SCIENCE

It is overcast and cool [55F]. The little chickens sure don't mind it. They came roaring out of their coop this Morning. They greet the day with great excitement. They are six weeks old now and on the threshhold of being real chickens.

This may be a short blog. We are going to St. Cloud today. We are going to the Chinese grocery store to buy some jasmine rice. It comes in, I think, 40 pound bags. It is a nice addition to our larder. We will go out and eat and poke around a little.

Since I commented on religion, I thought I should comment on one of the other institutions of society. This one is supposed to protect us from irrational beliefs; Science.

Science, in many ways, has become a religion. It is imbued with beliefs that are merely supported by the herd mentality, status, power and money.

I acknowledge that pure science exist in universities and labs all over the Earth; however, the science that shapes government policy, and the thinking of the people, is often corrupted by money, status and power. It is used to manipulate and exploit the people.

One can see the herd mentality, power, status and money operating in every field. In fields close to my experience, psychology, sociology, and psychotherapy, I have read studies that came to conclusions based on inadequate, sample selection, and sizes and worse, seemed to be designed to reinforce what the researchers already believed. In whatever, the popular wave of the moment, there would be a plethora of studies coming out that supported the current belief. Five years later, there may be a whole new batch of studies, supporting a new belief that contradicts the earlier one.

This same thing happens in medicine, nutrition and other aspects of health management. Billions of dollars have been made, based on the faulty research, of cholesterol and its role in cardio-vascular disease. This same faulty research profoundly affected diets. Remember when we weren't suppose to eat butter or eggs? I never fell for that one. I am not claiming perfection. I know I have my blind spots and I am not immune to manipulation.

Anthropology and archeology should be immune, right? Wrong. I minored in anthropology and almost had enough credits for a major. I loved it, but even then, it was obvious that many lines of questioning were stymied by status. Belief and the herd mentality are very powerful conditions. It is difficult for a young researcher to go against his/her mentor and more difficult, to get published, in the journals that make a difference. Some beliefs, are so set in stone, that the observer does not recognize the shallowness of their support.

Okay, how about the hard sciences; physics, chemistry, mathematics etc.? Wherever, there is money to be made, there is the chance of corruption. Have you watched the evening news? Have you noticed the drug ads? Is this chemistry? Is this healing or exploitation?

Science is not immune from money, power and ego.

I intend this to be an introduction for further discussion. I would welcome comments and would be happy to reply. It will be hard to give up our favorite beliefs; but we can.

I am off to St Cloud. Have a great day!

Love and Peace, Gregg

SEEKING

 

The Sun greeted us this Morning! It seems like the first time in a few days. I don't keep track very well, but it seems like it has been rainy for a week. The Sun is now playing peekaboo with clouds, that are scuttling across the sky. All and all, a beautiful Morning.

My little chicks are getting over whatever ailed them. I think they are all, going to be all right. I didn't notice any droopiness this Morning. I think the problem may have occurred when I switched from medicated chick starter to non-medicated. I would never use medicated feed with chickens I have hatched myself and I have had 100% survival rate, at times. When I buy them from a commercial hatchery, I generally feed them medicated feed for the first couple weeks. I do this because, those chickens, are raised in such a sterile environment, I conclude, they may need something to help them until their immune systems develop. However, the lady at my favorite feed store, states that it is not necessary, she says, “Don't give them medicine unless they are sick.” I am depositionally inclined to agree with that.

Referring to my discussion on finding an appropriate word for 'all-that-is' or God, I guess I generally have used Source. I would be pleased to use God, if it wasn't so loaded.

Of course, the problem is not a word. The problem is that the word has been used to manipulate, kill, torture, indoctrinate, etc. It may be, that more people have been killed in the name of somebody's god than for any other reason.

But we know there is a positive side. People getting together in community, love, and thankfulness, once a week or so, is great. Could be very healing.

What if people got together, not because, they thought they knew the truth, but to seek the truth? What if religion became an instrument for seeking truth? What if we could all agree, that we don't know the truth?

I know that some of you think you know the truth, at least a truth that works for you. Don't lock yourself in stone. I think we are about to discover, that most of what we thought we knew, about religion, was bunk. Religion has been used to manipulate and control; it has kept us in a mindset that denies any real freedom.

Instead of getting together, and repeating what we think we know, we can get together to seek knowledge. What are we doing here in these silly bodies anyway? Another person might think, hey these bodies aren't silly, they are a marvel, look at the, engineering; all those systems humming along creating a whole that is simply grand. Isn't Nature marvelous!? Isn't Nature a miracle!?

