My special guests on this Voices from the North interview are Ken Ross and John Kenderdine. Ken is Ken's current position is as Community Development Advisor with the Far North District Council. Ken's work and educational background has all been associated with ecology and biology. Ken summarizes some of the guiding lights in the new paradigm of human thought like Fritjof Capra. Ken speaks about the influence Rachel Carson has had on Capra's perspective.

Oil is a finite resource that has been used as if it has been an infinite resource. This is also how we've treated other resources like copper and phosphates. Peak Oil is explained-how the easy, cheaper oil is available early and how the heavier oil that most oil fields are tapping now are more expensive to extract. America's oil fields reached their peaks in the early 70s. The same stands true today for the rest of the world's oil. Even George Bush has said we are addicted to oil. Ken describes how Americans use roughly 10 kilo-calories of energy to produce one kilo-calorie of food. Obviously this is not sustainable. Other Western nations are almost as frivolous in their use of energy. Ken also talks about how for 150-200 years we've made decisions based first on economics, then on people and, finally, on the environment. This is in the reverse order to what it should be. The first question should be, "Is it good for the environment?"

Ken describes New Zealanders as living in a fool's paradise. New Zealand is only behind Iceland in terms of the amount of chemical fertilizer used on their farms. Ken teaches about the importance of bacteria in the soil to minimize the leaching of nitrogen from our farms. He lucidly explains what the ecological footprint means. We are today experiencing the 6^th greatest mass extinction in the earth's history, and this is a human-exacerbated event. Earth Watch Institute recently indicated that in 2006 China used more cement than all other countries combined. They are in catch-up mode. Ken speaks passionately about social justice. He says we have no right to live with our Jacuzzis and other extravagances when 40,000 people die of starvation in the world daily. We are all in this together.

The song in the middle of the program is Atipodean icon John Clarke's, We Don't Know How Lucky We Are.

John Kenderdine describes the Transition Town movement initiated by Irishman Rob Hopkins, a movement designed to restore a vibrant resilience in local communities. Transition town groups are mushrooming all over the world in response to these times in which cheap oil is no longer available. Local communities are taking initiatives rather than waiting for our politicians to lead us to greener pastures; in other words it's a bottom-up approach. John speaks of how he can live like a king below the poverty line by distinguishing between true wants and needs.  

I was inspired to write this blog by the discussion going on right now in the Gaia Networking - Enhance Your Community Experience. They touched on something dear to my heart- the art of soulful, simple daily living.


 

Over twenty years ago I had the pleasure of spending considerable quality time as a backpacker in the heart of Bali. I was touched and deeply influenced by the rich social fabric of these simple-living islanders. It seemed they were always celebrating something or preparing for the next celebration. For them life was art.

To a certain extent my family and I have taken those Balinese messages and assembled them into a quality lifestyle that resounds with simple ritual and celebration.

First of all, Christmas in the southern hemisphere feels a little strange as its original date was established based on the pagan festivals of the coming of light. December 25^th is a few days after winter solstice and is the first day that was obvious to our ancestors that the days were getting longer and, hence, the light was returning. It is my understanding that's Jesus' actual birth date was in January. Here in New Zealand Christmas falls in the heart of summer, creating stress for people as they attempt to finish off activities and shopping in this busy, outward and naturally warm time.

What do we do now? Both daughters make their own Christmas cards. The youngest, who is almost 16 now, still makes paper snowflakes and festoons the French doors in our living room with them. Soon I will prune several large branches from a cedar hedge to create a ‘Christmas tree'. The girls will decorate it with many, mostly handmade, decorations.

For the past three years the girls and I have sung Christmas carols at homes for the elderly. That is an extremely rewarding pastime. Our family will host an annual Summer Solstice celebration on December 21^st on the beach (that's our beach you see in the picture at the top of this blog) below our house. These events are attended by an eclectic crowd who follow a diverse range of religions and beliefs. We share a meal, leap over the fire to strengthen friendships, sing together, swim and relish the spirit of friendship. I usually attend carol singing at a couple of local churches. I sang in the church choir as a boy so it feels great to share these traditions. On Christmas Eve I'll join a few friends for Sanskrit chanting. We have no family nearby, so Christmas day is a quiet family affair followed by a get-together with another immigrant family (from England) who are actually like family for us. All in all, it is a season rich with celebration and low-cost sharing.

