:22 Brugada Syndrome Epidemiology0:48 Brugada Syndrome Pathophysiology 2:33 Brugada Syndrome Symptoms 3:08 Brugada Syndrome ECG3:23 Type 1 Brugada Syndrome ECG 3:48 Type 2 Brugada Syndrome ECG4:08 Brugada Syndrome Criteria5:09 Brugada Syndrome TreatmentLINK TO SOCIAL MEDIA: https://www.instagram.com/rhesusmedicine/References:Life in the Fast Lane (LITFL), 2025. Brugada Syndrome • ECG Library Diagnosis. [online] Available at: https://litfl.com/brugada-syndrome-ecg-library/. Life in the Fast Lane • LITFLLi, K.H.C., Lee, S., Yin, C., Liu, T., Ngarmukos, T., Conte, G., Yan, G.X., Sy, R.W. & Letsas, K.P., 2020. Brugada syndrome: a comprehensive review of pathophysiological mechanisms and risk stratification strategies. International Journal of Cardiology Heart & Vascular, 26:100468. [online] Available at: https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC6974766/. PMCStatPearls / National Center for Biotechnology Information (NCBI), 2025. Brugada Syndrome. [online] Available at: https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/books/NBK519568/. ncbi.nlm.nih.govDisclaimer: Please remember this podcast and all content from Rhesus Medicine is for educational and entertainment purposes only and is not a guide to diagnose or to treat any form of condition. The content is not to be used to guide clinical practice and is not medical advice. Please consult a healthcare professional for medical advice.

big deep dark YIN

Johnson Wagner & Angel Yin joined the program today. Yin talked about the importance of the LPGA sharing the stage with celebrities, how important it is for her to maintain consistency, the work done by Craig Kessler, the global events and more. Wagner recapped a lot of the year and his work as a broadcaster from recreating golf shots on TV, the way the 17th played at The Players in the playoff, calling this year's Masters on radio, the roller coaster of the week in Augusta and in particular that Sunday, Scottie Scheffler, Jordan Spieth and more.

sarahcarinaschaefer.de | Warum deine Manifestation nicht funktioniert? Es liegt nicht in der Macherin, sondern im Sein und deiner Verkörperung von weiblicher Energie! In dieser Folge erfährst du, warum echte Veränderung nicht nur durch positives Denken entsteht, sondern durch deine Identität, dein Nervensystem und die tiefen Überzeugungen über dich, dein Leben und über Männer.  - - - - - - - - 12 Tage nur für dich und deine Weiblichkeit - loslassen und dich für Neues öffnen. Jetzt online Kurs zu den Rauhnächten 2025 entdecken und sichern:  https://www.sarahcarinaschaefer.de/rauhnaechte-2025 Dein Gutschein-Code: WUNDER2025 (nur für kurze Zeit gültig) - - - - - - - - In 8 Wochen ausgeglichen und magnetisch Frau sein, mit Yin meets Yang, deinem 8 Wochen online Kurs über die weibliche und männliche Energie. Jetzt entdecken und heute starten:  https://onlinekurs.sarahcarinaschaefer.de/weiblicheenergie - - - - - - - - Folge mir für mehr gelebte Weiblichkeit:  Instagram  //  TikTok  //  LinkedIn - - - - - - - - Auf Sarahs Webseite stöbern & Neues entdecken: https://www.sarahcarinaschaefer.de/home

In this episode, we explore the seasonal shift of the Winter Solstice and how its energy can shape the way you decorate and move through your home during the holidays. I share how Feng Shui views this moment in the year when Yin reaches its deepest point and the first spark of Yang begins to quietly rise. I'll also share small, intentional adjustments you can make to align your space with that growing light. We'll talk about using Christmas décor with purpose: choosing colors with meaning, understanding the symbolism behind traditional holiday decor and creating a home that supports the energy and intention of the season.Folklore Friday: Ancient site aligned with the Winter Solstice, we take a cross-cultural look at how people throughout history have marked the return of the light. This episode offers a blend of seasonal energy, design inspiration, and old-world wisdom to guide you through this turning point of winter.Subscribe to the monthly newsletter HERE: https://substack.com/@learnfengshuiSend questions here: ⁠info@learnfengshui.com Connect on social media & contact me HERE ⁠https://linktr.ee/learnfengshuinow⁠---------Sources: Decorating through the 5 Elements: https://substack.com/@learnfengshui/note/p-180757031?utm_source=notes-share-action&r=442rsjRituals and customs for the Winter Solstice: https://www.wofs.com/winter-solstice-5-rituals-and-customs-for-an-auspicious-year/https://jenniferraye.com/solar-terms-seasonal-points-for-winter/Sites that align with the Winter Solstice: https://www.businessinsider.com/winter-solstice-sun-aligned-ancient-sites-2022-12TimeStamps:00:03 Intro01:03 Feng Shui inspired Christmas decor and the 5 elements09:48 Winter Solstice, Energy shifts and adjustments13:31 Winter Solstice customs for a auspicious year17:57 11 ancient sites that align with the Winter Solstice26:35 Final thoughts  

In dieser fünften Folge unserer Beziehungsserie sprechen wir über ein Thema, das für mediale und feinfühlige Menschen besonders wichtig ist:Wie wirken Yin und Yang in uns – und wie beeinflussen sie unsere Beziehungen?Wir schauen uns an, warum spirituelle Partnerschaft nicht aus Verschmelzung entsteht, sondern aus innerer Balance. Und warum viele Frauen – gerade wenn sie medial sind – in extreme Energiezustände rutschen, die Beziehung unnötig schwer machen.✨ In dieser Folge erfährst du:Warum Beziehung energetische Balance braucht – nicht nur LiebeWie du deine Yin-Kräfte erkennst (Weichheit, Präsenz, Intuition, Empfangen)Wie du deine Yang-Kräfte erkennst (Klarheit, Grenzen, Richtung, Entscheidung)Was passiert, wenn Yin und Yang in dir im Ungleichgewicht sindWie du spürst, ob deine Energien harmonisch verteilt sindWie du die Yin- und Yang-Energie anderer Menschen wahrnehmen kannstWarum mediale Menschen besonders schnell in Schieflagen rutschenUnd was du tun kannst, wenn du merkst, dass jemand energetisch nicht in Balance istDiese Folge ist ein tiefer Blick in das energetische Fundament von Beziehung:Balance statt Drama. Präsenz statt Kontrolle. Weichheit statt Überanpassung. Klarheit statt Härte.Wenn du Beziehung auf einer neuen Ebene verstehen möchtest – energetisch, seelisch, bewusst – dann wird dir diese Folge unglaublich guttun. 

A new regulation mandating the sealing of public security administrative penalty records, including those related to drug use, has sparked an intense debate on social media, with many people worrying that it may condone illegal activities and undermine social security.一项要求封存治安管理行政处罚记录（包括涉毒记录）的新规在社交媒体上引发激烈讨论，许多人担心，这可能纵容违法行为并损害社会安全。Addressing such fears, legal experts said the records will be sealed, not deleted or expunged, which in no way will condone or cover up illegal activities. Strict access restrictions already exist for sensitive industries involving minors and public safety, they added.法律专家对此回应称，这些记录将被“封存”，而非删除或抹除，这绝不会纵容或掩盖违法行为。他们补充说，涉及未成年人和公共安全的敏感行业本就有严格的准入限制。The new rule, which is part of the revised Law on Penalties for Administration of Public Security, will take effect on Jan 1, 2026.这项新规属于新版《治安管理处罚法》的一部分，将于2026年1月1日起实施。It garnered a lot of attention after a comment posted about a promotion video of the revised law by Nantong Culture and Tourism's official Douyin account went viral. The comment — "Which young master got caught using drugs?" — triggered public anxiety, with many users on social media expressing the concern that offenders may exploit the policy to "whitewash" their records.在南通文旅官方抖音账号发布的新版法律宣传视频下，一条评论迅速走红，引发了大量关注。评论写道：“是哪家少爷吸毒被抓了？”这勾起了公众焦虑，许多网友担心违法者可能利用政策来“漂白”记录。Public concern mainly focuses on four key points: whether the rule creates a backdoor to erase past offenses, weakens deterrence against drug-related crimes, endangers community safety through information blind spots, or prioritizes leniency over justice.公众的担忧主要集中在四点：新规是否会成为抹除违法记录的“后门”、是否会削弱对涉毒违法行为的威慑力、是否会因信息盲区危及社区安全、以及是否会让宽容压倒正义。Ji Ying, an associate professor of law at the University of International Business and Economics in Beijing, attributed the controversy to public misunderstanding that drug-related administrative records will be expunged, allowing unrestricted access to career opportunities.对外经济贸易大学法学院副教授冀莹表示，争议源于公众误解，以为涉毒行政记录将被完全删除，使涉毒人员可以毫无限制地获得职业机会。"This misunderstanding sparked worries about public safety and social fairness, and frustration regarding overlooked anti-drug enforcement efforts," Ji said.她说：“这种误解引发了公众对社会安全和公平正义的担忧，也造成了对禁毒执法努力被忽视的挫败感。”Noting the unique status of drug use among administrative violations, she said: "Members of the public maintain zero tolerance toward drug-related behaviors. They believe that a one-size-fits-all sealing policy will not only violate justice and fairness, but also endanger social security. Their concern reflects society's correct understanding of drug hazards and its firm pursuit of justice."她指出，吸毒在行政违法中具有特殊性：“公众对涉毒行为零容忍，他们认为一刀切的封存政策可能损害公平正义，也可能危及社会安全。他们的担忧反映了社会对毒品危害的正确认识及对正义的坚守。”Ji emphasized that China's legal system distinguishes "administrative violations" from "criminal offenses".冀莹强调，中国法律体系严格区分“行政违法”和“刑事犯罪”。Drug use is classified as an administrative offense, with a maximum penalty of 15 days' detention under the Public Security Administration Punishments Law, while trafficking, manufacturing and illegal possession of drugs are crimes.吸毒被归类为行政违法，根据《治安管理处罚法》最高可处罚拘留15日，而贩毒、制毒、非法持有毒品则属于刑事犯罪。China's current Anti-Drug Law stipulates that drug users shall be subject to public security administration penalties, and no penalty shall be imposed on drug users who voluntarily register with public security organs or receive drug rehabilitation treatment at qualified medical institutions.现行《禁毒法》规定，吸毒人员依法接受治安管理处罚；主动向公安机关登记或在合格机构接受戒毒治疗的，不予处罚。Addressing fears of information asymmetry, such as neighbors or employers being unaware of past drug users, Ji said that stringent supporting supervision measures remain in place, and the record-sealing system features differentiated and refined management.针对公众担心邻居、雇主等可能因信息不对称而不知情的问题，冀莹表示，严格的配套监管仍在实施，封存制度本身也具有分级、精细化管理特点。Law enforcement agencies maintain official records of violations, which relevant authorities may access when necessary, and entry restrictions for specific occupations remain in place for special offenses such as drug use, she said.她指出，执法机关会保留违法记录，相关部门在必要时可以调取，同时对涉毒等特殊违法行为，各类特定职业仍设有准入限制。China's multiple laws and regulations require a clean record in terms of drug use for key positions such as ride-hailing drivers, teachers and security guards.我国多部法律法规要求网约车司机、教师、保安等关键岗位必须无吸毒记录。"The sealing of records does not mean that the records don't exist anymore. ... China's legal system has been striving to strike a balance between safeguarding public safety and realizing humanized and lenient law enforcement," Ji said.冀莹表示：“封存记录并不意味着记录不存在了……中国法律体系一直在努力在保障公共安全与实现人性化、宽缓执法之间寻找平衡。”Furthermore, the country's antidrug framework combines strict enforcement with rehabilitation.此外，中国的禁毒体系兼具严格执法与戒治帮扶。An online dynamic control system, which was established in 2006, monitors drug users and offenders by accessing a database of their identity records. This system mandates regular follow-ups and random testing for individuals post-detoxification.自2006年建立的在线动态管控系统，通过身份信息数据库监测吸毒人员，对戒毒后的人员进行定期回访和随机检测。Relevant authorities also monitor narcotic and psychotropic drug circulation, forming closed-loop management through community and rehabilitation feedback.相关部门还会监测麻精药品流通情况，通过社区与康复反馈形成闭环管理。Yin Bo, a law professor at China University of Political Science and Law, said the new rule responds to real challenges, as data from the National Bureau of Statistics shows that China registered about 8 million public security cases on average annually from 2019 to 2023, many of these involving minor offenses including drug use, fighting and gambling.中国政法大学法学院教授印波表示，这项新规回应了现实挑战。国家统计局数据显示，2019—2023年期间，我国每年平均登记约800万起治安案件，其中许多属于轻微违法行为，如吸毒、斗殴和赌博。"Many individuals with a single minor public security violation record face outright disqualification at key stages of their lives, such as job applications. This is not only unfair to them, but also creates a large marginalized group in society," Yin said.他说：“许多只有一次轻微治安违法记录的人，却在求职等关键人生节点被直接淘汰。这对他们不公平，也会造成社会上庞大的边缘群体。”He noted that the new rule doesn't endorse special-group protection, but a second-chance policy. The sealed records are invisible in most routine background checks, allowing such individuals to compete fairly and transform themselves from ‘potential risks' to active social contributors, Yin added.他指出，新规不是对特殊群体的保护，而是一项“第二次机会政策”。封存后的记录在常规背景审查中不可见，这使他们能公平竞争，从“潜在风险”转变为积极的社会贡献者。Ji, from the UIBE, said that drug use is noncriminal because legislators view addicts as "patients" in need of compulsory rehabilitation, given the absence of direct victims — a stance grounded in global common practice.冀莹补充说，吸毒被视为行政违法而非犯罪，是因为立法者认为吸毒者本质上是需要强制戒治的“病人”，且其行为缺乏直接受害者——这一立场符合国际通行认知。administrative penalty行政处罚information asymmetry信息不对称drug rehabilitation戒毒治疗marginalized group边缘群体closed-loop management闭环管理

