Archive
The Cycles of Life
This week’s theme in Rosemary’s blog was Cycles beginning with her video message on Tuesday. Yesterday I wrote about the primary cycle in human life, human consciousness: Death. And as we move now into the energy of the Summer Solstice here in the Northern Hemisphere I am once again reminded of all the cycles that occur in our lives, from the most minute, the life and death of a single cell (we lose more than 50 billion a day to apoptosis!) to the solar cycle through solstices and equinoxes and all the solar holidays in-between, to human death.
As I thought about Glenn Smith, his early-in-life transition (he was only 55) I drew two divination cards (a daily practice, usually with the intention of divining the energy for the day); I wanted to tap in and see if Glenn had any messages for me through the cards.
First I drew Butterfly Maiden from the Doreen Virtue Goddess Guidance Oracle Cards. No surprise as this card is all about “transformation.” This is what I wrote about the card, pictured here:
Death is the big transformation for humans, only rivaled in grandeur and trauma by birth. And in a sense these largest of events in our experience of consciousness are one and the same. They are each part of the human cycle, a circle which has no end nor beginning. Birth, Life, Death, around we go always becoming, renewing, rejoicing in the knowing! And not knowing!
The second card I drew was from the Aleister Crowley Thoth Tarot Deck; it was the 10 of Disks, “wealth.” This is what I wrote about the 10, pictured here:
Wealth. Fulfillment. The completion of human goals. Another “end-vibration” card showing me that endings are not only OK but need to be expected. We can never be sure when a life is fulfilled. Too often endings are abrupt and unexpected. A greater cycle, beyond human consciousness and understanding – the mystery – is playing out. We are but cycles within cycles adding our ounce of Oneness to the tidal ocean of consciousness. Rest, Glenn. We hold your ounce as precious!
We can measure so many cycles: the cycle of a cell’s life, the cycle of the sun as it appears to spin around the earth. But how do we measure the cycle of a man’s life? The span of time from birth to death, to fulfillment of one life, remains in the mystery. Yet there is so much to learn from each precious life.
I learned many things from Glenn in our too short friendship. He was such a gentle man and yet so deeply conscious. Read about him in the blog we wrote together: powerfulsensitivemen.com. And here’s something he wrote for Rosemary I want to share:
Having always thought I was a bit odd and different from the regular crowd, I was overjoyed to receive a message passed to me through Rosemary Bredeson that I was indeed ‘different’, during a group session I attended. In fact every message she passed to the twelve people gathered had some impact on me. The message I received could not have been more relevant for me even though I have had many readings by many different psychics over many years. Her joyful way of expressing heartfelt messages from The Other Side was a delight to witness.
This is how Glenn was in life; he always seemed overjoyed and delighted!
I went to my Svaroopa Yoga class tonight energized as I often am to take respite in my body, to bring my consciousness to my physical being rooted as I am in this life for now on the planet. For the evening’s contemplation my teacher used a quote from Aristotle:
Happiness is the meaning and purpose of life, the whole aim and end of human existence.
Glenn was a happy man, passing to another phase of consciousness having fulfilled his purpose in this cycle on Planet Earth.

Storm Surge in Your Life! – Richard’s Commentary and Glenn Smith’s Obituary
I had one of those days when it may have been better to remain in bed under the covers! Yes, it was another storm surge kind of day! It built up early after a late night wrestling with video production, technical issues, computer sluggishness, internet connectivity glitches. The storm actually started early yesterday. I hope it surged to its climax today as I lost a DVD player (don’t ask!) and made two trips out to get the produce from our CSA (Community Supported Agriculture) farm (their delivery truck broke down, so they were having a stormy day too!).
But I do have a perspective on all of this I need to share:
On May 9, 2013, a friend and colleague, Glenn M. Smith, died suddenly and shockingly, in Huntsville, Canada. He had been ill for some months with strange symptoms attributed to ALS and then Lyme disease. I learned of this diagnosis and thought, OK, treatment is available. Then I received word he had passed. This was truly a sudden and violent storm!
