Featured Blog Posts - World Viewz2024-03-19T01:11:01Zhttp://worldviewzmedia.net/profiles/blog/feed?promoted=1&xn_auth=noBeing the New Yeartag:worldviewzmedia.net,2020-12-31:2098065:BlogPost:1855942020-12-31T17:38:26.000ZRobert Dakotahttp://worldviewzmedia.net/profile/RobertDakota
<div class=""><div class="_1mf _1mj"><span>As the Autumn leaf</span></div>
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<div class=""><div class="_1mf _1mj"><span>falls to the water.</span></div>
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<div class=""><div class="_1mf _1mj"><span>Nothing more to do</span></div>
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<div class=""><div class="_1mf _1mj"><span>then to go with the flow.</span></div>
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<div class=""><div class="_1mf _1mj"><span>The banters of society</span></div>
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<div class=""><div class="_1mf _1mj"><span>beckon new…</span></div>
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<div class=""><div class="_1mf _1mj"><span>As the Autumn leaf</span></div>
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<div class=""><div class="_1mf _1mj"><span>falls to the water.</span></div>
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<div class=""><div class="_1mf _1mj"><span>Nothing more to do</span></div>
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<div class=""><div class="_1mf _1mj"><span>then to go with the flow.</span></div>
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<div class=""><div class="_1mf _1mj"><span>The banters of society</span></div>
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<div class=""><div class="_1mf _1mj"><span>beckon new illusions</span></div>
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<div class=""><div class="_1mf _1mj"><span>to augment, alter perception.</span></div>
<div class="_1mf _1mj"></div>
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<div class=""><div class="_1mf _1mj"><span>Distancing the being from knowing.</span></div>
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<div class=""><div class="_1mf _1mj"><span>Earth yearns for contact and connection</span></div>
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<div class=""><div class="_1mf _1mj"><span>In Divine Being, even still amidst the 6th extinction event.</span></div>
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<div class=""><div class="_1mf _1mj"><span>Half way through can't stop the train steaming down the tracks.</span></div>
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<div class=""><div class="_1mf _1mj"><span>More veils, tales and satire fill our world scene.</span></div>
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<div class=""><div class="_1mf _1mj"><span>Emotions spilling over as tensions climb.</span></div>
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<div class=""><div class="_1mf _1mj"><span>The mass confusion has infected the collective psych.</span></div>
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<div class=""><div class="_1mf _1mj"><span>We need a miracle or mirror call to overcome ourselves....</span></div>
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<div class=""><div class="_1mf _1mj"><span>Our only way out, is in.....</span></div>
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<div class=""><div class="_1mf _1mj"><span>May we each and all discover our true sentient selves</span></div>
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<div class=""><div class="_1mf _1mj"><span>and BE come our highest BEing.</span></div>
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<div class=""><div class="_1mf _1mj"><span>RDakota Sedona 12.29.20</span></div>
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</div>Masters of Economytag:worldviewzmedia.net,2020-12-08:2098065:BlogPost:1745232020-12-08T22:54:03.000ZRobert Dakotahttp://worldviewzmedia.net/profile/RobertDakota
<p style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: 14pt;">Ohlstadt Bavaria Germany 06.05.95</span></p>
<p style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: 14pt;">As the Wolf</span></p>
<p style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: 14pt;">Fashioned in sheep's clothing </span></p>
<p style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: 14pt;">Maters of economy </span></p>
<p style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: 14pt;">Tread upon the poor.…</span></p>
<p style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: 14pt;">Ohlstadt Bavaria Germany 06.05.95</span></p>
<p style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: 14pt;">As the Wolf</span></p>
<p style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: 14pt;">Fashioned in sheep's clothing </span></p>
<p style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: 14pt;">Maters of economy </span></p>
<p style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: 14pt;">Tread upon the poor.</span></p>
<p style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: 14pt;">Blatant oppression </span></p>
<p style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: 14pt;">comes though the back door.</span></p>
<p style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: 14pt;">You can spot </span></p>
<p style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: 14pt;">Them at once,</span></p>
<p style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: 14pt;">with their manners </span></p>
<p style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: 14pt;">and kind words.</span></p>
<p style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: 14pt;">Trickery has become </span></p>
<p style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: 14pt;">Their soulution,</span></p>
<p style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: 14pt;">The future of the World.</span></p>
<p style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: 14pt;">Bound by deceit,</span></p>
<p style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: 14pt;">Their methods squalor </span></p>
<p style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: 14pt;">Nature,</span></p>
<p style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: 14pt;">Disrupt Harmony</span></p>
<p style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: 14pt;">Confuse Peace.</span></p>
<p style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: 14pt;">Continually </span></p>
<p style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: 14pt;">Sacrificing Humanity</span></p>
<p style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: 14pt;">In themselves and others</span></p>
<p style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: 14pt;">They only seek to count numbers </span></p>
<p style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: 14pt;">Making a mockery </span></p>
<p style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: 14pt;">of Being and it's eternal worth.</span></p>
<p style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: 14pt;">Captured by ignorance </span></p>
<p style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: 14pt;">The masses intend not to resist</span></p>
<p style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: 14pt;">Dare not defy the system</span></p>
<p style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: 14pt;">It's numbers, calculations, and scores.</span></p>
<p style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: 14pt;">Who will listen?</span></p>
<p style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: 14pt;">Who will acknowledge their voice?</span></p>
<p style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: 14pt;">Who will pose the question that should be heard?</span></p>
<p style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: 14pt;">When waiting has </span></p>
<p style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: 14pt;">Gone past too late</span></p>
<p style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: 14pt;">What can be done</span></p>
<p style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: 14pt;">The sky is Crying</span></p>
<p style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: 14pt;">As the Sun scorns the Earth</span></p>
<p style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: 14pt;">- Robert Dakota</span></p>
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<p></p>Poetic Traveltag:worldviewzmedia.net,2020-11-29:2098065:BlogPost:1718542020-11-29T02:46:29.000ZRobert Dakotahttp://worldviewzmedia.net/profile/RobertDakota
<div class=""><div class="_1mf _1mj"><span>From</span> <span>all my travels I have been writing and dating my rawest feelings in those experiences to be able to recall those experiences and see what if anything I have learned along the way. Returning to my art brings me full circle and back to center....</span></div>
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<div class=""><div class="_1mf _1mj"><span>In~Joy the Holy Dayz…</span></div>
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<div class=""><div class="_1mf _1mj"><span>From</span> <span>all my travels I have been writing and dating my rawest feelings in those experiences to be able to recall those experiences and see what if anything I have learned along the way. Returning to my art brings me full circle and back to center....</span></div>
</div>
<div class=""><div class="_1mf _1mj"><span>In~Joy the Holy Dayz</span></div>
<div class="_1mf _1mj"><a href="https://storage.ning.com/topology/rest/1.0/file/get/8225019269?profile=original" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><img src="https://storage.ning.com/topology/rest/1.0/file/get/8225019269?profile=RESIZE_710x" class="align-full"/></a></div>
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<div class=""><div class="_1mf _1mj"><span><a href="https://storage.ning.com/topology/rest/1.0/file/get/8225016694?profile=original" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><img src="https://storage.ning.com/topology/rest/1.0/file/get/8225016694?profile=RESIZE_710x" class="align-full"/></a></span></div>
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<div class=""><div class="_1mf _1mj"><span>Here is the text from the originals....</span></div>
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<div class=""><div class="_1mf _1mj"><span> </span></div>
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<div class=""><div class="_1mf _1mj"><span>Nagoya 09.08.05</span></div>
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<div class=""><div class="_1mf _1mj"><span>By train</span></div>
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<div class=""><div class="_1mf _1mj"><span> </span></div>
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<div class=""><div class="_1mf _1mj"><span>Mother (Earth)</span></div>
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<div class=""><div class="_1mf _1mj"><span>Thank you</span></div>
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<div class=""><div class="_1mf _1mj"><span>For your Strength</span></div>
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<div class=""><div class="_1mf _1mj"><span> </span></div>
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<div class=""><div class="_1mf _1mj"><span>Thank you for the gift</span></div>
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<div class=""><div class="_1mf _1mj"><span>To call upon your name</span></div>
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<div class=""><div class="_1mf _1mj"><span> </span></div>
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<div class=""><div class="_1mf _1mj"><span>We bathe in</span></div>
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<div class=""><div class="_1mf _1mj"><span>Your elegance</span></div>
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<div class=""><div class="_1mf _1mj"><span>We swim in your</span></div>
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<div class=""><div class="_1mf _1mj"><span>Oceans of Joy</span></div>
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<div class=""><div class="_1mf _1mj"><span> </span></div>
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<div class=""><div class="_1mf _1mj"><span>Call upon her</span></div>
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<div class=""><div class="_1mf _1mj"><span>Re-claim</span></div>
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<div class=""><div class="_1mf _1mj"><span>Re-name</span></div>
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<div class=""><div class="_1mf _1mj"><span>Re-create</span></div>
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<div class=""><div class="_1mf _1mj"><span> </span></div>
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<div class=""><div class="_1mf _1mj"><span>Elate in Her</span></div>
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<div class=""><div class="_1mf _1mj"><span>BE Re-born</span></div>
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<div class=""><div class="_1mf _1mj"><span> </span></div>
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<div class=""><div class="_1mf _1mj"><span>-Robert Dakota</span></div>
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<div class=""><div class="_1mf _1mj"><span> </span></div>
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<div class=""><div class="_1mf _1mj"><span>Nagoya 09.08.05</span></div>
</div>
<div class=""><div class="_1mf _1mj"><span>By train</span></div>
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<div class=""><div class="_1mf _1mj"><span> </span></div>
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<div class=""><div class="_1mf _1mj"><span>Do You Remember?</span></div>
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<div class=""><div class="_1mf _1mj"><span>Where is your sky?</span></div>
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<div class=""><div class="_1mf _1mj"><span>Where is your land?</span></div>
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<div class=""><div class="_1mf _1mj"><span>Where is your heart?</span></div>
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<div class=""><div class="_1mf _1mj"><span>How Long will this Stand?</span></div>
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<div class=""><div class="_1mf _1mj"><span>Remember your Voice!</span></div>
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<div class=""><div class="_1mf _1mj"><span>Remember your Heart!</span></div>
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<div class=""><div class="_1mf _1mj"><span>Re-member Your Power!</span></div>
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<div class=""><div class="_1mf _1mj"><span>Re-member how to Stand!</span></div>
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<div class=""><div class="_1mf _1mj"><span>They give you Weakness</span></div>
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<div class=""><div class="_1mf _1mj"><span>In Exchange</span></div>
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<div class=""><div class="_1mf _1mj"><span>For your Strength?</span></div>
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<div class=""><div class="_1mf _1mj"><span>Hmmmm….. Ommmm…..</span></div>
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<div class=""><div class="_1mf _1mj"><span> </span></div>
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<div class=""><div class="_1mf _1mj"><span>-Robert Dakota</span></div>
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<div class=""><div class="_1mf _1mj"><span> </span></div>
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<div class=""><div class="_1mf _1mj"><span>Takayama-Ise-Nagoya, Japan 09.08.05</span></div>
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<div class=""><div class="_1mf _1mj"><span>by train</span></div>
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<div class=""><div class="_1mf _1mj"><span> </span></div>
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<div class=""><div class="_1mf _1mj"><span>Con-Troll</span></div>
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<div class=""><div class="_1mf _1mj"><span>The blinding energetic</span></div>
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<div class=""><div class="_1mf _1mj"><span>Sublime creature</span></div>
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<div class=""><div class="_1mf _1mj"><span>Devouring souls</span></div>
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<div class=""><div class="_1mf _1mj"><span>The illusion of</span></div>
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<div class=""><div class="_1mf _1mj"><span>Something</span></div>
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<div class=""><div class="_1mf _1mj"><span>Amounting to Nothing</span></div>
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<div class=""><div class="_1mf _1mj"><span>Implementing gravities</span></div>
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<div class=""><div class="_1mf _1mj"><span>Pull</span></div>
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<div class=""><div class="_1mf _1mj"><span>Thwarting humanities</span></div>
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<div class=""><div class="_1mf _1mj"><span>HEART</span></div>
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<div class=""><div class="_1mf _1mj"><span>With daggers, and poisons of hate, fear, anger, lack, insecurities, jealousies,</span></div>
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<div class=""><div class="_1mf _1mj"><span>and delusions of all sorts.</span></div>
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<div class=""><div class="_1mf _1mj"><span>Guard your</span></div>
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<div class=""><div class="_1mf _1mj"><span>Heart</span></div>
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<div class=""><div class="_1mf _1mj"><span>By permission</span></div>
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<div class=""><div class="_1mf _1mj"><span>Is the only way</span></div>
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<div class=""><div class="_1mf _1mj"><span>The creature can consume your will.</span></div>
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<div class=""><div class="_1mf _1mj"><span> </span></div>
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<div class=""><div class="_1mf _1mj"><span>- Robert Dakota</span></div>
</div>Shaman Claus: The Shamanic Origins of Christmastag:worldviewzmedia.net,2015-12-21:2098065:BlogPost:1007332015-12-21T03:30:00.000ZRobert Dakotahttp://worldviewzmedia.net/profile/RobertDakota
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<p>Have you ever wondered why in modern Christmas tradition we do the things we do? What is the origin of the Christmas tree, with the star on top, decorations about, and all the brightly wrapped presents beneath? Or the idea behind Santa Claus who jets around the globe in a magic sleigh with flying reindeer – defying both time and space – to deliver the world’s children a bounty of Christmas gifts? And since when did Santa and the birth of Jesus have anything…</p>
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<p>Have you ever wondered why in modern Christmas tradition we do the things we do? What is the origin of the Christmas tree, with the star on top, decorations about, and all the brightly wrapped presents beneath? Or the idea behind Santa Claus who jets around the globe in a magic sleigh with flying reindeer – defying both time and space – to deliver the world’s children a bounty of Christmas gifts? And since when did Santa and the birth of Jesus have anything to do with each other? Where do these stories come from – and better yet: what are we actually celebrating on Christmas morning?<br/> <br/> There are answers to these questions. And the history is not so farfetched or even that hidden. You just have to know where to look. And the first place we look is the North Pole; seriously – in ancient Siberia, near the top of the world. The story of Santa and his likely origins begins where he supposedly lives: the frigid North.<br/> <br/> In this wintry-wonderland, if you go searching for Santa, you may not find him or his Elvin factory – but you will find groups of indigenous people native to what we know as Siberia. Among these cultures are the northern Tungusic people, known as the Evenki. The Evenki were predominantly hunter-gatherers as well as <i>reindeer herders</i>. Their survival depended largely upon the health and vitality of their domesticated reindeer. The reindeer provided the Evenki and other northern tribes with everything from clothing, housing material, wares and tools from the bones and antlers, transportation (yes, they ride reindeer!), milk, as well as cultural and religious inspiration.</p>
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<p>The Evenki were also a <i>shamanic</i> culture. The word “shaman” actually<b><a href="http://www.shamanicevolution.org/1/post/2012/08/the-evolution-of-the-shaman.html" title=""> has its roots</a></b> in the Tungus word <i>saman</i> which means “one who knows or knows the spirits.” Many of the classic shamanic characteristics that would later be reflected in cultures all over the world were originally documented by Russian and European explorers while observing the Tungus and related people’s religious life. This includes the three-world system, the shamanic journey or soul flight, the use of altered states of consciousness, animistic belief in spirit, and so forth.<br/> <br/> A significant aspect of the shamanism practiced in this part of the world during that time was linked to <i>Amanita muscaria</i>, also known as the Fly Agaric mushroom. This mushroom is more widely accepted in the modern world as the Alice in Wonderland mushroom. It was held very sacred by these ancient people, and was used by the shaman and others for ceremonial and spiritual purposes. Amanitas – as you can tell by the pictures – range from brightly red and white to golden orange and yellow. They <i>only</i> grow beneath certain types of <i>evergreen trees</i>. They form a symbiotic relationship with the roots of the tree, the exchange of which allows them to grow. One of the reported ancient beliefs was that the mushroom was actually the fruit of the tree. Due to the lack of seed, it is also commonly held that Fly Agaric was divine – a kind of <i>virginally birthed</i> sacred plant.<br/> <br/> Although intensely psychoactive, Amanitas are also toxic. One way to reduce the toxicity and increase the psychoactive potency was to simply dry them. When out collecting the mushrooms, people would pick a bunch of them under the evergreen trees and lay them out along the branches while continuing to pick the mushrooms beneath other trees. The result was something that looked very reminiscent of a modern Christmas tree: evergreen trees whose <i>branches are dotted with bright red, roundish “decorations”</i> – in this case the sacred mushrooms. At the end of the session, the shaman or harvester would go around to each of their mushroom stashes and put them all in one large sack… <i>a large sack</i>?!! Remind you of anything?! Not only this, as the story of the tradition goes, the shaman would then, carrying this large sack, visit the homes of his or her people and deliver the mushrooms to them. They would then continue the drying process by <i>hanging them in a sock, near the fire!</i></p>
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<p>Another way to reduce the toxicity of the sacred mushrooms is through human filtration. Once passed through the body, the toxic elements are apparently filtered by the liver and the resultant urine that comes out contains the still intact psychoactive elements. So they drank the filtered urine. But that’s only half the story. Somewhere in the mythic origins of this practice is the reindeer. Because the reindeer also love these mushrooms. They dig through the snow to eat them, and they also drink their own urine afterwards. So perhaps, long ago, one of the first shamans witnessed the reindeer’s love affair with this peculiar mushroom – as well as its propensity for eating its own freshly yellowed-snow – and saw how peculiarly it behaved as the romance heated up. The curiosity (indeed a hallmark characteristic of a shaman) couldn’t be contained, and the shaman did what he had to do: he first ate some of the yellow snow himself… and without a doubt realized the profound wisdom and magic not only in the mushroom, but in the reindeer. And so this romance, too, began…<br/> <br/> However it may have happened in antiquity, the connection between the reindeer, the mushroom and the shamanism is apparent. A very common vision that one has while under the influence of Fly Agaric is precisely that: <i>flying</i>. Massive distortions of time and space occur, affecting scale in dramatic ways. Not only do you observe yourself flying, but also other things… <i>like reindeer</i>. It is not that difficult to connect the dots here. Shamanic people are deeply invested in their environment. They learn the magical and mystical properties of the natural world, and often assign a great deal of importance and sacredness to the bearers of that magic. For some of these ancient Siberian people, this power was charioted by the reindeer and the sacred mushroom. That the reindeer should have the ability to fly is evident not only in the vision, or their clearly altered state once intoxicated, but also in the wisdom they offered to the shamans by eating the mushroom in the first place, and for guiding them to do so just the same.<br/> <br/> It wasn’t only the reindeer who could fly, but the shamans also took flight. As mentioned, the shamanic journey or soul flight is a keystone in shamanic practice and especially so in ancient Siberian culture. In order to interact with the spirits, the shaman had to be able to leave this world and enter theirs. This was accomplished by projecting his or her spirit from the physical and into the immaterial. They either needed the power to do this on their own, or use a spirit helper to take them. It is very common for shamans to develop relationships with birds, naturally, as they have the power to fly. But here, in the North Pole, what better animal to use than the magical, flying reindeer?</p>
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<p>There is one other component to the shaman’s flight that corresponds to our Christmas exploration, and this has to do with how they got to the other worlds. The shamanic cosmology often consists of three worlds: the Lower, Middle and Upper Worlds. Connecting the three worlds is a cosmic axis, which is also commonly known as the World Tree. The World Tree served as a bridge or portal that allowed a shaman and spirits to move between the three worlds. It was the gateway as well as the highway. In ancient Siberia, the same tree that also bore fruit to the amanitas was also a symbol for the world tree. The Evenki and other indigenous groups lived in roundish, teepee like structures called yurts. Sometimes they would place a pine tree in their yurts for ceremonial purposes. This symbolized the World Tree, and they would harness its symbolic power to propel their spirit up and out of the yurt – through the smoke hole, i.e. <i>the chimney</i>. Once the journey was complete, they would return through the smoke-hole/<i>chimney</i> with <i>the gifts</i> from the spirit world. They also believed that the North Star was the very top of the Upper World, and because the World Tree was an axis that connected the entire cosmology, <i>the North Star sat upon the very top of the World Tree</i> – which is where the tradition of placing a star at the top of the tree comes from.</p>
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<p>One of the final elements of the Christmas tradition that we know today is the whole concept of gifting. What are we celebrating? When you begin to unravel the experience of the shaman’s flight and dance with Amanita, you enter a world that is deeply sacred. These shamanic cultures were intimately interwoven with their environments through the reindeer and the mushroom in a way that honored and celebrated the mysteries and magic that life and experience brought to the people. The shaman’s journey and return was ultra-important to the survival of the whole community. What they brought back with them was often a matter of life and death. And time and again the shaman and the people, through these experiences that they deemed not only sacred but divine, would learn knowledge and wisdom directly from the sacred plants, their journeys, and from the spirits they interacted with. This was a kind of life blood for their way of being. <i>This was the gift</i>. The celebration was actually a kind of celebration of life, continued survival and renewal; an honoring of the spirits, animals, plants and natural world that gave them <i>the gift of life and knowledge of life</i>.<br/> <br/> This brings us to the grand finally, the big present hidden way back under the tree: Jesus Christ, and the timing of his arrival on Earth. Concurrent with Jesus’ storied birth is a yearly alignment with the sun. On the December 21st winter solstice, the sun reaches its furthest southern point, bringing the northern hemisphere its longest night. For 3 days the sun remains apparently unmoving. On the morning of the 25th, the sun begins its northern ascent once again. This can be looked at as <i>the birth of the sun</i>, which has spent the winter traveling in the lower world, or the world of <i>darkness</i>. When the sun begins to climb once again, it is a time to celebrate the light – literally the <i>return of the light</i>, the <i>source of life</i> on Earth, and ultimately the assurance of the coming summer, which also means the survival of the natural world, the animals, the plants, the people and their way of life. Hence, life and the people <i>are saved</i>. To indigenous peoples who depended on the seasons’ movement and bounty – and especially for the far northern peoples of ancient Siberia – this was a monumental time. The sacred Amanita with its red, golden and orange coloring as well as its capacity to offer direct experience and connection with divinity was also regarded as a symbol for the Sun and its life-giving and saving properties. The Sun – or the Son – is the savior, born on the 25th of December as the bringer of light, harbinger and liberator of life on Earth.<br/> <br/> This is the gift and the meaning of the holiday we know as Christ-Mass. When you are decorating your tree, hanging the star, and doing your thing with red and white and presents – perhaps take a moment to reflect on the esoteric meaning of the shamanic origins of Christmas, and what the spirit of this tradition was and is all about.</p>
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<p>Sources:<br/> <br/> <a href="http://www.dosenation.com/listing.php?id=5514">http://www.dosenation.com/listing.php?id=5514</a><br/> <br/> <a href="http://sagaciousmama.wordpress.com/2010/12/18/the-spiritual-origins-of-santa-claus/">http://sagaciousmama.wordpress.com/2010/12/18/the-spiritual-origins-of-santa-claus/</a><br/> <br/> <a href="http://www.shamanswell.org/shaman/siberian-shamanism-origins-santa-claus-reindeer-pine-trees-and-mushrooms">http://www.shamanswell.org/shaman/siberian-shamanism-origins-santa-claus-reindeer-pine-trees-and-mushrooms</a><br/> <br/> <a href="http://www.youtube.com/watch?feature=player_embedded&v=JDh7W4oGxAs">http://www.youtube.com/watch?feature=player_embedded&v=JDh7W4oGxAs</a><br/> <br/> <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Evenks">http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Evenks</a><br/> <br/> <i>*All images credited to original publisher - links documented.</i></p>
<p> </p>10,000 year history at least of Hempentag:worldviewzmedia.net,2014-08-18:2098065:BlogPost:948172014-08-18T02:36:28.000ZRobert Dakotahttp://worldviewzmedia.net/profile/RobertDakota
<p>Suwa Lake Shrines 08.11.14 sharing the day with friends making offerings of prayer for Mother Earth & Fukushima. I share this so you will know more about hemp. The large rope hanging above the lady in prayer used to be made of hemp until hemp was outlawed after WW II as part of the treaty of unconditional surrender with the US. Hemp may be one of the solutions for Fukushima….. So why has it been outlawed all over the world? <br></br> Just saying the obvious......<br></br> a 10,000 year history…</p>
<p>Suwa Lake Shrines 08.11.14 sharing the day with friends making offerings of prayer for Mother Earth & Fukushima. I share this so you will know more about hemp. The large rope hanging above the lady in prayer used to be made of hemp until hemp was outlawed after WW II as part of the treaty of unconditional surrender with the US. Hemp may be one of the solutions for Fukushima….. So why has it been outlawed all over the world? <br> Just saying the obvious......<br> a 10,000 year history must mean it has great value......<br> Check out this article from Rense.com:<br> <a href="http://rense.com/general50/hemp4.htm" target="_blank" rel="nofollow">http://rense.com/general50/hemp4.htm</a></p>
<p><a target="_self" href="http://storage.ning.com/topology/rest/1.0/file/get/398641969?profile=original"><img class="align-full" src="http://storage.ning.com/topology/rest/1.0/file/get/398641969?profile=RESIZE_1024x1024" width="750"></a></p>Path of Prayertag:worldviewzmedia.net,2014-05-12:2098065:BlogPost:935332014-05-12T18:50:45.000ZRobert Dakotahttp://worldviewzmedia.net/profile/RobertDakota
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<p>Meiji Jingu is one of my favorite places to visit when I go to Tokyo, Japan. I have always had a great affection for this place. Especially the tradition of going to offer prayers on New Years, where 100's of thousands of people attend ceremonies and shrines and offer prayers for the coming year. I have attended New Year pilgrimage's with upwards of 60,000…</p>
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<p>Meiji Jingu is one of my favorite places to visit when I go to Tokyo, Japan. I have always had a great affection for this place. Especially the tradition of going to offer prayers on New Years, where 100's of thousands of people attend ceremonies and shrines and offer prayers for the coming year. I have attended New Year pilgrimage's with upwards of 60,000 people in one que which takes a couple of hours to finally reach the place to offer prayers.</p>
<p>Meiji Jingu New Year's Eve</p>
<p><a target="_self" href="http://storage.ning.com/topology/rest/1.0/file/get/398638238?profile=original"><img class="align-full" src="http://storage.ning.com/topology/rest/1.0/file/get/398638238?profile=RESIZE_1024x1024" width="750"></a>One of the observations and appreciations I have for Japanese culture, is their inner connectedness still, to the sacred, the ancient, and their ancestors. Devotion and dedication to prayer is still a part of the people. It is so interesting for me to participate in prayer especially collectively in person in the flesh with 60,000 other people.</p>
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<p>This is another favorite of mine Sensoji to visit New Year's Day, Yeh! I love this energy!</p>
<p><a target="_self" href="http://storage.ning.com/topology/rest/1.0/file/get/398639238?profile=original"><img class="align-full" src="http://storage.ning.com/topology/rest/1.0/file/get/398639238?profile=RESIZE_1024x1024" width="750"></a>It feels like it gives power to the prayers. I know everyone is not offering or asking for the same things, but the intent of the heart comes through anyway. That's "power"; the shared collective intent of the heart. I find that fascinating and what I love about the Japanese - Yapanesia culture, they have big heart and deep soul. Like US, they too have a view of very tough times in our near immediate future, but unlike US, they BE calm and find ways to cope and bring dignity to circumstance...</p>
<p>Sensoji New Years Day</p>
<p><a target="_self" href="http://storage.ning.com/topology/rest/1.0/file/get/398641307?profile=original"><img class="align-full" src="http://storage.ning.com/topology/rest/1.0/file/get/398641307?profile=RESIZE_1024x1024" width="750"></a>It's my perception of course as an observer, but I love these customs that integrate water, ceremony, and prayer. Ingredients that changes perception, that then changes reality... That's what I witness when I participate in the activity of conscious prayer. I see it in customs across the globe which tells me it is a common theme, which informs me of a common truth. Universal in nature.</p>
<p>Sensoji New Years Day</p>
<p><a target="_self" href="http://storage.ning.com/topology/rest/1.0/file/get/398643999?profile=original"><img class="align-full" src="http://storage.ning.com/topology/rest/1.0/file/get/398643999?profile=RESIZE_1024x1024" width="750"></a>Here is a tribute to the feminine created on Mothers Day for the feminine energy of not only my Mom but Mother's everywhere including our Mother Earth; which is why we refer to her as our mother: She puts up with all of our non-sense and loves us for who we are even if it will cost her, her own life. Our happiness in being who we are, and love to BE is the happiness and joy of a Mother to her child. When I saw this exhibition at Meiji Jingu honoring a female and feminine energy on the 100 year anniversary of her passing, I wanted to share the unique insight of Japanese culture. I do not know if their is a true authentic appreciation for this Empress but she is still today an effective contributor to women in the modern world.</p>
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<p>Also I am taken by the fact that Japan and the US have had an ongoing culture exchange for over 120 years whatever form it has taken. The Empress was fond of the American Benjamin Franklyn and integrated some of his personal philosophies, even I wasn't aware of these philosophies of Franklyn's until I saw this exhibition. So a tribute to the feminine everywhere past, present, future, within US all.</p>
<p><br>The music is by a friend A-sha Freedoms who is an amazing musician.</p>
<p>"Step into the Light" from her album Plumeria.</p>
<p><a target="_self" href="http://storage.ning.com/topology/rest/1.0/file/get/398645948?profile=original"><img class="align-full" src="http://storage.ning.com/topology/rest/1.0/file/get/398645948?profile=RESIZE_1024x1024" width="750"></a></p>Spring Equinox 2014tag:worldviewzmedia.net,2014-03-02:2098065:BlogPost:912782014-03-02T04:00:00.000ZRobert Dakotahttp://worldviewzmedia.net/profile/RobertDakota
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<br></br> <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Equinox">http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Equinox</a><p> …</p>
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<br/> <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Equinox">http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Equinox</a><p> </p>
<h1 id="firstHeading" class="firstHeading" xml:lang="en" lang="en"><span dir="auto">Equinox</span></h1>
<div id="siteSub">From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia</div>
<div class="dablink">This article is about the astronomical event when the sun is at zenith over the Equator. For other uses, see <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Equinox_%28disambiguation%29" title="Equinox (disambiguation)">Equinox (disambiguation)</a>.</div>
<div class="dablink">For the same event happening on other planets and setting up a <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Celestial_coordinate_system" title="Celestial coordinate system">celestial coordinate system</a>, see <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Equinox_%28celestial_coordinates%29" title="Equinox (celestial coordinates)">Equinox (celestial coordinates)</a>.</div>
<table class="wikitable" style="font-size: 85%; text-align: center; float: right; clear: right; margin: 0 0 1em 1em;">
<tbody><tr><th colspan="9"><a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Universal_Time" title="Universal Time">UT</a> date and time of<br/> <strong class="selflink">equinoxes</strong> and <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Solstice" title="Solstice">solstices</a> on Earth<sup id="cite_ref-USNO_1-0" class="reference"><a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Equinox#cite_note-USNO-1"><span>[</span>1<span>]</span></a></sup></th>
</tr>
<tr><th>event</th>
<th colspan="2"><a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/March_equinox" title="March equinox">equinox</a></th>
<th colspan="2"><a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/June_solstice" title="June solstice">solstice</a></th>
<th colspan="2"><a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/September_equinox" title="September equinox">equinox</a></th>
<th colspan="2"><a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/December_solstice" title="December solstice">solstice</a></th>
</tr>
<tr><th>month</th>
<th colspan="2">March</th>
<th colspan="2">June</th>
<th colspan="2">September</th>
<th colspan="2">December</th>
</tr>
<tr><th rowspan="2">year</th>
</tr>
<tr><th>day</th>
<th>time</th>
<th>day</th>
<th>time</th>
<th>day</th>
<th>time</th>
<th>day</th>
<th>time</th>
</tr>
<tr><th>2010</th>
<td>20</td>
<td>17:32</td>
<td>21</td>
<td>11:28</td>
<td>23</td>
<td>03:09</td>
<td>21</td>
<td>23:38</td>
</tr>
<tr><th>2011</th>
<td>20</td>
<td>23:21</td>
<td>21</td>
<td>17:16</td>
<td>23</td>
<td>09:04</td>
<td>22</td>
<td>05:30</td>
</tr>
<tr><th>2012</th>
<td>20</td>
<td>05:14</td>
<td>20</td>
<td>23:09</td>
<td>22</td>
<td>14:49</td>
<td>21</td>
<td>11:12</td>
</tr>
<tr><th>2013</th>
<td>20</td>
<td>11:02</td>
<td>21</td>
<td>05:04</td>
<td>22</td>
<td>20:44</td>
<td>21</td>
<td>17:11</td>
</tr>
<tr style="background-color: gold;"><th style="background-color: gold;">2014</th>
<td>20</td>
<td>16:57</td>
<td>21</td>
<td>10:51</td>
<td>23</td>
<td>02:29</td>
<td>21</td>
<td>23:03</td>
</tr>
<tr><th>2015</th>
<td>20</td>
<td>22:45</td>
<td>21</td>
<td>16:38</td>
<td>23</td>
<td>08:20</td>
<td>22</td>
<td>04:48</td>
</tr>
<tr><th>2016</th>
<td>20</td>
<td>04:30</td>
<td>20</td>
<td>22:34</td>
<td>22</td>
<td>14:21</td>
<td>21</td>
<td>10:44</td>
</tr>
<tr><th>2017</th>
<td>20</td>
<td>10:28</td>
<td>21</td>
<td>04:24</td>
<td>22</td>
<td>20:02</td>
<td>21</td>
<td>16:28</td>
</tr>
<tr><th>2018</th>
<td>20</td>
<td>16:15</td>
<td>21</td>
<td>10:07</td>
<td>23</td>
<td>01:54</td>
<td>21</td>
