Gandhi, Ann Wigmore, taste sensations, Gerson Therapy

"In the attitude of silence the soul finds the path in a clearer light, and what is elusive and deceptive resolves itself into crystal clearness. Our life is a long and arduous quest after Truth." – Mahatma Gandhi

"Always aim at complete harmony of thought and word and deed. Always aim at purifying your thoughts and everything will be well." - Mahatma Gandhi

I watched Gandhi last night & tonight – in two parts, it’s a long movie! Last watched it in the 80’s & just remembering it from that it went into my top 10.. now after watching it again, it stays there.



I was quite interested last week when I overheard a phone conversation, which I knowingly & obviously listened in on. It was about the life of Anne Wigmore. Now being a raw foodist for the past year and a half and as into it as I am.. you would think that I would know a little more about her than I did. To tell the truth I had a bit of a mental block.. I tried rejuvelac.. and it was awful! Worse than awful. & I know, I know she’s the mother of raw foods & all that.. but I just had taste issues, and never delved further. Although I always had a feeling I should & would one day.
She’s huge on wheat-grass tho.. and since I’m all about wheat-grass these days.. it’s only fitting that she would come up & I would get to know her a bit better.

I did a bit of research.. this is mainly from her autobiography..

Anne grew up in war-torn Lithuania where she used to watch her grandmother use herbs & weeds to heal wounded soldiers from WW1. She learned a lot about the use of herbs & natural remedies from her. In her mid-teens she moved to America. She had a disastrous accident which crushed her legs and which resulted in gangrene setting in. The doctors wanted to amputate but Ann refused even though her family sided with the doctors. Ann took care of herself, with a hard time moving & feeding herself.. she spent lots of time in the backyard in the sun eating weeds & herbs & applying them to her legs.. just as she had learned from her grandmother in Europe. She healed herself, and with her wounds gone she visited the doctors again said she remembers when they said nothing when the X-ray showed that the bones had knitted firmly together again.
Her American diet however, later resulted in colon cancer. She created a live food program for herself, & ate lots of greens she grew indoors, sprouts and raw fermented foods including that signature drink of hers – rejuvelac, which is made from sprouted wheatgrass seeds fermented in water. Fermented foods aid in digestion by replenishing healthy intestinal flora.
In 1958, Ann opened the Hippocrates Health Institute in Boston – which attracted people from all around the world – who were all treated equally, whether rich or penniless, famous or not. She was huge on wheatgrass, which contains one of the highest nutritional contents of the grasses.
Her work at Hippocrates produced thousands of testimonials from people healing themselves of a multitude of illnesses – diabetes, ulcers, asthma, eczema, colitis, arthritis etc,etc..
However, fighting the American Medical Institution proved too much for her. But she went on to start living food programs in other countries- incl Canada, Sweden & India.
She died in 1994 from smoke inhalation during a fire that destroyed the home of the original Hippocrates Health Institute.

Most recent taste sensations:
Little things can change things up and make a big difference sometimes.
On Fri. we were juicing a basil leaf, for whoever wanted it, in with their wheat-grass juice. A drop of peppermint essential oil in with a large glass of water – if too strong, try a drop in a pitcher.. just a fresh taste. A stalk of lavender put into a bottle of water , or a few stalks in a pitcher is really nice also.
Last night I ground up goji berries in my coffee grinder & added to some powdered cacao & wildflower honey.


http://www.gersonmiracle.org/movie.html

Gerson Therapy has been and is still the most basic, the best recognized, the most complete, and the longest existing effective cancer treatment.

Gerson Therapy is aimed at detoxifying the body and putting lots of fresh nutrients into it. It is effective, not only with cancer, but also heart disease, high blood pressure, thyroid problems, lupus, colitis, diabetes, multiple sclerosis, rheumatoid arthritis, herniated disks and many other problems.
read more: http://www.healingdaily.com/conditions/Gerson-therapy.htm

The chance of us getting cancer or some other chronic disease at some time in our lives is almost assured because of two factors that are the underlying cause –deficiency & toxicity.

The main focus of Gerson Therapy is in juicing – getting lots of nutrients & chlorophyll in.

pics: 1- Ghandi & 2- Kollam, India by Camil Demetrscu
http://www.dis.uniroma1.it/~demetres/photos-nature.shtml

Spirit dance, 40 day purification, Sleep

One World Spirit Dance – Sept 14-22 – Patagonia, Arizona

The Purpose of the One World Spirit Dance is to invoke the forces of the heavens and the Earth to create a synergy of World Peace and to bring upon ourselves the revelation of God’s Light. The Spirit Dance is a modern form of the ancient Ghost Dance Ceremony. It is a spiritual process which belongs to all Peoples--all of the Rainbow Nations upon the Earth.

The One World Spirit Dance is a multicultural ceremony that incorporates many of the world’s wisdom traditions, with participants who bring the richness of many different spiritual paths. The One World Spirit Dance is the fulfillment of Crazy Horse’s vision of all peoples, colors, and nations dancing together for Peace under one tree. The One World Spirit Dance, formerly the White Buffalo Spirit Dance, is an expression of the White Buffalo Medicine which is a high teaching of the Native American Way that belongs to all peoples. It is a path of holiness and purification involving vegetarianism, abstinence from drugs, alcohol, and tobacco, and an inward focused awareness so one may merge one’s consciousness with Great Spirit. It is a path of truly becoming World Peace and actualizing spiritual Liberation.

http://www.treeoflife.nu/spiritdance.html

Although I can’t be there.. I am thinking of following the 40 day purification period.
It’s not hard for me because I am following it all except for my little cacao addiction & the 40 min meditation twice a week on world peace. & I want to meditate more so it’s like a bit of a commitment that I am making with myself. ..a way of enforcing a good habit that I would like to be doing anyway.
For 40 Days before the Dance:
• Abstain from drug use including: marijuana, alcohol, tobacco, hallucinogenic plant medicine, narcotics, and highly caffinated substances (i.e., coffee).
• Minimize Sexual Activity
• Maintain a %100 vegan diet (no flesh, eggs or dairy); partake of as many raw living foods as possible.
• World Peace Meditation: At least two times per week, at sunrise or sunset, practice 40 minutes of sitting meditation. At some point in the meditation create an intentional vision of world peace—light surrounding the planet, people living in harmony with one another and the planet, etc. This visualization may only last a few minutes. To greater support the group matrix, those residing in Patagonia commit to meditating as a group in the Temple on Tuesday and Thursday evenings at sunset. We encourage all Spirit Dance participants to join the group energy at that time in meditation. If these times aren’t possible for you, please meditate any two times per week at sunrise or sunset.

I miss my meditation class on Tuesdays now that I am working.. but John told me that he’s changing it to evenings in Sept.. see how everything works out!

I was wishing tonight that I had more greens here.. I worked all day & couldn’t get the groc store.. and my friend called & someone gave her fresh chard from a farm they were at to give to me. It always works out.. life is amazing.

& while I was there she showed me pics of a wedding she went to yesterday. The bride works in organic farming, the groom has a degree in environmental studies. The guitar player is a raw foodist. Cool. It seems that artists and musicians are as attracted to the raw food lifestyle as actors & models.. free thinkers, creative people who are confident & can think out of the box, and intelligent! ; ) But, I digress.. the pics were beautiful! She got married in Birkenstocks and her mothers wedding dress. There were bails of hay covered with white material for seats & hundreds of mason jars each filled with sand & a tea light.. and the kids were all given, (you know, you’re material!) strips of organza which they tied all over, in their hair, around their waists, necks, etc. I love organza.. made all these curtains in my front porch out of goldish-plum & burgundy organza.

