I Am NOT Learning That

In 2004 I sent a daily email to a list of friends which lead to this website. In 2014 I averaged two Enlightenmeant blogs per month. In 2019 I wrote 8 but only posted 3. From 2020 to 2023 I wrote 5 and posted none... until this morning when I woke up thinking about someone I dearly love and came to write a post. When I found those five drafts and read them, I was calmed by the lesson I have learned so many times. How is it possible to learn a lesson many times? Is a lesson learned at all if we have to learn it again? Absolutely, because life is not absolute. It is a constantly changing cacophony of one lesson, a living mess of unexpected opportunities to practice what we know and hone it like a sculpture of twisted wire, carved wood, clay drawn through our hands on the wheel of life -- you get the picture.

Sometimes I forget the picture, at least the whole picture. Like the lens on a digital camera, I focus through a particular part of the sensor and get my unique rendition of what's going on, from which I have opportunity to see what I'm missing. I guess that's the thing I came to write about today, what is missing in the world that I see. I used to be much quicker to land on the sensor in a place that afforded me an holistic view, ever reminding myself that how things appear is how I choose to see them. Since the beginning of the Pandemic, the "unprecedented" nature of events in our world, has become the norm in the way things play out. A few years ago I stopped writing. I think it was because I was always writing about the same thing: NOT Knowing. That may sound the same as Unprecedented, and it has a foot in that as nothing is ever the same, But NOT Knowing is, in my world, That which we are here to learn over and over again: That there is a sensor and it sees itself (yes, takes a selfie) through itself. It's not that we can't or don't know. But that We are the sensor -- NOT -- Knowing (seeing). In my imagination, NOT -- No Other Thing, is the basis, the stratum of our existence seeking to know itself through each and every one of us. And so when we see All That Is as NOT seperate from itself, and we understand there is NODifference, and NOHunger, and NOWar we can cease to see ourselves as seperate and unyielding of the litle bit we have, choosing instead to see a world where we are NOT alone, and undivided. All of these Unprecedented times are about learning this one lesson over and over again. We can stand up, stand together, stand for, but in these unprecedented times, I choose NOT to stand against focusing on the divisive. Yes, it is also NOT, but I choose to invest my viewpoint on being Lucid, to refrain from giving in to limited thoughts, choosing to believe in the power of NOT, and manifest this reality with love and dignity. NOThing Changes, as us. Pic;) . . . Image by Gerd Altmann from Pixabay

Choose Your Nets Wisely

An old painting came up in my fb memories this morning.  Sometimes I don’t like that “memories” features very much.  Other times it reminds me of something important.  

What came up with this painting was a modification I made to the old saying, Leap and the net will appear.  (John Burroughs). Because I believed there is nothing really separate from the Self that needs a net, I reshaped the phrase to reflect that: Leap and the need for the net will disappear.  While that may be true, I nevertheless still find nets whenever I leap into something.

The net that appears with every leap is woven from our stories about it.  Whenever we leap, we will fashion a story to orient ourselves to what is happening.  Here’s the thing I have learned is most important when leaping: the nets go up after the leap is made, not before. That’s what makes a leap. 

If I put up nets before I leap, I will only go where there is a net which is planning and making a decision, but not a leap.  The leap takes place when an experience introduces possibilities we couldn’t have known.  Sometimes leaps are intentional, others get started when we trip over what we didn’t see.   The painting in my fb memories this morning, depicts a wild trip that eventually turned into a leap.

I have made quite a few successful leaps and failed many more times when I used my nets to prevent falling.  The difference between a leap and failure is casting the net, as we go, to capture the benefits.  That is, telling ourselves whatever happens will be beneficial no matter what.  All nets fashioned of optimism and willingness to sift through ambiguity, will yield positive results, even if we don’t get what was planned.  