 

We attended an intimate celebration of fifty years of marriage for two dear friends today. They had chosen to redo their vows, have each participant take turns reading out various touching words related to marriage and play a few appropriate songs for the occasion. My little contribution was to read out Kahlil Gibran's words on Marriage from The Prophet. Lucia and I had used these words as part of our marriage ceremony close to 19 years ago. Near the end of our circle of sharing another dear friend sprang up from his chair, approached his partner seated nearby, got down on one knee and proposed to her. Nearly speechless in shock, his partner nodded her consent. There wasn't a dry eye in the place. I'm happy I always carry a handkerchief!

He and his lovely partner have been together for years and have two wonderful young boys. This is not this friend's first long term relationship and he admitted to us all that he had never been married and half jokingly thought he would like to before he turned 60 next year. All of us were touched by the richness of this simple ceremony and the consequences it had for two (four including the boys) of us. The spontaneous proposition in no way detracted from the spirit of the occasion and only temporarily removed the focus from the people whose landmark anniversary was being honoured.

I believe the institution of marriage has tremendous value. It is a commitment to go through the fires of life together, through the ups and downs of finances, health, and relationship challenges and to come out the other side stronger and providing a valuable model for the couples that follow. Two of the pieces of music that were played were Amanda McBroom's The Rose and John Denver with Placido Domingo singing Perhaps Love together.

The Prophet on Marriage
by Kahlil Gibran

Then Almitra spoke again and said...
"And what of Marriage, master?"
And he answered saying:

You were born together,
and together you shall be forevermore.

You shall be together when the white wings
of death scatter your days.

Aye, you shall be together even in the
silent memory of God.

But let there be spaces in your togetherness,
And let the winds of the heavens dance between you.

Love one another, but make not a bond of love.
Let it rather be a moving sea between
the shores of your souls.

Fill each other's cup but drink not from one cup.
Give one another of your bread but eat not from the same loaf.

Sing and dance together and be joyous,
but let each of you be alone,

Even as the strings of a lute are alone
though they quiver with the same music.

Give your hearts, but not into each other's keeping.
For only the hand of Life can contain your hearts.

And stand together, yet not too near together.
For the pillars of the temple stand apart,

And the oak tree and the cypress
grow not in each other's shadow.

My family just had the utmost pleasure of the visit of a dear friend I'd met in the Himalayas twenty years ago and hadn't seen since. Roselyn DeGaris is an amazing lady who is a master of the art and intuitive science of Tarot. On her last afternoon with us I recorded an interview with her. With all my Voices from the North interviews I ask my guests to provide music to play halfway through our one hour talks. Rose brought something with her from Australia that she and I believe is profoundly powerful. It is a CD of music and the words of Tobias as channelled through Geoffrey Hoppe. It is a Call to Awaken Now. I encourage you to listen to the interview when I finish editing it and get it posted - hopefully within a few days.

In the meantime check out the following video and/or visit www.crimsoncircle.com for something like 2000 pages of free written or audio sessions with the words of Tobias. I haven't had a chance to read any of it yet but I look forward to inserting something from the CD into the interview I recorded with Rose. The Call to Awaken is Now.

We are not alone. We are now able to be our true Angelic Selves. This a refreshing, empowering and inspiring message I am ever so happy to share with you.

 
 

Last night a small group of us watched most of a DVD called Alcohol Can Be a Gas. I say we watched most of it because the film is 2 ½ hours long and, despite the gripping nature of the story, most of us were nodding off after two hours. The documentary chronicles the truth behind the petroleum industry and the reasons why we could become self-sufficient on plant-based ethanol fuels.

