STAYING IN THAT PEACEFUL PLACE

 

We were blessed with a Sunny day yesterday and I was able to get the first phase of an outside project completed. It is Sunny today too, and we are supposed to have a return to Summer with highs in the 80s F.

However, despite the beautiful weather, I have struggled lately. I have needed to pull myself out of a gloomy place more than once a day. All through Jamie's affliction, when she sometimes wondered if life was worth living, I was able to keep myself pretty upbeat, now that I am convinced she is on the mend, you would think I would be ecstatic. Actually, I am familiar with the let down that occurs in these situations, I have seen it again and again in people I have worked with. The let down seems to be in direct correlation to the energy you were using to keep yourself up. So that is that.

Yet, there is something else going on and I don't think I am the only one experiencing it. It seems difficult to stay in a good place. One of my readers, well it happened to be my darling, oldest daughter, Laura, she commented, on my last blog; she said, “I am glad you could find your vast quiet center.” I was too. The question is, “How long could I stay there?” I don't remember. I doubt if it was very long.

This happened to me just the other day; I was having some kind of conflict so I used a meditation I employ sometimes. I imagined myself surrounded by unconditional love. I imagined, with every breath I took, I breathed in unconditional love. The unconditional love would bind with the oxygen and my blood would carry it to every part of my body. I visualized the cells of my body being enriched with unconditional love as they absorbed the oxygen. I imagined the cells in my body being rejuvenated and healed if necessary. I started at the bottom of my feet and imagined this process continuing until my whole body was imbued with unconditional love. Sounds great, doesn't it! It was.

I was really enjoying the experience, again I was in that quiet vastness. But suddenly, I was somewhere else. Not necessarily a bad place, perhaps mundane, is the best word to describe it. A single thought took me out of euphoric bliss to the common place. I don't remember what the thought was, but I was struck, at the vulnerability of our consciousness, to passing thoughts.

I suppose this has been happening all along; yet I think, staying in a good place, has been more difficult for some lately. I just read an article that postulates, as the consciousness rises we are confronted with all the reservations we have to being worthy. All those things we were taught about how bad and undeserving we are. No matter how good our parents and teachers etc. were, none of us escapes not having some of this negativity imprinted on us. We may think we have resolved the issues but as we knock on the door of higher consciousness, we may find, we can see the door open, we can enter, but then, we need to leave and do more work on ourselves.

That explanation works for me, because every time it happens I am aware of being quite self critical. I will find myself judging myself for all kinds of nonsense past and present. Yes, it is so important we forgive ourselves and others, especially the other judgers. Have you noticed that, you might forgive some bad behavior, but then not forgive others that were still into judging it?

I am convinced we are learning to forgive ourselves and our world. We do love ourselves. We will remove that residual negativity from our consciousness. Let us keep practicing loving ourselves, eventually we will be able to close the door behind us.

Love and Peace, Gregg

AS WE AWAKEN

It is cloudy again today. The Sun peeked out a few minutes, shortly after dawn, and then, as if to say, "that's enough", it retreated back behind the clouds. We haven't had much Sunshine these last few days. I have a project that requires dry weather, it keeps getting suspended. I was hoping to finish it this weekend. It was rainy all day yesterday. It turned out to be a three nap afternoon. I guess that is not something to complain about.

I do have a complaint. I am not sure about what, or at least, what all the aspects are. I am not good at waiting. I have been talking about how the old world is coming down for a long time. It has never looked more decrepit, and despite the maniacs running the government, and there pretense of omnipotence, I think they are really weak and scared and don't know what is happening. The world is collapsing around them and hurricane Harvey could prove to be the last straw. It is questionable if our financial system can take the hit.

I know how to be happy. I can find happiness most times. I know it doesn't originate outside myself. Yet, I do pay attention to what goes on outside myself, and the world, at least, from the perspective of the news media, is so dreadful. I know that is not really true. I see a beautiful, loving world, with my own eyes, in my community.

But the last week or so has been a struggle. I can't wait for the old world to collapse. Well I can and I am. But as we awaken, is there more we can do? I know from what I read that folks are awakening in droves; is there a way our energy could be better used? Maybe not. I think we need to avoid causes like the plague.

As I am writing this, I am realizing, the greatest gift I can give to the world, is my happiness. When we are happy, we invite every heart we meet to share our joy. When we are joyful we radiate love. The world needs our love. The world needs our forgiveness.