Posting from Mark Jackson on the becomingyounger yahoo e-group:

Let me explain something about this Earth, and our wonderful bodies. Whatever ones religious belief is about creation, and our purpose here, one thing is certain, we live in a world in which we have a symbiotic relationship with plants. They give off oxygen, which our bodies need to breathe, and we exhale carbon dioxide, which plants need, so we keep them alive, and they keep us alive. When you sleep in a house that is all closed up, you are exhaling carbon dioxide, and the oxygen content of the house drops, therefore your body cannot feel as relaxed and at ease, therefore your body has to fight harder to breathe, and you feel tense. Keeping the windows open allows more oxygen to circulate therefore you feel more refreshed, and your body feels better. Keeping the windows shut does not aid in proper relaxation.

this was esp a little note for my husband. He doesn't sleep very well. We have the house closed up & the a/c on. Yikes! : S

10 Healthy Sleep Tips
for more detail and info go to: http://www.sleepfoundation.org/hottopics/index.php?secid=9&id=31

1. Maintain a regular bed and wake time schedule including weekends.
2. Establish a regular, relaxing bedtime routine such as soaking in a hot bath or hot tub and then reading a book or listening to soothing music.
3. Create a sleep-conducive environment that is dark, quiet, comfortable and cool.
4. Sleep on a comfortable mattress and pillows.
5. Use your bedroom only for sleep and sex.
6. Finish eating at least 2-3 hours before your regular bedtime.
7. Exercise regularly. It is best to complete your workout at least a few hours before bedtime.
8. Avoid caffeine (e.g. coffee, tea, soft drinks, chocolate) close to bedtime. It can keep you awake.
9. Avoid nicotine (e.g. cigarettes, tobacco products). Used close to bedtime, it can lead to poor sleep.
10. Avoid alcohol close to bedtime.

& now I am off to bed.. no problem with sleep for me. My husband jokingly nicknames me Nocturna. I can just hit the pillow & I’m out. I love sleep ..and especially dreaming! ..but I haven’t been dreaming as much lately as usual, so this is a formal request to the dream gods/goddesses to help me get back to remembering lots of dreams again. That would make me very happy. Thank-you. : ) & I hope that you remember lots of great dreams also!

Sweet Dreams.

pic of Yellow Horse praying for Peace in front of the Sri Yantra (Yogic symbol) that will be the bottom of the fire pit in the Medicine Wheel - in the middle of where the dance will be.

most luminous star, worst case scenarios, recipes, raw food-happy planet

The most luminous star known releases up to 10 million times the power of the sun and is big enough to fill the diameter of Earth’s orbit. The ‘Pistol Star’ was discovered in the 90’s - it unleashes as much energy in 6 seconds as our sun does in 1 year.

This image, taken in infared light also depicts a magenta coloured nebula created by extremely massive stellar eruptions. The nebula is so big (4 light years) that it would nearly span the distance between the sun and Alpha Centauri, the nearest star to Earth’s solar system.


I just read Worst-case scenarios – How to foil an alien abduction. Lol funny. There could be some important information here!
http://www.popularmechanics.com/science/worst_case_scenario


from Nomi Shannon’s Raw Gourmet newsletter – recipes for Pomodoro & Pesto, and Summer Tomato Basil soup.
To subscribe, go to www.rawgourmet.com and sign up for the FREE 7 part email class called The Raw Truth.

Pomodoro Sauce

Pomodoro and Pesto over zucchini pasta is a memorable summertime combination. If you adore the taste of basil, place basil strips in colander with tomatoes also. Or, you can add the basil just before serving for a less intense but still memorable basil experience. If serving both pesto and pomodoro, first toss the "pasta" in the pesto sauce them put the pomodoro on top without mixing it in.

4-6 very ripe tomatoes, cubed and drained for 3-4 hours
fresh basil, as much as you like (start with 1/4 cup)
Pinch sea salt

Cut tomatoes in half through the stem end, scoop out and discard the seeds. Dice into small cubes. Place in a colander over a bowl. Lightly salt. Allow to drain for 3-4 hours. When ready to serve, toss tomato mixture with pinch of sea salt (if needed to taste) and add more basil, to taste. Serves 4.

Note: The 'tomato water' is delicious to drink.

Pesto Sauce

This traditional flavored pesto is delicious served over zucchini pasta, spaghetti squash, or sunflower sprouts. If the sauce is too garlicky for your taste, add additional pine nuts.

6 tablespoons olive oil
3 garlic cloves
6 tablespoons chopped basil
1 tablespoon chopped parsley
2 tablespoons pine nuts, soaked
pinch sea salt

In a blender, blend all ingredients until very smooth. If sauce is too thick, add a spoonful of hot water.
Yields approximately 1 cup.

Summer Tomato Basil Soup

Can be used as a Soup or Dressing
Wait until summer, when you can buy or grow juicy ripe organic tomatoes for this soup.
For a thick and hearty soup, instead of juicing the tomatoes, just toss them in the blender until you have a three cup yield.

3 cups freshly made tomato juice
1/4 lemon, peeled and seeded
1 avocado large
handful of sunflower or buckwheat sprouts
2 tablespoons chopped basil
optional: 1 tablespoon chopped onion
optional: 1/2 garlic clove, chopped

In a blender, blend all ingredients. Top with sprouts and basilflowers.
Serves 2.

For Dressing: use the optional onion and garlic with a bit of oliveoil, flax oil or hemp oil added in.


The Daily Raw Inspiration - 7/25/06 Raw Food, Happy Planet!
http://www.TheGardenDiet.com

Although we eat raw food mainly for the taste and the wonderful health benefits eating raw vegan is not surprisingly also a sustainable diet that is healthy for the planet itself!

If raw organic food was the planetary diet:

- All the farmland currently growing grain to feed cattle could be used to grow fruits, vegetables, nuts and seeds instead which would feed exponentially more people and wipe out hunger world-wide

- We could eat more locally grown organic foods and not need as much trucked-food so there would be less pollution

- We would all eat organic ending pesticide and herbicide use so the soil of the planet would become healthier as would the air and water and therefore the health of humanity would take a giant leap forward

- It would end factory farming of animals which badly pollutes the soil and our water sources

- It would dramatically lessen the use of pharmaceuticals which currently pollute our water systems

- Many forests would be saved including ancient rainforests that are now being cut down to make grazing fields for cattle

- More people would want to grow their own food. They could live in the countryside and not need to travel as much. Cities would become smaller and less toxic


pic from http://hubblesite.org/newscenter/newsdesk/archive/releases/1997/33/

Wolfe thoughts

"Wolves are hunters; they are adaptable with eyes that absorb their landscape. Be like a wolf--fascinated and alive with curiosity." (Michael Duncan)

thoughts and ideas quoted/taken from a David Wolfe lecture:

We have densified ourselves with years of commercial food. We have lost our in-tune nature that animals have, animals are psychic spiritual beings. They are in the flow.. most of us have lost the flow. We assume we are something like animals when the truth is we are nothing like animals living in the wild.. we have removed ourselves so far from nature. We need to lighten ourselves up. We are eating the most dense, heavy food ever created in history, this materializes us.. as we lighten up we become more spiritual beings.

