Blogs

If We Are in the Matrix Who Controls Us? The Truth May Be Surprising

http://youtu.be/4JVZR9DH0oQ
Uploaded on 9 Feb 2011

( http://19justinbrown88.yolasite.com/j... ) Morpheus told Neo that he was a slave. A slave to whom? The matrix. Now, what exactly is this matrix and who runs it? Did the movie The Matrix give us clues about our own world and how it works? Or, was it just entertainment and fiction?

Pictures of the Week

Roaring past in front of a wall of fire, the Tinstix of Dynamite team perform at the Melbourne International Airshow. The team mix dramatic flying techniques with fire displays to put on a stunning show (Alex Coppel / Newspix / Rex Features)

Tang Yuan, an Alaskan Malamute dog, is only 38 days old - but weighs a hefty 20kg. Nicknamed 'Fluffy Rice Ball' the adorable animal is well insulated against the cold and snow in Songyuan, north-east China's Liaoning Province. Owner Wang Xian says he doesn't feed Tang Yuan too much - his pet just happens to grow very quickly. "A lot of people said I abused the dog for making it so fat, but its fluffy hair makes it look big." (HAP/Quirky China

The driver of this car smashed into the Sevenoaks branch of Specsavers making the message of the company's advert - "Should've gone to Specsavers" - all the more poignant. Although the branch was open at the time luckily no one was hurt. An ominous looking red liquid seeping out from under the vehicle was reported to be brake fluid or coolant (Ben Bridges/Rex Features)

Prince Harry engages with a partially sighted child at St Bernadette's Centre for the blind in Lesotho. The centre is supported by his charity Sentebale and was founded by Prince Harry and Prince Seeiso of Lesotho. It helps vulnerable children in Lesotho get the support they need to lead healthy and productive lives. Prince Harry was in Lesotho for the first time since 2010 to inspect the work of his charity and raise funds for a new project (Photo by Chris Jackson/Getty Images)

Dutch company Mars One plans to start a colony on the Red Planet in 2023. The firm already has 8,000 emails from more than 100 countries volunteering for the programme. The eventual goal of the company is a colony of 80,000 people at the cost of a mere $36billion (£16bn)

Aesha Mohammadzai was 18 years old when her husband cut off her nose and ears as punishment for running away from his family's abuse. The Afghan fled to America and her mutilated face was the memorable cover of 'Time' magazine in 2010. The image shocked the world and brought to light the abuse suffered by Afghan women. Aesha has since successfully completed reconstruction surgery and lives with an adopted family in America. The 23 year-old has urged women who suffer from abuse to: "Never give up and don’t lose hope" (Dan Martland/ITV)

Australian entrepreneur Clive Palmer has unveiled ambitious plans to build a replica of the Titanic and repeat the route the doomed liner took when it sank in 1912. Mr Palmer said 40,000 people had already registered interest in tickets for the maiden voyage of 'Titanic II'. He is funding the project entirely on his own, but insists the near-identical replica will be a 'ship of dreams' and a 'blockbuster' (Blue Star Line/Reuters)

Sorry, this looks like who? This waxwork, apparently of football legend Pele, is one of many celebrity 'lookalikes' up for auction at David Lay Auctions in Penzance, Cornwall. A collection of life-size lookalikes are going under the hammer in March. Although they used to take pride of place in Madame Tussauds, London, the waxworks bear only a slight resemblances to their real-life counterparts and are now seen as novelty items (SWNS)

WHAT MAKES AN INDIAN CHIEF?

Indian in the machine

“Ask any AFN chief what he or she would do without a pay cheque from Ottawa.” – Kevin Annett
When I read these words from Kevin, I do wonder… so many natives bitch about their chiefs but how do actually support their leaders either mentally, emotionally, spiritually or physically… or with a ham sandwich? And how many actually deserve support or are simply puppet managers of the system that regularly churns out crimes against humanity for breakfast? And so all too often, we are left with chiefs who become puppets of the system… the problem with indian country is that the indian act is just that…. an act… too many people are living off the cheques of their oppressors and thus have little credibility or creativity and don’t really lead at all… but it’s not the money or where it comes from that’s the problem, it’s that there’s often little vision of an alternative reality that is #1…. inspired by our Creator God, and then #2…supported and shared with heart and action by those who are

being led. No money is ever ‘dirty money’ if your intentions and willingness to do good,

honour the rest of us.

Idle no more, while I love that people are coming together, it is merely a baby step… you cannot change anything by simply protesting against it, you must offer the alternative… and so I say these words to support any native person or otherwise, who can offer the alternative, and who is able to support true leadership or be a true leader, not just the professional leaders and intellectuals… who are approved by corporations and government. I had raised the issue of ET visitation at a few FSIN meetings, but they didn’t want to talk about anything more than money and problems.. and thus, no alternative is ever sought (while our ET family fly above us waiting for a COLLECTIVE heartfelt invitation to land)… we are left with managers of the crime scene. While Kevin’s words are more biting than my comfort level (http://kevinannett.com/), I appreciate his courage and ability to lead and speak truth, even if he’s hurting as much, or more than those natives or church he is critical of.

He has my support, love and gratitude… True power is compassion…can we recognize our own hurt and even ‘the truth’, in another’s biting words? If so, that’s the compassion within us… compassion for others is an essential component of self-love. Do those who want to be led, honour themselves, and contribute their own unique gifts to their chosen leaders? Is there a “Ghandi” out there in indian country? Is there a unique soul with heart ignited, with a mission to lead indian country out of the abyss? If so, step forward, introduce yourself to me, and I will gladly with heart, support you, and introduce you to my friends all over the globe (and off-world hehe). Natives and non-natives with money and equity… are you out there building equity, or do you financially support your leaders?

Look at the jews for an example of a people who financially and mentally support each other (even if it’s not for the greater good). I’ve said it before and I’ll say it again… true tradition is not imitating our ancestors or anyone else, or repeating the past…. true tradition is living in spirit right now… in action… as original infinite beings… Aho!… There’s no need for the cattle mentality that has become the new standard…our greatest collective strength is that the originality of each soul is celebrated, honoured and supported. Each soul is not aboriginal…. is soul is original… keep shining your beautiful inspired Light, no matter what your skin colour or ancestry… your greatest gift to the world and self, is to remember who you are…. a being of infinite potential and love, part of a large multiuniversal family . – Indian in the machine http://indianinthemachine.wordpress.com/

http://indianinthemachine.wordpress.com/2013/03/02/what-makes-an-indian-chief/

More from the "Now" book , pp72-84, Alfred Aiken from Crystaqueous

February 9

Angel Emanation in the Dream

The terms: “Starting with Reality”, or “Beholding Truth, you discover…”, etc., etc., directed at so-called humans performing on the earth stage, can—in the following theme—be considered to have but one meaning only—namely, as indicative of stage one role termination or mind ascension, wherein the mind-human is dropped altogether, and Divine Mind Alone remains in its stead. For of a Truth, impossible it is that a so-called animated earth-mind ever emerge, evolve, or become the Sole Mind that Is, that is, the All-knowing Mind of God, Infinity.

Below are profound sequential excerpts from the book NOW, by Alfred Aiken.

As a human, our religious concept is apt to be in accord with the general opinion of deity, a god out somewhere in the great beyond. Many feel that this god whom they profess to love, and who purportedly loves them, is so very far away that even though they pray, there is little expectation that he will hear them. Looking out upon their world there is even less evidence that he hears the cry of the other countless millions!

How about the untold generations who have gone before—did they not also pray to theology’s god—and did not every one of them go down into the pit, dying the way most people do, in the pain and suffering of disease, old age, disaster?

Judging as a human, from the evidence of our educated senses, is evil any less rampant today than it was yesterday? Is not disease still taking its perfect toll? Are not hate and war as prolific, and is not death as certain in this century as it has been in the days gone by? If this is so, of what use then is prayer? If one prays merely because he has been trained to do so, why should he expect an answer?

Is it logical to believe that any of us can truly love and absolutely respect a god who permits evil to coexist with him, exert the lion’s share of influence, corrupt and deprave his servants and leave us practically on our own with only faith and hope as weapons?

Dear Reader, do not let this picture of negation, this picture of humanity and its unreasonable reasoning from effect to so-called cause, alarm, annoy, disturb or confuse you. From the vantage point of Truth, behold it if you can. You will discover it is not existent. In Truth, ask your Sole Self, your Infinite Intelligence if God the Almighty, the Omnipresent All-Good, All-Loving, Pure, Undefiled, Adorable One includes any human nonsense. Can Truth admit or permit such contradiction, such inconsistency within Infinite Conscious Awareness?

If the Truth of your Sole Identity is not clear to you, then for the moment put yourself in the place of God (pretend for the moment you are God, for clarity’s sake). As God, just what manner of God would you be? Remember, as God, you are Infinite Intelligence Itself! You are Almighty! Now, as God, the Alone All of all, Absolutely Pure, Whole, hence unable to even imagine any impurity, alienness, otherness, unholiness, would you look upon mortality, upon that which denies you entirely?

Would you, could you as God, behold turmoil, havoc, confusion, bickering, greed, lack, limitation, fear, disease, insanity, death? AS the Sole Conceiver of all things, would you wonder how evil, that which you did not conceive, that which calls you a liar and is opposed to all you are, came about? Could you acknowledge evil in any possible way? Would you be forced to question what you could do to it, or against it?

Could you, as The Alone Infinite One, The All of all accept something in addition to your Self; a creation of mortals who, for continuity and self preservation depend upon your absence; a race that is basically, and of necessity opposed to you being The-Alone-One-Without-Another?

Could you as the Infinite All-inclusive Entirety, accept, know or behold the existence of a sinning, erring, backsliding, fallen, fighting lot of animality; of material man, or human beings? Could this Infinite True Awareness admit another power or influence called cause and effect, resulting in birth and death, duality in all things, hell and the grave?

Could you, the Alone All, Absolute Truth, Omnipresent Life know of something you did not conceive; something beside, something contrary to your Allness? Could or would you listen to this something, this “mist”-produced race crying out in its misery? Could you intercede now and then, occasionally manifest your Presence exhibit your Power (which is no longer Almighty, seeing that you are not now the Sole One) or arrange that this purported creation (which, by the way, Satan credits to you) be chastised, whipped into obedience, humbled by suffering, and ultimately punished for its infractions of your rules by burning in hell for eternity? Can God know aught of evil’s fabled production, and yet be the Sole Entirety of Existence, the Total, the Only Substance, Mind, Intelligence, the Conceiver of the whole universe and all that is therein?

