5. January 2010 by admin.

Happy New Year to all!

What did I learn in 2009? First and foremost, I learned to LET GO.  We 21st-century Americans think that we are the rulers of our domains, whether it be work, online, in our home life or in our relationships with family and friends.  We think we call the shots and make the rules.  Of course we don’t.  The universe, God, Goddess, the life force, the Creator or whatever you choose to call it has plans for us that sometimes don’t come until we consciously filter out our emotions and the desires of our egos and just give our problems over to the universe.  The longer you dwell on a problem, the bigger the cloud of negative energy you create around yourself.  That energy acts like a magnet, and draws you nothing but negativity.  To me, the meaning of faith is the same as the moment of letting go, but TRUSTING and KNOWING that everything will be resolved.  Maybe not in the way you and your ego want it to be, but definitely in the way the Creator wants it to be.

I’ve learned that the things that are meant to be will come to you easily, and the ones that aren’t will always be the ones that seem too difficult or just out of your grasp.  That’s not to say we don’t have to work for the things we want and need, but I know all of us have stubbornly clung to some goal or desire even though every roadblock that could possibly be put in our way was flung up by the universe.  Let those things go - that will give you time to focus on the things you should be doing instead, and maybe put you on the path to learning what those things are.

I’ve learned that spontaneity is where miracles happen.  The universe loves when we humans are spontaneous.  In the moment is the time when our guard is the lowest and when we are most likely to yield to that little nudge of our gut or our intuition telling us, “Take the long way home.”  That long way home might lead to a breathtaking view of a sunset, or to the opportunity to be a channel of the positive energy of the universe (or an angel, if you prefer) if we see a neighbor broken down on the side of the road.

I’ve learned that all these things I’ve learned don’t mean much if I don’t take an active role in teaching them to my son.  He teaches me new things every single day and keeps me grounded, helping me remember the wonder, magic and imagination of childhood.

So what do I wish for 2010?

I want to be in the moment and stop worrying about next week or next month or last year.

I want to be like water - Don’t get set into one form, adapt it and build your own, and let it grow, be like water. Empty your mind, be formless, shapeless — like water. Now you put water in a cup, it becomes the cup; You put water into a bottle it becomes the bottle; You put it in a teapot it becomes the teapot. Water can flow or it can crash. Be water, my friend. (Bruce Lee quote).

I want to be a channel for the positive energy of the universe.

I want to pray like St. Francis of Assisi

Lord, make me an instrument of your peace;

where there is hatred, let me sow love;

where there is injury, pardon;

where there is doubt, faith;

where there is despair, hope;

where there is darkness, light;

and where there is sadness, joy.

O Divine Master,

grant that I may not so much seek to be consoled as to console;

to be understood, as to understand;

to be loved, as to love;

for it is in giving that we receive,

it is in pardoning that we are pardoned,

and it is in dying that we are born to Eternal Life.

Amen.

 

 

May you all have a healthy, happy, prosperous and blessed 2010

 

 

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1. December 2009 by admin.

December 21, 2012. The date the ancient Maya, Hopi Indians, Egyptians and many other civilizations have predicted as the end of the world. That’s in 3 years. It’s the day before my son’s 7^th birthday. What does it mean?

For the ancient Maya, December 21, 2012 is the end date of their long-count calendar, which is one of the most accurate time measurement systems the world has ever known. The Mayan long-count calendar is a combination of day-to-day, generational and millennial time measurement that will only need to be adjusted by one day in 380,000 years. Compare that with our current Western Gregorian calendar that adjusts for an extra day every four years, and you can see just how accurate the Mayan calendar is.

The ancient Maya believed that, since the beginning of this “Galactic Day” of 25,625 years, the Earth has passed through five “Worlds,” each of which has been destroyed by some global catastrophe (Jaguars/animals, ice, fire, water, etc.). The timing of the destruction of the Fourth World, around 3,100 BC, can be roughly compared to the Bible’s Old Testament stories of the Great Flood, which has survived as myth in countless other cultures and religious traditions throughout the world. In 1992, the Fifth World ended and our civilization passed into the “Time of No Time,” the precursor to the dawning of a new “Galactic Day.” What ancient and contemporary Mayans have said is that this time is the period where we, as humanity, will decide the outcome of the new world. See, the Mayan elders and prophecies see the Sixth World to come as blank. That means that the actions of all on earth at this time will determine whether the “Time of No Time” will end in vast destruction on December 21, 2012, or whether the planet will be ushered into a new Golden Age. This time is also called the “Revealing,” where truths that have previously been hidden will come to light.

Separated by hundreds of miles and years, the Hopi Indians of North America also have prophecies about the time we are currently living in. The Hopi are an Indian nation in Arizona. One of their most important prophecies can be found at a location called Prophecy Rock. Anyone who is a Led Zeppelin fan may understand this next portion, as it is a line from “Stairway to Heaven.” (Yes, there are two paths you can go by, but in the long run, there’s still time to change the road you’re on.). On a wall in Arizona, there is a carving made by the Hopi that explains the path of our current civilization. It begins on the left side of the carving with the Great Spirit holding a reed through which the Fourth World can be entered. From there, you see two different paths along which to travel. The bottom path, the one of the Hopi themselves, is marked by connection to the land. The top path, the one of the White invaders, is marked by people with their heads separate from their bodies and not in connection with the land. What is meant by these two paths is this: If you choose the path of comfort, greed and profit, your future will be uncertain and marred by war, violence and death. If, however, you choose the path of love and compassion, the Fifth World will be a new Golden Age of spiritual freedom and connectedness with all humanity.

In every day, in every moment, in every decision we make, we choose to honor each other as beings and show love and compassion, or we choose to dishonor ourselves, other people and our planet and show greed and uncaring. Any religious doctrine that inspires you to choose love and compassion should resonate within you as being right for our world and our universe. Any doctrine that teaches you to choose fear, hatred, greed and desire for comfort and profit is not in line with the natural order of the universe and will lead to chaos, war, destruction and sorrow.

