COVID Words - Variant

A conversation with Prosperos Dean Al Haferkamp and William Fennie

Recorded February 8, 2021

This brief conversation continues our project to use words to excavate new understanding from the unprecedented challenge that is COVID-19.

We are hearing about variants of the COVID-19 virus. Al and William discuss the ramifications of such changes and, along the way, refer to an excellent (YouTube) presentation about 2021 potentials by Richard Tarnas of the California Institute of Integral Studies.

We welcome your comments about this presentation on the Prosperos Podcast website.

COVID Words - Criticism

A conversation with Prosperos Dean Al Haferkamp and William Fennie

Recorded January 31, 2021

This brief conversation continues our project to use words to excavate new understanding from the unprecedented challenge that is COVID-19.

We explore the many sides of criticism (or critique) : How the word is lodged in our thinking and what is the essential nature of criticism. We look at how it applies to the second and third steps of Translation class and how this process of discernment enables us to “call down the fire.”

We welcome your comments about this presentation on the Prosperos Podcast website.

COVID Words - Exploitation

A conversation with Prosperos Dean Al Haferkamp and William Fennie

Recorded January 3, 2021

This brief conversation continues our project to use words to excavate new understanding from the unprecedented challenge that is COVID-19.

This conversation is a bit of a throw-back. We spoke on January 3 but held back on releasing it to respond more immediately to the events of January 6 and January 20. The word exploitation has “positive” and “negative” connotations. We try to get to the essence of this difficult word.

We welcome your comments about this presentation on the Prosperos Podcast website.

COVID Words - Grief

A conversation with Prosperos Dean Al Haferkamp and William Fennie

Recorded January 20, 2021

This brief conversation continues our project to use words to excavate new understanding from the unprecedented challenge that is COVID-19.

This conversation took place on the evening of the Inauguration of the new American President. Event planners had the insight and intelligence to preface the inauguration ceremony with a lighting ceremony on the national mall the previous evening to remember the over 400,000 Americans killed by the COVID pandemic. This got us to thinking about the nature of grief in its individual and collective expression, as well as its close ties to our essential Beingness.

We welcome your comments about this presentation on the Prosperos Podcast website.

COVID Words - Lies, Shadow, and Insurrection

A conversation with Prosperos Dean Al Haferkamp and William Fennie

Recorded January 6, 2021

This brief conversation continues our project to use words to excavate new understanding from the unprecedented challenge that is COVID-19.

This conversation took place on the evening of a day Americans will remember for a long time. We open with a quotation from William's talk, "The Consciousness of Now", given on September 20, 2020. This conversation may appear a bit disjointed as we work through our reactions to the events of the day and put things into as large a context as we can. We reference a talk on C.G. Jung's conception of the Shadow by Carole Taylor of the Faculty of Astrological Studies (FAS), London. Definitely worth listening to if FAS ever make it available.

We welcome your comments about this presentation on the Prosperos Podcast website.

COVID Words - What have we learned ?

A conversation with Prosperos Dean Al Haferkamp and William Fennie

Recorded December 27, 2020

This brief conversation continues our project to use words to excavate new understanding from the unprecedented challenge that is COVID-19.

On the cusp of the new year, Al and William take a moment to reflect on what we’ve learned - not just during the COVID pandemic but during the four years of the Trump administration. They look at the movement of Saturn and Jupiter into the sign of Aquarius and what that might portend in general terms.

Correction : William says Jupiter doesn’t stay in Aquarius for a full year. Technically correct because it moves into Pisces, but retrogrades bring it back into Aquarius such that it makes its final move into Pisces on December 29, 2021.

A Prosperos Christmas

Sunday Meeting of December 20, 2020

The panel shares their views, including memories and other stories, shining new light into this ancient and modern tradition.

We are going through a challenging holiday season, and we hope this coming together gives us hopeful energy to enjoy and share with friends and loved ones, no matter the distance between us.

The music near the end of the discussion comes from the thrilling Tia Carrera and Daniel Ho, performing Po La‘ie (Silent Night), available on YouTube.

Anne Bollman: In the Name of Sanity

Sunday Meeting of December 6, 2020

Anne Bollman, H.W., M., a long-time student and Prosperos Trustee, goes over Lewis Mumford’s classic text that explores the human dilemma through Freudian psychology and the characters of Shakespeare’s final play, The Tempest.

COVID Words - Togetherness

A conversation with Prosperos Dean Al Haferkamp and William Fennie

Recorded December 13, 2020

This brief conversation continues our project to use words to excavate new understanding from the unprecedented challenge that is COVID-19

It seems to be dawning on us, collectively, that the answer to the COVID crisis - and to other large scale challenges - has to come from all of us, together. We look at the spirit of the season, the benefits of simple gratitude, and a winning strategy from an old friend, Ken Wauchope.

COVID Words - Heart

A conversation with Prosperos Dean Al Haferkamp and William Fennie

Recorded November 22, 2020

This brief conversation continues our project to use words to excavate new understanding from the unprecedented challenge that is COVID-19

Heart is seen as a COVID word because of the huge role it plays in navigating times like these. We talk about heart, about courage, and finally about bigness.

The long quotation from Al comes from an NPR interview with J. Frank Dobie, July 18, 2005.

COVID Words - Mobility

A conversation with Prosperos Dean Al Haferkamp and William Fennie

Recorded November 5, 2020

This brief conversation continues our project to use words to excavate new understanding from the unprecedented challenge that is COVID-19

Mobility is crucial to our sense of freedom and power. We explore the frustration around feeling immobilized and some ways of getting beyond appearances to a different kind of patience - and the secret to calling forth a principle of freedom.

