Ponderosa Pines, the debut release by local band Painted Horses, is a gorgeous record. They’ve taken an old-timey folk aesthetic and given it a mellow vibe, with subtle texturing of soft backing instruments. According to band leader Denys Kozakis, the songs are also quite personal.
The Spring signs Aries, Taurus and Gemini constitute a triangle of force that sets the template for the nine signs that follow and the template for the entire year (Spring 2015 – Spring 2016) ahead.
Aries initiates new ideas, Taurus stabilizes the new thinking of Aries and Gemini takes the initiating stabilized ideas of Aries/Taurus and disperses them to all of humanity. It is in this way that humanity learns new things, with the help of Mercury, the messenger.
As Spring unfolds, three elements emerge: the Fire of Aries (initiating new ideas), the Earth of Taurus (anchoring the ideas of God through Mercury) and the Air of communicating Gemini. These three signs/elements are the Three Spring Festivals. They are the “triangle of force” forming the template (patterns) of energy for the upcoming new year. After these three we then have the soothing, calming, warming, nurturing and tending waters of the mother (Cancer). Cancer initiates our next season under the hot suns of summer. Planets, stars and signs create the Temple of Light directing humanity towards all things new.
March 29 is Palm Sunday, when the Christ, World Teacher, was led into Jerusalem (City of Peace) on a donkey (humility). Palms waving above His head, signified recognition of the Christ’s divinity. Palm Sunday is the Sunday before the Easter (Resurrection Festival). Palm Sunday begins Holy Week, the week of capture, imprisonment, passion, sacrifice, crucifixion, death and resurrection of the christ. All events in the Christ’s life represent events (initiations) that humanity experiences through many lifetimes. We turn our attention to these holy events this week. Their concepts portray and reveal to us greater spiritual understanding. Then, Aries, the “light of life itself” shines through us.
Ponderosa Pines, the debut release by local band Painted Horses, is a gorgeous record. They’ve taken an old-timey folk aesthetic and given it a mellow vibe, with subtle texturing of soft backing instruments. According to band leader Denys Kozakis, the songs are also quite personal. That wasn’t the case with his last project, which was a...
Zakir Hussain digs into our collective music unconscious for ‘Pulse of the World: Celtic Connections’ By Jed Friedland Music is one of the arts of the Muses. It is expressed as a universal language, articulable in a vast array of dialects, all instantly translated by the human ear regardless of shape, size or color. And the...
From country songs about cell phones to the theme for ‘Better Call Saul,’ Junior Brown makes music his way With his suit and tie, ever-present cowboy hat, and I’ve-seen-it-all eyes, Junior Brown looks like he’s from the classic country era. Once he starts singing, though, it becomes clear that he’s no retro act. His songs are...
River City Extension are still searching for their sound on new album I love pop songs, and “Welcome to Pittsburgh” is a great, bittersweet-but-hooky indie-folk pop tune. When I first heard it I was convinced it was only a matter of time until it was sweeping alternative radio stations and River City Extension were stars. That...
Local brand is blazing through the fashion world, but a fight over who invented what clouds the future As with most televised award ceremonies, a central fascination with what the stars are wearing often eclipses those other important details, like who the star in the smokeable suit is, and whether or not he was nominated for...
Warm water imperils young sea lions Over the past few months, local beaches have been an increasingly vibrant place for the senses. But one of the unpleasant new sights (and smells) are an unusual number of sea lion carcasses—more than ever before, and not just on the beaches of Santa Cruz. Emaciated sea lion pups have...
Plus Letters To the Editor Every year, the Best of Santa Cruz County issue makes me think about that question that I sometimes hear—or sense—from people who don’t live here: why Santa Cruz? Sometimes it’s just a look I get when I say I went to UCSC, or that I moved back here after leaving. I...
The Spring signs Aries, Taurus and Gemini constitute a triangle of force that sets the template for the nine signs that follow and the template for the entire year (Spring 2015 - Spring 2016) ahead. Aries initiates new ideas, Taurus stabilizes the new thinking of Aries and Gemini takes the initiating stabilized ideas of Aries/Taurus and disperses them...
Best Community Life Best Nonprofit Group SAVE OUR SHORES 1. For 30 years, Save Our Shores has been a crucial part of major local environmental victories such as preventing oil drilling in central coast waters and establishing the Monterey Bay National Marine Sanctuary. 2. Save Our...
Best Shopping & Services Best Kid’s Clothing JELLI BEANZ 1. Owner Stephanie Hendersen thinks the most unique thing about her store is their mini-library. There are books for customers of all ages, including young adult novels and parenting books. 2. Eight years ago, Jelli Beanz opened...