Perhaps, that is why I have been struggling. In the last week or so, I have been more judgmental than forgiving. Ahhhh....yes, I can forgive the world.

I know if there is any action to take, it needs to arise out of a peaceful state, and carry with it love and joy.

Okay, I see my problem. I need to be in touch with the center of my being. There is vastness. There is quiet. There is peace. I feel happiness. I know whatever action ensues will be right action.

I don't have to wait for paradise when I can create it around me.

Thanks for your help.

Love and Peace, Gregg

EVERYTHING IS OKAY

It is a cloudy day. Cool, it is only 60 F and it is already 10:AM. It is more like September than August; well the whole month has been more like September. I like the cool; but I don't especially like what comes next. I have only missed three Minnesota Winters in my 82 years on planet Earth; that was when I was in the Air Force. I have only had one vacation in Winter and that was a week in Idaho; it was Winter there, too. I am not complaining, or am I? I don't mean to be. Winter can be magic time; full of holidays and my birthday.

We got news from my niece and nephew, who live near Winnipeg, that they already have had frost. That is early for them, but not terribly rare. I have seen frost in Minnesota in the last week of August, but not for many years. When we lived in Coon Rapids, 45 miles South, we had a few years where the growing season was cut back by early frosts.

Since I mentioned Jamie's health struggle in earlier blogs, I think I owe folks an update. {Jamie is not exactly thrilled about me mentioning her health issues} It looks like we are seeing some real progress. She is not 100% sure, but quite hopeful. The tests, for an infectious agent, came back negative. The brain scan didn't show anything, but the MRI indicated some moderate damage to the hippocampus, which is consistent with sleep apnea. She has used a CPAP for a few years, but she was still choking off her breathing. She required additional apparatus to prevent this; specifically a mouth piece to keep the jaw foreword. The brain damage is reversible. She has a machine that adds oxygen to her breathing at night. I think she is on the right track. She has become an expert on sleep apnea and should hire herself out as a consultant.

I don't know what to say. I know these are tough times for folks. The world, via the main stream media, looks very dark. The alternative news isn't any better. It seems like every one is into hyping everything up. The more shocking the better. I think people are seeing through the hysterical presentations and are realizing they have always been lied to and manipulated; otherwise there would be no major conflicts, there would be no wars.

We have learned that we can be at peace. We have learned that happiness is a choice we make. We can spend a whole day out in our communities and not hear any negativity. We see folks, of every religion and race, enjoying each other's company. We wish everyone well. How different would it be if that was reflected in the news media? Underneath the craziness that is portrayed in the world, we are growing together. More and more of us are understanding the concept of Oneness. Everyday, more and more of us are waking up to Love. Life is so much easier; life is so much more enjoyable when we focus on the love around us.

I am not a prophet, and there would be no reason to believe me if I was, but I think we are going to emerge from this cloud of nuttiness sooner than later. We just need to sit back and watch it as if it was a bad movie and avoid getting our feelings involved. It is quickly passing.

If we can keep in mind that each one of us, EVERYONE, is a creator. We constantly create the world we see with our perception. Without realizing it, we have been creating a crazy world, because we bought into the fears that were promulgated by those in control. This is not new information. It has been taught to us over and over again by the Great Ones. We are finally getting it. We can have the world we want. The manipulators only have the power we give them.

If you have doubts about the power of your mind, I would suggest that you take a vacation from your usual way of thinking, and decide not to dwell on anything that troubles you. Wake up in the Morning and be thankful for the new day. Dismiss any complaints that may come to your mind. Find something to compliment in the first person you see. Be grateful for everything that pleases you and dismiss from your mind that which doesn't. If you can do this for three days, you will learn much about yourself and how your attitude affects your perception.

It is not practical to make recommendations for people I don't know, because everyone is unique. Everyone has their reasons for hanging on, to the way they think, no matter how miserable it makes them. And even if I was going to make the perfect recommendation, we can easily defeat anybody else's instructions. We all need to become aware that we are making our own happiness. We can see differently. We can make a decision to see the love in the world instead of the pain. Happiness could be a thought away.

I think there are enough of us now, that realize the power of love, that there is no stopping the changes. We won't listen to fear. We will only look for love. We will see a peaceful, loving world emerge. And soon.

Things are happening that need to happen. EVERYTHING IS OKAY!

Happy Friday!

Love and Peace, Gregg

JUST A NOTE

It is 2:30 PM, long past blogging time. Our amazing cleaning lady, who has been coming every other Thursday Morning for 17 years, wanted to come this Morning so they could head out for a vacation tomorrow. I forgot to mention it in Monday's blog. This will be a short message because I am late for my nap.

