May 15 2012

Let’s Take America Back from the Rich!

I was thinking recently of politicians and political ads. Just like the consultants hired by attorneys to orchestrate mock juries to make possible the best presentation of what the real jurors will hear, we all know that marketing experts tell candidates what to say and how to say it in their ads–and possibly in their speeches. I am certain some of the candidates are sincere people who, going in, believe they can make a difference for their constituents, city, state or even our country. It now appears likely that for most of them, however, it’s about power and money.

Without a meter that appears above the candidates’ heads when they speak, with an arrow moving from LIE to TRUTH, what are we to do? (I do wish, instead of debates, we could hook them up to lie detectors and ask them questions about their motives and plans. Wouldn’t that be great? The candidates alone in quiet rooms, attached to lie detectors, with cameras and microphones for us to see and hear, as we phone in our questions?) Oops–I’ve digressed.

1)      One thing we can do is use our common sense. When candidates say they will do A or B if elected, it’s a misrepresentation. Alone they are powerless; there must be consensus to forward bills to the President’s and Governors’ desks. Everything depends on the party in control of the legislatures. We are all familiar with, and sick of, the deadlocks in state houses and in Washington, D.C.

2)      Why the deadlocks? While we may never know what’s really going on in lawmakers’ high-powered meetings, we can at the very least, whether we want to or not, stay informed. The internet makes research much easier now than it was in years past.

Have you heard of a man named Grover Norquist?  He’s the president of Americans for Tax Reform and created the Taxpayer Protection Pledge in 1986. I recently saw him on 60 Minutes. He said he influences our elected Republican officials in this way: He approaches candidates and tells them if they really mean ‘No New Taxes,’ they need to take an oath and sign his pledge. If they do, ‘big money’ comes their way and they are certain to be elected (because of the influence on us of advertisements). If representatives renege on their pledge, ‘big money’ assures they are not re-elected.

From The Fiscal Times: “To date, 238 House members, 41 Senators, and about 1300 state legislators have signed the pledge to never, ever raise taxes. The fact that a whopping 95 percent of all Republican congressmen have signed it – plus all four of the existing GOP presidential candidates – is a point of pride for him.”

From Norquist’s Americans for Tax Reform: “On the state level, 13 governors and 1249 state legislators have taken the pledge.”

The bottom line is, with Grover Norquist controlling Republicans in state and federal legislatures, there can be no consensus, no cooperation, no true governing, no taxes to reduce the deficit (never, apparently, on the wealthy or corporations, who pay a far smaller percentage of their income in taxes than do middle-income-Americans). Continue reading →

May 15 2012

Overcome by Crazy Woman, a Guest Post by Kim P of Afternoon Storm

Note: When I read this post by Kim P at her blog, Afternoon Storm, I thought of my two most-explosive blow ups (one of which my children refer to as ‘The Syrup Incident.’ Yes, it was messy.) When I got to the sentences (I’ve italicized below), I had an aha! moment. Thank you, Kim, for sharing this much needed wisdom and your wonderful painting of the Crazy Woman.

By Kim P.
http://afternoonstorm.wordpress.com/

Crazy Woman, by Kim P., http://afternoonstorm.wordpress.com

People who know my family history often tell me and my sisters that it is quite incredible that the three of us have grown up to be such loving mothers. Our mother was happiest when she was travelling and decorating our house. She was depressed, crazy angry, or stoned on Valium much of our lives. She was in and out of the hospital with operations; a few of which brought her close to death. She saved herself by leaving us; for weeks at a time at first; but permanently in the end. She moved far away and had little contact with us when my younger sister was still a teen and my older sister and I were in our early twenties.

I look back at my Mom now with a great deal of empathy. She was an Artist stuck in the role of mother in the suburbs in a generation that accorded women little respect and few options. She was also a victim of the medical system of the day. Diagnosed with ulcers, she was given Valium to “calm her nerves” and was subjected to several severe operations. Today, of course, they know that ulcers are caused by a bacteria so my mother would have been spared “the knife” and the numbing effects of a drug that left her stoned on the couch in the middle of the day.

