I like to follow the moon and the
sun to pace my life. The solstice
was a powerful transition, a new
life for me. The last moon cycle
had a deep influence on
reclaiming who I used to be.

Lunar and solar eclipse seems
quite festive as they are
somewhat randomly happenings.

I don't know much about astrology
though, but I like the symbolic
of the astronomy itself. I like
when a comet comes through, like
an old relative who comes and
visit. We would welcome them,
maybe have a special meal, some
songs, some drinking, maybe some
psychedelic ritual too.

Now we're already at the equinox,
and the new moon is happening in
a couple days. A new phase, is
starting in a very balanced
way. It feels calm, a time of
introspection, of preparation. 

There are about 2.5 moon cycle
between a solstice and an
equinox, so the new moon is not
always aligned with the solar
cycle. When you have a new moon
in equinox, you'll be close to
have a full moon on the solstice.

I the city, the night life was
controlled by the moon cycle. A
full moon meant an intense night
in the bar filled with masculine
energy. More fighting would
happen. During the new moon, the energy
was more feminine. I used to go
out at new moons, I would be
picked up by women more
often then. I guess I wasn't
really the alpha male type, I
still don't really feel like the
alpha type! A friend of mine
working the ambulance shift told
me they would note the full moon
on the calendar and have extra
staff on hand during that
time. We are more at the mercy of
the planets around us than we
think.

How will I celebrate the equinox?
This new phase? The return of the
Sun.

Physical and mental training

I started the day with some
rep, 25 push up, 25 sit up, 25
squats. My goal is to repeat this
4 times a day, to reach 100 rep
of each, everyday.

I need to get a new skipping rope
too. Mine is a tad too short and
I keep on hitting the back of my
head with it. It's an old leather
rope, it's fairly brutal. Ideally
3 rounds of 3 minutes, with 1
minute break for skipping. Then a
similar schedule for shadow
boxing with weights.

12 minutes of skipping, 12
minutes of shadow boxing, 12
minutes of push up, sit up,
squats. That's not even 40
minutes of training a day, it's
quite easy to fit in. A bit of
stretching in the form of yoga
posture is becoming essential.

My posture is rounding forward,
boxer style. Focusing on back
bend, lower back stretch, gluts,
opening the hips, balance and leg
strengthening. 

A couple times a week of hiking,
boxing, karate and tai chi feels
like a good foundation. I could
also add a Monday afternoon of
yoga and meditation with my
teacher. 

I'm always surprise how little
time is needed to change one's
life deeply. When I train as
little as one hour a day, when I
chant mantra as little as 20
minutes a day, when I meditate,
do self massage and stretch for
only a few minutes a day, I feel
the effect deeply in my life.

Compared to watching tv for
a couple hours a day...