ANOTHER PERSPECTIVE

the Full Beaver Moon

atruthseeker — Wed, 21 Nov 2007 06:44:06 GMT

The Beaver The beaver is an amazing animal. They are master engineers and alter environments. Their dams are made of wood held together with mud and leaves. Resourceful and ingenious they turn streams into lakes with their dams. When they leave an area, the dam eventually decays and a fertile meadow is left where the lake was. The beaver knows how to work in harmony with the environment and can show us how to do the same. They hold the energies of fertility and new promise. Beavers are expert builders. Their dams are strong and secure. When the beaver swims into your life it is asking you to strengthen the foundation on which you stand or to build a new one. If we continue to stand on old foundations new opportunities can pass us by. Because of its building skills the beaver has been linked to ancient masonry. Those with this totem often have past lives associated with this magical art. The study of masonry can reveal deeper insights about who you are and who you have been. The beavers fur is waterproof and a hard yellow enamel coats their teeth protecting them from damage. Their teeth continue to grow until they die. They are always chewing and falling trees. Author Ted Andrews states that without chewing the beavers teeth would become to large, and it would be unable to eat. Its large incisor teeth are one of its most distinct features and holds great symbology. A person with healthy incisor teeth usually has a balanced inner nature, if unhealthy an unsettled inner nature is common. Proper dental hygiene along with developing a sense of inner peace is essential for those with this medicine. Meditation and quiet contemplation is helpful. Excellent swimmers, the beaver can stay submerged for 15 minutes. Controlling the breath is one of its attributes. Those with this medicine would benefit from yoga or any form of breathing exercises. They make excellent breath workers as well as architects. Beavers are creatures of the water the element associated with the subconscious. This is where hidden knowledge and forgotten dreams are stored. A powerful totem to have the beaver reminds us to live our dreams and shows us how to manifest them using the resources available. Beavers have a gentle nature and are very industrious. Those with this totem often find that they must work hard to obtain their goals. Remember to be kind to yourself. When you feel defeated simply call on the beaver to help you. { taken from : "Cycle of Power : Animal Totems" : http://www.sayahda.com/cycle.htm }

"Spirit of Crow with Wolfs Moon"