What does it mean for your reality that every moment of your life is being co-written by you and God? Josh Trent welcomes Dr. Steven Young, Hermetic Expert, to the Wellness + Wisdom Podcast, episode 784, to explore how every moment in our lives is co-orchestrated by both God and the self, why our wounds are divine assignments, how we can shift reality using frequencies, and why imagination is more powerful than desire. Get 33% Off Dr. Steven Young's Hermetics Course Dr. Steven Young's Hermetics Course bridges the modern and the mystical by teaching the Seven Hermetic Principles, the universal laws revealed in The Kybalion, in an actionable, science-meets-spirit format. This course empowers you to reshape your reality from the inside out by mastering principles like Mentalism, Correspondence, Vibration, and Polarity. Beyond philosophical teachings, this immersive program provides tools to rewire your mind, reprogram limiting beliefs, and recalibrate your energy, whether you're healing trauma, improving your health, or simply raising your vibration. 33% OFF WITH CODE "JOSH33" In This Episode, Dr. Steven Young Uncovers: [00:50] God Orchestrates Every Single Moment How both God and ourselves orchestrate every moment of our lives. Why we're a God self. How humans used to communicate via telepathy. Resources: Dr. Steven Young 754 Dr. Steven Young | How to Use Your Mind to Change Reality Beyond Limitations [03:55] Purpose: The Ego vs God How the ego and infinite God can be harmonized. Why God doesn't have free will, but humans do. How we exist in a purpose that's beyond comprehension. Why we either produce from lack or wholeness. How the frequency of lack produces more lack. [10:05] God Experiences Life Through You Why we need to learn to honor our mothers. How our wounds are a gift from God. Why the dense energies we're given will eventually expand. How God experiences infinite frequencies through humans. Why God wants to have experiences through us. Resources: 538 John Wineland | A New Masculine Paradigm: Leading With Love, Living Your Truth + Healing The World [15:25] What Dictates Your Reality Why we shouldn't rely only and knowing and intellect. How the relationship to an object dictates our reality. Why many parents overprotect their children and create friction in their relationship. How polarity works. Resources: Cosmic Joke [18:55] The Pendulum Swing Why people who ask for connection experience extreme loneliness. How God makes us experience the polar opposites. Why getting off the pendulum swing allows us to become nothing and everything. Resources: The Punisher (2004) [21:50] Relationship Pendulum What Steven's visit to Tibet with his ex-partner taught him. How he's struggled in finding a partner. What led him and his ex-partner to start getting back together. [26:15] Distorted Sexual Energy How the Yin and Yang symbol represents God, and both sides are one. Why Steven doesn't judge malevolent sexual energy. How sexual energy is a creative force. Why lack represents separation. [31:35] The Root Source of All Addiction Why we need to honor the anger that we feel towards the demonic sexual energy. How the Western healing system tells us something's wrong with us. Why God loves us no matter what we do. How addictions distract us from feeling ourselves. Resources: Your Brain on Porn by Gary Wilson [37:10] Spiritual Separation + Deception Why labels put us in a box and separate us from the infinite. How the spiritual people live in separation. The purpose of deception in the human experience. [39:50] The Power of Words How Steven's brain got attacked by flash-eating bacteria. Why we should rely more on intuition than intellect. How the word "vulnerability" implies we put ourselves at risk. The problem with conscious capitalism. Resources: Emotional Epigenetics™: The Sacred Science of Identity Transformation (Remember Who You Are) [46:25] A Business Is a Living Entity The five planes of existence. Why businesses are living things. How the intention and desire behind creating a business shape its outcomes. Why our desire to have a thriving future wants to happen. [51:10] The Purpose of Hermetic Laws How Steven was called to create the course. Why hermetic principles help us navigate the five planes of existence. How hermetics create more peace in our lives. Why Steven's favorite hermetic law is the law of correspondence. [54:50] Everything In Your Life Is a Manifestation How we need to look beyond things to understand them. Why the double slit experiment confirms the hermetic laws. How we don't need to step into our power because we've always been beyond powerful. Why we're never not manifesting. How our conscious awareness slows down vibration to change wave form to solid. Why we create reality just like God. Resources: Patch Adams (1998) What The Bleep Do We Know?! (2004) [01:00:40] How Imagination Can Shift Reality How what we imagine creates our reality. Why our imagination is more powerful than our conscious desires. How schools take away our imagination to keep us enslaved. Resources: An Experimental study of imagination. [01:04:20] Science and Spirituality Are One How alchemy merges science and spirit. Why spirit and science operate as one. How religion separated science and spirituality. Why we're now heading toward the merge of science and spirituality. [01:08:05] Recognize Your Subconscious How Carl Jung impacted Steven's work. Why our work here is to recognize our subconscious self. How Steven's partner shows him love even when he's not loving. [01:13:00] Advanced Hermetics Why the hermetic teachings become more powerful once we start embodying them. How advanced hermetic practices reveal our shadow and ego. Why hermetics are the source code for all spiritual teachings. How people can de-materialize and re-materialize to time travel. Why Atlantis was an advanced civilization that communicated telepathically. Resources: Byron Katie [01:20:20] The Third Reality How everything has been happening faster in the last 5 years. Why we're finally starting to remember our divinity. The importance of choosing what we allow into our consciousness. How chaos is being balanced out. Resources: 782 Tom Bilyeu: Do THIS Before AI Takes 300 Million Jobs [01:25:10] Nothing Can Grow Without Space How Steven's friend spent 9 months in silence in a monastery. Why we can't have an experience without space. How nouns and judgment put us in a box. Why so many people don't feel fulfilled. How cognitive biases prevent us from seeing the opposite story. "For 36,000 years, humanity lived in complete harmony with dimensional beings because we understood and lived by the Hermetic laws. We lost that knowledge after the reset, but now we're seeing and experiencing a resurgence of that wisdom. We are remembering our divinity and accessing pure source code of reality." — Dr. Steven Young Leave Wellness + Wisdom a Review on Apple Podcasts All Resources From This Episode Dr. Steven Young 754 Dr. Steven Young | How to Use Your Mind to Change Reality Beyond Limitations 538 John Wineland | A New Masculine Paradigm: Leading With Love, Living Your Truth + Healing The World Cosmic Joke The Punisher (2004) Your Brain on Porn by Gary Wilson Emotional Epigenetics™: The Sacred Science of Identity Transformation (Remember Who You Are) Patch Adams (1998) What The Bleep Do We Know?! (2004) An Experimental study of imagination. Byron Katie 782 Tom Bilyeu: Do THIS Before AI Takes 300 Million Jobs Josh's Trusted Products | Up To 40% Off Shop All Products Biohacking⁠

In this episode, I sit down with Sarah Dewey, former show rider and thoroughbred jockey, NASM certified personal trainer, certified health and wellness coach, 200hr + Yin yoga teacher, dog mom, and all-around outdoorsy, crafty human, for an honest conversation about the seasons of life that make consistency feel harder than it should. We talk about our own experiences, the beliefs we've had to unlearn, and what helps us stay grounded, steady, and kind to ourselves when routines shift or life gets chaotic. You'll hear how we personally navigate overwhelm, find our footing again, and reset without slipping into all-or-nothing patterns. We also share something we've been working on behind the scenes that we're really excited about! Sign up for the Steady Through the Season 4-Week LIVE Series with Sarah & I! This is a live, supportive series to help you break the all-or-nothing cycle and stop waiting for January to feel like yourself again. Each week, we'll focus on simple, sustainable habits you can use even when life is full. This isn't about perfection or rigid rules. It's about support, strategy, and sustainability even when life feels full. If you want consistency without pressure, and support without perfection, this is for you. Sign up below: https://www.creative-wholistics.com/steadythroughtheseason

