Licorice Root, Dandelion, Nettle, and Mushroom Tea

 Finding your place in the cosmos.

There's a lot happening in the world that feels like it's shaking our personal foundations. A new government hostile to many. Relentless extreme weather. Rising grocery prices. And now, amid congressional testimonies, the revelation that we share this planet with an intelligent presence wielding superior technology.

The message I’m hearing from God in this moment is that much is beyond my control. The best I can do is trust that right now, things are okay. And they are—and for that, I’m grateful. But I’d be lying if I didn’t admit there’s a part of me, a shadow side, that feels satisfaction when justice is meted out, even outside the courts. Though the proud might never repent, their stories send warnings to others.

As the storm intensifies, as the world grows stranger—just as Terence McKenna foresaw—it becomes crucial to confront the challenging parts of ourselves. To hold fast to personal peace and joy, even when it feels like the world conspires against it. These are the times that test our souls.

The good news is that if you’ve been listening to your heart, you’ll know what to do. You are the storm’s center—the eye that holds stillness as chaos churns around it, the stillness that once spoke to Elijah in a whisper.

Mushroom Tea

It takes maturity and vulnerability to look inward, acknowledge the need for change, and take steps to make it happen. For charities and non-governmental organizations, that process often starts with data—and for a time, that data came from Bingo.

Founded as a startup providing Business Intelligence for Non-Governmental Organizations, Bingo helped NGOs measure their impact, optimize resources, and find insights buried in the chaos of their operations. Ingo, as the company rebranded itself, went further, offering hands-on consulting to help clients turn numbers into action. Mateo Rivera, founder and CEO was deeply involved in delivering those solutions.

“It wasn’t just numbers on a page,” Rivera explained. “We’d help an NGO discover that, say, a minor adjustment in logistics could save them tens of thousands of dollars or that their programs were reaching 30% more people than they thought. Seeing that impact gave me purpose.”

Purpose drove Bingo to rebrand as Ingo, reflecting its shift from narrowly focused analytics to broader intelligence services that became business critical for NGOs. For instance, an NGO providing clean water services could benefit from surveilling for-profit entities seeking to exploit natural resources or analyzing the intentions of unfriendly politicians. By offering these insights, Ingo enabled its clients to be proactive rather than reactive, empowering them to safeguard their missions against external threats.

“I loved it. We helped serve humanity through now-powerful NGOs,” Rivera said. “But one night, something clicked. It seemed like that was the direction, where the momentum was going—to work directly with our end customers, NGOs. That idea stayed with me.”

Within a few months, Rivera acted on that thought, leaving Ingo to join ClearFlow, an NGO he had worked with as a client. Once on the inside, Rivera quickly shot up the ranks, thanks to his unique combination of analytics expertise and a shared sense of urgency. At ClearFlow, the pressure to make an impact was palpable.

“It was go-time all the time,” said a colleague. “We threw ourselves into it because nothing seemed more important. I lost 14 pounds and had really bad breath for a while, but it was worth it.”

ClearFlow had been known as a dedicated but underpowered organization, often struggling to punch above its weight. With Rivera's contributions, it began to transform. By analyzing operational gaps and recalibrating its strategies, Rivera helped ClearFlow secure major funding from wealthy donors who were persuaded that social benefits could align with their personal and financial interests. The organization also established new credibility at city hall, gaining political respect and influence.

Over time, ClearFlow grew from making water deliveries to becoming an essential organization that billions rely on for reliable and free water. This transformation was driven in part by its strategic use of Ingo’s covert intelligence services, which enabled ClearFlow to influence local power players and ensure they stayed out of the way. By neutralizing potential obstacles and strengthening its operations, ClearFlow secured its position as a vital force, expanding its reach and impact on a global scale.

“Mateo brought a discipline and focus we’d never had,” said one board member. “He turned us from a group of dreamers into a force to be reckoned with. And he never let us forget who we were serving.”

Reflecting on the transformation, Rivera was pragmatic. “It wasn’t me—it was the people here. They already had the heart and the mission. I just helped clear a path.” For Mateo, the transition from analytics to activism wasn’t just a career change; it was the realization of a purpose that had been building all along.

Mateo Rivera described the shift with quiet reflection. “One day, I had a rare moment of stillness. I paused, and it just hit me: ‘Oooh.’ That’s when I realized—this isn’t just work anymore. This is where I’m supposed to be.” 

From Bingo to Ingo, to an NGO where it was go, go, go, Mateo had finally reached that state that makes one go, “oh.” For Mateo, the journey wasn’t just about data or strategy—it was about finding the alignment between purpose and action, a rhythm that allowed him to see his work not just as a job but as a calling.

Pelones

 As I listend to these songs, I keep asking, "Where are you? Your songs, your voices so proud? You heroes that fought for freedom? The contagious belief that we were invincible, that allowed us to live in comfort, did it just evaporate? I'm having a hard time with the idea that it was all an illusion. I remember George Carlin pronouncing that it's called the American Dream because you have to be asleep to believe it. 

At the same time, it's not helpful to assume all is lost. Life must go on. 

Fried Plantains

 I can hear the ticking of the clock in the living room. I'm sitting a few feet from the wall where it hangs. The ticking is a auditory decoration in time. It doesn't remind me of the passage of time- it's more of a heartbeat than a countdown. 

The passage of time has been an interesting experience. It seems to go faster as one gets older. Being busy or distracted also makes time seem like it is slipping through. I remember the feeling of time feeling stagnant when I was younger. I'm not sure that knowledge of what time feels like today would have helped me spend it any differently. 