We got feedback from lots of folks about the eclipse; some who traveled to view the total, and some that enjoyed the partial, here. I was surprised at the level of enthusiasm. It must be an amazing experience. I wondered out on the deck with my pinhole camera; it was cloudy, but I hoped for a glimpse of the Sun. Wasn't gonna happen; it got more cloudy and rained on me instead. It looked like an ordinary cloudy day.

When is the next one? Is it 2024? If that is right I will be in my 90^th year on planet Earth. Maybe we can travel to an area of totality then. Will I still be able to drive long distance? We will have to engage a younger relative.

I am not kidding about wanting a nap. I could fight it and get a second wind. Why would I want to do that?

I will be here Friday [although there might be a possible glitch] if so I will write a note late Thursday.

Have a great day. Celebrate life! It is indeed remarkable to be on Planet Earth at this time.

Love and Peace, Gregg

HAPPY ECLIPSE

 

Ah............ and today could I avoid talking about the eclipse? I don't know that I want to avoid it. Like everybody else, who can read, I know the obvious astronomical facts. I am too ignorant to know any of the more exotic data.

However, anybody who has lived on this planet as long as I have, knows there is much more to these things than our current science knows. Astrology was once a science and those ancient peoples of Greece, Rome, Egypt, Phoenicia, etc. were no intellectual slouches. Unfortunately, I know less about the astrological significance of an eclipse, as I do the astronomical. I do respect some people who have some information.

Roughly, I would say a solar eclipse predicts change, often abrupt and chaotic, and a chance for new beginnings. I sure hope the new beginnings part is true. It starts at 11:44AM here, the midpoint [or max] is 1:07PM and it is over by 2:29PM. We will be on our journey to the Amish and to Mora during some of this time. We will probably wait until after the maximum to leave home. It probably won't dim the Sun much here.

Some folks say that it intensifies both the positive and negative aspects of our being and thinking. If that is so, it is time to stay grounded in the moment and aware of the love that surrounds us.

I watched the total solar eclipse of 1954 with my sister Sandy. I think we stayed up all night to watch it. I can't remember what time it was and the internet didn't help me. My confusion is that I thought we were looking towards the West, but that doesn't make sense, if we stayed up all night to watch it. I will have to ask Sandy what she remembers.

I am dreaming of new beginnings. I am dreaming of a world that sheds its empire and sheds all its vassal state governments. A world that will only tolerate governments that adhere to Natural Law. The Law of Love. I dream of a world where we use our gifts to help each other; a world where service to each other is the highest priority.

It is not hard to see. We already love each other. Our first instincts are always to be of aid to those in need. Our more loving impulses have been stifled by those who profit from our fears. The scales are coming off are eyes. We don't want to be unloving any more. No we don't!

The leaders of darkness are on the wane. The leaders of light are in the ascendancy. How can we fail! Love is the only force there is.

HAPPY ECLIPSE!

Love and Peace, Gregg

TRAVELING THROUGH THE DENSITY

It has been cool and dreary out all Morning. I sat down at the computer at 9 AM. Looked around at things on the internet. Got up and down to get coffee etc. At 10 AM I still hadn't written a word. I swiveled my chair so I could lean up against the wall and closed my eyes. I was seeking guidance, as I was having resistance, when it came to writing. Of course, I fell asleep.

I dreamt. I was in the South pasture looking towards the North pasture. When I saw the sheep, kept running towards me, until they were stopped by the fence. They made a couple runs at it. I thought it was strange because they usually are not so enthusiastic to see me. Then I saw two magnificent white wolves standing by a large hay bale. The thought came to me that I needed to chase away the wolves before they harmed the sheep. I was worried they would go after the youngest ewe. I couldn't walk directly as the fences were in the way. I headed around to the nearest gate. Then I woke up.

I was happy it was a dream. I tried to get out of my chair to take a step and couldn't. My foot felt like it had been nailed to the floor. I realized my leg and foot had fallen asleep. I didn't have any sense of this numbness until I tried to get up and walk. It went away in seconds and I went to relate the event to Jamie. I must have been asleep for an hour.

Did I get any guidance? Not that I know of; I don't want to comment on the craziness of the world. I do think the recent unpleasantries have been, at least partially, staged and there is no end to speculations one can make. The end result would be to create chaos and further division.

