tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-42454869535337176802024-03-05T00:47:30.252-08:00What does it mean ?Born together in this dramatic epoch at the Dawn of the Second Millennium, paralleling, in a way, the cataclysmic challenges of the First - we find ourselves called to deepen our collective consciousness--Living as Embodied LOVE with each other and all of Life on planet Earth.
Expanding our Body/Spirit Connection while stilling the linear thinking when not called for. These posts feature this process.ms nancyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17167039337990325976noreply@blogger.comBlogger31125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4245486953533717680.post-1836754499692654602015-01-19T20:46:00.000-08:002015-01-19T20:46:43.942-08:00Are we living from our Essential Nature... or an Unnatural Life<b><span style="color: blue;">At birth we are pure essence... our essential nature shines through the tiny being</span></b>. Anyone who has been around newborns can see very quickly that each infant expressions their own essential nature right from the start. Visualize the newborns you recall in your life... and remember how this pure, unfettered essential nature reveals itself in the first two or three months of life.<br />
<br />
What we see here presented in this infant is pure essence... the basis of who we actually ARE--our Essential nature.<br />
Because there is no language yet - no concepts have been created - so Everything in view of this young Being is NEW... AMAZING... WOW! There is no You and Me... there is JUST THIS! and, it's AMAZING... the thing called 'foot' is amazing... the thing called 'rattle' is amazing... looking and playing with rapture... for the infant, there are no names of things; it just IS... to be experienced in the Moment and at One with.<br />
<br />
<span style="color: blue;"><b>Then, baby learns names of things... usually starting with 'Mommy'... and 'Baby'...</b></span><br />
Soon baby learns that Mommy is Mommy... and Baby is Baby...<br />
Some time later baby learns that Mommy and Baby are 'separate selves'. Baby is Taught this... that he is Separate.( I see this is the most impactful conditioning of our lives - and ultimately leading to many peoples' sense of isolation and sense of alone-ness... the nagging doubt of not 'good enough' or feeling left-out)<br />
And, later yet... child learns ... this is good... this is bad... this is dirty... don't touch this...<br />
And, as time goes on child learns how to exist and get love in their family... what to do... how to be...<br />
... maybe need to be the Responsible one... taking care of others and managing things at home, somehow... as a child... or need to be the Smart one... maybe need to be the Funny one... maybe need to be the Invisible one... maybe need to be the Scapegoat... or the Lost one... the one with no needs so as not to BE a burden to mom and dad.<br />
<br />
<span style="color: blue;"><b>Even later the child learns what people want -- learns to be the Pleaser... learns to Fear Conflict... </b></span>learns to Not ask any questions... learns to find the answer to Everything and will pretend to know, if not... learns to be charming guaranteeing that everyone will like him/her... learns to be the Responsible one so that she/he can feel needed... and/ or believes there is some control in an otherwise unpredictable situation... learns to be the dependent one so that she/he will feel taken care of... or learns to be the Independent one to ever avoid feeling 'trapped'.. or needs to be the Hard Worker... working super-long hours, or obtaining advanced degrees to place after ones name...<br />
By the time these (unconsciously) learned "roles" take hold... the child is developing a sense of who he/she is IN this Role. By the time we reach adulthood, the role becomes an Identity. People then wear this identity like a garment - it is who they "are" and what they "do".... defines them.<br />
<br />
<span style="color: blue;"><b>This is understood as the Unnatural self.</b></span><br />
<br />
<span style="color: blue;"><b>The Unnatural self can be likened to paper mache covering... since childhood.</b></span>.. with the conditioning that is inescapable... the paper mache has been lovingly or not so lovingly placed all about the person as they grow - but, sadly... <u>Not</u> into who they are <u>meant </u>to be. The paper mache covering obscures the Essential nature and what is seen and experienced is the Unnatural self. It is also known as a Mask one wears.<br />
<br />
<span style="color: blue;"><b>Don't you suppose this is why there seems to be such dissatisfaction in our culture, today -</b></span>- Consider: so much consumerism, 'must haves' for the latest techno-gadgets, cars & homes to prove we've 'made it'--have become a Successful Person... or, needing to be the 'perfect' parent... running ragged for our children, overeating, needing to be Liked, needing to be Busy, avoiding silence... or unscheduled time, concern over what others think of you, needing to present yourself as one who 'has it all together', avoiding vulnerable feelings with self and others, not realizing that you're giggling after you say something because you feel uncomfortable, have mastered the 'perpetual smile' that you have learned to wear in order to appear happy and non-threatening to others, or chuckling and laughing everything off to avoid feeling any perceived "threatening" (unhappy) emotion,<br />
<br />
<span style="color: blue;"><b>The Unnatural self has been devised, unwittingly, by the child, over the years as roles and strategies to feel Good and <u>Safe</u> in her child world</b></span>. This Unnatural self is the construct of the 6 year old... or the 8 year old... or the 12 year old. This paper mache covering may no longer be suitable to the adult that we have become - having been developed by the child we once were. However, we may find ourselves still fully cloaked in protection.<br />
<br />
<span style="color: blue;"><b>In constellations work it becomes evident that people initially feel afraid of vacating this paper mache covering / protection</b></span>--the Unnatural self because this is how they Now Know themselves-- this Unnatural self has become their 'Identity'... which means: They do not Know who they truly are... they do not, yet, know their Essential nature. Sadly, this is actually true for the majority of people... which, again, makes more clear how it is that our "modern" culture is in the current state it (We) are in.<br />
<br />
<span style="color: blue;"><b>This could be useful to ponder... simply by Noticing our Activity... what we are Busy with..</b></span>. and how we <u>Justify</u> its Significance and relevance in our lives... like, it would be like tearing at our skin if we part with any of it... as well as what we need to buy... and the degree to which we express ourselves Authentically... or, rather... do and say what... and how... other people expect of us...<br />
These questions can be a useful starting point to ponder... unless the status quo is more comfortable... and, this... too... is informative. ms nancyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17167039337990325976noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4245486953533717680.post-6699775573874319792014-09-02T13:13:00.000-07:002014-09-02T13:15:36.674-07:00Seeing the "deficiency story" for what it is...<div class="aboveUnitContent">
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<span class="userContent"><span style="color: blue;"><b>One day it came to her in a Flash -</b></span></span><br />
<span class="userContent">just how caught she was in her 'deficiency story'...</span><br />
<span class="userContent">she saw it...!</span><br />
<span class="userContent">...doubting herself & over-thinking</span><br />
<span class="userContent">... believing her effort not seeming 'good enough'</span><br />
<span class="userContent">...annoyance when she makes a 'mistake'<span class="text_exposed_show"><br /> and, the most troubling ><br />
trying to control everything so that everything goes 'perfectly' ... so
she doesn't look like a bad or inadequate person -- (which is how she
feels)<br /> <br /> She Saw all this... and made a promise to herself then
and there that she would Notice these Untruths about herself and Remind
herself that This is Just an Old Story! That it's Not true! ... and just
Let that deficiency story GO!<br /> <br /> She could honestly say that she always does her best and she never intentionally does anything to hurt anyone!<br /> ... She's a GOOD Person!</span></span><br />
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<span class="userContent"><span class="text_exposed_show">visit my Facebook Fan Page: https://www.facebook.com/pages/Bennett-Consulting-BodySpirit-Connection-work/42316265443178 </span></span></div>
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<a class="photo photoWidth1 _4dsy" data-ft="{"tn":"E"}" data-gt="{"fbid":"702352539846123"}" href="https://upload.facebook.com/423162654431781/photos/a.430527180361995.1073741825.423162654431781/702352539846123/?type=1&relevant_count=1" rel="theater"></a><br />
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<a class="photo photoWidth1 _4dsy" data-ft="{"tn":"E"}" data-gt="{"fbid":"702352539846123"}" href="https://upload.facebook.com/423162654431781/photos/a.430527180361995.1073741825.423162654431781/702352539846123/?type=1&relevant_count=1" rel="theater"><img alt="Photo: One day it came to her in a Flash -
just how caught she was in her 'deficiency story'...
she saw it...!
...doubting herself & over-thinking
... believing her effort not seeming 'good enough'
...annoyance when she makes a 'mistake'
and, the most troubling >
trying to control everything so that everything goes 'perfectly' ... so she doesn't look like a bad or inadequate person -- (which is how she feels)
She Saw all this... and made a promise to herself then and there that she would Notice these Untruths about herself and Remind herself that This is Just an Old Story! That it's Not true! ... and just Let It GO!
She could honestly say that she always does her best and she never intentionally does anything to hurt anyone!
... She's a GOOD Person!" class="scaledImageFitHeight img" height="417" src="https://fbcdn-sphotos-a-a.akamaihd.net/hphotos-ak-xpa1/v/t1.0-9/10300898_702352539846123_7740269307697240653_n.jpg?oh=a69b460d6247892dc9e87322bf28c11a&oe=547C8846&__gda__=1415743230_6c9c5fb9b939bfd40670cb95221210e7" style="left: 0px;" width="422" /></a></div>
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</a>ms nancyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17167039337990325976noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4245486953533717680.post-82648416093044331502014-09-01T14:36:00.004-07:002014-12-28T21:46:07.455-08:00EXPLORING REALITY<div class="_5k3v _5k3w clearfix">
<div>
<b><u><span style="color: blue;">Exploring Reality</span></u> 9/01/14</b><br />
<br />
This
paper the first of its kind--for me--as an experiment in putting together and blending notes from
books and notes written from listening to 'liberated' teachers and my
own experiences exploring Reality of nondualism. I've been involved for
past 5 years ... exploring what is Here, Now...<br />
initially, reading > Byron Katie... Eckhardt Tolle... Miguel Ruiz... then, 'discovering' non-duality authors and... then... meeting, in person, hearing & discussion with 'liberated' Teachers... <br />
By NO Means is this a
Complete picture - and I've intentionally left out particular truths,
for now.<br />
<br />
In past 3 years looking deeper into what is True - SEEING the conditioning – pointed to by these teachers...<br />
This year seeing even more what we've been taught to believe by consensus reality as really UpSideDown from Truth<br />
Understanding shared here is limited – and I share with you what I understanding, now.<br />
SEE what is True... for You !<br />
<br />
<u><span style="color: blue;"><b>Why Explore Reality?</b></span></u> – We <i>believe</i> we already <i>Know</i> it. But that's just it - Reality can Not be Known by the mind. Reality can only be<i> Experienced</i>
- however, unbeknownst to us, our concepts and convictions camouflage
our ability to see Reality/Truth. In Not understanding the Truth >
Reality –there is ALWAYS suffering... simply look back in 'history' –
look at the current world situation – there is Suffering...<br />
<ul>
<li>emotionally, psychologically...dissatisfaction, self-criticism, deficiency 'stories' create Much suffering in us. </li>
<li>Realizing Truth offers reducing of stress, anxiety, conflict and addiction as old beliefs fall away. </li>
</ul>
<ul>
<li>Reality is and can never be Other Than what is Right Here – Right Now<br />
</li>
<li>Past and Future only exist in our Mind – happening right here and right now<br />
</li>
<li>We
say things are happening to me from 'out there'--in the world-- we
think there is an 'out there' – but we are actually experiencing
ourselves (in here)<br />
</li>
<li>The mind can not know reality
because the mind only knows 'concepts' – it is incapable of
understanding reality...therefore, unable to Experience it</li>
</ul>
<br />
<b><span style="color: blue;"><u>Names of things are NOT what they actually are </u></span></b><br />
<ul>
<li>the names for things are actually merely arbitrary sounds that have been agreed upon by society</li>
</ul>
<ul>
<li>naming a thing interferes with our connection with that thing</li>
</ul>
<ul>
<li>we
come to see that we've had no way of knowing of an object except
through our habits of thought. So we come to see that thought is not
mirroring reality. .. in fact, interferes with seeing.</li>
</ul>
<br />
<span style="color: blue;"><b><u>Our (unexamined) convictions--beliefs Interfere with seeing Reality– society supports these </u></b><u><b>faulty conviction that</b></u></span>:<br />
<ul>
<li>conceptual interpretations we make are True and accurately describe reality<br />
</li>
<li>the 'naming' of things describe and point to what it actually is – including each other</li>
</ul>
<ul>
<li>past and future are real – things are happening to me 'out there' – names of things indicate what a thing Is –<br />
</li>
<li> the belief that people are 'acting toward me' – or that I am responsible<br />
</li>
<li> things & people 'should' be a certain way – what's happening is unacceptable<br />
</li>
<li> we can control outcome<br />
</li>
<li>conviction
in the belief in opposites – dichotomy, mutually exclusive – rather
than seeing the illusory creation of polarization – imagined
separateness (running rampant in society)<br />
</li>
<li>my wants, needs, 'must haves' or 'don't wants' Should be satisfied – or I will be unhappy, dissatisfied<br />
</li>
<li>everything
stays the Same (or should)... (we see others & experiences from the
past – not in the present – mind has a concept <br />
</li>
<li>we must improve – become better – how we are at present is not <i>good enough</i></li>
</ul>
<br />
The
dualistic mind believes in a division between a person and the
experience 'happening to a person'. It puts every experience in a <b>time-bound, thought-based self-story.</b><br />
<br />
<br />
<span style="color: purple;">*****One way of <b>EXPLORING your beliefs & convictions</b></span>
is by listening to your choices of words – and others' words – will
offer insight into your perspective on life...your beliefs, convictions <br />
<br />
<span style="color: blue;"><u><b>What Happened? </b></u><b>How did we get here?</b></span><br />
<b><br /></b>
Infants
experience reality, totally and completely – No names for things, no
self-identity, no separate objects – Everything is ONE.<br />
<br />
Utter glee, exploration,newness, amazement – Observe a child under the age of one and see this Reality. (see image below)<br />
<br />
Then – Conditioning sets in –(See – <i>Voice of Knowledge</i> by Miguel Ruiz - or, <i>Becoming your True Self</i> by Vivian Broughton<br />
<ul>
<li>
Survivor self is created – Interpreting with limitations of child-mind,
its life experiences – like looking through a slit and believing she's
seeing entire picture of what Is.<br />
</li>
<li> No longer able to See Reality – survivor strategies & creation of filters interfere with ability to see Reality.<br />
</li>
<li> Because it's easy to feel 'unsafe', we live in fear, anxiety, pressure, stress...particularly of 'aughts' and 'shoulds'.<br />
</li>
<li>Survival strategies we Believed we needed to survive childhood/family are <u>Still being used </u>–<u> now</u> – out of habit – even though the trauma is over and <u>we have Already Survived</u>! <br />
</li>
<li> We're caught in habits of mind, memory & belief/convictions of which we've forgotten the contents.</li>
</ul>
<br />
Now, we are completely <i>Used to</i> – feel at Home with – this particular view of Reality – the belief in '<i>what we must Do</i>' & how we <i>must 'Be'</i> to Feel Safe ! (memories and thoughts that we're living out of – today... <br />
SEE them for what they are – they are creating our reality, over and over.<br />
<br />
<span style="color: blue;"><b>Steps toward Seeing What IS:</b></span><br />
<br />
<ul>
<li><b>This exploration involves a SEEING.... Not a 'Doing'</b></li>
</ul>
<ul>
<li>Desiring to see Reality as it IS – to see Truth<br />
</li>
<li>SEEING our out-moded perspectives – seeing how it has been limiting you, causing suffering <br />
</li>
<li>SEEING
deep unconscious habits of conditioning – (fear of not being enough,
fear of not having enough – are Not personal experiences – they are a
deep habit of consciousness)<br />
</li>
<li>Connecting with Awareness</li>
</ul>
<br />
<span style="color: blue;"><b>Awareness is Who / What we Truly Are...</b></span><br />
<br />
<ul>
<li>Awareness is always present regardless of what's happening<br />
</li>
<li>Awareness is the space in which all occurrences appear. <br />
</li>
<li>it's the <b>Space</b> between an occurrence – where we may Remember to Breathe – <b>Connect with Awareness.</b>..<br />
</li>
<li>Occurrence
= body sensations, perceptions (thoughts, feelings, beliefs, states);
and world (experiences... everything we believe is 'out there')</li>
</ul>
<br />
<b><span style="color: blue;">Consider the metaphor of being in a movie theater – watching the film called: 'My Life'</span></b><br />
<br />
In
the metaphor we have a movie screen, we have the movie starring the
actors viewed on the screen, and we have the stuff that's happening...
or occurring to the actors in the movie.<br />
<ul>
<li>the <b>screen</b> represents <b>Awareness </b>(or oneness) <br />
</li>
<li><b>movie</b> that plays upon the screen is <b>subject and objects</b> (appearing as Separate things 'happening)...</li>
<li>Occurrences (everything that comes and goes) including others - our thoughts, feelings, experiences, states</li>
<li><b>We</b>, as individuals, are <b>characters in the movie</b> and as such are <b>unable to see </b>the screen (<b>Awareness</b>)
upon which we're being played and we believe our role as separate
individuals in the movie. We can turn, look back, up and down, and even
within, and we can never see the screen itself.</li>
</ul>
I
cannot see that I am playing within Awareness (the screen). Yet as the
screen (Awareness), everything shows up within/upon me, and all remains
dimensionless from this perspective. Everything, absolutely everything
is allowed to be displayed upon the screen and like Awareness, the
screen is not affected in any way by what is displayed upon it.
(Remember, Awareness is Who we Truly Are)<br />
<br />
<span style="color: blue;"><b>SEEING all that occurs in our life as Occurrences</b></span> - neither good nor bad - It just IS... thoughts, feelings, states, beliefs...<br />
Letting Go of the 'should's/shouldn'ts'... relaxing into the present moment - into Awareness<br />
<br />
<span style="color: blue;"><u><b>Challenges in life</b></u></span><b>: </b><b>We
are hypnotized by Life. Life (society) has So many demands upon us –
pressure has been created to fit in, conform, comply, submit to Life's
expectations – we hope to feel sense of 'belonging'.</b><br />
<br />
Viewing
Reality in this way does not deny the existence of world, but
demonstrates it as Occurrences, like a movie on a movie screen. As a
movie, a movie seems real... and as the world, the world seems real...
Seeing the Occurrences in our lives as things that occur... and then
disappear... it's possible to loosen the grip the mind has in believing
these occurrences as something that should or shouldn't happen - or that
we can control... Recognizing sensation of bodily contractions...