If then, you as Infinite Intelligence cannot conceive such a travesty, such inconsistency, such duality, is it possible for Infinite Love, Unadulterated, Uncontaminated Purity to do so? Or do you consider that as a human being you could, and would do a better job than God, provided you had His power and intelligent ability?

If you, at present assuming yourself to still be somewhat human, cannot imagine making such a mess of the world, can you in all fairness accuse Infinite God of being less loving, just, upright and intelligent? Before you judge God you should turn to Truth that you might know what God is, what He is doing, how and why. In Biblical language, if you, assuming yourself to be human (evil) know how t give good gifts to yourself and your world, how much more does Absolute Perfect Infinite Intelligence know how and where to enjoy All-Good!

My friend, let me urge you strongly to investigate with open awareness what manner of God Infinite Intelligence is. Do not sell God short. Do not judge Truth until you behold Its nature. Do not assume Life has made mistakes, is subject to the dictates of evil, is born or can die. Fully inquire of Soul what It knows and why. Do not pass sentence on Love until you are sure you behold Love as It is in Truth.

Do not listen to any teaching, no matter how time-honored, or by whom it is held in reverence, without turning to Life Itself to see if this teaching gives The Alone One Presence, The I-That-I-Am all the honor, glory, power, intelligence and action that belongs to Him.

As your foundation for daily living, do not trust, adhere to, or use that which demands, as your first step, the robbing of God, the discrediting of Truth, the repudiation of Life, the dishonoring of Spirit, the disparagement of Awareness, the adulteration of Love, the betrayal of Self. Every form of education based upon duality, upon a division, a fall, a separation or departure from the Perfection of Omnipresence, is error. Every teaching that includes the existence of evil in its thesis, includes devils, Satan, a something opposed to The One Alone Intelligence, Truth, is fraught with disaster for it is absolutely false throughout. Every concept predicated on cause and effect is doomed to ultimate exposure as a fraud.

No, Dear Reader, God knows nothing of this “mist”, creation, the talking serpent, the Adam curse, a present day humanity with its multiplied troubles. God is present tense only, and as Omnipresence He is not creating a creation, conceiving man, or producing aught that can. God does not hear humanity’s cry because where God is all there is no humanity. Consciousness knows nothing of man; does not chastise or even include the human animal within Mind.

Does this pronouncement dismay you? Do not let your heart be troubled. Pointing out the folly of Satan, the invalidity of evil, the impossibility of disease, disaster and decay does not leave you helpless or hopeless. Truth precludes the possibility of the “mist,” its evil, its devil, its god, its creation and victim. You are not being robbed, not being deprived in any way. In Truth you cannot know or experience privation of any Good.

Never assume that Intelligence is saying to Its I-Am-Identity, this I-Identity reading these words, that this universe in not Real, or that Mind knows nothing of this wonderful world which in which I joy.

The Infinite Individual, God, being Individually Infinite as this I-that-I-am, conceives, knows and forever includes all there is of this earth, this galaxy, this universe. Everything that exists is within this Individual Conscious Awareness; is perfect as the Consciousness in which it has form; is subject to this Consciousness only, hence is safe and secure for Eternity.

God can know nothing more intimately than He does this I-Am-Identity, because it is God Himself being Infinitely Intelligent; Life being Individually Alive; Mind being Individually, All-inclusively Conscious; Soul being Total Action, All-sensible, Absolutely Cognizant of utter Perfection, Pure Beauty, nrestricted and Undimensinal Immensity, Reality, Self-being. This is the I that I am, now and in all ways. Can I ask more? I can never be less. And nowhere throughout my I-Identity can I find either cause or effect, evil, Satan, duality, creation, a fall or the demand to rise again. A “time” in which atonement is either feasible or possible.

What to the mistaken, the dull and befuddled so-called human sense is an objective creation of matter, to Spirit’s Perception is a form of Reality conceived in and by Omnipresent Mind. In this Light you behold that your I-Identity, instead of being “man,” encased in a temporal body, ids Spirit being Infinitely Individual, including the idea-body. How does this I-that-I-am appear to Mind? Perfect, Whole, Complete. As whom? God Himself only. There is no other One to see, to know, to be. God is the Alone Infinite One. Hence there can be none beside.

While this may seem hard to grasp, it is inevitable, for it is Truth. As you behold the universe from (and as) Truth’s view-point (and there is no other Legitimate, Genuine viewpoint) the nature of things will be clear. In that very moment you will see that indeed you have laid up treasures “where neither moth doth corrupt, and where thieves do not break through nor steal.” Only then can you see why you do not have to “take thought for your life, what ye shall eat, or what ye shall drink: nor yet for your body, what ye shall put on… Consider the lilies of the field, how they grow; they toil not, neither do they spin; yet I say unto you, that even Solomon in all his glory was not arrayed like one of these… shall he (God, Mind, Self) not much more clothe you?”

Only in God’s Way can you discover that you, inclusive of all things, are safe and secure; that your universe, this very one right here, this very body right here is not subject to wars or the ravages of war, disease, time and appetite.

Should aught seem wrong with my universe, or with my body, this one I am most accustomed to use, what will result from turning to the Allness of God, you may demand? Must I not “do” something to rid myself of the cause of this troublesome condition, this disease? How can I stop my suffering? What of my amputated limb, my disordered organs, my high temperature? What of my problem—what will happen to me while I am striving to contact Infinite Mind?

To attempt to answer these questions on the human level is folly. Only he who turns wholly to God, hence wholly away from his trouble, knows the answer. To such, the arguments of cause and effect are as insubstantial, as powerless to hold one in bondage to a fabled Satan and his nefarious works, as the tale concerning our moon being comprised of green cheese!

By turning completely to Truth one discovers that Life Alone is present. This Life is all there is anywhere, everywhere. There is no other state, no other condition existent. This Infinite Love being All, in Total Operation everywhere, precludes the possibility of another mind, conception, identity, feeling, awareness or sense.. It leaves nothing but Good, present in all Its perfection, beauty, action, being. It leaves nothing evil, nothing to and nothing for evil, nothing lacking, nothing diseased.

Omnipresence leaves no disaster, no corruption, no evil one, no one evil or the victim of evil. Soul being All excludes cause, for there is nothing left to cause, and no effect therefrom. As there is no cause, there can be nothing caused, contrary or opposite, nothing opposed to Infinite Good.

Beholding Truth, you discover that Spirit is the Entirety of Being, of every form, the whole Substance of all Existence, and there is not an additional mote of mind beside. This leaves no evil mentality to claim it is personally present, or that it can think, plan, know, execute, produce results, manufacture discord, or bring forth after its kind.

In the Light of Truth one finds that the scales immediately fall from his vision. With his very own Infinite Perception he sees his universe, body and all things as they are, forms of Spirit, ideas in Mind, perfect, enduring, affluent and absolutely satisfying in their undimensional availability forever. He sees that every idea is as perfect as the Consciousness of which, and in which it is composed—that this Substance is God, uncontaminated pure Love, Intelligent Awareness.

Where, to the seeming confused Adam sense, everything looked limited, disordered, diseased, imperfect, and unsatisfying, they now appear as they Really are—whole, perfect, divine, conceived or formed in, by, and of Spirit only.

However, remember that while all is Spirit, Consciousness, and in Spirit, Consciousness, God is not in any (earth dream prop) thing! While Conscious Awareness is all there is of the conception- (dream) body, organ, limb, still Awareness is not in the idea-body-thing. The conceptions are but Mind-forms.

They are n

Ever Consciousness, hence never conscious; never the Conceiver, or the (Actual Reality) Substance which is responsible for their formation or form. All (Dream) things are in Intelligence, but not one thing is ever intelligent. Only God, the I-that-I-Am, Mind, Spirit is intelligent, knows, is conscious, is Life, Being, Substance!

Beholding Truth as Truth is, means that I behold my Self as I-am. This Truth-view of my Self obliterates any so-called problem. It appears as “healing,” instantaneous freedom, but actually I discover in this Light that I have never been prodigal, never been ill, never been a stranger in the foreign land of evil, of “mist”- begotten gods or devils, and was never their victim.

What appears as “healing” is but that Truth-Awareness that there is nothing present but God, Perfection; that Spirit being Whole throughout, nothing unlike Good can exist; that Truth alone being All that is True excludes the contrary, so there is nothing to be healed, helped, corrected, set right, overcome or escaped from.

Self-awareness is true Salvation, for it leaves no cause, no effect, no human history, no past to flee from, or future to dread; leaves no time whatever; leaves but the Omnipresent I-that-I-am, perfect in

My Allness.

Truth reveals One Being only, that is this I-that-I-am wherein I cannot have a double, a stand-in known as the I-that-I-am-not!

Truth reveals that this very I right here includes the one and only universe. There is no other Life or world, a spiritual heaven or location yet to come, any more than there has been one that was, that left, and that will appear again in some far off future. This very I-Am-Life, consciously alive to being the I-that-I-Am, this moment, is Divine, Perfect now. This is the Truth of Whom-I-Am, and includes the world which I am now enjoying. Whatever, and whoever contradicts this is contradicting Truth, God.

Turning to Truth, nothing, no-thing is omitted. No one is left out. There is no human selfishness in this Awareness. All are included in this Self-knowledge, this Truth-knowing “from the least of them unto the greatest of them” and herein their sin, their sickness, their trouble is remembered “no more.” One cannot know the Self as He is, without including His universe.

One cannot enter heaven, a sense of peace, plenty and a sense of security by storm, by human effort, or by the door of theology, education, petition, or subterfuge. There is but One Way, and that Way reveals that the I-Am of you has never left Its I-Am-Identity, hence never became prodigal. This being Truth, One cannot return, nor does He need to. The I-Am-that-I-Am includes heaven this moment. God is all of all right now. God can never be more than He is, nor can evil be less than it is. God can never improve, evolve, become more perfect than His present Perfection. Evil, “nothing,” can never become less than nothing.

What is seen from Truth’s-Mount-of-Vision may seem too good to be True, if one tries to weigh It on human scales. As the god of the Creeks was a Greek god, the god of the Romans a Roman god, the god of the Jews, a Jewish god, so the god of mortals is a mortal god. To the human, the God of Truth, the Only True God is a liar. The human will resent this statement, nevertheless the god of a human is but an enlarged human—a god of opposites, hate, violence, temper, wrong-doing and repentance, war, jealousy and revenge.

No matter how long the prodigal sense may pretend it can delay True-Identification, My I-Identity remains Whole, Perfect, Unchanging. My I-Am-Self is intact. God, the One, the only true God, Love Divine, is the Whole of My Being, My Sole Life, Consciousness, the Entirety of Me inclusive of My Universe. Why not enjoy this Truth now? What do I accomplish by putting it off till tomorrow? Can I do so, and will tomorrow ever come?

