Happy New Year!

May your best holiday gift be a commitment to world peace; may your best New Year's resolution be a commitment to world peace. It may seem like an impossible dream but we are living in a world of what only a short time ago were impossible dreams: In the last hundred years, we have seen not only the worldwide use of the telephone but also instant satellite communication of audio and visual around the world and far out into space. We have seen not only planes flying around the world but rockets to the moon and ships to the farthest reaches of the universe. The human body, the planet Earth, and the universe are unraveling their mysteries under our careful attention. Why then can we not crack the secret to peace?

In my new book, (PEACE) WORDS, I quote John Lennon: "If everyone wanted peace instead of another television, we would have peace." Do you want something beyond your personal sphere, something for the greater good? It may not specifically be world peace; there are many issues now that require activism: ecology, equal rights, human rights, poverty, hunger, education. just to name a few. What have you done today to save the world?

My challenge to you is thus: In this time of focusing on ourselves, on what we have lost and how the economy has affected us, step out of your personal fear and the mass hysteria. Make a commitment to change something outside the sphere of your personal life, something that seems impossible to change. Charities receive a lot of assistance during the Winter Holidays. But poverty is a year-round problem. Make a commitment to end hunger in your city. Make a commitment to end homelessness. Make a commitment to something other than the gym, something equally impossible!

World peace may seem to be the stuff of politicians and dignitaries, untouchable by our lowly selves. But social and political change is always the result of common individuals, devoted persons who desire the grandest, most impossible dreams. And it is from the efforts of such individuals that we each enjoy the gifts we have today.

(PEACE) WORDS documents my public art, specifically one line of graffiti focusing on peace. I have found it an unusual idea to people, selflessness. More than once I have been asked while making graffiti, "What are you selling? What is the product?" Yes, I would like to sell my t-shirts and my books. I like to pay my bills. But no one goes into the peace movement for the money. "The product is peace," I say. "I don't understand" has been a reply. Or sometimes just a glazed look. So I know first-hand what I'm up against when I'm asking for this.

(PEACE) WORDS is my story of becoming a public artist and what the art means to me. It is also a primer on the peace movement and a workbook for frustrated vandals. The story is interesting inasmuch as it confesses various illegal activities of mine in various countries. And there is gossip. How can you resist?

This is a year of change. Let your New Year's resolution be a commitment to bettering the world. Activism may well be a more effective way to trim your waistline anyway.

Happy New Year

This year promises to be different from any we have experienced. President-elect Obama promises change. Top economists promise challenge. I think this will be a year of hard but honest work, a year of illness, a year of marriage. I think this will be a year of tying up loose ends, completing stalled projects. Better to work with skills you have than acquire new ones. If your current skills are inadequate, dig deeper into yourself ~ you do not need to be the smartest or the luckiest; this is a year where discipline and personal strengths will pay off. It is a year to see how stupid you have been (and you cannot predict at this time what that will pertain to). Do not be discouraged. This will be a year that ends in harvest and thanksgiving. Count your real blessings not your illusory ones.

Logically, it doesn't seem possible, but I think the housing market will stabilize. I'm not saying the greed that had been prominent in that field will find another foothold; I'm saying the freefall can stop and some normalcy ensue. And building materials should begin to recover its collective market. Diamonds and other fine gemstones should become prominent again replacing the fad market for less valuable stones. And fine art pottery should continue to increase its market.

Take special care of your health. I feel there will be an increase of various illnesses but I am especially concerned about skeletal problems and poisoning, even radiation poisoning. The rewards of regular detoxing will pay off over time. This is not the year to be on a "see food" diet.

Plan a disciplined schedule for your work, your health, and your soul. It is what will make this year happen for you. Frivolity will not serve you this year. But simple pleasures can satisfy. And poetry and art will carry you through the difficult times. Being too lazy to read a poem will not work this year. Read. Meditate. Eat green. And get your work done. There will be a party at the end of the day.

Gold Light

During this time of decreased/deficient sunlight, frequent and regular use of blessthebody.com Gold Light will supplement the body and mind.

Inertia, lethargy, dullness are antithetical to being productive and manifesting a glorious present and future. Shyness/cautiousness prevents you from being your authentic self.

blessthebody.com Gold Light stimulates you in the physical world and excites you in your physical life. It expands your energy field so you become dynamic. This results in great magnetism, charisma, attractiveness. It is excellent for performers and other people in the public eye. Combine with Pink Light for attracting romance. Combine with Green Light for attracting health and money.

Karma Cleanse

At this time of annual transition, blessthebody.com Karma Cleanse will help break unhealthy patterns and maintain New Year's resolutions.

Karma is the result of choices made during life experiences. Replication of poor choices creates karmic patterns which inhibit the fruition of joy in life. blessthebody.com Karma Cleanse removes patterns which block the easy flow of universal energy through you. It can be considered "White-Tantric-Yoga-in-a-bottle".

blessthebody.com Karma Cleanse removes the blockages to prosperity; intimacy; vitality. It removes mental and emotional blockages. It removes the blockages to spirituality. Karma Cleanse removes childhood patterns that do not serve your highest good; past-life patterns that do not serve your highest good. It removes spiritual patterns that do not serve your highest good.

blessthebody.com Karma Cleanse is definitely the "change-your-life remedy". Combine with E-motion Potion for a dynamic one-two punch.

Feng Shui

I am laying the groundwork for Astrological Feng Shui Workshops in Mendicino, Oakland/Berkeley, San Jose, Los Angeles, and San Diego ~ the whole length of California before heading to Dallas. Some of the workshop sites have not responded with schedules yet. This will be an important year to have your treatments correctly in place. February workshops will be announced mid-January. Book early; seating is limited. Check schedule on website for current information.

Toward the last week of January, remove all your annual feng shui treatments from this previous year. Place them on the earth for one-to-three days if you are going to use them again under the new astrology.

January is the last month of the Chinese Year. For this month, place the following treatments:

Southeast: five elements plus moving metal;
South: moving metal;
Southwest: remove water/add coins;
East: moving water (not in bed or bath);
Center: coins
West: fire (and moving water if not a bed or bath);
Northeast: moving water (if not a bed or bath), lights, activity;
North: moving metal;
Northwest: rhino and coins.

The best areas for the month are the Northeast and the East.

The worst areas for the month are the Southeast and the Southwest.

Wine Shop

I now have an online wineshop, Wine and Poetry. For a special occasion, select the ecstatic or love poem you want; then select the wine. The label you choose will be put on the bottle you choose and shipped to you. Chinese New Year, Valentines Day, weddings, birthdays ~ let poetry and wine say your heart is full and the day is important. Non-alcoholic beverages are also available.

Thank You

I received so many wonderful messages of love for the Holidays. Thank you to everybody who remembered me. It has been an exceptional year and I am looking forward to the new one. May the coming year be filled with blessings and love and grace and peace and joy.

Postscript

This newsletter was written before recent events of war. Iraq and Afghanistan are not the only on-going unrest in the world and America is not the only aggressor. Israel bombed Palestinians in the Gaza for the deadliest air-strike in that area in decades. Israel is now planning follow-up ground-strikes. Weeks ago, terrorist attacks in Thailand, Pakistan, and India killed hundreds and scarred the lives of thousands more. A terrorist attack in Afghanistan killed sixteen people at the time of this writing. When will we have peace? Make a New Year's resolution to change the world. Make a commitment to peace.  ras