The main stream news has been so weird lately, it is troubling at best. We have an economic system that is at risk of complete collapse. We have an empire [that most of us don't even know exist] that has reached its apex and is imploding. Since we [well not you and me] gave away our empire to the corporations to run; we don't acknowledge it exists. Prior empires were open, both the British, and I suspect, the Romans were proud of their empire. Most Americans are not aware of it. Why do they think we a have bases all over the world? Why do they think we will go anywhere in the world to engage in a skirmish? Why do they think we will station our battleships, in other countries territorial waters, halfway around the world? Oh yah, were defending democracy- does anybody really believe that?

I digress. The kleptocracy or the cabal call the shots. The Americans just supply the armed forces and material and do what their told. So to get back to the point. Why is the news media going on and on about the Russians and now it will be the most recent unpleasantness. There is real news. Is it just sleight of hand, so we won't know what is going on? I would like to know if our dollar will be worth something in a couple months. I would like to know, if a consortium of other countries come out with gold backed money, will our dollar take a nose dive. Some economists have been talking about this for years and claim it is due soon.

There are all kinds of interesting and also troubling things that could be reported. Some exciting, like the development of free energy, ala Tesla. It has been in the works for several years. Google it, and one finds many articles about it, and many are convincing. Think how free we would become if every household had free energy. That would really put the nail through the heart of the empire, since they operate on controlling money through the control of energy resources, mainly oil. Do a little research. See if you can find a conflict in the world, that does not have at it roots, oil or pipelines.

I don't really care about all that. I know it is going to be over soon. I am just very tired, of all the crap we must go through, before we get through this density we are traveling through. I want to get down to the business of creating a new world where people love each other and care for each other. AND, further, I know it already exists. We don't have to create anything. The vast majority of folks already love each other and want to care for each other. We are just constantly confused and distracted by those who have been capitalizing on our fears.

If we are going to resist anything, it has to be those, who would divide us and whisper fears in our ears. We are loving beings who are entitled to live in paradise. It is ours for the asking. Let us, really know, that 'love is all there is'. It is only listening to those, who would have us fear, that it seems otherwise. We can fake it until we make it, if we have to. Please! Let us stop listening to the craziness.

Let us have a great Friday! Celebrate!

Love and Peace, Gregg

BE AT PEACE

It is cloudy and cool outside. It was supposed to rain buckets last night and we didn't get a drop. We may still get rain. I can feel it. I don't think I am unique, in that I develop a certain level of tension before it rains, and then when the rain comes, I feel a release. I don't think I have heard anybody else mention it, but I am sure others experience this. I was kind of crabby this Morning, perhaps part of it was the lack of a tension release; but, it also could be the profound craziness in the world.

I am not crabby now. I would wish the media would take it down a notch. Wow! Just because some people are nuts doesn't mean all of us need to be. Some of the same people who have always espoused, 'we cannot find peace through war' are declaring war on those they disagree with.

We know we will never find peace by attacking those with opposing views, no matter how heinous we may think those views are. Those folks are creating division. Let us not add to the division by acrimony on our side.

Those, who have been in control of our world, have always used division to maintain or get control. The more they can divide people. The more chaos and violence they can create, the easier it is to shape our beliefs, and keep us under their thumb. Are there purposeful forces behind the current strife? I don't know, but I wouldn't be surprised. Those forces who have been controlling things for centuries are desperate. They know there is an awakening happening. They have all the power and money they have accumulated at stake. They are fearful of losing control. I cannot know if they have their hands in the recent events, but it sure is the kind of divisiveness they have been creating for centuries.

We all want to rid the world of injustice, prejudice, racism etc. We see how idiotic those who espouse those things can be. We are not helping by hurling insults at the perpetrators of the nuttiness. It only reinforces what they think. We can't fight intolerance with intolerance. We will never have unity by accentuating division.

Those who have been in power {I call them the cabal- those that worship power and money} are in a panic because they know that Love is rising in the World. They are losing their grasp. As I said before, I don't know if they have a hand in this divisiveness, but it behooves us to work toward unity and stop cooperating with the division. In any case, those intolerant ones are tools, wittingly or unwittingly, as such they are victims of their thoughts and feelings like everybody else and, of course, any power that wants to use them.

We always have the choice to love. No matter what the situation, we can see folks with understanding and compassion. Love and forgiveness heals. It doesn't mean we are naïve and don't see the danger to society, but it does mean the correct action will come from our loving compassionate minds and not from our outrage.

