What are we harvesting this season?

What are we harvesting this season? The full moon in September has traditionally been known as the Harvest Moon, which always marks a powerful turning of the year inward. Why inward? For one, this is a great time for us to express gratitude for all that we have harvested this year. By any measure, this has been a challenging year, so our harvest includes new lessons learned and new changes that we need to make in all aspects of our lives. Helping and healing is vibrantly alive in our harvest in ways both big and small. In celebrating our harvests, we express gratitude and make note of what we will do to increase future harvests.

In our household, we are helping the farmers who have been affected by all the shutdowns by purchasing produce and flowers directly from them since many of their regular customers such as restaurants and schools have not been buying as usual, and the rules for going to the farmers markets are cumbersome. Wherever you live, you can find some farmers that you can support in this way too. This is just one more simple way we can help each other.

Second, a powerful thing to do is to express gratitude every day for all that we have received. I express gratitude for my health, for the clients that spirit sends my way, and all the other positive developments in my life, and especially for all the love in all of our connections.

Third, as the sunsets are showing up in beautiful orange colors because of all the forest fires that raging throughout the west, hopefully we will have some rains coming our way to help all the firefighters and perhaps a deep snow season to follow.

The full moon comes on September 2, and the Fall Equinox on September 22 this year. When I refer to turning inward, this is the quarter of the year when everything begins to get darker and the weather turns colder, as there is a decreasing amount of daylight from the Fall Equinox to the Winter Solstice. During this season we naturally spend more time indoors, reading, studying, practicing those things we want to improve our skills in, writing and making notes about all this.

Of course, because of the current restrictions we have been doing a lot of this all year now, and it remains to be seen how that will affect this holiday season.

This quarter of the year is packed full of our most sentimental and emotional holidays. Halloween, Thanksgiving, Christmas/Winter Solstice, New Year's. People love to get together at this time of the year and bring the light inside our home or business to celebrate love, friendship and connection with food, drink, dance song, stories, humor, joy and seasonal decorations.

Usually that means lots of parties, and every year, my schedule is full doing readings at these special events and parties.

For the past several years, I have been booked for these big holidays by summer, but not this year so far. Traditionally, I have read at company parties with hundreds of guests, even some with thousands of guests, but with all the social distancing rules, it is unlikely all that will happen this year. Like all of you, I have to wait and see what happens.

So my calendar is still open. In the spirit of these holidays in this year, small home parties can be a really refreshing and welcome antidote to everything else that has been shut down. At least you can get together with smaller gatherings of your best friends, clients or family and celebrate your connections.

It is in keeping with the guidelines to do small parties in private homes, and so I have had a few inquiries along those lines. I am available for these kinds of events and look forward to working with those of you who are planning some sort of holiday party or event.

So if you have any thoughts along those lines, please contact me as soon as you are thinking about it because I always commit to whoever makes arrangements with me first.

My heart and the doors to my home office are open to all who need individual appointments, and I thank spirit for the presence of each and every one of you in my life. I have deeply appreciated all the love and connection I have felt from each of you during this year of upheaval and restructuring.

I am here to be of service to those of you who need me. I remove any obstacles to our being able to work together because this is who I am and this is what I do. I love being able to help you.

I always love hearing from you, so feel free to reach out if you are feeling moved to do so. Have a wonderful day!

Peter Kater's music & me

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ Over the past 30 years or so, I have been blessed to have been introduced to the music of Peter Kater as well as getting to know him. Peter is a pianist, composer, producer, author and retreat leader. Beginning back in the 90s, I had the opportunity to meet and interview Peter when I was a professional magazine editor and freelance writer. Over the years I have heard him play several times in concert and written about his music. One time he and I were both performing (I was doing tarot readings, and he was playing music), in support of a charity fund raiser. Many of the recordings he has made (60 so far) are composed for use in meditation and healing, good soft music that makes a great background for massage, reiki, meditation and journaling. I use his music frequently when I am working. Recordings he has made with other world class musicians also make for relaxing listening while entertaining at home. Peter has also scored movies and turns up in surprising places. For example, while watching the informational video at a national park, I was pleasantly surprised that he scored that film in addition to things you may have seen elsewhere. Peter won the Grammy for best New Age Album in both 2018 and 2020 after being nominated almost every year since 2004. And I am happy to share that I have also read for Peter. Here is his testimonial about my reading for him. "My reading with Dan was a great experience! He is very genuine and his reading was clear, insightful, informative and very helpful. I've spent a lot more money on readings a lot less intuitive. I highly recommend getting a reading from Dan." ~ Peter Kater Peter leads retreats as well as doing concerts, both in concert halls and in people's homes and he offers unique piano readings. His many brilliant world class collaborators include: R. Carlos Nakai, Nawang Khechog, Paul MCandless, David Darling, Dominic Miller, Tina Guo, Snatam Kaur, Tony Levin, Joseph Firecrow, Trisha Bowden, Richard Hardy to name just some. You can find out more about Peter and his music at http://www.peterkater.com ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

Life without problems? What kind of story is that?

