THE BASEMENT workshop room of a New Age bookstore, Mystical Openings, was once a hub of activity for channeling workshops and crystal healing classes. In its peak in 1985, it was booked with three events a day. But for the last twenty years, it has fallen into a state of neglect, as old prosperity workbooks piled up in the corners, and the many entities that once filled the room with aliveness and guidance fled to other dimensions.
Then one night last October, that wood-paneled room was again flooded with frankincense smoke as healers, teachers, spiritual practitioners and magical powerbrokers of Baby Boomer generation finally claimed their power and decided that Barack Obama would indeed be the next president of the United States.
“We did it,” said Virginia Moon Hawk Woman, who was at the meeting. “I felt the energy shift right then.”
It’s also been good for business.
The Obama administration, preaching global unity and “reaching across the table” to political opponents, has stirred a revitalization of New Age concepts and ideals.
“Obama is talking about healing the nation,” she said. “He got that language from us. Healing. You see?”
Maryann Stiler, the owner of Mystical Openings, attributed the rise in sales to Obama supporters. “Oh, yeah, it, like, definitely has to do with Obama,” Stiler told me in a recent interview. “Did you see his last press conference? He was totally channeled, you could see from how calm he was that his chakras were all balanced. People feel the waves coming right out from their screens into their hearts, and they want to be like that. Our Deepak Chopra books are flying off the shelves. Barack Obama saved my business!”
Stiler is currently expanding her Obamarama line of crystals, healing books and prayer candles. “Anything with his name on it, people can just sense the positive energy,” she explains as I sniff the “embrace the change” scented candle she makes in the back.
Meanwhile, people have stopped going to the church right up the road. Just three people showed up for Sunday services that week…the newly elected town judge plans to be sworn in on a copy of A Course in Miracles.
In 1961, when President Obama was born, I didn’t have a clue about astrology. That Uranus in his (Obama’s) chart at 25+ Leo was in my 5th house, unbeknownst to me, trining my Saturn, sextile my Venus and conjunct my part of fortune. At the same time, that Saturn of his at 25+ Capricorn was squaring my Saturn from the 11th house and conjunct my progressed Mars. it was one of the greatest times of my life. It was one of the most heart-wrenching times of my life.
Back then stuff just happened and I didn’t know why, and neither did my friends and family. I just knew I had a drive I could not beat down and wondered if I was going crazy. Thirteen years later I started down the path that would lead to understanding that particular time passed, as well as the ever-present, and, to some extent, the future. Even if astrology does raise a lot of new questions, it sure does explain a lot of old ones.
Perhaps Obama wakens memories of that time. . not just for me but all of us who were wrestling with the potent energy/astrology that was just beginning. Maybe that’s why so many of us cried during his speeches, especially after he won. he represents the seed that was planted in us. .the one about justice, freedom and all those other good things. The fruition of that seed is blooming now and Obama gives it voice and palpability. He bears a strong resemblence to who we were then.