I AM EARTH

                 I AM EARTH

 Introduction


Let me introduce myself.  You encounter me on a daily basis, but I find it necessary at this time that you get to know me deeply and respectfully. Not all of me at once, but just on a larger and more relatable scale than you have been willing to in general attempt.  Your survival depends upon it.  Hopefully I have now engaged your full attention.

I am very old, ancient.  My age is about 4 billion years and since your age is less than about 100,000 years,  you must admit that  I have incurred wisdom far greater and deeper than yours.  Your scientists who study me at great depth for understanding and to know the Truth of me are the greatest allies of the human family.  The dedicated scientists as opposed to those digging for recognition and dollars to promote their projects and therefore themselves are not particularly your friend or mine. The hallmark of my being is change, and I will decide whether to move towards another ice age or grow warmer, not your pseudo-scientists and celebrity promotors and politicians.  But just a hint:  your numbers are growing and crowding out other species, you have wars and out of control commerce and technology, so common sense and a slight bit of introspection can put two and two together.

My history is vast, interesting and dynamic.  I have evolved slowly over the eons of time since I was known as “primordial soup”.    The one important lesson for the human mind to grasp is that change is the only constant.  You can learn from me alone, as I hold all the answers you may seek, though few get beyond ego to truly seek.  As yourself, an ordinary person,  where would you be without the few extraordinary who seek, discover, contribute, and invent?  Most of you are ordinary.  Don’t take it personally.

The cataclysm of events that was the start of me, you can compare in your smaller mind to the egg and sperm that joined up and started you..though complex as you are, especially the marvel of your mostly unused brain, I am more complex, storied and ancient.  As you learn about your own beginnings, don’t leave me out as I am the true Mother of your being.  My mysteries and wisdom go far deeper and beyond what any human, even the most dedicated among you can uncover in a lifetime.  I hold the answers.  You hold the questions.  Don’t take it personally.

If my age can be compared to one year, your age can be compared to a minute before midnight on December 31st.  Humility is my essence.  I do what I do. am what I am,  for what reason I am not sure; whether it be random or of Divine cause is not my discipline.  The discipline of inquiry is your challenge, a challenge that even if you as an individual do not take seriously, a few do, and will generously pass on the information;  much of which smaller minds will dispute in ignorance and ego, then finally following along  accept as the machine of True knowledge grinds forward.

And knowledge does grind forward in the human mind, though not as a glacier would, shaping and controlling all in its path,  but moving ahead and then backward through ignorance of forgetting history and repeating it.  I never do that. I move forward with the Universe and atmosphere and a sense of the Infinite, creating as I go and learning from my mistakes quickly, fomenting miracles as I progress.  I don’t fall in despair at my error or challenges. My essence is working toward solutions. This is a great lesson.  I am brave, conservative, truthful, vibrant, beautiful in my cause.  You can learn so much from me, and as a race of humans, you have.  But in your midst, you have allowed tyranny, cruelty, sloth, greed, among the many misfortunes that your brain gets lost in.  I don’t do this.  I have no ego, just  a rule book instructing blind progress and vast determination according to a seeming mysterious plan.  I don’t do drugs, lie, blame, exploit, murder, gossip or deceive for my own singular purpose and aggrandizement.  I am Earth.  Get to know me and don’t take your own shortcomings personally.  Just use me as an example and work through them.  Grow and know that I offer lessons for you to gain from.

TIMELESS CHEMISTRY

I started out like you, in simple form.  I have vast patience and fortitude.  I worked through elements and molecules to formulate simple life forms.  What was before me is part of the mystery.  Where the elements formed and how are contained in the Universal Secret is always waiting for illumination. It seems to me I am being propelled by some inexplicable force, though I cannot identify it by name, I trust it as it molds me.

The living creatures evolved through and with my constant transformations. They also are moving with the force, though unconsciously and live according to instinct and DNA. One celled bacteria, fungi, crustaceans, reptiles, mammals and humans; all are forms the mysterious, dynamic, ever changing system.  Your brain is my most complex master piece and you are capable of much more than you allow yourselves.  The reason for that is you associate and listen too much to other small minds, ignoring me and the Greater Mystery.

Understand that I will do what I will do and you haven’t the power over me that you in this present day think you have.  I will have my way.  If you dishonor your home, and make life unlivable, I will survive after you have destroyed yourselves.  You listen to those who say they are interested in “loving the planet”, but your ego transcends other species while you focus on yourselves decreasing biodiversity as your numbers grow.  Your solutions tend towards one note and you listen to those who talk without knowing me.  The True agenda is greater than finite man and a finite earth.  I too have a limited life as does my energy star, the Sun.  When it dwarfs as all stars do, my existence will cease.

My letter here to you is to get your brain to thinking with inquiry and logic, rather than with the small voices you hear all around.  Look into a child’s eyes, walk on my unpaved nakedness, look up at the stars.  If you start to inquire, you will start on the larger journey of Wonder.   Then you will look for deeper answers and you must keep digging though you will never know all.  Just learn to be humble and know your smaller place in the Great Mystery.  You will then know vibrant life IS, just as I do. 


(C)   P A Hall   11-9-16

THE EASY WAY TO UNDERSTAND NATURAL LAW

Natural Law must be taught to be understood.  Modern society is a plugged in society removed from Nature and its laws  and systems.  It is a society that is producing talking heads that need constantly to regurgitate unfiltered thoughts.  Most of  what is expressed has little value other than to download useless information that would best be put in the back of the brain for re-evaluation or to be dreamed out through the brain digestion process, a process similar to the way we digest our food.  We eliminate what is not needed.  Our modern society has to learn again to quiet down.

Natural Law must be taught in the educational system formulated by the state as financed by its citizens because it is true law, understood only through the study of Natural history.  The discoveries constantly delivered by true inquiry into natural science along with the discussion of philosophical mysteries it provokes to an active mind,  must be explored.

Every thing is in place for Natural Law to be taught and to be understood. How it has played in evolution and how it was studied and divined by the framers of the American Constitution, (before they had the abundant information of today) to attempt a clear guideline for a truly civil and moral society must be deeply re-explored.  It worked for a couple of hundred years as the individual was unleashed with the choice to do their best. And many did, unconsciously accepting the gift given and often taken for granted.  The Natural Right of freedom though can be easily be taken away if we do not understand its foundation and simplicity.

Freedom is never more than one generation away from extinction.   ~Ronald Reagan

With each generation, Natural Law has demonstrated increasing evidence of its foundation in reality.  The “theory” of Evolution was put forth and denied by its contemporaries.  Now hardly a theory, it is still questioned despite the mountain of evidence supporting it.  Its proponent, Charles Darwin who predicted through his genius and observations what contemporary science is now proving through technology and further research gave us one of the most understandable and visual concepts evidencing Natural Law.  Species evolve and adapt to changes and the fittest survive to live another day.  The only true governing laws come from Nature,  and Nature assures no entitlements, only the opportunity to share the elements of Source from which we have evolved. 

It is up to a society or culture educated in Natural Law to evolve consciously with respect to the reality of Nature as Source,  and to develop guided by logic and reason.  With rights come responsibilities. Entitlements are derived out of the human brain with or without consciousness, and if not tested against Natural Law theory,  chaos is the result. History and current events prove this to be true.

Those dedicated ones who uncovered the Natural Science mysteries of Physics, Chemistry, Geology, Biology and their language, Mathematics expose astounding evidence that most earth citizens have bare understanding of never mind any education in. Therefore we are programmed and seduced by politicians and pundits who ignorantly make things up and propagandize until the lie becomes the accepted truth.  It takes a willingness and a dedication to look for what is true, but if education fails here, progress becomes slow or reversed.  And this is what seems ironically to be happening though we have more opportunity to do research at the push of a search button than ever was possible.  Inquiry, putting belief to the hard test though is too difficult a task for the average mind.  More the reason why the pursuit of excellence must be programmed into a society allowing only the very lesser of us to get away with the lazy road to mediocrity.  When the majority accepts virtue as an aspiration, virtue becomes the accepted norm.

We are born of the same stuff as all of the Universe:  hydrogen carbon, nitrogen, oxygen.  We are not apart from the Universe, but a mysterious and astounding concoction of semi-perfection contained within.  A 4 billion year old earth allowed the development of humans after the last ice age and we had 10 to 20 thousand years to get it right.  And some did.  They are the minds that live on and became the keepers of the knowledge.  We must learn from them and from the clues given daily by observation and living with awareness.

The most abundant elements in the universe it is said are hydrogen and stupidity.  Humans are the only ones allowed stupidity.  They evolved a large brain, have the ability to solve complex problems, yet only a very scant few are able or willing to even think or wonder. In pure Nature, stupidity is fatal; in contrived culture it is a protected right.  Most know all the accepted answers and yet know so very little and seem contented there rather than probing for more answers, more Truth.