In the past few years, I’ve noticed a general tone of cynicism about the direction our world is heading in. People are frustrated with who is President, or what laws are being passed or simply feel that the world is moving too fast and people aren’t as kind as they used to be. The simple fact is that every one of us has the power to change that, simply by shifting the focus of our thoughts from lack and worry to abundance and positive energy. Few of us in America, especially those of us who have a computer to be able to read these words, have to worry about where our next meal will come from or whether we will have a roof over our head. And even if we do experience those trials and problems, the support and love of family, friends and even complete strangers can do wonders to help us. This is why even the most tiny acts of kindness and love ripple out into the world and create wave after wave of kindness and positive energy.

It can be very difficult to change your focus and shift the energy you put out into the world. It can be hard to listen to your gut, your intuition, to guide you in making decisions. But once you begin to open yourself up to the love of the universe, and trust that, as long as you are choosing love and compassion in everything you do (or at least as often as you humanly can), you will see your life begin to change for the better, and your perception of the world around you will change to. To me, that’s what true faith is – trusting that the love and kindness and positive energy you put out into the world will be returned to you when and where you least expect it. One of my favorite blessings is from the Cherokee tribe: “Thank you, O Great Spirit, for unknown blessings already on their way.”

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27. November 2009 by admin.

I actually subscribe to it.  For free, mind you, from one of my sample and freebie sites, and every month when I receive it I get all riled up about how dumb some of these self-professed intelligent and wealthy people can be.  Often, the commentary strikes me as the economic equivalent of a fundamentalist Christian or Muslim:  capitalism is the be-all and end-all (never mind the fact that the U.S. economy is not anywhere close to a strict capitalist system), government intervention in any part of the economy is wrong and the free market will always prevail.  It has been entertaining, though, over the past year or so, to watch the big bankers and financiers scramble to try to shift the blame for the financial debacle towards others, mostly Fannie Mae/Freddie Mac and the poor, for just being so darned needy.

In the Nov. 30 issue, there are several editorials and articles about health insurance reform.  Reading them, it hits me that all of these rich fat cats pretty much have the same perception of reform.  They themselves, obviously, will never have to worry about having insurance or funding to pay for the treatments they need or want.  Their focus is on minimizing “costs” - a fancy way of saying covering less, either treatments and preventions or people - and maximizing the bottom lines of their stock portfolios.

Let’s take as an example Nirit Weiss’ editorial “Higher Premiums Ahead.”  Nirit is a practicing neurosurgeon in New York City, has an M.B.A. and specializes in health care economics.  In her column, she labels the passage of the House health care reform bill as “irresponsible.”  She discusses a “recent, controversial report by PricewaterhouseCoopers” which “highlights some of the undisclosed costs of proposed health care reform.”  The report states that, even if the more moderate Senate Finance Committee version of the bill becomes law, annual premiums for health insurance “could” rise 18% higher than the “increase expected under the current system.”  A)  For an official report, it’s kinda funny that they say “could” and not “will,” which means they don’t really have any idea about whether costs will rise or not for individuals.  B)  The “increase expected under the current system” means nothing to me, since the health insurance companies are holding their cards close to their chests right now, waiting to see what will happen with health care reform.  NO ONE has any idea what increases we will see, and obviously the health insurance companies, since they still will be wanting to make huge profits, will be looking to jack up costs either way.  The difference is that, under health care reform, they will no longer be able to deny people or drop them from coverage, which might not mean anything to someone so rich they don’t need to worry about it, but definitely means something to lower and middle class working families.

Nirit continues, “The report, WHICH WAS PAID FOR BY AN ASSOCIATION REPRESENTING INSURANCE COMPANIES…”  Hello - red flag there!  Obviously the insurance companies want an intelligent-sounding “report” to make them look good while lobbying against health care reform on Capitol Hill.  She even admits it has “been dismissed as industry-funded spin,” but she tries to convince you that “a funder’s self-interest does not automatically invalidate a study’s results.”  And again, we see the shifting of blame:  “The Senate Finance Committee health bill itself has been produced by legislators whose campaigns are supported by special interests.”  So I guess what’s good for the goose is good for the gander.

The industry-funded study “focused on four specific provisions of the bill WHILE IGNORING POTENTIAL COST SAVINGS OF THE REMAINING PROVISIONS.”  Well of course if you have a study that picks out the things that might raise costs and don’t take into account other parts of the bill that will save costs, you’ll get a skewed picture of how health care reform will work, and an opinion that the bill will raise costs.  Duh!  She even says that “some of these provisions - which focus on “wellness,” disease prevention and primary care - are not relevant to cost, and others increase costs.”  She goes on to say that “contrary to conventional wisdom, few preventive measures are cost-saving.”  Well, to that I would say that “conventional wisdom” i.e. common sense would probably say that if you cover preventive and wellness care, you can help patients avoid some of the chronic and catastrophic illnesses that may occur later in their lives.  The reason insurance companies don’t see this as cost saving is that INSURANCE COMPANIES DROP PEOPLE WHEN THEY GET SICK.    Obviously if you tell them they have to cover all sorts of preventive and wellness care, it is going to increase costs.  The fact that they drop people as soon as they get cancer or AIDS means that there’s no way to measure the offset of the preventive care.  Part of the reason health care costs as a whole are so high is that those who get dropped by insurance companies end up having to declare bankruptcy, thus sticking the doctors or hospitals with the bill and raising costs for everyone.

Nirit continues to sidestep any positive aspect of the bill, admitting “the report did not take into account the role of proposed governmental subsidies in offsetting the premium increase for Americans who wish to keep their private insurance,” but of course she uses this as fuel for the fire, saying that “the need for corrective subsidies demonstrates that the bill itself will drive up the total cost of care.”  By “total cost of care,” she means for the system as a whole, which is true because health insurance companies refuse to stop making huge profits.  Because they will no longer be able to drop the sick or refuse coverage to them, they will now be spreading those costs along to all other health care consumers.  What we really need is a government mandate stating that health insurance companies are no longer allowed to make a profit, or at least cap the profit at a certain amount, so that they aren’t able to play this kind of game.

Weiss states that “private health insurance will be unsustainable - even without mandating a public option or government-run system.”  Does she not see that it is already unsustainable, especially for those who are the working poor, or those whose finances have disintegrated because they developed a chronic or catastrophic disease?  What is truly needed is for the health insurance industry to disappear.  They do not insure health, they insure profits for themselves and their shareholders at the expense of patients, who they deny treatments to in order to “save costs.”