If we were unaware of the media presentation and were not aware of recent events, we would have noted the increase in awareness. The awakening is growing apace. Listen to your neighbors. We all seem to know, the only thing missing is Love.

THE ONLY THING MISSING IS LOVE! Remember that. We need to add to the love. The world doesn't need more animosity. It doesn't need more conflict. We won't bring about peace by being unpeaceful.

Part of the change, we are going through, is that all the craziness has to rise to the top for everybody to see. We are seeing it. It also means the collapse is near. The world needs our loving energy, more than ever before. We need to aid in the transition.

It helps if we can meditate, or one could say, just let ourselves sink into that quiet place inside, feel the peace and stay in that peaceful place for a few minutes. Let's do it several times a day. It will help. We will extend peace.

BE AT PEACE.

Love and Peace, Gregg

A SPIDER STORY

We had a drizzly day yesterday. I pretended I was an old man and napped, off and on, all afternoon. It is still cloudy today and cool. It is more like September than August, at least the cool part; it is usually not this rainy in either month.

I was going to talk more about, my ideas about our separation from Nature, and things we could do to remedy it. However, readers of this blog have as many good ideas as I do. I don't know anything, anybody else's doesn't. It is all a relationship. Nature is all around us. We need to embrace Mother Nature and love her. She gives us everything. It is a matter of opening our eyes and our hearts. What to do, will occur to us.

I have a little Nature story. My daughter, Laura, posted a picture of a Wolf Spider surrounded by her newly hatched offspring, on Facebook. Apparently, this creature was on her basement wall. It was an excellent picture and got many comments. I commented that I had a Wolf Spider story. I thought it might be a little too long for a comment on Facebook. Here it is.

Laura would have been little, as this was over fifty years ago. Donna {her Mother} and I were sitting in the living room across from each other. Suddenly, Donna got up and said, “Get up and walk towards me.” The expression in her eyes told me not to quibble. I did as she said. She then said, “Turn around.” I did and there sitting on the back of the couch, right next to where I was sitting, was the hugest spider I ever saw. It looked as big as a tarantula only without the fuzz. We captured it in a fruit jar. It was so big we could barely get the fruit jar around it. We released it to continue it's existence outside.

I don't know what would have happened if Donna hadn't spotted it. My relationship with the arachnid world was a little shakier than it is now. I am sure that if I experienced it walking on me it would have freaked me out. Donna did the perfect thing. Had she freaked out or told me to look without getting up first... who knows. It would not be such a good story.

I don't think at the time we knew the name of the creature, but we found it pictured in a Golden Book of spiders and identified it. We had most of the Golden Book Nature series. They are marvelous little books.

Of all of Nature's creatures I have been shyest of spiders. Not phobic, but more than wary. As children we caught garden spiders put them in jars and fed them flies and grasshoppers. It was fascinating to watch them spin up a grasshopper in a silk cocoon. I would pick up any non-stinging creature with my fingers, but not spiders. I do it now. I rescue them from the sink and release them outdoors. [Why do bugs end up in the sink- do they fall in- they can't get up the slippery sides] However, spiders are still a special category of creature, to me.

Yes, Nature is marvelous, all of it. What is not to Love? It is only our separation that causes our judgements and the occasional willies.

I need to accompany Jamie, to the Amish for milk, and then to town.

Love and Peace, Gregg

HEALING

 

It is a bright shiny Morning at 10:30 AM. I have been mulling over how I should address our separation from Nature. I think to begin, we need to recognize it is a relationship. Our relationship with Nature often mirrors the one we have with each other. Our relationships are caring, loving, cooperative, inclusive or they are not. On the negative end, they can be using, exploitative, competitive, etc.

Perhaps it all flows together, and as we accept our oneness with each other, we will accept our oneness with Mother Earth. It is a little mind boggling that we would not respect the being [Earth] that gives us everything we need to survive. How did we get so locked into our minds, without our hearts, that we couldn't see the Earth is Love? Is that the left brained syndrome? Logic without wisdom? I can see how we did it. It is another level of separation. We fooled ourselves into thinking it was okay to manipulate matter without reference to the whole. We ignored the idea that the Earth is governed by a living being and thought it okay to manipulate, exploit, etc. without reference to the Earth's will and welfare. It is really an incredible leap into empty logic. Logic based only on a separated mind.

How could we not see the Earth is a living being? Look at what springs out of the Earth. It is super rich with life of all kinds, from microbes to whales and giant Sequoias. How could the Earth, herself, not be living energy? I don't know how to define Nature; perhaps the Energy Being of the Earth. We could settle for all the natural processes, but it is more than its processes.

