Well, here it is again: another ‘Black Friday.’ It was only a couple of years ago that I learned the meaning of the term. Nothing particularly dire about it. Nothing dark and ominous. It is simply the one day of the year when retailers hope to be operating in the black, or to finally achieve some profit for the year.
That is a sad commentary on our economy.
It indicates to me that even though employees are paid pitiful wages in the retail business, the companies are not operating in a manner conducive to profit-making. Their overheads are too high, Their stock is misjudged, their inventory is too deep or too broad. Their advertising is too expensive and too ineffective. And they have completely misunderstood their demographic and not made proper decisions based on economic variables. They struggle through greed, trying to get ahead of everyone else: competing with other stores that may have a better edge due to capitalization, smaller debt, wiser choices, happier staff or even just a frugal business plan.
Too much. Too much. Too much.
Packing hundreds of miles of shelves with merchandise that is unnecessary and poorly made, not to mention technologically obsolete even before it is displayed is a very good way to fail in business.
Waste Waste Waste.
Excessive packaging: Hard to open plastic is sometimes even dangerous to open. Several times I have cut myself, not on knife or scissor trying to force my way into a purchase, but on the plastic packaging itself. Why is it like that? Who thought it would be a good idea to package products that way?
The inventory in many stores reminds me of the adage about if you throw enough s--t at the wall, some of it is sure to stick. Waste is built in to the system of our economy. Where I work, we receive hundreds more newspapers and magazines than we could ever hope to sell in the allotted time. They are discarded. In most bookstores, paperback books that do not sell after a time are stripped of their covers and put in the trash, same as the unpurchased magazines. Nothing is donated to schools, prisons, libraries, retirement homes or homeless shelters. Why not? Greed. If it isn’t purchased, then they do not want anyone to have it.
Grocery stores throw away tons of food, including meat, on a daily and weekly basis. Do they offer it to those who know what to do with something that may be past its prime? No. Do they donate wilted produce to bunny rescue organizations? No. Do they buy too much product with expiration dates that could never be sold before the dreaded date comes around? Does anyone realize that expired cold medicine and aspirin are not harmful? It is only marginally less effective (maybe.) There are times when expiration dates are helpful. On other items, the dates are simply designed to get you to throw out the product and run out and buy more.
The economic system we have is failing us from the top down and from the bottom up. Buy or save? Spend or invest? Tithe? Or bury it in the backyard? Time to re-think what we, as individuals, are doing and what we can do to change this damaged system. It may be time to stop patching it and re-inflating the bald tires. It may be time to work together to develop a new economy. I think it would look different than any we may have seen on Earth in thousands of years. I think it might be one based in the heart and then the mind instead of the other way around.
Economy is made up of four factors that I know of: time; a medium of exchange; product; and a need for a product. Beyond that, what humanity does to make exchanges of goods and services is the variable factor in designing an economic system.
I would like for my readers to enter into a discourse on this topic and kick around some ideas on what might work, how something fresh could look and how it might be put into place. Any takers?
Friday, November 26, 2010
Saturday, October 23, 2010
DESPOILING THE SACRED (It's All Too Much # 8)
DESPOILING THE SACRED:
How Much Paper? A Bit Too Much Perhaps?
As I drive around or look out my front windows and view the lovely array of trees growing here in central Tennessee, I try to imagine the vastness of leaves in the world. How many leaves on that tree? Or this one? How many leaves are there on the average tree, if there is such a thing? For statistical purposes, I suppose an arborist or botanist could come up with a figure. Then there would be a separate figure for the number of needles on a pine… I boggle my mind with these thoughts… How many leaves are there in the world?
And yet, with the rain forests and other woodlands disappearing to the blades of the timber industry and the bulldozers of developers, how many have been lost? How many trees, how many leaves, how much potential for oxygen production and CO2 absorption?
Breathe deeply. It is necessary to breathe more deeply to accommodate the thinner mix we are left with. The same could be said for the kelp beds which in some areas of the seas have become sadly endangered.
How many pieces of paper are there in the world? Perhaps as many as the current leaf population. Such conjecture is unfounded and unprovable, yet it is food for thought.
If every American must deal with the same amount of paper in their lives as that which pours into my life from assorted sources, then the number would be incomprehensible to me. My unfounded guess is that not very many other countries would use the same per capita volume of paper each day, week, month or year as here in America.
“Oops! That’s a bad copy. Let me make another.” “Oh goody! Another envelope from Publisher’s Clearing House.” Every single EOB form from my insurance company sends with it a sheet of paper telling how to file a disagreement. It is the same thing each time, and also, if three EOBs come in the same envelope(good they are saving envelops and postage) they still send three of those crazy repetitive complaint forms with it.
Sell a house. Buy a house. The stacks of papers to sign is nearly six inches thick. How thick is the Obama Health Care Plan and how many copies have been printed?
Where I work we sell newspapers, among other things. On average, we sell about thirty copies of a given newspaper per day. They bring us ninety. Why? Then they pick up the leftovers. Someone said they recycle them into cellulose insulation or something. Why print all those extras in the first place?
Paperback books. Same story.
We despoil the sacred trees in an arboristic form of mass genocide, then we make paper, which we despoil with inanities and annoyances. When the used paper is not recycled, then even more trees are cut to grind into pulp for the creation of yet more paper products which will largely go unused, wasted or soiled and spoiled.
Do we not know that paper, because of its sources and the Source of its sources, is a sacred thing?
Worthy endeavors are worth the use of paper. Art, literature, currency*, first editions of new books and reprints of old classics, library books, reference, research and text books, wallpaper, stationary, greeting cards, and personal notes can all be deemed worthy uses of paper. I’m sure there are others.
But, overruns of mass market paperbacks, overruns of newspapers and magazines, excessive and unnecessary packaging materials** advertising junk mail and duplicates of duplicates in corporate cube farms are a sad, sad waste of paper… of trees.
The First Amendment to our Constitution of the United States declares most rightly, that we all have the right of free speech. That does not guarantee us the right to be wasteful. Some discretion must be used in publishing, advertising, the business world and government.
The written word is powerful and wonderful, and as a writer, I am fully supportive of writing in all avenues of endeavor. I do believe, however, that all industries from advertising to publishing to law and government, should take it upon themselves to plant a tree or donate to the Arbor Day Foundation for every ream of paper they consume. And I support the immediate cessation of any and all cutting of old-growth forests.
The planting needs to happen where things have already been cut, and not used to justify fresh cutting. Tree farms will be sufficient for the building and papermill industries. If that makes prices of paper and wood go up a little bit, then so be it. The price of a magazine will increase, but it will not matter because those who want to read it will do so anyway.
*I am surprised by how many people disrespect even the money they carry with them. So many times the money I take at the cash register at work is not only filthy, but is handed to me wadded up and crumpled like so much used toilet paper, or folded and refolded and drawn and written on. If we can respect the money that represents our abundance and livelihood, then what do we respect?
**Paper packaging is wasteful, but plastic packaging is another whole subject for another day!
How Much Paper? A Bit Too Much Perhaps?
As I drive around or look out my front windows and view the lovely array of trees growing here in central Tennessee, I try to imagine the vastness of leaves in the world. How many leaves on that tree? Or this one? How many leaves are there on the average tree, if there is such a thing? For statistical purposes, I suppose an arborist or botanist could come up with a figure. Then there would be a separate figure for the number of needles on a pine… I boggle my mind with these thoughts… How many leaves are there in the world?
And yet, with the rain forests and other woodlands disappearing to the blades of the timber industry and the bulldozers of developers, how many have been lost? How many trees, how many leaves, how much potential for oxygen production and CO2 absorption?
Breathe deeply. It is necessary to breathe more deeply to accommodate the thinner mix we are left with. The same could be said for the kelp beds which in some areas of the seas have become sadly endangered.
How many pieces of paper are there in the world? Perhaps as many as the current leaf population. Such conjecture is unfounded and unprovable, yet it is food for thought.
If every American must deal with the same amount of paper in their lives as that which pours into my life from assorted sources, then the number would be incomprehensible to me. My unfounded guess is that not very many other countries would use the same per capita volume of paper each day, week, month or year as here in America.
“Oops! That’s a bad copy. Let me make another.” “Oh goody! Another envelope from Publisher’s Clearing House.” Every single EOB form from my insurance company sends with it a sheet of paper telling how to file a disagreement. It is the same thing each time, and also, if three EOBs come in the same envelope(good they are saving envelops and postage) they still send three of those crazy repetitive complaint forms with it.
Sell a house. Buy a house. The stacks of papers to sign is nearly six inches thick. How thick is the Obama Health Care Plan and how many copies have been printed?
Where I work we sell newspapers, among other things. On average, we sell about thirty copies of a given newspaper per day. They bring us ninety. Why? Then they pick up the leftovers. Someone said they recycle them into cellulose insulation or something. Why print all those extras in the first place?
Paperback books. Same story.
We despoil the sacred trees in an arboristic form of mass genocide, then we make paper, which we despoil with inanities and annoyances. When the used paper is not recycled, then even more trees are cut to grind into pulp for the creation of yet more paper products which will largely go unused, wasted or soiled and spoiled.
Do we not know that paper, because of its sources and the Source of its sources, is a sacred thing?
Worthy endeavors are worth the use of paper. Art, literature, currency*, first editions of new books and reprints of old classics, library books, reference, research and text books, wallpaper, stationary, greeting cards, and personal notes can all be deemed worthy uses of paper. I’m sure there are others.
But, overruns of mass market paperbacks, overruns of newspapers and magazines, excessive and unnecessary packaging materials** advertising junk mail and duplicates of duplicates in corporate cube farms are a sad, sad waste of paper… of trees.
The First Amendment to our Constitution of the United States declares most rightly, that we all have the right of free speech. That does not guarantee us the right to be wasteful. Some discretion must be used in publishing, advertising, the business world and government.
The written word is powerful and wonderful, and as a writer, I am fully supportive of writing in all avenues of endeavor. I do believe, however, that all industries from advertising to publishing to law and government, should take it upon themselves to plant a tree or donate to the Arbor Day Foundation for every ream of paper they consume. And I support the immediate cessation of any and all cutting of old-growth forests.
The planting needs to happen where things have already been cut, and not used to justify fresh cutting. Tree farms will be sufficient for the building and papermill industries. If that makes prices of paper and wood go up a little bit, then so be it. The price of a magazine will increase, but it will not matter because those who want to read it will do so anyway.
*I am surprised by how many people disrespect even the money they carry with them. So many times the money I take at the cash register at work is not only filthy, but is handed to me wadded up and crumpled like so much used toilet paper, or folded and refolded and drawn and written on. If we can respect the money that represents our abundance and livelihood, then what do we respect?
**Paper packaging is wasteful, but plastic packaging is another whole subject for another day!
Monday, October 11, 2010
# 7: STUFF, STUFFING, AND DESTUFFING OUR LIVES
Issue #7 A Harsh Look at Stuff
It’s All Too Much, Isn’t It?
Nearly everyone I know has or has had too much stuff in their lives. We accumulate stuff for various reasons, such as fear and insecurity, loneliness, guilt, or boredom. I’ll bet you can think of a few other reasons. Sometimes it seems there was no reason at all. The stuff just slowly appeared.
I got out of college and I had some clothes, a foot locker, a few dishes, a hot plate and a couple of pans. I had some stuffed animals, a couple decks of cards, a dice game, and some books, some toiletries and sheets, towels and a couple of blankets. It all fit nicely into my ’68 Chevy BelAire.
The guy I had met in college had a kitchen in his Des Moines apartment that was set up by his mother, a real Joy of Cooking aficionado… her, not her son. So most cooking we did was at his place.