It’s quite funny to me that, in between that editorial and the other article on health care reform, there is a section called “Thought Leaders,” which, in this issue, describes a biotech “whiz” making “the global warming case against animal farming.”  Do the supposed rich and intelligent not have the high-level type of thinking to see that, not only is animal farming unsustainable in terms of destruction to the environment, it is also ruining our health?  People hundreds of years ago ate meat ON OCCASION.  We eat it at almost every meal.  And we wonder why high blood pressure, high cholesterol and heart attacks are some of the biggest health problems in our country.  Of course, those reading Forbes are likely reading this article from the perspective of investors, trying to uncover the “next big things.”  If they really wanted to use their money, power and stature in society to make positive changes, there are a myriad of ways to do so, including advocating for reductions in animal farming and eating vegan at one or several meals each week.  But no, the typical Forbes readership is apparently too concerned with managing their stock portfolios, while others worry about how they will even be able to put food on the table this week.

And then, another article, called “Bury Our Carbon At Sea.”  Hailed as “an innovative business model,” the article describes how to dispose of CO2 leftovers from clean coal plants.  I know - stuff it into offshore geologic cavities!  Kinda like that continent-sized garbage island floating in the Pacific Ocean, we can just push all that CO2 underwater and not have to worry about it again, right?  Of course, it “would generate a good deal of anxiety for those living above the gas,” like the people in Cameroon that had a volcanic crater burst in 1986 and released “a CO2 bubble large enough to kill 1,800 people while they slept.”  Why, we could find enough places to store CO2 underwater that we could burn “clean coal” for another 300 years!

And then we come to the other health care related article, “Useless Medicine.”  This one covers, again from the perspective of shareholders, NOT patients, the number and types of treatments that “don’t help, run up the bill, and may even cause harm.”  One of the first examples they give is the “continuous fetal heart rate monitors” that get strapped on when a woman goes into labor.  The article states that “they don’t lower neonatal death rates, but they do boost the number of costly caesarean sections, big studies have found.”  My question for those who did these “big studies” would be what the impact would be on the mother and child if they were not used?  The obstetrician and nurses would not know when the baby was in distress, and so the baby could die before a “costly” c-section could be performed.  I guess that would effectively decrease the number of costly c-sections, but would you want to be the one who tells the mother who just lost her child that you took away the heart monitors to save costs?

A scary quote regarding “how much is wasted on treatments that don’t make people better”:  “There are no sure numbers because much of modern medicine remains unstudied and unproven.”  Even doctors agree, as Dartmouth-Hitchcock Medical Center orthopedic surgeon James Weinstein states:  “We don’t have any sort of system to measure the effectiveness of what we are doing.”  And yet, if you even so much as mention the thought of a government-run healthcare system, with these exact types of measures across the entire U.S. healthcare system, you are immediately laughed out of the room, or worse.

In a section titled “Mental Health Treatments,” the article explores the pharmaceutical marketing machine, which in recent years has rolled out a new wave of “atypical antipsychotics” such as Seroquel and Zyprexa.  “The new drugs were generally not much better and came with side effects, such as rapid weight gain.”  And yet, those in the mental health industry freely admit that the marketing of the pharmaceutical companies led to “the notion that this was a new class of medications and a breakthrough.”  They also admit that they are given to kids with attention-deficit disorder or other “behavior problems” and that “they are used a little wantonly.”  What no one even mentions in this article is that homeopathic, herbal and naturopathic treatments, such as acupuncture, herbalism and other such treatments, often have much better outcomes for patients than simply loading them up with drugs.  Just do a Google search for “scientific studies homeopathy” to find oodles of rigid, double-blind studies that have found that patients fare better under these types of treatments than just popping pills.

The rest of the article deals with other tests and treatments that often don’t result in better outcomes for patients.  And then, when you turn the page, the next article is titled “Dream Homes” and showcases various multi-million dollar mansions for the typical Forbes reader to lust over.  It seems to me, in reading Forbes magazine critically, that there is a huge disconnect in the minds of most rich people reading it.  Environmentally-friendly ways of doing things are seen as a positive, not because they will help make our planet more healthy and safer for all who live on it, but because the new technology may be something to make money off of.  People i.e. patients are typically not discussed in articles on healthcare reform.  The focus is on “costs,” “treatments” and of course, the bottom line, profits.

When will all of us realize that we are all interconnected?  Like Jesus said, “What you do to the least of these, you do also to me.”  Until we wake up to the fact that our world is our home, and its environment, its plants, animals and people, are not commodities to be used and thrown away, but precious, divine things to be valued and helped and loved, we will not be on the path to avoid destruction, both outwardly and inwardly.  Everyone is searching for “something”:  God, the divine, the spark of life and being.  That is to be found in each other, in the way we treat everyone and every being, from the waiter at the restaurant, to the car valet or the housekeeper, to the cashier at the grocery store.  It is for these reasons that I am an advocate of saving our environment, of not polluting and destroying it for profit, of helping people around the world, from the poorest Third World countries to the people in my neighborhood.  I don’t do it hoping for a return on my investment.  I do it because it is right, and it is the way we, as children of God, are meant to act toward one another.

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11. November 2009 by admin.

Recently, a fellow member of a message board I participate in asked me for recommendations for religious and spiritual books, authors and dvd’s.  I gladly fired off a list of authors for her to look up on Amazon.com, but it got me thinking that others might be interested in some of the things I’ve read that have helped shape the way I see, understand and interact with the world.

I’ll preface this list by explaining that, in general, my religious and spiritual views have been influenced by having been raised United Methodist but always having been curious and a voracious reader.  I have a huge interest in ancient history and a global worldview.  I’ve added beliefs and spiritual views from pagan/wiccan religious systems, Buddhism and Shinto, Gnostic Christianity and Native American spirituality.  What I believe and know about how the universe works may be completely opposite of what most people think, and I’m totally OK with that.  I may be accused of being new age-y or a wacko.  That’s fine too.  I’ve had enough experiences in my own life that have reinforced that what I believe about how the universe works is accurate to doubt it.  If there’s any one theme to my interest in religion and spirituality, it is, above all, to not drown in the mainstream, but to go deeper and always remain curious and seeking.  I’ll almost immediately discard any belief system that requires me to live in a black and white, good vs. evil, us vs. them world.  Too many religions serve an ultimate purpose of repressing individual spiritual expression in favor of dogma and doctrine.  I have no use for those.  But I’m fascinated by studying them all the same.