Of course, there is no such thing, and one of the greatest ways to appreciate this fact is that as we look back at what we have done and what we are happiest about, we remember our greatest achievements came after we had the courage to go forward even in the face of fear or doubt.

Look at where we are right now. We are being forced to do our business differently. Some people are now working from home full time and even though it is more convenient than commuting to an office, people still need human interaction.

Who would have guessed just a few months ago that our social time might feature walking the dog and chatting with others who are out walking? That is one of the healthy things we can do every day, and so I am pleasantly surprised to connect with old friends I have not seen in a while plus meet new people. At least we are enjoying good weather right now which really adds pleasure to the walks.

So the setting is just right for new realizations to become visible. Have you ever noticed that when you are more relaxed that your mind is more open, which makes it a perfect time for spirit to pop in messages? A perfect time for new creative ideas to just pop in and say hello?

What a perfect time to review our life story! The life story that we tell ourselves is what governs our visions, influences our tastes, desires and goals. One of the unique opportunities we have right now in the midst of these crises, is the opportunity to rethink our lives, and make changes that we deeply desire.

A major interruption speaks to deep desires because our usual routines are so out of whack. Funny aside: this common expression assumes that otherwise we are in whack. Who ever thinks of themselves that way? In whack?

Since we are being forced to do things differently right now, it is a perfect time to think about what changes we want to make. Everyone loves a good story and we always have an opportunity to rewrite the ending. So as we construct and create our new normal, we can see ourselves in a whole new light. Changing our story, in other words, is setting a new vision for ourselves and then pursuing it. And this next chapter can be very different, and very satisfying. Notice that closings cause us to work better from home and also to enjoy the simple comforts of home. So how different is a home centered life?

We do need to resume public events both for business and pleasure, but the schedule is obviously in the hands of the governor, so we need to proceed in ways that will work now and later.

Now is a time for dreams to become stories. What have you been imagining with a passion? Are you ready to become that? Or has your vision shifted significantly? What needs to be done next? Clarify the vision? Or jump into action? Right now, we can say that the next chapter of our life will shift our big visions as well as smaller, every day actions.

Is it story time where you live? What is essential now? What is desired now? How would you like to tell the story going forward?

I am always happy to hear from you. I love you and send blessings for a wonderful day to everyone.

Beyond the Pandemic: A Vision

Yes, we are entering into a

 Yes, we are entering into a new dimension I feel. Radical shifts are happening. There is a monkey wrench in the whole thing though, the politicians making the rules. I think we will see a lot of people changing careers and changing how they work.

Gardening and cooking will experience rapid growth as people realize that while they are working at home they can grow fruits, vegetables and herbs in the yard and have fun cooking healthy meals with that. People will still want to go out to eat for the socializing with friends, lovers or business associates and entertainment. The change will come from the market segment that ate out simply because they didn't feel like cooking. People who have been working from home have had to change their eating habits. Back to the roots. When people do this, they get closer in touch with spirit.

I have always enjoyed video calls and encourage people to call that way for readings and sessions because I like to see people when I talk to them. The boom in Zoom is here to stay. People enjoy video calls. They just don't like not being able to go out and having to do that instead. 

For all those who are not TV zombies, an appreciation of home made fun will rise to greater appreciation. Depending on when the powers that be will let us have live music concerts again, we have enjoyed videos of favorites, and others have found new pleasure in playing table games, doing jigsaws, arts & crafts, and making music at home. This is back to the roots too. When we were younger, it was common to get together to play guitars and sing all evening. When people do that they get closer in touch with spirit.

Green will grow in popularity. Since gyms and pools were closed, our way of exercise became going for walks, riding bikes, skateboards, running, and just enjoying the simplicity of bird watching, green buds appearing on trees and shrubs, and people stopping to hug a tree, smell wildflowers and ask questions like what is that plant or bird? They get closer to spirit that way. 