Our existence on this planet is incredibly, amazing! We don't need preconceived ideas to interpret it. We can see with the fresh eyes of a newborn. No matter how we define ourselves, our beliefs lock us in to untruth, they keep us stuck; they keep us from learning more.

In my search for truth, the only thing, I think, I know, is that Love works. Seeing everything as Love makes life pleasant. It makes life enriching. It suggest Oneness. I don't think Love limits. It is my starting point; in the a search for truth, the search for being, the search for meaning, the search for the best way to live on planet Earth and honor ourselves, Nature and planet Earth.

I have to wash dishes and go to the feed store. Have a great day!

Love and Peace, Gregg

DO WE NEED A NAME FOR GOD

It is close to mid-day and it is only 56F. There is a brisk breeze from the West. I can feel Autumn taking hold and the anticipation of Winter. {I shouldn't think like that} The first hard frost isn't far off; perhaps this week.

Is there another word for, all-that-is, besides God. I hesitate to use the word God because it may make my agnostic and atheist friends cringe. So many people in our society, have been crippled, or at least wounded, by religion.

I was one of them. I was raised Catholic, attended a Catholic grade school and suffered the usual torture. I gave up religion by the time I was fourteen. I joke that I had to choose between God and masturbation. It wasn't completely a joke. It was not intellectually or morally tenable, that a person, would suffer damnation for being human.

I was always a searcher. I read volumes of philosophy, read the bible through, twice. I read the Koran and the Bhagavad Gita and anything else about theology, or an explanation of 'being', I got my hands on. It didn't shake me from my agnosticism. It did tell me a great deal how man struggled to explain his being.

It wasn't until I was over forty that I begin to let in information that would support something labeled "God".  It began with my interest in spirituality. I read all the Edgar Cayce material, the Carlos Castaneda books, Alan Watts and much more. When I explored reincarnation, using hypnotism, and researched near death experiences, I knew there was more to reality than I could intellectualize. I had an experience once that indicated, "There are things so unknowable, there are no questions leading to them." I knew I couldn't embrace everything with my intellect.

I thought of myself as an atheist, at one point; but, if an atheist is a person that believes there is no God, I was probably an agnostic. If one says, they see no evidence that there is a God, that is one thing, if one says I believe there is no God, that is another. A belief, is a belief, it limits learning. It creates a demarcation; an intellectual line in the sand.

I am getting off track. I wanted to explore if there was another word I could use for God, that would not cause cringing, among those who are religious adverse.

On my search I think I have discovered that, all is energy. I think this energy has a source or at least a perpetual existence, perceiving this energy as love makes life pleasant. It appears to me that the human organism, arranges energy with its senses, and perceives according to that arrangement.

It only makes sense, if one wants to be happy, to perceive all as love. It appears that we can 'see' the energy any way we are determined to do it. If we perceive love and oneness we will 'see' [create] in one direction. If we see fear and separation we 'see' something else.

In my personal journey, I see myself as energy that is temporarily split from the whole. I think that, it is perceptual, and nothing can really be split form the whole. That is what 'Oneness' is.

Substituting Oneness for God might work. Any ideas? Maybe an answer will come to me.

I will continue this discussion another time. I have dirty dishes awaiting me and I need to have brunch.

Love and Peace,  Gregg

REACTIONS

It is overcast, but the Sun is trying to break out. That is how I am sometimes, but not today. I am feeling pretty Sunny; although I just read some things on the internet that could be depressing. I am confident that the outcome will be okay. More than okay, great. How can we watch the drama, on the world stage, without reacting?

I have decided I have to begin with myself. When I can overlook, taking offense in my daily life, perhaps I will be able to rise above conflict at both levels. It is amazing how many times I will react defensively, when there is no need. Is there ever a need? Why would one be defensive? What are we defending; our opinion of ourselves or the opinion of the other? If we loved ourselves, would we need to defend ourselves?

Ego is an interesting thing. Its involvement in defending ourselves, from another's opinion, is a misuse. The ego was developed to protect our fragile bodies, when we first experimented, with life on this planet. It was necessary to alert us, when we were being stalked, as prey. The ego was later used to manipulate and control us by those who sought power; but that is a different and long story; we discussed it before and probably will again.

The ego has no place in our relations with each other. Everyone is entitled to their opinion. We need not defend ourselves from others' opinions. Most of us say we want to be peaceful. Can we do that and be outraged? Can we do that with red hot reactions? Can we do that and be defensive? Can we do that and take offense?

