Love More… yourself and others… romantically, sexually, platonically

Somatica-Trained relationship & intimacy coaches, astrologers; energy workers; life-long spiritual students, we support our clients to love the way they want to — love themselves and their partner(s) — romantically and platonically.

Come work with us together, or separately, to:

• Discover precisely what you want and need to feel loved and fulfilled

• Get comfortable sharing with others how to love you well

• Learn how to listen with your heart and body when others are sharing how to love them

Experiencing connection and pleasure in the way Your Heart and Body Desire is one of the most fulfilling human experiences we can have.

Michael and I are so fortunate to have learned many incredible tools through the Somatica Institute and our various energetic, mental and emotional healing trainings over the last 30 years — tools that have ignited and supported our own eleven-year partnership and marriage.

(Check out our Trainings and Certifications in About and Our Tools in Coaching-Process)

You can choose to work with Piper or Michael, or both of us, for the experience and outcome you desire. However is best for you, we’d love to support you to love and be loved the way you long for.

Reach Out to schedule a 30-minute Inquiry Zoom with Piper or Michael, or both = Duo Coaching

Learning to be in Compassionate Community with Vulnerable Inter-Dependence.

Sharing water in numbers nourishes and nurtures.

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“Gone are the days of Tiger’s rugged individualism. 2023 is a year to be FELT and SHARED—Yin Water Rabbit.”

— Piper Lauri Salogga

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COMMENTARY

The energies of this year are going to challenge us all to get comfortably uncomfortable—feeling ALL of our feelings, not just the socially acceptable ones. We may find our vulnerability eased though our trusted connections and loving community. But ultimately, grace will come through the flow and release of our body’s feeling. To have faith that enjoyment and fulfillment will flow from this emotional freedom… this is the personal challenge of the year.

While being present to all the pleasures of our body’s sensations in daily life, develop a practice of giving thanks in each moment you find pleasing. This awareness and gratitude will bring more of what you are enjoying into your life.  Staying with your feeling (compassion, sensation, and emotion) will eventually bring greater and greater ease and prosperity, especially when you are in good company—in trusted, compassionate, caring community.

Know, we are paving new healthy pathways (in our brains and bodies) for ourselves and our loved ones, including our children, and our children’s children. It is time to let go of “bucking up” and “pushing down” what is being felt. It is time to heal and grow and flow into a more open and honest way of being human in this complex and treasure-filled life.

2023 will bring the gifts of: Mutual-dependence; Building and nurturing deeply caring and supportive communities; Growing more comfortable with the feeling nature of our humanness

In 2023 watch for: Spinning into anxiety; Vulnerability Hangovers; Becoming emotionally overwrought; Blaming and causing harm to ourselves and others; Becoming lonely and depressed in our heightened need to self-protect

From my heart to yours,

xoPiper

Nuzzling is a common affair amongst loving trusted mates.

RABBIT

• Rabbits are lightly-treading, quiet, discrete, home-loving, communal creatures who value Safety and TRUST above all else.

• They NEED their Fluffles — trusted family/community groups. They are slow to bond with those they don’t know, so take your time and have patience when getting to know another this year.

• Their Heightened Senses keep Rabbits safer, although also on high-alert—their ears and nose especially. Choosing right-fit music and scents will have a more potent affect on your interpersonal connections.

• Working with their trusted community Rabbits are PROSPEROUS in every way. Loving to eat and desiring things around them to feel safe, Rabbits are in the habit of always finding what they need.

• Rabbits are Territorial and have clear chains of command and Boundaries in the warren. They prefer to avoid confrontation, however, are willing to fight to the death if needed to protect themselves of their community—being tiny and quiet does not stop them from using their strong legs with sharp teeth.

• You know when a Rabbit is feeling particularly Anxious, they become wildly messy, scattered, aggressive, and loud.

Rabbits hang together and watch out for each other—there is safety in trusted numbers.

RABBITS & RELATIONSHIPS

Rabbits Thrive in Trusted Togetherness: constantly and quietly watching out for each other; resourcefully foraging together; sharing with each other; playing together; grooming and snuggling together; love-bumping and making babies together

Dating & Building Relationships: Rabbits need to Go Slow. Take your time to enjoy courtship. Have patience to let your intimate interest come to you—trust is earned. Honor each other’s need for boundaries and safety. Make room within for emotional and physical sensitivity with yourself and others. Body language will communicate more clearly than words. Accept that you and others may need to know your escape routes this year—this does not mean that you are not desiring connection, it is simply another way that you can feel safe. And once trust is developed, once a deep bond is felt, likely you will feel a unmoving loyalty in your relationships. Also, let’s celebrate the heightened sensuality active this year—there is the potential for much enjoyment in eating, petting, playing, and resting TOGETHER.

Compatibility (with other Chinese Zodiac animals): Because power comes to Rabbits in a subordinate position, partnering is very important to them. They are best suited to the strong worldly signs: Pigs, Ox and Goats. Partnering with Snakes gives them complete discretion. Though they can socially manage all the signs, the Rooster’s critical and confrontative character disarms Rabbits completely. *

The Rabbit warren is a beautiful, architectural haven. Each family has its own pod. Each community its own section.

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“The ability to navigate vulnerability within our self and with others is the push of the year—it is also the reward.”

— Piper Lauri Salogga

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Rabbits will fight when they feel they have to, but they’d rather hang out in peace.

