Who are you?

Better yet, who do you want to be?

I think as we enter 2011 there is no bigger question for each individual to answer. I believe we are gifted with something we are destined to do, to accomplish, during these turbulent times. You are very special, or you would not be here right now. You have something the world needs, and deep in your heart you know that. If you are not living your light, then 2011 is the time to start.

Start by asking yourself what makes you happy? What makes you feel full of energy and hope? What brings you a sense that time has stood still and you are in the midst of something greater than yourself?

For each person it is different. But you are unique and incredibly powerful. That is what 2011 is going to be about - finding your destiny through positive intention to do so. Living from the heart. When in doubt about how to act or respond to a challenge - ask yourself - what would love do? You will automatically be in the right frame of mind to make the right choice or decision. Living from the heart is what we are destined to do, and 2011 is the time to start.

White Orbs

What the heck are they?

I've been fascinated by stories of "white orbs" lately. They seem to be popping up everywhere, including over a California mall over Christmas, where the person taking a picture of a double rainbow said they floated by in tandem, with one looking as though it held some kind of creature. They have been photographed around newly created crop circles, coming out of a Japanese volcano, and are the focus of many photographers. They appear to show up at night on digital cameras, which leaves me wondering if they may be floating around all of the time - we just can't see them.

Naturally I had to visit U-Tube, that bastion of all things weird, wonderful, and just plain dumb. I thought this film of the white orbs especially interesting:



So what do you think they are?

Mercury Retrograde and Hawaii

As soon I found out our plans for the holidays also included a Mercury Retrograde, I will admit to feeling a bit uneasy. Since I'm new to this phenomenon, let me bring you up to date: A Mercury Retrograde happens three to four times a year when the planet Mercury slows down and appears to stop and move backward. It's an illusion of course, as there is forward movement, but it appears to go backward. I'm told all sorts of things can go wrong - especially electronics, computers, emails get deleted, phone lines go down. 

It is also not a time to make financial decisions, big purchases, or travel. The current retrograde started on December 10th and will end on December 29th - the day after we get home from traveling with our whole family. 

So did I experience anything going wrong?

Where to begin? We were waiting for our luggage at the turnstile at the airport when I got a call that said our phone, internet and cable had been shut off for lack of payment. It appears they sent the bill to the actual unit where people do not live, thus the bill had not been paid. The person who pays the bills didn't notice it had not come in the mail. After considerable time on the phone with the phone company, I was assured it would be partially up and running immediately - the phone would have to wait a few days or a week. 

Next we were supposed to have our "ah ha" moment when we entered the unit as the partial remodel was supposed to be finished. Not. The contractor was still there with all of his equipment. He thought we were arriving the next day, despite being told for months it would be the 16th. His wife still needed to clean. Our partners were also pretty confused by this as they had told him at least a dozen times what day we would arrive. Okay, time for a drink....

My family all arrived and I gave a big thanks to the airplane Gods, but two days later I came down with a terrible chest cold and had to watch as everyone went to the beach and snorkeling. Remaining in bed in Hawaii is not what I had planned. I can do that at home. Luckily my husband took plenty of pictures.

I did have a beautiful view of the water, and was enjoying watching the blue waves - until a big storm came through and turned it a very deep shade of brown. It appears this phenomenon happens about every ten years or so. Runoff from the cane fields swamp the culverts and rush into the ocean. It's brown for about a half mile out - we canceled paddle board and surfing lessons because of murky water. It's not good to be in murky water with predators...

We all fly home tomorrow. I'm praying all goes well. We'll return to rain and snow, gone will be warm breezes. No one will even know I've been gone as I look the same as when I left.

Lest I leave you with the idea I had a terrible time - let me assure you I had a great time. It's how you frame things, after all. I don't have a tiny little voice ask from the side of my bed if I'm still sick first thing in the morning at home. My grandson and family are the best, and I'm so glad we had this time together. My older daughter and son-in-law cooked wonderful, imaginative, meals. My youngest keeps everyone on their toes, and 30th wedding anniversaries only come once in a lifetime.

So you tell me - is this Mercury Retrograde thing really something to consider - or was it all just bad luck? What about you - any lost emails, broken computers, or travel glitches? Any bad colds?

MERRY CHRISTMAS!

I've been enjoying your posts, I love hearing about your families and your traditions. It will take me more time than I have right now to catch up individually, so please know that I'm thinking of all of you on this very special holiday. May all of your wishes and dreams come true. Bless you all, dear friends.

Best Laid Plans

I was so caught up in a recent post I did on not eating fish here in Hawaii that I was sure it would not be difficult. Not! I have used my Monterey Aquarium app to tell me which fish to avoid because of overfishing, fishing methods, or high mercury content,  but I've totally failed in not eating fish at all.

Sometimes we want to do the right thing, but the flesh is weak. Living in the desert, fish is something that is easy to avoid. But here, where it is so fresh, it's much harder. Not to mention most restaurants serve an abundance of many different varieties, all cooked beautifully, with nothing that I could find that was farm-raised. You would think an island would have at least a few varieties raised locally.

Have you sworn something off, only to find you couldn't stick to it?

