What I would do if I were the President

The following are some ideas that I came up with in order to make the world a better place to live:
1) Encourage the widespread use of Organic Farming
A) Promote and support large scale Vermi-composting
B) Promote and support large scale Recycling efforts
C) Promote and support public school educational organic farming, encourage the widespread use of community gardens and teach folks how to prepare healthy meals with the produce from those gardens

2) Support and subsidize the widespread use of solar power at every level of the economy
A) At schools, government buildings, private corporations, and private homes
B) Stop subsidizing and encouraging Big Oil
C) Promote and support an efficient public transportation program with an emphasis on bicycling as well as ride sharing on a large scale basis

3) Require the use of high efficiency vehicles and appliances
A) Support bio-diesel and the use of alcohol to propel engines
B) Subsidize the construction of solar-powered automobiles
C) Provide "Community" cars and bicycles to lease/rent/share

4) Provide all citizens the chance to obtain an advanced degree on a sliding scale basis
A) Build more institutions of higher learning
B) Pay instructors, teachers and professors a lucrative wage
C) Invest in the construction of high-tech schools, libraries, and community centers

5) End all Wars and cut military spending by 75%
A) Actively promote Peace--as opposed to pre-emptive military attacks on autonomous Nation-states
B) End the practise of military recruiting in high schools, colleges, and universities
C) End the practise of no-bid contracts, disable the Military Industrial Complex, and stop using war as a way to accomplish goals

6) Educate the populace regarding unhealthy foods--especially those made by fast-food restaurants
A) Actively combat the growing obesity epidemic
B) Provide healthy food alternatives and subsidize the organic farming industry
C) Establish mandatory wellness and fitness programs throughout all educational institutions as well as every place of employment

7) Overhaul, monitor and re-prioritize the FDA, FCC, and severely restrict the influence of the pharmaceutical industry
A) Promote alternative healing practises
B) Utilize natural cures and medicines
C) Subsidize the research and development of natural herbs and plants

8) Protect the environment and Eco-systems of the Planet
A) End the practises of: Coal mining; mountain-top removal; chem trails; weather modification methods; deforestation; polluting of rivers, lakes, and oceans
B) Protect endangered species and their environments
C) Sign the Kyoto Global Warming Treaty and have it ratified by all nations

9) Regulate the Media
A) Support and enforce the Truth-in-information Act
B) Regulate and decrease the commercialization of the airwaves
C) Encourage more public programming

10) Curtail organized religions influence of public policy
A) Promote religious tolerance
B) De-bunk the religious lies, propaganda and rhetoric
C) Recognize atheism as an acceptable alternative

11) End the Homeland Security Sham
A) Admit that 9/11 was an inside job and fully prosecute those who planned and carried it out (hint: it was not Al Queda--they are the public scapegoats for the Neocons)
B) End the use of racial profiling (on the streets, in airports, at customs and in schools)
C) Stop promoting the "us vs them" mentality as well as the rampant use of fear to coerce the public's support of ill-advised policies

12) Promote the use of "Natural Native Landscapes"
A) Stop the glorification of lawns as aesthetically pleasing; Lawns should be restricted to parks and recreational fields for the playing of sports--not for homes
B) Enforce water rationing throughout all levels of society
C) Regulate the use of water (our most valuable natural resource) and fine water wasters

13) Encourage and Support Sustainable Communities
A) Subsidize ecologically friendly communities who support alternative energy
B) Eliminate automobiles from operating within 500 yards of living quarters--encourage downtown's to become car-free zones where only bicycles and pedestrians are allowed
C) Promote Communal living arrangements where folks living in the same community share in the raising of children within the neighborhood--eliminate the common "fences of fear"

14) Expose the corrupt and inefficient Medical Industry
A) Stop the massive over-medication of patients
B) Teach Med students about healthy nutrition and alternative health care so that they can help to inform the general public
C) Stop muzzling natural cures for cancer, diabetes, and many other maladies and diseases

15) Recycle resources--Utilize sustainable goods
A) Enforce the use of recycled materials in the construction industry
B) Utilize natural light and passive solar heating in all buildings
C) Use water three times--then use it to water the garden

16) Stop the political cycle of constant fundraising for politicians
A) Maintain an equal playing field for all candidates
B) Severely restrict lobbyists and their vast influence of deep-pocket politics
C) Restrict and regulate political spending-ensure equal publicity for all candidates

17) Reform Drug Laws
A) Utilize education, rehabilitation and recovery--tax and regulate the substances like alcohol and end the overriding influence of gangs
B) Allow the responsible use of "natural drugs"; ie-Magic mushrooms and marijuana
C) End the double standard for alcohol consumption

18) Encourage spiritual practises
A) Meditation
B) Vision Quests
C) Encourage the use of Shamans, Psychics and alternative health practitioners

19) Stop utilizing fear, anger, wrath, revenge, and guilt as policy--Replace them with love, hope, selflessness, forgiveness, and kindness

20) Promote the research and development of Hemp
A) For oil, paper, clothing, rope, bags, tarps, etc.
B) Make it a top choice for renewable resources

21) Reform prisons and jails

22) End tax cuts for the wealthy
A) Utilize a progressive income tax
B) Utilize and progressive sales tax
C) Put an end to corporate welfare and offshore tax havens

23) Promote the arts and recreational pursuits
A) Build more theatre venues
B) Build more Parks and preserve more open spaces
C) Provide shuttles to escort people on restricted roads into natural areas

A Free Society?

This was written by me on Tuesday, August 1, 2006 12:42 AM
A society without the benefit of a free and unimpeded Press will always suffer from a lack of understanding and awareness of the world in which they live. Likewise, a press that is so-called 'free' but which is owned by like-minded individuals acting in concert to misdirect and divert attention away from topics and subjects that have a direct affect on the citizens and their lives unjustifiably endangers the Peoples right to know. There is no excuse for allowing the consolidation of "news outlets" to a handful of conglomerates whose synchronized goals are in essense, directly counter to the ideals and principals of a "free press". By bedding with the rich and powerful movers and shakers of business and government these multinational and multiconglomerate organizations ruthlessly extoll diversionary and divisive reports aimed to arouse and sustain violence, fear, and simply the pacification of an entire society--ultimately the entire Human Race will be adversely affected by the implication of these news sources that to protest is wrong and ultimately undermines the National Security of the United States--yea right; I don't see any sheep around here but the wool hanging in front of my eyes is getting pretty thick. Think and question the actions and decisions of those individuals that were supposedly fairly elected officials sworn to work for your best interests--not the military's, multinational corporations, or any other entity for that matter. Together we can fix this mess...help us try.

Guide to Meditation

I extracted the following from an internet site which explains the steps to take for successful meditation. It is quite long....

