This belief that you must have heirarchieal control and power over comes from a belief that the universe is a limited structure when in fact it is not. The idea that there is only so much to go around and that that in order to succeed you must take from someone else. I suspect this stems from a schism within the self- generally in the creative center of the self when a person is disconnected from their own inner sense of divinity (that they are a divine being and be a divine creator in their own life). When you are operating under the belief that you are incapable of creating for yourself from within your soul, then what is going on outside yourself (materialism, grasping, jealousy, power and control) become the most important thing to you.

I think there is a certain sort of threshold a person crosses when things outside of themselves are no longer things of interest and “I love him, he makes me happy” becomes “I need him because he is the source of my happiness”. People often mistake grasping, clinging and a desire to control that which is outside of the self with Love. But these things are not actions born out of love but are instead behavior that stems from imbalance.

I have spent a long summer, rebalancing myself when others crossed my personal boundaries and learning how to use the word no. After reading this article I can see the connections between this woman’s experience and my own. I've had a nasty habit of slowly becoming absorbed in others problems to the point where their problems are now my problem. I’ve come to the realization that I can no longer let others cross my personal boundaries and it’s not alright for me to shoulder all the weight of their emotional burdens.

A few days ago I finally stood up to someone who’s behavior was out of line and who had been crossing my boundaries for some time- I’ve noticed that ever since I’ve stood up to this person, just the simple act of expressing my discontent with their choices seemed to lessen the bladder/sacral chakra pain I’ve been in for 2 months. It seems to have been slowly evaporating ever since. Allowing others to push my boundaries had given me so much stress that my inability to express my frustration had let the pain turn inward and attack me.

Just goes to show you- holding things in is never any good.

This is just one story illustrating the mind/body link. Emotional dis-ease and physical disease are inextricably linked. We can never discount our emotions in our healing process.

-KTP

"I find energy modalities to be so profound and deeply healing. They have a mystical or sacred quality to them that touches every part of a person. Massage has its place and that's certainly where I started, but even as a dancer who knows that dance professionals' physical bodies need massage, I feel that CCT and Reiki can help an individual make changes and address stresses and personal issues that massage is not meant to focus on." -- Melanie

Try CCT mini-sessions ($15) on a first-come first-served basis and find out how powerful intentions can be as you relax and then connect to your inner Yoda and heart-felt dreams. CCT is great for individuals, groups, children, and businesses.

These sessions are not rub-downs or massage. No oils, lotions or disrobing. No fuss! Can be done in a comfy chair or on a massage table.

Discover more wonderful ways to relax plus classes this fall. Check back often as we list them on this web site. Take time for yourself. Join us! All sessions except listed walk ins are by appointment only. 

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The gray nature of the sky casts shadows over most of the world as we know it. The clouds seems to stretch on for eternity, never ceasing, always presiding over the whole Earth. These ruling bodies bring down rain as they please on the unsuspecting populace below them. Their power seems insurmountable in this day; they are never to be overcome, never to be ousted from their throne.
Gusts of wind seem to move before them, harbingers of their consuming power. The mightiest trees box before these mere emissaries of the dominating clouds. The sound of the wind inhibits our own communication and travel. And man thought he had conquered nature...
Rain comes in either downpours or drizzles and everything in between. Water, necessary for sustenance, is the most destructive force over the whole Earth. Streets come to be overrun with rivers that expand beyond their banks. Water, the soldier of the ruling clouds, knows no boundaries it seems.
In the midst of it all, it may seem as though it will never end, this reign of the storm. All one must do is cease from faltering and stand despite the rain. One day, the rains end and their healing power becomes manifest. One day, the sun shines again and we realize that the storm does not have all the power. One day, we all see that it did not cover or consume as much as we thought. On one fine morning, all will be made clear. On one fine morning, all will be made clear.

The LORD is my light and my salvation—
whom should I fear?
The LORD is the stronghold of my life—
of whom should I be afraid?

Psalm 27:1

  5)  Protected from over-harvesting by leaving at least  3/4  of
the stand intact for reproduction and continuance of the species.
If  roots  are dug, root crowns and seeds must  be  replanted  to
perpetuate the growth and proliferation of the plant.

here is the interview that is mentioned in my previous post, when sin festers.

  I have recounted the times in my defeated Christian walk when I fell into sin after being tempted.  The fall was percipitated by my acceptance that I was the thing by which I was being tempted.  If I wanted to get high or drunk; then I must be an addict.  If I wanted to have sex with a woman; then I must be homosexual.  My identity was driven by my physical and emotional desires, not by faith in who the word of God says that I am.  When I came to my senses and listen to the voice of God; God's restoration of our relationship began with deprogramming my mind-set.

