Friday, December 30, 2005

Beyond The Mists of Avalon

"I have no quarrel with the Christ, only with his priests, who call the Great Goddess a demon and deny that she ever held power in this world.


At best, they say that her power was of Satan. Or else they clothe her in the blue robe of the Lady of Nazareth...


Truth has many faces and the truth is like the old road to Avalon; it depends on your own will, and your own thoughts, whither the road will take you, and whither, at the end, you arrive in the Holy Isle of Eternity, or among the priests with their bells and their death and their Satan and their Hell..."

-Marion Zimmer Bradley

Thomas Berry

Here is another good author. I just finished his book The Dream of The Earth.

It was Awesome.



"As a pioneer in the field of spirituality and ecology, Thomas Berry has created a quiet revolution. He is a monk, a cultural historian, an author, a teacher, and a mystic.
He sees his life work as waking us up to that sacred story. He calls us "mad" for the way we are despoiling our home, our planet, its beauty, and its living systems. He is a force that reminds us that we are living through the greatest extinction spasm of the past 65 million years. We are the ones responsible. Berry urges us to change our ways.

He reminds us that "we are not a collection of objects but a communion of subjects." His values are rooted in this sacred cosmology which includes the entire natural world. The mountains, rivers, birds, fish, all living organisms are not there for our use but for a union which is needed for us to become who we are. As Berry says, "I am not myself without everything else."

Tibetan Monks


Happy Campers!!!!!! Posted by Hello

The chanting of the Tibetan Monks is legendary. For centuries these devoted spiritualists have studied the art of meditation and vibrational medicine. They are masters of Mind-Body-Spirit principles.


They are so happy and fun loving! They find beauty and joy, and meaning in every little thing.


The depth of their chants is a truly moving experience. You can feel the sounds resonate right through the core of your being. It is awe inspiring to listen as they create multiple tones from deep in their chests.


One important principle of Buddhist meditation is to create an "Inner Smile". Try this. Set an intent of sending out compassion to everything and everyone you encounter, and hold that inner smile all through your day.


It takes a conscious effort and a degree of practice to keep it going all day, but this discipline will bring you great reward.


Namaste!

Thursday, December 29, 2005

Sam Harris

Sam Harris is the author of the international bestseller, The End of Faith: Religion, Terror, and the Future of Reason.
The End of Faith won the 2005 PEN Award for Nonfiction.

Sam Harris is worth reading.

(My thanks to Adam Ash for recommending the book.)

Wednesday, December 28, 2005

Visions of Hope

The new year is here, and thus it is a time to reflect on the past,
and create visions of hope for the future.

I reflect here, on My Country.

We have divided and debated long enough.
My vision for the future is one of Unity.
Not unity of ideas, or beliefs, or politics,
Not a Unity of "Us" against "Them",
but simply the Unity of our constitutional foundation.

Let us join hands in The Great Melting Pot,
and celebrate our diversity.
Let us praise the Free exchange of ideas.

Freedom of Religion
Freedom of Speech
Freedom from Slavery

Let us pursue happiness in 2006,
and strive to build a better world for our children's, children's, children,
and beyond.

Let us each look into the eyes of our adversaries and search for common ground.
Let us fill our well with peaceful compassion from which all are welcome to drink,
and refuse to add fuel to the fires of hate.

We all want to win,
but win what,
and at what cost?

LOVE is the most powerful tool,
the most potent weapon,
the most meaningful path.

It requires the greatest of all discipline to do this.
LOVE is not a weapon for sissies, or cowards or hotheads.
It is the act of sheathing the sword in the face of the dragon,
of denouncing ego and pride.
More often than not, it requires the ultimate sacrifice.

Let us search for the hero's and heroines with the strength to wield Loves Power.
They are our great hope.

Let us find the hero within each beating heart
and create Visions of Hope for the future.

Monday, December 26, 2005

Magical Moments

Last night it was was my turn to offer deep, prolonged, personal sacrifice to the Porceline God, after nursing my daughter through it the night before. In case it's been awhile, I must remind, that a certain coordination is required when one goes at this activity full tilt.

At the peak of my projectilepassions, the electricity went out.

Flashlights, candles, a family huddled around the fireplace for warmth;
telling stories,
making shaddow puppets,
and a really fun game with the whole family aiming thier flashlights for me each time I ran for the bathroom.

The juice came back on about three hours later. Dad and kids went off to bed. I stayed on the couch.

