Archbishop Desmond Tutu...standing ovation @ Grace Cathedral! High Drama, Pomp & Circumstance & Reserved seats!

 

That was a curious sight at Grace Cathedral bright-and-early this Sunday morning.

Church-goers turned out in their best finery an hour-or-so before the service was to commence to secure a seat in the grand house of worship on Nob Hill.

Why, pray tell?

As I noted in a post last week, Archbishop Desmond Tutu was slated to paticipate in a Mass at Grace to celebrate - "Last Sunday After the Epiphany" - as the Holy season of Easter commenced.

Post: 02/28/2011

http://ijulian.blogspot.com/2011/02/archbishop-desmond-tututo-participate.html

As solemn parishioners scurried inside the awesome environs for coveted seats, I couldn't help but notice (with a little disappointment, I might add) that a few pews at the front of the Cathedral were roped off and reserved for special guests attending the much-anticipated event.

We're all equal in the eyes of God, after all, and no one is entitled to pull strings - at the expense of another - to nab a special perch (at least not in the Lord's sacred place of prayer).

Personally, I feel that if the faithful want to get an up-close-and-personal gander at someone like the Archbishop, that they should arrive early like the rest of the common folk to guarantee their cushy spot.

Don't 'ya think?

I was surprised that this wasn't at-all obvious to the powers-on-high - the most pious - who run Grace!

If any of the Grace regulars (or tourists)  were miffed, however, they weren't inclined to express their feelings (not outwardly, at least).

Indeed!

Once inside the impressive carved doors, the faithful throngs - lookie loos, too - snapped up all the available seats willy-nilly (as the Choir rehearsed gloriously in the background out-of-sight at the front of the Cathedral and the organist struck up a riveting note or two).

By the time the service began at 11 o'clock, there was standing room only, by golly!

The Mass amounted to a lot of high drama, and pomp and circumstance, performed with a lot of calculated ritual.

I joked to one bloke about the rousing hymns being banged out melodramatically (and with great fervor) by an overzealous organist.

"So - "Phantom of the Opera" - eh?"

"Dark," he gleefully quipped, as we both broke into a little chuckle (which signalled we were both on the same wavelength (and of like mind and spirit).

Surely, I don't have to remind anyone, that the devout are capable of communing with God in the calm serenity of their home or in natural surroundings at the local park.

And, always be mindful that God frowns upon those who make a show of their prayers in public!

Just before the service commenced, I asked a fellow next to me to pass over an envelope for my offering, from a raft of papers in a cubby-hole just opposite his seat.

But, as it turned out, the pews were only stocked with a few Hymn books and Informational cards to fill in for the express purpose of requesting a newsletter and/or details on programs and services at the respected Church.

"They probably want you to fill the card in," he whispered.

So, I complied with his suggestion, right off-the-bat.

When the collection plate was handed to me, I plopped the card and my donation inside, with little ado.

A few short minutes later after the "spoils" were emptied into a larger basket - and paraded down the center aisle - I caught sight of my request card a-top a mound of cash as it floated by a few feet away in a young priest's hands.

"What a good omen," I thought to myself.

At this juncture, the Archbishop took the occasion to offer up a chat on the meaning of "Transfiguration".

The well-received - diminutive man-of-the-cloth - spiced up his sermon with a handful of humorous quips which appealed to the congregation.

A bit of levity goes a long way, after all.

"If you're walking down the street, give the sign of the cross to a passer-by," he urged. 

"Inside, quietly. So you don't get clobbered."

The parishioners roared!

"And, when you're stuck in traffic, bless all the drivers around you."

At the end of his inspiring sermon, the mesmerized crowd jumped to their feet, and gave the beaming speaker a rousing standing ovation!

"I thought you retired," the Reverend quipped, in the aftermath.

In response, a ripple of laughter trickled through the pews.

"Well, you're welcome to visit us at Grace, anytime."

A few moments later - when the procession filed down the center aisle - I managed to reach out and shake the Archbishop's hand.

"God Bless you."

He responded in kind.

After the service, volunteers at Grace offered up delicious pancakes, mouth-watering fruit, and strong jolts of coffee in paper cups.

The room was electric and the spirits were high.

On that note, I departed, with a bounce in my step.

Then, guess what?

On the sidewalk below, I spied $10.00, waiting to be snatched up.

Uh-huh!

God moves in mysterious ways.

Amen!

http://www.thetattler.biz

Grand environs of Grace Cathedral awesome!

Auspicious Numbers...death, change, and transformation! For moi...

Today, an auspicious turn of events signaled that the next week should prove to be a intriguing one, chock full of surprises,

When I checked in to my Hotel, for instance, I was assigned suite No. 19.