Written Guide to Meditating

Posture
Different postures affect how the energy flows through the body and how alert the mind is in meditation. For most meditations, we suggest sitting upright with the spine erect while still being comfortable. It is not necessary to get into a precise or difficult posture to meditate! If you are uncomfortable or straining to be in a certain position, you will not be able to relax completely. Some meditations, such as our Walking Meditation, are done while active. Obviously, if you are doing a meditation for falling asleep, it would be best to lie down.
How Long to Meditate
Usually 15-30 minutes is a good meditation time, although if you are new to meditation, you may want to start with 5 or 10 and build up. If you meditate regularly, it can be helpful to meditate about the same number of minutes each time. (An exception is our Meditation-in-Action which is done for longer periods of time while engaged in activity.)
When to meditate
When you meditate will partly depend on what kind of meditation you are doing and the purpose of the meditation. Although you can meditate at any time, the ideal times are usually in the morning as a start to your day, or in the late afternoon in order to unwind from the activity of the day and be refreshed for the evening.
If you do a meditation which energizes you, it’s better not to do it before bedtime. Some meditations, however, are specifically designed for falling asleep and many people find listening to many of our guided meditations helps them relax into sleep.
Meditations which are deeply relaxing are best done on an empty stomach or at least a couple of hours after a meal.
How often to meditate
The ideal frequency of meditation may vary from person to person depending on many different factors. Generally speaking, once or twice a day is ideal. A regular routine of meditation is invaluable. The benefit derived from meditation starts to carry over into our activity more when we meditate regularly. Many find twice a day to be ideal, but certainly even once a day can make a big difference.
It is possible to meditate too much. Everything in life is about balance and proportion. Usually 15-20 minutes twice a day is sufficient and more could be counter-productive. (Taking brief meditation breaks more often would be OK, however.)
Thoughts in meditation
Thoughts arise spontaneously in the mind. They are a natural part of meditation. The goal of meditation is to become more at ease, relaxed and at peace with whatever is happening. Therefore, it is important to not resist anything that comes in meditation, including thoughts.
Don’t try to push out thoughts or resist them. Simply notice that thoughts are present and let them go the way they come — effortlessly. When you find that the awareness has been caught up in a train of thought, easily come back to the focus of your meditation. (This will vary depending on the type of meditation you are doing. In a breath meditation, for example, come easily back to the experience of the breath.)
It’s important to understand that you have not made a mistake when thoughts come or the mind has become absorbed in thought. It’s a natural part of meditation. The mind may get caught up in a “story” about what is happening in our life, or even what is happening in meditation — what has happened or will happen. Likewise, we can let go of that. Don’t purposely follow the train of thought. Let it go. Let go of the meaning of thoughts. Let thoughts be a meaningless activity in the mind!
Our experience of thoughts may change as we meditate.
As we disengage the gears of the mind, the mind has an opportunity to settle down. We may experience more subtle levels of the thinking process. Thoughts may become more vague, or may even be an intuitive felt sense of something — a knowing that does not get translated into words and concepts. Allow this process of the changing experience of thoughts to happen.
Sometimes you may experience a kind of dream-like state, somewhere between being asleep and awake. This also is a natural experience in meditation. There may also be times when there is a state of “no thought”. No matter what happens just take it easy — take it as it comes!
Noise
It’s enjoyable to meditate in a quiet place, but it is not always possible. All of the meditations on our website can be done in a noisy environment. The key is to not resist noise. Don’t try to ignore the noise or to block it out. Simply let it be and continue with your meditation.
Everything is a part of meditation — the noise, your thoughts about it, the way the mind may start to resist it, the emotions that arise about it. Treat everything that arises in meditation the same way — let it be, let yourself be!
Falling asleep in meditation
Hopefully in meditation we enter a state of “non-resistance”. This would include not resisting sleep if it comes. If we try to keep from falling asleep, we are straining. The goal of meditation to establish a state of ease. Therefore, if sleep comes, let it come.
As the body relaxes, it will take the opportunity for sleep if it is needed. If you find that you fall asleep frequently in meditation, it may mean that you need more sleep at night and is a good reminder to make sure you are getting enough rest.
Strong emotions
When we enter into a state of relaxation in meditation, strong emotions can sometimes arise. This can happen for several reasons. When the mind settles down in meditation, we may become aware of an emotion that has been “under the surface” while we are busy in activity and focused on other things. It may also be that the deep relaxation of meditation causes a kind of “unwinding” or purification, so that any emotion that has been held in the body is released. The meditative state can be much like the dream state in which various issues are being processed.
If we are uncomfortable with a particular emotion, such as grief, the tendency may be to want to push it out. Emotions are a flow of life energy, and if we resist that flow, the energy becomes “stuck”. If you notice resistance to emotions, let the resistance go. Allow the emotion to be experienced fully and the energy of the emotion can flow and resolve.
On the other hand, when a strong emotion arises, the mind may become very busy interpreting it or dramatizing it with a story about it. If anger arises, for example, the mind might pick up on something that happened in the past, or imagine something happening now as the cause of the anger. This involvement of the mind in the emotion intensifies and feeds it, and also obstructs it from moving through easily. When we become aware of being caught up in a train of thought or a story, let that go and bring the awareness easily back to the focus of the meditation. (The focus will depend on the meditation you are doing.)
If the emotion or thought is so strong that you cannot easily come back to your focus (such as the focus on the breath), then simply allow the mind to feel the emotion. Let the awareness locate a physical sensation in the body that is associated with the strong emotion (or thought). Simply continue to feel that sensation in the body. With the awareness easily on the sensation, it will eventually dissolve and the mind will be free to continue with the focus of the meditation.
Ending Meditation
It’s important to take time to come out of meditation slowly. When we are deeply rested in meditation, it can be jarring to suddenly get up and start our activity. Remain with your eyes closed for a minute or two. Stretch, move around a bit, and gradually become more active. When you are ready to open your eyes, you can open them downcast at first. Take your time!