<td>22:23</td>
</tr>
<tr><th>2019</th>
<td>20</td>
<td>21:58</td>
<td>21</td>
<td>15:54</td>
<td>23</td>
<td>07:50</td>
<td>22</td>
<td>04:19</td>
</tr>
<tr><th>2020</th>
<td>20</td>
<td>03:50</td>
<td>20</td>
<td>21:44</td>
<td>22</td>
<td>13:31</td>
<td>21</td>
<td>10:02</td>
</tr>
</tbody>
</table>
<div class="metadata topicon nopopups" id="protected-icon" style="display: none; right: 55px;"><a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Wikipedia:Protection_policy#semi" title="This article is semi-protected."><img alt="Page semi-protected" src="http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/f/fc/Padlock-silver.svg/20px-Padlock-silver.svg.png" height="20" width="20"/></a></div>
<div class="thumb tright"><div class="thumbinner" style="width: 427px;"><a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/File:Earth-lighting-equinox_EN.png" class="image"><img alt="" src="http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/8/84/Earth-lighting-equinox_EN.png/425px-Earth-lighting-equinox_EN.png" class="thumbimage" height="279" width="425"/></a><div class="thumbcaption"><div class="magnify"><a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/File:Earth-lighting-equinox_EN.png" class="internal" title="Enlarge"><img src="http://bits.wikimedia.org/static-1.23wmf14/skins/common/images/magnify-clip.png" alt="" height="11" width="15"/></a></div>
<br/> During an equinox, the <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Earth" title="Earth">Earth</a>'s North and South poles are not tilted toward or away from the <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Sun" title="Sun">Sun</a> and the length of the day is the same at all points on Earth's surface</div>
</div>
</div>
<table class="metadata plainlinks ambox ambox-move">
<tbody><tr><td class="mbox-image"><div style="width: 52px;"><img alt="" src="http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/0/0f/Mergefrom.svg/50px-Mergefrom.svg.png" height="20" width="50"/></div>
</td>
<td class="mbox-text"><span class="mbox-text-span">It has been suggested that <i><a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/March_equinox" title="March equinox">March equinox</a></i> and <i><a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/September_equinox" title="September equinox">September equinox</a></i> be <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Wikipedia:Merging" title="Wikipedia:Merging">merged</a> into this article. (<a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Talk:Equinox#Merge" title="Talk:Equinox">Discuss</a>) <small><i>Proposed since December 2012.</i></small></span></td>
</tr>
</tbody>
</table>
<p>An <b>equinox</b> occurs twice a year (around 20 March and 22 September), when the <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Plane_%28geometry%29" title="Plane (geometry)">plane</a> of Earth's <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Equator" title="Equator">equator</a> passes the center of the Sun. At this time the <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Axial_tilt" title="Axial tilt">tilt</a> of the <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Earth" title="Earth">Earth</a>'s axis is inclined neither away from nor towards the <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Sun" title="Sun">Sun</a>. The term <i>equinox</i> can also be used in a broader sense, meaning the date when such a passage happens. The name "equinox" is derived from the Latin <i>aequus</i> (equal) and <i>nox</i> (night), because around the equinox, night and day are about equal length.</p>
<p>At an equinox the Sun is at one of two opposite points on the <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Celestial_sphere" title="Celestial sphere">celestial sphere</a> where the <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Celestial_equator" title="Celestial equator">celestial equator</a> (i.e. declination 0) and <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ecliptic" title="Ecliptic">ecliptic</a> intersect. These points of intersection are called <b>equinoctial points</b>: classically, the <b>vernal point</b> (RA = 00<sup>h</sup> 00<sup>m</sup> 00<sup>s</sup> and longitude = 0º) and the <b>autumnal point</b> (RA = 12<sup>h</sup> 00<sup>m</sup> 00<sup>s</sup> and longitude = 180º). By extension, the term <i>equinox</i> may denote an equinoctial point.</p>
<p>The equinoxes are the only times when the <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Subsolar_point" title="Subsolar point">subsolar point</a> (the place on Earth's surface where the center of the Sun is exactly overhead) is on the Equator. The subsolar point crosses the Equator moving northward at the March equinox and moving southward at the September equinox. (Since the sun's ecliptic latitude isn't exactly zero it is not exactly above the equator at the moment of the equinox, but the two events usually occur less than 30 seconds apart.)</p>
<p>The equinoxes are the only times when the <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Terminator_%28solar%29" title="Terminator (solar)">terminator</a> is perpendicular to Earth's equator. Thus the Northern and Southern hemispheres are illuminated equally. (At the solstices, that angle reaches its minimum of 66.5°, corresponding to 90° minus Earth's axial tilt).<sup id="cite_ref-2" class="reference"><a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Equinox#cite_note-2"><span>[</span>2<span>]</span></a></sup></p>
<p>Another meaning of <b>equinox</b> is the date when day and night are the same length.<sup id="cite_ref-3" class="reference"><a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Equinox#cite_note-3"><span>[</span>3<span>]</span></a></sup> The equinox is not exactly the same as the day when day and night are of equal length for two reasons. Firstly, because of the size of the sun, the top of the disk rises above the horizon (constituting 'sunrise' which is the start of 'daytime') when the center of the disk is still below the horizon. Secondly, Earth's atmosphere refracts sunlight which means that an observer can experience light (daytime) even before the first glimpse of the sun's disk has risen above the horizon. To avoid this ambiguity the term <b>equilux</b> is sometimes used in this sense.<sup id="cite_ref-4" class="reference"><a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Equinox#cite_note-4"><span>[</span>4<span>]</span></a></sup><sup id="cite_ref-5" class="reference"><a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Equinox#cite_note-5"><span>[</span>note 1<span>]</span></a></sup> Times of sunset and sunrise vary with an observer's location (longitude and latitude), so the dates when day and night are of exactly equal length likewise depend on location. For places near the equator the daytime is always longer than the night, so they would never experience an equinox by this definition.</p>
<div id="toc" class="toc"><div id="toctitle"><h2>Contents</h2>
</div>
<ul>
<li class="toclevel-1 tocsection-1"><a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Equinox#Equinoxes_on_the_Earth"><span class="tocnumber">1</span> <span class="toctext">Equinoxes on the Earth</span></a><ul>
<li class="toclevel-2 tocsection-2"><a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Equinox#Date"><span class="tocnumber">1.1</span> <span class="toctext">Date</span></a></li>
<li class="toclevel-2 tocsection-3"><a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Equinox#Names"><span class="tocnumber">1.2</span> <span class="toctext">Names</span></a></li>
<li class="toclevel-2 tocsection-4"><a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Equinox#Length_of_equinoctial_day_and_night"><span class="tocnumber">1.3</span> <span class="toctext">Length of equinoctial day and night</span></a></li>
<li class="toclevel-2 tocsection-5"><a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Equinox#Geocentric_view_of_the_astronomical_seasons"><span class="tocnumber">1.4</span> <span class="toctext">Geocentric view of the astronomical seasons</span></a><ul>
<li class="toclevel-3 tocsection-6"><a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Equinox#Day_arcs_of_the_Sun"><span class="tocnumber">1.4.1</span> <span class="toctext">Day arcs of the Sun</span></a></li>
</ul>
</li>
<li class="toclevel-2 tocsection-7"><a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Equinox#Celestial_coordinate_systems"><span class="tocnumber">1.5</span> <span class="toctext">Celestial coordinate systems</span></a></li>
<li class="toclevel-2 tocsection-8"><a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Equinox#Cultural_aspects"><span class="tocnumber">1.6</span> <span class="toctext">Cultural aspects</span></a></li>
</ul>
</li>
<li class="toclevel-1 tocsection-9"><a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Equinox#Equinoxes_of_other_planets"><span class="tocnumber">2</span> <span class="toctext">Equinoxes of other planets</span></a></li>
<li class="toclevel-1 tocsection-10"><a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Equinox#See_also"><span class="tocnumber">3</span> <span class="toctext">See also</span></a></li>
<li class="toclevel-1 tocsection-11"><a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Equinox#Notes"><span class="tocnumber">4</span> <span class="toctext">Notes</span></a></li>
<li class="toclevel-1 tocsection-12"><a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Equinox#References"><span class="tocnumber">5</span> <span class="toctext">References</span></a></li>
<li class="toclevel-1 tocsection-13"><a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Equinox#External_links"><span class="tocnumber">6</span> <span class="toctext">External links</span></a></li>
</ul>
</div>
<h2><span class="mw-headline" id="Equinoxes_on_the_Earth">Equinoxes on the Earth</span></h2>
<ul class="gallery mw-gallery-traditional">
<li class="gallerybox" style="width: 155px;"><div style="width: 155px;"><div class="thumb" style="width: 150px;"><div style="margin: 28.5px auto;"><a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/File:AxialTiltObliquity.png" class="image"><img alt="" src="http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/6/61/AxialTiltObliquity.png/120px-AxialTiltObliquity.png" height="93" width="120"/></a></div>
</div>
<div class="gallerytext"><p>Illumination of <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Earth" title="Earth">Earth</a> by the <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Sun" title="Sun">Sun</a> at the March equinox</p>
</div>
</div>
</li>
<li class="gallerybox" style="width: 155px;"><div style="width: 155px;"><div class="thumb" style="width: 150px;"><div style="margin: 30px auto;"><a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/File:Ecliptic_path.jpg" class="image"><img alt="" src="http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/d/de/Ecliptic_path.jpg/120px-Ecliptic_path.jpg" height="90" width="120"/></a></div>
</div>
<div class="gallerytext"><p>The Earth in its orbit around the Sun causes the Sun to appear on the celestial sphere moving over the <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ecliptic" title="Ecliptic">ecliptic</a> (red), which is tilted on the <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Equator" title="Equator">Equator</a> (white)</p>
</div>
</div>
</li>
<li class="gallerybox" style="width: 155px;"><div style="width: 155px;"><div class="thumb" style="width: 150px;"><div style="margin: 42px auto;"><a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/File:North_season.jpg" class="image"><img alt="" src="http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/8/8b/North_season.jpg/120px-North_season.jpg" height="66" width="120"/></a></div>
</div>
<div class="gallerytext"><p>Diagram of the Earth's <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Season" title="Season">seasons</a> as seen from the north. Far right: December solstice.</p>
</div>
</div>
</li>
<li class="gallerybox" style="width: 155px;"><div style="width: 155px;"><div class="thumb" style="width: 150px;"><div style="margin: 42px auto;"><a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/File:South_season.jpg" class="image"><img alt="" src="http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/6/6a/South_season.jpg/120px-South_season.jpg" height="66" width="120"/></a></div>
</div>
<div class="gallerytext"><p>Diagram of the Earth's seasons as seen from the south. Far left: June solstice.</p>
</div>
</div>
</li>
</ul>
<h3><span class="mw-headline" id="Date">Date</span></h3>
<p>When <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Julius_Caesar" title="Julius Caesar">Julius Caesar</a> established <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Julian_calendar" title="Julian calendar">his calendar</a> in 45 BC he set 25 March as the spring equinox. Since a Julian year (365.25 days) is slightly longer than an actual year the calendar drifted with respect to the equinox, such that the equinox was occurring on about 21 March in AD 300 and by AD 1500 it had reached 11 March.</p>
<p>This drift induced <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Pope_Gregory_XIII" title="Pope Gregory XIII">Pope Gregory XIII</a> to create a modern <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Gregorian_calendar" title="Gregorian calendar">Gregorian calendar</a>. The Pope wanted to restore the edicts concerning the <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Easter_controversy#Second_phase" title="Easter controversy">date of Easter</a> of the <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/First_Council_of_Nicaea" title="First Council of Nicaea">Council of Nicaea</a> of AD 325. (Incidentally, the date of Easter itself is fixed by an approximation of lunar cycles used in the Hebraic calendar, but according to the historian <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Bede" title="Bede">Bede</a> the English name "Easter" comes from a pagan celebration by the Germanic tribes of the vernal (spring) equinox.) So the shift in the date of the equinox that occurred between the 4th and the 16th centuries was annulled with the Gregorian calendar, but nothing was done for the first four centuries of the Julian calendar. The days of 29 February of the years AD 100, AD 200, AD 300, and the day created by the irregular application of <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Leap_year" title="Leap year">leap years</a> between the assassination of Caesar and the decree of <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Augustus" title="Augustus">Augustus</a> re-arranging the calendar in AD 8, remained in effect. This moved the equinox four days earlier than in Caesar's time.</p>
<h3><span class="mw-headline" id="Names">Names</span></h3>
<ul>
<li><b>Vernal equinox</b> and <b>autumnal equinox</b>: these classical names are direct derivatives of Latin (<i>ver</i> = <i>spring</i> and <i>autumnus</i> = <i>autumn</i>). These names are based on the seasons, and can be ambiguous since seasons of the <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Northern_hemisphere" title="Northern hemisphere" class="mw-redirect">northern hemisphere</a> and <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Southern_hemisphere" title="Southern hemisphere" class="mw-redirect">southern hemisphere</a> are opposites, and the vernal equinox of one hemisphere is the autumnal equinox of the other.</li>
<li><b>Spring equinox</b> and <b>fall equinox</b> or <b>autumn equinox</b>: these are more colloquial names based on the seasons, and are also therefore ambiguous across hemispheres.</li>
<li><b><a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/March_equinox" title="March equinox">March equinox</a></b> and <b><a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/September_equinox" title="September equinox">September equinox</a></b>: names referring to the times of the year when such equinoxes occur. These are without the ambiguity as to which hemisphere is the context, but are still not universal as not all people use a solar-based calendar where the equinoxes occur every year in the same month (as they do not in the <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Islamic_calendar" title="Islamic calendar">Islamic calendar</a> and <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Hebrew_calendar" title="Hebrew calendar">Hebrew calendar</a>, for example), and the names are not useful for other planets (<a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Mars" title="Mars">Mars</a>, for example), even though these planets do have seasons.</li>
<li><b><a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Northward_equinox" title="Northward equinox" class="mw-redirect">Northward equinox</a></b> and <b><a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Southward_equinox" title="Southward equinox" class="mw-redirect">southward equinox</a></b>: names referring to the apparent motion of the Sun at the times of the equinox. The least culturally biased terms.</li>
<li><b>Vernal point</b> and <b>autumnal point</b> are the points on the celestial sphere where the Sun is located on the <i>vernal equinox</i> and <i>autumnal equinox</i> respectively. Usually this terminology is fixed for the Northern hemisphere.</li>
<li><b>First point</b> (or <b>cusp</b>) <b>of <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Aries_%28astrology%29" title="Aries (astrology)">Aries</a></b> and <b>first point of <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Libra_%28astrology%29" title="Libra (astrology)">Libra</a></b> are names formerly used by astronomers and now used by navigators and <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Astrologer" title="Astrologer">astrologers</a>. <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Nautical_almanac" title="Nautical almanac">Navigational ephemeris tables</a> record the geographic position of the First Point of Aries as the reference for position of navigational stars. Due to the <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Precession_%28astronomy%29" title="Precession (astronomy)" class="mw-redirect">precession of the equinoxes</a>, the <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Astrological_signs" title="Astrological signs" class="mw-redirect">astrological signs</a> of the <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Tropical_zodiac" title="Tropical zodiac" class="mw-redirect">tropical zodiac</a> where these equinoxes are located no longer correspond with the actual <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Constellation" title="Constellation">constellations</a> once ascribed to them. The equinoxes are currently in the constellations of <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Pisces_%28constellation%29" title="Pisces (constellation)">Pisces</a> and <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Virgo_%28constellation%29" title="Virgo (constellation)">Virgo</a>. In <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Sidereal_astrology" title="Sidereal astrology" class="mw-redirect">sidereal astrology</a> (notably <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Hindu_astrology" title="Hindu astrology">Hindu astrology</a>), by contrast, the first point of Aries remains aligned with <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ras_Hammel" title="Ras Hammel" class="mw-redirect">Ras Hammel</a> "the head of the ram", i.e. the <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Aries_%28constellation%29" title="Aries (constellation)">Aries constellation</a>.</li>
</ul>
<h3><span class="mw-headline" id="Length_of_equinoctial_day_and_night">Length of equinoctial day and night</span></h3>
<div class="thumb tright"><div class="thumbinner" style="width: 302px;"><a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/File:Hours_of_daylight_vs_latitude_vs_day_of_year_cmglee.svg" class="image"><img alt="" src="http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/e/e1/Hours_of_daylight_vs_latitude_vs_day_of_year_cmglee.svg/300px-Hours_of_daylight_vs_latitude_vs_day_of_year_cmglee.svg.png" class="thumbimage" height="169" width="300"/></a><div class="thumbcaption"><div class="magnify"><a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/File:Hours_of_daylight_vs_latitude_vs_day_of_year_cmglee.svg" class="internal" title="Enlarge"><img src="http://bits.wikimedia.org/static-1.23wmf14/skins/common/images/magnify-clip.png" alt="" height="11" width="15"/></a></div>
<br/> Contour plot of the hours of daylight as a function of latitude and day of the year, showing approximately 12 hours of daylight at all latitudes during the equinoxes</div>
</div>
</div>
<p>On the day of the equinox, the center of the Sun spends a roughly equal amount of time above and below the horizon at every location on the Earth, so night and day are about the same length. The word <i>equinox</i> derives from the Latin words <i>aequus</i> (equal) and <i>nox</i> (night). In reality, the day is longer than the night at an equinox. Day is usually defined as the period when sunlight reaches the ground in the absence of local obstacles. From the Earth, the Sun appears as a disc rather than a point of light, so when the center of the Sun is below the horizon, its upper edge is visible. Furthermore, the atmosphere refracts light, so even when the upper <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Limb_darkening" title="Limb darkening">limb</a> of the Sun is 0.4-degree below the horizon, its rays curve over the horizon to the ground. In sunrise/sunset tables, the assumed semidiameter (apparent <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Radius" title="Radius">radius</a>) of the Sun is 16 <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Minute_of_arc" title="Minute of arc">minutes of arc</a> and the <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Atmospheric_refraction" title="Atmospheric refraction">atmospheric refraction</a> is assumed to be 34 minutes of arc. Their combination means that when the upper limb of Sun is on the visible horizon, its center is 50 minutes of arc below the geometric horizon, which is the intersection with the celestial sphere of a horizontal plane through the eye of the observer. These effects make the day about 14 minutes longer than the night at the Equator and longer still towards the Poles. The real equality of day and night only happens in places far enough from the Equator to have a seasonal difference in day length of at least 7 minutes, actually occurring a few days towards the winter side of each equinox.</p>
<h3><span class="mw-headline" id="Geocentric_view_of_the_astronomical_seasons">Geocentric view of the astronomical seasons</span></h3>
<div class="rellink relarticle mainarticle">Main article: <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Geocentric_view_of_the_seasons" title="Geocentric view of the seasons">Geocentric view of the seasons</a></div>
<table class="metadata plainlinks ambox ambox-content ambox-Unreferenced">
<tbody><tr><td class="mbox-image"><div style="width: 52px;"><a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/File:Question_book-new.svg" class="image"><img alt="Question book-new.svg" src="http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/en/thumb/9/99/Question_book-new.svg/50px-Question_book-new.svg.png" height="39" width="50"/></a></div>
</td>
<td class="mbox-text"><span class="mbox-text-span">This section <b>does not <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Wikipedia:Citing_sources" title="Wikipedia:Citing sources">cite</a> any <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Wikipedia:Verifiability" title="Wikipedia:Verifiability">references or sources</a></b>. <span class="hide-when-compact">Please help improve this section by <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Help:Introduction_to_referencing/1" title="Help:Introduction to referencing/1">adding citations to reliable sources</a>. Unsourced material may be challenged and <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Wikipedia:Verifiability#Burden_of_evidence" title="Wikipedia:Verifiability">removed</a>.</span> <small><i>(December 2011)</i></small></span></td>
</tr>
</tbody>
</table>
<p>In the half-year centered on the June solstice, the Sun rises north of east and sets north of west, which means longer days with shorter nights for the Northern Hemisphere and shorter days with longer nights for the Southern Hemisphere. In the half-year centered on the December solstice, the Sun rises south of east and sets south of west and the durations of day and night are reversed.</p>
<p>Also on the day of an equinox, the Sun rises everywhere on Earth (except at the Poles) at about 06:00 and sets at about 18:00 (local time). These times are not exact for several reasons:</p>
<ul>
<li>The Sun is much larger in diameter than the Earth, so that more than half of the Earth could be in sunlight at any one time (due to unparallel rays creating tangent points beyond an equal-day-night line).</li>
<li>Most places on Earth use a <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Time_zone" title="Time zone">time zone</a> which differs from the local solar time by minutes or even hours. For example, if the Sun rises at 07:00 on the equinox, it will set 12 hours later at 19:00.</li>
<li>Even people whose time zone is equal to local solar time will not see sunrise and sunset at 06:00 and 18:00. This is due to the variable speed of the Earth in its orbit, and is described as the <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Equation_of_time" title="Equation of time">equation of time</a>. It has different values for the March and September equinoxes (+8 and −8 minutes respectively).</li>
<li>Sunrise and sunset are commonly defined for the upper limb of the solar disk, rather than its center. The upper limb is already up for at least a minute before the center appears, and the upper limb likewise sets later than the center of the solar disk. Also, when the Sun is near the horizon, <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Atmospheric_refraction" title="Atmospheric refraction">atmospheric refraction</a> shifts its apparent position above its true position by a little more than its own diameter. This makes sunrise more than two minutes earlier and sunset an equal amount later. These two effects combine to make the equinox day 12 h 7 min long and the night only 11 h 53 min. Note, however, that these numbers are only true for the tropics. For <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Middle_Latitudes" title="Middle Latitudes" class="mw-redirect">moderate latitudes</a>, the discrepancy increases (e.g., 12 minutes in London); and closer to the Poles it becomes very much larger (in terms of time). Up to about 100 km from either Pole, the Sun is up for a full 24 hours on an equinox day.</li>
<li>Night includes twilight. If dawn and dusk are instead considered daytime, the day would be almost 13 hours near the equator, and longer at higher latitudes.</li>
<li>Height of the horizon changes the day's length. For an observer atop a mountain the day is longer, while standing in a valley will shorten the day.</li>
</ul>
<h4><span class="mw-headline" id="Day_arcs_of_the_Sun">Day arcs of the Sun</span></h4>
<p>Some of the statements above can be made clearer by picturing the day arc (i.e., the path the Sun tracks along the celestial dome in its <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Diurnal_motion" title="Diurnal motion">diurnal</a> movement). The pictures show this for every hour on equinox day. In addition, some 'ghost' suns are also indicated below the horizon, up to 18° below it; the Sun in such areas still causes twilight. The depictions presented below can be used for both the Northern Hemisphere and the Southern Hemisphere. The observer is understood to be sitting near the tree on the island depicted in the middle of the ocean; the green arrows give cardinal directions.</p>
<ul>
<li>In the Northern Hemisphere, north is to the left, the Sun rises in the east (far arrow), <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Culmination" title="Culmination">culminates</a> in the south (right arrow), while moving to the right and setting in the west (near arrow).</li>
<li>In the Southern Hemisphere, south is to the left, the Sun rises in the east (near arrow), culminates in the north (right arrow), while moving to the left and setting in the west (far arrow).</li>
</ul>
<p>The following special cases are depicted:</p>
<ul class="gallery mw-gallery-traditional">
<li class="gallerybox" style="width: 275px;"><div style="width: 275px;"><div class="thumb" style="width: 270px;"><div style="margin: 15px auto;"><a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/File:Equinox-0.jpg" class="image"><img alt="" src="http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/a/ae/Equinox-0.jpg/240px-Equinox-0.jpg" height="180" width="240"/></a></div>
</div>
<div class="gallerytext"><p><b>Day arc at 0° latitude (Equator)</b><br/> The arc passes through the <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Zenith" title="Zenith">zenith</a>, resulting in almost no shadows at high noon.</p>
</div>
</div>
</li>
<li class="gallerybox" style="width: 275px;"><div style="width: 275px;"><div class="thumb" style="width: 270px;"><div style="margin: 15px auto;"><a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/File:Equinox-20.jpg" class="image"><img alt="" src="http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/e/ed/Equinox-20.jpg/240px-Equinox-20.jpg" height="180" width="240"/></a></div>
</div>
<div class="gallerytext"><p><b>Day arc at 20° latitude</b><br/> The Sun culminates at 70° altitude and its path at sunrise and sunset occurs at a steep 70° angle to the horizon. Twilight still lasts about one hour.</p>
</div>
</div>
</li>
<li class="gallerybox" style="width: 275px;"><div style="width: 275px;"><div class="thumb" style="width: 270px;"><div style="margin: 15px auto;"><a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/File:Equinox-50.jpg" class="image"><img alt="" src="http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/c/cc/Equinox-50.jpg/240px-Equinox-50.jpg" height="180" width="240"/></a></div>
</div>
<div class="gallerytext"><p><b>Day arc at 50° latitude</b><br/> Twilight lasts almost two hours.</p>
</div>
</div>
</li>
<li class="gallerybox" style="width: 275px;"><div style="width: 275px;"><div class="thumb" style="width: 270px;"><div style="margin: 15px auto;"><a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/File:Equinox-70.jpg" class="image"><img alt="" src="http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/c/c3/Equinox-70.jpg/240px-Equinox-70.jpg" height="180" width="240"/></a></div>
</div>
<div class="gallerytext"><p><b>Day arc at 70° latitude</b><br/> The Sun culminates at no more than 20° altitude and its daily path at sunrise and sunset is at a shallow 20° angle to the horizon. Twilight lasts for more than four hours; in fact, there is barely any night.</p>
</div>
</div>
</li>
<li class="gallerybox" style="width: 275px;"><div style="width: 275px;"><div class="thumb" style="width: 270px;"><div style="margin: 15px auto;"><a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/File:Equinox-90.jpg" class="image"><img alt="" src="http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/a/ac/Equinox-90.jpg/240px-Equinox-90.jpg" height="180" width="240"/></a></div>
</div>
<div class="gallerytext"><p><b>Day arc at 90° latitude (Pole)</b><br/> If it were not for atmospheric refraction, the Sun would be on the horizon all the time.</p>
</div>
</div>
</li>
</ul>
<h3><span class="mw-headline" id="Celestial_coordinate_systems">Celestial coordinate systems</span></h3>
<p>The vernal equinox occurs in March, about when the Sun crosses the celestial equator south to north.<sup id="cite_ref-6" class="reference"><a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Equinox#cite_note-6"><span>[</span>5<span>]</span></a></sup> The term "vernal point" is used for the time of this occurrence and for the direction in space where the Sun is seen at that time, which is the origin of some <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Celestial_coordinate_system" title="Celestial coordinate system">celestial coordinate systems</a>:</p>
<ul>
<li>in the <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ecliptic_coordinate_system" title="Ecliptic coordinate system">ecliptic coordinate system</a>, the vernal point is the origin of the <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ecliptic_longitude" title="Ecliptic longitude" class="mw-redirect">ecliptic longitude</a>;</li>
<li>in the <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Equatorial_coordinate_system" title="Equatorial coordinate system">equatorial coordinate system</a>, the vernal point is the origin of the <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Right_ascension" title="Right ascension">right ascension</a>.</li>
</ul>
<p>Because of the <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Precession_%28astronomy%29" title="Precession (astronomy)" class="mw-redirect">precession of the Earth's axis</a>, the position of the vernal point on the <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Celestial_sphere" title="Celestial sphere">celestial sphere</a> changes over time, and the equatorial and the ecliptic coordinate systems change accordingly. Thus when specifying celestial coordinates for an object, one has to specify at what time the vernal point and the celestial equator are taken. That reference time is called the <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Equinox_%28celestial_coordinates%29" title="Equinox (celestial coordinates)">equinox of date</a>.<sup id="cite_ref-7" class="reference"><a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Equinox#cite_note-7"><span>[</span>6<span>]</span></a></sup></p>
<p>The autumnal equinox is at ecliptic longitude 180° and at right ascension 12h.</p>
<p>The <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Culmination" title="Culmination">upper culmination</a> of the vernal point is considered the start of the <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Sidereal_time" title="Sidereal time">sidereal day</a> for the observer. The <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Hour_angle" title="Hour angle">hour angle</a> of the vernal point is, by definition, the observer's <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Sidereal_time" title="Sidereal time">sidereal time</a>.</p>
<p>The same is true in <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Western_astrology" title="Western astrology">western tropical astrology</a>: the vernal equinox is the first point (i.e. the start) of the sign of <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Aries_%28astrology%29" title="Aries (astrology)">Aries</a>. In this system, it is of no significance that <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Precession_%28astronomy%29" title="Precession (astronomy)" class="mw-redirect">the equinoxes shift</a> over time with respect to the fixed stars.</p>
<p>Using the current official <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/International_Astronomical_Union" title="International Astronomical Union">IAU</a> constellation boundaries – and taking into account the variable precession speed and the rotation of the ecliptic – the equinoxes shift through the constellations as follows<sup id="cite_ref-8" class="reference"><a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Equinox#cite_note-8"><span>[</span>7<span>]</span></a></sup> (expressed in <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Astronomical_year_numbering" title="Astronomical year numbering">astronomical year numbering</a> in which the year 0 = 1 BC, −1 = 2 BC, etc.):</p>
<ul>
<li>The March equinox passed from <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Taurus_%28constellation%29" title="Taurus (constellation)">Taurus</a> into <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Aries_%28constellation%29" title="Aries (constellation)">Aries</a> in year −1865, passed into <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Pisces_%28constellation%29" title="Pisces (constellation)">Pisces</a> in year −67, will pass into <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Aquarius_%28constellation%29" title="Aquarius (constellation)">Aquarius</a> in year 2597, will pass into <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Capricornus" title="Capricornus">Capricornus</a> in year 4312. It passed along (but not into) a 'corner' of <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Cetus" title="Cetus">Cetus</a> on 0°10' distance in year 1489.</li>
<li>The September equinox passed from Libra into <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Virgo_%28constellation%29" title="Virgo (constellation)">Virgo</a> in year −729, will pass into <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Leo_%28constellation%29" title="Leo (constellation)">Leo</a> in year 2439.</li>
</ul>
<h3><span class="mw-headline" id="Cultural_aspects">Cultural aspects</span></h3>
<div class="rellink relarticle mainarticle">Main articles: <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/March_equinox#Human_culture" title="March equinox">March equinox#Human culture</a> and <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/September_equinox#Human_culture" title="September equinox">September equinox#Human culture</a></div>
<p>A number of traditional spring and autumn (<a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Harvest" title="Harvest">harvest</a>) festivals are celebrated on the date of the equinoxes.</p>
<h2><span class="mw-headline" id="Equinoxes_of_other_planets">Equinoxes of other planets</span></h2>
<table class="metadata plainlinks ambox ambox-content ambox-Unreferenced">
<tbody><tr><td class="mbox-image"><div style="width: 52px;"><a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/File:Question_book-new.svg" class="image"><img alt="Question book-new.svg" src="http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/en/thumb/9/99/Question_book-new.svg/50px-Question_book-new.svg.png" height="39" width="50"/></a></div>
</td>
<td class="mbox-text"><span class="mbox-text-span">This section <b>does not <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Wikipedia:Citing_sources" title="Wikipedia:Citing sources">cite</a> any <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Wikipedia:Verifiability" title="Wikipedia:Verifiability">references or sources</a></b>. <span class="hide-when-compact">Please help improve this section by <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Help:Introduction_to_referencing/1" title="Help:Introduction to referencing/1">adding citations to reliable sources</a>. Unsourced material may be challenged and <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Wikipedia:Verifiability#Burden_of_evidence" title="Wikipedia:Verifiability">removed</a>.</span> <small><i>(September 2012)</i></small></span></td>
</tr>
</tbody>
</table>
<div class="thumb tright"><div class="thumbinner" style="width: 252px;"><a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/File:Saturn,_its_rings,_and_a_few_of_its_moons.jpg" class="image"><img alt="" src="http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/8/8a/Saturn%2C_its_rings%2C_and_a_few_of_its_moons.jpg/250px-Saturn%2C_its_rings%2C_and_a_few_of_its_moons.jpg" class="thumbimage" height="133" width="250"/></a><div class="thumbcaption"><div class="magnify"><a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/File:Saturn,_its_rings,_and_a_few_of_its_moons.jpg" class="internal" title="Enlarge"><img src="http://bits.wikimedia.org/static-1.23wmf14/skins/common/images/magnify-clip.png" alt="" height="11" width="15"/></a></div>
<br/> When the planet <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Saturn" title="Saturn">Saturn</a> is at equinox, its <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Rings_of_Saturn" title="Rings of Saturn">rings</a> pick up almost no light, as seen in this image by <i><a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Cassini%E2%80%93Huygens" title="Cassini–Huygens">Cassini</a></i> in 2009.</div>
</div>
</div>
<p>Equinox is a phenomenon that can occur on any planet with a significant tilt to its rotational axis. Most dramatic of these is <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Saturn" title="Saturn">Saturn</a>, where the equinox places its normally majestic <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Rings_of_Saturn" title="Rings of Saturn">ring system</a> edge-on facing the Sun. As a result, they are visible only as a thin line when seen from Earth. When seen from above – a view seen by humans during an equinox for the first time from the <i><a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Cassini%E2%80%93Huygens" title="Cassini–Huygens">Cassini</a></i> space probe in 2009 – they receive very little <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Sunshine" title="Sunshine" class="mw-redirect">sunshine</a>, indeed more <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Planetshine" title="Planetshine">planetshine</a> than light from the Sun.<sup class="Template-Fact" style="white-space: nowrap;">[<i><a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Wikipedia:Citation_needed" title="Wikipedia:Citation needed"><span title="This claim needs references to reliable sources. (September 2012)">citation needed</span></a></i>]</sup></p>
<p>This lack of sunshine occurs once every 14.7 years. It can last a few weeks before and after the exact equinox. The most recent exact equinox for Saturn was on 11 August 2009. Its next equinox will take place on 30 April 2024.<sup class="Template-Fact" style="white-space: nowrap;">[<i><a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Wikipedia:Citation_needed" title="Wikipedia:Citation needed"><span title="This claim needs references to reliable sources. (September 2012)">citation needed</span></a></i>]</sup></p>
<p>One effect of equinoctial periods is the temporary disruption of <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Communications_satellite" title="Communications satellite">communications satellites</a>. For all <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Geostationary_orbit" title="Geostationary orbit">geostationary</a> satellites, there are a few days around the equinox when the sun goes directly behind the satellite relative to Earth (i.e. within the beam-width of the ground-station antenna) for a short period each day. The Sun's immense power and broad radiation spectrum overload the Earth station's reception circuits with noise and, depending on antenna size and other factors, temporarily disrupt or degrade the circuit. The duration of those effects varies but can range from a few minutes to an hour. (For a given frequency band, a larger antenna has a narrower beam-width and hence experiences shorter duration "Sun outage" windows.)<sup class="Template-Fact" style="white-space: nowrap;">[<i><a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Wikipedia:Citation_needed" title="Wikipedia:Citation needed"><span title="This claim needs references to reliable sources. (September 2012)">citation needed</span></a></i>]</sup></p>Imbolc by Cal Garrisontag:worldviewzmedia.net,2014-01-22:2098065:BlogPost:902692014-01-22T06:29:17.000ZRobert Dakotahttp://worldviewzmedia.net/profile/RobertDakota