I don't want to be crazy anymore. I know I can be peaceful, all the time. I know at my core I am love and I know I am surrounded by a loving universe. Neither I or the Universe needs defending.

How can we heal our relationships if we are always reacting? Hey, sometimes people are having a bad day or they didn't sleep well. Maybe they throw a barb or criticism our way; it doesn't help to throw gasoline on the fire, does it?

The other, is love, at the core, too. They are just not feeling it at the moment. Our silence can be healing. Silence is good. In silence; love can peek out. Most reactions, especially defensiveness, keeps love out.

We, humans, need to give ourselves a lot of latitude. We can have a firm intent, not to react defensively, and then we find ourselves doing it. We need to forgive ourselves and avoid discouragement. It is a journey. But we will make it. We can use whatever personal beliefs we have, whether we label it God, Our Higher Selves, Our Guides, Our Guardian Angels,The Great Spirit, Allah; it doesn't matter, what we call 'the help' it is there. The Universe is Love and help is available.

Whenever we experience our ego taking control, ask for help. When we get used to expecting, the energy of love around us to be embracing, always; we will find ourselves, not reacting to any perceived negativity. We can be above it. We don't feel love and compassion, for those who could use it, when we are reacting to them.

Some of us have been reacting defensively for a long time. It has become a habit. It is a habit we can overcome. The reward of calm and peacefulness is great. It is very reinforcing.

We are great reservoirs of Love and Peace. Let us not clog up the conduits by our silliness. We need no defense.

Happy Friday! Celebrate!

Love and Peace, Gregg

MORE ON FREEDOM

I have been concerned about my five week old chicks. They look droopy. Similar to how they look if their too cold, but not as fluffed up; more saggy. I don't know when it started, I hope it is not related to the expensive organic feed I bought. The timing seems to fit; but that is hard to believe. I am still using a heat lamp, although it is raised very high. I don't think their either too cold or hot. I had Jamie come out and look at them with me. She concurred with me that perhaps we should let them free range. They have eliminated all the greenery they had in their little pen. I was planning on keeping them penned up until they were six weeks old.

They immediately perked up on being let out of the pen. They have a whole world of grass, weeds and bugs to feed on; hopefully, they will find what they need, to stay perked up. I feel better about it after seeing how they responded to being free.

Usually, that last sentence would give me a segue into a discussion about freedom. I am not sure I am qualified to have the discussion. On one hand, I can't think of any thing I would be doing, if I knew, I could do anything I want. I don't want to do anything I am not doing. Well........................ it is hard to say; in any case freedom of the body is not my biggest concern.

Freedom of the mind. Now that is a horse of a different color. I want freedom of the mind. I want to be free of fear. I want to be free of anxiety. I don't want any darkness in my mind. I don't want to be angry, ever. I never want to feel depressed. I don't want to worry!

I know how to have that freedom. I have it when I feel loved. I have it when I feel loving. Why can't that be constant? It could be, if we could rid ourselves, of all the old programming, that alludes to our worthiness. I am getting better and better; but why does it have to be gradual? Why can't I realize I am a loving being, once and for all? I do catch myself when I am feeling miserable about something, and I can bring myself out of it, by reminding myself, that I am a loving member of a loving universe. I know one of these days I will realize, “Hey! I am happy and I can't remember being unhappy.”

When I am free in my mind, I can ask myself if I am free in my body [behavior], I think I am.

I have to keep an eye on those chicks, on their first day of freedom.

Love and Peace, Gregg

NATURE

The Seasons are changing. The Sun is trying to emerge; but, it has been cool, 50s F and raining. I had to wear my poncho doing the chores this Morning. It supposed to get into the 70s today, perhaps.

Nobody, I know, is talking about the election. I won't bring it up. I try not to pay attention to it. It is hard to ignore. There is something disgusting and degrading about it. Neither party talks about any real issues. As a life long liberal, I understand the polarization and the seduction of siding with one side over the other; but is this the best we could do? Perhaps it is fitting, that as the world, as we know it, crumbles, we have a bizarre play caricaturing the worst of humanity. We will have to watch how this play turns out. I don't think the Republican candidate really wants to be president. I think he just ran for a lark, and now he just wonders, how far he can push the ridiculousness.