 

Today, Brazil, the world's fifth largest country, is already self-sufficient in fuel because they've had their cars converted to run on alcohol derived from sugar cane using only 2% of their arable land.

David Blume is an ecologist, permaculturist and former organic farmer who was part of a project that fed (believe it or not) 450 people on 2 acres of land. Blume has been on a crusade of sorts for something like three decades to wake up the public and farmers to the possibilities of ethanol-fueled vehicles and to debunk the myths perpetuated by the multinational companies that thrive on the sale of petroleum-based products. I will give a brief synopsis of only some of Blume's conclusions below. Be sure to watch it yourself or purchase the book of the same title:

• Internal combustion engines predated gasoline by forty years. The first cars ran on ethanol.
• Henry Ford saw the value of ethanol as a sustainable resource and fuel. His Model A was a dual-fuel vehicle that could run on gasoline (available in the cities) and ethanol (the country fuel). Alexander Graham Bell too supported alcohol as a fuel and predicted that gasoline would only last a few generations.
• Rockefeller, who controlled much of the oil at the time, had another agenda and used $4 million (a huge sum in the 20s) to lobby Congress to prohibit the production of alcohol. Thus began Prohibition as a means to eliminate Rockefeller's fuel competitors, the farmers who distilled alcohol from their crops.
• Gasoline is a dumping ground for the incredible array of toxic wastes produced by the refining of oil into an equally incredible array of plastics, pesticides and the countless articles based on oil we consume today. Gasoline accounts for a miniscule proportion of oil company profits. After all, pesticides sell for $80/lb as opposed to gasoline at 15 cents/lb. In other words gasoline is legalized pollution and every shipment contains a different blend of toxic materials, depending on what was refined the day it was produced.

I'm going to stop now. The film contained too much myth-busting material to mention at this time. Suffice to say that Blume's basic premise is that not only could we fuel the world's cars on ethanol, but in doing so we would eliminate the need for products like Roundup, which accounts for 70% of Monsanto's profits, and we would simultaneously improve the soil, reduce pollution (alcohol burns cleaner that gasoline), lessen global warming (alcohol produces far less heat than gas as a fuel) and return more profits to farmers instead of the handful of huge multinationals which benefit from the oil business.

 

In December of 2007, I met a couple on the beach I hadn't seen for many months. I asked where they had been and they told me Vietnam. I asked if there were any visible memories of the war that had been fought there in the 1960s and 1970s. They said the aftermath of the war was obvious. Many people were missing limbs from encounters with land mines. Some children were using metal detectors to search for shards of scrap metal in an attempt to earn money. People continue to die each year when they happen upon unexploded mines.

The jungle where the defoliant, Agent Orange, was sprayed has not properly re-grown. Even after over thirty years it remains stunted scrub, rather than regenerating into the vigorous and verdant jungle it had been before.

Yet, despite this devastation, there remains hope. In an attempt to kick start forestation, there are massive tree planting programmes underway using hardy, fast growing species such as Australian eucalypts. Vietnam is a young country. Something like 60% of the population has been born since the war ended in 1973. Despite pervasive poverty, most Vietnamese seem to hold no animosity towards the Americans and other foreigners who contributed to such destruction on their soil.

I asked this elderly New Zealand couple why they went to Vietnam. They replied that they lived a comfortable life in this beautiful country and they felt it was too easy to become complacent and insular. They wanted to see for themselves that some people don't have it as good as we do.
I have friends who are Christians and Muslims, Hindus, Buddhists, Jews and Baha'is. I have friends whose unspoken religion is their deep connection with nature.
Wouldn't it be appropriate that at this time in which many celebrate the birth of one of the greatest teachers this world has known that we take time to reflect on that which unites, rather than separates us? We are each a special son or daughter of a mother and a father. We each have a beating heart, and deep within each of these beating hearts is, I believe, a similar wish and that wish is for peace.

Blessings to you all this holiday season.

   The following words came to me this morning after listening in deep relaxation to the track I've created a link for. I trust you enjoy.