For those of you who grappled with the date when the calendar switched over to a fresh month (September), the numbers nine (9)  and one (1) probably stood out like sore thumbs.

Since I have studied numerology, and am familiar with the meaning a whole slew of numbers, it was a red letter day (so-to-speak).

Especially, when the Hotel room number (19) is taken into consideration.

On September (9th month) 1st (the first day of the 9th month) I rented a suite at - No. 19 - which is a combination of the two numbers in the actual date (1 & 9).

OMG!

The significance of it all did not escape my intuitive little mind.

No. 9 is a highly-spiritual “master” number which represents “transformation, change, and death."

There must have been a reason why John Lennon was intrigued by the number and sang its praises.

No. 1 - on the other hand - symbolizes new starts & beginnings in the spiritual scheme of things.

A coincidence?

I think not.

Essentially, the message rang out to me crystal clear.

A part of my existence is ending in a symbolic "death", for starters.

And, over the next week, I'll be laying a new foundation for a next decade or so - that ultimately - will result in a major transformation in my personal life, career, and spiritual affairs.

God Willing!

Now, if only that prediction in my fortune cookie would come true.

Who me, superstitious?

http://www.julian1st.wordpress.com

Triskaidekaphobia...Friday 13th fears & superstitions!

If you called into work sick on Friday, and hid under the covers all day, chances are you suffer from a rare disease that is recognized by the medical community.

Likewise, folks who were in Las Vegas this past Friday, may have lolled by the pool soaking up rays  instead of venturing into a Casino to gamble.

No wonder!

The calendar read Friday the 13th, after all.

Individuals who fear that day suffer from triskaidekaphobia (from Greek tris meaning "3," kai meaning "and," and deka meaning "10").

Although I am pretty superstiitious - I don't walk under ladders, for instance - I have no qualms strolling about on Friday 13th.

That isn't to say that the paranoia of some is not unfounded or to be ignored as a silly notion.

Indeed - from a practical standpoint - there may be a lot of substance to some fears.

For instance, it may not be wise to walk under a ladder for obvious reasons:

An open can of paint or worker's  tool may fall down out-of-the-blue - just because - sh** happens!

Pass a knife to a friend and you might cut them - hence the superstition - so, don't do it!

The fear of number 13 is a powerful one - so much so - that architects have designed buildings without a 13th floor for decades without batting-an-eye or feeling foolish about the practice.

Likewise, elevators are rarely ever numbered or programmed to stop at the 13th level.

Are the builders being irrational?

Not when you consider what went down in the feature films - Friday the 13th - or the screamer Hallowe'en!

There is a common myth that the earliest reference to thirteen being unlucky or evil is from the Babylonian Code of Hammurabi (circa 1780 BCE), where the thirteenth law has been omitted.

Some Christians teach that Judas (the disciple who betrayed Jesus) was the 13th individual to sit at the table at the Last Supper.

And, history confirms what kind of day Christ was faced with, after that.

A word of advice?

Walk quietly with a big stick when the ominous occasion rolls around again.

Better safe, than sorry!

http://www.julianayrs.com

San Francisco...chattering birds a sign! Storm warning...

The other night I strolled out of the Embarcadero shopping mall and suddenly found myself on the edge of a well-manicured little park off of a sidestreet.

When a bronze sculpture caught my eye in the distance, I proceeded to head in that direction in order to inspect the artwork up-close.

As I drew near, hundreds of birds alighting in the branches of trees all above me, began to chatter quite excitedly.

In fact, at one point, an eerie feeling swept over me.

The scene was reminiscent of one from Alfred Hitchcock's horror thriller "The Birds".

Fortunately, I am familair with signs and portents in nature.

When birds slightly alight (or hover) in the sky - and chatter incessantly in the branches of the trees overhead - it is usually a warning of inclement weather or the eruption of some other force of nature (such as an earthquake).

In fact, if you pay keen attention to your own pets - or wild animals in the vicinity of your neighborhood - oftentimes they'll tip you off that some unexpected natural event may be on the horizon.

Sure enough, after I witnessed the bird phenomenon the other night, a huge storm blew into town.

Uncanny!

Birds Chattering (San Francisco)

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=dHJwDx2sz2I&feature=player_embedded

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Ij_cITqb9r4

http://www.julianayrs.com

09/09/09...not an auspicious day to marry! More ominous...

I laughed this morning when I plucked up the remote for the TV in my Hotel room and came across a curious news report about the date - 09/09/09 - being an auspicious day to marry.

On this premise, a number of doey-eyed lovebirds plan to trot down to City Hall today (or the local Chapel) to tie the knot under the impression that their Holy Union will somehow be blessed by the Cosmic forces.