If you’re interested in walking down this path with me, check out some of these:

Joseph Campbell (http://www.jcf.org) - A comparative mythologist, Joseph Campbell wrote “The Power of Myth,” which was my wakeup call when I was in high school.  Reading this book and discovering the similarities between so many of the world’s religions, both ancient and modern, verified for me that we are all worshipping the same God or divine essence, albeit in different ways and through different rituals.  I’ve always had a deep sense that no one religion is the ultimate truth, and that any religion that preaches love, tolerance and compassion for all instead of fear, hatred and repression is a valid path to the divine.  Anyone who is interested in expanding their mind should start with “The Power of Myth.”

Gregg Braden ( http://www.greggbraden.com) - From defense industry scientist to modern-day shaman, Gregg Braden bridges the gap between science and spirituality by offering layman’s explanations of the latest findings in quantum physics coupled with historical information on the religious beliefs of ancient civilizations.  I highly recommend his book, “The Divine Matrix,” his audiobooks “Awakening the Power of a Modern God” and “Beyond Zero Point” and his video “Walking Between the Worlds.”

Doreen Virtue (http://www.angeltherapy.com) - The first time I heard Doreen’s radio program on Hay House Radio (another awesome resource for all things metaphysical), I was absolutely blown away by how positive and caring she is for everyone who calls into the show.  She explains how connected your diet is with your mental state and teaches you how to call upon the angels to help heal your life.  “How to Hear Your Angels” and “Goddesses and Angels” are both excellent.

Caroline Myss (http://www.myss.com) - Another Hay House author (sensing a theme here?), Myss, a medical intuitive, provides excellent information on how to free yourself from the “story” of your life and how to start healing and living your life.  Her books “Anatomy of the Spirit” and “Invisible Acts of Power” are both excellent.

Graham Hancock (http://www.grahamhancock.com) - Hancock is an archaeologist and comparative mythologist who hypothesizes that there is a “lost civilization” from which the Indus Valley, Sumerian and Egyptian cultures, among others, derive.  He explains this theory through archaeoastronomy and the study of ancient sites, such as the pyramids at Giza and the temple of Angkor Wat.  “Fingerprints of the Gods” is a good introduction to Hancock’s theory and the alternative study of ancient civilizations.  His website also has an awesome, continuously-updated news feed on findings in science and archaeology.

John Major Jenkins (http://alignment2012.com) - Contrary to Hollywood and the mainstream media’s fear-mongering, 2012 will not be “the end of the world” or “the apocalypse.”  What the 2012 date represents is a global transformation of consciousness away from fear, hatred and greed and toward love and compassion.  This transformation coincides with the Age of Aquarius and is the true meaning behind the Mayan calendar and other prophecies for 2012.  His work ties in well with Gregg Braden’s “Zero Point” and “Beyond Zero Point” works.

Michael Cremo (http://www.mcremo.com) - His book “Forbidden Archaeology” caused quite a stir in the mainstream scientific community, mainly because it tossed out the typically accepted timeline for human development.  It offered information on archaeological discoveries that have been “covered up” by the mainstream archaeology community because they reveal that the accepted timeline is way off.  According to some of the forbidden archaeology, humans had established civilizations much further back into antiquity than previously thought.  There is also proof of a race of giants, as was referred to in many religious belief systems (including the Judeo-Christian, with the “nephilim”).

David Icke (http://www.davidicke.com/index.php) - At first glance, his website will seem a tinfoil hat conspiracy theorist’s delight.  But I’d recommend watching one of his dvd’s, as he explains that, just as in the movie “The Matrix,” we live in a world of illusion (”maya” in Sanskrit).  One of his best quotes is “Love is the only truth - all else is illusion.”  While I don’t know if I completely buy into some of the tinfoil hat territory leanings (not sure where I stand on the concept of the reptilians), I definitely feel that he has some good information to share.

Tim Freke (http://www.timothyfreke.com) - A philosopher, student of world spirituality and Gnostic scholar, Tim Freke helps you open up to the idea of what he calls “big love” - the fact that we are all one and all part of the divine.  Humorous and irreverent, his books “The Jesus Mysteries,” “The Laughing Jesus” and “Lucid Living” are all excellent.

Starhawk (http://www.starhawk.org) - A pioneer in the revival of earth-based spirituality and Goddess religions, Starhawk’s book “The Spiral Dance” was one of my first introductions to pagan/wiccan spirituality.  Since writing “The Spiral Dance,” she’s also published “Circle Round: Raising Children in Goddess Traditions” and “The Earth Path,” both of which are easy to read and understand.  Coming from a background as a respected feminist and worker for social justice, it is easy to see why she is one of the faces of the pagan revival.

Silver Ravenwolf (http://www.silverravenwolf.com) - Her book “To Ride a Silver Broomstick” made wicca easy to understand, and offered a terrific introduction to a “generic,” Celtic/European tradition for aspiring witches.  The book is packed with historical information, as well as ritual and reference (herbal, correspondances, etc.).  If you haven’t read anything on wiccan spirituality and you’d like to, her book is a good start.

Laurence Gardner (http://www.graal.co.uk) - I read his book, “Bloodlines of the Holy Grail,” after discovering that Tori Amos had read it and it had been a partial inspiration for her album, “The Beekeeper.”  The book is a crash course in pre-Christian Judaic temple religion and early Christianity, with a focus on Jesus’ claim to be the Messiah.  The version I have, which is the illustrated version, is beautiful and chock full of helpful photos and illustrations.

The Gnosis Archive (http://gnosis.org/welcome.html) - Amazing and comprehensive website explaining Gnostic spirituality and offering many resources, including texts, video and audio lectures.  If you’ve heard about gnostic Christianity from “The da Vinci Code” and want to know more, this website is a great place to visit.