   In Christ I have died to the old nature(sin nature) it no longer has power over me.  As we identify with what Christ did for us on the Cross we are to live our life as dead to sin.  That means when we are tempted or drawn out to commit sin the power of God we have being in Christ can keep us from falling (Jude 24).  What happens is we think that the temptation is more powerful then God or we think that it is who we are.  We must believe and know that when we were saved Christ came into our spirit giving us spiritual life (Ephesians 2:1, 5).  He, Christ, on the inside of us was and is the power that cancelled the power and presence of sin in us. We are dead to sin.  We must work out our soul salvation (Phil. 2:12-14).  Also, we must cooperate, obey and follow the Spirit of God and what we know is true in His word.

   We are to live in Christ knowing that old things have passed away and all things are new. (II Cor. 5:17; Gal. 2:20). Whatever you did before you became a believer in Jesus Christ has been thrown into the sea of forgetfulness it is gone passed away, out of sight and mind.  When God sees you, in Christ, covered by His blood, it is as if you had never sinned, a clean slate. 

  Take action when you are tempted, run to God, abide and remain in Christ, and resist the devil.  Confess out loud who you are in Christ and what you have as a child of God. Read Ephesians 1 and 2, Colossians 1-3; Romans 5-8; and I Corinthians 2 & 3.  Memorize scripture. Also, find a mature believer in Jesus Christ who will walk along side you loving you through your growing relationship with Jesus Christ.

   Especially remember that if you do fall into sin that "There is therefore no condemnation to them which are in Christ Jesus, who walk not after the flesh, but after the Spirit." Romans 1:8  When you sin comdemnation  is a sign that you went after your flesh, in your mind or body. But, you have an advocate, Jesus Christ that as soon as you confess your sins He will forgive you and clean you up.  Don't let the devil fool or lie to you.  Christ still loves you.  Don't get caught in agreeing with the devil that if you sin then that is who you are or that is where you belong.  Just say "I am a saint who sometimes sins."

   Victory is ours!!

I would like to know if my health will get better or worse, both physical and mental.

TJ

Dear TJ,

First I have to make the disclaimer that I am not a medical astrologer. I know a bit more than the average guy about medicine, but I have no medical training, so I am always careful when answering a question like this. What I can do is more of a “What are TJ’s challenges?” reading instead.

Looking at your natal chart, you actually have a lot of positive aspects that indicate you are bringing forward a lot of positive energy into this lifetime. You have Sun Trine Ascendant Trine Neptune, in water signs. You are a powerful psychic who can see into the other realms with relative ease. The challenge is you incarnated into a world and culture that doesn’t always understand you. Aquarius Moon Square the Nodes means you have an almost electrical plug in into Truth, but other people (the Nodes) don’t always want to hear what you have to say. “I told you so” could be a bit of a mantra for you! Remember that movie where Jack Nicholson says “You can’t handle the truth”? You need to remember that not everyone is ready to deal with reality. I can relate (grin).

You also have Sun Opposed Uranus and Pluto. You see the world as a volatile, dangerous place, and for good reason. You have likely encountered violence in your early life. You have learned though that fighting your troubles isn’t the most effective way to get to your goals, and as you continue down this path, not only will you heal a lot of your own challenges, but the inspiration you offer others will be powerful. In fact, the most challenging aspects for you all have a positive aspect to Neptune, which translates to you having the ability to take your greatest pain and transform that into a blessing for yourself and others. That much of this is focused in the 9th house says to me that you intended to come here to teach people how to overcome abuse.

The challenge for you is highlighted over and over again in the natal chart as frustration and anger that the world is a hostile place. Transiting Mars Opposed Uranus right now are pushing every button you’ve got, particularly with close family, siblings and those friends you see as brothers and sisters. Uranus moves slowly, and it hits one planet for you after another. The upside for Uranus is that it favors Internet communications, and I believe that the connections you make online right now may prove to be strongly healing. Mars moves out of aspect over the summer, and you may find that you come through this time with a great deal of strength as you consciously decide to channel your reactions more effectively. I highly recommend Caroline Myss book “Why People Don’t Heal”. I suffer from similar health concerns and I found it hugely helpful in dealing with them. The key to your mental and physical well being is to find ways to transform your own reactions, to learn to demand your own safe healing space and to let go of resentment towards those people who don’t understand and can’t find ways to help.