Mamas And Their Babies

I know I've been remiss in reading all of your blogs lately, but I've been busy watching this off of our lanai in Maui:



So far my daughter and grandson have arrived, and we look forward to the other daughter and our son-in-law on Tuesday. Then things should really be hopping. For us, one of the very best parts is that the whales have arrived to calve,  and we've enjoyed watching a mama and her baby most of the afternoon. She is very close to shore, probably nursing in shallow waters.

I've enjoyed all of your comments from my last post! Wishing you lots of fun and new traditions this holiday season.

New Traditions

It's not easy giving up old traditions. Christmas is not so much a religious holiday for us, but more of a celebration of giving and being grateful for our many blessings. (We tend to tilt more toward spiritual beliefs, as opposed to purely Christian.) It has always included decorating, Santa's Breakfasts for the local Children's Cabinet, Christmas Eve services, cookie decorating with friends, making cream puffs for our neighbors. Now my daughters are grown, and have their own ideas about the holidays, and they don't always gel with mine. Norman Rockwell? Not.

My hairdresser was lamenting the loss of tradition earlier this week. Her children no longer foster the same excitement they once did, her oldest has moved out of the home and doesn't plan on being back for Christmas Day. The others have requested gift cards. She's sad. So she has decided to trail along with a friend, dressed as Santa, to visit disadvantaged children. 

I know how she feels. I guess for some reason I thought things would always stay the same - my daughters would want to carry on the same traditions they always seemed to enjoy while growing up. I would sit back and watch them do all the things I did to make the season special. But now I wonder - what was I thinking? Why would they want to do the same things as adults that they did as children? Of course things need to change! It's time for new traditions, new memories. It's time to either do it their way, or do my own thing. Which isn't so bad once you get used to the idea. 

So this year we'll create something new for ourselves. Change is the only constant in this world, so I may as well hop on board and enjoy the ride. Lucy is happily ensconced in her own home with dog and house sitters, so we feel better about leaving her. The kennel is not a good place for a little black princess on Christmas Day.

This is a year that finds most of us embracing some kind of change. For many, hardship is the guest, and/or life as they have known it will not ever be the same. My heart goes out to each and every one of them. But for some of us - new customs are not all bad. Life is full of surprises, and some of them are really wonderful. We never know what is right around the corner.

Has your holiday traditions changed this year? What are you doing different?

Things Coming Out Of Alaska

There is more than beauty queens turned politicos coming out of Alaska these days:

For Those That Cannot Speak

I was thinking about a topic for my blog. Sitting quietly, I had the "thought" that I needed to take some time to read what others had written. My inspiration is often from what I read, especially blogs. And I've learned to listen to my intuition.

We are about to leave for our beloved Maui for the holidays, when I read this post. Leilani speaks for the oceans, and I have never heard a more powerful voice for those who cannot speak. And because of what she had to say, I will not eat fish caught in the ocean while in Hawaii. Thank you Leilani, for standing up for what you know is the right thing to do. It's time to eat farm-raised fish, leaving the oceans to try to recover from the massive amount of wanton abuse and destruction from many nations, especially Japan.
We must quit eating the big fish of the sea before there is nothing left but jellyfish.

We are living in very energetic times. Things are happening very quickly, and it's time to make changes  to accommodate our new environment. It is each person's responsibility to do the right thing. We change the world - one decision at a time.

Christmas Entertaining

We had our one and only Christmas dinner/entertaining last night. Our one and only pull out the china and silver, "time to be festive". From now on it will be casual, easy, and low on the formal scale.

What are you doing this year? Anything different?

A Grateful Year

As some of you may have known, my husband went two years without working. Like so many of you, we were not sure he would work again in this economy. Lucky for us a job came around. But during that time we learned a few things:

1. Take nothing in this world for granted, especially not jobs or income.
2. It is the little things in life that make it worthwhile.
3. People are what is important.
4. You don't need much money to be happy. Having enough is just fine.
5. Never owe anyone anything - ever again.
6. Less is best.
7. When you've got it - share it. 

This is not to say you shouldn't save for a rainy day. We should all try to be in a place where we can survive in a downturn, or be secure in retirement. But with that being said, one of the best lessons to come out of those two years was the recognition that money in the bank doesn't work for anyone. Warren Buffet, Bill Gates and all of the other gazillionaires that are giving away their money realize that simple fact. Putting money out into the world changes things.

This year we are not exchanging gifts in my family, we are fortunate enough to be able to share an experience instead. We are very grateful to have our children and grandchild with us to celebrate our 30th wedding anniversary, and the beautiful whales of Hawaii.

So with that thought in mind, I thought I would share a few of my favorite opportunities to share this season:

Library in Nepal - Fellow blogger, goddessoftheconfluence, has a business that often takes her to Nepal. She has done wonderful things for the residents on more than one occasion, using her own money. She is now spearheading a library high in the mountains for the people of a small village. She has a wish list, breaking down all the components of the building and books. Volunteers from the community will build the building. It is a fascinating and worthwhile project.