I moved to Boone and took a job as a news journalist, weekend editor, feature writer, etc. In taking the job, I also took the apartment of the fellow whose job I wound up with. With the apartment, came a coffee table and a wire cage containing two gerbils.
My guy followed me to Boone and got a place across town and a couple of jobs.
I got a ring.
We got a place together. And a tank of fish. And some furniture.
We got married and received tons of stuff, including an antique cherry drop leaf table.
There were souvenirs of the wedding and souvenirs of the honeymoon. The stuff accumulated.
We moved when he became a cop. More stuff appeared: guns, targets, more clothes, a constant influx of books. And a dog, my dog: Fluffy was pregnant, so we took her from my parents to make a good home for her.
We got kicked out for smuggling a dog in and out of the window of the apartment, so we rented a house: three bedrooms, 928 square feet. Soon, it was all full. Of course the puppies had arrived and accoutrements began to collect. Bowls, toys, beds, blankies, and oh yes, somewhere along the way a second pair of gerbils had joined our household.
So fish, a wayward snail named Speedy, four gerbils, three dogs and a partridge in a pear tree. Well, not actually, but there was a parakeet for a short time. He was a real screamer. The bird soon went to live with another policeman who raised parakeets. Owlie turned out to be quite a little egg layer, and was soon a mother. I guess he was a she. A brief experience with a kitten shocked us into realizing that vertical surfaces were fair game and the kitten went to live with a cat lady.
Stuff. We sold a lot of stuff before moving to Florida. A small rental house awaited us. Then a move to a bigger rental we shared with a friend. Then she bought a duplex. We rented half. We got a windfall and were informed we had to spend it on a house of our own. (bad advice from an accountant) 900 square feet or so had always seemed about right, even though it may have grown a bit cramped with stuff.
So we built a new house. 3,660 square feet is just about four times larger than what we were accustomed to. So what did we do? We promptly began to fill it with stuff. The stuff we had did not begin to fill it up. We had to get more stuff. And so we did.
Too much stuff. And now, post-divorce, and no longer in Florida, I find myself with enough stuff to supply maybe 3 large families with adequate stuff. Garage sale-ing has been a slow way to divest myself of stuff. Many more weekends shall be taken up by baring my retail soul to the passing public. I’m Craigslisting also, and thinking of giving Half.com a try.
The goal: Freedom through simplicity. Eventually I will spend much less time and money maintaining and warehousing stuff. This house, which is on the market, is about 2800 square feet. It’s full, but the dogs and I only live in three rooms of it: kitchen, bedroom, and ‘dog den,’ plus the bathrooms. Oh yeah, Munchie eats in a wee corner of the dining room to keep him from fighting with the others. Mealtime crating could also solve that issue. The rest of it is storage for furniture, books and miscellanea.
Having lost three of my six dogs this past year or so, I see clearly how having TOO MUCH in the way of pets can really complicate your life. I miss Tucker, Bob and Sierra fiercely, but know now that three is my absolute limit for sane living. Eventually it will be two and I do not intend to go beyond that.
In my garage sale, I have a number of purses for sale. Almost new, they are the result of choices based on color more than anything else. Are they cute? Damn straight they’re cute. Useful? Not so much. To me, a soft-sided purse is a collapsing star. You put something in it and the black hole enfolds itself over the item and you may never see it again, unless it is ejected by some cosmic mishap, like a spillage. It makes a nice show but you wouldn’t want to live there.
I stumbled across a web site earlier today that promised the ultimate in bags. Every single bag I looked at had some issue taking it out of the running for me. (except one, but I won’t get it due to the aforementioned financial difficulties). Anyhow, there were thousands. I do not know how many thousands, but certainly the styles and designers outnumber the population of Great Britain and the Commonwealth.
Point? Too many choices. In many cases the distinguishing characteristics amounted to nothing but variations in the shape and amount of bling. Why are so many resources used to make so many worthless purses? It is a competition based fundamentally on greed, I think. The creativity that has been spent on the various designs only makes them different enough to not be copies of basic patterns. It’s All Too Much!
Point? I think perhaps I will decorate an empty paint bucket and carry my stuff in that. It’s the right size. It’s got a sturdy handle, and hard sides to keep it from collapsing. I’d rather it were rectangular instead of round, but hey, sometimes our choices are not perfect even when they are the best at the time.
So, here’s the deal.
I am in this uncomfortable financial, emotional and physical situation because of the choices I have made. I have chosen to seek security in the accumulation of stuff. What I have found instead of security, is enslavement.
As goes the individual, so goes the nation. Who said that? Not sure, but it is demonstrated to be true over and over again. We as individuals have overspent ourselves into various levels of personal financial crisis. America has overspent itself into a state of unprecedented and perilous financial crisis.
As I work to excavate myself from this dark pit of debt, I pray that America will begin to follow suit.
Let’s save America one individual at a time. Join me in my quest for debt free, low impact living.
My first step has been to stop all spending. Now I only buy gasoline, food, and replacement clothing for work. Okay, confession time, the hardest thing to give up has been buying books and, I’m tapering off rapidly. The only books I’ve purchased recently were used books, for mere pennies. But I’ve taken a lesson from several of my bookstore browsers (cannot call them customers since they do not buy, only browse). I use my cell phone to take shots of books that I want. It’s like a cooling off period. If I’m still really interested in the book, I can borrow it at a library or get it used for pennies. Meanwhile, I no longer whip out the credit card, and I also leave the debit card tucked away safely.
Converting to a cash-only basis is a challenging adjustment, but I was surprised to find that it actually feels good.
Some contend that ceasing spending will further ruin the economy. I agree it will have impact, but I think it should be looked at as a transformation rather than a ruination. The future will be different than the present. We know that. It’s a given. And that is a topic for another issue.
Be Well
Victoria
It’s All Too Much, Isn’t It?
Nearly everyone I know has or has had too much stuff in their lives. We accumulate stuff for various reasons, such as fear and insecurity, loneliness, guilt, or boredom. I’ll bet you can think of a few other reasons. Sometimes it seems there was no reason at all. The stuff just slowly appeared.
I got out of college and I had some clothes, a foot locker, a few dishes, a hot plate and a couple of pans. I had some stuffed animals, a couple decks of cards, a dice game, and some books, some toiletries and sheets, towels and a couple of blankets. It all fit nicely into my ’68 Chevy BelAire.
The guy I had met in college had a kitchen in his Des Moines apartment that was set up by his mother, a real Joy of Cooking aficionado… her, not her son. So most cooking we did was at his place.
I moved to Boone and took a job as a news journalist, weekend editor, feature writer, etc. In taking the job, I also took the apartment of the fellow whose job I wound up with. With the apartment, came a coffee table and a wire cage containing two gerbils.
My guy followed me to Boone and got a place across town and a couple of jobs.
I got a ring.
We got a place together. And a tank of fish. And some furniture.
We got married and received tons of stuff, including an antique cherry drop leaf table.
There were souvenirs of the wedding and souvenirs of the honeymoon. The stuff accumulated.
We moved when he became a cop. More stuff appeared: guns, targets, more clothes, a constant influx of books. And a dog, my dog: Fluffy was pregnant, so we took her from my parents to make a good home for her.
We got kicked out for smuggling a dog in and out of the window of the apartment, so we rented a house: three bedrooms, 928 square feet. Soon, it was all full. Of course the puppies had arrived and accoutrements began to collect. Bowls, toys, beds, blankies, and oh yes, somewhere along the way a second pair of gerbils had joined our household.
So fish, a wayward snail named Speedy, four gerbils, three dogs and a partridge in a pear tree. Well, not actually, but there was a parakeet for a short time. He was a real screamer. The bird soon went to live with another policeman who raised parakeets. Owlie turned out to be quite a little egg layer, and was soon a mother. I guess he was a she. A brief experience with a kitten shocked us into realizing that vertical surfaces were fair game and the kitten went to live with a cat lady.
Stuff. We sold a lot of stuff before moving to Florida. A small rental house awaited us. Then a move to a bigger rental we shared with a friend. Then she bought a duplex. We rented half. We got a windfall and were informed we had to spend it on a house of our own. (bad advice from an accountant) 900 square feet or so had always seemed about right, even though it may have grown a bit cramped with stuff.
So we built a new house. 3,660 square feet is just about four times larger than what we were accustomed to. So what did we do? We promptly began to fill it with stuff. The stuff we had did not begin to fill it up. We had to get more stuff. And so we did.
Too much stuff. And now, post-divorce, and no longer in Florida, I find myself with enough stuff to supply maybe 3 large families with adequate stuff. Garage sale-ing has been a slow way to divest myself of stuff. Many more weekends shall be taken up by baring my retail soul to the passing public. I’m Craigslisting also, and thinking of giving Half.com a try.
The goal: Freedom through simplicity. Eventually I will spend much less time and money maintaining and warehousing stuff. This house, which is on the market, is about 2800 square feet. It’s full, but the dogs and I only live in three rooms of it: kitchen, bedroom, and ‘dog den,’ plus the bathrooms. Oh yeah, Munchie eats in a wee corner of the dining room to keep him from fighting with the others. Mealtime crating could also solve that issue. The rest of it is storage for furniture, books and miscellanea.
Having lost three of my six dogs this past year or so, I see clearly how having TOO MUCH in the way of pets can really complicate your life. I miss Tucker, Bob and Sierra fiercely, but know now that three is my absolute limit for sane living. Eventually it will be two and I do not intend to go beyond that.
In my garage sale, I have a number of purses for sale. Almost new, they are the result of choices based on color more than anything else. Are they cute? Damn straight they’re cute. Useful? Not so much. To me, a soft-sided purse is a collapsing star. You put something in it and the black hole enfolds itself over the item and you may never see it again, unless it is ejected by some cosmic mishap, like a spillage. It makes a nice show but you wouldn’t want to live there.
I stumbled across a web site earlier today that promised the ultimate in bags. Every single bag I looked at had some issue taking it out of the running for me. (except one, but I won’t get it due to the aforementioned financial difficulties). Anyhow, there were thousands. I do not know how many thousands, but certainly the styles and designers outnumber the population of Great Britain and the Commonwealth.
Point? Too many choices. In many cases the distinguishing characteristics amounted to nothing but variations in the shape and amount of bling. Why are so many resources used to make so many worthless purses? It is a competition based fundamentally on greed, I think. The creativity that has been spent on the various designs only makes them different enough to not be copies of basic patterns. It’s All Too Much!
Point? I think perhaps I will decorate an empty paint bucket and carry my stuff in that. It’s the right size. It’s got a sturdy handle, and hard sides to keep it from collapsing. I’d rather it were rectangular instead of round, but hey, sometimes our choices are not perfect even when they are the best at the time.
So, here’s the deal.
I am in this uncomfortable financial, emotional and physical situation because of the choices I have made. I have chosen to seek security in the accumulation of stuff. What I have found instead of security, is enslavement.
As goes the individual, so goes the nation. Who said that? Not sure, but it is demonstrated to be true over and over again. We as individuals have overspent ourselves into various levels of personal financial crisis. America has overspent itself into a state of unprecedented and perilous financial crisis.
As I work to excavate myself from this dark pit of debt, I pray that America will begin to follow suit.
Let’s save America one individual at a time. Join me in my quest for debt free, low impact living.
My first step has been to stop all spending. Now I only buy gasoline, food, and replacement clothing for work. Okay, confession time, the hardest thing to give up has been buying books and, I’m tapering off rapidly. The only books I’ve purchased recently were used books, for mere pennies. But I’ve taken a lesson from several of my bookstore browsers (cannot call them customers since they do not buy, only browse). I use my cell phone to take shots of books that I want. It’s like a cooling off period. If I’m still really interested in the book, I can borrow it at a library or get it used for pennies. Meanwhile, I no longer whip out the credit card, and I also leave the debit card tucked away safely.