This episode we look at many of the natural events and talk about those observing and writing things down, and why they may have wanted to do so. For more, check out our podcast blogpage:  https://sengokudaimyo.com/podcast/episode-139   Rough Transcript: Welcome to Sengoku Daimyo's Chronicles of Japan.  My name is Joshua and this is episode 139: Observing the "Natural" World. Members of the Onmyou-ryou, dressed in the official robes of their office, sat around in their observation tower, measuring the location of the stars.  They kept their light to a minimum, just enough so that they could write down their observations, but not so much that it would destroy their vision.  As they looked up, suddenly they saw a strange movement: a streak through the sky.  They waited, and observed, and then there was another, and another after that.  It was as if the stars themselves were falling from the heavens.  They watched as it seemed that the constellations themselves were melting and falling apart.  Quickly they scribbled down notes.  Tomorrow, with the light of day, they would consult various sources to see just what it could mean.  For now, their role was simply to observe and record.   Welcome back, everyone.  It is the height of holiday season in the US as I record this, and in our narrative we are in the middle of the reign of Ohoama, aka Temmu Tennou, who came to power in 672 and who has been shoring up the Ritsuryo state instigated by his late brother, Naka no Oe, aka Tenji Tennou.  We have talked in recent episodes about how Ohoama put a lot of the state under the control of members of the royal family, or at least those with claims to royal blood, and how he had also begun work on the Chronicles—the very works that we have been using to try and understand the history of this and earlier periods.   It seems clear that Ohoama and his cohorts were doing their best to solidify their control and, in the process, create what they felt was a modern state, leveraging the continental model, but not without their own local flavor.  After all, they were also investing in the kami based rituals of state and specifically in Ise shrine, which they claimed as an ancestral shrine for their lineage. This episode, let's dig into another thing that was getting reported around this time.  And that is… science!  Or at least observations of the world and indications of how people were interacting with it. Before going into the subject, I want to acknowledge that "science", or "Kagaku" in modern Japanese, may not look like what we think of as "science" today.  The word "Kagaku" itself appears to come about in the late Edo period, and became associated with the western idea of "Science" in the Meiji period.  Today we think of it as observations, yes, but also testing via the scientific method. I think it might be more appropriate to categorize a lot of earlier science under a term like "learning" or "study", and it seems to have encompassed a wide range of topics of study, some of which we would include as "science" and some which we might refer to more as "arts".  There is also a very fine line with religion and philosophy as well. From a modern perspective, I think one could fairly argue that "science"—particularly the so-called "hard" sciences—refers to something that can be empirically tested via the scientific method.  So you can see something, form a hypothesis, create a test, and then that test should produce the same results no matter who conducts it, assuming you account for the variables. And please don't @ me about this… I know I am simplifying things.  This isn't a podcast about science unless we are talking about the social sciences of history and archaeology. In contrast to our modern concept of science, much of what we see in the Asuka era is built around using our reasoning to arrive at the truth of something.  In cases where we are dealing with clearly physical phenomena that have observable causes and effects, this can lead to remarkably reliable results.  One example of this is calendrical science—it isn't that hard to observe the passing of days and seasons.  Even the rotation of the earth and the movements of stars and even something with as large a period as comets could be observed and tracked, especially if you had centuries of data to comb through.  In fact, they often would predict things that it turns out they couldn't, themselves, see.  They could predict that an eclipse would occur, for example, even when that eclipse was only visible somewhere else.  And they didn't have to calculate gravitational pull, mass, or distances between different heavenly bodies for that to occur. Similarly, in the agricultural sphere: you had so many people who observed the seasons and would figure out new ways of doing things.  It doesn't take an understanding of chlorophyl to know that plants generally do better when exposed to sunlight. I believe the leap happens when you get to things that go beyond purely observable means.  Sickness, for example—how do you explain viruses or germs without equipment like microscopes to see what our eyes alone cannot?  And if such "invisible" things could cause so much damage, then why could there not be other "invisible" elements, such as kami and boddhisatvas?  And as humans we are driven to make connections.  It is one of the things that has driven our technological innovation and rise, but it is also something that can easily go awry.  Like when you are sitting in a dark house, alone, and you hear a noise.  Rationally, you might know that houses settle and creak, but that doesn't necessarily stop your brain from connecting it with thoughts that someone must be in the house making that noise. Or even how we make judgments based on nothing more than how someone talks or what they look like, because our brains have made connections with those things, for good or ill. A large part of the rationalization that was accomplished in Asian thought had to do with concepts of Yin and Yang, the negative and the positive, the dark and the light.  This was thought of as a kind of energy—qi or ki—that was embedded in things.  We discussed this somewhat back in episode 127, because yin yang theory, along with the five element theory, known as Wuxing or Gogyou in Japanese, became embedded in the idea of the calendar.  Why was summer hot, except that it was connected with an excess of fire energy?  And the cold, dark days of winter would be associated with an excess of water, naturally. I should note that while this is one of the more comprehensive philosophical systems in use, it was not the only means by which various phenomena and effects were rationalized.  After all, it had to be imposed on a framework of how the world otherwise worked, and descriptions of the world came from a variety of places.  There was, for example, the Classic of Mountains and Seas, or Sanhaijing, which detailed the world as envisioned in the period before the Qin dynasty, although there were occasional updates.  The Sanhaijing  described regular plants and animals in the same breath as gods and monsters.  There were also various buddhist sutras, which brought their own cosmological view of the universe that had to be squared with other visions, including those passed down locally describing the archipelago as the "Reed Plain" and giving particular importance to eight of the islands—though which eight depends on which variant of the creation myth you are referencing. To categorize the study of the natural—and what we would consider the supernatural—world around them, the Ritsuryou set up specific bureaus.  One of these was the Onmyou-ryou, the Bureau of Yin-yang, also known as the Onyo no Tsukasa.  This Bureau oversaw divination, astronomy, time, and calendars.  At its head was the Onmyou-no-kami.  Below them were the various scholars studying the core subjects, as well as technical practitioners to carry out the rites and divination. On the continent, priority was generally given to astronomical and calendrical studies, and many of the more magical practices or rituals would fade away, likely because there were local Taoist institutions who could take up much of that work.  In Japan, however, it seems that the calendrical studies tended to ossify, instead, while onmyoji came to fill a role not just for the state but also among the population for divination and other such practices.  Even into the Edo period one could find private onmyoji, and the Bureau itself lasted until the very beginning of the Meiji period. Another important institution of the Ritsuryo government for learning was the Daigakuryou, the Bureau of Great Learning.  Students of Japanese may recognize the term "Daigaku" referring, today, to universities. The original concept for the Daigaku-ryou, or Daigaku no Tsukasa, was focused on the study of those things that were considered perhaps a bit more practical and necessary to anyone who might want a political career.  Since this was founded on concepts of Confucian government, it is little wonder that it was originally designed to focus on Confucian studies, among other things.  This fits into the idea of a supposed meritocracy, where one's education was part of the examination.  You may recall from Episode 115 we talked about the National University in Chang'an, which is likely something that the Daigaku Ryou could only ever dream of becoming. Early arts taught at the Daigaku Ryou included the Confucian classics, mathematics, writing, and Chinese pronunciation.  These were all things that you would need to know to become a part of the bureaucracy The idea of a school may have been born along with the early institution of the government, with mention as early as 671, in the last year of Naka no Oe's reign, but we don't have it clearly established in the code until later.  Full operations may have been somewhat delayed due to the tumultuous events of Ohoama's accession to power in 672, but we do see it explicitly mentioned in the year 675.  On the first day of the year we are told that Students from the Daigaku Ryou, along with students from the Onmyou-Ryou and from the Gaiyaku Ryou, the Bureau of External Medicine; along with the Woman of S'ravasti, the Woman of Tara, Prince Syeonkwang of Baekje, and Silla labourers offered presents of drugs and various rarities. We talked about the first two, the Daigaku-ryou and the Onmyou-ryou, but the Gaiyaku Ryou doesn't seem to have a lot of information out there beyond this mention.  Later there would a "Ten'yaku Ryou", or Bureau of Medicine, established in the code.  Since we don't have any extant codes from this period beyond what was written down in the Nihon Shoki, we don't know for certain what the Gaiyaku-ryou was , and it is possible that the Gaiyaku-Ryou was a precursor to the Ten'yaku Ryou.  "GAI" means "outside" or "external", leading me to wonder if this referred to external medicine in contrast to internal medicine, or if it meant medicine or drugs from outside teh archipeloago. I would point out that these students are found with the Woman of S'ravasti, or Shae; the Woman of Tara; a Baekje prince and Silla labourers.  In other words, they were all people from outside of the archipelago.  This is not entirely surprising as it was from outside that much of the learning was coming into the country. "Yaku" or "Kusuri", which can be translated as either "Drugs" or "medicine", could refer to a number of things.  How effective they were is somewhat questionable. Almost certainly some of them had confirmed medicinal efficacy, but others may have been thought to have been effective due to things like their connection to the five elements, or wuxing, theory. For example, something red might be assumed to have a warming effect because of the presumed presence of the fire element.  And the power of the placebo effect no doubt made them seem at least partially effective.  Consider, for example, how many people will swear by certain remedies for the common cold when all it really does is distract you, or perhaps make you a bit more comfortable, until the symptoms pass on their own. A more certain science was probably that of Astronomy, which we've mentioned a few times.  The passage of the stars through the sky was something that could be easily observed.  There is a theory that some of the first lines in the Yijing, or book of changes, may actually be a description of the changing of seasons as different aspects of a given constellation rise over the horizon, and the placement of certain stars would help in the adjustment of the lunar calendar, since the moon's orbit does not match up exactly with the solar year, and year the solar year was quite important to things like agriculture and even sailing to the mainland. This all makes 675 a seemingly banner year for science, as four days after the presentation of medicine to the throne, the government erected a platform by which to observe the stars.  This wouldn't need to be much—it could have been an earthen mound, or just a tower, from which one could get above the ground, presumably see over any buildings, to the horizon.  Granted, Asuka might not be the best place for such observations, with the nearby mountains meaning that the true horizon is often obstructed.  Nonetheless, it may have been enough to make calculations. Astronomy platforms, or Tenmondai, would continue to be used up until at least the Meiji period.  Without a telescope, observations were somewhat limited—though they also didn't have the same level of light pollution that we have today.  Remember, many woke just before dawn and went to sleep not too long after the sun went down, which only makes sense when you are living in a place where creating light, while doable, also ran the risk of burning your entire house to the ground. It is worth noting that the sky for the ancient Japanese was likely quite different than what most of us see when we look up, unless you are fortunate enough to live in a place with very little light pollution.  For many of those living today in the cities and suburban landscape, go outside at night and you might see the moon and some of the brightest stars, but for most of the ancient Japanese, they would look up and see the heavenly river, the Amakawa, or Milky Way.  They would have looked up at a sky glittering with myriad dots of light, as well as planets and more.  It was both familiar and strange—something one saw regularly and yet something that was also extremely inaccessible. Astronomical observations would have been important for several reasons, as I've mentioned.  They would have been used to keep the calendar in check, but they would also have likely been used to help calibrate the water clock, which helped to tell time.  Of course, going back to the five elements and yin yang theory, it is also believed that the energy, the qi or ki, changed with the seasons and the movements of the stars and planets—planets were not known as such, of course, but their seemingly erratic movements compared to bright lights in the sky meant they were noticed and assigned values within the elemental system. One of the things that came with the changing seasons, the heavenly movements, and the flow of ki was a concept of "kata-imi", literally directional taboos.  There were times when certain directions might be considered favorable or unfavorable for various actions.  This could be something as simple as traveling in a given direction.  In the centuries to come this would spawn an entire practice of kata-tagae, or changing direction.  Is the north blocked, but you need to travel there, anyway?  Well just go northwest to say hello to a friend or visit your local sake brewery, and then travel due east.  Ta-da!  You avoided going directly north!  There were also mantra-like incantations that one might say if they had to travel in an inauspicious direction to counteract the concept of bad influences. This also influenced various other things, and even today you will often see dates where a year and month might be followed by simply the character for "auspicious day" rather than an actual day of the month. So observing the heavens was important, and it was also important that they tostudy the works of those on the continent, whose records could help predict various astronomical phenomena.  Except that there was one tiny problem:  I don't know if you've noticed, but Japan and China are in two different locations.  Not all astronomical phenomena can be observed from all points of the globe.  The Northern Lights, for example, are rarely seen in more southerly latitudes, and while eclipses are not too rare, a total eclipse only impacts certain areas of the earth, along relatively narrow paths. I mention this because it isn't always clear if the records we get in the Nihon Shoki are about phenomena they directly observed or if they are taking reports from elsewhere and incorporating them into the narrative.  One such event is the comet of 676. The entry in the Nihon Shoki tells us that in the 7th lunar month of the 5th year of Temmu Tennou, aka 676 CE, a star appeared in the east that was 7 or 8 shaku in length.  It disappeared two months later. We've mentioned some of this before, but the sky was divided up into "shaku", or "feet", though how exactly it was measured I'm not entirely sure.  It appears to be that one foot was roughly 1.5 degrees of the sky, give or take about a quarter of a degree, with 180 degrees from horizon to horizon.  So it would have been about 10 to 12 degrees in the sky.  Another way to picture it is if you hold out your arm towards the object, and spread your index and little finger, it would probably fit between those two points.  This comet hung around for some time, and a great part about a comet like this is that it was viewable from multiple locations.  After all, as the earth turned, different areas were exposed to the comet as it passed through our part of the solar system.  Thus we have records of it from not just the Nihon Shoki:  We also find it in the Anglo-Saxon chronicles, where it was thought to have foretold the end of Bishop Wilfred's control of Northumbria.  We also see it in Tang, Silla, and Syrian sources. These sources aren't always in complete agreement.  For one thing, they noted when they first saw it, which might have been impacted by local conditions.  And then conversion between lunar and solar calendars can also sometimes get in the way.  Roughtly speaking, we have the Nihon Shoki providing dates of somewhere from about August or September of 676, on the Western calendar, to October or November. Tang sources put it from 4 September to 1 November.  Silla Chronicles claim that it first appeared in the 7th lunar month, so between August and September.  A Syrian Chronicle notes a comet from about 28 August to 26 October in the following year, 677, but this is thought to have been a mistake.  European sources generally seem to claim it was seen in August and lasted for three months.  All of these sightings put it at roughly the same time. Working with that and with known comets, we think we actually know which comet this is:  The Comet de Cheseaux also known as the Comet Klinkenberg-Cheseaux.  And I should mention this is all thanks to a research paper by M. Meyer and G. W. Kronk.  In that paper they propose that this is the comet with the designation of C/1743 X1, or the common names I just mentioned.  If so, based on its trajectory, this comet would have been visible in 336, 676, 1032, 1402, 1744, and is next predicted to show up in 2097.  And no, those aren't all exactly the same amount of time.  It is roughly every 350 years or so, but with the movements of the solar system, the planets, and various gravitational forces that likely slow or speed up its movement, it doesn't show up on exactly regular intervals.  Still, it is pretty incredible to think that we have a record of a comet that was seen the world over at this time, by people looking up from some very different places. Comets were something interesting for early astronomers.  They may have originally been seen as particularly ominous—after all, in the early eras, they were hardly predictable, and it would take years to get enough data to see that they were actually a somewhat regular occurrence.  In fact, it is likely that early astronomers were able to figure out eclipse schedules before comets.  Still, they seem to have come to the realization that comets were in fact another type of natural and reoccurring phenomenon.  That isn't to say that they didn't have any oracular meaning, but it did mean they were less of an obvious disturbance of the heavenly order. We have another comet mentioned in the 10th lunar month of 681, but that one seems to have had less attention focused on it, and we don't have the same details.  Then in the 8th lunar month of 682 we have an entry about a Great Star passing from East to West—which was probably a shooting star, rather than a comet.  Comets, for all that they appear to be streaking across the sky thanks to their long tails, are often relatively stable from an earthbound perspective, taking months to appear and then disappear again. Then, on the 23rd day of the 7th month of 684 we get another comet in the northwest.  This one was more than 10 shaku in length—about 15 degrees, total, give or take.  Given the date, we can be fairly confident about this one, as well: it was the famous Halley's comet.  Halley's comet is fascinating for several reasons.  For one, it has a relatively short period of about 72 to 80 years, though mostly closer to 75 to 77 years in between sightings.  The last time it visited the earth was in 1986, and it is expected back in 2061.  Halley's comet has been recorded since the 3rd century BCE, and, likely because of its short period, it was the first periodic comet to be recognized as such.  There are other periodic comets with short periods, but many of them are not visible with the naked eye.  Halley's comet is perhaps the most studied comet, given its regular and relatively short periodicity.  It is also connected to the famous writer, humorist, and essayist, Samuel Langhorne Clemens, aka Mark Twain.  He was born only a few days after the comet reached perihelion in 1835 and died a day after it reached the same point again in 1910, and while he may not have visited Japan in his lifetime, it was a period of great change both in his home country of America and in Japan.  America, of course, would undergo a Civil War over the issue of slavery in the early 1860s, and shortly after that Japan would have its own civil war in the form of the Meiji Revolution.  And while he never visited—and translation could only do so much to capture the art of his prose—Mark Twain's works were apparently quite influential in Japan in the early 20th century. Of course, comets were just one of the celestial phenomena to be observed.  The astronomers were interested in just about anything happening in the sky.  We have accounts of both solar and lunar eclipses, and not necessarily full eclipses either.  We even have notice of the movement of some planets, such as in 681, when they noted that the planet mars "entered" the moon. Obviously the astronomers weren't recording every raincloud that came through—at least not in the main chronicles—but they did capture a fair number of events.  They did record particularly memorable storms.  For instances, in the 8th lunar month of 675 there was a storm that is said to have caused sand to fly and which then damaged houses.  This sounds like a wind storm without rain—after all, if there was rain, you would expect that the sand would have been wet and tamped down.  It is possible to have hurricane level winds without the rain.  While typhoons typically bring rain, especially as they usually build up their strength at sea, it is possible to have the winds alone, as I've experienced, myself, in Tokyo.  This most likely happens in an isolated area—there is water and rain somewhere, but the typhoon can be large, so parts of it may only get the wind and little or no rain.  I wonder if something like that happened in this instance.  It is also possible that this record refers to actual sand being brought across from the continent.  In some instances, sand can be lifted up from as far away as Mongolia and carried all the way to Japan, though it is pretty rare. And it wasn't just wind and sand.  We get accounts of hail coming down as large as peaches, torrential rainstorms, and even ash, likely from a volcanic eruption that was otherwise unrecorded.  There are also accounts of snow, though typically recorded in times where you wouldn't expect to see it, such as the third lunar month, which would mean snow in late April or early May. Mostly these storms are mentioned in terms of how they affected the immediate fortunes of the living, but sometimes storms did even more damage.  In 682, for example, a hoar-frost was reported in both Shinano and Kibi in the 7th lunar month.  On its own, this probably wouldn't have been worth mentioning, but the chroniclers add that because of storms the "five grains had not formed".  So storms had diminished the crops and the hoar-frost was apparently the killing blow.  The harvest that year would be lean, and it would not be a happy time for many that winter. And then, just as important as what was happening was what was not.  There are several mentions of droughts, particularly towards the end of Spring, early Summer.  This is traditionally a drier period, and if it is too dry it could harm the harvest.  And so the government was expected to find a way to bring the rain—a tall order, the general resolution to which seems to be prayers and rituals designed to bring rain.  In a place like Japan, I suspect that it was usually just a matter of time before the prayers were "successful", thus reinforcing their presumed efficacy. Some of the things that they recorded were a bit more mysterious.  For example, in the second lunar month of 680 we are told that a sound like drums was heard from the East.  There are many things this could theoretically be, from rumbles of thunder to some other phenomenon, though the following year we have a note about thunder in the West, so theoretically they knew the difference between thunder and drums.  Later that same year, 680, we are told that there was a "brightness" in the East from the hour of the dog to the hour of the rat—about 8pm to midnight.  Was this some kind of aurora?  But wouldn't that have been in the north, rather than the east?    Could it have been some kind of lightning?  But that is a long time for a lightning storm to hang around.  And there are other strange things, some of which seem impossible and we have to doubt.  For example, in 684 they said that, at dusk, the seven stars of the Big Dipper drifted together to the northeast and sank.  Unless they are just recording the natural setting of the stars of the big dipper.  Certainly, over time the constellation appears to rotate around the north star, and it dips down to or below the horizon in the autumn months.  So were they just talking about the natural, yearly setting of the stars, or something else? There may be some clues in that the 11th lunar month, when that was recorded, we see several other heavenly phenomena recorded.  Two days after the Big Dipper set, at sunset, a star fell in the eastern quarter of the sky that we are told was as large as a jar.  Later, the constellations were wholly disordered and stars fell like rain.  That same month, a star shot up in the zenith and proceeded along with the Pleiades until the end of the month.  While this sounds like shooting stars and a possible meteor shower, a later commenter suggested that this was all a heavenly omen for the state of the court, showing the "disordered" state of the nobility at this time.  Of course, this was also a year and change before the sovereign's eventual passing, so there is also the possibility that the Chroniclers were looking at events later and ascribing meaning and importance after the fact. In another account of something seemingly wonderous: in 682 we are told that something shaped like a Buddhist flag, colored like flame, was seen by all of the provinces and then sank into the Japan sea north of Koshi.  A white mist is also said to have risen up from the Eastern mountains. There are various things that could be going on here.  It strikes me that the white mist could be a cloud, but could also be something volcanic.  And the flame colored prayer flag makes me think about how a high cloud can catch the light of the rising or setting sun.  That could look like a flag, and can seem extremely odd depending on the other conditions in the sky. Or maybe it was aliens. Okay, it is unlikely that it was aliens, but I think that these do give an idea of the kinds of records that were being made about the observed phenomena.  Obviously the Nihon Shoki is recording those things that were considered particularly significant for whatever reason.  This could just be because it was something odd and unexplained, or perhaps it was more well known but rare.  It may have even had religious connotations based on some aspect, like evoking the image of Buddhist flags.  And it is possible that it was thought to have had significant impact on events—perhaps even an impact that isn't clear to us today, many centuries removed from the events. Some things were clear, however.  Lightning strikes are often mentioned specifically when they strike something of note.  In 678, we are told that a pillar of the Western Hall of the New Palace was struck by lightning, though apparently the building itself survived.  Then, in 686, Lighting appeared in the southern sky with a large roar of thunder.  A fire broke out and caught the tax cloth storehouse of the Ministry of Popular affairs, which immediately exploded in flames.  After all, a thatched roofed, wooden building filled with kindling in the form of cloth—and likely a  fair amount of paper and writing supplies to keep track of it all—sounds like a bonfire waiting to happen.  There were reports that the fire had actually started in Prince Osakabe's palace and then spread to the Ministry of Popular Affairs from there. It is also worth noting that recording of such events was still somewhat new to the archipelago as a whole. They were learning from the continent, but also defining their own traditions. Observations of natural phenomena weren't just relegated to celestial occurrences or weather.  After all, there was something else that one could observe in the sky:  birds.  Now this wasn't your average bird-watching—though I'm not saying that there weren't casual birders in ancient Japan, and if we ever find someone's birding diary from that era I think that would be so cool.  But there were some things that were significant enough to be mentioned. For example, in 678 we get a report of "atori", or bramblings.  Bramblings are small songbirds which are found across Eurasia.  Notably they are migratory, and are known to migrate in huge flocks especially in the winter time, and sure enough on the 27th day of the 12th month we are told that the bramblings flew from the southwest to the northeast, covering the entire sky.  This makes me think about some of the other mass migrations that used to occur that have largely been reduced significantly due to habitat loss, disruption to traditional migratory routes, and other population pressures on various bird species.  Still, having so many birds that it blocked out the sky certainly seems a significant event to report on.  We later see a similar account in 680, with the flock moving from southeast to northwest.  Given the location of Asuka it sounds like they were flocking in the mountains and heading out over the Nara Basin, perhaps seeking food in another mountainous area. In 682, the birders were at it again.  This time, around midday on the 11th day of the 9th lunar month, several hundreds of cranes appeared around the Palace and soared up into the sky.  They were there for about two hours before they dispersed.  Once again, cranes are migratory and known to flock.  Cranes are also known as a symbol of long life and joy—and I can understand it.  Have you ever seen a flock of cranes?  They are not small birds, and they can be really an incredible sight.  Flocks of cranes themselves were probably not that rare, and it was no doubt more about so many gathering around the palace which made it particularly special. It wasn't just birds in the sky that were considered important symbols, though.  Birds often are noted as auspicious omens.  Usually strange birds, plants, or other such things are found in various provinces and presented to the throne.    So in 675, Yamato presented auspicious "barn-door fowl", likely meaning a fancy chicken.  Meanwhile, the Eastern provinces presented a white falcon and the province of Afumi presented a white kite.  Chickens are associated with the sun and thus with the sun goddess, Amaterasu, and albino versions of animals were always considered auspicious, often being mentioned in Buddhist sources.  Later, in 680, we see a small songbird, a "Shitodo", also described as white, and probably albino, sent to the court from nearby Settsu. Then, in 681 there is mention of a red sparrow.  Red coloration is not quite the same as albinism, though it is something that does occur at times, when the brownish coloration comes out more red than brown, and I suspect this is what we are talking about.  This is most likely just a recessed gene or genetic mutation, similar to causes for albinism, but just in a different place in the DNA.  As for why it was important:  I'd first and foremost note that anything out of the ordinary (and even some ordinary things) could be considered a sign.   Red was also seen as an auspicious color, so that may have had something to do with it as well.  And then there is the concept of Suzaku, the red bird of the south.  Suzaku is usually depicted as an exotic bird species of some kind, like how we might depict a phoenix.  But it was also just a "red bird", so there is that, and perhaps that was enough.  Not that this red sparrow was "Suzaku", but evoked the idea of the southern guardian animal.  A year prior, in 680, a red bird—we aren't told what kind—had perched on a southern gate, which even more clearly screams of the Suzaku aesthetic. It is probably worth noting here that in 686, towards the end of the reign, not that anyone knew it at the time, Ohoama decided to institute a new nengo, or regnal period.  It was called Shuuchou—red or vermillion bird—and it likely referred to Suzaku.  This nengo was cut short, however, with Ohoama's death that same year.  Nengo were often chosen with auspicious names as a kind of hope for the nation, so clearly "red bird" was considered a good thing. A month after the red sparrow, Ise sent a white owl, and then a month after that, the province of Suwou sent a red turtle, which they let loose in the pond at the Shima palace.  Again, these were probably just examples of animals seen as auspicious, though they would have likely been recorded by the Onmyou-ryou, who would have likely combed through various sources and precedents to determine what kind of meaning might be attached to them. Color wasn't the only thing that was important.  In 682, the Viceroy of Tsukushi reported that they had found a sparrow with three legs.  There are numerous reasons why this could be, but there is particular significance in Japan and Asia more generally.  A three legged bird is often associated with the sun Andusually depicted as a black outline of a three legged bird inside of a red sun.  In Japan this was often conflated with the Yata-garasu, the Great Crow, which is said to have led the first mythical sovereign, Iware Biko, to victory in his conquest of Yamato.  Thus we often see a three legged crow depicted in the sun, which was an object of particular veneration for the Wa people from centuries before.  And I suspect that the little three-legged sparrow from Tsukushi  I suspect that this had particular significance because of that image. Animals were not the only auspicious things presented to the throne.  In 678, Oshinomi no Miyatsuko no Yoshimaro presented the sovereign with five auspicious stalks of rice.  Each stalk, itself, had other branches.  Rice, of course, was extremely important in Japan, both from a ritual and economic sense, so presenting rice seems appropriate.  Five stalks recalls things like the five elemental theory—and in general five was consider a good number.  Three and five are both good, prime numbers, while four, pronounced "Shi", sounds like death and is considered inauspicious.  Three, or "San" is sometimes associated with life, and five is associated with the five elements, but also just the fact that it is half of ten, and we have five fingers on one hand and in so many other ways, five is regarded as a good number in much of Asia. That the stalks had multiple branches likely referred to them bearing more than the usual amount of rice on them, which seems particularly hopeful.  Certainly the court thought so.  In light of the auspicious gift, all sentences of penal servitude and lower were remitted.  In 680, Officials of the Department of Law gave tribute of auspicious stalks of grain, themselves.  I'm not sure, in this case, that it was all that they hoped, however, as that began three days straight of rain and flooding. A year earlier, in 679, we are told that the district of Ito, in Kii, immediately south of Yamato, sent as tribute the "herb of long life".  We are told that it "resembled" a mushroom—probably meaning it was a mushroom, or maybe something formed into a mushroom shape.  But the stem was about a foot long and the crown was two spans, about 6 feet in diameter.  This is pretty incredible, and I have to wonder if there is a bit of exaggeration going on here. Another tribute was a horn found on Mt. Katsuraki.  It branched into two at the base, was united at the end, and had some flesh and hair still attached, about an inch in length.  They claimed it must be horn or a Lin, or Kirin, sometimes referred to as an Asian unicorn—a mythical creature considered to be quite auspicious and benevolent.  This was on the 26th day in the 2nd lunar month of the year 680, probably around March or April.  I highly suspect that what they found was an oddly shaped bit of antler from  a buck whose antlers had begun to come in and which might have been taken out by wolves or bears or something else altogether.  The fact that the ends were said to be fused together could just be referring to some kind of malformation of the antlers.  The fur and flesh could mean that the antlers were still growing—antlers would probably just be coming in around early spring time.  Still, there is no telling how long it was there, so it could have been from the previous year as well.  Attributing it to a kirin seems a bit of a stretch, but it was clearly something unusual. Animals and plants were recorded in tribute, but also when something odd happened.  Fruiting out of season was one such occurrence, which we've seen elsewhere in the chronicles as well.  There was even a record when the famous Tsuki tree outside of Asukadera had a branch fall down.  Presumably it was a large and noticeable branch, and by now this appears to have been a tree with a bit of age to it that had seen a lot, so it makes sense it got a mention. Finally, we go from the heavens to the earth.    Perhaps the most numerous observations in the Chronicles were the earthquakes.  We've noted in the past that Japan is extremely active, volcanically speaking, so it makes sense that there are multiple accounts of earthquakes each year, especially if they were compiling reports from around the country.  Most of these are little more than just a note that there was an earthquake, but a few stand out. The first is the 12th lunar month of 678.  We are told that there was a large earthquake in Tsukushi—modern Kyushu. The ground split open to the width of about 20 feet for more than 30,000 feet.  Many of the commoners' houses in the area were torn down.  In one place there was a house atop a hill, and though the hill crumbled down the house somehow remained intact.  The inhabitants had apparently been home and must have been oblivious, as they didn't realize anything had happened until they woke up the next morning. Again, probably a bit of hyperbole in here, but if we think back to things like the 2016 Kumamoto earthquake, where large areas of land shifted noticeably along the fault lines, it is likely that this was a similar or even more catastrophic event.  And here I'll give a quick plug for Kumamoto, which is still working to rebuild from the earthquake, and if you ever get a chance, I recommend a visit to the Kumamoto Earthquake Memorial Museum or Kioku, where you can see for yourself just how powerful mother nature can be. Another powerful earthquake was mentioned in the 10th lunar month of 684.  If the earthquake in Tsukushi had hit mostly agricultural areas, based on the description, this seems to have hit more populated regions.  We are told that it started in the dark of night, the hour of the boar, so about 10pm, give or take an hour.  The shaking was so bad that throughout the country men and women cried out and were disoriented—they could not tell east from west, a condition no doubt further hindered by the dark night sky.  There were mountain slides and rivers changed course, breaking their banks and flooding nearby areas.  Official buildings of the provinces and districts, the barns and houses of the common people, and the temples, pagodas, and shrines were all destroyed in huge numbers.  Many people and domestic animals were killed or injured.  The hot springs of Iyo were dried up and ceased to flow.  In the province of Tosa, more than 500,000 shiro of cultivated land sank below sea level.  Old men said that they had never seen such an earthquake.  On that night there was a rumbling noise like that of drums heard in the east—possibly similar to what we had mentioned earlier.  Some say that the island of Idzu, aka Vries Island, the volcanic island at the entrance of Edo Bay, increased on the north side by more than 3,000 feet and that a new island had been formed.  The noise of the drums was attributed to the gods creating that island. So here we have a catastrophic quake that impacted from Iyo, on the western end of Shikoku, all the way to the head of Edo Bay, modern Tokyo.  This appears to be what seismologists have labelled a "Nankai Trough Megathrust Earthquake".  Similar quakes have occurred and are predicted to occur in the future., along a region of Japan from the east coast of Kyushu, through the Seto Inland Sea, including Shikoku, through the Kii peninsula and all the way to Mt. Fuji.  The Nankai Trough, or Southern Sea Trough, is the area where the continental shelf drops down, and where the Philippine tectonic plate slips underneath the Eurasian—or more specifically the Amuric—plate.  As these plates move it can cause multiple events all along the trough at the same time.  Since being regularly recorded, these quakes have been noted every 100 to 150 years, with the last one being the Showa Nankai quakes of 1944 and 1946. For all of the destruction that it brought, however, apparently it didn't stop the court.  Two days after this devastating quake we are told that Presents were made to the Princes and Ministers.  Either they weren't so affected in the capital, or perhaps the date given for one of the two records is not quite reliable.  Personally, I find it hard to believe that there would be presents given out two days later unless they were some form of financial aid.  But what do I know?  It is possible that the court itself was not as affected as other areas, and they may not have fully even grasped the epic scale of the destruction that would later be described in the Chronicles, given the length of time it took to communicate messages across the country. Which brings us back to the "science" of the time, or at least the observation, hoping to learn from precedence or piece out what messages the world might have for the sovereign and those who could read the signs.  While many of the court's and Chronicler's conclusions may give us pause, today, we should nonetheless be thankful that they at least decided to keep notes and jot down their observations.  That record keeping means that we don't have to only rely on modern records to see patterns that could take centuries to reveal themselves.  Sure, at this time, those records were  still a bit spotty, but it was the start of something that would be remarkably important, and even though these Chronicles may have been focused on propaganda, the fact that they include so many other references are an incalculable boon to us, today, if we can just see to make the connections.  And with that, I think I've rambled enough for this episode.  We still have a couple more to fully cover this period. Until then, if you like what we are doing, please tell your friends and feel free to rate us wherever you listen to podcasts.  If you feel the need to do more, and want to help us keep this going, we have information about how you can donate on Patreon or through our KoFi site, ko-fi.com/sengokudaimyo, or find the links over at our main website,  SengokuDaimyo.com/Podcast, where we will have some more discussion on topics from this episode. Also, feel free to reach out to our Sengoku Daimyo Facebook page.  You can also email us at the.sengoku.daimyo@gmail.com.  Thank you, also, to Ellen for their work editing the podcast. And that's all for now.  Thank you again, and I'll see you next episode on Sengoku Daimyo's Chronicles of Japan.  