Back to education.  If we are taught to think and are taught fundamentally about the Natural World and what we have named science, we have our best opportunity for the Freedom that real education can bestow upon Humanity. 

These are the solutions.  We already know the problems.

When solutions are measured against Natural Law then logic and reason are partnered with the human heart, we could potentially create a paradise. Or is it that paradise is already here and it is in awareness that it is realized. Not a false utopia created out of an ignorance or a piousness for ideas pumped out pridefully from the human mind, but through a respect for real Knowledge which can only come about through study of the established foundation. The first architects, scientists, artists had only Natural Law as the guide, uncovered the secrets and passed on to the rest of humanity.  How did knowledge start without educational institutions?  By the first explorers who tuned into the real world around them.  Educational institutions are secondary to natural inquiry and have fallen in love with themselves at times along with those who believe only structured education can provide knowledge. Here is your degree. Go out into the world and trip over yourself and others doing the same.  True knowledge is a life long endeavor.

There is a logical thread that conceived the words in the preamble to out American Constitution: ‘the laws of Nature and of Nature’s God”.  Do not memorized but work to understand these few words and deep and comforting understanding can be gratefully realized.

This is the foundation of Knowledge and the key to the Freedom that seeking Truth can and desires to bestow on Mankind.  We could get it right if we go again to Source and contemplate, consider and study.  This must be incorporated into education and become the foundation of human culture and acceptance.  We must learn to honor the Truth of Natural Law foundation and let it be our Guide rather than allowing unqualified humans with elevated titles to define and devise a false system who’s tendency is self-service rather than human service and promotion of true Natural values.  If individuals were taught in the Natural Sciences and Established Natural Law and taught how to be rational and logical, they would have little trouble in discerning the difference between false promises with pretentious knowledge and real leadership demonstrated naturally from a greater mind.

Luckily, we have an example of this endeavor already and we do not need to re-invent.  The founders and the framers of the American Constitution put it all together.  They did it thoughtfully and ardently through years of process and the desire to get it right as humanly possible.  They had to. They were students of Greek philosophy, the Magna Carta, and John Locke who all spoke of advancement through Natural rights.  They just won a war they were most unlikely to win.  They thanked Providence, knowing the pitfalls of tyrannical governance, they strove to lay a foundation for future generations.

We are heading towards tyranny again, if not quite submerged in it, we are definitely entrenched.  The opportunity was bestowed upon us and our only lifeboat is through open minds willing to probe the mysteries of Natural Law, and freedom as a natural right.  Ignore deep inquiry at our peril; the dire outcome being the squandered life of bondage, subordination and sweet sounding but illogically contrived promises.

Our freedoms are taken away slowly as we continue to accept the unacceptable.  We can look at the world as much of it is today and know that there are many cultures who have submitted to the point where they cannot rise up and have little choice but to accept life in subordination to the whims of powerful and tyrannical strongmen who's only vocation is to hold on to power. 

It is the Brave who guard and keep our Freedoms, but we need more of them. As cowards take charge with their entitlement and complaining mentality and with the assistance of a media concerned too much with corporate protection, the rehash of prescribed and contrived societal correctness takes over.  We are left with a rant of babble that no one truly understands. The repetition continues until the poison kills inquiry and the lie becomes the accepted truth. We fall into place like so many in societies under the iron fist of the powerful, where escape is increasingly difficult and Freedom impossible.

When the Brave become too few to keep the Light of Freedom burning, the decent into tyranny is assured.

Only through the understanding of Natural Law and its unfolding mysteries will we have the knowledge, guidance and tools to keep developing forward as a productive society with opportunity for all who wish to seize and return that great gift.

Thousands of years of human history record struggles to break through tyranny and give ordinary people the power to create their own destiny.  Our founders understood this by respecting and acknowledging the many lessons of history and philosophy; and after miraculously defeating an established, strong and crushing opponent.  A few worked diligently to carve out a document that would assure future generations of an existence with Liberty at its core.  This document of Truth and Beauty will not likely perish, but if not studied and cherished, it will be left to future generations to resurrect it as it has proven itself to be the imprimatur of a civilized, peaceful and free society which can be offered to all who desire to honor it.

Eternal vigilance is the price of Liberty.  ~Thomas Jefferson

THE NEW SLAVES

When reason and common sense are subservient to special interests along with over intellectualizing problems and issues, chaos takes root. The deeper a culture goes into denial, lacking the courage needed to address serious problems and allowing these problems to become more deeply rooted all the  while fogging the way toward a sensible approach obviously inhibits growth toward evolved development. Reason, logic and accountability give way to the devolution of a society which is eventually lost in chaos. Morality and virtue are hard to restore when lost.

Our country was established through a logical thought process, guided by the insights of John Locke, de Montesquoiu and early Greek wisdom. Our founders were all students of this wisdom and their attempt was to apply it.  Somehow they came across the concept of Natural Law. This became the basis and foundation for our Declaration of Independence and Constitution that promoted the ideals of the pursuit of liberty and happiness. Its thoughtful and classicly liberal beginnings also left open opportunities for critique and reflection. The founders held deep regard for liberty and individuality and a contempt for tyranny. America has been a process. Tyranny can show up with many disguises and before it is recognized for the evil it is, it can find an acceptable foothold in a culture. One of the many disguises is socialism. Those proposing to "share the wealth" will keep the power and booty for themselves while deceiving generations of the people until finally, the weak structure collapses into revolution, war, or just keeps the misery going for more generations. Cuba and Russia are recent examples. The tyranny of communism found a place in China and totalitarianism is alive and well in North Korea.

So we luckily came upon the best and most natural form of an evolved and progressive society, a republic which honors the natural state of human striving; liberty and prosperity. We may still be heading in the direction of the promise of liberty and prosperity for all with a serious backward trend now expressing itself. Democracy is a process, and must be participated in thoughtfully and respectfully by a majority of the population for the purpose of preserving the democratic principles beyond individual self interest in order for the democratic republic to properly function.

In a family, friendship, or any relationship a part of the self is given up in order to uphold the higher "relationship" therefore benefiting firstly the relationship and then the interests of the self as the relationship evolves to understand the value of the higher ideal.

Our higher ideal though has increasingly become the slave to our the twisting and churning of words and battles of words. Leaders and followers have taken sides on idealism losing sight of the ideal. Common sense, not particularly common or ubiquitous has all but drowned in intellectual jargon and false or distorted ideals. We are divided and many have shut down holding on to "their side" wanting to win for the sake of winning, for the sake of ego. Listening to another view has given way to battle of the wills and in the process all the weeds and demons are strangling the wisdom that is the only saving grace toward a remedy.

Relationships collapse through ego and self interest. Some relationships are not meant to last, but the people's relationship to a governing body that is serving the people that create it, must be preserved, must sustain itself only because this is the end of the line. There is no better form of government than that which preserves and honors the limits and separation of its own power, liberty, prosperity and individual rights for all its citizens. So we have no choice but to find a way to honor the "relationship" putting aside the more self serving interests that are plaguing society today.

As Socialist/Marxist values take hold with the usual disguise, "helping those less fortunate", a free and truly prosperous nation will diminish with a return only possible from a populace that truly "dreams" again for the blessings of liberty.  As government becomes the central planner with many dug in for years in self service and often no longer holding a pretense of serving the people, citizens have become worshipers and are fearful of the behemoth that has grown despite the foundation of a beauty document, the Constitution of the United States of America conceived to prevent such tyranny.

Government has promised that their policies will create a robust economy, yet how can they do this when government creates nothing and is made up more increasingly of crafty campaigners supported by huge donations for special interests.  Many government "leaders" have been drenched in politics their whole lives and have never produced or worked very long in the private sector and are increasingly out of touch with real working people who pay taxes to support them, their marvelously cushy benefits and those loyal supporters they bring on board with them.  Government workers aren't likely to leave as the benefits have become quite abundant and addicting and as of late attitudes paired with a heavy dose of arrogance and secrecy to secure their positions and benefits are prevalent.  Stonewalling and cover-ups are increasingly the norm.

Our founders knew the importance of a free press and that too is sinking into oblivion with so many so called journalists who are steeped in ideology and propagandized support for the government they are supposed to be challenging. Instead of light and true information ignorance and darkness are the result.  Many in the press seem to be equipped only with journalism degrees and don't seem to be able to analyze or dig for information or remain on their toes when being stonewalled by those programmed to "handle" inquiry. This is a profession of the curious, but curiosity seems to be a desert in our current media.  The all too complicit relationship between press and politician has advanced to a frightening degree with the way President Obama is coddled and left to his own devices without scrutiny. He tell the media what to think and they report it without question.  Many, if not a too large percentage of citizens are contented with what a lazy press delivers never questioning or making the connection between promises broken and lack of personal and national progression.  It was not too long ago when the American press and US citizens were eager to call out the tyranny of Soviet Union and their state sponsored media and their expected propaganda.  Oh we were so superior then and what a difference a few generations make!