But I am my Mother’s Daughter. While I am a loving mother, there is a Crazy Woman in me who emerges from time to time. When I am feeling like I cannot get control over my life, she emerges with a fury that is frightening to behold. She rages at everything and everyone around her. She rages against the limitations of motherhood; the ineptitude of men; the drudgery of housework; and the monotony of work. The Crazy Woman wants to break the bonds that bind me; she wants to destroy the limits that circumscribe my life.

The Crazy Woman is the dark side of the Artist; that side of me that longs for time to write; that needs freedom to express her Self; that needs access to beauty for inspiration; that needs space for meditation. But she serves a purpose. When she emerges, I know that I have gone too far; to accommodate the needs of others; to fulfill my responsibilities; to meet the expectations of others. When Crazy Woman rages, I know that I have abandoned my Self; that I am out of balance. I know that I have failed to make my needs known; to protect my time; to care for my spirit.

The Crazy Woman saved my mother’s life. She stole our mother from us; robbed my dad of a wife; but she helped my mother to save her Self; to create a life that fed the Artist within. The Crazy Woman is an agent of destruction; the death bringer; that inner force that helps us to bring death to patterns that no longer serve us. The Crazy Woman may be frightening and uncontrollable, but she just may save my life!

May 14 2012

‘Ring of Fire’ Solar Eclipse on May 20th

 

CREDIT: NASA/JPL, Jane Houston Jones

The link below explains the ‘ring of fire’ appearance of the solar eclipse on May 20, 2012 and gives safe viewing options. Thanks, Michael Brine, for sharing this. It’s very interesting!

http://www.space.com/15657-annular-solar-eclipse-occurs-may20.html

May 12 2012

We Are All One, An Inspiring Short Film to Watch, A Guest Post

My thanks to Michael Brine for finding this ten-minute film on the oneness of all life and the price to be paid by all of us for what the world’s largest corporations and governments are doing to our dear Mother Earth. It is given from  Native American perspective.

I found the beginning–that we share DNA with trees–extremely interesting. I have asked again my ash tree friend, her spirit being called Silvene, for help and she has given it. I am in awe that these types of loving, healing relationships are possible and that until recently, I didn’t know–and that many of us humans still don’t know . . . Please click below to hear this heartfelt message.

http://www.scoop.it/t/permaculture-is-the-future/p/1744153343/we-are-all-one-an-inspiring-short-film-to-watch

May 12 2012

Letter to Normals: Getting Others to See Your Symptoms, A Guest Post by Ricky Buchanan

Note: I was diagnosed with Fibromyalgia and Chronic Fatigue Syndromes in 1997, triggered by a virus discovered in my spinal fluid (through a spinal tap). Because my doctors have all told me to exercise as much as I can, I have had dogs: Max, who passed on in May 2011, and Roxie, my terrier mix I’ve had since last October. I take Roxie for four walks a day, which has made my body stronger. The movement also twists my muscles into ropelike knots (which can be felt and sometimes seen) that are very painful; and I feel like a runner at the end of a race after every walk. Everything that I do draws from tiny reserves of energy, so if I go to lunch with a friend, the next two-three days are spent mostly lying down, in pain. One thing all chronically ill people eventually do is to learn not to complain (it doesn’t help) and to seek happiness anyway. I came across this letter and thought, ‘Wow, she says here everything I’d also like to explain to family and friends.’ If you love someone with FMS and/or CFS, please read this young woman’s letter:

By Ricky Buchanan*
Courtesy of Fibromyalgia Network

These are the things that I would like you to understand about me before you judge me . . .

Please understand that being sick doesn’t mean I’m not still a human being. I have to spend most of my day flat on my back in bed and I might not seem like great company, but I’m still me stuck inside this body. I still worry about school and work and my family and friends, and most of the time I’d still like to hear you talk about yours too.