What a load of hoey!

On the contrary, today's date is rife with vibrations that are of a serious (more ominous) nature.

A few years ago, I appeared each week on a TV Show on CKVU in Vancouver ( known as Tomorrow's Fortune) where I provided spiritual guidance for free to callers dialing into the station on  based on a first-come first-serve basis.

In addition to my psychic perceptions, I also used my skills in numerology to calculate the vibrations at play in my subject's lives throughout that particular year.

The No. 9 represents death, transformation, and change.

True, if one marries - and leaves the single life behind - a "change" is definitely in the offing.

Since an individual may be relinquishing aspects of the bachelor life in order to embark on path of marriage, in essence, there is a "death" of a part of the "self to be sure.

Personally, I would prefer that a couple start off in a "1" cyle because it represents a new start, positive footing, and letting go of the past (after having learned valuable lessons on life's journey to date).

I surmise that some clever marketing person noticed that when items are priced on sale that two "9's" are often used to attract shoppers.

From a physchological point of view - $2.99, for example - appears to be a better deal that the one that is offered at $3.00.

Image the power of 3 "9's", then, some promotions person must have thought to his or her self.

All nonesense, in respect to "good fortune" and/or "positive vibrations".

Curiously, as I was keying in the paragraph about the dark forces inherent with the number "9", the bank of computers along the wall I was surfing the Internet on all went black!

Each PC user online at that moment was forced to reboot their computers.

Then, an emergency alarm sounded out-of-the-blue!

With a few seconds, security guards were ushering us all out the door, until such time that the cause of the problem was ascertained.

In addition, there was the dining disaster this morning (!!!) at the Omelette House (Plaza Hotel/Las Vegas) which I intend to post a consumer alert about later this afternoon.

No. 9 is a potent powerful force, alright.

In sum, the vibrations are not only dramatic, but capable of shaking the very foundations of an individual's life.

If I had my druthers, I'd hide away in my Hotel room - munching on tasty snacks and tossing back a couple of ice-cold buds 'til the witching hour passed at midnight - allowing the whole merry-go-round of troublesome energy to pass me right by until the 10th of September.

Amen!

Nine of Swords worst card in Tarot deck!

(Stab in the back, treachery, death)

http://www.julianayrs.com/

Chinese New Year...Dragon Dance. UCLA students practice Ancient Art!

On campus at UCLA last night, I came across an attentive group of Asian Students in the courtyard studying the ancient ritual of the Dragon Dance.

The Chinese have a long-held belief they are descendants of the dragon, a conviction which is firmly embedded in their customs and traditions.

On these shores (in our Western Culture) dragons are usually feared.

In China, however, the dragon is held in high esteem because of its fertility, supernatural power, vigilance and poise.

In fact, the dragon dance at Chinese New Year, symbolizes the bringing of good luck and success in the coming year for all human beings on earth.

In China, where the majority of people depend on agriculture for their livelihood, the timely arrival of rains is of utmost importance.

The legends say that the dragon dance was first performed as a means of making peace with the "Dragon King" so that he would release rain onto the drought stricken lands of the farmers.

In essence, Dragons are the governors of rain.

Dragon dances are also performed at New Year to scare away evil spirits.

During the dance the performers hold poles and raise and lower the Dragon.

I witnessed the young students painstakingly learning how to perform that task last evening under a cloudless star-lit sky.

Sometimes a participant attaches a "Pearl of Wisdom" to the pole - and then entices the Dragon to follow him to the beat of a drum - as if searching for wisdom and knowledge.

Maybe the students were in the early throes of staging the Dragon Dance, because this portion of the performance was not in evidence during the rehearsal I caught quietly from the sidelines.

Dragons used in the dances vary in length from a few metres to up to 100m long.

Longer Dragons are thought to be more lucky than shorter ones, though.

The dragon dances are performed during the day or night.

If night has fallen, a blazing torch will be carried to light the way.

In the actual ceremony - which I saw performed in old Chinatown in San Francisco during Chinese New Year a few months ago - a team of dancers carry an image of the dragon on poles.

The skilled dancers - lift, dip, thrust, and sweep the head - which may contain animated features controlled by a dancer and is sometimes rigged to blow out smoke from pyrotechnic devices.

In Frisco, firecrackers were also tossed into the street, which effected a theatrical quality to the performance that was electric!

The dance team mimics the supposed movements of the river spirit in a sinuous undulating manner, too.

Since the dragon dance is a highlight and a main focal point for the celebrations, great expense goes into fashioning the costumes so they are magical and beautiful in every facet of their creation.

The costumes used in these celebrations are usually made in specialty craft shops.

Often, they are imported at great cost, using funds raised through pledges at local cultural and business associations.