Oceana - Oceana is on the beaches cleaning the turtles and other poor sea creatures created by the BP debacle in the Gulf. It is an ongoing project. Their organization is focused solely on ocean conservation. This year they are giving you the pleasure of actually adopting a whale, dolphin, penguin, polar bear and more.

Animal Ark - This is a local program. I have been on more than one school field trip to visit the wild animals that have been rescued from some really sad places and situations. They have bears, eagles, coyotes, all manner of animals lucky enough to be cared for at Animal Ark.

Elephant Nature Park - My daughter had the good fortune to be able to visit this elephant rescue park while in Thailand this year. I posted about it here. For a nominal fee you can adopt a specific elephant at the park. It is really amazing how little it costs to help one of these magnificent creatures.

My husband likes to give at the grocery store, and always buys extra bags of groceries they have made up for the food shelter. But it doesn't matter where you give, or even how much you give, it is the energy and intention that goes with it that changes the world.

So do you have a favorite this year?

Mitch & Obama

Jayne, of injaynesworld posted this on her blog and it made me laugh, so of course I had to pass it along to you. She suggests we think of Mitch McConnell and President Obama as we watch the video. If you would like some snappy commentary, be sure to visit Jayne.

A Baby Humpback Story

And if you are still in awe about dolphins - head over and read this story. It's worth it, believe me.

Dolphin v Human Intelligence

Just in case you missed this:

CNN - Could dolphins be as intelligent as humans?

Hiring the Heavens

 

Conscious Media Network has the most uplifting, fun, interview this month with Jean Slatter about hiring angels to help us to do all sorts of things. If you get a minute, I can guarantee you will come away with a smile on your face. You can sign up for free for three days, so it would be free to view this video. Life should be joyful, you owe it to yourself to grab a cup of tea, put your feet up, and watch this wonderful interview. Have fun!

Visualization

In the early years of my spiritual development I decided to try visualizing what I wanted to manifest. In those early days I wanted very much to evolve spiritually, but also had desires for material things, which is a very human trait.  Things such as houses. It was during that time when many people had the same desires, or our landscapes would not be peppered with McMansions.

At any rate, I had just read Shakti Gawain's "Creative Visualization" and decided to give it a try it by visualizing myself living in big beautiful homes. More than one. (I also had a desire to live in other places.) So I set about following Shakti's advice - putting myself into a calm, relaxed state and then visualizing myself walking through these homes, enjoying how pretty they were, feeling all the feelings one associates with being in beautiful surroundings. During this time living in something of this magnitude was very far from my realm of possibility. I was a stay-at-home mom attending college, living a very middle-class lifestyle, with a husband that had no desire to move. Nonetheless, I had my dreams... shallow as they were.

Cut to today.

I now live in a very lovely home that we are renting from people who obviously had the same dreams. It is my third lovely home in six years. The other two were homes that we owned and sold, as we moved around the country for my husband's job. We are renting this home because over the course of the last few years our furnishings grew. Otherwise, we would not be here. The people who own this house have moved to smaller digs as well. Obviously, they found the same thing we did - bigger is not necessarily better. But we both had to experience the contrast to learn that lesson. I think that may be what life is all about - experiencing contrasts to understand what is truly important to us.

My point?

Creative visualization works. Whether you come at it from a very pointed, conscious manner, or are unconscious and letting your energy create willy nilly, what you think about and put your energy into becomes your eventual reality. You are the driver of your own boat. People that are highly successful are putting their life force into creating whatever it is that they feel passionate about. Science is catching up with this concept. It is now believed by many that on a subatomic level the world is possibility. That by just observing - we can change a wave into a particle, or a particle into a wave. It is the expectation of the observer that actually affects the outcome.

I tell this story because I know that my living arrangements are a product of what I purposely manifested those many years ago. It takes time for the atoms and particles to arrange themselves into what we want. We are energy. We live in a world that is made up of energy. I believe we are living our "dream" world. Making sure that dream is the one you want to live is the challenge. After all, there is a time gap. Simply directing our thoughts to being grateful, kind, nonjudgmental and loving is a step in the right direction. After all, our physical desires may change, but wanting to live in peaceful harmony rarely does.

My new visualization? It is a small house - maybe a tree house (seriously) - living in a community of like-minded people who share the same values as I do for the environment, resources, and life in general. I spend time thinking about it, reading about other similar communities, and designing the concepts from a lifespan perspective. I put myself into calm relaxed states and walk through the neighborhood where everyone smiles and waves, because they are all my friends and family. 


To be continued sometime in the future...

Swarms

Terra Galleria Photography

I guess there all kinds of swarms. Swarms of bees, swarms of ants, swarms of anchovies at the Monterey Bay Aquarium, swarms of earthquakes. It appears the ground under my house has been busy. From Friday of last week until Monday there were 27 earthquakes. Luckily they were small and were eight miles deep. Still. Twenty-seven? Time to get busy on that emergency preparedness I started last month...

The Path: Afterlife

I have been in the process of building a spiritual video library and came across one that I thought exceptional. The Path: Afterlife, with The Monroe Institute, William Buhlman, Tom Cambell and others, is one that I intend to watch over and over. I'll order one for my daughters and niece to watch, and I highly recommend it to anyone who has lost someone, or is currently going through a transitional experience.