It is a good lesson in how we are smothered and captivated by our belief systems. Each candidate tries to appeal to what they think are the peoples prejudices. Both Democrats and Republicans have their knee jerk reactions; they are unreasoned ideas that stem from belief systems, they may not even be aware of. {And it is okay to end a sentence with a preposition- so there}

I am not any better, I, too, have to give up old belief systems, that generate thoughts, that directly [or indirectly] affect perception.

As a people, we need to get out of our heads and get our feet in the soil of this beloved Earth. We need to re-acquaint ourselves with Nature. We need to begin anew from the bottom up. Just like each individual needs to, unlearn all the negativity they absorbed about themselves, in order to be truly loving and free, peoples as a whole, need to find their roots, and give up their craziness.

We don't have to give up technology to return to the Earth. We have bodies that need protection from the elements. We need to be warm in the Winter and not overcome by heat in the Summer. What kind of technology aids us and what separates us from each other, the Earth and the Cosmos?

I don't know at what point, in the evolution of our civilization, we decided Nature was the enemy. Was it gradual? Was it sudden? Christianity, very early on, began to wean people, from beliefs, the church thought of as pagan; they wanted the peoples full allegiance. We, all know, that this thinking resulted in folks being burned as witches because they looked to Nature for healing.

We are not fully aware of how much harm this separation from Nature has caused. Because we can manipulate Nature; should we? If we were close to Nature we would see the answer. Learning that we could split an atom, doesn't mean it is a wise thing to do. Discovering we can kill plants with herbicides doesn't mean it is wise. Certainly altering the genetic structure of plants and animals, without fully understanding the consequences, doesn't seem wise.

We won't have the wisdom to live on this Earth, in peace and abundance, until we give up our defiance of Nature. We need to discover Nature as the loving entity she is. We need to understand everything is life. The Earth is a living being, in the same way our bodies are; we [or many of us] think of ourselves as spirits or souls living in a physical body. We can think of the Earth as the body of Gaia. We need to respect the Body Earth the way we should respect our own bodies.

This concept is not anti technology. Technology can help us live on the Earth in a respectful manner. Learning to use the energy that exist all around us, so called free energy, to provide our current electrical needs would free our planet from much destruction and pollution and would free us to create and be of better service to each other.

These are some of my thoughts for this Monday. It all boils down to being kind and loving to each other and our Mother Earth.

Love and Peace, Gregg

WHAT'S HAPPENING?

I went out about 8:30AM to let our 4 ½ week old chicks out. I hardly got back in the house when it started raining. It gave me pause. I know they have good instincts and will run in their house rather than get wet; but still the concerned husbandman..........thinks... it started raining very hard and I didn't want to get wet myself checking on them. A similar thing happened yesterday and I put on my poncho and went out to check on them, they were all snuggled, warm and dry in their coop.

About and hour later, the rain abated for a few minutes, so I went out and let out the big chickens. I have been sitting here, at the computer, reading stuff and wondering what I am going to write about; I looked down at the floor and noticed two big chunks of dark material that must have come off my shoes. Then I peeked under my desk and spied another group of smaller pieces. Of course, I had to smell it, no odor, it was just wedges of earth. That's good. But, how come, I forgot to scrape my feet?

Even a perfect day can have a bumpy start. It seems like a perfect day. I am happy.

We attended a meeting of some concerned citizens; a group involved with the environment. The agenda was preparedness, in case of an emergency. There was no stated type of emergency and the presentation was made attempting to avoid fear. It was a good meeting. We talked about how we could prepare for, a period of time, when stores may be closed or not assessable. We discussed focusing on foods we actually use. Storage, canning, freezing etc. How do we re-shuffle to keep things fresh? What do we do with, the food in the freezer, if the power goes out? We certainly didn't exhaust the subject and there were as many questions as answers; but it was a good start.

Have you noticed, there is more and more discussions of this nature? Is it just me, do other people feel that something is about to happen? Something big. Earth changes? Monetary collapse? I look to see how other folks are feeling. I don't trust my own feelings. I have been expecting something for forty plus years. I was watching a re-run of Barney Miller, a couple evenings ago, the intellectual detective [Dietrich] was spouting off on the economy. He was making a prediction about the eminent collapse of the dollar on the world stage. He was describing a situation, precisely as it is described by several internet seers now. That program must have been 30+ year ago. The show aired from 1975 to 1982. So this uncertainty has been going on for a long time.

Is the world crazier now than it was forty years ago? It seems so. I think we have reached a point where the average person feels, it cannot continue, as it is.