atruthseeker — Wed, 26 Sep 2007 10:05:26 GMT

{Image : "Crossed Paths With..." : 8'07 : Michelle Lee} Role: Carrier of Lost Souls into Light Lesson: To Understand the Shadow Within Element: Air Wind: West : The Quest Within Medicine: Shapeshifting Keywords: Carrier of Souls, Shadow Within, Sentinel, Shape-Shifter Night descends upon the ancient forest as a silky shawl of midnight blue, settling over all that she encounters upon her journey, she leaves everything she touches changed in the shimmering veil of her silver light. Perched atop the hard surface of granite boulders that dot the mountainside, Crow stands, head cocked to the side, affording him a gaze of the moon, as she rides the pathway of the autumn sky. From the beginning of the time when ~Great Spirit~ transformed Crow from the form of a two-legged, to the shape he now wears, Crow has dwelled simultaneously in Two Worlds, one of the earth & the other of the sky. She is the Watcher that has observed we of the Two-Legged as we walk along the Red Road of Physical LIfe. She stands, ever vigilant, at the Gateway between shadow and light, watching for the Soul that is beginning to Unfold, and then, with a beckoning call, black wings touch our face, and we Journey with her, flying from the Night of denial, and awakening with acknowledgments Day. Carrier of Lost Souls into Light The Crow is a creature that has elicited much thought and speculation amongst all indigenous peoples and across many cultures and times. To some, Crow is a harbinger of "evil" or portender of physical death, to others, he is one who offers the choice to fly free of the chains of the past and to soar toward self knowing, yet all seem to agree, that this Animal Totem possesses a powerful energy (Medicine) contained within his small frame. One who has the honor of having Crow fly by his/her side, is an individual who has the Role of carrying souls lost in pain, denial, bitterness or ill intent, into the light of forgiveness and self-awareness. When we are reeling in the darkness of emotional pain and turmoil, confused by denying that which we don`t want to see, or feeling bitter over the actions of those who have hurt us, betrayed us or rejected us in the "past," we have become lost on our Path. It is the Role of one who has Crow as their Power Totem, to then find those lost souls and call to them to make the journey into the light of awareness, and eventually, sincere forgiveness. For one who does not have Crow as their Power Totem (yet has lost the sense of their Life Path), it is Crow that they would call upon to carry them to re-align with their Path once more, as she is the Totem whose vision sees through the darkest of Nights to find the way back home. Yet in order that one with Crow Totem can carry others into the Light, he/she must first find their own way free of the shadows of the past. This can be an arduous task, yet is essential to fulfilling their Role as Carrier of Lost Souls into Light, for how can they fulfill a task that they have not yet completed for themselves? To assist them in this process, Crow Souls have been blessed with the ability of keen perception, to see right to the core of their own Self. This is reflected in Nature as the Crow is considered to be the most intelligent and perceptive of all Winged Ones, and she is renowned for her abilities in cognizant thought and strategy. Whether turned within to gain understanding of herSelf, or reflected back as a mirror to Others so that they may know themSelves, this is a beautiful gift bestowed upon a deserving Soul. Shadow Within All who hear the caw of the Crow immediately recognize that raspy voice. Yet, in reality, that particular call is only one of the sounds that Crow will utilize to make a statement, call out his territory, or alert other crows to impending danger, though without a doubt, it is his caw that most two-leggeds recognize him by. He will also make a very distinct chirping sound when he is singing in the morning or welcoming the moon into the night sky, and he can elicit tingles along the spine of the listener when he is warning others of infringement upon his territory, or of danger approaching, with a call that is halfway between a screech and a caw. For anyone who is born with Power Totem of Crow, communication is an integral part of their flight along the Sacred Hoop of life. They are here to express the depth of what they feel, to alternately inspire others with their vision of Life, or to transport them, through beautifully woven words, into other realms and planes of Being. Yet for their keen intelligence and ability to communicate the intensity, scope and beauty of their own experiences to Others, Crow Soul is one who struggles to find and define him/herself to the Self. Years, and even lifetimes, may be spent in gradually coming to an understanding and embracing of all the facets that make up their Personality, Mind and Soul. Part of the process is in uncovering the Shadows Within that all possess along this Earth Walk. These are the areas of our Self that represent our greatest lessons and opportunities for growth, yet can remain elusive to our grasp and understanding. However, once these "shadows" have been fully understood and integrated, then the journey upward to the light of the Higher Self can be easily attained and serve as inspiration for Others. To achieve this demands that one go Within and illuminate all of the corners of the subconscious where shadows still linger. To open the door to the corridors of pain where the past still haunts the soul, and shed the Light of awareness so that true Healing may occur. Then, Crow Soul may share his/her insight, understanding and awareness with others through words (written or spoken) in either literal or metaphorical language, that will invoke understanding and