Problems with thoughts in meditation
This is probably the most common challenge people have with meditation. They feel they are unable to quiet the mind and keep out thoughts. “My mind just won’t stop its chatter.” “I can’t stay focused on meditation.”Solution: The key is to stop resisting thoughts and trying to make them go away. Thoughts are a part of meditation. They are a natural activity in the mind. Although meditation can be a way to experience inner silence, this comes about not by eliminating thoughts but by becoming away of the silence that is naturally present in the mind along with the thoughts. When we stop resisting what is naturally happening, we experience calmness and peace.
Restlessness
Often people find it’s hard to sit still for meditation. It doesn’t take long to start thinking of all the things you could be doing, or to feel restless like you want to get up.Solution: Restlessness can arise as the body “unwinds”. When we sit to meditate, it’s as if we’ve spent the day in a moving car. Once we stop and rest, it feels as if our body is still moving. It takes time for the body to settle down and feel at rest. Meditating is like shifting gears in a car — you shift into neutral and the engine takes a while to slow down and come to idle. Continue meditating, allowing yourself to be aware of the sensation of restlessness in the body. You can continue with the meditation practice, such as watching the breath, during this time, or if the restlessness is extremely intense you can give your attention fully to the sensation of restlessness. Notice exactly how it feels in your body — where you feel it, and what the sensation is like. As you allow yourself to experience the restlessness, it will eventually settle down.
Being uncomfortable with our feelings
Sometimes during meditation, we may be uncomfortable with some of the feelings that arise. This might take the form of a strong emotion or a physical sensation in the body. When the mind is no longer caught up in its outer-directed focus and the usual distractions of the day, we can become aware of feelings that have been under the surface. You may feel tempted to stop meditating, or start to resist these feelings, making meditation a struggle.Solution: The key to achieving a state of deep relaxation, is to learn to stop resisting certain feelings and be present to “what is”. Thoughts, emotions, bodily sensations come and go continuously in the natural flow of life. Left to flow by themselves, they will pass through. Simply allow these feelings to be present, not trying to push them out, but also not following the mind’s stories about them. If an emotion is so strong that it’s overpowering, allow the awareness to be easily with that emotion. Notice its location in the body, and let the awareness be with the physical sensations associated with the emotion until the emotion diminishes. Let go of the meaning the mind gives to the emotion.
Occasionally in meditation, something can come to awareness that is particularly difficult, such as a repressed memory from the past or a realization about something we need to change in our lives. In this case, it may be helpful to get some support, such as counseling to help deal with the issues that arise.
Disappointment that “good experiences” aren’t always there
Every time we meditate our experiences will be different, depending on our ever-changing physical and emotional states, as well as life circumstances. It is important to understand that our experiences will change, as we will tend to form expectations based on our previous experience. Naturally we like some meditative experiences better than others, and may feel disappointed if we meditate and don’t have those experiences.
There are no good or bad experiences in meditation. There is no right or wrong way to feel. Meditation is about “letting go” and trusting the natural flow of life. It is important to remember that the goal of these meditations is not to have special experiences, but to become more at ease with whatever arises. By meditating regularly and following these guidelines, ease in meditation will grow and this will translate into greater ease in living — the ability to flow with whatever life brings.
Sitting in an uncomfortable posture
Often people have the idea that they have to sit in a certain posture for effective meditation, and yet they find it is impossible to do so comfortably. If you are physically uncomfortable this will dominate your awareness and it will be impossible to relax.Solution: For sitting meditations, it is best to sit with the spine erect, but not to strain in any way. Sit in a way which is natural and puts you at ease. For most people, sitting with back support and with the feet flat on the floor works best.

Nature Meditations
How to Meditate in Nature
These meditations are done outside in natural surroundings. They help to enliven the basic intelligence of nature in our awareness and physiology. Our being resonates with the sight of a flower, sound of birds, feeling of the breeze. These experiences wake something up inside of us, and help to set our lives into a more natural rhythm. Nature lovers have discovered this secret without ever studying meditation!

In the nature meditations, we focus our awareness on the experience of nature — sight, sound, touch, smell (and perhaps even taste). As with every meditation on our website, when the mind wanders from the focus of the meditation, bring it gently back. There are several different ways that this meditation can be done. Experiment and find what works best for you.

Basic Nature Meditation — Eyes Closed
Find a comfortable position sitting or lying down. Begin with a few deep breaths, breathing deep into the belly, to help you relax and to bring you to the sensations of the present moment. Now close your eyes and be present to what is being experienced with your eyes closed. Notice how your body feels, as well as the activity of your mind and emotions. Experience whatever is present without resisting anything or trying to change it. Do this for about a minute.

Now bring your awareness to everything that you can experience in your surroundings. Feel the temperature of the air on your skin, the feeling of the breeze and the sun. Notice the sounds around you — birds, bees, crickets, flowing water. Listen to the symphony of nature. For the rest of the meditation, continue to experience these feelings and sounds. Whenever your mind wanders, gently bring it back to the experience of nature.

As you meditate, you can see where your attention is naturally drawn, or purposefully scan for different experiences. You can also focus on one experience and notice the experience in greater detail. If it is a bird’s song — notice the quality of the sound — as if you are going more deeply into the sound. (It may seem to have a shape or texture.) Don’t analyze the sound and label it with your mind — simply notice the quality of it.

Once again, whenever you notice that the mind has become absorbed in thoughts, easily bring it back to the sounds and sensations of being in nature. At times both awareness of the sensations from the environment and thoughts will be present. That’s fine. Just easily favor the experiences of nature.

Listening Meditation — Variation of Basic Nature Meditation
Begin as described in the Basic Nature Meditation, but focus on sound only. Let your awareness be with all the sounds in the environment, noticing them in great detail. You can also focus on one particular sound, such as that of flowing water. Continue to bring your attention back to that particular sound when your mind wanders.

Nature Meditation — Eyes Open
This meditation can be done while sitting, standing or walking. Time spent in nature can always be a form of meditation when we put our full attention on what is around us — the earth, trees, flowers, animals, fresh air, the breeze…

To intensify this experience, allow yourself to experience the sights, sounds and smells without labeling them and becoming mentally involved with them. Notice the tendency of the mind to name and evaluate everything — “Oh, look at that beautiful bird. What kind is it? Is it here all winter or where does it go?” When these kinds of thoughts come up, let them go. Simply experience the colors, shape, sounds, movement of the bird or whatever else you are experiencing. Let it be an experience without meaning and without reference to any other experience.

Experience everything with an open awareness, as if you’d never experienced anything like it before. As always, when the mind wanders and becomes caught up in thought, simply bring it back to the experience of nature.