Also, folks are waking up in droves. We no longer are willing to follow leaders who support the present world order, or what they call the, New World Order. Democracy does not exist. Leaders support the Corporatacracy or Kelptocracy or they don't. I know many of these leaders are blind, to who, their masters really are. We do not wish to be manipulated, by people, who are in love with money and power. We have had enough. All that they do is create fear and divisiveness so they can control. Folks are realizing, that without their negative influence, we can realize our 'oneness' with everyone on the planet. We are here to serve each other and love and appreciate each other. We are tired of the craziness. We are hoping for anything that will jar the grip of the dark ones and put an end to their nuttiness.

In the meantime, we can refuse to give them power, by refusing to be afraid, and focusing on the positive features of our lives. We can create paradise in our hearts and extend it to the person next to us. Forgiveness and thankfulness are cleansing agents; they will help us 'see'.

It is Friday! Perfect for celebration! It is time for singing and dancing.

Love and Peace, Gregg

BE GENTLE WITH YOURSELF

 

It is only 10:30AM and I am already having a full day, it seems like lots is happening. There were two stray dogs in the yard a few minutes ago. I suspect they were let off by an owner who couldn't keep them. We have had this experience before. If one has chickens, sheep and other small animals one needs to be cautious. The last time it happened, we were able to find the owner. The dog was lost. There is a different feeling about these dogs.

It's another beautiful day. Cool, it was 41 degrees F when I got up. Autumn has clearly arrived. Here in Minnesota, there is always a day or two that sends a clear message that the seasons are changing. I got a message from a reader in St Petersburg, Florida. It started me thinking about the season's changes in other latitudes. I spent 4 years in the South; {South Carolina, Mississippi, and Louisiana} I tried to recall what the Season changes were like. It is too long ago, I can't remember; nothing like here though, with our first frost in the Fall, the coloring and falling of the leaves, then Winter's first snow. In the Spring there is a great renewal; the snow melts, green things pop out of the ground, buds swell on the trees and leaves unfurl. Then there is the first thunder storm of Spring. The Spring's graduation to Summer is less spectacular, than the other transitions.

Autumn is my favorite season............ except............. that it is followed by Winter. The Winter experience in Minnesota can be great. Many people love it. But lets face it...... it is Winter..... it is long. As I get older, I understand why so many folks of retirement age, escape Minnesota and head South. My parents headed South after Christmas every year. They had a camper. First they went to Big Bend Park in Texas, stayed there for a few weeks then headed for California for a couple months. They returned to Minnesota in Early April.

Yesterday, I had an experience where I realized I was a work in progress. I acted in outrage, over what somebody said, I could have, as easily, made my point with gentleness. I have been feeling bad, off and on, ever since. I know feeling bad doesn't make sense. It doesn't help me or the other person. I will forgive myself and move on.

We are all heading in the same direction, but we are on different paths, we can't see everything on someone else's path and we cannot judge. WE CANNOT JUDGE. When we really, truly accept that we cannot judge, a peace comes over us. We do not have to monitor anybody else on their chosen path. Trust the Loving Universe to guide your neighbor. It is not my[our] job.

But we are works in progress. We will err. That is okay. That is how we learn. We need to be as gentle on ourselves, as we wished to be, on our neighbor.

I have chores to do and errands to run. The problem with the dogs seems to have taken care of itself. They have disappeared from the yard. Perhaps they do belong to a neighbor, however, I didn't recognize them.

Include yourself, in your intent, to be gentle and loving to everyone.

Love and Peace, Gregg

FREEDOM

 

Another gorgeous day on planet Earth. My little chicks will be four weeks old tomorrow. I began letting them out, in a small fenced in area, yesterday. I have been raising chickens for almost fifty years, yet I am never sure, when it is time to let them go out into the wide world. They seem big enough to be out in the protected area. They can always run back in their house if they get chilly. It was interesting to watch them yesterday, as they poked their heads out the door, wondering if they dared go out in the strange world. First one would go out; soon several would follow, but at the slightest disturbance, they would run back in. Once they got used to being outside, they scratched on the ground like big chicken and picked at the weeds. The next big decision will be when to let them free range, could be as early as next week.

When we attempt to see life, through the eyes of a one of these little creatures; it is so exciting. We may see danger. They don't. They see wonderment. A whole new world to pick at, to scratch, to taste. They explore. They seem to be genuinely excited and rapt by life. They are free!

I just came back from checking on the chicks. Only a few are out, but several are standing in the doorway enjoying the Sun. I think they're safe in their pen. I suppose a feral cat could climb over the fence but it has never happened, and we do have feral cats sharing our living space.