There is so much information in this little video that it would be hard to pin down what I liked about it, except to say that there were pockets of information that spoke directly to me. I suspect that might be true for others, although not necessarily the same pockets of information.

You can order The Path here.

The Flu!

So we were having a wonderful Thanksgiving dinner - 21 in all - when I noticed my brother, who loves Thanksgiving wasn't eating. That was the beginning - by Sunday six more were down with a nasty stomach flu. There would have been more, but they had already had it the week before. I'm sitting in bed writing this, thinking how fast something contagious can spread. We really are at the mercy of things that we cannot see.

Next year I will be thankful for something that I hope will not be sitting at the table.

A Full House

This Thanksgiving will mark the first time in several years that my family will be together at my table for dinner. It seems that either we were in another state, we were living in too small a place (Lake Tahoe), or different members had other obligations, etc. To say I'm excited is an understatement. I am also nervous. The Thanksgiving jitters usually start a few weeks before the big event and culminate just before the dinner goes on the extended table, hopefully still hot. I'm expecting 22 for dinner this year.

The tables will extend far out into the living room. I like to have everyone seated together - even the little children. It's a formal affair with silver, china, crystal, and flowers. The only one of the year for my very casual family members. This will be the first time I will have my grandson at my Thanksgiving table, not to mention our niece and great niece. There will also be some contenders for my other niece's hearts. We will have a chance to check them out, as they do the same. There will be a puppy and a tiny little dog to keep Lucy company. They will make sure the floors are  kept free of crumbs, I'm sure.

The next day is movie and sandwich day, and also the start of the soup. We buy our tickets ahead of time if the movie is new and hard to get into. Sometimes we split up if we have little children. More and more I'm happy to go with them to the G-rated Disney movies. This year there will some who will want to see the new Harry Potter movie, which is not at all for small children. I'll have to wait for it to come out on DVD -  as I'll probably be in Tangled, a new animated movie about Rapunzel. I wouldn't even think about parting from my 2.5 year-old grandson on movie day.

Some will depart for Sacramento on Saturday, and the house will get a little quieter. We'll probably take a ride to Lake Tahoe and show off our beautiful lake to our niece who grew up in DC. Hopefully the roads will cooperate.

By Sunday morning as my daughter drives off to Portland with said niece and grand-niece it will get quieter. And by the time my older daughter is put on the plane with my grandson is will be quiet as a tomb. And time to clean up, I might add.

What about you? Can you believe Christmas is just around the corner?

Visual Migraine

I have been very lucky in my life to not suffer from headaches very often. In fact, unless there is a low pressure system coming in fast, or I've imbibed too much, I never get headaches. However, it appears I do suffer from visual migraines.

They can be quite scary - coming on when you least expect them, and lasting for around 20 minutes. At first I thought it might be a stroke, which was of course - terrifying! I do not have any pain, just a feeling of not being able to see well for a time afterwards. Below is a video of what one may look like. If you have these symptoms it is recommended that you have them checked out, but I was relieved to read they are fairly common, and generally do not require medical attention:

Crop Circles Movie

I recently ordered the new crop circle movie "What In The World?" produced by Suzanne Taylor. I haven't watched it yet, so this post is just about my wonderment at such an incredible phenomenon going on in our world. Is this some kind of communication? Other than the two old guys in England who made a couple of the crude ones, and some others that have done them to advertise products, etc., they are a true mystery. Mention of them have surfaced in academic texts from as far back as the 17th century, so they are not new.

What are the white orbs that eye witnesses have seen in and around the circles? Is it geometry? Is it sacred geometry?

What does it mean?



To listen to an in depth interview with the producer go to Regina's Cantina here.

You know you're getting older when...

You attend a book fair and find someone who has done a small book on your high school that is titled: Birth Of A Hawk - Proctor R. Hug High School Remembered. It was the last word that caught my eye - what do you mean remembered?

Wasn't it just 1968 and I was attending a brand new high school in Reno, the first in some time? One that had the community in an uproar because for the first time it would have white children bussed from all over the city to actually attend school with black children? It now seems so laughable.

I was drawn to the title and sure enough - I found myself in the very first picture taken of the students assembled in the school square. There was one of my girlfriends - wearing one of my cute pink dresses - which she borrowed constantly, as I remember. There was my first love and high school sweetheart, who died at age 20 of a drug overdose in San Francisco, standing next to me. My name is printed in the back as one of the first students to go all three years and graduate from this new high school.

I guess you know you're home when you can attend a book fair put on by the Historical Society and talk to an author from Austin, Nevada, who said your uncle met him every day out in Kingston (about 30 miles from Austin), to collect his mail. This, of "The Loneliest Highway" fame. Yes, the author was also the mailman. Or talk to a lady standing nearby that says she is a cousin of your nephew's father, and knew your father and uncle well.

I came home with a big bag of books, and the feeling that maybe, just maybe, I will somehow end up staying in this place where I was born. That serendipity pulled me back after only six years for a reason. Maybe I was only meant to leave for a while. Whatever fate has in store for me, maybe it's in the place that my family has lived for five generations.