What is the Yin & Yang symbol? What do the words Yin & Yang mean? What is meant by harmony or balance in the universe? Have you started your FREE TRIAL of Who Smarted?+ for AD FREE listening, an EXTRA episode every week & bonus content? Sign up right in the Apple app, or directly at WhoSmarted.com and find out why more than 1,000 families are LOVING their subscription! Get official Who Smarted? Merch: tee-shirts, mugs, hoodies and more, at Who Smarted?

It's gonna be 65, but don't get used to it. This is Minnesota, and that means November is winter. Or at least winter-adjacent. But that's okay. You don't care how cold it is when you're watching the coming onslaught of Christmas movies and messed up thrillers. Why those two seem to correlate I cannot say. Yin and yang, I guess.On the show:The familyKristyn BurttTim LammersTopics covered:Christmas moviesIn-flight entertainmentThe airplane experienceRunning ManBlue Eyed GirlSee Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

In this episode we unpack the ancient Chinese classic, "The Tao Te Ching" by Lao Tzu from circa 400 BCEThis book explores...*The art of not over-doing*The cyclical nature of all things *Acting in accordance with the nature of realityHost: Zach Stehura  ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠UnpackingIdeas.com⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Guest: Amon Greene amonra16.ag@gmail.comIntro Music: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Polyenso⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Free PDF of the book: Red Pine TranslationResources MentionedTao: The Watercourse Way by Alan Watts (book)Trying Not to Try by Edward Slingerland (book)Taoism: An Essential Guide by Eva Wong (book)Timestamps0:00 Introduction4:51 Amon's background 10:10 Historical Context of the Tao Te Ching11:50 Confucianism vs. Taoism15:38 Wu Wei22:25 Going with the flow27:26 De37:22 Wu Wei Government39:56 Wu Wei vs. Flow42:33 Restraint of taking action46:29 “The Tao that can be spoken is not the Eternal Tao”51:10 Mistaking the word for the thing 55:37 Yin and Yang1:03:15 The cyclical nature of everything1:10:55 Wrapping up1:15:09 Outro

Episode 355 dives into the art of Feng Shui and how its timeless principles can transform your home office. We explore why having a dedicated workspace matters, the power of the commanding position, and how to select the perfect desk and chair to support your energy and focus. You'll also learn how to apply the Bagua map to organize your office for greater productivity, balance, and career success.What we talk about in this episode:-Feng Shui principles to enhance your home office-A dedicated workspace being essential for productivity-The importance of the commanding position for feeling in control-Choosing a solid desk to symbolize stability in your career-A good chair to support both physical and energetic well-being-Clearing clutter to open pathways for opportunities…and much more!Mentioned in this episode:Our Feng Shui Energy Map EkitThanks so much for listening to the Holistic Spaces Podcast brought to you by Mindful Design Feng Shui School!-Sign up for our newsletter for exclusive complimentary special workshops and offers for our newsletter subscribers ONLY! -Make sure you're following us on Instagram for feng shui tips and live Q&A's.-Learn about our courses and certification on our website at: Mindful Design School.-Check out our older episodes on our Holistic Spaces Podcast archive.MORE QUESTIONSHire one of our Mindful design school Grads for a 1-1 consultation. We know so many personal questions come up. That's why you need a 1-1! Laura and Anjie offer all these freebies, but if you want to learn more it's time to ask a professional. learn more HERETime Stamps for this Episode:[02:59] Introduction[04:05] Yin principles of creating cozy spaces[09:22] Creating a cozy bedroom[17:06] The impact of color choices[24:04] Common mistakes[26:11] Top tips for creating cozy spacesNEW EPISODES OF THE HOLISTIC SPACES PODCAST BY MINDFUL DESIGN ARE AVAILABLE EVERY MONDAY.Thanks so much for listening to the Holistic Spaces Podcast brought to you by Mindful Design Feng Shui School!Sign up for our newsletter for exclusive complimentary special workshops and offers for our newsletter subscribers ONLY! Make sure you're following us on Instagram for feng shui tips and live Q&A's.Learn about our courses and certification on our website at: Mindful Design School.Check out our older episodes on our Holistic Spaces Podcast archive.MORE QUESTIONSHire one of our Mindful design school Grads for a 1-1 consultation. We know so many personal questions come up. That's why you need a 1-1! Laura and Anjie offer all these freebies, but if you want to learn more it's time to ask a professional. learn more HEREORDER OUR NEW BOOK HERE

This week I'm joined by Yogatique Bangkok Co-Founder Minh Lowe. Minh has a 23 year Yoga practice and draws her inspiration from a blend of the essential aspects of Ashtanga, Vinyasa, Anursara, Iyengar and Yin practices. Since teaching her first class 14 years ago, Minh has committed to making her classes welcoming, challenging and safe.Read Minh's articles here: https://medium.com/@Minh.LoweAccess a comp coaching spot (tick the GOYA box) here: https://scheduler.zoom.us/amymcdonald/coachingThe November sale info is here: https://www.amymcdonald.com.au/saleIf you value this show, please do consider supporting my work on Patreon. It's just $5 AUD a month and it makes a big difference to me. Here is the link: https://www.patreon.com/AmyMcDonald

Welcome Back From The Weekend!!! We Talk About The Best & Worst Parts, The Inventor Of The Frozen Burrito Is Dead, Stealing Never Pays, Getting Body Parts Instead Of Neds, We Spoke To An Awesome Listener From Alaska, Jeff Hensley Stops By, & Yin n Yang!!!