“Biblical Archaeology Review” magazine (http://www.bib-arch.org/#) - If you’re an archaeology buff or have an interest in Judaism and early Christianity, this magazine and website are awesome.  There are plenty of resources on previous and current digs and findings, along with multimedia features like audio lectures and videos.  The site also features information on how to be a part of digs in the Middle East and Holy Land.

PaganPages (http://paganpages.org/content) - Pagan Pages is an informative pagan web resource, offering all kinds of content, from columns on pagan parenting to rituals to help learning various systems of divination.

Reality Sandwich (http://www.realitysandwich.com) - This site’s purpose is to foster the evolution of human consciousness.  Daniel Pinchbeck, author of “2012: The Return of Quetzalcoatl,” is one of the key players, and he injects his lighthearted yet thought-provoking commentary in his blog postings, along with many other contributors.

Global Coherence Initiative (http://www.glcoherence.org) - Recommended by Gregg Braden, this website is the home of a science-based movement to send positive and life-affirming energy to the world.  Depending on your belief system, you may call this prayer.  GCI is concerned with focusing that positive energy and making a change for the better in our world.  Their emWave device was a hit at E3 last year - check it out!

At the core, my belief system revolves around only a few major tenets:
* “And it harm none, do what thou wilt.” - Wiccan Rede
* “Love God and love your neighbor as yourself.” - my distillation of Jesus’ “new covenant” from the New Testament
* The Rule of Three - whatever energy you put out into the universe will return to you threefold (which is why it just makes sense to be putting all the love and positive energy out there that you can)
* karma - cause and effect, directly tied to the law of three, what you put out into the universe returns to you
* reincarnation - My belief in reincarnation is based in many things: the laws of physics, which state that energy cannot be created or destroyed, it merely passes into different states of being; intuition related to past-life experiences and the teachings of many ancient religious systems

In every action, interaction, situation and possibility, there is a choice to make: will you choose love or will you choose fear? Hate is not the opposite of love - hate is merely the energy of love that has been misdirected. When you choose love, you walk with Jesus, Buddha, Gahndi and all the other great spiritual teachers. The more of us that start to choose love, even in the most mundane, everyday interactions, the faster our world will transform into the kind of place we all want to live in.

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26. October 2009 by admin.

So, many of my friends and family members are well aware of my “luck” in winning online contests and sweepstakes over the past few years.  I continue to insist that it is not just “luck,” but part of a coordinated system I’ve developed in order to maximize my chances to win.  If you’re wondering what that system is, I’ll explain below:

First, you’re going to want to set up a separate email account just for contests and sweepstakes.  You don’t want to clutter up your main email address, because you WILL receive LOTS of emails once you start entering.  You can use Yahoo, Hotmail, etc.  I’d recommend checking this email box every day, as some winning emails/notices are time-sensitive and require that you reply back within 24, 48 or 72 hours.

Second, download the RoboForm software at http://www.roboform.com . This software enables you to save your pertinent contact information (i.e. name, address, phone number, email address, etc.) as an “identity.”  When you come to a web page with a form, a RoboForm box will launch - click “Fill forms” and all the blanks will be filled in with one click.  The free version of the software allows you to create up to two separate identities.

Once you’ve got those two “pieces” set up, you can start going out to different online contest and sweepstakes websites.  Some of my favorites are:

http://www.online-sweepstakes.com/

http://www.freesamplesite.com/ydf/index.php

http://slickdeals.net/forums

http://tweetsweep.blogspot.com - good site for Twitter-only contests and sweeps

http://www.contestqueen.com/resources/us/sweepstake_sites.html

That’s really all there is to it!  I would say that I enter approximately 1,000 or more individual contests and sweepstakes per week.  I don’t win every month, or even every couple of months.  But it is always nice to come home to a “mystery box” on the front porch or a prizewinning email in my email box.  Winning sweepstakes, especially travel-related ones, means that my husband and I can take vacations we couldn’t afford otherwise.

Just one more tip - positive visualization works WONDERS for winning.  I have noticed a direct correlation between the number of times I engage in positive creative visualization and the number of times I win prizes.  You can access some good general information on the creative visualization process at http://www.realmagick.com/articles/29/129.html.

Some of the things I have been blessed and “lucky” enough to win over the past five years are:

*  Trips and Vacations - 2-night trip to Santa Monica, CA (including r/t airfare, 2 nights at the Radisson Huntley Santa Monica and salon makeovers for me and my “guest” - my mom), 2-night trip to Iceland (including r/t airfare and 2 nights’ hotel accommodations - we added two more nights on our own), 6-night river cruise in Europe (ended up not being able to take this one because we all got sick, but it included the all-inclusive cruise and no airfare), vacation package at Las Ventanas al Paraiso in Los Cabos, Mexico (4 nights, no airfare, this place was SWANKY!!, negotiated for a shorter stay and all meals included, we also got couples’ massages, spa treatments, a tequila lesson and one day Mini Cooper rental, we did an ATV excursion out of pocket), 7-night stay at any Sandals Resort in Jamaica (planning to take this one in November, includes r/t airfare and all-inclusive accommodations, hopefully we can shorten it to 4 nights in exchange for a suite upgrade), 2-night trip to Augusta, ME (included r/t airfare and two nights’ hotel, tickets to see Sugarland and Billy Currington, took my sister and we rented a car to check out some of the local beaches), 2-night trip to Montana (wasn’t able to use this one as it didn’t include airfare)

*  Stuff - Playstation 2, XBox, Nintendo Gamecube, Nintendo GameBoy Advance, Spiderman video games for all four; 500 gb external hard drive, $450 retail Lauren Merkin purse, $200 spa bathrobe, $500 Amazon.com gift card, various cosmetic and toiletry products, household products, movie and tv promotion merchandise, flip video camera, $500 credit at Zumiez.com

The only thing left to discuss would be the tax issue.  According to the IRS, you are required to report the value of all prizes you win as income.  In general practice, you should be issued a 1099 form for a win valued at $600 or more.  It is always recommended that you discuss such reporting with your accountant and/or tax professional.  I will issue a caveat, which is that I have never been sent a 1099 form for a win.  If you receive no 1099, then the IRS does not receive one either.

So that’s all there is to it!  Now get out there and start winning - and be sure to let me know what you win

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19. October 2009 by admin.