tensions cause by objecting, fear, anger... Loosening the grip -
relaxing, inwardly.<br />
<br />
<br />
<span class="photo "><img alt="joyful wonder - experiencing reality" class="photo_img img" src="https://scontent-b-sea.xx.fbcdn.net/hphotos-xap1/v/t1.0-9/934806_10201378881113059_8910941513699958503_n.jpg?oh=8f7ef7e48076666246472925c173d37d&oe=54798EF6" title="joyful wonder - experiencing reality" /></span><span class="photo "><img alt="" class="photo_img img" src="https://fbcdn-sphotos-e-a.akamaihd.net/hphotos-ak-xap1/v/t1.0-9/10542895_10201380941404565_8810308559683399560_n.jpg?oh=40042a0712e2b3f897263e6f0ba467cd&oe=547DC7B3&__gda__=1415834598_1c506fc5d54e1b2b04ebc083a0a072c4" title="" /></span><span class="photo "><img alt="" class="photo_img img" src="https://scontent-b-sea.xx.fbcdn.net/hphotos-xfp1/v/t1.0-9/10626494_10201380942204585_1574168433721177993_n.jpg?oh=ad316f3d7c6f1bf6ddbe1caac0ed3ab6&oe=54746099" title="" /></span></div>
</div>
ms nancyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17167039337990325976noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4245486953533717680.post-49237909681244361442014-09-01T14:23:00.000-07:002014-12-28T21:45:23.853-08:00Working With Intention - <div class="_4_j7">
<a href="https://www.facebook.com/notes/nancy-bennett/working-with-intention-parts-of-self/797443646953917">WORKING WITH INTENTION - parts of self</a></div>
<div class="_4_j7">
</div>
<b><u>My Notes about Working with Intention from Vivian's trauma workshop</u>: (</b>this information below includes NOTHING about other participants' individual work)<b><br /></b><br />
<br />
<b>What
information seeker discloses in the 'chair' is equally important as the
constellation – the seeker's telling of the back-story helps them get
in touch with the trauma that occurred so as to be<span class="text_exposed_show">gin the process.</span></b><br />
<br />
<b>Our culture denies the occurrence of trauma unless it is on the scale of 9/11. Childhood trauma is </b><u><b>not</b></u><b> recognized.</b><br />
<b>Trauma is an experience of powerlessness – where there is </b><u><b>Nothing that could be done</b></u><b> (as a child).</b><br />
<b>...the child Freezes, Dissociates, Splits off from itself...</b><br />
<br />
<b>Seeker's
INTENTION is actually a part of her/himself – illustrating possible
projections, can turn into unconscious opposite sides of oneself like
anger, rage, aggression, powerlessness – feelings that have been buried</b><br />
<br />
<b>The original trauma(s) are frozen in time and needs to be allowed up into consciousness to release.</b><br />
<b>Trauma occurred when we were Powerless as a child in a situation.</b><br />
<b>Our sense of powerlessness is unbearable as a child – we find survival strategies to cope.</b><br />
<b>Not being 'seen' or 'heard' as a child – anger, or feeling 'what's the use' may be a survival strategy.</b><br />
<br />
<b>Trauma is held in the body.</b><br />
<b>How much is the </b><u><b>Cost to us for not fully feeling Alive </b></u><b>–due to inability to embrace the cut-off parts of self?</b><br />
<br />
<b>Fear
of feeling the pain in the traumatized part of self – we do anything to
Not connect – to Avoid – to Not see- therefore, we are Not allowing
ourselves to see a part of ourselves that feels Isolated, Alone,Needy
for Connection !</b><br />
<b>Therefore, everything we experience, express in dissatisfaction... is about US... the disowned parts.</b><br />
<br />
<b>Trauma
seriously disrupts our ability to Trust ourselves, our feelings, what
belongs to me & to the other – and understanding our experiences.</b><br />
<br />
<b>Parents who are traumatized are UNABLE to be trustworthy!</b><br />
<br />
<b>The seeker's Intention tends to be a blend of the survival, the Healthy &traumatized parts of self</b><br />
<br />
<b>Seeker beginning to connect more deeply with the Healthy part of themselves via the Intention.</b><br />
<br />
<b>Possible
Intentions are to see, feel, touch in to - whatever one realizes has
been keeping them from living life fully and alive and putting this
recognition into their own words as an Intention for the constellation.</b><br />
<br />
<b>Knowing
the 'Story' is less relevant for the representatives – Instead:tuning
in to the experience in the body as representatives –physically,
emotionally – is the key! The body shows us where the entanglements in
the trauma live. Representatives letting go of their mind and Trusting
their bodily experiences, feelings & expression </b><u><b>without</b></u><b> suppression, fear, doubt or embarrassment.</b><br />
<br />
<b>For
seeker to Look into the Face of their own traumatized child part
–embracing this part is the beginning of integration... autonomy...True
Self</b><br />
<br />
<b>Becoming familiar with our survival
strategies so we Realize this is NOT me...(impatience, irritation,
judgmental are all aspects of persecutor—victim in oneself) </b><br />
<br />
<b>When
you see something presented outside yourself (constellation) &are
able to acknowledge this is YOUR inner world – and accept it...bring it
into consciousness—then can be the beginning of release of inner tension
that has been tightly held.</b><br />
<br />
<b>As we start to see the Truth – the survival strategies begin to fall away.</b><br />
<b>(see image, below) </b><br />
<img src="http://images.sussexpublishers.netdna-cdn.com/article-inline-half/blogs/82191/2014/04/149195-152004.jpg" height="167" id="irc_mi" style="margin-top: 113px;" width="230" /><br />
<br />
<b>also see my Facebook Page https://www.facebook.com/pages/Bennett-Consulting-BodySpirit-Connection-work/423162654431781 </b>ms nancyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17167039337990325976noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4245486953533717680.post-40814645875472738572013-12-15T16:12:00.000-08:002014-08-10T16:48:19.101-07:00INTIMATE INSIGHTS SHARED WORKING WITH BODY/WISDOM CONNECTION- bypassing Mind<br />
<div id="yui_3_13_0_ym1_7_1387136693827_10">
<span id="yui_3_13_0_ym1_7_1387136693827_17"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: Times,"Times New Roman",serif;">I
have been given permission </span>to share these <b>intimate experiences of
others with the Invisible world,</b> anonymously, for the <b>purpose of
promoting a</b></span><b>wareness of a means of tapping into the wisdom of our bodies
that offers us loving, unfettered guidance</b>. Here, working with <u>INTENTION</u>, we <b>experience a pure, unadulterated intuitive Knowing from our Being beyond the 'rational', linear mind and its 'aughts' and 'shoulds' and fears.</b></span></div>
<div id="yui_3_13_0_ym1_7_1387136693827_32" style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: HelveticaNeue,Helvetica Neue,Helvetica,Arial,Lucida Grande,sans-serif; font-style: normal;">
<span style="font-size: small;"><br /><span id="yui_3_13_0_ym1_7_1387136693827_17"></span></span></div>
<span style="font-family: Times,"Times New Roman",serif;"><span id="yui_3_13_0_ym1_7_1387136693827_17"><span style="font-size: small;">I enjoy <u>utilizing several modalities with Seekers:</u> </span></span></span><br />
<ul>
<li><span style="font-family: Times,"Times New Roman",serif;"><span id="yui_3_13_0_ym1_7_1387136693827_17"><span style="font-size: small;">working with Stones
as representatives (representing an issue, a goal, another person in
their lives); </span></span></span></li>
</ul>
<ul>
<li><span style="font-family: Times,"Times New Roman",serif;"><span id="yui_3_13_0_ym1_7_1387136693827_17"><span style="font-size: small;">working with hidden information written on paper and including a stone; </span></span></span></li>
</ul>
<ul>
<li><span style="font-family: Times,"Times New Roman",serif;"><span id="yui_3_13_0_ym1_7_1387136693827_17"><span style="font-size: small;">working with other humans as representatives setting up an Intention in a group setting...</span></span></span></li>
</ul>
<div id="yui_3_13_0_ym1_7_1387136693827_19" style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: HelveticaNeue,Helvetica Neue,Helvetica,Arial,Lucida Grande,sans-serif; font-size: 13.3333px; font-style: normal;">
<span id="yui_3_13_0_ym1_7_1387136693827_17"><br id="yui_3_13_0_ym1_7_1387136693827_29" /></span></div>
<div id="yui_3_13_0_ym1_7_1387136693827_25" style="background-color: transparent; font-family: HelveticaNeue,Helvetica Neue,Helvetica,Arial,Lucida Grande,sans-serif; font-size: 13.3333px; font-style: normal;">
<span style="color: blue;"><span id="yui_3_13_0_ym1_7_1387136693827_103" style="text-decoration: underline;"><span id="yui_3_13_0_ym1_7_1387136693827_101" style="font-weight: bold;"><span id="yui_3_13_0_ym1_7_1387136693827_17">Working with Paper and Stones</span></span></span></span></div>
<div id="yui_3_13_0_ym1_7_1387136693827_41" style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: HelveticaNeue,Helvetica Neue,Helvetica,Arial,Lucida Grande,sans-serif; font-size: 13.3333px; font-style: normal;">
<span id="yui_3_13_0_ym1_7_1387136693827_17"><br id="yui_3_13_0_ym1_7_1387136693827_48" /></span></div>
<div id="yui_3_13_0_ym1_7_1387136693827_44" style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-style: normal;">
<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: Times,"Times New Roman",serif;"><span id="yui_3_13_0_ym1_7_1387136693827_17"><span style="color: purple;"><b><u><span style="color: blue;">ONE EXAMPLE</span></u>:</b></span> Seeker experiences sense of stuckness for a number of months in the comforts
of the status quo and believing the lies in the head generating fear of stepping out vs taking a step
forward out of the comfort zone and first experiencing and then exposing
the fears as lies. Seeker is NOT informed which paper has which statement
written on it - it will be folded and another paper will cover it as well - then seeker
will select a stone for that paper, placing it on top.</span></span></span></div>
<div id="yui_3_13_0_ym1_7_1387136693827_51" style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-style: normal;">
<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: Times,"Times New Roman",serif;"><br /><span id="yui_3_13_0_ym1_7_1387136693827_17"></span></span></span></div>
<div id="yui_3_13_0_ym1_1_1387136693827_3157" style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-style: normal;">
<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: Times,"Times New Roman",serif;"><span id="yui_3_13_0_ym1_7_1387136693827_17">On one paper is written: Protect the fears by avoiding new growth experiences - Seeker chose a beige smooth stone and placed on the folded paper.</span></span></span></div>
<div id="yui_3_13_0_ym1_7_1387136693827_62" style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-style: normal;">
<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: Times,"Times New Roman",serif;"><br /><span id="yui_3_13_0_ym1_7_1387136693827_17"></span></span></span></div>
<div id="yui_3_13_0_ym1_7_1387136693827_65" style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-style: normal;">
<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: Times,"Times New Roman",serif;"><span id="yui_3_13_0_ym1_7_1387136693827_17">On
the other paper is written: Address fears by moving forward in new
experiences - Seeker chose a green stone and placed on the folded paper.</span></span></span></div>
<div id="yui_3_13_0_ym1_7_1387136693827_69" style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-style: normal;">
<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: Times,"Times New Roman",serif;"><br /><span id="yui_3_13_0_ym1_7_1387136693827_17"></span></span></span></div>
<div id="yui_3_13_0_ym1_7_1387136693827_72" style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-style: normal;">
<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: Times,"Times New Roman",serif;"><span id="yui_3_13_0_ym1_7_1387136693827_17">Next, Seeker grounds and collects self - then stood on one paper with shoes off - holding the stone in hand - </span></span></span></div>
<div id="yui_3_13_0_ym1_7_1387136693827_77" style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-style: normal;">
<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: Times,"Times New Roman",serif;"><span id="yui_3_13_0_ym1_7_1387136693827_17">Seeker commented: "This stone feels initially cold but warmed up quickly... and
I feel a tingle in my face. Then, feeling a sense of "exhale relief"</span></span></span></div>
<div id="yui_3_13_0_ym1_7_1387136693827_83" style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-style: normal;">
<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: Times,"Times New Roman",serif;"><br /><span id="yui_3_13_0_ym1_7_1387136693827_17"></span></span></span></div>
<div id="yui_3_13_0_ym1_7_1387136693827_86" style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-style: normal;">
<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: Times,"Times New Roman",serif;"><span id="yui_3_13_0_ym1_7_1387136693827_17">Seeker grounded again, then, stepping to the second paper and picked up the stone, commenting: "This stone felt warm at first, but then it feels shallow, no depth... not noticing any other sensations - feels flat."</span></span></span></div>
<div id="yui_3_13_0_ym1_7_1387136693827_92" style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-style: normal;">
<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: Times,"Times New Roman",serif;"><br /><span id="yui_3_13_0_ym1_7_1387136693827_17"></span></span></span></div>
<div id="yui_3_13_0_ym1_7_1387136693827_95" style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-style: normal;">
<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: Times,"Times New Roman",serif;"><span id="yui_3_13_0_ym1_7_1387136693827_17"><b><u><span style="color: purple;">OUTCOME</span></u>: </b>Seeker
was asked to choose which place he felt resonance with. He chose the
first place - and then read the choice of his folded paper. Client read that
his body chose 'New Experiences'</span></span></span></div>
<div id="yui_3_13_0_ym1_7_1387136693827_106" style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-style: normal;">
<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: Times,"Times New Roman",serif;"><br /><span id="yui_3_13_0_ym1_7_1387136693827_17"></span></span></span></div>
<div id="yui_3_13_0_ym1_7_1387136693827_109" style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-style: normal;">
<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: Times,"Times New Roman",serif;"><span id="yui_3_13_0_ym1_7_1387136693827_17"><b><u><span style="color: blue;">SECOND SITUATION</span>:</u> </b>Dilemma facing several difficult choices: Seeker's role in the family has been as 'responsible one' . Presently feeling compelled to make big life decisions. Family business in trouble, Seeker feeling sense of loyalty and obligation to save the situation. Seeker realizing it's Uncle's responsibility now "but 99% of me feels that I need to step in and save the business."</span></span></span></div>
<div id="yui_3_13_0_ym1_7_1387136693827_131" style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-style: normal;">
<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: Times,"Times New Roman",serif;"><br /><span id="yui_3_13_0_ym1_7_1387136693827_17"></span></span></span></div>
<div id="yui_3_13_0_ym1_7_1387136693827_134" style="background-color: transparent; font-style: normal;">
<span style="color: blue;"><b><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: Times,"Times New Roman",serif;"><span id="yui_3_13_0_ym1_7_1387136693827_17">One of Seeker's choices written on one paper: 'Let whatever happens to the business happen'.</span></span></span></b></span></div>
<div id="yui_3_13_0_ym1_1_1387136693827_5526" style="background-color: transparent; font-style: normal;">
<span style="color: blue;"><b><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: Times,"Times New Roman",serif;"><span id="yui_3_13_0_ym1_7_1387136693827_17">On second paper Seeker writes: 'Wait and see what Uncle does'.</span></span></span></b></span></div>
<div id="yui_3_13_0_ym1_7_1387136693827_144" style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-style: normal;">
<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: Times,"Times New Roman",serif;"><span id="yui_3_13_0_ym1_7_1387136693827_17"><span style="color: blue;"><b>On third paper Seeker writes: 'Step in and sell the business'.</b></span></span></span></span></div>
<div id="yui_3_13_0_ym1_7_1387136693827_120" style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-style: normal;">
<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: Times,"Times New Roman",serif;"><br /><span id="yui_3_13_0_ym1_7_1387136693827_17"></span></span></span></div>
<div id="yui_3_13_0_ym1_7_1387136693827_123" style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-style: normal;">
<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: Times,"Times New Roman",serif;"><span id="yui_3_13_0_ym1_7_1387136693827_17">The papers are folded, covered and Seeker selects and places stones over each paper without knowing which is which.</span></span></span></div>
<div id="yui_3_13_0_ym1_7_1387136693827_155" style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-style: normal;">
<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: Times,"Times New Roman",serif;"><br /><span id="yui_3_13_0_ym1_7_1387136693827_17"></span></span></span></div>
<div id="yui_3_13_0_ym1_7_1387136693827_158" style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-style: normal;">
<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: Times,"Times New Roman",serif;"><span id="yui_3_13_0_ym1_7_1387136693827_17">Seeker stands on one paper - holds stone - states: "I
feel a sense of heaviness here - like, 'it's too much', too
complicated. Her body feels cold. (She learns after that she is standing
on the paper that says 'Sell the business'.</span></span></span></div>
<div id="yui_3_13_0_ym1_7_1387136693827_149" style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-style: normal;">
<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: Times,"Times New Roman",serif;"><br /></span></span></div>
<div id="yui_3_13_0_ym1_7_1387136693827_168" style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-style: normal;">
<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: Times,"Times New Roman",serif;">Standing on the next paper, holding the stone - states: "I don't feel much of anything but a slight nervousness, uneasy."</span></span></div>
<div id="yui_3_13_0_ym1_7_1387136693827_172" style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-style: normal;">
<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: Times,"Times New Roman",serif;"><br id="yui_3_13_0_ym1_7_1387136693827_177" /></span></span></div>
<div id="yui_3_13_0_ym1_7_1387136693827_174" style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-style: normal;">
<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: Times,"Times New Roman",serif;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: Times,"Times New Roman",serif;"><b><u><span style="color: purple;">OUTCOME:</span> </u> </b></span></span>Standing
on the third paper, holding the stone - states: "This stone warmed up
quickly in my hands. I feel calm and peaceful standing here. My body
feels good here". -- Seeker picked up the folded paper at feet and it
read: 'Let whatever happens happen'. Upon reading this, seeker expressed sense
of relief. Seeker read the first paper <b> </b>where her body had felt heavy. That
paper read, 'Step in and sell the business'. Seeker recalled the innate sense of 'too complicated' when standing on that place.</span></span></div>
<div id="yui_3_13_0_ym1_7_1387136693827_183" style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-style: normal;">
<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: Times,"Times New Roman",serif;">Seeker states amazement that body realized the right choice for self that was exactly the opposite of what the mind 'thought should be done'. Yet, in this moment, the the 'rightness' of letting it go.<br /><span id="yui_3_13_0_ym1_7_1387136693827_17"></span></span></span></div>
<div id="yui_3_13_0_ym1_7_1387136693827_152" style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-style: normal;">
<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: Times,"Times New Roman",serif;"><br /><span id="yui_3_13_0_ym1_7_1387136693827_17"></span></span></span></div>
<div id="yui_3_13_0_ym1_7_1387136693827_188" style="background-color: transparent; font-style: normal;">
<span style="color: blue;"><u><b><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: Times,"Times New Roman",serif;"><span id="yui_3_13_0_ym1_7_1387136693827_17">Working with People as Representatives - with Intention</span></span></span></b></u></span></div>
<div id="yui_3_13_0_ym1_7_1387136693827_192" style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-style: normal;">
<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: Times,"Times New Roman",serif;"><br /><span id="yui_3_13_0_ym1_7_1387136693827_17"></span></span></span></div>
<div id="yui_3_13_0_ym1_7_1387136693827_195" style="background-color: transparent; font-style: normal;">
<span style="color: purple;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: Times,"Times New Roman",serif;"><span id="yui_3_13_0_ym1_7_1387136693827_17"><b><u>SITUATION</u></b>: A Seeker working on setting boundaries and creating healthy separate self from parent as well as detaching from inner critic.</span></span></span></span></div>
<div id="yui_3_13_0_ym1_7_1387136693827_201" style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-style: normal;">
<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: Times,"Times New Roman",serif;"><span id="yui_3_13_0_ym1_7_1387136693827_17">Seeker selects
a man to represent her Intention: to see what is in her way from having healthy boundaries with her mother and feel less oppressed by her 'inner critic' (survivor part of self). Seeker selects a woman to represent her mother; Seeker represented herself. </span></span></span></div>
<div id="yui_3_13_0_ym1_7_1387136693827_206" style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-style: normal;">
<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: Times,"Times New Roman",serif;"><br /><span id="yui_3_13_0_ym1_7_1387136693827_17"></span></span></span></div>
<div id="yui_3_13_0_ym1_7_1387136693827_209" style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-style: normal;">
<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: Times,"Times New Roman",serif;"><span id="yui_3_13_0_ym1_7_1387136693827_17">The mother representative was leaning on seeker in an intrusive manner of which the seeker felt quite familiar. The male representative for the Intention tuning in to his body stated to mother and Seeker: 'You have to do better! It's just not good enough" (rather apologetically as making such a statement was not in his actual nature).</span></span></span></div>
<div id="yui_3_13_0_ym1_7_1387136693827_209" style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-style: normal;">
<br /></div>
<div id="yui_3_13_0_ym1_7_1387136693827_218" style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-style: normal;">
<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: Times,"Times New Roman",serif;"><span id="yui_3_13_0_ym1_7_1387136693827_17">Just at that moment a participant of the circle familiar with constellations work arrived in the midst of this constellation - entered the room and the facilitator asked if she would be willing to represent the seeker's grandmother. As this occurred, tuning in to her body - the 'grandmother' representative, folding her arms across her chest with an apparent look of disdain and, looking at the two women,
stated: "I'm disappointed in you. You could do better!" This late
arriving participant had no knowledge of what had come just before she had entered the room - yet her body was able to pick up and tune in to the energy of the Field.</span></span></span></div>
<div id="yui_3_13_0_ym1_7_1387136693827_218" style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-style: normal;">
<br /></div>
<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: Times,"Times New Roman",serif;"><span id="yui_3_13_0_ym1_7_1387136693827_17"><u><b><span style="color: purple;">OUTCOME</span></b></u>: The seeker was shown just what she needed to see for her own next step. She reported a month later that
subsequently she has been experiencing dramatic inner shifts and
receiving feedback from others close to her that something seemed different about her. Seeker reported feeling a genuine sense of openness to the world and experiences around her.</span></span></span><br />
<br />
<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: Times,"Times New Roman",serif;"><span id="yui_3_13_0_ym1_7_1387136693827_17"><u><span style="color: blue;"><b>SITUATION</b></span></u>: A Seeker's Intention: to work on valuing himself and his capabilities more than he currently does.</span></span></span><br />
<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: Times,"Times New Roman",serif;"><span id="yui_3_13_0_ym1_7_1387136693827_17">Seeker selects a representative for his Intention - increased self valuation - and he stands as himself - and, together, he and the representative for his Intention find their place in relation to each other. The representative for his Intention moves away from the Client - as far away in the room as possible. Seeker appears perplexed and unsure. A representative for the child-part of Seeker is selected and finds his place in the scene. The child-part of the seeker refuses to be 'looked at' by the seeker - the child-part conveys anxiety and panicy feelings. When a representative for the seeker's mother was brought in to the scene, the energy began to shift.</span></span></span><br />
<br />
<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: Times,"Times New Roman",serif;"><span id="yui_3_13_0_ym1_7_1387136693827_17"><span style="color: purple;"><b><u>OUTCOME</u>: </b><span style="color: black;">More unfolded in this constellation as the representative for the seeker's mother entered - however, what was demonstrated was the next step for seeker in establishing a more conscious relationship with his own inner, traumatised child part. He expressed his realization that his life was out of balance - too outer focused.</span></span></span></span></span><br />
<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: Times,"Times New Roman",serif;"><span id="yui_3_13_0_ym1_7_1387136693827_17"><span style="color: purple;"><span style="color: black;">Seeker expressed seeing something played out, externally via the constellation, that might have taken him very much longer to come to realize on his own. </span></span> </span></span></span><br />
<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: Times,"Times New Roman",serif;"><span id="yui_3_13_0_ym1_7_1387136693827_17"><br /></span></span></span>
<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: Times,"Times New Roman",serif;"><span id="yui_3_13_0_ym1_7_1387136693827_17"><u><span style="color: blue;"><b>Utilizing Stones as Representatives for issues and other people</b></span></u></span></span></span><br />
<br />
<u><b><i>Seeker's experience</i></b>:</u> "During this session it became very clear to me that I have ignored and
rejected the child part of me for a long time. After working with Nancy
and the stones, I became aware of something...the child part of me
feels what my mother must have felt growing up in poverty and pregnant
at 14,... unnoticed, ignored, rejected. I placed the child part
representative next to me, but not touching or facing me. I placed my
mother's mother near her, but not touching or facing her. I believed as a child, I "unconsciously" felt unnoticed, ignored and rejected
by my mother. Very similar to what my mother could have felt. I don't
know, because we've never talked about how she felt as a child. Nancy
asked me to talk to the child part of me...acknowledge her, listen to
her. I did, I told her, "I love you and I will acknowledge you."