Experience is different from wisdom in that the former brings the past forward to affect the future, while the latter can see the difference between the past and future and chooses to stay in the present.  When we choose our nets wisely, faith and hope appears over doubt and fear as we go, knowing that whatever happens, having taken the leap, we will not have failed.

Start Praying

I received a call at midnight from a friend deeply affected by the seizure of children at the border.  “This is insane! Is this what our world has come to? Why can’t we stop this? What is wrong with us?!!!!”  We stayed on the phone for an hour.

We talked about getting involved in politics to prevent things from getting to this point.  We talked about how this behavior appeals to some who worry about their limited resources being “given away” to others, and how the current administration has fed the idea that we must take things away from others to regain our greatness.  

We talked about how this kind of energy is very slow.  It is the energy of ego, and it is limited by the beliefs in which it is invested. Like anything else, the Source of life will completely fulfill even the ideas of limited and not enough. Which brought us to the one place every one of us can make a profound impact...at the Source of the problem. 

Rather than send the life that flows through us down the slope of hopelessness and despair, we can redirect it to bring about healing and channel limitless, pure, loving kindness into the fray.  What will happen is certain, we will uplift our little piece of reality.  As more and more of us assert healthy, workable expressions of life into this mess, it will begin to soften. 

As we refuse to get caught up in the tangle of deception, we can affirm Truth and send it out through every strand of our being.  That tangle of deception is the story that we must negotiate on the physical plane to get what we need.

Of course, taking positions which further goodness on the physical plane is a positive thing, but there is no need to limit ourselves to that.  When we are faithful to our ability to choose emotionally, spiritually, and mentally to take the higher road, that is not just about politics, but our ability to express light into the darkness.  No one can stop that.  Spirit fuels the physical, its up to us to make sure the fire burns brightly and not destructively.

The best way I know how to burn brightly is through prayer and meditation.  As the mind starts to grasp on the images and stories of suffering and fear, we can choose to redirect our perceptions to the Spirit beneath those deceptions, and to the heart which can change them.  We can hold space for the smiles and comfort of these children.  We can imagine and sustain their ability to smile and trust and love. We can reach out and hold the untouchables at the deepest, most essence-all level. 

We can send comfort and loving kindness through thoughts and affirmations which also raises our energy as we do and we become a channel for peace.  This is what is needed as the slower energy goes through its system-addict way of bartering its perceived limited resources.  If ever their was a time to pray and meditate on peace and love, it is now.  Send love!  Do it every chance you get.  

Here are two affirmative prayers from Silent Unity.  For additional prayers, meditations, and other spiritual resources, visit silent unity.org. Call 1-800-NOW-PRAY any time, day or night for loving, confidential prayer support.

Envision yourself finding a child to comfort and wrap the little one in this energy.  Send some to the parents too!

peacefully, pic;)

Redefining the Comfort Zone

Oftentimes my cartoons for the Whole Living Journal are based on the season, so drawing a summer camp cartoon made sense for this issue. But as with anything I do, my cartoons are usually plastered with symbolism that I love to scry through to find more and more meaning.

The symbols in this cartoon took me to a lot of places I had already traveled. Apparently I needed a few reminders. So I started with the obvious, that the comfort zone is just another name for what we think we know, which isn't always comfortable, accurate, or fun. It is pitched like a tent in the lessons of childhood.

"Okay, cute." I thought of the tent symbol, but I was certain there were more symbols in the cartoon, so I kept looking. Quickly the tent became the mind, and the two children inside represented the right and left thinking. I took a moment to add a little more to my drawing just to see it better. 

The result confused me: 

The drawing showed the reverse of what I expected.  I typically associate the right brain with imaginings outside the comfort zone, while I usually think of the left brain as the fortress of rules built to protect us from the unknown.  The right side was worrying and the left side was accepting.

When I allowed for different interpretations of "right" and "left", I could see that it often seems "right" to exercise caution, even doubt, in order to make sure I am being safe about what I do.  Then I could see what was "left":  No matter how well I plan and wait to take action until I'm sure, change from beyond the comfort zone is inevitable. Even so, comfort zones are fairly indestructible.