Some of our politicians are attempting to create a society of ease and entitlement based on a vague notion of "equality".  The concept is named but not properly defined, this new "equality".  When the founders spoke of equality, they defined it as equaity ofl opportunity but no guarantee of equal outcome as we are not born of equal talent, but must be free to express and advance our particular talents to our own choosing.  This is true Liberty, and the goal of the founders.  The new politicians are less interested in honoring success than making excuses for those who fumble into problems and pain making them believe that it is not their fault and they are being taken advantage of by the successful.  For the lazy mind, this is a perfect out and more and more are taking it.  Politicians again take advantage by creating programs paid for by the workers to "help" those disadvantaged persons to advance.  Lyndon Johnson created the "war on poverty" over fifty years ago and poverty obviously won.  In his book "Intellectuals and Society" Thomas Sowell makes the point that these central planners continue to create more and more costly programs without reviewing the results, then repeat the process with the same sorry result.

     One of the great mistakes is to judge programs by their intentions and not by their results. 
          ~Milton Friedman

Natural Law teaches that human beings are successful by their own initiative.  Giving a helping hand is quite different than the destructive coddling and excuse pandering that is destroying so many lives.  But there is a purpose to the madness that may have begun as a sincere experiment.  It provided support and votes to perpetrate the myth and keep the central planners in power and riches.  Those paying attention and paying the bill are waking up to the edidentual destruction of a free and prosperous society.

As government grows and becomes a limitless, it needs constant cash support. It spends without limits.  Its not their money earned and the debt will be passed on to subsequent generations who cannot punish those with protections or have gone to the grave. As government grows the un-elected bureaucracy grows with it  and they need something to do; the result more laws and regulations strangling the innovators and new business creators.  So as these forces overtake the way business is done in the formerly free enterprise experiment, we have factions arguing for more Marxist solutions and others arguing for the former laissez-faire policies that were the foundation of growth as well as those who support large corporations to the detriment of fairness creating too cozy relationships with policy makers and special interests.  Marxist solutions were a European response to the problems created over centuries of evolution of governing.  Kings, emperors, tyrants, wars, peasant culture were never a big part of the American experiment.  We were a new opportunity, making our own mistakes and determined to correct them.  Though with some errors in growth such as slavery, some will never be satisfied with any progression.

So over the relatively few generations of the birth of this new nation, we have reverted, lost much of what some knew and understood to be a well thought out blueprint for a civil, prosperous and free society.  A society conceived by minds more brilliant and thoughtfully guided by enlightenment philosophy is dismissed by those who have not been educated enough or as Benjamin Franklin with John Adams and the founders described it, a constitutional republic conceived for a moral and virtuous people.  Could it be that by not honoring the qualities of virtue and morality we have given up our natural freedom and are slowly but surely becoming the new slaves.  Those who are wage slaves support those increasing numbers who are contented with less than mediocrity and innovators burdened by regulation are slaves to that monster. Corporate fat cats will stay that way as long as they support and don't disrupt their cozy government relationships.  All the while the central planners are secure in their power as they have illegally diminished ours.  A task many supported and still support out of ignorance of the fact that our government was conceived by the people and for the people.

WHAT I REMEMBER

As time goes by, more quickly each year, I find myself looking back and comparing the new years to the old.

I remember safety and security, a mile walk to a birthday party when I was 7 years old, wearing my one party dress for such occasions and carrying a small wrapped gift worth only a few dollars.  The walk back was the same plus a sugar rush from ice cream, cake and soda; less a gift under my arm.

I remember simplicity: just party games, expected sweets, a paper table cloth, paper cups and children that at 7 years old were expected to behave.  No pizza or jumping houses.. or parents aside from those of the birthday girl.  We had fun.

I remember my parents who talked about the depression from time to time, never the war.  My father who fought in the war, returned, married my mother had five kids and moved on.  I remember my mother telling of her mother who came through Ellis Island expecting some glorious city with streets clean and golden who ended up in tears on the strange, new, filthy streets of New York.  She moved on too and found a position in elegant Beverly Farms as a maid and later found my grandfather, a butler for the same family.  They moved on; he became a carpenter and created a nice life for their three children, my mother being the youngest.
My father had a different story.  He was one of eight whose mother died when he was twelve.  His father, a fisherman was "always out to sea" as he put it and married a woman to look after his children.  She had children of her own and resented those of her new absent husband.  He told the story, but that was it.  My father insisted on good shoes for his children as he didn't have the luxury of his own shoes, just hand me downs with holes.

I remember the shopping trip to Hanlon's, a store known for only well made shoes with my father and two of my sisters.  They were ugly shoes to me, like something Buster Brown would wear.  I faked to my father that they were too heavy and had trouble walking with my skinny legs.  My sisters were OK with them and tried them on again when we got home.  The shoes had smooth leather souls and my sisters slid across the living room rug enjoying their temporary new game that I could only watch with a brief, mild envy.  I remember some time later on my birthday, my father brought home a pair of pretty red buckle shoes that I thought were too young looking for me being in the last year of grammar school.  I faked again that I loved them and hid the buckle underneath my foot to make them look like what the "big girls" wore when I went to school.

I remember walking to friends houses and calling out for them..Hi O Betty!  Never rang a bell, almost always played outdoors, winter, spring, summer, fall.   There were neighborhood baseball games led by the fathers when the warm weather started.  I walked often to the store with my father so I could have him all to myself.  He used to buy me rainbow ice cream cones and told me "not to tell the other kids", my siblings.  He knew the lady who owned the store and they knew him and greeted him by his first name.

When I got older, my mother used to send me to the small grocery nearby.  It was a treat to go by myself and hope for some left over change for a treat.  She would call the store and find out the exact amount, I think, because there was never any change.  My parents had a thing about sweets and our teeth.

On Friday nights in front of the TV, we all got to choose a candy bar from a variety pack.  My older sister always got the "Payday".  I always wanted "Jr Mints" or  "Milk Duds" so they would last longer.  Everybody was pleased with their choice.  There was never any more candy in the house except for Halloween and that was rationed well into the new year.  No soda, except for birthday parties, though the cabinet was always filled with boxes of cookies for our lunches at school.  We all had cavities and no dental insurance included with my father's Fireman's benefits.  Teeth were another big issue with my parents; it was the cookies that did us in as my parents did not think them as harmful as candy and soda.

We walked to elementary school with lunch boxes like all the other kids.  Nobody would ever have expected the schools to provide lunch, never mind breakfast.  When we arrived home after school, we played outside...jump-rope, bike-riding without a helmet, hide and seek, dolls and carriages.  We even played school teaching the smaller kids and sometimes my older cousins with their friends would teach us.

I remember tradition.  For Easter, we all had new clothes from socks to underwear, dresses, shoes and hats!  We arrived at Mass dressed up like most everyone else, piling out of the car and walking to church together.  Fourth of July was always about the fireworks at night.  Off to the pond, easy parking though with big crowds.  Earlier in the day the local parks gave out free hoodsy ice cream cups and big lolly pops.  The girls decorated their doll carriages and the boys decorated their bikes.  The best one got a prize.  Summers were beach memories.  Driving with my parents, the radio on and the windows open, nobody talked much, traffic was always light and the beach was an easy park.  Picnic baskets full, we usually stayed past sunset and the smaller kids slept on the way home.  Drive-in nights piled us all in the car once again with sacks of potato chips and juice.  We never went to the refreshment stand...too expensive...but we always begged anyway.
Back to school was about a shopping trip down town.  New clothes for all and big fatigue for all by the time we were back home by public transportation.  We sometimes had lunch "in town" but not always.  A definite treat.

Halloween came around and we wore home made costumes.  The neighborhood was filled with kids dressed as well in crude or creative costumes and we all advised each other which houses were giving out whole candy bars.  All doors were open with lights on, storm doors already put in for cool fall nights and winter on the way.  We would be out without chaperon from about 5:30-8:30 traveling to adjacent neighborhoods and moving quickly.  Thanksgiving was traditional with turkey always and we all dressed for dinner.  My mother always cooked with no help.  She did this well into her 70's.  She was a true traditionalist as was my father.  Christmas started soon after Thanksgiving, never before.  School plays and parties with music, shopping, pageants at the church with free candy canes. Picking out a tree was my father's assignment and I was more than happy to go along.  Each family member made a tradition of critiquing it.  Christmas Eve was always pure magic; the tree lights on and stockings obit the fireplace filled with small treats, mostly fruit.  Chocolates were handed out later in the day.  My older sister made it a habit of waking me up on Christmas Eve to get a spy in on my parents working on transferring the presents hidden in closets and attics to underneath the Christmas tree.  I liked surprises, but could not resist.  When my parents got too quiet, we knew they were on to our caper and we sneaked back into bed.