It was pretty intense and emotional. At the end of the session I had a
real sense of peace. I want to give the child part of me the attention and
love that she perceived herself to be missing, I see that I need to give that to her
now. Wow, this is big!"<br />
<br />
<img alt="Inline image 1" height="420" id="yui_3_13_0_ym1_1_1387136693827_20306" src="https://us-mg5.mail.yahoo.com/ya/download?mid=2%5f0%5f0%5f52%5f12068%5fAKVoimIAAAaPUkdpKwAAAO0YCC4&pid=2&fid=a%2520constellations%2520photos%2520and&inline=1&appid=yahoomail" width="275" />ms nancyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17167039337990325976noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4245486953533717680.post-19507713119733221542013-11-29T16:01:00.001-08:002014-08-10T16:49:21.421-07:00What is 'Being Real'? Body/Spirit Connection work<br />
<span class="yiv8278352682userContent" id="yui_3_13_0_ym1_1_1385755919181_16650"><span style="color: blue;"><b>We
desire to live healthy, fulfilling lives in relation to </b></span>those we care
about engaging in ways that are authentic and true to our Being. (<span id="yui_3_13_0_ym1_1_1385755919181_16655" style="font-weight: bold;">See
comments, below, from others' who are willing to share their own personal experiences of constellations
work so as to promote awareness of this phenomenal work)</span><br /> <br /> <span style="color: blue;"><b>Learning how to acces</b></span><span class="yiv8278352682text_exposed_show" id="yui_3_13_0_ym1_1_1385755919181_16657"><span style="color: blue;"><b>s
that which promotes healthy love,</b></span> first toward oneself--as a result of
healthy connection with one's inner parents - and subsequently toward
significant others--personally and professionally... and with one's
direction in life.<br /> <br /> <span style="color: blue;"><b>Healing is not about "getting better," it
is about letting go </b></span>of everything that isn’t you – all of the
expectations, all of the beliefs, letting go of the defenses – and
unfolding into who you truly are.” ~Rachel Naomi Remen<br /> <br /> <span style="color: blue;"><b>Bringing
the disparate parts of our psyche into conscious awareness and into
alignment </b></span>that our defenses...our survivor part wants to Avoid. Bringing
these parts into consciousness to LOVE and accept rather than Deny and
Reject.<br /> <br /> <span style="color: blue;"><b>Constellations work demonstrates, visually, how we may,
unconsciously, live out </b></span>our mother's disappointments... or repeat our
father's infidelity... or issues around being successful. Unconsciously,
we replicate the failed relationships, or issues with money...or
health... fears of moving forward... of our parents and grandparents. We
understand that we inherit our eye color and blood type; we also
inherit the psychological residue from traumatic events that have taken
place in our family history even generations prior to our birth.
Depression, anxiety, chronic self-doubt/self-criticism, illness,
over-eating or other substances, unhappy relationships and financial
challenges can all be forms of this unconscious, unsatisfying
inheritance. <br /> <br /> <span style="color: blue;"><b>Constellations work visually and gradually
reveals the hidden dynamics</b></span> and family loyalties that keep us rooted in
destructive patterns or just keeps us feeling stuck.The constellations
circles offer possibilities for a new life course beginning to be set in
motion. This can ultimately be life-changing...through the process of
increasing trust in the wisdom of our bodies and willingness to set
aside the 'thinking' mind, if only briefly. Experiencing deeply moving
constellations... trusting the Field... and each other....<br /> <br /> <span style="font-size: small;"><span style="background-color: #ffd966;"><span style="color: blue;"><span id="yui_3_13_0_ym1_1_1385755919181_16659" style="font-weight: bold;">COMMENTS FROM PARTICIPANTS OF </span></span></span></span></span></span><span class="yiv8278352682userContent" id="yui_3_13_0_ym1_1_1385755919181_16650"><span class="yiv8278352682text_exposed_show" id="yui_3_13_0_ym1_1_1385755919181_16657"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="background-color: #ffd966;"><span style="color: blue;"><span id="yui_3_13_0_ym1_1_1385755919181_16659" style="font-weight: bold;">CONSTELLATIONS </span><span style="font-weight: bold;">WORK</span>:</span></span></span><br /> <br /> "What constellation works means to me...<br />
I am someone that sees things the way I want to see them and I tend to
stuff my feelings. Doing constellation work allows me to see things I
would not have seen in any other way and pushes me to feel feelings I
often cram deep down inside. Watching other people's constellations also
reminds me of something going on in my personal life as well and helps
me gain courage to deal with those things."~ A<br /><br /> *************************<br />
"Feeling gratitude and love to all who participated in constellation
circle last night. So much trust, vulnerability and openness.<br /> Always honored to be a part of this work and grateful for what is shown to me by the field.<br /> Peace." ~ J<br /> ****************************<br /> "I am happy to share what constellation work has meant to me. <br />
Constellation work has opened my soul to receive and feel a love that
has been with me since birth-- although it was love that I seldom felt,
if ever...because of deep set feelings of unworthiness and low self
esteem. Through constellation work I have seen clarity in situations
that have burdened me for years. The truths revealed to me in
constellations has given me a sense of peace and acceptance.<br /> Nancy, I am forever grateful for guidance and wisdom. Thank you," J.M.<br /> <br /> ******************************<br />
"Constellation work helps me to see "What Is"-- whether it's buried
deeply or just lingering below the surface. I also have the opportunity
to just Feel my feelings for a few hours. Feel without judgment, fear,
or worry about what anyone is thinking. The truths I see in my own
constellation or as a representative always provide me with "food for
thought." And more importantly, I'm left with a sense of peace and
belonging." ~ JR<br /> *******************************<br /> "As I think on
constellation work, I think of TRUTH, SEEING, OPENING UP to 'What IS'.
In connection with constellation work, I am learning that I am not alone
in my journey; that others have come before me that have had their own
journey and possess wisdom to aid me in mine. My awareness and
acceptance of life’s day-to-day happenings is more familiar now since I
have begun constellation work. I sense how everything and everyone is
connected in some way; either by energy or experiences. To me,
constellation is the most truth I have experienced, even more true to me
than church. To me, constellation is “my church”; my spirituality is
deeply connected to this work. It is my path along my journey. Thank you
for everyone who is part of this work. I am grateful for the sharing
and witnessing of others in their journey. I don’t feel so quite alone
and to me that is everything that keeps me confident and courageous in
this work.<br /> Sincerely, from the heart and spirit," DT<br /> ***************************<br /> "Here is my commentary on working with stones in constellations:<br />
I really appreciate the stone work in constellations because the
process of work with the stones as representatives for people in my
life... or personal issues... has a way of disarming me, cutting through
the various defenses I seem to have and really expose my core to
myself. Then, I am able to genuinely look at experiences through a new
lens - my lens of truth." ~ N.<br /> *****************************<br /><br />
"Constellations work continues to amaze me! Recently I worked with
stones as representatives for aspects and issues around my Recovery. I
positioned the stones representatives where they "felt" to belong.
'Thinking about it' does not seem to be part of this placement process.
As we sat back and took in the vision of the placements, we started
making connections with the relationship these stones representatives
have with each other... for example: I saw that I had placed the
representative for my recovery behind me--out of my line of vision. And
the stone representing me was focused on the 'obstacles' that I had
placed in front of me. Suddenly, there was the realization that if I
turned my representative a little, I would be facing my new sponsor
rather than obstacles. What became suddenly clear to me via the stones
placements was how things in my life could be different just by changing
my focus! It was shocking to see something that was just set up by
'feelings' and seemed totally random, initially, suddenly took shape
into a plan for success that was more simple than my Mind would have
ever come up with! Working with the stones constellation was like
flipping a switch just by seeing that a slight shift in focus and a new
sponsor could bring my recovery back into view!" A.</span></span><br />
<span class="yiv8278352682userContent" id="yui_3_13_0_ym1_1_1385755919181_16650"><span class="yiv8278352682text_exposed_show" id="yui_3_13_0_ym1_1_1385755919181_16657"><br /></span></span>
Humans standing as Representatives in a Constellations group.<br />
<img alt="Photo: We desire to live healthy, fulfilling lives in relation to those we care about engaging in ways that are authentic and true to our Being. (See comments, below, from others' personal experiences of constellations work)
Learning how to access that which promotes healthy love, first toward oneself--as a result of healthy connection with one's inner parents - and subsequently toward significant others--personally and professionally... and with one's direction in life.
Healing is not about "getting better," it is about letting go of everything that isn’t you – all of the expectations, all of the beliefs, letting go of the defenses – and unfolding into who you truly are.” ~Rachel Naomi Remen
Bringing the disparate parts of our psyche into conscious awareness and into alignment that our defenses...our survivor part wants to Avoid. Bringing these parts into consciousness to LOVE and accept rather than Deny and Reject.
Constellations work demonstrates, visually, how we may, unconsciously, live out our mother's disappointments... or repeat our father's infidelity... or issues around being successful. Unconsciously, we replicate the failed relationships, or issues with money...or health... fears of moving forward... of our parents and grandparents. We understand that we inherit our eye color and blood type; we also inherit the psychological residue from traumatic events that have taken place in our family history even generations prior to our birth. Depression, anxiety, chronic self-doubt/self-criticism, illness, over-eating or other substances, unhappy relationships and financial challenges can all be forms of this unconscious, unsatisfying inheritance.
Constellations work visually and gradually reveals the hidden dynamics and family loyalties that keep us rooted in destructive patterns or just keeps us feeling stuck.The constellations circles offer possibilities for a new life course beginning to be set in motion. This can ultimately be life-changing...through the process of increasing trust in the wisdom of our bodies and willingness to set aside the 'thinking' mind, if only briefly. Experiencing deeply moving constellations... trusting the Field... and each other....
COMMENTS FROM PARTICIPANTS IN CONSTELLATIONS CIRCLE:
"What constellation works means to me...
I am someone that sees things the way I want to see them and I tend to stuff my feelings. Doing constellation work allows me to see things I would not have seen in any other way and pushes me to feel feelings I often cram deep down inside. Watching other people's constellations also reminds me of something going on in my personal life as well and helps me gain courage to deal with those things."~ A
*************************
"Feeling gratitude and love to all who participated in constellation circle last night. So much trust, vulnerability and openness.
Always honored to be a part of this work and grateful for what is shown to me by the field.
Peace." ~ J
****************************
"I am happy to share what constellation work has meant to me.
Constellation work has opened my soul to receive and feel a love that has been with me since birth-- although it was love that I seldom felt, if ever...because of deep set feelings of unworthiness and low self esteem. Through constellation work I have seen clarity in situations that have burdened me for years. The truths revealed to me in constellations has given me a sense of peace and acceptance.
Nancy, I am forever grateful for guidance and wisdom. Thank you," J.M.
******************************
"Constellation work helps me to see "What Is"-- whether it's buried deeply or just lingering below the surface. I also have the opportunity to just Feel my feelings for a few hours. Feel without judgment, fear, or worry about what anyone is thinking. The truths I see in my own constellation or as a representative always provide me with "food for thought." And more importantly, I'm left with a sense of peace and belonging." ~ JR
*******************************
"As I think on constellation work, I think of TRUTH, SEEING, OPENING UP to 'What IS'. In connection with constellation work, I am learning that I am not alone in my journey; that others have come before me that have had their own journey and possess wisdom to aid me in mine. My awareness and acceptance of life’s day-to-day happenings is more familiar now since I have begun constellation work. I sense how everything and everyone is connected in some way; either by energy or experiences. To me, constellation is the most truth I have experienced, even more true to me than church. To me, constellation is “my church”; my spirituality is deeply connected to this work. It is my path along my journey. Thank you for everyone who is part of this work. I am grateful for the sharing and witnessing of others in their journey. I don’t feel so quite alone and to me that is everything that keeps me confident and courageous in this work.
Sincerely, from the heart and spirit," DT
***************************
"Here is my commentary on working with stones in constellations:
I really appreciate the stone work in constellations because the process of work with the stones as representatives for people in my life... or personal issues... has a way of disarming me, cutting through the various defenses I seem to have and really expose my core to myself. Then, I am able to genuinely look at experiences through a new lens - my lens of truth." ~ N.
*****************************
"Constellations work continues to amaze me! Recently I worked with stones as representatives for aspects and issues around my Recovery. I positioned the stones representatives where they "felt" to belong. 'Thinking about it' does not seem to be part of this placement process. As we sat back and took in the vision of the placements, we started making connections with the relationship these stones representatives have with each other... for example: I saw that I had placed the representative for my recovery behind me--out of my line of vision. And the stone representing me was focused on the 'obstacles' that I had placed in front of me. Suddenly, there was the realization that if I turned my representative a little, I would be facing my new sponsor rather than obstacles. What became suddenly clear to me via the stones placements was how things in my life could be different just by changing my focus! It was shocking to see something that was
just set up by 'feelings' and seemed totally random, initially, suddenly took shape into a plan for success that was more simple than my Mind would have ever come up with! Working with the stones constellation was like flipping a switch just by seeing that a slight shift in focus and a new sponsor could bring my recovery back into view!" A." class="yiv8278352682img" height="403" id="yui_3_13_0_ym1_1_1385755919181_16661" src="https://scontent-a-sea.xx.fbcdn.net/hphotos-prn2/p480x480/1450835_1419986498233832_590584245_n.jpg" width="605" />ms nancyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17167039337990325976noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4245486953533717680.post-11769525713562929112013-09-22T13:59:00.000-07:002013-09-22T14:00:08.931-07:00<div>
<h2 class="_5clb">
<span style="color: purple;">A Representative's experience - "Knowing Field"</span></h2>
</div>
<b>We
do not live in isolation, though it often may feel that way. However,
on a deep level, a soul level, we know that we are connected to each
other, to our ancestors, to nature, to the universe.This “knowing field”
is what we tap into to see the expanded view, to find the resources to
create a new image in relation to our 'story' when engaging in
Constellations work.</b> (a quote from Nancy Kehr)<br />
<br />
<u>A representative's experience:</u><br />
<br />
<div>
<span style="color: blue;"><i>Hi Nancy,</i></span></div>
<div>
<span style="color: blue;"><i>In
reflecting on whether it's the Field or one's own mind...In my limited
experience, I too have had thoughts while representing and wondered if I
was being influenced by my mind. I believe that the more you know
about someone, the more "tuned in" you can be and that's not a bad
thing, necessarily. I have found it very helpful for me to practice
our grounding technique of counting breaths as I represent. This way
if/when my mind interferes, I let the thought pass and get right back
to counting, which allows me to feel/listen to what is going on inside
my body and then act on it. </i></span></div>
<span style="color: blue;"><i>Feel free to share this if you like - J</i></span><br />
<br />
<b>A person has been selected by a member of the group to represent a person or a concept in this other person's life</b>...<br /><br />This
person chosen to represent will typically begin by directing her/his
attention to her current awareness within the body...bodily sensations
(hot/cold; heavy/light ect) and feelings... (sad, scared, angry, content
ect)<br /><br />and then may begin to notice spatial relationships in
relation to other representatives and what ever urge to move toward or
away from<br /><br /> internal images may also arise... more from embodied awareness than from rational thought<br /><br />When
less experienced in representing - people may often find themselves
startled by their experience - feeling compelled by the body to move in a
certain way or place <br /><br />Ordinarily we are used to<i> <b>thinking</b></i><b> <i>about</i>
</b> our experience...however, 'Thinking' tends to move us to analysis and
may cause a missing of meaningful physical and emotional information...
people new at representing may find it helpful to simply practice
increasing connection with the body... and noticing when moving back
into the head... come back to the body<br /><br /><b>The representative
experience is, for the most part, a physical and emotional experience.</b>..
movement may also be a part of the experience - the person representing
may express (laugh or cry) the felt emotion or simply describe what
they are feeling... <br />a person chosen to represent a member of a family system who holds secrets may feel "restrained"<br /><br />A
person representing may tend to enter a kind of 'trance-like' state -
which is more connected with our Right brain (intuition) rather than our
left (logic & reason)... For many, this is, initially, an
unfamiliar place to be - so may be initially uncomfortable in it's
unfamiliarity - when we're used to 'knowing' with our linear brain<br /><br /><b>In
Right brain</b> - our boundaries become less rigid - we are more open to
receiving impressions - and experiencing of feelings and
interconnectedness rather than the usual sense of separateness<br /><br />Constellations
work <b>challenges our ordinary way of 'knowing'</b> (logic) and of believing
(in separation)... and opens us to increased connection with ourselves
and others<br /><br />At the moment of <b>being chosen to represent another... a
connection is formed</b>... sometimes individuals even seem to sense that
they are going to be chosen to represent before the person actually
picks them<br /><br />The <b>person who is picked to represent tends to have
similar issues</b> and energy as the person they are picked to represent
(this fact is unconsciously felt by the client selecting her
representatives). So, the person representing may gain insight into her
own issues in this representing of another<br /><br />Representatives
experience feelings and emotions that <b>belong to the person</b> or thing
which they are representing - constellations work shows us that,
contrary to our beliefs, feelings don't belong to us - they move
through... and can/will simply disappear - like clouds that appear and
disappear<br /><br />Our left brain may find it hard to believe that one <b>can NOT 'make a mistake' representing</b><br /><br />Truth
illustrated through constellations work is a metaphor to be
experienced... a means of understanding a <b>path from tension and
entanglement </b>- moving into more balance and freedom.<br />
<span style="color: blue;">"Fields"
are areas of interconnectedness such as fields of study, occupational
fields, our family fields... There is a field that connects all of life.
Scientists call it the morphogenic field, philosophers refer to the
universal consciousness. It is not subject to time or distance and in
effect does not adhere to any of our physical laws. This field is a
repository for memories; experiences; and great knowledge that goes back
to the beginning of what we call time….this is the “knowing field”.</span><br />
<br />
<span class="photo "><img alt="our ancestors" class="photo_img img" src="https://scontent-a-sea.xx.fbcdn.net/hphotos-prn1/1234819_4615943535669_887912122_n.jpg" title="our ancestors" /></span><br />
<div class="caption">
<span class="photo ">our ancestors</span></div>
<span class="photo ">
</span><span class="photo "><img alt="constellations work" class="photo_img img" src="https://scontent-a-sea.xx.fbcdn.net/hphotos-prn2/1236671_4615946135734_1152457314_n.jpg" title="constellations work" /><div class="caption">
constellations work</div>
</span>ms nancyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17167039337990325976noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4245486953533717680.post-31029523787686383582013-04-24T10:41:00.000-07:002013-04-24T10:41:19.030-07:00Point Of Light - Remembering<div id="yiv7990706039yui_3_7_2_18_1366737340389_54">
<span id="yiv7990706039yui_3_7_2_18_1366737340389_69"><span id="yui_3_7_2_17_1366822798975_91" style="color: #00007f;"><span id="yui_3_7_2_17_1366822798975_90" style="font-weight: bold;"> </span></span></span></div>
<div id="yiv7990706039yui_3_7_2_18_1366737340389_54">
<a 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" 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" width="320" /></a><span id="yiv7990706039yui_3_7_2_18_1366737340389_69"><span id="yui_3_7_2_17_1366822798975_91" style="color: #00007f;"><span id="yui_3_7_2_17_1366822798975_90" style="font-weight: bold;"> </span></span></span></div>
<div id="yiv7990706039yui_3_7_2_18_1366737340389_54">
<span id="yiv7990706039yui_3_7_2_18_1366737340389_69"><span id="yui_3_7_2_17_1366822798975_91" style="color: #00007f;"><span id="yui_3_7_2_17_1366822798975_90" style="font-weight: bold;"> </span></span></span></div>
<div id="yiv7990706039yui_3_7_2_18_1366737340389_54">
<span id="yiv7990706039yui_3_7_2_18_1366737340389_69"><span id="yui_3_7_2_17_1366822798975_91" style="color: #00007f;"><span id="yui_3_7_2_17_1366822798975_90" style="font-weight: bold;"> </span></span></span><span id="yiv7990706039yui_3_7_2_18_1366737340389_69"><span id="yui_3_7_2_17_1366822798975_91" style="color: #00007f;"></span></span></div>
<div id="yiv7990706039yui_3_7_2_18_1366737340389_54">
<span id="yiv7990706039yui_3_7_2_18_1366737340389_69"><span id="yui_3_7_2_17_1366822798975_91" style="color: #00007f;"></span></span></div>
<div id="yiv7990706039yui_3_7_2_18_1366737340389_54">
<span id="yiv7990706039yui_3_7_2_18_1366737340389_69"><span id="yui_3_7_2_17_1366822798975_91" style="color: #00007f;"></span></span></div>
<div id="yiv7990706039yui_3_7_2_18_1366737340389_54">
<span id="yiv7990706039yui_3_7_2_18_1366737340389_69"><span id="yui_3_7_2_17_1366822798975_91" style="color: #00007f;"></span></span></div>
<div id="yiv7990706039yui_3_7_2_18_1366737340389_54">
<span id="yiv7990706039yui_3_7_2_18_1366737340389_69"><span id="yui_3_7_2_17_1366822798975_91" style="color: #00007f;"><span id="yui_3_7_2_17_1366822798975_90" style="font-weight: bold;"></span></span></span><span id="yiv7990706039yui_3_7_2_18_1366737340389_69"><span id="yui_3_7_2_17_1366822798975_91" style="color: #00007f;"><span id="yui_3_7_2_17_1366822798975_90" style="font-weight: bold;"><span style="color: purple;">I woke up this morning with a keen realization
</span> regarding an emotional difficulty I experienced a few weeks ago... and,
thanks to the influence from listening to Unmani
(http://not-knowing.com/) last weekend as well as reading A New Earth... I sat and wrote this in my journal... it all simply poured out... with some refinements added, later.</span></span></span></div>
<span id="yiv7990706039yui_3_7_2_18_1366737340389_81" style="color: #00007f;"><span id="yiv7990706039yui_3_7_2_18_1366737340389_80" style="font-weight: bold;"><br /><span style="color: purple;">Our
culture keeps us asleep... one of the many ways is through language.</span>..
which reinforces our beliefs. Perceptions from early childhood... how
we... how I interpreted my events... reinforce the (misperception) that
someone... or Life... is <span style="text-decoration: underline;">doing something</span> to me.<br /><br /><span style="color: purple;">She/he
is ignoring me... criticizing me... excluing... dismissing... not
appreciating... Me.</span>.. and so, a story... my story is reactivated... my
child(hood) perceptions... misunderstandings--interpretations from the
past overlaid onto present life events. All arguments, offenses, hurt
feelings, conflicts, war... are a result of the story of 'me'.<br /><br /><span style="color: purple;">Of
course, most are unaware that Nobody is doing anything (to us)... it's
All just happening</span>... in the only way it can... or something would be
happening differently--as our stories superimpose onto each others
stories... this is our so-called reality. And, it's my perception of what's happening - based on my interpretations of others learned a long time ago.<br /><br /><span style="color: purple;">The
One that I Am is a point of Light... while 'me' is a bundle of
memories.</span>.. of interpretations given to life events from long ago...
making them mean something based on the memories of 'my' story...<br />so, 'me' goes through life perceiving that things and people are happening / doing something to me<br /><br />so,
'me' goes through life perceiving that Life / situations and people are
happening / doing something to to 'me'... When 'me' likes what is
happening - 'me' is happy - when 'me' doesn't like what is happening...
doesn't like how 'me' is treated... or the situation is ... 'me is
unhappy'... believing the story of 'me'. And, we all have our
individual version of 'story' - whether it is in relation to other
people or in relation to Life, itself... the realization of the story is
the necessary first step toward truth.<br /><br /><span style="color: purple;">Such a deeply held
belief! me and my story of who I am </span>- all that has happened to me that
defines my identity, my difficulties, an as a separate 'me'... separate
from you... and either more special or less than...<br /><br />Ego insists this is all true! L o o k ! ego says... pointing... there you are... here I am ! of course we're separate!<br /><br />and,
when something happens... when you ignore me... or you say something
that means I'm wrong... or conversely, your actons flatter me... ego is
the one who reacts... believing its sense-based perceptions as the only
truth. Ego makes up a story (always based on the memory of past
perceptions and interpretations) and reacts accordingly... happily or
unhappily... it has become a habit... and this is how we are imaging
reality to be.<br /><br /><span style="color: purple;">And, for others it may be less about beliefs in relation to 'others' and more about beliefs about Life, itself...</span><br />for
example, the belief: "<i>life is hard</i>" .. you have to work hard...
meaning... there's no time to have fun or to play.... life is a
struggle... LOOK! See! Look at all the things I have to get done! I don't have time for me... for my needs!<br /><br />Or
the belief: "<i>There's not enough</i>" - I can't have what I want/need. My
needs aren't going to be met... I can't find the right partner, I can't
find a job (or the right job), I don't have enough money for what i
need..."</span></span><br />
<span id="yiv7990706039yui_3_7_2_18_1366737340389_81" style="color: #00007f;"><span id="yiv7990706039yui_3_7_2_18_1366737340389_80" style="font-weight: bold;"><br />Or, "<i>Life isn't fair</i> --it didn't turn out the way I thought it would"- I've always done the right things; I've taken the high-road;
I've helped others - and look what I get in return!" All of which
appears clearly just and true to the believer about Life as do the
interpersonal stories. We are all living out of our memory bundle - our
feeling of 'me' and my life.<br /><br /><br /><span style="color: purple;">But what to do with the
story--the bundle of memories that I believe are 'me' ?.</span>.. this bundle
that bumps up against life...
and becomes activated once again? This bundle that seems to contain so
much energy. Where is this energy coming from? Whose energy is it?