Blessings,
John

The Call to Awaken is Now.

I recommend lying or sitting very comfortably when listening to the track. It is 14 minutes long.

Image link is http://www.walfrido.com/lava.htm . There is more awesome art there.

 

In this Voices From the North interview Roselyn DeGaris describes the history of Tarot cards including the place of mystery schools and esoteric initiation. Rose sees the cards as an oracular tool when people are in moments of uncertainty.

She speaks of her personal training in the use of Tarot. The cards have helped her work through her own fears and deepen her understanding of life. While training with Imre Vallyon during a three week retreat at Lake Taupo in New Zealand in the mid 80s, Rose had a number of mystical experiences and, as she says, "I looked into the face of God and it was Love." Part of the training was to spend a day with most of the Major Arcana cards, to meditate on them and their colour and energy. She returned home a changed person.

Her intention with Tarot has always been healing-to bring people to a place of peace and understanding and my observations (I've known this special woman for twenty years. We met in Dharmsala in Northern India only months after I met Lucia in the same place) would indicate that she has been successful in this regard.

The most profound teachings she has been exposed to in the course of her 55 years have been the two years of channelling of Ramas she attended in Adelaide. Over and over it was stressed to Rose that everything comes down to love, peace, harmony and, particularly, forgiveness. Her journey in deepening her understanding of Tarot has been to learn to trust her intuition. She came to find that she always could trust her intuition provided her heart was filled with peace and understanding; in other words, provided her intention was pure.

Do enjoy this recommended interview. The music/words are from Tobias as channelled by Geoffrey Hoppe and I close with a few words from Gaia's own Mary Maslowski (Joyous). I love her light touch with words.

Again the link for my interview with Roselyn DeGaris is:

http://www.odeo.com/episodes/23770480-Roselyn-DeGaris-and-Mystical-Tarot

Imre Vallyon was born in Budapest, Hungary, in 1940. At the age of 16, he emigrated to New Zealand, where he still lives with his wife and teenage children. Of a keenly religious nature, he immersed himself in Yoga, Zen, Sufism, Catholicism, Eastern Mysticism, Tarot, Astrology, Numerology, and Psychology. He has written numerous books such as The Magical Mind; The Art Of Meditation; Heart To Heart Talks; The Sedona Talks; The Divine Plan; Chants Of Illumination

The link for the image is:
http://www.juliepaschkis.com/Images/Books/tarot.jpg

 

My wife had a bad fall nearly four years ago, severely damaging her spine in three places. She has made a slow but steady recovery using a number of techniques in the years since. A Baha'i friend passed on the following prayer to Lucia a while back, another pearl in her necklace of healing. She has found that each time she privately recites it in a spirit of gratitude and reverence she experiences a noticeable lightening in areas of physical pain. Hence, I share this profound prayer with you now. Here's the link where I found the prayer on line.

He is the Healer...

He is the Healer, the Sufficer, the Helper, the All-Forgiving, the All-Merciful.

I call on Thee O Exalted One, O Faithful One, O Glorious One!  Thou the Sufficing, Thou the Healing, Thou the Abiding, O Thou Abiding One!

I call on Thee O Sovereign, O Upraiser, O Judge!  Thou the Sufficing, Thou the Healing, Thou the Abiding, O Thou Abiding One!

I call on Thee O Peerless One, O Eternal One, O Single One!  Thou the Sufficing, Thou the Healing, Thou the Abiding, O Thou Abiding One!

I call on Thee O Most Praised One, O Holy One, O Helping One!  Thou the Sufficing, Thou the Healing, Thou the Abiding, O Thou Abiding One!

I call on Thee O Omniscient, O Most Wise, O Most Great One!  Thou the Sufficing, Thou the Healing, Thou the Abiding, O Thou Abiding One!

I call on Thee O Clement One, O Majestic One, O Ordaining One!  Thou the Sufficing, Thou the Healing, Thou the Abiding, O Thou Abiding One!

