In the tonal world, James L. Marshal is an independent writer, philosopher, researcher, astrologer and healing student.
His major work involves re-constructing ancient wisdom in the modren world, making it meaningful to psychologies of the individual and of society. The goal is to eventually publish the work so it may become a paradigm used by people and organizations. It is not intended so much as a philosophy so much as a set of tools to examine life and to live life.

There are many things from our ancient past that have relevance, however there is an art to making it “appropriate” to the modern age. That is really what Marshal is all about. In 2006 he set up his own business Soul Seasons and introduced the astrological diary to the world, a way of integrating time cycles, nature's elemental rhythms, and seasons of inner life into busy outer lives. The 2009 version should be available around Oct '08.

                                                    
A wake-up-call in 2004, a “Pluto whammy” as astrologers may know it, made it clear to James what was trivial and what was really important. “If I was to die today, would I regret the fact that I never had a crack at being a writer, philosopher, healer, artist?” These sentiments rang through him until finally in 2005 he accepted the call. There appears to be so much fear-based conditioning to “re-educate” when it comes to following one's heart. Early internet writing led to the compilation of articles, Letters to the Sun, a work that is still being refined. He has self-published three poetry books; Falcon Tears, Troubled Wood and Twilight. He also had a go at writing a TV screenplay, Earthbound.

The path has led him to study subjects as diverse as mythology, psychology, religion, oriental medicine, five element cosmology, astrology and time cycles, philosophy, personality types and literature. The ultimate aim is to present the world with a new “alphabet”, through which many complex things can be seen to exist within a relatively simple framework. In other words, if ordinary humans knew a few basic notes and what each of them meant, the world would be all the more free to apprecieate life as music, as poetry.

Academia and institutions has for millenia held the sway when it comes to what one “should” know and what method should be applied to attaining that knowledge. As such, many millions of people feel alienated from their native intelligence and creativity, unable to measure up to the clever mechanical steely statue of “intelligent” thought. As the philosopher Alan Watts noted, most people feel at some level like they are here on probation, that maybe they might be human one day if they work or study hard enough. Unfortunately, most education exists within the paradigm of survival, where there is a personal ambition; to get a job, to have money, to get married, to have status, to be smart or popular. To survive and to thrive are two contradictory impulses however. Learning can only happen when we are free to thrive, to become the grandest vision we have of ourselves, when competition has ceased.

If humanity is to evolve outside the walls of security, it would certainly be helpful to have some sort of idea about the vessel one has to sail in and a few indications about the types of waves that are out there. If we can identify these waves when we come across them, be it an idea, a philosophy, a point of view, a personality archetype, a behaviour pattern, a time period, a place on earth, a principle of science, an event, a conflict……. with a certain perception we can “get it” in a way that is meaningful and releases the spirit.

This chapter in the evolution of human consciousness has been described as that time when the adolescent spirit is maturing into the adult. This means having less reliance on experts, on running to authorities to tell us what to do. We are designed to have a psychic self-sufficiency, even as we live in an inter-dependent universe. No matter how evolved or not you are, its ever more possible to be aware of the basic strands that make up this quantum quilt. Think how pleasurable it would be to interpret everything as music insted of dry concepts. To walk out your front door with the certainty that you will meet other beings who want to co-operate with you for one grand purpose alone; the divine song.

So that's the great vision of JL Marshal, what he does aside from being the domestic monk that he is, suburban poet and the original sexy hermit. The Toltecs say there are two main ways to serve the big Plan; as a shining jewel in the world or as a digger in the earth working behind the scenes to enrich the ground of existence. Neither is “better” work, only the former is more visible. Working behind the scenes is not terribly acknowledged in these luminous days, but some can still see that just perceiving and observing in a certain way is wonderful work to be doing. The world needs to start valuing its wriggly creatures.

In previous chapters of life he has been a merchant; a seller of wine and books, of electronics and paint, of outdoor furniture and advertising space. He has been a greengrocer, a cleaner, a pizza-maker. A student of psychology, journalism and art therapy. A mosher, drinker, smoker turned dancer. A cooker of spicy curries, a backyard gardener and armchair counsellor.