These memories warm me and overwhelm me with gratitude for parents who created for us a safe, fun, structured environment surrounded with love. The love required the expectation that we would all do the right things which mostly we did.  Whatever this changing world holds for the future, these special and abundant memories cannot be taken away. 

THE EVOLUTION OF DECEPTION

Its in our DNA to above all to survive. Our presence proves it.  Deception and clever behavior can outwit opponents to win the prize.

In Nature, the higher life forms learn the ways of those they prey on to assure a meal and secure another day either to enjoy or to pass on their genes.  The latter is the ultimate goal in evolution.  Within species,  the same game is played. The stronger, smarter, more clever or just the lucky ones will get to mate and carry on in their offspring.

The nature of human beings plays out the same way.  Though we have learned to be civilized in certain circumstances the game is the same. Play to win.

As the human brain evolved and we became more self aware; we learned,we pondered.  We spoke about morality and created religions.  And religions may also be a way to circle the wagons and survive as much as to live a moral code.

If the moral code was really the goal of religion, this morality would be the true expression of the world we live in.  The moral code itself is evolving.  If peace and cooperation insure survival, then eventually these modes of living will dominate human culture and we will have evolved into that survival mode of living.

In our world now, different cultures have evolved and want to survive and some to dominate. They must feel or have been told that there is not enough to go around and they must fight for their share.
This must be a learned behavior, this fear.  As humans were evolving and creating tribes, the need to survive depended upon food, shelter and surviving the animals that thought of them as dinner.

As they moved around the planet and encountered other tribes, what was their thought?  They had no idea the size of the planet, so the unknown may have initially created a fear, a fight or flight response to escape or confront a perceived enemy ready to kill or compete for food and females.  Evolution tells us that both scenarios are part of the picture leading to the current state of humanity.  The game is still being played the same way.  Fight, run, win, lose, pass on your DNA all with the cooperation of the subconscious, but guided by particular cultural norms that evolve within societies to assure a civilized peace.  Nature as it is today exists mostly in a state of peace. Natural history reveals that creation itself was not an easy task and that the birth of the universe was about a big bang bringing the elements together in some great mysterious way.

And so it all began.  In about four billion years the sun, our generous star will collapse and with it the whole solar connection including our earth.  Existence here can only hope to be a memory in the great infinity.  So maybe its like this. We have a bit of  time and a few billion years could offer the human species a way to get a few things "more" right and in order for the purpose of the peace we all crave and talk about, but increasingly eludes us as resources seemingly become more scarce and the planet more crowded.

If humanity as a whole would come together for the purpose of survival in peace, information would be shared and cooperation and compromise could create a paradise on earth.  That is the ideal of religion as each of our prominent religions promotes peace as its core.  Shared evolved knowledge and the reality of a generous planet supporting all life could conceivably allow this condition of conscious evolution toward sustainable and abundant living for all.

But that is not likely to occur.  Though knowledge of nature and natural history is growing exponentially, it is not often received as truth and beliefs are the code by which many in the human culture live.

As the planet is becoming more crowded, Nature is telling us her story of balance.  She is the boss and we must cooperate with her laws.  She knows more and she always wins.  We think we can deceive and out wit other humans for survival, but nature is the real decider.  Those who understand will have the advantage and can attempt to share the knowledge.  Those who choose to live in darkness and belief cannot be dragged into the light.  The survival gene is always turned on and the smart, clever and lucky ones will continue to do what they do to survive.

Recently we watched a presidential campaign unfold.  The one most clever, deceptive and lucky survived and won the prize.  This is evolution in action.  This prize is the opportunity to spread the winner's particular narrative for a limited period of time.  But nature will have the last word.  Change is the only constant.  Built into natural law is a truth that survives the deception.  If a fox raids the hen house, he has the prize of a few good meals, but the more evolved and smarter farmer will eventually eliminate him.  Truth stands clear on this with eons of evidence.

If we experiment with something and it does not work, we learn.  The lesson of natural law tells us that we will keep getting the lesson until we learn it.  We know deception works for short term survival, but we must also evolve consciously for our own selfish reasons of peace, prosperity and contentment.  And we can never settle in for a good nights rest thinking that we no longer have the struggle for survival and knowledge.  Knowledge is survival.

Humans came upon a truth that nature always knew.  There is a food chain and survival is a struggle. But unlike the fox in the hen house,  just take what you need for the time or the next meal may not be coming.  This is the balance built into nature. So deception to has its "natural" death.

The winner of the recent election was able to deceive his followers in order to secure his "meal".   In human evolution this is called ego.  In nature, enterprise and luck tend to insure that the stronger genes pass on and continue to compete in the next generation for survival.  Dinosaurs were deceptive and lucky for a time, but the evolving planet favored mammals and dinosaur luck ran out, no matter their size or fierce aggression.  Their brain was still reptilian with an act~react composition.  Mammals were evolving to respond to situations for attaining survival in changing world.  There are different theories as to why dinosaurs disappeared, but science now reveals that their genetic material is found in birds, so adaptation favored a unique species connected to the reptilian brain.

Deep in their DNA, humans know that survival requires work, intelligence and self sufficiency. Any person alive today has this knowledge secured deep in the genes. Belief and refusal to own their own knowledge fostered self deception.  For a period of time mothers take care of their babies, but then it is up to them to care of themselves or perish.  We can see a planet in flux with storms, earthquakes, tornadoes, drought, firestorms all in play with climate change.  Many have and will perish but greater chances for survival will rest with the same ability to know the game and deceive the prey.  As resources become scarcer with deception and growing planet population fear and chaos will continue to shape evolution.  Those deceived into thinking that central planning and not their own enterprise  could deliver their survival, will inevitably be gravely disappointed .  Again survival requires cooperation and intelligence for the long term.   Females have always been the keeper of evolution, choosing the more attractive and strong over the weak and inept,  hence assuring a stronger species moving forward.  So deceiving females into thinking that central planning will assure their health and future prosperity insults the known DNA within each mature woman.  Collective thinking will serve to deceive and the central planner will control the prey without their knowledge.

History tells us that the winner controls the narrative.  The winner has no real use for the support team other than to secure his position.  The ego will continue the deception including the deceiver himself.  History also tells us that the deceiver can hold the winner position for generations.  Nature will eventually decide again on a change.  Humans love to think of themselves as altruistic, but this is a rare quality.  Become a sage renouncing all material excess and one will likely be supported by those who love the world more, but support the ideal. Or become an altruistic "freedom fighter" for those who are not willing and an early death may be likely.  The first freedom fighters in the American Revolution were the brave,  but opposed by the majority.  Many more joined in likely because it became apparent that this choice was between and ideal that they began to accept so that turning backward to the known was no longer viable.  The world as we know it can only be changed by ideas, not by deceivers.  History knows periods of ideas, Renaissance, American Revolution, World War 2, that change the direction and become the story or narrative.  The periods of failure become a footnote, Marxism, Naziism, Berlin wall in recent history because society is not moved forward and eventually rejects the deceptive story that brought no real benefit or insight.  The contributions of the Roman Empire, the culture of ancient Egypt, early Greek philosophy and the great Dynasties of China are remembered, revered and recorded for generations because of the value embedded in the human experience those contributions made.

So though deception is the tool of evolution, deception itself does not survive the story which is the product that lives to tell the tale.  So if the deceiver as in a Hitler has no lasting product to deliver, there will be no evolution.  If the deceiver like the Royalty of England produces a product say chivalry and decorum those elements will move society forward and survive.

Civilization tends to go to hell and back, but the "back" is what survives, not the hell.  Could humanity come to a place where altruism could be the ultimate selfish act as the planet warms and fills with other humans?   Could we deceive ourselves from eons of selfish evolution into thinking that altruism could ultimately be the final product, and lasting product of the last deception.

At that utopian level, there will be nobody needed to relate the narrative.  The ultimate story of evolution would be told.   As we know the planet is finite. Could we see it to its end in balance or will the ego of deception take us all to an early end?

Either way, that story will never be written.

FOUNDING FATHERS' INSIGHT: Natural Law in the Declaration of Independence

Three centuries ago humankind embarked on the greatest evolution of consciousness and civic direction yet to be realized. Respect for the individual. Respect for that which is contained in eons of physical evolution and survival. Imagining an opportunity for freedom and dignity, a few smart Englishmen, our early American fathers presented a case for self determination. Blood was shed and suffering ensued, but in the end a nation, moving forward in imperfection, was forged to allow the flourishing of potential by any human willing to take on the challenge.