This Truth precludes cause and effect, wars and the effects of war. It excludes evil with its purported curse, its by-products, its ultimate wage of death.

No longer attack form, body, the innocent and helpless victim which appears to be performing the evil, or by means of which evil appears to have legitimacy, movement, reality, personality, identity. Leave evil, its pretended workings and location entirely alone. Turn to Truth only. In Its Light you will behold there never was a cause for Satan, or any Satan to cause aught. There never was or is any effect from evil, that which is never existent.

A “mist” is not a producer, not a cause that

An bring forth products. Only God is… This Conscious Awareness is Genuine and everlasting Security, Safety, Serenity. This is the Constant Assurance that the Kingdom of Heaven is forever at hand, forever within you with all of Its Undimensional Affluence, yours to utterly use and enjoy. One never waits for It. One never has to seek It out. One is Indivisibly One with It. NOW, pp72-84, Alfred Aiken

https://www.facebook.com/cryst.aqueous

The Operating Room of the Future - InSightec - Dr. Kobi Vortman Technion Alumnus

http://youtu.be/IfJemqkby_0

InSightec® is the pioneer and global leader in MR guided Focused Ultrasound Surgery (MRgFUS) . InSightec developed ExAblate, a product which pioneers the use of MRgFUS, and provides a personalized non-invasive treatment that can replace invasive procedures and offer therapeutic alternatives to millions of patients with serious diseases around the globe. Interview with Technion alumni Dr. Kobi Vortman, Founder and President and Baruch Avruch, Vice President of Operations from InSightec. InSightec web site:

www.insightec.com

What are The Akashic Records? Amazing New Information Part 1 About Akashic

http://youtu.be/RX3NsGOklAA

Published on 6 May 2012

ASKTEAL@thespiritualcatalyst.com

Teal's Website - http://www.thespiritualcatalyst.com

Audio of Ask Teal also available on itunes
https://itunes.apple.com/us/album/living-in-the-heart-space/id571366287?i=571...

In this episode of Ask Teal, the topic is: The Akashic Records.

Teal explains that the Akashic records is the human way of understanding that every thought that has ever been thought, exists.

Therefore, one aspect of collective consciousness is a vibrational "record" of every soul and its journey throughout all universes that ever have been before now and all future potentials originating from now. She describes the Akasha as being like a library, where the levels (or floors) of that library in the universe are dimensions. The information in each dimension corresponds to the frequency of that specific dimension. So to access specific information in the Akashic Records, one must first become the same vibration as the dimension which contains that specific information. Teal then explains a bit about what information is contained in each dimension.

animation by Jordan Duchnycz
www.thespiritscience.net

music: Diamond
by Cora Flora
www.coeur-de-fleurs.com

How to Access The Akashic Records, Ask Teal Episode Part 2 Reguarding the

http://youtu.be/_rqjtY3ZL10

This episode of Ask Teal is part 2 of her discussion about Akashic Records.

In the first video, Teal discussed what the Akashic Records are. In this video, she addresses the question of how to access the Akashic Records.

The Akashic Record can be summed up as any thoughts which has been previously thought in the history of this universe or any universe. All of which still exist.

In this episode Teal explains that one does not have to go anywhere to access the Akashic Records because it is not a "place". Instead the way one is able to receive information and have experiences in and of the Akashic Record, is by attuning one's personal frequency to the frequency of the information one wants to know or the thought one wants to experience.

The best way this is done is through deep states of meditation, trance, visualization, or out of body travel. She explains the universal concept of resistance and allowing which is all about energetic frequency and applies directly to someone's success or lack there of with respect to experiencing the Akashic Record. Teal also reminds us that we are all interacting with the Akashic Record all the time.

It's simply not an interaction most of us are consciously aware of.

8 of the Quietest Places on Earth
Katie Waldeck - February 16, 2013

There are fewer and fewer places on our planet that are free from human intrusion. Popular national parks are packed with tourists in the summer. The sound of honking horns and car alarms drowns out bird calls and howling wolves. But there are places so remote that human noise is practically nonexistent. This isn’t to say these places are silent. In fact, nature can be loud when left (relatively) undisturbed. Click through to check out some of your planet’s quietest places.

1. Samboja Lestari, Borneo

For decades, the tropical rain forests of the world’s third largest island were logged at an alarming rate. In the town of Samboja, deforestation, climate change, floods, droughts and fires ravaged this precious ecosystem — it was so bad, that the flora and fauna native to the area were on the brink of extinction. That is until, in 2001, when the Borneo Orangutan Survival Foundation began buying up land in the area and began the process of returning it to its natural state. Though the forest has not been fully restored, it is one of the best places on earth to hear the howl of the native orangutans far away from the noise of logging and farming.

2. Selous Game Reserve, Tanzania
This 21,000 square mile game reserve, one of the largest of its kind in the world, is home to exactly zero permanent human settlements. The Tanzanian government strictly controls all human activity in the reserve, so almost all of the noise that you’ll hear comes strictly from the animals. Elephants, crocodiles, hippopotami, and zebras, just to name a few. On a trip to the area, perhaps the loudest sound you’ll hear is the roar of a lion!
Image Credit: Murky1 via Flickr

3. The Hoh Valley, Washington
Washington’s Olympic Peninsula is home to some of the most undeveloped national park land in the United States. The picturesque beauty of this virgin temperate rain forest, the largest of its kind in North America, is also considered to be the quietest place in the United States. Is it any wonder, then, that it is also one of the largest areas in the continental United States without roads?!

4. Kronostky Nature Reserve, Russia
Thousands of acres protected land and not a road in site. This nature preserve is located in remote Far Eastern Russia — closer to Alaska than it is to Moscow. Save from the 3,000 tourists allowed into the park for 5 hours at a time via a pricey helicopter ride, only scientists are allowed to explore this vast, unique landscape. It’s home to the country’s only geyser basin and Eurasia’s highest active volcano. Though you won’t hear much in the way of human activity, the park is home to incredible animals, including some of the largest brown bears on the planet.

5. The Kalahari Desert, Southern Africa
The vast expanse, over 350,000 square miles, of the Kalahari desert crosses into a whopping six different Southern African nations. But it’s home to very, very few people — in an area that’s considerably larger than the state of Texas, there are only 20,000 people. As one of the most remote places on earth, the Kalahari Desert is also one of the quietest. Better to enjoy the endemic animals like meerkats and the Kalahari lion, of course!

6. Arctic National Wildlife Refuge, Alaska
You’d be hard-pressed to find a place more remote — and more difficult to get to — than the Arctic National Wildlife Refuge in far northeastern Alaska. Nearly twice the size of Massachusetts, there are no roads within or leading to the refuge. Most visitors — all 1,500 of them each year — arrive by aircraft. Though there are a handful of tiny villages, most of the noise comes from the area’s vibrant wildlife: polar bears, caribou, and wolves, just to name a few.

7. Sinharaja Forest Reserve, Sri Lanka
Deforestation has devastated many of the world’s most incredible ecosystems — but not this one. Its remote location means that the dense forest is virgin, and home to an impressive array of endemic wildlife. Limited human activity in the area means that you’re far, far more likely to hear the chorus of tropical birds than the sounds of traffic or construction.

8. The Science Lab: the (Artificially) Quietest Place on Earth
There is silence and then there’s silence. This Minnesota-based laboratory blocks out a whopping 99.99% of all sound. It’s so quiet that you have to sit down, because the sounds you make when you’re moving are blocked out and make it difficult to balance. The longer you’re in there, though, the more you can hear your body’s internal workings: your heart beating, your stomach gurgling, maybe even the sound of your lungs. As cool as that sounds, visitors to this anechoic chamber find it deeply unsettling. In fact, the longest anyone has ever lasted in the chamber was 45 minutes. Your brain begins to hallucinate sounds afteer some time in such utter silence.

PLANETARY ~ SHARED BY REV. CHRISTINE MELERIESSEE

On Sunday, February 10^th we experienced a New Moon which was very interesting as it moved from Capricorn into Aquarius representing being restrictive within ourselves and learning to flow with the energies.  We have been experiencing some very powerful energies which Spirit has been speaking that the time in February will be very parallel to what we experienced in December 2012.  It is a time to fully understand what you are going through, allow the process to happen, and walk into the new way of thinking and feeling.

This can be a very challenging experience for individuals who do not understand how to tap within themselves to awaken into a new perspective of awareness.  Just because an individual ‘wakes up unto their beginning essence’ does not mean that they will understand how to process the feelings and thoughts that are happening in their lives.  This pathway is one riddled with great challenges, but also enhances the best that we are in each moment.

February is going to help us expand further into our own consciousness.  We all come to this Earth for a purpose and some of us have more responsibility than others to help create the new frequencies to be fully grounded.  But one thing is certain; if you are reading this material, you have an important role to fulfill within your existence.  These energies are helping us to be better, to be more confident, loving, and compassionate, and to express it to others.  So instead of worrying what you are feeling in each moment, allow the essence of Grandmother Moon to assist you into the next phase of our awakening.

This New Moon has also brought us more activation(s) within the Angelic realm to be integrated within our Being.  This energy started in January and with each new moon we are being activated to remember more of our Angelic Presence.  What this means is that the angel that We Are is intertwining into the human that we have become.  It is all very exciting as we reach into our angelic essence to remember and acknowledge those timelines that we have forgotten.  We are learning to become the Angelic Beings grounded upon the New Earth.  So if you have been feeling unsteady and unsure of yourself, know that it is changing you deeply.  We may not understand how the process is working or the depth that it is occurring for some time.  Our job is to just expand into these frequencies and allow the newness to settle within our physicality.  Your mind is going to want to try and understand; please know that cannot happen as the Higher Mind is now being fully activated within your physical structure.

As we experience these elements, we may be finding that we will do things in a completely different way than we did before; or we may realize that a part of our-self is now our true reality.  The changes that are happening within each individual are so minuet that it may not be detectable without a fine microscope so just allow the feelings to project within your consciousness and accept your new reality.  It is a wonder of love and grace.

As we expand into this new paradigm of Light, we experience a beautiful day of Love on February 14^th.  If you take the time to truly accept the energy of Love within your Heart coming from your Highest Essence, you will start to acknowledge how deeply you are loved and in so many ways.  Jonathan Parker facilitates a World Sound Healing Day, (http://www.worldsoundhealingday.org/) in which every individual chants the sound of “AH” for five minutes at 12 Noon around the world.  This sound resonates from the Heart of God into each of our own hearts and has been utilized by the Divine Mother & Father God in our transmissions from the Clarion Temple of Oneness.  So take some moments on this day to accept the Love that is being guided through your Angelic Essence into the One Being that You Are.