Meditation in Action
How to meditate while remaining active
Our Meditation-in-Action is a way of meditating while remaining active. This can be an incredibly relaxing experience. It can also bring insights into how we resist the natural flow of life and help you to let go of that resistance and experience activity in a more natural and spontaneous way. This meditation can be for personal growth, or simply to relax.
Usually this meditation will be most effective if you can take at least an hour to do it. It can even become the basis of a day long retreat.
How to do this meditation
Set aside a couple of hours, or better yet a morning or even a whole day in which you will only do what you want to do when you want to do it.
The basic meditation is to spend some time doing only what you want to do in the moment. It is usually most effective to do this in your own home or in an environment that you spend a lot of time in. The idea isn’t necessarily to do something special or to get involved in a project that takes planning or commits you to a certain course of action (like taking a trip). It is better to leave things open-ended so that you have the freedom to start one thing and stop it or change your focus at any time.
During this time let go of any ideas of what you think you should do and everything you think needs to be done. That even includes “I should do something really special that I always want to do but don’t have time for”. Don’t plan your time ahead. Don’t think about what to do, just start doing what comes to you naturally. Do what you want to do in every moment as it arises. You may notice yourself judging what you choose to do, but let that go. Just follow the impulses of the moment.
At times you may sit or lie down and do nothing, at other times you may have an inspiration of something new and different to do, and at other times you may surprise yourself by finding you are doing something on your to-do list. The feeling as you do these things will be completely different, however, as you let go of any agendas and any shoulds. You may find yourself actually enjoying doing things that you might not normally enjoy, simply because there is no longer a sense that “I have to do this” or a pressure about time.
What is so relaxing is the sense of freedom in just letting yourself do as you please — letting yourself be. You may learn quite a lot about how your mind is always evaluating what you are doing and whether or not it is worthwhile, “good” or “bad”, and so on.
Music as Meditation
Sit or lie down, close your eyes, and bring your attention to the music. Whenever you find your attention has wandered, bring it easily back to the music. As always, don’t strain or try to force your mind to follow the music, just be easy about it and “take it as it comes”.
These same meditation guidelines apply to any of our meditations. The focus in the meditations varies. It may be the body or the breath, or the focus may simply be to follow the gentle instructions in the guided meditations. In this case, the focus is the music.
It’s important to understand that it is not a mistake when the mind wanders from the music. Everything the mind does, everything that happens, is part of the meditation. So don’t try to concentrate or force the mind in any way. The only criteria for “right meditation” is that it is easy. The goal, if there is a goal, is effortlessness, but even if we are find ourselves making an effort sometimes, that’s OK. Just back off and continue.
Walking Meditation
How to meditate while walking
Walking meditation can be just as profound as sitting meditation, and has the advantage of bringing the meditative experience into our activity. There are a number of different walking meditations. Our variation is informal and easy. It allows you to be more present in your body and in the present moment. The simple experience of alternating steps with the left and right foot naturally helps create a meditative state.

There is a tremendous richness of experience to become aware of as you walk. The body loves movement, and will reward you with pleasure if you pay attention to how it feels! So much of the time we are caught up in our mental worlds — thinking of the past or future, planning, imagining… Paying attention to the body as you walk will help you to enjoy simply being alive. (Although there are sitting meditations in which you pay attention to the body, it is easier to do so when the body is in motion. This is an advantage of the walking meditation.)

Where and when. This meditation is best done outdoors. We recommend setting aside at least 20 minutes for your walking meditation, and not trying to combine it with anything else like going on errands or walking briskly for exercise. Let this be a walk just for meditation so that you can sink into the experience with your undivided attention!

How to start. Before starting to walk, spend a little time while still standing still. Allow your awareness to be with your body. Take some deep breaths, inhaling deep into the belly. Put your full attention on the sensation of breathing. Then allow the breath to return to normal and notice it going on its own for a little while. Now bring your awareness to your body, noticing how your body feels as you are standing, and becoming aware of all the sensations going on in your body.

Now begin walking. Walk at a relaxed, fairly slow but normal pace. Pay attention to the sensations in your body as you walk. It is natural to find your attention drawn to the sights around you as you walk, but keep bringing your attention to what is going on internally.

The idea is to have your attention on the physical experience of walking. If the mind starts getting caught up in thoughts, easily bring your attention back to the experience of walking. Notice how the body feels in great detail as you walk. The entire body is involved in the act of walking — from alternation of the left and right foot to the swinging of your arms and hips.

Notice how the soles of your feet feel — the contact they make with your socks or shoes, the textures of the fabrics touching them, the way they feel as they bear the weight of your body and the sensations in them as your walk along. Feel the entire foot, being aware of how it moves as the heel is placed on the ground, and then the movement rolls to the ball of the foot and toes. Notice how it feels as the foot lifts and moves forward. Allow your awareness to move up through every part of the body, noticing the sensations as you walk. Gradually scan all parts of your body as you bring your attention to the ankles, skins, calves, knees, thighs, hips, pelvis, back, chest, shoulders, arms, neck, head.

When you become aware of tension anywhere in the body, let it go. Allow that part of your body to relax. Allow your ankles, belly, shoulders, arms, neck — all of your body — to relax. Let your hips swing loose. As you do this, the walking will become more enjoyable.

You can scan your body randomly, moving your awareness from place to pace in your body, or you can systematically scan your whole body going from the soles of your feet to the top of your head noticing the sensations of walking. The most important thing is to keep you awareness on the sensations in your body, easily bringing it back when your mind has wandered.

XXX

Variation: Keep your attention on the rhythm of the walking — the alternation of left and right foot. Simply notice the experience of left-right-left-right motion. Keep bringing your awareness back to this experience when the mind wanders in thoughts or distractions of the environment.

Finding a comfortable position
Unless otherwise stated, these guided meditations can be done either sitting or lying down. In general, if you meditate sitting up, you’ll tend to stay more alert for the meditation. You might tend to doze or fall asleep while lying down. You can try meditating both ways to see the difference for yourself. In either case, find a position that is comfortable and close your eyes for the meditations.
Listen easily without straining
Listen easily to the meditations, without straining in any way to follow the instructions. Treat the instructions as gentle suggestions, and allow yourself to follow them in a way that is easy and natural. The mind will wander from time to time — that doesn’t matter. Just easily bring your attention back to the voice-guided instructions when you realize it has wandered.
Meditations with and without a focus
Some of the meditations have a focus, such as the breath, emotions or body awareness. It’s not necessary to concentrate to keep your attention on these things. Just be easy with the process and come back to the focus when the mind has wandered.
Ending the meditations
At the end of most meditations, you will be given the option to continue longer with the meditation on your own for a while longer. When you are ready to end the meditation, take time to come out slowly. Stretch, take some deep breaths and gradually return to your activity. Opening your eyes downcast can also help the transition to activity to be more graceful and smooth.
Doing these meditations on your own
Once you’ve listened to these meditations for some time, you will become familiar enough with the processes to do them on your own. You can always come back to the guided meditation as a “refresher” once you’re doing them on your own.
Value of repeating the meditations
Listening to any of these guided meditations should bring relaxation and a shift in your way of being. Listening to them more than once increases these effects and helps you to develop new habits in living.
Regular meditation brings the most benefit!