Converting to a cash-only basis is a challenging adjustment, but I was surprised to find that it actually feels good.
Some contend that ceasing spending will further ruin the economy. I agree it will have impact, but I think it should be looked at as a transformation rather than a ruination. The future will be different than the present. We know that. It’s a given. And that is a topic for another issue.
Be Well
Victoria
Sunday, September 12, 2010
How Did This Happen to Me? Blog # 6
It’s All Too Much
Quite suddenly, I find myself faced with impending foreclosure and on this day, 9/11/2010 Yes the 9th anniversary of the terrible attacks on our nation) I find myself attacked. I am a victim only of my own poor choices and bad decisions and of course, failing in my marriage.
I must move out of my house prior to October 13th, or the people who do these things will come here and place me, my dogs and all of our belongings out in the ditch (we have no curbs in this neighborhood) and we will be deciding if Tent City is our only option or not.
Following ill-advised ‘legal advice,’ I find, although I tout the principles of simplicity, ethics, and good stewardship, I am now reaping the spoils of poor stewardship that I could or would not see myself committing for the past twenty years.
There are so many ‘if onlies’ that come to mind. They are nothing but stumbling blocks at this point, unless I make sure to learn from them. If given an opportunity in the future, I will certainly comport myself differently.
If I had even half the money I have spent on books during the past twenty-five years (many of which have not even been read) I would not be in this situation. Creditors will not take books or other goods, they are not barterers, but operate only on a cash basis.
If you have been reading my blogs, you will see that I have shared with you some pearls of wisdom along the way. This is one of the most important practical things I can share with you today:
Get out and stay out of debt. Never purchase anything you cannot afford to purchase for cash. Credit is a temptation from the dark side. Become a cash- only person. Spend cash when you must, or use a debit card if you have to, drawing only on what is actually in your bank account. Save for contingencies and unexpected pop-ups. Invest only in things that have real value that will always appreciate (if there is such a thing) and be smart, aware, and wise to the ‘moneychangers’. Know this: in spite of the old laws on the books to prohibit it, usury is alive and well in the world today, turning well-meaning ordinary folks into serfs and slaves.
Here is an important article I want to share with all of you:
Click here: Secrets of the debt-collection biz uncovered by a reporter
So, just so you are aware, sometime in the next several weeks, I may not be able to post regularly. If I am living on the street, it might be a problem using electricity and the internet.
I looked at an apartment last night. It had no room for my bed. 400 square feet for $630.00. It is the first place I’ve seen. It was wonderful location and landlady-wise, but Add storage fees and I might as well live in storage… Didn’t Kramer do that at one point? Someone did. I think it’s illegal.
I apologize for this posting. It is not solution-oriented as I strive for. That is because no solutions have occurred to me. I just want to be forthright with my readers and perhaps, if you could offer some feedback it would help me to find the solution to all of this. I cannot say that prayer has not worked. On the contrary. My heartfelt distaste for where I live and why I live here is coming home to roost. I did not realize how fond I am of this solid brick ‘money pit’ until faced with the utter loss of it. It is a perfect example of the song:
Our thoughts are prayers
And we are always praying
Our thoughts are prayers
Listen to what you saying
Seek a higher consciousness
A state of peacefulness
And know that God is always there
For every thought becomes a prayer.
It is true, what is said: “All prayers are answered”
It is also true: “Be careful what you pray for”
Remember: WORDS ARE POWER
Love to all
Victoria
Quite suddenly, I find myself faced with impending foreclosure and on this day, 9/11/2010 Yes the 9th anniversary of the terrible attacks on our nation) I find myself attacked. I am a victim only of my own poor choices and bad decisions and of course, failing in my marriage.
I must move out of my house prior to October 13th, or the people who do these things will come here and place me, my dogs and all of our belongings out in the ditch (we have no curbs in this neighborhood) and we will be deciding if Tent City is our only option or not.
Following ill-advised ‘legal advice,’ I find, although I tout the principles of simplicity, ethics, and good stewardship, I am now reaping the spoils of poor stewardship that I could or would not see myself committing for the past twenty years.
There are so many ‘if onlies’ that come to mind. They are nothing but stumbling blocks at this point, unless I make sure to learn from them. If given an opportunity in the future, I will certainly comport myself differently.
If I had even half the money I have spent on books during the past twenty-five years (many of which have not even been read) I would not be in this situation. Creditors will not take books or other goods, they are not barterers, but operate only on a cash basis.
If you have been reading my blogs, you will see that I have shared with you some pearls of wisdom along the way. This is one of the most important practical things I can share with you today:
Get out and stay out of debt. Never purchase anything you cannot afford to purchase for cash. Credit is a temptation from the dark side. Become a cash- only person. Spend cash when you must, or use a debit card if you have to, drawing only on what is actually in your bank account. Save for contingencies and unexpected pop-ups. Invest only in things that have real value that will always appreciate (if there is such a thing) and be smart, aware, and wise to the ‘moneychangers’. Know this: in spite of the old laws on the books to prohibit it, usury is alive and well in the world today, turning well-meaning ordinary folks into serfs and slaves.
Here is an important article I want to share with all of you:
Click here: Secrets of the debt-collection biz uncovered by a reporter
So, just so you are aware, sometime in the next several weeks, I may not be able to post regularly. If I am living on the street, it might be a problem using electricity and the internet.
I looked at an apartment last night. It had no room for my bed. 400 square feet for $630.00. It is the first place I’ve seen. It was wonderful location and landlady-wise, but Add storage fees and I might as well live in storage… Didn’t Kramer do that at one point? Someone did. I think it’s illegal.
I apologize for this posting. It is not solution-oriented as I strive for. That is because no solutions have occurred to me. I just want to be forthright with my readers and perhaps, if you could offer some feedback it would help me to find the solution to all of this. I cannot say that prayer has not worked. On the contrary. My heartfelt distaste for where I live and why I live here is coming home to roost. I did not realize how fond I am of this solid brick ‘money pit’ until faced with the utter loss of it. It is a perfect example of the song:
Our thoughts are prayers
And we are always praying
Our thoughts are prayers
Listen to what you saying
Seek a higher consciousness
A state of peacefulness
And know that God is always there
For every thought becomes a prayer.
It is true, what is said: “All prayers are answered”
It is also true: “Be careful what you pray for”
Remember: WORDS ARE POWER
Love to all
Victoria
Wednesday, September 1, 2010
Too Much? Simplify
Simple Simplify Simplicity
It's All Too Much #5
‘Tis a gift to be simple ‘tis a gift to be free
‘Tis a gift to come down where we ought to be
And when we find ourselves in a place just right
We’ll be in a valley of love and delight
When true simplicity is gained
To bow and to bend
We shan’t be ashamed
To turn, turn will be a delight
For by turning and turning we’ll come ‘round right.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=amcGIfMu0bw (copy and paste for link)
That little song, a standard of the Shakers, has a profound message. Of course there are those naysayers who will say it is too radical, to subservient, or too something else. Well, if we could just simplify our outlook and find the succulent tidbit of truth within for each of us, then perhaps criticism could be curtailed.
You may know, there is a monthly magazine devoted to simplifying your life. This somewhat oxymoronic publication is thicker than Cosmo and filled to overflowing with advertisements for all the things you have to purchase in order to make your life simple. The articles themselves are mainly more recommendations for things that assure you will simplify your life, thus leaving you more time for you.
I have yet to achieve my desired state of simplicity, but I know it will entail removing things from my life, not acquiring more things to hold and organize the things that already have me overstuffed.
I am not planning to join a convent or move to Lancaster County. I simply want to lighten my load and free myself of the burdens of past choices that have weighed me down.
Seems to me that Madison Avenue, much like the Pharisees, Sadducees and the Catholic hierarchy have striven to alter the fundamental meanings of certain words, to bend them to their own use.
Meekness
Stewardship
Simplicity
These, to me, are the most glaring examples.
But then, to further point a finger, the word ‘acedia’ has been almost totally excised from dictionaries, from common usage, and even from acknowledgement by the clergy who exist to help us with our spiritual and emotional needs.
Meekness, as we discussed in a prior blog post, is, according to Jesus best defined as ‘moderation.’
Stewardship is caretaking and watching over, as a shepherd with a flock, or a mother with a toddler.
Simple means to be uncomplicated, easy, without worry over excessive concerns.
These words are virtues to be attained in order to achieve inner peace. Inner peace leads ultimately to outer peace.
It begins right here. Inside of you. Inside of me. As I am the center of my own universe, you are the center of your universe. Our individual universes (auric fields) interact, and impose influence on each other and with all of those who inhabit this planet.
The principle of the monkeys applies here. You know the story, It was observed by a biologist in the field, that one day, a monkey went down to the lake and washed his fruit before he ate it. Next day he did it again. The following day, another monkey joined him in fruit-washing. And on it went. One day there were half a dozen monkeys washing their fruit, the next day, all the monkeys on the island had joined them. At the same time, tribes of monkeys on other isolated islands began to also wash their fruit.
We are looking to achieve a shift in consciousness on a planet-wide basis. To do this we begin where we are. With diligence, sharing, and sincerity, we will achieve the critical mass to alter the direction humanity is headed. Like the monkeys, we will influence our greater society for the good.
Looking for grandiose, complicated, dazzling political solutions does not work. How many times have we seen huge efforts fail to do anything but palliate, placate and ultimately alienate?
May Peace and Joy and Simplicity and Meekness reign within you.
Blessed Be
Victoria Lea
It's All Too Much #5
‘Tis a gift to be simple ‘tis a gift to be free
‘Tis a gift to come down where we ought to be
And when we find ourselves in a place just right
We’ll be in a valley of love and delight
When true simplicity is gained
To bow and to bend
We shan’t be ashamed
To turn, turn will be a delight
For by turning and turning we’ll come ‘round right.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=amcGIfMu0bw (copy and paste for link)
That little song, a standard of the Shakers, has a profound message. Of course there are those naysayers who will say it is too radical, to subservient, or too something else. Well, if we could just simplify our outlook and find the succulent tidbit of truth within for each of us, then perhaps criticism could be curtailed.
You may know, there is a monthly magazine devoted to simplifying your life. This somewhat oxymoronic publication is thicker than Cosmo and filled to overflowing with advertisements for all the things you have to purchase in order to make your life simple. The articles themselves are mainly more recommendations for things that assure you will simplify your life, thus leaving you more time for you.
I have yet to achieve my desired state of simplicity, but I know it will entail removing things from my life, not acquiring more things to hold and organize the things that already have me overstuffed.
I am not planning to join a convent or move to Lancaster County. I simply want to lighten my load and free myself of the burdens of past choices that have weighed me down.
Seems to me that Madison Avenue, much like the Pharisees, Sadducees and the Catholic hierarchy have striven to alter the fundamental meanings of certain words, to bend them to their own use.
Meekness
Stewardship
Simplicity
These, to me, are the most glaring examples.
But then, to further point a finger, the word ‘acedia’ has been almost totally excised from dictionaries, from common usage, and even from acknowledgement by the clergy who exist to help us with our spiritual and emotional needs.
Meekness, as we discussed in a prior blog post, is, according to Jesus best defined as ‘moderation.’
Stewardship is caretaking and watching over, as a shepherd with a flock, or a mother with a toddler.
Simple means to be uncomplicated, easy, without worry over excessive concerns.
These words are virtues to be attained in order to achieve inner peace. Inner peace leads ultimately to outer peace.