We, humans, worry and anticipate danger. Do any other animals? They may be alert to danger and they protect themselves. Do they do what we do? We are so worried about danger that we are too afraid to be free. Sure makes the insurance companies rich. We have such basic doubts about our worthiness and our ability to survive, that we paralyze ourselves.

Other creatures of this Earth don't question their competence or their worthiness. They just live and deal with what they need to deal with.

No matter how competent and worthy we may appear, on the outside, almost all of us, have reservations on the inside. We have become experts at covering it up. We see others as having it together, when in fact, almost all of us suffer from some degree of lack, in the self-worth department.

As we have discussed, many times before, this is the result of being raised in this world. Our incompetence and unworthiness has been carefully programed by some institutions e.g. religion, and inadvertently programmed, by parents and teachers, who suffer the same problem.

We won't be really free, until we know we are loved unconditionally, and know, all doubts about ourselves are unwarranted. The Love energy of the Earth is increasing, the experience of feeling absolutely and unconditionally loved is available to us. Those who have been meditating for a long time have experienced it. We all can all do it. Let us remind ourselves, several times a day, that we are unconditionally loved. We all carry the memory of what it is like. We do know!

The more we are tuned into out natural surroundings, the more we are immersed in nature, the more readily we can feel the love that emanates from everything around us. We will soon realize that everything, that is real, is love. Does anything else really exist?

Love and Peace, Gregg

AND IT GOES

I got home from the dentist about an hour ago. I had a tooth pulled. It was a six year old molar; so I must have had it for 75 years. It was encased in a beautiful silver crown. I have struggled to save this tooth for at least four years. I finally caved to the strong recommendations of two dental hygienist and Jamie, who fears I might have problems, due to the chronic low grade infection. There are indications that gum disease and tooth infections are involved in heart disease. Also, we have a neighbor who had a knee replaced six years ago, he got a small infection in his finger, seeming of no consequence, yet the infection somehow lodged in his knee and caused huge problems. I had a knee replacement about fifteen years ago.

The procedure went well. I have a mouth full of gauze, but I am otherwise fine. The anesthetic should be wearing off anytime, we will see how that goes.

I just came back from doing a few chores. It is almost Noon and I don't have any pain. The tooth was extracted about 2 1/2 hours ago; I think I am home free.

You don't want to hear anymore about my tooth. I don't either.

Although, there appears to be some truth leaking through the main stream media's usual deceptions, the crazy part seems to be getting crazier and crazier. Over twenty years ago, we had a good friend who worked in the government in the area of unemployment. He would talk about the number of different ways unemployment could be determined. He had four different numbers he could furnish according to, what/or who, he was addressing. The highest estimate was rarely used.

I bring this up, because it is one of the main indicators of the health of any economy. I try to find a valid number for today's economy and I can't get anywhere. Try to find a number you can be confident in. Believe me, it is difficult. The simple measure of how many people, who are without a job and would like a job, doesn't seem available. It is easy to find the number who are actively engaged with a government employment office. That tells very little. It doesn't say how many have given up in despair. It doesn't say how many have settled for a minimum wage job, although, they are trying to take care of a family. It doesn't count the young adults, that still manage to survive with family help, or simply haven't left home.

People, who do try to study it, come up with unemployment figures far higher than any released by the government. Most figures range from fifteen to twenty-five per cent. These are depression era figures. As things get worse, someone comes out with a rosier forecast. The situation for fifty percent of our families is abysmal. Financial misery is epidemic. Pay day loans, pawn shops, etc. are doing a huge business picking the last crumbs of the poor and lower middle class. The misery, of money anxiety, has spread to the solid middle class and beyond.

It puzzles me that neither major party addresses the issue. The economy crumbles, and the well being of many are threatened, and most politicians fiddle as Rome burns. Is it for real? Is this just a show to keep the minds of the people from seeing the collapse of an empire? An unacknowledged empire, built on the myth of national security, and the spread of democracy; point me out a country that is better off because of our kindly ministrations. Let us see, in just recent years, there has been Syria, Libya, Iraq, Afghanistan and several proxy conflicts, like in Yemen. Are any of them better off?

This is not new. We started with our idea of manifest destiny and stole a good portion of the continent from Mexico. Then we conjured up a war with Spain and stole from them. And don't forget the Monroe doctrine that seemed to give us free rein in South America for the last hundred years. There have been very few successful politicians in South America that were not our puppets. Of course, it all started, because we were able to make the immoral and illegal, decision to steal the land away from its original occupants.