Either way, it feels good to be somewhere where  'people know your name.'

Emergency Preparation

I just received my new toy: a dehydrator! So for the next few months I will be dehydrating meals and storing them in #2 (food safe) five gallon buckets. I guess I'm finally taking the emergency preparedness seriously. I posted on this subject quite a while ago, but very little progress was made. I was distracted with moving, traveling, etc. But for some reason I feel it is time to put some things together - just in case. We live right on top of a fault line, so all this activity may be moot, but you never know when you might need to be able to care for yourself and your family during an emergency. My goal is several buckets worth of dehydrated organic veggies, beans, rice, canned tuna, a water purifier, some medical supplies and medicines, maybe a tootsie roll or two - then I will feel I've done all I can. I can forget about it, and go on with my life.

Here is a great video, that is part of a series of videos found here, that shows how dehydrated foods can be used. I like them better than freeze dried because if the emergency never arises, I think we will actually eat this food. Plus there is no need to throw out veggies you won't be able to consume before they go bad  - just dehydrate them! Most of the packets will be meals, for instance - a soup with all of the ingredients in one vacuum-sealed package.

You can also find my other post on this subject here. The comment section had tons of great ideas from all of you. Is anyone else feeling the urge to prepare?



Addendum: This video appears when viewing this post through Safari but is absent with Firefox! ??

Coyote Totems

Since we have been visited nightly for weeks, and on our way to dinner the other night a big, well-fed, coyote crossed the road in front of us, I decided to see what that animal totem might mean. Here from this website:

Coyotes, also known as the Desert Wolf, are recognizable by their thick bushy tail, pointy nose, and ears. In the winter their coat grows thick to protect them from the harsh weather. They can run up to 30 mph, and their call will be heard up to 3 miles. Coyotes can live in urban areas as long as food and shelter is available. They form loose family groups which form for short periods of time then break apart, depending on the food supply. This large group formation will work together to catch deer. Normally coyotes hunt alone or in pairs. In this situation, one may intentionally chase small prey into the jaws of another coyote so they both can share a meal. A good way to tell a coyote apart from a wolf is its tail, which they carry low while the others carry their tails high.
Coyote teaches us to laugh at our mistakes so we won't get mired in the pain of life's lessons. Coyote comes into our lives when we need to understand the balance of wisdom and foolishness.


It is also known for carrying with him lessons that are crucial to growth and change, yet always with a sense of fun or folly. Hmmm, I wonder if this applies to me, my husband, or Lucy?

I have to admit I could use a laugh, especially leading up to the midterm elections, but their howling is starting to get a little unnerving - especially when Lucy barks and then you hear them trying to imitate her. Here, from U-Tube:

Wild, wild everywhere!

For the last couple of weeks Lucy has been waking us up every night barking (loudly) at the coyotes entering our yard in the dead of night. Their nightly visits might involve the rabbits flourishing out in the open areas around our house, or from the sounds of their barks, they may be trying to lure Lucy outside. My husband says they can mimic different animals. Anyway, Lucy is doing her best to protect us from these marauding invaders that have the audacity to leave droppings in the yard - right next to hers. It's caused quite the stir at 3:00 a.m., not to mention some serious heart palpitations. It has also become a bit old, night after night. Not to mention having to keep my eye on Lucy whenever she is out in the yard.

We thought it a good time to head out of town, up to Lake Tahoe, a mere 21 miles away.  As we are getting out of the car our neighbor comes out to remind us to take all food inside. He caught a black bear standing on his hind legs looking in his sunroof for a snack the other morning.

I didn't ask about the paint job.

I was reminded of a friend's story a few years ago. Some people they were camping with in Yosemite had their car completely torn apart over 3 gummy bears.

I keep the window open near our bed to hear the sound of the stream and thought we had made it through the night without incident when my husband reported this morning that Lucy had heard something outside last night, but considered it only growl worthy.

After a bird episode on our deck a few weeks ago, involving an owl, I was beginning to think living in the middle of the city isn't such a bad idea after all. That was until a friend, who actually lives in the middle of the city - caught a bear looking over her backyard fence. Her home, located on the river that flows through town, was apparently a pit stop.

It's beginning to feel a little wild out there!

Mea Culpa, again.

I took my last post down on banking when someone suggested that I might want to research the producer of the video a little further. Well, I take that back. My husband also suggested that some of the points mentioned might be skewed in order to further an agenda. So down it goes. That's what I get for wandering into politics and economics. It won't stop me from distrusting the banks and large corporations, however.

Hmmm, interesting!

David Icke: Sound Vibration = Form

I know what I don't want...

Many of you that follow my blog know that we have moved around a bit over the last six years. We raised our family in a normal neighborhood, in the same house for sixteen years, K-12, with the same families around us. Since that time we moved to Portland, Oregon, Minneapolis, Minnesota, and then to our small place at Lake Tahoe for two years. I'm currently sitting in my favorite chair at the Lake, looking out my favorite window (picture above). And something came to mind after reading Linda's post on My Own Velvet Room.