92% of the food that people eat today did not even exist 25 years ago.

Victoras Kulvinskas said that food comes up 22 times in an average day. This means that we have 22 times when food is available to eat on an average day.

Most people – an estimated 40%, die in our culture on Monday morning between 9 & 10 am!
We have been sold an idea that we are supposed to do what we don’t like to do. You can do what you love to do and do it as much as you want to your hearts content.. and it’s the only way to have real value in life and no stress.

A successful person is someone who loves what they are doing every day.

Appreciation for all the stuff we have access to. ½ the population of the world hasn’t made a phone call.. ½ of the population of the planet doesn’t know what an apple is. We get to try the most incredible foods on the planet We have amazing knowledge available to us.. enzymes.. Dr Howe spend 60 years of his life studying enzymes and we have access to this knowledge.. books, internet.. abundance, incredible abundance.. we have the wealth of the planet available to us. We are incredibly fortunate.

The strongest indicator of criminal behavior or jeuvenile delinquency is allergies to food.
Allergies to food!
The highest allergy is dairy products. #2 is grains – the gluten.

Minerals are required for higher consciousness. They test for minerals in your hair, they ash it & use light technology to test it, a spectroscope. The signature of the frequencies will differentiate between the minerals.. a mineral is not an actual thing - minerals are a set of frequencies, like a radio. The more frequencies we are tuning into - the more minerals we have, and mineral rich we are, the more frequencies and information we have access to.
The mineral is a piece of complex information. There is different information that you get from Lucky Charms & wheatgrass juice.. entirely different information that leads to an entirely different destination.. a totally different realization.

Green juices clean out the system. We are so silted up.. so much heavy food. Eating pizza is like getting a tattoo.

The vibration of fast food is not Love.. it’s Greed (Fast Food Nation)

Chlorophyll pulls heavy metals out if your system.
Chlorophyll is green.
Green is the very center of the rainbow.
If you are off center - what are you missing?
When you come into the city what’s missing? (except To, that is ; )
Green.
Green juice calms you down. If you are under high stress or at end of a busy day, drink green juice - it will calm you down – balance you out.


Stare of the grey wolf from fohn.net/wolf-pictures-facts/

Life is art, Rudy Rucker, Torkom Saraydarian, love and joy

Look three times and try to understand.
Think twice about what it is you are seeing.
Paint once with economy and audacity.
-R Genn

Live Life like a work of art!
Create a masterpiece.

Observe 3 times, Think twice, Create once.

So many special moments today. Butterflies, a 10 day old baby.. my friend told me they missed me, haven’t seen or heard from me lately & figured that’s cause I was having fun & enjoying life. She said that’s what she always thinks when she hasn’t heard from her son in awhile.. she misses him but knows its cause he’s distracted, busy, living & enjoying life that he hasn’t kept in touch.. interesting & true.
Cacao, wildflower honey, basil and raspberries - each one a beautiful moment..& so many more, stories and legends..
Comparing crocs and thinking about clothing choices. How we all have the choice to wear pretty well anything we want & all the options available to us. We can dress in silks, velvets, sweatpants.. paint covered jeans, high heels, sneakers, crocs.. with or without butterflies.. we are reinventing ourselves all the time.. constantly changing our persona. I love a neighbour who is always dressed in the most amazing clothes, eccentric–dramatic, a beautiful style all her own .. she says everyone should be wearing great costumes all the time.
Why not?
Wear what you love.
Be who you want to be,
Do what you want to do,
Play with those you want to play with
and be happy.

I got lost in this site following links & reading about science fiction books for awhile:
http://memetherapy.blogspot.com/2006/06/rudy-rucker.html

“… The fifth dimension is what mathematicians used to call the fourth dimension, but the time axis lobby has put in a power play to lock in exclusive naming rights to “fourth dimension,” leaving “fifth dimension” for the first available extra dimension of space.”

"The future, higher evolution will belong to those who live in joy, who share joy, and who spread joy." - Torkom Saraydarian

http://www.tsgfoundation.org/torkom.asp

Joy, as the energy of love, is the highest vibration on this planet. Everything in the universe is energy; it can be measured and reduced to vibrational frequencies. It’s a universal law that as we think and feel we vibrate, and as we vibrate we attract. When we are in the high joy vibration, we attract what is for our greater good. The Ancient Egyptians saw Joy as a sacred responsibility. They believed that upon their death, the God Osiris would ask them two questions: "Did you bring Joy?" and "Did you find Joy?" Those who answered ‘yes’ could continue their journey into the afterlife. For at least the next week or two, ask yourself these two questions each and every day: Did I bring joy? Did I find joy?

"Man loves because he is Love. He seeks Joy, for he is Joy. He thirsts for God for he is composed of God and he cannot exist without Him." -- Sathya Sai Baba


pic from http://www.fridayeve.com/gallery/fe_gallery1.html

Crocs, raw basket, Sentient Times, David Bohn

Happy Birthday Amethyste!
I love you! xox

so.. I just became a crocs person.
I finally broke down this morning and bought a pair of crocs.. went all out, bought a silver pair and even bought butterfly charms to go with them.. they attach onto the ventilation holes. It’s a pack of 6 or 7, gotta go get them ready to wear tomorrow & plan an outfit to wear with them. I am working 2 jobs tomorrow.. will be running around all day. I’m so glad that I love both of my jobs!

Just checked out the crocs website.. it’s almost as fun as the shoes.. nice site.
http://www.crocs.com/home.jsp ..and I really like that fuschia-red pair they show on the home page. I was really torn between the silver & pink, but then they had a coral pink also & I couldn’t decide between the pinks so I went for the silver.

10 reasons to wear crocs:
1. Incredibly Light and Comfortable To Wear
2. Made From a Super Soft Material That Molds To Your Feet.
3. Non-Marking Soles
4. Extremely Slip Resistant.
5. Anti-Microbial Means No Odor. Say Good-Bye To Smelly Shoes.
6. Can be Sterilized.
7. Easy to Clean and Renew To Original Luster.
8. Advanced Toe Box Ventilation System Keeps Feet Cool & Dry While Also Allowing Sand, Air, Water & Debris To Pass Through.
9. Ergonomic Italian Styling Is The Ultimate In Orthopedic Health.
10. They're Cool! Get a Grip
oops, missed one.. They are Made in Canada!

My friend called me tonight.. she had asked me to put together a basket of raw foods for her boyfriends daughter, who’s an actress and interested in the lifestyle,, has a few raw books, etc. But the thing is she asked me a month ago and I knew it was coming but she was supposed to remind me & she just moved and has been really busy and forgot.
Co-incidentally – if you go for that sort of thing.. I had Neatballs in the dehydrater that I made this morning.. just came home and took them out and a sweet and sour sauce to go with them.. they are amazing. I used a recipe from The Complete Book of Raw Food, which is an amazing book.. lots of great recipes and information!

A good review of it here: http://www.sentienttimes.com/05/aug_sept_05/raw_food.html
including recipes for Rainbow Veggie Slaw and Live Gardenburgers.