This was written in 2002 by Hank Wesselman and I wanted to share it with others for I fully support his ideas and beliefs....
It is no news to anyone in the Western World that increasing numbers of people are leaving our mainstream religions in droves. What is news is that this is not an atheistic movement. Quite the contrary. A wide-spread spiritual reawakening is taking place—one that is cutting across socioeconomic levels of achievement and status, one that is transcending cultural, political, and ethnic boundaries as well.
This social movement is intensely democratic and appears to be made up of people who hold a set of beliefs and values that differ from those of the general public. This new belief complex is quietly, yet definitively, gaining acceptance among increasing numbers of well-informed and well-connected individuals, many of whom are in professional and social positions from which they can influence the larger society’s ideas and trends.
The number of people involved is not known with certainty, but 14 years of social research in the United States by demographer Paul Ray, PhD., has shown that more than 50 million Americans may fall into this category, representing more than 25% of the adult population. This is not a small number, and it appears to be growing. Ray’s analysis suggests that we Westerners have arrived at a point in our history in which our prevailing mythologies are not working so well any more. The 50 million among us know, without being told, that it is time to create a ‘new story’, a new cultural myth, in which we synthesize a whole new set of ways of seeing ourselves and our society, as well as our place in the greater scheme of things.
Ray’s survey has revealed that the citizens involved are socially-concerned, environmentally-aware, and spiritually-focused creative people, who are carriers of more positive ideas and values than in any previous period of history. The ever-increasing numbers of these ‘cultural-creatives’ know with absolute certainty that if we continue to do business as usual, Western Civilization may well collapse, taking the rest of the world with it. This awareness is producing a growing sense of urgency, an existential angst, accompanied by an insistence on social, political, and economic reform that will benefit everyone, not just the powerful and the privileged.
Anthropologists might call this a new kind of cultural revitalization movement and observe that such a shift in the dominant cultural pattern of a society happens only once or twice in a thousand years. This one is occurring during a period of ever-accelerating social change, enabled by a high technology and a world-wide communication system unlike any ever seen before. This suggests that the shift has already spread far beyond the boundaries of the Western World, and may, in fact, be happening on a planetary scale.
Are you a member of this movement? My book VISIONSEEKER presents a profile of this growing community of worthies, as well as a partial list of their core beliefs and values: Here it is with a footnote or two...
CORE BELIEFS
1.The belief that everything and everyone is part of a pattern and thus interconnected.
· His Holiness, the Dalai Lama, has put it this way: ‘Nowadays, whatever happens in one part of the world will eventually effect people and places far away. Therefore, it is essential to treat each major problem (and social movement), right from their inception, as a global concern. It is no longer possible to emphasize, without destructive repercussions, the national, racial, ideological, (or spiritual) barriers which differentiate us. Within the context of our new interdependence, self-interest clearly lies in considering the interests of others.’ (from The Way Ahead, eds. Eddie and Debbie Shapiro, Element Books, 1992)
2. The belief in the existence of an alternate reality, often referred to as the ‘other world’, the ‘spirit world’, the ‘dreamtime’, or simply, ‘the sacred’ by the traditional peoples. Modern mystics often refer to it as ‘nonordinary reality’.
· This is a core concept shared by many quantum physicists and zen buddhists as well. In our workshops, we do ‘fieldwork’ in these inner worlds, investigating the nature of the ‘nonordinary dimensions of reality’.
3.The belief in the ability of some individuals to achieve transcendent states of consciousness in which it becomes possible to enter into this alternate reality for problem-solving and the healing of self and others. This belief is usually accompanied by a strong desire to personally experience the alternate reality.
· Today, there is increasing interest among Westerners in learning how to systematically alter consciousness so that we too can personally connect with this other world, and many in the modern mystical movement have learned and practice the ancient, time-tested technology of transcendence, pioneered by the shamans of the traditional peoples.
4. The belief in the existence of spirit helpers and spirit teachers who reside in the alternate reality.
· These spirits are seen as critical in dealing with the alternate reality because they provide the spiritual seeker with power, protection, and support, as well as knowledge and guidance.
5. The belief that everything, both living and inanimate, is imbued with its own personal supernatural essence or soul. This includes the certainty that everything everywhere is aware and thus ‘minded’ to some degree.
· This belief is universal among traditional peoples and is known as animism.
6. The belief in the existence of an impersonal supernatural power or vital force that is highly dispersed throughout the Universe, but which can be highly concentrated in certain places, objects, and living beings as life-force.
· This belief is called animatism, and almost everyone everywhere has a sense of this enlivening energy, as well as how it can be accumulated, focused, and used. This is the mana of the Polynesians and Melanesians, the chi of the Chinese, the ki of the Japanese and Koreans, the prana of yoga, the baraka of the Muslims, the num of the Kalahari bushmen, the manitou of the Algonkian Indians, and the force of Obi Wan Kenobi.
7. The belief in a personal energy body around and within which the physical body is formed. This energetic aspect can be perceived by those with psychic awareness as an aura, and modern mystics know that it can be enhanced through centers located within it—the chakras and meridians in Eastern thought.
· The medical intuitive Carolyn Myss has called the growing awareness of this energetic aspect of the self to be one of the signatures of the ‘consciousness age’. Western scientists, tempered by their habitual caution, still know little about it. The energy body is very sensitive to thoughts and emotions, and the understanding of this delicate relationship is critical for healing.
CORE VALUES
8. Modern mystics hold a strong concern for social justice and the quality of life at all levels of society, both nationally and internationally.
9. Social tolerance, individualism, and spiritual freedom are highly valued ideals.
10. Strong support is felt for women’s issues as well as the safety and well-being of children and the elderly. The rebuilding of families, neighborhoods, and communities are seen as major areas of concern, and human relationships are perceived to be of more importance than material gain.
· The interrelated values listed above form a strong complex, one that reveals that a new sense of the sacred has come into the world—one that combines personal growth psychology and the spiritual plus being of service, all mixed into one orientation.
11. Spiritual, mental-emotional, and physical balance and harmony are seen as critical to the well-being of the individual, the family, the society, the business firm, the nation-state, and the planetary community as a whole. Accordingly, it is understood that humans must live their lives in ways that contribute to this balance, rather than following lifestyles or pursuing goals that create its opposite.
· Modern mystics are reconsidering the wisdom of the traditional peoples which is fundamentally based on a sense of propriety, on an active respect for the land and for the natural powers that permeate it. The land, and everything associated with it, are holy. This leads to a strong ecological perspective.
12. Modern mystics are environmentally savvy. The survival of the environment and by association, the human species, is number one on their list. They carry a deep respect for Nature and are seriously concerned with stopping corporate polluters, reversing greenhouse warming, and discovering the limits to short-term growth so that the world community can achieve the long-term ecological sustainability upon which the future of humanity depends.
· Today, with the environment under siege from a hundred fronts, the indigenous peoples’ views on living in balance and harmony with nature and with its spiritual aspect (the mind behind Nature), are beginning to look a whole lot less like superstition and a whole lot more like wisdom.
13. Accordingly, the value of simple, natural living is seen as a high ideal.
· Homage to the indigenous peoples, and to the bohemians, the beats, the hippies, and all like-minded worthies before them, as well as those who will follow us for seven generations to come. Homage also to the medicinemakers of all societies of all times. In their capable hands rests the physical, as well as the metaphysical equilibrium of our collective peoples.
14. Modern mystics tend to hold strong feelings of disaffection for Western allopathic medicine. These concerns are being greatly enhanced by the increasingly negative effects on the quality of healthcare being introduced by the business-oriented and profit-motivated Health Maintenance Organizations (HMOs).
· Often, individuals who are terminally ill are kept alive by a Western medical system that is trying to do the right thing, but in the process, the physical suffering of the dying is needlessly prolonged, and the escalating costs of medical treatment can destroy a family’s resources. This is simply not right.
15. While all are very much aware of Western Medicine’s often miraculous achievements, most of us have strong interests in alternative and preventative healthcare modalities (holistic, shamanic, transpersonal, herbalist, acupuncture, ayurvedic, and meditative, to name only a few). These therapies are seen as ‘adjuncts to’ rather than as ‘replacements for’ Western Medicine.
· They are gaining in popularity because they work.
16. No one today can deny that the world’s social, political, economic, and religious problems are reaching critical mass. Modern mystics believe that the ultimate solutions to all our problems will be achieved through the current spiritual reawakening as it progresses from the personal to the global. They know that it has the potential to propel humanity into the next phase of its evolution as a more aware life form with more expanded abilities (see Visionseeker chapter 13).
· Modern mystics share a strong sense of hope and faith that as people move into and rediscover their connection with the spiritual worlds, a change will occur within us—one that will spread far beyond ourselves and will make the world a better, safer place to live—one that will enable peace to break out and become the dominant reality paradigm (see Visionseeker chapter 17).
17. Finally, virtually all who hold these beliefs and values are seekers of the direct, transformative experience of transcendence, and it is really this that defines us as mystics (see Visionseeker, chapter 1).
· The exploration of the nature of reality, as well as the mystery of who we are and what we are doing here, is the substrate of the quest. At its inception, this quest is intensely personal. Yet as it progresses, it leads us inevitably toward a universal and ultimately altruistic perspective, one that takes us straight into the irreversible vortex of spiritual expansion. This progression, once begun, changes us profoundly and forever because it conveys to each of us the experience of authentic initiation.
In summation, modern mystics are engaged in intensive, personal quests for spirituality, meaning, and transcendence. Although most tend not to be affiliated with organized religions, most profess beliefs in some form of supernatural god-like being or consciousness, and Jesus of Nazareth is regarded as a spirit teacher of great power, whether or not the spiritual seeker is psychologically Christian.
The members of this growing social movement are searching for ways to organize their lives in a personally more satisfying manner. Paul Ray’s study suggests that we should take hope, for we are traveling in the company of an enormous number of allies who are everywhere, in every community, and at every level of society, revealing that this steadily-escalating social phenomenon has all the appearances of a spiritual revolution.
Let the media, the politicians, the multinational corporations, and the social analysts take heed. The sheer number of people involved suggests that the modern mystical movement, of which the so-called New Age is a part, is not a fad. Rather, a true Transformational Community is emerging, one whose beliefs, values and trends are already in the process of shifting the cultural norms of Western Society.
The majority believe that the individuals involved in this movement are the ‘seed people’ who may determine the shape of the world’s spiritual orientation and practice for much of the next 2000 years. If true, the history of the planet will be profoundly and inescapably changed by the spiritual resurgence going on in the Western world. The results will be felt at every level of society, in every country, and will, by association, determine much of the politics and individual lifeways of the 21st Century.
Copyright Hank Wesselman, 2002.