Democracy lives here imperfectly, but has produced brilliant children. IF we should stay close to the guiding light of words penned by Thomas Jefferson, we will succeed in moving towards a better democracy for all who can really conceive of it.  To conceive properly, the foundation of the document of the constitution must be understood and the republic for which it stands must understand its profound beauty in that it honors individual rights, liberty and justice for all and the insight of separation of powers.

Our American Declaration of Independence of 1776 states in the first paragraph that the course of events impels this nation to separate from "Political Bands" and "to assume among the Powers of the Earth, the separate and equal Station to which the Laws of Nature and of Nature's God entitle them a decent Respect to the Opinions of Mankind..." Re-appreciating and studying closely the tremendous POWER of these words, the decision is made to adopt the finer and higher road that "Nature's God" has determined for mankind from the very beginning; from the Source to which Jefferson refers taking us on a journey back to our original birthright. He capitalizes the key words realizing the core of the Truths in his words. The Laws of Nature entitle Respect to the Opinions of Mankind. In other words the Laws of Nature govern the ascent of Mankind, not the laws of man. And he is stating here that the laws of man now to be determined by the new nation will be in Honor of the deeper Laws of Nature from which man derives all he has and not from a prescribed set of rules determined by a tyrant for his own purpose.

This beacon and example of Nature is the original oracle by which we are led. We forget this more often than we can remember or even know, but the words in this Declaration have forged themselves in American identity and guidance for as long as the Nation survives. And this Nation will survive if it stays true to the great DNA from which we have evolved. We are Entitled to our individualism and self determination. The drama played daily as the American Experience is proof in action to Jefferson's words connecting the undeniable Laws of Nature.

The second paragraph reinforces the first with the logical conclusion that "All men are created equal and endowed by their Creator with certain unalienable Rights, that among these are Life, Liberty and the Pursuit of Happiness." Created equal for the entitlements above stated and implied with the word "among" that Nature/Creator has bestowed other rights to be accorded to human being, leaving open the exploration of Democracy. The Declaration goes on to describe a government that is build on these concepts derived through "Nature's God". They are not referring here to any religion, but to the Source connecting all.

From these wise words we can be truly inspired and freely guided to deeply understand the Laws of Nature. Studying the Natural world we can see the process and beauty of survival and that Nature is kind and giving but has rules. Learning about the Natural world we free ourselves to progress using correct language and insight to Know on a deeper level what Source is telling us. We have no other source as we cannot trust the interpretation of a few who contrive words and deeds and color them for an ego-centric purpose.

So as the Declaration honors the INDIVIDUAL, each of us has the responsibility in the study and learning process to the highest level in order to form this "more perfect union". The POWER here is given to the INDIVIDUAL. When the individual steps up to their greater responsibility, the leadership will be decided and determined upon greater expectation and the leader will lead following the elevated demands of an educated population.

It is very important to remember and understand that "created equal" means in opportunity and assurance for the "'Pursuit of Happiness". Our constitution guarantees liberty and the right to become the best person we choose to be. We come into the world with varying qualities of financial opportunity, health, intelligence, beauty and so on. We are entitled only to Life, Liberty, working toward our own Happiness, and Respect according to the specifics described in our Declaration.

As we as individuals pursue real knowledge and uncover the Example in the Natural Creation, more ancient than man and much wiser and successful, we will create a more cohesive, sustainable, useful and livable world. We can get there if we honor these principals and use our minds and bodies in useful and generous ways. The ego has its place, but unity with the guidance of the Natural World will bring us towards understanding that we live inside a Miracle and we are the biggest part of it.

The Founding Fathers understood our need to honor something greater than ourselves and to work toward understanding that. The Laws of Nature, of Creation are at the core of our connection to survival and they validate our pursuit of Excellence. The American Nation was founded on these principals and it is now up to each individual to understand this Truth on a deeper level and get moving in the direction that is beckoning us to where we all really want to go. Being a part of the great Soul of Creation, it is in our DNA to work to really Know this.

The words of Jefferson were well thought out and reflected the thoughts of the leaders of the time or the Declaration would not have been ratified. Ancient wisdom has guided mankind for thousands of years, but before the conception of America, had never really been put into practice. With the insight of these remarkable words and guidelines, and dedication from a critical mass of American citizens, we can rediscover the deeper meaning and become aware again of the prose and its deep connection to Natural Law. Shared responsibility begins to have a beautiful tone when married to the study of Natural Law and the words of the Declaration. Those who become successful have a great opportunity to teach and those who need to learn have the opportunity always to do so, even if on their own. Entitlement is not found in Nature and those who construe to assist persons in need must do so within the general guidelines of the Declaration and Natural Law. Charity also does not exist in Nature, but with mankind as the greatest creation the concept of charity was conceived and is our best remedy for assisting those in need to help themselves back into thriving. Human populations will always have those dependent on society, but when we make it easy for dependence on society rather than self, Natural Law is obviously violated. Security is not a part of Natural Law, yet we are entitled to defend our liberties against tyranny. In fear of losing liberty, we must guard against building an over sized military rather than building security through inner strength and be an example of this to other nations.

Our America has grown in the centuries since its conception due to the solid foundation on which it was build, but it has gone astray with complex solutions to problems that require more simple common sense attention. The key to our success will come from what is True in our being. We have our guiding lights and we have only to understand the connection that was understood at the founding of the great nation we live in. The human mind can extrapolate from simple wisdom readily available to keep creating the world imagined by those early leaders. America is still attracting people desiring freedom, individualism, and self determination. The American ideal

is a birth right blessed by a Knowing nation and guaranteed by the Laws of Nature.

UNDERSTANDING THE FEMININE

The feminine/masculine energies are expressions of the Natural world. In Nature that balance is constantly achieving itself. If the feminine energy can be described as nurture, quiet, growth and transformation and the masculine as deliverance, provision, action, and accounting then we can, as earlier cultures did, assign the earth as the feminine and the sun as masculine.

Looking at it with this physical form and example, it is an easier concept to begin to understand rather than using a man/woman example as both embody these masculine/feminine energies in varying proportions. As winter moves into spring, warm air masses from the south meet cold air masses from the north. A tornado can result. This is not conscious Nature out to destroy, but the forces of the Natural world achieving balance; the natural state. For the sake of illustration we can think of the calm (feminine) being adjusted for accounting by the wind (masculine). The air masses have to adjust, so each energy is balancing the other. After the storm, the earth returns to calm and each energy has expressed itself in its necessary way. Looking again at the example of earth representing the feminine and the sun the masculine, vegetation needs the sun to produce. All life is dependent on a food source and the feminine and masculine are contributing equally to the balance of life on earth.

This example is necessary to divorce the idea of woman/man as solely representative of the masculine/feminine principal.

Our world has evolved (or the word devolved may be a better description) to a place where the masculine has taken on a more important role and the feminine is misunderstood and the feminine energy finds itself imprisoned and dishonored. The sun has 4 billion years to burn out, but the planet earth is fragile in its relationship to life. Human activity imbalanced with masculine energy, provision (over building), action (unnecessary wars), deliverance (egotistical control over woman's lives and reproduction) lead to the serious accounting imbalance in our "civilization" today. Civilization appears to be increasingly uncivilized. While all the masculine attributes are necessary for a prosperous world, we need to take a serious look at the devaluation of the feminine and review this principal. Life on earth is becoming seriously stressed and indicating to the human family something is very wrong and out of balance. Though the sun will continue without the earth, it will have less to do. The earth will continue and do very will without human ignorance and exploitation. Our Mother Earth does NOT need us. The relationship of the sun and earth is in natural balance because that is what they know how to do in their perfected state of being. They are our examples The human family needs both the sun and earth for life to continue; masculine and feminine for life to continue and for the joys it brings.
If man desires an end to life, it can continue its ways of the ego and disregard for the delicacy of the earth continuing on the path that will eventually lead to the destruction of life as we know it.

If we can begin to go back and understand the Natural world, we have a perfect example to guide our path. Ironically many of our problems arise from women who see themselves as having less value than the masculine. This cannot be denied as women often give their sons more value and expect less of them when it comes to family responsibility. While this statement needs more official study, the outcome in the larger world is obvious. Men are in power in all areas of our culture with women seemingly content to take a lesser role. Some studying Nature and science are brave enough to uncover some interesting findings though. Our Judeo/Christian story of Adam and Eve has come into question with discovery of mitochondrial DNA being passed through the female telling us that it was Eve who came first. Adam's rib it seems is a story passed down through generations that are now challenging the myth.