Maybe it's the energy of
this point of Light... which the bundle--the story--has been stealing!
The story... in and of itself... doesn't have energy of its own... its
simply a story...<br /><br /><span style="color: purple;">How to restore the energy to its rightful
place?...</span> removing the energy from ego-- transferring the energy to the
point of Light? Proper perspective helps--recognizing the ego... the
paper mache covering... that contains the bundle of memories/perceptions
of a story... the story of 'me'... the tightly-bound identity with
interpretations and beliefs...<br /><br /><span style="color: purple;">I can live this life while knowing full well that this ego, this story of me is--has been--imagined... </span>over years of <span style="text-decoration: underline;">reinforced mis-perceptions</span>... meaning, untruth. Wow! But, I've been believing it for so long! It feels So real! (this is 'me' talking)<br /><br /><span style="color: purple;">Question
every objection to 'what is'... especially if noticing this 'me' is
taking something personally, or
believing some
self-defeating thought about life. </span>The pull will be strong to believe
the story in that moment - that something is happening to 'me'! or that
Life is conspiring against my having joy.<br /><br /><span style="color: purple;">Use the wise mind to remember - the story has been activated! </span> Realize>> the dream, the <span style="text-decoration: underline;">nightmare</span> has just been triggered, again - BREATHE!<br /><br /><span style="color: purple;">Remember:
I -- this essential nature that I Am -- is a point of light.</span>.. amidst
other points of light... amidst a life that brings us exactly what we
imagine... like it or not. Visual perception will have us believing
that this point of light is separate from those - however, like drops in
the ocean - there is only the One. A quantum shift is being asked of me
in this moment. Energy transfer from ego to point of light.<br />REMEMBER!<br /><br />My next exploration will on what to 'do' with the emotions that arise when the story becomes activated.
</span></span>ms nancyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17167039337990325976noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4245486953533717680.post-48550530536481612922013-01-19T22:53:00.000-08:002013-03-05T08:29:03.212-08:002012 - Images/ Guatemala & Winter Solstice Ceremony<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Mayan community preparing for 2012 Solstice sacred Fire Ceremony - San Pedro de la laguna</td></tr>
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<span style="color: blue;"><b>Welcome to my still photo documentary of my visit to Guatemala during the 2012 Winter Solstice.</b></span><br />
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<span style="color: blue;"><b>Such a remarkable experience meeting the Maya people in the village of San Pedro - an experience like no other...a different world. Because i know the images speak for themselves with feelings over words, i will simply explain the highlights of the trip -- allowing an immersion into the culture as best i was able - experiencing the amazing Heart of a people who, materially, have so little...yet so kind and open-hearted!</b></span><br />
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<span style="color: blue;"><b> Experiencing the Solstice sacred Fire Ceremony and the amazing and rich Maya-cosmo-vision that is awakening in this community - a vision of compassion and caring for each other; working through deep wounds and injuries; understanding life purpose and inner and outer meaning of each day; doing one's own part in caring for the environment--bodies of water, land, animals and air; integrating a spiritual perspective in daily life....</b></span><br />
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<span style="color: blue;"><b> Mayan fire ceremonies are elaborate and moving - lasting anywhere from 3-4 hours. Sacred symbolism. Similar to other indigenous cultures - deep reverence to Nature and Spirit.</b></span><br />
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<span style="color: blue;"><b> Another pivotal aspect of my visit was connecting with the heart of Taa 'Pit... Taa 'Pit Kortees, the Center for Intercultural Learning Tz'utujil Mayan - reintroducing/restoring their 'disappearing' culture and language back to the children and their families--is unique, founded by Maya, nonprofit, in the highlands of Guatemala, Lake Atitlan, San Pedro la Laguna.</b></span><br />
<span style="color: blue;"><b>you can visit their website, just below... by pasting into your browser.....</b></span><br />
<span style="color: blue;"><b> </b></span><span style="color: blue;"><b><span style="color: blue;"><b>http://translate.google.com/translate?hl=en&sl=es&u=http://www.taapit.org/&prev=/search%3Fq%3Dtaa%2Bpit%26hl%3Den%26c </b></span></b></span><br />
<span style="color: blue;"><b><span style="color: blue;"><b> The trip was dreamed, birthed and offered through <u>Compassionate Listening Project</u> - creating the program and making all the arrangements for our remarkable event experiences, beautiful lodging, dining, and meeting Maya people of the community. </b></span> </b></span><br />
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<span style="color: blue;"><b> In my photo images, you will see the preparation of the Sacred Fire Ceremonies; the children of Taa'Pit and those working hard to bring the Mayan culture & their native language back to the children and their families; may you enjoy the beauty of this magical place... and feel the Heart of these remarkable people. </b></span><br />
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I think you'd very much like to see this brief video- of 2 minutes: <span id="yui_3_7_2_1_1359957753359_2598" style="font-family: Skia, Verdana, Helvetica, Arial;"><span id="yui_3_7_2_1_1359957753359_2597" style="font-size: 12pt;"><a href="http://vimeo.com/52769887" id="yui_3_7_2_1_1359957753359_2601" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">http://vimeo.com/52769887</a> </span></span><br />
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Hotel Antigua in Guatemala</td></tr>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Rooftop in Antigua Guatemala</td></tr>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Selling wares in the market - Antigua Guatemala</td></tr>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Old Ruins in Antigua</td></tr>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Antigua Guatemala</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh30xxxaAiJWT7I5TZui8hKeRQw_guXPLyQeKgiNHYvN0l3KkJdMa5-7rT5ylG5k9gLBcrCxjce_AO3OhlMXLl2dFfS8qQ7W1tAfcNCMtt9soOhfuh_4I2XkAvXWL9ANXf_OPuEh_Pdb2U/s1600/P1000043.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh30xxxaAiJWT7I5TZui8hKeRQw_guXPLyQeKgiNHYvN0l3KkJdMa5-7rT5ylG5k9gLBcrCxjce_AO3OhlMXLl2dFfS8qQ7W1tAfcNCMtt9soOhfuh_4I2XkAvXWL9ANXf_OPuEh_Pdb2U/s320/P1000043.JPG" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Street in Antigua</td></tr>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Field off the roadway heading to San Pedro</td></tr>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">View of Lake Atitlan atop the mountain - see San Pedro at base in distance</td></tr>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">A white egret? or crane or heron ? at Lake Atitlan - San Pedro</td></tr>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">See how Bananas grow - and the long hanging maroon colored thing hanging below</td></tr>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Sunrise in San Pedro and Lake Atitlan</td></tr>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Hotel facing the Lake - my room is bottom floor, second from right</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjr0wc4tMm3cRqI7RwyX2p1ZUf3lOrrPFqVMv7Hc2qRWFZwzG6BIlvgBek8xw478k4ODo6IG1mVFFDjEgYQiOHT4_MW8R9e0BYSB2IMiMBRfB1z6uaCTuYQbj3NZdEuJRXLXQTGYThE6DE/s1600/P1000061.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjr0wc4tMm3cRqI7RwyX2p1ZUf3lOrrPFqVMv7Hc2qRWFZwzG6BIlvgBek8xw478k4ODo6IG1mVFFDjEgYQiOHT4_MW8R9e0BYSB2IMiMBRfB1z6uaCTuYQbj3NZdEuJRXLXQTGYThE6DE/s320/P1000061.JPG" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Street in San Pedro</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEijHEo8QJsQ3OSpRzKZtQppFeBZUiyrQwIoAhfYNiPVa3NOxusUnhT3WDF65lOY2-en4hIvAcPpcE27-Wumh_oxZnqVRGth6Mt40YdO-bwAJIE4OmT3q-nQjOPDEsT724keSkudUcVYl9U/s1600/P1000055.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEijHEo8QJsQ3OSpRzKZtQppFeBZUiyrQwIoAhfYNiPVa3NOxusUnhT3WDF65lOY2-en4hIvAcPpcE27-Wumh_oxZnqVRGth6Mt40YdO-bwAJIE4OmT3q-nQjOPDEsT724keSkudUcVYl9U/s320/P1000055.JPG" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">View from Home Restaurant - San Pedro</td></tr>
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<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: right; margin-left: 1em; text-align: right;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjADSvhpLe9ikZQPBnG3sifeuRDJTVGkSgFHMJjkVrvX532tvEg_EdpBb4zG3KEofO2wTHH9Acj6LJg0vnTBRSnspYUXy1Le3prkGuRMfuflqieBBkMPApbJtfUdNmQobDBbzHGHayMUP4/s1600/P1000048.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjADSvhpLe9ikZQPBnG3sifeuRDJTVGkSgFHMJjkVrvX532tvEg_EdpBb4zG3KEofO2wTHH9Acj6LJg0vnTBRSnspYUXy1Le3prkGuRMfuflqieBBkMPApbJtfUdNmQobDBbzHGHayMUP4/s320/P1000048.JPG" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">On the road to San Pedro - bags of coffee beans lining the street</td></tr>
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<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: left; margin-right: 1em; text-align: left;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgQvmKpjVFiOaJuOfWmrEr0lvqhRsh53793OlQ5bAKXsaGUAr_O2LbNFhRbo_Xm03CL8qQp0hvF9JR-ntrp_33Nl7sTSAJ6gyp4DPK-nqzIGTkE0ok8xU4IzrWfxba9ByLAUq-qzEkOczo/s1600/P1000044.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="150" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgQvmKpjVFiOaJuOfWmrEr0lvqhRsh53793OlQ5bAKXsaGUAr_O2LbNFhRbo_Xm03CL8qQp0hvF9JR-ntrp_33Nl7sTSAJ6gyp4DPK-nqzIGTkE0ok8xU4IzrWfxba9ByLAUq-qzEkOczo/s200/P1000044.JPG" width="200" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">old looking building in Antigua</td></tr>
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjRZadeJIieS0fo8Xe0crEzyiEl7w9863zI-NxDhL2dPm9Koj_pJTzK4LgWyp8A7evt_uqoPLaMmIMKF1GpUCznBTQJ-Z0JNHmUB1p6kiH3Y3_zOMVxG3oSWL5GnM_YF-YigNf-_IxvfKA/s1600/P1000062.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjRZadeJIieS0fo8Xe0crEzyiEl7w9863zI-NxDhL2dPm9Koj_pJTzK4LgWyp8A7evt_uqoPLaMmIMKF1GpUCznBTQJ-Z0JNHmUB1p6kiH3Y3_zOMVxG3oSWL5GnM_YF-YigNf-_IxvfKA/s320/P1000062.JPG" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Blankets hanging - San Pedro</td></tr>
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<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: right; margin-left: 1em; text-align: right;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiKWwbmCH4xTAZsv4I49YHQxu2Z1aL0QXJPUD76fN1eiPcRlD4AJFGKDwhh2YcKBjQMoP4Vv1iySRazi62y3IKcRyEcovPUAwcRnhdXLtYps0BeWA_Al1GHE3Yh06CW1zxjCczmAuFDDL8/s1600/P1000063.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiKWwbmCH4xTAZsv4I49YHQxu2Z1aL0QXJPUD76fN1eiPcRlD4AJFGKDwhh2YcKBjQMoP4Vv1iySRazi62y3IKcRyEcovPUAwcRnhdXLtYps0BeWA_Al1GHE3Yh06CW1zxjCczmAuFDDL8/s320/P1000063.JPG" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">At dawn arriving at San Marcos for Solstice Sacred Fire Ceremony</td></tr>
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiK1OCEf9L2DxI4jspzpzD4aVdQjXL9JAq6BHPBYA0i1cny8Bvv9aqUoFrPCU1TpVKkdCHVWEob86kmfAfUCAiPY3OSk1ss-MuboKTKYwl0CywdC8rxHYZMiRc3ujp0KFNAEYz7N6yKvw4/s1600/P1000068.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiK1OCEf9L2DxI4jspzpzD4aVdQjXL9JAq6BHPBYA0i1cny8Bvv9aqUoFrPCU1TpVKkdCHVWEob86kmfAfUCAiPY3OSk1ss-MuboKTKYwl0CywdC8rxHYZMiRc3ujp0KFNAEYz7N6yKvw4/s320/P1000068.JPG" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Atop of mountain, looking across Lake Atitlan at dawn - fire ceremony soon to begin</td></tr>
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<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: left; margin-right: 1em; text-align: left;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi_9RbVekozyC3ncUp9ZWf7Ck8uJSCi42y8-l1Lgf8qgXgLSPqIX7qQTBTZVOXjm_ukCX4JsqbarXkASaIOpT-JQH0LcyxfSsErKtGVTpgSu3ve5tTm63LPFk9jXYqdSQn76FYq4z43aSI/s1600/P1000070.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi_9RbVekozyC3ncUp9ZWf7Ck8uJSCi42y8-l1Lgf8qgXgLSPqIX7qQTBTZVOXjm_ukCX4JsqbarXkASaIOpT-JQH0LcyxfSsErKtGVTpgSu3ve5tTm63LPFk9jXYqdSQn76FYq4z43aSI/s320/P1000070.JPG" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Fire pit to be prepared - see dark objects on ground just to right - and musicians</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgd8mbS7z4K2HR3YZMAWnXuJhgAD2NxsGUhqXVmBaPs8hnvaMLDFOBNBfDPVwsMhIz0O7DYu0qeHEX4Hplrv-X4Ea586PJkfTABIisEIACBzZcfwMVvmAn3ovfbd1J2KXDYyAxyGz04jXw/s1600/P1000072.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgd8mbS7z4K2HR3YZMAWnXuJhgAD2NxsGUhqXVmBaPs8hnvaMLDFOBNBfDPVwsMhIz0O7DYu0qeHEX4Hplrv-X4Ea586PJkfTABIisEIACBzZcfwMVvmAn3ovfbd1J2KXDYyAxyGz04jXw/s320/P1000072.JPG" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Daykeeper preparing firepit in a sacred way- (after cleaning) beginning with the sacred 4 Directions</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiL6gcEEs6AKpkI1stFkpen7qI-6m3h54kZXihG_BMgKD8PBva4elIVW6kdU9iAYYHO7Z-RItq6cWYJAN3b7aWXQCKeCpKV0Q8S116Vu7KsI_4EcxFR-DSAlf-46bDSa_vBDQNuE8-8W88/s1600/P1000075.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiL6gcEEs6AKpkI1stFkpen7qI-6m3h54kZXihG_BMgKD8PBva4elIVW6kdU9iAYYHO7Z-RItq6cWYJAN3b7aWXQCKeCpKV0Q8S116Vu7KsI_4EcxFR-DSAlf-46bDSa_vBDQNuE8-8W88/s320/P1000075.JPG" width="240" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">large round pine sap balls are added</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: right; margin-left: 1em; text-align: right;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiWZY5fJjK66-Pmv4ksHr789ZZw-fWuLvyimYnXG7IrNhrJKt_nyBMzVDMcUGM5hOrfaRfcleae__mWw9Y4O14A2RLlDQ9yDmxVOBUCTlVsM-a4AZmnsA5kQiU11mfXxNpHTqtKDiWGNY4/s1600/P1000073.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiWZY5fJjK66-Pmv4ksHr789ZZw-fWuLvyimYnXG7IrNhrJKt_nyBMzVDMcUGM5hOrfaRfcleae__mWw9Y4O14A2RLlDQ9yDmxVOBUCTlVsM-a4AZmnsA5kQiU11mfXxNpHTqtKDiWGNY4/s320/P1000073.JPG" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Sacred Four Directions</td></tr>
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjtPv6m1kpy6VjC011bl_MXQYfzC2P8U0y-ENwVrObWHv1LsdTC-fT6qWZJSE2u_xxw7ffLOqg5t3Go9caaew4r2V8LEcwh_7IoEiRSiQT4vFid-ESa8NmEWTtKpieCZ3CXTTjKB-g91gc/s1600/P1000076.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjtPv6m1kpy6VjC011bl_MXQYfzC2P8U0y-ENwVrObWHv1LsdTC-fT6qWZJSE2u_xxw7ffLOqg5t3Go9caaew4r2V8LEcwh_7IoEiRSiQT4vFid-ESa8NmEWTtKpieCZ3CXTTjKB-g91gc/s320/P1000076.JPG" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Adding the large round pine sap balls in building the sacred fire</td></tr>
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhUfKfE97sLozS45jXTfxZb3VpO4taKvMor4yCYK7J6M9aCiGK5LXZdsp_ZGs4dKomYPpjrsI-vcbXrKEsXa603V7GIaBa4tAqiMFjOghH4BpwDvyyrfD8DWT3BfRsQxLVixnqFTL3oaL4/s1600/P1000077.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhUfKfE97sLozS45jXTfxZb3VpO4taKvMor4yCYK7J6M9aCiGK5LXZdsp_ZGs4dKomYPpjrsI-vcbXrKEsXa603V7GIaBa4tAqiMFjOghH4BpwDvyyrfD8DWT3BfRsQxLVixnqFTL3oaL4/s320/P1000077.JPG" width="240" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Elements for building the sacred fire - round ball of pine sap</td></tr>
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjxmphTl3-hCKAB1zak5GacfZ7CiMfHi6E0PW2zKYeWleLpMO_3kZ9_hnAC95ZjKXlQ4RX62UV1R5tlJmEvJt-Z8M9XX9bhVauq4g61R63QgqUJnNT8gs2KGHav-Ngt-D6TRXjtu2rjrPM/s1600/P1000079.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjxmphTl3-hCKAB1zak5GacfZ7CiMfHi6E0PW2zKYeWleLpMO_3kZ9_hnAC95ZjKXlQ4RX62UV1R5tlJmEvJt-Z8M9XX9bhVauq4g61R63QgqUJnNT8gs2KGHav-Ngt-D6TRXjtu2rjrPM/s320/P1000079.JPG" width="320" /> </a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Chocolate and kindling added</td></tr>
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<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: left; margin-right: 1em; text-align: left;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhy7Gw4a9saTfa380MhK68cwDFpo_Zp9Rm8ndFDOl2Fd9KCm4li8yt7Ljv6Tofdv6FdHmul2W7cRXKnYSDn34MrDQtOKr8crMsINUrTkP9P30QzqGR2yLoH08dIxFYQzxC7hwWPPKqrnls/s1600/P1000080.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhy7Gw4a9saTfa380MhK68cwDFpo_Zp9Rm8ndFDOl2Fd9KCm4li8yt7Ljv6Tofdv6FdHmul2W7cRXKnYSDn34MrDQtOKr8crMsINUrTkP9P30QzqGR2yLoH08dIxFYQzxC7hwWPPKqrnls/s320/P1000080.JPG" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">White candles are handed to Daykeeper - 4 colors for each Direction</td></tr>
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhzkjgkGidqyeoUpgerpDvnecPq8M6B2uro1omLWTxOGkNL7pRmyaanZSs-vpFtopeZsil7WbDw0MDy149ouSFnbhYGDBYI_rrLyucqyLxWIOWv0sgcdO3S7e9TgVmA1p_fwUKf0eYEUvM/s1600/P1000081.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhzkjgkGidqyeoUpgerpDvnecPq8M6B2uro1omLWTxOGkNL7pRmyaanZSs-vpFtopeZsil7WbDw0MDy149ouSFnbhYGDBYI_rrLyucqyLxWIOWv0sgcdO3S7e9TgVmA1p_fwUKf0eYEUvM/s320/P1000081.JPG" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Beans and rice are added to sacred fire</td></tr>
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<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: right; margin-left: 1em; text-align: right;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiEDbZ8MzygmRrcPoB-Rn0qOHVEKUfJBGDVpEIz83Oub2AeWLkzzgYTONzwWGCDuxpD7CzCwwIsFvAmKF5ll7AOiL5HV1AzfnOfCNQ3kyVNGIyUg6C1YAwLnD73A6zaQhsLxkhPXGVhrVY/s1600/P1000082.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiEDbZ8MzygmRrcPoB-Rn0qOHVEKUfJBGDVpEIz83Oub2AeWLkzzgYTONzwWGCDuxpD7CzCwwIsFvAmKF5ll7AOiL5HV1AzfnOfCNQ3kyVNGIyUg6C1YAwLnD73A6zaQhsLxkhPXGVhrVY/s320/P1000082.JPG" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">4 colors of candles are utilized in sacred fire</td></tr>