There are slow-moving dreams, the ones where practise never helps. Just one day you can do something you couldn't yesterday but is not because you've practised.

In his case, it is Lizard Dreaming; the performer, the quick-moving eros of moments. Its funny how the Sun pulls you in a direction that you feel is somehow abrasive to who you think you are. It makes sense deeper than your identity so it won't leave you alone. It feels both ridiculous and wonderful. God's humour perhaps?  Guitar, singing, songwriting, poetry….. all these things, but they just ripen one decade at a time. Lots going on inside. Just to move as best you can with it, eh?

You do not have to be good.
You do not have to walk on your knees
for a hundred miles through the desert repenting.
You only have to let the soft animal of your body
love what it loves.
Tell me about despair, yours, and I will tell you mine.
Meanwhile the world goes on.
Meanwhile the sun and the clear pebbles of the rain
are moving across the landscapes,
over the prairies and the deep trees,
the mountains and the rivers.
Meanwhile the wild geese, high in the clean blue air,
are heading home again.
Whoever you are, no matter how lonely,
the world offers itself to your imagination,
calls to you like the wild geese, harsh and exciting -
over and over announcing your place
in the family of things.

In the nagual dreamtime I am that gentle rain you sometimes hear at night. A healer. Learning to see behind. Loving that process of conversation, of asking questions, of perceiving what's unique about someone, what the root of things are. Just that soft rain, that tender touching mind and heart that does have an impact on people. Therapy is art. Storytelling is something our cultures should remember. How does a man be gentle? What's the difference between gentle and passive?

I thrive on relationship and wrestle with feeling, like the rain, I'm as young as the day I was born. Nothing seems to last, just washes on by. I was born by the river in the south-east corner of an ancient land. I am learning to receive life's bounty and to love my frozen sheaths that my partnership with Suzanne often reveals. She has taught me so much. And my limits to how much I can love, relationship will do that. A great thing to have.

What challenges me? Money for one. I can't quite find peace with this idea of gold and why I'm meant to care. I have done several courses. Read many books. I get it, why money is not that bad and what it could do. But my bones don't ring out with it in the same way as for many of you. Money and sex are similar energetically yes? I guess in the beginning you don't really know what you're doing but you just try to drive this crazy plane that no one gave you instructions for. I am sure that one day I could take the money plane for a spin too. Do I need a license?

Really I'm not that ambitious, I don't want to become anything in particular or even change my bad habits. I know I am run by my ego in many areas of life but I am done with trying to change them it seems. Yes I can be compassionate and wise, but lazy and stupid and selfish too. When you vomit, you say “I will never eat that again” and you don't. I think the personality is similar. You just have to live it out with whatever awareness you have. I am more inclined toward observing “soul” than toward images of spiritual perfection. I am the rain, and with that is mud and mist. And drought. But it always comes eventually.

My personal placements for the astro-savvy among you:

Western: Libra Sun, Sag Rising, Neptune in the 1st, Moon (Pisces) in the 4th, Venus conj. N. Node (Leo) in the 9th, Jupiter conj. Saturn in the 10th/11th, Sun conj. Saturn in the 11th, Mercury conj. Pluto in the 11th, Mars conj. Uranus in the 12th.

Jyotish: Scorpio Lagna, Virgo Sun, Purvabhadra Nakshatra, Lord of 1st (Mars) in 12th House (the major bummer of the chart). The rest is pretty good; Moon in the 5th, Venus in the 9th, Jupiter in the 10th, Sun, Saturn, Mercury in the 11th. AND I don't have to go through the Rahu dasa this life! Currently in Mercury dasa, Venus bhukti.

Nine Star Ki: 2 earth (year), 4 wood (month), 9 fire (day). Currently in 6 metal year. Metal Monkey in Chinese Astrology.

Mayan: 6-Kan, 1-Cauac, 8-East, Lord 5, Venus Morning Star.


Please feel free to drop me a line; to connect, converse, share, inspire and all that hearty stuff!

-Jami.