CIA Brief | 2026 Summer
President’s Brief
Charya Peou
The warmth is here and the excitement is palpable as we officially welcome everyone back for summer! Our team is ready to greet you. Be sure to stop by and visit our friendly CIA agents stationed in the lot to sign up for a membership or collect your member sticker. You can find them each Friday, Saturday, and Sunday in June, and then seven days a week all the way through Labor Day.
We’re continually investing in your experience, with ongoing improvements to the park grounds and parking area, alongside updates to our brand-new website. For your beach days, don’t forget to browse our online shop for fresh swag, including our vibrant custom towels and planks for family or a furry friend. https://www.ciabeachbluff.org/shop
A full calendar of community events is on the horizon, so watch for announcements. Our association is powered by its members. We enthusiastically invite you to share your ideas, get involved, and help us shape an even brighter future for this special place. Your participation is what makes our community thrive.
Reminder: Fires are NOT allowed on the beach or in the park per order of the Swampscott Police Department.
Stargazing over Preston Beach
Alexa J. Carr
On April 21, we were excited to team up with the North Shore Amateur Astronomy Club to host our "Stargazing Over Preston Beach" event. It was incredible to see so many neighbors, families, and astronomy enthusiasts come out for a beautiful night under the stars. From spotting Jupiter and its moons to viewing the Orion Nebula through powerful telescopes, the evening was filled with curiosity, learning, and a real sense of community on the eve of Earth Day. Even despite the unusually bitter cold weather, 26 groups (approximately 65 people total) came to the event from both near and far. Read more about the event in the Marblehead Current.
A huge thank you to the members of the North Shore Amateur Astronomy Club for sharing their time, expertise, and equipment with all of us, and thank you to everyone who joined us in support of the park and made the event such a success. We love creating opportunities for our community to connect with each other and with the natural world, and we’re looking forward to hosting more events like this in the future. Stay tuned for what’s next!
If you have an idea for a community or fundraising event or just want to pitch in and help planning those already on our calendar, we'd love to hear from you! Reach out to vicepresident@ciabeachbluff.org
Preston Beach Rocks & Rolls
Sheryl Levenson
If this article looks familiar, it is because it was in a former newsletter. However, we felt we needed to remind our members of our continuing attention to our beautiful beach. At times the bottom of the stairs is free of rocks, and then a high tide brings them back. All of us must maneuver our way to the beach as well. We are aware of our rocky beach, but we really enjoy the surroundings once we get there.
We are incredibly fortunate to have one of the most beautiful beaches in New England any day of the week. Preston Beach has a significant low tide which gives you a stunning view of the ocean, boats, and many birds while relaxing with friends and family or by yourself. At high tide, you can enjoy Beach Bluff Park. There are several benches, a shady section, and lovely flowers and plants. The planks you walk on can be purchased so you can leave a personal message in the park as well.
Over the years the rocks have increased at the edge of the beach, and we all wonder where these rocks are coming from as we carefully maneuver our way to the sandy part. Some beaches have seashell fragments and considerable algae and seagrass to walk over to get the ocean. At Preston Beach, we are dealing with coastal rocky cliffs, which erode due to the wave action that beats against the cliffs. The good news is that rocky beaches like Preston are rich in intertidal biodiversity.
With this challenge of Mother Nature, the CIA has done extensive research into options for easier passage to the sandy portion of Preston Beach. We had two contractors come out with special permission from the Conservation Commission at different times to level the rocks, only to have the next high tide put them right back. We have met with several vendors in person and made numerous phone calls to look into mats to cover the rocks. All vendors felt that a mat would not be stable and would ultimately just become covered with rocks at the next high tide. One of our directors also has kept in touch with Swampscott’s Commission on Disability to see if any new ideas emerge. Despite the ongoing research, and the continuous redistribution of rocks, none of these options are feasible. The CIA Board of Directors will continue to open to new ideas with the understanding that the ocean will most likely win this battle.
We ask you to use care and proceed at your own risk to cross over the rocks. It’s about 10 steps to reach the sand.
Preston Beach and Beach Bluff Park are open to the public all year, and we encourage you to be safe and enjoy this space as often as you can. More information can be found on our website: ciabeachbluff.org.
Guest Perspective
Karen Kaminski
The Cosmic Connection: Embracing Spiritual Growth for Our Soul’s Journey: Astrological Insights for the Summer Solstice of 2026
Note: This article does not necessarily represent the views of the CIA and its Board of Directors. It is not scientifically verified but many may find it of interest.
As the Summer Solstice approaches on June 21, 2026, at 4:24 a.m. EST in the United States, we stand at a rare and powerful crossroads where celestial and planetary energies converge in a significant way. The alignment of the Sun’s AC with the Moon’s IC Nodes, along with the North Node-MC axis, Mars squares MC, and Venus/Uranus, Mercury/Neptune, Saturn/Pluto, and Venus/Pluto crossings present a powerful opportunity for personal transformation and growth, both inwardly and outwardly, through the aspects of these planets’ energies. It is a heart-mind felt-resonance—an opportunity—for each of us to embrace change, uplift ourselves and others, and move society toward a divinely inspired, harmonious, and better way of being and living.
In our vast galaxy, celestial bodies have always communicated with Earth through their daily resonant frequencies, triggering a resonance effect within us and among all of Earth’s inhabitants. As we approach this summer solstice, these celestials encourage us to release harmful, false beliefs, their connected emotions, and outward expressions that no longer serve us or others. This clears the path for new growth and positive change in the coming weeks, months, and years. This isn't just any change—it's a vital transformation rooted in divine truth. It’s an essential shift toward living in harmony with the Cosmic and Natural Laws that govern all of creation—“As Above, As Below; As Within, As Without.”