OUR IMBALANCED WORLD

Doctors, mostly men dominate medicine and dictate to nurses, mostly women who are paid less and do the physical caring of patients. With high incomes their work mostly consists of prescribing drugs promoted heavily by the drug companies headed by men who advertise heavily and possibly invent conditions to sell drugs and keep the feminine nurturer/healer in chains. By studying Nature for a narrow purpose, they degrade and repackage it and sell it back at high cost and often false promise. In health and healing men dominating in an area mostly associated with the feminine principal of nurturing is most especially alarming. As health care costs increase, here in the USA, the health of our society is actually deteriorating.

In government our male dominated "leaders", continue on the path of cronyism awarding their backers with rewards that serve their narrow needs. This is a world wide phenomenon and is less a problem in the west than in heavily male dominated cultures in the Arab world and parts of Africa and elsewhere in the third world. But though evolving, the problem persists in the west with the developed world the most prolific consumers and polluters.

In education, the emphasis is becoming more and more about tests and degrees. Teachers in early education (mostly women) are less educated with science knowledge woefully lacking, though science and technology are bringing greater knowledge and awareness of our natural world. Those in positions of power and decision making though in early education are mostly men. As education goes from elementary through higher grades then onto college and post graduate, we see again the dominance of men in prominent positions. We see education which should be a nurturing experience, one of competition.

Religions are founded on male experience and thought. Many have rid themselves of the sacred feminine altogether relegating the female as merely a servant of the male. Extreme orthodoxy in some of the Muslim faith as an example, has wrapped the female totally in black as if she does not really exist at all aside from serving the needs of men. In Catholicism, the Virgin Mary has a high position and for some Catholics a prominent one, yet the hierarchy of the Catholic church is male dominated and powerful. Judaism passingly mentions the female and also consists of male dominated hierarchy. Buddhist belief honors the feminine through meditation and respecting the silence, but those who would be recognized in the religion are male.

Pointing out the imbalances we could mention other institutions, but the point to be made here is one of observance. Certainly men evolved to positions in society of power as women were nurturing the family, but the feminine energy has been put to jail and this is where we need to review and revisit the idea of the feminine.

Again if we can look at the example of Nature as teacher and the representatives of Earth as feminine and Sun as masculine we can draw up an example to follow and learn from. The answers are there. We have only to look, study, honor and learn. As population increases (masculine overseeing of reproductive rights), problems grow with it. Nature does not support imbalance. We are on fragile ground and it is up to us to undue the darkness we have brought ourselves to by honoring masculine energy over the feminine energy. Natural Balance says they are both equal.

HEALTH BENEFITS OF TURMERIC

Turmeric has been used for over 2500 years. Common in Indian, Asian and Middle Eastern cuisines, its active ingredient, curcumin, a strong antioxidant has been shown to have many healthful benefits. Known for its antibacterial and anti-inflammatory properties, it is now being studied in the prevention of Alzheimer's disease with research studies indicating positive results in removing the amyloid plaque build up in the brain that is associated with this disease.

If these benefits are not enough to consider using this spice in cooking, just taking a small amount (a teaspoon full) two times per week is an easy way to reap its many healthful benefits. Capsules are available widely in health food stores, but a good result can be had from just the spice shelf.

Turmeric is a rhizomatous perennial plant in the ginger family. The rhizomes are collected and ground into the powder commonly used in curries giving it the deep yellow color familiar in Indian cooking.

With its anti-inflammatory properties and a powerful cox-2 inhibitor it has been shown to relieve arthritis symptoms and for its positive affect in minimizing irritable bowel syndrome. It may be helpful in alleviating psoriasis. As a natural agent it has no side effects.

As an antibacterial it has been used for centuries in the healing of wounds and is currently reported as useful in healing damaged skin.

In Chinese medicine is has been used to treat depression.

It is not surprising that turmeric is being studied as a role in the prevention of cancers with its antioxidant capacity and ability to address so many afflictions within its numerous healing properties.

Turmeric can aid in digestion and fat metabolism possibly leading to weight loss.

As with any intake product, care should always be taken. Though a benign product, pregnant women are cautioned as it can be a uterine stimulant and can be problematic for those with gall bladder disease.

Another miracle of the natural medicine chest, turmeric offers health benefits yet to be discovered.

INVESTING IN POVERTY, The Burden of the Needy and Greedy

Throughout the world the problem is the same and increasing. Greed and need. The haves and the have-nots. For the truly greedy, this is their desire fulfilled. For those who imagine a better world, their "solutions" are to feed poverty and embrace it as a necessary commodity. In the developing world, many are dying, reproducing themselves into a world of hopelessness, too weak to do more than survive another day. Here in the United States, politicians speak about the war on poverty and "fighting" poverty, as the problem gets worse.

Maybe it is a human condition, but I do not think so. Before civilization, when humans were in tribes and caring for one another as a unit, I doubt the word poverty was part of any developing language. How we evolved as a species, with such a dark side has answers in its very evolution. Survival is always at play and the drama is becoming very ugly. Could the answer be simple? Yes, but the solutions become more complicated as we divide the human family and responsibility is taken from the poor themselves.

The earthquake in Haiti illuminated the problem of poverty and its pain and consequences. President Obama said, "we will not forget you." But he did. He has too many other problems. The world sent food and supplies and the greedy took over. Just one glaring example of the worlds misery.

There is no excuse for the growing poverty in the United States. Here as the example for a better life with Lady Liberty still carrying the torch, those from other lands still come with their hope and dreams and many fulfill them. But our own citizens are distressed in growing numbers. The rules for success are the same for everybody. Responsibility, education (not necessarily formal), hard work and belief that you have an opportunity for success.

We had an opportunity in this country to show the world how it is done. The idea is increasingly corrupted as the problem grows and the solutions are like band aids on wound that showed signs of healing and was busted open again by the doctors that were supposed to have the remedy. Welfare only allowed human souls to do nothing and get paid for it. It could only have been a temporary fix and when recipients were weaned off, the whole showed progress.

Those in distress have a greater responsibility for alleviating that distress when given assistance. This must be taught to them if they have not come to that realization. Those who do charitable work to make themselves feel useful are part of the problem if they do not educate, but give maudlin diatribes about their contributions. Those who are contributing by just minimizing temporary pain are providing hope, but cannot forward a better way.

We must plan for the elimination of poverty, by a series of steps that will be painful for those who would rather not face the problem head on. There are groups that study the causes of poverty. That is a start, but it has not given answers to those who get involved in solutions and take action for a way forward. As California is becoming a greater burden to the rest of the United States, with growing debt and growing numbers of people on assistance and entitlement programs, a program has started for those homeless souls to give shelter and all the counseling that they are willing to participate in. Will they be educated in the steps to responsible living as money is spent? A young child comes into the world from a poor mother who has limited resources. What chances does that child have for success? If the mother is educated about the conditions for success will she bear another child that the taxpayer will need to support?

Education demands discipline and our schools became "dumbed down" to accommodate those struggling. Drop outs will continue if the mind is not educated about the rules for success. It is not the politicians' job to throw money and words at a problem, but to lead the way to higher standards. That is why we voted for them. That is why they were hired. The same road they took to get to where they are must be shared in education. If those who exhibit irresponsible behavior are rewarded instead of taken to task, the problem persists exponentially.

The leaders, those who took the reigns and made decisions for their own benefit failed us. Banks, brokers, watchdogs, those politicians empowered with our success all failed. Those in the financial industry were rewarded for their failure with payouts for their "talent". We were "saved' from a depression by those who created an economic condition, the likes of which are yet to be realized. Welfare for the rich has highlighted the fact, that reward for poor performance is the road to darkness. Those who should be contributing to a finer example failed miserably. We are all left to pick up the pieces. While poverty and stress are exacerbated, the foxes walk off with their kill and continue in their greed.

Rather than investing in things that continue not to work, we all have to take a serious and second look. We must be brutally honest and work towards investing in the values that will sustain us. We will not survive never mind thrive, until we take common sense steps toward right living. Every one must be taught the basic rules for success: Responsibility, daily education, dedicated work, honesty and gratitude. This is the foundation for a successful society. If we can example this in our own country, we can export the product without using words like "fighting" and "war" to eliminate the plague of poverty and hardship that we all must pay attention to in order to overcome.

We have one beautiful planet that provides a nourishing home for us. It is getting ever crowded with ignorance, violence and a population that increasingly cannot sustain itself. "We cannot solve the problem from the place where we created it", Einstein famously states. So in order to create a "new world order' we must resort to established laws found as the basis of all religions and see ourselves as a human family working for the unit rather than the dictator who comes in many forms. The planet is insisting we get it right. Need and greed are dictators of destruction.