It begins right here. Inside of you. Inside of me. As I am the center of my own universe, you are the center of your universe. Our individual universes (auric fields) interact, and impose influence on each other and with all of those who inhabit this planet.
The principle of the monkeys applies here. You know the story, It was observed by a biologist in the field, that one day, a monkey went down to the lake and washed his fruit before he ate it. Next day he did it again. The following day, another monkey joined him in fruit-washing. And on it went. One day there were half a dozen monkeys washing their fruit, the next day, all the monkeys on the island had joined them. At the same time, tribes of monkeys on other isolated islands began to also wash their fruit.
We are looking to achieve a shift in consciousness on a planet-wide basis. To do this we begin where we are. With diligence, sharing, and sincerity, we will achieve the critical mass to alter the direction humanity is headed. Like the monkeys, we will influence our greater society for the good.
Looking for grandiose, complicated, dazzling political solutions does not work. How many times have we seen huge efforts fail to do anything but palliate, placate and ultimately alienate?
May Peace and Joy and Simplicity and Meekness reign within you.
Blessed Be
Victoria Lea
Saturday, August 14, 2010
I Have a Confession
It’s All Too Much Issue # 4
I have a confession.
As an unwitting victim of hyperbole I have taken a close look at myself recently and have grown uncomfortable with what I see.
I have allowed some of my talent to be misappropriated. No, no, that’s not correct. I take full responsibility for my lack of awareness. As an airy Gemini, I possess a predilection for words, drama, and enthusiasm. This is the good part.
The dark side is when I have fallen into tendencies toward hyperbole, exaggeration, expletives, misuse of words of power, and a tendency to over-dramatize when I speak. Not always, certainly, but rather often. I watch myself do these things when I am agitated, aggravated, angry … Hmmm seems like when I am under the influence of adrenaline.
I was a sponge for dramatization throughout school, being in every play that came along. I adored speech class. To this day, I love public speaking. Without an outlet for these passions, it appears I have allowed them to seep into my daily interactions in ways that ultimately disempower me.
If everything is a BIGDEAL, then nothing is a big deal. Like sensory overload, hyperbole numbs the listener and builds a wall between the ears and the heart. The allegory of the Boy Who Cried Wolf holds a message I have long remembered, but have seldom taken personally.
A few years back, I, much as everyone else within my ken watched a good deal of television. The shows I enjoyed often had a few characters who would totally overdramatize things. Think of Cordelia on Buffy the Vampire Slayer. With Cordelia and her groupies of the 'popular girls,' everything was OMG this and OMG that. Oh yeah, and 'TOTALLY!'. How lame that I would pick that up and incorporate it into my vernacular. And me, an adult, no less. Think 'sponge.'
I guess, one way or another, we all have our bling. Mine is verbal rather than in clothing and accessories.
Living a life surrounded by wonderful men, military men, police officers, strong, good men who fought crime and served our country in both war and in peace, I have enjoyed their influence on my life. Many of my reading choices have been influenced by them, as well as many of the TV shows and movies I have seen. Yes, I do have a personal interest in cop and military books and visual material, as well as those who follow those careers. Not being a participant in the vocations, I have absorbed much of the language. And yes, this does include a full lexicon of less than polite words.
The Power of Words (just a brief look at this vast topic)
No word in and of itself is intrinsically bad. They are a conglomeration of letters standing in for sounds. What is good or bad is the intention of the word and what is trying to be conveyed. The meaning implied or traditionally ascribed to the word is wherein lies the possibility of overstatement, misinterpretation or knee-jerk escalation of conflict.
We touched briefly in an earlier blog, on the concept of offense. I would refer again to that topic as well.
The majority of us all run our mouths off meaninglessly at times. Lacking thought, intention or consideration, sometimes these thoughtless words hurt, sometimes they fall on deaf ears. Couple that with hyperbole, with allowing the ego-self to knee-jerk responses to stimuli whether it be an assault, a reprimand, a flirtation or a stubbed toe, and an individual’s power may drain away much like pouring gasoline on either a concrete driveway or a pile of brush. It will evaporate into the atmosphere, its molecules joining the air we breathe (yuck), or it will ignite into a fiery destructive force.
Wasting power, misusing power, whilst feeling powerless are very common tendencies within our culture. What we do not realize is that every word spoken, every thought held, is an act of power, for good or ill.
I know a woman who stands above this crowd in my eyes. In fact, she has caused me to open my eyes to myself and by comparison, I come up short in this area, and to her I am very grateful. This woman is most uncommon. One does not encounter someone like her often. Especially someone of her generation. She is quite a bit younger than me. Maybe mid thirties. Hard to say. She is genteel. Genteel like my Grandma Fern was. She is soft-spoken. When she speaks, people listen. Actually listen to what she has to say. She does not expostulate. I have never heard her raise her voice, except to communicate with the hard-of-hearing. She has no hyperbole in her speech or flourishes in her demeanor. She is graceful in every sense of the word. She exudes an inner elegance that has absolutely nothing to do with the contents of high fashion magazines. She is blessedly bling-free. This young woman has become something of a role model for me. With all of her unassuming gentle strength, she has achieved management level in the companies for which she works.
In some small way, I think she lives Jesus’ admonitions about a soft answer turneth away wrath and the beatitude that the meek shall inherit the Earth.
The problem with that Beatitude, is that people do not know the true meaning of the word ‘meek.’ Jesus, Himself defines ‘meek,’ in the book Love Without End tm Jesus Speaks by Glenda Green, on page 47, line 36 to 48, line 3, where He says: “In your language meek implies humility and servitude. This is not what I meant. The word ‘moderate’ would more accurately convey my message.”
Temperate is a good word. Moderation in all things does not mean to eschew all things, but simply to consider factors and consequences, take responsibility, and tread lightly. Softness and kindness do not imply weakness. The gentleness of a mother tiger with her kits belies the power and strength within.
It is to these things that I aspire. “Let the words of my mouth and the meditations of my heart be acceptable unto You, my Strength and my Redeemer,” is somewhere in the Bible, probably Psalms. I know, I have quoted that previously. It's one I use each day, so bear with me, okay?
But what to do about all of that adrenaline? How does an angered werewolf keep from shifting into the wolf form when adrenaline pumps richly through his bloodstream? I think deep breathing and a silent plea for divine help and guidance are key. Archangel Michael is always willing to help if he is asked to do so. Unless physical danger is imminent and a response is crucial, think about something else. Celery, puppies, birthday cake, or something unassociated and delightfully pleasant will help to calm the beast within, whether one is a werewolf or not.
Hmmm. there is an introduction to a forthcoming topic in that. One near and dear to my heart.
Until next time,
Blessings from
Victoria
PS: to view earlier topics, use the archive buttons in the box at the left. Don't miss out!!!
I have a confession.
As an unwitting victim of hyperbole I have taken a close look at myself recently and have grown uncomfortable with what I see.
I have allowed some of my talent to be misappropriated. No, no, that’s not correct. I take full responsibility for my lack of awareness. As an airy Gemini, I possess a predilection for words, drama, and enthusiasm. This is the good part.
The dark side is when I have fallen into tendencies toward hyperbole, exaggeration, expletives, misuse of words of power, and a tendency to over-dramatize when I speak. Not always, certainly, but rather often. I watch myself do these things when I am agitated, aggravated, angry … Hmmm seems like when I am under the influence of adrenaline.
I was a sponge for dramatization throughout school, being in every play that came along. I adored speech class. To this day, I love public speaking. Without an outlet for these passions, it appears I have allowed them to seep into my daily interactions in ways that ultimately disempower me.
If everything is a BIGDEAL, then nothing is a big deal. Like sensory overload, hyperbole numbs the listener and builds a wall between the ears and the heart. The allegory of the Boy Who Cried Wolf holds a message I have long remembered, but have seldom taken personally.
A few years back, I, much as everyone else within my ken watched a good deal of television. The shows I enjoyed often had a few characters who would totally overdramatize things. Think of Cordelia on Buffy the Vampire Slayer. With Cordelia and her groupies of the 'popular girls,' everything was OMG this and OMG that. Oh yeah, and 'TOTALLY!'. How lame that I would pick that up and incorporate it into my vernacular. And me, an adult, no less. Think 'sponge.'
I guess, one way or another, we all have our bling. Mine is verbal rather than in clothing and accessories.
Living a life surrounded by wonderful men, military men, police officers, strong, good men who fought crime and served our country in both war and in peace, I have enjoyed their influence on my life. Many of my reading choices have been influenced by them, as well as many of the TV shows and movies I have seen. Yes, I do have a personal interest in cop and military books and visual material, as well as those who follow those careers. Not being a participant in the vocations, I have absorbed much of the language. And yes, this does include a full lexicon of less than polite words.
The Power of Words (just a brief look at this vast topic)
No word in and of itself is intrinsically bad. They are a conglomeration of letters standing in for sounds. What is good or bad is the intention of the word and what is trying to be conveyed. The meaning implied or traditionally ascribed to the word is wherein lies the possibility of overstatement, misinterpretation or knee-jerk escalation of conflict.
We touched briefly in an earlier blog, on the concept of offense. I would refer again to that topic as well.
The majority of us all run our mouths off meaninglessly at times. Lacking thought, intention or consideration, sometimes these thoughtless words hurt, sometimes they fall on deaf ears. Couple that with hyperbole, with allowing the ego-self to knee-jerk responses to stimuli whether it be an assault, a reprimand, a flirtation or a stubbed toe, and an individual’s power may drain away much like pouring gasoline on either a concrete driveway or a pile of brush. It will evaporate into the atmosphere, its molecules joining the air we breathe (yuck), or it will ignite into a fiery destructive force.
Wasting power, misusing power, whilst feeling powerless are very common tendencies within our culture. What we do not realize is that every word spoken, every thought held, is an act of power, for good or ill.
I know a woman who stands above this crowd in my eyes. In fact, she has caused me to open my eyes to myself and by comparison, I come up short in this area, and to her I am very grateful. This woman is most uncommon. One does not encounter someone like her often. Especially someone of her generation. She is quite a bit younger than me. Maybe mid thirties. Hard to say. She is genteel. Genteel like my Grandma Fern was. She is soft-spoken. When she speaks, people listen. Actually listen to what she has to say. She does not expostulate. I have never heard her raise her voice, except to communicate with the hard-of-hearing. She has no hyperbole in her speech or flourishes in her demeanor. She is graceful in every sense of the word. She exudes an inner elegance that has absolutely nothing to do with the contents of high fashion magazines. She is blessedly bling-free. This young woman has become something of a role model for me. With all of her unassuming gentle strength, she has achieved management level in the companies for which she works.
In some small way, I think she lives Jesus’ admonitions about a soft answer turneth away wrath and the beatitude that the meek shall inherit the Earth.
The problem with that Beatitude, is that people do not know the true meaning of the word ‘meek.’ Jesus, Himself defines ‘meek,’ in the book Love Without End tm Jesus Speaks by Glenda Green, on page 47, line 36 to 48, line 3, where He says: “In your language meek implies humility and servitude. This is not what I meant. The word ‘moderate’ would more accurately convey my message.”
Temperate is a good word. Moderation in all things does not mean to eschew all things, but simply to consider factors and consequences, take responsibility, and tread lightly. Softness and kindness do not imply weakness. The gentleness of a mother tiger with her kits belies the power and strength within.
It is to these things that I aspire. “Let the words of my mouth and the meditations of my heart be acceptable unto You, my Strength and my Redeemer,” is somewhere in the Bible, probably Psalms. I know, I have quoted that previously. It's one I use each day, so bear with me, okay?