In this episode of the Holistic Spaces podcast, we are sharing tips to help you create a cozy space with feng shui. Starting with the importance of yin energy, we discuss the role of color, and practical tips for designing inviting living and bedroom areas. We go over the significance of texture, lighting, and natural materials that can help to foster a warm and welcoming atmosphere. We also address some common mistakes that can detract from coziness.What we talk about in this episode:-Why creating a cozy space is essential for winter-The soothing capabilities of soft, plush materials-Quiet spaces absorb acoustics and create calm-Why we recommend lower profile, soft textured sofas-A solid headboard for your bed to create a cozy feel-Texture as key to an instantly cozy space…and much more!Mentioned in this episode:Our Feng Shui Energy Map EkitThanks so much for listening to the Holistic Spaces Podcast brought to you by Mindful Design Feng Shui School!-Sign up for our newsletter for exclusive complimentary special workshops and offers for our newsletter subscribers ONLY! -Make sure you're following us on Instagram for feng shui tips and live Q&A's.-Learn about our courses and certification on our website at: Mindful Design School.-Check out our older episodes on our Holistic Spaces Podcast archive.MORE QUESTIONSHire one of our Mindful design school Grads for a 1-1 consultation. We know so many personal questions come up. That's why you need a 1-1! Laura and Anjie offer all these freebies, but if you want to learn more it's time to ask a professional. learn more HERETime Stamps for this Episode:[02:59] Introduction[04:05] Yin principles of creating cozy spaces[09:22] Creating a cozy bedroom[17:06] The impact of color choices[24:04] Common mistakes[26:11] Top tips for creating cozy spacesNEW EPISODES OF THE HOLISTIC SPACES PODCAST BY MINDFUL DESIGN ARE AVAILABLE EVERY MONDAY.Thanks so much for listening to the Holistic Spaces Podcast brought to you by Mindful Design Feng Shui School!Sign up for our newsletter for exclusive complimentary special workshops and offers for our newsletter subscribers ONLY! Make sure you're following us on Instagram for feng shui tips and live Q&A's.Learn about our courses and certification on our website at: Mindful Design School.Check out our older episodes on our Holistic Spaces Podcast archive.MORE QUESTIONSHire one of our Mindful design school Grads for a 1-1 consultation. We know so many personal questions come up. That's why you need a 1-1! Laura and Anjie offer all these freebies, but if you want to learn more it's time to ask a professional. learn more HEREORDER OUR NEW BOOK HERE

In dieser Folge von "Welt.Macht.China" geht es um ein Thema, das für viele Menschen in China fester Bestandteil des Alltags ist: die Traditionelle Chinesische Medizin (TCM). Sie beruht auf jahrtausendealtem Wissen über das Gleichgewicht von Yin und Yang sowie den Energiefluss im Körper – und verspricht Heilung auf natürliche Weise. Wir fragen: Welchen gesellschaftlichen und ideologischen Stellenwert hat TCM heute in China? Wie wird sie genutzt, vermarktet – und manchmal auch überhöht? ARD-Korrespondentin Eva Lamby-Schmitt nimmt uns mit nach Shanghai, in eine TCM-Cocktailbar und eine Apotheke, um zu zeigen, wie alt und neu, Wissenschaft und Aberglaube, Heilkunst und Geschäft aufeinandertreffen. Außerdem berichtet Cui Mu von der Deutschen Welle aus Bonn, wo er eine Akupunktur-Session besucht hat – und erklärt Host Joyce Lee, wie TCM auch in Deutschland Einzug hält, etwa als Ergänzung in der Krebstherapie. Eine Folge über Tradition und Moderne, Glauben und Fakten – und die Frage, wie viel Heil in der Heilkunst wirklich steckt. "Welt.Macht.China" ist der China-Podcast der ARD. Aktuelle und ehemalige Korrespondent*innen und Expert*innen haben sich zusammengetan, um einen vielfältigen Einblick zu geben in das riesige Land. Es geht um Politik, Wirtschaft, Kultur, das Leben und den Alltag in der Volksrepublik, außerdem um Klischees und Chinas Rolle in der Welt. Eine neue Folge gibt es jeden zweiten Dienstag in der ARD Audiothek und in allen anderen Podcast-Apps: https://www.ardaudiothek.de/sendung/welt-macht-china/10494211/ Ihr habt Anmerkungen, Lob und Kritik? Schreibt uns an weltmachtchina@ard.de. Und hier noch ein Podcast-Tipp von uns: Wer die KI bestimmt, bestimmt die Zukunft. Und neben den USA ist da vor allem ein Kandidat im Rennen: China. Was hinter der chinesischen KI-Strategie steckt, wie das Land gerade seine Technologie heimlich in die ganze Welt exportiert und wir davon abhängig werden: Darum geht es in der neuen Folge "Der KI-Podcast" (ARD). Jeden Dienstag in der ARD Audiothek und überall, wo es Podcasts gibt. https://1.ard.de/der-ki-podcast

What if one side of your body suddenly stopped moving — and your doctor said, “It's a migraine”?Hemiplegic migraines are rare, disorienting, and often confused with strokes. They challenge everything you think you know about how your brain, body, and energy connect.In this episode of Migraine Heroes Podcast, hosted by Diane Ducarme, we explore the science and the story behind this rare form of migraine — one that blurs the line between neurology and mystery. Together, we look at how the body can temporarily lose its flow, and how to gently help it find its rhythm again.In this episode, you'll learn:

In this episode, Kelly sits down with Melanie Ann Layer to explore her powerful journey from personal breakdown to building the transformative Alpha Femme brand. They dive into authentic power, creating a business from nothing, the energy behind our thoughts, and the connection between masculine and feminine energies. Melanie also shares how love, emotional safety, and inner strength become the foundation for both wealth and meaningful relationships. Join us as we uncover the vulnerable moments behind her success and discover what it truly means to let wealth flow boldly, unapologetically, and from the heart. [4:07] Everyone Saw It but Me "I don't know what the hell happened. I'm like, how on earth did I get here? I was at odds with every person that mattered in my life because they had been telling me for a long time to let go of this partner." [10:33] From Car Seat to CEO "I actually built a six-figure business in the front seat of my Honda. No website, no social media, no nothing." [17:48] Authenticity Is Your Magnet "If you're willing to just be who you are and do your best, you're going to be an energetic match for certain people." [20:14] The Invisible Coach "But it was all personal power and communication and relationships. So it was like helping women really take their power back." [25:05] The Exponential Wealth "I had been super triggered by women who were teaching about money because I was seeing people who are earning less than me teaching about money." [35:25] Yin and Yang "When I hear people talk about masculine and feminine, I think it's misunderstood, because neither of them is bad. We need all of it, it's yin and yang, it's completion." [48:25] Growing in Love, Growing in Revenue "The year we got engaged, we had our first million-dollar year and it's like the better our relationship gets, the better the business gets." [54:44] Animosity to Emotional Safety "From him doing his best to be nice, but really not really. He just didn't want me to be uncomfortable because he didn't like it, you know? So it creates this animosity. But when it's like, 'I can handle you being sad all night', that's the feeling I get from him now that's so powerful." [1:02:19] When Thoughts Have Energy "The feeling thought has an energy. When you feel a thought, you can feel it." [1:11:11] The Power Within "When I was able to understand power, instead of circumstantial power, there is nothing on this planet that I cannot handle." Follow Melanie Ann Layer on Instagram @melanieannlayer - https://www.instagram.com/melanieannlayer?igsh=MXRzYmtvZGVxeWlqaQ== Follow Alphafemme on Instagram @alphafemme - https://www.instagram.com/alphafemme?igsh=MWpjaDZpaHRranJvZw== Follow Melanie Ann Layer on Facebook https://www.facebook.com/share/15vwg8Vx9T/?mibextid=wwXIfr Connect with Kelly here: Follow Me on Instagram at @chaselifewithkelly - https://www.instagram.com/chaselifewithkelly/ Follow Me on TikTok at @iamkellychase - https://www.tiktok.com/@iamkellychase _t=8WCIP546ma6&_r=1 Subscribe to My YouTube Channel - https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCNqhN0CXWVATKfUjwrm65-g Work with Me: Private 1:1 Business & Mindset Coaching- More Details- https://www.chaselifewithkelly.com/private-coaching Rejection to Redemption - More Details: https://www.chaselifewithkelly.com/rejection-to-redemption Online Business Accelerator- More Details: https://www.chaselifewithkelly.com/online-business-accelerator Money Magnet - More Details: https://www.chaselifewithkelly.com/money-magnet Goddess Magic Course Bundle - More Details - https://www.chaselifewithkelly.com/goddess-magic Kelly's Favorites https://linktr.ee/chaselifewithkelly Visit Our Website! https://www.chaselifewithkelly.com

Wir leben in einer Zeit, in der endlich wieder zueinander finden muss, was seit Jahrtausenden getrennt ist: das Yin und das Yang, die weibliche und die männliche Energie, die in jedem von uns steckt.

Recorded on the day when Sean Dyche was confirmed as the new Head Coach of the Reds, we discuss: A better fit for Forest? Yin and yang Preparing for Porto Presented by Rich Ferraro with Steven Toplis and Steve Burns. Everyone at 1865 sends deepest sympathies to Pearce family following this week's sad news. Subscribe to 1865: The ORIGINAL Nottingham Forest Podcast via your podcast provider, and please leave a review, as it helps other Forest supporters find our content: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Apple⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ - ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Spotify⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ - ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠YouTube⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠. Join us on ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠X⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠, ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Instagram⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠, ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Bluesky⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠, ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Threads⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ or ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠TikTok⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠. 1865: The Nottingham Forest Podcast is part of the ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Sports Social Network⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠, and partnered with ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠FanHub⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

As part of our ‘Ready, Set, Leap' series, we welcome back Feminine Energy Therapist and Master Energy Healing Yogi, Dr. Zerri Gross. In this week's episode, Dr. Z reveals how to identify and balance your feminine and masculine energies to boost both self-awareness and social awareness. Discover how masculine energy—driven by production, action, and survival—helps you get things done, while feminine energy—rooted in presence, alignment, and supportive connection—encourages you to slow down, see the bigger picture, and grow sustainably. Learn why vulnerability is one of your greatest strengths and how embracing the “Be-Do-Have” mindset can elevate your planning, productivity, and personal development. Get ready to explore how to balance productivity with mindfulness so you can approach your academics, your relationships, and your goals from a place of true empowerment. Dr. Z completed her Doctorate of Education in Counseling Psychology and her Bachelor of Arts in Psychology at Argosy University. She also received her MA in Marriage and Family Therapy at University of Phoenix, Southern California Campus. Dr. Z is a 3x International Best-Selling Author, Speaker, and Retired Veteran but at her core, she's a passionate advocate for helping women reclaim their power, embody their femininity, and create a holistically balanced life. As the founder of Greater Self LLC (a holistic wellness company) and Greater Self Therapy (a private psychotherapy practice), Dr. Z blends traditional therapy, alternative healing, and embodiment practices to support women, leaders, healers, and creatives in releasing overwhelm, perfectionism, compassion fatigue, and trauma responses.With over a decade as a Licensed Marriage and Family Therapist, she specializes in feminine energy healing, yoga, and somatic-based therapy, bridging the gap between mental health and holistic self-care. She is trauma-informed, Reiki-trained, and holds certifications in Hatha, Vinyasa Flow, Yin, and Restorative yoga guiding others to reconnect with their bodies, release emotional weight, and step into the flow of empowered femininity. To learn more about Dr. Z, connect with her on IG @greaterself_dr.z or visit her website at GreaterSelf.org to get your FREE guide to unlock the power of self love.

