READER’S COMMENT: “How can you be in the moment when you ‘know’ that a bad cycle is happening?”

August 19, 2026

Yesterday, I received this comment in response to that day’s post:  Countering Anxiety with Gratitude. 

I found his comment stimulating, and said so, and that I would respond in today’s post. So here goes.

First, shorthand version.

I both direct my attention to the “present moment,” and situate my small, personal self’s more or less conscious experience within the mysterious, cosmic, ever-changing panorama, by utilizing the symbolic language of astrology. Thus, I both live inside the present moment, and, given my intense (double Sagittarian) seeking nature, I also long to notice, give words to, its continuous, meaningful state of becoming.

Plus: since one’s experience of “the moment” can itself stretch, one might say that ultimately the distinction between space and time collapses:  the TWO, the moment, and the cosmic panorama, are ONE.

Which they are, of course, as is any polarity that we play out during our embodied lives here on planet earth.

 

Next, extended version.

To me it’s obvious, given the astonishing astrology of these times, when the cycles of all three of the outer planets (Pluto, Neptune and Uranus) are making a rare, harmonious “minor grand trine” aspect pattern with each other (last one was nearly 50 years ago), that we are in a period of ultimately harmonious change.

Then, for people around my age (83), these planets while aspecting each other, are also also making rare, strong geometric aspects to their natal positions (Pluto opposite Pluto, Neptune opposite Neptune, Uranus conjunct Uranus), these years are especially noteworthy, directing us to see our entire lives within the auras of three new meaningful cyclic understandings.

For we who were born during parts of 1942, and into 1943, when Uranus was in early Gemini, these years of the Uranus Return are especially remarkable; especially for one such as myself, whose natal Uranus is belongs to a “difficult” aspect pattern with Moon, Mars and Saturn that proved to be by far the most difficult of my life!  So yes, I am observing larger understandings of — new meanings given to — my entire life so far — making the entire procession through the years appear divinely and harmoniously ordered. However:

Given the massive breakdown/breakthrough eruptive force of Uranus (by the way, Bruce, I don’t call it “bad”), is it no surprise that I find myself even more than usually internally directed towards getting and staying in, the miraculous present moment, no matter what? Because I well know that, no matter what, this can and likely will include moments that will shock me to the point where at first I won’t know if I can keep on, so drastic will be the change.

Thus does the practice of meditation help, so very much, in staying present. For me, my meditative practice is walking, not sitting. This morning’s four-five mile walk is when, for me, the moment expands, to include all the smells and sounds and rhythmic movements of my body, Scampi’s more or less continuous pulling on his leash, the rustling waving chirping scuttling trees, bushes, birds, squirrels, voles, moles below and the mysterious sky above. Remember the turkey vulture circling high above that flashed its “shit” on the top of my head, twice in one day? How is that not a miracle of the moment!

Something that, frankly, I’ve learned to almost “expect,” given the astonishing astrology of these times. And I do think that such “miracles” are simply our minds and hearts and souls opening to synchronicity, i.e., opening to include way more than the current Overton Window we are supposed to remain within or behind, as a frame, or screen, screening out the infinity of mysteries that just go on and on and on!

 

Oh, and the Sun, the Sun! Moving east and west, moving north and south, moving in hidden concert with the Moon, the Moon! And, yes, THE WINKING STARS, their human-created patterns! Geez! How could I help but be astonished, utterly grateful, all of the time!

Or at least, when I wake up! over and over again; at least when I manage to get and remain present, conscious, connected, and not caught, deluded, behind the illusive trappings of ego.

Don’t know if I “answered” your question. But I certainly did find myself responding to it!

Thanks for the opportunity!

I do think that by attuning to the mysterious signals offered by the cycles of the planets, especially the outer planets, we can vastly increase our gratitude for the present moment reverberating outwards and inwards forever.

Countering Anxiety with Gratitude

August 18, 2026

 

On this morning’s long daily walk, I was with a dear neighbor, who, when I ask how she’s doing, says she’s “anxious.”

Me: “So you’re projecting into the future.”

She nods.

“You’re continuously projecting into the future, trying to figure out what will happen.”

Yes.

 

And her kids are always demanding things of her, right now, right now, right now!

And she has numerous decisions to make, this week!

 

I told her what I do to let go of anxiety: and that is to wake up! — and return to the present moment, over and over again. How? First of all, by stopping to indulge in a long slow breath. At least one. Maybe more. Notice how my nervous system then begins to calm down too. Because of course, it has been participating in the hyper-aroused anxious state.

In breathing deeply, at least once, by thus returning to the present moment, and then, remembering to fully appreciate that present moment stretching into infinity, I move into gratitude. Deep, all pervasive gratitude. For everything, the entire kit and kaboodle.

 

Okay, well and good. But how to stay there? How to remain in the state of gratitude?

All I can do is to keep breathing and opening. Opening to the present moment. In doing so I cultivate another, “higher awareness,” one which notices all of what is going on “down below,” my usual frantic busyness, extreme to the point of utter panic.

Of course, that “lower self” keeps on intruding, trying to pull me back into its fraught, tumultuous 3-D life; of course! And 5D higher self, that fair witness to all that the lower self is going through, just keeps on noticing, not judging, not being furious (that I would get so upset!) or judgmental (there I go again!), but simply noticing, no emotion, neutral. Calm, peaceful. As peaceful as the wide open sky.

This is a lifetime practice, of course. Even at 83 years of age, I seldom dwell for more than a few fleeting seconds actually, truly, in the present moment, that portal into Mystery.

What’s changed is that it takes me only a millisecond to remember, to open that door again, to return to HERE, and NOW.

Forever.