I just happen to have lots of foods all made and ready.. have more than usual, but I’m getting used to being away working a lot more so maybe that’s why. I’ll make a couple salads this morning to go with it before work and leave enough time for tea with my friend & it will all work out beautifully.

The baskets going to look great. I made:

Neatballs with Sweet and Sour Sauce
Pizza Crust with Tomato Sauce (no time for nut cheese, but I eat it all the time like this & it’s amazing!)
Ceasar Dressing – raw - cashew base, I’ve been really enjoying this a lot lately also.
Beet and Celery Salad – everyone thinks they won’t like it.. raw beets? ..But everyone who tries it loves it.
Broccoli Salad – If I get out early enough & can find a beautiful organic broccoli for it.
Fruit, Seed & Nut bars – lots of stuff with honey and some bars with cacao & coconut!
Spicy Nuts & Seeds – this is a favorite of mine.. I have a bag of this almost all the time in my backpack with me, just in case, so I will never starve. well, until it runs out anyway. ; )

Also have for her Lara Bars – Banana cookie & Pecan Pie – my fav flavors.
Living Harvest Bars – Cocoa Passion and Forbidden Fruit.
Sprouts from work – Sunflower, Pea greens and Ancient Eastern Blend

..and there will be other things from the health food store like raw almond butter, raw honey etc. and some fresh organic fruits and vegetables.

Sentient Times – Alternatives for Personal and Community Transformation
Sentient Times is a free bi-monthly magazine with a variety of articles on Community, the Environment, Psychology, Spirituality, Politics, Technology, Health, Business, Astrology, Herbs, Nutrition, Evolving Consciousness and Creativity.

http://www.sentienttimes.com/

My thought for the day comes from The Hidden Messages in Water book I am currently reading by M. Emoto. He writes about the famous quantum theorist David Bohm, who has a theory in which he states that every part of the universe contains the information of all parts of the universe. What this means is that every one of us, even every single cell in our body, contains all of the information of the universe.

The Lifework of David Bohm – River of Truth – by Will Keepin
Including:
Bohm's Quest for Knowledge
Holomovement and the Implicate Order
Order and Randomness
Dialogues with Krishnamurti
Superimplicate Order and Beyond Thought Meaning
Impact and Implications of Bohm's Work
Cool Reception in Physics
Matter and Consciousness
Science and Spirit
Bohm's Legacy
Etc. found here: http://www.vision.net.au/~apaterson/science/david_bohm.htm

You are not only an entire universe but The entire universe!
wow - but somehow although its so incredible, it's like I already knew that.. I guess deep down we all do.


pic of my 2 beautiful neices - Amethyste & Emily

Love and Gratitude to Water day

It’s evening again.. another day of going non-stop. But I slowed down for yoga, which was wonderful. We had Jane filling in for Tracy, who was supposed to fill in for Jeannie.. usually Jeannie’s class is a workout, but this was so nice & relaxing with lots of deep stretching & exactly what I needed.

I was reading something really interesting on the subway coming home from work today. That’s the bonus of taking the subway, time to read. ..& less time, & less pollution..

I am reading The Hidden Messages in Water by Masaru Emoto. So many great thoughts – water is different & forms different crystals from different locations around the world. It also reacts differently & forms different crystals when different types of music is played to it.. when different things are said to it, thought to it.. even when words typed on a piece of paper are held next to it, on the outside of a glass.. the water changes forming beautiful, symmetrical 6 sided crystals when positive words are used and negative words create deformed or unformed crystals.. water reflects back what is thought, & the energy surrounding it.

What I was reading that particularly struck me was that the most beautiful crystal of all, created by the subject of Love & Gratitude, actually looks more like gratitude than love. Emoto makes an interesting observation about this – how we are all about Love, thinking it is the most important thing there is.. but Gratitude is actually more powerful – it has a stronger vibration and a greater influence. Love is more active, like the sun, Yang.. Gratitude is more passive, like the moon, very Yin. He relates these to water itself, Gratitude is more like Hydrogen & Love is like Oxygen. In water Hydrogen has 2 molecules for each of Oxygen’s 1 - H2O. He thinks gratitude is twice as large as love and this is the balance we should strive for. He suspects that in our society and in our life’s we live in an opposite ratio and that life would be more balanced and in harmony if we reversed this.

The power of Love is very powerful and he does not deny this, but he calls our attention to the fact that as a culture we place most of our energy here and the other side, appreciation and gratitude receives too little attention. Less action is needed. He suggests a good starting point is to learn what it is to have enough. Appreciate the planet we live on with it’s rich and abundant nature – appreciate water, clean air.

“When you have become the embodiment of gratitude, think about how pure the water that fills your body will be. When this happens, you yourself will be a beautiful, shining crystal of light."

He mentioned in another part, where a lady at a lecture said this reminded her – the Yin & Yang of Gratitude & Love - of the saying ‘Speak once, Listen twice’ – as we have one mouth & two ears.

Today is "World Day of Love and Thanks to Water"

http://www.thank-water.net/english/

- Please join us to send our Love and Thanks to all the water in our physical body that has been sustaining and nurturing our lives on this planet. 70% of our body is made of water. We owe so much our health to the water in our body.

- Then, let us send our Love and Thanks to all the water on Planet Earth. 70% of the surface of the Earth is occupied by water. The environment on planet Earth is maintained by the water circulating in various forms. If it had not been for water, life would not have been created on planet Earth.

At the bottom of the page, click on the link ‘Water Prayer’ where they describe many ways to send Love & Thanks to water.

pic from http://www.bariumblues.com/

Cacao recipes and article, Rainforest facts and plants

Hi.

I just made it! ..it’s 15 min until tomorrow. I’m kind of amazed that I have made it here every day for the last few months. I used to only check my e-mail every few days.. and I guess that still happens sometimes.. but I always manage to get here & write something.

& now that I am working more I just may not make it here every day.. so don’t get used to it or anything.. in fact, don’t get used to anything. ; ) everything changes.. that’s life.


"There is a Light that shines beyond all things on earth, beyond us all, beyond the heavens, beyond the highest, the very highest heavens, this is the Light that shines in our heart" - Chandoyga Upanishad

Almost everyday at work Marie makes smoothies with her own recipe, which includes banana, hemp protein, tocoripherols. goji berries, cacao & sunflower sprouts (of course!)
Between these & my almost daily evening ritual lately of making a cacao, honey, almond butter & coconut blend dessert.. cacao has been a major part of my day.

I am a member of the yahoo e-group raw_cacao which recently held a recipe contest. aromatic_wings submitted lots of great recipes which I am sharing for anyone interested here: Cacao Recipes.
I hope it’s ok to pass these on & Thank you for sharing them.

Cacao article by David Wolfe: http://www.rawfood.com/cacao.html

Rainforest facts: http://www.rain-tree.com/facts.htm

Rainforest plant database: http://www.rain-tree.com/plist.htm

I just realized that it’s 3 months today since I started writing this. Time goes by fast.. my kids are all teenagers (there’s a bunch of them hanging out behind me). & it’s all good, but wow.

pic from http://www.transfairusa.org/images/CACAO.jpg

AzulFM, phrase meanings, world population, Irish blessing

Happy Birthday Randy!