The separation caused by our fragile bodies is minor in contrast to our total separation. The real separation came about when we quit regarding Nature with love. Religion played a strong role in this, especially Christianity, the church would brook no competition, they wanted God all to themselves. They wanted to be the controllers and purveyors of God's blessing. Nature stood in the way of their reach for complete power and control over the people. Part of this denial of Nature, is the subjugation of women, by most organized religion. I could write a book on this subject and maybe someday I will. Right now I would like to speculate on how we can help heal.

First lets look at our attitude. Separation is lack of love. When we love someone we don't exploit them, abuse them or attempt to control them. We relate to them. We appreciate them. We enjoy their company. We are grateful for their existence.

Our relationship with the Earth is the same way. We need to pay attention. Look. Open our eyes. Nature is all enveloping. It is all around us. We need to teach our children respect for Nature like we would want them to respect any elder that loves them. When we are determined to learn we automatically teach. When those in charge of children, immerse themselves in the appreciation of Nature, the children will learn.

Our society is evolving out of the craziness that was featured by the worship of power and money. With this raise in awareness, the Earth will no longer be seen as something to be exploited. Our society of separation, and its accompanying consumerism, created layers of resistance to seeing and appreciating Nature. It may be subtle, but those making money from our separation, were creating obstacles to our seeing truth.

I have several ideas that may aid in the healing of our separation. I have written enough for today. I will share them with you Monday.

HAPPY FRIDAY!

Love and Peace, Gregg

CAN WE HEAL OUR SEPARATION WITH NATURE

I am getting a very late start. I went to the doctor with Jamie this Morning. The good news is that the test game back negative for Leptospirosis. The bad news is that it puts us back at square one. It doesn't seem feasible, her symptoms could be caused by sleep apnea, alone. Theoretically, they could, but from everything we can tell her sleep apnea is well managed. She had a brain scan last week and she is scheduled for an MRI tomorrow.

We got back from the clinic, I had to have a little brunch and then I had a little nap sitting in front of my computer, it is now after Noon.

I intended to talk about our separation from Nature and some strategies we might employ to remedy the situation. However, it is late, I won't be able to look at the situation in depth. Perhaps, Friday.

How did we get so separate in the first place? It is logical our fragile bodies played a part. We are, an exception among mammals, that we cannot survive the climate we find ourselves in, without protection of our bodies. Why didn't we evolve with nice fur coats? Perhaps, our brains evolved first, and in a warmer climate, we didn't need to evolve fur, then we learned to manipulate our environment with the use of fire and artificial shelters. That path of speculation is best held over a brandy on a cool Winter evening.

We can clearly see, we did manipulate our environment. We reacted to Nature as we would an enemy, we attempted to control it, use it and abuse it. Control and domination seemed to be the general features to our relationship with Nature. Yet we seem to have a schizophrenic attitude; we obviously hunger for what we lost. We create parks, and beautiful gardens in the cities. We go on camping trips and kayaking and canoeing. We work to set aside more land for National Parks, at the same time, we turn a blind eye to the destruction caused by mining, lumbering and oil exploration.

In the Summer, many of us only know how the outside air feels on our skin, as we go from our air conditioned houses to our air conditioned cars. In the Winter, it is our heated houses to our heated cars. I am not making a judgement. I have a body; it likes to be comfortable. I understand. Most of us are so busy making enough money to feed and clothes ourselves, we just treat the outside as something we have to pass through from one shelter to the next.

One of the great attractions of the suburbs is that they had yards! Folks could actually go outside and enjoy a slice of Nature, at least in pleasant weather. I was born into suburban living and I moved to the country after I turned forty. I grew up in a family that loved Nature and did not pass up an opportunity to learn, explore, and emerge themselves in it. We picked wild berries [blackberries, raspberries, gooseberries, blueberries] in season. My school lunches consisted of home made bread and blackberry jam. My Mother always pointed out the names of the plants and bugs that we came across.

Yes! I was very fortunate. Yet, when I moved to the country I experienced a whole new layer of Nature. Heating with wood, pumping water from a well, using an outhouse. It is amazing how much more we are aware of Nature when we need to go outside to tinkle. {I don't think I ever used that word before in my life} After, I moved to the country I knew what phase the moon was in all the time. I don't think I did before.