So instead of being about getting out of the comfort zone or trying to dismantle it, this cartoon seems to be all about flipping its negative bent and using its imaginative ability toward something more positive.  We can change the assumption that unforeseen circumstances can cause difficulties if we are not prepared, and practice using our comfort zones to invent rather than prevent.  When we imagine in this way the comfort zone takes on a whole new meaning. 

A final look at the cartoon symbols affirms that even in the dark of night, surrounded by the unknown, there is a light within which will help us see, and a reflection of the day to come.  It is not change we need to challenge, but the challenge of change that is ours to accept and fully appreciate each the moment.  Imagine that!

Nothing changes, 'cept us!
Be peace-full.
Pic;)

The Freedom of Forgiveness

Recently, I received some unexpected news that was going to have a significant impact on my quality of life.  My first reaction felt strange.   
There was a big gap in place of the expectation of how things were supposed to be which I didn't quite understand. 

A friend gave me a tiny piece of paper with this inscription: I forgive you for not being the way I wanted you to be.  I forgive you and I set you free.  She thought it might help me understand what was going on.

What really caught my attention was the last sentence, 'I forgive you and I set you free'. For while my friend was encouraging me to forgive, she also was encouraging me to not give up and make sure I stood up for myself.

So what did it mean to set this other person free?  I could acknowledge the expectations I had of what was the right thing to do had rarely been the same as the way this other person saw it.  Still I hadn't allowed myself to think too much about how my expectations of how to deal with those differences were limiting her and myself. I kept trying to make things work, she did not.  We were at a stale mate.

Forgiveness is Acceptance

Over time I've learned that forgiveness (aka acceptance) is the way to be free of grieving the disappointment of having expectations.  The most important part of any expectation is to include the possibility of things being different.  

It's not that we should expect to be disappointed, but to allow for change, because resistance to those inevitable differences comes with its fair share of grief.  It's not that we should forget but learn from our mistakes as well as successes, and develop new goals for ensuring our well-being. It's not that we then become subject to the expectations of others, but free to change the game plan by and for ourselves. 

Remembering to allow for change helps expectations be goals rather than disappointments; and each turn of event another step toward personal growth and development rather than a set-back. Sometimes things do feel permanent and irreversible, that's probably the most important time to allow for change...but also not expect it.   

When in Doubt, Look Within

There's really nothing we can do outside the sphere of own experience to change or affect the exterior world.  In truth, the world we see is just that.  So when it doesn't appear to be working right, it's time to change how we see and imagine things to be.

The Circle of Fire Prayer written by Miguel Ruiz, is a beautiful intention to live in harmony with others and all of creation, and it specifically states: with no expectations.  Apparently despite your best intentions, things don't always turn out as planned...who knew!?

I knew expectations were just stories we create to express why things should happen in a certain way. I also knew expectations could become disappointments due to differences with the story of another. Knowing that, I should have known better, but I still had plenty of both expectations and disappointments.

All things being as they are, I know what my next steps will be, and that is to always do my best, be impeccable with my word, don't take anything personally, and not make assumptions (expectations without the possibility of change).  

If living the Four Agreements is my goal, I will never be disappointed because as don Miguel is quick to point out in explaining these four little phrases, you need to accept that your best will be different from day to day and that's where forgiveness comes in again!  If I read that little paper to myself, rather than someone else, it takes on new meaning and I have all the freedom in the world!

Peacefully, 

Pic;)

Surrender That

Of all the ego exacerbating words in our language, surrender by far elicits the strongest response in the form of resistance.  From our earliest learnings the ones who wave the white flag are the losers.  Those who surrender must submit to the will of the winners.  But that is just a childhood understanding based on the history of those who would engage in war.  