Brandi

Roughly four years ago I was 60 pounds overweight and very sick from intestinal toxicity and a liver condition that was getting worse. Also suffered from deep depression and spent most of my time in isolation and bitterness. One day I started fasting basically out of desperation, but was consumed by horrible withdrawal symptoms before I could finish even eight hours without solid food.  I was puzzled by the bad breath, white-sticky tongue, metallic taste and dizziness that I experienced. Research later led me to the realization that the symptoms were a reflection of just how toxic my body and digestive system had become.

In an ultimate low, I received the grace, strength and resolve to launch a 40-day water fast. It was very hard and painful - especially during the first 11 days of cleansing and detoxification. But I was reborn.  Fasting for weight loss, health and fitness has changed my life. It worked when traditional diets did not. I realized that, as long as I kept putting food in my body, I was not giving it the opportunity to cleanse from all the toxicity that had built up over the years.  My complete lack of control with food was a problem that only fasting was able to break. It forced me to navigate through the pains and discomfort of cleansing and detoxification.  Only then did the chains of food slavery break and I was led to freedom.

Once the fasting was over, I found - to my astonishment- that I was no longer willing to just put anything in my mouth. The sacrifice of fasting and cleansing gave me a new perspective on food.  This new perspective, in turn, gave me a fresh sense of discipline that had otherwise eluded me. In short, for me diets did not work because, in reality, what I needed was to stop eating altogether for a season so my body could clean itself. 

I tried all the diets, believe me. Yet I only grew fatter and more frustrated. Each failure usually restored me to the previous undesired weight and added another 10 to 20 pounds to boot.  Later I realized that, at least for me, fasting and cleansing had to come BEFORE or could expect to stick to any particular diet - no matter how good it was.

Having lost nearly 100 pounds through juice and water fasting, I now dedicate myself to helping others interested in improving their health through this amazing, life-giving discipline. I am here to be of service in any way I can!

Best Regards,
Robert D Johnston
Owner of
http://fitnessthroughfasting.com

I believe there is a universal dialogue that is happening all around us at every moment of every single day that we are on the physical plane. This dialogue is designed to bring us into a state of harmony, peace and prosperity in all areas of our lives. There is a dramatic unraveling of old beliefs and systems that happens when a person decides-- consciously chooses-- to walk in the direction of spirit. This walk is the journey back to your true self, your original nature. In many ways, we have been conditioned to ignore these signs from God, our guides, angels, universal intelligence, Source energy. As children we are surrounded by other older beings who have suffered the same addiction to paying attention to only that which is apparent to the naked eye or what people have unwittingly called "reality." All we see is a chair, a plant, a face, a rock-- a whole pictiure which we collectively and individually create. The light bouncing around this planet is the canvas of our thoughts, and we create what we see in the physical plane.

But what would happen to you, and what would happen to the story of your life if you decided that everything-- even as something as solid as a tree-- were simply molecules vibrating at different frequencies? What if you accepted that everything-- money, people, cities, the natural world-- were all vibrational extensions of the universal intelligence of which we are all very active and vibrant parts? You would understand that your thoughts give you the power to create your own world in any way you choose.

But that's quite a leap of faith, isn't it? Perhaps on a spiritual level this makes sense to you. Maybe even on an intellectual level this is in line with other information and teachings that you know to be true from either firsthand experience or through observation. And let's say that you even have a sense on a deeply emotional level that you are, indeed, a child of God-- a being that is so perfect, and so complete that the idea of fully accepting your power raises your vibration so intensely that it might even bring a deep, throbbing sense of relief to your whole being, or perhaps even tears of joy to your eyes.

In my experience, signs are literally everywhere. But there are two critical components to living in a world where these important signs can direct you down your holy path. Try this three part process and see if signs begin to appear in your life. I have received incredible inspiration from Sonia Choquette regarding this work, and encourage you to check out her work. If you're open to the process, I believe you will manifest signs quickly and frequently. And this should comfort and support you in your spiritual development.

1) Ask for signs. The Universe is like a patient and wise teacher. You are never without guides, angels and non-physical teachers of every kind who are eager to help point you in the right direction. Even if you do not completely believe that signs are real, just sit quietly for a few minutes and open your heart and mind to the possibility that there are many entities waiting in the wings to be your support. Ask them for it. Try saying "I am ready and open to receiving guidance from my guides, as well as signs to point me in the direction of my dreams and greater purpose." Because I believe that finding your purpose (and it can change a lot or a little along the way depending on what your calling is) is truly the path to prosperity in all areas of your life-- relationships, money, health, everything.

