Chemistry // Physics

  Sychronicity 💫 Connectivity  Evidence for synchronicity arises in everyday occurrences. Mysterious alignments whisper to me as if clues of the path laid ahead. Much like the markers on a trail that confirm that you are headed in the right direction. I take note of these, clocking many throughout my days, yet the specific memories soon slip away. Walking through the park this morning, I was startled by the vibrant blue of a Blue Jay flying by. A rare sight in the city, I took this as an omen. As if to confirm the message, three people (individually) walked by wearing the exact shade of blue. Upon further research, the Blue Jay is a symbol for clarity, taking action in the direction of our highest truth, devotion, communication, and psychic vision. They are associated with Oak Trees (a recurring symbol for me) and Mercury (major Mercury energy in the cosmos at the moment). At this moment, the message I sought pertaining to today’s eclipse was delivered.   This excerpt fr...

  On Green Chemistry   The year was 2010. Karl Lagerfeld decides its time for fashion to address Climate Change. How to go about this? … by airlifting a 265-ton iceberg from Sweden to Paris as the backdrop to his Fall /Winter collection (the iceberg was kept at a consistent temperature of 25* F and later repatriated to Sweden). I suppose that’s one way to raise awareness, albeit extremely problematic in retrospect. Though significantly less complex then the iceberg across the oceans scheme discussed in class, I found it a fascinating point of reflection on how the fashion industry has evolved and reckoned with the issues that arise from it. Until we deal with our addiction to consumption, much of our progress is ever subtler greenwashing. Okay, now on to the principles of Green Chemistry. A great idea, though still very cerebral in nature. How do we bring these principles down to earth? I agree that this is all quite obvious. Profit and convenience have a way of making simple ...

  On Uncertainty   Uncertainty is a beautiful thing. It is the space where magic happens, the seat of creation, where all possibility exists. Of course, certainty is nice too. It is cozy and safe. But uncertainty can be dazzling.   On Causality     As it would happen, to prepare myself for this week’s class, I decided to take a look at my copy of Synchronicity by Carl Jung. I flipped through it to look at my notes, and noticed that one page had the corner folded down. On it was a quote from Lao-tzu… the same quote that was presented in last week’s lesson. Interestingly enough, when I read this book at home few summers ago, I read the I Ching immediately after. As I go back home this summer before moving to Oakland, I am struck by the repetitive patterning in which I am studying physics (Synchronicity) to prepare me for TCM (I Ching). A beautiful little string of events happening there.   From Psychomagic by Jodorowsky 👆 Not sure if this is still relevant t...

 Scandium 💫 Atomic Number: 21 Transition Metal // Rare Earth Element Scandium is found more abundantly in the sun and other stars than on earth. Though it is sprinkled widely across the world, it is rarely found in high concentrations (which allowed her to elude scientists for a while). Scandium can be used to create powerful lights that mimic the sun. It is considered soft and silvery in color but turns yellow or rosy when exposed to light. Scandium adds strength to metals and is therefore used in the insides of spacecrafts. She’s quite pricey.   Class Discussion   Reflecting on the story of the walnut farm that only made $2000 this year… We have created a culture in which living in harmony with the earth does not equate to a living wage. If we live in a society that requires us to neglect and extract from the earth in order to survive, how do we heal? This is a potent example of the need for systemic change. Interesting how concentrated our cultural values be...

Class Reflection 💫 I have to say I’m hyped about the syllabus for this course.‘Synchronicity’ by Carl Jung, is one of the most challenging books I’ve read independently of formal study. While I retained some juicy bits, I am so excited to have the guidance of a teacher and the counsel of the class to be able to grasp this topic more fully. I loved the discussion on the cyclical nature of time, the spiraling nature of the moon’s orbit, and the alignment of the galactic center in 2012. Sharing some connections —   “I live my life in widening circles that reach out across the world. I may not complete this last one, but I give myself to it.” Rainer Maria Rilke   “…for why should it not enclose my own experience as well as the past and future history of the universe? The egg is the macrocosm and the microcosm, the dividing line between the Big and the Small which makes it impossible to see the whole. To possess a telescope without its other essential half — the microscope — seems...

  * Bio *   My name is Hanna. Alchemy, art, mythology, and astrology call to me. I began learning Reiki in the winter, though I have mostly practiced on myself and my plants. I read the tarot. Symbols that speak to me are spirals, snakes, and seeds. Light and shadows, leaves in the wind, and walking barefoot on the earth bring me joy. My not so guilty pleasures are dark chocolate, roses, and candlelight.   This is my first trimester here — I am coming from a career in design and environmental work #fortheoceans. I have witnessed profound healing in those I love through this sacred medicine. I wish to focus my studies on women’s health, beauty, and vitality. To help women to reconnect with their physical forms, and experience the pleasure that comes from deep reverence to their being. In my studies, I hope to become further in touch with my own body and to deeply commune with the spirit of plants and the nature of the universe.  Mind...