Joyeux Anniversaire! Bonne Fete, Hoy Es Tu Dia, Feliz Aniversario, Co latha breith sona dhut, Inuununnu pilluarit, Chronia Pola, Van Harte Gefeliciteerd, Feliz cumpleanos, Grattis pa fodelsedagen, Felichan Naskightagon, Hyvaa syntymapaivaa, Hau oli la hanau, Selamat Ulang Tahun, Boldog szuletes napot, Sreken roden den, Fortuna dies natalis, Slamet Ulang Tuanmoe, Sal Girah Mubarak, Til hamingju med afmaelisdaginn, Eku ojobi, Tavalodet Mobarak, Haptee Hocuenera Hinigiren, Tavalodet Mobarak, Parabens pelo seu aniversario, Manuia lou aso fanau, La Multi Ani, Selamat Hari Jadi, Otanjyobi omedeto Gozaimasu, Buon compleanno, Yom Huledet Same'ach, Suk San Wan Keut, Chuc Mung Sinh Nhat, Mnohiya lita, Sdnyom rozhdenya, Gratulere Med Daged, Janam Din Ki Badhai, Briethla Shona Dhuit, Alles Gute zum Geburstag, Yom Holedet Sameach, Wszystkiego Najlepszego, San leaz quiet lo!
I wish you a wonderful day!


What I am listening to: http://www.azulfm.com.uy/
101.9 Azul FM in Montevideo en espanol. Muy Bueno!


http://www.phrases.org.uk/meanings/index.html -meanings and origins of phrases, sayings and idioms.

http://www.ibiblio.org/lunarbin/worldpop/ - World Population counter
it's crazy watching it change.. it's averaging about 3 people born per second right now.


Irish Blessing

May the road rise to meet you.
May the wind be always at your back.
May the sun shine warm upon your face.
And rains fall soft upon your fields.
And until we meet again,
May God hold you in the hollow of His hand.

Waking Life, celery, dream journal, world music, naturopath, bubblegum Kei

“The Cruise is an understanding that living is the art of crafting moments and at the end of each day each one of us has an art gallery of moments we created in an ongoing collaboration” -Timothy “Speed” Levitch

Ok.. seeing this at the end of the night but putting it 1st cause it’s so cool! http://interact10ways.com/usa/information_interactive.htm Good Night!


Watched Waking Life.. moves up to the Top 10: http://www.wakinglifemovie.com/
A whole bunch of passionate, interesting people with lots on their mind.. lots about lucid dreaming & death.. 2 of my fav things. : )

ground-breaking piece of stream-of-consciousness pop-art philosophy… random abstract ideas on everything from transcendence and reincarnation to collective memory to the existence of free will. …questions about identity, reality, perception, life, death and consciousness ….philosophical masturbation & a monkey gives a pretentious lecture to a college art class. (http://www.splicedonline.com/01reviews/wakinglife.html)
“The ride does not require an explanation”

“We should stay in a state of constant departure while always arriving.(saves on introductions and good-byes)"

“There's only one instant, and it's right now, and it's eternity"

“It’s like you come onto this world with a crayon box. Now you may get the 8 pack, you may get the 16 pack.. but it’s all in what you do with the crayons, the colors that you’re given.. and don’t worry about drawing in the lines.. color right off the page!”
–captain of the “see-worthy” car-boat

‘I may not understand it, I may not agree with it, but I’ll tell you what.. I accept it.’

& now for a completely random act of

Celery from a post at becomingyounger@yahoogroups.com by Mark Jackson

What makes commercial celery high in salt is the phosphates and nitrates found in commercial fertilizers. Organic celery does not have that problem. celery absorbs more water from the soil than any other vegetable. What they have said about celery for so many years is true, that it take more energy or calories to digest celery, than it gives you by eating it. Although it is almost negligible, this is true. Secondly celery is famous for lowering blood pressure, and this is how it does it........ Celery contains active compounds call Pthalides ( no I did not misspell it), which help relax the muscles around arteries, thus allowing these vessels to dilate. With the dilation, blood can flow through at a lower pressure. These same Pthalides also reduce stress hormones, one of causes vessels to constrict thus raising blood pressure. IT is an excellent source of calcium, potassium, and magnesium, and also vitamin C. I regularly have carrot juice with celery and parsley in it. Here is also something that I snack on occasionally, Celery and raw almond butter. Nourishing and delightful.


World Music:
Live Locally, Groove Globally
http://www.earball.net/spintheglobe/

http://www.earball.net/spintheglobe/STG_store.htm

http://www.worldmusiccentral.org/

http://soundroots.org/


Good recommendation for a ‘raw-friendly’ naturopath: Jill Kelner at the Harbord Health Center, 100 Harbord St. # 416-923-4860 – great listener, great tips.


Dream software: http://www.evolutionaryastrology.net/lunar_phase_journal.html

How can you not love horoscopes like this? (typical examples)

Libra (Sept. 23 — Oct. 23)
Cartoons frequently show one character being chased by another. One runs straight off the edge of cliff, then stops and looks down. The moment he notices there is no ground below, he plunges. Don't look down. Don't doubt yourself. You will make it safely to the other side.
Scorpio (Oct. 24 — Nov. 22)
"What happened is the best possible thing that could have happened." Repeat this mantra each time you feel inclined to regret what has recently taken place. Seize this change as enthusiastically as you can. A positive outlook will, in the end, make you truly happy.

Phil Booth daily in the Toronto Star

pic from Waking Life

Goji berries, Native Am code of Ethics, racial harmony day

Goji Berries

In valleys of Tibet and Mongolia there is a special berry that the locals use and cherish so much that they honor it in special celebrations that last two weeks each year. It is well documented that many people in those areas live free of common diseases and for well over a hundred years.Of the many varieties of Lycium, the Lycium berry from Tibet has earned the respect of the great Physicians of Tibet over these many centuries. The Tibetan variety of Lycium now known as 'Goji' is considered to be the Mother of all Lyciums! It grows in very remote unpolluted hills and valleys of Tibet and Mongolia, in soil so rich in nutrients that the berries are exploding with this special nurturing vitality.
http://www.gojiberry.com/index.html

Tanaduk researchers are currently studying forty one varieties of Tibetan berries that display similar taxa characteristics and phytogenetic relationships to the Tibetan Goji. The Tibetan Goji berry, also called phangma (Tibetan) is one Lycium variety that is in abundance, grown free of pesticides or any chemicals and is not endangered. It offers phyto energetic properties that are so high that there is no comparison available to any Western or Eastern berry.

The fruits range in color from light pink to deep purple and offer a variety of flavors from a tart lemon to a sweet prune taste. You can see that there are many more varieties of these special berries then the overly domesticated Chinese Lycium barbarum - wolfberry.
http://www.gojiberry.com/pages/research6.html

Native American Code of Ethics

1. Rise with the sun to pray. Pray alone. Pray often. The Great Spirit will listen, if you only speak.

2. Be tolerant of those who are lost on their path. Ignorance, conceit, anger, jealousy and greed stem from a lost soul. Pray that they will find guidance.

3. Search for yourself, by yourself. Do not allow others to make your path for you. It is your road, and yours alone. Others may walk it with you, but no one can walk it for you.

4. Treat the guests in your home with much consideration. Serve them the best food, give them the best bed and treat them with respect and honor.

5. Do not take what is not yours whether from a person, a community, the wilderness or from a culture. It was not earned nor given. It is not yours.