More on Rabbit

When Charged: gentle, quiet, peace loving, intuitive, intelligent, aesthetic, domestic, social, diverse, dependent, supportive, loving and authoritative. *

When Depleted: gossipy, snobby, superficial, paranoid, greedy, scattered, vain, promiscuous, opportunistic, deceptive, conservative, stubborn and lazy *

Native Element: YIN WOOD

Correspondences: 5am – 7am, 2nd moon, Earth gods, apricot flower, crystal, east *

Auspices: Modesty and grace is key to success in life. Success in business *

Rabbits prefer avoid the water than get soaked in it.

YIN WATER

• Light rain and snow, drizzle and snow-flurries

• Streams, small meandering rivers, fiords

• Showers, baths, saunas

• Tea, soothing drinks

• Tears and tender emotions

• Sensual experiences

When Charged: healing, feeling, flow, sensing, nurturing, nourishing, soothing, cleansing, lightly penetrating, sensual, compassionate, emotionally intelligent

When Depleted: soggy, swampy, simpy (sweetly wimpy), whiney, moldy, overwrought, uncomfortable, disappointed, depressed, debauched

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“The Power of Feeling will be found through the flow of our compassion, emotion, sensation, and intuition.”

— Piper Lauri Salogga

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SING THE WATER SONG

This Algonquin Water Song was written by Irene Wawatie Jerome for Grandfather William Commanda's 2002 Circle of All Nations gathering. It is recorded with permission from the Wawatie and Commanda families and the Circle of All Nations Foundation and the Elders in Canada.

SUPPORTIVE SOMATIC ACTIVITIES

Schedule a FIREWORKS SESSION & Sacred Intimacy Coaching for the support you need

• Body Scan

• Pranayama and/or Qigong Breathing

• Earth-Walking

• Tree-Hugging

• Franciscan Meditation

• Daily Kriyas: eye washing, throat gargle, netti pot, ear and crown cleaning

• Yin Yoga or Hatha yoga – poses are held longer w Open Awareness

• Yoga Nidra – Dream yoga

• Ho’oponopono

• “God, please show me how you love me”

• Boundaries: Blue Pyramid, Rose, spoken boundaries

• Opening and closing the body’s energy centers (dial open, dial closed)

• Curling up into a ball and/or shaking the body out

• Building your Support Tool Kit

• Phone a friend list

• Compliment Altar inside yourself

• Mirror dancing

• Animal Game

• Offloading

• Expressing in the car

• Cleansing with baths, showers, salt water, essential oils, eggs (Q’ero practice)

• Drinking soothing teas, water with electrolytes

• Watsu treatments

* Text from DYC Tong Shu app, written by Liu Ming and Da Yun Circle

Courageous & Powerful Change

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Transition from Ox to Tiger

“I must not fear. Fear is the mind-killer. Fear is the little-death that brings total obliteration. I will face my fear. I will permit it to pass over me and through me. And when it has gone past I will turn the inner eye to see its path. Where the fear has gone there will be nothing. Only I will remain.”
- Frank Herbert, Dune
 
 
   Yang Water Tiger: The force of torrential rainstorms and crashing waterfalls joins the deeply grounded yet wild, fearless, stalking strength of nature’s biggest cat, Tiger.
 
   2022 is turning last year's Yin Metal Ox on its head, going for its jugular. Although both Tiger and Ox are methodical and incredibly strong, the cooperative and generally pleasing demeanor of Ox may seem long gone amidst Tiger’s fierce, intimidating, independent, and dominating ways.

   Tiger is demanding that we embrace courage with grounded strength from the depth of our being. It Is Time to Wake Up!

   I've been feeling the force of Yang Water Tiger moving in all month long. Vacillating between "Fuck yea, I got this!" to "Holy Shit, I need to hide under the covers." The intensity feels both inspiring and totally overwhelming.

   Most of you know that I tend toward mindfulness in general, and this last month, tuning into my center, re-finding a grounded, peaceful place inside (several times a day) has been absolutely necessary. 

   I sense the great potential of this year. If we can face our fears, if we can allow and support the change that is pushing us forward, beautiful fireworks baby! And its going to take focused effort (and a lot of patience) in each of us. One soft, sure-pawed step at a time.

   Let's do this! I know we can. I'm here to help.

   More on the energies of 2022 below.

xo
Piper

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February 1, 2022, Yang Water Tiger awakened

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TIGER

The Image

Tiger’s big beauty, soft paws and strong muscles, stalk quietly, chase ferociously, love passionately, swim strong currents gracefully, and pounce decisively… rendering their prey speechless and limp.
 
   When Charged: courageous, strong-willed, energetic, enthusiastic, unconventional, lucky, honest, imaginative, competitive, dedicated, dignified and generous *
 
   When Deplete: restless, impulsive, inconsiderate, morose, stubborn, egotistical, rebellious, indecisive, overly sensitive to criticism, prideful and vain *
 
   Historical Image: The Tiger talked about in Chinese Astrology is well known to all Chinese farmers as a very successful predator. Tigers were on the list of common causes of death among early Chinese peasants. Tiger skin aprons were worn by famous generals in Chinese history as symbols of fearlessness in battle. Icons of Zhang Dao-ling show him riding a Tiger. The Chinese character for Tiger (hu) written on a farmhouse door is an amulet to ward off fire, theft and illness. Material things are of value to a Tiger only when they assist in creating his/her strong public image. Things must have power. *

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“Everything depends on exactly how you conduct yourself. Humility, caution, fear-management and contemplation bring success.”

— Liu Ming, CHANGING

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Working with Tiger's Intensity

Vignettes to Meditate On

1. Deeply CONNECTED to the ROOTS OF EARTH, the tall and powerful Trees of life, the energy of this grounded, dominant, wild creature of heart can be a fierce healing force and personal ally. The more we inhabit and ground in our bodies this year, through our rich connection with Mother Earth and The Heart of Life, the stronger we will feel and become.