This week on the Holistic Spaces podcast, we are discussing feng shui rituals to honor the autumn season. Starting with the significance of autumn from the feng shui perspective, we explore the cyclical nature of yin and yang, and the connection to the metal element. We share practical rituals to align with the energy of the season that can help embrace change and letting go as we prepare for the winter ahead.What we talk about in this episode:-Autumn as a time for letting go and decluttering-Rituals that can help align with seasonal energies-Engaging with nature to help connect with seasonal changes-Wearing white to enhance the metal element's energy-Sound rituals to activate energy…and much more!Thanks so much for listening to the Holistic Spaces Podcast brought to you by Mindful Design Feng Shui School!-Sign up for our newsletter for exclusive complimentary special workshops and offers for our newsletter subscribers ONLY! -Make sure you're following us on Instagram for feng shui tips and live Q&A's.-Learn about our courses and certification on our website at: Mindful Design School.-Check out our older episodes on our Holistic Spaces Podcast archive.MORE QUESTIONSHire one of our Mindful design school Grads for a 1-1 consultation. We know so many personal questions come up. That's why you need a 1-1! Laura and Anjie offer all these freebies, but if you want to learn more it's time to ask a professional. learn more HERETime Stamps for this Episode:[01:27] The essence of autumn[02:48] Yin and yang as is relates to seasonality[06:30] Feng shui rituals for autumn[09:53] The metal element and autumn[11:24] Sound ritualsNEW EPISODES OF THE HOLISTIC SPACES PODCAST BY MINDFUL DESIGN ARE AVAILABLE EVERY MONDAY.Thanks so much for listening to the Holistic Spaces Podcast brought to you by Mindful Design Feng Shui School!Sign up for our newsletter for exclusive complimentary special workshops and offers for our newsletter subscribers ONLY! Make sure you're following us on Instagram for feng shui tips and live Q&A's.Learn about our courses and certification on our website at: Mindful Design School.Check out our older episodes on our Holistic Spaces Podcast archive.MORE QUESTIONSHire one of our Mindful design school Grads for a 1-1 consultation. We know so many personal questions come up. That's why you need a 1-1! Laura and Anjie offer all these freebies, but if you want to learn more it's time to ask a professional. learn more HEREORDER OUR NEW BOOK HERE

In the next episode of my weekly podcasting schedule something completely new is happening at nearly the same time, Fridays at 2 PM CDT.Yin on the Rocks was short-lived, but I'm committed to live-streaming every week, so… in this first-ever episode of Beth of Fresh Air I'll tell you the origin story of how it got born. For a hint, here's a recent comment from one of my subscribers...In this one I'm going to talk about new beginnings, plot twists, expectations, the trepidations you face being at the beginning…again, and the archetypal patterns to watch for. And I'll share a personal story about my latest reset and what I learned from it.Finally, I'll reveal a hidden meaning in the podcast title that I noticed after choosing it!***MORE FROM BETHSign up to take a 5-minute King Hero's Journey archetype quizApply to become a member of the House of Free WillRumbleKing Hero Telegram ChannelTwitter (X)InstagramSign up for a Hero's Journey Archetype ReadingOrder a copy of my book, ‘Journey: A Map of Archetypes to Find Lost Purpose in a Sea of Meaninglessness'Donate by PayPal if you're inspiredFollow the King Hero's Journey Podcast on... Apple Podcasts Spotify***If we're just meeting...I'm Beth Martens, a pattern hunter, archetype reader, podcaster, author, coach trainer, and business coach, and my calling is a life or death thing. After a decade as a corporate VP in my family's firm, eight trips to India, and a three-year battle with cancer nearly 25 years ago, I used archetypes and deprogramming harmful patterns to save my life.I was doing nearly everything wrong, in the physical, but tapped into and let go of the roots of the matter that were embedded and unconscious. And I went from dying to living practically overnight.Today I help people who love the truth more than their beliefs, and who want to serve with their life's work and be on their Hero's Journey, to de-program the beast system and stop making it easy for those trying to kill us.I host regular King Hero interviews highlighting leaders, entrepreneurs, movement makers, and lovers of freedom."Lately we've been all been inundated with so much. Your podcast is, as always, a calming breath of fresh air... So I thank you, for all you do."

I was typically an early adopter of crappy health trends. By the time more people got there and it went mainstream in the “alternative” I was over it. Why? Because it didn't work.In this solo episode of Yin on the Rocks I'll be sharing the many natural health mistakes I made, in hopes of saving my community some time going down the rabbit holes. And I'll talk about a few mistakes I intuitively knew to avoid.At my one year anniversary of being on a low poison diet and following the Toxic Bile Paradigm, I'll discuss what I've learned, and the results I've seen. ***MORE FROM BETHSign up to take a 5-minute King Hero's Journey archetype quizApply to become a member of the House of Free Will MinistryRumbleKing Hero Telegram ChannelTwitter (X)InstagramSign up for a Hero's Journey Archetype ReadingOrder a copy of my book, ‘Journey: A Map of Archetypes to Find Lost Purpose in a Sea of Meaninglessness'Donate by PayPal if you're inspiredFollow the King Hero's Journey Podcast on Apple Podcasts Spotify***If we're just meeting...I'm Beth Martens, a pattern hunter, archetype reader, podcaster, author, coach trainer, and business coach, and my calling is a life or death thing. After a decade as a corporate VP in my family's firm, eight trips to India, and a three-year battle with cancer nearly 25 years ago, I used archetypes and deprogramming harmful patterns to save my life.I was doing nearly everything wrong, in the physical, but tapped into and let go of the roots of the matter that were embedded and unconscious. And I went from dying to living practically overnight.Today I help people who love the truth more than their beliefs, and who want to serve with their life's work and be on their Hero's Journey, to de-program the beast system and stop making it easy for those trying to kill us.I host regular King Hero interviews highlighting leaders, entrepreneurs, movement makers, and lovers of freedom.Also watch on Fakebook, X and Rumble!

Chia seeds are praised as superfoods—but for some, they can be a hidden migraine trigger. In this episode of Migraine Heroes Podcast, we unpack the science, the nuance, and the Traditional Chinese Medicine (TCM) wisdom behind these tiny seeds. Hosted by Diane Ducarme, who bridges Eastern and Western perspectives in migraine care, this episode helps you understand how something as small as a chia seed can have such a big impact on your vascular health, inflammation, and migraine physiology.You'll discover:

Dr. Judy Morgan hosts Steve Wohlberg, author of "Will My Pet Go to Heaven?" Steve shares his personal journey of faith and the loss of his dog, Jax, which inspired his book. He discusses biblical verses that suggest animals may be reunited with their owners in the afterlife, such as Psalm 104 and Romans 8. Steve also recounts the impact of his book on others, including a man who found renewed faith after losing his dog. Dr. Judy emphasizes the importance of hope and the unconditional love pets bring, sharing her own experiences with grief and the presence of animals in her life. They also discuss the therapeutic benefits of animals and the lessons they teach us. Listen in! SPECIAL OFFER: Some of Steve's White Horse Media supporters have donated to a "Book Giveaway Fund" and they would like to offer a FREE copy of "Will My Pet Go to Heaven?" for the first 10 callers who call White Horse Media and request a copy. You must say you watched or listened to Steve on this podcast. Call 1-800-78-BIBLE. Callers not in the first 10 group can still order the book. It makes a great gift! Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/whitehorsemedia7 Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/stevewohlberg LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/whitehorsemedia Website URL: whitehorsemedia.com PRODUCT SPOTLIGHT #1 Hi Dr, Judy Morgan, here, let me ask you something, how much have you already spent trying to help your pets? $1000s in vet bills with minimal results, $100s on supplements that didn't work, and countless hours researching and second guessing yourself. What if you could turn all that frustration into real knowledge that actually works? The Holistic Pet Health Coach certification with Dr Ruth Roberts isn't another generic pet nutrition course. This is 16 weeks of veterinary level education. The same training that qualifies for 40 continuing education hours for veterinarians. You'll master how the body actually works, why chronic diseases develop, and how to address root causes using integrative medicine and targeted nutrition protocols. This is about understanding your pet's health at a level most vets never reach. It's about having answers when conventional medicine says there's nothing more we can do. Don't spend another year wondering What If. Go to holisticpethealthcoach.com mention HPHC10 and save 10% on this program that could transform how you care for your pets forever. PRODUCT SPOTLIGHT #2 Listen up podcast listeners! Here is your chance to order Dr Judy's recent best selling book, Yin and Yang 2.0 Nutrition for Dogs. Dr Judy Morgan, world renowned holistic veterinarian and veterinary food therapist, shares her passion for healing with whole foods, minimizing the use of medications and chemicals. Making food for your dog doesn't have to be complicated. It can cost less than buying prescription diets and medications. This award winning book includes over 60 new recipes that maximize health with whole foods, not drugs. You can even get a signed copy from Dr Judy herself. Order yours at NaturallyHealthyPets.com and use the code PODCAST65 for 15% off. Your dog is begging for it.

What happens when a Type-A, Stanford alum, and mom of six learns to slow down? For Jennifer, when yoga entered her life, she discovered a new kind of success: presence. In this episode, Adrienne and Jennifer—co-leaders of Vibrant Yoga Leadership 300 hour Yoga teacher training school and longtime collaborators—share stories of how yoga taught Jennifer to listen instead of push, breathe instead of rush, and stay curious about every style and season. Whether she's traveling with her husband, trying new yoga styles around the world, or co-leading advanced teacher trainings, Jennifer embodies a modern yogi's curiosity and heart. Her story is a beautiful reminder that slowing down doesn't mean losing momentum—it means finding peace within it. Tune in for a conversation about balance, growth, and finding peace in every season of life.SHARE YOUR STORIES WITH US! Email us at yogachanged@gmail.comSend us a textWanna be on the show? Click here to fill out our guest info form or drop us a email at yogachanged@gmail.comFollow us on TikTok:https://www.tiktok.com/@yogachangedFollow us on Instagram:https://www.instagram.com/yogachanged/For more, go to https://howyogachangedmylife.comThe theme music for this episode, “Cenote Angelita”, was written and produced by Mar Abajo Rio AKA MAR Yoga Music. Dive deeper into this and other original yoga-inspired compositions by visiting bio.site/mcrworks. For the latest updates on upcoming events featuring his live music for yoga and meditation, be sure to follow @maryogamusic on Instagram.

In this upcoming episode of Yin on the Rocks, Dagmar and I will be discussing a mutual passion and the reason we strongly connected this past year, living a low poison life and loving our livers.While the idea of healing the liver was nothing new to either of us, as it's common in natural health spaces, when we discovered the work of Dr. Garrett Smith and his Toxic Bile Paradigm it was a game changer.Join us live to talk about the ins and outs of shifting to this very different, but extremely useful, practical, and provable paradigm for healing the toxicities and deficiencies we often unknowingly suffer. We will also get into the many natural health cults, fads, and trends  we've fallen for as part of in our healing journeys. 

This show has been flagged as Explicit by the host. Quick-Glance Summary I walk you through an MIT experiment where 54 EEG-capped volunteers wrote essays three ways: pure brainpower, classic search, and ChatGPT assistance. Brain-only writers lit up the most neurons and produced the freshest prose; the ChatGPT crowd churned out near-identical essays, remembered little, and racked up what the researchers dub cognitive debt : the interest you pay later for outsourcing thought today. A bonus “switch” round yanked AI away from the LLM devotees (cue face-plant) and finally let the brain-first team play with the toy (they coped fine), proving skills first, tools second. I spiced the tale with calculator nostalgia, a Belgian med-exam cheating fiasco, and Professor Felienne's forklift-in-the-gym metaphor to land one mantra: *scaffolds beat shortcuts*. We peeked at tech “enshittification” once investors demand returns, whispered “open-source” as the escape hatch, and I dared you to try a two-day test—outline solo, draft with AI, revise solo, then check what you still remember. Net takeaway: keep AI on a leash; let thinking drive, tools navigate . If you think I'm full of digital hot air, record your own rebuttal and prove it. Resources MIT study MIT Media Lab. (2025). Your brain on ChatGPT: Accumulation of cognitive debt. https://www.media.mit.edu/publications/your-brain-on-chatgpt/ Long term consequences (to be honest - pulled these from another list, didn't check all of them) Clemente-Suárez, V. J., Beltrán-Velasco, A. I., Herrero-Roldán, S., Rodriguez-Besteiro, S., Martínez-Guardado, I., Martín-Rodríguez, A., & Tornero-Aguilera, J. F. (2024). Digital device usage and childhood cognitive development: Exploring effects on cognitive abilities. Children , 11(11), 1299. https://pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/articles/PMC11592547/ Grinschgl, S., Papenmeier, F., & Meyerhoff, H. S. (2021). Consequences of cognitive offloading: Boosting performance but diminishing memory. Quarterly Journal of Experimental Psychology , 74(9), 1477–1496. https://pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/articles/PMC8358584/ Ward, A. F., Duke, K., Gneezy, A., & Bos, M. W. (2017). Brain drain: The mere presence of one's own smartphone reduces available cognitive capacity. Journal of the Association for Consumer Research , 2(2), 140–154. https://www.journals.uchicago.edu/doi/full/10.1086/691462 Zhang, M., Zhang, X., Wang, H., & Yu, L. (2024). Understanding the influence of digital technology on cognitive development in children. Current Research in Behavioral Sciences , 5, 100224. https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S266724212400099X Risko, E. F., & Dunn, T. L. (2020). Developmental origins of cognitive offloading. Developmental Review , 57, 100921. https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/32517613/ Ladouceur, R. (2022). Cognitive effects of prolonged continuous human-machine interactions: Implications for digital device users. Behavioral Sciences , 12(8), 240. https://pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/articles/PMC10790890/ Wong, M. Y., Yin, Z., Kwan, S. C., & Chua, S. E. (2024). Understanding digital dementia and cognitive impact in children and adolescents. Neuroscience Bulletin , 40(7), 628–635. https://pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/articles/PMC11499077/ Baxter, B. (2025, February 2). Designing AI for human expertise: Preventing cognitive shortcuts. UXmatters . https://www.uxmatters.com/mt/archives/2025/02/designing-ai-for-human-expertise-preventing-cognitive-shortcuts.php Tristan, C., & Thomas, M. (2024). The brain digitalization: It's all happening so fast! Frontiers in Human Dynamics , 4, 1475438. https://www.frontiersin.org/journals/human-dynamics/articles/10.3389/fhumd.2024.1475438/full Sun, Z., & Wang, Y. (2024). Two distinct neural pathways for mechanical versus digital memory aids. NeuroImage , 121, 117245. https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S1053811924004683 Ahmed, S. (2025). Demystifying the new dilemma of brain rot in the digital era. Contemporary Neurology , 19(3), 241–254. https://pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/articles/PMC11939997/ Redshaw, J., & Adlam, A. (2020). The nature and development of cognitive offloading in children. Child Development Perspectives , 14(2), 120–126. https://srcd.onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/10.1111/cdep.12532 Geneva Internet Platform. (2025, June 3). Cognitive offloading and the future of the mind in the AI age. https://dig.watch/updates/cognitive-offloading-and-the-future-of-the-mind-in-the-ai-age Karlsson, G. (2019). Reducing cognitive load on the working memory by externalizing information. DIVA Portal . http://www.diva-portal.org/smash/get/diva2:1327786/FULLTEXT02.pdf Monitask. (2025). What is cognitive offloading? https://www.monitask.com/en/business-glossary/cognitive-offloading Sharma, A., & Watson, S. (2024). Human technology intermediation to reduce cognitive load. Journal of the American Medical Informatics Association , 31(4), 832–841. https://academic.oup.com/jamia/article/31/4/832/7595629 Morgan, P. L., & Risko, E. F. (2021). Re-examining cognitive load measures in real-world learning environments. British Journal of Educational Psychology , 91(3), 993–1013. https://bpspsychub.onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/10.1111/bjep.12729 Podcast episodes that inspired some thoughts Felien Hermans (NL) Tech won't save us Screenstrong Families Provide feedback on this episode.