In the morning, I found my daughter sleeping on the floor next to me. She snuck out of bed with blanket and pillow because she felt that she should be near, to take care of me.

She put her hand on my forehead, gave me a cup of ice and said "Its almost over mommy. Tommorow your stomach will hurt, but you wont get sick any more. Here drink this."

"Thanks Doc." I replied with love and respect.

My son bounded down the stairs. "That was FUN in the dark last night! Can we do it again?"

Sunday, December 25, 2005


moan a lisa Posted by Hello

Friday, December 23, 2005

A Quantum Theory on Life

Do you know what’s great about Quantum Physics?

It brings together the ideas of religion, philosophy and science.

Quantum physics teaches that when we break up atoms to see what they are made of, we find these little energy blurbs called quarks. Quarks are made of pure energy. They are constantly blinking in and out. They might be blinking in and out of time, across the past and the future. They might be changing from positively charged energy to negatively charged energy. Or they might be blinking in and out of existence all together. We don’t know.

What we do know is that they are made of pure energy, and that everything that exists in the universe is created from this source.

Think about that. The air you breathe, the chair you sit in, the books you read, and you. You are made of this energy.

All of the universes in the heavens and everything within them are a giant dot pattern of these little vibrating blips of energy. Nothing separates this from that. We are all ONE.

So the result is that:

The atheists are right. Science does hold the answer.

Western religion is right. The eternal God does live within us all.

The Taoists are right. We are all ONE.

The worshipers of nature are right. The divine does exist in everything.

The theory of Yin and Yang states that First there was the Yin and the Yang, and from that sprang the ten thousand things.

If we interpret the yin and the yang as the blinking of the quark, then they are right too.

What we need to do is stop debating the differences between our ideals, and start looking for the commonalities.

When it comes to philosophical differences, I guarantee that you will not find two people on the planet whose ideals are identical. Everyone will have their own nuances and twists because we all see life from a unique perspective. No two people ever born were exactly identical to each other. We are all different. Every snowflake, every flower, every blade of grass has its own individual qualities, just as do our ideas.

So rejoice, and connect to the energy of the divine! We are all ONE.

The Human Virus

According to data from The United Nations, World Population Prospects, Anthropologists date human history back about 3 million years. They estimate that in these early hunter gatherer periods, the world human population hovered at around 10 million people. The population grew to about 300 million by A.D. 1, and then sprinted to one billion during the industrial revolution. The exponential growth of humans in the twentieth century was astounding. We entered the era with 1.6 billion souls, and exited with a count of over Six Billion People!

We are a virus of epidemic proportions, eating away at the health of our living host. Asking us to police ourselves for the wellbeing of the planet is like asking the cold virus to regulate itself for our good health. It can’t work. Mother earth will have to come up with a defense on her own, to control us. And she will. Life always finds a way. Balance is the state at which all things strive to return too.

Deck the Halls with What?

We had a great Yule Party two nights past.
But last night, the gifts began to arrive.

First Little Bailey started vomiting, Then Natalie, then Alex...

If my calculations are correct, my family will be decking the halls within the next 24 hours.

Merry Christmas Everyone!

Tuesday, December 20, 2005

A life of Service and Compassion

I was watching the Barbara Walters special on Heaven, when my little boy got out of bed and wanted me to play.
"Not now honey. Go back to bed. Mommy wants to watch this show."

The Dali Lama was telling Babs about living a life of service and compassion. Heaven is right here and now for those who do.

His words made me stop.

I turned off the TV, went to my son and playfully cuddled under the covers. It was yummy good fun.

His smile made my heart glow, in that way only a mother knows.

Heaven.

Right Here and Now.

Monday, December 19, 2005

Doctor Doctor Gimmie the News

When I arrived at 11:15 for my 11:15 appointment, the receptionist was on the phone instructing another patient to arrive on time for her appointment, and to call to reschedule if she was going to be late...
...
...
...
...

forty minutes later, I was still in the waiting room, and when I had the Gaul to say "excuse me, but, my appointment was for 11:15" the little blonde with the chart put her hand on her hip, rolled her eyes and indignantly said "We are running a few minutes behind."

"Three is a few my dear. That's expected. This however is unacceptable."

"This IS A Medical office." She said while rolling her eyes. "You can reschedule if you want."
(Add a piece of gum and some big ball earrings and she could have passed for Mrs. ZWhiggins on the Carol Burnett Show.)

