Spirituality for sale?
December 16, 2011
Our principle of "gifting" - (which is linked in the above header) is a statement of purpose and not an option. When people approach us with their spirituality for sale - soliciting large sums of money to sit at the feet of yet another person with some letters after their name, I would ike to remind them of what sharing really is all about. Would a genuinely enlightened person be selling quick fix answers?
It is time to stop selling our values and live them. This goes all the way from those who have made fortunes in the New Age to the local Baptist franchise - and franchises they are. If Starbucks has 1,200 coffee shops within the city limits of Seattle, it shows you that demand can be stimulated. Many "spriitual" con games make outrageous claims with the mantra - "change your life, change your life, change your life!" If it is entertainment you are looking for; the supply is there. Beware and listen carefully to who and what is for sale.
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Lies, conspiracy theories and OWS
December 16, 2011
Have you ever noticed that when the subject of hypnosis comes up, most people will deny that it has any positive benefit such as control of pain or overcoming phobias. They simply dismiss it as impossible. But, they will shake their heads in confirmation that it can be used for sinister purposes - they have no doubt about its efficiency for that.
Have you ever notice that when people talk about conspiracy theories, they are usually in awe that these powerful forces for evil are tremendously efficient and that people carry out nefarious schemes for their bosses - as portrayed in all action movies. The minions are in a relentless pursuit FOR evil and willing to die for it. But when do you ever hear of a conspiracy theory for good?
So, the pundits want to declare that all the OWS movements can't possible succeed - that a conspiracy of unrelated causes has to fail - simply because it isn't efficient like the ones they promote for evil!! I find that ironic and in a way as self defeating as those who don't want to acknowledge the benefits of hypnosis for example.
So, before the naysayers succeed in convincing people that a movement for greater good can't possibly succeed, remind yourself that you may have fallen for the reverse of the argument that the government is all pervasive and all evil and everybody at all levels supports this limitation with great efficiency.
If there is one common denominator in both equations it...
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Ponderings - Music!
November 8, 2011
Fall has closed in around us and we are pulling up the ladder for the season. It will never cease to amaze me that more people really don't crave the isolation and privacy that we cherish so much. The compulsion to "stay busy" is so deeply ingrained in many that they avoid of deep contemplation or reflection; even when surrounded by the beauty of the natural world. Being too busy is a way to relieve the deep anxiety of human stresses in our culture. Just don't think about it - just don't think.
We are grateful to those of you who keep in touch with us; who enrich our lives with your own color and diversity of interests and perspectives. A chance encounter with the "Kalimba Man" has broadened our lives. It brought an interest in a new level of music and the urge to play the kalimba that was made by Duncan Sickler. Then we found the Sansula, a German variation on the Kalimba and now discovery of the Zen Tambour drum. The Zen Tambour is in production by Spike Finch, who makes them one at a time. He is the most magnificent artist which will linger on in the mastery of his work making the Zens. We have 17 weeks to go before it will ship so winter can't go by fast enough.
Thanks for stopping by and checking our blog. We look forward to hearing from those who discover us hidding out there on the...
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Winter has begun - family update
October 20, 2011
Our last guest of the season, a lovely family from Prescott, AZ has departed and we are slowly curling up for the winter. Snow predicted today but so far just light rain The new kitty-Bootsey has settled into the barn. She isn't much of a guard cat as we have a raccoon that has discovered her food dish but she is willing to share and makes no effort to chase it off. It is bigger than her so maybe she knows better than start a battle she would lose anyway.
We enjoyed our trip to Hartford, CT to attend a conference with Steven Pinker as the keynote speaker. It is so nice to go out into the "real" world and touch base with others. We have postponed a trip to visit Linda's family in Cape Elizabeth, ME. The swim meets for both Ian and Paige Riddell don't start until after the first of the year and I am their swimming grandmother. Marisa, Asiram the llama's namesake has take up residence in Australia where she will spend the year as an exchange student. Stephan started engineering school and Randy and family are still waiting to find a new home in Chapel Hill, NC
That brings the family news up to date. Winters are a time of meditation, contemplation and study. We are very encouraged with the OWS movement as it is the pushback against the establishment of a theocracy that has been breathing down the necks of the whole nation. ...
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Fall
September 3, 2011
We have been very fortunate that the storms are in other parts of the state. We did need rain and finally got about an inch and a half overnight - so the water resevoir will refill. When there is a lack of rain, it draws down the underground water table and our springs slow down and pretty much stop. We draw our water from a "seep" - a wetlands area but has been clogged with tree roots. Neither Ol Buzzard nor I are good at digging things so we have to get some help in to clear it before winter. There aren't many people available in this area as most of the residents are self-employed farmers or cattle men so we have to figure that one out soon!
The past couple of days we have been cutting down three trees. Much to our chagrin the wood chipper has some mechanical problems and a part is on order but most of it just has to be burned off in the fire pit. One was a pine and the other two were scrub walnut trees too near the fire pit area. They are a dirty tree but the squirells love them. We laugh the they will bring nuts a considerable distance just so they can sit on the bench and enjoy their lunch. They leave a pile of shells that stain (black walnut) but they also bury so many of them that you have to thin out the saplings or they will...
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