<h1 class="firstHeading" lang="en" xml:lang="en"><span class="font-size-3" dir="auto">I Really Love these explorations into ancestral traditions as a way to rediscover our own relationship to Mother Earth and our ancestors.. Also for navigating the seasons and timing in general, Cal really has helped me personally in getting through some tough times with her undrstandings of the seasons and cycles, the mythology / symbology / & rituals . Cal is a great source for this kind of information…</span></h1>
<h1 class="firstHeading" lang="en" xml:lang="en"><span class="font-size-3" dir="auto">I Really Love these explorations into ancestral traditions as a way to rediscover our own relationship to Mother Earth and our ancestors.. Also for navigating the seasons and timing in general, Cal really has helped me personally in getting through some tough times with her undrstandings of the seasons and cycles, the mythology / symbology / & rituals . Cal is a great source for this kind of information which is why enjoy sharing her insights with everyone who is interested. Below you will find the wikipedia background as well. "In~Joy" ~.~</span></h1>
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<h1 id="firstHeading" class="firstHeading" lang="en" xml:lang="en"><span dir="auto">Imbolc</span></h1>
<p><span dir="auto"><a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Imbolc">http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Imbolc</a></span></p>
<div id="siteSub">From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia</div>
<table class="infobox vevent" style="border-spacing: 3px; width: 22em;" cellspacing="3">
<tbody><tr><th colspan="2" class="hd" style="text-align: center; font-size: 125%; font-weight: bold; background-color: lightsteelblue;">Imbolc</th>
</tr>
<tr><th scope="row" style="text-align: left;">Also called</th>
<td>Lá Fhéile Bríde (<a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Irish_language" title="Irish language">Irish Gaelic</a>)<br/> Là Fhèill Brìghde (<a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Scottish_Gaelic" title="Scottish Gaelic">Scottish Gaelic</a>)<br/> Laa’l Breeshey (<a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Manx_language" title="Manx language">Manx Gaelic</a>)</td>
</tr>
<tr><th scope="row" style="text-align: left;">Observed by</th>
<td>Historically: <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Gaels" title="Gaels">Gaels</a><br/> Today: <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Irish_people" title="Irish people">Irish people</a>, <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Scottish_people" title="Scottish people">Scottish people</a>, <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Manx_people" title="Manx people">Manx people</a>, <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Celtic_Neopaganism" title="Celtic Neopaganism" class="mw-redirect">Celtic neopagans</a> and <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Wicca" title="Wicca">Wiccans</a></td>
</tr>
<tr><th scope="row" style="text-align: left;">Type</th>
<td>Cultural,<br/> Pagan (<a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Celtic_polytheism" title="Celtic polytheism">Celtic polytheism</a>, <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Celtic_Neopaganism" title="Celtic Neopaganism" class="mw-redirect">Celtic Neopaganism</a>, <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Wicca" title="Wicca">Wicca</a>)</td>
</tr>
<tr><th scope="row" style="text-align: left;">Significance</th>
<td class="summary">beginning of spring</td>
</tr>
<tr><th scope="row" style="text-align: left;">Celebrations</th>
<td>feasting, making <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Brigid%27s_cross" title="Brigid's cross">Brighid's crosses</a> and Brídeógs, visiting <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Holy_well" title="Holy well">holy wells</a>, <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Divination" title="Divination">divination</a></td>
</tr>
<tr><th scope="row" style="text-align: left;">Begins</th>
<td><a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Northern_Hemisphere" title="Northern Hemisphere">Northern Hemisphere</a>: Sunset on 31 January<br/> <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Southern_Hemisphere" title="Southern Hemisphere">Southern Hemisphere</a>: Sunset on 31 July</td>
</tr>
<tr><th scope="row" style="text-align: left;">Ends</th>
<td>Northern Hemisphere: Sunset on 1 February<br/> Southern Hemisphere: Sunset on 1 August</td>
</tr>
<tr><th scope="row" style="text-align: left;">Date</th>
<td>February 1</td>
</tr>
<tr><th scope="row" style="text-align: left;">Related to</th>
<td><a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/G%C5%B5yl_Fair_y_Canhwyllau" title="Gŵyl Fair y Canhwyllau">Gŵyl Fair y Canhwyllau</a>, <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Candlemas" title="Candlemas" class="mw-redirect">Candlemas</a>, <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Groundhog_Day" title="Groundhog Day">Groundhog Day</a></td>
</tr>
</tbody>
</table>
<p><b>Imbolc</b> or <b>Imbolg</b> (pronounced <span title="English pronunciation respelling" class="Unicode"><a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Wikipedia:Pronunciation_respelling_key" title="Wikipedia:Pronunciation respelling key"><i>i-<b><span class="smallcaps"><span class="SMALLCAPS" style="font-variant: SMALL-CAPS;"><span class="NOCAPS" style="text-transform: LOWERCASE;">MOLK</span></span></span></b></i></a></span> or <span title="English pronunciation respelling" class="Unicode"><a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Wikipedia:Pronunciation_respelling_key" title="Wikipedia:Pronunciation respelling key"><i>i-<b><span class="smallcaps"><span class="SMALLCAPS" style="font-variant: SMALL-CAPS;"><span class="NOCAPS" style="text-transform: LOWERCASE;">MOLG</span></span></span></b></i></a></span> ), also called <b>Saint Brighid’s Day</b> (<a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Irish_language" title="Irish language">Irish</a>: <span lang="ga" xml:lang="ga"><i>Lá Fhéile Bríde</i></span>, <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Scottish_Gaelic_language" title="Scottish Gaelic language" class="mw-redirect">Scottish Gaelic</a>: <span lang="gd" xml:lang="gd"><i>Là Fhèill Brìghde</i></span>, <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Manx_language" title="Manx language">Manx</a>: <span lang="gv" xml:lang="gv"><i>Laa’l Breeshey</i></span>), is a <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Gaels" title="Gaels">Gaelic</a> festival marking the beginning of <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Spring_%28season%29" title="Spring (season)">spring</a>. Most commonly it is held on 31 January–1 February, or halfway between the <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Winter_solstice" title="Winter solstice">winter solstice</a> and the <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Spring_equinox" title="Spring equinox" class="mw-redirect">spring equinox</a>.<sup id="cite_ref-Danaher1_1-0" class="reference"><a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Imbolc#cite_note-Danaher1-1"><span>[</span>1<span>]</span></a></sup><sup id="cite_ref-McNeill_2-0" class="reference"><a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Imbolc#cite_note-McNeill-2"><span>[</span>2<span>]</span></a></sup> It is one of the four Gaelic seasonal festivals, along with <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Beltane" title="Beltane">Beltane</a>, <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Lughnasadh" title="Lughnasadh">Lughnasadh</a> and <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Samhain" title="Samhain">Samhain</a>.<sup id="cite_ref-3" class="reference"><a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Imbolc#cite_note-3"><span>[</span>3<span>]</span></a></sup> It was observed in <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ireland" title="Ireland">Ireland</a>, <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Scotland" title="Scotland">Scotland</a> and the <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Isle_of_Man" title="Isle of Man">Isle of Man</a>. Kindred festivals were held at the same time of year in other <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Celts" title="Celts">Celtic</a> lands; for example the <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Wales" title="Wales">Welsh</a> <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/G%C5%B5yl_Fair_y_Canhwyllau" title="Gŵyl Fair y Canhwyllau">Gŵyl Fair y Canhwyllau</a>.</p>
<p>Imbolc is mentioned in some of the <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Early_Irish_literature" title="Early Irish literature">earliest Irish literature</a> and it is associated with important events in <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Irish_mythology" title="Irish mythology">Irish mythology</a>. It has been suggested that it was originally a <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Celtic_polytheism" title="Celtic polytheism">pagan</a> festival associated with the goddess <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Brigid" title="Brigid">Brighid</a> and that it was <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Christianization" title="Christianization">Christianized</a> as a festival of <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Brigit_of_Kildare" title="Brigit of Kildare">Saint Brighid</a>, who herself is thought to be a <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Syncretism" title="Syncretism">Christianization</a> of the goddess. At Imbolc, <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Brigid%27s_cross" title="Brigid's cross">Brighid's crosses</a> were made and a <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Doll" title="Doll">doll</a>-like figure of Brighid, called a <i>Brídeóg</i>, would be carried from house-to-house. Brighid was said to visit one's home at Imbolc. To receive her blessings, people would make a bed for Brighid and leave her food and drink, while items of clothing would be left outside for her to bless. Brighid was also invoked to protect livestock. <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Holy_well" title="Holy well">Holy wells</a> were visited and it was also a time for <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Divination" title="Divination">divination</a>.</p>
<p>In Christianity, 1 February is observed as the <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Calendar_of_saints" title="Calendar of saints">feast day</a> of Saint Brighid, especially in Ireland. There, some of the old customs have survived and it is celebrated as a cultural event by some. Since the 20th century, <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Celtic_Neopaganism" title="Celtic Neopaganism" class="mw-redirect">Celtic neopagans</a> and <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Wicca" title="Wicca">Wiccans</a> have observed Imbolc, or something based on Imbolc, as a religious holiday.<sup id="cite_ref-Danaher1_1-1" class="reference"><a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Imbolc#cite_note-Danaher1-1"><span>[</span>1<span>]</span></a></sup><sup id="cite_ref-McNeill_2-1" class="reference"><a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Imbolc#cite_note-McNeill-2"><span>[</span>2<span>]</span></a></sup></p>
<div id="toc" class="toc"><div id="toctitle"><h2>Contents</h2>
</div>
<ul>
<li class="toclevel-1 tocsection-1"><a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Imbolc#Etymology"><span class="tocnumber">1</span> <span class="toctext">Etymology</span></a></li>
<li class="toclevel-1 tocsection-2"><a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Imbolc#Prehistory"><span class="tocnumber">2</span> <span class="toctext">Prehistory</span></a></li>
<li class="toclevel-1 tocsection-3"><a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Imbolc#Historic_Imbolc_customs"><span class="tocnumber">3</span> <span class="toctext">Historic Imbolc customs</span></a><ul>
<li class="toclevel-2 tocsection-4"><a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Imbolc#Brighid"><span class="tocnumber">3.1</span> <span class="toctext">Brighid</span></a></li>
<li class="toclevel-2 tocsection-5"><a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Imbolc#Weather_divination"><span class="tocnumber">3.2</span> <span class="toctext">Weather divination</span></a></li>
</ul>
</li>
<li class="toclevel-1 tocsection-6"><a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Imbolc#Neopaganism"><span class="tocnumber">4</span> <span class="toctext">Neopaganism</span></a><ul>
<li class="toclevel-2 tocsection-7"><a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Imbolc#Celtic_Reconstructionist"><span class="tocnumber">4.1</span> <span class="toctext">Celtic Reconstructionist</span></a></li>
<li class="toclevel-2 tocsection-8"><a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Imbolc#Wicca"><span class="tocnumber">4.2</span> <span class="toctext">Wicca</span></a></li>
</ul>
</li>
<li class="toclevel-1 tocsection-9"><a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Imbolc#See_also"><span class="tocnumber">5</span> <span class="toctext">See also</span></a></li>
<li class="toclevel-1 tocsection-10"><a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Imbolc#References"><span class="tocnumber">6</span> <span class="toctext">References</span></a></li>
<li class="toclevel-1 tocsection-11"><a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Imbolc#Further_reading"><span class="tocnumber">7</span> <span class="toctext">Further reading</span></a></li>
<li class="toclevel-1 tocsection-12"><a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Imbolc#External_links"><span class="tocnumber">8</span> <span class="toctext">External links</span></a></li>
</ul>
</div>
<h2><span class="mw-headline" id="Etymology">Etymology</span></h2>
<p><a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Irish_language" title="Irish language">Irish</a> <i>imbolc</i> derives from the <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Old_Irish" title="Old Irish">Old Irish</a> <i>i mbolg</i> "in the belly". This refers to the pregnancy of ewes.<sup id="cite_ref-Chadwick1_4-0" class="reference"><a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Imbolc#cite_note-Chadwick1-4"><span>[</span>4<span>]</span></a></sup> A medieval glossary etymologizes the term as <i>oimelc</i> "ewe's milk".<sup id="cite_ref-5" class="reference"><a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Imbolc#cite_note-5"><span>[</span>5<span>]</span></a></sup> Some Neopagans use <i>Oimelc</i> as a name for the festival.</p>
<p>Since Imbolc is immediately followed (on 2 February) by <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Candlemas" title="Candlemas" class="mw-redirect">Candlemas</a> (Irish <i>Lá Fhéile <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Muire" title="Muire">Muire</a> na <a href="http://en.wiktionary.org/wiki/coinneal" class="extiw" title="wikt:coinneal">gCoinneal</a></i> "feast day of Mary of the Candles", <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Welsh_language" title="Welsh language">Welsh</a> <i><a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/G%C5%B5yl_Fair_y_Canhwyllau" title="Gŵyl Fair y Canhwyllau">Gŵyl Fair y Canhwyllau</a></i>),<sup id="cite_ref-Mackillop1_6-0" class="reference"><a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Imbolc#cite_note-Mackillop1-6"><span>[</span>6<span>]</span></a></sup> Irish <i>imbolc</i> is sometimes rendered as "Candlemas" in English translation; e.g. <i>iar n-imbulc, ba garb a ngeilt</i> translated as "after Candlemas, rough was their herding".<sup id="cite_ref-7" class="reference"><a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Imbolc#cite_note-7"><span>[</span>7<span>]</span></a></sup></p>
<h2><span class="mw-headline" id="Prehistory">Prehistory</span></h2>
<p>The date of Imbolc is thought to have been significant in Ireland since the <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Neolithic" title="Neolithic">Neolithic</a> period.<sup id="cite_ref-8" class="reference"><a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Imbolc#cite_note-8"><span>[</span>8<span>]</span></a></sup> This is based on the alignment of some <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Megalith" title="Megalith">Megalithic</a> monuments. For example, at the <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Mound_of_the_Hostages" title="Mound of the Hostages">Mound of the Hostages</a> on the <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Hill_of_Tara" title="Hill of Tara">Hill of Tara</a>, the inner chamber is aligned with the rising sun on the dates of Imbolc and Samhain.<sup id="cite_ref-photo_9-0" class="reference"><a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Imbolc#cite_note-photo-9"><span>[</span>9<span>]</span></a></sup><sup id="cite_ref-MOH_10-0" class="reference"><a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Imbolc#cite_note-MOH-10"><span>[</span>10<span>]</span></a></sup></p>
<h2><span class="mw-headline" id="Historic_Imbolc_customs">Historic Imbolc customs</span></h2>
<p>In <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Gaelic_Ireland" title="Gaelic Ireland">Gaelic Ireland</a>, Imbolc was the <i>feis</i> or festival marking the beginning of spring, during which great feasts were held. It is attested in some of the earliest <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Old_Irish_literature" title="Old Irish literature" class="mw-redirect">Old Irish literature</a>, from the 10th century onward. It was one of four Gaelic seasonal festivals: <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Samhain" title="Samhain">Samhain</a> (~1 November), Imbolc (~1 February), <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Beltane" title="Beltane">Beltane</a> (~1 May) and <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Lughnasadh" title="Lughnasadh">Lughnasadh</a> (~1 August). Studies by <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Folkloristics" title="Folkloristics">folklorists</a> from the 18th to 20th centuries tell us how Imbolc was celebrated then, and shed light on how it may have been celebrated in the past.<sup id="cite_ref-McNeill_2-2" class="reference"><a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Imbolc#cite_note-McNeill-2"><span>[</span>2<span>]</span></a></sup><sup id="cite_ref-Danaher2_11-0" class="reference"><a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Imbolc#cite_note-Danaher2-11"><span>[</span>11<span>]</span></a></sup></p>
<div class="thumb tright"><div class="thumbinner" style="width: 252px;"><a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/File:Making_crosses_at_St_Brigids_Well.JPG" class="image"><img alt="" src="http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/c/c4/Making_crosses_at_St_Brigids_Well.JPG/250px-Making_crosses_at_St_Brigids_Well.JPG" class="thumbimage" height="167" width="250"/></a><div class="thumbcaption"><div class="magnify"><a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/File:Making_crosses_at_St_Brigids_Well.JPG" class="internal" title="Enlarge"><img src="http://bits.wikimedia.org/static-1.23wmf10/skins/common/images/magnify-clip.png" alt="" height="11" width="15"/></a></div>
People making <i>Brighid's crosses</i> at St Brighid's Well near <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Liscannor" title="Liscannor">Liscannor</a></div>
</div>
</div>
<p>Imbolc has been traditionally associated with the onset of lactation of ewes and the lambing season.<sup id="cite_ref-koch287_12-0" class="reference"><a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Imbolc#cite_note-koch287-12"><span>[</span>12<span>]</span></a></sup> This could vary by as much as two weeks before or after the start of February.<sup id="cite_ref-Chadwick1_4-1" class="reference"><a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Imbolc#cite_note-Chadwick1-4"><span>[</span>4<span>]</span></a></sup> However, the timing of agrarian festivals can vary widely, given regional variations in climate. This has led to some debate about both the timing and origins of the festival. The <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Blackthorn" title="Blackthorn" class="mw-redirect">Blackthorn</a> is said to bloom at Imbolc.<sup id="cite_ref-13" class="reference"><a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Imbolc#cite_note-13"><span>[</span>13<span>]</span></a></sup> The holiday was a festival of the hearth and home, and a celebration of the lengthening days and the early signs of spring. Celebrations often involved hearthfires, special foods (butter, milk, and <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Bannock_%28food%29" title="Bannock (food)">bannocks</a>, for example), divination or watching for omens, candles or a bonfire if the weather permitted.<sup id="cite_ref-Danaher1_1-2" class="reference"><a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Imbolc#cite_note-Danaher1-1"><span>[</span>1<span>]</span></a></sup><sup id="cite_ref-McNeill_2-3" class="reference"><a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Imbolc#cite_note-McNeill-2"><span>[</span>2<span>]</span></a></sup> Fire and purification were an important part of the festival. The lighting of candles and fires represented the return of warmth and the increasing power of the Sun over the coming months.<sup id="cite_ref-Chadwick1_4-2" class="reference"><a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Imbolc#cite_note-Chadwick1-4"><span>[</span>4<span>]</span></a></sup></p>
<p><a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Holy_well" title="Holy well">Holy wells</a> were also visited at Imbolc, and at the other Gaelic festivals of Beltane and Lughnasadh. Visitors to holy wells would pray for health while walking 'sunwise' around the well. They would then leave offerings; typically coins or <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Clootie" title="Clootie">clooties</a> (see <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Clootie_well" title="Clootie well">clootie well</a>). Water from the wells may have been used to bless things.<sup id="cite_ref-14" class="reference"><a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Imbolc#cite_note-14"><span>[</span>14<span>]</span></a></sup></p>
<h3><span class="mw-headline" id="Brighid">Brighid</span></h3>
<div class="thumb tleft"><div class="thumbinner" style="width: 202px;"><a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/File:Stbrigid.jpg" class="image"><img alt="" src="http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/0/09/Stbrigid.jpg/200px-Stbrigid.jpg" class="thumbimage" height="280" width="200"/></a><div class="thumbcaption"><div class="magnify"><a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/File:Stbrigid.jpg" class="internal" title="Enlarge"><img src="http://bits.wikimedia.org/static-1.23wmf10/skins/common/images/magnify-clip.png" alt="" height="11" width="15"/></a></div>
Saint Brighid in a stained-glass window</div>
</div>
</div>
<p>Imbolc is strongly associated with <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Brigit_of_Kildare" title="Brigit of Kildare">Saint Brighid</a> (Old Irish: <i>Brigit</i>, modern Irish: <i>Bríd</i>, modern Scottish Gaelic: <i>Brìghde</i> or <i>Brìd</i>, anglicized <i>Bridget</i>). Saint Brighid is thought to have been based on <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Brigid" title="Brigid">Brighid</a>, a Gaelic goddess.<sup id="cite_ref-Mackillop2_15-0" class="reference"><a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Imbolc#cite_note-Mackillop2-15"><span>[</span>15<span>]</span></a></sup> The festival, which celebrates the onset of spring, is thought to be linked with Brighid in her role as a fertility goddess.<sup id="cite_ref-koch287_12-1" class="reference"><a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Imbolc#cite_note-koch287-12"><span>[</span>12<span>]</span></a></sup></p>
<p>On Imbolc Eve, Brighid was said to visit virtuous households and bless the inhabitants as they slept.<sup id="cite_ref-stations_16-0" class="reference"><a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Imbolc#cite_note-stations-16"><span>[</span>16<span>]</span></a></sup> As Brighid represented the light half of the year, and the power that will bring people from the dark season of winter into spring, her presence was very important at this time of year.<sup id="cite_ref-McNeill_2-4" class="reference"><a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Imbolc#cite_note-McNeill-2"><span>[</span>2<span>]</span></a></sup><sup id="cite_ref-Carmina5_17-0" class="reference"><a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Imbolc#cite_note-Carmina5-17"><span>[</span>17<span>]</span></a></sup> In the 19th century, families would have a supper on Imbolc Eve to mark the end of winter. Often, some of the food and drink would be set aside for Brighid.<sup id="cite_ref-stations_16-1" class="reference"><a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Imbolc#cite_note-stations-16"><span>[</span>16<span>]</span></a></sup> Before going to bed, items of clothing or strips of cloth would be left outside for Brighid to bless.<sup id="cite_ref-stations_16-2" class="reference"><a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Imbolc#cite_note-stations-16"><span>[</span>16<span>]</span></a></sup> Ashes from the fire would be raked smooth and, in the morning, they would look for some kind of mark on the ashes as a sign that Brighid had visited.<sup id="cite_ref-stations_16-3" class="reference"><a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Imbolc#cite_note-stations-16"><span>[</span>16<span>]</span></a></sup><sup id="cite_ref-monaghan256_18-0" class="reference"><a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Imbolc#cite_note-monaghan256-18"><span>[</span>18<span>]</span></a></sup> The clothes or strips of cloth would be brought inside, and believed to now have powers of healing and protection.<sup id="cite_ref-McNeill_2-5" class="reference"><a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Imbolc#cite_note-McNeill-2"><span>[</span>2<span>]</span></a></sup><sup id="cite_ref-Carmina5_17-1" class="reference"><a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Imbolc#cite_note-Carmina5-17"><span>[</span>17<span>]</span></a></sup> In Mann during the 18th century, the custom was to gather a bundle of rushes, stand at the door, and invite Brighid into the house by saying "Brede, Brede, come to my house tonight. Open the door for Brede and let Brede come in". The rushes were then strewn on the floor as a carpet or bed for Brighid. In the 19th century, some old Manx women would make a bed for Brighid in the barn with food, ale, and a candle on a table.<sup id="cite_ref-stations_16-4" class="reference"><a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Imbolc#cite_note-stations-16"><span>[</span>16<span>]</span></a></sup> In the Hebrides in the late 18th century, a bed of hay would be made for Brighid and someone would then go outside and call out three times: "<i>a Bhríd, a Bhríd, thig a sligh as gabh do leabaidh</i>" ("Bríd Bríd, come in; thy bed is ready").<sup id="cite_ref-stations_16-5" class="reference"><a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Imbolc#cite_note-stations-16"><span>[</span>16<span>]</span></a></sup> In the early 19th century, the people of the Hebrides held feasts, at which women would dance while holding a large cloth and calling "<i>Bridean, Bridean, thig an nall 's dean do leabaidh</i>" ("Bríd Bríd, come over and make your bed"). However, by this time the bed itself was rarely made.<sup id="cite_ref-stations_16-6" class="reference"><a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Imbolc#cite_note-stations-16"><span>[</span>16<span>]</span></a></sup></p>
<div class="thumb tright"><div class="thumbinner" style="width: 222px;"><a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/File:Saint_Brigid%27s_cross.jpg" class="image"><img alt="" src="http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/b/bd/Saint_Brigid%27s_cross.jpg/220px-Saint_Brigid%27s_cross.jpg" class="thumbimage" height="214" width="220"/></a><div class="thumbcaption"><div class="magnify"><a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/File:Saint_Brigid%27s_cross.jpg" class="internal" title="Enlarge"><img src="http://bits.wikimedia.org/static-1.23wmf10/skins/common/images/magnify-clip.png" alt="" height="11" width="15"/></a></div>
A <i>Brighid's cross</i></div>
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<p>In Ireland and Scotland, girls and young women would make a <i>Brídeóg</i> (also called a 'Breedhoge' or 'Biddy'), a <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Doll" title="Doll">doll</a>-like figure of Brighid made from <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Juncus" title="Juncus">rushes</a> or <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Reed_%28plant%29" title="Reed (plant)">reeds</a>.<sup id="cite_ref-stations_16-7" class="reference"><a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Imbolc#cite_note-stations-16"><span>[</span>16<span>]</span></a></sup> It would be clad in bits of cloth, shells and/or flowers.<sup id="cite_ref-stations_16-8" class="reference"><a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Imbolc#cite_note-stations-16"><span>[</span>16<span>]</span></a></sup><sup id="cite_ref-monaghan256_18-1" class="reference"><a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Imbolc#cite_note-monaghan256-18"><span>[</span>18<span>]</span></a></sup> In the <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Hebrides" title="Hebrides">Hebrides</a> of Scotland, a bright shell or crystal called the <i>reul-iuil Bríde</i> (guiding star of Brighid) was set on its chest. The girls would carry it in procession while singing a hymn to Brighid. All wore white with their hair unbound as a symbol of purity and youth. They visited every house in the area, where they received either food or more decoration for the Brídeóg. Afterwards, they feasted in a house with the Brídeóg set in a place of honor, and put it to bed with lullabies. When the meal was done, the local young men humbly asked for admission, made obeisance to the Brídeóg, and joined the girls in dancing and merrymaking until dawn.<sup id="cite_ref-stations_16-9" class="reference"><a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Imbolc#cite_note-stations-16"><span>[</span>16<span>]</span></a></sup> In the late 17th century, Catholic families in the Hebrides would make a bed for the Brídeóg out of a basket.<sup id="cite_ref-stations_16-10" class="reference"><a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Imbolc#cite_note-stations-16"><span>[</span>16<span>]</span></a></sup> In parts of Ireland, the Brídeóg was carried from house-to-house by children who asked for pennies for "poor Biddy". In many parts, only unwed girls could carry the Brídeóg, but in some places both boys and girls carried it.<sup id="cite_ref-19" class="reference"><a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Imbolc#cite_note-19"><span>[</span>19<span>]</span></a></sup> Up until the mid 20th century, children still went from house-to-house asking for money for the poor. In <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/County_Kerry" title="County Kerry">County Kerry</a>, men in white robes went from house-to-house singing.<sup id="cite_ref-20" class="reference"><a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Imbolc#cite_note-20"><span>[</span>20<span>]</span></a></sup></p>
<p><a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Brigid%27s_cross" title="Brigid's cross">Brighid's crosses</a> (<i>pictured on the right</i>) were made at Imbolc. A Brighid's cross consists of rushes woven into a shape similar to a <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Swastika" title="Swastika">swastika</a>, with a square in the middle and four arms protruding from each corner. They were often hung over doors, windows and stables to welcome Brighid and protect the buildings from fire and lightning. The crosses were generally left there until the next Imbolc.<sup id="cite_ref-stations_16-11" class="reference"><a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Imbolc#cite_note-stations-16"><span>[</span>16<span>]</span></a></sup> In western <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Connacht" title="Connacht">Connacht</a>, people would make a <i>Crios Bríde</i> (Bríd's girdle); a great ring of rushes with a cross woven in the middle. Young boys would carry it around the village, inviting people to step through it and so be blessed.<sup id="cite_ref-stations_16-12" class="reference"><a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Imbolc#cite_note-stations-16"><span>[</span>16<span>]</span></a></sup></p>
<p>Today, some people still make Brighid's crosses and Brídeógs or visit holy wells dedicated to St Brighid on 1 February.<sup id="cite_ref-21" class="reference"><a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Imbolc#cite_note-21"><span>[</span>21<span>]</span></a></sup></p>
<h3><span class="mw-headline" id="Weather_divination">Weather divination</span></h3>
<div class="thumb tright"><div class="thumbinner" style="width: 252px;"><a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/File:Snowdrop.JPG" class="image"><img alt="" src="http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/5/5d/Snowdrop.JPG/250px-Snowdrop.JPG" class="thumbimage" height="188" width="250"/></a><div class="thumbcaption"><div class="magnify"><a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/File:Snowdrop.JPG" class="internal" title="Enlarge"><img src="http://bits.wikimedia.org/static-1.23wmf10/skins/common/images/magnify-clip.png" alt="" height="11" width="15"/></a></div>
Snowdrops in the snow</div>
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<p>Imbolc was traditionally a time of weather <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Divination" title="Divination">divination</a>, and the old tradition of watching to see if serpents or badgers came from their winter dens may be a forerunner to the North American <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Groundhog_Day" title="Groundhog Day">Groundhog Day</a>. A Scottish Gaelic proverb about the day is:</p>
<blockquote><p><i>Thig an nathair as an toll</i></p>
<p><i>Là donn Brìde,</i><br/> <i>Ged robh trì troighean dhen t-sneachd</i><br/> <i>Air leac an làir.</i><br/> "The serpent will come from the hole<br/> On the brown Day of Bríde,<br/> Though there should be three feet of snow</p>
On the flat surface of the ground." <sup id="cite_ref-Carmina1_22-0" class="reference"><a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Imbolc#cite_note-Carmina1-22"><span>[</span>22<span>]</span></a></sup></blockquote>
<p>Imbolc was believed to be when the <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Cailleach" title="Cailleach">Cailleach</a>—the divine <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Hag" title="Hag">hag</a> of Gaelic tradition—gathers her firewood for the rest of the winter. Legend has it that if she wishes to make the winter last a good while longer, she will make sure the weather on Imbolc is bright and sunny, so she can gather plenty of firewood. Therefore, people would be relieved if Imbolc is a day of foul weather, as it means the Cailleach is asleep and winter is almost over.<sup id="cite_ref-Briggs2_23-0" class="reference"><a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Imbolc#cite_note-Briggs2-23"><span>[</span>23<span>]</span></a></sup> At Imbolc on the Isle of Man, where she is known as <i>Caillagh ny Groamagh</i>, the Cailleach is said to take the form of a gigantic bird carrying sticks in her beak.<sup id="cite_ref-Briggs2_23-1" class="reference"><a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Imbolc#cite_note-Briggs2-23"><span>[</span>23<span>]</span></a></sup></p>The Celtic Roots of Halloweentag:worldviewzmedia.net,2013-10-31:2098065:BlogPost:894942013-10-31T19:30:00.000ZRobert Dakotahttp://worldviewzmedia.net/profile/RobertDakota
<div class="center"><h1>Samhain (Samain) - The Celtic roots of Halloween</h1>
<div>Sent by Martin Gray <a href="http://www.SacredSites.com">www.SacredSites.com</a></div>
<div>Created by</div>
<div><a href="http://www.newgrange.com/samhain.htm" target="_blank">http://www.newgrange.com/samhain.htm</a></div>
<div>An excerpt from <a href="http://www.newgrange.com/tlachtga.htm">Tlachtga: Celtic Fire Festival</a> by <em>John Gilroy</em>.…</div>
</div>
<div class="center"><h1>Samhain (Samain) - The Celtic roots of Halloween</h1>
<div>Sent by Martin Gray <a href="http://www.SacredSites.com">www.SacredSites.com</a></div>
<div>Created by</div>
<div><a target="_blank" href="http://www.newgrange.com/samhain.htm">http://www.newgrange.com/samhain.htm</a></div>
<div>An excerpt from <a href="http://www.newgrange.com/tlachtga.htm">Tlachtga: Celtic Fire Festival</a> by <em>John Gilroy</em>.</div>
<a href="http://www.knowth.com/hill-of-ward.htm"><img alt="Tlachtga where the Great Fire Festival at Samhain was celebrated" src="http://www.newgrange.com/images/tlachtga.jpg" height="312" width="760"/></a><br/> Tlachtga where the Great Fire Festival at Samhain was celebrated.</div>
<p><br/> As millions of children and adults participate in the fun of Halloween on the night of October 31st, few will be aware of its ancient Celtic roots in the Samhain (Samain) festival. In Celtic Ireland about 2,000 years ago, Samhain was the division of the year between the lighter half (summer) and the darker half (winter). At Samhain the division between this world and the otherworld was at its thinnest, allowing spirits to pass through. <br/> <br/> The family's ancestors were honoured and invited home whilst harmful spirits were warded off. People wore costumes and masks to disguise themselves as harmful spirits and thus avoid harm. Bonfires and food played a large part in the festivities. The bones of slaughtered livestock were cast into a communal fire, household fires were extinguished and started again from the bonfire. Food was prepared for the living and the dead, food for the ancestors who were in no position it eat it, was ritually shared with the less well off. <br/> <br/> Christianity incorporated the honouring of the dead into the Christian calendar with All Saints (All Hallows) on November 1st, followed by All Souls on November 2nd. The wearing of costumes and masks to ward off harmful spirits survived as Halloween customs. The Irish emigrated to America in great numbers during the 19th century especially around the time of famine in Ireland during the 1840's. The Irish carried their Halloween traditions to America, where today it is one of the major holidays of the year. Through time other traditions have blended into Halloween, for example the American harvest time tradition of carving pumpkins.<br/> <br/> Two hills in the Boyne Valley were associated with Samhain in Celtic Ireland, <a href="http://www.knowth.com/hill-of-ward.htm">Tlachtga</a> and <a href="http://www.knowth.com/tara.htm">Tara</a>. Tlachtga was the location of the Great Fire Festival which begun on the eve of Samhain (Halloween). Tara was also associated with Samhain, however it was secondary to Tlachtga in this respect.<br/> <br/> The entrance passage to the <a href="http://www.knowth.com/tara-samhain.htm">Mound of the Hostages</a> on the Hill of Tara is aligned with the rising sun around Samhain. The Mound of the Hostages is 4,500 to 5000 years old, suggesting that Samhain was celebrated long before the first <a href="http://www.knowth.com/celts.htm">Celts</a> arrived in Ireland about 2,500 years ago.<br/> <br/></p>
<div class="center"><a href="http://www.knowth.com/tara.htm"><img alt="Celtic Earth Works on the Hill of Tara" src="http://www.newgrange.com/images/tara.jpg" height="324" width="760"/></a><br/> Celtic Earth Works on the Hill of Tara</div>
<h1>The Diwali Festival</h1>
<p>The Hindu Diwali (Divali, Deepavali) Festival known as the Festival of Lights occurs about the same time as Samhain. Diwali marks the Hindu New Year just as Samhain marks the Celtic New Year, could it be that Diwali and Samhain have a common root in antiquity? <br/></p>
<h1>Samhain / Halloween</h1>
<p>An excerpt from <a href="http://www.newgrange.com/tlachtga.htm">Tlachtga: Celtic Fire Festival</a> by <em>John Gilroy</em>.</p>
<p>The Festival of Samhain marked the end of the Celtic year and the beginning of the new one and as such can be seen to the equivalent of New Year's Eve. We have seen how the <a href="http://www.knowth.com/celts.htm">Celts</a> believed that night preceded day and so the festivities took place on the Eve of Samhain. There is no doubt that that this festival was the most important of the four Celtic Festivals. Samhain was a crucial time of year, loaded with symbolic significance for the pre-Christian Irish. The celebrations at Tlachtga may have had their origins in a fertility rite on the hill but it gathered to itself a corpus of other beliefs which crystallised at the great Fire Festival.</p>
<p>The perceptible, and apparent, decline in the strength of the sun at this time of year was a source of anxiety for early man and the lighting of the Winter Fires here symbolised mans attempt to assist the sun on its journey across the skies. Fire is the earthly counterpart of the sun and is a powerful and appropriate symbol to express mans helplessness in the face of the overwhelming sense of the decay of nature as the winter sets in.</p>
<p>Now the sun has descended into the realm of the underworld, the forces of the underworld were in the ascendency. The lord of the underworld, unfettered from the control of the sun, now walked the earth and with him travelled all those other creatures from the abode of the dead. Ghosts, fairies and a host of other non-descript creatures went with him. The Lord of the Dead in Celtic mythology can be identified as Donn.</p>