Life is not a war. It is not even a struggle.  The idea that we must try hard is lost on the concept of trying to win. The true winner has confidence that s/he will not - cannot - fail.  By remembering that there is nothing to be won or lost (except for our perspective on the way things are) we can surrender the win/lose perception of surrender, and surrender in a whole new way.

 

"There is a fine line between letting go and giving up."

Right beside the surrender that gives up is the surrender that lets go.  In either of these two ways of looking at surrender there is a sense of loss.  But there is a third way that gains and multiplies instead of producing loss.  

This is the surrender which opens hands not to let go but to receive.  This surrender knows there is always more to learn and experience and enjoy in life, and refuses to settle for what is already known. This surrender is effortless. The only hard work about surrendering is not thinking there must be difficult. 

This surrendering is part of the flow. Whether or not we willingly let go of what we have known, earned, or expected, things will change. When things change and we are not resistant, this surrender is able to receive countless gifts in the form of fresh insight, wisdom gained, new skills, and the freedom that is born of such wonder.  

"There is everything to gain and nothing to lose."

 

So, the next time life gets tough, and you've tried so hard...and you feel so close you don't want to give up...surrender that, and with complete abandon open your heart to receive more than you already know.  In this way the way is made clear.

Peacefully,

Pic;)

The Re-Genesis of our True Nature

Every morning my dog Max takes me for a walk and I am usually moved to take a few photos of the things that stand out along the way.  Today it was the little things.  By the time I finished writing this blog I was connected to the story of Genesis and what is often referred to as "original sin".  I've written about this before, because beyond the religious overtones it is so deeply engrained in our existence, it really is something we need to forgive and forget every day.

In the story of Genesis, Eve is often cited for eating the apple she was told not to eat, but that was not the sin or - literally translated: error.  The mistake humans made in the story and often make every day is worrying they don't have everything they needed to be happy, healthy and whole. 

From the Toltec tradition as it is taught in the Four Agreements to the view of modern psychology, we are deeply conditioned to doubt our strengths and seek safety from our weaknesses from the time we are little children.  This is human nature.  Fortunately more and more people are seeking freedom from this limited view. The trick is not engaging it to do so.  For that we can take our cues from Nature.

Being human is a natural thing but human nature is often far from being natural. Nature unfolds without a second thought.  Human nature is all about second guessing what we should do to make things happen. Nature happens, humans set goals.

When we have a goal...the list of things we need to do in order to overcome challenges and accomplish the task at hand begins.  It's natural for things to develop over time, but it's human to try to control and worry about it. 

We worry because we don't know many things that could happen along the way. We worry because we know we are aware of ourselves as individuals.  We worry because we aren't confident we have the tools we need to make it through.

Nature doesn't worry the unseen and amazingly the details take care of themselves resulting in beauty and wonder day after day, season after season. No flower worries about winter, no snowflake conspires to harm flowers, the ground opens to receive seeds, and seeds become food and new flowers to be enjoyed in the spring. 

While it is human nature to take control and plan, the intention behind our true nature is to appreciate this creative process called life.  When we are centered in nature as it unfolds all around and through us we are uniquely qualified among all that is natural to recognize the meaningful and beauty of life. 

Peacefully,

Pic;)

. 

Lightening Up the Acronym of FEAR

There are times in our lives when we need to let go of our attachments.  That can bring on a whole lot of fear.  So much so that the word fear has been popularized in some circles as an acronym for what fear feels like.  Very often the first letter of FEAR has been assigned a 4-letter word that expresses frustration, but not necessarily the cause of the frustration.  Forget is a much better interpretation making the popular acronym stand for Forget Everything And Run.    
It may seem that what is to be forgotten is whatever doesn't seem to be going well, but there is another way of looking at it.  What are we forgetting when we are afraid?  When I am in such a funk, I am forgetting everything I know and love about how I create my experience by the way I express the life that comes through me. 