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjEF8imDJ2_eITsmjodt2r-6KlaWkyoA5DXKToatUOEqlzaPJQj1s_G7WjXnfILCG96-FF6syDuv1CTPycu40sAw2cRqAPEf_blWIIr7TbfikkCFSqRZbjajoTx13M1Onszm0AK1U1-oCI/s1600/P1000084.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjEF8imDJ2_eITsmjodt2r-6KlaWkyoA5DXKToatUOEqlzaPJQj1s_G7WjXnfILCG96-FF6syDuv1CTPycu40sAw2cRqAPEf_blWIIr7TbfikkCFSqRZbjajoTx13M1Onszm0AK1U1-oCI/s320/P1000084.JPG" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Mayan musicians at fire ceremony</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiEnaYMNyKbVRbA-epO5oO6tuUgs2cLokcLSdpXGL-Tfj40h8l-ZX30GRWY5M85nUbPiT021A8tRQ5UtBgWvspCoO2zQJD-qCTv7L2g7qESTa2ILb67xErY_vHoGd15-FeaF0yZyCihXV8/s1600/P1000083.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiEnaYMNyKbVRbA-epO5oO6tuUgs2cLokcLSdpXGL-Tfj40h8l-ZX30GRWY5M85nUbPiT021A8tRQ5UtBgWvspCoO2zQJD-qCTv7L2g7qESTa2ILb67xErY_vHoGd15-FeaF0yZyCihXV8/s320/P1000083.JPG" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Kindling being lit with sacred fire and prayer - the actual Fire ceremony is not permitted to be photographed</td></tr>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiLTDJqOYgjGDSFARRCJkrklya114zPasnLth4IhpsUzsMHdsRv8q0UyQLQ1D6iTjauxOTy9_lBriDDtDl8A6N01j5iv6srsGTyzdYtWPUyLpa60AVt2iLI77uvk1IKaOAoBqLBE3AAZNs/s1600/P1000078.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiLTDJqOYgjGDSFARRCJkrklya114zPasnLth4IhpsUzsMHdsRv8q0UyQLQ1D6iTjauxOTy9_lBriDDtDl8A6N01j5iv6srsGTyzdYtWPUyLpa60AVt2iLI77uvk1IKaOAoBqLBE3AAZNs/s320/P1000078.JPG" width="320" /></a></div>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiMea-rJU4rhUlFzEtBk-CJ_MdeXgwNQS4aSnPu_2NqdAQJOScgvfYNJ-zn0mnn6c-qsQkTi3MIMGz3j1IqbEvP5BnWmGuunRIN3ol1CoYzNIV0x6BzeHuiQOrRNSdHYaKhummrBEGAz8c/s1600/P1000088.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiMea-rJU4rhUlFzEtBk-CJ_MdeXgwNQS4aSnPu_2NqdAQJOScgvfYNJ-zn0mnn6c-qsQkTi3MIMGz3j1IqbEvP5BnWmGuunRIN3ol1CoYzNIV0x6BzeHuiQOrRNSdHYaKhummrBEGAz8c/s320/P1000088.JPG" width="240" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Lush vegetation in San Pedro</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjVJqC0FxGdfjgY5OkbeFm5BIwOW05vGJI_evI2nIif_m-MrElQLR-CoFoSLQ_C8s5hteCXbQVoI9FUO8GaVuSeMh0ETMf4OjxH5E8FZmtkMSXGdAVMhLuH3wURosDOfvDtBW3SOECPdUs/s1600/P1000085.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjVJqC0FxGdfjgY5OkbeFm5BIwOW05vGJI_evI2nIif_m-MrElQLR-CoFoSLQ_C8s5hteCXbQVoI9FUO8GaVuSeMh0ETMf4OjxH5E8FZmtkMSXGdAVMhLuH3wURosDOfvDtBW3SOECPdUs/s320/P1000085.JPG" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Children of San Marcos</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi_GhYcgb6JJ4BdwLtyWT2eyc4IrBCnfMVTzIWq2QOUviQj39xtTdqSb6YBjnJvP5ArNJPWaTRZyju4jFyUTPRopWir5o6pNDeGe4CxdhHRBpJh2wjmXf6e7ktGEJSS7_dV9e944mtpMnI/s1600/P1000087.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi_GhYcgb6JJ4BdwLtyWT2eyc4IrBCnfMVTzIWq2QOUviQj39xtTdqSb6YBjnJvP5ArNJPWaTRZyju4jFyUTPRopWir5o6pNDeGe4CxdhHRBpJh2wjmXf6e7ktGEJSS7_dV9e944mtpMnI/s320/P1000087.JPG" width="240" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Calle in San Pedro</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
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<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: left; text-align: right;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjnFVovAUzNqknJ1Lki60qwlHc52gz1q1Xvx8UtI3SzfwMyJNWxz-u3Cgvw0Z6JW2CUpu_CdIUFDtvmuAXi55prCSorIKqxHibyHGzhNrQvGExCrrru0TSx7GEz0Sw1HIXCD3E8kezPwHQ/s1600/P1000086.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjnFVovAUzNqknJ1Lki60qwlHc52gz1q1Xvx8UtI3SzfwMyJNWxz-u3Cgvw0Z6JW2CUpu_CdIUFDtvmuAXi55prCSorIKqxHibyHGzhNrQvGExCrrru0TSx7GEz0Sw1HIXCD3E8kezPwHQ/s320/P1000086.JPG" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Tuk-Tuks in San Marcos</td></tr>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhFGd_-X2AcatjXcxvdcxL4FhTm9WKwASOyFl663OXNlOBmq5pLtJD7WqvUrWBxpdvpoeMmJyaQVcV8PZqGMxFqSzwY-bpcqrc5V_pK7A8vrsCxmUwwvHwZAPVE-1YxHIW2lJuRu4QHy7Y/s1600/P1000089.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhFGd_-X2AcatjXcxvdcxL4FhTm9WKwASOyFl663OXNlOBmq5pLtJD7WqvUrWBxpdvpoeMmJyaQVcV8PZqGMxFqSzwY-bpcqrc5V_pK7A8vrsCxmUwwvHwZAPVE-1YxHIW2lJuRu4QHy7Y/s320/P1000089.JPG" width="240" /></a></div>
Canal in San Pedro - Santiago dock<br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgMgw8itabVaUx16l5PoXAp8DR09G7VIdRBqvN3lxwxIM-tO__CF3ybR_9hmr5ArYCZJuI6O6MXEoaTfUd6kLvUAwofGFDqvvQsqvmP07T-RbiaqKjCy1mOnaWP7gKyU3X0hJXyTGfpFOU/s1600/P1000091.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgMgw8itabVaUx16l5PoXAp8DR09G7VIdRBqvN3lxwxIM-tO__CF3ybR_9hmr5ArYCZJuI6O6MXEoaTfUd6kLvUAwofGFDqvvQsqvmP07T-RbiaqKjCy1mOnaWP7gKyU3X0hJXyTGfpFOU/s320/P1000091.JPG" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Hotel reception area in San Pedro</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjly7-CqsVat0kuhpTSivx9HPm3y1tfUd37g67ei0La0VlnXGRxIAOL6pEmDGNNHHmnfiFGQFQi_zdLWgv1CRcbqi7SGfQLigUWaMttYKxEaOVA3aqzhRJuM-PX2b0onvVYq4s5d-_Prnk/s1600/P1000092.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjly7-CqsVat0kuhpTSivx9HPm3y1tfUd37g67ei0La0VlnXGRxIAOL6pEmDGNNHHmnfiFGQFQi_zdLWgv1CRcbqi7SGfQLigUWaMttYKxEaOVA3aqzhRJuM-PX2b0onvVYq4s5d-_Prnk/s320/P1000092.JPG" width="240" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Lush vegetation - San Pedro</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjiYza-V1S8B3cr3UaCqJ0A7-wgDAyZiQXJjnBlVw1FkAiKTUbGltdEdShyphenhyphenpegNOhZXU2OscbTF9ANrUcnG9D0p7nB1Y6J4b-0ZYxQ5-Azi4MOp9Ta1VXmZeVX_RCuc5zr1eUOGtru5nCE/s1600/P1000094.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjiYza-V1S8B3cr3UaCqJ0A7-wgDAyZiQXJjnBlVw1FkAiKTUbGltdEdShyphenhyphenpegNOhZXU2OscbTF9ANrUcnG9D0p7nB1Y6J4b-0ZYxQ5-Azi4MOp9Ta1VXmZeVX_RCuc5zr1eUOGtru5nCE/s320/P1000094.JPG" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Narrow 'calles' in San Pedro</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEioNGnuTRrgk1c3-aFAAVZ7BHezEtgAySZ0DR0YtWr7O9qUQOsUUMSUC8RZGXaXMQW3vIxuRpk5q3z789cU3xmgH4DVvc0xh61fLB2HXVSIE5ubw0WS4Rpnh5t-H5ovw2C26X5aSIpd1mY/s1600/P1000095.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEioNGnuTRrgk1c3-aFAAVZ7BHezEtgAySZ0DR0YtWr7O9qUQOsUUMSUC8RZGXaXMQW3vIxuRpk5q3z789cU3xmgH4DVvc0xh61fLB2HXVSIE5ubw0WS4Rpnh5t-H5ovw2C26X5aSIpd1mY/s320/P1000095.JPG" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Home Restaurant in San Pedro</td></tr>
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhuIuf760BuvgAr2kQLgMfp3whZTzgI6DFvnKvY4_OO14gCBW8CX9VHjZxIoLbggiGV23M1BIb4z5miyb2lHgJFp8fsD3beGtaH1FogjhrueydYhJbVJZMCh7RT8DZHEh9BbkSrQzPxSfc/s1600/P1000096.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhuIuf760BuvgAr2kQLgMfp3whZTzgI6DFvnKvY4_OO14gCBW8CX9VHjZxIoLbggiGV23M1BIb4z5miyb2lHgJFp8fsD3beGtaH1FogjhrueydYhJbVJZMCh7RT8DZHEh9BbkSrQzPxSfc/s320/P1000096.JPG" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Mother & son who is student at Taa' pit - school reinvigorating Mayan children back to their beautiful culture</td><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><br /></td><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"> - </td></tr>
</tbody></table>
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<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: left; margin-right: 1em; text-align: left;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi80yai6s3HvTLZfu5kXTegpui0_PTdgvmCWc4UFFqyiAddc35tpbM0GYGkcXWb5kbdcncIQHMXjQL337wQL2SwhvqgmasULz2HXFEdoAwuSJ_aRHZXOJqDHbcDaNY4j-F-akkDbu7qscg/s1600/P1000097.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi80yai6s3HvTLZfu5kXTegpui0_PTdgvmCWc4UFFqyiAddc35tpbM0GYGkcXWb5kbdcncIQHMXjQL337wQL2SwhvqgmasULz2HXFEdoAwuSJ_aRHZXOJqDHbcDaNY4j-F-akkDbu7qscg/s320/P1000097.JPG" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Children at Taa'pit learning about computers</td></tr>
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<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: right; margin-left: 1em; text-align: right;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhOdQrDFvLv3VkAn9FwO6VVtW5QQF8UXERE2qssd8yMukIIRcJNOXAqN7Ivv2xoA_1S6rB3kVc_RSwEG1YLhTGKoeOLt5WKitrX67n5EWH4Tu_Bc2dd4FiuEJgkQfmYYAdFqibcF8LT3hE/s1600/P1000098.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhOdQrDFvLv3VkAn9FwO6VVtW5QQF8UXERE2qssd8yMukIIRcJNOXAqN7Ivv2xoA_1S6rB3kVc_RSwEG1YLhTGKoeOLt5WKitrX67n5EWH4Tu_Bc2dd4FiuEJgkQfmYYAdFqibcF8LT3hE/s320/P1000098.JPG" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Taa'Pi't School reviving Mayan culture for Mayan children</td></tr>
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<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: left; margin-right: 1em; text-align: left;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi6fdnP9pZMlKlqZCpYR4y2JWSeguHbIS9bta1OzcGZ2UyRxcm_KRhV8TUkSPU7lhu0Nt1yTYCIQmQclImaI85gkziimrvJfmLXQuwTDH8-sxOd7nfA15kBi14aTJN4AwlVmpEhNr9IYlE/s1600/P1000099.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi6fdnP9pZMlKlqZCpYR4y2JWSeguHbIS9bta1OzcGZ2UyRxcm_KRhV8TUkSPU7lhu0Nt1yTYCIQmQclImaI85gkziimrvJfmLXQuwTDH8-sxOd7nfA15kBi14aTJN4AwlVmpEhNr9IYlE/s320/P1000099.JPG" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Taa'Pit school operating on a shoe-string budget</td></tr>
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<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: left; margin-right: 1em; text-align: left;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhJ04wt63kn-7wFsuE7TIBDYlKdtDFi7dd-lO-dGatVHu3kkjiVEcVo351cBuFbHduOkp7ZB6Gni7NaNoGhccN_TYRp3dzBWG42GZA8i9lp2FEus_x1Oy5OIwBnfdkla-abKFbu0vw5atY/s1600/P1000101.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhJ04wt63kn-7wFsuE7TIBDYlKdtDFi7dd-lO-dGatVHu3kkjiVEcVo351cBuFbHduOkp7ZB6Gni7NaNoGhccN_TYRp3dzBWG42GZA8i9lp2FEus_x1Oy5OIwBnfdkla-abKFbu0vw5atY/s320/P1000101.JPG" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Children of Taa'Pit learning about protecting environment & their Lake</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg34yyhnzR_7PRaHckqqXOce9thoENrIVFesMCXxZNARcS8r2jfQbLyYSEF2O9jHGfd-8ZHQep0pUIUWGyNkv23gJhpWODMcu-8qZRVPluxMF6D72J-USIP8ifcmjUMa0O_coUxseW3XgU/s1600/P1000093.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg34yyhnzR_7PRaHckqqXOce9thoENrIVFesMCXxZNARcS8r2jfQbLyYSEF2O9jHGfd-8ZHQep0pUIUWGyNkv23gJhpWODMcu-8qZRVPluxMF6D72J-USIP8ifcmjUMa0O_coUxseW3XgU/s320/P1000093.JPG" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">on the walk to my hotel room</td></tr>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhAipgBXL6s0Jax2UdhKyUM8aodsQLdUFZbkYII8y2ZzluxEG3sBWRKmxiyFx-JiSYuhoKABHgIvLLB0GMTDGrIN9eikAcmRUC_ivqKjsovU_Xt-coKfnpkq_dmJRFtCOoHJCxNh9eEDlk/s1600/P1000104.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhAipgBXL6s0Jax2UdhKyUM8aodsQLdUFZbkYII8y2ZzluxEG3sBWRKmxiyFx-JiSYuhoKABHgIvLLB0GMTDGrIN9eikAcmRUC_ivqKjsovU_Xt-coKfnpkq_dmJRFtCOoHJCxNh9eEDlk/s320/P1000104.JPG" width="320" /></a></div>
Solstice eve in San Pedro village- Children in the streets with sparklers<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg7lZwzUi0q8hsLdzho-M9YDL4CoIdqIs3rhU8v4FpmtXaYcNX-TEIE3uWpOom2XYc2LMEHJ792jUAwMUXQQMSbL55jtEO3U52uRw2XlCc1RFoGNoSuJpv7_gQh_odMFxf1nOZ3-2adJdg/s1600/P1000105.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg7lZwzUi0q8hsLdzho-M9YDL4CoIdqIs3rhU8v4FpmtXaYcNX-TEIE3uWpOom2XYc2LMEHJ792jUAwMUXQQMSbL55jtEO3U52uRw2XlCc1RFoGNoSuJpv7_gQh_odMFxf1nOZ3-2adJdg/s320/P1000105.JPG" width="320" /></a></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiWDijAmhtUcMYB_AwaTI0ial75VIyOpG9ZDfnr1t0Y6ZaDn-Qn7xpGlAJ2TnkTf4gQtbsrBP7rhE4R3lFaCxa0Ic6tFutPLU95-SAXKtrSIBOClaGezF7WJXMIyY8u_NNzkkBSOfUS_kg/s1600/P1000106.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiWDijAmhtUcMYB_AwaTI0ial75VIyOpG9ZDfnr1t0Y6ZaDn-Qn7xpGlAJ2TnkTf4gQtbsrBP7rhE4R3lFaCxa0Ic6tFutPLU95-SAXKtrSIBOClaGezF7WJXMIyY8u_NNzkkBSOfUS_kg/s320/P1000106.JPG" width="320" /></a></div>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEidrTtvSE0UwfAFYgPbqWd5_wW69it_ZnStqvgofTT-S21TIQ_Uns09Ph3Z07P1Xf4E3thZgrKRwYv2EyU-z190svc5rO7aHN8Degqbx_wIuFEf-6_BefiPiOntKm9KQJX1REHi4te3F_4/s1600/P1000107.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEidrTtvSE0UwfAFYgPbqWd5_wW69it_ZnStqvgofTT-S21TIQ_Uns09Ph3Z07P1Xf4E3thZgrKRwYv2EyU-z190svc5rO7aHN8Degqbx_wIuFEf-6_BefiPiOntKm9KQJX1REHi4te3F_4/s320/P1000107.JPG" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Sunset on Lake Atitlan - San Pedro</td></tr>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjy6AWOtbySFohDP1_wu37XvLksyu6E_kFmt6dtHaQFvum3TEvigcYIcsuNJZSU7yuQ5VX0OwQe2_u4r_QHqPybNsNZOdM_q_QhRhqdVai0WJZBP-LoYjBlQ_zBOZlrypIhZoaSJu3g7wU/s1600/P1000109.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjy6AWOtbySFohDP1_wu37XvLksyu6E_kFmt6dtHaQFvum3TEvigcYIcsuNJZSU7yuQ5VX0OwQe2_u4r_QHqPybNsNZOdM_q_QhRhqdVai0WJZBP-LoYjBlQ_zBOZlrypIhZoaSJu3g7wU/s320/P1000109.JPG" width="320" /></a></div>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">San Pedro Community Solstice Fire Ceremony preparation - preparing flower petals</td></tr>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">San Pedro Mayan community preparation for Solstice Sacred Fire ceremony</td></tr>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">San Pedro Mayan community preparing flower petals for sacred fire</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjH1Mrtyr0W3qh8gNftjgxSAR2lQUbJTrnYfdEItnBc11z3z_-18g2AIZXtf49l4SHBjq9LDcOPvRU7WgAJrqIFHPK7se3r7qzH2Qn5mMz-bKyBGMd-BEyEEI_58hbPqkGLvp-xOOmqBDI/s1600/P1000113.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjH1Mrtyr0W3qh8gNftjgxSAR2lQUbJTrnYfdEItnBc11z3z_-18g2AIZXtf49l4SHBjq9LDcOPvRU7WgAJrqIFHPK7se3r7qzH2Qn5mMz-bKyBGMd-BEyEEI_58hbPqkGLvp-xOOmqBDI/s320/P1000113.JPG" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">quietly coming together for preparing the sacred fire for solstice</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi_sD_eElhAfXf7PtSnKr6uDYSikBTPeQtKwRDIB3enVQtveeGIqIjwriLPOCgmAugMtFDFZC47hTMP5iWjrQbCA93eYd-yZCMFk_TLA6TsMG12sR0wmhSl2yNr71rXvvjflLVdzvrnlWg/s1600/P1000115.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi_sD_eElhAfXf7PtSnKr6uDYSikBTPeQtKwRDIB3enVQtveeGIqIjwriLPOCgmAugMtFDFZC47hTMP5iWjrQbCA93eYd-yZCMFk_TLA6TsMG12sR0wmhSl2yNr71rXvvjflLVdzvrnlWg/s320/P1000115.JPG" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Beautiful, devout women in their traditional San Pedro shawls</td></tr>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"> Preparing ingredients for sacred Fire Ceremony - for Solstice</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEikRa9tyuZDJJ_sQHRZz3HkWqnuUuZnvow73eKG6_VTWbopZpreyoFSsahbMsyNfDAnKN-tBB8a8igvIAidkx6lT21VdByuuiwKGFxMufI_tMBUuPH2C54yCD_Hdil6iVcRhc0qS47iEjk/s1600/P1000117.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEikRa9tyuZDJJ_sQHRZz3HkWqnuUuZnvow73eKG6_VTWbopZpreyoFSsahbMsyNfDAnKN-tBB8a8igvIAidkx6lT21VdByuuiwKGFxMufI_tMBUuPH2C54yCD_Hdil6iVcRhc0qS47iEjk/s320/P1000117.JPG" width="240" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"> Multi-colored candles representing each Direction to burn in the sacred fire</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjE0XxZo6vFqTYwzikYJsEuwONNbGnKUpGjvTP-C2B96lhS01Q3nhHhqITlAVuoDHoMFvUNiyLOMcH5vVixfJSsNB5_BSGgDlcOGuAR35BM3I5aHUWy79lO3JheZagXddFHrLhP0EXV8UI/s1600/P1000118.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjE0XxZo6vFqTYwzikYJsEuwONNbGnKUpGjvTP-C2B96lhS01Q3nhHhqITlAVuoDHoMFvUNiyLOMcH5vVixfJSsNB5_BSGgDlcOGuAR35BM3I5aHUWy79lO3JheZagXddFHrLhP0EXV8UI/s320/P1000118.JPG" width="240" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Candle colors of 4 Directions - see fire pit prep in background</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhq4uSrbAjBCZzJY6bSh5drvfdRTJPy_WYXKbtzQRoci5pzEs5yWsmBhWq2AdMrT7jzNtVnFyqxJpGj3JoFCArUPyK51Pt_ESObCCUFqdRwN50HK3AJ43GM7YAHqEurI8m2HG1u-EAIVUQ/s1600/P1000119.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhq4uSrbAjBCZzJY6bSh5drvfdRTJPy_WYXKbtzQRoci5pzEs5yWsmBhWq2AdMrT7jzNtVnFyqxJpGj3JoFCArUPyK51Pt_ESObCCUFqdRwN50HK3AJ43GM7YAHqEurI8m2HG1u-EAIVUQ/s320/P1000119.JPG" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Spirit Water </td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjNf3l22oSIM4A-JQGcEMDhaGRjnDvU1LQZAbkrkezGkv5NGsoiSrmO5To4WK2NG6QCGLvA_nCQQ4mGtnBuZ7QUn3XiS5wqG-CDlnyRiq6W87YOe0KUKzk07KiBDdpSOgUENdAnwhaSYZ0/s1600/P1000120.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjNf3l22oSIM4A-JQGcEMDhaGRjnDvU1LQZAbkrkezGkv5NGsoiSrmO5To4WK2NG6QCGLvA_nCQQ4mGtnBuZ7QUn3XiS5wqG-CDlnyRiq6W87YOe0KUKzk07KiBDdpSOgUENdAnwhaSYZ0/s320/P1000120.JPG" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Candles and other sacred ingredients for the fire ceremony</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjH9Fno1Qm6dr0te2QE62oqjjRrL_nd9TRrusozau-ZmKYeo_vUTCxt22jWqCl1oxMiSLmq9dp3riCX9TN0btQGOT8cj2xIN5iVJ_x_KdPtVP3kWmIDWQ6xCqZoGRExWSEUDwCEi7uegm8/s1600/P1000121.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjH9Fno1Qm6dr0te2QE62oqjjRrL_nd9TRrusozau-ZmKYeo_vUTCxt22jWqCl1oxMiSLmq9dp3riCX9TN0btQGOT8cj2xIN5iVJ_x_KdPtVP3kWmIDWQ6xCqZoGRExWSEUDwCEi7uegm8/s1600/P1000121.JPG" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><br />