2) Pay attention. I know this sounds simple and somewhat like a teacher telling her students not to slouch in class. But whether you are new to this journey or a seasoned student, being present is one of the most powerful spiritual principles that humankind has had the good fortune to embrace. As Alan Watts said, "Be here now." In relation to this process, once you have asked for signs, move through your day expecting them to appear at any moment. Do not dismiss anything. Every person, every phone call, every e-mail, every destination, every experience has the potential for presenting a spiritual roadsign for you.

3) Act on them. So what if you've actually been seeing signs? Maybe you received a voicemal from a long lost friend. Call her back. She might have an offer, a piece of information, some wisdom or perhaps something physical like a job or a material possession that is trying to come your way. Perhaps you've been struggling with a weight issue and you find yourself stuck behind a bus in traffic with a new weight loss ad that looks intriguing. Give them a call and find out more. Maybe you've been struggling with your financial situation. Simply asking for a sign from the spirit world letting you know that they are there for you is just enough to reinvigorate your belief in the universe. This gives you the conviction and courage to follow your intuition and allow the universe simply to do its job. Sometimes signs are extremely simple. They are brief and powerful indicators that your guides are with you, and that God is present to take care of you and whatever you are struggling with.

Signs can do so many things, but in experience they allow me to continue to believe in the universal process and its laws. They strengthen my faith and keep me on track emotionally and intuitively. They reinforce my spiritual process and allow me to concentrate more fully on what it is I want to manifest.

So how have signs worked for me recently? Be prepared to be amazed:

1) As I recently began to work with my guides and angels, I set out a deliberate intention with them, as I do everyday now... "Send me signs that you are with me." Two days after I began doing this, I was literally cornered by an old woman in a store full of people who came up to me and said "I need to ride down the street after I finish my shopping. My legs hurts and I would appreciate it." I instantly told her I would absolutely take her to her destination. We met in front of the store and I helped her into the car. She told me her name was Nancy and that she felt drawn to get off at the bus stop nearby to pick some things up at the store. "I had to meet someone," she said. "I guess that's you." She looked remarkably like one of my very favorite aunts-- a striking resemblance, really. This aunt had taken care of me when I was a baby and toddler, and we were very close. So Nancy proceeds to tell me that she had recently given everything away-- her car, her possessions, most of her worldy goods to become a missionary and to counsel people who needed spiritual guidance. She said she felt very guided by the Holy Spirit and that if she could do anything for me, to let me know. I told her she already had. I dropped her off and we parted friends.

2) The day before yesterday I checked one of my online accounts where the username that I have is accompanied by a user picture/logo that I downloaded several years ago. I've had this same logo in place for at least four years and never changed it. Remarkably, my logo had been mysteriously replaced with the image of the angel which is at the top of this blog entry. I scoured my account to see how this could have happened, and there was absolutely no way I did this myself. My husband was equally dumbfounded and delighted. "That is definitely a sign that you're moving in the right direction," he said. And I agree.

3) Today, I asked my guides to show me some blue glass. I had been disappointed recently that I had tried to manifest some peonies-- one of my favorite flowers-- all week. No luck. But today when I was visiting a client, I was pleasantly surprised that in the kitchen of the office were two blue glass vases in the windowsill over the sink I had never seen before... and one of them had peonies in them.

I have a variety of other examples, but the ones that are most fun are the ones you will experience in your own life. I hope you can share some of them with me!

I lay out my blanket and the screen flickers to life with the peaceful eyes of Maya. I hear the music start and already I am drifting into myself.
The first moves are rhythmic and hypnotic, loosening my vertebrae.
Maya: Now squeeze your Mul band - the anus, navel and sex organs.
Ever obliging, I do my best.
Maya: And release.
Okay, whatever you say, will do.
Maya: Now we do the Sufist's grind.
I can help but imagine a whirling dervish disappear down a coffee grinder. And I think about Abdur Rahman (sorry, Abdur, just can't help myself!).
After much circling, rotating and stretching I have completed the warm-up. I sit there slightly zoned out, just being.
Maya: Now we will flush the adrenals.
I raise my hands to shoulders and twist and turn, breathing rhythmically and forcefully. I feel like I am rotating my way to heaven. Then I raise my arms still twisting but hands in gyan mudra. I am in heaven.
Still focusing on adrenals, she moves to my absolutely favourite move. I sit cross-legged, my hands in lotus mudra. I fling my arms out to the side and snap them back into the mudra. I continue like this again with rhythmic breathing for about five minutes. The first time it hurt.
Maya: Break through the pain barrier, this is a battle of mind over body.
But now I love this move. I sway in time to the music.
Maya: Smile.
I smile. I find the rhythm. And then my smile is growing and I laugh out loud. But then tears start falling down my face, and I can feel the grief seeping out of my body; safe to express itself now that I find such joy in my own body. This mixing of extremes - laughter and tears - washes my soul.
By the end of the hour, I am sweaty. My muscles are like butter, I know that my lips are bright red (why the blood should flow so strongly there after Kundalini yoga, I don't know, but it looks like I'm wearing vamp red lipstick, and I'm not).
I lie on the floor in Shiva asana and sink into myself. I am here. This is me. And I never want to lose myself again. Kundalini yoga is breaking down more internal physical barriers than anything or anyone else ever could.
I finish with a mantra, Sat Nam - my name is truth. I invite the light of the universe into my mind, my heart, and I bend my head to thank my gods.