First, let me just share with you the fact that I am tired of arguing about healthcare reform in the U.S.  Anyone who tells me that things are fine the way they are and there is no reason to fool with changing anything is instantly labeled a moron in my eyes.  Stick your head in the sand all you like, but the health insurance companies are squeezing all of us dry so that they can continue to live in mansions and provide their shareholders with huge profits (who likely also live in mansions).

This past year, I’ve had two ovarian cysts and a miscarriage.  I have health insurance for myself and my son through the Commonwealth of Virginia employee plan with Anthem - which is pretty good coverage IMHO.  However, here is where the intricacies of “health insurance” start to come in:  I have a $300 deductible for each of us.  This means, essentially, that I am expected to pay $600 out of pocket for certain things before my insurance will kick in and pay.  This works on a July-June fiscal year (or so I’ve been told - although whenever I call to question it always seems like they tell me its a new plan year, whether I call in February or August).  I already pay $50 or so per paycheck for my policy.  Plus $40 a pop when I go to the OB.  The plan won’t let me name my OB as my primary care physician like my old insurance plan would, even though I’m young, in relatively good health and of reproductive age.  I’ve always seen my OB more frequently than my PCP and $40 a visit really starts to add up, especially with some of the issues I’ve been having.

Last year, I had an ovarian cyst.  I went to the OB, who did a diagnostic ultrasound.  A few weeks later, I got a bill from my OB’s office for $175 for the ultrasound.  I checked my policy information, which said that my policy was supposed to cover diagnostic testing.  I called Anthem to ask them WTF was up.  Oh, it’s a new plan year.  You have a $300 deductible.  We won’t cover that.  So, since I couldn’t afford to just write them a check for $175, I spent the next few months slowly paying off the bill.

About six months later, I had another cyst.  Went to the OB.  She wanted to do an ultrasound.  At this point, I decided that if I started to feel better, I would cancel the ultrasound, simply because I couldn’t afford it.  This is exactly what happened - I started feeling the pain subside and it wasn’t bothering me anymore, so I canceled the ultrasound.  Nevermind that there could have been something else wrong that an ultrasound would have shown.  No, we just couldn’t afford it, so I passed on it.  THIS HAPPENS WAY TOO OFTEN!  People shouldn’t feel that they have to compromise on their own or their family’s health just because they can’t afford to pay the bill.  If I were rich, of course I wouldn’t have had a second thought.  I would have had the ultrasound.  But I’m not rich, so there you go.

Then I got pregnant.  Very unexpectedly, especially after the whole cyst issue.  Thankfully, once you get pregnant you only have to pay one copay at the very beginning.  Unfortunately, ultrasounds are still not included as part of routine care, so having my first one at around 6 weeks added up to another $175 bill.  Around 11 weeks, I miscarried.  I went to the emergency room.  What I don’t understand about health insurance is why they don’t just charge you for everything they’re going to charge you for right then and there.  You give them your insurance card.  They ping it against your plan to determine what the charge should be.  If it’s that quick and easy, they should be able to give you an itemized invoice when you check out.  If you have the $$ to pay then, you pay.  If not, you take the invoice and make payment arrangements.  But no - this is where insurance companies work their “magic.”

A person at an insurance company has to sit down at their desk, look at the various charges on my bill and determine what things the insurance company will pay for and what things they won’t.  As far as I’m concerned, there is no rhyme or reason to this - a fact backed up by the totally confusing “final invoice” the hospital ended up sending me.  If the insurance company is truly in the business of keeping you healthy and providing you with care, why do they need a person to sit down and do this?  My policy manual includes a section detailing all the different things the plan reimburses for and at what rates.  It should not be difficult to have a computer program designed that you input the charges and the program spits out what the plan covers.  Why is there a person looking at my medical records and putting checks or x’s next to the things I received care for?  Why, when I receive my bill, are there charges for three different things that all appear to be the same thing, just worded differently?  Why do the numbers not add up?  It almost looks like they put some huge figure ($3,500) at the top of the bill just so you know just how fucked you would have been if you didn’t have insurance at all.

So, after my miscarriage, I had to do some blood tests so that my OB could tell me when my HcG levels have returned to normal.  After the first test, I received a bill from the lab for a fucking dollar and sixteen cents.  Are you fucking kidding me?  It said the test was 45 and I saved $39.45 by using an “in-network” provider, leaving $5.55.  My plan reimbursed them back $4.39, leaving me with a balance of $1.16.  Are you serious?  It took them more money to have someone prepare the bill and mail it than the $1.16 they will get back.  A)  If the lab could ping my insurance to find out whether I had a co-pay and how much that would be, why did they not find out then and there about this $39.45 in-network savings and the $4.39 the plan would cover?  B)  What kind of idiotic company is going to spend more in collecting on a bill than the amount of bill?

I forgot to mention, after looking at my new policy manual, that apparently this year’s deductible is $450.  And I’m one of the “lucky” ones out there who actually has health insurance coverage.  I shudder to think about the bills we’d have sitting around if I didn’t have it.

All you people out there talking about how awful it would be to have the government involved in healthcare, I ask you:  Do you really think that, left to their own devices, the insurance companies are going to wake up one morning and say “You know what?  All those people are right - we SHOULD charge less for healthcare.  We SHOULD change the way we do business so that we care more about people than profit.”  No, they are not ever going to say that.  As long as the entire healthcare system in our country revolves around making a profit and not around keeping people healthy, we will continue to see people die because they are denied treatment they otherwise can’t afford, or being refused coverage because of bullshit “pre-existing conditions,” like the baby who was declined as obese - even though he is solely breastfed - because he is in the 95th percentile for weight.

And if you’re one of those who thinks the government will fuck it up because they can’t do anything right, I’d like to remind you that, even though the FDA might sometimes make mistakes, I’d much rather have them around to regulate food and drugs than have to worry when I go to the store that my meat is tainted.  I’d much rather have the fire and police forces out there to protect me and my family, even if I get pulled over sometimes.  It sure beats living in Iraq or Afghanistan or some other Third World country with no law and order.  I’d much rather have our elected officials argue with each other in Washington than a dictator in power who allows no argument at all.  I’d much rather have my child be able to go to good, free public schools than have to quit my job and teach him at home, or figure out how to come up with the $$ to send him to a private school - or even just get no education whatsoever, like in many Third World countries.  Our government might not be perfect, but neither is the status quo.  With costs for healthcare rising out of control and our nation’s health being dismal in comparison, I feel that the health insurance industry as a whole needs to be much more strictly regulated.  I’d much rather have my doctor decide the tests and treatments I need, instead of my wallet and the insurance companies.