Classifying some work as essential is bound to prompt that same question in everyone's mind. Is only half the work force essential? That question needs to be answered for our own satisfaction and to be able to have successful lives and businesses. Of course, all work is essential. Whether you are cooking a meal, cleaning a house, singing a song, telling funny stories, performing surgeries or working as a truck driver, all work is essential. Whether you are an inventor of a new computer or the keeper of a small neighborhood shop, all work is essential. People get closer to spirit that way. 

Now that the Navy has released videos and reports about UFOs, and it breezed by like nothing, maybe we will get to meet them for real. Maybe instead of odd personal encounters, something will happen between our cultures on some scale of exchange. Think of how many new horizons that will open. 

Dating may become weird if people who met on line cannot meet for coffee or lunch or a drink so first meetings of people who want to have relationships will be over Zoom first. Kind of a new hybrid atmosphere between personal and remote.

What if all sports teams take a year off or play this season to empty stadiums? Will people be less interested after that? Part of the real joy of spectator sports is being able to feel thousands of people get on their feet and shout together for their teams. It is not just who is on the field. It is the fans who make games. Maybe if we get used to doing other things we will see more active people and less spectators. If America didn't have baseball, basketball, football and hockey for the year, it would be a very different country, a very different social atmosphere. Imagine what people might get into if there were no games to watch? 

Will people have more spiritual experiences? Absolutely. Profound experiences. We have recently heard public discussions on people commonly reporting very unusual dreams and interrupted sleep. Spirit talks to us in our dreams. Remember that. Precognition. Previews of coming attractions. Public radio dedicated a whole show to that subject just last week. Spirit is coming through and making itself known. 

Nurses will never be seen the same way again. I love nurses. Nurses are two of my spirit guides who help me do my healing work. Many of the people who call on me as clients are nurses and caregivers. Nurses as a whole are the softer, more holistic side of medicine and healing. Nurses are front line not only in the present emergency sense, many of them combine skills like their medical expertise with energy healing and nutritional and fitness consulting. What if all health care in our country were even more influenced by them? All healers are spiritual in nature. Nurses, doctors, paramedics, medics, all the ones we do not usually view in that light. People who spend a lot of time with the critically ill and dying experience a great deal of spiritual phenomena, which we will hear even more about. The more publicly they share their experiences, the greater insights we will gain on life.

Dr. Larry Dossey in his talk to a near death conference noted that he has been working with death his entire life. He went from a battlefield surgeon in Vietnam to the chief of staff at a major hospital for cancer patients and he noted that during this career, he had many spiritual experiences but it was not a thing people felt comfortable talking about until he and other doctors and nurses started telling their stories, and now more are telling their spiritual experience stories. 

We have suddenly been challenged to find new ways of doing things fast. Some people spread kindness. Others spread paranoia. One of these days in the not too distant future, this experience will just be a story from the past like we now view the Spanish Flu or the Black Plague. And we will be viewing this experience through a new set of eyes. Imagine what kind of world we will be seeing? Imagine what kind of world we will be living in?

In our parents and grandparents time, life changed radically by electricity and travel. In our lifetime, life has changed radically by computers. Every time we have invented new hardware, our thinking and acting changes. 

Decades ago the Le Corbusier, the great architect and author noted that we went from the Wright Brothers to regularly scheduled commercial flights within a span of 60 years because War is a demanding client. What if we are now living in a time when Peace and Healing became the demanding client?ew dimension I feel. Radical shifts are happening. There is a monkey wrench in the whole thing though, the politicians making the rules. I think we will see a lot of people changing careers and changing how they work.

Gardening and cooking will experience rapid growth as people realize that while they are working at home they can grow fruits, vegetables and herbs in the yard and have fun cooking healthy meals with that. People will still want to go out to eat for the socializing with friends, lovers or business associates and entertainment. The change will come from the market segment that ate out simply because they didn't feel like cooking. People who have been working from home have had to change their eating habits. Back to the roots. When people do this, they get closer in touch with spirit.

I have always enjoyed video calls and encourage people to call that way for readings and sessions because I like to see people when I talk to them. The boom in Zoom is here to stay. People enjoy video calls. They just don't like not being able to go out and having to do that instead. 

For all those who are not TV zombies, an appreciation of home made fun will rise to greater appreciation. Depending on when the powers that be will let us have live music concerts again, we have enjoyed videos of favorites, and others have found new pleasure in playing table games, doing jigsaws, arts & crafts, and making music at home. This is back to the roots too. When we were younger, it was common to get together to play guitars and sing all evening. When people do that they get closer in touch with spirit.