2. The key to living with Tiger’s powerful (sometimes overwhelming) energy is FACING OUR FEARS with rooted love and clear intentions. Trying to over-power or run/hide from our challenges will likely find us feeling more anxious, exhausted, defensive, and beaten down.

3. WISE, CAUTIOUS, and HUMBLE ACTION will pave the path for greater, more sustainable success. Humble does not mean weak. Humble is recognizing that we are one of many equal, inter-dependent elements working together for the highest benefit of all—our unique contribution is a gift, but not the “best” or “right way.”

Strength + Softness = Most Powerful

4. USE YOUR VOICE (spoken and written, creatively expressed in any form) on behalf of your heartfelt desires. By being clear, intentional, slow and sure, your voice will command respect and attract your people and desired outcomes to you—reverberating widely and deeply across your life. You may feel the intense energy of this year trying to silence you (Tiger uses its powerful jaws and sharp teeth to skillfully collapse their prey). Do not let it!! Your truthful expression is needed and wanted.

5. With Tiger’s brilliant night vision (6x that of humans), WORKING WITHIN THE SHADOWS of ourselves (wounds and hidden power within us) will provide brilliant growth and benefit. Learning to stalk (observe) ourselves, our deep and honest feeling body, mind and heart, will give us the much-needed nourishment to embody our true Self—and keep us from being too easily swayed by those wanting to force and overpower us. Mother Tigers are determined nurturers, doing everything they can to nourish, protect, and guide their oh so vulnerable babies. Find and be the Great Mother in you.

6. Tiger’s VANITY and LOVE OF POWER may induce vulnerability to the often-unconscious habit of comparison. When depleted and off-balance, our vain ego-mind will likely find itself spinning in the dungeon of less-than or defending the castle of self-aggrandizement. Kindly “catch and correct” yourself: stop engaging with your comparing actions and re-connect with the unique truth of your own personal brilliance.

Triggered? Pull In and Back to Re-Center Yourself

7. If and when you feel yourself IMPATIENT, WANTING TO FORCE others to comply with your will, or force yourself to be and feel different, better, stronger than you do (especially when feeling hungry for love, money, and power), allow yourself to step back and away to re-center yourself. Quiet time in calm waters, easy winds, rich soil, tall trees, solid mountains, by yourself, or with those you trust and love, will support you to find strength with softness again.

8. This Tiger year will present many opportunities to LET GO. Let go of what was to embrace what wants to be—with death comes rebirth. Let go of our ego’s attachment to external images, external power, so many things external that are weighing us down and keeping us trapped. The lighter and freer we are to move our minds, hearts, and bodies as our intuitive/animal instinct is leading us to do, the more fulfilled and content we will become.

9. Lastly, tigers are on the verge of extinction, with more in “domesticated” captivity in the US than in the wild. Our fascination to own Tiger’s great beauty, strength, and healing power has humans greedily poaching and caging, depleting this daring courage, rather than learning how to embody it for ourselves. Tiger is present this year for us all to learn from its example – BECOME WITHIN – stop taking what is not yours to take.

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“When a tiger is not hungry or provoked (tread upon) it allows its usual prey to play safely nearby.”

— Liu Ming, CHANGING

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YANG WATER

The Force

Working with the energy of Yang Water:
Waterfalls - Oceans - Typhoons/Hurricanes - Torrential Storms - Floods

1. The powerful pummeling of Yang Water may agitate and churn up debris from the depths of your life, rearranging what has been settled or stuck for many years/lifetimes. Trust that you have the courage, strength and support to face and move through it!

2. Yang Water, although incredibly forceful and intense, is also magical and transformative. This energy has the power to move and penetrate most anything (drill holes in metal; generate electricity; encompass, submerge, clear out all that is stuck) simply by its natural flow. Movement + Penetration = Restoration

Healthy Boundaries are a MUST

3. Dipping in and out of waterfall’s tumbling showers or Ocean’s vastness can support you when needing this added momentum. However, choosing to make home of the pummeling, Herculean storm is dangerous and life-threatening. Watch out for the signs of emotional overwhelm, emotional manipulation, and added stress. Take good care of yourself!

4. Learning to work with your feelings (emotions and sensations) is paramount this year. Cultivating your skills of compassion and intuition are a saving grace. DO get the trusted support you need. Ignoring the challenges that knock on your door this year is not a healthy option—ignoring them is likely to increase anxiety, fear, emotional over-reaction, and destruction.

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“When Lu is divined you should be realistic, read the omen carefully and develop a clear plan before you take action.”

— Liu Ming, CHANGING

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Most Important

Final Thoughts

Working with the power of feeling in your body, mind and heart, paired with Tiger’s grounded and trusted strength and fearlessness, can support you to cross the great rivers of your life, to accomplish things you felt impossible for you before. This year has the potential to be quite abundant and “lucky” in this way—to bring rich fulfillment—as you express yourself more freely and fully with strength + softness… with humility, sincerity, and patience.

And when the heat (intensity) is too much, step away to play or relax in calm waters, or hunker down with earth’s rich soil and her wise, old trees. Taking care to create harmony and balance within will be a regular and needed gift to give yourself.

2022 KEY WORDS

inner-focus; patience; observation; caution; grounding; courage; clarity; dedication; sexy; passionate; lucky; resourceful; abundant; inner-strength; emotional support; movement; flexibility; dominion; boundaries!