We are together in South Bend and teach a class to PhD students in the Mendoza College of Business at the University of Notre Dame. Our joint teaching experience makes us wonder: What should all doctoral students learn or what should we all teach the next generation of IS students? We come up with Nick's rules for a good PhD education: First, understand what knowledge and inferences are. Second, learn different methods and then deep dive into a primary method. Third, pick a domain and learn its foundations and history. Fourth, develop a mindset of mastery to become the world's expert on your topic. And finally, develop and hone your writing skills.  Episode reading list Bacon, F. (1620/2019). Novum Organum. Anodos. Hume, D. (1748/1998). An Enquiry Concerning Human Understanding. In J. Perry & M. E. Bratman (Eds.), Introduction to Philosophy: Classical and Contemporary Readings (3rd ed., pp. 190-220). Oxford University Press. Popper, K. R. (1959). The Logic of Scientific Discovery. Basic Books. Yin, R. K. (2009). Case Study Research: Design and Methods (4th ed.). Sage Publications. Berente, N., Ivanov, D., & Vandenbosch, B. (2007). Process Compliance and Enterprise Systems Implementation. In: Proceedings of the 40th Annual Hawaii International Conference on System Sciences. Waikoloa, Hawaii, pp. 222-231. Castelo, N., Bos, M. W., & Lehmann, D. R. (2019). Task-Dependent Algorithmic Aversion. Journal of Marketing Research, 56(5), 809-825. Recker, J. (2021). Scientific Research in Information Systems: A Beginner's Guide (2nd ed.). Springer. Mackie, J. L. (1965). Causes and Conditions. American Philosophical Quarterly, 2(4), 245-264. Gable, G. G. (1994). Integrating Case Study and Survey Research Methods: An Example in Information Systems. European Journal of Information Systems, 3(2), 112-126. Chalmers, A. F. (2013). What Is This Thing Called Science? (4th ed.). Hackett. Shadish, W. R., Cook, T. D., & Campbell, D. T. (2001). Experimental and Quasi-Experimental Designs for Generalized Causal Inference (2nd ed.). Houghton Mifflin. Taylor, F. W. (1911). The Principles of Scientific Management. Harper and Bros. March, J. G., & Simon, H. A. (1958). Organizations. John Wiley & Sons. Nelson, R. R., & Winter, S. G. (1982). An Evolutionary Theory of Economic Change. Harvard University Press. 

This week on Yin on the Rocks we're unpacking the story and archetype of Blue Beard, the failed magician predator that every optimistic maiden will have to be betrayed by and face on their path to true discernment and transformation.Because while innocence, forgiveness, and surrender are beautiful feminine qualities, there is grave potential for them to be lost in the "it'll be just fine" paradigm that isn't innocence at all, but ignorance in disguise.We will no doubt weave through truther-world and other cult experiences where the Blue Beard figure often shows up.Join us to unpack the archetypes of Blue Beard!***In this weekly encounter with Dagmar where we'll be discussing topics like....traditional roles in relationshipsthe relationships between mothers and daughters, fathers and daughters, and sistersthe pitfalls of ascension spiritualityspiritual cults we've been inthe multitude of food cults and the falloutthe Love Your Liver frameworkour relationship with foodthe limitless gifts of deep playthe generosity of spirit required to create and share workTo get to know her better before or after the livestream, you can watch Dagmar Stansova's one-woman play, Loose Underwear, to give you a taste of her background as an actress, playwright, method actor and writer, teacher, and coach. I highly recommend watching!!And find more about my work at www.bethmartens.com.

“Mateship is essentially a code of conduct that embodies friendship, equality, solidarity, and it's often forged in adversity.” “We all have something to give one another.” “Be generous with your time when you can.”   Episode summary | In this episode of the Return on Generosity podcast, host Shannon Cassidy speaks with Shayna Goodworth, a yoga teacher and community builder, about the importance of generosity in both personal and professional settings. Shayna shares her journey from Australia to the United States, her understanding of mateship, and how she fosters community through her initiative, Seagulls. The conversation delves into the healing power of the ocean, the significance of connection, and practical ways to be generous in our daily lives. Shayna emphasizes that generosity is not just about financial giving but about investing time and creating meaningful relationships.   R.O.G. Takeaway Tips | We grow when we give. Generosity is about being of service. Mateship is a code of conduct that embodies friendship and equality. Creating community is essential for combating loneliness. Time is the most precious resource we have. The ocean has profound healing effects on our well-being. Mindfulness is about being aware of what's going on around us. We all have something to give one another. Home is where you make it, and it's in your heart. Meditation is a crucial part of personal wellness.  Chapters |  00:00 Introduction to Generosity and Community 02:53 Shayna's Journey: From Australia to North Carolina 06:02 Understanding Mateship: Building Connections at Work 09:01 The Mateship Pyramid: Social Connections and Loneliness 12:13 Practical Ways to Be a Good Mate 14:53 Generosity in the Workplace: Personal Experiences 17:47 Seagulls Community: Women, Ocean, and Connection 22:06 Space Holding as Generous Leadership 24:52 Balancing Care for Others and Self-Care 28:05 Lessons from the Ocean: Healing and Growth 31:00 Rapid Fire Questions: Insights and Reflections   Guest Bio | Shayna Goodworth has been a student of yoga since 2012 and to deepen her practice, she took part in a RYT200 hour program in the United Kingdom in 2021 and is passionate about Vinyasa, Yin & Trauma Informed styles of yoga along with meditation as a way to heal the body. Yoga is integral in her daily life and she is currently Longwave's Yoga resident SeaGal facilitator, devoted to fostering community through a shared connection with the ocean.    Raised on the Central Coast of New South Wales, Australia, her spiritual path began early through learning about the local environment and waterways. This instilled in Shayna a profound respect for nature and the power of place-based connection. Her vision for SeaGals at Longwave and Wrightsville Beach is rooted in this philosophy: to cultivate meaningful bonds among women and create space to ground, reflect, and honor ourselves in unity. Or simply, her mission is centered around Ocean, Women & Community. These three pillars have helped Shayna inform and hone her leadership styles of inclusion, authenticity and humility and she enters her first year as a 30 year old.   Guest Resources:  Find Seagals at https://longwaveyoga.com/schedule  Instagram:  https://www.instagram.com/longwaveyoga/ Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/plasticoceanproject.inc/ A Different Kind of Power by Jacinda Ardern Figuring out Thirty by Bridget Hustwaite Blue Mind by Wallace J. Nichols   Bridge Between Resources: 5 Degree Change Course Free N.D.I. Network Diversity Index  Free Generosity Quiz    Credits: Shayna Goodworth, Host Shannon Cassidy, Bridge Between, Inc. Coming Next: Please join us in two weeks, Episode 246, Special Guest, Jon Sichel.

Ever felt like your team isn't pulling its weight or sat through a meeting where nothing gets done? In this episode of Nudge, Professor Colin Fisher reveals why sometimes it's actually better to work alone than in a group. ---  Read Colin's book: https://colinmfisher.com/ Sign up for my newsletter: https://www.nudgepodcast.com/mailing-list  Connect on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/phill-agnew-22213187/  Watch Nudge on YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@nudgepodcast/  --- Today's sources:  Almaatouq, A., Alsobay, M., Yin, M., & Watts, D. J. (2021). Task complexity moderates group synergy. Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences, 118(36), e2101062118 Darley, J. M., & Bats on, C. D. (1973). “From Jerusalem to Jericho”: A study of situational and dispositional variables in helping behavior. Journal of Personality and Social Psychology, 27(1), 100–108. Wuchty, S., Jones, B. F., & Uzzi, B. (2007). The increasing dominance of teams in production of knowledge. Science, 316(5827), 1036–1039.

In this fourth episode of Yin on the Rocks, Dagmar will be telling the story of Wolf Woman. She goes by many names: The Bone Collector, The Resurrector, The Wild Woman. She is the luminous animal inside us, the battery behind all acts of creation,  the alchemist in the retrieval of all things woman. She lives between the worlds in misty lands, eats paradox for breakfast.  She's the bridge to the river beneath the river. She knows the ways of the world but doesn't bow to them, she knows words but doesn't need them, she knows what she loves but allows what must die to die.She's your gal if you lose something or something unusual is found or needs to get lost.  She is young and old, she can be injured but not destroyed. She's untameable, the keeper of all things wild. She's the part of us that asks “How do I re-create my day? How do I re-vive what's most alive in me?”  She's your uncivilized advisor, protector of your soul and re-creator of your inner life.Join us to unpack the Bone Collector Wolf Woman!***In this weekly encounter with Dagmar where we'll be discussing topics like....traditional roles in relationshipsthe relationships between mothers and daughters, fathers and daughters, and sistersthe pitfalls of ascension spiritualityspiritual cults we've been inthe multitude of food cults and the falloutthe Love Your Liver frameworkour relationship with foodthe limitless gifts of deep playthe generosity of spirit required to create and share workTo get to know her better before or after the livestream, you can watch Dagmar Stansova's one-woman play, Loose Underwear, to give you a taste of her background as an actress, playwright, method actor and writer, teacher, and coach. I highly recommend watching!!And find more about my work at www.bethmartens.com.

In this third episode of Yin on the Rocks we are diving deep into the Queen aspect of the feminine that shows up in women's lives and relationships. We will talk about the gifts, the shadows, why the Queen is not a feminine King, how mythology and media have portrayed the Queen, how it may have evolved, and how the stories of our personal experiences illustrate it.Jump into one of the chats to be part of the conversation. We can't wait to see you there!! ***In this weekly encounter with Dagmar where we'll be discussing topics like....traditional roles in relationshipthe relationships between mothers and daughters, fathers and daughters, and sistersthe pitfalls of ascension spiritualityspiritual cults we've been inthe multitude of food cults and the falloutthe Love Your Liver frameworkour relationship with foodthe limitless gifts of deep playthe generosity of spirit required to create and share workTo get to know her better before or after the livestream, you can watch Dagmar Stansova's one-woman play, Loose Underwear, to give you a taste of her background as an actress, playwright, method actor and writer, teacher, and coach. I highly recommend watching!!And find more about my work at www.bethmartens.com.

Tune into the newest episode of our Energy Works Podcast, where science meets spirit to help you heal, energize, and thrive. In this solo episode, Blaine explores the ancient concept of Yin and Yang, diving into its origins, meaning, and practical relevance in everyday life. She explains the dynamic interplay between Yin (cool, dark, restorative) and Yang (hot, light, active) energies, and why maintaining balance between them is essential for health and vitality.Blaine illustrates how these dual forces appear in nature and within our bodies, highlighting the importance of rest and activity, stillness and movement. She also introduces the Five Elements Theory in Chinese Medicine, showing how Yin and Yang pairings within each element influence our overall well-being.Whether you're new to Energy Medicine or looking to deepen your understanding, this episode offers valuable insights into how these timeless principles can support a more balanced and harmonious life.Tune in wherever you get your podcasts! Chapters:00:00 – Introduction01:45 – Understanding Yin and Yang05:11 – Examples of Yin and Yang in Daily Life08:44 – Yin and Yang in the Human Body13:44 – The Importance of Balance in Yin and Yang19:05 – Conclusion Episode Resources:Sign up for our FREE weekly Newsletter: https://www.energymedicineyoga.net/Listen on Spotify: Energy WorksListen on Apple Podcasts: Energy WorksFollow us on Instagram: @EnergyMedicineYogaFollow us on Facebook: @EnergyMedicineYoga#EnergyMedicineYoga #EnergyWorksPodcast #WellnessPodcast #YinAndYang #EnergyHealing #ChineseMedicine #FiveElementTheory #EnergyMedicine

In this episode of Yin and Yancy, Andrew and Yancy dive into the double-edged sword of information overload in today's fitness and performance world. With endless tips, hacks, and advice at our fingertips, it's easy to get distracted or overwhelmed instead of focusing on what really matters—being consistent and building a strong foundation. They discuss how too much information at the wrong time can become an obstacle rather than a tool for progress, especially for beginners who can't yet fully apply or make sense of advanced strategies.Through their conversation, they emphasize that there are no shortcuts to lasting success. Just knowing something isn't enough—you need to experience it, apply it, and grow through the process. Andrew and Yancy share insights on why many so-called “hacks” promoted by influencers only work after years of doing the basics consistently. The key takeaway? Don't chase quick fixes or get lost in the noise. Invest your time and energy into mastering the fundamentals, being consistent, and using information at the right place and time to support sustainable growth.Tune in to this episode for a grounded reminder that true progress doesn't come from shortcuts or information overload—it comes from steady effort, learning, and applying knowledge in ways that fit your current journey. Enjoy the episode!

When Getting Fired Becomes Your Greatest Gift: The Creative Breakthrough That Changed Everything What happens when losing your job becomes the catalyst for finding your true calling? Artist and author James McCrae reveals how getting fired from his corporate advertising position launched him from unemployed executive to viral social media sensation, transforming his relationship with creativity and authenticity in the process. After years as a brand strategist in New York City, McCrae found himself at a crossroads when his entire department was eliminated during a corporate acquisition. Instead of frantically job hunting, he made a decision that would change his life: he sat in meditation and asked what wanted to be born through him. The Artist’s Journey: From Small Town to Social Media Success McCrae’s creative journey began in small-town Minnesota, where poetry served as his escape and a way to “create new worlds and explore the universe in much more depth” than his surroundings offered. His path meandered through painting, graphic design, and eventually corporate brand strategy, where he describes “sneaking into the business world through the back door as an artist.” The turning point came when he started creating social media content and memes that began going viral. Rather than viewing social media as merely a marketing tool, McCrae transformed these platforms into his personal “art gallery of digital art and poetry.” The Yin and Yang of Creative Expression McCrae introduces a revolutionary framework for understanding creativity through the ancient concept of yin and yang. He argues that our society has created an overemphasis on “yang” energy (doing, productivity, action) while neglecting the essential “yin” energy (receptivity, stillness, pure potentiality). “All doing begins with non-doing,” McCrae explains, comparing creativity to farming. “You want to make art, but you can’t start by growing crops. You need to tend the soil, plant the seeds, and water the soil first.” This approach involves removing distractions and cultivating mindfulness through practices like meditation, spending time in nature, and consuming art. McCrae’s breakthrough came when he began a serious mindfulness practice in New York City, discovering meditation, yoga, and Eastern philosophy that helped him “tune out all the distractions and tune into my own inner being.” From Ego to Intuition: The Art of Inner Listening McCrae distinguishes between ego-driven and intuition-driven creativity, describing the ego as speaking “like an alarm going off or like a dog barking,” while intuition whispers quietly “almost more of a feeling than it is a thought.” His daily practice involves meditating each morning before writing, then “taking dictation from the muse” rather than forcing ideas. He emphasises that creation and editing must be separate processes: “You should not write and edit at the same time. They’re completely different mindsets.” The Vulnerability Revolution: Why Authenticity Goes Viral McCrae’s breakthrough moment came when he stopped trying to project a perfect image and started sharing his authentic self. While other self-help authors played it safe, he began posting what he calls “apocalyptic poetry” and “sarcastic existential memes.” “I’m just going to allow myself full permission to be an artist and express myself however I want,” he decided. The result was explosive: “I started really going viral online. Suddenly, I was getting thousands of followers every day, and people were reposting my memes all over the internet.” His key insight: “You can be yourself much better than you can be anyone else. There’s only one you.” This authenticity created what he calls intimacy with his audience, proving that “people are hungry for something that’s honest and real and valuable.” Redefining Creative Blocks and Writer’s Block McCrae challenges the concept of writer’s block, reframing it as simply having nothing ready to come out. “Creative expression is like a purge,” he explains. “You’re purging this energy that’s built up in you.” When creativity feels stuck, his solution isn’t to force it but to “fill up your cup of inspiration” through life experiences: reading, visiting art museums, travelling, falling in love, or getting your heart broken. “Writer’s block is more like your well is empty and you need to go out and experience emotions and novel experiences.” The Power of Emotional Intelligence in Creativity “There’s no creativity without vulnerability,” McCrae states, emphasising that emotions are “way more intelligent than our thoughts.” He compares thinking purely with the mind to “fishing in a shallow pond,” while accessing emotions allows you to fish “in a deep ocean where you can catch much more exotic, beautiful fish.” This emotional depth provides access to the subconscious mind, which McCrae describes as “full of so many more insights and ideas than the conscious mind.” Social Media as Creative Canvas McCrae transformed his relationship with social media after his literary agent rejected his memoir. Rather than waiting for traditional gatekeepers, he decided to treat social media like “writing a book in real time, post by post,” with each piece treated “with the same level of artistic integrity that I would treat a book or a poem or a painting.” This shift in perspective turned social media from a source of frustration into “a sandbox for my own creative exploration” and eventually led to the book deal he originally sought. Three Essential Practices for Creative Awakening McCrae leaves readers with two fundamental practices he considers essential for any creative person: Daily Mindfulness Practice: Commit to some form of mindfulness daily, even just five minutes. This could be meditation, nature walks, visiting art museums, or attending concerts, anything that breaks routine and allows access to inspiration. Keep a Dedicated Notebook: Every creative idea, from business concepts to poems, starts in McCrae’s notebook. “All my ideas, even my business ideas, like the classes that I teach, the workshops that I teach, the poems I write, everything I do, it starts in my notebook.” He describes it as “ground zero for your creative process” where there are no bad ideas and you can freely experiment. The Deeper Message: Creativity as Life Force McCrae argues that creativity isn’t just a skill but fundamental to human nature: “Creativity is a life force that we all not only have access to, but that is who we truly are.” He points to human design, from imagination and intuition to hands perfectly constructed to hold paintbrushes and pens, as evidence that we’re engineered for creative expression. The challenge is that society conditions us away from this natural creativity through rigid structures and capitalistic pressure to be productive. However, McCrae insists that reconnecting with our creative nature is “always just one shift in perception away.” Why This Matters Now In an age of increasing automation and artificial intelligence, McCrae’s message about authentic human creativity and vulnerability becomes even more relevant. His journey from corporate termination to viral success demonstrates that our perceived failures can become our greatest breakthroughs when we have the courage to listen to our inner creative voice. McCrae’s story offers hope to anyone feeling trapped in corporate structures or disconnected from their creative nature. Sometimes the most radical thing you can do is simply be yourself, trust your authentic voice, and allow your creativity to emerge naturally. You can watch the full conversation on YouTube About James McCrae James McCrae is a viral artist, author of “The Art of You,” and creative coach who helps creators find their authentic voice and build successful creative businesses. His social media content has reached millions, and he specialises in teaching the intersection of spirituality and creativity. Connect with James McCrae: Instagram: @wordsarevibrations