Green will grow in popularity. Since gyms and pools were closed, our way of exercise became going for walks, riding bikes, skateboards, running, and just enjoying the simplicity of bird watching, green buds appearing on trees and shrubs, and people stopping to hug a tree, smell wildflowers and ask questions like what is that plant or bird? They get closer to spirit that way. 

Classifying some work as essential is bound to prompt that same question in everyone's mind. Is only half the work force essential? That question needs to be answered for our own satisfaction and to be able to have successful lives and businesses. Of course, all work is essential. Whether you are cooking a meal, cleaning a house, singing a song, telling funny stories, performing surgeries or working as a truck driver, all work is essential. Whether you are an inventor of a new computer or the keeper of a small neighborhood shop, all work is essential. People get closer to spirit that way. 

Now that the Navy has released videos and reports about UFOs, and it breezed by like nothing, maybe we will get to meet them for real. Maybe instead of odd personal encounters, something will happen between our cultures on some scale of exchange. Think of how many new horizons that will open. 

Dating may become weird if people who met on line cannot meet for coffee or lunch or a drink so first meetings of people who want to have relationships will be over Zoom first. Kind of a new hybrid atmosphere between personal and remote.

What if all sports teams take a year off or play this season to empty stadiums? Will people be less interested after that? Part of the real joy of spectator sports is being able to feel thousands of people get on their feet and shout together for their teams. It is not just who is on the field. It is the fans who make games. Maybe if we get used to doing other things we will see more active people and less spectators. If America didn't have baseball, basketball, football and hockey for the year, it would be a very different country, a very different social atmosphere. Imagine what people might get into if there were no games to watch? 

Will people have more spiritual experiences? Absolutely. Profound experiences. We have recently heard public discussions on people commonly reporting very unusual dreams and interrupted sleep. Spirit talks to us in our dreams. Remember that. Precognition. Previews of coming attractions. Public radio dedicated a whole show to that subject just last week. Spirit is coming through and making itself known. 

Nurses will never be seen the same way again. I love nurses. Nurses are two of my spirit guides who help me do my healing work. Many of the people who call on me as clients are nurses and caregivers. Nurses as a whole are the softer, more holistic side of medicine and healing. Nurses are front line not only in the present emergency sense, many of them combine skills like their medical expertise with energy healing and nutritional and fitness consulting. What if all health care in our country were even more influenced by them? All healers are spiritual in nature. Nurses, doctors, paramedics, medics, all the ones we do not usually view in that light. People who spend a lot of time with the critically ill and dying experience a great deal of spiritual phenomena, which we will hear even more about. The more publicly they share their experiences, the greater insights we will gain on life.

Dr. Larry Dossey in his talk to a near death conference noted that he has been working with death his entire life. He went from a battlefield surgeon in Vietnam to the chief of staff at a major hospital for cancer patients and he noted that during this career, he had many spiritual experiences but it was not a thing people felt comfortable talking about until he and other doctors and nurses started telling their stories, and now more are telling their spiritual experience stories. 

We have suddenly been challenged to find new ways of doing things fast. Some people spread kindness. Others spread paranoia. One of these days in the not too distant future, this experience will just be a story from the past like we now view the Spanish Flu or the Black Plague. And we will be viewing this experience through a new set of eyes. Imagine what kind of world we will be seeing? Imagine what kind of world we will be living in?

In our parents and grandparents time, life changed radically by electricity and travel. In our lifetime, life has changed radically by computers. Every time we have invented new hardware, our thinking and acting changes. 

Decades ago the Le Corbusier, the great architect and author noted that we went from the Wright Brothers to regularly scheduled commercial flights within a span of 60 years because War is a demanding client. What if we are now living in a time when Peace and Healing became the demandi

What really matters?

What really matters?