Please understand the difference between “happy” and “healthy”. When you’ve got the flu you probably feel miserable with it, but I’ve been sick for years. I can’t be miserable all the time, in fact I work hard at not being miserable. So if you’re talking to me and I sound happy, it means I’m happy. That’s all. I may be tired. I may be in pain. I may be sicker than ever. Please, don’t say, “Oh, you’re sounding better!” I am not sounding better, I am sounding happy. If you want to comment on that, you’re welcome.

Please understand that being able to stand up for five minutes, doesn’t necessarily mean that I can stand up for ten minutes, or an hour. It’s quite likely that doing that five minutes has exhausted my resources and I’ll need to recover – imagine an athlete after a race. They couldn’t repeat that feat right away either. With a lot of diseases you’re either paralyzed or you can move. With this one it gets more confusing.

Please repeat the above paragraph substituting, “sitting up”, “walking”, “thinking”, “being sociable” and so on . . . it applies to everything. That’s what a fatigue-based illness does to you.

Please understand that chronic illnesses are variable. It’s quite possible (for me, it’s common) that one day I am able to walk to the park and back, while the next day I’ll have trouble getting to the kitchen. Please don’t attack me when I’m ill by saying, “But you did it before!” If you want me to do something, ask if I can and I’ll tell you. In a similar vein, I may need to cancel an invitation at the last minute, if this happens please don’t take it personally.

Please understand that “getting out and doing things” does not make me feel better, and can often make me seriously worse. Fibromyalgia may cause secondary depression (wouldn’t you get depressed if you were stuck in bed for years on end!?) but it is not caused by depression. Telling me that I need some fresh air and exercise is not appreciated and not correct – if I could do it, I would. Continue reading →

May 11 2012

The Guiding Light Within, A Guest Post from the 11:11 Progress Group

Note: I subscribe to the messages of the 11:11 Progress Group. I have found the messages of ‘Lytske’ meaningful and inspiring, so I’m posting this information about his book, which is now available on Kindle. Wish I had one! :)

To All and for all Kindle enthusiasts:

The book of the best of Lytske’s 11:11 Celestial Messages, The Guiding Light Within —Wayshower to Spirituality, is now available on Amazon Kindle.

It is here.
http://www.amazon.com/The-Guiding-Light-Within-ebook/dp/B0080EGORG/ref=sr_1_1?s=digital- text&ie=UTF8&qid=1336272294&sr=1-1

From the Receiver of these precious messages:
In bringing these valuable lessons to the people, I wish to remain anonymous. It is my way of saying, “I took notation, and that is all. The messages in this book came from the Fragment of God that indwells me, and who knows all matters better than does the mere mortal that I am.”

From the Editor of The Guiding Light Within:
Sheer persistence allowed this receiver of messages to hear from Midwayers and Angels, Machiventa Melchizedek, Jesus of Nazareth, Mother Spirit — and after much training to attain near perfect Stillness – the Indwelling Spirit. This truly is a major achievement.

From a long-time reader of Lytske’s messages:
…what reward awaits the receiver/writer of these treasured messages! What great gift to the Son of Man to publish this 11:11 work! May HE know my name, I pray, for my passing these gems onto friends and family. Yours – June.

Please remember to rate TGLW after reading it.

God bless…
George Barnard.

© The 11:11 Progress Group.
You lit a Flame, and it will become a Raging Fire—ABC-22.

www.1111angels.net

May 9 2012

When you think of 2012 earth-changes, do you think of Love?

2012: A big year for us Earthlings?

If you feel fearful when thinking about what could happen on Mother Earth this year, 2012–and even if you don’t–this eight minute video from Keisha Crowther soothes the soul. Take a deep breath, sit back and enjoy this moment of loving heart-centering. We can do it, if only we believe!

My thanks to Vince Gatien for sending it along. It is the best video on 2012 I’ve seen.