inspiration within Others to reach for the Light within themselves. This is the Journey of the Soul from Night into Day . . . the blessing of Crow to both the Self, and the Gift to Others. Sentinel Crows are known for their tendency to observe all that is happening around them and to alert other crows nearby at the first sign of an intruder or danger. Their keen eyes miss nothing, and when an approaching threat is noticed, they will sound the alarm with their throaty caws echoing in the air. It is believed that because of their tendency to call out when intruders are around, they have been given the task of being the Messengers of the Ancestors. In other cultures and times, the belief that they are messengers of the Spirit Realm is also predominant, as in ancient Roman mythology, where a white crow was said to have delivered a foreboding message to Apollo, who then turned all ravens and crows black out of his anger at the bad news. Like their Power Totem, Crow Souls are Sentinels who keep silent watch over all that is happening around them. They will first observe what is occurring, making mental notes on what has been seen, heard and experienced. They will then translate these thoughts into either spoken or written format, sharing their observations with the world around them. In esoteric astrology, the Crow would be considered to be much like Saturn, the Gatekeeper, who stands ever at the ready of the Doorway between Planes, keeping the Ancestors informed as to the progress and evolution of those who walk the Red Road. Yet Crow will also carry messages from the Ancestors to his/her fellow two-leggeds. This has earned the Crow Soul the responsibility of being the Watcher and the Sentinel, standing as a messenger between the realm of the physical, and the realm of the Spirit. If Crow is not your personal Power Totem, yet has suddenly made an appearance in your life, then there are messages that the Ancestors are bringing to you that will likely be heralding significant changes in your life. The more crows that you encounter, the more likely the message is to be urgent and needing your acknowledgment and attention. Take the time to quietly go within, asking for clarification on the Message being delivered. Or it may be that you will be called upon to assist others in their journey from the darkness of denial into the light of awareness. If Crow is your Power Totem and you are suddenly noticing him/her all about you, it is a time to go within, immersing yourself in quiet contemplation, listening to the messages you are to pay heed to for either your own Path, or as a message to relay to Others. Shapeshifting Several creatures of the Earth Mother are believed to have been given the Gift of Shapeshifting, that is transforming from their animal state to that of a two-legged, and back again. Amongst these Beings who are said to possess this ability is the Crow. It is said that the Elder Spirits will appear before a two-legged in the form of a Crow so that the strength, character and faith of the mortal can be tested prior to receiving a special gift or honor. For this reason, Crow can be clever, attempting to trick the two-legged into folly. If the two-legged passes the test, then the Crow will transform his shape and appear before the mortal as an Ancient One, who will then deliver a message of great importance, or bestow an ability upon the one who has triumphed in the face of challenge or adversity. One who flies with Power Totem Crow, is an individual blessed with great Insight. This ability to see to the very heart of a matter, serves the Crow Soul well as he/she traverses the ~Earth Walk.~ With the keen perception and ability to grasp complex ideas and philosophies (initially on an intuitive level, followed by deductive reasoning), one with Power Totem Crow may transform the direction of their Journey, their belief system and understanding, indeed their very Life here in Physical. More often than not, one whose Soul shares a deep bond with Crow will be an individual who may experience an especially difficult early life, wherein a certain sense of detachment or "dis-connectedness" to other two-leggeds has been felt. This general sense of not belonging will exist on some level, and at varying intensities, throughout their physical life, or until a deeper level of understanding and acceptance has been attained. Perhaps it is because, like their Animal Totem, they exist simultaneously within two worlds, that of the Spirit and that of the Flesh, that these individuals always seem to be looking for the answer to all of their questions, and ultimately, a sense of connection. Yet the true thirst for connection comes from the Soul of Crow desiring to re-connect with all that was once known, yet lost when the Soul is cast upon the blank shores of forgetfulness that is Physical Life. He/she seeks to connect all that which was known, is now known, and will one day be known, thus perhaps receiving the Answers to all of the Questions which fill their active and pondering minds. When one with Power Totem Crow comes to realize that he/she is already connected to that vast repository of Universal Knowledge, and that the Earth Walk is the "schoolroom" of that great university, then, the process of transformation begins. This leads him/her to the discovery that one is never truly dis-connected in the first place, merely walking on a different level, plane or experience than some of the other two-leggeds. Once this realization has been made, then Crow Soul will begin to Shapeshift from the bindings of the past, which have dictated that there must be something "wrong" with his/her way of experiencing, feeling or viewing Life, and can instead, come to Accept, Celebrate and Love the Self. This is when the integrated human (mind)/crow (soul) may truly fly free.