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12. October 2009 by admin.

A few weeks ago, I started a thread on RichmondMommies.com asking for help finding a good salon in RVA that knows what to do with curly hair - specifically, with my coarse, thick, curly, frizzy mop.  Several people mentioned a place called Imago, so I checked out their website and signed up for their email newsletter, then promptly forgot about it.

Well, last week I was reminded of how much I needed a new haircut when I received their email newsletter with a coupon at the bottom for a FREE HAIRCUT with one of their newer stylists!  You know me, I can’t turn down FREE, so I quickly scheduled a cut for Sunday the 12th.

Imago is located on W. Main St. a few blocks from the Boulevard.  The place is small, but very hip - my little sister will appreciate the fact that they had No Doubt in rotation on the stereo.  My stylist was Audrey, and she was super nice.  She introduced me to the “CurlyGirl” haircut and styling method, pioneered by Lorraine Massey (author of the book “Curly Girl”).  The first thing curly girls need to do is to break the shampoo habit!  Curly hair tends to be dry and damaged, so shampooing every day is not necessary and will actually strip your hair’s natural oils.  As long as you give yourself a good scalp massage in the shower every day, you’ll easily get any dirt or accumulated oil off your scalp.  Next, you want to slather on conditioner, do any combing to remove tangles with your fingers or a comb while the conditioner is in, then rinse just a bit, so that you leave most of the conditioner still in (mostly on the tips).

After you’ve rinsed, preferably with cool water to seal the hair’s cuticle, you want to make sure you put your styling products in while your hair is still pretty much soaking wet.  If it’s way too wet, you can blot and “smush” excessive water out with a t-shirt - NOT a towel.  My hair likes a creamy conditioner - about a quarter size - or a leave-in conditioning styling cream.  Next, you want to take about a palm’s worth of water-based gel - I bought the Deva Curl AnGell that Audrey used on my hair cause it’s awesome - and saturate your strands, scrunching to shape curls and remove excess water.

Last, but not least, you air dry.  That’s right - no more blow drying.  You just let your hair dry naturally.  If you like, you can flip a part over to one side or the other and use small hair clips to boost volume at the roots.  Once your hair is dry, the gel will create a “cast” or hardness on your curls.  At that point, you flip your hair over and shake and scrunch it, breaking the cast and leaving soft, shaped curls.

This method of keeping up with your hair at first feels totally antithetical to any system you may have had of washing, conditioning, brushing and drying it, but I am now a believer!  Once Audrey had given me a great cut to shape and accentuate my curls, they were able to stand on their own and looked terrifically glossy and shiny - something I have NEVER experienced!  I am now a convert and can’t wait to head back to Imago when my hair grows out a bit for another cut.

http://www.devaconcepts.com

http://www.imagohair.com

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7. October 2009 by admin.

Since discovering www.etsy.com a few years ago, I must admit that I am a bit of an addict!  I guess it’s the ‘ol punk-rock DIY ethic, but it gives me a warm fuzzy feeling to buy stuff from people who make it themselves, especially vegan and organic skin and hair care, hand-blended fragrance oils and custom tea blends.  There are also some amazing foreign clothing and accessory designers I never would have discovered had it not been for Etsy.  And so, without further ado, here are just a few of my go-to Etsy shops:

*   Gudonya Too (http://www.etsy.com/shop.php?user_id=5267741) - Yummy-smelling hair, bath and body products.  Their creme shampoo is amazing.  It has ocean salt in it, which sounds weird, but really gives your locks that “squeaky-clean” feel.  The Whipped Clean body wash is creamy and frothy and smells delicious, especially the Spa Fusion and Tahitian Vanilla scents.  I’m also addicted to the Intense Hair Conditioner.

*  Tea For All Reasons (http://www.etsy.com/shop.php?user_id=5715114) - This shop in Fairfax, VA specializes in hand-blended teas of all varieties.  They have some of the most unique flavor combinations I’ve ever come across, like Bourbon Street Vanilla Rooibos, Almond Cookies Green Tea, Truffle Trio Black Tea and even Lotta Colada, a Rooibos/Green Tea blend.  Their monthly sale items run $2-3 for a 2 oz. bag - a great way to try some of their inventive blends.  And, if you live in Virginia, you’ll probably get your order within 2 days.

*  Darcy’s Botanicals (http://www.etsy.com/shop.php?user_id=6311551) - My coarse, thick, curly and frizzy hair thank me for discovering Darcy’s!  Their haircare products are all-natural and can be made vegan as well.  The Peach Kernel Natural Curls Hydrating Milk smells divine and the Tucuma Butter Moisture Whip works wonders.

*  Jackson Sage (http://www.etsy.com/shop.php?user_id=5120826) - Yes, this line is available online at www.jacksonsage.com, at Ellwood Thompson’s, Whole Foods, etc.  But the secret I am sharing with you, dear blog reader, is that you can buy sale products at the Etsy shop!  This month’s offerings include Shine Body Cream, Margerita Soap (smells EXACTLY like a margarita!) and Island Escape soap.  If you pick up from Erika’s Southside studio, you can save on the shipping costs.

*  IKA Bags (http://www.etsy.com/shop.php?user_id=7209784) - Classy and stylish handmade bags and purses from Paris.   The patterns and designs on this season’s bags are trendy and elegant, from a Twitter-esque robin and leaves to floral patterns and solid blacks and browns.

*  Dreaming Squid Dollworks (http://www.etsy.com/shop.php?user_id=5163774) - Just in time for Halloween, these creepy-looking dolls would make a spooky addition to your holiday decor.  The Jack O’ Lantern figurines and Winged Skull Ornament that looks inspired by colonial-era tombstones would be awesome decorations for Halloween or, if you’re like me, year-round.