When we pour what we bring up from the unconditional, limitless wellspring of life into the fearfully shallow container of loss, lack and limitation nothing improves and the negative is magnified.
When we lighten up we do not need to be contained by fear. What is most important for all of us is that each of us pull up the love of life that wells up from within and flood our view of life with all the gratitude and happiness it can produce. 
We transform the classic example of FEAR when we Find Enlightenment (lighten up) And Re-lease the investment of our energy into new life rather than forget the power we truly possess to create life and run from what doesn't seem to be working as though it has power over us. 
Any way you look at it we are creating a masterpiece of life through the instrument of our being. Don't mistake the paint for the brush.  Lighten-up, enjoy the process, and your life will always be a work in progress!

Peacefully,
Pic;)

Grandmother Moon Print

Grandmother Moon, digital enhancement over original watercolor, 2015  

 As she receives life from the east Grandmother Moon, grounded in the wisdom of the north with the childlike playfulness of the south, out-pictures to the west with no attachment to outcomes.

Digitally signed archival prints start shipping October 19th

The Four Agreements of Seeing Rainbows

When the sun comes out after a storm I always look around the sky hoping I am in right relation to the rain and light to see a rainbow.   I take pictures and post them on facebook.  Last time I saw a rainbow here in Ohio, friends also posted rainbows in Texas and Florida.  I thought, That was a really big rainbow!
 
One of the Four Agreements is Always do your best followed quickly by the acknowledgement that your best will be different from time to time.  We are encouraged to do our best at following the other three agreements: Don't take anything personally, Don't make assumptions and Be impeccable with your word. These are the lens through which we can see rainbows after and even because of a slew of stormy circumstances. If we want to see the light in the full spectrum of all its brilliant colors its as simple as remembering that the storms come from how well we practice these principles.


This past year has been filled with storms which seemed to never make room for rainbows as I reacted to circumstances by taking things personally, making assumptions, and letting my thoughts and words run with that. I thought I knew what the rainbow should look like and exactly where it should appear, forgetting that expectations are goals that don't leave room for something different, even better.

When things change, expectations are a sure set-up for disappointment.  A little disappointment can go a long way.  When rainbows don't stretch across the sky of our perception, we need to make sure we're in the right place to see them. Otherwise we might stop looking for them and that would be very sad.

 Have enough courage to trust love one more time and always one more time. 

 -  Maya Angelou

When it feels too difficult to trust love one more time, we are mistaking courage as the ability to face adversity beyond the scope of our own control and love as something we don't possess. We will see only the storm and disappointed expectations.  True courage is the willingness to trust ourselves, and share our gifts to the best of our ability, the most important of which is being love. When we do our best this way, we become the rainbows we are seeking.

Peacefully,
(well, pretty much)
Pic;)

With No Expectations

Expectations are intricate to the adage, "when life hands you lemons, make lemonade."  It seems smart to think positively when things don't turn out as expected. But we can be free of the work of making lemonade out of something that can sour the smile when we give up having expectations.
 

"With no expectations" is the caveat found in the middle of The Circle of fire Prayer written by don Miguel Ruiz.  Simply put it is the key to living the Four Agreements: be impeccable with your word, don't make assumptions, don't take anything personally, and always do your best.  

Expectations are sure fire guarantees we will be disappointed.  Expectations involve people and things outside the sphere of our influence, expecting them to behave, deliver, and make us feel as we think they should.  

Though the domesticated world might insist otherwise, expectations are not the key to accomplishment and happiness.  Goals will not get you anything you truly need, but on that same note, goals and expectations are not the same thing, so go ahead and set goals, just don't limit your joy to the expectation things will turn out in a particular way.  

When we let go of expectations we can live in peace, lemonade free, without need to imagine the supposed blessings in adversity.  Without expectations there is no adversity.  Everything, even the unexpected just is, and with that attitude we can have the gifts don Miguel describes when we choose to live and move and have our being in the Consciousness of the Universal Operating System:

"We will live our lives with Gratitude, Love, Loyalty and Justice,

Beginning with Ourselves,

And continuing with our Brothers and Sisters."