COSMIC LEVEL ~ UNIFIED WHOLE OF ONENESS, MANY BEINGS OF THE ONE LIGHT CONSCIOUSNESS

Greetings and love on this day.  It is very exciting to share and experience the new paradigm of light that is being acknowledged within the Earth Plane levels and to have each of us expand deeper than we ever thought possible.  We, of the Unified Whole Command, are also within our expansion process just like each of you are doing so it is no mistake that we should celebrate our Light with each other.  We plan to do just that.

This month of February is going to help each of you to understand a deeper part of your expansion with feelings.  As you have gone through the changes and elevated your vibrational levels, you have also had to adjust within the physical reality that is changing for you.  We understand the process of not accepting the conditioning process that you have had to experience through this transition of Light unto the planet.  We applaud you that you continue diligently even though the feelings and thoughts you may be having do not reflect the essence that is expanding within your creation.

As we delve deeper into the core of GAIA, there are many levels of timelines that she has held onto that are affecting each of you greatly.  It is not just your personal timelines that you need to process, but her essence is changing with each step that you make within yourself.  The conditioning factor of this transition is one of great sacrifice and without your diligence we could not have created the opening doorways into the New World.  BUT WE ARE ACHIEVING IT ~ and we want to share with you our excitement that is paramount to what you are experiencing presently.

We know the process you have been undergoing, and understand the challenges that are resulting from each of those intense moments within you.  We also understand that you are receiving wonderful gifts each time you go through another intense doorway of change.  The acceleration that is occurring presently is due to the creation of you wanting to do so, and none of you understand the depth of your ability to continue the walk into your future world.  Actually, what is being achieved presently is having the capability to accept the changes as the information has not surfaced except in small bits and pieces as each new development of your world has been revealed.  But that is about to change and you are going to experience it yourself.  You must remember that it must come in waves of light for you to accept the nuances of your future to become manifest in who you are presently.

Changes are resulting within your world and around you for the explicit reason that IT IS TIME.  The creation of your planet has become stable, whereas, previously it was uncertain of the outcome of Gaia.  But with the transition of more individuals awakening upon the planet, the residual effect of the transmutation has taken GAIA’s world into a new existence where love and acceptance is the common rule and not the lower worlds that have resulted in your experiences of the past.

It is now a time of complete reversal within your world and we are excited to experience it with you.  The changes that are about to occur must first be felt within your Heart as all of our Hearts are blending together.  You see in order for us to make the manifestation of the New World occur we must honestly take a few moments with a breath of light and experience the essence of the Purity of Love to be within.  This is going to take practice because the lower mind forgets and wants to run forward with the thoughts.  It is imperative that during this week to not to allow that to happen.

As you move further into your Acceptance, you will start to feel it.  You see YOU HAVE FORGOTTEN HOW TO EXPRESS IT WITHIN YOU.  You have a body and that body has taken precedence over everything in your world.  But that is no longer the case.  You are learning to accept the light formations that are being transmitted to you in your sleep state, in your meditations, and even your awakened state of consciousness.  It is coming in Light Codes to intertwine within your physical reality.  But you must take a moment and allow this essence to be fully within you as you walk through your days.  Without it, it will be lost and so will you.  This is the power of the light at this time.

Previously we spoke about the Rainbow of Lights that are emanating from the Elders That Surround the Throne of Grace.  They have been continuing to be commanded into each and every soul, but now is the time to understand that you must accept them.  You cannot work without them; they are the commanding energy from the Essence of the Divine Will and Love of God.  You have been created through your physical essence by these commanding light frequencies but that is not All That You Are.  That is the beauty of what is occurring presently.  You are all of these and more and will see the Power, the Love, the Joy, and Expression of ALL THAT IS to be commanded within you.

This week all these frequencies are coming within the planetary level once again on the next phase of Light.  It is assisting everything you know to be and all will change within these essences.  Your world needs it deeply and it cannot change overnight but it is happening within the increments of light formations with each passing planetary exchange of the Sun, the Moon, and all inter-related elements of creation as we come into the Creation of the Oneness.

What does this mean to you presently?  Well, we say to you, “What is it that you do not understand?”  Or let us put it this way, “What is it that you are not seeing within yourself?”  The Rainbows of Light along with the Angelic Transmissions are activating seeds of creation that you previously forgot to help you remember while deflecting the parts of yourself that do not fit your present reality.  Taking some moments and allowing these essences to intertwine within you is going to allow the Acceptance that you have been searching for.  It will help to remove the parts that have been lost, the elements that you need to purge in order to have the full functionality of an ascended being of light.  Mind you, this is just the beginning and it will not occur instantaneously but each of you is going into the depth of your Soul’s Essence to find what you have been looking for.  BUT YOU MUST STOP AND FEEL IT COMING.  Let it flow within you and expand your auric field beyond the frequencies that you never thought you could hold within you.  It may stay for a moment or longer depending upon where you are within your own consciousness.  BUT IT MUST BE IN THE SUPREME LIGHT OF THE PURITY OF YOUR ESSENCE AND NOT WITHIN YOUR PHYSICAL SELF.  It is a gift and it is time for you to receive it.

Expand your consciousness in these moments as you fully accept a new part of your Divinity into your World.  Doing so is going to help the essence of human consciousness to accept itself deeper than ever received upon this planet.  It is the awakening of GAIA and now is the time to fully reflect and enjoy the ecstasy of Oneness Within.

Learning to expand these essences within you daily will help you to acknowledge the deeper parts of yourself.  You will also be able to remove the lower thoughts and feelings that need to be put into the light.  They will arise and utilize these frequencies of your angelic self to turn them into the purest essence you have ever experienced needs to be the defining rule in your life.  But if you choose to stay within them, you shall go deeper into the abyss and pain that you have endured for a very long time.  The Light and the Dark are moving into Oneness but holding onto the Dark will only separate the Light from you as the gap between the two will become wider.  Then there will not be Light and only Darkness which will cause the separation within and then within the world.  But the Light is so strong upon Planet Earth presently that the Light will win but everyone needs to do their internalization of the Self to allow it to happen more quickly.  It will be like a wave as more individuals receive the Light, there will not be anything else, but the LIGHT of GOD.

It is time to understand yourself more deeply than you ever thought you could.  It is not from your physical mind but with a breath of fresh air that the acceptance will enfold within you.  Your lower self will cease to exist but you must allow yourself to surrender within the process of Light.

The choice is yours to fully embrace your Light and Power within God’s Embrace.  We look forward to walking with each of you in the Oneness of Light that we Are.

We are the Unified Whole Command standing amongst each of you in Oneness.

So Mote It Be in the Light That We Are!

©2013 Walking Terra Christa, Rev. Christine Meleriessee & Mike Hayden, Ascension Mastery ~  All Rights Reserved.  No use without prior written permission allowed except for sharing the post in its entirety along with the link to this page; http://walkingterrachrista.com.

Environmental Photographer of the Year:

Stunning photos of relationship between humans and nature

These are just a few of the entries for this year's Environmental Photographer of the Year Award. Amateurs and professional photographers have submitted their images depicting environmental and social issues which sees a wide range of subjects, from waste in Ghana to a beautiful starry night in Namibia. The thought-provoking and beautiful images will be displayed at the Royal Geographical Society from April 10. Exhibition photos were whittled down from 3,000 and the three prizewinners will be announced April 9.

'Hong Kong Hole' by Stuart Chape where Westernised skylines spring up like flowers (Stuart Chape)

'Nuclear Winter' by Zoltan Balogh by Lake Bokod, Hungary. Fishermen's houses are built on stilts above the surface of the water. Smoke rises the Oroszlány Power Plant in the background (Zoltan Balogh)

'Polluted Landscape' by Lu Guang in Holingol City, China. Due to the vast presence of coal mines, meadows are left devastated and no sheep or cattle can survive there. In order to preserve the image of the city, the local government installed 120 sculptures of sheep and cattle on the meadow (Lu Guang)

'Uyuni' by Javier Arcenillas is of the world's largest salt flat in Bolivia. Expanding for 4,086 sq miles, the stunning white desert contains 43% of the world's lithium reserves (Javier Arcenillas)

'Survivors' by GMB Akash in Bangladesh. The decreipt building houses eighty families of sweepers, the lowest in the caste system and regarded as 'untouchables' (GMB Akash)

'GPAction' by Steve Morgan, snapped 180km off the coast of Greenland. A group of international Greenpeace activists climb onto the oil rig with the hope of stopping the drilling in Baffin Bay which is a fragile home to vulnerable wildlife including polar bears and sea whales (Steve Morgan)

'Quiver Trees by Night' taken by Florian Breuer in Namibia shows the unusual trees silhouette against the bright Milky Way (Florian Breuer)

'E-Waste in Ghana' by Kai Löeffelbein. This striking image shows a man with an old computer on his head in the middle of a waste dump. Up to 50m tonnes of toxic electronic waste accumulate annually in the world and many are exported from developed countries to developing nations (Kai Löeffelbein)

'Farmer under the Sun' by Alamsyah Rauf in South Sulawesi, Indonesia. A farmer dries her rice under the hot sun, her head protected by a large hat and scarf (Alamsyah Rauf)

What they don't tell you in the plane safety demo

By George Hobica | Airfarewatchdog – Thu, Jan 31, 2013

Have you ever wondered exactly why airlines dim the lights upon landing, making you grope to find the overhead light just as you were about to finish your Koduko? (Hint: It's not to save electricity.) Or why it's so important to put your own oxygen mask on before helping others? Or what's it like jumping onto a 737's inflatable emergency slide? And just how heavy are those over-wing exit doors?

If you're a bit of an airline nerd like me, then you might have been curious. Or maybe you're the cautious kind, the kind who wants to have every possible advantage the next time there's a "Miracle on the Hudson" or if a lithiumion battery catches fire and you have to deplane in a hurry.

Well, British Airways has just the thing: the BA Flight Safety Awareness Course, a modified version of the same training that flight crews go through after they're hired and then once a year thereafter. Even if you're not the pessimistic or overly cautious type, it's a fascinating way to spend a day in London.

You get to jump down an emergency slide! And if you’ve ever wanted to pull the inflation cord on one of those airplane life vests, this is your chance. You also get to evacuate a cabin filled with smoke (it's the kind used in a theater or rock concert, but it does the trick). You'll practice the fine points of the "brace position." And best of all, you understand why some of those more obscure procedures and safety warnings are part of the flight experience.