Stones

Stability: Stones are very stable. I would like my stones to bring Stability into my life.

Patience: Stones are very Patient. I would like my stones to bring Patience into my life.

Wisdom: Stones are very wise. I would like my stones to bring
Wisdom into my life.

Contentment: Stones are very content. I would like my stones to bring Contentment into my life.

Positivity: Stones are very positive. I would like my stones to bring Positivity into my life.

Strength: Stones are very strong. I would like my stones to bring Strength into my life.

Uniqueness: Stones are very unique. I would like my stones to enhance my Uniqueness.

Connectivity: Stones are very connected. I would like my stones to bring more Connectedness into my life.

Respect: Stones are very respectable. I would like my stones to bring more respect into my life.

Awareness: Stones are very aware. I would like my stones to bring more Awareness into my life.

Focus: Stones are very focused. I would like my stones to bring more focus into my life.

Truthfulness: Stones are very true. I would like my stones to bring truth into my life.

Mindfulness: Stones are very mindful. I would like my stones to bring more Mindfulness into my life.

Adaptablitly: Stones are very adaptable. I would like my stones to bring more Adaptability into my life.

My cover letter

This was written by me on 4/11/2006 and was intended to be a cover letter for a job I was applying for...
Leading others and helping them to succeed in reaching their potential has always been a trait which came naturally to me. I enjoy teaching people who desire to learn what knowledge I possess. I've had experience both in training fellow employees and motivating groups of individuals toward a common goal. I find it challenging yet very rewarding when I can take a person who may not have the confidence to take on a particular task or role and help mold and shape their belief system so that they feel like nothing is too great a challenge for them anymore. If they can follow a few fairly simple instructions and/or advice without personalizing the constructive criticism that inevitably goes along with the learning process, then 'managing' their production at work becomes relatively hassle free.
When a manager is open-minded, respectful and diligent in his/her ways, it creates an environment that fosters openness and communication; two of the essential ingredients required to run an effective business. My role as a manager/trainer is not simply to "manage" their work behavior and production. It extends beyond the relative simplicity of those tasks to one of challenging the individual to excel at identifying and solving problems, proactively anticipating the needs of the customer or client, and working in harmony with others in their department to creatively come up with new solutions and innovative ideas. It would be important for me, as their manager and leader, to foster the type of work environment where these actions are routinely practiced and where enthusiasm plays a role in everyone's job, regardless of how menial or trite that job may seem to be.
In looking over my resume I realize that an employer would question the fact that I have not listed any previous retail experience. It's not entirely true as I have worked in retail but it was many years ago and I didn't want to have a resume more than one page long. In my defense, I worked: as a clerk at 7-11 immediately after graduating high school; for an auction company and dealt with many different people in a variety of situations; as a salesman (both inside and outside sales); as an assistant manager of an Italian restaurant during my time at Chico State as well as an on-campus mail delivery driver. In addition, the customer service skills I've developed in the restaurant business (both as a server and a trainer) have enabled me to have a greater understanding of the desires and needs of a diverse and demanding public. Add to that the skill sets I acquired as a Human Resources Assistant and then Staffing Administrator for a high tech defense company and I feel I am qualified to represent your company in a managerial role.

I sincerely hope this letter helps to explain where I come from and what I believe in. I never profess to have all the answers...but I will often have creative suggestions for ways to improve an existing process or idea if management has an open-door/mind policy in place.