Daykeeper preparing for sacred fire</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhmRuASKB25-JosVgt5fUTzA5inpU7cWTDoZglMFtp_EU5daqvmFijNifbnpEw1p84pf-Httf6FusmINDD8hb6yrRkO1wlfn3ehzYSBHTW6xAQbnubvxnU-99-eJ55zqsE9LibVKLfKJvE/s1600/P1000122.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhmRuASKB25-JosVgt5fUTzA5inpU7cWTDoZglMFtp_EU5daqvmFijNifbnpEw1p84pf-Httf6FusmINDD8hb6yrRkO1wlfn3ehzYSBHTW6xAQbnubvxnU-99-eJ55zqsE9LibVKLfKJvE/s320/P1000122.JPG" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">enhanced fire pit and community participants</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi_YQFs1HdYk5LlsDjfVZCcnY7tcz-RvXGW3m85dfC0DN8VnqI9L_zHNltoj1WBPhFl_mAw69bohVV_dFTteVVZto6cQVGltl0tJvvof_edaKmPGeHzjyEVGl6vP0GIN_w3ctkwBYbgbFo/s1600/P1000123.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi_YQFs1HdYk5LlsDjfVZCcnY7tcz-RvXGW3m85dfC0DN8VnqI9L_zHNltoj1WBPhFl_mAw69bohVV_dFTteVVZto6cQVGltl0tJvvof_edaKmPGeHzjyEVGl6vP0GIN_w3ctkwBYbgbFo/s320/P1000123.JPG" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Mayan families of San Pedro participating in sacred Ceremony</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEixFBPH0XI7zcx_cynGAFR_sGRC1RtdlJdojy_T7COX-GqczKEZBl5Hhsfu5JutZS5nlb1zCCEwphqse9LLiCcztMe9UaVVZcnfxpOqvWvHDoTmaraRnSnoCJlv5wGG8WbNFLFfsJPQQy0/s1600/P1000124.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEixFBPH0XI7zcx_cynGAFR_sGRC1RtdlJdojy_T7COX-GqczKEZBl5Hhsfu5JutZS5nlb1zCCEwphqse9LLiCcztMe9UaVVZcnfxpOqvWvHDoTmaraRnSnoCJlv5wGG8WbNFLFfsJPQQy0/s320/P1000124.JPG" width="240" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Mayan family</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhubt735Gh9mAXi1wzWA3f8Vu6sMWCUISuMtNzRI-ZOxkN2uGrimGvMap6c9vtnMaTq1nLXDXrbcsBdgVUJ7aQrZBB8wxqMhNi8Fjc5ONAGp0QeWqLkaXp3b0VtPemcrlXBYpG5eOb-i8o/s1600/P1000126.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhubt735Gh9mAXi1wzWA3f8Vu6sMWCUISuMtNzRI-ZOxkN2uGrimGvMap6c9vtnMaTq1nLXDXrbcsBdgVUJ7aQrZBB8wxqMhNi8Fjc5ONAGp0QeWqLkaXp3b0VtPemcrlXBYpG5eOb-i8o/s320/P1000126.JPG" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Daykeepers of sacred fire ceremony</td></tr>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEizFjqvqVZBf0V0Y6k-9QLejRMDihNZ5UEqRl5SaK1exDLFnwpKc_i0YzIf1ta5wDe7eHhrrktL6Wp7zIW8XR342ZWzbDPko2_RykmX8F0ntbvBWhM8GxFPHbOTmacPQ3cUfASNqkvo4s0/s1600/P1000131.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><br /></a></div>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj65io6-t3ueYPWtZfsuzsZ1BFP2J2-WAYjg6vAXV9wqm3i5AJsPG11gmxsUFVOGF-YUJ_CxF_zLzn9zVa4wBYvYUuSPCxORzAzdv1H7JyejeUUd3c_N7euERL_ZlQfo8Ixdl0WBIgoloU/s1600/P1000127.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj65io6-t3ueYPWtZfsuzsZ1BFP2J2-WAYjg6vAXV9wqm3i5AJsPG11gmxsUFVOGF-YUJ_CxF_zLzn9zVa4wBYvYUuSPCxORzAzdv1H7JyejeUUd3c_N7euERL_ZlQfo8Ixdl0WBIgoloU/s320/P1000127.JPG" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Daykeeper of sacred fire ceremony</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEimlfUTa7r0W7hDSbycslEFLkJA2oflfGLKQxaeqe8Il8EPm6miy2btRDMva5LPuxw6D-NbPR0R2q9HMxIyeXRCKN4OmbSmuiWR1vAaKZOwsVc4x_hThQEBgZAbWOBIzpMGfW59kI3zkXE/s1600/P1000128.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEimlfUTa7r0W7hDSbycslEFLkJA2oflfGLKQxaeqe8Il8EPm6miy2btRDMva5LPuxw6D-NbPR0R2q9HMxIyeXRCKN4OmbSmuiWR1vAaKZOwsVc4x_hThQEBgZAbWOBIzpMGfW59kI3zkXE/s320/P1000128.JPG" width="240" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Sacred fire at end of ceremony</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj15mnw7B5K4iH3cAjx5P6q_-KjBdqwrSykeiH-Fu5cRBvOflbf5CpiOZqbrVTdTibUPRDdOnNLgR6dzY0UajLnGToOkw32qb7Ym3izx6uciT0BulUGdgUK4qtV_BNDxZ2pBDQnUpPSGeU/s1600/P1000131.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj15mnw7B5K4iH3cAjx5P6q_-KjBdqwrSykeiH-Fu5cRBvOflbf5CpiOZqbrVTdTibUPRDdOnNLgR6dzY0UajLnGToOkw32qb7Ym3izx6uciT0BulUGdgUK4qtV_BNDxZ2pBDQnUpPSGeU/s320/P1000131.JPG" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">San Pedro - garden in foreground - houses behind</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhh_m6Y8B805C-DxeADPIKLRc7uxphrmhNH4Ln7Qd8f86gPoYYjVoCSDRYzxZeKjLjg3hCbKS87VodrsIL0QY9f7oo5wQzfAbYJN9keUGEGAL1SW0EFRtg0pEHpu_qSmpyS-gQuL7CIkmw/s1600/P1000142.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhh_m6Y8B805C-DxeADPIKLRc7uxphrmhNH4Ln7Qd8f86gPoYYjVoCSDRYzxZeKjLjg3hCbKS87VodrsIL0QY9f7oo5wQzfAbYJN9keUGEGAL1SW0EFRtg0pEHpu_qSmpyS-gQuL7CIkmw/s320/P1000142.JPG" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">view of Lake Atitlan from my room</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgCNCjaasNcTmWD7XQsaAbBFEt-dGD-23062nzHHYXul5VMoEIGGVEwLk2Qp4Lhg8Ws5G1Ow_oBJrqSk3ek2O0nn79y1mNhwSaVZT4YYxLzsu6Y8kdhErKcKIHwlxYrYglqXw3KtxCqzMg/s1600/P1000130.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgCNCjaasNcTmWD7XQsaAbBFEt-dGD-23062nzHHYXul5VMoEIGGVEwLk2Qp4Lhg8Ws5G1Ow_oBJrqSk3ek2O0nn79y1mNhwSaVZT4YYxLzsu6Y8kdhErKcKIHwlxYrYglqXw3KtxCqzMg/s320/P1000130.JPG" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">butte, above, is location for San Pedro fire ceremony</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhqpkRlDzfMXQSC45HKchG5UODQyX2TFPkpIyM1jnxB9pOv6nUw5N3IpUG4SWk5IuM7g4yLsssATmTl8bPOA5sJrL6Iode1TBgaXa1iL4VekbPv9WYM0wGrgWkxns36uJSH0RjIF4HJHi0/s1600/P1000143.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhqpkRlDzfMXQSC45HKchG5UODQyX2TFPkpIyM1jnxB9pOv6nUw5N3IpUG4SWk5IuM7g4yLsssATmTl8bPOA5sJrL6Iode1TBgaXa1iL4VekbPv9WYM0wGrgWkxns36uJSH0RjIF4HJHi0/s320/P1000143.JPG" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">yard just in front of my room - looking out to Lake Atitlan</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjDGS314J7VnHbZYmxcHlbFcxrgg4fYqKrRx0ePcTiOb3JJLyJU0vCGdQbgyyyJ_oqiYDMmOYpfzlPWosKmQTxEqFbAtFwHuG08a_M2yK4fwq2cGQXVPEnEnRG0Znn0-15H_HyvGfteE3o/s1600/P1000141.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjDGS314J7VnHbZYmxcHlbFcxrgg4fYqKrRx0ePcTiOb3JJLyJU0vCGdQbgyyyJ_oqiYDMmOYpfzlPWosKmQTxEqFbAtFwHuG08a_M2yK4fwq2cGQXVPEnEnRG0Znn0-15H_HyvGfteE3o/s320/P1000141.JPG" width="240" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">three dogs napping on a step along the roadside</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhp4YmuUk84Y4_DjaMlvL69ADrJeK3F8Oo-hlZFTA_Id5epi1ySAhXCMMlGCGD97tCy0lLRJdVjD1hRl6SaBYt_6_m2JD0Rv6_WOx86ewoDKzL8cZNDQfZd-73fxqU_-Hh-cQ81dWGxIto/s1600/P1000146.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhp4YmuUk84Y4_DjaMlvL69ADrJeK3F8Oo-hlZFTA_Id5epi1ySAhXCMMlGCGD97tCy0lLRJdVjD1hRl6SaBYt_6_m2JD0Rv6_WOx86ewoDKzL8cZNDQfZd-73fxqU_-Hh-cQ81dWGxIto/s320/P1000146.JPG" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Maria, scarf-weaver in San Pedro</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhF346Y1WeIKllB1smcwlWcWoskzo-IFUzuIB5zcRWb2WksVVifx0A2rTuoKFN0S8qSxmm3XprXas5yrIJdWJsMeyGqsZ7dufnI6Wl3OoDiNaT84dMxNuydHS8PGKow4lYoV5OXvfpEwu0/s1600/P1000147.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhF346Y1WeIKllB1smcwlWcWoskzo-IFUzuIB5zcRWb2WksVVifx0A2rTuoKFN0S8qSxmm3XprXas5yrIJdWJsMeyGqsZ7dufnI6Wl3OoDiNaT84dMxNuydHS8PGKow4lYoV5OXvfpEwu0/s320/P1000147.JPG" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Gathering of Mayan families & students of Taa'pit</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg2HIgexrQRILEmALIkmTuRLhrWcGszP0tAHy80SMznR-fJeAS_L7k7CKzWdsoVORr7Atr0mL_coAqi-fTdN8y0XyMz-BwAtql0VLJY8qhob3TYuQDi4_PwcQysytGU2aBpFx0xvHkEuwc/s1600/P1000149.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg2HIgexrQRILEmALIkmTuRLhrWcGszP0tAHy80SMznR-fJeAS_L7k7CKzWdsoVORr7Atr0mL_coAqi-fTdN8y0XyMz-BwAtql0VLJY8qhob3TYuQDi4_PwcQysytGU2aBpFx0xvHkEuwc/s320/P1000149.JPG" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">17-year-old interpreter</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhsfTBoV01dM8LTzEcYEtNbIgPs1w-Li5sS69SOjI9c7wr35qNcWj7AvuYfE5uNBnoahj-qrQKZNUC6OWEzurzJvzDTQWkbzFvK-K0gar-OMIxwO9U4sUGaLd6hRWzi4l3zYrXrsw8F2Vw/s1600/P1000151.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhsfTBoV01dM8LTzEcYEtNbIgPs1w-Li5sS69SOjI9c7wr35qNcWj7AvuYfE5uNBnoahj-qrQKZNUC6OWEzurzJvzDTQWkbzFvK-K0gar-OMIxwO9U4sUGaLd6hRWzi4l3zYrXrsw8F2Vw/s320/P1000151.JPG" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Home visit of Mayan family - three generations of women</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhdvjSgtUEG6jr225JcOlKEknisgXWLkukk1s6UMq069xFKQzTF9qaWNLKj4uOUTRmoeQBLEi2cgT68oMeePIs_C8iN0Kw1YJErmJdJRZWS232XyheF6h6igNdz0gqgCSKK1z8FFkyc1mI/s1600/P1000152.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhdvjSgtUEG6jr225JcOlKEknisgXWLkukk1s6UMq069xFKQzTF9qaWNLKj4uOUTRmoeQBLEi2cgT68oMeePIs_C8iN0Kw1YJErmJdJRZWS232XyheF6h6igNdz0gqgCSKK1z8FFkyc1mI/s320/P1000152.JPG" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Middle woman, age 97, she's in the photo (years earlier) above her head in the blue skirt with her husband </td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEghfRkRve0xu0zwzKljerzxog1A1ZXz-XWT1vqhVEcEyhgePXIaJEXxJLLjhpauTvjTtEpnbPkuuTj1aLcSTYYzf1rRkNWdF3S3pNPsQSfpInqh4J1o6jwLGvDni5EzqZOfOWgLxrrhLgI/s1600/P1000153.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEghfRkRve0xu0zwzKljerzxog1A1ZXz-XWT1vqhVEcEyhgePXIaJEXxJLLjhpauTvjTtEpnbPkuuTj1aLcSTYYzf1rRkNWdF3S3pNPsQSfpInqh4J1o6jwLGvDni5EzqZOfOWgLxrrhLgI/s320/P1000153.JPG" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">The son of the 97 year old woman - in kitchen area</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjWyL9cW9qIx-lJKhG9ZmYJFWXi__EYetxnqS8kt6XNmCJasUm8jTvF44WjE1EH8eyJ-S6FNWlc9swcakVKhbOnHm8CdIDtgpdhESvbijsrqY48v89BJExi_S_TB4JJSQ8JkG6Lmz5qaFg/s1600/P1000155.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjWyL9cW9qIx-lJKhG9ZmYJFWXi__EYetxnqS8kt6XNmCJasUm8jTvF44WjE1EH8eyJ-S6FNWlc9swcakVKhbOnHm8CdIDtgpdhESvbijsrqY48v89BJExi_S_TB4JJSQ8JkG6Lmz5qaFg/s320/P1000155.JPG" width="240" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Washing the corn to be prepared to make tortillas</td></tr>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgiFEfueXrywNr3tn29aAUiYPS61YMyqijnMdc_kXeA-WDKMhJ8ItQS6hFbLK_wBH1srv5Xgq3eUKnYRd7lfWt_wO3nZ7ViOb7Q5L0f9_n1lZooGXg1aoUP7NLa74XUQLqQmuENapdaOvE/s1600/P1000166.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgiFEfueXrywNr3tn29aAUiYPS61YMyqijnMdc_kXeA-WDKMhJ8ItQS6hFbLK_wBH1srv5Xgq3eUKnYRd7lfWt_wO3nZ7ViOb7Q5L0f9_n1lZooGXg1aoUP7NLa74XUQLqQmuENapdaOvE/s320/P1000166.JPG" width="240" /></a></div>
The whole corn is now put into a crusher<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEimbXV7pIbUgcFtCLx8Fjz47hF7-Ol_gv-O3ZcPDk4OUa2LoN-HssEGMwt65wA2whxON1IX69ED-fcSxbcBbleQOy1NBy_FcLraKeMloanGn0oYp1CZqB4dZbb7qjE6qTqiYPCNKStzdA0/s1600/P1000164.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEimbXV7pIbUgcFtCLx8Fjz47hF7-Ol_gv-O3ZcPDk4OUa2LoN-HssEGMwt65wA2whxON1IX69ED-fcSxbcBbleQOy1NBy_FcLraKeMloanGn0oYp1CZqB4dZbb7qjE6qTqiYPCNKStzdA0/s320/P1000164.JPG" width="240" /></a></div>
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEitWndTlEav_RQ8tyI27B5AOwQKbo8G81PL4XvZP1s1OyV5JkaOxW8awyHRLPQVweTzdBbOEgdqFeRwFBartKX-7FsdPDnpZZO4fUF4ky8b-WwwSYhMe4RuIku6Xk0aXTtOc-RiLlbgE_w/s1600/P1000168.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEitWndTlEav_RQ8tyI27B5AOwQKbo8G81PL4XvZP1s1OyV5JkaOxW8awyHRLPQVweTzdBbOEgdqFeRwFBartKX-7FsdPDnpZZO4fUF4ky8b-WwwSYhMe4RuIku6Xk0aXTtOc-RiLlbgE_w/s320/P1000168.JPG" width="240" /></a> The corn is crushed and falls into the bottom bin as dough<br />
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Here the woman is carrying the corn dough - the corn that<br />
had been crushed<br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiH7O_y0axTKJFiR_OJCvIpLmnFaY6TtxxgWKyIR1xf17EcSGa7K_Eht7fUSQQsuPJPJuFMePe8cXjNcIlDQZ09mXGTRbQB_GtE7pNmOMTx-h2x0zF3jY491fcw9OiC9wot3HorXwya3iE/s1600/P1000170.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiH7O_y0axTKJFiR_OJCvIpLmnFaY6TtxxgWKyIR1xf17EcSGa7K_Eht7fUSQQsuPJPJuFMePe8cXjNcIlDQZ09mXGTRbQB_GtE7pNmOMTx-h2x0zF3jY491fcw9OiC9wot3HorXwya3iE/s320/P1000170.JPG" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">stove with live wood burning fire</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEid66TmzcnfQ2z80h7QQq1LMvNj3_OMHaEPy0o2SSjC3NK8997xP3xhVLkH2Nk_oWEi3y89StMDKZMeTxRxO6jr_flhZ8bP0I7BlH9M42UMFmx8__BR0XBbIdqVdglYMTh1SbfytU0F9Gs/s1600/P1000172.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEid66TmzcnfQ2z80h7QQq1LMvNj3_OMHaEPy0o2SSjC3NK8997xP3xhVLkH2Nk_oWEi3y89StMDKZMeTxRxO6jr_flhZ8bP0I7BlH9M42UMFmx8__BR0XBbIdqVdglYMTh1SbfytU0F9Gs/s320/P1000172.JPG" width="320" /></a></div>
Rolling out the corn tortilla dough <br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiovtvKV83rWxIOea2rTauQkKNAT6OU516qovYzvQt2PN9C8PuYrWlQRL_l0hGxaF-vXJDXWr8IEtpBYDmYoatsDYWJtH5ADmOKdOX4sN3BSvf3hzOwG_MAmdk8wZHKIrzohdbAnQ7_YC0/s1600/P1000173.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiovtvKV83rWxIOea2rTauQkKNAT6OU516qovYzvQt2PN9C8PuYrWlQRL_l0hGxaF-vXJDXWr8IEtpBYDmYoatsDYWJtH5ADmOKdOX4sN3BSvf3hzOwG_MAmdk8wZHKIrzohdbAnQ7_YC0/s320/P1000173.JPG" width="320" /></a></div>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhZk42gjL9D2_DRuSZXd6mDVXszf1O_RGo9zDnIP54mAyp1domiQ2ivL-qAzNtoaS4ybJOHxVvLV5kiFmcVEpFCDC6dqBTPnRUv8xFtnut_AJ_yVg-Xt-aM8RVC2tTYZLGZT3wgbU-vgBk/s1600/P1000177.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhZk42gjL9D2_DRuSZXd6mDVXszf1O_RGo9zDnIP54mAyp1domiQ2ivL-qAzNtoaS4ybJOHxVvLV5kiFmcVEpFCDC6dqBTPnRUv8xFtnut_AJ_yVg-Xt-aM8RVC2tTYZLGZT3wgbU-vgBk/s320/P1000177.JPG" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">kitchen area</td></tr>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjHivWwQkczNTVZXcf4ig-_UX9RApmVMyN54W7tOFgzhDwGwo4_ytKqxa5XJ35-a_mGMYk7xUyydTANKsSkKq9PETBlYBuDovWqpWxmKjJMpxmuuTY9MiwYf5t_WpXJsks-zCJlck7YsWY/s1600/P1000174.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjHivWwQkczNTVZXcf4ig-_UX9RApmVMyN54W7tOFgzhDwGwo4_ytKqxa5XJ35-a_mGMYk7xUyydTANKsSkKq9PETBlYBuDovWqpWxmKjJMpxmuuTY9MiwYf5t_WpXJsks-zCJlck7YsWY/s320/P1000174.JPG" width="320" /></a></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEicQsxfi5opf5g1D0pugIQCvqyQLAfxu_9BQpA2jmxdJIedMFqWJNKuFRZLei2Mq6mPX_d1cJQZlAj4YCR42CMi4_hgXbvqRjzIIhOyweKbp5LWOJF09HKb8fWBH9IyLAUIwfwgg2sm2Po/s1600/P1000178.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEicQsxfi5opf5g1D0pugIQCvqyQLAfxu_9BQpA2jmxdJIedMFqWJNKuFRZLei2Mq6mPX_d1cJQZlAj4YCR42CMi4_hgXbvqRjzIIhOyweKbp5LWOJF09HKb8fWBH9IyLAUIwfwgg2sm2Po/s320/P1000178.JPG" width="240" /></a> corn tortilla - hand made <br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhNaFWi20ZMOKJshNydWKoMbkJUTkslIIlJt_qANnjRdwaBr8R8xAaiI97hY9PLLPZ-ekT2bP2naDtb1qT67qzQZflnADr-2SE71lviz1iTO5REvT7z9fbhkrXwp7EOR-THmbswirGkHBo/s1600/P1000180.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhNaFWi20ZMOKJshNydWKoMbkJUTkslIIlJt_qANnjRdwaBr8R8xAaiI97hY9PLLPZ-ekT2bP2naDtb1qT67qzQZflnADr-2SE71lviz1iTO5REvT7z9fbhkrXwp7EOR-THmbswirGkHBo/s320/P1000180.JPG" width="320" /></a></div>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhBZfiWF5XhhsZJhFSgFCrYGDdkA80WrL78PtzeqqEVdwvv-lwCDZ5Ph_Dl5g6WGVcw3TEJm3OTzekkeaQGHu4ewFTtjLGJvLqcvFJZisgs8-wWiakxwoK00hVPDpD5CX7lx_Jt3RcG0gA/s1600/P1000182.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhBZfiWF5XhhsZJhFSgFCrYGDdkA80WrL78PtzeqqEVdwvv-lwCDZ5Ph_Dl5g6WGVcw3TEJm3OTzekkeaQGHu4ewFTtjLGJvLqcvFJZisgs8-wWiakxwoK00hVPDpD5CX7lx_Jt3RcG0gA/s320/P1000182.JPG" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">sleeping areas behind the curtains</td></tr>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjmDLN52RGu6mOsJUAcY86WdjdQGrvuCtek_hGHKXWgpg3QbN_4jJ81AwP4ZlbosudX61AFCA3FRqEl7vspD8fV4Qa009eM7Tigkrv96J5en73Y4pltxon1GuJq9GWukAWy5Qde5z3NUUo/s1600/P1000183.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjmDLN52RGu6mOsJUAcY86WdjdQGrvuCtek_hGHKXWgpg3QbN_4jJ81AwP4ZlbosudX61AFCA3FRqEl7vspD8fV4Qa009eM7Tigkrv96J5en73Y4pltxon1GuJq9GWukAWy5Qde5z3NUUo/s320/P1000183.JPG" width="320" /></a></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgBfeRWEk3D33rpxs9KOD4r0gpDWgR4QK1jnqi4ExVeMNKHmhV9BSeQqz-Wu9vIh_2D-8SJxCnQnqhDO9wljT0tHUkNAlH_NuXrSzVIrJTNgGMgQTxGNCq89DWS44TuRu3TNRhnen4SpiM/s1600/P1000185.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgBfeRWEk3D33rpxs9KOD4r0gpDWgR4QK1jnqi4ExVeMNKHmhV9BSeQqz-Wu9vIh_2D-8SJxCnQnqhDO9wljT0tHUkNAlH_NuXrSzVIrJTNgGMgQTxGNCq89DWS44TuRu3TNRhnen4SpiM/s320/P1000185.JPG" width="320" /></a></div>
Kitchen area<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgS7Ql3TFFM120PssdhiFt26cy-_LWEyAXfi_CPD6nv9EQ0qvQWlAXo97-INiukcPHthDnDJF6tT6Xt3tRkT_JISfR0CDCizVCgGrx_7CG_Nv2rpzz25TdcdErdGFkqzbvkh4QwE4xxpUI/s1600/P1000187.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgS7Ql3TFFM120PssdhiFt26cy-_LWEyAXfi_CPD6nv9EQ0qvQWlAXo97-INiukcPHthDnDJF6tT6Xt3tRkT_JISfR0CDCizVCgGrx_7CG_Nv2rpzz25TdcdErdGFkqzbvkh4QwE4xxpUI/s320/P1000187.JPG" width="320" /></a></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgTbU08AQo-J37GTYEGlCmYSjJJ0_ubSl-ViHHJTziSs1P_lgfFWNksBPn5Itti68wSq-Hb8-jMHeJwMJ6TS9iDvhkltPXMfZ4ox6paFWhhBZxk3vE40I6l8MsdaZvHF2hkRv02bsLIGBk/s1600/P1000189.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgTbU08AQo-J37GTYEGlCmYSjJJ0_ubSl-ViHHJTziSs1P_lgfFWNksBPn5Itti68wSq-Hb8-jMHeJwMJ6TS9iDvhkltPXMfZ4ox6paFWhhBZxk3vE40I6l8MsdaZvHF2hkRv02bsLIGBk/s320/P1000189.JPG" width="320" /></a></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjlFn3TSUteS4ERh_MfvQI-Yw7pb1ZfXFW2kpWt_kJCHEIyWtiRpJUpwdDnAsHlzGYjQCsMMaMyP5ycwS_PFQkEe2Lj_xU2IOrp88l8lJ0QIm4e_SLMSyDpXqMOF2LLfAygb0o6I9allMc/s1600/P1000191.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjlFn3TSUteS4ERh_MfvQI-Yw7pb1ZfXFW2kpWt_kJCHEIyWtiRpJUpwdDnAsHlzGYjQCsMMaMyP5ycwS_PFQkEe2Lj_xU2IOrp88l8lJ0QIm4e_SLMSyDpXqMOF2LLfAygb0o6I9allMc/s320/P1000191.JPG" width="320" /></a></div>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg7w_7Osrfnwg-zyctzLQDIZMcHp1XMJM5-qfC1oXMOfc0gXKPuZ468K857CeaDBvTmbEeCG8kFW27yAJE7Q1otORDy16nH9_XEmuJK-GS7c8VGsCLEF4HHEeDjmFHwAIGkWaSc9v10ULY/s1600/P1000192.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg7w_7Osrfnwg-zyctzLQDIZMcHp1XMJM5-qfC1oXMOfc0gXKPuZ468K857CeaDBvTmbEeCG8kFW27yAJE7Q1otORDy16nH9_XEmuJK-GS7c8VGsCLEF4HHEeDjmFHwAIGkWaSc9v10ULY/s320/P1000192.JPG" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">This lovely man is holding photographs of my grandmothers </td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjQhkbalYUe_ItQKazkEeGiZQteecJ_QOvs2FOC0p4lmy6H7vL2-auqupugN1H-oY_hzrD5v8QvAlXRNp2fAyoJrMHOnVrQYFqVKCeqnQbwn5YbDpPOwmN9emID1ZYy3ZTW6BSi22VW9Pk/s1600/P1000193.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjQhkbalYUe_ItQKazkEeGiZQteecJ_QOvs2FOC0p4lmy6H7vL2-auqupugN1H-oY_hzrD5v8QvAlXRNp2fAyoJrMHOnVrQYFqVKCeqnQbwn5YbDpPOwmN9emID1ZYy3ZTW6BSi22VW9Pk/s320/P1000193.JPG" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">This appears to be at least four generations of women</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjJr-LR129EMKxEc1rg0526fU-qzp6oGjCuddmz3L8w6E0uV0nvFdxuRzx62YTj2a6i0bPqSAMrWQQ-ciiakj7MKNud3TWe3QQ6JNWl4knaEo-JU0U0s8Wksbsd5_ugq7qeg8ntCAWH4ZU/s1600/P1000194.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjJr-LR129EMKxEc1rg0526fU-qzp6oGjCuddmz3L8w6E0uV0nvFdxuRzx62YTj2a6i0bPqSAMrWQQ-ciiakj7MKNud3TWe3QQ6JNWl4knaEo-JU0U0s8Wksbsd5_ugq7qeg8ntCAWH4ZU/s320/P1000194.JPG" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">This woman holds a snow globe from seattle. The curious little boy later dropped it on the cement floor.</td><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><br /></td><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><br /></td><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><br /></td><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><br /></td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiU5ZjFTXbm7WRj82CFzyZMzFHQhyEGrB8kVCcxv8hJB0mvbmUuTo7IGO4IJHYS08_dfMEWVPoBr7JQK_TSkD0nx6y91WBi8f8GkZr8PwACBrGAPfGyffOlCH8F9FCSjLT8cRwO3CayAPY/s1600/P1000199.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiU5ZjFTXbm7WRj82CFzyZMzFHQhyEGrB8kVCcxv8hJB0mvbmUuTo7IGO4IJHYS08_dfMEWVPoBr7JQK_TSkD0nx6y91WBi8f8GkZr8PwACBrGAPfGyffOlCH8F9FCSjLT8cRwO3CayAPY/s320/P1000199.JPG" width="240" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Young girl selling fruit at front door</td><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><br /></td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjGo0SS1i1-lgdMqZmoEFq2MiXaPDvwbuqBqcZiIVqCPRHGsCFunEGPbAqxheBdxzjyr_NKvS_upaY1zObFtJqKkOOHB3JYxTIwquZKE3SVQkxT1hK4_ijdDFr45-Swz8Cw9yRd6Wiij2o/s1600/P1000200.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjGo0SS1i1-lgdMqZmoEFq2MiXaPDvwbuqBqcZiIVqCPRHGsCFunEGPbAqxheBdxzjyr_NKvS_upaY1zObFtJqKkOOHB3JYxTIwquZKE3SVQkxT1hK4_ijdDFr45-Swz8Cw9yRd6Wiij2o/s320/P1000200.JPG" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Market in San Pedro</td></tr>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgPul0X2WM9W37II_0VPyxEhPDqY5eX697YeCUYTHIO6-BbVQa_N4eYq-s8cZoL5EnDbIB-t3X_wFXnpLXaf1wSJkUsoaJohkweXHZC9d3Id9QSFTE1wqdDQQipuLJ88nPwUHQbOjUzWXA/s1600/P1000201.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgPul0X2WM9W37II_0VPyxEhPDqY5eX697YeCUYTHIO6-BbVQa_N4eYq-s8cZoL5EnDbIB-t3X_wFXnpLXaf1wSJkUsoaJohkweXHZC9d3Id9QSFTE1wqdDQQipuLJ88nPwUHQbOjUzWXA/s320/P1000201.JPG" width="240" /></a></div>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi19OhawOxu5tjM5epO5wWKzdMajmODrB0rT71yRgRAksJeL4pWk4vPXL2tcsIteFiKtWt5etC_3AZFf1FIbxNp86hT9ipX-1ZKD1V3kIYguS6oBNsA8SkvwUpLrRp8T6dwkztm75zGE7Q/s1600/P1000203.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi19OhawOxu5tjM5epO5wWKzdMajmODrB0rT71yRgRAksJeL4pWk4vPXL2tcsIteFiKtWt5etC_3AZFf1FIbxNp86hT9ipX-1ZKD1V3kIYguS6oBNsA8SkvwUpLrRp8T6dwkztm75zGE7Q/s320/P1000203.JPG" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Highway buses - not for use in the village</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjkvRQB-vMiHBCAJcT2zZ-nfRA59EXQ5InlbdN-q8CSq1mZtN30Dfi5F4izcqhdDGu_BB8eNajLXsWUQ018O2RuQKNw9tLdPXBYzrmR1Ka0taky2-TkxJm-R8DjtMbyxFITuwdZGdowC5A/s1600/P1000204.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjkvRQB-vMiHBCAJcT2zZ-nfRA59EXQ5InlbdN-q8CSq1mZtN30Dfi5F4izcqhdDGu_BB8eNajLXsWUQ018O2RuQKNw9tLdPXBYzrmR1Ka0taky2-TkxJm-R8DjtMbyxFITuwdZGdowC5A/s320/P1000204.JPG" width="240" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Teacher of Taa'pit and her 12 y.o. student</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjwI2DA39rekp8a_ELtyrypQI1Ua1gANFlOB6SqC1mdE9dPeWE_fzJ724UZDdIj_KFLp2OmDz8_lqeeMk5JMuqdaStSrzfw9Bir6QmutGPfXDI179gg8yBIRhwmxWlIYHy14wQ1_nBIwsE/s1600/P1000205.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjwI2DA39rekp8a_ELtyrypQI1Ua1gANFlOB6SqC1mdE9dPeWE_fzJ724UZDdIj_KFLp2OmDz8_lqeeMk5JMuqdaStSrzfw9Bir6QmutGPfXDI179gg8yBIRhwmxWlIYHy14wQ1_nBIwsE/s320/P1000205.JPG" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Strong supporter (left) and Founder of Taa'Pit</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg-D5XhwUsifm74n1wmCQHLT8Vi7FTiQpjHBbDYt8sNx8QNIP6XQkVx4AoYGoYSvz40scZgUb9_w1rVa8acdoLnOYwgtE9bmxsjSYIyi3wJGpoLlPF5-HyrKxL6QCA72Q9nInl4xE_S0p0/s1600/P1000208.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg-D5XhwUsifm74n1wmCQHLT8Vi7FTiQpjHBbDYt8sNx8QNIP6XQkVx4AoYGoYSvz40scZgUb9_w1rVa8acdoLnOYwgtE9bmxsjSYIyi3wJGpoLlPF5-HyrKxL6QCA72Q9nInl4xE_S0p0/s320/P1000208.JPG" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">San Juan hand-made weaving - shawls</td></tr>