But what to do about all of that adrenaline? How does an angered werewolf keep from shifting into the wolf form when adrenaline pumps richly through his bloodstream? I think deep breathing and a silent plea for divine help and guidance are key. Archangel Michael is always willing to help if he is asked to do so. Unless physical danger is imminent and a response is crucial, think about something else. Celery, puppies, birthday cake, or something unassociated and delightfully pleasant will help to calm the beast within, whether one is a werewolf or not.
Hmmm. there is an introduction to a forthcoming topic in that. One near and dear to my heart.
Until next time,
Blessings from
Victoria
PS: to view earlier topics, use the archive buttons in the box at the left. Don't miss out!!!
Thursday, July 29, 2010
It's All Too Much #3
It’s All Too Much #3
Hello once again and welcome back.
Recently I received an email from a very dear friend, forwarding and telling me of a ‘massive project’ for the enlightening and empowering of its participants worldwide.
The report/invitation from the originator, a young lady from the Commonwealth, depicts a cooperative effort to raise energy on a specified date a few weeks from now.
Well-meaning and enthusiastic in its tone, the message lacked any stated purpose. In what I am seeing as a typical (more or less) New Age-y way, this project seemed to me to be little more than a wheel-spinner. Revving your engine in neutral does not get you anywhere at all. Put the engine in gear, take off the brakes and steer toward your desired destination.
Goal and intention are the reasons for ‘doing’ anything.
Asked if this resonated with me and giving me details on how to participate at the stated date and time and giving massive amounts of information and requirements about facilitators sought for the project, I responded that:
Yes, actually it does resonate with me, but I do have some concerns.
It seems as though there is no clear intention. That is a key to this sort of work.
Raising energy willy-nilly, without a clear goal and intention for it is a poor idea.
(I certainly need a personal lift. And yet there is this devilish disregard within that keeps me back, spinning my wheels.)
I think the preparatory work would best include banishing that which feeds on our energy and intention. The demonic acedia that even brings best intentions to no avail and turns the strongest practitioner into a depressed lost soul (perhaps even off on some inconsequential tangent) is to be withstood and defeated. And then the raising of power and the empowerment of the individual(s) may occur.
Once adequate clearing is completed, (with clear intention) only then can the clear intention of performance be successfully addressed.
Blocking is not sufficient. What is being blocked? Energy is neutral. Intention is what steers energy toward the desired, or, through resistance, toward the undesired.
It must be remembered that you cannot fill a vessel that is already full, and if you keep pouring clear water into mud you get thinner, more diluted and widespread mud.
So let us not only cap the well of bad thoughts, but empty ourselves of them to be ready to receive divine wisdom and the infinite outpouring of energy to heal ourselves and our blessed Planet.
I asked for forgiveness in case I had somehow misread or misunderstood the message. Did I miss the actual point somehow? I am still unsure, because although I reread the message, I still find no point to it other than the desire to ‘raise power.’
Having completed a master program in esoteric studies, and looking back upon that course work, I see the same syndrome. Power. Desire for power. The teacher/guru/instructor/facilitator shared many tools and methods to raise consciousness and to unite the attendees in a circle to empower the group. Yet I do not recall a purpose. This was not a solution-oriented program either.
In fact, I wonder if the energy raised and not sent with purpose, simply fed whatever random event that may have been happening at the time.
On the other hand, the work and teachings, both first hand and via recordings and books of Sandra Ingerman go for solutions. Healing is involved for the Planet. For water, for the environment.
Fundamentally, this is the difference between the New Age movement and Shamanism. Shamanism heals. Pennsylvania PowWow Heals. Working after the manner and teachings of Doreen Virtue, with the ArchAngels and Ascended Masters heals. And New Age makes fluffy-feel-goods.*
I like the accoutrements of the New Age. Good tools. Good crystals, books, cards, etc. But a tool unused for a positive purpose, is nothing more than clutter.
New Age is a starting point. If it is the end point for an individual, perhaps that is what is best for them. Perhaps it indicates huge strides forward in thought, word and deed. If so, terrific! I do not want it to be simply a mental-homeopathic-fluffy-feel-good or an anesthetic. I hope it is not just entertainment.
As we each heal ourselves within and without, we add to the healing of the planet. Think of us as cells in the body of the Planetary Mother. Healthy people, healthy societies, healthy animals, plants, trees, ecosystems. This must be our goal.
This is out intention here in this blog. Although each of my entries states a deficiency or problem within society, I want it always to be solution-oriented. If I do not deal with solutions, PLEASE, call me to task.
The screaming radio talk show hosts are great at agitating and stirring up wrath. I have yet to hear one who is solution-oriented. As this blog grows, I want you all to comment and participate and discuss solutions, and work toward making them manifest. Let’s fix this mess. Okay?
Divine Blessings,
Victoria
*I do not wish to completely denigrate the New Age Movement. It has many fine and useful aspects that perhaps we will touch on at some point. Primarily because many alternative healing modalities have been lumped into the New Age category since they don’t easily fit in with anything else.
Hello once again and welcome back.
Recently I received an email from a very dear friend, forwarding and telling me of a ‘massive project’ for the enlightening and empowering of its participants worldwide.
The report/invitation from the originator, a young lady from the Commonwealth, depicts a cooperative effort to raise energy on a specified date a few weeks from now.
Well-meaning and enthusiastic in its tone, the message lacked any stated purpose. In what I am seeing as a typical (more or less) New Age-y way, this project seemed to me to be little more than a wheel-spinner. Revving your engine in neutral does not get you anywhere at all. Put the engine in gear, take off the brakes and steer toward your desired destination.
Goal and intention are the reasons for ‘doing’ anything.
Asked if this resonated with me and giving me details on how to participate at the stated date and time and giving massive amounts of information and requirements about facilitators sought for the project, I responded that:
Yes, actually it does resonate with me, but I do have some concerns.
It seems as though there is no clear intention. That is a key to this sort of work.
Raising energy willy-nilly, without a clear goal and intention for it is a poor idea.
(I certainly need a personal lift. And yet there is this devilish disregard within that keeps me back, spinning my wheels.)
I think the preparatory work would best include banishing that which feeds on our energy and intention. The demonic acedia that even brings best intentions to no avail and turns the strongest practitioner into a depressed lost soul (perhaps even off on some inconsequential tangent) is to be withstood and defeated. And then the raising of power and the empowerment of the individual(s) may occur.
Once adequate clearing is completed, (with clear intention) only then can the clear intention of performance be successfully addressed.
Blocking is not sufficient. What is being blocked? Energy is neutral. Intention is what steers energy toward the desired, or, through resistance, toward the undesired.
It must be remembered that you cannot fill a vessel that is already full, and if you keep pouring clear water into mud you get thinner, more diluted and widespread mud.
So let us not only cap the well of bad thoughts, but empty ourselves of them to be ready to receive divine wisdom and the infinite outpouring of energy to heal ourselves and our blessed Planet.
I asked for forgiveness in case I had somehow misread or misunderstood the message. Did I miss the actual point somehow? I am still unsure, because although I reread the message, I still find no point to it other than the desire to ‘raise power.’
Having completed a master program in esoteric studies, and looking back upon that course work, I see the same syndrome. Power. Desire for power. The teacher/guru/instructor/facilitator shared many tools and methods to raise consciousness and to unite the attendees in a circle to empower the group. Yet I do not recall a purpose. This was not a solution-oriented program either.
In fact, I wonder if the energy raised and not sent with purpose, simply fed whatever random event that may have been happening at the time.
On the other hand, the work and teachings, both first hand and via recordings and books of Sandra Ingerman go for solutions. Healing is involved for the Planet. For water, for the environment.
Fundamentally, this is the difference between the New Age movement and Shamanism. Shamanism heals. Pennsylvania PowWow Heals. Working after the manner and teachings of Doreen Virtue, with the ArchAngels and Ascended Masters heals. And New Age makes fluffy-feel-goods.*
I like the accoutrements of the New Age. Good tools. Good crystals, books, cards, etc. But a tool unused for a positive purpose, is nothing more than clutter.
New Age is a starting point. If it is the end point for an individual, perhaps that is what is best for them. Perhaps it indicates huge strides forward in thought, word and deed. If so, terrific! I do not want it to be simply a mental-homeopathic-fluffy-feel-good or an anesthetic. I hope it is not just entertainment.
As we each heal ourselves within and without, we add to the healing of the planet. Think of us as cells in the body of the Planetary Mother. Healthy people, healthy societies, healthy animals, plants, trees, ecosystems. This must be our goal.
This is out intention here in this blog. Although each of my entries states a deficiency or problem within society, I want it always to be solution-oriented. If I do not deal with solutions, PLEASE, call me to task.
The screaming radio talk show hosts are great at agitating and stirring up wrath. I have yet to hear one who is solution-oriented. As this blog grows, I want you all to comment and participate and discuss solutions, and work toward making them manifest. Let’s fix this mess. Okay?
Divine Blessings,
Victoria
*I do not wish to completely denigrate the New Age Movement. It has many fine and useful aspects that perhaps we will touch on at some point. Primarily because many alternative healing modalities have been lumped into the New Age category since they don’t easily fit in with anything else.
Saturday, July 3, 2010
Too Much Too Much # 2 July 2010
Too Much Too Much #2
1. Entry # 2: Not exactly as promised, for herein I skip from one tangent to the next, in hopes that eventually, this ongoing blog will cover every issue of importance with which our world currently contends.
2. A warning: Some of you, some who are even near and dear to me, will find cause for disagreement with some of the things within this post. Please refer to paragraphs 22-24.
3. Have we doomed ourselves with our pleasures?
4. Standing in the shower one morning several months ago, instead of enjoying the sparkling pelting of warm water hitting every part of me and the roughness of the washcloth scrubbing away the prior day’s detritus, I found myself anxiously wondering how soon I would be getting the copy of Relentless by Dean Koontz that I had ordered from Amazon . com. He is by far, my favorite fiction author followed closely by Lee Child, Nelson De Mille, Paulo Coelho, Jasper Fforde, Carl Hiasson, Tim Dorsey, and a few minors who appeal to my witchy genre preference. I began the book at work on my break and the very term ‘page turner’ had to have had this book in mind when it was coined, chronology be damned.
5. How can I be so caught up in a work of fiction? Yes, it is an escape from my present not-so-pleasant reality. What, though, is the point of escaping it? It is mine to deal with. I have the tools. So deal. And yet, look at the broader picture:
6. Our society seeks much of its pleasure in fiction via television, movies and books. I know. I work in bookstores trying to make ends meet. Yeah, we have sports for those who prefer that as an escape. Which is truly something I have never tried to understand, although I suppose it is some form of aggression transference, coupled with identity validation through team (read that tribal) identification. Whatever. And then there is so-called ‘reality TV,’ which again pits characters the viewer does not know, but comes to identify with, in situations they either do or don’t imagine themselves in, and attempting to cope and possibly come out on top. Still not too real if you ask me.
7. Are we endangering ourselves with fiction?
8. Allow me to digress.
Think and Grow Rich by Napoleon Hill (boy his parents had balls to name a child Napoleon, didn’t they?)
The Secret by Candace Byrne
And now a multitude of others, including the Hicks pair have written an array of helpful books explaining, essentially, how what we concentrate on we bring to pass. I have seen it time and time again.
9. As a writer, a transformational alchemist and shamanic and esoteric practitioner, I fully understand the Power of the Word. If only I would persevere and use it correctly at all times. (I also have a mixer, but sometimes I use a spoon.)
Our imaginations may be our greatest gift as humans, but they may be our ultimate downfall as well. As we have learned that moderation in other pleasures is by far the best approach, perhaps reigning in our outrageous imaginations and focusing on what our desired outcomes are would be more in keeping with our desires for the future and the Creator’s plan for Earth.
