Matthew Ashdown - Grail Quests

01/12/2026

Join me and Jesse for this call as we we weave through season of the lake in I Ching. We will invite some Dream Arc guides in as well as reflect on the element of Lake. Find us on the Dream Arc or Instagram channels today.

01/09/2026

In a couple of hours from the time I post this there will be quite the alignment of Sun, Venus and Mars, all in 54 line 5. And then Earth and Jupiter in the 53rd Gene Key. Greed, Aspiration, Expansion and Power on the material and spiritual planes are potent to contemplate.

01/07/2026

01/06/2026

Today we begin the Sage's Retreat journey.

Yesterday my computer hard drive failed and am now working on a new computer which I purchased late yesterday afternoon.

And today the Gene Keys website has been down for most of the morning, just now coming up online again.

Well, these are the kinds of things we can expect when 5000 people come together in such a way.

I look forward to seeing many of you there. And if you are not signed up for it, but tapped into the Gene Keys, know that you are part of the field too.

Gene Keys community is part of this friendship field for 2026.

01/03/2026

Prediction and prophecy can be insightful and helpful, and I see how they can slip into shadow when they harden into expectation or certainty within the individual, or misused by power structures. When a prophecy moves us, it is also worth noticing how we respond to what is here right now, and the depth of work that may be asking to be done, something true prophecy encourages. A reassurance that “it will all be okay in the future” does little to support ourselves or others who are experiencing deep suffering in this moment. Meaningful prophecy brings us into deeper presence and practice.

“Unless you radically change now, the future — tomorrow — is what you are now.” - Jiddha Krishnamurti

01/03/2026

When the moon and earth are in the 39th Gene Key (Provocation-Dynamism-Liberation) and Sun, Venus and Mars are in the 38th Gene Key (Struggle-Perserverence-Honour), it is a call to the spiritual warrior to make a stand for what we love, to dig deep to release the emotional blocks that stand between us and our liberation. Late night post that I may add to in the morning (and another post about the change of the nodes recently)....

01/02/2026

Happy New Year 🎊 ✨️

While it's not the Lunar New Year of the Fire Horse (beginning Feb 17th) it was the moon that caught my attention as the clock chimed. At midnight I stood out on my deck and looked up to see this Lunar Halo.

The moon was in the 35th Gene Key at that time, the Siddhi of Boundlessness. So the boundary of the halo pointing towards boundlessness and possibly adventures in the year to come. But first meeting anywhere inside that I might feel like a victim of the need for change.

Life is sure to be an adventure in this year ahead and Lunar halos apparently speak to big changes ahead, environmental and emotional weather changes. Perhaps that is just the meaning I gave it but it was helpful for me in the moment.

I also noticed that the star (barely visible in the picture) sitting at the boundary of this halo was Capella, which in Gene Keys is associated with the 6th Seal and the healing of the wound of separation. I could feel that alignment with my contemplations over the new year. This year quite possibly will offer many opportunities to heal this within the body of humanity. Beyond our perceived silos, tribes and boundaries to the boundlessness of humanity.

The moon in this key reminds me anything is possible and nothing is impossible.

01/01/2026

12/31/2025

If one is lost in a wood, what is the first thing one does? One stops, doesn’t one? One stops and looks around. But the more we are confused and lost in life, the more we chase around, searching, asking, demanding, begging. So the first thing is that you completely stop inwardly. —Krishnamurti⠀
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From Freedom from the Known

12/30/2025

A CRACK IN THE DARK ON THIS 5TH HOLY NIGHT

I was sitting here reflecting on the fifth holy night of the 12 Wild and Holy Nights with its focus on forgiveness of the 4th Gene Key, which is also my Purpose. My attention turned to forgiveness of those I have perceived as external authority who have acted in ways in ways that differ from my principles (last night we worked with 49th Gene Key, which in Human Design is known as the gate of principles).

At one point Richard invites us to step out and look at the night sky, which I did. In the darkness I could hear a cracking of branches a couple of doors away. It was only when I took the photo with my night shot setting that I realised I was looking at a mighty elk stag, using its antlers to bring down my neighbours tree. Yikes. Quite a lot of force was being used, another aspect of authority I have been witnessing and forgiving.

For those familiar with Dream Arc you may recognise it as the key of the 21st Gene Key, life key of self-empowered authority. What a beautiful symbol for the forgiveness of external authority, a suggestion for me to continue down this particular path of forgiveness.

"Authority cannot be enforced but rises up from within, from the warrior who has faced their own inner demons. This is now your path." - Stag, Dream Arc

How have you fared with the twelve holy nights?

12/24/2025

Thank you to all who have journeyed with me through myth, magic and the animal realms this year. It has come with chaos and coherence at different times and many can feel the storms brewing for 2026. And yet we have been given so many tools that we need only put to good use thrive. I will continue to share the Gene Keys and myth in the time ahead and trust that we will each find our own unique path in the wilderness.

Here you see our Gracie looking forward to greeting many friends and family over the next few days. Gracie, Nicole and I wish you a very Merry Christmas however and wherever you might be celebrating.

And maybe someone might resonate with dogs message this holiday season.

"Go out into your family and find the outcast members. This may even be you. In the great family, there are no outcasts, only misunderstandings. Your sacred task is to address the wound within your own family. Perhaps you find this wound to be beyond repair? All wounds can be healed in time. You may need to try a new approach. How would deep forgiveness approach this situation, this relationship?' - Dog, The Dream Arc