More of my beliefs and my "history"

Beliefs and Ideals…by Scott Valkenaar…on 11/20/08

I believe that everything is connected in an intrinsic manner--Ecosystems and environments need to be respected and nurtured in order to thrive and flourish. I feel that the past of human civilization is littered with the greed and excesses of the male testosterone- led EGO which has caused an overwhelming amount of unnecessary pain and suffering to the vast majority of the World's population. I believe the current economic model of "success" and "progress" is grossly outdated, ill-conceived, and unattainable. The affliction of obtaining affluence at any cost sends a dangerous message which threatens our very existence as a species. Relying on Peak Oil will not and cannot sustain us for very much longer...Sustainability throughout all systems must be advocated and promoted by all nations around the world in order to reverse the current trends which inevitably lead too ruin on all levels.

Living ecologically, respecting the environment and all entities under the sun, and co-creating a sustainable society where permaculture, vermicomposting, and organic methods of agriculture are promoted, practiced, and positively preached to as many people as possible in a pro-active manner is what my vision of the future is about. The Happy Brigade is one such organization that resonates with these beliefs of mine.

I have always been one to question "the way things are" as well as the so-called authority figures who created and helped to sustain the status quo which all too often made little or no sense to me. I have never heard a valid and logical reason for "going to war" and have always felt that logical discourse combined with transparent policies based on factual truths could diffuse any disagreements among divided individuals or nation states. My eyes were "opened" in 1990 with a few enlightened professors from Chico State Universities Political Science department discussing the state of the world and how we got to where we were at that time. Since that time, I've firmly believed that the vast majority of Governments around the world were primarily interested in securing and consolidating power into the few hands of the rich and powerful who occupied the seats of law making--effectively ensuring the continuation of the status quo to the detriment of the citizenry.
I'm an avid reader and I've focused much of my interest in things that are not mainstream; i.e.--Natural and homeopathic remedies as opposed to western AMA sponsored medicine which focuses primarily on treating the symptoms through a steady diet of pharmaceutical drugs most of which are not effective and actually cause other medical problems; suspicion of most of the worlds western religions which also promote the status quo and quell the individuals' desire to think freely and explore the psyche; Shamanism, meditation, and environmentalism have also been areas of interest.

In addition to what I've explained above, I have other ideologies which are quite anathema to the current thinking of many in our society. I believe that borders between countries are unnecessary and actually promote competition, jealousy, and greed amongst both it's leaders and much of the citizenry; That fear and hatred have no place on our planet--peace and love is what needs to be promoted on a regular basis; That natural plants which can--in moderation--promote the expansion of one's consciousness should be utilized as a method of accelerating the development of our minds towards enlightenment, knowledge, harmony, and acceptance; that reading and writing need to be emphasized and that TV watching and video game playing de-emphasized; That relatively small and sustainable eco-communities develop to replace the inefficient suburb as a model of development; That the utilization of solar, wind, and agriculturally derived alcohol be the main sources of energy replacing the nonrenewable and rapidly depleting fossil fuel reliance that has dominated industrial societies for the last 100 years; That universal healthcare primarily focused upon the use of natural, herbal remedies designed to prevent illness and increase vitality--utilizing Western trained surgeons for only major problems when all alternative resources have been exhausted; And finally, that humans strive to live cooperatively, lessoning the influence of the greedy ego and increasing the spiritual awareness of our connectedness with one another.

Letter to the Editor of local paper

This was written in March of 2008 to the Gilroy Dispatch, the local newspaper--it was never printed/published....
I wanted to comment on the current political environment that has far too many people living in fear and unnecessary anxiety due to a planned agenda set forth by our current administration residing in Washington. Ben Anderson’s recent column about a “missing” woman addresses this subject a bit but I feel more information is needed at this time.
Apparently, in this day and age of over-hyped terror and fear permeating our every thought and action, the “disappearance” was labeled and treated as if a crime had occurred by the local Sheriff’s department. Does Sheriff Hill feel vindication will only come if an arrest is made? If any resources are spent by his department investigating a citizen’s concern does that automatically mean there has to be a ‘victim’ and hence a ‘suspect/criminal’ as well? Isn’t this the general idea of our Criminal Justice System? The pressure is always on to ‘recoup’ the expenses necessary to operate their rudderless, mislabeled ‘rehabilitation’ system while maintaining the draconian methods that perpetuate many of the problems existing today.
I read somewhere that law enforcements’ general code was to “serve and protect”. I also thought the President’s goal was essentially the same: unfortunately both institutions have been severely compromised by the current stream of negative and vindictive fear-based statements spilling out of the White House for the last six years. These tactics of filling the headlines with diversionary diatribe in order to suppress the cautionary statements made by intelligent and concerned citizens and agencies have ruefully disrupted major portions of our so-called Democratic way of life. What used to be taken for granted is now treated as suspicious and even, dare I say undemocratic activity. Is it so wrong for someone to speak out against injustice? Whether or not that injustice is performed by your own government or another individual it is more of a crime to remain silent and do nothing than to strive to correct, instruct, inform and work to change the problem.
Unfortunately, 9/11 was systematically created as the ultimate diversion and hence the resulting smokescreen proved thick enough to suppress even the most liberal politicians’ cry for logic, forethought and reasoning in the subsequent months and years that have followed. This same attitude of ‘act first, think later’ has permeated the thought process of many local governments as well. The major difference between the two levels is that the Neo-cons running the Big picture have a One-World Order envisioned and almost every step they take involves cold-hearted calculation (except for exit strategies—but I think that was by design as well…) while at the local level, the reaction is actually reactionary but still guided and condoned by the White House Hypocrites.
Which brings me full-circle back to my original point of contention: I fully support and endorse Mr. Anderson’s assessment of our failure, as citizens, to question why we are allowing our liberties and freedoms to be stricken away by those elected to carry out our best’ interests.

