Our Mission We believe that humanity can - and must - shift to a higher state of  consciousness based on love and awareness of unity with all life. Our mission is to contribute our utmost to this transformation through astrology and other  wisdom paths, through communication and awareness, and through loving community  action. Comments & Submissions: metamorphosis@consciousevolution.com Diwali - India’s Festival of Lights! By Sucheta Shetty The mention of the word Diwali conjures images of the glow of bright lights against the background of a dark, moonless night. “Diwali” is a corruption of the Sanskrit word Deepavali, where deep means lamp or light and avali means a row. So literally, it means a row of lamps. Light is the essence of this popular Indian festival, which for many people is the biggest celebration of the year. It starts on the 13th day of the dark fortnight of the lunar month of Ashwin and lasts until the 2nd day of the month of Kartik. This period corresponds to late October or early November, depending on the year. This year it spans November 2-6. The flames of the traditional earthenware oil-lamps, called diyas, and the glow from paper and plastic lanterns, electric lights and fireworks, all contribute to making these dark nights the brightest nights of the year! What Is a Spiritual Path? by Gregory Ellison “Development is evolution; evolution is transcendence; and transcendence has as its final goal Atman, or ultimate Unity Consciousness in only God ...” ~ Ken Wilber, The Atman Project The gradual upliftment of human consciousness toward God-consciousness - is what many consider to be a “spiritual path.”   The Misty Sisters of the Pleiades Star Cluster by Maria Barron November, called the Pleiad month by ancient Greeks, ushers in the season of the Pleiades, a tiny cluster of nearby stars best viewed by those in the Northern Hemisphere in November and December.   Stonehenge, Part 3 By Tinkerbell The magnificent standing stones for which Stonehenge is best known, were brought to the site in the third and final phase of construction of the Henge. The first two phases, which archeological analysis dates to 3050-2600 B.C., created the initial ditches, barrows (or mounds), Aubrey holes and other holes used to hold wooden beams. The final phase, the placement of huge stones is believed to have been completed around 1600 B.C. The English Heritage organization owns the ancient site, near Amesbury in southern England, and works to maintain it and ensure its preservation for the nation as well as for visitors from all over the globe. November Star Watch By Terri Smallwood Welcome to November, the cusp between fall and winter, and the bridge between Scorpio and Sagittarius. In November, we move from the fixed and watery realm of the Scorpion to the fiery, mutable dominion of the Archer. Under these skies we see many of man’s religiously significant holidays: Thanksgiving, Chanukah, Bodhi Day, Yule and Christmas. It is not coincidental that there are so many different types of religious observances during the reign of the Archer. Sagittarius and its ruler Jupiter are associated with organized religion and philosophy and are concerned with applying this to their quest for understanding the universal laws that govern humanity.   Canterbury Manor (a work of fiction) By Virginia Brittony D’Archangel It’s a fine thing to be young and in love and setting off on an adventure, with no need for a plan or elaborate arrangements. So my mother had said when Brent and I stopped by the family farm to let the folks know we were heading out from our native Iowa for a second honeymoon on the eastern seaboard. We would rent a car when we arrived, and then leave the airports and cities behind, taking in the sights of the ocean and the countryside, going wherever the more rural roads might take us.   Conscious Community By Carrie Chesney It’s time for a change of pace! This month’s Conscious Community column is going to feature some things not previously seen. It will astound you, thrill you, and overall make your toes tingle! Ok... Well, it may not do that, but we do have some new things this month for you to peruse at your leisure. The object of the Conscious Community column is to get the word out about all the neat things that are going on with the people of our humble little community.   Getting Acquainted with the Tarot By Jennifer Houle Almost 10 years ago, I first watched my friend Elizabeth read someone’s cards. We often gathered at my house, a bunch of teenagers around the kitchen table, to have what we considered deep, philosophical conversations. Often enough, the playing cards would come out, and Liz would take center stage. Her aunt had taught her how to read fortunes.   Extended Deadline, Expanded Prize for Metamorphosis Writing Contest Two intriguing entries have been submitted to the Metamorphosis writing contest, and a new prize has been added to the awards going to the ultimate winner. Along with Journey of the Heart, a new-age music compilation CD featuring Kitaro, the first-place winner will also receive The Kabbalah Deck: Pathway to the Soul. The Kabbalah package includes a set of cards featuring the deeply symbolic Hebrew alphabet and the Kabbalah Tree of Life, together with a book by Edward Hoffman offering interpretations and meditative spreads that can be used for developing a spiritual approach to life’s complexities, everyday needs, and moments of crisis.