As many of you may know, we rented our current house in Reno, where my husband is working. We simply did not want to buy another home until we know where we want to retire, which is only a few years away. This neighborhood was known to be very, very nice. Completely out of our price range when we lived here six years ago. I had often thought how pretty the houses were when we would go there for some reason or another. It is a gated community, and the houses surround a golf course. It is only in this market can one find a rental in this area. Our house is lovely, looks out over the entire city and the golf course. The problem? It is the most sterile environment I have ever lived in. There is no one on the streets except landscapers. I have never met, in five months, my neighbors on one side, the other side is for sale and has eight bathrooms. Yes, eight bathrooms. Now if that house isn't the Age of Excess poster child, I don't know what is.

A couple of days ago I had a contractor out to fix my dishwasher. Yes, you can now get a contractor to fix your dishwasher in Nevada.... Anyway, he said he had built seven houses in the area before the bubble burst. He would live in them a year or two and then sell them. You have to remember, Nevada was one of the fastest growing states in the country for twenty years. Anyway, he asked me if I liked the neighborhood, and I answered honestly by saying no. He laughed and said he felt the same way. He asked if anyone had turned their face away when I waved to them yet. I snickered and said no - because no one had ever looked my way, except to tailgate me in the 25 mph zone.

So what's my point?

I know what I don't want when we leave this house in 2-3 years. I don't want to live where people don't know each other, or in a neighborhood that has huge houses. I don't want to live where I can't be a grandma on the block as in Linda's post. I don't want to be isolated behind a gate, where my friends and family can't just drive up to my house.

I do want to have a small, cozy little home in an area of other small, cozy, well-kept homes. I do want people out in their yards, doing yard work, talking about flowers and what new herbs are at the local nursery. Walking their dogs, strolling their babies. I do want to get to know the children, and I do want a mixed neighborhood - with all age groups. I do want an environment of like-minded people, who share a somewhat common goal to live in a peaceful place, perhaps with a community garden. I know they're out there, and I have a feeling I'm not alone in my desires. I'll bet these places will grow, just as this neighborhood was once what people desired.

Maybe we have to experience, as a collective, what we don't want, in order to know what we do.

We are already downsizing - one box to Goodwill at a time. Lately we've been eyeing the furniture - what we will keep and what will go. In this new paradigm, we won't need about half of it.

The next place we buy will be our forever home. It will be carefully considered. It may not even be in this country, maybe it will be some other place our extended family might want to live. We are exploring all options. But wherever it is, it will involve a much simpler existence.

Study Time

Do you ever go through times in your life when you just can't seem to absorb enough information on a subject that interests you? No matter how much you take in - it never seems to be enough? Well, that's how I'm feeling right now. Studying, as if I were still in college and had exams coming up. Studying as if what I'm reading and learning about is of value, I just don't know why, or when. I guess sometimes we just have to go with our intuition and see where it takes us.

If I come up with anything worthy of sharing, I certainly will do so. But I may be sketchy when it comes to blogging for a while. Instead, I'll just drop in on you.

A New Website

I've pretty much distanced myself from mainstream media - especially news programs. The condensation of ownership over the last several years of all the news outlets to only ten companies is very worrisome. Only a few years ago it was 27. Now it's ten. Ten companies are deciding what they will allow us to know about our world. They have us feeding on fear, anger, and hate, in my opinion. I'm much more interested in moving forward. For that we need new information.

I've found a new website I would like to share with you. The Conscious Media Network. I have been spending large tracks of time over the last week or so listening to in-depth interviews with some the authors I've done book reviews on, people I've only heard about, and some that I am so thankful to have been introduced through this medium. (Barbara Marx Hubbard, Women Waking to Purpose, is one example.)

I can't say that I agree with everything everyone has said in these interviews. Some of this stuff is really out there. But the interviews have been done in such a way as to allow the interviewee to be able to explain their theories, thoughts, beliefs, paradigms, in a respectful and calm atmosphere without the hyperbole so common in media today. There is much to choose from. Intelligent, well educated, many of these people are at the top of their respective fields.

You can sign up for three days, free of charge, join for $5 per month or $50 per year. I used my free three days and then joined for a year. Many of you will say it should be free, but please keep in mind that we all have to make a living. This husband and wife team are providing a service. Parts of the website are completely free. It's clear they travel to all parts of the country and world to get these interviews. She also does Regina's Vegetarian Table on PBS, has written two cookbooks, and has a blog. If you're interested you can find the website here.

Now I Know I'm Neurotic

After reading through all the comments from my last post, I've found that I share virtually 90% of all of your phobias. I might not suffer to the extent you do, but they are all on my list of what I like to avoid. From dentists to flying, from freeway driving to spiders, not to mention {{shudder}} doctors, we all share similar stories - at least one thing in our lives that really gives us the willies!

Since I share so many, I think that makes me thoroughly neurotic, LOL!

Phobias

Phobias are one of those things that I think everyone has - at least one. In my case it's doctors, doctor's offices, medical equipment, nurses, or anything that has to do with messing with my body, short of having a hot stone massage. I find myself either surly, or worse in my opinion, desperately insecure, whenever I have to visit the doctor. My blood pressure rises and I have a hard time sitting still while waiting. And waiting is something you do when visiting the doctor. My phobia even as a name - Iatrophobia - a fear of doctors.