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhzO7ounORJ9HKvxhZVurYgPlp-RKAFHcsJQJPwznZqfUYhiCVbSsw3ymmepp5ym-nsGFOBG6dkRoCIEXXSpsFduJG07FDDhUztCBn9zIem5OMMm5_5Bx_raTlvLMYWTdtG-vyENqNr-jI/s1600/P1000217.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhzO7ounORJ9HKvxhZVurYgPlp-RKAFHcsJQJPwznZqfUYhiCVbSsw3ymmepp5ym-nsGFOBG6dkRoCIEXXSpsFduJG07FDDhUztCBn9zIem5OMMm5_5Bx_raTlvLMYWTdtG-vyENqNr-jI/s320/P1000217.JPG" width="240" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Demonstration of yarn-dying</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiTwX1Vdz3NJM7ejzt1KhjLk7xQ8gwE2c8h0sCwIn4ifq4k5yrYzHQ2YencnmmeJhwSe9xzHhqaClYgxZdAbplreqdmMKrn8uS2-HnfVLE0e_1UmQQnVPbOjrFBd93Ot2EFJ7depbutU_Q/s1600/P1000230.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiTwX1Vdz3NJM7ejzt1KhjLk7xQ8gwE2c8h0sCwIn4ifq4k5yrYzHQ2YencnmmeJhwSe9xzHhqaClYgxZdAbplreqdmMKrn8uS2-HnfVLE0e_1UmQQnVPbOjrFBd93Ot2EFJ7depbutU_Q/s320/P1000230.JPG" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Mayan spirit image/mural on a wall in San Juan</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjEHrp7w4d1CD_B1U4hMkARUGIHjrT7HYmRfAU6w_bMxx44eRUL25F-Yrk5TMu-2IkA3osxbqbaIQTmxr4IVsLaL79ELSu_wfKE2xSymb6HmkCadVeIURUVdEAf9qy-GY9ZFefe_9VdLnw/s1600/P1000238.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjEHrp7w4d1CD_B1U4hMkARUGIHjrT7HYmRfAU6w_bMxx44eRUL25F-Yrk5TMu-2IkA3osxbqbaIQTmxr4IVsLaL79ELSu_wfKE2xSymb6HmkCadVeIURUVdEAf9qy-GY9ZFefe_9VdLnw/s320/P1000238.JPG" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Religious procession in the street - San Juan</td></tr>
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgTdgRL1zsu4-RpiuTkjdQ9H4A_fj9t8VB7mA9qLvTyuphuWUKHnaIPT33Sx4Y93-M2vfhGc1azQKwYf5CW4gOm9k_7GkfojevVOFCXjzrHSlVHmIRG51EKJRdjPNUjk1hzOEwfPx99gsI/s1600/P1000235.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgTdgRL1zsu4-RpiuTkjdQ9H4A_fj9t8VB7mA9qLvTyuphuWUKHnaIPT33Sx4Y93-M2vfhGc1azQKwYf5CW4gOm9k_7GkfojevVOFCXjzrHSlVHmIRG51EKJRdjPNUjk1hzOEwfPx99gsI/s320/P1000235.JPG" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">our wonderful grilled chicken prepared for lunch - San Juan</td></tr>
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi0_bpl74p0Xe2iQPjM9D_xmDKozVT47RmZuBg7_Uc-rSuoEl3si53UeCvJYVl8iJ42Rjw291PjrBw5-0LgoBLKwtXcRtuYmWdj9LYMCREZczXwIQceLYh84wj2YrvCxo89VZTzXq40pVg/s1600/P1000239.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi0_bpl74p0Xe2iQPjM9D_xmDKozVT47RmZuBg7_Uc-rSuoEl3si53UeCvJYVl8iJ42Rjw291PjrBw5-0LgoBLKwtXcRtuYmWdj9LYMCREZczXwIQceLYh84wj2YrvCxo89VZTzXq40pVg/s320/P1000239.JPG" width="240" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Mural in San Juan capturing reverence for Nature</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjy_kQmi06QVpi4UvX1VKbj4z73LatlFPqLp3c3cU3m7shTon9t9x9BtwPP9El-AelnMjB0_8HCXaCFql19-u71ME4iAN8Zw4chvBGYnk3NrzS8nkv1WDVYDlzoV8i8jwe7GAcPkMf-aGA/s1600/P1000244.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjy_kQmi06QVpi4UvX1VKbj4z73LatlFPqLp3c3cU3m7shTon9t9x9BtwPP9El-AelnMjB0_8HCXaCFql19-u71ME4iAN8Zw4chvBGYnk3NrzS8nkv1WDVYDlzoV8i8jwe7GAcPkMf-aGA/s320/P1000244.JPG" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Artist by his mural depicting Mayan bone healer</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEggWOiDDHv53fGMCkrH_jvKoujiaH8j2OPLb7s1yoZOmt_-wBfEa5Fm05jRkkgNjKwgZBW5n7R6qL-2nDeLhMpm6IjaY_bFPgu9tvcRlcz1xRFSc_6yP7U5bUZRIM6Gt_1kNX6580ehqKk/s320/P1000266.JPG" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;" width="320" /></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Mayan fisherman</td></tr>
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<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; text-align: left;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj7RM2C-pUUOKb4rSJvuLkGmKFvw89FkdAe9MJhexjnn04UGvBYdumIZgqRL2vqOLSBNMxtZNcbAwwi9FNrB2Ny_jqtF22Vbx71MPjr1-cpiRqeFa5akzSAd3BcIpF83umjlDfzH5uegjQ/s1600/P1000264.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj7RM2C-pUUOKb4rSJvuLkGmKFvw89FkdAe9MJhexjnn04UGvBYdumIZgqRL2vqOLSBNMxtZNcbAwwi9FNrB2Ny_jqtF22Vbx71MPjr1-cpiRqeFa5akzSAd3BcIpF83umjlDfzH5uegjQ/s320/P1000264.JPG" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgIakFe0DCBHL-kqgb9WawIkVw0suAUnyeDSe8qx7-gZwexObxoW41rWKk3DUOvGXsGwbkwFVvMn3eRe4vy54ZYjKKi7RpQLAy67_V-OwY-lRdM6PzkN2QIZWAEte0NwiKOudtre9ZCfR8/s1600/P1000242.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgIakFe0DCBHL-kqgb9WawIkVw0suAUnyeDSe8qx7-gZwexObxoW41rWKk3DUOvGXsGwbkwFVvMn3eRe4vy54ZYjKKi7RpQLAy67_V-OwY-lRdM6PzkN2QIZWAEte0NwiKOudtre9ZCfR8/s320/P1000242.JPG" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Symbolic Mural in San Juan depicting Maya community</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh49vGJkhrwnWBw2G2c3bMYA7me-oI3dmjU7hamhZak1MAFOR8781ZzA6hSJcr_SP0GCbn101pQTGlkSM2e6_lfGuz_vjGP6i2hNHb40_j6Sa6m4qc-qtjnOwzDFD55XuHxRz8n4fH79U0/s1600/P1000241.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh49vGJkhrwnWBw2G2c3bMYA7me-oI3dmjU7hamhZak1MAFOR8781ZzA6hSJcr_SP0GCbn101pQTGlkSM2e6_lfGuz_vjGP6i2hNHb40_j6Sa6m4qc-qtjnOwzDFD55XuHxRz8n4fH79U0/s320/P1000241.JPG" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Mural in San Juan on a building wall</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg4JcjKjD_owO3i6-nB4lmoCKXzJM1gE4sk9PSic5PBDNSDCuAbdvsAVvZRN1KzpvxdUl7bPnQsvdiZRbUv8bkpRp3MuMjeqh2CFvCyT0MRwlmFQVotPSUxVDPUrLgBTVQUKFJAcA0KvSg/s1600/P1000206.JPG" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg4JcjKjD_owO3i6-nB4lmoCKXzJM1gE4sk9PSic5PBDNSDCuAbdvsAVvZRN1KzpvxdUl7bPnQsvdiZRbUv8bkpRp3MuMjeqh2CFvCyT0MRwlmFQVotPSUxVDPUrLgBTVQUKFJAcA0KvSg/s320/P1000206.JPG" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Street in San Juan - neighboring San Pedro<br />
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<img class="fj-G-q" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiOBjwVDoJnCqRGNXQJfYjt39Xyq2wLJQOyScFtf6hvN15J6aB_e43ExvL8gAiWItTG8af15dwJS8miOSTbv2D8iGjARcknwLLReHPkK0_OtBzWYY9sfpV4xmBedEZw53vervFgvzoUozA/h120/P1000246.JPG" style="height: 120px; left: 0px; top: 0px; transform: rotate(0deg); width: 160px;" /><br />
my room in San Pedro<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhVPPg6nGELlhpNlZY8A2BM2N7TcAxqo49qVaUViG9lH-xk75JvZvEw8FScr21qZHnbeDXOw42HX0WW8BgsWDUTxt2L7lPnX2ZCk68e9HLdsaoE7kya1iA2gQb0bI-QOMrxqteZDzgexsA/s1600/P1000267.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhVPPg6nGELlhpNlZY8A2BM2N7TcAxqo49qVaUViG9lH-xk75JvZvEw8FScr21qZHnbeDXOw42HX0WW8BgsWDUTxt2L7lPnX2ZCk68e9HLdsaoE7kya1iA2gQb0bI-QOMrxqteZDzgexsA/s320/P1000267.JPG" width="320" /></a></div>
work party at Taa'Pit school</td><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"></td><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"></td><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"></td><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><br />
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Symbolic art work representations for the students<br />
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Painted wood carving - related to Nature & Environment</div>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">owner and the chef at La Puerta</td><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><br /></td><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><br /></td><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><br /></td><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><br /></td><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><br /></td><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><br /></td></tr>
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La Puerta Restaurant - lovely entrance & cabana<br />
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Coffee cups steps - La Puerta Restaurant<br />
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Sweet Isabel at La Puerta<br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhmDbst6ghYF7o93frW93xCtAH4mbvizyqD9gA6xBBJ0QhNl9I6ejbge7eTIrrFXHQcfn-M3oreKh9MRj4kGumVyfIaknKWrcDQWNWjnRzOAUSpRYJqVdceJneaMz6_x_mKIneF5qp-ezc/s1600/P1000291.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhmDbst6ghYF7o93frW93xCtAH4mbvizyqD9gA6xBBJ0QhNl9I6ejbge7eTIrrFXHQcfn-M3oreKh9MRj4kGumVyfIaknKWrcDQWNWjnRzOAUSpRYJqVdceJneaMz6_x_mKIneF5qp-ezc/s320/P1000291.JPG" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Idea Connection Internet Cafe</td><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><br /></td><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><br /></td><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><br /></td><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><br /></td></tr>
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Street of La Puerta, Internet Cafe and hotel<br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEifV4bLPTa2yPs3tnbL2_b-c920CCNmTeKW7CLJoY0r_VCUOhRD1JiJm6yl8UWZmmR9nu8RY2g_P6eqp4SDRPrCTDzcwT3y4XbKb_vfbhZ6NiJm0zoe8KVcohrsB3gsiyAfqdlcJpht2KQ/s1600/P1000297.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEifV4bLPTa2yPs3tnbL2_b-c920CCNmTeKW7CLJoY0r_VCUOhRD1JiJm6yl8UWZmmR9nu8RY2g_P6eqp4SDRPrCTDzcwT3y4XbKb_vfbhZ6NiJm0zoe8KVcohrsB3gsiyAfqdlcJpht2KQ/s320/P1000297.JPG" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">local tienda </td><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><br /></td><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><br /></td><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><br /></td></tr>
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selling beans, rice... their staples</div>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi-e7ENheaauphex_ZDVGZODutbb14sHC2FQTxjq7DsanvyZcC-DlQCWgbXF9qtzmbMF53dkhpcYXvs86t_2iXd60sAItnLkuOiM_Y7da_ON1kmYx1NLLuTN2nbzt6TuBMCOxFitdZkzVI/s1600/P1000300.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi-e7ENheaauphex_ZDVGZODutbb14sHC2FQTxjq7DsanvyZcC-DlQCWgbXF9qtzmbMF53dkhpcYXvs86t_2iXd60sAItnLkuOiM_Y7da_ON1kmYx1NLLuTN2nbzt6TuBMCOxFitdZkzVI/s320/P1000300.JPG" width="240" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Calle in San Pedro ... No CARS ! :)</td><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><br /></td><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><br /></td></tr>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Walkway to my hotel by the Lake</td><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><br /></td><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><br /></td></tr>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Looking east toward volcano</td><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><br /></td></tr>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Juan Martin, Deborah and Juan Manuel - the heart of Taa'Pit </td><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><br /></td><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><br /></td><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><br /></td><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><br /></td><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><br /></td><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><br /></td></tr>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Leaving San Pedro heading toward San Juan and over the mountain</td><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><br /></td><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><br /></td><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><br /></td><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><br /></td></tr>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">heading over the mountains back to Antigua</td><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"></td><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"></td><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"></td><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"></td><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"></td><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"></td><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"></td><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"></td><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><br /></td><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><br /></td><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><br /></td><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><br /></td><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><br /></td><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><br /></td><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><br /></td><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><br /></td><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><br /></td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgT6CV2cDOMqKHfUbnXtYxzWDBaLxyvFbJQQrYC1vVHXPHudzpLuInlM9CT5-8I8ZHx7c1IS4kLv63gbXbfRImuOHaZr99-e6HIStK2lHOEkmfjCpWFIQ7jmvhlZXkWpNlmOqGBh6g4iYE/s1600/P1000315.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgT6CV2cDOMqKHfUbnXtYxzWDBaLxyvFbJQQrYC1vVHXPHudzpLuInlM9CT5-8I8ZHx7c1IS4kLv63gbXbfRImuOHaZr99-e6HIStK2lHOEkmfjCpWFIQ7jmvhlZXkWpNlmOqGBh6g4iYE/s320/P1000315.JPG" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">up in the clouds traveling back over the mountains</td><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><br /></td><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><br /></td><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><br /></td></tr>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">van shuttle between Antigua & San Pedro - i sat shotgun w/ the big guy</td><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><br /></td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEib8lBJPQdQjMB5-Mdc2Pr-JUaIjQ9tGE1QPzKFNvZoMp3e9OZu5jI_JtCdWM7EEfoNspQu2NNoK13Ie1IQ0AJG3utNPKOAuyoTUYxzq8uYrO5j9nQqmfi9RcAqnSqevLK1Ir_k5oEo_GA/s1600/P1000312.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEib8lBJPQdQjMB5-Mdc2Pr-JUaIjQ9tGE1QPzKFNvZoMp3e9OZu5jI_JtCdWM7EEfoNspQu2NNoK13Ie1IQ0AJG3utNPKOAuyoTUYxzq8uYrO5j9nQqmfi9RcAqnSqevLK1Ir_k5oEo_GA/s320/P1000312.JPG" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">streets of Antigua - you can feel the difference</td><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><br /></td><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><br /></td><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><br /></td><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><br /></td><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><br /></td></tr>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">memory of sunset on Lake Atitlan from my hotel</td><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"></td><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"></td><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"></td><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"></td><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"></td><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"></td><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"></td><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"></td><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"></td><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"></td><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><br /></td><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><br /></td><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><br /></td><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><br /></td><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><br /></td></tr>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"> memory of full moon rising on Lake Atitlan - San Pedro de laguna</td><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"></td><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"></td><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"></td><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"></td><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"></td><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"></td><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"></td><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"></td><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"></td><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"></td><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"></td><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"></td><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"></td><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"></td><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"></td><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"></td><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"></td><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"></td><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"></td><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"></td><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"></td><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"></td><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><br /></td><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><br /></td><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><br /></td></tr>