2022 KEY ACTIONS

• Work with your body’s energy to ground in the graceful strength and nourishment of nature (water, wood, fire, earth, air, and animals)

• Face your fears—don’t run or hide

• Tap into your calm and intuitive focus to guide you through the intensity one moment, one day at a time

• Become a wise, patient observer of your personal thoughts, feelings, and choices to learn what is wanting to heal and shift so that you can attract your needs and desires

• Let yourself feel into and celebrate your natural abundance, passion, unique personal power

• When triggered or overwhelmed, pull in and away to calm and center before taking next actions

• Quiet and sooth your ego-mind when spinning in righteous forcing or fearful lack-thinking—these states will only attract danger and downfall

• Lean into your trusted allies to peacefully, powerfully, and naturally support yourself and others in the face of risk

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Traditional Attributes of
Yang Water - Tiger:

YANG WATER

Element: Active Water
Direction: North
Color: Black
Number: 1
Chinese Name: Kan
I Ching Constellation:
(29. Kan :: Pit [--])

Balanced: free flowing; powerful; penetrating; accepting; growth; inspired movement; change-making; shape-shifting; cleaning out and filling up

Unbalanced: stuck; struggling; forcing; over-powering; unrelenting; impatient; overreacting; trapped; defeated; giving up; bitter; hopeless; belligerent


TIGER *

Native Element: WOOD
Hours: 3am – 5am
Moon: 1st moon (often in February)
Season: Mid-Winter
Flora: Prunus
Stone: Saphire
Direction: N60E
Lunar Mansions:
Tiger (6. Tail [+])
Leopard (7. Basket [+])
I Ching Constellation:
(10. Lu :: Treading [+-])

Charged: courageous, strong-willed, energetic, enthusiastic, unconventional, lucky, honest, imaginative, competitive, dedicated, dignified and generous

Deplete: restless, impulsive, inconsiderate, morose, stubborn, egotistical, rebellious, indecisive, overly sensitive to criticism, prideful and vain

Compatibility: What is most interesting about Tigers is that they have stripes - the difference between their public and private characters. Though immensely strong in public, they require solitude and personal “down time” to restore the energy they spend projecting their fierce public images. For this private reason they are suited to partners of the non-competitive domestic signs: Pigs, Goats and Dogs. Rats, Rabbits and Roosters understand them but are less than perfect. Ox and Snakes seem too quiet and appear boring. Dragons and Horses are generally too competitive. Monkeys can push every Tiger button and bring out the Tiger’s dark side.

Auspices for Those Born in Tiger Year: It is best to be born near dawn or dusk

* Information gathered from Da Yuan Circle’s DYCTongShu app, authored by Liu Ming

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Healing and Building Abound

Transition from Rat to Ox

As we entered into Yin Earth Ox Month, just three weeks ago, I started researching this amazing animal and noticed my body going into a tug of war between ramped-up worry and deep fatigue. Anxiety attacks ensued, which is not my standard fare. The yo-yo of transition between these very different energies of Rat and Ox were working through me. Damn uncomfortable. I felt myself in breakdown, which, I realize, is exactly where I needed to be. 

“Let Go and Let God,” nearly on auto-replay, became my relied-upon mantra recalled from committed 12-Step days. I was being consistently reminded that there is a bigger picture playing out and support is on its way. Letting go of the stress and tumultuousness of 2020 is no small task.

This last weekend, relaxation started settling in. My body and mind finally letting go, allowing me to sink into the needed relief of Ox’s earthly nature—sturdy and grounded. It Feels So Good! I’ve taken advantage of Earth’s calm, sleeping and meditating more than usual. I’ve been needing the down time to repair my nervous system, fried out on the “new normal” too many of us had become used to. 

Honestly, after so much biting through of Metal Rat, I feel like we’re all going to need varying levels of PTSD support to heal the unearthed trauma. I’m thankful that the energies of Yin Metal Ox will be conducive to this healing and rebuilding that wants to happen.

I’m ready.  Let the healing and rebuilding begin!

More on the energies of 2021 below.

xo Piper

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“Starting Friday, February 12, 2021, we shift to the yearly energy of Yin Metal Ox.”

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The Image

OX is conscientious, patient and plodding, forward-focused—easily placing one foot in front of the other, working in grace. Although there is a bigger plan to rebuild and execute great things this year, it will best be accomplished one clear action at a time, one day at a time, diligent and methodical. 

“Naturally strong they [Oxen] are at their best when they are constantly challenged. Their sense of justice (and the law) makes them good leaders. Though often materially successful, they lack attachment to material things.” Liu Ming

The work to be done this year is of vital support to repair the foundational structure of the whole. Our “home” (our body, our mind, our relationships, our society) is not safe and secure without a solid foundation within and underneath us all. The wellbeing of the entire herd (all of humanity and her mother earth) is important and necessary to repair and secure this foundation.

Our effectiveness will depend upon our willingness to learn (be teachable, trainable) and get into synch—find harmony and balance—with others. We will be pushed to be Honest, Flexible, and Humble, knowing that each of our individual and cooperative efforts will add strength to the backbone of our collective growth. Our betterment will depend upon it. 

This year, your inner-state of patient, persistent, humble, grounded power will make the difference. (How can you engage with this inner state? See WHAT YOU CAN DO, below.)

Ox, living alongside the element of YIN METAL in 2021, will provide the needed support for healing and repair work to be done. This element will call us toward our original innocence through loving-kindness, encourage our desire and ability to nurture and nourish, and lead us to a longed-for higher-connection through deeply inspired creativity. 