At any rate, I am of the age where one has to have preventative tests. The usual mammogram, blood tests, and colonoscopy. Somehow I have managed to dance around not getting any of these tests for two years. I've had good excuses. At one point we were not sure when our insurance would be canceled from a company that had merged with my husband's company and had a contract to pay our insurance for two years. Unfortunately that company went bankrupt six months after the merge. So for the next year we waited to be canceled. Not a good time to have tests that might preclude being able to get insurance at all. We all know insurance companies would like nothing better than to exclude you from any policy for a pre-existing condition. Our health care is now in corporate hands, not doctors.

The dreaded colonoscopy I've managed to avoid for six years. Each year I visit the doctor and the doctor writes an "order" to have it done. I would put it off and, lucky for me, I would move and then have to start all over again. But now I'm back to my original doctor, the one I had six years ago that first sent me  to have it done. I ignored last year's, telling her our insurance had been canceled, which was true, just not at the time she wrote the order. But this year I had absolutely no excuse. I was caught with no way out. I had put it off long enough, and with colon cancer in the family, it was just plain irresponsible.

Phobias are debilitating. They often have absolutely nothing to do with reality, but they keep us from doing things that are in our best interest. And there are many, many different types of phobias, from a phobia of erect penises, Medorthophobia, to gaiety, Cherophobia. You can find a complete list here. Chances are you have a problem with something on the list.

Phobias are treated in a number of ways, some listed here. But I have found from my own experience that using relaxation techniques, combined with actually facing the fear, works well for my phobias. Simply put yourself in a relaxed state and walk through the fear. Do it over and over. In my case, I walked myself through the entire colonoscopy procedure in my mind. I watched myself get up, shower, get dressed, get in the car, etc., all the while feeling relaxed and free of fear. Did it work? Yes. It worked enough to get me there and do what I needed to do without freaking out.

My point is that fear is something that is constructed in the mind, and the mind can help you release the fear. It's more a matter of controlling the thoughts and programming our brains to think the thoughts we want it to be thinking. The body's autonomic nervous system will follow the directions from the brain, and the brain will follow directions from the mind. Does that make any sense?

What about you - any phobias?

Biocentrism

This is one of those books that makes your brain stretch, flex, and yes, even hurt at times. Written by Robert Lanza, MD, one of the most respected scientists in the world, and Bob Berman, world-renowned astronomer, together, these brainiacs attempt to prove that consciousness creates reality. In other words - reality doesn't exist outside of our minds, consciousness (life) creates the Universe. Thanks goodness for that difficult class on Perception I had in college, or this book might have been more difficult for me to understand. That class taught me, above all else, that what we see, what we hear, is actually being constructed in the brain. Light in varying wavelengths enters the pupil, reacts with the rods and cones and sends signals to the back of our brains where we actually see. Yes, we see everything in the back of our heads.

They argue that time and space are only constructs. Our way of making sense of events in our lives. Biocentrism involves the science of the brain, especially neurobiology. It also has some similarities to some of the tenets of Eastern Religions, however it is not a book about religion. Rather, it is a book on the science of who and what we are. Add to that the possibility that a single consciousness pervades everything (solipsism), and you have a book well worth reading.

This book would appeal to anyone interested in the science of consciousness, physics, biology, astronomy, and the nature of mankind. It is worth your time and energy. We are on the precipice of a great understanding that will rock our world as we know it. There is no doubt that these writers will be standing in the forefront.

Hard-Wired to Share

Are we hardwired to be happier when things are equitable? Lynn MacTaggart has written a post about a new study that says just that. You can read the whole thing here.

In my humble opinion, I think that is really the only way to be truly happy. If you think about it - we are often happy when we have good fortune - there is no doubt about that - but what makes us feel bad? For me, it is seeing pictures, reading stories, watching the news, about those so much less fortunate. While we can be happy for ourselves, it is always tempered by the fact that there is so much misery in the world.

What would our world look like if it was an equal playing field? Everyone had enough to eat, a place to live that was clean and comfortable, where everyone lived in harmony and in an environment of peace?  When you suspend the ego, and desire to have more than others, who we really are can be revealed. And if you believe Lynn's post - it's something we are hard-wired to do.

The Magician

I am in the process of learning to read Tarot cards. This is something I've wanted to do for what seems like forever, but other things always seem more important. Not to mention, I have always steered clear of psychics and card readers - mostly because my Christian upbringing seems to have instilled a fear of anything having to do with divination. It's not that I don't believe in psychics, I do believe some people are more sensitive to the world we can't see, but I just haven't had much experience with them, and I've never had my cards "read."

But since I will no longer be defined by fear, I thought I would check out Tarot. Learning for myself seemed like the best approach.

No time like the present. I ordered a book by Trish MacGregor and Phyllis Vega, Power Tarot. The book suggests starting out by picking out one card, writing down the meaning in a diary, and taking time to study how it might be represented in an actual spread. Each day you pick another card, until you learn what each card represents. From the book:

"Spreads form the heart of tarot. They create the stories the cards tell and depict recurring patterns that are both visible and invisible, known and unknown, obvious and hidden."