I call on Thee O Beloved One, O Cherished One, O Enraptured One!  Thou the Sufficing, Thou the Healing, Thou the Abiding, O Thou Abiding One!

I call on Thee O Mightiest One, O Sustaining One, O Potent One!  Thou the Sufficing, Thou the Healing, Thou the Abiding, O Thou Abiding One!

I call on Thee O Ruling One, O Self-Subsisting, O All-Knowing One!  Thou the Sufficing, Thou the Healing, Thou the Abiding, O Thou Abiding One!

I call on Thee O Spirit, O Light, O Most Manifest One!  Thou the Sufficing, Thou the Healing, Thou the Abiding, O Thou Abiding One!

I call on Thee O Thou Frequented by all, O Thou Known to all, O Thou Hidden from all!  Thou the Sufficing, Thou the Healing, Thou the Abiding, O Thou Abiding One!

I call on Thee O Concealed One, O Triumphant One, O Bestowing One!  Thou the Sufficing, Thou the Healing, Thou the Abiding, O Thou Abiding One!

I call on Thee O Almighty, O Succoring One, O Concealing One!  Thou the Sufficing, Thou the Healing, Thou the Abiding, O Thou Abiding One!

I call on Thee O Fashioner, O Satisfier, O Uprooter!  Thou the Sufficing, Thou the Healing, Thou the Abiding, O Thou Abiding One!

I call on Thee O Rising One, O Gathering One, O Exalting One!  Thou the Sufficing, Thou the Healing, Thou the Abiding, O Thou Abiding One!

I call on Thee O Perfecting One, O Unfettered One, O Bountiful One!  Thou the Sufficing, Thou the Healing, Thou the Abiding, O Thou Abiding One!

I call on Thee O Beneficent One, O Withholding One, O Creating One!  Thou the Sufficing, Thou the Healing, Thou the Abiding, O Thou Abiding One!

I call on Thee O Most Sublime One, O Beauteous One, O Bounteous One!  Thou the Sufficing, Thou the Healing, Thou the Abiding, O Thou Abiding One!

I call on Thee O Just One, O Gracious One, O Generous One!  Thou the Sufficing, Thou the Healing, Thou the Abiding, O Thou Abiding One!

I call on Thee O All-Compelling, O Ever-Abiding, O Most Knowing One!  Thou the Sufficing, Thou the Healing, Thou the Abiding, O Thou Abiding One!

I call on Thee O Magnificent One, O Ancient of Days, O Magnanimous One!  Thou the Sufficing, Thou the Healing, Thou the Abiding, O Thou Abiding One!

I call on Thee O Well-guarded One, O Lord of Joy, O Desired One!  Thou the Sufficing, Thou the Healing, Thou the Abiding, O Thou Abiding One!

I call on Thee O Thou Kind to all, O Thou Compassionate with all, O Most Benevolent One!  Thou the Sufficing, Thou the Healing, Thou the Abiding, O Thou Abiding One!

I call on Thee O Haven for all, O Shelter to all, O All-Preserving One!  Thou the Sufficing, Thou the Healing, Thou the Abiding, O Thou Abiding One!

I call on Thee O Thou Succorer of all, O Thou Invoked by all, O Quickening One!  Thou the Sufficing, Thou the Healing, Thou the Abiding, O Thou Abiding One!

I call on Thee O Unfolder, O Ravager, O Most Clement One!  Thou the Sufficing, Thou the Healing, Thou the Abiding, O Thou Abiding One!

I call on Thee O Thou my Soul, O Thou my Beloved, O Thou my Faith!  Thou the Sufficing, Thou the Healing, Thou the Abiding, O Thou Abiding One!

I call on Thee O Quencher of thirsts, O Transcendent Lord, O Most Precious One!  Thou the Sufficing, Thou the Healing, Thou the Abiding, O Thou Abiding One!

I call on Thee O Greatest Remembrance, O Noblest Name, O Most Ancient Way!  Thou the Sufficing, Thou the Healing, Thou the Abiding, O Thou Abiding One!