In the Bible, stars, constellations, and planets are described as Gods, Lords, and Giants. They communicate daily with Earth and humanity through the planetary angles (aspects of the energetic codex), which the Bible refers to as Angels. Psalm 91:11 says, “The angels take charge over us and keep us in all of our ways.” These celestial beings guide and sustain us as we journey through life on Earth. Historically, this sacred knowledge was kept from us. Today, by embracing truth, we open a door to genuine freedom.
We are at an important turning point. Humanity has been out of harmony for a long time, caught in a web of lies and control imposed by institutions, religions, and corporations driven by greed. These deceptions have led to false beliefs, causing us to act in ways that bring discord, despair, disease, and destruction—“to war” against each other and against Earth itself and its natural inhabitants. The planet also longs for healing, as do all its inhabitants. Yet even amid chaos, hope remains: we are beginning to reconnect with the Divine and its truth—an awakening that gently whispers to us, igniting higher intuition and inspiring our spirit to right action.
Humanity is standing at the cusp of a profound transformation, guided by cosmic waves of change and a collective desire for enlightenment, justice, and a better world for all. It’s time for truth to take root, nurtured with care, compassion, and divine guidance, so we can live in harmony with life—because life matters. Our journey begins with a daily connection to the Divine, honest teachings, and right living. This will help us heal the hurt, right our wrongs, and restore our planet and its inhabitants to their original beauty.
Astrocartology Insights: At this geographical position of 70w35', 42n40’, as the sun rises at 4:24 AM EDT in Massachusetts, USA. Several planetary crossings are significantly influenced, offering a chance to harness these energies for personal and communal benefit:
Crossing Sun AC/Moon IC Nodes aligned with North Node MC: The Sun’s radiance shining on the North Node (the "Node of Destiny") signifies that your personal growth, development, and higher conscious intent are perfectly aligned for your soul’s highest path. Together with the Moon’s IC node opens a powerful "karmic portal” for fated opportunities and transformative shifts, especially in the weeks surrounding the solstice. Actions taken during this crucial period can profoundly influence you, your career, reputation, and life’s true purposes—the MC represents your public life and legacy.
—It is time for reflection and change. Let go of pettiness and emotional discord, and embrace gratitude, openness, and communication grounded in compassion and honesty, encouraging us to focus on community and common-unity (shared goals) that inspire, serve, and uplift everyone. To cultivate beneficial and meaningful connections, respect yourself and others, and welcome new, positive relationships. By embracing a humble attitude of gratitude and a divinely guided approach to your highest path, you can feel your self-worth, make progress toward your goals, and positively contribute each day.Mars square MC: This powerful aspect gives tension in our inner-personal, social, and work life, giving us the opportunities to “look the man in the mirror and admit our shortcomings, and trivial emotional baggage, and make the emotionally intelligent changes needed for harmonious growth, personally, socially, and professionally.
Crossing Venus IC/Uranus AC: This aspect can inspire creativity and innovation in your interactions. Embrace the unexpected and be open to new experiences that may lead to personal and professional breakthroughs that align with your heart-mind connection, your’ soul’s highest path and purposes (callings).
Crossing Mercury AC/Neptune MC: This aspect enhances intuition and imagination. Trust your intuition and explore creative endeavors that align with your authentic celestial identity and your’ soul’s highest purpose (callings).
Crossing Saturn MC/Pluto DC: This powerful aspect encourages transformation through daily discipline with healthy determination. It's a time to focus on long-term goals with a step-by-step daily process and embrace the changes necessary for growth. While not forgetting to celebrate the little victories along the journey.
Crossing Venus DC/Pluto AC: This aspect offers deep emotional insights and the potential for profound personal transformation. Engage more deeply with your emotions through meditation and relationships to uncover truths, release false beliefs, and identify what must be let go of in the people, places, and things that are not healthy for you/us.
Conclusion: Who are we truly?—We are made of stardust, come from the cosmos, and are eternally connected. This Summer Solstice 2026 calls us to choose divine transformation and embrace opportunities by aligning with celestial energies each day. Let us nurture ourselves in nature, aim for personal growth that uplifts all beings, and foster meaningful relationships grounded in gratitude, openness, compassion, honesty, adaptability, and joyful thought-emotions —these are key to our shared journey. Take time daily—before, during, and after sunrise, noon, and sunset—to be still, breathe, and connect with the Divine, the cosmos, and nature. In these moments, we realize we are all connected—we are All-ONE. -Karen Kaminski
Summer Solstice on Beach Bluff Park
Roberta Chadis
Please join us on Sunday, June 21st at 5:07 a.m. to welcome summer at the Sun Circle on Beach Bluff Park in Swampscott. What a great way to celebrate Father’s Day and watch the sun rise over Preston Beach. Lisa Kawski and Kampa Vashi Deva will be leading a short ceremony, and you can feel free to use the parking lot across the street to park your car for this event.
For the latest news, please visit our website at www.ciabeachbluff.org
We want to hear from you!
Share your adventures at Beach Bluff Park or Preston Beach on our Facebook page.Members who would like to be involved in the CIA or attend our monthly meetings can contact president@ciabeachbluff.org
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The CIA Brief was brought to you by the CIA Education Committee: Roberta Chadis, Sheryl Levenson, Charya Peou and Julianna Thibodeaux