<p>Mythology tells us that when the invaders of Ireland known as the Miliseans landed at the Boyne, they made their way to Tara. Once there, they were advised by the Druids that they should return to their ships and sail off the shore to the length of nine waves. When they were on the sea a great storm arose which scattered their fleet. The commander of one of the ships was Donn. His ship was broken to pieces in the storm and he himself drowned along with twenty four of his comrades. He was buried on the Skellig Islands off the coast of Kerry.</p>
<p>He is the first of the new wave of invaders to meet his death in Ireland and, as such, he became elevated to the status of god of the dead. The place of his burial became known as Tech Donn - The house of Donn, and soon became identified with with the otherworld. The Celts were fascinated with tracing their ancestry back as far as they could and often they identified their earliest ancestors with the gods of their peoples. Hence, a belief arose that when they died they went to the house of their ancestor, the god of the otherworld.</p>
<p>It is interesting to note that the abode of Donn, on the Skellig Islands, is just a few miles from the traditional home of Mog Ruith at Valentia Island. As well as being geographical neighbours, both are closely associated with Samhain, when it can be said that Mog Ruith as sungod sojourns at the realm of the underworld, the abode of Donn.</p>
<p>Donn is seen as a retiring god who prefers the isolation of the bleak Skelligs and remains aloof from the other gods. His name means "brown" and he is associated with the shadowy realm of the dead. O'hOgain tells us that a ninth century text attributes a highly significant quotation to him "To me, to my house, you shall come after your death"</p>
<p>Many other sources say that the dead assemble at his house and describe deceased people travelling to and from here. Fishermen in the area were wont to hear strange boats passing to the island at night and the names of those who disembarked were called out. Later Christian writers claimed that the souls of the damned lingered at his house before departing for hell. Not surprisingly, aspects of his personage have been adapted by Christian writers in their portrayal of the devil.</p>
<p>Samhain being the feast of the dead can now be clearly seen as incorporating the cult of Donn into its celebrations but how they did so remains uncertain. The Fires were in all likelihood lit in honour of the sungod - here manifesting as Mog Ruith, but certain other of the trappings are clearly associated with the Lord of the Dead. The idea that Samhain is a juncture between the two halves of the year saw it acquiring the unique status of being suspended in time - it did not belong to the old year not the new. It could be said that time stood still on this night and the implications of this were immense. During this night the natural order of life was thrown into chaos and the earthly world of the living became hopelessly entangled with the world of the dead. But the world of the dead was itself a complicated place, peopled not only by the spirits of the departed, but also with a host of gods, fairies and other creatures of uncertain nature.</p>
<p>The unwary traveller, caught away from home on this night, could expect to encounter any one or many of these creatures and it was always advisable to stay indoors. Ghosts were everywhere and may or may not have been harmful to the living. It is interesting to note that the manuscripts tells us that all fires in the country must be extinguished on this night and could only be relit from the great flames from Tlachtga. This, of course, is not to taken literally but symbolised the brief and temporary ascendency of the powers of darkness at this time of year.</p>
<p>During this period all the world was in darkness and the dead were abroad. When the fire at Tlachtga was lit, it gave the signal that all was well and all other fires could now be relit. The fires at Talchtga were the public celebration of the victory of light, while the relighting of the household fire marked the domestic celebration of the feast. Now the spirits of dead ancestors could be welcomed back into the home with safety and posed no threat to the household. This theme is repeated constantly in Irish literature. MacCollugh tells us that the cult of the dead culminated at the family health. Very often the spirits of ancestors sought warmth around the fireside on this night. Fires were left lighting in the grate to warm the spirits and food was left out for them. Even though the ancestral ghosts were benign, it was still a good idea to avoid them by going to bed early.</p>
<p>However, the ghosts may not have been entirely benign. They needed some sort of appeasement in the form of ritual offerings on this night. So long as the offering was forthcoming the ghosts were happy and benevolent, but if the offering was withheld another side of the ghosts features were presented. Bad luck would descend on the household and all would not be well the coming year. Some vestiges of this tradition may survived in the modern Halloween custom of "trick or treat". Children, dressed as ghosts and witches, invite the household to make a donation or face the consequences. The 'treat' may represent the ritual offering while the 'trick', nowadays a harmless prank, may have in antiquity, represented the malevolent consequences of inadequately appeasing the ancestral ghost on this night.</p>
<p>But it was not just time that was dislocated at Samhain. Just as the festival stands on the boundary between Summer and Winter, all other boundaries were in danger at this time. The boundaries between a mans land and his neighbours were a dangerous place to be on this night. Ghosts were to be found along these points and a style between adjacent land was a place of particular dread and best avoided. Bridges and crossroads were also likely places to encounter ghosts. Naturally enough, burial places were avoided on all nights but particularly on this night. Every sort of a ghost was to be seen here and the dead mingled freely with the living.</p>
<p>The practice of divination - telling the future, was an important part of everyday life for the Celts and it is certain that this art formed a central part of the festivities occurred at Tlachtga at Samhain. Vestiges of this can be seen today at Halloween are familiar with the practice of going to the church at midnight on Halloween and standing in the porch. The courageous observer will see the spirits of those who will die in the coming year if he watches closely, but runs the risk of meeting himself. Similarity, girls watching in a mirror on this night will see the image of the man they will marry but also run the risk of seeing the devil.</p>
<p>Those brave enough to go to a grave yard at midnight and walk three times around the graves will be offered a glimpse the future but again run the risk of meeting the devil. This latter example is interesting as it preserves the three time sunwise turn so important to the Celts in the ritual. The possibility of meeting the devil may represent the well known Christian attempt to associate the pagan god of the dead with the devil of Christian belief. This being the case, Donn the Lord of the Dead, left his island home on this night and travelled freely throughout the country. Whether he carried off souls is unclear, but it is likely that he did. The ritual offerings on the Winter Fires may have been an attempt to appease him until, such time in history, he was replaced on the arrival of Christianity by the devil.</p>
<p>The early Irish manuscripts are littered with references to the magical significance of Samhain. It marked the end of the fighting and hunting season for the warrior troop known as the Fianna. At Samhain they retreated into winter camp, quartering themselves on the general population until the return of Summer at <a href="http://www.newgrange.com/beltane.htm">Beltainne</a>. Fionn MacCumhail chose Samhain as the time to present himself before the court at Tara for the first time, while it was also at Samhain that the god Lugh made his dramatic entrance to the same court. The Connaught queen, Meave, waited until <a href="http://www.newgrange.com/samhain.htm">Samhain</a> before setting out on the great Cattle Raid of Cooley.</p>
<p>Fionn MacCumhail, Lugh and Cuchulainn - Meave's opponent, are the three great figures of Irish mythology and it is interesting to note how Samhain is the time chosen by the writers to introduce their arrival on the scene. The Battle of Mag Tuired (supposedly in County Mayo) was fought at Samhain. It seems that when the early writers wish to impart a magical quality to the events they are depicting, they choose the Festival of Samhain for the occasion. There remains little doubt that Samhain held a central place in the imagination of the Celts, where the festivities associated with several local gods became entangled, over the course of perhaps a thousand years, with the feast of the god of the dead. Remnants of these celebrations have come down to us in our own celebrations of Halloween.</p>
<p>An excerpt from <a href="http://www.newgrange.com/tlachtga.htm">Tlachtga: Celtic Fire Festival</a> by <em>John Gilroy</em>.</p>
<p><br/> Ancient cultures such as the Neolithic (Stone Age) people who build Newgrange in Ireland aligned their monuments to the major solar events, the <a href="http://www.newgrange.com/winter_solstice.htm">Winter Solstice</a>, the <a href="http://www.knowth.com/loughcrew-equinox.htm">Spring Equinox</a>, the <a href="http://www.newgrange.com/carrowkeel-solstice.htm">Summer Solstice</a> and the <a href="http://www.knowth.com/loughcrew-equinox.htm">Autumn Equinox</a>. The solar year was further divided to mark the half way points between the major solar events giving the cross quarter days of <a href="http://www.newgrange.com/imbolc.htm">Imbolc</a>, <a href="http://www.newgrange.com/beltane.htm">Beltane</a>, <a href="http://www.newgrange.com/lughnasadh.htm">Lughnasadh</a> and <a href="http://www.newgrange.com/samhain.htm">Samhain</a>.</p>Waitaha Water Ceremony Sunday Oct 20thtag:worldviewzmedia.net,2013-09-29:2098065:BlogPost:896172013-09-29T21:27:28.000ZRobert Dakotahttp://worldviewzmedia.net/profile/RobertDakota
<p>Hello WVZ Community and Sedona,</p>
<p>We are very honored and privileged to share with you that we will have a Waitaha Grandmother coming to share with us about Song of Waitaha. Waitaha means "water carrier" so together with Eva Maurice and 3 Trees we are presenting an invitation to join us for an outdoor evening of potluck feast, water ceremony, with the intent of healing the feminine within in us all. The Women's Group that Eva creates with has offered to open the space for men to join…</p>
<p>Hello WVZ Community and Sedona,</p>
<p>We are very honored and privileged to share with you that we will have a Waitaha Grandmother coming to share with us about Song of Waitaha. Waitaha means "water carrier" so together with Eva Maurice and 3 Trees we are presenting an invitation to join us for an outdoor evening of potluck feast, water ceremony, with the intent of healing the feminine within in us all. The Women's Group that Eva creates with has offered to open the space for men to join as well, usually this is a women only gathering... 3 Trees will also be creating magic with a sound healing group session to compliment the ceremony. There will be an outdoor fire, so please feel welcome seating limited by first come RSVP RobertDako884@worldviewzmedia.net</p>
<p>Also you will need to bring: </p>
<p>$10.00 "Koha"= Donation for our Grandmother and hosts Please bring a vegetarian dish to share at the feast, Bring a mat/blanket /cushion / or outdoor fold up chair, bring whatever you would like to represent you on the altar ie, crystals... </p>
<p>Our Waitaha Grandmother will have books with her and speak about the "Song Of Waitaha" and have her books with her available for signing with her.</p>
<p><a target="_self" href="http://storage.ning.com/topology/rest/1.0/file/get/398645845?profile=original"><img class="align-full" src="http://storage.ning.com/topology/rest/1.0/file/get/398645845?profile=original" width="587"></a>This 10 min Clip Shows our last Waitaha Gathering 08</p>
<p><object width="456" height="260" classid="clsid:d27cdb6e-ae6d-11cf-96b8-444553540000" codebase="http://download.macromedia.com/pub/shockwave/cabs/flash/swflash.cab#version=6,0,40,0"><param name="wmode" value="opaque"><param name="src" value="http://static.ning.com/socialnetworkmain/widgets/video/flvplayer/flvplayer.swf?xn_version=3704000907"><param name="flashvars" value="config=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.worldviewzmedia.net%2Fvideo%2Fvideo%2FshowPlayerConfig%3Fid%3D2098065%253AVideo%253A4606%26ck%3D-&video_smoothing=on&autoplay=off&hideShareLink=1&isEmbedCode=1"><param name="scale" value="noscale"><param name="allowscriptaccess" value="never"><param name="allowfullscreen" value="false"><param name="pluginspage" value="http://www.macromedia.com/go/getflashplayer"><embed wmode="opaque" width="456" height="260" type="application/x-shockwave-flash" src="http://static.ning.com/socialnetworkmain/widgets/video/flvplayer/flvplayer.swf?xn_version=3704000907" flashvars="config=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.worldviewzmedia.net%2Fvideo%2Fvideo%2FshowPlayerConfig%3Fid%3D2098065%253AVideo%253A4606%26ck%3D-&video_smoothing=on&autoplay=off&hideShareLink=1&isEmbedCode=1" scale="noscale" allowscriptaccess="never" allowfullscreen="false" pluginspage="http://www.macromedia.com/go/getflashplayer" bgcolor="#332C1A"> </object> <br /><small><a href="http://www.worldviewzmedia.net/video/video">Find more videos like this on <em>World Viewz</em></a></small><br /></p>Excerpt from my book "Awakening the Harmony Within" (the "Mind Mastery" chapter):tag:worldviewzmedia.net,2013-09-05:2098065:BlogPost:868512013-09-05T07:15:47.000ZEugenia Oganovahttp://worldviewzmedia.net/profile/EugeniaOganova
<p><font face="Verdana" style="font-size: 13px;">"Fully embodying the belief that we create our reality frees our consciousness range from self-imposed limitations. This is the first step of the path of Self-Mastery – the mastery of the Mind. We become aware that we are responsible not only for our actions, but also for every thought we have. We then recognize that we must become disciplined in tracking these thoughts to their conceptual origins, and facing head on our fears and misconceptions.…</font></p>
<p><font face="Verdana" style="font-size: 13px;">"Fully embodying the belief that we create our reality frees our consciousness range from self-imposed limitations. This is the first step of the path of Self-Mastery – the mastery of the Mind. We become aware that we are responsible not only for our actions, but also for every thought we have. We then recognize that we must become disciplined in tracking these thoughts to their conceptual origins, and facing head on our fears and misconceptions. <br/><br/>At first this process is much harder than the victim way of life, when we simply blame others, the world, or life for our problems. It is difficult and takes incredible vigilance to be able to pay attention to feelings and thoughts – all of them! <br/>People who are more mentally inclined might find it easier to track the thoughts, while those more emotionally inclined would find tracking their feelings easier. But in the end the result is the same – it leads us to the origin of the belief (we can feel it, or know it, or remember the actual circumstance) so we can change it."<br/></font></p>A Call for "Unified Prayer" Worldwide Sunday 09.08.13 12pm Wherever You are NOWtag:worldviewzmedia.net,2013-09-02:2098065:BlogPost:861902013-09-02T12:00:00.000ZRobert Dakotahttp://worldviewzmedia.net/profile/RobertDakota
<p>“Unified Prayer” Hello all, I don’t know if you have also noticed but there have been a lot of calls for prayer and for uniting in prayer worldwide.</p>
<p>Here are just a few examples:</p>
<p>Neil Donald Walsch</p>
<p><a href="http://www.theglobalconversation.com/blog/?p=6457">http://www.theglobalconversation.com/blog/?p=6457</a></p>
<p>Larry Dossey</p>
<p><a href="http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=YkBimVRJgGU">http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=YkBimVRJgGU</a></p>
<p align="left"><b>Power…</b></p>
<p>“Unified Prayer” Hello all, I don’t know if you have also noticed but there have been a lot of calls for prayer and for uniting in prayer worldwide.</p>
<p>Here are just a few examples:</p>
<p>Neil Donald Walsch</p>
<p><a href="http://www.theglobalconversation.com/blog/?p=6457">http://www.theglobalconversation.com/blog/?p=6457</a></p>
<p>Larry Dossey</p>
<p><a href="http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=YkBimVRJgGU">http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=YkBimVRJgGU</a></p>
<p align="left"><b>Power of Prayer, Holy Water</b></p>
<p align="left"><b><a href="http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0__cYJD8jlo">http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0__cYJD8jlo</a></b></p>
<p align="left">"Inori:Prayer-Conversation with Something Great"</p>
<p align="left"><b><a href="http://officetetsushiratori.jp/pg222.html">http://officetetsushiratori.jp/pg222.html</a></b></p>
<p><span class="font-size-2">Water a Malleable Natural Computer on Earth</span></p>
<p><a href="http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=j51I7YYua_Y">http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=j51I7YYua_Y</a></p>
<p></p>
<p>There are at least a half dozen and probably more severe crisis situations we are looking at worldwide that could use the attention of our prayers. I observed personally when I was in theology school that prayer was probably given less priority in our lives than we give to our general hygiene. I also observed during my university days that “crisis” creates bonds… Why is that we need “crisis” to act on for our own benefit. The most “simple” inner technology that could change everything is literally at the tip of our tongue! I am writing you from Japan, which if you are connected to any news source you are aware of the crisis here, but you should also know that this is not a local issue this effects us all!</p>
<p>This is the impetus for us calling for “Unified Prayer” worldwide as many are feeling the need for at the same time. We are holding a prayer gathering on Sunday 09.08.13 12pm noon <a href="http://www.worldtimezone.com">http://www.worldtimezone.com</a> here in Japan with ATIH people who have training and experience in meditation and prayer. We will invite other ATIH teachers worldwide to join us with their ATIH people. We also invite people worldwide to join in prayer for “Unified Prayer”. We will offer our prayers with water and then return that water to Mother Earth for healing and peace worldwide.</p>
<p>Every spiritual tradition on Earth has a tradition for prayer and a tradition of using water in those prayers. So we have more in common than we have in difference and if we can unite on that level for peace and healing wherever we are NOW, that can create peace as well as healing locally then united together we can create peace and healing worldwide with blessings of love to the water then give it back to Mother Earth. We can continue to offer prayer together, to give gratitude and love to water often, we can do this so often that we dream and imagine into existence our New Earth. Thank you for considering this request.</p>
<p>See you in the Heart wherever you are NOW. </p>
<p> </p>
<p>“Now is the time we should be living in our highest gratitude even when looking at the most worse possible outcome... Once we overcome that perspective all evil departs from our radiance! Let love shine bright within us all so that no division may separate us from our true love!”</p>
<p>Robert Dakota</p>
<p> </p>
<p>PS Please look into your own ancestry and/or traditions and find out what are the most Sacred elements; just for note the 3 most important traditional sacred elements in Japan are #1 Water, #2 Salt, #3 Hemp </p>
<p><a href="http://storage.ning.com/topology/rest/1.0/file/get/398644093?profile=original" target="_self"><img src="http://storage.ning.com/topology/rest/1.0/file/get/398644093?profile=RESIZE_1024x1024" width="750" class="align-center"></a></p>
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<p><a href="http://storage.ning.com/topology/rest/1.0/file/get/398645950?profile=original" target="_self"><img src="http://storage.ning.com/topology/rest/1.0/file/get/398645950?profile=RESIZE_1024x1024" width="750" class="align-center"></a></p>Planetary Grid Projectiontag:worldviewzmedia.net,2013-08-12:2098065:BlogPost:826482013-08-12T03:42:14.000ZRobert Dakotahttp://worldviewzmedia.net/profile/RobertDakota
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<If vibration is the behaviour of energy, and the universe is energetic in nature, the shouldn't we see geometry (the signature of vibration) in the energy of the earth? Among these grids is the the Becker-Hagens planetary grid. The 12 points of this grid were plotted originally by Ivan Sanderson who identified areas on earth where anomalous activity frequently occurred, such as weird geomagnetic a<br />
<span class="text_exposed_show">ctivity and marine and aircraft disappearances. <br> <br> After discovering that there were 12 main areas that all of these activities seemed to be occurring (such as the Bermuda Triangle and Dragon's triangle in Japan), he then noticed that they were also equidistant from one another. When you connect all of these points together with lines (called ley lines), you have a perfect icosahedron. Russian scientists Goncharov, Morozov and Makarov found that if you take this icosahedron and flip it inside out into the dodecahedron and then plot these new points on the planetary grid with the original 12 points of the original icosahedron, you now have a worldwide grid plotting every single major monolithic structure in the history of the world:<br> <br> The Great Pyramid, Stonehenge, the stone heads at Easter Island, the sun and moon pyramids in Mexico. Ancient mystical sites, churches, temples, henges and burial sites were all build on these leylines. In fact, over 4000 sites of historical and spiritual significance were found on this grid. The Irish called these "fairy paths". Germans called them "holy lines". Greeks called them "the sacred roads of Hermes". The Chinese called them "dragon currents". Many other cultures also claimed they could even see these lines and build roads and buildings on them accordingly. Even Plato spoke about this in his work Timaeus and explains the grid as the synthesis of the platonic solids that constitute "the ideal body of cosmos".<br> <br> Geomtery is the basic behaviour of vibration. Vibration is the nature of the universe. This is just ONE piece of evidence that "sacred geometry" governs the structure and layout of the natural physical universe.<br> <br> Check out this video proving that vibration is geometry - <a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=GtiSCBXbHAg" rel="nofollow nofollow" target="_blank"><span>https://www.youtube.com/</span>watch?v=GtiSCBXbHAg</a><br> <br> Cymatics: A Study of Wave Phenomena & Vibration <br> <a href="http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/1888138076?ie=UTF8&camp=1789&creativeASIN=1888138076&linkCode=xm2&tag=disyouaur-20" rel="nofollow nofollow" target="_blank"><span>http://www.amazon.com/gp/</span><span>product/</span><span>1888138076?ie=UTF8&camp=178</span><span>9&creativeASIN=1888138076&</span><span>linkCode=xm2&tag=disyouaur</span>-20</a></span>
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<div class="text_exposed_root text_exposed"></div>A Pilgrimage up Mt Fuji 08.08 2013tag:worldviewzmedia.net,2013-08-09:2098065:BlogPost:819992013-08-09T16:00:00.000ZRobert Dakotahttp://worldviewzmedia.net/profile/RobertDakota
<p></p>
<p>A Pilgrimage up Mt Fuji 2013</p>
<p>I Survived Myself!</p>
<p>I am here again in one of my favorite countries just after returning from Mt Fuji ascension journey. The purpose for this “Pilgrimage” was to offer prayers for Mother Earth, Japan, and all of Humanity. The goal was to start at the first Jinja, Kitaguchi Hongu Fuji Sengen-jinja Shrine and pray at each one all the way up to the top of Mt Fuji. My mantra for the journey was a combination of words I used on my first journey…</p>
<p></p>
<p>A Pilgrimage up Mt Fuji 2013</p>
<p>I Survived Myself!</p>
<p>I am here again in one of my favorite countries just after returning from Mt Fuji ascension journey. The purpose for this “Pilgrimage” was to offer prayers for Mother Earth, Japan, and all of Humanity. The goal was to start at the first Jinja, Kitaguchi Hongu Fuji Sengen-jinja Shrine and pray at each one all the way up to the top of Mt Fuji. My mantra for the journey was a combination of words I used on my first journey in 2005, which were Love, Joy, Beauty, Peace. I silently repeated these words over and over as a way to empower myself to make the climb. Last year in 2012 the chant was Trust, Joy, Love, Beauty, In Truth, Peace, and Harmony, with Reverence for God (God being the Great Spirit that resides in all living beings). These words were a combination of words I had already used from 05’ plus the words from our ATIH workshop that represent the six points of the Merkaba + the center point being Reverence for God. I felt it was very important to insert “Joy” partly from the influence of one of our dear friends’ Asha Freedoms music, where she really emphasizes the importance of Joy! This year in 2013 the chant was Trust – Joy, Love – Beauty, In Truth, Peace and Harmony, with Reverence for All Life Everywhere. This statement “All Life Everywhere”, is a phrase I have heard Drunvalo use many times, especially in a situation of prayer or ceremony. I like this statement a lot because it says it all in a few simple words; reverence for God or the divine, Great Spirit residing in all living things, all living beings. This sounds so great and beautiful, it is and it was, but there is more to the story as the journey unfolded which is the reason I am sharing this experience with you.</p>
<p> </p>
<p>First let me begin by saying that the motivation for calling this a pilgrimage is because I wanted to offer very strong prayers as a symbol of devotion for the situation we are facing as humanity. The most important situation I believe we are facing is to avoid “Omnicide”, to be able to survive ourselves. Everywhere we look there is the unmistakable threat and potential danger that our actions will be the cause of our own demise, extinction! If this is true that our behavior and actions as humanity is the root cause of our own demise doesn’t that mean we can change it? Doesn’t that mean we have the ability to get out of the same mess we ourselves created? Here in Japan, the ever present danger of the current crisis in my opinion is not just Japans problem, this is everyone’s problem. This is not just happening to Japan, this is happening to Mother Earth. We are all a part of Mother Earth, everything and I mean everything that we are or have on this plane of existence comes from her! To deny this is a great ignorance, not only that, but the first great offense is to deny that she is even a living being… So with these realizations brewing with inside of me I decided that one thing I can do is to offer sincere prayer and ask Mother Earth to forgive us for our actions, to help us, to overcome the many crisis’s of our time.</p>
<p>My goal was to start at the first Jin-ja around 6 pm and make the ascent to the top by 3:30 am with my filming equipment to be able to get a time lapse video of the sunrise to share the beauty of the first rays of light connecting with Mother Earth an event that occurs each and everyday. The sun is another living being revered through out all time from which we would not exist without the energy and light of the Sun! I was so excited as we pulled into the train station because my imagination was building over the 3hour train ride to Mt Fuji station. I had asked my friend Asha to join me if she had time for prayers at the first Jin-ja, but it was uncertain for me if she would be able to make it and I had predetermined that I would go straight away if I didn’t see her at the train station because I didn’t want to be late for the sunrise filming. I didn’t see her and assumed she had continued with her prearranged plans. So I got some food and was going to get some bottled water but decided I would get the water from the first Jin-ja instead, living water imbued with prayer. As I set out walking to the Jin-ja I knew it was close by the train station but not sure which direction so I asked a taxi driver with my broken Japanese figuring if I had the general direction it would be no problem. It was not the right direction but it was close enough for me to end up asking directions from a gas station where a Japanese guy who has been a backpacker traveler himself over heard that I was trying to go to this Jin-ja where he was heading right at that moment and he offered me a ride there. Cool, wow this was starting off good even if I didn’t get it right, right from the start! Isao Kitoh gave me a ride to his outdoor adventure store and café. I just love that kindness of strangers and Japanese hospitality. Many backpackers or travelers have that kindness to other travelers because they have been in the situation before of being in a foreign country and having kindness bestowed upon them, that in turn gives them the impetus to return that kindness when the opportunity presents itself. Very Cool! Even more excited from that encounter, I headed off from Isao Kitoh’s Adventure sports café “INTI” which is located right across from the Jin-ja.</p>
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<p>This Jin-ja is the first shrine on the pilgrimage trail to the top of Mt Fuji. In fact I was so excited to begin I wasted no time to get to the shrine for the first prayer offering. In my excitement for getting started I neglected and committed the highest offense when taking such a journey up a mountain with about 40lbs on my back. I forgot to get water!... and I didn’t remember until I was about 3 hours up the mountain around 9 pm. I had been hydrating excessively all day in preparation so I believed that I could make it from where I now was, to the first station for water and still be just fine. Around 10pm I was getting really thirsty and my inner battery was running down fast. What I mean is that my body was feeling like it was running out of fuel, literally! On top of that another battery had already been going out in my headlamp, so I was in the dark of the forest tree line without water and very little light from the cell phone that I was now using as a very dim head lamp. This was not going according to the imagination I was so previously excited about. I kept going but at a much slower pace then before and was feeling very low in energy. Around 10:30pm only a half hour later I was feeling a little delirious and was uncertain if my basic mental capacities were becoming impaired. I started to get concerned for my own well-being. I sat down to rest and catch my breath to see if I could recover to keep going. When I took the pack off and sat down I felt like laying down, so I did, and immediately felt like sleeping. I caught myself by what I believe to be the voice of Mother Earth she said, hey wake up your shirt is soaking wet, it is getting colder, if you go to sleep you won’t wake up. So I pulled myself up, changed my shirt and put my jacket on. It took more focus than it should have, again this reminded me that my mental capacities were a little impaired.</p>
<p>I sat back down and pulled out the phone pushed one on the speed dial, which would call my girlfriend, but I hesitated to call for 2 reasons; the first reason was because I would be so embarrassed and ashamed to have to admit I forgot the water! The second reason was I didn’t want to upset her because I knew somehow I would be okay, but it seemed important to let someone know in case I was passing out. I sat there with my finger on the button hesitating…</p>
<p>Suddenly straight ahead of me down the trail from where I was facing there was something moving fast in the bushes, and it sounded big! ( Just writing this I am getting chills up and down my body) It was so big that it knocked over some big rocks which sounded like boulders! I immediately got the feeling something had been watching me and now that I was facing it, it got scared and it took off. I know it sounds weird but my feeling was it got scared of the phone being pointed in it’s direction, well whatever but back to the clear present danger of not having any water and the new adrenaline coursing through my body from whatever was in the bushes my thumb by itself acted for me and pushed the button. Some how I immediately felt safer… but she did not answer and I got the answering machine instead. So I tried to leave a calm message to assure her I was so far okay, but I was out of water, and something big was just running through the bushes. ( By the way my first initial feeling was that it was a bear or....)</p>
<p>Not reaching her and with the new adrenaline I grabbed my backpack and kept going but the adrenaline didn’t get me far, about 10:45pm – 11:00pm I was feeling more delirious and thought of calling Asha who is a local and has friends who are Mt Climbers, so I thought I should give her a call and at least give my general coordinates in case I needed to be rescued. The last thing I wanted to happen. How embarrassing just even making this call. She was there and after letting her know where I was and checking in I felt better and then heard some voices, so believing I was very close to a station and water we got off the phone agreeing that I would call back if I didn’t find water. By now I was no longer able to repeat the mantra all the way through which was a sign to me that my mental faculties were a bit impaired. So I began praying for water instead. Then Yuko called to find out if I was okay and if she needed to call a rescue team. I said no, I can hear voices I am very close to a station or something so please, please do not call the rescue team, even though I was still very concerned for myself I felt somehow I would be okay and find water. She said okay and to call her right back when I get to the station. I then found a road and knew I was very close. I found a station but it was the staff’s place or something and I saw a sink outside going to a water tank so without knocking on the door I went straight to the water and got a drink. Just as I was getting a drink the phone rings and it is Yuko. I let her know I got water and would call back as soon as I go to the station and see if I can find a place to rest and rehydrate.</p>
<p>The Mt Hut’s have a strict policy because there are so many people ascending Mt Fuji and so little space that you can only stay there if you book in advance or if they have space available which usually there isn’t because the season is only for 2 months out of the year, July and August. I came into the hut and saw no one in attendance, when I came to the desk some guy was sleeping behind the desk and even though I really tried to wake him he was out like a rock. I saw some mattresses folded on the floor and thought I could just sleep there and pay them in the morning. There was water so I got some water and a beer to replace the electrolytes along with a snickers and a rice ball that I had brought with me. As soon as I drank the water it was like the tank in my car getting topped of with fuel. Immediately my energy began to rise again. I was feeling much better. Yuko called again and asked if she needed to call the rescue team. I assured her that I was now okay and fine, with water, food and a place to rest. She asked me to stay there and do not attempt to go further! I agreed that would be the best thing to do. After about a 30minute power nap I felt like completing my pilgrimage and to not give up just because it was comforting to just go to sleep. With new energy and vigor I set out again. After having my head lamp in my pocket for a while close to my body heat somehow it came back on and stayed on until I got out of the tree line. At first I was strong and felt like I can easily do this but slowly the weight of my backpack and the steepness of the mountain was taking it’s toll and it was very painful to keep going. I was able to return to reciting the mantra but the pain in my body from carrying this heavy thing on my back was really distracting. Each time I felt to let out a moan because of the pain I felt the pain of Mother Earth. The moan felt like a pain from her, and I realized my journey was a symbolic relationship to her, to know what she is going through. To feel how painful it is to endure this heavy burden that she is carrying on her back. To feel just a miniscule of what she is feeling.</p>
<p>My brothers and sisters she is in great pain! She is suffering so much and we will never know how much because we could never endure that much pain ourselves. Luckily it was so early in the morning and I took the least traveled route so that I was almost completely alone except for the 5 other people descending that I passed along the way, so I could let out a moan when I needed too. It felt like I was feeling her moaning, or should I say her mourning, because after a while of moaning I realized she was mourning US. We are her children and even though we are creating all of this pain and suffering for ourselves as well as for her, she knows that it is her children that will suffer the most. Like every good mother she will do anything for her children even enduring our bad behavior and wrong actions. She loves US without condition, even beyond the condition of treating her with respect, even knowing that it could mean her own demise. That is how deep the love of a mother goes. It was so slow, so very slow climbing up this mountain and the pain in my shoulders, back, muscles and feet was agonizing. I had to keep going though to offer a symbolic expression a very small gesture of devotion to complete this pilgrimage and to express at least to myself and Mother Earth, that I would be willing to give myself to a cause to make things better, that I was willing to become a better human being, to sincerely seek forgiveness from Mother Earth, for healing ourselves and for healing Mother Earth. The agonizing journey continued but with confidence that somehow I would be able to make it to the top to film the sunrise and complete the pilgrimage.</p>
<p>At around 4:15am I was nearly to the top but was in need of some rest and more water. I saw a station that I could stop at for water and a rest. It was starting to get light but I knew I could not continue without more water, so I went over to the station. When inquiring how much further to the top the Mt hut guy said, 2 hours. I thought, oh I’m not going to make it to the top in time for filming the sunrise. I also asked how far down to the 5<sup>th</sup> station where the buses were, he said 3 hours. I was really at the end of my tether so I went inward and asked Mother Earth should I continue. She said it was not necessary to make things difficult in order to prove your devotion. Love yourself, be a better person, share your love with me, share your love with others, respect all life, and do it with joy in your heart. It’s not how hard you try to show your devotion that counts. It is only that you give yourself fully to Love and when you do you will see the magic of creation work through you, in you and around you. She said don’t go for the glory of going to the top, go for the glory of devotion in your heart, that’s all you need!</p>
<p>Just then many people came out of the hut to see something and I realized it was the sunrise… I thought I would only be able to film it from the top… I had to hurry to get the camera set up. I missed the first moments but did get to capture the early first contact of the rays of the sun connecting with Mother Earth.</p>
<p>It is a sight to behold. You can actually see the rays of the sun in the camera lens coming down in the form of a pyramid as they reach down to Mother Earth. Then as the sun rises you can see the rays in the shape of the six-pointed merkaba, and a spherical orb in the center. What a beautiful experience. After the filming I felt complete and that it would be wise to use that 2 hours up to began to head back down. Indeed it was wise. With only a 30minute power nap all night I began the trek down as grueling as it was that was nothing compared to the ascent. On the way down I had many reflections of what this whole pilgrimage was about.</p>
<p><a href="http://storage.ning.com/topology/rest/1.0/file/get/398644173?profile=original" target="_self"><img src="http://storage.ning.com/topology/rest/1.0/file/get/398644173?profile=RESIZE_1024x1024" width="750" class="align-full"></a></p>
<p>First I would like to critique myself because it was incredibly negligent on my part to forget the water! I got distracted by my own excitement for the journey. In no way though do I believe that takes anything away from the message received from the events that unfolded. In fact for me it only becomes that much more clear. If we continue on our way without acknowledging the value of water by acting in good faith, as we wonder in complete darkness we just may trigger our own downfall inadvertently.... "In~Joy" the journey but also utilize our ability to respond, so we can continue to "In~Joy" the journey...</p>
<p>My dear sisters and brothers we are in an extremely crucial turning point in the history of humanity. Quite literally our greatest challenge is to survive ourselves. We are suffering unnecessarily. There is no lack, except for the lack of love, unconditional love, for ourselves, for others, for all life and especially for Mother Earth.</p>
<p>Everything is just a symbol and an image so I was able to reflect on the events of the pilgrimage to allow the images to speak. We will not be able to survive on this plane of existence without water! We cannot continue to poison our source of life and expect to live, let alone survive. The problem with the radiation from all the nuclear energy is the general lack of respect for life. The general disrespect for all living matter including splitting uranium to create heat in water, under enormous pressure which then in turn becomes extremely deadly and dangerously toxic material for thousands of years to come, This only occurs when we extract it from Mother Earth to be used in this form. It only generates 20% of all of our energy supply. Only 20%!... The risks are unbelievable! In an interview that we filmed with Dr Emoto right after 3.11.11 I heard him say that the problem is we have caused the water to become extremely angry. That we need to first ask for forgiveness and start using the vital consciousness of water in prayer and ceremony to heal ourselves and Mother Earth instead of using the water in this destructive way.</p>