Check those life vests

One thing they don't tell you in the typical safety demo: people take those life jackets, located under or between your seat, as souvenirs. It’s a vile and punishable offense, and while airlines do check each seat at the start of every day, a plane could make several trips in a day, during any of which a passenger could steal a life vest.

Not that it may much matter anyway. Only a small fraction of the passengers on US Airways Flight 1549 bothered to grab their life vests when Captain Sullenberger ditched his Airbus A320 into the Hudson River.

Put yours on first

You’ve heard it over and over: put on your own oxygen mask before helping those around you. But the safety demos never tell you why that’s so important. The reason? You might only have 15 or 20 seconds in the event of a cabin decompression, during which all oxygen would be sucked out of the plane (and your lungs), before you’d experience confusion and a euphoric stoned state, at which point you might forget everything you heard during the safety demo (if in fact you even listened, which you probably didn't).

In 30 to 45 seconds you'd probably pass out. So it’s important to act quickly. (I think that if the standard safety announcement explained some of these fine points, people might put down their newspapers.) Andy and Diane, our instructors, also explained what else to expect during a sudden decompression: a burning smell from the oxygen canisters, severe vibration, a rapid descent (typically a drop of 20,000 feet in just 3 or 4 minutes), and an automated announcement telling you what to expect (because, obviously, the crew would have their own masks on and wouldn’t be able to communicate with passengers).

The proper brace position

Some of the finer points of flight safety may seem particularly arcane, but there's a reason for every detail. If you’ve ever bothered, for example, to look at the safety card in the seat back pocket, you may have noticed that the correct brace position is to put your hands on your head, but not in just any slipshod fashion (and definitely not with the fingers locked together). See how the illustration shows one hand over the other? Is that just arbitrary? No as it turns out. Should something fall on you during a crash landing, you want to protect at least one hand (preferably the one you write with) because you’ll need it to unbuckle your seat belt when it’s safe to do so. Your other hand is in that position to provide some protection to your "strong" hand, which will be doing the unbuckling.

Why not fly backward?

And speaking of the brace position, wouldn't it be unnecessary, I asked Andy and Diane, if airlines oriented their seats so that everyone was flying backwards? After all, in the event of a crash landing or controlled emergency landing, there would be no need to assume the brace position if the seats didn't face forward. Isn’t that why flight attendants face backward in their jump seats? People equate rear-facing seats with trains, Andy answered. "We'd be out of business in a week," said Diane.

And why not have three- or four-point harnesses rather than seatbelts, such as those worn by flight attendants, one of my classmates asked? Aren't they safer? You've probably guessed the answer: airlines recommend keeping your seatbelt fastened whenever seated, and no one would want to wear such an uncomfortable contraption during the flight.

"Touch drills" and "muscle memory"

While your pilots are waiting for takeoff, it may surprise you that they're probably doing a safety drill -- what if this or that should go wrong on takeoff, which buttons would we push or steps would we take? So they go through the motions of various procedures, touching and even moving the controls. They call these touch drills, and Andy and Diane suggest that passengers do the same thing just before takeoff, perhaps buckling and unbuckling their seat belts three times. Sounds daft? "It's muscle memory," said Diane. "In an emergency, people panic. They think they're in their cars, and try to release the seatbelt by pushing a button rather than lifting a flap."

Indeed, as the final report of the U.S. National Transportation Safety Board noted following the crash of US Airways flight 405, which landed in the water after takeoff from New York's LaGuardia Airport, "Some passengers tried to move from their seats while their seatbelts were still buckled, and other passengers had difficulty locating and releasing their seatbelt buckles because of disorientation."

Why does red mean go?

And what’s with that escape path lighting along the floor? Why would red lights indicate an exit? Shouldn’t they be green (as in go) instead?

Like taillights along the motorway in a fog, Andy explained, they’re red because they show up better in a smoke-filled cabin. And indeed it's true, as we learned when our "cabin" became a soupy fog.

Those doors are heavy

What about those emergency over-wing exit doors? How heavy are they exactly, and how easy are they to open and toss? Well, we practiced on a Boeing 737. The answer? Even for me, a fairly strapping 6-footer who goes to the gym regularly, they’re pretty heavy (40 pounds to be exact). It’s not just the weight, but maneuvering them while sitting down that's an awkward challenge.

Tip: sit way back in your seat or you’ll hit yourself on the head when the door swings down. Another tip: use your knee to rest the door and then swing it out and throw it on the wing (don’t worry, you won’t be sued for damages). I was surprised that the actual latch mechanism is so easy to engage you can do it with one finger. Even though, according to our instructors, it’s been 27 years since an over-wing exit door has had to be opened on a British Airways plane (other than in this cavernous training hangar, that is), I still feel safer now that I've done it.

The bad news is that half the people (probably more) who I see sitting in those exit rows wouldn’t have the strength to manage the door. Airlines should not sell these seats to anyone merely because they can pay the fee for the extra legroom. But don’t worry if some nut tries to open the doors in flight. They’re impossible to open owing to air pressure being much higher inside the plane than outside.

Perhaps the most macabre little tidbit

Next time you get on a plane, take note of the handles by the door, just inside the plane. What on earth are those for? Well, in a panicked emergency evacuation, when the flight attendants are manning the exit door, passengers, in their mad rush to get off, have a tendency to push them out of the way, sometimes all the way down the slide. The handles are there to make sure that the flight attendants stay on the plane if that's what they need to do.

Why don't airlines tell us all this?

I left the course thinking that more passengers would listen to the pre-flight safety demo if airlines shared some of this insider information before each flight, maybe mixing it up from time to time so that the demo doesn't bore people. On one flight, the demo might include the finer points of opening the over-wing exits. On another flight, more information about why it’s so important to put your oxygen mask on first (and quickly) before helping others. More passengers would probably do what they're told in an emergency if they knew the reasons behind these rules (and time and time again, in emergencies, passengers do not listen, do the wrong thing, and become victims).

Speaking of the whys, just why do airlines dim the cabin lights during nighttime takeoffs and landings? You guessed it: to help adjust your eyes to the dark (either inside a smoke-filled cabin or on a darkened runway). And why do some airlines ask that you keep your shoes on (except high heels, which can tear the slide) when taking off and landing?

Because the runway might be burning hot after you jump down the slide. And while it's doubtful that airlines will ever add these extra details to their pre-flight safety drills, the main thing I left the course with was a better respect for the thought that has gone into airline safety over the years, as each crash and emergency landing contributes to collective knowledge. And I have even more respect for flight attendants who, as we all know, are primarily there for no other reason than our safety.

Dear friends, this is worth a look.

It will take 20 minutes of your time, but a very inspiring movie about the year 2013, full of hope and inspiration

2013 Year of Community - Lee Harris

http://youtu.be/ba8OXPbCoDQ

For a free mp3 download of this message, please visit:
http://leeharrisenergy.com/audiogifts...

Sir David Attenborough warns that humans are 'a plague on the Earth'

The 86-year-old broadcaster said the negative effects of climate change and population growth would cause disaster within next 50 years.

Press Association - The 86-year-old broadcaster said the negative effects of climate change and population growth would cause disaster within next 50 years.

Sir David Attenborough has warned that the human race has become a "plague on the Earth".

The 86-year-old broadcaster said the negative effects of climate change and population growth would cause disaster within next 50 years.

He told the Radio Times: "It's coming home to roost over the next 50 years or so. It's not just climate change. It's sheer space, places to grow food for this enormous horde. Either we limit our population growth or the natural world will do it for us, and the natural world is doing it for us right now.

"We keep putting on programmes about famine in Ethiopia - that's what's happening. Too many people there. They can't support themselves - and it's not an inhuman thing to say. It's the case.

"Until humanity manages to sort itself out and get a co-ordinated view about the planet, it's going to get worse and worse."

Sir David is a patron of the charity Population Matters, which aims to limit population growth through programmes such as contraception drives.

Sir David, whose landmark series are being repeated on BBC2, also said that his style of presenting would soon be extinct.

He told the magazine: "I'm not sure there's any need for a new Attenborough. The more you go on, the less you need people standing between you and the animal and the camera waving their arms about.

"It's much cheaper to get someone in front of a camera describing animal behaviour than actually showing you (the behaviour). That takes a much longer time.

"But the kind of carefully tailored programmes in which you really work at the commentary, you really match pictures to words, is a bit out of fashion now... regarded as old hat."

Special Needs Sister Is Beautiful, “Just the Way You Are,”

Says Young Rapper — Sweet!

This is so touching! A young Atlanta-based rapper, MattyB, covers the Bruno Mars’s song, “Just the Way You Are” — singing about his little sister Sarah Grace, who was born with Down Syndrome. He writes, “Sarah is the most beautiful girl in the world and she is an absolute joy to everyone’s life she has impacted.” Beautiful! More at http://tiny.cc/SarahGrace.

Lost Britain from above: Thousands of historic aerial photographs - which were almost lost forever - go online for the first time

• Rare pictures of St Paul's Cathedral and Blackpool Tower are included in treasured collection made freely available on new Britain from Above website

• Others show the 1935 FA Cup final, the Queen Mary's maiden voyage in 1936 and the 1947 Thames Flood

• More than 15,000 photographs taken between 1919 and 1953 have been uploaded on to the site

• Many were so old and fragile that they were close to being beyond repair

• Experts appeal to the public for information on pictures they can't identify

• Conservationists plan to put 95,000 images on the website by the end of 2014

By Rob Preece

PUBLISHED:00:13, 25 June 2012| UPDATED:11:53, 25 June 2012

Striking and evocative, they chart a dramatic period of British history - from the end of the World War One to the year of the Queen's Coronation.

But these treasured photographs of famous landmarks such as St Paul's Cathedral and Blackpool Tower could have been lost forever, were it not for a major conservation project which has made them freely available on the internet for the first time.

More than 15,000 pictures - many so old and fragile that they were close to becoming beyond repair - have been uploaded on to the Britain from Abovewebsite, which is launched today.

St Paul's Cathedra
Aerial view: More than 15,000 photographs, including this picture of St Paul's Cathedral in London from March 1921, have been made freely available on the internet for the first time

St Paul's Cathedral new
Back to the future: A much cleaner and white modern St Paul's Cathedral and colourful

Blackpool Tower
Landmarks: The instantly recognisable Blackpool Tower and the Winter Gardens, as they were in July 1920

Blackpool Tower in pictures taken last year
but seemingly less vibrant - Blackpool Tower in pictures taken last year
It is the first batch of some 95,000 images, taken between 1919 and 1953, that are due to be put online in the next two years, showing the changing face of modern Britain.

The pictures come from one of the earliest and most significant collections of aerial photography.

Many shots were said to have been taken during the early days of aviation by former war pilots flying at very low altitudes.