I sit there. Peaceful. Supple. Strong. I think about Jim. I'll visit him soon, if only to lust after the smooth baldness of Chiselled Hunk and to gossip with Jim about Arian Boob-Lady. But my heart lies with Maya ...
© starofseshat 2008

This is Part 3 of a channeled session in which Chakra, a spirit entity, speaks about the healing of humanity and the powerful and necessary role that love plays in our human drama. In it, he addresses our need to heal, not only as individuals, but also as members of our cultural and racial groups. I use to refer to Chakra as the 'Dr. Spock' of The Team, because of his profound understanding of the human condition and his masterful ability to strip a thing 'down to the bone' and transmute something impossibly complex or controversial into a simple, clear and undeniable Truth.

I decided to post this in parts because of its length, and also, to allow time to absorb and ponder it without material overwhelm. Enjoy the journey!

Part I
Part 2
                                                                                               

Every culture has to come into the Truth with itself. It is not easy. The white culture wants to look to the cultures of color and say, "It's your fault! If you weren't around, we wouldn't have had to go through any of this. We would have been the only ones!" Even though the white culture realizes, on a deeper level, how much the cultures of color have contributed to their own living, their own lives, their own livelihood. How much support they they have gotten from the cultures of color. When it gets down to the difficulty of acknowledging and accepting that fact, there's a desire from the broad majority of the white culture to want to believe that the cultures of color are troublemakers. If they were never born, if they were never around, there wouldn't be any question as to which culture is truly the 'chosen one' -- there would only be one.

What the white culture fails to do is to take it a step further and realize that there was no way they were going to make it by themselves. Were they equipped to do so, they would have been the only ones born. They needed help. They needed support. They needed guidance. They needed direction. They came with a certain amount of these things, but certainly not enough to run an entire planet. It just wasn't designed that way.

It is very difficult for human beings to get down to it in this healing process. You have your cultures of color who turn to the white culture and say, "You! Look at what you've done! You're horrible! You're like a monster out-of-control! Look what you've done to this planet!  Look what you've done to our people!  Give us back our____!  Make it better for us!  Help us!  Give us ____ and then disappear!  Go get a life!  But give us back ours first -- then go!"

Well, see, the problem with that is the white culture can't give the cultures of color what they need. Oh, yes, they could probably release their hold on the physical manifestations of abundance on your planet. But, that alone will not do it. What has been released by the white culture, so far, has not proven to have done a whole lot of good for the cultures of color. That is not what they need first. They do not need access to things. You can be sick and dying and have access to every material thing possible, and you will continue to be sick and you will continue to die. Because that is not the medicine that is needed. The medicine everyone needs, they cannot get from each other.

Each culture has to get it for themselves and then share it with each other. The white culture cannot give the cultures of color love. If they had love for themselves, they would not have done what they did. The cultures of color cannot give the white culture love. If they had love for themselves, they would not be in the place they are in now. No one has love to give. Here you are on a planet whose story is about love, and no one has any. How's that for a joke?

Everyone has their versions of it. Everyone has portions of an understanding of what it means to love. Everyone has touched in on it and, oh, isn't it wonderful! But, there's a real core and essential aspect to love that is missing for human beings. You can go around and talk about how you have love for this, that and the other. For your country. For your fellow man or woman. For your wife or husband. For your partner. For your children. And, to a certain extent, that holds true. You love to eat. You love to dance. You love to play. You love to sing. You love to travel. You love to read. You love -- to love.

