The Blooming Grove Studio Network

On our July home page (a 6 Metal Month in an 8 Soil Year) we said:

".... If June's 7 Metal was the ki that fossilized the new conditions brought on by 8 Soil, then July's 6 Metal is the ki that now holds them within rigid, well defined constraints....

.... In May (8 Soil / 8 Soil) new trends arose. In some ways, we saw this as the beginning of a new 9-year cycle. In June (7 Metal / 8 Soil) the more potent trends gathered momentum. In July, these will become "locked-in"; enduring as time unfolds. Many situations are already well defined. For example, even were the Gulf oil spill to cease today, it would still require years to recover."

For those who were watching the ki, July was a fascinating month. During the course of July, the Gulf Oil Spill of 2010 was brought further under control. As I write (August 4), BP has just completed the "static kill", by filling the 13,000-foot well pipe with heavy drill mud, holding back the oil with its weight. They will also attempt to install a cement seal, later in August.

So, we may conclude that the oil spill has ceased today. But check this out. Nobody really knows the long-term effects of the chemical dispersants. To date, no one can tell us the quantity or the size of the underwater "plumes" of oil. Tens of thousands of Gulf Coast jobs have been lost, and many folks cite an ongoing disaster. Here's an example:

Click here- Huffington Post: Crime of the Century

Yet, every coin has two sides. Yes, corporate interests (and probably the government) will say that everything is now under control, but the Gulf Spill has re-ignited global awareness of the perils of our addiction to fossil fuel. For many, this disaster has brought to light that we are like an hysterical, starving person, who will break any window, harm anyone and do anything, anything to satisfy our hunger. This total disruption of human, animal and plant life has driven home the fundamental fact that, yes, we have a life threatening addiction.

Already, the media is starting to focus on the Michigan Oil Spill.

In a move that will alter the public's perception of the war in Afghanistan, WikiLeaks released a document dubbed "The Afghan War Diary"; an amalgamation of over 91,000 reports covering the war in Afghanistan, between 2004 and 2010. The diary includes intelligence data, soldiers' reports and descriptions of "lethal military actions".

Those who always cite cold winter days as "proof" that Global Warming is a fabrication, had to zip their lips, in July, as much of the USA experienced an extended, scorching heat wave, with Russia's worst drought in 130 years, and as the United Nations requested aid for more than 10 million hungry across Africa's drought-stricken Sahel region; including $230 million for impoverished Niger, which has been hardest hit.

Drought in Sahel

In July, we also commented:

".... 8 Soil supports 6 Metal by providing new options and perspectives. In general, this is a positive combination. Yet, there is a definite tension between 8 Soil's revolutionary change and 6 Metal's firm consolidation. As the month unfolds, this tension will grow. On one hand, the tension can provoke new ideas and inventions that will become apparent in the near future; perhaps as early as September. On the other hand, excess tension could release soon and suddenly, in a less constructive way....

.... On the brighter side, this is likely as close as we'll come to having a sense of stability, this year. Six Metal ki is very steady and stout. See it as the force of inertia. Whatever has been placed into motion tends to stay in motion. But, whatever is at rest tends to remain at rest."

On July 21, the Financial Reform bill was passed into law, in the United States; adding stability to future markets. Banks were barred from speculative trade. New procedures to safely shut down large companies (rather than bailing them out) were put into place. Lenders will have to verify that borrowers can make the payments, before a loan is issued.

As the July timeframe came to a close, President Obama announced that his administration's planned withdrawal of U.S. troops from Iraq is proceeding "as promised" and should lead to an end of America's combat mission there "by the end of August". This should reduce the number of U.S. troops in Iraq to 50,000. After that, the mission will be to train and support Iraqi security forces.

Hopeful. We'll see how it goes....

But when it comes to examples of long-term trends being locked into place, there is nothing that compares to the August issue of Smithsonian magazine (issued in mid July). To commemorate their 40th anniversary, the publication cited "40 Things You Need to Know About the Next 40 Years." Very timely, indeed.

40 Things You Need to Know

From Nameless - This Adobe Reader® (PDF) file may be shared freely.