The collection includes rare photographs of some of Britain's most historic landmarks, such as a picture of St Paul's from 1921, a 1927 image of Brighton's West Pier, and a view of the Forth Rail Bridge from 1937

Wembley Stadium hosts the 1935
Full house: Wembley Stadium hosts the 1935 FA Cup final, which Sheffield Wednesday won by beating West Bromwich Albion 4-2. The Cierva autogyro in the foreground was flown by Scotland Yard, experimenting with air observation to monitor crowds

Revamped: The new Wembley
Revamped: The new Wembley Stadium (left), which opened on the site of the old one in 2007, and Centre Court beside the newer, spherical Court No 2 at Wimbledon

Centre Court Wimbledon old
Pastime: Fans watch the tennis at Centre Court Wimbledon in June 1921 amid much smaller grounds than exist today

Centre Court Wimbledon New

Brighton's West Pier old
Amusements and attractions: The collection includes an aerial view of Brighton's West Pier, taken in April 1927

Brighton Pier now has a theme park built on the end

Updated: Brighton Pier now has a theme park built on the end

Mersey water front in Liverpool
Mersey water front in Liverpool has undergone significant regeneration

George's Stage and the Three Graces in Liverpool
Heritage: A July 1920 photograph of George's Stage and the Three Graces in Liverpool is in the collection

But experts have asked the public to help them identify other photographs whose subjects remain a mystery.

The website has interactive features which visitors can use to add information, share personal memories, download images and customise their own themed photo galleries.

Today's launch is the latest stage of a major exercise in conservation and cataloguing.

The photographs come from the Aerofilms Collection, which was acquired for the nation in 2007 when the company faced financial difficulties.

They have been digitised with the help of the English Heritage and the Royal Commissions on the Ancient and Historical Monuments of Scotland and Wales.

Tyne Bridge
Fog on the Tyne: The Tyne Bridge under construction in Newcastle in 1928 as coal ships and other vessels dock at the riverside

Tyne Bridge this week with Olympic rings
Changing faces: Newcastle's Tyne Bridge this week with Olympic rings added (but missing the industry)

Meadowfield Quay in Glasgow
an overhead view of Meadowfield Quay in Glasgow where ships are still being built - but far fewer than in its heyday

Meadowside Quay and Upper Clyde Shipbuilding
Age of industry: The extensive Meadowside Quay and Upper Clyde Shipbuilding Yard in Glasgow in 1931. The docks are surrounded by quadrangle tenements for the army of workers

Forth Rail Bridge
Bird's-eye view: This August 1937 photograph of the Forth Rail Bridge and Inch Garvie in Scotland is freely available online for the first time

The Forth Bridge,
Updated transport: The Forth Bridge, which is used by trains, was joined to its west by the Forth Road Bridge in 1964, while today Largs ferries are no longer paddle boats

Largs Harbour Pier on the west Scottish coast
Glorious holidays: Tourists wait at the Largs Harbour Pier on the west Scottish coast to catch a paddle boat steamer to one of the islands

Highlights include the first boxing match at Wembley Stadium in 1924, crowds on the banks of the River Clyde watching the first voyage of the newly-built RMS Queen Mary in 1936, and the Thames Flood of 1947.

Other photographs taken in Scotland include bird's-eye views of the Tay bridge, the Wallace Monument, Edinburgh's Princes Street, the Caledonian Canal, Glasgow Green and Hampden Park.

housing Kensal Rise

Home: A steam train chugs through densely-packed housing Kensal Rise, west London in March 1921

A cliff-top campsite in Crimdon Park
Away: A cliff-top campsite in Crimdon Park, County Durham, in 1946 shows how Britons with limited means after the Second World War enjoyed themselves in another age of austerity

Thames Flood of March 1947
Water, water everywhere: A dramatic picture of the Thames Flood of March 1947 can be viewed on the website

Durham Miners Gala
Crowds: This July 1948 photograph of Durham Miners Gala is among more than 15,000 images which have been put on the website

civic centre in Swansea
When was this taken? Visitors have been urged to share their thoughts on the pictures, such as this undated photograph of the civic centre in Swansea, south Wales

Civic Centre - now known as the Guildhall
Moving forward: Swansea's former Civic Centre - now known as the Guildhall - reveals many more cars than before the war

Hampden Park in Glasgow
Field of dreams: Hampden Park in Glasgow, where the Scotland football team plays its home matches, as it was in 1927

Hampden Park has been revamped

Windsor Castle, taken in August 1928

Majestic: The collection includes this aerial image of Windsor Castle, taken in August 1928
Also shown are the luxury hotel and golf resort at Gleneagles, which will host the 2014 Ryder Cup, as well as the seaside town of Oban, in Argyll, Balmoral Castle and the A8 road which runs through the central belt connecting Glasgow and Edinburgh.

Anna Eavis, head of archive at English Heritage, said that the Aerofilms Collection embodies all that is exciting about aerial photography.

Rebecca Bailey, head of education and outreach at the Royal Commission on the Ancient and Historical Monuments of Scotland said: 'We hope that people today will be able to immerse themselves in the past through the new website, adding their own thoughts and memories to this remarkable collection.'

The photographs can be viewed at www.britainfromabove.org.uk

River Clyde in Clydebank
All aboard: Crowds line the banks of the River Clyde in Clydebank to watch the first voyage of the newly-built Queen Mary in March 1936

the University of Oxford in May 1920
Dreaming spires: The towers, domes and quadrangles of the colleges at the University of Oxford in May 1920

King's College
University days: The magnificent surroundings of King's College, Cambridge, pictured in January 1920

Caledonian Canal
Black and white beauty: The stunning landscape surrounding the Caledonian Canal at Kilmallie in Scotland, pictured in 1950

Stiirling's Wallace Monument
Standing proud: Stiirling's Wallace Monument - commemorates the 13th century Scottish hero William Wallace - taken in 1928

Gleneagles Hotel in Auchterarder
Splendour: The grounds of the Gleneagles Hotel in Auchterarder, Scotland, pictured in 1932

The Kinnaird Head lighthouse and Denmark Street
Shining light: The Kinnaird Head lighthouse and Denmark Street leading into the town centre of Fraserburgh, Scotland in 1939 at the outrbreak of WWII

Northampton cricket ground
Howzat! Northampton cricket ground surrounded by terraced houses and shoe-making factories in 1926

A DeHavilland DH9B G-EAVK,
Early days of flight: A DeHavilland DH9B G-EAVK, which captured many of the aerial photograps, at Hendon airfield, north-west London in 1921

Read more: http://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-2164074/Britain-Above-Thousands-historic-aerial-photographs-online-time-today.html#ixzz2EQRfPYTO
Follow us: @MailOnline on Twitter | DailyMail on Facebook

We've been warned off returning to the Moon. -Enigma TV

http://youtu.be/d-DQfGqmFq0
Uploaded on 30 Oct 2010

Nasa had been warned off returning to the Moon

Tracking the rolling stones of Racetrack Playa
Thursday, 6 December 2012, 20:04
By: Shannon Dybvig

It's the time of year when the sailing stones of Racetrack Playa in California's Death Valley are on the move. Probably. No one has actually seen these huge rocks move along the flat, dry lake bed. But, we know they do. Sometime, when no one's looking, usually after freezing weather or heavy wind or rain, the rocks up and scoot themselves leaving unmistakable travel grooves in their wake.

Extremely patient scientists studying the wanderliths have concluded that wetter winter weather plays a role in the stone rolling, but they're still not exactly sure how it all works. Take a look at these slow-motion stones below.

The sailing rocks are not small. Many are about the size of a loaf of bread and weigh upwards of 25 lbs. Image by Sandy Redding

The dry lake bed that is Racetrack Playa is pancake flat. It's 4 1/2 miles long but only rises one inch along that entire length. Image by Kittell

Trails as long as 1,500 feet have been found. What's even more puzzling is sometimes you can follow these trails and there's no rock at the end of it. Image by NASA

Rain, ice, and strong winds likely work together in getting the rocks on the move. Rock movement is more evident after stormy winters. Image by Arno Gourdol

Sometimes the rocks, like the one above, will travel along and just run themselves into the ground. Image by NASA

Rock trails will overlap, cross, travel in parallel, make wide curves, sharp turns, and zigzags. Image by NASA

Timelapse video is likely the only way we'll get to actually see the rocks in motion. The exposure time would be tricky as sometimes the rocks don't move for years. Image by Wikimedia

The rocks are ordinary dolomite that tumbled out from the surrounding mountains. Their mobility is more due to their location than their composition. Image by Sarah Katrina

Practicing Acceptance

Which is harder: Accepting the situation you are in, or fighting it?

BY: Brandi-Ann Uyemura

I think one of the greatest obstacles we grapple with is learning how to accept what is instead of moaning and groaning about what we don’t have.
It’s like we’re sitting there one hand full of riches and the other hand open full of potential. But we don’t see it. Nope. We’re too focused on the fact that the other hand is empty and not filled yet.
“Why oh why is it not filled yet?,” we ask.
It causes us to transform back into our 2-year-old selves, throwing punches to the air, crying out for all the things we deserve to have, but don’t. Praying about how much we need it, how much better our lives would be with it. And there we are so focused on our poor, wounded souls that we neglect the jewels that fill us, surround us and already make us whole.
If you ever need to be reminded of that, check in with your nearest and dearest furry child. Notice how they seem utterly forgetful about all the mishaps you do. Analyze how a mere treat, a pet on the head or a cuddle could make them silly with joy. See how they seem to pass up the chance to moan about their loss sibling that you had to adopt them away from or the fact that they don’t have a mate, kids or even anyone that even slightly resembles them. They just move on.
Accepting your situation can feel hard. It can be like welcoming an uninvited guest or settling for less.
But it’s not.
Learning how to accept whatever you’re going through and wherever you are is a gift.
It’s about returning to a state of vulnerability in realizing you have less control over life than you think. And that is okay.
It’s about loosening your grip over the outcome and opening your heart up to possibility instead of forced intention.
It’s about seeing your life as a large red carpet unfolding in front of you instead of a predetermined path.
It’s about releasing the rigidity of adulthood that sometimes tricks us into believing we know everything.
It’s a lesson in gratitude for what you have instead of what you still haven’t received.
It’s a muscle being flexed to exercise resiliency.
It’s a reminder that the events of your life ebbs and flows like waves. No matter what you’re going through it will not always be this way.
More importantly, it’s about relinquishing the need to know what’s next. It’s about continuing to relax and release when we feel the need to grasp on harder. It’s about giving up our ego and just letting things be.
Acceptance isn’t easy.
But if we let go into the wave of difficulty rather than force our way through it, we will find the ride much easier. And almost always it will take our breath away.
Make sure to follow Brandi-Ann Uyemura's Happy Haven blog!

http://www.beliefnet.com/Inspiration/Articles/Practicing-Acceptance.aspx?source=NEWSLETTER&nlsource=10&ppc=&utm_campaign=Inspiration&utm_source=NL&utm_medium=newsletter&utm_term=yahoo.co.uk

The alien face is seen in the aurora Northern Lights sky (Caters)

Yahoo! News UK -

We may finally have proof that there are aliens among us.