We do not say this in sarcastic tones. but we want you to realize that you talk about love as if you know what it is. As if you are on top of the very expression of it. And yet, your planet is dying from lack of it. For so many beings who are so busy loving, there's a great deal of love lacking on your planet. Why? Have you ever stopped to ask yourselves why? Why is this happening like this? You want love and romance. You want love in relationship to food. You want love in relationship to feeling a certain unity with your planet and what it stands for, when what it stands for is being out-of-balance. What it stands for is being out of love.

To be continued...

I am still an atheist.

Today was the first time I've ever stopped to read one of my own messages, seriously! So, when I went back and read my latest I came to the realization that I'm definitely not religious anymore. For me, reflecting back on my own thoughts, God is an abstract metaphor for life (i.e. God is another word for "Life" or "Universe").

This summer I've been reading a lot and learning a lot (during my vacation). Although I find the world religions profoundly interesting I still don't believe in any of them. While I do believe that each of them hold universal truths (that we all can adhere to) I still cannot force myself to believe them as gospel (pun intended).

The reason why this issue was so important is because of how I was raised. I've NEVER known a reality where I didn't have religion shoved down my throat, ever. I'm from an African American family, in Texas, and a Southern Baptist...And that is pretty much EVERYother person I knew growing up too. Even in church or school the biggest whores will raise their hands and say they are christians. I know people that will thank God for not stepping on a crack and breaking their mother's back! God will come up in any casual conversation, even when the people in question are cursin like some damn sailors...

Case in point: This one chick, at my job, was checking out my new car. So she was asking me about how much did I get it for. I told her that I paid $500 dollars down AND I only pay $180 per month. The first thing she said was, "You need to thank God for that!" I'm thinking, "Why do I need to thank god when I was the one that saved money and bought the car?" Anyway, she's a real sweetie and I know she meant well...

But you get my point.

It was something I've always been familiar with. That is why It was such a huge issue for me...

 So, when I abandoned the faith I felt very alone and afraid. It wasn't because of God but my loss of a religious background. I lost that common ground with people that I've known my entire life.

But, as time moved on, I began seeking knowledge. Knowledge became my food...Knowledge sustained and lifted my spirit. Admittedly, I did become an elitist that looked down upon religious people...But that began to taper off, thankfully.

Eventually, I got to the place (recently) where I've gone back to rethinking religion and embracing the beauty of it. And although I cherish the words and messages of great religious figures...I can no longer make myself believe in them as grandieose omniscient figures.

What I have managed to take from them is universal truth and enlightenment.

To that end I consider myself as a very spiritual person that rejects religious dogma. No, I don't believe in any anthropomorphic Gods. And I don't really know if there is a mystical nirvana after death. I don't know if we reincarnate. I just don't know. What I do know, and what can be explained, is the three dimensional reality that we all dwell.

Admittedly, I mourned the death of my faith in religion. In fact, now that anger has subsided, I've finally reached acceptance (the whole five stages of death scenario).

But my heart and mind are experiencing a reawakening. I feel myself settling into my own thoughts and beliefs. Eventually, I will be at total peace not being religious (much like I came to total peace about being a gay man). It will just take time...

I still see wonder and magic in the world, and I no longer attribute it to God. I feel special and filled with purpose simply because I have unique talents and attributes.

I always feared not believing because I would be judged as somehow less of a person. When the fact of the matter is...Why should It matter what faith someone adheres to? It should be a personal matter (i.e. none of your damn business)...

I'm coming to peace with not holding onto such beliefs anymore. I look at it like this...I tried really hard to believe. I was faithful. I was dutiful. And I still long to be an exceptional and outstanding human being. So if a vengeful/wrathful God wants me to be damned because he or she didn't provide ANY evidence of his or her existence then it is on God.

However, it would be cool if I passed over and a God said, "See, I told you so!" and welcomed me into a heaven anyway.

The truth is none of us know for sure. I don't believe in a God (as far as my senses can perceive), but I won't say emphatically that nothing else in the universe exists.

I'm at a place where I'm not going to stress over this anymore. Consigning myself to a religion means absolutely nothing to me. It does not reflect who I am as a human being; nor does belief in a specific deity. 

To that end I am sick and tired of people looking at me like I'm a leper whenever I say that I don't believe in a God.  So what? In the end how does that effect you personally? Why does that bother so many religious people?

Well, don't answer that. I honestly don't want to know...

My belief is existentialism. For me I'll no longer try and explain the unexplainable. I feel worthy and blessed just to be here. Which is why I'll be the best person that I can be for however long I'm here. And, really, aren't we all trying to aspire to that? Except I choose to do so via the natural world while the faithful seek a religious realm? I love nature, animals, philosophy, and evolution as much as some people love the idea of: Heaven, hell, and crucifixes. Really, who cares? Y'know?