The energies of Yin Metal will make it easier to step into beginner’s mind, opening to youthful hopes and visions for the future. Easier to honor your Higher Self with time and respect for inner-healing and forgiveness. Easier to access inspiration to explore and express yourself in new ways that honor your heart and free your mind. 

The rigid in us is ready to melt, giving way to the grace of flexibility and adaptability through conscious choice of Joy and Trust over fear and control. 

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“Ox are linked with the profits of consistent hard work and the Confucian virtue of perseverance in what is right.”

— Liu Ming, CHANGING

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More About Ox

Like me, you may have a picture of Oxen in your head, but not know a lot about them. 

The Chinese zodiac embraces the energy of the full Bovidae family when referring to Ox energy. Picture: cows, bulls, bison, water buffalo, yak, and ox. This said, throughout human history, domesticated, male oxen have been of tremendous benefit to organized, human society due to their strength, even temperament, and trainability.

The domesticated Ox is a large, docile, easily trained, 4 years and older, neutered bull typically weighing 1500 to 3000 pounds, living an average of 18-22 years. Oxen are able to pull as much or more than their own weight. Their partnership with human beings has directly and dramatically impacted the evolution of human civilization over the last 4000 years. 

The first “draft” animal, humans have been partnering with Oxen to plow, plant and harvest crops; fell and carry logs/lumber to build houses and other structures; transport rocks for walls, wells, and roads, or hay for feed; pull heavy equipment to flatten ground and dig ditches; and carry carriages of people from one place to another. Female cows have birthed much needed calves and supplied milk to drink and cook with. Their typically calm temperament also makes oxen a household pet of sorts... although they will not be sitting on your lap, they are generally very friendly, social animals and love a good comb and scratch.

Even though modern society has generally replaced Ox with machines, their value is still undeniable in developing countries and on heritage farms. 

They say that Dog is human’s best friend, and I’ve been thinking lately that maybe it should be the Ox!

I am wondering if in our modern-day, high-tech, machine-oriented, western culture we have gotten out of touch with the long-term value of nature’s cooperative resources and our working-animal partnerships—what they model so beautifully for us. I believe 2021 is going to give us the opportunity to get back in touch with and heal our human roots—coming into greater alignment with each other and all Nature provides.

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“Did you know Yoga means “to YOKE” or come into Union? ”

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Lessons to Be Learned from Ox and Yoke

It is easier to learn something new when we are in beginner’s mind:
Starting at 4 months old, young oxen are easily trained to work together in the yoke with kind, patient leadership, just a little effort each day.

When pairing “opposites” natural balance can be found:
Often calves are paired in the yoke: one wily, one calm. The time they spend together supports their eventual, natural balance and cooperation.

Flexibility in partnership and placement eventually finds right rhythm and success:
When not coming into synch with one and other, not moving well together, often calves will be switched to opposite sides of the yoke and find ease come immediately. Rarely, yet sometimes, calf temperaments simply don’t vibe well and new partnerships need to be created.

Long-term, well-working bonds develop over time:
Calves train daily for 3-1/2 years together to become a strong, reliable duo in caring partnership with their humans.

It is difficult to move forward when we are divided (within ourselves or with others):
Watching the oxen move together in gentle rhythm is peaceful and inspiring… and when they don’t, when one refuses to move, or inserts their will to move opposite their work-mate, forward motion comes to a halt, they become stuck, until they come back into synch and agree to move forward together again.

Cooperation comes easiest with a light hand and calm voice:
Seldom is it necessary to raise ones voice or assert aggression with the ox; sensitive and docile, when appreciated and trained with care, they respond easily and diligently to a simple tap of the hind quarters, voicing “Gee” or “Ha” for turning right and left, “Woah” for slowing and stopping.

Going forward is much easier than going back:
With a clear line of sight, moving forward occurs with ease. But not being able to see behind them, moving backward is an awkward, anxious affair for a pair of yoke-sharing oxen, back ends splaying, each going in a separate direction to try to get a glimpse of where they are headed.

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“Yin Metal + Ox = a year of nurturing work on behalf of Self and Others.”

— Piper Lauri Salogga

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What You Can Do

• Slow your mind and body—root your energy into Earth.

• To feel lasting freedom in the present, commit yourself to the personal work of inner-healing.

• Find and feel compassion, loving-kindness, for yourself and others.

• Practice patience and flexibility, letting go of ego-mind's attachment to a particular outcome.

• Experiment with saying “yes” to others— playing with being in synch with their emotion, rhythm, and view.

• Be open to learning something new every day… many times a day.

• Nurture and nourish yourself and your loved ones.

• Shake off rigid independence in favor of aligned partnership and cooperation.

• Make big plans—take small steps.

• Remember: transformation comes from trust, wisdom, and caring persistence.

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Being Yoked with Spirit

A Consideration

I recognize that my relationship with Spirit/Source is my most vital and reliable partnership, affecting my ability to be caring and present in all other partnerships in my life. Acting in synch with my Heart and Intuition through this loving, felt source is key to the peace and grace I enjoy. Using Ox as inspiration, I am visualizing being paired with Spirit in the yoke—UNITED—committed and communicating with each other. Me: feeling and speaking to the Divine atoms and cells in my body and in Nature. Spirit: coming through my inner-guidance seen, felt, and heard. Accomplishing what is in front of us, together. It feels good to have a strong, reliable, unconditional partner as my foundation. THIS changes everything.

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“This year we are given a particular opportunity to practice daily yoga of heart, body, and intention.”