6. Respect all things that are placed upon this earth - whether it be people or plant.

7. Honor other people's thoughts, wishes and words. Never interrupt another or mock or rudely mimic them. Allow each person the right to personal expression.

8. Never speak of others in a bad way. The negative energy that you put out into the universe will multiply when it returns to you.

9. All persons make mistakes. And all mistakes can be forgiven.

10. Bad thoughts cause illness of the mind, body and spirit. Practice optimism.

11. Nature is not FOR us, it is a PART of us. They are part of your worldly family.

12. Children are the seeds of our future. Plant love in their hearts and water them with wisdom and life's lessons. When they are grown, give them space to grow.

13. Avoid hurting the hearts of others. The poison of your pain will return to you.

14. Be truthful at all times. Honesty is the test of ones will within this universe.

15. Keep yourself balanced. Your Mental self, Spiritual self, Emotional self, and Physical self - all need to be strong, pure and healthy. Work out the body to strengthen the mind. Grow rich in spirit to cure emotional ails.

16. Make conscious decisions as to who you will be and how you will react. Be responsible for your own actions.

17. Respect the privacy and personal space of others. Do not touch the personal property of others - especially sacred and religious objects. This is forbidden.

18. Be true to yourself first. You cannot nurture and help others if you cannot nurture and help yourself first.

19. Respect others religious beliefs. Do not force your belief on others.

20. Share your good fortune with others. Participate in charity.


Racial Harmony Day - is celebrated annually on July 21 in Singapore. The event is to commemorate a racial riot which took place on July 24, 1964. Racial Harmony Day also represents a day for schools to reflect on, and celebrate Singapore's success as a racially harmonious nation and society built on a rich diversity of culture and heritage.

Labradorite, Ravens and Butterflies 2, Cresent Park

My friend has been carrying a special stone with him that was picked out especially for him by a very old man he met. It’s a labradorite.

Labradorite is good for enhancing night vision and also seeing auras.
- It promotes strength of will and self esteem.
- It enhances creativity
– blending intellectual thought with intuitive wisdom.
- It’s excellent for those wishing to lose weight, it balances and regulates metabolism.
- It brings patience, focus and concentration.
- Can stimulate physical activity and generate energy to get into action.
Keywords: Psychic Wisdom, Promotes Intellectual, Intuitive and Mystical Wisdom, Calmness, Intuition.http://www.sobrietystones.com/resources/GemBook/Stones/meanings_gemstones_labradorite.htm

Labradorite is a very strong stone. I have found from personal experience that it blocks off psychic communication.. which can be a good thing but is also why I never wear it.. Its too strong for me.. it leaves me feeling cold and isolated – but that’s just a psychic thing I feel with it. Flourite does that to me also.. the more opaque type. However, I think different people respond differently to different stones.. that they have generally the same properties, but sometimes people get different reactions from them.
Judith really loved labradorite.. I bought her a Labradorite pendant one year for Christmas & a matching ring for her birthday shortly after. She had no problems with it.. most people don’t.

On the right hand side of this link there is a list of various other rocks and gems. There is a great write up on amber. I am addicted to amber – especially my amber earrings, which I have tried to change a few times & always ended up buying another pair with amber almost the same. Amber has very attractive qualities to it. http://www.snowwowl.com/rlstones.html


& more on Ravens & Butterflies!

Raven – the raven is the keeper of the mystery. His shiny black feathers remind us of the great unknown, which need not be frightening when we learn to trust that Spirit is always guiding us.When we give up the control and enter the mystery synchronicities work in our favor, chance happenings bring us good luck and life magically begins to work. Allow raven to remind you that magic is always happening behind the scenes. Ask him how you can learn to recognize it.

Butterfly – the butterfly symbolizes transformation.If butterflies appear, you are going through change. Let go of the old, wait patiently for the new. You may even be considering a physical move. Make it beautiful!From: http://www.snowwowl.com/rlaniamlscontents.html


Cresent Park from R. Genn’s twice weekly letters (www.painterskeys.com):
The cedar growing from the spruce
The rock of sunning turtles
The pond of great bullfrogs
The tree of the barred owls
The sunlit arbor with hanging moss
The lover's bridge with huckleberries
The playground of laughing children
The field of determined moles
The daisies at the bench memorial
The reedy verge of wood ducks
The place of whispering cottonwoods
The tree-stumps red at sunset
The view we sometimes paint
The fungous musk of the fallen fir
The feral snapdragons of the old cabin
The ancient larch standing alone
The ever-running brook

A place can be quite ordinary and still be a special place. It's all in the eye of the beholder. And shared history can magnify wonders--our children played and were painted on the great curved rocks that are now too overgrown to paint again. Now the swings and teeter-totters are for someone else's tots. With the naming and claiming that artists tend to do, there's a collection to be had. Like the haiku of titled paintings, they are the labels of our lives. By some miracle we are allowed on this path for a short while, and you can be sure when we are gone some like-minded ones will be there to take over.

pic from: http://www.cs.cornell.edu/nystrom/images/Monterey/fullsize/pebble_beach2.jpg

Medicine cards – Raven & Butterfly, Power of Now

Yesterday, in the morning I saw a butterfly fly and land right in front of me.
At dinner, on my friend’s patio, a raven came and landed in a small tree right beside me. I saw lots of birds, a beautiful cardinal, blue jays, etc.. but the raven seemed to come right to us and sat there while we ate.
I have a deck of Jamie Sams medicine cards – for animal wisdom and guidance. http://www.jamiesams.com/medicinecards.html

"Medicine", according to the Native American way, refers to methods used for improving your connection to all of life. This includes healing of the body, mind and spirit, as well as gaining personal power, strength and understanding. You can learn to move through life in perfect harmony with the Universe. To accomplish this, we look to our fellow creatures, the animals. They exhibit habit patterns that send messages of healing and power to anyone open enough to observe their lessons on how to live. Their precious gifts of true Medicine are Free. When you call upon their power, you are asking to be drawn into complete harmony with the strength of their essence.
From: http://www.serenityhealth.com/medcard.html
You can get a reading and see cards at this site also.

I looked up the Butterfly and Raven in my cards.

#16 – Raven – Magic

Raven is the bringer of magic. It is positive, and only negative if you are dealing with black magic.. most likely if you are playing with magic of which you have no knowledge or if something backfires. I think it would be negative only if you have bad intentions.
Raven is a messenger of the void – and gives you courage to enter the darkness of the void, the great Mystery, where everything lives before it comes to form.
Ravens signal a change in consciousness. You will see and experience a little more of life’s magic.
“In Native teachings the color black means many things, but it does not mean evil. Black can mean the seeking of answers, the void, or the road of the spiritual or non-physical. The blue-black of raven contains an iridescence that speaks of the magic of darkness, and a changeability of forms and shape that brings an awakening in the process.”

#9 – Butterfly – Transformation

You are in a cycle of transformation. Observe and discover where you are in this cycle.
1- Egg stage – are your plans as yet a thought or idea?
2- Larva stage – do you need to make a decision?
3- Cocoon stage – are you developing or doing something to make your plans a reality?
4- Birth Stage – are you showing your completed idea?