I don't like to use the word 'we', because I didn't do it. I know you didn't do it. What happened to the Indians, the Mexicans, the South Americans etc. was a while ago. We were around when the horror in the Middle East happened. How did we let our government do it? And is it even our government? How is it that most of the people around us, don't even know we have an empire?

What do they think, when they hear of the U.S. sending warships to the South China Sea, in response to China building some islands? Do they ask; how is it our business? Can you imagine the uproar if China sent warships to the Gulf of Mexico?

The people of the U.S. have been kept very innocent and very ignorant. It was an amazing feat. We have to see when patriotism is a sign of deception. There is a lot of flag waving going on right now, prior to the anniversary of 9-11. Does that have anything to do with some disclosures that will soon be coming out concerning the real perpetrators of the deed? We will see.

Well we know the Old World will fade away, and we can only marvel at how apt, those in power were, to maintain the illusion of decency. Most of us went along with it because we couldn't believe otherwise. It is hard to believe, the very country we love, could have been that corrupt. We were very skillfully programed.

Let us open our eyes and have no regrets and finger pointing. It is okay. We can go on from here and create the world we want. It is hard to see how one could be so blind or callous to create the negativity of the Old World. That is what happens when Oneness is not accepted and it is 'everybody for themselves'. As some body commented to me once, “The shit rises to the top”. That is what happens in an ego created world. We need to forgive them all, anyway, it was a form of madness.

Have faith that the craziness is about over. Look at the TV only for uplifting programing. Find the love and comfort with family and friends. Don't talk about politics!

It is Friday! Celebrate! Sing and Dance!

Love and Peace, Gregg

LOOK FOR AWAKENING

It is cool [66.3F] and muggy. All Summer we have had waves of humid air coming up from the South. It is the first Summer, I remember, without any [or very few] hot dry days. Every time it warms up, the humidity sky rockets. It has been drier, when it is cool like it is today, apparently, the dry air has yet to move in from the West. Well, I take every day as it comes to me, they are all great.

We had a great Labor Day celebration! Naomi, Greg, Adam and Elijah came over and we had a wonderful dinner of home raised, roasted chicken with wild rice and an excellent garden salad. The gravy was exceptional. Yesterday, our neighbor from across the lake, visited us and we harangued about the collapsing world for three hours.

Then we went to visit a feed store to see if they carried organically grown chicken feed, or at least, feed made from non-GMO grain. They did have organic feed, it was expensive, but when we are raising chickens for our own consumption, do we want feed that may be genetically modified and sprayed with Round-Up?

We are discovering more and more people, in our community, who are wary of the chemicals used in agriculture. It appears to, becoming main stream, to doubt the direction agriculture is going. We know farmers who won't use Round-Up or GMO seeds. People are waking up. It appears more and more likely that the chemicals in our food, water and air are the cause, or contribute to the cause, of many myriad physical ailments.

Farmers are trapped in an economic situation that requires them to use practices, that they may not personally agree with, in order to survive. I think doctors and farmers are the two professions, which are most victimized, by our chemical industry. The cultures, of both medicine and agriculture, punish those, who think for themselves and see the 'emperor has no clothes'.

But everybody, in all walks of life, are waking up. We are seeing how all technology, and supposed progress, has been used to make money for a small group, at the expense of the rest. Why would we want to live in a world where some need to toil why others live off their labor? Why would we want to live in a world where people go hungry? Why would we want to live in a world where the health care industry, is more interested in profit, than healing? We could go on and on with questions like this, but then, it becomes a diatribe. We all get the point.

Fortunately, this old World, based on greed, exploitation, and love of power, is crumbling. I think those of us who are beginning to 'see' need to think of strategies to help and heal the populace. Of course, getting our own act together, is the most important thing. The more we can give up judgement, of self and others, the greater will be our own influence in helping others 'see'. We don't know the immensity of help, we are to others, by simply loving ourselves. When we love ourselves we beam out love to everyone. At this point, we don't see how helpful this is.

Yet, I get eager to see some form of learning/healing centers emerge. Well, I talked about this before. It will happen when it is time. Let us dream of a world created by love. A world where all are happy and free. A world where all are free to create. It is so simple, we just need to love each other.

So many things, that are simple, are not easy. To love another we have to love ourselves- first. To love ourselves, we need to give up a lifetime of negative learning. We are doing it. Learning/healing centers would help.