10. Should we pray about our thoughts? Yes.
“Let the words of my mouth and the meditations of my heart be acceptable in Thy sight O Lord, my Strength and my Redeemer.”
‘… putting down vain imaginations and…’
11. There are certain books in the stores in which I have worked that make me feel filthy when I have to touch them. Certain authors have made immense fortunes publishing these things and movies have been made. Over time, the impact of reading and seeing the films has subsided in me to some degree, and yet I still feel somewhat befouled by having ‘consumed’ those pages and images. Why do we think we find ‘pleasure’ in fearful things?
12. Such creativity we have at our disposal! Why do we create nightmares?
13. And the media. Oh! Someone please save us from the media. Please. Controlled by money with agendas, desire for power and influence, the ‘news’ media may be the worst of all in fictionalizing the things that are happening day to day. Yes, they ‘report’ what sells which is most often the sensational, the dark, the scary, the bloody and the lurid, and when they look at government, they look not just to appease, but to participate.
14. Formerly a journalist, I left the profession at the booming time of Watergate because I saw how yellow the press was once again becoming. My Dad tells me I should have stayed in and worked to change it from within. I was a young college graduate, ill equipped for such an endeavor had I even seen that as an option.
I think now though, it is up to 'we the people' to change it by refusing to watch, to listen and to buy.
15. The location of the store in which I currently work is in a semi-major airport. My head is pounding with the assault of a news channel blasting at the public and the employees as we are all held captive there by circumstance. There is a contract with the airport bigwigs and a certain notoriously offensive ‘news’ network (which seems to manufacture and sensationalize it’s stories rather than accurately covering events) as well as a famous beverage company and the company for which I work. Within this environment, my creative imagination is seeing scheming, conspiracy and collusion. We in this store have no choice as to what magazines and newspapers we will carry for the public. Displayed most prominently, are nothing but the grotesqueries of celebrities and the liberal and socialist regurgitations of the present popular opinion. Spoon fed welfare and victimization propaganda creates a populace of lost sheep, following the most ardent shepherd, (often a wolf in sheep’s clothing) the most colorful, the most boisterous and pompous of imaginative promise makers.
16. {Not to get too far off track, but further conspiracies I imagine, are the creation of these miniature shopping malls within airport settings, to encourage travelers to be the ‘consumers’ this culture wants us all to be. One particular company has 16 stores within this airport alone. A huge percentage of the local gift and clothing items are of course, produced in China and other Asian countries.
17. For the peace and mental health of all travelers, why not have libraries within airports with reading, viewing and listening rooms. Why so many gift shops? Do the travelers not notice that their luggage gets heavier and heavier and their wallets slimmer and slimmer with each ‘air mile’ collected? How much junk do people need to buy before they realize there is just too much junk in their lives? Yes, a few food court choices are a necessity especially with layovers and delays, but must the prices be double what they are in the outside world? Who is skimming these excessive profits? To their credit, this airport does have a small meditation room. Not a chapel because that would be politically incorrect of course, but at least a meditation room.
18. The fact is, we do consider ourselves in America to be a Judeo-Christian nation. We are a free country and liberty is our middle name. If someone wants to be here who is not Judeo-Christian, that’s fine. Just realize, we are, primarily because we consider ourselves to be. We contain remnants of many fine religious traditions, from the tribal shamanism to the Old Religion and its primary focus on the female aspect of the Goddess, however many ways that is understood and honored, to the various cults and the nearly uncountable denominations of Christianity. We have Buddhists, and Hindu, and yes, Muslims. Did you know that several Islamic persons were participants in the founding of our country? Did you know that Freemasons were primary in the early days of America and that Muslims participate side by side with Christians and Jews in Masonic orders?
19. Hopefully, our Judeo-Christian culture has softened and learned to be less frightfully bigoted against Others, since the burnings of the 1600-1700’s, and yet, we seem to want to obliterate an entire belief system. Islam is not one that most of us include in our comfort zones, and yet, I have known several Muslims who actually seemed like decent people. Imagine that! I do not think that every Muslim mutilates the genitals of girls and women. Strangely enough, some females who cover their heads do so out of a sense of modesty, and a desire to not inflame the lusts of men to whom they are not committed. Some actually think they look good that way. To each his own. There are weirder fashion statements being made on the runways of Paris, New York and Hollywood. Personally, I consider it digression to times best outgrown, but like any attire, humans want to express their identity through what they wear in public.
That may become another topic for another post….. And anyway, Muslim women are not the only females who sport a head covering. Mennonites, the Amish, some Jewish sects, some from an Indian religion whose name I do not recall, and people who wish to stay warm do the same.
20. Anyway, I do not think that each and every Muslim is a Jihadist terrorist, the same as I do not think every Christian is a radical Republican talk show host. Neither is every Pagan a Wiccan dancing nude in a public park. You get the point.
21. You are welcome here in this beautiful country, just don’t try and make us over into something else. You cannot turn a pineapple into a turnip, and why would you want to try? You also have the right to leave. If Judeo-Christian principles offend you, then we will not be offended if you leave. We have the right to offend you if being who we are is offensive to you. Why did you come here? And if you were born and raised here and have decided to be an atheist or a Muslim or something else that does not fit the American standard, then fine, just be quiet about it and if you leave us alone, we will leave you alone. Get over it and get along! And if you are offended by someone else’s private beliefs that do not hurt anyone, what kind of weak-minded brainlessness is that? Maybe we should just clean up the gene pool.}
22. What is wrong with offending someone? Why is it the business of government to keep people from offending each other? Where is our personal responsibility and where is our ability to be kind, to get along, to turn the other cheek, to live and let live? If someone’s intestinal gas offends you, get over it. I’m sure you have farted at sometime in your life too. If someone’s religious beliefs offend you, get over it. You are probably at least that offensive to the other person. So what?
23. Look it up. To offend is not to hurt or to kill. It is simply to be objectionable. So object. So what? Get over it!
24. The only things in this world that should offend anyone are cruelty, abuse, and lack of freedom. Freedom is not free. It comes with the obligations of kindness, of tolerance and of doing unto others as you would have them do unto you. Adjudicated criminal behavior is the only thing that should terminate any person’s freedom.
25. Although I can claim a small acquaintance with some of the Eastern deities, I admit to virtually no knowledge of the history or development of any of the Eastern religions. On the other hand, I know for certain that Christianity, Judaism and Islam share a long and bloody reputation as being organizations of long-standing violence, cruelty and warfare, both within and among themselves. This, in spite of all of their claims to peace and brotherhood. (And originally, a common gene pool) To what do we owe this apparent conflict between professed ideals and overt actions?
A gigantic disfunctional family with weird relatives. That's what it looks like.
26. Greed for power, wealth and glory are the fundaments of this oppression and aggression. Fear, ignorance and self-righteousness govern these religions, because regardless of which religion they are, their belief in the Creator has been undermined by duality, the belief in separation, that is, the belief that the Creator can be separate from His/Her creation.
27. I was disappointed to learn that even the Old Religion had grown violent and fallen prey to wickedness in high places prior to its effective demise.
The belief in separation is the underlying cause of all “the ills that flesh is heir to.” A peoples’ obsession to perpetuate and to kill and die for their own little ideas about a Supreme Being and the created world is both illogical and self-defeating.
28. The infinite source and the infinite provision within our infinite Universe, predicated upon an infinite God who has created worlds upon worlds and species upon species, without measure, and has set humankind to provide wise and capable hands-on stewardship, had no intention for said humans to engage in constant conflict, though the choice was given, such being the essence of freedom. Our Divine Source has hoped we would chose wisely, the path of righteousness for His name’s sake, not self-righteousness for self aggrandizement of mistaken premises.
29. The story of Cain slaying his brother, Abel is allegorically accurate in predicating the divisiveness between the Judaic peoples and the Islamics, and of course, Christianity, as the outgrowth of Judaism, inherited the position of opposition to the Islamic imperialism throughout the crusades, and even unto today, which, in my mind, is nothing more than a continuation of the crusades.
30. The main point I wish to make is that rather than butting heads and blowing up buildings and perpetuating warfare, shall we not smelt our weapons into tools of peace and seek a common ground amongst all of us.
Planet Earth is getting smaller, and I for one, would like to live in harmony.
31. Naïve, you say? Yes, I have been naïve in my life. In this, though, I think it is what we are meant to do: to overcome, overcome, until He comes, whose right it is…
32. If there is an enemy, he lies within us, in that dark and hidden place we harbor where we hate and fear that which is different. Regardless of how loveless those around you or those before you appear to be, be the love that you are.
33. Ultimately, each person must admit to responsibility for him or herself. What do you chose? Take it day by day, and if that is too challenging, take it moment by moment.
The great naturalist, John Muir said ‘ even a small bird landing on a stone leaves some impression.’
Contrary-wise, Shakespeare’s Anthony said, of Julius Caesar: ‘The evils that men do live after them, the good is oft’ interred with their bones…’ But I say, each act of blessing goes forth like the waves and rivulets from a drop of rain into the ocean, blessing upon blessing upon blessing, gladdening the heart and lifting burdens we know not of, manifesting a small piece of the infinite and abundant good the Universe offers to us.
34. Working in the final end of the publishing industry as I do, (selling books to real people) I think that an important part of my job should be, and is, to mentally denounce any assumed power of the negative, violent, cruel, and apocalyptic ideas in the books sold, and to mentally affirm the ongoing and outreaching blessings from the books that are sold with positive and beneficial messages. And who am I necessarily to judge each title, each author’s point of view? It is a part of the process to remove my human judgment from the equation, and affirm good in general and deny evil in total. And for myself, when I read things I want to read, for pleasure or illumination, to read with discernment and to deny power or reality to those things that bespeak of evil outcomes, and to allow my thought to rest upon that which blesses myself, and all that I hold dear (which, if you know me, you know includes all life on this planet.)
35. To sum up: Evil is bad. Avoid it. Good is good. Embrace it.
1. Entry # 2: Not exactly as promised, for herein I skip from one tangent to the next, in hopes that eventually, this ongoing blog will cover every issue of importance with which our world currently contends.
2. A warning: Some of you, some who are even near and dear to me, will find cause for disagreement with some of the things within this post. Please refer to paragraphs 22-24.
3. Have we doomed ourselves with our pleasures?
4. Standing in the shower one morning several months ago, instead of enjoying the sparkling pelting of warm water hitting every part of me and the roughness of the washcloth scrubbing away the prior day’s detritus, I found myself anxiously wondering how soon I would be getting the copy of Relentless by Dean Koontz that I had ordered from Amazon . com. He is by far, my favorite fiction author followed closely by Lee Child, Nelson De Mille, Paulo Coelho, Jasper Fforde, Carl Hiasson, Tim Dorsey, and a few minors who appeal to my witchy genre preference. I began the book at work on my break and the very term ‘page turner’ had to have had this book in mind when it was coined, chronology be damned.
5. How can I be so caught up in a work of fiction? Yes, it is an escape from my present not-so-pleasant reality. What, though, is the point of escaping it? It is mine to deal with. I have the tools. So deal. And yet, look at the broader picture:
6. Our society seeks much of its pleasure in fiction via television, movies and books. I know. I work in bookstores trying to make ends meet. Yeah, we have sports for those who prefer that as an escape. Which is truly something I have never tried to understand, although I suppose it is some form of aggression transference, coupled with identity validation through team (read that tribal) identification. Whatever. And then there is so-called ‘reality TV,’ which again pits characters the viewer does not know, but comes to identify with, in situations they either do or don’t imagine themselves in, and attempting to cope and possibly come out on top. Still not too real if you ask me.