Butterfly helps you clarify your mental process, organize and take the next step in your plans. The main message of the butterfly is that you are ready to undergo some types of transformation.
Both Raven and Butterfly are about change and courage. Courage because change can be difficult – to step out of old habits – to leave the cocoon. A new reality awaits. ‘This new world demands that you use your newfound wings – and fly!’


Thoughts excerpted from The Power of Now by Eckhart Tolle:

“Remember that your perception of the world is a reflection of your state of consciousness”
“Nothing is what it seems to be”

The world you see may seem important, “even a vale of tears”, but it is how your consciousness interprets and interacts with the molecular energy dance of the universe.

“We are not separate from our world, so when the majority of humans become free of egoic delusion, this inner change will affect all of creation. You will literally inhabit a new world. It is a shift in planetary consciousness. The strange Buddhist saying, that every tree and every blade of grass will eventually become enlightened points to the same truth.”

“Your primary task is not to seek salvation through creating a better world but to awaken out of identity with form. Then you are in touch with something infinitely greater than any pleasure, greater than any manifested thing.”
“Then you don’t need the world to be any different than it is.”
“It is only at this point that you can begin to make a real contribution toward creating a different order of reality.”

“Only those who have transcended the world can bring about a better world.”


pic from http://i74.photobucket.com/albums/i276/photowebs/pictures/butterfly/transparent-butterfly2a.jpg

Zaads, vipassana meditiation

“We are not human beings having a spiritual experience; we are spiritual beings having a human experience.” -Chardin


“We all shine on! Like the moon, and the stars, and the sun!” – Lennon

http://www.zaadz.com/
Zaads: Our Mission. That's easy. We're gonna change the world. Our math goes like this: you be the change + you follow your bliss + you give your greatest strengths to the world moment to moment to moment + we do everything in our power to help you succeed + you inspire and empower everyone you know to do the same + we team up with millions like us = we just affected billions = we (together) changed the world.
The quick version of what we're gonna do: build THE most inspired community of people in the world... Imagine social networking with a purpose, a community of seekers and conscious entrepreneurs circulating wisdom and inspiration and wealth and all that good stuff. Fun fun fun.

from: http://princesamwise.zaadz.com/blog - because this is Tues meditation day.. and coincidently (?) this is probably my only day off this week – and this is very similar to what we do.

Vipassana meditation

Find a place where you can sit comfortably, undisturbed, for at least 20 minutes. Your back and head need to held straight. You may sit on the floor or in a chair. Your eyes are best closed as you remain still, moving only if it is really necessary. If you must move, notice how and why you are moving. Simply be mindful of in-and-out breathing. You may feel that your breathing is too short, too long, too gentle or too heavy. Do not try to control it. Stop judging. Just let it be, let it settle by itself as you watch. It is the process of watching which is the meditation, not what you are watching. Remember not to become identified with, or lost in whatever comes up: thoughts, emotions, judgements, body sensations. When you become distracted, gently refocus your attention on your breathing. There's nothing wrong with you. Keep at it. If questions or problems arise which require an answer, let them remain a mystery until your meditation time is over. Keep watching. Just breathe…

From meditation class on breathing:
Pay attention to your breathing. Thoughts may come.. Angels may talk to you, the devil may talk to you. Let them be. Don’t push them away and don’t give them attention. Just let them be and go back to focusing on your breathing. Be aware. Watch as you breathe in and out. Pay attention to even the pause- the spaces between your inhalations and your exhalations. Try breathing in to a count of 3 and out to a count of 6, but above all breathe naturally. When any thoughts come, just observe them, let them be and go back to being aware of your breathing.
Meditation is the easiest thing there is. There is only one step – Let go. Be aware and let go – that’s it.


A nice picture from R. Genn’s twice weekly lettersJuly18 - a complex effort.
http://www.painterskeys.com/

Off the northern tip of Haida Gwaii lies Langara Island. It's wild and lush, with great heaving seas below wheeling gulls and soaring eagles. The rocky bluffs are the home of puffins and guillemots, while the waters abound with humpback whales, orcas and sea lions. The weather is unpredictable--one minute it's sparkling sunshine, the next, a storm is sweeping in from the Pacific. At one time almost every cove on Langara had a totem-fronted village--now all have been overtaken and
enveloped by dark and mysterious spruce.

pic from http://ruth.lotter.priv.at/

raw colour, Desiderata

"When you wake up in the morning, Pooh" said Piglet at last, "what's the first thing you say to yourself?""What's for breakfast?" said Pooh. "What do you say Piglet?""I say, I wonder what's going to happen exciting today?" said Piglet.Pooh nodded thoughtfully."It's the same thing," he said.

My friend across the street, who is raw now also.. & has been raw for 6-8 months came over to get her smoothie. She has had me making green smoothies for her every morning for at least 8 months now. When she was here she told me that another neighbour stopped her & asked “What are you doing?” she said “what do you mean?” “..like what are you and Robin up to.. what are you eating or doing? You two are the healthiest looking people on the block” .. so she told her the Raw story & lent her a book. She said 4 people were asking her all about it at the bridal shower she just held for her niece on the weekend also & want information etc.

I love hearing that.. people asking, interested, I get it a lot.. but always love to hear it being spread.. I seriously think green smoothies – sprouts - raw - a change in diet towards these things and healthier choices can change the world and heal the planet. Raw creates more loving peaceful people and once you start taking care of your own body it just goes that you want to take care of the Earth.. the Earth is, after all, a part of us.

I just did a bit of websurfing.. someone sent me a link to a blog. I was reading about the blogger and he said he suffers from anxiety and depression, like most of the population. “Depression sucks the colour from everything I see” (– note the colour vs color – def true Canadian – he also says you couldn’t pay him to take a green card and that Canadians underestimate the potency of their worldview.)
But about colour.. Raw is very colourful/colorful.. It’s all good!
It’s a beautiful, bright, and luminous world!

Desiderata
Max Ehrmann

Go placidly amid the noise and haste,
and remember what peace there may be in silence.
As far as possible without surrender,
be on good terms with all persons.
Speak your truth quietly and clearly;
and listen to others,even the dull and the ignorant;
they too have their story.

Avoid loud and aggressive persons,
they are vexations to the spirit.
If you compare yourself with others,
you may become vain and bitter;
for always there will be greater and lesser persons than yourself.
Enjoy your achievements as well as your plans.

Keep interested in your own career, however humble;
it is a real possession in the changing fortunes of time.
Exercise caution in your business affairs;
for the world is full of trickery.
But let this not blind you to what virtue there is;
many persons strive for high ideals;
and everywhere life is full of heroism.

Be yourself.
Especially, do not feign affection.
Neither be cynical about love;
for in the face of all aridity and disenchantment
it is as perennial as the grass.

Take kindly the counsel of the years,
gracefully surrendering the things of youth.
Nurture strength of spirit to shield you in sudden misfortune.
But do not distress yourself with dark imaginings.
Many fears are born of fatigue and loneliness.
Beyond a wholesome discipline,
be gentle with yourself.

You are a child of the universe,
no less than the trees and the stars;
you have a right to be here.
And whether or not it is clear to you,
no doubt the universe is unfolding as it should.

Therefore be at peace with God,
whatever you conceive Him to be,
and whatever your labors and aspirations,
in the noisy confusion of life keep peace with your soul.

With all its sham, drudgery, and broken dreams,
it is still a beautiful world.
Be cheerful.
Strive to be happy.

