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.