ETIOLOGY

It was Sunday February 11, 2001. A perfect mild Santa Ana day and I went for my usual Sunday hike in the Santa Monica Mountains. On this day I chose the 12 mile loop through Santa Inez Canyon, up through Topanga, past Eagle Rock and back through the fire road. Starting out about 2, I wound up finishing just after sunset when all is quiet and that satisfaction of a long hike permeates and a treat and rest are the final reward. As I was coming down the hill on the last stretch I heard an owl and looked up to appreciate it observing me. A perfect ending to a gorgeous day unaware that it would be a very long time before I could do this hike again.

On Monday when I woke up, my right knee was swollen and I could not bend it. Thinking this would be quite temporary, since the same thing happened about 5 years ago and it worked itself out, I decided to lay low from working for the day and cancelled all my appointments. I figured that one day of rest would ease the problem. By Tuesday, the problem persisted and was accompanied by an unusual fatigue. Since my day was full of appointments and the week would be busy since I let go of Monday, I got to work. By Wednesday, I could not continue and cancelled the rest of the week. I was contracted with a CPA firm as marketing and sales manager, and was solely responsible for presentations and bringing in the business, so the CPA insisted on my seeing his Chiropractor. I did not think this was what I needed, but complied. Her office was in the San Fernando valley in Encino and the drive seemed daunting as I felt so weak and tired. By the beginning of the next week, I had set up appointments for treatment as the ultrasound relieved the growing pain if even temporarily. By this time, I knew I had a problem. I had no health insurance or disability insurance and had bills to pay, so had to continue working. Fatigue and pain were put aside as my phone work continued and I managed as many presentations as I could.

The swelling moved into my left knee and the fatigue continued, but somehow I managed as the CPA I was contracted with was very understanding. The swelling and muscle pain continued to worsen. It was spreading to my ankles, elbows and wrists and the worst was that my car door was broken on the driver's side and I had to climb over the shift getting in from the passengers side. The car was a standard shift and I had to shift by pulling up my leg with my left hand as the muscles were so painful on top of my thighs that I could not lift my legs.

I kept on with the chiropractor as long as I could since the treatments eased the pain, but eventually the fatigue and time involved was just too much. I was about a month into a routine of getting up at 5:30 to get ready for 10:00 appointments. I had no energy for anything but work and could not cook or eat much. My morning routine included a shower, wrapping my ankles, knees, elbows and wrists with supports, after manoeuvering around my apartment slowly with the constant ache of every move. I would do 2 or 3 appointments a day and come right home, get changed and sleep by about 7 or 8 until the next day and start all over again.

Mid March, I saw an MD on a Saturday. If I did not have to go to work, I felt OK and could get to a doctor and get home again for rest. He thought I had arthritis and took some tests finding a high cholestorol read. My joints were not painful, it was the muscles around them that were achy. I was getting weaker and the problem was spreading to my neck and the bottom of my feet and could not walk, actually using crutches to get to appointments. I had to go into the office from time to time and this was rough as the walk from the parking lot was fairly long. My knees could not bend so I walked like a stiff when not on the crutches.

I am writing about this almost 10 years after the initial problem with my right knee. I have been thinking about it lately as I have a bit of problem with that same knee. But the main purpose is to document it and showcase how my belief that the body has the tremendous ability to heal itself along with natural remedies and in the good hands of practitioners who also hold this belief confirmed by experience after experience. At the time there were a few people who did not believe me, including Jim until he saw what had happened to my legs. A dedicated hiker, my legs were strong and toned, but now my knees bulged and my calves were stick thin with no muscle tone. Whatever this was was attacking quickly. I had to get something more done to ease the pain and stop the spread of my weakening muscles. On the morning I awoke and could not turn my neck, I started to think this thing would spread internally to my heart and that would be it.

I made an appointment with the acupuncturist who was just 2 blocks away from my apartment. The treatments worked to stop the spread and alleviated the pain and swelling, especially on the bottom of my feet. I could walk again without the crutches. He gave me an herbal tea treatment which nourished me to the soul. I kept up the treatments an started to feel better, but the pain and fatigue were still haunting me. The back of my right knee felt like there was some kind of glue sticking my muscles to the bone. One of my clients told me about sam- e around April and I found that helped with the fatigue. I never gave up that I could get to the bottom of this and somehow get well again. That winter was particularly rainy and getting into the car in the rain on the passenger side climbing over the clutch was a challenge that each day became routine. One particular rainy day, I stopped for lunch and could not get up to get the food I ordered. I asked the wait staff to get it for me and they were very accommodating. When that day ended, driving home through the rain, and hobbling up the stairs, I remember feeling extraordinarily grateful for my comfortable couch and cozy apartment. I found a chair that would drop forward, so that I could get out of it easily. Things were improving slowly as far as the fatigue, but the pain and need to wrap up every day continued.

As April moved into May and the rain ceased and the weather became warmer, I had more energy and started to look for a new car....with an automatic shift. In June, I bought a luxury Volkswagen Passat. A bigger car, it took some getting used to and with my tight neck was harder to park. But it was luxurious to be able to enter a car again from the driver side. Everything was automatic including the seat adjustments and I did not have to shift. Still in pain, I decided to take some yoga classes again. It helped, but was amazing to me what I could not do. I started taking short walks and got used to the pain as the fatigue was lifting with the longer days and abundant sunshine.

In late August, I signed a new client who had a physical therapy studio. I told her of my experience and she mentioned a Naturopath who rented space from her. I set an appointment. He was a Chiropractor and a Naturopathic Doctor, ND. He offered an in depth exam asking lots of questions and hooking me up to a machine that had some ability to diagnose body problems using the principals of physics. He asked me if there was TB in the family as the machine showed exposure. I had been a microbiology lab tech and had been exposed culturing specimens so that was all I could relate. Was not sure what was going on, but the instrument indicated that my body and symptoms pointed to dengue fever. This made no sense to me since I had done no traveling in Africa or Asia. He prescribed a cocktail of rhododendrum, miatake mushroom d fraction, olive leaf and something called petrochem. I had the perscription filled on Friday at the homeopathic pharmacy that had been in Santa Monica since the 40's. I took the remedies according to directions on Labor Day weekend, almost 7 months since my ordeal began. Saturday I started to break out in ichy hives. I called Dr. Hershoff, the ND and he said not to do anything to stop it as it was part of the clearing process. An OTC cream not associated with any homeopathic remedy would be OK. By Sunday I was swollen and covered from the top of my head to the bottom of my feet in hives. My whole body was red. Jim was in Boston and I had to pick him up from the airport. When he saw me he thought I had fallen asleep in the sun. I was itchy and uncomfortable, but no longer in pain. He said the itch and that discomfort had masked it. But no. I could bend my knees without muscle pain and I felt lighter and relieved in all areas of my body. I felt cured. I put up with the hives for a couple more days, but after that I had no more problem. It was as if my body was filled with health giving pac men eating up all the mess in my body that was causing the problems. To this day, I say I had a muscle virus. One day maybe I will have a serology test to see if dengue fever is indicated in my blood, but for now I know that I had a miracle cure. I carried this virus for months and by some miracle found the right cure. My experience confirms for me that mysteries exist within and without the body. We are a long time in evolution and we have evolved along with plants and animals and are all connected. The healing process can be long, but mine so far was permanent. I had a 7 month journey of pain and fatigue that ended with education and some deeper understanding of something greater not associated with immediate relief and side effects. My belief after working in the medical system for many years was that there was something more than chemicals, drugs, surgery and a linear way of thinking about health. The medical profession as it exists today can be helpful, but they tend toward extreme and expensive procedures toward a hopeful cure. My ND charged about $400 for an extensive 2 hour consultation and a prescription that was about $70. That was it. I never needed to return. I wonder if I had health insurance what western medicine would have discovered and what it would have cost in dollars and stress to my condition. The experience highlights the closeness I felt toward Nature and how ancient remedies born from our Source are often lost to modern medicine.

As I normalized and returned to my usual healthy state, I stopped the remedies. Exactly one year later, I came down with a flu, that was debilitating and turned into pneumonia. I think my body may have weakened from the muscle virus. After that, I followed the advise of the ND and regularly take Olive Leaf. He insisted that was the main ingredient in my cure as it is a strong anti viral. I have not had a flu or other incident since. In chatting with a friend who is also a believer in natural healing, she mentioned that the olive tree is ancient and has come through the evolutionary process producing food products as well that promote health. All of this makes logical sense. I made an appointment again some years later with Dr Hershoff ND and he did not remember me or the illness. This is his life, practicing healing. What for me was so profound was just routine to him and maybe for others just unbelievable.