*  The Steampunk Trunk (http://www.etsy.com/shop.php?user_id=6413252) - Simply the BEST- IMHO - steampunk and Victorian-inspired jewelry and accessories.  I want the Alice Cigarbox Pocketbook BAD!  The Creepy Halloween Spiderweb earrings are kickass too.

*  Rocker Bye Baby (http://www.etsy.com/shop.php?user_id=5260109) - Awesome punk rawk baby stuff - blankies, diaper bags, crib sets and more.  Skull & Crossbones pacifier clips, Japanese Kawaii Skull and Panda bibs, cute punky clothes and everything else you need for your rocker baby.

*  HMS Latex (http://www.etsy.com/shop.php?user_id=91693) - In a word: AMAZING!  I don’t know how this Parisian designer crafts the outfits she does from latex, but you have got to check them out!  Dresses, capri and long pants, tops and lingerie, all handcrafted in standard sizing and made to measure.

*  Baba Studio (http://www.etsy.com/shop.php?user_id=5006746) - Gorgeous and whimsical printed bags and purses from the Prague-based studio.  Prints include vintage and Rider-Waite tarot images, Japanese dragons, Alice in Wonderland illustrations, Renaissance artwork and more.

*  Malam (http://www.etsy.com/shop.php?user_id=5281228) - Parisian independent clothing and accessory designer with Gothy and innovative styles.  I literally want one of every single thing in her shop.  The Swallowtail Sleeveless Gothic Steampunk Jacket is my absolute favorite item.  It is breathtaking.  The Louise Tunic with removable sleeves is beautiful too.  The Goblin Hood Frock Coat is my must-have item for Fall/Winter.

Well, that’s it for now.  I make new Etsy discoveries all the time though, so keep an eye on this space for more!

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30. September 2009 by admin.

Many who know me are well aware of my recent obsession with all things Etsy.  I’ve discovered some amazing clothing designers, both for women’s and for kid’s clothes, as well as an awesome tea shop, homemade and vegan skincare and haircare products, hand-blended perfume oils and more.  Well, my latest discovery is Viva la Moda, an online magazine covering independent fashion, jewelry and accessory designers.  You can check out the latest issue at http://www.vivalamoda.co.cc.

What I love about this online mag is that it showcases some of the best new designers on Etsy, so that you don’t have to root through the thousands and thousands of individual shop listings.  The designer in the “Designer Spotlight,” Penelope Red, is a perfect example.  I might have never come across her in my Etsy wanderings, but her designs are gorgeous!  The French-inspired outfit on page 13 is so hot - I literally want to buy it right this second!

There’s a section just for kid’s clothing, as well as fashion spreads similar to those in Elle or Vogue.  A section on Fall Trends sums up all the things you’ll just have to have this season.  There’s even a travel section, covering a trip to Sicily (which is obviously on my “bucket list” as a must-see destination).  Highlighted in the article are designers from that area.  An article on “The Artisans of Belly Dance” will be right up your alley if you are interested in this ancient form of dance that’s also quite effective at toning abs.

Personally, I think that Viva la Moda is a terrific example of the direction that consumerism in general and the fashion industry in particular are heading in.  The online-only distribution lessens the environmental impact of printing page after page, and the focus on independent and Etsy designers and producers supports small business and the artistic community.  I can’t wait for the next issue

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27. September 2009 by admin.

Yesterday was the annual Smithsonian Museum Day, on which Smithsonian-affiliated museums offer free admission to those who visit the Smithsonian website (www.smithsonianmag.com) and fill out and print a special coupon.

Not having the time or money to venture out of town for the day, I took my three year-old son to the American Civil War Museum at Historic Tredeger (www.tredeger.org).  The museum, housed in the converted old Tredeger Iron Works buildings, opened in 2006 and bills itself as a comprehensive Civil War museum, explaining all sides of life during the Civil War - from the North, to the South to the African-American experience.

The location for the museum couldn’t be more perfect.  As it was used in the past as a foundry, the site was located adjacent to the James River on a small hill near Brown’s Island.  The museum itself does a great job architecturally at being light and airy (plenty of floor-to-ceiling windows) while still fitting into the old Iron Works spaces.

The Civil War Museum offers an overview of the events and circumstances leading up to the War through backlit maps and diagrams.  Interspersed throughout are display boxes containing vintage clothing, weapons and other implements.  As you travel through the museum and, at the same time, forward through history,  eye-opening statistics are offered comparing the tragic losses of the Civil War to other wars and disasters.

With a good background of information on the War itself, from the perspective of battles and major events, you can head upstairs to take in the consequences of the War on all Americans - those in the North, those in the South, and the newly-freed African-American slaves.  An entire section is devoted to the plight of slaves, and I found it next to impossible to explain to my son what the concept of “slavery” even meant.  It just does not make any logical sense to convey an explanation of what it means for one person to own another person, especially based on race alone.  My son calls his friends “pink,” “brown” and “orange,” so he doesn’t even understand the term “black.”

He did enjoy the “Homefront” section, which has numerous pictures of what life was like for Southerners, especially women and children, during the War.  There are even items of clothing, hats and shoes for kids to try on to see what soldiers on both sides would have worn.  As you make your way through the displays, you come to the area dealing with Reconstruction.  Rather than focusing on the South, the museum does a great job at conveying the fact that “Reconstruction” was a rebuilding process for the entire nation, and that a large part of it involved attempting to integrate the newly-freed slaves into society.  There are also displays highlighting the continued racism and discrimination faced by African-Americans after the Civil War, including a (rather ridiculous-looking) Ku Klux Klan robe.

In the gift shop, there are plenty of kids’ options, including small flags.  I noticed that there was one for the Union’s Irish Brigade, so my son chose that as his souvenir.  Outside, the National Park Service maintains a number of displays showing parts of the old foundry and their purposes.  There are old railroad tracks, cupolas and machinery to view.  My son loved this part, as it allowed him to run around a bit after being inside the museum.

All in all, we had a great time!  I was very impressed with the look and message of the Civil War Museum and my son enjoyed the lighted displays and looking at the clothes, guns and Civil War era toys and drums.  I’d highly recommend a visit if you’re looking for something to do on a Saturday afternoon.

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