Conversations with Calvin: Emily Otto

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A Sunday Meeting presentation with Calvin Harris, H.W., M.

In this talk, Calvin invites you to share in an in-depth conversation with Emily Otto, a Business Mentor who works with those who want to get out of Corporate America. Those who know they have the creativity for doing their own thing and dreams of fulfilling a greater purpose in life. Who know that the job they have isn’t what they were “meant to do”, but they are not quite sure how to go from present career to starting their own business, while still being able to pay their bills, and still have time in their life for some freedom and flexibility. Her challenge is to move Millennials and Gen Z Women out of traditional corporate structure and pay scales and into a new definition of Career Achievement and Fulfillment. Emily works with clients on their goals, timelines, and dreams for quitting the 9-5 job and starting their own business. Together, they craft an actionable timeline and plans that align with the client’s life purpose and passions. Followed by one-on-one phone call coaching, using resources and tools to work the client's goal to quit and live within their unique business brand. You can learn more about Calvin’s guest at emily-otto.com.

This conversation took place on October 18, 2020, and runs about 56 minutes. Richard Hartnett does the introduction.

The closing song, “Change” is performed by Tracy Chapman in a video available on YouTube.

COVID Words - Compression

A conversation with Prosperos Dean Al Haferkamp and William Fennie

Recorded October 28, 2020

This brief conversation continues our project to use words to excavate new understanding from the unprecedented challenge that is COVID-19

We started out by remarking that Mars is retrograde (in Aries) and will remain so until mid-November. After thinking it over we decided the word Compression best described the unique situation of energy that is not flowing outwards but gathering inwards. This led to some very interesting observations about the nature of energy. As Al put it, when you understand the nature of this kind of cycle:

“You're sitting on a personal powerhouse of creative expression.”

COVID Words - Debate

A conversation with Prosperos Dean Al Haferkamp and William Fennie

Recorded October 22, 2020

This brief conversation continues our project to use words to excavate new understanding from the unprecedented challenge that is COVID-19

Debate was the word of the day, and the upcoming evening’s ‘entertainment’. We look at the word’s roots and explore a surprising side of the word “argue”.

COVID Words - Blockages and Flow

A conversation with Prosperos Dean Al Haferkamp and William Fennie

Recorded October 18, 2020

This brief conversation continues our project to use words to excavate new understanding from the unprecedented challenge that is COVID-19

Al and William discuss blockages and flow, and how blockages can point to areas where something needs to be released, let go.

COVID Words - Energy and Rest

A conversation with Prosperos Dean Al Haferkamp and William Fennie

Recorded October 12, 2020

This brief conversation continues our project to use words to excavate new understanding from the unprecedented challenge that is COVID-19

This chat looks into Energy and explores one important component of energy, Rest.

COVID Words - Control

A conversation with Prosperos Dean Al Haferkamp and William Fennie

Recorded October 4, 2020

This brief conversation continues our project to use words to excavate new understanding from the unprecedented challenge that is COVID-19

This chat looks into the many ways we view and practice (or try to) control. Interestingly, the technology let us know that whatever illusions we had about being in charge were infantile. Bad connections were only the beginning. The good news is that we practiced discipline, as prescribed herein, and ended up with a recording that’s as good as any we’ve done.

William quoted Frank Herbert and got it wrong. The correct quote is :

“Seek freedom and become captive of your desires. Seek discipline and find your liberty.”

Al has a great quote from Stephen Mitchell’s excellent interpretation of the Tao Te Ching by Lao Tsu

Conversations with Calvin: Ugur Yilmaz

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A Sunday Meeting presentation with Calvin Harris, H.W., M.

In this talk, Calvin invites you to share in an in-depth conversation with long-time student Ugur Yilmaz, exploring some essential features of his life in and out of the Prosperos, areas of his secular life - careers, family, varied educational pursuits, and travel. Our exploration will delve into concepts such as purpose, goals, spirituality [not religion per se], Consciousness, and one’s life path.

This conversation took place on September 27, 2020, and runs about 43 minutes. Rick Thomas does the introduction.

The closing song, “Change” is performed by Tracy Chapman in a video available on YouTube.

The Consciousness of Now

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Speaker : William Fennie
Introduced by : Calvin Harris
Recorded : September 20, 2020

This Sunday Meeting presentation discusses a series of squares that will occur from late September 2020 through January 2021 and the implied requirements for those of us who practice a spiritual discipline.

In brief, Mars, now retrograde in Aries, will square Saturn, Pluto, and Jupiter in Capricorn (in that order) before going direct and squaring the same planets in reverse order over the next four months.

Al Haferkamp and William discussed some of the challenges of Mars squares during the last two COVID talks (Fire, Challenge). This longer presentation goes into more detail, including a reminder that in heavy weather our best response is to draw upon our deepest understanding and seek “Higher Love”.

COVID Words - Challenge

A conversation with Prosperos Dean Al Haferkamp and William Fennie

Recorded August 30, 2020

This brief conversation continues our project to use words to excavate new understanding from the unprecedented challenge that is COVID-19

This chat expands our conversation related to astrological transits that were first hinted at by our Moonwobble update on August 18, specifically, Mars in Aries squaring Saturn in Capricorn. Here we look at the word challenge, a very Martian dynamic, and the way in which ideologies can lead us into actions that betray our spiritual integrity.