(from tonight's 'No Room For Form')

atruthseeker — Mon, 24 Sep 2007 09:20:27 GMT

...Beat the drum and let the poets speak. This is a day of purification for those who are already mature and initiated into what love is... --Rumi 9.23.07 { Image: Veronica with child VI : Elijah October : http://people.tribe.net/roninsoul }

"Why is the sea king of a hundred streams?

atruthseeker — Sun, 23 Sep 2007 18:46:23 GMT

Because it lies below them. Therefore it is the king of a hundred streams. If the sage would guide the people, he must serve with humility. If he would lead them, he must follow behind. In this way the sage rules, the people will not feel oppressed. When he stands before them they will not be harmed. The whole world will support him and will not tire of him. Because he does not compete, He does not meet competition. 66 Tao Te Ching : Lao Tsu ****** I wonder... Why is the Earth queen of a hundred kings?

Two men on the heels of one another...

atruthseeker — Sun, 23 Sep 2007 05:01:44 GMT

{ Image : Sunset at Westport : Michelle Lee } Two men on the heels of one another shared the below gems of knowledge with me...both composed by Rumi... makes me think of Geminis and Mercury, the Messenger :) ******** From Rumi...and his poem Mathnawi: Remember what the soul wants, because in that, eternity is wanting our souls! Which is the meaning of the text, They love That, and That loves them. If I keep on explaining this, the Mathnawi will run to eighty volumes! The gist is: whatever anyone seeks, that is seeking the seeker. No matter if its animal, or vegetable, or mineral. Every bit of the universe is filled with wanting, and whatever any bit wants, wants the wanter! This subject must dissolve again. Back to Sadri Jahan and the uneducated peasant who loved him, so that gradually Sadri Jahan loved the lowly man. But who really attracted who, whoom, Huuuu? Don't be presumptuous and say one or the other. Close your lips. The mystery of loving is God's sweetest secret ****************** One night a man was crying Allah! Allah! His lips grew sweet with praising, until a cynic said, “So! I’ve heard you calling out, but have you ever gotten any response?” The man had no answer to that. He quit praying and fell into a confused sleep. He dreamed he saw Khidr, the guide of souls, in a thick, green foliage. “Why did you stop praising?” “Because I’ve never heard anything back.” “This longing you express is the return message.” The grief you cry out from draws you toward union. Your pure sadness that wants help is the secret cup. Listen to the moan of a dog for its master. That whining is the connection. There are love dogs no one knows the names of. Give your life to be one of them. Rumi

Why I love the Language of Archetypes...

atruthseeker — Fri, 21 Sep 2007 21:37:41 GMT

"A picture is worth a thousand words" it has been said... There is oh-so much truth to that, I believe. Symbols, archetypes, patterns, themes... What images draw you in and linger in your thoughts...? "Snapshots and shortcuts into understanding how and why"...there is so much depth to be discovered inside a form...inside a picture...inside an image...inside another... I wonder...what do you *feel* when you gaze upon the looking glass? { Image : Neptune : Artist Unknown }

Geminis

atruthseeker — Thu, 20 Sep 2007 22:28:57 GMT

...and blue-jays come to me in pairs...in tandem...one on the wings of the other... { Image: "The Messenger" : Michelle Lee }

From my dear oracle, Google

atruthseeker — Wed, 19 Sep 2007 06:06:44 GMT

via my inbox :) Word of the Day Archive Thursday September 13, 2007 roue \roo-AY\, noun: A man devoted to a life of sensual pleasure God, how I love syncronicity!

Neptune

atruthseeker — Mon, 17 Sep 2007 02:31:47 GMT

I took a walk through the trees yesterday, opening up to the elements floating around me --Fall is now upon us in Seattle. In the chill held under the trees...making the earth receptive with its yielding dampness...lingering above and around the ponds, the lakes and the Sound. Mist...a subtle permeation...dreams. Neptune. His time seems so far away to me in my mind...and yet...it is very much with me now. And was with me last Fall, too...and the Fall before that. Hmmm...

from "The Dance of the Dissident Daughter"

atruthseeker — Mon, 07 May 2007 02:22:13 GMT

--by Sue Monk Kidd "The Gnostics didn't fully acknowledge Jesus' humanity and death. They believed it was the knowledge or gnosis of Jesus' message that saved humanity, not the crucifixion. To them he was a divine redeemer, not one who came to suffer and die."

Searching for information...

atruthseeker — Wed, 28 Mar 2007 02:54:29 GMT

on The Red Cross's mishandling of food and funds in direct relation to Hurricane Katrina. I've done a precursory Google search, but I'm not finding the information outlining/reporting these details...I remember the essence of a mainstream news network "exposing" some of the atrocities committed by the Red Cross --and yet I've not yet located it via the Web. I'm looking to track down reliable (which does not necessarily = mainstream) sources detailing this info...any good links, etc, that you could pass along would be greatly appreciated.

0 : The Fool

atruthseeker — Fri, 16 Feb 2007 19:25:12 GMT

"The Fool, consciously, but not analytically, is on the path toward wisdom. The Fool's path is to seek wisdom through developing an understanding -- or tolerance -- of all the components of the human psyche, as well as all that which is beyond the human psyche. "The psyche is complex. The composite of the individual human being consists of many different personalities playing different roles and speaking with different voices. Yet these are all united in one house: the house of the human mind." --Pamela Eakins, Ph.D. Last week I dreamed of raccoons and a day later encountered one on a walk...and shortly thereafter I received the newsletter regarding Purim...and I have recently become engaged in conversations regarding the archetypal trickster, with a trickster...and then I "happened" to pull the Fool out of my deck. Synchronicity --what fun :) What is the common thread I see in these seemingly unrelated things? That of masks -- their nature, the purposes they serve and their inherent power, which cannot be denied --be it for good or for ill. ..... The Fool that I found to post as an image is a non-traditional rendition of the card, and yet it was sooo perfect for many reasons (one being that it is from one of my favorite artists -- Stephanie Pui-Mun Law, whose work is scattered here and there in my collection of art...and to find more of her wonderful work go here: www.shadowscapes.com).