Max Ehrmann, Desiderata, Copyright 1952

morning pages, American freedom

“The writing of notes, letters and journals is good for creators. Writing is learning. Writing shares joy, delight, triumph, struggle, disappointment and disaster. The free exchange of ideas and processes helps us to think about what we are doing and where we're going.”
R Genn from his twice weekly letters

"All education must be self-education." (Robert Henri)

Writing this blog is similar to writing the morning pages - from The Artists Way by Julia Cameron. She suggests writing three pages of stream-of-consciousness thoughts in longhand every morning. This is a way to retrieve, or find your creativity. It helps to remove blocks & get rid of the left-brain Censor. There is no wrong way to write the pages.. and, unlike this blog, no one else is supposed to see them. These morning pages teach the logic (left) brain to stand aside & let the Artist (right) brain play. Some people think of it as a type of meditation – and a way to connect to our inner power source.

“It is impossible to write morning pages for any expended period of time without coming into contact with an unexpected inner power”

“Anyone who faithfully writes morning pages will be led to a connection with a source of wisdom within. When I am stuck with a painful situation or problem that I don’t think I know how to handle, I will go to the pages and ask for guidance. To do this, I write “LJ” as a shorthand for me, “Little Julie,” and then ask my question.

LJ: What should I tell them about inner wisdom? (Then I listen for the reply and write that down. too.)
Answer: You should tell them that everyone has a direct dial to God. No one needs to go through an operator. Tell them to try this technique with a problem of their own. They will.”

There are hundreds of testimonials from people saying how effective writing these pages are, Julia Cameron said she has done them for over a decade. My Mom has written them for years, I used to.. and then it turned into my dream journal, I used to write pages of dreams every morning.. and now I do this, blogging/websurfing, which is probably not nearly as effective, but it’s what the moment brings. Some people say writing these pages are as crucial to their life as breathing – that seems a little extreme, ; ) but that’s what they say.

“Like an ability or a muscle, hearing your inner wisdom is strengthened by doing it” Robbie Gass

“Words are a form of action, capable of influencing change” Ingrid Bengis

“Every child is an artist. The problem is how to remain an artist once he grows up” Pablo Picasso

“Inside you there is an artist you don’t know about....say yes quickly if you know, if you’ve known it from before the beginning of the universe” – Jalai ud-Din Rumi


I had the subject of American freedom come up in 3 separate conversations, unrelated, one after the other.. 3 is my magic #.. I have this thing, sometimes things comes up 3X in a row.. & when this happens it’s something that I feel is important, something I need to look into or something that needs to be addressed, even if it is something that I am not really interested in.. & this time it’s – American freedom
#1 – my mom talking about this almond butter she’s ordering from the states – Freedom Butter - http://www.livingtreecommunity.com/store2/product.asp?id=11&catid=1
It’s an incredible write-up!
#2 – my brother brings up American freedom, yeah right! Not.
#3 – a guy comes into work & he just took a trip in an old corvette, they traced out the old route 66 on a map & followed it all the way down.. had a great trip.. but if he hears about American freedom one more time he said he’s going to barf. ..& not knowing I was into food & raw he told me that everyone there was Obese! Huge.. and he says ‘You just know it’s from what they are eating!’ ; ) yup, we know.

Is America free? See the movie Aaron Russo’s America: Freedom to Fascism
Watch the trailers for it here: http://www.freedomtofascism.com/
Or even bigger here: http://video.google.com/videoplay?docid=1616088001333580937

“Makes 'Fahrenheit 9/11' look like 'Bambi.' After watching this movie, your comfy, secure notions about America -- and about what it means to be an American -- will be forever shattered” – Todd David Schwartz, CBS

Osho, enlightenment stories, Earth

“Enlightenment is a process of unlearning. It is utter ignorance. But that ignorance is very luminous and your knowledge is very dull. That ignorance is very alive and luminous, and your knowledge is very dark and dead” – Osho from Zen- the Path of Paradox

There are many stories written and told about how people have gained enlightenment. Gaining enlightenment seems like walking off a cliff. At any moment you can just take the step off.. it’s not something that needs to be learned, it just happens. At any second something in you can just click.. and you will just be there. In this story a poor monk who was living in a ruined temple was clearing the ground. He came a across a tile and threw it away and as the tile clattered against a bamboo tree and with that sudden sound he became enlightened. (sigh, this could have happened to me yesterday when the juicer exploded.. but it didn’t.. you just never know.. maybe if I was in the right state of mind.. but most of us are not ready to just let go & become enlightened. I have heard from many sources though that in the coming years there will be more & more people gaining enlightenment with a quickly increasing rate.. & that this is the only chance of hope for our planet.) ..but back to the monk.

“He says, All I had learned was at once forgotten. In that moment he knew nothing. In that moment there was no knower, in that moment there was no observer – just the sound. And one is awakened from a long sleep.
And he says, Amending my nature is needless. That day he felt that he was just struggling unnecessarily. Amending my nature is needless. You need not amend yourself, you need not improve yourself – that is all just tommyrot!”

“Nature can not be amended; it has to be accepted. There is no way to be otherwise. Whosoever you are, whatsoever you are, that’s how you are – that’s what you are. It is a great acceptance. Buddah calls it tathata, a great acceptance.”

“Nothing has to be changed, because all is beautiful – that is enlightenment. All is as it should be, everything is perfect. This is the most perfect world, this moment lacks nothing – the experience of this is what enlightenment is.” –Osho from Zen- the Path of Paradox


My friend was telling me the other day about something he heard a long time ago which always stays with him. An image of the astronauts when they first looked back at Earth on the way to the moon.. very far away and the earth was so small.. and they saw it as this little blue planet and Neil Armstrong or Aldrin said ‘This is the most beautiful planet in the world” and about how this was the most beautiful sight..
so precious, so fragile, and so incredibly beautiful.

Toronto Sprout Corp. the meatrix, centripetalnotion

I just got a new job & I started today – Toronto Sprout Corp. It was great.. except that I blew up the juicer while juicing wheatgrass. What a way to start the 1st day with a bang. It was like a missile.. literally blew off and flew right across the room.. ..but I got it temporarily fixed, enough to finish juicing. I love the energy there. & then I went & worked the evening at Seagull – my long standing part-time job, which also has great energy. & now I am tired, have to work all day tomorrow also. I was reading Zen – the path of paradox by Osho on the subway, will recall a few thoughts tomorrow.

Someone came in this morning & mentioned this website: http://www.themeatrix.com/ – an animated video on factory farming.

& a friend sent me this website: http://centripetalnotion.com/
..scroll down and chek out cephalopod camouflage. Nature is so amazing.

“The abstract thinking behind the reality. Communication creates culture. Culture evolves the sensory experience. The sensory experience, defines communication. This infinite loop, Creates your Belief. Immerse in Sensory Culture.”
from http://www.belief.com/

“Art is an expression of life and transcends both time and space. We must employ our own souls through art to give a new form and a new meaning to nature or the world. -- Bruce Lee

Torkom Saraydarian fish analogy

Mom just received her books from Torkom Saraydarian.. 4 of them!

She told me about an analogy she read in one of the books.. about a fish and how it doesn’t know anything about computers.. and if we think about it we are like the fish and don’t know about things that are out of our realm. Interesting thought.
We are the fish.