We have had the modern conveniences, these last thirty years or so, and I don't have to go outside every time I need to relieve myself, but I often do. I have chickens and sheep to care for, so I cannot stay locked up inside for more than a few hours at a time.

Although, our bodies need protection, they are not as fragile, as they are treated. Peoples in other cultures expose themselves purposely to cold because they believe it is healthy. I have observed at least two of my children, walk in the snow, with bare feet.

I used to love to go camping. Cooking over a fire, sleeping in a tent or outside, in sleeping bags, on the ground. It was renewing in a way I can't describe. I know what I gained from the experience last me for a long time.

I have written more than I thought I would. I think we can state the problem, as one of attitude; at some point in our evolution we began to see Nature, as in opposition to us, [enemy?] rather than the nurturer she is, after all, everything comes from Nature. We have become a society of manipulators, controllers and exploiters. We cannot just relax and let Nature take care of us, we must wrest things from her. Could the dominance of power and money have something to do with this?

Let's explore, how we can heal our separation, on Friday.

Love and Peace, Gregg

WHAT DO I KNOW

Good Morning! It is a beautiful day. It is a little cool for August. It is only 68 F and it is already 10:20 AM.

I said I was going to write more about Healing/Learning Centers. I was going to think about it over the weekend and have some more to say about it. What I thought about is, that I know nothing. Every community is different. Every community will have different needs. We need to trust in our guidance to come up with solutions for our individual situations.

We have got into a lot of trouble, letting our minds rule our hearts; we don't want to do that. We want to make all our decisions with love and let our minds follow our hearts direction.

We all ache to see change depending on our experiences. Some of us want to see medicine recreate itself. We believe that Nature has the healing solution for all that ails us, and perhaps natural remedies can be found within a few miles radius of any of us. We may see that healing arts, can include many, that have been excluded before.

Others of us, want to see agriculture return to a more natural state. We don't think that food should be raised using poisons, and the earth it is raised in, must be rich and alive.

Some of us are disturbed that education has become an institution for raising successful slaves rather than free people. It seems that people are programmed to accept authority, rather than think for themselves.

All our systems have been corrupted by money and power. We have been programmed to accept many narratives that are simply not true. Depending on what side the fence we are on, we can look over and see that, the 'others' narratives are faulty, but we are generally blind to our own. We need to see anew!

The collapse of our institutions gives us an opportunity to start over. The danger is, that we could rebuild them, according to our existing beliefs. That would be unfortunate. I don't think that will happen as our rising consciousness is putting love first. Most of us know, we don't want the craziness we have been experiencing. Can we accept the idea that we know nothing and need to start over?

Of course, we know something. We know our bodies need food and shelter. We know we love each others' company. We know we love each other, period. We know we want what is best for each other. We know we want plenty for everyone. We know we want good food, education, and medical care for everyone. And we know we can do it.

What does it mean to start over? We need to reverse our separation from Nature.

Yes, I think some kind of Healing/Learning Centers will happen, but they need to arise spontaneously and be guided by the higher consciousness of the folks that are doing it.

I need to accompany Jamie to town. I want to talk more about ways we can reconnect with Nature. Let us see what happens Wednesday.

Happy Monday!

Love and Peace, Gregg

THE AFTERMATH

Wednesday Night and Thursday it rained and rained. It tapered off during the day yesterday, but not until we received almost three inches. It dawned bright and Sunny this Morning. A remarkably new and brilliant day.

Many of us, who have been paying attention, note that people are waking up all around us. As we awaken to the light and a possibility of a new world, we also are keenly aware, that the old world seems to be teetering towards destruction. We have learned not to focus on the old world but we can't completely escape notice of how crazy things have become.

Many people feel the crumbling will accelerate with the collapse of our financial empire. As I have said before, I am not a prophet. I do follow some folks, who think they they have ability, in that area. For some years now, they have predicted that this year will begin the a major crash of global markets. If this is true, it may herald the collapse, of the whole old tired social systems, that have served to keep us in ignorance and servitude for generations.

I realize that many of us have been hearing and reading about this for a long time and nothing seems to happen. The old world seems to grind on and on with all its nuttiness. I expected things to crash back in the seventies. Many of us joined the back to the land movement, hoping to be part of a new society. Those of us who learned to grow or own food and live simpler lives enjoyed more peaceful lives and became acquainted with Nature in ways we did not imagine. But the tired world continued.

Now it appears, that if a collapse doesn't happen this year, it will happen soon. As it it is going, the old world seems bent on destruction.