Many different cultures from China and Southeast Asia honor the dead on the 15th day of the seventh lunar month during the Hungry Ghost Festival, also known as Zhongyuan in Daoism and Yulanpen or Ullambana in Mahayana Buddhism. In this episode, we'll trace the origins of ancestor worship to ancient Shang Dynasty Oracle Bones, or “Dragon Bones,” which were used to inscribe petitions to ancestral spirits and hold the earliest evidence of Chinese writing. Then we'll explore how regional variations of those ancient beliefs blended with the Buddhist Ulambana Sutra (or Mulian Rescues His Mother from Hell), Daoist visions of the afterlife, and Confucian teachings on filial responsibility. Over time, these influences eventually gave rise to the Hungry Ghost Festival which has continued to evolve into modern celebrations that weave together ancient traditions and modern lifestyles to honor both personal ancestors and members of the community lost in historical tragedies.TranscriptsFor transcripts of this episode head over to: https://archpodnet.com/tpm/21LinksSee photos related to episode topics on InstagramLoving the macabre lore? Treat your host to a coffee!Learn More About Chinese History with the China History PodcastLos Angeles Hungry Ghost Festival 2025Video: Taiwan's “Ghost Grappling”Video: Mulian Saves His Mother Performance at Kiew Lee Tong Temple in SingaporeAcademic SourcesCampany, Robert F. 1991. Ghosts Matter: The Culture of Ghosts in Six Dynasties Zhiguai. Chinese Literature: Essays, Articles, Reviews (CLEAR) 13:15.Chan, Selina Ching. 2023. Unequal Inscriptions of the Hungry Ghosts (Yulan) Festival Celebrations as Intangible Cultural Heritage in Hong Kong. China Perspectives(132):49–59.Deutsch, Lauren W. Chinese Joss Paper Offerings.Liu, Jingyu. 2020. The Unimpeded Passage: The Making of Universal Salvation Rites and Buddho-Daoist Interactions in Medieval China.Shirin, Shakinah. 2021. Past and Present Rituals of Hungry Ghost Festival. Intercultural Communication.Zhao, Yin. Indian Cultural Elements on the Ullambana Festival.ArchPodNetAPN Website: https://www.archpodnet.comAPN on Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/archpodnetAPN on Twitter: https://www.twitter.com/archpodnetAPN on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/archpodnetAPN ShopAffiliatesMotion

「表达的决心」是我们希望和更多朋友一起共创的声音纪实访谈系列。今天和我聊起自己「表达的决心」的朋友是我的老朋友，人文金饰与设计珠宝品牌YIN的创始人武崟。有一次，我们一起吃饭的时候，她说了一句让我非常难忘的话，她说想用历久弥新的金这种物质，用自己的品牌和设计作品，「讲一个上天入地的故事」。在那之后不久，她真的去了火箭发射现场，用火箭发射的碎片制作出了宇宙浪漫系列的首饰，今年她又去北大开始了文博方面的学习，我觉得她距离讲好一个「上天入地」的故事越来越近了。这一次聊天，我问了她很多关于选择、抉择、下定决心的问题，问她，其实也在问我自己。在一件事情上做了十年，我们究竟都做了些什么、什么变了、什么依然没变，想要做成一件事，除了有决心，还需要有什么？本期是我们的一些思考和答案，希望对你也有启发。本期嘉宾：YIN 隐 品牌创始人 武崟 （小红书：@Ayur悠女士）本期听友福利：1、我们会从小宇宙评论区pick 3 位朋友，送出 YIN隐品牌环保帆布袋2、所有听友都可以领取专属 YIN隐 ¥50天猫优惠券（0门槛使用且可叠加新会员福利、平台活动一起使用），复制这段话 97《kMfA4N57SQ9₴ https://s.tb.cn/h.hwwMoS0 HU926 YIN隐x午夜飞行 打开天猫即可自动弹出~3、和 YIN隐天猫客服报「午夜飞行」，可以随单赠送「黄金屋」金属书签一枚本期节目你将听到：[05:03] 2014 年夏天在一间出租屋里，阿悠和朋友一起创作出了第一款自己的产品[06:25] 为什么是金？不是银、钻石或者其他珠宝？[10:13] 第一个作品：莫比乌斯环，背后也经历了很多背刺时刻[12:50] 在设计自己产品的时候，「任性」地选择了与历史人文和天文地理相关的若干选题[16:52] 在动漫《美少女战士》和《Jojo的奇妙冒险》背后，也有大量天文地理、人文历史的积淀[20:47] 在世界不同博物馆的所见所闻，来自用户的感人故事，都成为品牌创意的源泉[28:59] 过往十年，经历了外部环境的大起大落，自己沉淀下了什么？[31:32] 创业之后，又跑去西班牙而不是北美，读了个书[35:25] 自己感知到的「有限游戏」和「无限游戏」[38:12] 想过放弃吗？以及如何面对负面评价？[44:48] 工作和生活还能分开吗？需要分开吗？[51:11] 关于「上天」：去火箭发射基地参与火箭发射是怎么回事？[55:53] 关于「入地」：去重读丝绸之路的故事[59:33] 十年过后，现在怎么定义自己的身份？创作者？创业者？[1:02:32] 做一个脚踏实地的理想主义者！>2014 年的「莫比乌斯」>如今的「莫比乌斯」>来自宇宙的终极浪漫Attention！正在火热招募中！具体成团信息、报名方式和更多详情，大家可以直接扫描图片二维码进入小程序了解详情，也可以在午夜飞行公众号具体查看 https://mp.weixin.qq.com/s/xZKvvPFn2ObXEGPy-GP8Aw 如有任何问题，也可添加我们客服微信 hellomarcast 咨询。非常期待能够跟大家一起飞往景迈山！※ 这次我们也为听友们准备了首发团福利，关注「稻草人旅行」公众号，后台回复「午夜飞行」，即可领取价值 400 元的粉丝专属旅行优惠券！【节目主播/制作】主播/制作：VC微博：@VividCrystal https://weibo.com/u/1241505120小红书：@午夜飞行VC https://www.xiaohongshu.com/user/profile/572a84ee50c4b435fe74744e【节目互动】微博：@午夜飞行Official https://weibo.com/u/7298580324公众号：午夜飞行【商务合作】商务合作联系邮箱：hello@marcastmedia.com或添加微信：hellomarcast【欢迎加入听友群】入群方式 A：微信添加小助手 Amber (ID: hellomarcast)，拉你入群入群方式 B：关注公众号「午夜飞行」 ，回复「听友群」三个字，即可获取入群通道【本集音乐】Music credit:1. Cornfield Chase - Hans Zimmer2. Day One (Interstellar Theme) - Hans Zimmer3. Fly Me to the Moon - Joshua Radin【封面图片】By YIN 隐【节目出品】本播客由 Marcast Media 制作出品，也欢迎你订阅收听 Marcast 旗下的其他播客节目。你可以通过以下方式找到我们：- 小红书：@Marcast https://www.xiaohongshu.com/user/profile/5e53be6400000000010003bb- 公众号：Marcast- 微博：@Marcast https://weibo.com/u/2743283854- 进听友群请添加微信：hellomarcast- 欢迎加入 2500+ 朋友一起订阅 Beads Newsletter 每周一封精选英文播客内容分享，为你提取、总结那些 90% 的人听不到的、隐藏在声音里的一手信息、知识、经验、工具、趣味和审美，和你一起拓展认知和视野，每周一上午发送，订阅地址：https://beads.beehiiv.com© 2025 Marcast Media

"My location holds no boundaries!" - Yin Johnson, whose 37-year investigative career spans continents and countless fraud cases. In this episode, we explore how Yin built her global investigation practice and leverages her extensive network to solve complex cases.Yin shares her journey from sports instructor to renowned international investigator, offering insights on financial and intellectual property fraud across different cultures. We discuss how technology has transformed her work and the power of building strong investigative connections worldwide.Kelly want's her rolodex! Connect:LinkedIn: Yin JohnsonBooks: Reprobates | Killer SmileLinkedIn: Kelly Paxton

Welcome back to Black Hoodie Alchemy, folks! My head was jumbled, my body was in a lot of pain, and I wasn't really sure what my next move was after this near-death experience at the beginning of the year -- so I took a bit of a longer, unexpected, and unannounced break. Some of it was out of frustration, a lot of it was out of total exhaustion, and even more of it was rooted in a level of surrender and acceptance. Some real serenity prayer sort of stuff on a very Jungian level, but it was all worth it. I'm feeling pretty damn solid now. Joe Rupe, host of Lighting the Void helps me get into all this, unpacking some of his mental health experiences and some of my recent ones, along with analyzing mental in the fringe spiritual, new age, conspiracy theory and fortean communities. People are always getting into these head-spaces and schools-of-thought for one reason or another, yet so many of them fail to ask themselves what these ideas and beliefs do for them on a daily practical level. People analyzing "real" alien species on internet forums, reading the "latest leaks" from Q, or trying to hex their neighbors are likely not considering the fundamental idea: Maslow's Hierarchy of Needs. Because of this, their mental health usually suffers on a noticeable level. But beyond this, we get deeper into Jungian psychology and the relationship between our inner child and the archetypes of the Great Mother and Father, i.e. the Yin and Yang, et cetera. It's a heavy episode but in many ways it's a celebratory return with great music, some fun shout outs and an awesome guest! Thanks for tuning in, folks -- there's a lot more to come. I'm feeling better than I have all year and we hope you dig the listen.my links:⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠DIVE MANUAL AUDIOBOOK⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ (narrated by Joe Rupe)⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠HUNT MANUAL⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠BHA LINKTREE w books, shorts, and much more⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠JOE RUPE'S LIGHTING THE VOIDmy convo with Joe about Hermeticismmy convo with Ronnie Pontiac about alchemy and Manly Hallmy convo with Leticia Martinez about alchemy and medicinemy convo with AP Strange about unexplainable phenomena & mental healthSHOUT OUTS:Farewell, My Heartfind Farewell on instaSeedperson's new instaAlex Arck on instaPatrick's Southern Paranormal World youtube videos (i swear these are quiet noises and not jumpscares):Start listening around 11:35 with headphones and wait for itStart at around 1:45 with headphones and listen carefullyThis week's featured music -- some of the heaviest hitters that the underground has to offer! Feast For Worms - Grim Pesci x NightwalkerAny Reason At All - LEGITInfestation - Alex Arck

What are the gifts and the challenges of being a Human Design Projector? What does it mean to guide others? How might Projectors orient towards success as a non-sacral being?As a Generator, I've been blessed to be surrounded by wise Projectors and their unique perspectives on life. I've also witnessed firsthand some of the difficulties that Projectors work through as they decondition from societal definitions of success and discover the authentic flow of their energies.In this conversation, my dear friend Joanne Chen, a 2/4 Splenic Projector, joined me to discuss all things Projectors. We talked about Joanne's journey – from pursuing a career as a classical musician in NYC to living in Bali and guiding others on their spiritual journey.We also discussed the relationship between Projectors and Generators: how they can support one another in the process of deconditioning, while appreciating each other's natural gifts.Here's Joanne's bio:Joanne is an energy refinement mentor and spiritual guide known for her clarity, resonance, and multidimensional approach to transformation.Rooted in decades of experience as a professional pianist and teacher, she brings the same precision and depth to her current work, supporting clients of all ages worldwide in recalibrating their energetic systems and realigning with their natural frequency.Her guidance weaves together universal laws, Taoist wisdom, Human Design, Gene Keys, QHHT, breathwork, and nervous system attunement.She is also trained in Yin yoga and Reiki with a background in cognitive behavior-based teaching and emotional pattern recognition. However, it is her intuitive clarity and ability to hold a safe, potent space that clients often describe as a “breath of fresh air.”Whether working with high-level visionaries or those undergoing profound personal shifts, Joanne's work helps people experience their own energy as the architect of reality - and return to truth without bypassing.Joanne is also offering a special discount for Healing The Spirit listeners for her signature programs. Reach out to her directly for details and mention the podcast!Find out more about Joanne and her work through her website divinehumangrid.com, her offerings list, and Instagram. If you've enjoyed and benefited from the podcast, I invite you to apply for private mentorship and coaching with me. This is an intensive container, designed to support you in refining your self-leadership skills, moving through important life thresholds with grace, and expanding your capacity for creative expansions.Try the incredible breathwork and meditation app Open for 30 days free using this special link. This podcast is hosted, produced, and edited by Jonathan Koe. Theme music is also composed by me! Connect with me through my newsletter, my Instagram @jonathankoeofficial, and my music. For podcast-related inquiries, email me at healingthespiritpodcast@gmail.com.