<p>We have to face our greatest fears, we have to believe we can make it some way even in a very late hour which has become a desperate situation, even when it is not looking good, even when we are so very close to our own possible expiration date. Our only way out is in, into our heart! We have to lighten up our heart and act from there. Only in love will we find our solution to survive ourselves. It begins with ourselves and there we have an infinite source of solutions within our heart. Fear only makes the situation worse, if we indulge the fear and panic, we don’t stand a chance of surviving ourselves let alone living full vibrant lives. Only when we love ourselves, take care of ourselves, and heal ourselves first, only then are we able to share that energy with others and Mother Earth for creating a better world to live in, to create a better lifestyle for everyone. We can do it! It’s not about how hard we struggle it is about how well we take care of ourselves starting with ourselves first. When we do that a new vital energy of self perpetual motion energetically takes over and we can then be open for pure joy to fill us up so that we can LIVE a vibrant bright worthwhile existence. Everything really is okay when we act from our heart, when we act for LOVE. Thank you from my heart to “All Life Everywhere”! May we have the courage to face our greatest fears whatever they are and choose to emanate LOVE from our hearts no matter what! The only way out is in, into the deepest recesses of our heart. I know it sounds simplistic but for me we have to dedicate ourselves to be in a constant attitude of prayer as much as we are possibly able. It looks like we might fail to survive ourselves, worse yet it appears we have become willing to sacrifice all the beauty and abundance of a lifestyle that offers <strong>"True Living"</strong>, for the illusion of so-called convenience.</p>
<p>All the abundance of life is within US....</p>
<p>Trust~Joy, Love~Beauty, In Truth, Peace and Harmony, with Reverence for All Life Everywhere!</p>
<p>Arigato Mother Earth, GAIA, Amaterasu, Father Sun, Central Sun and</p>
<p>All Life Everywhere.</p>
<p>Thank you from my heart!</p>
<p>In LOVE!</p>
<p>Only LOVE is worthy of our devotion!</p>
<p>Robert Dakota 08.08.13</p>
<p>Here is a Time Lapse from my Pilgrimage 2012 from the top of Mt Fuji</p>
<p><iframe width="560" height="315" src="//www.youtube.com/embed/sij5CFkzpiA?list=UUcIyC9AE9MH03oUnHK6V2PQ&wmode=opaque" frameborder="0"></iframe> </p>
<p></p>Russia Offers Fukushima Cleanup Help as Tepco Reaches Outtag:worldviewzmedia.net,2013-08-26:2098065:BlogPost:851672013-08-26T14:46:33.000ZRobert Dakotahttp://worldviewzmedia.net/profile/RobertDakota
<div class="clearfix" id="story_head"><div id="disqus_title"><h1>Russia Offers Fukushima Cleanup Help as Tepco Reaches Out</h1>
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<div class="clearfix" id="story_meta"><cite class="byline">By <span>Yuriy Humber</span> & <span class="last">Jacob Adelman</span> - <span class="datestamp" title="Share this on Facebook">Aug 25, 2013 10:39 PM MT</span></cite></div>
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<p><a href="http://topics.bloomberg.com/russia/">Russia</a> repeated an offer first made two…</p>
<div id="story_head" class="clearfix"><div id="disqus_title"><h1>Russia Offers Fukushima Cleanup Help as Tepco Reaches Out</h1>
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<div id="story_meta" class="clearfix"><cite class="byline">By <span>Yuriy Humber</span> & <span class="last">Jacob Adelman</span> - <span title="Share this on Facebook" class="datestamp">Aug 25, 2013 10:39 PM MT</span></cite></div>
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<p><a href="http://topics.bloomberg.com/russia/">Russia</a> repeated an offer first made two years ago to help <a href="http://topics.bloomberg.com/japan/">Japan</a> clean up its accident-ravaged Fukushima nuclear station, welcoming <a href="http://www.bloomberg.com/quote/9501:JP" title="Get Quote" class="web_ticker">Tokyo Electric Power Co. (9501)</a>’s decision to seek outside help.</p>
<p>As <a href="http://topics.bloomberg.com/tokyo/">Tokyo</a> Electric pumps thousands of metric tons of water through the wrecked Fukushima station to cool its melted cores, the tainted run-off was found to be leaking into groundwater and the ocean. The approach to cooling and decommissioning the station will need to change and include technologies developed outside of Japan if the cleanup is to succeed, said Vladimir Asmolov, first deputy director general of Rosenergoatom, the state-owned Russian nuclear utility.</p>
<div class="story_inline assets clearfix"><div class="story_inline attachments"><div class="image thumbnail item_container first decoratable"><div class="thumbnail_container overlay_container"><a class="enlarge_image" rel="#img_360024" href="http://www.bloomberg.com/photo/faulty-tank-at-fukushima-had-been-dismantled-moved-tepco-says-/360024.html" target="_blank"><span>Enlarge image</span> <img alt="Faulty Tank at Fukushima Had Been Dismantled, Moved, Tepco Says " class="small_img img_keep_size" src="http://www.bloomberg.com/image/i5j3d.Zxs6SU.jpg"/></a></div>
<p class="caption">A worker checks radiation levels near the No. 10 storage tank in the H3 tank area at the Fukushima Dai-Ichi nuclear power plant in Fukushima, Japan, in this handout photograph taken on Wednesday, Aug. 21, 2013. Source: Tokyo Electric Power Co. via Bloomberg</p>
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<div class="image thumbnail item_container decoratable"><div class="thumbnail_container overlay_container"><a class="enlarge_image" rel="#img_360078" href="http://www.bloomberg.com/photo/rosenergoatom-first-deputy-director-general-vladimir-asmolov-/360078.html" target="_blank"><span>Enlarge image</span> <img alt="Rosenergoatom First Deputy Director General Vladimir Asmolov " class="small_img img_keep_size" src="http://www.bloomberg.com/image/i.Ix9ix2y0kw.jpg"/></a></div>
<p class="caption">Vladimir Asmolov, first deputy director general of Rosenergoatom, is seen in this 2007 photo. “It was clear for a long time that Tepco was not adequately coping with the situation,” Asmolov said. “It looks like Tepco management were the last to realize this,” he said. “Japan has the technologies to do this, but they lacked a system to deal with this kind of situation.” Photographer: Dmitry Beliakov/Bloomberg</p>
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<div class="image thumbnail item_container decoratable"><div class="thumbnail_container overlay_container"><a class="enlarge_image" rel="#img_360080" href="http://www.bloomberg.com/photo/russia-offers-to-help-clean-up-fukushima-as-tepco-calls-for-help-/360080.html" target="_blank"><span>Enlarge image</span> <img alt="Russia Offers to Help Clean Up Fukushima as Tepco Calls for Help " class="small_img img_keep_size" src="http://www.bloomberg.com/image/iZamOAmEexRs.jpg"/></a></div>
<p class="caption">Japan's nuclear watchdog members, including Nuclear Regulation Authority members in radiation protection suits, inspect contaminated water tanks at the Tokyo Electric Power Co.'s Fukushima Dai-ichi nuclear power plant in Okuma, Fukushima prefecture on Aug. 23, 2013. Source: Jiji Press/AFP/Getty Images</p>
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<p>“In our globalized nuclear industry we don’t have national accidents, they are all international,” Asmolov said. Since Japan’s new government took over in December, talks on cooperating between the two countries on the Fukushima cleanup have turned “positive” and Russia is ready to offer its assistance, he said by phone from Moscow last week.</p>
<p>After 29 months of trying to contain radiation from Fukushima’s molten atomic cores, <a href="http://topics.bloomberg.com/tokyo-electric/">Tokyo Electric</a> said last week it will reach out for international expertise in handling the crisis. The water leaks alone have so far sent more than 100 times the annual norms of radioactive elements into the ocean, raising concern it will enter the food chain through fish.</p>
<h2>‘Last to Realize’</h2>
<p>The latest leak of 300 metric tons of irradiated water prompted Japan’s nuclear regulator to label the incident “serious” and question Tokyo Electric’s ability to deal with the crisis, echoing comments made by Prime Minister Shinzo Abe earlier this month. Zengo Aizawa, a vice president at Tepco, as the Tokyo-based utility is known, made the call for help at a press briefing in Japan’s capital on Aug. 21.</p>
<p>In addition to the leak, Tepco today announced that one of its two filters treating contaminated water was taken offline on Aug. 8 because of corrosion and will be shut until at least next month. The lost layer of filtration adds to the contamination levels of water in the <a href="http://topics.bloomberg.com/storage-tanks/">storage tanks</a>.</p>
<p>“It was clear for a long time that Tepco was not adequately coping with the situation,” Asmolov said. “It looks like Tepco management were the last to realize this,” he said. “Japan has the technologies to do this, but they lacked a system to deal with this kind of situation.”</p>
<p>The Fukushima accident of March 2011 is the world’s biggest nuclear disaster since the <a href="http://topics.bloomberg.com/soviet-union/">Soviet Union</a> faced the explosion at Chernobyl in 1986.</p>
<p>So far, Tokyo’s solution to cooling melted nuclear rods at Fukushima that otherwise could overheat into criticality, or a self-sustained nuclear <a href="http://topics.bloomberg.com/chain-reaction/">chain reaction</a>, has been to pour water over them. That’s left more than 330,000 tons of irradiated water in storage tanks at the site so far. The water is treated to remove some of the cesium particles in it, which in turn leaves behind contaminated filters.</p>
<h2>‘Vast Volumes’</h2>
<p>The sheer quantity of water used is the most at a nuclear accident since the 1972 London convention banned the dumping of waste and radioactive water into the sea, said <a href="http://topics.bloomberg.com/peter-burns/">Peter Burns</a>, formerly <a href="http://topics.bloomberg.com/australia/">Australia</a>’s representative on the United Nations scientific committee on the effects of atomic radiation.</p>
<p>“Until they figure out how to deal with such vast volumes of water, how to manage it, the problem” including of leaks will persist, Burns, a retired radiation physicist, said from <a href="http://topics.bloomberg.com/melbourne/">Melbourne</a>.</p>
<p>Retaining thousands of tons of radioactive water in tanks was the wrong strategy from the start and Tepco’s handling of the task is a “textbook picture of a failure of management,” Michael Friedlander, who has 13 years of experience running nuclear stations in the U.S., said in an interview with Bloomberg TV in <a href="http://topics.bloomberg.com/hong-kong/">Hong Kong</a>.</p>
<h2>Pumping Water</h2>
<p>The idea of pumping water for cooling was never going to be anything but a “machine for generating radioactive water,” Asmolov said. Other more complex methods such as the use of special absorbents like thermoxide to clean contaminated water and the introduction of air cooling should be used, he said.</p>
<p>Russia’s nuclear company, Rosatom, of which Rosenergoatom is a unit, sent Japan a 5 kilogram (11 pound) sample of an absorbent that could be used at Fukushima almost three years ago, Asmolov said. It also formed working groups ready to help Japan on health effect assessment, decontamination, and fuel management, among others, Asmolov said. The assistance was never used, he said.</p>
<p>“Since the arrival of the new Japanese government, the attitude’s changed,” he said. “So far the talks have been on a diplomatic level, but they are much more positive. And we remain open to working together on this issue. To follow developments I monitor Fukushima news every morning.”</p>
<h2>Tap Experts</h2>
<p>Japan can tap experts in <a href="http://topics.bloomberg.com/france/">France</a> and the U.S. as well as Russia to help it tackle the situation at Fukushima, he said.</p>
<p>The U.S.’s long history with atomic research, including the nuclear weapons site at the Hanford Engineer Works in Washington state, has provided expertise in cleaning up contaminated sites, said Kathryn Higley, who heads the nuclear engineering and radiation health physics department at <a href="http://topics.bloomberg.com/oregon-state-university/">Oregon State University</a> in Corvallis.</p>
<p>“We have individuals that are working on groundwater contamination and using technology and developing new technologies to clean up strontium in groundwater, for example, at the Hanford site,” she said. “So there are individuals around the world that have been doing this and certainly they would be more than willing to help in this process.”</p>
<p>France’s <a href="http://www.bloomberg.com/quote/AREVA:FP" title="Get Quote" class="web_ticker">Areva SA (AREVA)</a> had designed a radiation filtration system that was used for several months at the Fukushima site as temporary cover before Tepco installed its own facilities. Japanese delegations have also visited U.S. nuclear waste sites together with CH2M Hill Cos., an engineering company based in Englewood, <a href="http://topics.bloomberg.com/colorado/">Colorado</a>.</p>
<h2>Experienced Hands</h2>
<p>This month a group of 17 Japanese companies including <a href="http://www.bloomberg.com/quote/6502:JP" title="Get Quote" class="web_ticker">Toshiba Corp. (6502)</a> and <a href="http://www.bloomberg.com/quote/7011:JP" title="Get Quote" class="web_ticker">Mitsubishi Heavy Industries Ltd. (7011)</a> formed an association, called International Research Institute for Nuclear Decommissioning, to support Tepco’s efforts.</p>
<p>The association, which aims to research removal of spent fuel from reactor pools and clearance of debris, plans to liaise with international organizations such as the U.S. <a href="http://topics.bloomberg.com/department-of-energy/">Department of Energy</a> on its work, Hajimu Yamana, head of the association, told reporters in Tokyo on Aug. 8.</p>
<p>Tepco is in talks with a team of retired U.S. government officials, who worked on water management after the Three Mile Island accident in 1979, according to <a href="http://topics.bloomberg.com/dale-klein/">Dale Klein</a>, the chairman of an advisory panel to Tepco and a former head of the U.S. Nuclear Regulatory Commission.</p>
<p>Klein said the officials had served in the Department of Energy and the NRC, declining to identify them.</p>
<p>“It will be beneficial for Tepco to get people who have real live experience in dealing with contaminated water from nuclear events,” Klein said.</p>
<p>An announcement on a deal with the contractors could come within a month, Klein said.</p>
<p>Tepco’s “experience should be in being a safe, reliable electricity generator,” said Klein. The company’s “core competencies have not been having to deal with the massive cleanup that is now facing them.”</p>the best laid plans...living and learningtag:worldviewzmedia.net,2013-01-31:2098065:BlogPost:687032013-01-31T07:00:00.000ZGregory Charles Du Boishttp://worldviewzmedia.net/profile/GregoryCharlesDuBois
<h1>The Best laid plans… living and learning</h1>
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<p>My plans were to be in Rishikesh for one week, arriving on a Saturday and departing the next Saturday. I had been told that there would be busses leaving daily from Rishikesh towards Dharamshala, my next destination. A few days into my week in Rishikesh, I went to check out the arrangements for the next leg of my journey. I went to the area where the “upscale” busses depart and talked to a man familiar with the options. He said there…</p>
<h1>The Best laid plans… living and learning</h1>
<p> </p>
<p>My plans were to be in Rishikesh for one week, arriving on a Saturday and departing the next Saturday. I had been told that there would be busses leaving daily from Rishikesh towards Dharamshala, my next destination. A few days into my week in Rishikesh, I went to check out the arrangements for the next leg of my journey. I went to the area where the “upscale” busses depart and talked to a man familiar with the options. He said there would not be a bus on Saturday but one departing on Sunday. I thought that was fine and asked the ashram if it would be ok to stay one additional night.</p>
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<p>By this time many people around the ashram knew me or of me as I was one of the only guests and one of the only “white foreigners” there at this time. The people at the reception desk looked over their calendar and said that would be fine. The swami that was in attendance at the desk and with whom I had had contact before said that I was different from most Americans who visited there. Always happy to be noticed, I asked “how so?” Swami smiled warmly and said that I projected a gentle humility that they did not always see, especially with many Americans who apparently projected a noticeable arrogance…sigh… I was surprised that those drawn to visit an ashram would be arrogant, as some of you might be surprised to hear of my projected humility… oh yes, I do have the capacity to behave appropriately in many situations…I try. I was egotistically pleased that my true humility was noticed and appreciated…hmm…</p>
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<p>So, on the morning of departure, I called the man I had talked to about the bus and he said the bus was postponed because of road closures and I should go to another bus departure point to get a more common bus to a different city from where I could get another bus to Dharamshala. Ok. I discussed these possibilities with my friend Mukti who runs Mukti’s organic restaurant and internet café, near the ashram, where I log on to the internet and take some nourishment daily. He talked with another man who knew about such travel things and together they advised me to go to the Rishikesh train station, take a train to Chakki Bank, another city, then get a tuktuk to the bus station in Pathankot, then a bus or series of busses as it turned out, to Dharamshala. Mukti said there would be a train at 4 pm and there was always space on it.</p>
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<p>I negotiated a tuktuk ride at a reasonable rate. The driver tried to convince me that there would be no train at that time from the Rishikesh station and wanted to take me to the Haridwar train station for 600 rupees instead of the 50 rupees that we had agreed on. I said no. When I got to the train station, the ticket agent said I could get space on the “General seating” compartment but there was nothing available in the AC2 class which is Air Conditioned Two Tier, and relatively quite comfortable. It is cool enough these days that I certainly did not need air conditioning but do like the comfort and relative privacy of a convertible bunk for myself. Usually, it is possible to upgrade a berth or seat to a higher class and I was comfortably confident that I could do so...</p>
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<p>As I was waiting for the train, an Indian man approached, curious as to where I was from, me again being the only white guy in the station. His name was Kuldeep Singh, a Sikh; his English was good. He was with two other men, one of whom was his father going to Amritsar and the other a friend going to Chakki Bank where I hoped to go. They were in the same General class in which I was confirmed and suggested I go put my suitcase on a seat to hold it. I told them I was confident that I would be able to upgrade and wanted to try for that. In hindsight, I should have taken their advice! I sat in the AC2 section waiting for the TTE (Train Ticket Examiner), also known as the Conductor, and upgrade options.</p>
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<p>After a bit, with 15 minutes before departure, a family of four came in that had reservations for that section where I sat. There were six berths in that area and the man of the family was quite friendly, spoke English and invited me to stay comfortably while waiting for the TTE. The train started rolling right on time which in itself is rather unusual. After 15 minutes, the TTE arrived with a somewhat unpleasant attitude. He helped the India family first and it was not a particularly pleasant (nor helpful) exchange. When he looked at my ticket, he said abruptly that there were not any upgrade opportunities on this run; end of story! As the train was moving and there was not an internal passageway to the general classes of service, he said I would have to get off at the next stop and go down to one of the lower class cars.</p>
<p> </p>
<p>After two hours of travel, we arrived in Haridwar, the station I had arrived at one week earlier. Just before stopping, the conductor came to fetch me, said, “come with me”, and led me off the train. On the platform were thousands of people, jamming, packing themselves into the general classes of cars with an insane urgency, a seeming mob mentality. I dragged my rolling suitcase along with my backpack on my back, feeling quickly discouraged as I was seeing the difficulty of actually getting on in this madness. I kept walking down the platform, past one car after another with the same seemingly hopeless situation. After a number of cars, I came to a “luggage” car with a small crowd jumping up, packing themselves in, which looked somewhat hopeful. I pressed into the mob cue, was pushed from behind, and swung my big bag up onto the car, then hauled myself up. More people from behind assisted in this process from the sheer pressure of people with a purpose. With pressure from all sides, I kept in mind the importance of not getting separated from my luggage. I hugged on of the steel supports for the cargo shelving with one hand and slipped my big bag into the 20” high space from the floor to the 1<sup>st</sup> shelf, keeping one hand firmly on the handle. I held that space as people continued to press in to firmly pack this compartment of the larger cargo car. Cattle car, I kept thinking, having intense intuition regarding the need for careful awareness in this charged environment. As you imagine, I was the only white guy here. The humanity surrounding me stared, surely wondering at the strange vision of a man such as me in their midst.</p>
<p> </p>
<p>The train started rolling again. Our bodily inertia bumped and pressed us against each other from all directions. I had little need of musculature as the press of bodies kept me upright and unable to move in any direction, my feet planted fairly firmly in the constricted space they held on the floor. Prior to vacating the 1<sup>st</sup> class car, I had the foresight, after learning of my lack of updated status, not to drink or eat anything, not wanting any bodily processes to instigate challenges in my future positions on the train. I was thankful for that as I stood rocking and swaying with all of the others, unable to move, and wondering how long until we stopped, when people got on or off, and how this intense little group situation (plight?) would maintain. I know what you’re thinking…yes…flatulence happens…along with the many scents of humans and all of their biological processes in this close environment. Babies were onboard, some sleeping soundly, some crying their hearts out for durations whence one could only appreciate the power of a child’s lungs, will and state of being. Early after the train started movement; there was an intense argument that I though might have escalated into fisticuffs, had not the reality of too many bodies between participants prevented any physical action. That tension, too, came to pass… I wanted to capture an image on my camera and was sensitive to the reaction of others to being photographed. I also didn’t want to advertise my possessions in this situation. Nevertheless, I wrangled my arms to unzip my jacket pocket and pull out my camera. I shot two quick shots, the flash firing as the light sensor sensed the need. People blinked, looked slightly shocked, then carried on…</p>
<p> </p>
<p>Realizing naturally and immediately that it was important that I find the good in this situation and make the most of it, from the beginning I projected a warm, friendly, happy, peaceful, contented Buddha countenance; an everyday occurrence, interesting and enjoyable. People respond so well to smiles. Many eyes watched me closely, crinkling with amusement and curiosity as they gauged my situation and response, and smiling back at my smile as they found their own way to accept me into this realm. One man and one woman, perched on the top shelf across the compartment, seemed to resonate more strongly with me and sent strong waves of connection. One young man, armed with a few words of English, initiated conversation; “where from you?” We suddenly had the attention of everyone close by and many throughout the car that had been watching me. I kept smiling and we communicated on a basic level, my good nature going a long way to grease the wheels of limited dialog. He would turn to report back in Hindi the results of his queries. People nodded in understanding; some uttering “America, United States, and Obama”. I suddenly had a number of new friends.</p>
<p> </p>
<p>The vast majority were open, mildly or more interested, and friendly in their fashion. There were, however, some with a more sinister demeanor… four young men, late teens, early twenties, were eyeing me with a seeming different interest; my intuition sent up red flags of warning. They were asking questions about me to the other friendly man, and he immediately got a worried expression on his face, as he relayed questions like, “where are you going” and “are you traveling alone”. I smiled at them and continued projecting a peaceful friendly countenance. After awhile, the “leader of the pack” laid back, closed his eyes and dozed off. That “discomfort” abated though I maintained my alert awareness of my environment.</p>
<p> </p>
<p>During the time the train was moving, we continued to roll with the rockin’ of the car, back and forth, body to body, as one unified somewhat gelatinous with protuberances whole. Some folks sat down cross-legged or heels to buttocks, using as little space as possible, body parts intertwined to accommodate for one another. I stayed standing, continuing to keep in touch with my two bags, physically or visually. My bag that was on the floor under the lowest steel shelf, got pushed to the back as four people crammed into that space sitting on the floor. I was concerned that when my stop came, I would have to extricate that bag by moving the four sitting people and the four people standing right in front of them.</p>
<p> </p>
<p>After about two hours, the train stopped at another station. A trainman came by and forcibly rousted all of us out of the car. It was no problem getting my two bags as the people sitting and standing there evacuated fast, rushing to try to get into other cars. I rushed along also, and found a car up train that looked hopeful, I hefted my big bag onto the steps of the car, backpack on my back, and pulled myself up onto the “entrance way” of this car seconds before the train started moving again. Again I was helped by a number of bodies pressing me from behind. I found (was crammed into) a standing place. Again, I was pressed against a wall by bodies surrounding me. A very similar scene to the previous cargo car played out, but this time being surrounded by mostly sikhs, sporting turbans and speaking Punjabi. I was able to stand up my big bag using it as a seat of sorts and placed my backpack next to the big bag. Soon, one of the sikhs asked me to hold my backpack on my lap so he could sit on the floor. I gestured that he could sit on my backpack for a little more comfort, which worked out well for all. He was appreciative and I had a new “ally.”</p>
<p> </p>
<p>At a stop after a number of stops and around three hours, many people exited the train. Some from my “entrance area” exited and others scrambled to find vacated seats in the seating area, which was “cram as many as possible into any given bench style seat”. The father of Kuldeep Singh (the man who originally spoke to me in Rishikesh station) approached me after he visited the toilet adjacent to the entrance area of the car. He invited me to come join him but I would have to displace someone else in that area so I declined, showing him how I now sat on my suitcase leaning against my backpack for a comfortable seat. I sat fairly comfortably for the next two hours, swaying gently and incessantly with the rhythm of the rails.</p>
<p> </p>
<p>We arrived at Chakki Bank at 2:00 am, right on schedule, which is an anomaly in Indian train travel. As had been discussed in Punjabi, prior to boarding, the friend of Kuldeep sought me out, he negotiated a tuktuk ride to the bus station, and we arrived at around 2:15 am. The bus was scheduled to leave at 5:30 am. There was a desk that had a sign advertising “Guest House”. As I had 2 1/2 hours to wait and was quite tired, I opted for a bed to rest in for 150 rupees. The man making arrangements said he would wake me at 5 am. The bed was in a dorm style setting with many snoring and sleeping bodies hidden under blankets nearby. I set my alarm for back up.</p>
<p> </p>
<p>I quickly dozed off and woke a few hours later to the alarm. Glancing at the time, I was disconcerted to see it was 5:31 am (I had not set the alarm time properly), thinking I would miss my bus. My big bag was locked in the luggage storage and I couldn’t find the man who had locked it in. I scrambled, found another man in charge who didn’t speak English who went to wake another man sleeping nearby. I pointed somewhat frantically to the locked door of luggage. He didn’t have the key! He groggily found his cell phone and called a number. In one of the buried bodies in a nearby bunk, a phone started ringing. The man who had rented me the bed and stored my luggage arose from beneath the blanket, shook his head in waking, fished for his keys and opened the door to the luggage. I urgently asked about bus to Dharamshala and he simply pointed to the bus yard nearby. I schlepped my bags and went in search of the bus.</p>
<p> </p>
<p>I found the bus by speaking the word Dharamshala, found the price to be 90 rupees, and claimed a seat. It turned out that I had to transfer busses two times before arriving in at McLeod Ganj, my final destination, a outpost nearby to Dharamshala where most of the Tibetan action is.</p>
<p> </p>
<p>I landed. I quickly found my “Green Hotel” with only a few mis-directions and settled into a wonderful room with a view and my own bathroom, private hot water heater and balcony overlooking part of the village and the Himalayas.</p>
<p> </p>
<p>I lived through it with flying colors and learned a bit more of lessons in life…all was well…in the future, I will not take the possibility of a train upgrade for granted and will try to plan a little more carefully. I had an excellent and stimulating experience in the “common class” of train travel in India, albeit one I will not need to repeat soon; been there, done that! Check out the few photos in the photo section.</p>My Heart and Prayers are with Japantag:worldviewzmedia.net,2013-07-30:2098065:BlogPost:801752013-07-30T06:30:00.000ZRobert Dakotahttp://worldviewzmedia.net/profile/RobertDakota
<p>Nuclear Fear ~ New Clear Fear</p>
<p>Hello WVZ Common ~ Unity (community) and anyone else who comes across this blog. I am here currently today in Tokyo Japan, sharing with you an email from a close dear friend. She let me know that there is an increased concern over the nuclear situation here and they are holding a prayer gathering from 7-8pm Tokyo time tonight July 30th, so please offer your prayers today some time or join in with them as I will at 7-8pm tonight. As we approach the…</p>
<p>Nuclear Fear ~ New Clear Fear</p>
<p>Hello WVZ Common ~ Unity (community) and anyone else who comes across this blog. I am here currently today in Tokyo Japan, sharing with you an email from a close dear friend. She let me know that there is an increased concern over the nuclear situation here and they are holding a prayer gathering from 7-8pm Tokyo time tonight July 30th, so please offer your prayers today some time or join in with them as I will at 7-8pm tonight. As we approach the anniversary of August 6th & 9th, 1945 I am struck by the irony that we face in North America 68 years later. The Irony of the old adage what you put out comes back to you... I love my country, my people, my friends, and my family. So because of that my heart shares these words. We have benefited greatly in the west by our willful act to dominate others by unleashing some of the most toxic energy known to man kind. We have willfully accepted the status quo and benefited from an energy source that not only threatens ourselves but the entire planet. It's not news, we know this and in order to cope we generally ignore it. Just to be clear about how prevalent this is, here is an illustration you can check out:</p>
<p><iframe width="420" height="315" src="//www.youtube.com/embed/LLCF7vPanrY?wmode=opaque" frameborder="0"></iframe>
</p>
<p>In 2011 March 11th, 311 3.11.11 when the Tsnami hit I was really devastated to witness that, as I had just recently fallen in love with the Japanese culture through my girl friend and my new love Yuko. I was in tears for 2 days watching the imagery and realizing what the long term effects beyond the immediate devastation would mean. Not only to Japan but for the entire world! The tsunami devastation was one thing, but the nuclear aspect was an entirely different crisis all together.</p>
<p>I felt I had to do something! I couldn't sit by and do nothing. But what could I do?.... This is way beyond my ability to do anything truly worthy to make a difference was my initial thought. Then I remembered, what I do when I feel there is no hope and it feels like there is no chance to get out of the situation, the only thing I could think of was to pray. That was the only thing I could think of that I could actively do immediately. I did that and then we did that together in Sedona on March 23rd while we had guests from Japan with us. Just one of many events that were initiated on behalf of Japan.</p>
<p>I felt then and still feel now that this is not Japan's problem! This is all of ours problem! This isn't just happening to Japan this is happening to all of us including Mother Earth! So we should unite together in whatever way we are able to, to do something to make a difference! The first part is so simple, that many ignore it as even unworthy of the effort and that is to pray! If you are in the worst situation of your life with no where to turn, prayer is a great way to meet every crisis. I know this is not the only crisis humanity faces in our time, but maybe it is the crisis that will get us out of our complacency of accepting the status quo. If you are going to die anyway why not do it in the best possible way imaginable...</p>
<p>Right after our Spring Equinox gathering with Drunvalo and a group of four elder Japanese ladies we were invited by Drunvalo to take part in the teacher training for "Awakening the Illuminated Heart". Yuko and I accepted the invitation believing one of the biggest differences we could make it is to work with consciousness in this crisis. That the way we could make the biggest difference would be through the heart. Since that decision and ever since the first time Yuko returned to Japan I have to face the fear of "is this it" will I ever see Yuko again... "Will, I die, if I go there"... each time it is like a small death. I have to say yes because it could be.... and each time I have to find the courage to accept leaving everything behind, giving up everything, and know that "it is a good day to die". Meaning you really have to accept giving up everything and being calm and safe in your heart anyway! In spite of the unmistakable looming danger facing you! The greatest challenge of my life has been to be okay with losing everything, to give up everything I thought was so Important and still be okay. I can't tell you how many times I broke down in tears when I thought of not seeing her again. For that very same reason I have returned to Japan as I often as I can to show solidarity at minimum, and to be here to face what I believe is now the front line for humanity.</p>
<p>3 months after the tsunami we went to Sendai-Ishinomaki to film and bring hope to those who were most effected. To assist non-profit organizations that were at the front line. To get the message out to the world about how they could offer assistance. That trip changed me permanently, to see how people and especially young people were coming from all over Japan to help out, was awe inspiring in spite of the obvious health risks, they came and did what they could. Some even risked their financial well-being by staying to give 3 months of their time.</p>
<p>We are facing a very real New Clear Fear and I dare say that North America maybe as affected if not more affected then Japan, because all the winds of fate are coming right at us on the Jet Stream and Ocean currents. I am often asked "so how is Japan"? Which I find odd because I am more concerned about how the rest of the world is taking it then Japanese people. They are doing something about it they have too! They are doing whatever and however they can. Part of that have to do something is prayer. When my good friend said she would be taking time for offering prayer for the situation tonight 7-8pm Tokyo time July 30th I felt the need to not only join with her in prayer but also write this message to whoever feels to join in. To remind everyone it is not only Japan. More then just prayer though I ask that when you think of Japan, please do more then just feel sorry for Japan. Thoughts create, so please send love, compassion, goodwill, and most of all relief from the contamination to not only Japan, but the Pacific Ocean, North America and all of Mother Earth.</p>
<p>There is only one way we can face any fear, including this New Clear Fear and that is with Love. I believe that with all my Heart! Love yourself, Love your neighbor, Love others like there is no tomorrow! I believe with that kind of faith we can change anything we are looking at and find that Miracle we need to get through this. There is only one way out and that is through our heart.</p>
<p>In Love</p>
<p>Robert Dakota</p>
<p>Here are several links of videos we have created to share this message with you even one before we knew how important the message would become.</p>
<h1><span class="font-size-3">Hiroshima Survivor Keiko Murakami</span></h1>
<p><a href="http://www.worldviewzmedia.net/video/hiroshima-survivor-keiko">http://www.worldviewzmedia.net/video/hiroshima-survivor-keiko</a></p>
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<br/> <small><a href="http://www.worldviewzmedia.net/video/video">Find more videos like this on <em>World Viewz</em></a></small></p>
<p></p>
<h1><span class="font-size-3">a-sha "Amazing Grace"</span></h1>
<p><a href="http://www.worldviewzmedia.net/video/a-sha-amazing-grace">http://www.worldviewzmedia.net/video/a-sha-amazing-grace</a></p>
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<br/> <small><a href="http://www.worldviewzmedia.net/video/video">Find more videos like this on <em>World Viewz</em></a></small></p>
<p></p>
<p>What did you do after 3.11</p>
<p><a href="http://www.worldviewzmedia.net/video/311-what-did-you-do-after-3-11-11-1">http://www.worldviewzmedia.net/video/311-what-did-you-do-after-3-11-11-1</a></p>
<p><object width="456" height="260" classid="clsid:d27cdb6e-ae6d-11cf-96b8-444553540000" codebase="http://download.macromedia.com/pub/shockwave/cabs/flash/swflash.cab#version=6,0,40,0"><param name="wmode" value="opaque"></param><param name="src" value="http://static.ning.com/socialnetworkmain/widgets/video/flvplayer/flvplayer.swf?xn_version=3704000907"></param><param name="flashvars" value="config=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.worldviewzmedia.net%2Fvideo%2Fvideo%2FshowPlayerConfig%3Fid%3D2098065%253AVideo%253A62993%26ck%3D-&video_smoothing=on&autoplay=off&hideShareLink=1&isEmbedCode=1"></param><param name="scale" value="noscale"></param><param name="allowscriptaccess" value="never"></param><param name="allowfullscreen" value="false"></param><param name="pluginspage" value="http://www.macromedia.com/go/getflashplayer"></param><embed wmode="opaque" width="456" height="260" type="application/x-shockwave-flash" src="http://static.ning.com/socialnetworkmain/widgets/video/flvplayer/flvplayer.swf?xn_version=3704000907" flashvars="config=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.worldviewzmedia.net%2Fvideo%2Fvideo%2FshowPlayerConfig%3Fid%3D2098065%253AVideo%253A62993%26ck%3D-&video_smoothing=on&autoplay=off&hideShareLink=1&isEmbedCode=1" scale="noscale" allowscriptaccess="never" allowfullscreen="false" pluginspage="http://www.macromedia.com/go/getflashplayer" bgcolor="#332C1A"></embed> </object>
<br/> <small><a href="http://www.worldviewzmedia.net/video/video">Find more videos like this on <em>World Viewz</em></a></small></p>
<p>What did you do after 3.11</p>
<p><a href="http://www.worldviewzmedia.net/video/311-what-did-you-do-after-3-11-11">http://www.worldviewzmedia.net/video/311-what-did-you-do-after-3-11-11</a></p>
<p><object width="456" height="260" classid="clsid:d27cdb6e-ae6d-11cf-96b8-444553540000" codebase="http://download.macromedia.com/pub/shockwave/cabs/flash/swflash.cab#version=6,0,40,0"><param name="wmode" value="opaque"></param><param name="src" value="http://static.ning.com/socialnetworkmain/widgets/video/flvplayer/flvplayer.swf?xn_version=3704000907"></param><param name="flashvars" value="config=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.worldviewzmedia.net%2Fvideo%2Fvideo%2FshowPlayerConfig%3Fid%3D2098065%253AVideo%253A62987%26ck%3D-&video_smoothing=on&autoplay=off&hideShareLink=1&isEmbedCode=1"></param><param name="scale" value="noscale"></param><param name="allowscriptaccess" value="never"></param><param name="allowfullscreen" value="false"></param><param name="pluginspage" value="http://www.macromedia.com/go/getflashplayer"></param><embed wmode="opaque" width="456" height="260" type="application/x-shockwave-flash" src="http://static.ning.com/socialnetworkmain/widgets/video/flvplayer/flvplayer.swf?xn_version=3704000907" flashvars="config=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.worldviewzmedia.net%2Fvideo%2Fvideo%2FshowPlayerConfig%3Fid%3D2098065%253AVideo%253A62987%26ck%3D-&video_smoothing=on&autoplay=off&hideShareLink=1&isEmbedCode=1" scale="noscale" allowscriptaccess="never" allowfullscreen="false" pluginspage="http://www.macromedia.com/go/getflashplayer" bgcolor="#332C1A"></embed> </object>