Glenn and I met at a Baeth Davis Scientific Hand Analysis event and then stayed in contact and met again at another BaethLife Purpose event. Baeth saw potential in both of us as caring, sensitive, yet strong men and suggested we figure a way to work together. We started a blog, PowerfulSensitiveMen.com and posted a few things along the way. But we both were busy with other things and then Glenn fell ill.
I have been asking myself, and him, what we should do with the blog. And I got a pretty clear answer today to write this post, post it on the blog and then see what happens. First I want to post part of Glenn’s obituary that appeared in the Toronto Star on May 24:
Glenn Smith passed away peacefully in Huntsville on May 9, 2013 of ALS and Lyme Disease. Glenn was born on April 27, 1958 in Richmond, BC, to parents Wesley and Lorraine. He is survived by his beloved partner of 7 years, Sharon Miller…Glenn was a tradesman, a massage therapist, an author (Lotus Petal) and spiritual guide. Glenn loved to play and have fun. He acted, learned the trumpet and joined a dance class in his forties. He loved to test his body through athletics – as a football and baseball player, as a runner and as a triathlete. He loved the outdoors – boating, swimming and skiing. He was an incredible cook. He was a meditator for over 30 years and a spiritual man. He loved quietly and gently being of service to others. Mostly Glenn loved Sharon. He and Sharon shared a deep love and connection that inspired others.
Glenn was a “powerful, sensitive man.” He is truly missed. I regret not having the opportunity to pursue our work together in the physical but I have a sense we will be working together in another format; because for me the work needs to continue. I know that he agrees. And whether or not our joint blog continues is only a matter of form.
I have more to say about this and Glenn, but for today I want this post to reflect his gentle nature and sweet presence I feel as I write. I will write more about storm surges and their impacts tomorrow.
My little rain-storm today was nothing compared to what Glenn and Sharon have been through. Perspective is always so sobering and so calming to that inner storm!

Walking Through Doorways
It’s been a busy week! Walking through doorways of opportunity can occupy a lot of time. But when opportunities show up we have to respond or be left behind, at least as far as The Divine Feminine are concerned (ref: yesterday’s post).
My first door opened when I got serious about Qigong. I’ve blogged about this, my experience with Bridget Hughes for well over a year now, then my work with her teacher, Jeff Primack, culminating in certification to teach Qigong, and then launching my first two classes which begin next week. This is exciting enough! And yes, there is a bit of fear surrounding this; who am I to think I can teach Qigong! Well, I walked through the flaming doorway of opportunity, changed my mind about my ability (a long time ago I was an effective teacher of math and science) and announced my classes! I even have people signing up!
It seems that once opportunities show up and we say “yes” other opportunities follow. Last week I posted a recording of my message from The Other Side (post link). The main part of that message was from a Shaman Guide who basically told me to “access the shamanic world” more often. Well, I have followed this advice and have taken several journeys over the past week. And I have received guidance that with no uncertainty holds open a doorway of opportunity to get out there and do for others what I have been able to do for a few and have been hiding from for years now.
It is not cool to claim to be a Shaman. In the world of Shamanic Healing using traditional indigenous technologies that are millennia old, people don’t choose to be shamans, and when they are chosen they don’t necessarily walk around with a shaman’s badge pinned to their robes. If I feel a bit trepidatious about my Qigong classes imagine how I feel about this guidance to work with people using shamanic approaches to healing! This work is not for the faint of heart. I have a lot of training and I have a lot of warning that this is no easy path to follow.
But sometimes these doorways of opportunity, no matter how high the flames lick the posts, are easier to walk through than resist. And with that I revised my business card format and they just arrived fresh from the printer. Here it is:
And the byline, “Shaman of the Heart,” is not a label I choose for myself. A dear friend, mentor and teacher, Baeth Davis, called me this a couple of years ago. That’s a long story but the short version is I have all loops for fingerprints which means I am in the School of Love, my Lessons are about Love and my Purpose is Love; hence the title!
I am standing in this burning doorway ready to leap through. I trust there is someone on the other side who has a hand outstretched to me to welcome me and perhaps even to reassure me. But this time of opportunity is not waiting for me. It is waiting for no one of us.
Are you ready to step or leap through that doorway of your opportunity? Do it; join me!