— Grace Bryant

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Descriptive Qualities for Yin Metal Ox:

Yin Metal

Element: Molten Metal
Direction: West
Color: White
Number: 7
Chinese Name: Xin
I Ching Element: Lake
I Ching Constellation: (58, Pleasuring [++])

Charged: innocent, peaceful, pure, creative, child-like, joyful, fresh, tender, delicate, harmonious, inspired, flexible, adaptable, nurturing, nourishing, compassionate, unconditional, divine mother

Depleted: anxious, listless, limp, unclear, confused, bogged down, rigid, controlling, uninspired, bored, under-nourished, starving, lonely, compulsive


Ox *

Native Element: EARTH
Hours: 1am – 3am
Moon: 12th moon in January
Season: Winter
Flora: Snowdrops
Stone: White Onyx
Direction: N30E
I Ching Constellations:
Griffon (8. Ladle [--])
Ox (9. Ox-Boy [--])

Charged: calm, dignified, sincere, tenacious, uncompromising, dependable, quiet, independent, just, punctual, simple, outdoorsy, loyal, supportive

Deplete: insensitive, ruthless if crossed, humorless, sullen, slavishly conventional, fearful of change, aloof, dull

Compatibility: Ox are generally conventional in their relationships with others and slow to develop friendships and/or romance. They are, however, supportive friends and loyal partners. They are most suited to peaceful, inwardly directed signs like the Rat, Rabbit and Snake. Roosters and Monkeys, as partners, keep the Ox open-minded. Horses, Dragons and Tigers are, for the Ox, competitors and competition is not an Ox pastime. Ox usually misread Goats as superficial and overly sensitive ninnies

Auspices for Those Born in Ox Year: Happy childhood often ends with adult responsibilities

* Information gathered from Da Yuan Circle’s DYCTongShu app, authored by Liu Ming

Hope for the Future

RAT YEAR RETROSPECTIVE: a year that tried to break us

Only ONE week left of the Lunar Rat Year. Thank God!

I think we’ve all had enough of those big, sharp teeth chewing away at the foundation of our lives. And I believe we needed all this destruction in order to build anew. Destruction needed. Not wanted. Because it’s been tough. So tough. Trying every emotional nerve, survival and personal growth skill we’ve ever learned.

A year ago, I fondly titled the Yearly Tong Shu, 2020: Year of Heavenly Rat. HA!

Thinking about this last year, I’m not sure how heavenly it has felt… although there were many spiritual lessons learned.

This crazy year that just kept serving the insufferable to wade and chew through. (I really don’t need to repeat the list of tumultuous challenges… we know them too well, don’t we?!)

Let’s just say it was FATED BREAKDOWN.

Breakdown in order for us to break the rutted bad-habits that have had us stuck for decades... for centuries. Breakdown in order for us to enter the discomfort of change and begin transforming for the better (individually, and as a society). Breakdown to create Breakthrough.

As humans most of us are change-resistant, especially those of us with privilege. We don’t want to give up our comforts and routines and beautiful things. So, how else would we have come to really see and feel the need for change if not through the battling, debilitating, discomforting destruction pushed upon us by Nature Itself? Destruction that has upturned all the pressed-down ills of our worn-out, mistaken beliefs and nasty habits harming ourselves, our family, our communities, our nation, our world, our planet.
 

And how else could we have come to see and feel how truly similar we all are? That Oneness thing.

No matter our skin color, our economic status, our religious beliefs, or even our politics. We are the same in human fear, and need. Our shared desire for good health and wellbeing; love and connection; opportunity to work and be of purpose; to know safety and support; to experience happiness and fulfillment… and an honest belly laugh every now and again for the added bonus.

If not for the hardship and destruction in our own lives, would we have been cracked open enough to see and feel the power of this palpable connection between us all? Would we have been willing to be honest about the effects our individual actions have upon other’s lives?

The simple life-protecting actions of wearing a mask, washing our hands, keeping safe distance. Showing each other respect and honor and care this way. Being a stand for the wellbeing of all human beings through our conscious, caring actions. Or not... and witnessing the consequences.

In concept alone, our brilliant, powerful, human connection across this globe is meaningless—just another idea in our too-full, striving for better and sometimes simply trying to survive minds.

Yet, FEELING the effects of our connectedness, this is what changes how we move forward. 

Feeling compassion (not thinking compassion). Feeling the effects of our actions, and non-actions, through the pain and hardship or the peace and relief caused. And feeling hope for the future in order to heal. In order lead a new and better way—lead with inner-wisdom and compassion. In order to LIFT OURSELVES and EACH OTHER UP!

THIS is what the destruction of Heavenly Rat was for, to set the stage for what is to come. The clean up of 2021. To Heal and Lead our individual lives, and our country, with inner-wisdom and compassion.

2021: YEAR of NURTURING OX
(Yin Metal Ox year begins on the Lunar New Year, Friday, February 12, 2021)

I look forward to returning to your inbox next week with more description about the energies of the coming year to guide and benefit us all.

xo Piper

Topic: HOW DO YOU KNOW GOD?

New World Dharma Talk is a reoccurring Friday Evening Event through Sacred Embodiment Community. This week's talk, facilitated by Piper Lauri Salogga and Michael Williams, How Do You Know God?

My sense is that how we associate with the idea of Spirit, The Universe, The Divine, God, Source, a Higher Power in our lives, is how we associate with so many things.

And I often wonder, as I am pleased and/or displeased with the experiences I am having in my life, "How am I a part of creating this?" AND "What does my relationship with God/Source have to do with it?"

I'm curious to explore and discover how you think and feel, and what you want for yourself, around this topic of God/Source.