"Some spreads work best for specific questions, others describe general situations and conditions, and still others answer questions that haven't been asked yet."


It is also suggested that one handle the deck, shuffling, holding, touching, etc., until one feels ready to start. So I've spent the last several days doing just that. I found a spot on my coffee table, and picked them up often. I was ready to begin.

So my first question: "What is the most important card to me in this deck right now?" I cleared my mind, said a positive mantra I always say, asked for the answer to my question, shuffled, felt the cards slip through my fingers one by one and finally, after a minute or so -  eventually chose one.

The card?

The Magician 

"He consciously creates reality through his will and imagination. As an alchemist and transformer, he epitomizes the ability to translate ideas into action. He relies on self confidence, power, and determination to see him through. 


The astrological counterpart of the Magician is Mercury, the planet of mental agility and quickness. He symbolizes creative intelligence, psychic discovery, new beginnings, and the realization that with desire, intent, and focus, all our dreams are within our reach."


Hmmm, sounds a little bit like my belief system already. This may prove interesting.

Widgets and Other Changes

You'll notice some changes on my sidebars. I'm looking at new widgets and playing around. You may notice that I deleted my 'favorites' blog roll. It had become unmanageable, and many were of people that I have not heard from in ages, nor have I visited them. I'll follow up on comments, and continue to read your blogs on my dashboard reader. Many of you have inspired me with your new looks, not to mention your new voices. It's really great - especially to meet new blogging friends.

Any cool widget ideas?

The Awakening

I borrowed these videos from I.E.T. Intelligent Emotional Truths. This is a new blog that I've recently found, if interested, please stop by.

I know I'm into videos these days, but they seem to express my feelings better than I can. Maybe because this last week has been spent chasing my two-year-old grandson and 3 month-old grandpuppy!

These videos help me to feel better about the world, and all that seems to be going wrong. Maybe it's meant to be this way. Maybe we are meant to want something different, and only in the extreme desire for equality, will it be able to come to fruition.





What do you think?

Years of Study in a Nutshell

This series, The Science of Miracles by Gregg Braden takes complex material related to science and spirituality and puts it into an easy-to-understand format. Reiterating the importance of prayer and positive, peaceful, thoughts, this series has much to offer. There are seven parts, between five and ten minutes each. If you choose to watch some or all of it, please let me know what you think:



You can find part two here.

The Book of Destiny

This book by Carlos Barrios was the one suggested to me by the young man in the San Francisco airport. It was a good read, and promises new prophecies from Mayan elders in the very near future.

Mr. Barrios is a Shaman and Member of the Mayan Elders Council. He has studied his heritage for many years, living among sages of the Mayan culture. It is with this background that he brings us information, some of which has never been disclosed. The Mayans used 20 different calendars, only one of which ends on December 21, 2012, ending a cycle of 5,200 years. It is this calendar that is causing so much interest because of Mayan prophecies that have proven to be incredibly accurate. The war in Iraq, the Twin Towers, India and Pakistan, Israel and Palestine, the tsunamis, earthquakes, and floods are just some examples.

They believe we are reaching a transcendent period, predicted by many of the world's great traditions and visionaries. That the 2012 date is not the end of the world, but a time when one cycle will end and another will begin. The actual cleansing of the earth of much of humanity will happen during the years leading up to December 21, 2012, and can be avoided if we wake up now to what we are doing to Mother Earth.  


The years after this date are a time when harmony and knowledge will prevail. 

A large part of the book is about Mayan astrology. It was believed that each person is born in a snapshot of time, that we all have certain characteristics, flaws, strengths and weaknesses. The Mayan astrology is meant to help each person fulfill his or her destiny. I found it to be very accurate in regard to myself.

This book would appeal to anyone interesting in prophecy, the future, personal destiny, the Mayan culture, history, astrology, or the Pleiades, which is a star system that shows up, literally, in all religious books, and somewhere in the history of every country in the world. This will be a separate post, at a later date.

All in all, I'm glad I listened to that young man and bought this book. It will go into my personal library and referred to often, I'm sure.  If you ask for guidance - look for the answer - it might come from an unlikely guide.

Rainbow Ridge Farm

In the spirit of supporting small business, I thought I would introduce you to my new favorite soap. It is made from Nigerian dwarf dairy goat's milk. And it is heavenly! I live in a very dry climate - we have about 7 inches of rain per year - you can imagine what that does to the skin. The bars are hand wrapped in parchment paper and look very special.

This small operation is located in Maui, Hawaii, and supports a small cottage industry, that also supports many local charities. All of the soaps are made from fresh natural ingredients, and you can even get a Maui Mutt bar to wash your dog that includes eucalyptus and tee tree oil, for fighting those (damn) fleas. (Not that we have any at our altitude, but it makes Lucy smell nice.) My favorite is lavender-lemon verbena. My husband likes the ones with more masculine scents such as sandalwood. For someone who has never paid any attention to his soap - he now informs me when he is running low. I think it's the surfing warrior depicted on his favorite bar...

It may cost a bit more, but it lasts for a very long time! I think this is going to be my gifts this holiday season.