Being peaceful, hope you are too!

Pic;)

Discuss this and more enlightening topics (topics designed to lighten up living) in the UoS Wisdom Group

Life is a Flawless Work of Art

Unconditional Being

Just for today remember that whatever is happening, 

no matter how beautiful or terrible feeling, 

Nothing is perfect and there are no flaws 

only opportunities to breathe and take pause.

For there is nothing to fix, because nothing is broken.  

We are ever whole and healing, and we are always open. 

Though some things are more desirable than others, 

nothing is ever wrong. 

Only different, unexpected, seemingly unbearably long.  

Nothing is ever right, just according to plan, 

what you've been waiting for in sight.  

The important thing is "No-thing", 

The unconditional base of delicious goo 

out of which every thing grows, 

and into which ultimately every thing goes.  

There is no loss, there is no gain, 

only a chance to remember our wholeness not then

but in this moment, now, just a little longer and yet 

always another chance should we happen to forget

each one of us is a gift, a challenge, a dream,

a perfect manifestation of the Unconditional being.

Peacefully,

Pic;)

The Koan of Now You See It, Now You Don't

There's always more than one way to "see" things, but lately I have been "looking at" two extremes.  This "looking at" qualifier is important as it defines the position from which we can "see" things that is not as the typical "seer", "seeing" or "seen", but from the viewpoint of the unconditional which makes all variations possible.  The Conditional OS  invokes us to be one of the three without a "second thought".  By observing this automatic we can consciously enjoy life in the flow of the unconditional or Universal OS. Confused? You won't be in a moment, however it might be by way of being so confused that the Conditional OS simply fails to process.  

So, back to the two extremes.

Ever have so many things going on at once you can't see clearly what path to take and think things will never get better? Or, ever see a path before you and know in your heart all the good things that will happen if you take it?  Either way, it isn't true.  At least not for for "certain".  

Life is change and unconditional.  If we are looking for things to settle down, or be in order before we proceed, or of a "certain condition" as we proceed or when we arrive at our "destination", we will miss what can be.  Ready for the brain scrambler: Because like the "seer" the "seeing" and the "seen" "here" only exists by way of imagining someplace "else" and "now" only seems to be by holding thoughts of "then", if you get "there" you will find it has "now" become a "here". There is no "moment" to be "in" because there is no "past" or "future" to get "out" of or "reach", no "destination" other than the "journey" of transcending these paradoxes and fully enjoying the flow of life. 

It's that simple. Notice the automatic conditional qualifiers for what they are, limiting conditions that seem to hold back and resist. That being said, the journey of course includes seeing and not seeing all this.  Like turning blind corners, slowing down a little is often helpful. Now you see it, now you don't.  Feel your breath and smile knowing you are "all ways" in the flow of life no matter what conditions you think you see. 

Loving it,
Pic;) 

The Artiste

This year I am drawing and writing a deck of cards.  By doing so I look at the Fool's path and contemplate how the interpretations flow through the process of life.  By posting as I go, I invite you to also enjoy the process.
Peacefully, Pic

The Fool happened into town one day
and on a terrace along the way
she met an artiste with tools upon a table spread
he promised if she listened to him she could avoid a life of dread.
"You are the artist of the world you see
through thought, emotions, breath, and deeds,
but know before you attempt to control these
that using them is extremely messy."
He motioned to a clean canvas, behind him on the walk,
To demonstrate his methods he continued with his talk.
"Hold the brush dumb." he advised,
"What you think you know is a complex series of lies.
There is nothing to be kept safe from.
Nothing you can do that can't be undone.
Remember the options and choices are infinite and so
there's no reason to hold on and nothing to let go.
What doesn't work is just not finished - yet." His experience qualified,
Appreciate the messy process of life, and you will be satisfied."