What will happen if the economy completely collapses? What will happen if our money becomes worthless? What if our supermarket shelves are suddenly empty? Communities seem to always surprise us, and get together, and deal with common problems, after a disaster.

How can we avoid the mistakes of our old society, as we watch our new one arise? Much of the problem will be solved by the rising consciousness of Humankind. We definitely do not want to go back to endless conflict, inequality, poverty etc. We know we can have the world we want by making all our decisions with love.

Yet, there is so much relearning that needs to take place. We have been so misled, in almost all areas of our lives, that we need to start over. We need to rediscover Mother Nature and our beloved Earth. The most important functions of our society are in need of the greatest changes. How we raise food needs to be completely different. How we heal our bodies needs a complete reassessment. Both agriculture and medicine have become tools for the power elite to exploit the populace. Those of us, who are beginning to see, need to help those who are just opening their eyes.

We can raise food without artificial chemicals and we can heal our bodies without using them, also.

We need people, who are eager to learn, to provide teaching for others who want to learn. A teacher is one, who wants to learn, not one who already knows. We need to avoid the traps of the old world; the expert-dummy, and the worship of authority. We must avoid with a passion the idea of higher and lower.

I can imagine folks coming together to pursue learning and providing teaching and healing to those in need. Every community is going to address what they think as their biggest needs. I can imagine a Healing/Learning Center providing research in education, medicine and agriculture.

How about home industries? Are we going to need weavers, shoemakers, bakers, metalworkers? How much of the industrial complex will survive a major crash? Do we want to support them? Do we want to make our own stuff?

I had late start today and I have other commitments. I will think about this over the weekend and have further things to say about Healing/Learning Centers.

Have a great Friday everyone! Celebrate!

Love and Peace, Gregg

FLEETINGNESS OF LIFE

I was gazing out the North window this Morning admiring the scene, when it occurred to me, those thistles aren't like church spires. {My last blog} How did I come up with that? They branch out at the top, one could say they are many spired , I suppose. There are giant Mullen, that are like spires, interspersed with the thistles; their candles are just beginning to turn yellow.

I have lots on my mind and nothing on my mind. I can be very peaceful. I am very peaceful. This has been a strange year. Time is flying by. I was hoping to capture the Summer and I have been 'here'. I have been enjoying it, but I couldn't stop or even pause time. And that is okay, too.

I was hoping, to do, many landscaping tasks this Summer. I have gotten behind on tree trimming etc. I can hardly mow the lawn, as low branches threaten to knock me off the mower. It is specially bad this year, because the trees are so lush with leaves, the branches are heavier. Yet, I haven't done a thing. Jamie hasn't felt good so we passed up on the vegetable garden this year. Our perennial flower gardens have been outrageously beautiful this year, despite having the occasional burdock, poking up among them, pretending to belong.

I have been more aware of my age, and perhaps more accepting, I do object to the wearing of the body sometimes. Somebody said on Face Book, “I don't mind getting old but my body sure doesn't like it.” The limitation comes gradually as you age but there are times went it is pointed out.

We have had a lot of death, in the family, in the last couple years. My brother Bruce, his wife, Arlene. My brother Garth. And then Donna, the woman I was previously married to, and Mother of my first four children. In a way, Donna and I grew up together, we shared that time of life when people evolve from 'young people' to adults. It is a time of many changes. I was reminded of her Sunday. I was reading the obituaries and I noted and old friend died, who we knew, when we were all in our late twenties and early thirties. My first thought was to e-mail Donna and share the news. Then, I realized, there are very few people left that shared that time space.

I am not sad about it. It's okay. I don't think, of death of the body, as a real thing. We inhabit bodies for a short time and then go on to new adventures. The person that dies certainly doesn't care, I am sure it is a very freeing experience. We, who are left here, however, can be greatly disturbed. We may not have the personal assurance that death is not real. We may interpret it as the end of the person [spirit] as well as the body; and even if we have the faith that death is not real, we just miss them.

Right now, for me, it reminds me of the fleetingness of life. Like the Summer that has flown by, my life is also.

I don't feel that I am going to die soon. I wonder, does anybody? I really have a hard time imagining that I am close to the portal. I don't feel like I am in my 83^rd year and I have much experiencing left to do. Besides, I don't want to leave until I see the new world, created with love, firmly entrenched upon this beautiful Earth.

So, we have more work to do! Or more shining of Love and Light!

Is this a strange blog?

Friday I will talk more about Healing/Learning Centers.

Love and Peace, Gregg