SODIS® Flyer- describing a safe way to purify water in emergencies.

Articles Below:
'Precession of the Equinoxes' Link updated October, 2009.
The Global Perspective is updated early every month.
Annual Commentary is updated every February.
9-Year Cycle Commentary is updated once every nine years.
New Links and other articles are updated as they arise.

2010 is a Number 8 White Soil Year

February 4th, 2010 through February 3rd, 2011 is an 8 Soil year. Eight Soil is associated with change or "revolution" (revolving, spinning, rotating; thereby stirring events up). Eight's freewheeling nature suggests an increased capacity to move about -- to travel. This is the essence of 8 White Soil. We'll explore the more subtle qualities, in a moment.

First, let's discuss the major event of the previous 8 Soil year. The 911 attacks occurred in September, 2001 (a 4 Tree Month in an 8 Soil Year). Obviously, the 911 event counts as a revolutionary change that has influenced the world, ever since. But, before we assume that the ki of 8 Soil is ever-so dangerous, menacing and overwhelming, let us consider this. 2001 also brought us the first spacecraft to land on an asteroid, the first legal same-sex marriages in nearly 2000 years, the first space tourist and the first self-contained artificial heart. Also, a major peace treaty between Russia & China, and a normal trade agreement between the USA and China; both remaining in effect to this day.

Clearly, 8 Soil supports radical change, but does not discriminate between ruin and progress. Note that all of the events, above, were manmade. Human beings decided what to do. Eight Soil was the vehicle. Depending on the plan, the results can be life-giving or devastating.

Back in 2001, we suggested that revolutionary acts, like riots and surprise attacks, can occur anytime; that they are not limited to 8 Soil years. It's the same with revolutionary achievements. But in an 8 Soil year, we see more breakthroughs and events that resonate with 8's basic qualities; like rotation, travel, distance and, especially, for changes that generate long-term consequences.

Perhaps, we can best understand 8 Soil by studying the seasons. All times of the year are associated with the ki. The hot, expansive energy of summer is 9 Fire. The dark, cold of winter is 1 Water. The beautiful, changing colors of early autumn are 7 Metal. And so on.

Eight Soil is the ki of late winter. Picture it in your mind. Not much is happening on the surface. The days are growing slightly longer and a bit warmer. But, the nights are still very cold. In the temperate parts of the world, the grass remains a harsh, dry brown; the branches of the trees still naked.

But, if we look carefully, we find gentle evidence that great things are afoot. Subtle, at the edge of our perception.

Above, the clouds have become less feather-like. Heavier, they lean on the earth and begin to wrap her in a humid blanket. Scraggly weeds that have clung to the land and to life, through deep ice and snow, now lay in flat patches of radiant, emerald green. Tiny buds are forming, very tight, in the crooks of the branches. Fed by gallons of sap, rising up below the bark.

Eight Soil is the harbinger of spring and of all seasons to come. What happens, now, will give permanent shape and definition to the future.

Eight is the bridge between winter (1 Water) and early-spring (3 Tree). It stirs the once silent waters, churning hidden designs from the depths (sap rises below the surface) then bursts them into material forms, apparent to all (new buds). Furthermore, this process defines how the future will unfold, just as new buds will become shoots.

Revolution wakens resting energy.
Revolution begins quietly.
Revolution shapes our future.

Raising the lowest common denominator to higher and more restless levels. Yet, the underlying purpose of this natural progression is to yield new life. To bridge the depth of winter with the rising energy of spring.

Eight Soil wakens the sleeping giant. We should be aware of the potential dangers, but I think it is a mistake to personify 8 Soil with 911, or with any single event. Of all the numbers, 8 is perhaps the most supremely unavailable to human interpretation, because it is closest to our nature. It means no harm but it can support harm, if that is our plan. And we should remember that it will support goodness, just as swiftly.

To define specifics is to misunderstand 8, because profound changes will continue to evolve. As individuals or as nations, we can only set out with a clear plan. Balance is required as the ki unfolds. In and of itself, 8 Soil is not destructive. Generally, it is beneficial because we vitally need the transition from winter to spring. But, should we choose to misuse the ki, then it reflects our imbalance.