Dante and DaVinci

atruthseeker — Wed, 14 Feb 2007 05:06:42 GMT

DaVinci pondered --"Is it possible for a triangle contained within a semi-circle not to include a right angle?" Making specific reference to Dante's "Paradiso Canto XIII": " 'Non si est dare primum motum esse,' Or if in semicircle can be made Triangle so that it have no right angle. Whence, if thou notest this and what I said, A regal prudence is that peerless seeing In which the shaft of my intention strikes." Here's the link to "Turning the Pages 2.0", offered by the British Library where DaVinci's journal (and others) can be found and viewed: http://www.bl.uk/onlinegallery/ttp/ttpbooks.html --which is where I discovered this curiosity. I wonder why that particular piece caught DaVinci's curiosity and attention to the extent that it made it within his sketches...

The Fejervary - Mayer Codex

atruthseeker — Wed, 14 Feb 2007 03:31:44 GMT

If you shift your perspective just a bit, can you see the Equal Armed / Gnostic / Templar Cross? "The Fejervary - Mayer Codex: In this manuscript we find four trees oriented toward the cardinal points. In the center, a figure controls energy. Also present are birds and other symbols used in this codes, which should be named uahom che, the word used by the Maya to designate "the cross of the tree". To what do we attribute this designation? It is interesting to discover the clear meaning: "The tree that awakens us" or "within the tree that awakens consciousness." Disclaimer: :) The above picture and quote was sourced from Bear & Company Publishing.

Just because...

atruthseeker — Wed, 14 Feb 2007 02:24:54 GMT

Purim 2007

atruthseeker — Wed, 14 Feb 2007 02:23:05 GMT

For the curious: http://view.exacttarget.com/?ffcb10-fe8e1d797566017a74-fdf517787166007e701d7071-fef015747c6d0c

Another Revolution of the Wheel

atruthseeker — Tue, 13 Feb 2007 03:27:14 GMT

Death. What images does this word invoke? Many things to many people, I can say. Yet its dance upon the wheel of time is infinite in the cycles and ages of Time --regardless of the varying opinions held regarding it. Death comes in coldness. Death comes in slumber. And yet Death comes to prepare for the coming of Life. Breakdown and decay –a process and eternal cycle which provides energy for that which is upon the horizon…Death is not as final as it appears upon the surface. With the closing of Winter and the feel of Spring in the air, I thought this the opportune time to lay to rest all that which I have outgrown. And then wait for the coming of Spring...

Perceptions...

atruthseeker — Sat, 27 Jan 2007 07:41:28 GMT

Perceptions... I knew I was going to be writing something this evening, for I could feel it building...the way one feels a storm brewing...the slow, soft, quiet storms that bring more than just rain with them. I thought I would be revisiting Socrates...but the impetus to write turned out to be something quite different than the philosophical ponderings over ancient debates of Justice... My inspiration has come from the dissolution (dis-illusion) of yet another relationship... Perceptions...a person's perception of a thing, subject, matter, etc are never “wrong”...it is their's, and their's alone. Just as the perspective of a camera lens in tight focus is not framing a “wrong” or “faulty” composition of -- let's say -- a child, because only the face of the child is in view. It is simply not encompassing the totality of that which is before it...and although it could be said that such a perspective is lacking, it still has merit in its own right. If the camera lens is covered with scratches or debris, then such will show in the composition...although this may not be a desirable picture (and not *truly* arising from the subject), it is still 'right' in the sense that the scratches and lint were present within the focus – albeit exclusively to the lens itself (and not an actual attribute of the subject in view)... So...when one misperceives a person, subject, event, etc it is not that the mis-perception is “wrong”...there are simply 'things' interfering with a clear view...(and this is where he and I veered in drastically different directions...similar core, foundational philosophical/spiritual views would have prevented such a divergence...but alas...) On a similar line of thought (same inspirational source)... Rarely are things what they appear to be on the surface...the surface is often times more a reflection than a window. One has to have the ability -- perceptiveness and willingness, to peer beyond the surface's reflection...a shift of perspective is necessary...only then is the reflection replaced with a view into the deeper reality. ... All this talk and thought of perceptions, perspectives -- and I've discovered the fog has come to my neck of the woods to rest for the evening... I wonder where Neptune is sitting...