I call on Thee O Most Lauded, O Most Holy, O Sanctified One!  Thou the Sufficing, Thou the Healing, Thou the Abiding, O Thou Abiding One!

I call on Thee O Unfastener, O Counselor, O Deliverer!  Thou the Sufficing, Thou the Healing, Thou the Abiding, O Thou Abiding One!

I call on Thee O Friend, O Physician, O Captivating One!  Thou the Sufficing, Thou the Healing, Thou the Abiding, O Thou Abiding One!

I call on Thee O Glory, O Beauty, O Bountiful One!  Thou the Sufficing, Thou the Healing, Thou the Abiding, O Thou Abiding One!

I call on Thee O the Most Trusted, O the Best Lover, O Lord of the Dawn!  Thou the Sufficing, Thou the Healing, Thou the Abiding, O Thou Abiding One!

I call on Thee O Enkindler, O Brightener, O Bringer of Delight!  Thou the Sufficing, Thou the Healing, Thou the Abiding, O Thou Abiding One!

I call on Thee O Lord of Bounty, O Most Compassionate, O Most Merciful One!  Thou the Sufficing, Thou the Healing, Thou the Abiding, O Thou Abiding One!

I call on Thee O Constant One, O Life-giving One, O Source of all Being!  Thou the Sufficing, Thou the Healing, Thou the Abiding, O Thou Abiding One!

I call on Thee O Thou Who penetratest all things, O All-Seeing God, O Lord of Utterance!  Thou the Sufficing, Thou the Healing, Thou the Abiding, O Thou Abiding One!

I call on Thee O Manifest yet Hidden, O Unseen yet Renowned, O Onlooker sought by all!  Thou the Sufficing, Thou the Healing, Thou the Abiding, O Thou Abiding One!

I call on Thee O Thou Who slayest the Lovers, O God of Grace to the wicked!

O Sufficer, I call on Thee, O Sufficer!

O Healer, I call on Thee, O Healer!

O Abider, I call on Thee, O Abider!

Thou the Ever-Abiding, O Thou Abiding One!

Sanctified art Thou, O my God!  I beseech Thee by Thy generosity, whereby the portals of Thy bounty and grace were opened wide, whereby the Temple of Thy Holiness was established upon the throne of eternity; and by Thy mercy whereby Thou didst invite all created things unto the table of Thy bounties and bestowals; and by Thy grace whereby Thou didst respond, in thine own Self with Thy word "Yea!" on behalf of all in heaven and earth, at the hour when Thy sovereignty and Thy grandeur stood revealed, at the dawn-time when the might of Thy dominion was made manifest.  And again do I beseech Thee, by these most beauteous names, by these most noble and sublime attributes, and by Thy most Exalted Remembrance, and by Thy pure and spotless Beauty, and by Thy hidden Light in the most hidden pavilion, and by Thy Name, cloaked with the garment of affliction every morn and eve, to protect the bearer of this blessed Tablet, and whoso reciteth it, and whoso cometh upon it, and whoso passeth around the house wherein it is.  Heal Thou, then, by it every sick, diseased and poor one, from every tribulation and distress, from every loathsome affliction and sorrow, and guide Thou by it whosoever desireth to enter upon the paths of Thy guidance, and the ways of Thy forgiveness and grace.

Thou art verily the Powerful, the All-Sufficing, the Healing, the Protector, the Giving, the Compassionate, the All-Generous, the All-Merciful.

Bahá'u'lláh

 

The Shaumbra Symptoms

 

  Shaumbra means: Family and Deep Inner Friendship

  Body aches and pains, especially in the neck, shoulder and back.

This is the result of intense changes at your DNA level as the 'Christ seed' awakens within. This too shall pass.

   

  Feeling of deep inner sadness for no apparent reason. You are releasing your past (this lifetime and others) and this causes the feeling of sadness.