Whether you're atheist or theist should not determine your worth. We are all here, and we should respect and accept one another in spite of our differing ideologies.

So I'm putting this issue to bed. Yeah, I don't believe in anyone's God...Do you think less of me because of that? If you do it is on you. If you don't let's have vanilla latees' and peppermints! ::smile::

With love!

Sincerely,

Toddy English.

P.S.

Have fun on labor day!

Despite more medical knowledge, technology and health care facilities than ever before, the health of the western world is deteriorating at an alarming and ever quickening rate.

Diseases such as cancer, heart disease, diabetes, arthritis, obesity, stroke and attention deficit disorders seem to affect more and more of the people in our lives, if not our very selves. While modern medicine struggles to fight the symptoms of these illnesses, with varying results, who of us stops to think of the underlying cause of these conditions?

What most of us fail to realise is that it is what goes into our bodies, that which we absorb from the air, our food and water that affects the internal environment of our bodies and determines the rate at which we age and our overall level of health.

Toxins absorbed through our external environment (as well as self administered) include:

• exhaust emissions
• chlorinated and fluoridated water
• chemical sprays
• smoking
• caffeine and alcohol
• the eating of processed, high sugar, high fat junk foods
• hormone enhanced beef and dairy products

Toxins then build up within the body, disrupt the pH level and cause blood and tissue toxicity.

Fast pace, high stress lifestyles (combined with poor exercise and eating habits) only serve to add to the on-going problem, escalating the body's struggle to keep up with daily functioning and the fight to remove the poisons. As these toxins accumulate in our cells, they break down and inhibit the body's immune system and, over time damage organs, tissues, arteries, joints and glands. When the body becomes over loaded and unable to keep up the fight, it is then that disease creeps in.

Almost all illnesses and diseases are directly related to the health and condition of our body's internal environment. Toxicity creates a breeding ground for germs and viruses, allowing them to penetrate a weakened immune system. As the old saying goes, "the swamp breeds the mosquitoes, the mosquitoes don't breed the swamp."

To regain and maintain vibrant health, reduce the effects of premature ageing and ward off future illness, removing toxicity from the body is paramount.

In our world today, it is virtually impossible to avoid toxic contamination. However, through a regular detoxification or cleansing program combined with some minor lifestyle changes, you can dramatically reduce the harmful effects, increase the length and quality of your life, and live free from sickness and disease.

Source: www.shunyataretreats.com ]]> http://yourhealthcounts.wordpress.com/?p=40 Fri, 29 Aug 2008 12:37:56 +0000 behealth http://yourhealthcounts.wordpress.com/?p=40 Several people recently asked whether by strictly avoiding foods they have intolerance to, would they lose their “immunity” to them. Unfortunately, the situation is more complex and there are several factors to consider including the circumstances you were born with, as well as individual lifestyle and environmental factors.

If you can imagine, each of us is born with a “cup of woes” – it contains things like our inherited weaknesses and even certain food intolerances. There is limited capacity in the cup and it gets filled with additional woes as we experience environmental insults, viral and bacterial invasions, chemical toxins, and radiation stresses. The outlet valves of the cup are your kidneys, liver, skin and lungs.

Unless we can balance the influx of woes (and the stresses that generate them) with the outflow, the reserve in our cup will shrink. To combat this and to prevent overflow (i.e. when your body cannot cope with the woes you keep adding) you can do things like relaxation therapies to reduce emotional stress, drinking plenty of filtered water to help the kidneys flush out toxins, using skin-brushing or saunas to increase skin detoxification, and having a diet that enhances liver function rather than adds to its workload.

In this analogy, it does not matter so much what your age is – that is just a number – but what is important is how well you have managed your cup over time. You are more likely to 'age badly' (e.g. weakening of bone and muscle strength, excessive wrinkles, a general deterioration of mental functions) if you have routinely ignored what was given in your cup at birth, added more woes with physical, environment and emotional stress, AND neglected outflows for your cup.

For example, if your diet is lacking in protein or you do not absorb it well, your body will break down muscles to get the amino acids that it needs for vital functions. If you do not drink enough water your tendons and kidneys (among other things) cannot function as they should to get nutrients and eliminate waste. Your skin can also look more worn and wrinkled because the lack of water causes it to lose elasticity and increases the fragility of the underlying support structure.

There is good news, though, because you can take simple measures immediately to begin balancing your system and your cup.

Start your day by drinking filtered water and eating alkalizing foods - together they make a big difference to how you feel for the rest of the day. Keep up your water intake throughout the day since it helps to reduce pain levels, lowers overall acidity in your body, and improves visual and mental clarity.