Time

atruthseeker — Sat, 02 Dec 2006 05:22:45 GMT

Time...how it shifts, slips, changes and flies. Wise Einstein passed along such knowledge when he declared Time as being relative...relative to each individual's perspective within each unique moment. Infinite realities, indeed. Speaking of realities and perspectives -- have you ever stopped to contemplate why we use the verb “spent” when referring to our usage of time...and what the deeper meaning within such may mean? We use the same passive verb when referring to energy...and money. And what is money really, but a symbolic representation of power? Here's a quick definition of “spent”: exhausted: drained of energy or effectiveness; extremely tired; completely exhausted gone: having all been spent; "the money is all gone" And here's “power”: possession of controlling influence (physics) the rate of doing work ability: possession of the qualities (especially mental qualities) required to do something or get something done world power: a state powerful enough to influence events throughout the world one possessing or exercising power or influence or authority; "may the force be with you" might: physical strength exponent: a mathematical notation indicating the number of times a quantity is multiplied by itself supply the force or power for the functioning of So from there, could it not be concluded that when it is said “I do not have time [to be...; to do...; for...; etc]” that in essence what is being expressed is the belief/thought that “I do not have power [to be...; to do...; for...]”? “I don't have the power to...”?!? I believe that expression would fall into the category of 'victim mentality/consciousness'. Extremely dis-empowering. Why do we use such language? Cultural conditioning...and lack of awareness. I believe it would be very wise for us to take the time to first observe what we are expressing...getting to the essence of the thoughts and words used...and then deciding if the results are what we are desiring to achieve. For thoughts and words are the building blocks of Creation, are they not? Personally, I like the phrase “I will make time...”. Yep, I really like the way that phrase sounds and feels. I find it carries with it phenomenal creative potential and self-empowerment. Infinite possibilities, indeed...enjoy your Time.

The Whale

atruthseeker — Thu, 22 Jun 2006 20:07:43 GMT

A beautiful story shared with me that gave me chills -- just had to share it... *************** If you read the front page story of the SF Chronicle, you would have read about a female humpback whale who had become entangled in a spider web of crab traps and lines. She was weighted down by hundreds of pounds of traps that caused her to struggle to stay afloat. She also had hundreds of yards of line rope wrapped around her body, her tail, her torso, a line tugging in her mouth. A fisherman spotted her just east of the Farralone Islands (outside the Golden Gate) and radioed an environmental group for help. Within a few hours, the rescue team arrived and determined that she was so bad off, the only way to save her was to dive in and untangle her .... a very dangerous proposition. One slap of the tail could kill a rescuer. They worked for hours with curved knives and eventually freed her. When she was free, the divers say she swam in what seemed like joyous circles. She then came back to each and every diver, one at a time, and nudged them, pushed gently around- she thanked them. Some said it was the most incredibly beautiful experience of their lives. The guy who cut the rope out of her mouth says her eye was following him the whole time, and he will never be the same. http://www.snopes.com/critters/crusader/whalethanks.asp

...

atruthseeker — Tue, 06 Jun 2006 02:30:43 GMT

"The breeze at dawn has secrets to tell you. Don't go back to sleep. You must ask for what you really want. Don't go back to sleep. People are going back and forth across the doorsill when the two worlds touch. The door is round and open. Don't go back to sleep." :: ::: :: "There is a community of the spirit. Join it, and feel the delight of walking in the noisy street, and being the noise. Drink all your passion, and be a disgrace. Close both eyes to see with the other eye. Open your hands, if you want to be held. Sit down in this circle. Quit acting like a wolf, and feel the shepherd's love filling you. At night your beloved wanders. Don't accept consolations." ::: :: ::: "Don't give advice to someone who's groggy and falling asleep. Don't throw seed on the sand. Some torn places cannot be patched." - Rumi

A "must see" in my book...

atruthseeker — Sun, 26 Mar 2006 03:47:18 GMT

This link was sent to me with the request that I pass it along. After viewing it, how could I not? http://www.channel4.com/fourdocs/film/film-detail.jsp?id=1575 "A strange occurence at the Newbury Bypass road building, when two 'wild' horses appear and seem to protest against the felling of two old oaks.. "This is a heartfelt plea to save England's oaks. The story focuses on the felling of some trees to make way for a road. But more than that, it is unashamedly poetic, drawing on the chance arrival (or so it would seem) of two wild horses at the moment the trees fall. Despite the film's obvious agitprop agenda, softly over-the-top commentary and understandably grabbed shots, it has been edited to deliver a hard message. And it works rather well."