"I will wait five more minutes, then I am leaving. I have a schedule to keep too."

So they take me in a room. The snippy blonde wants to get my pulse, weight, and blood pressure.

"I thought I was here to consult with the doctor about the results of my sleep study?"
"Im supposed to do this to everybody. And I have to ask some questions too." She said with a big case of attitude.

The questions were repeats of the ones that I had answered on a form I filled out the last time I was there. This was to be my last visit to this office, as the sleep study was complete, so I can not imagine how my current pulse had any revelance other than to show this woman just exactly how irate I was.

"Wait here the doctor will be in to see you in a moment."

I recalled that the Doctors office was in another building on the other side of town, and that I had never seen him here at the sleep clinic. I also recalled my phone call with the receptionist:

"The study results are in. Can you come in Monday so we can order your [stupid acme sleep contraption?]
"shouldn't I discuss the results with my Doctor before you purchase this machine? How do we know that I need it?"
"Oh....(sigh) you want to see the doctor?"
"Yes, Please."

Then there is a knock on the door. In walks a man in a white coat, stethoscope around his neck, medical chart in hand.

"Im here to go over your results."

He starts in telling me what's in the file, and getting me all buttered up to think I need his silly air machine.

He also wants to prescribe Parkinson medications to me for restless leg syndrome.

"How exactly does this medication react in the body."
"Well, we not sure, but it stops restless leg."
"What causes restless leg?"
"We're not sure."
"So you are just treating the symptoms without any knowledge of the cause or any data on the long term effects of this drug?"
"It seems to work."

He wants to tell me about how all people stop breating for certain amounts of time while they sleep, and where I fall within the range, and how this "Forced Air Breating Machine" will make me feel rested and young and wealthy and even popular!

I on the other hand, simply wanted to know about my heart condition...you know, the reason my doctor sent me there in the first place.

He didn't know nothin bout that Scarlet.

I then notice the name tag hes wearing: Physicians Assistant.

O.K. Now, I'm Postal.

I got up to leave.
"Please forward the results to my primary physician."
"wait, don't you want your machine?"
"No thank you. I've wasted enough of my time today."
"O.K we'll send it to him."
"Her." I corrected, with a forced burst of hot air.

The First Woman President of The United States

I predict that the first woman to be elected President of The United States, will be a widow.

The country seems ready for a "Mrs. President", but I do not believe that it is ready for a First Husband.

Also, I know the country is not prepared for an unmarried, sexually active woman to step into the role of Commander in Chief,

Therefore, the first female President will have to be a widow. A loyal older woman who is determend to carry on the work of her dear departed husband.

Yes, the country would sympathetically embrace that.

Only then will they elect the first "Mother of our Country."

Sunday, December 18, 2005

King Kong

I went to see King Kong tonight.

I saw Kong as a metaphor for the power of nature, and the desire of man to control it. It was so sad, on so many levels. Humans think they have a right to conquer nature, and then when they realize that it is beyond their power to contain, they bring out the war machines. Alas, in times of crisis, it seems that fire power is the only response we have.

Isn't there a better way?

Hypnoshop

I dropped my daughter at a party and decided to run into Kohl's and do a little holiday shopping. I'm not a big fan of shopping, because I don't like the crowds and I usually can't find what I'm looking for. This trip was no exception.

Around six, me hubbie rings up my cell phone wondering where I was.

"Just doing a bit of shopping. Im heading for the checkout line right now. I'll be home soon."

The checkout line looked like Advance sales for a Beatles Reunion Concert. Ugggh.

When my turn finally came the clerk said "Did you find everything today?"

"Almost. I was looking for a little cream mock neck to go with this sweater, but you were out of my size."

"They are having a sale next door at Marshall's. I think they have some left over there." Offered the jingling girl in the fashionalbe elf hat.

So, I thought, I'll just run in real quick and see.

Lo and behold, they had all sorts of things that I liked! It was a motherlode moment of fashion gem mining. I got so caught up in the muzacal Christmas carols piping through the store speakers, and all those little red tags reading: Was 500.00 Now, 20.00, that I lost my head. I was under the hypnotic spell of the Great Abominable Snow Retailer, wandering the labyrinth like a zombie on prozac.

My cell phone rang and jarred me back to reality. "Honey, are you all right? We were worried sick. You said you were coming home over and hour ago."