Using a complicated system unknown to us humans, aliens appear to have managed to beam their image onto the spectacular Northern Lights sky.

The photographer was shocked on his return home to see the image of the green faced alien in his pictures of the aurora Northern Lights.

Landscape photographer Iurie Belegurschi captured the image by accident in the Reykjanes peninsula of Iceland.

On a clear night on September 8, Belegurschi stayed up all night and waited to watch the aurora Northern Lights dance in the sky.

He said: "I didn't see the alien face during shooting, but when I came home I checked my photographs on the computer and I saw it! It's unbelievable, I couldn't believe my eyes."

"I can't describe with words what I feel when I see the Northern lights, but in my opinion it is the most amazing phenomenon we can witness.

"I wish everybody could see it at least once in their life."

But don't expect to see aliens if you do venture out to the remote area.

Self-taught Iurie moved to Iceland in 2006 to follow his biggest passion, the Northern Lights.

He is now waiting for the solar max in 2013-2014 to capture more aurora activity - with or without aliens.

DailyOm – Stepping Stones

April 6, 2011
Stepping Stones

One Day at a Time

Our lives are made of stepping stones, one experience after another in perfect and divine order.

The years of our life do not arrive all at once; they greet us day by day. With the descent of each setting sun, we are able to rest our heads and let the world take care of itself for a while. We may rest assured throughout the night, knowing that the dawn will bring with it a chance to meet our lives anew, donning fresh perspectives and dream-inspired hopes. The hours that follow, before we return to sleep once more, are for us to decide how we want to live and learn, laugh and grow. Our lives are sweeter and more manageable because we must experience them this way: one day at a time.

Imagine the future stretching out before you and try to notice if you feel any tension or overwhelm at the prospect of the journey still to come. Perhaps you have recently made a lifestyle change, like beginning a new diet or quitting smoking, and the idea of continuing this healthy new behavior for years seems daunting. Maybe you have started a new job or are newly married and can feel an undercurrent of anxiety about your ability to succeed. If you can shift your focus from what may happen years down the line and return it to the day that is before you right now, you may find a measure of calm and renewed confidence in your capabilities. You may also discover an inner faith that the future will take care of itself.

The way we show up for our lives today and tomorrow has an enormous affect on who we will be and what we will be experiencing years from now. If we can remain fully engaged in the day at hand, enjoying all it has to offer and putting our energy into making the most of it, we will find that we are perfectly ready and capable to handle any future when it arrives.

DailyOm – A World in Confusion

April 7, 2011
A World in Confusion

Cultivating Inner Clarity

If we can locate the stillness at the center of our hearts, we can find composure in almost any situation.

People who maintain their sense of calm when things around them are in a state of flux and confusion are always wonderful to be around. We feel calmer just being near them, as if they have activated our own sense of inner peace. From them we learn that we can be calm, even when everything around us is in turmoil, because we know that no matter what happens, this inner sense of calm will help us to function well. Often, times of confusion are the times that enable us to find that part of ourselves that knows how to cope, and how to be a light to others in the storm.

If we allow ourselves to be thrown off balance by every piece of disturbing news that comes our way, we may be relying too much on our emotions. On the other hand, our thoughts may also be unreliable at times like these, as they chatter on endlessly about what might happen next. If our feelings and thoughts activate one another in a hectic way, then we become caught up in the confusion that surrounds us. However, if we can locate the stillness at the center of our hearts, we can find composure in almost any situation. In addition, we provide a safe place for our friends and family, who are also prone to taking on the confusion of a world in flux.

It helps to remember that we don’t need to completely understand what’s happening right now, nor do we need to be able to predict the future. Most of us just want to find our way to being at peace with whatever happens, and we can find this peace inside. Cultivating our inner clarity with meditation, journaling, and reading words that inspire us, will lead us to that place inside us that’s already there, just waiting.

DailyOm – Underneath the Noise

April 8, 2011
Underneath the Noise

Hearing the Whisper

Sometimes it is the softness of a whisper that is needed the most.

You may have noticed that if you want to speak to someone in a noisy, crowded room, the best thing to do is lean close and whisper. Yelling in an attempt to be louder than the room’s noise generally only hurts your throat and adds to the chaos. Similarly, that still, small voice within each of us does not try to compete with the mental chatter on the surface of our minds, nor does it attempt to overpower the volume of the raucous world outside. If we want to hear it, no matter what is going on around us or even inside us, we can always tune in to that soft voice underneath the surrounding noise.

It is generally true that the more insistent voices in our heads delivering messages that make us feel panicky or afraid are of questionable authority. They may be voices we internalized from childhood or from the culture, and as such they possess only half-truths. Their urgency stems from their disconnectedness from the center of our being, and their urgency is what catches our attention. The other voice that whispers reassurances that everything is fundamentally okay simply delivers its message with quiet confidence. Once we hear it, we know it speaks the truth. Generally, once we have heard what it has to say, a powerful sense of calm settles over our entire being, and the other voices and sounds, once so dominant, fade into the background, suddenly seeming small and far away.

We may find that our own communications in the world begin to be influenced by the quiet certainty of this voice. We may be less inclined to indulge in idle chatter as we become more interested in maintaining our connection to the whisper of truth that broadcasts its message like the sound of the wind shaking the leaves of a tree. As we align ourselves more with this quiet confidence, we become an extension of the whisper, penetrating the noise of the world and creating more peace, trust, and confidence.

DailyOm – Other People’s Agendas

April 19, 2011
Other People’s Agendas

Appreciating Suggestions

Other people may have their own agenda for our life; we can value their input but we don’t have to take it to heart.

As children, our parents had dreams for us. They wanted us to do well in school, and to do whatever was necessary to reach our highest potential. Later in life, friends may try to set us up with their idea of the perfect partner or the perfect job. Spouses may have agendas for us, too. People close to us may have ideas about how we should live our lives, ideas that usually come from love and the desire for us to be happy. Other times, they come from a place of need within them—whether it is the parent who wants us to live out his or her dreams or the friend or spouse who wants us to play an already-defined role. Whatever the case, we can appreciate and consider those people’s input, but ultimately we must follow our own inner guidance.

There may come a time when all the suggestions can become overbearing. We may feel that the people we love don’t approve of our judgment, which can hurt our feelings. It can interfere with the choices we make for our lives by making us doubt ourselves, or filling a void with their wishes before we’ve had a chance to decide what we want. It can affect us energetically as well. We may have to deal with feelings of resistance or the need to shut ourselves off from them. But we can take some time to rid ourselves of any unnecessary doubts and go within to become clear on what we desire for ourselves.

We can tell our loved ones how much we appreciate their thoughts and ideas, but that we need to live our own lives and make our own decisions. We can explain that they need to let us learn from our own experiences rather than rob us of wonderful life lessons and the opportunity to fine-tune our own judgment. When they see that we are happy with our lives and the path we are taking to reach our goals, they can rest assured that all we need them to do is to share in our joy.

DailyOm – A Dynamic Choice-Maker

April 20, 2011
A Dynamic Choice-Maker

Accepting Yourself

There is no such thing as a good person or a bad person; simply choices and actions that lead us in different directions.

There is no such thing as a good person or a bad person. There are choices and actions that lead us in different directions, and it is through those choices and actions that we create our realities. Sometimes we choose or do something that takes us in the opposite direction of the reality we want to create for ourselves. When we do this, we feel bad—uneasy, unhappy, unsure. We might go so far as to label ourselves “bad” when a situation like this arises. Instead of labeling ourselves, though, we could simply acknowledge that we made a choice that lead us down a particular path, and then let it go, forgiving ourselves and preparing for our next opportunity to choose, and act, in ways that support our best intentions.

Many of us experienced childhoods in which the words good and bad were used as weapons to control us—you were good if you did what you were told and bad if you didn’t. This kind of discipline undermines a person’s ability to find their own moral center and to trust and be guided by their own inner self. If you were raised this way, you may find yourself feeling shockwaves of badness when you do something you were taught was wrong, even if now you don’t agree that it’s bad. Conversely, you may feel good when you do what you learned was right. Notice how this puts you in something of a straitjacket. An important part of our spiritual unfolding requires that we grow beyond what we learned and take responsibility for our own liberation in our own terms.

You are a human being with every right to be here, learning and exploring. To label yourself good or bad is to think too small. What you are is a decision-maker and every moment provides you the opportunity to move in the direction of your higher self or in the direction of stagnation or degradation. In the end, only you know the difference. If you find yourself going into self-judgment, try to stop yourself as soon as you can and come back to center. Know that you are not good or bad, you are simply you.

DailyOm – Spreading Your Light

April 21, 2011
Spreading Your Light

How You Affect Others Daily

Everything we do or say has the potential to affect the whole; imagine how powerful that is.

As the pace and fullness of modern life serve to isolate us from one another, the contact we do share becomes vastly more significant. We unconsciously absorb each other’s energy, adopting the temperament of those with whom we share close quarters, and find ourselves changed after the briefest encounters. Everything we do or say has the potential to affect not only the individuals we live, work, and play with but also those we’ve just met. Though we may never know the impact we have had or the scope of our influence, accepting and understanding that our attitudes and choices will affect others can help us remember to conduct ourselves with grace at all times. When we seek always to be friendly, helpful, and responsive, we effortlessly create an atmosphere around ourselves that is both uplifting and inspiring.

Most people rarely give thought to the effect they have had or will have on others. When we take a few moments to contemplate how our individual modes of being affect the people we spend time with each day, we come one step closer to seeing ourselves through the eyes of others. By asking ourselves whether those we encounter walk away feeling appreciated, respected, and liked, we can heighten our awareness of the effect we ultimately have. Something as simple as a smile given freely can temporarily brighten a person’s entire world. Our value-driven conduct may inspire others to consider whether their own lives are reflective of their values. A word of advice can help others see life in an entirely new fashion. And small gestures of kindness can even prove to those embittered by the world that goodness still exists. By simply being ourselves, we influence other’s lives in both subtle and life-altering ways.