7. Are we endangering ourselves with fiction?
8. Allow me to digress.
Think and Grow Rich by Napoleon Hill (boy his parents had balls to name a child Napoleon, didn’t they?)
The Secret by Candace Byrne
And now a multitude of others, including the Hicks pair have written an array of helpful books explaining, essentially, how what we concentrate on we bring to pass. I have seen it time and time again.
9. As a writer, a transformational alchemist and shamanic and esoteric practitioner, I fully understand the Power of the Word. If only I would persevere and use it correctly at all times. (I also have a mixer, but sometimes I use a spoon.)
Our imaginations may be our greatest gift as humans, but they may be our ultimate downfall as well. As we have learned that moderation in other pleasures is by far the best approach, perhaps reigning in our outrageous imaginations and focusing on what our desired outcomes are would be more in keeping with our desires for the future and the Creator’s plan for Earth.
10. Should we pray about our thoughts? Yes.
“Let the words of my mouth and the meditations of my heart be acceptable in Thy sight O Lord, my Strength and my Redeemer.”
‘… putting down vain imaginations and…’
11. There are certain books in the stores in which I have worked that make me feel filthy when I have to touch them. Certain authors have made immense fortunes publishing these things and movies have been made. Over time, the impact of reading and seeing the films has subsided in me to some degree, and yet I still feel somewhat befouled by having ‘consumed’ those pages and images. Why do we think we find ‘pleasure’ in fearful things?
12. Such creativity we have at our disposal! Why do we create nightmares?
13. And the media. Oh! Someone please save us from the media. Please. Controlled by money with agendas, desire for power and influence, the ‘news’ media may be the worst of all in fictionalizing the things that are happening day to day. Yes, they ‘report’ what sells which is most often the sensational, the dark, the scary, the bloody and the lurid, and when they look at government, they look not just to appease, but to participate.
14. Formerly a journalist, I left the profession at the booming time of Watergate because I saw how yellow the press was once again becoming. My Dad tells me I should have stayed in and worked to change it from within. I was a young college graduate, ill equipped for such an endeavor had I even seen that as an option.
I think now though, it is up to 'we the people' to change it by refusing to watch, to listen and to buy.
15. The location of the store in which I currently work is in a semi-major airport. My head is pounding with the assault of a news channel blasting at the public and the employees as we are all held captive there by circumstance. There is a contract with the airport bigwigs and a certain notoriously offensive ‘news’ network (which seems to manufacture and sensationalize it’s stories rather than accurately covering events) as well as a famous beverage company and the company for which I work. Within this environment, my creative imagination is seeing scheming, conspiracy and collusion. We in this store have no choice as to what magazines and newspapers we will carry for the public. Displayed most prominently, are nothing but the grotesqueries of celebrities and the liberal and socialist regurgitations of the present popular opinion. Spoon fed welfare and victimization propaganda creates a populace of lost sheep, following the most ardent shepherd, (often a wolf in sheep’s clothing) the most colorful, the most boisterous and pompous of imaginative promise makers.
16. {Not to get too far off track, but further conspiracies I imagine, are the creation of these miniature shopping malls within airport settings, to encourage travelers to be the ‘consumers’ this culture wants us all to be. One particular company has 16 stores within this airport alone. A huge percentage of the local gift and clothing items are of course, produced in China and other Asian countries.
17. For the peace and mental health of all travelers, why not have libraries within airports with reading, viewing and listening rooms. Why so many gift shops? Do the travelers not notice that their luggage gets heavier and heavier and their wallets slimmer and slimmer with each ‘air mile’ collected? How much junk do people need to buy before they realize there is just too much junk in their lives? Yes, a few food court choices are a necessity especially with layovers and delays, but must the prices be double what they are in the outside world? Who is skimming these excessive profits? To their credit, this airport does have a small meditation room. Not a chapel because that would be politically incorrect of course, but at least a meditation room.
18. The fact is, we do consider ourselves in America to be a Judeo-Christian nation. We are a free country and liberty is our middle name. If someone wants to be here who is not Judeo-Christian, that’s fine. Just realize, we are, primarily because we consider ourselves to be. We contain remnants of many fine religious traditions, from the tribal shamanism to the Old Religion and its primary focus on the female aspect of the Goddess, however many ways that is understood and honored, to the various cults and the nearly uncountable denominations of Christianity. We have Buddhists, and Hindu, and yes, Muslims. Did you know that several Islamic persons were participants in the founding of our country? Did you know that Freemasons were primary in the early days of America and that Muslims participate side by side with Christians and Jews in Masonic orders?
19. Hopefully, our Judeo-Christian culture has softened and learned to be less frightfully bigoted against Others, since the burnings of the 1600-1700’s, and yet, we seem to want to obliterate an entire belief system. Islam is not one that most of us include in our comfort zones, and yet, I have known several Muslims who actually seemed like decent people. Imagine that! I do not think that every Muslim mutilates the genitals of girls and women. Strangely enough, some females who cover their heads do so out of a sense of modesty, and a desire to not inflame the lusts of men to whom they are not committed. Some actually think they look good that way. To each his own. There are weirder fashion statements being made on the runways of Paris, New York and Hollywood. Personally, I consider it digression to times best outgrown, but like any attire, humans want to express their identity through what they wear in public.
That may become another topic for another post….. And anyway, Muslim women are not the only females who sport a head covering. Mennonites, the Amish, some Jewish sects, some from an Indian religion whose name I do not recall, and people who wish to stay warm do the same.
20. Anyway, I do not think that each and every Muslim is a Jihadist terrorist, the same as I do not think every Christian is a radical Republican talk show host. Neither is every Pagan a Wiccan dancing nude in a public park. You get the point.
21. You are welcome here in this beautiful country, just don’t try and make us over into something else. You cannot turn a pineapple into a turnip, and why would you want to try? You also have the right to leave. If Judeo-Christian principles offend you, then we will not be offended if you leave. We have the right to offend you if being who we are is offensive to you. Why did you come here? And if you were born and raised here and have decided to be an atheist or a Muslim or something else that does not fit the American standard, then fine, just be quiet about it and if you leave us alone, we will leave you alone. Get over it and get along! And if you are offended by someone else’s private beliefs that do not hurt anyone, what kind of weak-minded brainlessness is that? Maybe we should just clean up the gene pool.}
22. What is wrong with offending someone? Why is it the business of government to keep people from offending each other? Where is our personal responsibility and where is our ability to be kind, to get along, to turn the other cheek, to live and let live? If someone’s intestinal gas offends you, get over it. I’m sure you have farted at sometime in your life too. If someone’s religious beliefs offend you, get over it. You are probably at least that offensive to the other person. So what?
23. Look it up. To offend is not to hurt or to kill. It is simply to be objectionable. So object. So what? Get over it!
24. The only things in this world that should offend anyone are cruelty, abuse, and lack of freedom. Freedom is not free. It comes with the obligations of kindness, of tolerance and of doing unto others as you would have them do unto you. Adjudicated criminal behavior is the only thing that should terminate any person’s freedom.
25. Although I can claim a small acquaintance with some of the Eastern deities, I admit to virtually no knowledge of the history or development of any of the Eastern religions. On the other hand, I know for certain that Christianity, Judaism and Islam share a long and bloody reputation as being organizations of long-standing violence, cruelty and warfare, both within and among themselves. This, in spite of all of their claims to peace and brotherhood. (And originally, a common gene pool) To what do we owe this apparent conflict between professed ideals and overt actions?
A gigantic disfunctional family with weird relatives. That's what it looks like.
26. Greed for power, wealth and glory are the fundaments of this oppression and aggression. Fear, ignorance and self-righteousness govern these religions, because regardless of which religion they are, their belief in the Creator has been undermined by duality, the belief in separation, that is, the belief that the Creator can be separate from His/Her creation.
27. I was disappointed to learn that even the Old Religion had grown violent and fallen prey to wickedness in high places prior to its effective demise.
The belief in separation is the underlying cause of all “the ills that flesh is heir to.” A peoples’ obsession to perpetuate and to kill and die for their own little ideas about a Supreme Being and the created world is both illogical and self-defeating.
28. The infinite source and the infinite provision within our infinite Universe, predicated upon an infinite God who has created worlds upon worlds and species upon species, without measure, and has set humankind to provide wise and capable hands-on stewardship, had no intention for said humans to engage in constant conflict, though the choice was given, such being the essence of freedom. Our Divine Source has hoped we would chose wisely, the path of righteousness for His name’s sake, not self-righteousness for self aggrandizement of mistaken premises.
29. The story of Cain slaying his brother, Abel is allegorically accurate in predicating the divisiveness between the Judaic peoples and the Islamics, and of course, Christianity, as the outgrowth of Judaism, inherited the position of opposition to the Islamic imperialism throughout the crusades, and even unto today, which, in my mind, is nothing more than a continuation of the crusades.
30. The main point I wish to make is that rather than butting heads and blowing up buildings and perpetuating warfare, shall we not smelt our weapons into tools of peace and seek a common ground amongst all of us.
Planet Earth is getting smaller, and I for one, would like to live in harmony.
31. Naïve, you say? Yes, I have been naïve in my life. In this, though, I think it is what we are meant to do: to overcome, overcome, until He comes, whose right it is…
32. If there is an enemy, he lies within us, in that dark and hidden place we harbor where we hate and fear that which is different. Regardless of how loveless those around you or those before you appear to be, be the love that you are.
33. Ultimately, each person must admit to responsibility for him or herself. What do you chose? Take it day by day, and if that is too challenging, take it moment by moment.
The great naturalist, John Muir said ‘ even a small bird landing on a stone leaves some impression.’
Contrary-wise, Shakespeare’s Anthony said, of Julius Caesar: ‘The evils that men do live after them, the good is oft’ interred with their bones…’ But I say, each act of blessing goes forth like the waves and rivulets from a drop of rain into the ocean, blessing upon blessing upon blessing, gladdening the heart and lifting burdens we know not of, manifesting a small piece of the infinite and abundant good the Universe offers to us.
34. Working in the final end of the publishing industry as I do, (selling books to real people) I think that an important part of my job should be, and is, to mentally denounce any assumed power of the negative, violent, cruel, and apocalyptic ideas in the books sold, and to mentally affirm the ongoing and outreaching blessings from the books that are sold with positive and beneficial messages. And who am I necessarily to judge each title, each author’s point of view? It is a part of the process to remove my human judgment from the equation, and affirm good in general and deny evil in total. And for myself, when I read things I want to read, for pleasure or illumination, to read with discernment and to deny power or reality to those things that bespeak of evil outcomes, and to allow my thought to rest upon that which blesses myself, and all that I hold dear (which, if you know me, you know includes all life on this planet.)
35. To sum up: Evil is bad. Avoid it. Good is good. Embrace it.
Saturday, June 12, 2010
It's All Too Much # 1 or Gum and Magazines
Welcome to this fresh new blog-o’-mine.
I come to you bearing gifts of ideas. Ideas timely to help both you and I navigate through these remarkable times we are in.
Some call this the ‘end times,’ however I prefer to think of this as a period of transition. It’s a sure thing that “the times, they are a changing.” The ballots were cast for change, but few knew what changes would be involved.
Change happens all the time. Within a given status quo, there is change, whether it is apparent, or simply potential is a point not worthy of debate. Rapid change is often frightening, and often not for the betterment of those affected. For instance: a landslide may well be a good change for the earth, in order to stabilize the topography. However, a landslide is not that great for those who are living in its path.
Anyway, here we go and I haven’t even gotten on topic yet and it’s my first post on this fresh blog. Then again, I may not be too far off topic, since I intend it to be a broadly defined and all-encompassing topic.