"Oh, I'm SORRY Baby, I just lost track of time. Im heading for the checkout line right now..."

Thursday, December 15, 2005

Pro Choice

Wearing a burqa isn't a choice if doing the opposite gets you killed.

-This was paraphrased from the comments over at Twist Fasters blog.

Progressive Liberals and Regressive conservatives

I have often heard the word Liberal curl from the mouths of conservatives with such disdain that the label has indeed become associated with a negative connotation.

The word conservative brings to mind powerful, responsible businessmen with grey hair and dark suits. It brings visions of boardrooms and sermons, and hard line decision makers.

But the word liberal paints the picture of a blue collar activist treehugger.

I think it is time to change the vocabulary.

Liberals are also called progressives. The antonyms of progressive are:

regressive
throwback
declining
deteriorating
failing
regressing
retrograde
returning
reverting
unmodernized
inactive
conservative

Yikes! That does not sound like a group that I want to be associated with.

Maybe we should call the liberals Progressives, and call the Conservatives Regressives. It fits better. The liberals want to move forward while the conservatives what to fall back on the old values of the past.

Its natural for people to fear change. We all do. But we really need to get beyond politics of fear if we want to create a better world.

Step one is to use language that accurately reflects our beliefs.

Lots of people like the idea of being frugal and conservative, but I don't think they would like being labeled as Regressive.

Join me, and write about Progressives and Regressives instead of liberals and conservatives. It might change a few minds.

Tuesday, December 13, 2005

Narnia Fun


My daughter and her friend made the local TV news this morning, for their snow creation: Aslan, The Lion King of Narnia.

Monday, December 12, 2005

Maiden, Mother, Crone


We all aspire for long life, spending billions of dollars on healthcare to increase our lifespan.

Yet,

We do not value old age. We fear it. We fight it. We shun it.

For women, there are three symbolic stages of life:
Maiden, Mother, Crone.

The maiden stage is innocence, youth, physical beauty, and mating.
The Mother stage is about nurturing your inner circle (self, spouse, family, friends and home)
The Crone stage is about offering your accumulated gifts, talents and wisdom to the community.

It seems to me that the Crone is the stage of life we should aspire too.
being "sexy" is just so shallow and temporary in comparison.

Women are always lamenting that men don't love us for our minds...Well, maybe they would if we put on a little less makeup, and honored our Grandmothers as the sage leaders and healers that they are.

Keep your creams and facelifts: I am proud to have a few crows feet highlighting my eyes when I smile.

Friday, December 09, 2005

John Lennon: gone but not forgotton


Imagine

Imagine there's no heaven,
It's easy if you try,
No hell below us,
Above us only sky,
Imagine all the people
living for today...

Imagine there's no countries,
It isnt hard to do,
Nothing to kill or die for,
No religion too,
Imagine all the people
living life in peace...

Imagine no possesions,
I wonder if you can,
No need for greed or hunger,
A brotherhood of man,
Imagine all the people
Sharing all the world...

You may say Im a dreamer,
but Im not the only one,
I hope some day you'll join us,
And the world will live as one.






by: John Winston Lennon

Monday, December 05, 2005

Yule Tide Greetings!


The darkest day of the year is fast approaching. It comes in the third week of December, usually around the 21st to the 24th. The shortest day of the wheel of seasons, when the sun rises and sets in a mere ten hours.

The trees are bare and offer no fruit, and the cold winds lash at burning cheeks. It is easy to see that many early peoples in the northern hemisphere could have felt hopeless during this time of year.

Thus the celebration of Yule.

Yule is the day on the agricultural calendar of the ancients, that marks the birth of the Sun, The Light of the World: The time when the days quit getting shorter, and begin to grow again.

The lore is the old sun dies, and the new Sun God is reborn of the Goddess as the Divine King. It is a symbol of hope during the lean cold of winters rule.

The celebrations would include a festival of lights, to symbolize the growing light of the sun. Fur trees, Holy, misletoe and anything evergreen were brought to the celebration and decorated with dried fruits, as a symbol of the coming spring.

Food and Drink were offered in a lavish display of feasting. This was a sure sign of confidence that warm weather and lush crops were on the way, for to do so otherwise, during a time of rationing, would be suicide.

So light your lights, decorate your tree, put on a grand fattening up feast, and celebrate The Light of The World!

(Or you could just hop a plane to Florida.) LOL