Some of my Beliefs

This was written on Wednesday, June 1, 2005 3:54 AM as an email to my friends and family:

Extraordinarily silly and somewhat sensitive I can overwhelm you with my passion and zest for life! I’m addicted to happiness and exploring new things. The time is now; live for each and every moment and cherish the Sun—especially when it’s rising and setting—for it’s heat and light is sustainable energy for us all. Enjoy the life you have!! It’s important to not have too many goals—for in the constant daily struggle to attain them one often sacrifices their freedom to just have fun and enjoy themselves. Too often are people consumed with the passionate desire to accumulate material wealth (junk?) that they forgot how to slow down, relax a bit and simply smell a few roses from time to time. Life is meant to be an adventure: peaks and valleys will be experienced by all throughout the journey but the true measure of happiness will be found in your life-mate, your family and your many friends you make along your winding path. --- Always question critically the policies and subsequent resulting actions of your political leaders. Make them accountable to the people they represent and demand that they always provide full disclosure of all their political, environmental, social, financial, and, especially, their military activities. ---
Freedom To Speak Freely--- Say whatever you will whenever you want to so long as its intent is not inciting imminent violence. --- Protect all creatures from unnecessary pain and suffering. ---
Work together with other politically and economically oppressed inhabitants of our ONLY planet and help free all from the militarily enforced choke chains that have ensnared the general populace. The time has come, my people, to start an ®evolution of sorts: The intellectuals who know the truth and possess the enlightened wisdom of reasoned thought have given us a fairly short window of time to change our overtly destructive and disastrous environmental (non) policy that currently prevails on all continents and which threatens the very survival of every living being on it. The amount of time available to us to continue our excessively wasteful lifestyles is approaching it’s zenith. ---
It’s becoming quite evident that too many of our elected leaders have scrambled their ideals of fairness and righteousness for the instant satisfaction and gratification of The Mighty Buck. This type of self-righteousness and gross misconduct has got to go! The time to begin the serious questioning has already passed long ago. But until All our Bill of Rights and ‘God-given freedoms’ have been stripped from us through the ‘convenient’ use of the anti-terrorist Patriot Act, we need to do all we can to contain the disease of secrecy that has been unleashed upon our lands. ---
Why do we continually elect into office career politicians who gratefully accept ‘kickbacks’ (bribes!) from wealthy corporate representatives (lobbyists) who are constantly trying to buy enough votes so that the desecration of the Earth’s resources will continue to deplete at an alarmingly fast rate? ---- Why is our foreign policy based upon hate and fear, suspicion and greed, revenge and torture? ----- Where is it written that the optimal way to rule a nation state is through the unwarranted use of military force in order to maintain the ineffective and highly inefficient status quo that benefits the very few rich and powerful families? ----- Why does our media allow itself to be biased and one-sided? Why are their so few of us out here who recognize what is happening to our planet (and to our continued existence on it) and realize that drastic and immediate changes are required if we are to be allowed to live on it much longer. ---- == === +++
The first steps to be taken have to include a fresh new political party which has no strings attached to it by the entrenched stalwarts and thereby could enact sweeping policy changes across all areas and levels of government. The ancient policies of Greed, Fear, and Hatred would immediately be replaced by those promoting the spread of Love, Caring and Compassion for all living things. The lack of understanding and trust between many various leaders and factions has caused an inordinate amount of needless pain and suffering to billions of people around the globe. ---------------
The simple act of recognizing that we are all related to each other as well as to every living thing on this Planet Earth will lay the ‘mental’ foundation for the multitude of changes that must occur as soon as possible. The amassment of material goods produced by utilizing non-renewable resources CANNOT continue to be the end-all goal of every Western culture. It should not be difficult for even the most uneducated persons to realize that Mans’ actions are dramatically challenging the Planet’s ability to maintain its natural state. We are burning the proverbial candle at both ends without regard for the environmental consequences that must surely be dealt with in the near future. -----------------
Is the very idea of—wait!-or even the very WORD of—“Peace” so foreign a concept to our current leadership in Washington that they just can’t afford to ‘give it a chance’? Why not?!? Is it because their profit margin will not be so grand? Or perhaps they fear being held accountable for EVERY action they commit and support and sign into law...? Not sure about the rest of you out there—heck-I’m not so sure too many of you even got this far (congrats to those who have :~) )--- but isn’t our tax dollars to be spent on the good of the nation and it’s citizens?!? I leave you with that little mouthful of my many opinions. I hope you can help me make this world a better place for you and me and, especially, for Her: Mother Earth.

2005 letter to my Brother and Father

This was written by me on Saturday, August 6, 2005 12:48 PM and addressed to my Father and Brother...
Many changes are taking place within me, around me, and obviously, in this world in which we live. I'm searching for my path, my way, my life's work or the meaning thereof--difficult to pinpoint exactly but my mind is maturing very rapidly (as opposed to the near vegetative state it was in for over a decade) and many things are becoming clear to me. The 'Being' who is through us all and part of everything is communicating information to me that I can no longer keep to myself.
The human race is being led down a path of destruction and immediate and eminent charges are needed. I hope you do realize that our current Government leaders are not serving our best interests...rather they serve themselves and the crooked cronies who spent millions to get them elected. I'm no Democrat either but deep down I know that our present policies are destroying the planet and its' environment and creating fear and terror across the globe. I hope you and your circle of friends, family and co-workers are not asleep to this imposing threat.
If prayer is a viable means of creating lasting and sustainable change to the betterment of all mankind, then please use it wholeheartedly to institute a shift of Paradigms to the current 'Western World' way of thinking and operating. This Crisis will only be alleviated by the collective will of the common folk--think thoughtfully, demand transparency from your elected representatives, and vocalize your demands for an alternative way of life: one without bigotry, racism, fear, terror, anger, resentment, and the useless taking of innocent lives. Why has everyone forgot their History of the World? Or should I be asking: What were people being taught back in their history classes? For, if the truth be told, the answers to combating "terrorism" are already there; unfortunately the Republican Propaganda Machine has blurred the facts so discrimanately that the "average" American has no idea what is really going on anymore (hmmm--or did they ever?!?)
I tell you this Brother for I am not afraid to speak the truth: --The Emperor wears no clothes-- That is, The powers that be (He who controls the wealth and military of this great nation) will stop at nothing to ensure that the Neo-conservative agenda is fullfilled. I already know that I am a target--well perhaps not a "target" yet, but I am being 'monitored' and my knowledge worries those that have much to hide. I am striving for peace and enlightenment while my Government preaches War and secrecy. I feel I have a role to play in the shift of consciousness of the peoples of the planet. This "Awakening" is slowly taking place but there is an immense struggle occuring that threatens to bog down it's progress. Awareness of the complete truth is needed and is necessary for those desiring enlightenment as well as a change in how we live our lives. Tell me where the Constitution says we have to always be engaged in some war or military entanglement somewhere around the globe? Where does it say that those with the biggest guns get to make all the rules? And where does the Bible say that all "good" men must worship God? Or that to be a leader in America you must be a "god-fearing" Christian?
I speak to you with an open-mind and heart. I hope you can sense my sincerity and love as I wrote this letter to you.
Always in search of the TRUTH,

My Reasons for creating this BLOG

Greetings all!
My name is Scott and I live in Gilroy with my wife and two small chihuahua's. I'm currently unemployed and have been for some time now. While that obviously has it's drawbacks, it also has enabled me to spend quite a bit of time reading, listening and learning about life in general. I'm going to go through some of my old writings and post them here to begin with. I will include the dates (if available) so that a chronological timeline can somewhat be followed. So without further ado--I will begin my postings.....