<br/> <small><a href="http://www.worldviewzmedia.net/video/video">Find more videos like this on <em>World Viewz</em></a></small></p>
<p></p>
<h1><span class="font-size-3">Dr Masaru Emoto "Power of Prayer" for Fukishima Pt 1</span></h1>
<p><a href="http://www.worldviewzmedia.net/video/wvz-interview-with-dr-masaru-emoto-pt-1-1">http://www.worldviewzmedia.net/video/wvz-interview-with-dr-masaru-emoto-pt-1-1</a></p>
<p><object width="456" height="260" classid="clsid:d27cdb6e-ae6d-11cf-96b8-444553540000" codebase="http://download.macromedia.com/pub/shockwave/cabs/flash/swflash.cab#version=6,0,40,0"><param name="wmode" value="opaque"></param><param name="src" value="http://static.ning.com/socialnetworkmain/widgets/video/flvplayer/flvplayer.swf?xn_version=3704000907"></param><param name="flashvars" value="config=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.worldviewzmedia.net%2Fvideo%2Fvideo%2FshowPlayerConfig%3Fid%3D2098065%253AVideo%253A55205%26ck%3D-&video_smoothing=on&autoplay=off&hideShareLink=1&isEmbedCode=1"></param><param name="scale" value="noscale"></param><param name="allowscriptaccess" value="never"></param><param name="allowfullscreen" value="false"></param><param name="pluginspage" value="http://www.macromedia.com/go/getflashplayer"></param><embed wmode="opaque" width="456" height="260" type="application/x-shockwave-flash" src="http://static.ning.com/socialnetworkmain/widgets/video/flvplayer/flvplayer.swf?xn_version=3704000907" flashvars="config=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.worldviewzmedia.net%2Fvideo%2Fvideo%2FshowPlayerConfig%3Fid%3D2098065%253AVideo%253A55205%26ck%3D-&video_smoothing=on&autoplay=off&hideShareLink=1&isEmbedCode=1" scale="noscale" allowscriptaccess="never" allowfullscreen="false" pluginspage="http://www.macromedia.com/go/getflashplayer" bgcolor="#332C1A"></embed> </object>
<br/> <small><a href="http://www.worldviewzmedia.net/video/video">Find more videos like this on <em>World Viewz</em></a></small></p>
<p></p>
<h1><span class="font-size-3">Dr Masaru Emoto "Power of Prayer" for Fukishima Pt 2</span></h1>
<p><a href="http://www.worldviewzmedia.net/video/wvz-interview-with-dr-masaru-emoto-pt-2">http://www.worldviewzmedia.net/video/wvz-interview-with-dr-masaru-emoto-pt-2</a></p>
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<h1><span class="font-size-3">"On The Road" Japanese NPO Tsunami Relief</span></h1>
<p><a href="http://www.worldviewzmedia.net/video/on-the-road-japanese-npo-tsunami-relief-2">http://www.worldviewzmedia.net/video/on-the-road-japanese-npo-tsunami-relief-2</a></p>
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<p></p>The Hemp Car Forced off the Road Know the Truthtag:worldviewzmedia.net,2013-03-27:2098065:BlogPost:729212013-03-27T04:21:35.000ZRobert Dakotahttp://worldviewzmedia.net/profile/RobertDakota
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<h1 class="post-title">Henry Ford’s Hemp Plastic Car is 10X Stronger</h1>
<div class="post-meta">February 25, 2013 by <a class="tip post-author" href="http://www.collective-evolution.com/author/joe/" rel="author" title="View all posts by Joe Martino">Joe Martino</a></div>
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<div class="post-single-body clearfix margin-t20"><p><img alt="url-2" class="alignleft size-medium wp-image-37227" height="225" src="http://cdn1.collective-evolution.com/assets/uploads/2013/02/url-22-300x225.jpeg" width="300"></img> When we think of cars we think of gasoline, steel, pollution, etc. Well, maybe you don’t, but that’s what comes to mind for me. Even though we…</p>
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<h1 class="post-title">Henry Ford’s Hemp Plastic Car is 10X Stronger</h1>
<div class="post-meta">February 25, 2013 by <a class="tip post-author" href="http://www.collective-evolution.com/author/joe/" title="View all posts by Joe Martino" rel="author">Joe Martino</a></div>
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<p></p>
<div class="post-single-body clearfix margin-t20"><p><img class="alignleft size-medium wp-image-37227" alt="url-2" src="http://cdn1.collective-evolution.com/assets/uploads/2013/02/url-22-300x225.jpeg" width="300" height="225"/>When we think of cars we think of gasoline, steel, pollution, etc. Well, maybe you don’t, but that’s what comes to mind for me. Even though we have some innovative and visually pleasing cars on the road today, it is difficult to ignore the sheer environmental impact that modern cars create. What if cars didn’t have to be the way they are today? If you are a researcher of any kind of alternative information, you already know this to be true -especially given that the technology already exists today to make cars smarter, safer and more eco-friendly (no fossil fuels necessary.) But did you know that Henry Ford spent more than a decade researching and building his Model-T car which was not only constructed from hemp but was also designed to run off hemp bio-fuel? Whatever happened to this idea?</p>
<p>According to Popular Mechanics, Henry Ford’s first Model-T was built to run on hemp gasoline and the CAR ITSELF WAS CONSTRUCTED FROM HEMP! On his large estate, Ford was photographed among his hemp fields. The car, ‘grown from the soil,’ had hemp plastic panels whose impact strength was 10 times stronger than steel.</p>
<p>To think that even one of the founders of a major car manufacturer was trying to give the world a vehicle that was safe, strong and clean for the environment, yet his invention was so suppressed that it is somewhat disheartening. How did we go from such an obvious and intelligent discovery, to using gasoline, steel and other non-harmonious materials? It’s important to remember, not only do we need to look at the pollution factor of a material while in use, but also in the manufacturing and creation of it from raw materials. Looking at hemp, it complies with every eco-standard that exists today; in fact, it blows them out of the water. The suppression of this technology is largely due to the fact that hemp was outlawed in the US in 1937 due to the potential damaging effect it would have on many powerful industries at the time. I highly recommend you check out the the full story on <a href="http://www.collective-evolution.com/2012/12/05/how-hemp-became-illegal-the-marijuana-link/">how hemp became illegal</a> to get a better understanding.</p>
<ins><ins id="aswift_0_anchor"></ins></ins><p>Here are a couple of videos showing the sheer strength of Ford’s hemp vehicle as well as the possibility of hemp based vehicles and fuels. Hemp has a bright future. The prohibition of it certainly won’t last forever given the amount of awareness being raised around the subject.</p>
<p><a href="http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ryO2JLzFPTY&feature=player_embedded">http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ryO2JLzFPTY&feature=player_embedded</a></p>
</div>Happy New Year to All, May your Endless Present and Presence continue to Radiate Brilliantly!tag:worldviewzmedia.net,2013-01-01:2098065:BlogPost:676182013-01-01T10:21:01.000ZGregory Charles Du Boishttp://worldviewzmedia.net/profile/GregoryCharlesDuBois
<p>I awoke to a fine morning in Pokhara, Nepal. I went quickly to breakfast as I had engagements to attend in the morning. </p>
<p>The Three Sisters Guest House and Trekking Adventure is a wonderful organization that works to empower the women of Nepal. They do tremendous social service for the women and children of Nepal.</p>
<p>A few times per year, they get together with The Green Clean Pokhara Movement, an organization working to clean up the trash and pollution around this naturally…</p>
<p>I awoke to a fine morning in Pokhara, Nepal. I went quickly to breakfast as I had engagements to attend in the morning. </p>
<p>The Three Sisters Guest House and Trekking Adventure is a wonderful organization that works to empower the women of Nepal. They do tremendous social service for the women and children of Nepal.</p>
<p>A few times per year, they get together with The Green Clean Pokhara Movement, an organization working to clean up the trash and pollution around this naturally beautiful area of the Himalayan foothills. I knew this would be happening on New Year's Day so eagerly joined the effort, as Gandhi so simply and elegantly stated "Be the Change you want to See". </p>
<p>About 20 of us, mostly Nepali people combed the Lakeshore, picking up trash everywhere we went. We had boats in the water, helping clean up the floating debris in the water and men on the shore with long rakes helping with the trash in the lake. </p>
<p>It was a wonderful, worthwhile and productive effort that I was proud and happy to be a part of.</p>
<p>Pictures in the New Year's Day Album</p>
<p>I encourage you all to come visit Nepal for the jewel that it is in this world. Come stay at the 3 Sisters Guest House, a fabulous place to stay, where most of the proceeds go to help others.</p>
<p>Shine brightly as you dance into the new year! My Love and Light is with you always!</p>
<p>Gregory</p>Magic in Rishikesh, Indiatag:worldviewzmedia.net,2013-01-24:2098065:BlogPost:681312013-01-24T10:39:20.000ZGregory Charles Du Boishttp://worldviewzmedia.net/profile/GregoryCharlesDuBois
<p><span>I am way behind on my reporting, but wanted to get this off. I'll work to catch up a bit in relating my wondrous adventures in this incredible land...</span><br></br><span>My travels from Delhi to Rishikesh went perfectly smoothly, thanks to great extent to the wonderful ladies at the US Embassy School travel desk. I arrived in Haridwar, the nearest train station at around 12:15 pm. I met two other travelers looking t</span><span class="text_exposed_show">o share a taxi or ride to…</span></p>
<p><span>I am way behind on my reporting, but wanted to get this off. I'll work to catch up a bit in relating my wondrous adventures in this incredible land...</span><br/><span>My travels from Delhi to Rishikesh went perfectly smoothly, thanks to great extent to the wonderful ladies at the US Embassy School travel desk. I arrived in Haridwar, the nearest train station at around 12:15 pm. I met two other travelers looking t</span><span class="text_exposed_show">o share a taxi or ride to Rishikesh. The woman knew about the buses so we walked one block, got on a bus for 30 rupees $ .60 US, that took us to Rishikesh. From there, I got a tuk tuk to the ashram for 50 rupees and arrived at around 1:30 pm so everything was perfect. I am one of the only guests in this huge ashram...many monks and nuns. I participate in some of the daily activities and will do some volunteer work for them on a few days.<br/>I meet many good people and am really enjoying Rishikesh; I love the monkeys. I am in a quiet area with a strong spiritual focus along side the Ganges...life is good!<br/>I am staying at the Sivananda Ashram, founded by the late Sri Swami Sivananda and the guru of one of my early teachers in this incarnation, Swami Sivananda Radha, founder of the Yasodhara Ashram in BC, Canada. She was a profound influence on my spiritual path and development. Here, I pay homage to her memory, teaching and lineage, as I meditate, participate in Kirtan's, satsangs, arati, yoga, and donate time in "karma yoga service". I have a wonderful feeling/experience of gratitude and heart opening, uplifting consciousness as I experience these ancient traditions.<br/>Much love and blessing to you and all of the fine people in your circle.<br/>Greg</span></p>The Benefits of DNA/Theta Healing .. and the topic of boundary setting during these changing timestag:worldviewzmedia.net,2013-01-10:2098065:BlogPost:677542013-01-10T22:28:46.000ZLeslye Jacobshttp://worldviewzmedia.net/xn/detail/u_0x9l1hvnzmk0e
<p>As part of the healing process, I recently spent part of the holidays going through a series intensive advanced DNA healing and trance work to connect to my "inner-child" and to do some more tune-up healing work. The holiday time is a great time to do this, as it helps to stay focused on my path and to work more on releasing the emotional abuse from childhood.</p>
<p>A need for this was triggered on December 14th - the day of the Newtown shootings. Having started PALS AROUND THE WORLD, a…</p>
<p>As part of the healing process, I recently spent part of the holidays going through a series intensive advanced DNA healing and trance work to connect to my "inner-child" and to do some more tune-up healing work. The holiday time is a great time to do this, as it helps to stay focused on my path and to work more on releasing the emotional abuse from childhood.</p>
<p>A need for this was triggered on December 14th - the day of the Newtown shootings. Having started PALS AROUND THE WORLD, a grass roots nonprofit in my spare time to help children in 2011, I came home that day from our book donation rounds, as I always do during the holidays to hear the upsetting news. I was so sick to my stomach imaging these little innocent angelic faces and thought about all the teachers and librarians I work with and how we would protect the kids if were placed in a similar situation. When I visited my elderly cousin and her caretaker that evening, I found them glued to the tv, along with the rest of the nation. All of us asking how such innocent lives could be taken. It also sent "chills" down my spine because it was my mother's birthday and she greatly disapproved of my work helping children and launching PALS AROUND THE WORLD. It reminded me of a conversation we had the week before, where she had expressed anger that I was continuing my work with PALS and was agitated (seeing my newsletter) that I had started to make progress this fall with my work since returning back to LA. </p>
<p>While disapproval and anger are one thing.. its another when people "energetically" put effort into wanting to stop you from your path and your work - and at times I have had to protect myself and step up the prayers by working on nurturing/protecting me. </p>
<p>To my surprise, in trance work - past life issues regarding my mother were brought to light, including my mother and her deep unhappiness and my need to show love/compassion but separate from both my mother and my father until they can both learn to treat me right without being abusive. </p>
<p>Many things were also brought into prospective during my Advanced DNA/Theta healing class the following week. During this intense 3 day workshop we shifted the energy and brought a lot of my childhood trauma and abuse to the light to be effectively released and healed. As a common theme in our class of ten was parental abuse - ranging from a beautiful elderly Jamaican grandmother healer to a young Korean-American girl to a middle-aged caucasian business woman from Orange County to a mormon couple from Nevada. We may have all come from different age groups, cultures and socio-economic backgrounds, but we all shared similar stories and had emotions emerge from childhood trauma and parental abuse that needed to be brought out and healed. </p>
<p>Much like Kundalini Yoga, with Theta healing, moving the energy and healing old wounds in one's DNA is necessary yet effective healing work as oftentimes childhood abuse is deeply buried and can leave lasting scars in adults if it goes untreated. Though its quite effective.. at its core, DNA healing is belief work and takes a certain level of understanding and openness to the process in order to heal. Sometimes, people just aren't ready to remove certain core beliefs - as perhaps there are reasons they want the "pain/trauma" in place - oftentimes as buffers or feelings of protection. That is why this therapy is a great gentle way of doing only what is permissibly right and acceptable for each individual.</p>
<p>As a traditional I/O psychologist with a variety of background and skills in healing modalities, I am not a novice, but I am by no means an expert.. and on this physical earth plane, I am here to learn, grow and heal just like everyone else. And while we are all at different levels of understanding regarding healing - it is only what works for me personally that I care to apply and recommend. I am not offended if others embrace or accept these newly emerging methodologies or not. It is only by sharing my work and my own personal experiences that I hope to help others who faced similar issues in their own life.</p>
<p>But as a healer or just someone looking for healing - with these modalities we need constant "tune-ups" to remain a clear channel when issues pop-up in order to heal and operate more effectively, much like a gardner pruning his plants. Without constant care and tune-ups, the weeds come back. </p>
<p>While much of the work that surfaced among our group was very personal. The healing was profound and it was done in a very safe and nurturing environment. Marina Rose is a leading authority in DNA/Theta healing. One Ive worked with for a few years now and a very trusted healer, teacher and dear friend. In teaching this modality, she has seen and dealt with the full-gamut of healing needed - the work is done directly within the client and the creator - a very "non-evasive" gentle approach to healing. Much like the work we do in Kundalini Yoga with our breath/energy work - but in a different way/process of connecting. </p>
<p>Doing mediation and trance work - along with DNA healing during these changing times, allows one to continue doing the clearing work and the ability to obtain the answers from within. For me personally this month - its fortification/healing in order to "own my path" without interference, ambiguity or negativity. For others its clearing their own unique challenges they are experiencing at this moment in time.</p>
<p>Through the surfacing and clearing work in our workshop - an individual in theta healing is able to first "identify" the source of the abuse through digging work and then transmute/remove that pain or core belief which allows the client to bring in the healing - taking away the source: the inflicted/inherited core belief. The change is felt immediately and as a result, one is able to handle similar issues that arise post healing in a better way - one that doesn't hurt or cause pain/trauma. In turn, the shift inside you forces the people who you deal with that contributed to the initial trauma/conflict to change as well - as you are not a victim and you are not dealing with them in the same habitual pattern. As a result, your own healing is helping that person to heal as well. </p>
<p>It takes strength and courage to tell an abuser they are acting in a way that is unacceptable to us. However, before boundaries can be set, a person has to clearly be aware (through therapy and the healing process) what constitutes healthy behavior and what an acceptable interaction dynamic looks like - before they can even ask to be treated right. </p>
<p>Once perspective and healing takes place, the next step is to set very clear personal boundaries on how you are to be treated. </p>
<p>Part of recovery is how to take down walls and protect ourselves in healthy ways by learning what our personal boundaries are, how to set them and how to properly defend them once they are in place. </p>
<p>Its also clearly knowing that we have the right to protect and defend ourselves. And that we have not only a right, but a duty to take ownership and responsibility for how we allow others to treat us. </p>
<p>I was reminded of this today when I called home to revisit toxic conversations with my parents. Usually the abuse comes from my mother - but today was the rare exception that my father actually answered the phone. His response today started off pleasant. We talked for a minute about how he was feeling which turned into picking fights and yelling "Your a loser, you don't have a full time job and everyone in LA are losers" Yes, though this was a mild verbal abuse compared to other conversations - usually with my mother - the old overly sensitive me would have been hurt, cried and upset. But the new me shrugs it off and the best way for me or for anyone to handle this type of abuse is to state what you are willing or not willing to accept. </p>
<p>So for me personally, this is done by stating: "You are being verbally abusive by calling me names and this is NOT acceptable. I will have to cut this conversation short until you can talk to me in an acceptable manner with decency and respect."</p>
<p>If behavior or respect for your boundaries are not met, it may mean communicating clearer ones if the action continues. An example would be: </p>
<p>"If you keep repeating this behavior, I will consider all my options, including leaving this relationship." </p>
<p>Though one may naturally be upset to hear such words - I simply state that although my reply was one of love and gratitude (as I had initially called to check on my parents and to let them know I had sent a thank you note and a small gift) It was clear my boundaries were not being respected and I had to hang-up. </p>
<p>Today, I feel pleased and at peace that I have set stronger boundaries in place. I do not have to accept being treated in this way and I do not have to absorb or hear it anymore. Its like "switching the channel" on a bad horror movie.. you can always switch to the lighthearted funny comedy instead. Also, surrounding oneself with loving people and relationships and continuing to set goals - and discuss them only with loving/supportive people works best. </p>
<p>I have also opened my heart to embracing the type of work I am here to do - work that fits with the times we live in and that keeps me happy and growing and healing myself and others. Through both learning more healing work, counseling, writing and putting whats learned into practice, I am not only helping me - but helping others. </p>
<p>During these changing times, I find comfort in knowing I'm handling the challenges Ive faced up until now the best that I can and will always show love, forgiveness and compassion.. but sometimes boundaries mean walking away - because you cannot change people - only your response to them. By sharing my story I hope to help others heal too who have had similar abusive relationships in their life. </p>
<p>Though I wrote a few months ago about the shock of returning to Detroit after years of being away to see my ailing father, and the family wounds it brought up, this article is how I chose to deal with it. To keep moving on and healing in the best proactive way possible. </p>
<p>In retrospect, the visit brought me "face to face' with just how bad the abuse had become over the years and how I needed to heal and set boundaries to not take it anymore. The depth of the abuse was something that I never realized as a young person growing up in the home - as I learned to be on my own and bury it at an early age - but it was always there.</p>
<p>Therapy is not always pretty - and the things that surface may be painful to go through - but the insight and healing makes it worthwhile. Its like unloading a lot of useless baggage that is not even yours..As in many cases, core beliefs (unconscious or otherwise) can be in your DNA carried over from many many generations before you from your ancestors. Core-beliefs in your lineage that you may or may not be aware you're carrying.</p>
<p>As a human being with a heart and soul, we all have the right to protect and defend ourselves. By setting boundaries, we can better own our feelings and communicate in a direct and honest manner. Without communicating boundaries, healthy relationships are not possible. </p>
<p>Just like everyone on this earth, I am in a transitional place in life walking between two worlds as our humanity shows through and as we start to grow in consciousness. This change in us as humans is all a part of the new era the Mayans talk about.. Not a specific date in time, but a beautiful gradual shift birthing a new, loving, harmonious new world. Something we are in the middle of experiencing.. </p>
<p>This walk between worlds is discovering who we truly are.. For me personally, it means</p>
<p>learning to navigate in a new world more in accordance with my heart, as it has become more and more apparent during a recent job interview that my old world working in corporate project management/software development doesn't work for me. This particular job interview involved artificial intelligence software technology replacing humans with robots. Though I was happy to receive a call for the interview, the job site felt sterile, cold and impersonal and the work had zero heart. Exploring this opportunity made me realize - it was just NOT me or what I am about anymore. It also caused me to "fine-tune" my goals and objectives in the NOW to attract the right kind of work.</p>
<p>Things that happen on our path are not by accident… by going backwards - like visiting my family or interviewing for this job, I was able to realize how much I have truly outgrown certain things that were once acceptable. By seeing what you don't want.. it helps one to "focus" in on what one does want.. and as we connect more in our hearts.. this transition will be more "on-track" , more effortless - manifesting the right opportunities in a new world of possibilities. </p>
<p>By counseling, writing, teaching and helping others heal and continuing my work with PALS AROUND THE WORLD, we are just getting warmed up and the doors are continuing to open in this direction. </p>
<p>As I do more clearing work - I have become more and more comfortable sharing what I've been through - so that I may help others too who are also having growing pains and in need of healing/boundary setting during this transition.</p>
<p>For some - its loving yourself enough to say know to others who abuse until they can treat you right and become the loving vibration that you are.. but remember, the person abusing may never change and may not be a part of your journey anymore. </p>
<p>And yes, that can be sad.. because kindness and love knows no enemies.. but remember - some people's battles are with themselves - not you - and you can't take it personally. You also cannot change that, but you don't have to be a victim of someone's bad moods or put-downs either. The answers and what your willing to accept resides in you and the person through boundaries. Yes people can change, but they have to want to change and prove they are trustworthy and willing to change.</p>
<p>In retrospect, over the past few years, I realize how much stronger and more confidant I've become to reveal who I truly am as a human being without fear of judgement, parental disapproval or abuse. </p>
<p>I will continue to strive at being the best that I can be and help those I encounter on my path - young or old - as we are all hear to learn, grow, heal and be about love - and most importantly be there for each other in every sense of the word. </p>Ho'oponopono - Relationship Healingtag:worldviewzmedia.net,2012-01-15:2098065:BlogPost:619192012-01-15T23:30:00.000ZJ. Nakagawahttp://worldviewzmedia.net/profile/JohnNakagawa
<p>“Ho’oponopono, a traditional Hawaiian family problem-solving process is a method of resolving family and group conflict… A rich body of knowledge about the physical, emotional, and spiritual well-being of an individual in relationship to family, community, and environment has existed in the Hawaiian culture for centuries. One of the specific practices is a complex system for maintaining harmonious relationships and resolving conflict within the extended family; this system is called…</p>
<p>“Ho’oponopono, a traditional Hawaiian family problem-solving process is a method of resolving family and group conflict… A rich body of knowledge about the physical, emotional, and spiritual well-being of an individual in relationship to family, community, and environment has existed in the Hawaiian culture for centuries. One of the specific practices is a complex system for maintaining harmonious relationships and resolving conflict within the extended family; this system is called ho’oponopono (pronounced, ho’o pono pono), which means “setting to right”.”</p>
<p> </p>
<p><i>The above quote is from the first few pages of the book “Ho’oponopono” by E. Victoria Shook. This entire article is made up of direct quotes from this book. The quote pages are listed:</i></p>
<p></p>
<p><span style="font-family: courier new,courier;"> Shook, E. Victoria. <i>Ho'oponopono</i>. Honolulu: The East West Center, 1985</span></p>
<p><span class="font-size-1"> </span></p>
<p><i>Many quotes in this book are from “Nani I Ke Kumu (Look to the Source)”, by Pukui, Haertig & Lee:</i></p>
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<p><span style="font-family: courier new,courier;"> Pukui, Mary K., E. Haertig, and Catherine A. Lee. <i>Nani I Ke Kumu</i>.</span></p>
<p><span style="font-family: courier new,courier;"> Vol. I & II. Honolulu: Hui Hanai, 1972</span></p>
<p><span class="font-size-1"> </span></p>
<p><b>DESCRIPTION</b> direct quotes from p.10-12</p>
<p>Ho’oponopono is a method for restoring harmony... According to (Grandmother) Pukui, it literally means “setting to right”... “to restore and maintain good relationships among family, extended family and supernatural powers”. The metaphor of a tangled net has been used to illustrate how problems within a family affect not only persons directly involved but also other family members. The family is a complex net of relationships, and any disturbance in one part of the net will pull other parts. This metaphor reinforces the Hawaiian philosophy of the interrelatedness of all things.</p>
<p> </p>
<p>The (ho’oponopono) family conference was traditionally led by a senior family member or, if necessary, by a respected outsider such as a <i>kahuna lapa’au</i> (healer).</p>
<p> </p>
<p><b>FOUR STEPS </b> p.11-12</p>
<p>Ho’oponopono is opened with a <i>pule</i>, which is prayer conducted to ask God (Christian) and/or the ‘<i>amakua</i> (Hawaiian Gods) for assistance and blessing in the problem-solving endeavor.</p>
<p> </p>
<p>In the beginning phase there is a period of identifying the general problem, known as <i>kukulu kumuhana</i>. (This term has two additional meanings that are a part of ho’oponopono. <i>Kukulu kumuhana</i> is the pooling of strengths for a shared purpose, such as solving the family’s problem. It also refers to the leader’s effort to reach out to a person who is resisting the ho’oponopono process to enable that person to participate fully.) The procedures for the whole (four step) problem-solving sequence are also outlined in order to reacquaint all participants with them.</p>
<p> </p>
<p>Once the proper climate is set, the leader (the <i>haku</i>) focuses on the specific problem. The <i>hala</i>, or transgression, is stated. <i>Hala</i> also implies that the perpetrator and the person wronged are bound together in a relationship of negative entanglement called <i>hihia</i>.</p>
<p> </p>
<p>Because of the nature of <i>hihia,</i> most problems have many dimensions. The initial hurt is often followed by other reactions, further misunderstandings, and so forth until a complex knot of difficulties has evolved. It is the leader’s responsibility to choose one of the problems and work it out with the family through the process of <i>mahiki</i>, or discussion. With one part resolved, the group can uncover and resolve successive layers of trouble one layer at a time until the family relationships are again free and clear.</p>
<p> </p>
<p>The discussion of the problem is lead and channeled by the leader (channeled meaning people speak only to the leader, not to each other directly, unless told to). This intermediary function keeps individuals from directly confronting one another, a situation that could lead to further emotional outburst and misunderstanding… Each participant who has been affected by the problem in some way – directly or indirectly – is asked to share his or her feelings, or <i>mana’o.</i> The emphasis is on self-scrutiny, and when participants share they are encouraged to do so honestly, openly, and in a way that avoids blame and recrimination. If in the course of the discussion tempers begin to flare, the leader may declare <i>ho’omalu</i>, a cooling-off period of silence.</p>
<p> </p>
<p>When the discussion is complete, the <i>mihi</i>, takes place. This is the sincere confession of wrongdoing and the seeking of forgiveness. It is expected that forgiveness be given whenever asked. If restitution is necessary then the terms of it are arranged and agreed upon.</p>
<p> </p>
<p>Closely related to <i>mihi</i> is <i>kala,</i> or a loosening of the negative entanglements. Both the person who has confessed and the person who has forgiven are expected to <i>kala</i> (loosen) the problem. This mutual release is an essential part of the process and true <i>ho’oponopono</i> is not complete without it. The <i>kala</i> indicates that the conflicts and hurts have been released and are <i>oki</i> (cut off).</p>
<p> </p>
<p>The <i>pani</i> is the closing phase and may include a summary of what has taken place and, importantly, a reaffirmation of the family’s strengths and enduring bonds. The problem that has been worked out is declared closed, never to be brought up again. If other layers of the problem need to be worked out, the final <i>pani</i> is postponed. Sometimes ho’oponopono may take many sessions. Each session has a <i>pani</i> about what has been resolved and includes a closing prayer, <i>pule ho’opau</i>. After the session the family and leader traditionally share a snack or meal to which all have contributed. This demonstrates the commitment and bond of all who participated and provides a familiar means to move from the formal problem-solving setting to normal daily routines.</p>
<p> </p>
<p>p.88 … according to Keola the pani was the actual closure of the process. He gave his view on the symbolic importance of food during the closing phase: “Food is important. And in food, when your natural juices are moving, one tends to be much more in the mood to share in fellowship, able to relax. When you have a full stomach, one feels a lot better. So I think it lends to the process.”</p>
<p> </p>
<p>p.12 In summary, ho’oponopono is a highly structured process with four distinct phases: 1. <i>(pule/ kukulu kumuhana)</i> an opening phase that includes the prayer and a statement of the problem; 2. <i>(mahiki)</i> a discussion phase in which all members involved share their thoughts and feelings (<i>mana’o)</i> in a calm manner and listen to all the others as they speak; 3. <i>(mihi/kala/oki)</i> A resolution phase that enables the exchange of confession, forgiveness, and release; and 4. <i>(pani)</i> a closing phase to summarize what has transpired and to give spiritual and individual thanks for sincere participation.</p>
<p> </p>
<p><b>HO’OPONOPONO TODAY 1972 </b> p.8-10</p>
<p>... Some years later the father died, leaving his wife and son alone. The son had gotten into trouble as an adolescent... Keola (the social worker assigned to help the troubled boy) reported that he thought the boy was “flirting with death,”... In one incident the boy pulled an unloaded .45-caliber pistol on a police officer; in another he challenged 15 officers to a karate duel… social worker (Keola) said,</p>
<p> </p>
<p>“How am I gonna’ deal with this kind of cultural stuff? If you ask me as a native Hawaiian… I would run to a grandparent or somebody for help.”</p>
<p> </p>
<p>When Keola shared this concern with his supervisor he was given permission to contact (Grandmother) Mary Kawena Pukui (also called Tutu, an affectionate and respectful name for an older female). He approached (Tutu) Pukui and requested her assistance so that the (government counseling) agency could learn how to help this and other Hawaiian families in “the Hawaiian way”.</p>
<p> </p>
<p>(Tutu) Pukui consented; she, a psychiatrist (Dr. Haertig MD), a psychologist (Lee), and several social workers began meeting on a weekly basis (which they called) the “Culture Committee.”... Tutu would “talk story” about related beliefs and practices… Tutu talked about a form of ho’oponopono that she had used all her life and that had been used by her family… (Tutu) Pukui said,</p>
<p> </p>
<p>“And whether my ‘<i>ohana</i> (family) prayed to <i>‘amakua</i> [ancestor gods] or to God [Christian], the whole idea of ho’oponopono was the same. Every one of us searched his heart for hard feelings against one another. Before God and with His help, we forgave and were forgiven, thrashing out every grudge, peeve, or resentment among us.” <i>Nana I Ke Kumu p.61</i></p>
<p> </p>
<p>It was Tutu Pukui’s (ho’oponopono) method that Keola used… the (troubled) boy was able to finish high school and “make it in society.”… The excitement generated by the possibility of similar beneficial outcomes… kept the (“Culture Committee”) group going for seven years… (then in 1972) they decided to publish a book. <i>Nana I Ke Kumu</i> (Look to the Source).</p>
<p> </p>
<p><b>HO’OPONOPONO PRACTITIONERS’ COMMENTS</b></p>
<p>p.43 (Three practitioners) learned about ho’oponopono directly from Mary Kawena Pukui, as participants in the QLCC (Queen Liliuokalani Children’s Center) “Culture Committee” discussions… the others learned… through reading <i>Nana I Ke Kumu</i>.</p>
<p> </p>
<p><b>Virginia Wahler </b>p.47-48</p>
<p>Setting things to right - because we teach so much about balance or harmony. Our body, mind, emotions, and spirit need to be in balance. That’s what I call being “together”… So we work on all four sides of man. And ho’oponopono is a process for putting things to right, back in balance, within the individual, and within their <i>‘ohana</i> (family).</p>
<p> </p>
<p>Ho’oponopono was used to solve problems that came up in the (delinquent boys’ school) group as well as to reaffirm positive individual and group behavior. Because it was used on a daily basis (at school), it helped cement the relations of the group and became a prevention tool. It was also a time during the day that the boys could share things like: “I had a good day“… “We had good fun doing this”… “We had a problem, but we settled it before we got here.”</p>
<p> </p>
<p><b>Robert Padua </b>p.49-52</p>
<p>The boys at camp responded positively to this man who taught primarily by being a positive model and espousing the simple joys of life. He demonstrated an ability to be strong and firm or sensitive and yielding, whichever was appropriate</p>
<p> </p>
<p>(Robert said) “I hate to say it, but some people are devilish. There’s a devil in them, and it just overcomes them. It’s like being possessed. And ho’oponopono knows this and ho’oponopono senses this and eliminates it.”</p>
<p> </p>
<p>p.86 Robert (who worked with delinquent boys) … sensed that the boys he worked with were “battered up inside,” so he asked for “spiritual strength and guidance” to determine the extent of his questioning.</p>
<p> </p>
<p>p.51-52</p>
<p>The so-called negative (delinquent boys’ school) leaders/teachers – they were so much turned around (after learning about and leading ho’oponopono). Much softer.</p>
<p> </p>
<p>By using the process every day, he said, “You become closer, as a family, an ‘ohana. And it becomes natural. It’s just a thing that becomes love. It becomes family. …I feel the boys look forward for it.”</p>
<p><b> </b></p>
<p>(Robert said) if he ever had a family of his own he would use the process. It is a process that made him feel better about himself and others… “That’s the way the world should be – a big ho’oponopono.</p>
<p> </p>
<p><b>Jean Baker</b> p.53-55</p>
<p>Jean emphasized the value of using ho’oponopono when small problems occurred rather than waiting for large conflicts. In this way if the little problems were handled well, then the participants experienced feelings of success associated with the process and were more likely to request it when another problem arose.</p>
<p> </p>
<p>The leader would step in if expressed anger or other outbursts threatened to block problem resolution. In this case the leader’s job was to reestablish a calm atmosphere and help the group understand “that they don’t have to be controlled by that they’re feeling…”</p>
<p> </p>
<p><b>Joseph Whitney</b> p.56-58</p>
<p> “I’ve had students say, ‘This is incredible. I wish we had more.’” More confirmation of its value came from the parents… (a parent told Joseph) My son comes back (from doing ho’oponopono at school) and all of a sudden he wants the family to sit down together and talk. What is this?”</p>
<p> </p>
<p>When Joseph used ho’oponopono with the young black men on the mainland (USA) he found it to be incredibly difficult… after this frustrating experience, one of the toughest kids came up to Joseph after the course and said, “Hey, I really owe you”.</p>
<p> </p>
<p><b>Paul Ellis</b> p.60-62</p>
<p>It was sort of a combination of psychotherapy plus a social problem-solving mechanism that I’ve never seen anyplace else.</p>
<p> </p>
<p>To heal relationships. To take relationships that are strained, for whatever reason, and to begin uncovering the various layers of guck and gunk and garbage that is there, and to peel some of that stuff back and try and heal. Heal the relationships. Like doctors heal the body… in mediation you’re healing relationships between people</p>
<p> </p>
<p><b>Kalau Souza</b> p.68-69</p>
<p>Kalau conceived that it could also be a way for a troubled couple to look honestly at their relationship to determine whether or not they should stay together. In cases where ho’oponopono might lead to a couple’s decision to end their marriage, she said the process could provide a forum for making agreements about what their behavior would be toward one another in the future.</p>
<p> </p>
<p>Kalau basically thought ho’oponopono “would work for anyone who was interested and wanted to use the practice. But it requires a commitment – to sit through it and sincerely participate.”</p>
<p> </p>
<p>(With one family) it still came out with, it seemed to me, everybody looking after their own territory and not really thinking of the total.</p>
<p> </p>
<p>“I always used a warm-up period, where you get caught up on the news of the family and how things are. And that’s what I call the warm-up. It’s not to get into any of the problem situation, but to kinda feel like – like you know one another again. There’s been an absence, a lack of contact, perhaps. And you don’t go directly into things. So, to me that’s a very important part of the process, called <i>kukulu-kumuhana</i>.”</p>
<p> </p>
<p><b>Keola Espiritu</b> (Lani’s husband) p.63-67</p>