To ensure that the effect we have is positive, we must strive to stay true to ourselves while realizing that it is the demeanor we project and not the quality of our wondrous inner landscapes that people see. Thus, as we interact with others, how we behave can be as important as who we are. If we project our passion for life, our warmth, and our tolerance in our facial features, voice, and choice of words, every person who enters our circle of influence will leave our presence feeling at peace with themselves and with us. You never know whose life you are affecting, big or small. Try to remember this as you go out into the world each day.

DailyOm – Words of Wisdom

April 22, 2011
Words of Wisdom

Affirmations

Our minds accept as truth the critical statements we tell ourselves, but it can also accept our positive affirmations.

The words we speak and think hold great sway over the kind of life that we create for ourselves. Many people live their lives plagued by negative thoughts and never even realize this. They tell themselves and others that they are doomed to fail, not good enough, or not worthy of love, yet they are amazed when their reality starts reflecting these words. Just as the subconscious mind accepts as truth the critical statements we tell ourselves, however, it is also equipped to instantly accept the veracity of our affirmations.

Affirmations are statements chosen and spoken consciously. Once they enter our realm of consciousness, they also enter our subconscious mind where they have the power to change our lives. The affirmations you create should be specific, not too long, worded positively, formed in complete sentences, and spoken in the present tense as if what you are affirming is already true. It is a good idea to repeat your affirmations daily. You may want to tell yourself that you deserve to be happy or that you are in control of your destiny. Or, you may want to focus on a particular goal, such as attracting new friends. Rather than telling yourself you want to be well-liked, say, “I am well-liked.”

Your subconscious mind will pick up on these positive messages, and you will begin to live your life as if what you are affirming already has happened. Soon, your reality will begin to reflect your affirmations. If you find that you are thwarting yourself with negative thinking, try repeating ! your affirmations several times a day. Write your affirmations down and say them aloud or in your mind. Allow your conviction to grow stronger each time you say your affirmations, and your negativity will be overridden by your motivation and positive thoughts.

Affirmations are a powerful tool for creating our desired reality. We consciously and subconsciously invite opportunity into our lives when we say affirmations. Trust in the power of your affirmations, and you will very quickly create what you have already stated to be true.

DailyOm – Seasons of Beauty

April 25, 2011
Seasons of Beauty

Aging Gracefully

As we cultivate our life, our beauty becomes as much about what we are creating and doing as it is about our appearance.

We tend to associate youth with beauty, but the truth is that beauty transcends every age. Just as a deciduous tree is stunning in all its stages—from its full leafy green in the summer to its naked skeleton during winter and everything in between—human beings are beautiful throughout their life spans.

The early years of our lives tend to be about learning and experiencing as much as we possibly can. We move through the world like sponges, absorbing the ideas of other people and the world. Like a tree in spring, we are waking up to the world. In this youthful phase of life, our physical strength, youth, and beauty help open doors and attract attention. Gradually, we begin to use the information we have gathered to form ideas and opinions of our own. As we cultivate our philosophy about life, our beauty becomes as much about what we are saying, doing, and creating as it is about our appearance. Like a tree in summer, we become full, expressive, beautiful, and productive.

When the time comes for us to let go of the creations of our middle lives, we are like a tree in autumn dropping leaves, as we release our past attachments and preparing for a new phase of growth. The children move on, and careers shift or end. The lines on our faces, the stretch marks, and the grey hairs are beautiful testaments to the fullness of our experience. In the winter of our lives, we become stripped down to our essence like a tree. We may become more radiant than ever at this stage, because our inner light shines brighter through our eyes as time passes. Beauty at this age comes from the very core of our being—our essence. This essence is a reminder that there is nothing to fear in growing older and that there is a kind of beauty that comes only after one has spent many years on earth.

DailyOm – An Invitation to Love

April 27, 2011
An Invitation to Love

Angel Meditation

A meditation with your angels can provide a new gentleness into your normal meditation routine.

Though your host of spirit guides encompasses many diverse beings, all of which willingly watch over you, meditating with angels can be a uniquely insightful experience. The angels stationed at your side are both powerful and knowledgeable—they possess a limitless understanding of your needs and desires, your strengths and weaknesses, and your purpose. However, angels take an active part in our lives only when invited to do so. Meditation allows you to make contact with your angels and lovingly request that they participate actively in your day-to-day life.

To begin, retreat to a solitary place where you won’t be distracted by concerns. Incense and candlelight may aid you in achieving a meditative state but are not necessary. However, laying an image of an angel, angel statue, or item symbolizing your angels before you can focus your thoughts. Sit comfortably, breathe deeply, and let yourself relax. When you feel peaceful, invite your angels from the highest of light to sit with you as you meditate. Mentally repeat your request and reiterate that this time together is important to you. Then, in your mind’s eye, visualize a bright-white light floating above you. As you breathe, draw this light first into the crown of your head and then into the whole of your physical self. Allow this light to spread through your arms and hands, your core, and your lower body. Repeat this integration of illumination with a violet light.

Once again, ask your angels to be with you. Let the stillness surrounding you enter your soul, and open your heart to your angel guides. If they wish to communicate a message, they will do so now. Allow them to wrap their wings around you and infuse you with their bountiful love. Breathe them in as you did the light. As the meditation draws to a close, you may feel a presence, fluttering wings, or billowing fabric, or you may see an angel in your mind’s eye. Thank them for providing you with love and light, and being with you as you meditated. If you don’t sense or feel anything, there is no cause for worry—you can be certain your angels are with you. Don’t be surprised if you start to see signs throughout the day that your angels are near, perhaps a feather at your doorstep. As you practice this meditation, you will become increasingly adept at recognizing when your angels are near and sensing their presence.

DailyOm – Unblocking the Ally
April 28, 2011
Unblocking the Ally

Habitual Anger

Anger can easily become our go-to emotion; to remedy, start noticing when and why you get angry.

Sometimes when we feel anger, it is coming from a deep place that demands acknowledgment and expression. At these times, it is important that we find healthy ways to honor our anger, remembering how dangerous it is to repress it. However, anger can also become a habit, our go-to emotion whenever things go wrong. Often this is because, for whatever reason, we feel more comfortable expressing anger than we do other emotions, like sadness. It can also be that getting angry gives us the impression that we’ve done something about our problem. In these cases, our habitual anger is inhibiting both our ability to express our other emotions and to take action in our lives.

If it’s true that anger is functioning this way in your life, the first thing you might want to try is to notice when you get angry. You might begin to see a pattern of some kind. For example, you could notice that it is always your first response or that it comes up a lot in one particular situation. If the pattern doesn’t become clear right away, you could try keeping a journal about when you get angry and see if you can find any underlying meaning. The good thing about keeping a journal is that you can explore your anger more deeply in it—from examining who in your family of origin expressed a lot of anger to how you feel when you encounter anger in others. This kind of awareness can be a formidable agent of transformation.

Anger can be a powerful ally, since it is filled with energy that we can harness and use to create change in the world. It is one of the most cathartic emotions, and it can also be a very effective cleanser of the emotional system. However, when it becomes a habit, it actually loses its power to transform and becomes an obstacle to growth. Identifying the role anger plays in your life and restoring it to its proper function can bring new energy and expansiveness to your emotional life.

DailyOm – An Invitation to Love

April 27, 2011
An Invitation to Love

Angel Meditation

A meditation with your angels can provide a new gentleness into your normal meditation routine.

Though your host of spirit guides encompasses many diverse beings, all of which willingly watch over you, meditating with angels can be a uniquely insightful experience. The angels stationed at your side are both powerful and knowledgeable—they possess a limitless understanding of your needs and desires, your strengths and weaknesses, and your purpose. However, angels take an active part in our lives only when invited to do so. Meditation allows you to make contact with your angels and lovingly request that they participate actively in your day-to-day life.

To begin, retreat to a solitary place where you won’t be distracted by concerns. Incense and candlelight may aid you in achieving a meditative state but are not necessary. However, laying an image of an angel, angel statue, or item symbolizing your angels before you can focus your thoughts. Sit comfortably, breathe deeply, and let yourself relax. When you feel peaceful, invite your angels from the highest of light to sit with you as you meditate. Mentally repeat your request and reiterate that this time together is important to you. Then, in your mind’s eye, visualize a bright-white light floating above you. As you breathe, draw this light first into the crown of your head and then into the whole of your physical self. Allow this light to spread through your arms and hands, your core, and your lower body. Repeat this integration of illumination with a violet light.

Once again, ask your angels to be with you. Let the stillness surrounding you enter your soul, and open your heart to your angel guides. If they wish to communicate a message, they will do so now. Allow them to wrap their wings around you and infuse you with their bountiful love. Breathe them in as you did the light. As the meditation draws to a close, you may feel a presence, fluttering wings, or billowing fabric, or you may see an angel in your mind’s eye. Thank them for providing you with love and light, and being with you as you meditated. If you don’t sense or feel anything, there is no cause for worry—you can be certain your angels are with you. Don’t be surprised if you start to see signs throughout the day that your angels are near, perhaps a feather at your doorstep. As you practice this meditation, you will become increasingly adept at recognizing when your angels are near and sensing their presence.

DailyOm – Messengers of Direction

April 29, 2011
Messengers of Direction

Animals in Nature

Animals in nature always have a message for us, start noticing what animals show up in your life and when.

Animals share our planet with us, but experience it differently—each has its own abilities and gifts that allow them to interact successfully with the natural world. Since we are merely one manifestation of the universe’s energy in action, when we feel the need for direction we can turn to animals in nature for guidance. Animals can show us different ways to approach and deal with our challenges.

As we hold a question in mind, we can begin to pay attention to the animal activity around us. Staring out a window we may notice a bird soaring high in the sky, showing us how to look at our situation from a greater distance. If we don’t get an immediate answer, we can remember that the universe has its own perfect timing that doesn’t heed the ticking of the clock. Instead, we can release our question into the universe’s care, and then trust that an animal messenger will carry inspiration our way. In the meantime, we align ourselves with the universe’s rhythm—opening, humbling ourselves, and shifting our perceptions so that at the perfect time we will be ready. Then, even weeks later, the sight of a small bird hopping from branch to branch may signal for us to use a talent other than our greatest strength and to take small leaps rather than fly over details. A squirrel bounding across an open expanse of grass to stash its latest prize may remind us to check our favorite hid! ing places for forgotten treasure. Even if we don’t see actual animals, their representations may hold messages; whether we see them in a shape in the clouds, a picture, or a show on television, their symbolic meaning is the same.

Animals are closer to the rhythms and cycles of nature and have fewer distractions from it than humans do. That is why they are the perfect messengers when we are in need of advice. Just by being themselves they remind us of the wisdom of the universe, and that all answers are available to us when we reconnect with our source and with those who know how to be nurtured by it.