The Universal Operating System

When I made this drawing for Enlightenmeant Cartoons in mid-September, I had no idea what changes were upon me.  At the time I saw it as a commentary on our daily dependency upon devices which seem to rule our world rather than serve it. Little did I know that in a split moment I would be unwillingly and unwittingly introduced to the ways in which I myself acted as such a device, forgetting my true purpose and the greater system to which I am connected. 

Ever since I became aware of this particular situation I have been trying to deal with it, struggling to bring things under control. Those words: trying, struggling, and control all indicate that I am going against the stream of energy that is natural, Life itself.  It's as if instead of sitting beside the stream to admire the flow of life as the leaves fall and flutter off the trees without worry or concern, the woman in the cartoon decides she should run around and try to tape all the leaves to the branches, and stop the stream from flowing. That would be impossible.  

I am reminded of a simple song I sang to a group of wise men and women when I first presented my views on Creative Being.  The struggling self would see a return to an earlier time as a setback. Therein would be the error of the ways that separate us from the flow of life.  There are no setbacks, there is nowhere to progress.  Make that: There is Now/Here to progress.  

There is only to Be in the moment without history or herstory as the case may be, and let the flow of life through rather than block and damn it in (literally and verbally). In this way, like changing seasons and currents, we move effortlessly through a beautifully simple and constant system of operating...merrily, merrily, merrily, merrily, life is but a dream.

If you're making it hard, turn around and go with the flow.

Namaste',

Pic;)

I am thinking of hosting a wisdom group for those who want to share and discuss running the Universal OS and witnessing change and life from a natural perspective. Check it out on fb

Pretty Messy - The Balanced Approach to Confusing Things

When things get confusing I often attempt to dig in deeper and start sorting things out.  The thing is, when things get confusing it's not always easy to know how or what to sort out.  

When we can't see the forest for the trees, maybe it's time to stop editing the picture before we even take it.  Life is messy. Really messy. Nature does not neatly arrange many things, but there is a great sense of order to the mess it makes. Just appreciating how messy things can get and getting a little messy ourselves can give the discriminating eye a much needed break.  

When things seem out of balance it could well be that our view is skewed because we are hanging on a viewpoint that is slanted or we are standing on shaky ground. Better to let go and let nature take its course. 

Seeing that the forest and the trees are equally beautiful throughout the seasons, let go of the leaves as they change and prepare for the possibilities of new growth.

Nothing changes

'cept us, 

Pic;)

See the video, get good at being messy visit http://Heartstudiogroups.com

 

How to Freely Enjoy Life

It's easy to get caught up in wondering what we can do to fix, prevent, or work through conditions of loss, lack and limitation.  That's the way most of us learned life works. It would be nice if we could just forget about the things that don't work, but we've learned it's best to face them head-on. This is how we get hooked into struggling with our own perceptions.

Beyond Being Prepared

If you look back in time you can see plenty of occasions when there were droughts, storms, flooding, fires, pestilence and earthquakes, but seldom have they all occurred at the same time almost everywhere on the planet. 

I caught myself not wanting to go to an event after the rain last weekend because I didn't have any DEET on-hand and the West Nile cases are growing around here.  I also thought it would have been a little weird to contract the virus while floating luminaria on the lake at Spring Grove cemetery.  Some people say the environment is not changing, glaciers have always been melting and the weather will bounce back. 

In the meantime, I have contemplated planting cactus in my midwest garden to get along with the drier/rising temps. Rather than just trying to be prepared like the gal in my cartoon, I need to look at some other ways I can be more proactive (in addition to recycling and composting, of course).  

Here are some organizations and movements that are spending their time and money on fixing the problem rather than irritating political advertising:

Conscious Capitalism "accelerating the integration of consciousness and capitalism"

National Resources Defense Council "the Earth's best defense"

Corporate Accountability International "We protect human rights, public health and the environment from corporate greed and abuse around the world."