<p>… diagnostic, remedial and preventive… The first, diagnostic, gives a group the opportunity to air feelings and identify a problem so that everyone knows where the responsibilities lie. If the group is not ready or willing to proceed through the resolution phase of the process, then the ho’oponopono could be labeled “diagnostic.”</p>
<p> </p>
<p>The second aspect is remedial and occurs when the problem is identified, and the group proceeds to rectify the situation through forgiveness and restitution. The ideal outcome is preventive. Sessions serve a preventive function when the group holds ho’oponopono on a regular basis even when there are no obvious problems.</p>
<p> </p>
<p>Traditionally all discussions were channeled through the leader (“channeled” means everyone spoke directly to Keola and not to each other), even during the forgiveness and release stage. However, Keola has found that this was often a time when positive expressions of concern, such as hugging and kissing, and heartfelt apologies were likely to occur. So he encouraged these expressions to be communicated directly from one individual to another</p>
<p> </p>
<p>In working with other groups, particularly couples with marital problems, Keola shared the role of <i>haku</i> (leader) with his wife Lani… When Keola worked with a family over a period of time and the family members became familiar with the process, he said he found himself playing a less active role as leader. Eventually the <i>haku</i> (leader) role was turned over to a person in the family and Keola functioned more as a resource person.</p>
<p> </p>
<p>I find it’s a good, good learning experience for the group itself, as well as for the therapist.</p>
<p><b> </b></p>
<p><b>Lani Espiritu</b> (Keola’s wife) p.72-76</p>
<p>(Ho’oponopono) gives you a good assessment of the people, in the situation – an idea of the complexity of the situation itself. An idea as to who’s involved, at what level. What their behavior patterns are. Who is bounded into a problem and who is ready to move.</p>
<p> </p>
<p>Second, it’s also corrective… Ho’oponopono provides a method by which people can resolve problems and move in new directions. And these generally make for happy endings.</p>
<p> </p>
<p>The third purpose is one of the preventative nature. Prevention is being able to utilize whatever skills and abilities you have so that it can prevent further breakdown of the family. It prevents more serious complications and compounding of problem areas.</p>
<p> </p>
<p>… when participants were hesitant to proceed, it was an indication that part of the problem had not been adequately discussed (mahiki).</p>
<p> </p>
<p>p.86 “If I feel that they’re not giving me the kind of depth that’s required, my task is to initiate those questions and to get the response from them.” She said she checked out their feelings to determine whether or not they were unduly uncomfortable. Her tactics included alternating deep questioning and surface questioning</p>
<p> </p>
<p>p.72-76</p>
<p>Lani and her husband (Keola) once led a ho’oponopono with three families, including their own. The session was scheduled because two boys from the other two families had burglarized (Lani & Keola’s) home.</p>
<p> </p>
<p>(Lani said) “With the two youngsters, it just allowed for more of the positive vibrations to come together. And I see that as a happy ending – the harmony restored. There is increased improved interpersonal relationships between the parties. And there’s a deeper sense of “I care for you and you care for me ‘cause we’re gonna’ look after each other.” … 75% of the stolen items were returned before the ho’oponopono, and after the session the boys made further restitution by doing yard work.</p>
<p> </p>
<p>Lani and Keola once worked with a couple who were moving toward divorce. “… in this case it would illustrate that one can sever the structural ties of a relationship, but that through ho’oponopono you can still maintain dignity and worth of the other individual, without being hostile.”… Lani and Keola found that using co-leaders was often very effective, particularly in a marital case where individuals might feel more comfortable speaking to a person of the same sex</p>
<p> </p>
<p>Traditionally, ho’oponopono discouraged acting out any emotions, especially negative ones, but Lani believed that allowing individuals to express positive emotions could be helpful. During the forgiveness stage – the <i>mihi, kala</i> and <i>oki</i> – Lani has allowed participants to talk directly to one another rather than through her.</p>
<p> </p>
<p>When Lani first used (lead the ho’oponopono) process she sometimes got stuck and did not know how to proceed in the traditional manner. Rather than allowing this to interfere with the therapeutic process, she switched back and forth to (her University learned) Western intervention methods. Later she brought these matters to her (mentors and peers)… to see how the ho’oponopono steps could have been used in the situation (instead of Western intervention methods).</p>
<p> </p>
<p>(As a ho’oponopono leader/<i>haku</i>) Lani felt that she has benefited greatly from the challenges… “In the process of confronting and making these decisions, I think it’s developed me even more. Ho’oponopono forced me to come to grips with what I am, who I am, what I can do, what I want to do”</p>
<p><b> </b></p>
<p><b>HAWAIIAN WORDS - Ukupau, Aloha Aina, Ohana </b>p.4–6<b> </b></p>
<p><i>ukupau</i> is still used by some businesses in Hawaii. The word refers to the practice of people helping one another with their work tasks so that they can finish early and commence with fun and relaxation</p>
<p> </p>
<p>The love of nature is also apparent in the popular phrase <i>aloha ‘aina</i> (love of the land).</p>
<p> </p>
<p>The word for family <i>‘ohana,</i> is derived from the words <i>‘oha,</i> for taro, and <i>na,</i> the designation for plural. The taro plant is linked with myths about the origin of people, as well as being the staple food (pounded into a paste called poi)… (Tutu) Pukui stated, “members of the <i>‘ohana</i>, like taro shoots, are all from the same root”. <i>Nana I Ke Kumu p.166</i></p>
<p> </p>
<p>Pukui explained that <i>‘ohana</i> is also… “sense of unity, shared involvement and shared responsibility. It is mutual interdependence and mutual help. It is emotional support given and received. It is solidarity and cohesiveness. It is love – often; it is loyalty – always…” <i>Nana I Ke Kumu p.171</i></p>
<p> </p>
<p><b>Aloha </b> p.7</p>
<p>Perhaps the importance of harmony in relationships can best be summed up by the attributes of the word <i>aloha.</i> This often-used Hawaiian word expresses love and also is a greeting and a farewell. More subtly, it suggests the highly valued character traits of generosity, friendliness, patience, and productivity. The spirit of <i>aloha</i> carries with it an understanding that the ability to soothe and prevent conflicts, shame, and other disruptive occurrences is important, and that if the harmony has been disrupted, one should have the courage to ask for and give forgiveness.</p>
<p><b> </b></p>
<p><b>SUMMARY </b> p.100-102</p>
<p>Kalau Souza - when you come here and say you’re hurting… (one can respond) “I know you’re suffering, and I, as part of this family, don’t want to see you suffer. And if I can help relieve it in any way, I want to.” I think it expresses what aloha is.</p>
<p> </p>
<p>Dr. E. Haertig MD – “Ho’oponopono may well be one of the soundest methods to restore and maintain good family relationships that any society has ever devised.” <i>Nana I Ke Kumu p.70</i></p>
<p> </p>
<p>E. Victoria Shook - With a rich variety of tools to use, perhaps we can truly begin to lay a peaceful foundation, beginning with our families, that will heal our vulnerable and conflict-ridden world.</p>
<p> </p>
<p>Keola Espiritu p.67 - (Keola’s) wish for greater utilization of ho’oponopono was especially strong… Keola said, laughingly, “So now, move! Hele on!” (“Lets go!”)</p>
<p> </p>
<p>-------------------------------------------------------------------------</p>
<p><b>About Mary Kawena Puiki</b></p>
<p><a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Mary_Kawena_Pukui">http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Mary_Kawena_Pukui</a></p>
<p>Tutu (Grandmother) Pukui (1895–1986) was a Hawaiian scholar, dancer, composer, and educator.</p>
<p> </p>
<p>Her grandmother, a traditional dancer in the court of Queen Emma, taught her chants and stories, while her grandfather was a healer and <i>kahuna pale keiki</i> (obstetrician)… Her great-great-grandmother was a <i>kahuna pule</i> (priestess) in the Pele line.</p>
<p> </p>
<p>She was educated in the Hawaiian Mission Academy, and taught Hawaiiana at Punahou School… She published more than 50 scholarly works… She was a chanter, hula expert, and wrote lyrics and music to more than 150 Hawaiian songs… She was named a "Living Treasure of Hawai'i" and was inducted into the Hawaiian Music Hall of Fame.</p>
<p> </p>
<p><b>Tutu Puiki’s music:</b></p>
<p><b>Nani Kipukai</b></p>
<p>I am praising the unforgettable beauty Mahalo a`e ana au i ka nani poina `ole</p>
<p>Of a flourishing land like the Garden of Eden Uluwehi ka `âina, Mehe Kîhâpai Edena</p>
<p>A home that is hospitable to friends A he hale ho`okipa i nâ makamaka</p>
<p>A host with a gracious heart never changing, Me ka haku pu`uwai hâmama</p>
<p>Unmeasured is the beautiful place, Kipukai O kêia wahi nani o Kîpûkai</p>
<p> </p>
<p><b>Pua Lililehua</b></p>
<p><a href="http://www.huapala.org/Pua/Pua_Lili_Lehua.html">www.huapala.org/Pua/Pua_Lili_Lehua.html</a> (Hawaiian & English lyrics)</p>
<p><iframe width="420" height="315" src="http://www.youtube.com/embed/k6MvYeKAOfY?wmode=opaque" frameborder="0"></iframe> </p>
<p><a href="http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=k6MvYeKAOfY">www.youtube.com/watch?v=k6MvYeKAOfY</a> </p>
<p> </p>
<p align="center"><b>Ho’oponopono Flowchart</b> p.89</p>
<p><a href="http://storage.ning.com/topology/rest/1.0/file/get/398643849?profile=original" target="_self"></a><a href="http://storage.ning.com/topology/rest/1.0/file/get/398643761?profile=original" target="_self"><img class="align-left" src="http://storage.ning.com/topology/rest/1.0/file/get/398643761?profile=RESIZE_1024x1024" width="700"></a><a href="http://undefined" target="_blank"></a></p>Mother Earth 2011tag:worldviewzmedia.net,2010-12-04:2098065:BlogPost:431242010-12-04T18:00:00.000ZRobert Dakotahttp://worldviewzmedia.net/profile/RobertDakota
Hello World ViewZ community,<div>We have just this week reached 1,001 members! This site is dedicated to Mother Earth People and Culture. We are preparing to go to Japan and share some multi-media shot in beautiful locations like Peru, Patagonia, Bali, Easter Island, and Sedona. We will be sharing in Tokyo the launch of our new site <a href="http://www.sedonaconnections.jp">www.sedonaconnections.jp</a> an online ezine dedicated to Holistic Travel Related Services in Sedona for the Japanese…</div>
Hello World ViewZ community,<div>We have just this week reached 1,001 members! This site is dedicated to Mother Earth People and Culture. We are preparing to go to Japan and share some multi-media shot in beautiful locations like Peru, Patagonia, Bali, Easter Island, and Sedona. We will be sharing in Tokyo the launch of our new site <a href="http://www.sedonaconnections.jp">www.sedonaconnections.jp</a> an online ezine dedicated to Holistic Travel Related Services in Sedona for the Japanese community traveling to Sedona. Stay tuned for the launch of our English version of Sedona Connections. Thank you one and all for being a part of this growing community.</div>
<div>Happy Holy Days!</div>
<div>Robert Dakota</div>
<div><br/></div>
<div><br/></div>
<div>Here is some definitions I found about Mother Earth to begin 2011.</div>
<div><p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:20.0pt"><a href="http://kalikasan08.wordpress.com/2009/12/21/a-better-tomorrow-starts-today-save-mother-earth/">http://kalikasan08.wordpress.com/2009/12/21/a-better-tomorrow-starts-today-save-mother-earth/</a></span></p>
<br/>
<p class="MsoNormal"></p>
<br/>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom:9.0pt;line-height:27.0pt;mso-pagination: none;mso-layout-grid-align:none;text-autospace:none"><span>18.0pt;font-family:Helvetica""><a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Mother_Goddess">http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Mother_Goddess</a></span></p>
<br/>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom:9.0pt;mso-line-height-alt:27.0pt; mso-pagination:none;mso-layout-grid-align:none;text-autospace:none"><span style="font-size:37.0pt;font-family:Helvetica">Mother goddess</span></p>
<br/>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom:9.0pt;line-height:27.0pt;mso-pagination: none;mso-layout-grid-align:none;text-autospace:none"><span>18.0pt;font-family:Helvetica"">A</span> <span>font-family:Helvetica-Bold""><b>mother goddess</b></span><span>18.0pt;font-family:Helvetica""> is a term used to refer to any <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Goddess"><span>text-decoration:none;text-underline:none"">goddess</span></a> associated with motherhood, <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Fertility"><span style="color:#0046AF;text-decoration:none;text-underline:none">fertility</span></a>,<br/>
creation or the bountiful embodiment of the <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Earth"><span>text-decoration:none;text-underline:none"">Earth</span></a>. When equated with<br/>
the Earth or the natural world such goddesses are sometimes referred to as</span> <span style="font-size:18.0pt;font-family:Helvetica-Bold"><b>Mother Earth</b></span> <span style="font-size:18.0pt;font-family:Helvetica">or as the</span> <span style="font-size:18.0pt;font-family:Helvetica-Bold"><b>Earth Mother</b></span><span style="font-size:18.0pt;font-family:Helvetica">.</span></p>
<br/>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:18.0pt;font-family:Helvetica">There have been many different mother goddesses throughout history and in the present day, including such deities as the Hindu <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Kali_Ma"><span>text-decoration:none;text-underline:none"">Kali Ma</span></a>, ancient Greek <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Gaia_(mythology)"><span>text-decoration:none;text-underline:none"">Gaia</span></a> and ancient Irish <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Danu_(Irish_goddess)"><span style="color:#0046AF;text-decoration:none;text-underline:none">Danu</span></a>.<br/>
In some forms of <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Neopaganism"><span style="color:#0046AF;text-decoration:none;text-underline:none">Neopaganism</span></a>,<br/>
and in the <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Hinduism"><span style="color:#0046AF;text-decoration:none;text-underline:none">Hindu</span></a><br/>
idea of <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Shakti"><span>text-decoration:none;text-underline:none"">Shakti</span></a>, all the many<br/>
mother goddesses are viewed as being the embodiment of one singular deity.</span></p>
<br/>
<p class="MsoNormal"></p>
<br/>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom:9.0pt;mso-line-height-alt:27.0pt; mso-pagination:none;mso-layout-grid-align:none;text-autospace:none"><span style="font-size:28.0pt;font-family:Helvetica">Earth Mother</span></p>
<br/>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom:9.0pt;line-height:27.0pt;mso-pagination: none;mso-layout-grid-align:none;text-autospace:none"><span>18.0pt;font-family:Helvetica"">The</span> <span>font-family:Helvetica-Bold""><b>Earth Mother</b></span><span>18.0pt;font-family:Helvetica""> is a motif that appears in many <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Mythology"><span>text-decoration:none;text-underline:none"">mythologies</span></a>. The Earth Mother is a fertile <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Goddess"><span style="color:#0046AF;text-decoration:none;text-underline:none">goddess</span></a><br/>
embodying the fertile earth and typically the mother of other <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Deity"><span>text-decoration:none;text-underline:none"">deities</span></a>, and so, also are<br/>
seen as patronesses of <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Mother"><span style="color:#0046AF;text-decoration:none;text-underline:none">motherhood</span></a>.<br/>
This is generally thought of as being because the earth was seen as being the<br/>
mother from whom all life sprang.</span></p>
<br/>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom:9.0pt;line-height:27.0pt;mso-pagination: none;mso-layout-grid-align:none;text-autospace:none"><span>18.0pt;font-family:Helvetica"">The <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Rigveda"><span style="color:#0046AF;text-decoration:none;text-underline:none">Rigveda</span></a> calls the Female power, Mahimata (R.V. 1.164.33), a term which literally means<br/>
Mother Earth.</span></p>
<br/>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:18.0pt;font-family:Helvetica">In South America, contemporary Andean Indian peoples like <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Quechua"><span>text-decoration:none;text-underline:none"">quechua</span></a> and <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Aymara"><span>text-decoration:none;text-underline:none"">aymara</span></a> believe in the Mother Earth <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Pachamama"><span style="color:#0046AF;text-decoration:none;text-underline:none">Pachamama</span></a>,<br/>
whose worship cult is found in rural areas and towns at Ecuador, Peru, Bolivia,<br/>
Northern Chile and Northwestern Argentina. Andean migrants carried the<br/>
Pachamama cult to cities and many other extra-Andean places, including the<br/>
Metropolitan <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Buenos_Aires"><span style="color:#0046AF;text-decoration:none;text-underline:none">Buenos Aires</span></a>.</span></p>
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<p class="MsoNormal"></p>
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<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:37.0pt;font-family:Helvetica">Mother Nature</span></p>
<br/>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:18.0pt;font-family:Helvetica-Bold"><b>Mother Nature</b></span><span style="font-size:18.0pt;font-family:Helvetica">(sometimes known as</span> <span style="font-size:18.0pt;font-family:Helvetica-Bold"><b>Mother<br/>
Earth</b></span><span style="font-size:18.0pt;font-family:Helvetica">) is a<br/>
common <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Personification"><span style="color:#0046AF;text-decoration:none;text-underline:none">personification</span></a><br/>
of <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Nature"><span>text-decoration:none;text-underline:none"">nature</span></a> that focuses on the<br/>
life-giving and nurturing features of nature by embodying it in the form of the<br/>
<a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Mother"><span>text-decoration:none;text-underline:none"">mother</span></a>. Images of women<br/>
representing mother earth, and mother nature, are timeless. In prehistoric<br/>
times, <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Goddess"><span>text-decoration:none;text-underline:none"">goddesses</span></a> were worshipped<br/>
for their association with <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Fertility"><span style="color:#0046AF;text-decoration:none;text-underline:none">fertility</span></a>,<br/>
<a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Fecundity"><span>text-decoration:none;text-underline:none"">fecundity</span></a>, and<br/>
agricultural bounty. Priestesses held dominion over aspects of <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Inca_Empire"><span>text-decoration:none;text-underline:none"">Incan</span></a>, <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Algonquin"><span>text-decoration:none;text-underline:none"">Algonquin</span></a>, <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Assyria"><span>text-decoration:none;text-underline:none"">Assyrian</span></a>, <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Babylonia"><span>text-decoration:none;text-underline:none"">Babylonian</span></a>, <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Slavic_peoples"><span>text-decoration:none;text-underline:none"">Slavonic</span></a>, <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Roman_mythology"><span>text-decoration:none;text-underline:none"">Roman</span></a>, <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Greek_mythology"><span>text-decoration:none;text-underline:none"">Greek</span></a>, <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Religion_in_India"><span>text-decoration:none;text-underline:none"">Indian</span></a>, and <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Iroquoian_languages"><span>#0046AF;text-decoration:none;text-underline:none"">Iroquoian</span></a><br/>
religions in the millennia prior to the inception of patriarchal religions.</span></p>
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<p class="MsoNormal"></p>
<br/>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:28.0pt;font-family:Helvetica">Indigenous peoples of the Americas</span></p>
<br/>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom:9.0pt;line-height:27.0pt;mso-pagination: none;mso-layout-grid-align:none;text-autospace:none"><span>Helvetica""><a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Algonquin"><span style="font-size:18.0pt;color:#0046AF;text-decoration:none;text-underline:none">Algonquin</span></a></span> <span style="font-size:18.0pt;font-family:Helvetica">legend says that "beneath the clouds lives the Earth-Mother from whom is derived the Water of Life, who<br/>
at her bosom feeds plants, animals and human" (Larousse 428). (8) She is<br/>
also known as <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Nokomis"><span style="color:#0046AF;text-decoration:none;text-underline:none">Nokomis</span></a>,<br/>
the <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Grandparent"><span>text-decoration:none;text-underline:none"">Grandmother</span></a>.</span></p>
<br/>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:18.0pt;font-family:Helvetica">In <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Inca_mythology"><span style="color:#0046AF; text-decoration:none;text-underline:none">Inca mythology</span></a>,</span> <span style="font-size:18.0pt;font-family:Helvetica-Oblique"><i>Mama Pacha</i></span> <span style="font-size:18.0pt;font-family:Helvetica">or <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Pachamama"><span>color:#0046AF;text-decoration:none;text-underline:none""><i>Pachamama</i></span></a> is a fertility goddess who presides over planting and harvesting. Pachamama is<br/>
usually translated as "Mother Earth" but a more literal translation<br/>
would be "Mother Universe" (in <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Aymara_language"><span>text-decoration:none;text-underline:none"">Aymara</span></a> and <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Quechua_language"><span>text-decoration:none;text-underline:none"">Quechua</span></a> mama = mother /<br/>
pacha = world, space-time or the universe) <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Mother_Nature#cite_note-1"><span style="font-size:15.0pt;color:#0046AF;text-decoration:none;text-underline:none">[2]</span></a>.<br/>
Pachamama and her husband, <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Inti"><span style="color:#0046AF;text-decoration:none;text-underline:none">Inti</span></a><br/>
are the most benevolent deities and are worshiped in parts of the Andean<br/>
mountain ranges, also known as <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Tawantinsuyu"><span>text-decoration:none;text-underline:none"">Tawantinsuyu</span></a> (stretching<br/>
from present day <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ecuador"><span style="color:#0046AF;text-decoration:none;text-underline:none">Ecuador</span></a><br/>
to <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Chile"><span>text-decoration:none;text-underline:none"">Chile</span></a> and <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Argentina"><span>text-decoration:none;text-underline:none"">Argentina</span></a>).</span></p>
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<p class="MsoNormal"></p>
<br/>
<p class="MsoNormal"></p>
<br/>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:37.0pt;font-family:Helvetica">Mother Earth (deity)</span></p>
<br/>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom:9.0pt;line-height:27.0pt;mso-pagination: none;mso-layout-grid-align:none;text-autospace:none"><span>18.0pt;font-family:Helvetica-Bold""><b>Mat Zemlya</b></span><span style="font-size:18.0pt;font-family:Helvetica">, also</span> <span style="font-size:18.0pt;font-family:Helvetica-Bold"><b>Matka Ziemia</b></span> <span style="font-size:18.0pt;font-family:Helvetica">(literally</span> <span style="font-size:18.0pt;font-family:Helvetica-Bold"><b>Mother Earth</b></span><span style="font-size:18.0pt;font-family:Helvetica">, various other names are in use as well) is the collective term applied to a number of <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Slavic_mythology"><span>text-decoration:none;text-underline:none"">Slavic deities</span></a> devoted to<br/>
plants, growth, birth, creation and patrons of field works.<a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Mother_Earth_(deity)#cite_note-0"><span style="font-size:15.0pt;color:#0046AF;text-decoration:none;text-underline:none">[1]</span></a></span></p>
<br/>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom:9.0pt;line-height:27.0pt;mso-pagination: none;mso-layout-grid-align:none;text-autospace:none"><span>18.0pt;font-family:Helvetica"">In the early <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Middle_Ages"><span>text-decoration:none;text-underline:none"">Middle Ages</span></a>, the Mother Earth was one of the most important <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Deities"><span>text-decoration:none;text-underline:none"">deities</span></a> in the Slavic<br/>
world. Oaths were made binding by touching the Earth and sins were confessed to<br/>
the Earth before death. She was worshipped in her natural form and was not<br/>
given a human personage or likeness. Since the adoption of <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Christianity"><span>text-decoration:none;text-underline:none"">Christianity</span></a> in all Slavic<br/>
lands, she has been identified with <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Mary,_mother_of_Jesus"><span style="color:#0046AF;text-decoration:none;text-underline:none">Mary</span></a>,<br/>
the mother of Jesus.</span></p>
<br/>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom:9.0pt;line-height:27.0pt;mso-pagination: none;mso-layout-grid-align:none;text-autospace:none"><span>18.0pt;font-family:Helvetica"">An example of her importance is seen in this traditional invocation to Matka Ziema, made with a jar of <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Hemp_oil"><span>text-decoration:none;text-underline:none"">hemp oil</span></a>:</span></p>
<br/>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:18.0pt;font-family:Helvetica">East – "Mother Earth, subdue every evil and unclean being so that he may not cast a spell on us nor do us any harm." West – "Mother Earth, engulf the<br/>
unclean power in thy boiling pits, and in thy burning fires." South –<br/>
"Mother Earth, calm the winds coming from the South and all bad weather.<br/>
Calm the moving sands and whirlwinds." North – "Mother Earth, calm the<br/>
North winds and clouds, subdue the snowstorms and the cold." The jar,<br/>
which held the oil, is buried after each invocation and offering is made at<br/>
each Quarter. (Slavonic mythology 1977:287)</span></p>
<br/>
<p class="MsoNormal"></p>
<br/>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:28.0pt;font-family:Helvetica">Neolithic figures</span></p>
<br/>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom:9.0pt;line-height:27.0pt;mso-pagination: none;mso-layout-grid-align:none;text-autospace:none"><span>18.0pt;font-family:Helvetica"">Diverse images of what are believed to be Mother Goddesses also have been discovered that date from the <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Neolithic"><span>text-decoration:none;text-underline:none"">Neolithic</span></a> period, the</span> <span style="font-size:18.0pt;font-family:Helvetica-Oblique"><i>New Stone Age</i></span><span style="font-size:18.0pt;font-family:Helvetica">, which ranges from<br/>
approximately 10,000 BCE when the use of wild cereals led to the beginning of<br/>
farming, and eventually, to agriculture. The end of this Neolithic period is<br/>
characterized by the introduction of <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Metal"><span>text-decoration:none;text-underline:none"">metal</span></a> tools as the skill<br/>
appeared to spread from one culture to another, or arise independently as a new<br/>
phase in an existing tool culture, and eventually became widespread among<br/>
humans. Regional differences in the development of this stage of tool<br/>
development are quite varied. In other parts of the world, such as Africa,<br/>
South Asia, and Southeast Asia, independent domestication events led to their<br/>
own regionally-and distinctive Neolithic cultures arose independently in Europe<br/>
and Southwest Asia. During this time, native cultures appear in the Western<br/>
Hemisphere, arising out of older traditions that were carried during migration.<br/>
Regular seasonal occupation or permanent settlements begin to be seen in<br/>
excavations. Herding and keeping of cattle, goats, sheep, and pigs is evidenced<br/>
along with the presence of dogs.</span></p>
<br/>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:18.0pt;font-family:Helvetica">Almost without exception, images of what are interpreted as Mother Goddesses have been discovered in all of these cultures.</span></p>
<br/>
<p class="MsoNormal"></p>
<br/>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-line-height-alt:27.0pt;mso-pagination:none; mso-layout-grid-align:none;text-autospace:none"><span>font-family:Helvetica"">Neopaganism</span><span>font-family:Helvetica-Oblique""></span></p>
<br/>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height:27.0pt;mso-pagination:none;mso-layout-grid-align: none;text-autospace:none"><span style="font-size:18.0pt;font-family:Helvetica-Oblique"><i>Further information: <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Goddess_(Wicca)"><span style="color:#0046AF;text-decoration:none;text-underline:none">Goddess (Wicca)</span></a></i></span></p>
<br/>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom:9.0pt;line-height:27.0pt;mso-pagination: none;mso-layout-grid-align:none;text-autospace:none"><span>18.0pt;font-family:Helvetica"">The</span> <span>font-family:Helvetica-Bold""><b>Mother Goddess</b></span><span>18.0pt;font-family:Helvetica"">, amalgamated and combined with various feminine figures from world cultures of both the past and present, is worshipped by<br/>
modern <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Wicca"><span>text-decoration:none;text-underline:none"">Wiccans</span></a> and others (see <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Triple_Goddess_(Neopaganism)"><span style="color:#0046AF;text-decoration:none;text-underline:none">Triple Goddess</span></a>).<br/>
The mother goddess is usually viewed as Mother Earth by these groups.</span></p>
<br/>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom:9.0pt;line-height:27.0pt;mso-pagination: none;mso-layout-grid-align:none;text-autospace:none"><span>18.0pt;font-family:Helvetica""><a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Wicca"><span style="color:#0046AF;text-decoration:none;text-underline:none">Wiccans</span></a> and some other types <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Neopaganism"><span style="color:#0046AF;text-decoration:none;text-underline:none">Neo-Pagans</span></a><br/>
worship the</span> <span style="font-size:18.0pt;font-family:Helvetica-Bold"><b>Mother<br/>
Goddess</b></span><span style="font-size:18.0pt;font-family:Helvetica">. Most<br/>
commonly she is worshiped as a Triple Goddess; usually envisioned as the<br/>
Maiden, Mother, and Crone <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Archetypes"><span style="color:#0046AF;text-decoration:none;text-underline:none">archetypes</span></a>.<br/>
She is associated with the <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Full_moon"><span style="color:#0046AF;text-decoration:none;text-underline:none">full moon</span></a><br/>
and with <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Earth"><span>text-decoration:none;text-underline:none"">Earth</span></a>. Many ancient Pagan<br/>
religions had mother goddesses; it has been argued that the figure of <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Mary_the_mother_of_Jesus"><span style="color:#0046AF;text-decoration:none;text-underline:none">Mary the mother<br/>
of Jesus</span></a> is patterned on these.</span></p>
<br/>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom:9.0pt;line-height:27.0pt;mso-pagination: none;mso-layout-grid-align:none;text-autospace:none"><span>18.0pt;font-family:Helvetica"">The term "Great Goddess" refers to a mother goddess in some contemporary Neopagan and Wiccan religions.</span></p>
<br/>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom:16.0pt;line-height:27.0pt;mso-pagination: none;mso-layout-grid-align:none;text-autospace:none"><span>18.0pt;font-family:Helvetica"">Even among those who are not Pagan, expressions such as Mother Earth and <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Mother_Nature"><span style="color:#0046AF;text-decoration:none;text-underline:none">Mother Nature</span></a><br/>
are in common usage, personifying the Earth's <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ecology"><span>text-decoration:none;text-underline:none"">ecology</span></a> as a fertile and<br/>
sustaining mother.</span></p>
<br/>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom:16.0pt;mso-line-height-alt:27.0pt; mso-pagination:none;mso-layout-grid-align:none;text-autospace:none"><span style="font-size:28.0pt;font-family:Helvetica">Decline</span></p>
<br/>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:18.0pt;font-family:Helvetica">The <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Iron_Age"><span style="color:#0046AF; text-decoration:none;text-underline:none">Iron Age</span></a> with advanced <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Technology"><span>text-decoration:none;text-underline:none"">technology</span></a> of the <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Chariot"><span>text-decoration:none;text-underline:none"">chariot</span></a> revolutionized <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Warfare"><span>text-decoration:none;text-underline:none"">warfare</span></a> and brought a series of <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Invasions"><span style="color:#0046AF;text-decoration:none;text-underline:none">invasions</span></a><br/>
from the north, mainly by the <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Aryans"><span style="color:#0046AF;text-decoration:none;text-underline:none">Aryans</span></a><br/>
who viewed themselves as superior to the <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Indigenous_peoples"><span>text-decoration:none;text-underline:none"">indigenous</span></a> populations<br/>
they conquered. As the new <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Civilization"><span style="color:#0046AF;text-decoration:none;text-underline:none">civilization</span></a><br/>
spread and became the new <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Aristocracy"><span style="color:#0046AF;text-decoration:none;text-underline:none">aristocracy</span></a>,<br/>
the conquerors imposed their own <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/System_of_government"><span style="color:#0046AF;text-decoration:none;text-underline:none">system of<br/>
government</span></a> and their own <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Theocracy"><span>text-decoration:none;text-underline:none"">theocracy</span></a> of <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Monotheism"><span>text-decoration:none;text-underline:none"">monotheism</span></a>.<a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Mother_Goddess#cite_note-Stone-2"><span style="font-size:15.0pt;color:#0046AF;text-decoration:none;text-underline:none">[3]</span></a><br/>
During this time, there was a transition from a <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Tribe"><span>text-decoration:none;text-underline:none"">tribal</span></a> and <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Clan"><span>none;text-underline:none"">clan</span></a>-based society to a <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Sovereign_state"><span>text-decoration:none;text-underline:none"">sovereign state</span></a> <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Form_of_government"><span>text-decoration:none;text-underline:none"">form of government</span></a> where <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/De_jure"><span>text-decoration:none;text-underline:none"">de jure</span></a> and <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/De_facto"><span>text-decoration:none;text-underline:none"">de facto</span></a> rights of<br/>
individuals were replaced by <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Sovereignty"><span style="color:#0046AF;text-decoration:none;text-underline:none">sovereignty</span></a><br/>
to the state and <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Territorial_integrity"><span style="color:#0046AF;text-decoration:none;text-underline:none">territorial<br/>
integrity</span></a>, which led to the emergence of the <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Empire"><span>text-decoration:none;text-underline:none"">empire</span></a>. <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Matriarchy"><span>text-decoration:none;text-underline:none"">Matriarchy</span></a> went into <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Decline"><span>text-decoration:none;text-underline:none"">decline</span></a> as <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Goddess"><span>text-decoration:none;text-underline:none"">goddess</span></a> <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Temples"><span>text-decoration:none;text-underline:none"">temples</span></a> were destroyed and<br/>
<a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Sacred_prostitution"><span style="color:#0046AF;text-decoration:none;text-underline:none">sacred<br/>
prostitution</span></a> was officially shut down by the emperor <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Constantine_I"><span>text-decoration:none;text-underline:none"">Constantine</span></a> in the fourth<br/>
century AD when <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Pantheism"><span style="color:#0046AF;text-decoration:none;text-underline:none">pantheism</span></a><br/>
was replaced with <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Christianity"><span style="color:#0046AF;text-decoration:none;text-underline:none">Christianity</span></a>.<a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Mother_Goddess#cite_note-3"><span style="font-size:15.0pt;color:#0046AF;text-decoration:none;text-underline:none">[4]</span></a></span></p>
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<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:37.0pt;font-family:Helvetica">Gaia (mythology)</span></p>
<br/>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom:9.0pt;line-height:27.0pt;mso-pagination: none;mso-layout-grid-align:none;text-autospace:none"><span>18.0pt;font-family:Helvetica-Bold""><b>Gaia</b></span><span>18.0pt;font-family:Helvetica""> (pronounced <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Wikipedia:IPA_for_English"><span style="color:#0046AF;text-decoration:none;text-underline:none">/ˈɡeɪ.ə/</span></a> or /ˈɡaɪ.ə/; from <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Greek_language"><span style="color:#0046AF;text-decoration:none;text-underline:none">Ancient Greek</span></a><br/>
Γαῖα "</span><span style="font-size:18.0pt;font-family:Helvetica-Bold"><b>land</b></span><span style="font-size:18.0pt;font-family:Helvetica">" or "<a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Earth"><span>color:#0046AF;text-decoration:none;text-underline:none""><b>earth</b></span></a>";<br/>
also</span> <span style="font-size:18.0pt;font-family:Helvetica-Bold"><b>Gæa</b></span><span style="font-size:18.0pt;font-family:Helvetica">,</span> <span>18.0pt;font-family:Helvetica-Bold""><b>Gaea</b></span><span>18.0pt;font-family:Helvetica""> or</span> <span>font-family:Helvetica-Bold""><b>Gea</b></span><span>font-family:Helvetica"">, from Koine and Modern Greek</span> <span style="font-size:18.0pt;font-family:Helvetica-Bold"><b>Γῆ<a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Gaia_(mythology)#cite_note-0"><span>none;text-underline:none;font-weight:normal"">[1]</span></a></b></span><span style="font-size:18.0pt;font-family:Helvetica">) is the primal <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Greek_mythology"><span>text-decoration:none;text-underline:none"">Greek</span></a> <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Goddess"><span>text-decoration:none;text-underline:none"">goddess</span></a> personifying the <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Earth"><span>text-decoration:none;text-underline:none"">Earth</span></a>, the Greek version<br/>
of "<a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Mother_Nature"><span style="color:#0046AF;text-decoration:none;text-underline:none">Mother Nature</span></a>",<br/>
of which the earliest reference to the term is the <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Mycenaean_Greek"><span>text-decoration:none;text-underline:none"">Mycenaean Greek</span></a></span> <span style="font-size:18.0pt;font-family:Helvetica-Oblique"><i>ma-ka</i></span> <span style="font-size:18.0pt;font-family:Helvetica">(transliterated as</span> <span style="font-size:18.0pt;font-family:Helvetica-Oblique"><i>ma-ga</i></span><span style="font-size:18.0pt;font-family:Helvetica">), "Mother Gaia",<br/>