Some time after my healing, I remembered an incident that may explain a cause. Just prior to the onset, I had purchased a futon. One day when I was changing the bedding, I noticed a bug that looked like a tick on the bedding. I routinely ignored it. Then I remembered a red mark on my left leg that I thought may be a benign skin tumor. Maybe this was the clue. The futon came from Japan and may have been manufactured in an area of Asia where dengue fever is a problem. The insect in the futon may have been the carrier. I have no way of knowing for sure if my remembrance is a proper theory, but I do accept it as an answer to the mysterious illness that plagued me, taught me and finally enlightened me further through an experience that tested my courage.

SILENT DISASTER

The explosion on the oil rig in the gulf did not get our attention the way the horrible instant blow up of 911. September 11, 2001 was a startling wake up call that captured the world's attention. The shock gave way to a new political awareness. After the grief subsided and the mourning experienced, the city rebuilt and recovered. Though the lives lost will never be forgotten especially by the loved ones, the city is back in business.

Except for those on board, nobody heard the explosion of April 20th and the news of the disaster took many days to be fully realized. But for the future and the lives affected, this disaster may be more deadly and long term than even 911. Eleven people died instantly and their stories were lost in the reporting but for their loved ones left to mourn. Like a quiet miserable black death, the greedy oil seeps and creeps where it is cruelly destroying wild life and a way of life that may never return. The fragile Earth can handle just so much of man made disaster, but in the end, the planet will survive whether humans do or not. Will this be the planetary wake up call that will finally enlighten humans to the obvious and common sense realization that what we do to the Earth, we do to ourselves??

The answer is that it is not so obvious to most and common sense is not common but rare.

We continually give up our power to corporate and government thinking and both bumbling giants prove their incompetence in solving this looming and continuing problem. With egos as large as their ignorance, they are incapable of finding answers and at a loss as to how to get help or who to ask. If single individuals come up with innocuous ideas that seem to have some effect eg the example of the floating grain that absorbs the oil, they are dismissed while they disastrously bumble on with solutions as dark and confused as the oil itself. There are better answers from those trained outside of business, law and politics, and for this problem, that blinded tribe can only lead in darkness.

Obama says he consults with the scientific community on the problem, but why is there no action on proposed solutions? What is he waiting for and why is he spending his energy defending himself on his actions and true lack of understanding? When the disaster came to his attention, it did not catch his intelligence that this was potentially the plague of this century. He trusted the establishment on the financial crisis and we are still thrashing around in the darkness there and now he has trusted BP to give important answers and they too have come up way too shy of anything even remotely remedial. Obama cannot get a pass here. He was supposed to be the leader at the charge of "hope and change". People must be feeling hopeless because he has changed nothing but the minds of those who believed he was the great hope he claimed to be.

Leadership and corporate status quo aside, what do 'we the people' do now? When you lose your life in immediate disaster, its over and done, but what about losing your livelihood and known way of life, your environment, your family? It is certainly a deeper pain and a longer road out of sadness. Is it time now to pay attention to reality and the way the planet works? As the hurricane season approaches and the gulf stream does what it does what further misery is unfolding? Where is the killer black liquid heading?

Let the talking heads quiet down and start to listen to those who spend their lives studying our planet and its secrets and listen to what they have to tell us. Scientists have been warning for many years. And whether the planet is raging with more extreme hurricanes, tornados, damaging winds, drought, extreme temperatures has not a thing to do with man's activity we still need to pay attention. Something is happening and more misery will find its place if we do not wake up.

Knowledge is the answer and individual awareness is our only hope for finding good leaders and establishing enlightened leadership. Democracy is a dismal failure if we can only vote in the interests of our own personal needs and continue to be deficient in understanding the profound connections of earth, society and the need for a thriving cohesiveness.

ASKING THE RIGHT QUESTIONS

Illegal immigration is finally being seriously addressed due to the new Arizona law. Anxious rant of course finds its voice pandering to false ideals for political gain. There is chatter and there are opinions. Very strong opinions in most cases. If the proper questions are asked and a real answer is sought after, we could possibly steer clear of talk of racism, ethnic profiling, oppression and abuse of power. The comments of President Calderon of Mexico are particularly interesting. The focus of the Arizona Immigration reform law, sb 1070 is targeted at the south of the border illegals, because that is Arizona's particular problem. It shares the largest border with Mexico. California built a wall and the crossings in Arizona increased.

President Calderon may consider the question of why his country men and women are so anxious to cross into the United States. Mexico is a country of tremendous Natural resources and a country of great disparity between those of wealth and those desperately poor . Mr. Calderon chastised the drafters of the new law and made strong remarks about racial profiling and the targeting of Mexicans. But we must question the Mexican leader and ask what is being done on his part to offer a better life to his own people who would surely not be taking large risks for economic betterment. There are many questions about the circumstances of those who come to the US without legal rights to do so. The first and fundamental question is why they need to come here. The second: does Arizona have a right to protect its border from those who would take jobs from legal residents, utilize the taxpayer funded education system and abuse emergency health care? Talk about racism, profiling and the negative repercussions that could come of the law are merely talk at the present. This could and will happen probably in rare cases because human beings are fallible and poor enforcement by poor officers has occurred. But in sticking to fact, illegal immigration has occurred and is occurring.

If we offer an amnesty program to those entering the country with out legal benefit, then it makes sense to those seeking to come to enter this way and pay the price which will eventually lead to a legal resident status. Should the rules be the same for all or not? Do those who would take up residence as new citizens, legal or not, have responsibilities as well as rights? Should they learn to be fluent in the language of the United States, which is English? Should they bring children into the world that they can not afford to provide for? It has become increasingly the responsibility of the tax payer to provide services for those who cannot provide for themselves, most of whom are here legally. So do we increase this burden with those not legal. Are we creating a welfare state by enabling those who cannot sustain their basic needs to demand more provisions?

The state California and the city of Los Angeles has chosen to boycott the state of Arizona. Both are in budget crises and cannot meet payments and are being forced to take drastic measures laying of workers and cutting benefits. Much of this is due to their own problems with illegals, so the stance is hypocritical and politically motivated. California ballots are in many different languages. How can a voter make decisions without learning the language of the country they want to participate in? Another cost of immigration without responsibility from those choosing to live here?

These questions will not be answered by grandstanding on weak issues of human rights. The United States, though imperfect on this issue has a history of evolving toward a better and more just way of addressing human rights. The question again is; if rights are accorded, is responsibility for proper citizenry to be expected? The full story includes both. The United States is thought of as the land of opportunity. But can opportunity continue with fearful claims, stretched budgets, limiting resources, political correctness rather than attempting to reveal the whole story. Everybody wants to be the "nice" guy, the upstanding humanitarian on the right side of history, but deeper personal questions must be asked by every individual who weighs in so heavily against Arizona. If increasingly human rights are a rare commodity in countries outside the United States, then this limited part of the world is destined to be either the example or on the path to destroy the American dream of prosperity for all. This is the question President Calderon of Mexico must consider along with the rest of us. A limited planet has limited resources and rights must absolutely be balanced with responsibility. Nature dictates this. If we all decide to ask the right questions and get to a more logical understanding of our collective human condition we may make some progress. Logic is not anti- human but rhetoric without higher intent will do nothing but enable our weaknesses.

ENTREPRENEUR

The changing, not "bad" economy is calling all entrepreneurs. Seasoned self starters know this, but those considering testing their own strengths have received a great invitation, whether or not they have opened it yet. The natural course of a human life in a country that allows and even encourages it, is to be independent in thought and action. Many are called but few choose. Choice is the operative word. To jump in and do what you have always thought you could. Once the choice is made for the true entrepreneur there is no looking back. The taste of freedom and life ownership is too sweet to ever taste again for too long the "crow" dished out by conforming to a job. The journey is one of open doors and saying yes, where others continually say no.

The entrepreneur is bold, takes risk in money and self, displays initiative, is creative and moves through obstacles towards a desired goal, never considering turning back no matter the length of the journey. She learns through mistakes never encountered before the journey, but learns even more from successes gained along the way. Failure to realize the vision is not an option. Energy is high and positive adding to the human condition in real value, education and achievement. Until one has tested one's self to the highest degree possible, there is still more to learn and the true entrepreneur knows this. Business is usually associated with the term "Entrepreneur" as its route "enterprising" came before. The dream and vision becomes daily habit by testing ones' ability to make it a reality. The joy is in the journey and rewards are many for those who stay the course and realize a passion expressed. Each success brings higher confidence and self awareness and an addiction to excellence.

One cannot imagine the world without the entrepreneur, the risk taker, the visionary from whom we all benefit. This energy lifts us all because excuses and whines are not in the vocabulary.

In a changing and challenging economy, many will choose this journey; the natural way to access realization.  Every challenge is an opportunity.  From lemonade stands to innovations that have moved humanity to higher levels of ease, health, comfort, and enlightenment and beyond, we must thank the entrepreneur and if you are one, on any level, thank yourself.