Today, Kathleen, Catalina and I went to Aguacate. I enjoy the class very much, though I don't like learning songs I don't know because it takes me a while to learn them and feel comfortable. Catalina doesn't mind- she just dances and helps clean up. After class, she jumped in some puddles along with two other girls about her age. It was sweet to watch. Shw wanted to go on a tire swing, but it was too wet. We came back home and I made tofu and edamame, and defrosted chicken soup. We all ate well for lunch. Catalina napped on me, and an hour later, we visited Whole Foods for some ingredients for cookies that we'll make over the Thanksgiving holiday. Kathleen put Catalina to sleep and I made fried plantains. 

I intended to do laundry today, but ran out of time. It's now 10 after 10, and I'm about to go to sleep. It has been a good day, and I hope that tomorrow is cut from the same cloth. 

Sparkling Water

 I am angry that people with knowledge and power did not take the initiative to heal our planet. Supposedly, we have known for about the last hundred years that adding excess CO2 to the atmosphere would result in catastrophic consequences. How greed blinds! 

What happens with us? Of all the species in the world, we have touched the depths and have dwelled in the highest heights. We have communicated with countless species. We have healed and restored entire ecosystems. But we've also poisoned and annihilated them. What does it mean that a species is so powerful and at the same time so ignorant of its own magnitude? 

But also what does it mean for a system to attack itself? This reminds me of autoimmune disorders that come at a health cost to its bearers. An illness. What does it mean for a planet to come alive, only to get sick soon after? As there are surges of life so there is death, like an ebb and a flow. But how do you get rid of a parasite? 

As we undergo a cosmic cleanse, I pray that we shelter under the Creator's mercy. 

Stomach at rest

I dreamed of decluttering. The dream was long, and I remember looking at a receipt from a sushi restaurant my Dad, sister, and I used to visit in Cuernavaca. There were two, Momiyi and Kiku. I knew the owners of Momiyi. They were Carmen and Israel, and they also owned a manga and comic book shop a few stores from their restaurant/ 

Downtown Cuernavaca is crowded and busy. The roads and sidewalks are narrow, and it can get really packed when everything closes for an event. I see myself rounding the corner of El Universal, where my grandpa used to have drink. There's a photo stall, a bakery, and the side entrance to a shopping center, Las Plazas. 

In my dream I remember this as I put receipt away. I woke up thinking "This means that my brain will undergo some kind of decluttering, too". I can't say it has, particularly, but I perceive a positive difference. That can be challenging to to juxtapose against the state of the world. I will likely remove Instagram from my phone, but still engage using the desktop. 

I really do need to read put myself in someone else's head for a bit.

Dandelion tea

 Hi,

If you are reading this, I hope that your present is more fortunate and peaceful than ours. I have come to understand that you are learning about us through the Internet. Though there is lots of valuable content, I thought I would provide an individual account. I am a 42-year-old man. (Saying middle-aged reminds me that I've already lived about my expected life span. It brings some anxiety, but also wisdom.)

I love Earth. I love this planet we share. It is a paradise. I think about Earth's trees and plants, and living beings that conform its alive-ness. Everything is alive, mountains shift under our feet. Waves crash, and lava erupts. Flocks of birds, herd of elephants, crocodiles, Amazonian insects, elderly humans. I'm sure you've witnessed that and more. I am jealous in a good way about the latter. 

I acknowledge that you are an advanced being. I appreciate the gift of awareness to acknowledge you as such. I am grateful for you and for this communion. I am also authentic, or at least try to be true to who I am. So, apologies if I transgress out of ignorance. 

I'm grateful that I'll have been writing as the Titanic sank. 

Another motivating factor is the exercise of pushing against forces that are counter to life, like the algorithms and the entities that wield them. This has been written about by much smarter people than me, but there isn't a need to be as involved as we are on social media. Lots of humans been exposed to intangible algorithms designed to keep us engaged by learning our behavior patterns. So, the exercise of reading and writing feels like honoring tradition, and remaining in a safe harbor. 

Dos días después de la elección

Donald Trump won the presidency and many voters sat this one out. Election night and yesterday, I felt physically ill. I couldn't sleep- I felt a pain in my chest and my stomach. There's the realization that I live in a bubble, and that I hoped that others were feeling the same way I had been. I'll admit it felt a bit impersonal, like playing a big game with the entire country, only to be on the losing side. But losing happens, and we move on. The difference with this is that the winners of the game are morally and ethically corrupt, and that most people find that acceptable.

I acknowledge that I'm in a minority. I was hopeful that a Harris win would prove that I was in the majority. I trusted Kamala to wield power equitably and fairly. But now, it feels like it will be chaotic for a while. I'm finding inner strength, though. I pray to share that power gracefully.

Rob D - Clubbed to Death (Kurayamino Mix)

USOs

 

10:12 AM · May 26, 2024

Um grupo de trabalhadores que estava em uma plataforma de petróleo flagrou uma luz misteriosa que teria surgido do fundo do mar.

3:47 PM - April 15, 2024

Researcher sees strange light in Gulf of Mexico ( Ovniología )

(5/7/2020 - 10:30 PM)

Encenitas, CA

Cavallini & Co.

 

Ginger Tea - Decades of the Sun, as seen by SOHO

 

Vatican - Ginger Tea



In other words: "There's something going on (the phenomenon), but we're not involved and we don't know what it is." The church will still do its job as it relates to people and their faith as the phenomenon affects them, but this is a reactive role and not a proactive one. 

As disclosure progresses, it will be interesting to see each country's approach.