It’s All Too Much applies, in my mind to pretty much everything going on in the world today. Perhaps that concept is my ticket to the Old Fogy Section. Somehow I think not.
In this blog, among other things, I intend to explore the concepts of abundance versus lack, the source of supply, the excess of things, manifestation, magick, prayer, good versus evil, poverty versus wealth, loaves and fishes, water and wine, Ygdrassil, recycling, use versus abuse, gluttony and greed, fear, the media and government, talk radio, supply and demand, security, stewardship, outsourcing, multi-tasking, love, gratitude, faith, trust, discernment, Kindle, paper, salt,sugar, oceans, oil, the depletion of resources, fairness, balance, kindness, Karma and truth. Along the way, I may come up with a few more things to comment upon, ya’ just never know.
∞∞∞∞∞∞∞∞∞∞∞∞∞∞∞∞∞∞∞∞∞∞∞∞∞∞
I recall that, as a kid, we enjoyed as many as ten or twelve different varieties of chewing gum. There were the Wrigley’s: Spearmint, Juicyfruit, Doublemint. There was Cinnamon Dentyne. And then there were those unusual varieties called Teaberry, Clove, and BlackJack. If you wanted to blow bubbles, you could choose between Double Bubble and Bazooka Joe and with either choice, you were awarded a free tiny comic strip. And then there were those little pellets of gum called Chicklets. I remember a yellow box, but I think there were one or two other choices as well.
Not once did anyone ever complain about a dearth of chewing gum choices.
And now, at the candy counter in the airport, I tally:
Dentyne in 5 flavors
Wrigleys in 5 flavors
Wrigleys specialty gums in 7 or 8 more flavors
Trident in assorted sizes and shapes totaling over 12
Orbit has at least 10
Stride has 5 or more.
Well, the list goes on. And the price goes up, from $1.20 to $3.50 for a mere pack of gum. What are all these gums? Did you know there are so many varieties that they do not all get sold? They have expiration dates! Did you know gum expires? What with all the odd chemical sweeteners in the majority of them, who knows what they may transmogrify into after a certain date? It boggles one’s mind. Is expired gum something to fear, like snake venom? Why make these products in the first place? What happens to expired gum? Can it be recycled into something? Toys? Patio furnishings? Rain ponchos?
Health food stores have assortments of gum that are less disgusting in content than standard commercial varieties. And at a certain Interstate exit ramp restaurant chain you can still buy Teaberry and Clove.
Back to the airport: I have seen passengers take up to fifteen minutes to ponder the gum choices before finally making their selection.
Magazines: I counted six different magazine titles showing pictures of the same exact celebrities on the covers. Often the only difference from one to the next is the name of the magazine. The content is the same. Why so many? How does one decide whether to read about Brittany Spears in a blue dress or a silver skirt? The depth of thought not required to write these articles is exceeded only by the depth of thought not required to desire to read them.
As a journalist, I will probably have more to say regarding magazines at a later time.
Too much.
Way too much.
I did not realize how deprived I was 25 or 30 years ago, when all I had was CBS, NBC, ABC and Public TV. (not to mention only 10 gum choices) We enjoyed the shows that were on. We watched the actual news being reported, and were told not only weather prognostications, but the vital statistics of the day just passed.
And then came cable. That was pretty cool for a while. We had Animal Planet, the Discovery Channel, and MTV, which actually played music videos ALL DAY LONG!
Then someone decided we needed several hundred stations to watch which necessitated more technology which we had to purchase, and more utility bills. And the programming went to hell. There was nothing worthy of an hour or two of my time, so I finally had to have the whole thing disconnected.
Whoa! I see I’m on a rant. Sorry .I did not mean for this to devolve into such vituperation. My point is, each day seems to bring us an appalling increase in choices that we think we need to make in order to survive, be cool, keep up, or simply to make up for the lack of depth and meaning in our lives.
I am not a Luddite. I am very grateful for so many of the advancements technology has given us over the years. For instance: I love air conditioning. I very much appreciate my dishwasher, washer and dryer, hot water heater, my Tahoe, my fridge and my deep freeze. And two years ago, I finally succumbed to the temptation of an electric can opener because the opening of multiple dog food cans each morning had just gotten too difficult for stiff morning hands. My toaster, coffee maker and 2 or 3 other small appliances are a pleasure to use as well. However, I know how to function without them. And oh yeah! Thanks to all the powers that make possible my computers and the internet. A delight and a blessing with a potential dark side. (how many hours have I spent pointlessly engaged in truly petty coasting, cruising, and forwarding of mass emails?) If it’s an addiction, at least it is legal and won’t harm the liver.
Even as a metaphysician, an alchemist, and philosopher, I can appreciate the Catholics for coming up with the idea of the Seven Deadly Sins.
As a follower of Yeshua (you may think of Him as Jesus) I know sin to be a synonym for error or mistake. Sin sounds so dreadful. There are many dreadful acts committed by humans and like anyone, I want vengeance as my first knee-jerk reaction. But, as I was saying, as a follower of Yeshua, forgiveness is one of the great virtues I work on daily in my alchemical transformation program.
Back to sin, or the Seven Deadlies. Let’s agree to think of them as the Seven Deadly Errors. Greed is the foundation of our societal problems today. And in many ways, it is the foundation of the other six deadly errors we as humans allow ourselves to fall prey to.
And that is the topic we shall explore more closely in the next posting.
Other upcoming topics will include personal power and manifestation. You have it.
Excessive expostulation versus personal responsibility.
I come to you bearing gifts of ideas. Ideas timely to help both you and I navigate through these remarkable times we are in.
Some call this the ‘end times,’ however I prefer to think of this as a period of transition. It’s a sure thing that “the times, they are a changing.” The ballots were cast for change, but few knew what changes would be involved.
Change happens all the time. Within a given status quo, there is change, whether it is apparent, or simply potential is a point not worthy of debate. Rapid change is often frightening, and often not for the betterment of those affected. For instance: a landslide may well be a good change for the earth, in order to stabilize the topography. However, a landslide is not that great for those who are living in its path.
Anyway, here we go and I haven’t even gotten on topic yet and it’s my first post on this fresh blog. Then again, I may not be too far off topic, since I intend it to be a broadly defined and all-encompassing topic.
It’s All Too Much applies, in my mind to pretty much everything going on in the world today. Perhaps that concept is my ticket to the Old Fogy Section. Somehow I think not.
In this blog, among other things, I intend to explore the concepts of abundance versus lack, the source of supply, the excess of things, manifestation, magick, prayer, good versus evil, poverty versus wealth, loaves and fishes, water and wine, Ygdrassil, recycling, use versus abuse, gluttony and greed, fear, the media and government, talk radio, supply and demand, security, stewardship, outsourcing, multi-tasking, love, gratitude, faith, trust, discernment, Kindle, paper, salt,sugar, oceans, oil, the depletion of resources, fairness, balance, kindness, Karma and truth. Along the way, I may come up with a few more things to comment upon, ya’ just never know.
∞∞∞∞∞∞∞∞∞∞∞∞∞∞∞∞∞∞∞∞∞∞∞∞∞∞
I recall that, as a kid, we enjoyed as many as ten or twelve different varieties of chewing gum. There were the Wrigley’s: Spearmint, Juicyfruit, Doublemint. There was Cinnamon Dentyne. And then there were those unusual varieties called Teaberry, Clove, and BlackJack. If you wanted to blow bubbles, you could choose between Double Bubble and Bazooka Joe and with either choice, you were awarded a free tiny comic strip. And then there were those little pellets of gum called Chicklets. I remember a yellow box, but I think there were one or two other choices as well.
Not once did anyone ever complain about a dearth of chewing gum choices.
And now, at the candy counter in the airport, I tally:
Dentyne in 5 flavors
Wrigleys in 5 flavors
Wrigleys specialty gums in 7 or 8 more flavors
Trident in assorted sizes and shapes totaling over 12
Orbit has at least 10
Stride has 5 or more.
Well, the list goes on. And the price goes up, from $1.20 to $3.50 for a mere pack of gum. What are all these gums? Did you know there are so many varieties that they do not all get sold? They have expiration dates! Did you know gum expires? What with all the odd chemical sweeteners in the majority of them, who knows what they may transmogrify into after a certain date? It boggles one’s mind. Is expired gum something to fear, like snake venom? Why make these products in the first place? What happens to expired gum? Can it be recycled into something? Toys? Patio furnishings? Rain ponchos?
Health food stores have assortments of gum that are less disgusting in content than standard commercial varieties. And at a certain Interstate exit ramp restaurant chain you can still buy Teaberry and Clove.
Back to the airport: I have seen passengers take up to fifteen minutes to ponder the gum choices before finally making their selection.
Magazines: I counted six different magazine titles showing pictures of the same exact celebrities on the covers. Often the only difference from one to the next is the name of the magazine. The content is the same. Why so many? How does one decide whether to read about Brittany Spears in a blue dress or a silver skirt? The depth of thought not required to write these articles is exceeded only by the depth of thought not required to desire to read them.
As a journalist, I will probably have more to say regarding magazines at a later time.
Too much.
Way too much.
I did not realize how deprived I was 25 or 30 years ago, when all I had was CBS, NBC, ABC and Public TV. (not to mention only 10 gum choices) We enjoyed the shows that were on. We watched the actual news being reported, and were told not only weather prognostications, but the vital statistics of the day just passed.
And then came cable. That was pretty cool for a while. We had Animal Planet, the Discovery Channel, and MTV, which actually played music videos ALL DAY LONG!
Then someone decided we needed several hundred stations to watch which necessitated more technology which we had to purchase, and more utility bills. And the programming went to hell. There was nothing worthy of an hour or two of my time, so I finally had to have the whole thing disconnected.
Whoa! I see I’m on a rant. Sorry .I did not mean for this to devolve into such vituperation. My point is, each day seems to bring us an appalling increase in choices that we think we need to make in order to survive, be cool, keep up, or simply to make up for the lack of depth and meaning in our lives.
I am not a Luddite. I am very grateful for so many of the advancements technology has given us over the years. For instance: I love air conditioning. I very much appreciate my dishwasher, washer and dryer, hot water heater, my Tahoe, my fridge and my deep freeze. And two years ago, I finally succumbed to the temptation of an electric can opener because the opening of multiple dog food cans each morning had just gotten too difficult for stiff morning hands. My toaster, coffee maker and 2 or 3 other small appliances are a pleasure to use as well. However, I know how to function without them. And oh yeah! Thanks to all the powers that make possible my computers and the internet. A delight and a blessing with a potential dark side. (how many hours have I spent pointlessly engaged in truly petty coasting, cruising, and forwarding of mass emails?) If it’s an addiction, at least it is legal and won’t harm the liver.
Even as a metaphysician, an alchemist, and philosopher, I can appreciate the Catholics for coming up with the idea of the Seven Deadly Sins.
As a follower of Yeshua (you may think of Him as Jesus) I know sin to be a synonym for error or mistake. Sin sounds so dreadful. There are many dreadful acts committed by humans and like anyone, I want vengeance as my first knee-jerk reaction. But, as I was saying, as a follower of Yeshua, forgiveness is one of the great virtues I work on daily in my alchemical transformation program.
Back to sin, or the Seven Deadlies. Let’s agree to think of them as the Seven Deadly Errors. Greed is the foundation of our societal problems today. And in many ways, it is the foundation of the other six deadly errors we as humans allow ourselves to fall prey to.
And that is the topic we shall explore more closely in the next posting.
Other upcoming topics will include personal power and manifestation. You have it.
Excessive expostulation versus personal responsibility.
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