This is similar to the experience of moving from a house where you lived in for many, many years into a new house. As much as you want to move into the new house, there is a sadness of leaving behind the memories, energy and experiences of the old house. This too shall pass.

   

  Crying for no apparent reason. Similar to #2 above. It's good and healthy to let the tears flow. It helps to release the old energy within. This too shall pass.

  

  Sudden change in job or career. A very common symptom. As you change, things around you will change as well. Do not worry about finding the 'perfect' job or career right now. This too shall pass.

You're in transition and you may make several job changes before you settle into one that fits your passion.

  Withdrawal from family relationships. You are connected to your biological family via old karma. When you get off the karmic cycle, the bonds of the old relationships are released. It will appear as though you are drifting away from your family and friends. This too shall pass.

After a period of time, you may develop a new relationship with them if it is appropriate. However, the relationship will be based in the new energy without the karmic attachments.

  Unusual sleep patterns. It's likely that you'll awaken many nights between 2:00 and 4:00 AM. There is a lot of work going on within you, and it often causes you to wake up for a 'breather.'

Not to worry. If you cannot go back to sleep, get up and do something rather than lay in bed and worry about humanly things. This too shall pass.

   

  Intense dreams. These might include war and battle dreams, chase dreams or monster dreams. You are literally releasing the old energy within, and these energies of the past are often symbolized as wars, running to escape and boogiemen. This too shall pass.

   

  Physical disorientation. At times you will feel very ungrounded. You will be 'spatially challenged' with the feeling like you cannot put two feet on the ground, or that you are walking between two worlds.

As your consciousness transitions into the new energy, you body sometimes lags behind. Spend more time in nature to help ground the new energy within. This too shall pass.

  Increased 'self talk'. You will find yourself talking to your Self more often. You will suddenly realize you have been chattering away with yourself for the past 30 minutes.

There is a new level of communication taking place within your being, and you are experiencing the tip of the iceberg with the self talk. The conversations will increase, and they will become more fluid, more coherent and more insightful.

You are not going crazy, you are just Shaumbra moving into the new energy.

  Feelings of loneliness, even when in the company of others. You may feel alone and removed from others. You may feel the desire to 'flee' groups and crowds.

As Shaumbra, you are walking a sacred and lonely path. As much as the feelings of loneliness cause you anxiety, it is difficult to relate to others at this time.  The feelings of loneliness are also associated with the fact that your Guides have departed. They have been with you on all of your journeys in all of your lifetimes. It was time for them to back away so you could fill your space with your own divinity. This too shall pass.

The void within will be filled with the love and energy of your own Christ consciousness.

  Loss of passion. You may feel totally disimpassioned, with little or no desire to do anything. That is OK, and it is just part of the process. Take this time to 'do no-thing.' Do not fight yourself on this, because this too shall pass.

It is similar to rebooting a computer. You need to shut down for a brief period of time in order to load the sophisticated new software, or in this case, the new Christ-seed energy.

   

  A deep longing to go Home. This is perhaps the most difficult and challenging of any of the conditions. You may experience a deep and overwhelming desire to leave the planet and return to Home.

This is not a 'suicidal' feeling. It is not based in anger or frustration. You do not want to make a big deal of it or cause drama for yourself or other. There is a quiet part of you that wants to go Home. The root cause for this is quite simple. You have completed your karmic cycles. You have completed your contract for this lifetime. You are ready to begin a new lifetime while still in this physical body.

During this transition process, you have an inner remembrance of what it is like to be on the other side. Are you ready to enlist for another tour of duty here on Earth? Are you ready to take on the challenges of moving into the New Energy? Yes, indeed you could go Home right now. But you have come this far, and after many, many lifetimes it would be a shame to leave before the end of the movie.

Besides, Spirit needs you here to help others transition into the new energy. They will need a human guide, just like you, who has taken the journey from the old energy into the new. The path you are walking right now provides the experiences to enable you to become a Teacher of the New Divine Human. As lonely and dark as your journey can be at times, remember that you are never alone.