Ensure that you get adequate intake of quality proteins (especially from cold-water fatty fish), and eat proteins first at your meals so they are absorbed well.

A variety of fresh fruits and vegetables are a good source of natural anti-oxidants and taking quality supplements (judiciously) can further enhance all your efforts, however, do not rely on these as a substitute for good eating habits.

Also, it is my husband's birthday...He would have been 56 years old. I know that when we were in our "30's", we thought that 50 was so "over the hill", but in light of being in that decade and seeing all of my peers who are "young" enough to anticipate their days with their grandchildren, his death seems so premature.

I had hoped to complete my husband's life story, but with work and finding that writing those posts take so much energy and emotion out of me, I didn't get it accomplished...that doesn't mean that I am going to quit, it just means that I can't write towards a "deadline" as a professional does.

As with my singing, my writing is an outward expression of my innermost being. If my heart isn't into it, I don't do either one satisfactory and my husband doesn't deserve to have his memory recalled without forethought and my best efforts.

To write the next part of his life, I need to talk to his brother. I know what my husband told me about that part of his life. The events that took placed left a terrible prejudice in his heart for many years to come. It is so important that I tell the story correctly and set the stage for one of the amazing miracles in his life.

As I watched the sunrise this morning, (imagine that, I wake up early enough to catch a sunrise and sunset), my thoughts were of him and the tremendous life force he was when he entered into this world.

I smiled to myself and thought of the phrase that he announced when he wondered into the neighbor's kitchen for some of her donuts, "Here me am!". That announcement seemed to echo when he was born into this world. Its waves of energy have been silenced in his death, yet there remains, in all of us who loved him so dearly, a part of that lifeforce.

In us, he echos and we are forever better for knowing him and loving him. He will always resonate within me. He is like the last note of a symphony or the last rays of sunset...your soul has been touched and you habor those moments within you senses. They are totally awe inspiring and you are the better for it.

I recall the moonlight that bathed this familiar place on his last birthday. I was so grateful as I listened to him sleep. How I would love to hear those quiet, familiar sounds again..

They are not totally gone. I wrote about it on this blog. I have that moment and I remember the sound...It is a poor substitute, but it is better than having nothing at all.

It is the first of the first. It is the first birthday without him. It is the day that he began this life. What a wonderful miracle of life he was! It still feels so utterly impossible that he is not here, but the wave of reality overwhelms me.

When I began writing this blog, I think that I knew in my head that it was his last birthday, but it is my heart that can't seem to grasp that he was not going to be here for this one. Now, my heart must latch onto this new reality and process the pain. There are moments that I think that this pain will kill me...but, again, my head knows that this is a state of grief and I must walk through it.

I wonder if they celebrate birthdays in Heaven? If they do, I hope someone tells him "Happy Birthday" for me and that I love him so very much.

I wished Alex was here to to bring calm to the inner storm.  I realised then that I hadnt actually felt his presence around as much in the last couple of weeks.  This was good I was letting go.

Then, on a journy home from work one evening I heard him breaking through the silence of  unanswered questions about my daughter, my life and his death.  "Stop looking at the negatives."  I found myself having a conversation with a dead man.  Loud and clear. 

 Strangly enough there were positives about his death.  We had split up not long before he died.  As much as that brought up enormous amounts of 'if only's.' it gave me a little distance at the time.  As for my daughter's visit, I heard him say that besides the various negatives, the visit revealed some of what she was up to.  It therefore gave me an opportunity to have hopefully an input that will have a positive effect.  "Come on." he said  she looked glowingly healthy, and happy.  She's enjoying her life".

 There were other things I heard him say "and for god's sake woman, start living your life for you,"  and "focus on what makes you happy, not miserable." 

Phew, "live my life for me."  Had I ever really done that?  I've thought about that statement often since that revealing journey home. 

I was raised as an only child, by German parents.  We came to Australia in 1961.  We associated with German people, and my parents or at least my father was determined that I hang onto my German culture, and what he believed in.  He was a strong, intelligent, talented man, fiercely German, who I felt expected me to live up to his expectations, and I battled to do that.

My mother was there for him, always.  In her eyes he was always right.  She adored him and he came first .  He was always first.

This paved the road for my future.  I always wanted to please.  So to say live my life for me, suddenly hit me as a foreign concept.  What did I want? I had either living my life for my father, my partner, my boss, or my child. 

His words, "focus on things that make you happy," seemed to hold the key.  What does make me happy?