Boulder County is allowing small businesses to reopen on Saturday May 9, and I am a small business, so if you would like an appointment with me, you can have one. As of today, my dentist, chiropractor, massage therapist and hairdresser have all made appointments for me. Tattoo shops will be reopening too, although I do not get tattoos myself. Not that I am against them. Many of you have beautiful tattoos, but I just have never felt like getting one myself. Little by little, we reopen. The next metaphysical fair is scheduled for mid-June and I talked to one of the show managers the other day. She expects that it will be able to go on and she speculates that we may be doing the fair with social distancing and everyone wearing masks. So we are going to have to see what kind of situation we are all in, what the city rules may be and how a fair will work like that. Weird. Those of you who met me that way know that the way people choose a reader or healer at the fair walk around and look at people and chat with them to see whose services they would like to try. Smiling and saying hello is always a first way to connect. With a face mask on, no one can see you smile and how easy will it be to talk with someone who is standing several feet away in a busy aisle with a mask on? Show days can stretch to 12 hours for vendors, and how comfortable will that be? We may be about to find out. In the big picture, it is not just the metaphysical fair. The Merchandise Mart exists to make money by hosting events that draw large crowds. So the question is whether the city will allow the venue to reopen and do what it normally does, and the new rules will apply to all kinds of shows and events. That same factor holds true for other venues like county fairgrounds, hotels auditoriums and other facilities, and that answer is yet to be known. What crowd size limits will be the rule? Hence the need to do more business in my home office where people usually come one at a time, sometimes two, and remotely by Skype, Zoom and phone. One of the cardinal rules for a happy life is to let go of what we cannot control and do the best we can with what we do control. Our own feelings and our own ideas are within our control. So keep those positive thoughts moving, and the good feelings you had from our sessions is still something you can get, even if it is from a distance. I can do classes and longer sessions with you as well as concise readings. Some of you have also just called or sent notes to say hello during this period and that is appreciated. It is nice to hear a friendly voice. I followed my path out of corporate life and followed my heart and guidance from spirit by doing readings and healings. Healings have always been private sessions, but readings have largely been public events. Many of you met me because I was doing readings at the metaphysical fairs, company parties, special events, house parties, holiday parties, birthday parties, bachelorette parties, graduation parties and proms, and so on. I have always loved doing those special events with you because I always love meeting new people, being part of festive events and seeing your eyes light up from getting your reading. The feedback I get from you is what lets me know that I did a good job, and that keeps me going. So in a time like this, I keep asking myself: What really matters? It matters to me to be happy being who I am and doing what I do. I love helping people who call on me, and that is why I keep a flexible schedule, and for those who are in a tight financial situation, there is flexibility in pricing. What really matters? Apparently, a lot more emphasis on the simple joys in life, like taking walks, cooking and gardening. If there is no sporting event or concert to go to, walking, cooking and gardening will be our new entertainment as well as healthy exercise. Maybe drumming circles in people's homes will get a bump in popularity. You can make beautiful music with as few as two people that way, and if you use smaller drums, like frame drums and tambourines, it will not be too loud for your neighbors. Some people get a lot of solace and support from going to a church but that is not allowed yet, although I am certain they will find a way to reopen those too. Some people used to enjoy dancing as a healthy activity, and that like going to the gym is shut down right now. Rules have yet to be made for those activities too. I have noticed too, that a number of people are taking breaks from watching TV and reading more books. Dreams are another unusual subject that has come up. People have asked me about unusual sleep and dream patterns during this time, and this subject continues to pop up. In fact, last night I was listening to a program on public radio and they had a whole program dedicated to this topic. I cannot remember another time when dreams came up on a large scale in our culture. However, I have seen documentaries about tribal people in remote places who share their dreams over breakfast every day as one of the first things they do and they take note when the same things appear in dreams to different members of the group on the same night. Since dream interpretation is one of the unique services I offer, that might be important to you. So in this time of reinventing ourselves, when you find yourself asking What really matters, you will probably be coming up with some new and different answers. I know that I am. If you could use a fresh perspective or a new insight, I am here for you. I love all of you and I am always happy to hear from any of you. Life is good, and no matter what our age, it is always an important question to ask ourselves: What really matters? This time, and these events give us time to focus on that and see what comes up. Love, peace and joy to all of you. ~~~~~~~~~ I have one request for someone else, if one of you would like to help. I know a reiki healer who needs a massage table so that she can open for business now that the restrictions are lifted. If you have a table that you would like to let go of, we can help a good healer get her practice going, and we can all use more healing in this world, so let me know if you have a table for her. ~~~~~~~~~

Today we enter into the energy of the Full Flower Moon. I know this is not a picture of a full moon, but I just felt like using it because it is a beautiful picture and it fits the mood of our time. We are looking for clarity and letting more light in to find our way forward. The energy of this moon is about nurturing the seeds we have planted in our lives so that they will grow, just like the light on the moon will be full and glowing by the time you see this. Every night before I go to sleep, I go outside and meditate on the moon and the night sky. It helps me get into a peaceful mood and a good night's rest. Try it, if you are not in the habit of doing so. ~~~~~~~~~~~~~ I started to play with making You Tube videos and I am still in the process of thinking about what to do with that. If you have any suggestions about that, I am still thinking. What would make good videos that you would want to watch? You can find more special offers on my website https://www.magicalawakenings.com