SHALL WE LET THE PAST REPEAT ITSELF???

atruthseeker — Thu, 02 Mar 2006 02:15:23 GMT

To All Our Relations, Bahe Black Mesa Indigenous Support <blackmesais@democracyinaction.org> Subject: URGENT! TAKE ACTION FOR BIG MOUNTAIN TODAY STOP FORCED RELOCATION ON BIG MOUNTAIN, BLACK MESA, AZ. TARGETED NAVAJO COMMUNITIES SAY THAT NOW IS THE TIME TO TAKE ACTION! Dear Friends of the Indigenous Peoples of Big Mountain, Black Mesa, AZ, Something critical is about to happen concerning the traditional communities on Big Mountain and surrounding areas on Black Mesa. Today, more than 30 years after the passage of Public Law 93 - 531, the original Navajo-Hopi Relocation bill, a new bill is before Congress that sets a new timetable for the forced relocation of a number of Navajo families on Black Mesa. Senate bill S. 1003 "The Navajo Hopi Land Settlement Act Amendments of 2005" is now on the Senate Calendar and may be passed at anytime without debate or serious consideration unless the public acts now. The last major relocation bill was approved by the Senate within a month after being placed on the Senate Calendar and stayed in the House of Representatives less than a week before becoming law. It's difficult to convey the serious nature of these new developments. The passage of this bill would effectively devastate these traditional communities of Navajo, or Dineh, stripping them of their identity and way of life which is tied into the land itself. Native people's lives and livelihoods are on the line! This bill will permanently displace the indigenous families of Big Mountain and surrounding communities on Black Mesa from their ancestral lands and will relieve the federal government of any further responsibility for the relocated people. S. 1003, sponsored by Senator John McCain (R-AZ), comes as Peabody Coal, the world's largest coal company, is planning to expand its strip mining of American Indian lands, drawing down a high-quality residential aquifer in the process. Only one thing stands in Peabody's way: indigenous people live on the land below which lies billions of tons of low-sulfur coal. As with their ancestors, the land is the basis for the Black Mesa people's traditions, spirituality, and livelihoods. There is still time to act! S 1003 may pass the Senate and the House of Representatives within the next few weeks. Senate Bill 1003 may become law anytime now once again starting the machine of forced relocation. But fortunately, a small window of opportunity exists to stop it. It must first pass the Senate so the Senate Indian Affairs Committee and your Senator must hear your voices today. The indigenous families from the Big Mountain and Black Mesa communities have not been represented in this process. It's up to us the public and the international community to demand that Congress educate themselves before they vote. After passing the earlier relocation act, PL 93-531, in 1974, several Senators expressed misgivings about the law, but it was too late. We cannot allow this to happen again. The people of Big Mountain are asking us to jump in and shake up the political landscape. ***Our outcry may be their only hope.*** We must tell those who would once again sell out the people and the land that there will be a political price to pay. It's easy to make decisions from afar if you never risk meeting the people who will be affected. Demand that Congress listen to the people. Maybe it is possible to reach their hearts. In an era of transnational corporate dominance, the methods of separating indigenous peoples from their land and natural resources have outstripped the ability of any agency or nongovernmental organization to monitor or regulate. The importance of building alliances cannot be stressed enough. The elders of Big Mountain such as Roberta Blackgoat have shown us the way to the survival of our planet and the danger to us all if sacred lands are destroyed, warning us of what is now happening long before global warming and gaia became common words. The people of Big Mountain can not win this fight alone and need the support of all people who love justice, human rights, and the earth. Thank you and Peace, Black Mesa Indigenous Support Please join us, and ask your friends and family to do the same. Click on the following link: http://www.democracyinaction.org/dia/organizationsORG/blackmesais/campaign.jsp?campaign_KEY=2552