JOIN Me and Michael for this rich and rewarding hour-long conversation. This event is free, however you may give a donation if you are so moved (all funds go to SEC).

Sacred Embodiment Community is an open community in the greater Seattle area, dedicated to connection and transformation using the teachings and practices of Tantra and other embodied spiritual traditions to awaken conscious living, conscious loving, and freedom. Discover more great things about SEC here.

Healing and Manifestation

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Online Healing & Manifestation Coaching
(from $150 to $50 per session, sliding scale)
Using a variety of tools to support you to find your
Inner-Peace, Clarity of Mind, Compassion, and Focused-Fire.
NLP; Hypnotherapy; Reiki; Mindfulness Training; Tong Shu;
Tarot; Numerology; Traditional Coaching

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Distance Reiki Energy Healing with Michael & Piper
($250 to $125 per session, sliding scale; includes
45-minute reiki with 30-minute phone follow-up)
Divine feminine and masculine working together for
a powerful healing and rejuvenating effect.

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Online Classes through Sacred Embodiment Community
($50 to $20 per class, no person turned away for lack of funds)
Friday, July 17; 5:15 - 6:15 PM:
Dharma Talk: How Do You Know God?
Friday, August 7; 7:00 - 9:00 PM:
Adult Sex Ed: Making Love with God/Source

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FREE Opportunities through Facebook and Instagram:
Daily Tong Shu (hone your actions each day through this translation of
ancient daily Chinese astrology + inspirational message from the heart).
Poetic Expression for Healing (live short talks and readings from my book
Living From The Heart: Divine & Profane).

We are in this together!

Working with my mesa. Sacred stones from my travels to sacred sights. Qero, ancient Peruvian tradition.

SO…

These last four months have been a push (putting it mildly). Right?!

I feel like I’ve been riding an inner-rollercoaster
                                                             waves up and down
               sometimes coasting... forgetting what day it is...
                                                                             all the while trusting I am safely buckled in.

This last part feels so important. Knowing I am safe. Trusting there is wellbeing within all this needed chaos.

This Trust has been the difference between my days of unraveling, versus all of me coming unraveled, completely.

I’m imagining you understand. Imagine we’re all being pushed to our edges: emotionally, physically, spiritually. All being asked to find a new way of knowing Confidence. A new way of managing ourselves in the day-to-day. A new way of finding Center. (The old, compulsive habits of past don’t seem to be cutting it anymore.)

For me, deep Spiritual Practice has been the saving grace. Reading spiritual and inspirational writings. Taking spiritual classes. Learning and doing a daily, spiritual yoga practice. Mindful walks in the woods. Creating from this inspired, intuitive place. Working with clients from this clear, loving place—focused on personal healing, and liberation, and wholeness. All moved by Spirit/Source within me. Within my body and heart.

I have been, and continue to be, so grateful for these inner-tools and abilities.

I have also found myself doing lots of (mostly) healthy and (always) yummy home-cooking. And eating. Awesome Deliciousness. Aside daily learning from Black writers and artists about Black lives in our country. Having rich and uncomfortable, so-needed conversations on race and equity and justice. And regular Covid updates… Is it safe to go camping yet? (Yes, slight whine in that.) And wearing my mask in public (I bought a new one to shake things up! Fashion splurge). And self-checking my ongoing fears, judgements, and assumptions… about myself, and others.

It’s been demanding. Internal Vigilance asked for. Sometimes I comply. Other times I fall on the floor, or in my bed, and simply need a good prolonged scream and cry.

Especially on the days where we’ve needed to put a pet down (we’ve had two of those). And the days family arguments rose to new heights (more than two of those). And the days we’ve gotten other hard news about family illness—the intense kind needing long-term treatment. (I am appreciative there have been no human deaths in our family. I know there have been for too many.) I have had to let myself breakdown fully on these harder days. Trust I would find my way back to Center, to Love, to coping better again.

For me, Practicing Love and Trust, building my muscles of focus here, this has been the thing to get me through. Will continue to get me through.

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“If we want to transform our society, we will have to transform ourselves first.”

— Piper Lauri Salogga

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Through these tumultuous times, these muscles of love and trust have shown up as the:

• Caring, nurturing actions I have been able to take to support myself, and others.

• Kind and patient self-talk when so needed (when on the floor or glued to the bed).

• Not doing it alone—asking for support, surrounding myself with wise, loving people who know a high truth of trust and love alongside me.

• Personal and Spiritual Tools, and the willingness to use these tools, to grow myself and get me through.

Add the True Belief that through all this hardship, and conflict, and dis-ease we are headed to something better. Much Better. A way of being with our Self and with Each Other that is filled with compassion, understanding, deep listening, healing, and cooperation.

I do believe that Together we can and will move through this and Create Better.

It is a long-run effort. Patience and Stamina required. I believe we can do it. We can build it, this new way of being. And eventually, we will realize it. For our generation and future generations—Better! Because, we are Truly Better Together.

With so much love.

xo Piper

The Potential for Collective Transformation in 2020!

MY INITIAL THOUGHTS ON RATS…


I never really liked them much. The thought of rats has often made me squeamish: small bulging, beady eyes; long, leathery tail; twitching nose, twitching body, twitching everything; bony, scampering feet, moving too fast to catch when they’re in my house; and those long pointy teeth, way too big for their little mouth—I’m totally sure they want to bite me (especially when I’m needing them to get out of my house!)

So, when I realized we were headed into Year of the Rat, my first reaction was, “This is going to suck.” Then I started doing my research. I started feeling into the energy of rats—my perception was changed! Rats are actually PFA (Pretty Freaking Amazing). Heavenly Rats even more so.