Love and Peace, Gregg

THE LOVING LEAVES

Happy Labor Day! I wonder if most people are aware of the reason for celebrating Labor Day. I didn't look up the history, but it must have come out of a time when we were honoring the labor of our people. It doesn't seem like we do that anymore. I don't see the laboring folks, of our World, receiving much honor and respect for there contribution. Without them we have nothing.

Labor Day has always been a little melancholy for me. It marks the end of Summer. School starts .........aaaaagh. I know many people look forward to school starting. I wasn't one of them. Yet, it is nice to get back into the routine of life. Many aspects of Summer are an aberration.

We have guest coming today and I need to run up to Fleet Supply, to get some chick feed. I didn't expect to run out until tomorrow; but I filled up their feeders with the last of the feed this Morning. I can always get by until tomorrow, by giving them the mash I feed the layers; but if Fleet is open, I will run up before company comes.

I want to relate an experience I had with leaves. I am not sure I am capable of describing it so you folks will get the picture of my experience. I, also, don't want people to think I am weird, but then, it may be too late for that.

We have a large American Elm in the back yard, almost arching over our house and deck. In the Fall and late Summer, the leaves gradually turn yellow and are sprinkled on the deck and ground. If one would look at the tree, right now, they would see nothing but green leaves, but there are yellow leaves among them waiting for a slight breeze to bring them floating down.

A couple days ago, I was looking at the golden leaves that were recently laid on the ground. They were glowing, really glowing! I felt like the leaves loved me. Wow! It was a tremendous feeling. My mind that was empty, started 'working'. “Leaves can't love, they must be reflecting my love” my mind insisted. I didn't quite lose the magic of the loving leaves and it occurred to me, all of Nature is love. If it happens again, I will hope that my mind will not react and I will be able to revel in the LOVE OF THE LEAVES.

Perhaps it is true, what the Great Ones have been teaching, All is love.

I better get up to Fleet and I have a ton of dishes to do.

Have a great Holiday!

Love and Peace, Gregg

MODELING

It is another absolutely beautiful Morning on Planet Earth! On one hand, the world is so full of promise and on the other hand, we see.........................; but, do we want to see it? We look around us and we see the pain of some close to us and some further away. We know not everyone is experiencing paradise.

We are not in denial. We want to help. We want to help those who see darkness, to see light. How do we do it? We need to understand and have compassion. Compassion is love. Compassion is concern. Compassion is caring. Compassion is sharing their space and being with them; especially being with them. Compassion is not sharing their pain. We can not help, by ourselves, entering the darkness.

We need to maintain the light. We all have the gift of light [love] inside us. For some, it has dimmed, we can't help by dimming our own light.

I talked about Peace in a recent blog. One of the ways we can measure how helpful we can be, is by being aware of the level of peace that abides in us. The presence, or lack of presence, of peace inside us will indicate how helpful we can be. The more peaceful we are, the more powerful may be our intervention.

The World needs folks who can model Peace. The people who can walk through chaotic situations, radiating peace, draw people to them. We learn directly from them, without a word being spoken. So much of learning is taking place that way. We all want to achieve peace and a loving space inside us. Actually, we don't have to achieve it, it is already there. We just have it covered up with layers of mis-perception.

Yes! We want to save the world! We want to end war. We want to know oneness. We want all, to know love. We begin with ourselves. We end the battles we have inside us. We end the war against peace inside us. We realize we can give up everything, but the love, peace and joy inside us. When we realize that is the only thing we want; then we too, can be the models, that contribute towards bringing Peace to the world.

I needed to say that, although, I am far from that model myself. I aim in that direction, and I fail, and sometimes, I fail big time. I can pick myself up, dust the crumbs of mis-perception from my mind and again gaze upon a forgiven world. A forgiven world, that is a concept to contemplate. Perhaps, I will write more about that on a future date.

I need to go out and look at my own world. The grass is getting long again, even though I mowed it just last week. That is rare for this time of year. Usually, growing slows down in late August and September. I don't mind mowing the lawn. I don't particularly like getting off and on the mower. Must be age.

Well I need to go out and look at my chicks. I had to give them a bigger waterer. I was using a one gallon waterer, but I found them dry, two days in a row. The little rascals were pretty thirsty yesterday. Rather than watering them twice a day, we graduated to a three gallon waterer. I, also, need to scrounge up some bedding. I have some old hay in the barn. It is poor quality, but will work for bedding.

Well, I am going to waltz around paradise and enjoy this perfect weather.

Have a great Friday. Celebrate! See the beauty in the World; especially your neighbors!

Love and Peace, Gregg