Consider traditional human activity, during late-winter (8 Soil). The soil is too cold and wet to plow. This is the time for acquiring the equipment and seeds (1 Water potential) so you'll be ready for decisive action (3 Tree germination) at the first opportunity. Even today, seed catalogs arrive by mail in late-winter.

We pray that this 8 Soil year will not include an event such as 911. Yet, as in any year, the potential certainly exists. I do foresee a year of many revolutionary changes -- of new, long-term directions. The reason being the 3 Tree 9-Year cycle. Three Tree is the ki of rising energy and of new beginnings. When combined with 8 Soil's new directions, the potential for radical change is extremely strong.

To understand 3 Tree's role, we can look back to the most recent 8 Soil Year / 3 Tree 9-Year cycle. 1929, the year of the Wall Street Crash of '29. Yet, think twice before you jump from the window. Again, we must emphasize that, like all 8 Soil years, 1929 produced many lasting changes, some of them quite beneficial.

Also, understand that 1929 occurred during a 1 Water 81-Year cycle (instead of the present 9 Fire 81-Year cycle). One Water produces little activity on the surface (potential energy); whereas 9 Fire ignites highly charged, superficial events (kinetic energy).

So, 1 Water was associated with inner strength, but dissolution, decay, and darkness on the surface. The present 81-Year cycle is the complimentary opposite. Inner weakness (a lack of cohesiveness) but contrast, rapid expansion and brilliance, externally (visibly).

Given 8 Soil's & 3 Tree's potent capacity to produce rapid change and new beginnings, it's easy to see how the market crashed, given Water's mood of darkness and dissolution. But, given Fire's brilliant, expansive qualities, what will 8 Soil's & 3 Tree's potent capacity generate now?

It's a fascinating speculation and we'll have to watch for this. It could be a dramatic rise in the market, a brilliant new discovery, or even something ominous -- causing the same degree of damage as the Crash of '29, but in a fiery, flamboyant or explosive way. Likely, we'll see, both, strikingly positive and negative aspects before the year is through (as was true in 1929).

Needless to say, 2010 will be an interesting and challenging year.

Here are some previous 8 Soil years. Specific events are listed, along with attributes that illustrate the mood of 8 Soil. The majority of this information was gleaned from Wikipedia®, a superb online resource for studying 9 Star Ki's historical influence.

Most events illustrate radical changes that produce long-term consequences. Besides the events listed, I also noticed these common trends:
Accidents involving nuclear weapons and reactors.
A considerable number of earthquakes.
Incidents related to mines and tunnels (hidden change below the surface).
Also, a high degree of international diplomatic, banking and strategic pacts, treaties and agreements (especially in 1947, after WWII).

You will notice trends that are more informative than, perhaps, anything that can be said in words. For example, you'll find record-setting tornadoes and hurricanes (revolution, rotation). Just click on the number of the year:

2001 (8 Soil Year / 4 Tree 9-Year Cycle / 9 Fire 81-Year Cycle)

1992 (8 Soil Year / 5 Soil 9-Year Cycle / 9 Fire 81-Year Cycle)

1983 (8 Soil Year / 6 Metal 9-Year Cycle / 9 Fire 81-Year Cycle)

1974 (8 Soil Year / 7 Metal 9-Year Cycle / 9 Fire 81-Year Cycle)

1965 (8 Soil Year / 8 Soil 9-Year Cycle / 9 Fire 81-Year Cycle)

1956 (8 Soil Year / 9 Fire 9-Year Cycle / 9 Fire 81-Year Cycle)

1947 (8 Soil Year / 1 Water 9-Year Cycle / 1 Water 81-Year Cycle)

1938 (8 Soil Year / 2 Soil 9-Year Cycle / 1 Water 81-Year Cycle)

1929 (8 Soil Year / 3 Tree 9-Year Cycle / 1 Water 81-Year Cycle)

For additional notes concerning the most recent 8 Soil year, 2001, click here.