THE REPUBLIC ~Plato

atruthseeker — Wed, 15 Feb 2006 03:30:15 GMT

BOOK II Socrates, what do you see in our search after justice…? I shall tell you…Justice, we say, is the attribute of an individual, but also of a whole city, is it not? And is not a city greater than an individual?… The origin of a city…is, in my opinion, due to the fact that no one of us is sufficient for himself, but each is in need of many things… Come then…let us in argument construct the city from the beginning. Apparently it will be the outcome of our need… The first and greatest of our needs is the provision of food to support existence and life… The second, the provision of a dwelling place and the third, clothing and so on… How will our city be able to supply a sufficiency of all those things? Will it not be by having one man a farmer, another a builder and a third a weaver? Shall we add a shoemaker and perhaps another provider of bodily needs?… Then the city of bare neccesity will consist of four or five men… Should each of these men place his own work at the disposal of all in common? For example, should our one farmer provide corn for four people and spend fourfold time and labor on the provisions of corn and then share it with the rest; or should he pay no attention to the others, and provide only a fourth part of the corn for himself in a fourth of the time and spend the other three-fourths of the time in providing a house, clothes and shoes? Should he not have the trouble of sharing with others, but rather provide with his own hands what he wants for himself? Adeimantus answered: The first alternative, Socrates, is perhaps the easier. Well, it certainly is not strange that it is…I myself was thinking that, in the first place, no two of us are by nature altogether alike. Our capacities differ. some fit for one work, some for another… ********** Because the work of our guardians is the most important of all, it will demand the most exclusive attention and the greatest skill and practice…and will it not need a nature fitted for this profession? Do you not think, then, that so far as their fitness for guarding is concerned…that [they] must be sharp-sighted, quick of foot to pursue the moment they perceive and strong enough to make captures and overcome opposition when necessary? And since they are good fighters, they must certainly be brave. But will either horse or dog or any animal be brave if it is not spirited? Have you not observed that spirit is unconquerable and irresistable? Every soul possesed by it will meet any danger fearlessly and unshrinking… Then…with such natures as these, how are they prevented from behaving savagely towards one another and the other citizens?… We must have them gentle to their fellows and fierce to their enemies. If we cannot effect that, they will prevent the enemy from destroying the city by doing it first themselves… [The guardian] must [also] be by nature philosophical and fond of learning…

"I Am More Than Enough"

atruthseeker — Mon, 30 Jan 2006 22:32:45 GMT

Meditation with the Name: The whispers of my soul and the divine counsel of the Light are heard loud and clear. I know what I have to do. I am willing and prepared to do what it takes to get it done. *************************** Last week I wrote about not holding others accountable for our own shortcomings and problems. Yesterday I received an email from a student who responded: “When I began my Kabbalah studies I was loaded with hatred and anger towards my family for the way they raised me. But after going through the Power of Kabbalah Level 2 course, I took ownership and realized my soul needed those experiences. So, now that I am no longer blaming, how can I apply the Tune Up to my life?” I thought it would be appropriate for me to share my response with all of you: “Stopping to blame others is only the first step. To truly release blame from your mindset, you need to stop blaming yourself. The same voice inside you that screams, “I hate my mom, I can’t believe what she did to me all those years” is also the voice that says, “I hate myself, I screwed up again, I’ll never finish this project, I’ll never make this relationship last” and other such defeating thoughts. The gift of this week is the increased ability to recognize how ineffective beating yourself up is. If you tune into your internal dialogue, you’ll become aware of how often you are blaming yourself for one thing or the other. It’s essential to have this awareness because the kabbalists explain the most important focus is the mind. It controls everything. The quality of your thoughts determines the quality of your life. Imagine hearing a good friend talk badly about himself. When someone I care about comes to me and says, “I am not good enough,” I immediately disagree and point out their good points. I patiently give them love and help them see that, despite their shortcomings, they contain the spark of God within and, therefore, can do anything. Why can’t we do that for ourselves? This week the Light of the Creator is nudging us towards a finer awareness of our stinkin’ thinkin’. This week we can turn ourselves into our own best friends. This week we can give ourselves a warm embrace and say, “I am more than enough.” We are so used to convincing ourselves why we’re not skinny enough to meet our soul mate, strong enough to stay connected spiritually, smart enough to make more money, that we stop trying. Repeating in your mind “I AM MORE THAN ENOUGH” twists the downer thoughts to the upside. Before you leave this tune up and dive back into your hectic life, please, please, tattoo these words onto your brain and repeat them every time you notice the negative loop running again: I AM MORE THAN ENOUGH… I AM MORE THAN ENOUGH… I AM MORE THAN ENOUGH… All the Best, Yehuda www.kabbalah.com