Now I’m excited. The shift has already started. The possibilities for lasting positive change are making me giddy. And each of us will be called to do our part to bring these possibilities to fruition—I’m enthused about that too.  

More details below.

xo Piper

THE IMAGE:


Packs of rats (communities) gathered in inspiration, wisdom, and positive momentum, ready to fell the old, rotting, dilapidated beliefs and structures (within ourselves and within our society). Feeling more freedom, clever rats diligently collect useful resources to design new beliefs and structures to come. There is work to do—Rat is ready for it, especially when joined with comrades. 

However, when trust is lacking and when fear and fatigue are leading, Rat behavior becomes anxious, nit-picking, secretive, and scheming: biting and fighting ensue. The shift to Rat energy is pushing us all mentally, physically, spiritually. Make sure to take good care of yourself to avoid pressurized negativity and its consequences.

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“Starting Saturday, January 25, 2020, we shift to the yearly energy of Yang Metal Rat.”

— Piper Lauri Salogga

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THE COMMENTARY:

The positive, focused Collective has great power this year.


Tenaciously chewing through the old, broken, misguided, unjust ways of past, there is an opportunity for creating great freedom this year. And this freedom comes from the effort focused on healing and transforming old programs and habits within ourselves, and with each other—ways of acting and thinking that no longer work to our highest benefit, personally and societally. 


2020 is a poignant call to personal and social transformation. Gone are the days of effective blaming and finger pointing (if blaming has ever been effective). This year we are pushed to take ownership of our individual choices (past, present, and future) and become the change we want to see. 

YANG METAL RAT IS READY FOR THE TASK: patient, intuitive, benevolent, tenacious, persistent, focused, playful, and prosperous. 

Sustainable change begins at the individual level (our own habitual thoughts, feelings, beliefs, and actions). It extends to our families and communities through our own more positive behavior. 

This said, doing personal work in supportive community has an exponentially positive effect this year. Coming together in like-hearted groups will raise us all up to do the work ahead. Coming together to dissolve our unsupportive, outdated beliefs and build trust (trust of ourselves, of Nature, of God/Spirit/Life, of each other). One day, one action at a time, trust will turn the tables of power in every way.

We will also experience greater stability, comfort, care, and joy in simply being with one another, as well as witnessing and affirming the changes happening before us. Willingness to lean into each other and openly share our authentic, heartfelt selves through the process of growth and change will bring much needed boosts of momentum and compassion to the year.

SIDE NOTE: to all the introverts, the collective focus of the year does not mean you need to be with others all of the time. Mature rats find resourcefulness in solitude. Choose your group(s) wisely and commit yourself to regularly scheduled gatherings as often as would behoove you (once a month might be a good minimum).

With patience, tenacity, persistence, and respect, the work we are each doing together will come to show itself as a rich opportunity to design new beliefs, new ways of being, new structures in harmony with Earth, each other, and all of life—these new beginnings coming into clearer form through our diligent focus in 2021, Year of the Ox.

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“The rat symbolizes the resourcefulness and inevitable success of the lowly.”

— Liu Ming, CHANGING

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WHAT YOU CAN DO:

• Inquire within: What old habits and beliefs are ready to be healed, traded in for new, more supportive thoughts, actions and beliefs?

• Ask your heart: “What do you long for?” The heart will lead the way to the change you wish to make.

• Give yourself permission to be imperfect, to grow, change, and play with the possibilities of new and different.

• Commit time and attention to do this valuable inner work.

• Join a supportive community in the area(s) you wish to change and grow.

• Invest yourself in a personal, passionate, and heartfelt cause with others.

• Take the wise risk of trusting more: yourself, others, and the Universe.

• Allow other’s support to have a positive effect in your life.

• Be patient and kind with yourself and others.

• Remember, we are all in this uncomfortable yet rewarding process of healing and growing together.

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“If we want to transform our society, we will have to transform ourselves first.”

— Piper Lauri Salogga

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DESCRIPTIVE QUALITIES FOR YANG METAL RAT:

Yang Metal

Associated with Heaven

Primordial yang chi/energy

Acts of God/Spirit/Universe 

Angelic/energetic support 

Strength of wise will

Clear-mindedness

Intuitive action

Divine inspiration 

Creative impulse 

Powerful and quick change

Rats *

Very sensitive, loving, social animals

Clever, observant, and complex creatures

Super resourceful (represent Prosperity in Asian cultures)

Love to be with others—to work, play, groom, and snuggle

Clear communicators

Tenacious, resilient, adaptable, focused, and efficient

Adept at modeling desired behavior… however not easily caught or controlled

Collectors, hoarders and savers (especially when feeling unsafe)

Need to trust and feel safe in order to thrive

Together, rats have amazing power (gnawing and nibbling piece by piece)

Individually, they are wise but more vulnerable and less effective

Charged Qualities: charming, diligent, perseverant, methodical, social, cooperative, discrete, frugal and observant, as well as fun and loving.

Depleted Qualities: complaining, nervous, nit picking, annoyingly analytical, stingy, secretive, scheming, cowardly, overly concentrated (mono-maniacal), and selfish.

Native Element: WATER.

Charged Time of Day: 11 PM–1 AM

Direction: North

Flower: Narcissus

Moon: 11th House

Stone: Carbuncle (Red gemstones: Carnelian, Coral, Ruby, Star Garnet, Andesine Labradorite, Fire Opal, Spinel, Pyrope Garnet, Tourmaline, Rhodolite Garnet, Zircon, Star Ruby, and Rubellite Tourmaline)