  

  Copyright 2001 by Geoffrey Hoppe, Golden, CO.

Prepared in collaboration with Tobias of the Crimson Circle.

Please distribute freely for non-commercial purposes

From: http://www.eaglespiritministry.com/teaching/texts/shaumbra.htm

The image is called Blind Faith, is found on http://www.walfrido.com/lava.htm  and comes with the following caption: "Have you ever believed without seeing?  This painting is a testament to believing in the light through the shroud of darkness."

I hope you've gained insight from the above information.

John
http://www.insearchofsimplicity.com

 

I consider it a real privilege to be able to interview some of our elders on Voices From the North. Neva Clarke McKenna is one such elder and she's an amazing woman. Neva was born just after the First World War, and was 87 at the time of our talk in 2007. She is an accomplished writer and historian. She is also an actress, a mother and friend and humble helper of many. In preparation for the interview I got to know Neva a little and the following words represent my meagre efforts to capture a little of what Neva has to say:

‘I had my 87^th birthday this year. I grew up in Gisborne. My father was a wonderful man. When he left Ireland he said he would never set foot in a church again because of the hypocrisy he had seen in Ireland; and he was true to his word. The only time I ever saw him in a church again was for his funeral and then I didn't really see him, only his casket. My mother and we children used to go to church but not my father. Once a week, the Presbyterian minister came to our house, to talk to Dad. They had great talks. Dad had a bible; he just didn't go to church.

When I was about eight, I was out in garden with my father. He was planting onions and there were many ants around where he was working. I asked him, "Are there Catholic and Protestant ants?"

He said to me, "I don't think so, Nugget. But they can fight with each other just like Protestants and Catholics."

He used to encourage me to keep asking questions. Even then I was curious about everything. He also used to tell me to keep my mouth closed and my ears open. Then I would learn a lot. I asked him how I was to keep my mouth closed and still ask questions. He said, "When you are older you will know the right time to listen and the right time to ask questions."'

I trust that you enjoy this interview with Neva Clarke McKenna. It offers a glimpse into the world of yesterday, of growing up during the depression, of wartime Europe (Neva served in Italy in WWII), and of Neva's approach to historical research and writing. I've been inspired by this woman. Her humor rings through our conversation. For more on Neva and the creation of her book Mangonui: Gateway to the Far North click here.

The photo is of The Old Oak Inn in Mangonui in New Zealand's Far North.

 

Seven years ago when my father was dying of cancer, I made two trips back to Canada, one with each of our daughters so they could spend quality time with their grandfather while it was still possible. He died within three weeks of our last trip. A few months later we sold our retreat center here in New Zealand to finance an around the world trip for all four us that would include time in Canada to support my mother.

Interestingly, each time I flew to Canada my father would end up in hospital for an operation a day or two before my arrival. Then much of the visit would include driving my mother back and forth to the hospital to visit Dad. During one of these times my mother passed on a prayer to me that had been given to her by a caregiver. I used that prayer during my time in Canada and also when I was back home in New Zealand. It didn't keep my father alive, but I believe it helped ease his burden of pain.

I offer it to you now, trusting that it will be of value to someone with a loved one who is sick or suffering. May it ease the pain.

A Prayer for the Sick

Creator of life,

            we believe that you accompany

            all those who are sick and suffering.

As family members and caregivers

            we implore you to lift their burdens

            and comfort their hearts.

When they are afraid give them courage,

            When afflicted, give them patience,

            When dejected, afford them hope,

            And when alone assure them of the support

            of their families

            and those who care for them. AMEN

 

When I searched on the internet for an image for this blog I was struck by the stark lack of color in all the hospital photographs. I live in a world of color-colorful flowers, fruits, forest, sky, sea, even clothes. Maybe something needs to change in hospital settings. It reminds me of photos of politicians and many business people. Where's the color?

Wendy, a fellow Gaia member, sent this photo my way and has OK'd my sharing it further. Beautiful words and photo. Well done, Wendy, and my sentiments completely. May all people and all nations find peace.