written in <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Linear_B"><span style="color:#0046AF;text-decoration:none;text-underline:none">Linear B</span></a><br/>
syllabic script.<a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Gaia_(mythology)#cite_note-1"><span style="font-size:15.0pt;color:#0046AF;text-decoration:none;text-underline:none">[2]</span></a></span></p>
<br/>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom:9.0pt;line-height:27.0pt;mso-pagination: none;mso-layout-grid-align:none;text-autospace:none"><span>18.0pt;font-family:Helvetica"">Gaia is a <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Greek_primordial_gods"><span style="color:#0046AF;text-decoration:none;text-underline:none">primordial deity</span></a> in the Ancient Greek <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Pantheon_(gods)"><span style="color:#0046AF;text-decoration:none;text-underline:none">pantheon</span></a><br/>
and considered a Mother <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Titan_(mythology)"><span style="color:#0046AF;text-decoration:none;text-underline:none">Titan</span></a><br/>
or</span> <span style="font-size:18.0pt;font-family:Helvetica-Oblique"><i>Great<br/>
Titan</i></span><span style="font-size:18.0pt;font-family:Helvetica">.</span></p>
<br/>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:18.0pt;font-family:Helvetica">Her equivalent in the Roman pantheon was <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Terra_(mythology)"><span>text-decoration:none;text-underline:none"">Terra Mater</span></a> or Tellus. Romans, unlike Greeks, did not consistently distinguish an Earth Titan (Tellus)<br/>
from a grain goddess (Ceres).<a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Gaia_(mythology)#cite_note-2"><span style="font-size:15.0pt;color:#0046AF;text-decoration:none;text-underline:none">[3]</span></a></span></p>
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<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:28.0pt;font-family:Helvetica">Etymology</span></p>
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<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:18.0pt;font-family:Helvetica-Oblique"><i>Gaia</i></span> <span style="font-size:18.0pt;font-family:Helvetica">(or</span> <span style="font-size:18.0pt;font-family:Helvetica-Oblique"><i>gaea</i></span><span style="font-size:18.0pt;font-family:Helvetica">) is a collateral form of</span> <span style="font-size:18.0pt;font-family:Helvetica-Oblique"><i>ge</i></span> <span style="font-size:18.0pt;font-family:Helvetica">(Dorian</span> <span style="font-size:18.0pt;font-family:Helvetica-Oblique"><i>ga</i></span><span style="font-size:18.0pt;font-family:Helvetica">) meaning <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Earth"><span style="color:#0046AF; text-decoration:none;text-underline:none">Earth</span></a>,a word of pre-<a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/IE"><span>none;text-underline:none"">IE</span></a> origin.<a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Gaia_(mythology)#cite_note-4"><span style="font-size:15.0pt;color:#0046AF;text-decoration:none;text-underline:none">[5]</span></a>.The combined form</span> <span style="font-size:18.0pt;font-family:Helvetica-Oblique"><i>geo</i></span> <span style="font-size:18.0pt;font-family:Helvetica">is found in many <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Neologism"><span>text-decoration:none;text-underline:none"">neologisms</span></a>, such as <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Geography"><span>text-decoration:none;text-underline:none"">Geography</span></a> (Ge/graphos =<br/>
writing about Earth) and Geology (Ge/logos = words about the Earth).Gaia is a<br/>
compound word of two elements.</span><span>Helvetica-Oblique""><i>*Ge</i></span><span>Helvetica""> is probably a <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Pelasgian"><span style="color:#0046AF;text-decoration:none;text-underline:none">Pelasgian</span></a>,<br/>
<a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Pre-Greek"><span>text-decoration:none;text-underline:none"">pre-Greek</span></a> <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Substratum"><span>text-decoration:none;text-underline:none"">substrate</span></a> word that some<br/>
relate to the <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Sumerian"><span style="color:#0046AF;text-decoration:none;text-underline:none">Sumerian</span></a><br/>
<a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ki_(goddess)"><span>text-decoration:none;text-underline:none"">Ki</span></a>, also meaning Earth.(In<br/>
Akkadian orthography also</span> <span>Helvetica-Oblique""><i>gi</i></span><span>Helvetica"">,</span><span style="font-size:18.0pt;font-family:Helvetica-Oblique"><i>ge</i></span><span style="font-size:18.0pt;font-family:Helvetica">).</span> <span style="font-size:18.0pt;font-family:Helvetica-Oblique"><i>Aia</i></span> <span style="font-size:18.0pt;font-family:Helvetica">is a derivative of an <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Indo-European"><span>text-decoration:none;text-underline:none"">Indo-European</span></a> stem meaning<br/>
"Grandmother". The full etymology of Gaia would, therefore, appear to<br/>
have been "Grandmother Earth"</span></p>
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<p class="MsoNormal"></p>
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<p class="MsoNormal"></p>
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<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:37.0pt;font-family:Helvetica">Gaia philosophy</span></p>
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<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom:9.0pt;line-height:27.0pt;mso-pagination: none;mso-layout-grid-align:none;text-autospace:none"><span>18.0pt;font-family:Helvetica-Bold""><b>Gaia philosophy</b></span> <span style="font-size:18.0pt;font-family:Helvetica">(named after <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Gaia_(mythology)"><span>text-decoration:none;text-underline:none"">Gaia</span></a>, <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Greek_mythology"><span>text-decoration:none;text-underline:none"">Greek</span></a> <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Goddess"><span>text-decoration:none;text-underline:none"">goddess</span></a> of the <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Earth"><span>text-decoration:none;text-underline:none"">Earth</span></a>) is a broadly inclusive term for related concepts that living organisms on a <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Planet"><span>text-decoration:none;text-underline:none"">planet</span></a> will affect the<br/>
nature of their environment in order to make the environment more suitable for <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Life"><span>none;text-underline:none"">life</span></a>. This set of <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Gaia_hypothesis"><span>text-decoration:none;text-underline:none"">theories</span></a> holds that all<br/>
organisms on an extraterrestrial life-giving planet regulate the <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Biosphere"><span>text-decoration:none;text-underline:none"">biosphere</span></a> to the benefit<br/>
of the whole. Gaia concept draws a connection between the survivability of a<br/>
species (hence its <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Evolutionary"><span style="color:#0046AF;text-decoration:none;text-underline:none">evolutionary</span></a><br/>
course) and its usefulness to the survival of other species.</span></p>
<br/>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:18.0pt;font-family:Helvetica">While there were a number of precursors to Gaia theory, the first scientific form of this idea was proposed as the <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Gaia_hypothesis"><span>text-decoration:none;text-underline:none"">Gaia hypothesis</span></a> by <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/James_Lovelock"><span>text-decoration:none;text-underline:none"">James Lovelock</span></a>, a UK chemist,<br/>
in 1970. The Gaia hypothesis deals with the concept of <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Homeostasis"><span>text-decoration:none;text-underline:none"">homeostasis</span></a>, and claims<br/>
the resident life forms of a host planet coupled with their environment have<br/>
acted and act as a single, self-regulating system. This system includes the<br/>
near-surface rocks, the soil, and the atmosphere. While controversial at first,<br/>
various forms of this idea have become accepted to some degree by many within<br/>
the scientific community (See <a href="http://www.sciconf.igbp.kva.se/Amsterdam_Declaration.html"><span style="color:#2B67BD;text-decoration:none;text-underline:none">Amsterdam<br/>
declaration on Global Change</span></a>). These theories are also significant<br/>
in <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Green_politics"><span style="color:#0046AF;text-decoration:none;text-underline:none">green politics</span></a>.</span></p>
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<p class="MsoNormal"></p>
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<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:28.0pt;font-family:Helvetica">Gaia in politics</span></p>
<br/>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom:9.0pt;line-height:27.0pt;mso-pagination: none;mso-layout-grid-align:none;text-autospace:none"><span>18.0pt;font-family:Helvetica"">Some radical political environmentalists who accept some form of the Gaia theory call themselves <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Gaian"><span>text-decoration:none;text-underline:none"">Gaians</span></a>. They actively seek<br/>
to restore the Earth's homeostasis — whenever they see it out of balance, e.g.<br/>
to prevent manmade <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Climate_change"><span style="color:#0046AF;text-decoration:none;text-underline:none">climate change</span></a>,<br/>
<a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Primate_extinction"><span style="color:#0046AF;text-decoration:none;text-underline:none">primate<br/>
extinction</span></a>, or <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Rainforest_loss&action=edit&redlink=1"><span style="color:#D22000;text-decoration:none;text-underline:none">rainforest loss</span></a>.<br/>
In effect, they seek to cooperate to become the "system consciously<br/>
manipulating to make conditions more conducive to life". Such activity<br/>
defines the homeostasis, but for leverage it relies on deep investigation of<br/>
the homeorhetic balances, if only to find <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Places_to_intervene_in_a_system"><span style="color:#0046AF;text-decoration:none;text-underline:none">places to<br/>
intervene in a system</span></a> which is changing in undesirable ways.</span></p>
<br/>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom:9.0pt;line-height:27.0pt;mso-pagination: none;mso-layout-grid-align:none;text-autospace:none"><span>18.0pt;font-family:Helvetica"">Tony Bondhus brings up the point in his book, <a href="http://conceivia.com/store/books/society-of-conceivia/"><span style="color:#2B67BD;text-decoration:none;text-underline:none">Society of Conceivia</span></a>, that if Gaia is alive, then societies are living things<br/>
as well. This suggests that our understanding of Gaia can be used to create a<br/>
better society and to design a better political system.</span></p>
<br/>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom:9.0pt;line-height:27.0pt;mso-pagination: none;mso-layout-grid-align:none;text-autospace:none"><span>18.0pt;font-family:Helvetica""><a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Gaians"><span style="color:#0046AF;text-decoration:none;text-underline:none">Gaians</span></a> are attempting to create a new ideology which combines conclusions from science<br/>
and politics; they see this as a "<a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Protoscience"><span>text-decoration:none;text-underline:none"">protoscience</span></a>" of <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Human_ecology"><span>text-decoration:none;text-underline:none"">human ecology</span></a>.</span><span style="font-size:15.0pt;font-family:Helvetica"><sup>[<a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Wikipedia:Citation_needed"><span>text-underline:none;vertical-align:baseline;vertical-align:baseline""><i>citation<br/>
needed</i></span></a></sup></span><span>Helvetica""><sup>]</sup></span><span style="font-size:18.0pt;font-family:Helvetica"><br/>
This thinking includes the idea of humans, as the <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Keystone_species"><span>text-decoration:none;text-underline:none"">keystone species</span></a>, acting<br/>
to prevent <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Climate_change"><span style="color:#0046AF;text-decoration:none;text-underline:none">climate change</span></a>,<br/>
<a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Primate_extinction"><span style="color:#0046AF;text-decoration:none;text-underline:none">primate<br/>
extinction</span></a>, etc., who might deliberately maintain the balance of the<br/>
entire <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Biosphere"><span>#0046AF;text-decoration:none;text-underline:none"">biosphere</span></a> with<br/>
their own cognition. However, humans cannot be a <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Keystone_species"><span>text-decoration:none;text-underline:none"">keystone species</span></a> by<br/>
definition, because a keystone species must be rare relative to the magnitude<br/>
of their effect. Because human distribution is global and population density<br/>
high, humans are precluded from being a keystone species.</span><span style="font-size:15.0pt;font-family:Helvetica"><sup>[<a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Wikipedia:Citation_needed"><span>text-underline:none;vertical-align:baseline;vertical-align:baseline""><i>citation<br/>
needed</i></span></a></sup></span><span>Helvetica""><sup>]</sup></span></p>
<br/>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom:9.0pt;line-height:27.0pt;mso-pagination: none;mso-layout-grid-align:none;text-autospace:none"><span>18.0pt;font-family:Helvetica"">Gaians do not passively ask "what is going on", but rather, "what to do next", e.g. in <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Terraforming"><span>text-decoration:none;text-underline:none"">terraforming</span></a> or <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Climate_engineering"><span>#0046AF;text-decoration:none;text-underline:none"">climate engineering</span></a><br/>
or even on a small scale, such as <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Gardening"><span>text-decoration:none;text-underline:none"">gardening</span></a>. Changes can be<br/>
planned, agreed upon by many people, being very deliberate, as in <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Urban_ecology"><span>text-decoration:none;text-underline:none"">urban ecology</span></a> and<br/>
especially <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Industrial_ecology"><span style="color:#0046AF;text-decoration:none;text-underline:none">industrial<br/>
ecology</span></a>.</span> <span style="font-size:18.0pt;font-family:Helvetica-Oblique"><i>See<br/>
<a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Arcology"><span>text-decoration:none;text-underline:none"">arcology</span></a> for more on this<br/>
'active' view.</i></span></p>
<br/>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:18.0pt;font-family:Helvetica">Gaians argue that it is a human <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Duty"><span style="color:#0046AF;text-decoration:none;text-underline:none">duty</span></a> to act as such - committing themselves in particular to the <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Precautionary_Principle"><span style="color:#0046AF;text-decoration:none;text-underline:none">Precautionary<br/>
Principle</span></a>. Such views began to influence the <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Green_Parties"><span>text-decoration:none;text-underline:none"">Green Parties</span></a>, <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Greenpeace"><span>text-decoration:none;text-underline:none"">Greenpeace</span></a>, and a few more<br/>
radical wings of the <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Environmental_movement"><span style="color:#0046AF;text-decoration:none;text-underline:none">environmental<br/>
movement</span></a> such as the Gaia Liberation Front and the Earth Liberation<br/>
Front. These views dominate some such groups, e.g. the <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Bioneers"><span>text-decoration:none;text-underline:none"">Bioneers</span></a>. Some refer to<br/>
this political activity as a separate and radical branch of the <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ecology_movement"><span>text-decoration:none;text-underline:none"">ecology movement</span></a>, one that<br/>
takes the axioms of the science of ecology in general, and Gaia theory in<br/>
particular, and raises them to a kind of theory of <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Personal_conduct&action=edit&redlink=1"><span style="color:#D22000;text-decoration:none;text-underline:none">personal conduct</span></a><br/>
or <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Moral_code"><span>text-decoration:none;text-underline:none"">moral code</span></a>.</span></p>
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<p class="MsoNormal"></p>
<br/>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:18.0pt;font-family:Helvetica">For More information about the politics connected with Gaia see <a href="http://www.motherearthrights.org">www.motherearthrights.org</a></span></p>
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<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:18.0pt;font-family:Helvetica"><a href="http://outofchaosharmony.com/blog/">http://outofchaosharmony.com/blog/</a></span></p>
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<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:20.0pt;font-family:Arial-BoldMT; color:#333333"><b>Message from Mother Earth (III) 2012</b></span></p>
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<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:18.0pt;font-family:Helvetica"><a href="http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=VncfMaCPnW0">http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=VncfMaCPnW0</a></span></p>
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<p class="MsoNormal"></p>
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<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:20.0pt;font-family:Arial-BoldMT; color:#333333"><b>HOME (English with subtitles)</b></span></p>
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<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:18.0pt;font-family:Helvetica"><a href="http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jqxENMKaeCU">http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jqxENMKaeCU</a></span></p>
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</div>
<div><br/></div>Interview with Altana Mongolian Shamantag:worldviewzmedia.net,2010-10-10:2098065:BlogPost:407322010-10-10T19:30:00.000ZRobert Dakotahttp://worldviewzmedia.net/profile/RobertDakota
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: large;">Hello WVZ Community,</span><br />
<div><p class="MsoNormal"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: large;">I had the distinct privilege to meet an authentic modern day shaman from Mongolia through Jade Wah’ OO Grigori while filming his Spring Equinox Earth Renewal Ceremony. When I first briefly met Altana I felt he had very clear and transparent energy this made me feel he was someone I would be interested in interviewing. It was a…</span></p>
</div>
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: large;">Hello WVZ Community,</span><br />
<div>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: large;">I had the distinct privilege to meet an authentic modern day shaman from Mongolia through Jade Wah’ OO Grigori while filming his Spring Equinox Earth Renewal Ceremony. When I first briefly met Altana I felt he had very clear and transparent energy this made me feel he was someone I would be interested in interviewing. It was a beautiful spring day and I was also filming on the same day Chirgilchin Tuvan Throat Singers.<br> Their music is folk music that has shamanic influences from Mongolian Asia, so what an amazing opportunity to film and interview right here in Sedona all the way from the steppes of Asia. First I would like to share the definition of the word Shaman to be clear what I am referring to when using the word shaman.</span></p>
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<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 6pt; line-height: 19pt;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: Helvetica-Bold;"><b><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: medium;">Shamanism</span></b></span> <span style="font-family: Helvetica;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: medium;">is an</span> <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Anthropological"><span>text-decoration:none;text-underline:none""><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: medium;">anthropological</span></span></a> <span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: medium;">term referencing a range of beliefs and practices regarding communication with the</span> <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Spirituality"><span>text-decoration:none;text-underline:none""><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: medium;">spiritual</span></span></a> <span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: medium;">world.</span><a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Shamanism#cite_note-1"><span style="color: rgb(0, 70, 175); text-decoration: none;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: medium;">[2]</span></span></a> <span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: medium;">A<br> practitioner of shamanism is known as a</span></span> <span style="font-family: Helvetica-Bold;"><b><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: medium;">shaman</span></b></span> <span style="font-family: Helvetica;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: medium;">(pronounced</span> <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Wikipedia:IPA_for_English"><span style="color: rgb(0, 70, 175); text-decoration: none;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: medium;">/ˈʃɑ</span></span><span>text-underline:none""><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: medium;">ː</span></span><span>text-underline:none""><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: medium;">mən/</span></span></a> <span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: medium;">"SHAH-men"or</span> <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Wikipedia:IPA_for_English"><span style="color: rgb(0, 70, 175); text-decoration: none;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: medium;">/ˈʃeɪmən/</span></span></a><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: medium;"><br> "SHAY-men").</span><a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Shamanism#cite_note-2"><span style="color: rgb(0, 70, 175); text-decoration: none;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: medium;">[3]</span></span></a></span></span></p>
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<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: Helvetica;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: medium;">Shamanism encompasses the belief that shamans are intermediaries or messengers between the human world and the spirit worlds. Shamans are said to treat<br> ailments/illness by mending the soul. Alleviating traumas affecting the<br> soul/spirit restores the physical body of the individual to balance and<br> wholeness. The shaman also enters supernatural realms or dimensions to obtain<br> solutions to problems afflicting the community. Shamans may visit other<br> worlds/dimensions to bring guidance to misguided souls and to ameliorate<br> illnesses of the human soul caused by foreign elements. The shaman operates<br> primarily within the spiritual world, which in turn affects the human world.<br> The restoration of balance results in the elimination of the ailment.</span><a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Shamanism#cite_note-Eliade-3"><span style="color: rgb(0, 70, 175); text-decoration: none;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: medium;">[4]</span></span></a></span></p>
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<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: Helvetica;"><a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Shamanism#Economics"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: medium;">http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Shamanism#Economics</span></a></span></p>
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<p class="MsoNormal"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: large;">Here is Altana in is shamanic ceremonial dress and the interview.</span></p>
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<p class="MsoNormal"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: large;">Robert Dakota</span></p>
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<p class="MsoNormal"><font size="4"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: medium;">My name is Altansu and I am a Mongolian Shaman but people in English call me Altana. I was invited to the US to work with Autistic children. In 2004 I connected with</span> <span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: medium;">Jade Wah’ OO, since I was in the US I wanted to come visit Jade. That is how I came to be here in Sedona.</span></font><br> <font size="4"><br></font> </p>
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<p class="MsoNormal"><font size="4"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: medium;">Robert Dakota</span></font></p>
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<p class="MsoNormal"><font size="4"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: medium;">Q. How were you chosen to be a shaman?</span></font></p>
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<p class="MsoNormal"><font size="4"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: medium;">Altana</span></font></p>
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<p class="MsoNormal"><font size="4"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: medium;">A. First of all I did not choose to be a shaman, my Ancestral Spirits choose me to be a shaman. I did not know anything about being a shaman because I grew up in the city. The first 2-3 years of being called to be a shaman, I did not believe I was destined to be a shaman I didn’t nelieve in shamanism. There were consequences for not believing so I went to a shaman for protection, I paid the money and I thought the consequences were over, but I still left not believing I was destined to be a shaman.</span></font></p>
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<p class="MsoNormal"><font size="4"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: medium;">Then the Ancestral Spirits became angry with me and some of my relatives began to die. Every seven days a family member died until 3 of them had died. My family began to panic and asked me to go back to the shaman for help. He described to me the age and the person of who would be next if I did not listen to my Ancestral Spirits. Then I started having dreams about another dimension and this reality we are in became nonsense to me and I started loosing my mind. My dreams were like going through one person’s whole life in one night. Since I began this dreaming of living in another dimension this reality became very difficult for me to live in and<br> seemed a very poor quality of existence. Before this time I worked in a bank<br> and graduated from a prestigious high school just for math people where I was<br> working with bank analytics through math. I was living in a city convinced that<br> I would always work with math and science. I worked in a very large building<br> the largest in Mongolia. During lunch time I would go to the roof there I would<br> get the feeling it would be real easy to jump but the truth is that Ancestral<br> Spirits were tempting me to make suicide. I then realized that if I wanted to<br> live in this life and have a good life my only chance would to become a shaman. To become a shaman I first went to the North of Mongolia a highly spiritual place to soften the Ancestral Spirits that were angry with me. This is how I started to become a shaman. Since that time my life has become much better as my interest has elevated toward the hidden and secret world. I studied for the last six years<br> independently researching metaphysical and ethereal knowledge. I am very<br> interested in shamanism now and the worldwide rituals associated with them.<br> Most of the information I find is in the Russian language. Because we are a former communist country under Russia I grew up with the systematic scientific<br> learning style.</span></font></p>
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<p class="MsoNormal"><font size="4"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: medium;">Robert</span></font></p>
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<p class="MsoNormal"><font size="4"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: medium;">Q. With the fading of Ancient culture into Modern Life what role does Shamanism play?</span></font></p>
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<p class="MsoNormal"><font size="4"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: medium;">Altana</span></font></p>
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<p class="MsoNormal"><font size="4"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: medium;">A. The spiritual world projects onto our physical world. My answer is a mathematical metaphor,</span></font></p>
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<p class="MsoNormal"><font size="4"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: medium;">Let’s say X is a variable, the Spirit, and it has a function when it manifests into the physical world. Most people just see the function but they do not see the variable. This is why the spirit world is not valued; the only value is function in the physical<br> world. Our physical world is developing really rapidly, let’s assume the<br> spiritual world is the cup and the physical world is the water in it. The water<br> is overflowing out of the container of the cup. Because the cup is full we need<br> to get a bigger glass in the Spirit World so that we can bring the next generation<br> of life. We need to start a new era too change the problems we are facing<br> globally, we must change our lives and a new era must begin soon.</span></font></p>
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<p class="MsoNormal"><font size="4"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: medium;">The conflicts we are facing show’s us we must reconnect to the Spirit World, Now! this is why we have so many conflicts. We already have the inner mechanism that drives us to the Spirit World but we don’t know where to go because we are unconscious. Because of the conflicts, the only spirits willing to help us are our Ancestral Spirits and Angels. Shamanism is the way to shorten that time to reach the Spirit World. This is the best way to go into the new era and effectively leave the old era. The People of Atlantis had the ability to transform into new era’s,<br> they transformed through many era’s, everyone now must use this ability in our<br> time to transform into the new era. If we activate the shamanic knowledge we<br> will be able to move into a new era of life, the next generation of life.</span></font></p>
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<p class="MsoNormal"><font size="4"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: medium;">In Mongolian philosophy everyone has their own protective Spirit’s, so if you pray to your protective spirit’s you will have a much better quality of life. You first have listen to what your heart is telling you, that is your door into the Spirit World. Once<br> you go through that door and discover for yourself the Spirit World you will be<br> able to communicate with your Spirit’s to get help from your Spirit Guides.<br> Your spiritual life will be much higher. This is the era of changing to the<br> next generation and you have to listen to your heart to find out what path is<br> suited for you. You have to find the shamanic ritual that will help you be<br> connected to your Spirits, as well as Mother Earth because the shamanic way<br> will connect you to the spirit of nature. Shamanic society is growing and we<br> have a strong knowledge now, but religion is still struggling to hold people<br> back to another time. In order to change this, there is really only the easiest<br> way by connecting through shamanism back to our Spirit Guides and back to<br> Mother Earth. When we reconnect it will be like holding a map, then we can see<br> where we are now and where we are going.</span></font></p>
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<p class="MsoNormal"><font size="4"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: medium;">Robert</span></font></p>
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<p class="MsoNormal"><font size="4"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: medium;">Q. What is your thought on the existence of Aliens and ET’s.</span></font></p>
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<p class="MsoNormal"><font size="4"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: medium;">Altana</span></font></p>
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<p class="MsoNormal"><font size="4"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: medium;">A. A lot of people assume that they are seeing Aliens or ET’s. Sometimes we mislead ourselves to wrong feelings because we don’t follow our heart. So some people do not interpret what they see correctly which is usually a lack of inner development. When they believe they see Aliens or ET’s they are really seeing a lack of development in their spiritual life. Aliens or ET’s can not been seen by us because we are not developed in the spirit world. Often times what are attributed to sightings of Aliens or ET’s we are seeing what we refuse to see within ourselves. Because we do not want to see it in ourselves we call it Alien or ET. But it is probably an aboration of something you project unconsciously that is underdeveloped in the spiritual life. If you develop well you can travel to other dimensions easily and see other worlds.</span></font></p>
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<p class="MsoNormal"><font size="4"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: medium;">We must pray to the protector spirit to guide our lives; we must also meditate to explore ourselves, to determine who we are and why we are here. The first and main purpose for everyone is to explore yourself. Spirits will give you answers while you are meditating. Because people do not develop themselves well spiritually they are open to misguidance. So the most important thing is to develop your connection to the spirit world to avoid being distracted by what appears to be Alien or ET’s. Look within and explore yourself, there you will find all your answers<br> inside when you listen to your heart, the Queen organ. Otherwise you will be<br> limited by the Slave organ, your brain.</span></font></p>
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<p class="MsoNormal"><font size="4"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: medium;">Thank you very much for this interview I am feeling gratitude for you creating this interview.</span></font></p>
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<p class="MsoNormal"><font size="4"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: medium;">Altana</span></font></p>
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<p class="MsoNormal"><font size="4"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: medium;">My Pleasure,</span></font></p>
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<p class="MsoNormal"><font size="4"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: medium;">Thank you Altana</span></font></p>
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<p class="MsoNormal"><font size="4"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: medium;">Robert Dakota</span></font></p>
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</div>Faces~Phases of the Moon by Hirini Reedytag:worldviewzmedia.net,2009-04-02:2098065:BlogPost:167932009-04-02T16:05:01.000ZRobert Dakotahttp://worldviewzmedia.net/profile/RobertDakota
<p style="text-align: left;"><img alt="" height="244" src="http://storage.ning.com/topology/rest/1.0/file/get/398621337?profile=original" width="300"></img></p>
Kia ora & hi there, Recently I sent an email talking about shifting the mind into empowered states. Remember Mind SHFTS? See+Hear+Feel+Taste+Smell. In your memories, you can recall SHFTS that can give you power and energy. Now we must be able to channel and apply that energy into movements, tactics and strategies that give us the best chance of success. One way is to use the faces or phases of the Moon to guide and guard ourselves in times of…
<p style="text-align: left;"><img src="http://storage.ning.com/topology/rest/1.0/file/get/398621337?profile=original" alt="" width="300" height="244"></p> Kia ora & hi there, Recently I sent an email talking about shifting the mind into empowered states. Remember Mind SHFTS? See+Hear+Feel+Taste+Smell. In your memories, you can recall SHFTS that can give you power and energy. Now we must be able to channel and apply that energy into movements, tactics and strategies that give us the best chance of success. One way is to use the faces or phases of the Moon to guide and guard ourselves in times of crisis. Here is a couple of Moon strategies to alert, avoid and deflect threats and unwanted attention. New Moon Strategy. This is one of awareness and avoidance. Just like the new moon is still present in the sky yet she is in shadow and invisble to us. Essentially your sixth sense tells you that danger is up ahead. So you avoid it. Simple. Read the signs. Hair rising. Tight gut feeling. A shadow of a doubt. These are all sixth sense feelings. Add them together to get an accurate fix. Then make yourself invisible and untouched. Run away. Why stay and fight if you can avoid it? Your ego will tell you to fight. You must practice getting your ego under control. Rising Moon Strategy. Your strength is a strong, calculating mind hidden beneath a non-threatening, unassuming physical surface. You might be full of smiles that deflect the aggressive overtures of your opponent. You consciously give ground and feign weakness until you have your enemy in a vulnerable position. You use confusion, deception, deflection, misdirection and anonymity as your allies. Remember a sharp mind can cut through thick muscle. At a higher level, you seek to negate the enemy strength through smart thinking. You have identified their weaknesses physically, emotionally, culturally and spiritually. You choose the battlegrounds in which to engage your enemy and exploit these many weaknesses. You lead them into ambushes or equivalent where their strengths are negated. In this strategy the enemy is often over-confident, cocky and under-estimates you. In a way, you are like a smiling assassin. Very ordinary and unthreatening on top, very calculating and explosive underneath. Thank you, Hirini PS. If you want to learn more about the Moon strategies than you can find out more over here. http://clicks.aweber.com/y/ct/?l=9hETO&m=1aNqFMwftkCKdL&b=B0SMGqape7JqNwQLJtccagSacred Intimacy...our life force in challenging times. Offered with LOVE, by; Howling Womantag:worldviewzmedia.net,2009-02-21:2098065:BlogPost:140812009-02-21T16:30:00.000ZHowling Womanhttp://worldviewzmedia.net/profile/HowlingWoman
We are experiencing many challenges as humans living on this planet at this time. Studies show that people have less sex when economic times are tough! Don't be a statistic, Now, more than ever it is incredibly important to keep your sexual energy in peak shape. It doesn't matter if you are in a relationship with another human being, our sexual lives need to start with ourselves, right where they did when we first discovered auto-eroticism. Just like rediscovering the simple joys of a sunny…
We are experiencing many challenges as humans living on this planet at this time. Studies show that people have less sex when economic times are tough! Don't be a statistic, Now, more than ever it is incredibly important to keep your sexual energy in peak shape. It doesn't matter if you are in a relationship with another human being, our sexual lives need to start with ourselves, right where they did when we first discovered auto-eroticism. Just like rediscovering the simple joys of a sunny day, blue skies, fine food, chocolate, walks in the park, drumming, or whatever it is that turns you on, it is vitally important that you keep your kundalini turned on.<br />
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One of the first books I read, years ago, about sacred sexuality, presented the idea that it is Orgasms, that make the sky blue! They may do just that, and more, they energize our chakras with bursts of incredible light. Orgasms boost our immune systems, help us live longer (and happier!) and provide an offering of pure pleasure to the universal energy flow, that in turn gives back to us in beautiful abundance.<br />
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Honor your sacred self, or your sacred human partner, whomever that may be, and enjoy one of the most pleasurable gifts that the Divine Masculine/Feminine has bestowed upon us! Especially in challenging times, it may be one of few treasured acts that we have to bring fun, art, love and mystery to our lives. It blesses all creation, charges our chi, and reminds us, that all of creation was born from sacred sexual union.<br />
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Love and Blessings!<br />
Howling Woman