[img_assist|nid=70|title=|desc=|link=none|align=left|width=150|height=150]As I walk through the Underworld, I feel the heat of flames to the left of me… flames to the right of me… flames in front of me… flames behind me… flames above me… flames below. With each step, I feel their burning in every cell of my body… with each step, I descend deeper into the heart of the Underworld, and the flames rise, scorching my flesh to the bone…

The flames have a name… that name is Love.

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My upcoming works of fiction (http://gaiasorphans.org/) and non-fiction (http://earthconsciousrevolution.org/) both deal with a timeless mythological theme: namely, the descent into the Underworld. As I delve further into both writing projects, I find myself on a renewed personal journey into the Underworld — including dramatic changes in the diet that has been a part of my life for almost five years.

I have a dream… that somehow, tomorrow morning, I’m going to wake up, and life’s not going to suck.

That sounds cynical, right? But seriously… that’s my dream, and I really hope that it comes true.

A wide variety of local “progressive” individuals and organizations will meet on Saturday, December 10 from noon to 5 pm at the Interfaith Center. During this time, we will meet, network, and share our visions for Southern Illinois for the coming year. For more information, visit Soil Community.