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<span style="color: blue;"><b>A most welcome invitations to your comments and questions on this photo documentary.</b></span><br />
<span style="color: blue;"><b>Thank you for visiting. Please do share the the link to this blog with others who may </b></span><br />
<span style="color: blue;"><b>find the material interesting. ~ <span style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue", Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Nancy B.</span></b></span><br />
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<br />ms nancyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17167039337990325976noreply@blogger.com6tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4245486953533717680.post-90871498049302520662012-11-23T20:04:00.000-08:002012-11-24T21:17:25.683-08:00Systemic Constellation work - what is it? how might it help?<span id="yiv1487017322yui_3_2_0_22_1335753960671738"><b><span style="color: blue;">Family constellation work has been the most <span class="yiv1487017322" id="yiv1487017322misspell-0">transformative</span> modality I have yet to witness and to experience</span> the healing aspects</b>, personally, in my own life.
I have been involved in systemic constellation workshops and subsequently, training
programs since 2005, experiencing well over half-dozen different
facilitators. </span><span id="yui_3_7_2_22_1353724249093_57">I would like to provide a brief and concise explanation of</span><span id="yiv1487017322yui_3_2_0_22_1335753960671800"> how constellations works--what happens, and who might benefit.</span><br />
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<span id="yiv1140572915yui_3_2_0_22_1335753960671753"><span style="color: blue;"><b>Problems affecting families have been passed down, <span style="font-style: italic;">unknowingly</span>, through generations </b></span>- often due to displaced Love.</span></div>
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<span id="yiv1140572915yui_3_2_0_22_1335753960671760"><span id="yiv1140572915yui_3_7_2_20_1353724249093_145" style="font-weight: bold;"><span id="yiv1140572915yui_3_2_0_22_1335753960671765" style="font-style: italic;">Knowing</span></span> Love has a healing and gratifying effect on us and on those around us. However, <span id="yiv1140572915yui_3_7_2_20_1353724249093_150" style="font-weight: bold;"><span id="yiv1140572915yui_3_7_2_20_1353724249093_148" style="font-style: italic;">unknowing, Blind </span></span>Love hands down through the generations grief and problems that we live out unconsciously due to <span style="font-weight: bold; text-decoration: underline;">unconscious </span> family
loyalties--unknowing, blind love..</span></div>
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<span id="yiv1140572915yui_3_2_0_22_1335753960671768"><span id="yiv1140572915yui_3_2_0_22_1335753960671799" style="font-weight: bold;"> <span style="color: blue;">HOW does this happen?</span></span></span></div>
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<span id="yiv1140572915yui_3_2_0_22_1335753960671768"><span id="yiv1140572915yui_3_2_0_22_1335753960671799" style="font-weight: bold;">One example: when family members, through the generations, are in any way 'excluded' or lose their place in the family</span></span></div>
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<span id="yiv1140572915yui_3_7_2_20_1353724249093_171"> --due to wars, early death, miscarriage, stillbirth, abortion, murders, tragic and accidental death, adoption, </span></div>
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<span id="yiv1140572915yui_3_2_0_22_1335753960671742"> --broken engagement, divorce, victim/perpetrators of injustice, family secrets, disowned family member</span></div>
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<span id="yiv1140572915yui_3_7_2_20_1353724249093_193">this <span style="text-decoration: underline;">excluded</span> family member's fate is unknowingly taken over and continued by a later member of the family - even a generation</span><span id="yiv1140572915yui_3_7_2_20_1353724249093_201"> or more down the line. The member who takes over the fate of the earlier member has <span style="text-decoration: underline;">no conscious awareness</span> of this.
This is done through Blind love.</span></div>
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<span id="yiv1140572915yui_3_2_0_22_1335753960671769">This
experience of taking over the fate of an earlier member is called an
"entanglement". We can also live out unconscious loyalties for our
parents or grandparents without realizing this.</span></div>
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<span style="color: blue;"><b>What are the possible indicators?</b></span></div>
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<span id="yiv1140572915yui_3_2_0_22_1335753960671772"><span id="yiv1140572915yui_3_7_2_20_1353724249093_245" style="text-decoration: underline;"><span id="yiv1140572915yui_3_2_0_22_1335753960671777" style="font-weight: bold;">Entanglements show up in our lives as</span>:</span> <br /> --chronic health or energy issues, relationship issues that repeat,</span></div>
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<span id="yiv1140572915yui_3_2_0_18_1342121604406187"> ---lack
of sense of belonging, sense
of isolation, feelings of failure or dissatisfaction with one's life,
--difficulty maintaining relationship, weight issues, eating disorder,</span><span id="yiv1140572915yui_3_2_0_18_1342121604406196">issues with money, chronic pain, --psychiatric
problems, anxiety, depression, chronic irritability, substance abuse,</span><span id="yiv1140572915yui_3_2_0_18_1342121604406201">alcoholism, --schizophrenia.... are all experiences that may suggest 'entanglements' with ancestors...</span></div>
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<span id="yiv1140572915yui_3_7_2_20_1353724249093_238"><br /><span style="color: blue;"><span id="yiv1140572915yui_3_7_2_20_1353724249093_246" style="text-decoration: underline;"><span id="yiv1140572915yui_3_7_2_20_1353724249093_241" style="font-weight: bold;">How the Family Constellation works:</span></span></span></span></div>
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<span id="yiv1140572915yui_3_7_2_20_1353724249093_238"><span style="color: blue;"><span id="yiv1140572915yui_3_7_2_20_1353724249093_246" style="text-decoration: underline;"><span id="yiv1140572915yui_3_7_2_20_1353724249093_241" style="font-weight: bold;"> </span></span></span><br />A
group of participants are seated in a circle. A person wanting to do a
piece of work sits in the empty seat next to the facilitator.</span></div>
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<span id="yiv1140572915yui_3_2_0_22_1335753960671832"><span style="color: blue;"><span id="yiv1140572915yui_3_2_0_31_1341181997776190" style="font-weight: bold;">A piece of constellation work starts by this person</span> </span>selecting an issue to be worked on and briefly identifying it with facilitator.<br />When
the issue has been identified - the facilitator asks the person to
select, from among the participants, representatives for - for example,
the person's own self, mother, father...<br />
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<span id="yiv1140572915yui_3_2_0_22_1335753960671832">In this way, Constellation work sets up a visual method for these entanglements to be witnessed, experienced and starting</span><span id="yiv1140572915yui_3_2_0_22_1335753960671831">
a healing process. The person selects and places these representatives
according to her inner vision of her family members' relationships - on
the workshop floor.<br /><br /> <span style="color: blue;"><b>The facilitator encourages the chosen
representatives to tune into the wisdom in their bodies </b></span>and to feel
where they are drawn to move, to look... and to notice how they feel.
These selected representatives are accessing the 'Knowing</span><span id="yiv1140572915yui_3_2_0_22_1335753960671819"> Field'
--accessing this 'Knowing' through their bodies not their minds.</span></div>
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<span id="yiv1140572915yui_3_7_2_20_1353724249093_322"><span style="color: blue;"><b>The
facilitator observes the process unfolding, gaining information,
inquiring into the representatives to speak their inner experiences</b></span>--accessing awareness of bodily sensations and emotions-- in
representing this unknown family member of the other person.</span><span id="yiv1140572915yui_3_2_0_31_1341181997776167"> Truths are made visible that had previously been unseen. Entanglements made visible can begin a healing process.<br /><br /><span style="color: blue;"><b>Resolution of entanglements is possible when the Love through the generations</b></span></span><span id="yiv1140572915yui_3_2_0_22_1335753960671824"><span style="color: blue;"><b> becomes "knowing" rather than "blind" or entangled.</b></span>.. this resolution creates a <span style="font-weight: bold;">new image</span> in the client's mind's-eye and a</span><span id="yiv1140572915yui_3_2_0_22_1335753960671869"> process of healing and
fulfillment for the client and
the ancestors within that family system begins to
percolate within the family soul.</span><br />
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<span id="yiv1140572915yui_3_2_0_22_1335753960671869"><b><span style="color: blue;">A lovely introduction to constellation work might be setting up a Nature Constellation or a Mind, Body, Spirit constellation. </span></b><span style="color: blue;"><span style="color: black;">These two constellations beautifully illustrate the workings of the 'knowing field' in a simple way. I will provide an example of a Mind, Body, Spirit constellation - permission was granted to share this:</span></span></span><br />
<span id="yiv1140572915yui_3_2_0_22_1335753960671869"><span style="color: blue;"><span style="color: black;"> <span style="color: blue;">The individual (we will refer to as X) selected three representatives from the circle of participants. As this would be a 'blind' constellation - meaning that the representatives, in this case, were not informed as to who or what they would be representing - the mind could be of <u>no</u> help! Instead, X had three pieces of paper, folded up, each one indicated either mind, body, spirit written on the paper - X handed one of the folded papers to each representative who simply held it, remaining folded, in their hand.</span></span></span></span><br />
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<span id="yiv1140572915yui_3_2_0_22_1335753960671869"><span style="color: blue;"><span style="color: black;"><span style="color: blue;"> In X's constellation, the representative for Mind (remember - no one knew who was representing which) moved away from where X originally placed this representative and stood apart from the other two representatives. Mind said, "I feel like I'm in my own little world; I like it here on my own."</span></span></span></span><br />
<span id="yiv1140572915yui_3_2_0_22_1335753960671869"><span style="color: blue;"><span style="color: black;"><span style="color: blue;">Body and Spirit were nearer to each other and each stated their wish that the lone representative would be closer. However, that lone representative appeared to be gazing off into space barely recognizing the other two. The representative that we later learned stood for Body had said that it felt 'cut off' and felt 'out-of-touch'. The representative for Spirit stated it felt available yet also feeling disconnected.</span></span></span></span><br />
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<span id="yiv1140572915yui_3_2_0_22_1335753960671869"><span style="color: blue;"><span style="color: black;"><span style="color: blue;">When each representative unfolded their papers and read their representation, the meaning became more clear to X. X had a tendency to live in the head - living from the neck up, a safer place to occupy and, therefore, experiencing a sense of being cut off from the body. </span></span></span></span><br />
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<span id="yiv1140572915yui_3_2_0_22_1335753960671869"><span style="color: blue;"><span style="color: black;"><span style="color: blue;">What was remarkable here is that the representatives were able to access wisdom from their own bodies in the 'knowing field' even though lacking, mentally, the concrete information of who they were representing. Constellation work brings visibility to what is true - and we can allow (or not) this wisdom to percolate in our soul.</span></span></span> </span></div>
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<span id="yiv1487017322yui_3_2_0_22_1335753960671869" style="color: #0000bf;"><span style="color: black;">You are invited to share your own experiences of or questions about systemic constellation work. We find ourselves at a juncture in our history whereby the human family would appear to benefit from healing. Facilitators of systemic constellation work are offering workshops all across the country. </span></span></div>
<span style="color: #0000bf;"></span>ms nancyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17167039337990325976noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4245486953533717680.post-21092033433186038472012-07-29T17:56:00.040-07:002012-07-30T13:39:26.630-07:00Stones & Rocks Representing Images for Healing<h2 style="color: purple; margin-bottom: 0in;">Ordinary, conventional thought asserts that stones and rocks are non-living material because they do not breathe or live and die. From an ancient, indigenous viewpoint, however, stones are not merely inert objects, rather, they were recognized as <i>Stone People</i> and are viewed as allies with ancient wisdom to share with us in a variety of helpful ways. Indigenous people respectfully engaged the healing power of rocks and stones, inviting partnership with this mineral realm.</h2><div style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><br />
</div><div style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><b><span style="color: blue;">Recently, I am rediscovering the remarkableness of rocks and stones</span></b>. As a child I was drawn to rocks, fascinated by what lie hidden in their interior. Having not been taught about the respect of 'asking permission' of all things, I satisfied my curiosity by cracking the rocks open with a sledge hammer. Having gained more understanding, today, I respectfully invite the rocks and stones to work with me as an ally for healing. The rocks and stones 'stand' as representatives for a seeker's family members and ancestors or as a concept or question of which seeker is pondering or having difficult with.</div><div style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><br />
</div><div style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="color: blue;"><b>Here is how the stones and rocks serve as allies for us humans</b>.</span> First, we welcome the mineral healing ally with an open heart, not simply seeing the stones as something to 'use'. The seeker will be setting up the structure of her or his family system – exploring the structure and characteristics of four generations of family members. In my good fortune, I have 'found' a good number of rocks and stones—mostly out in nature, and about six to eight “fancy” stones that I bought. The seeker will, in a state of presence and intention, select from four containers, rocks and stones of a myriad of shapes, textures, colors and sizes--from large and 'ordinary' to small, smooth, beautiful, and delicate--to represent specific family members as well as themselves. The generations include one's own sibling generation, the parents are the next generation, then, the parents' parents and lastly, the parents' grandparents. Some members are known while other family members are not known—either they died prior to the seeker's birth or there may have been a disruption in relationship within that family. </div><div style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><br />
</div><div style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><b style="color: blue;">Much is revealed when the seeker, with intention, chooses specific rocks or stones to represent family members.</b> Does she or he choose a rock that is large and craggy, or a stone that is smooth with translucent color? How do the characteristics of this rock or stone speak to the seeker in a way that is reminiscent of characteristics of the family member represented? </div><div style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><br />
</div><div style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><b style="color: blue;">Once the rocks and stones have been appropriately placed and identified based in the mind's eye of the seeker as to who they are representing, the seeker describes, starting with the rock or stone representing themselves, the characteristics</b> of this mineral that resonate with them as a human and those of their family members. I notice, repeatedly, that the seeker will pick up and hold in their hand each stone or rock as they describe the characteristics that match the family member... looking at it as if they are speaking <i>to it,</i> handling it, turning it over in their palm. A relationship is developing between the seeker and each rock or stone. It appears that each stone has it's own energy and is experienced by the seeker when the stone is picked up. Furthermore, the image of the family member or ancestor appears to come alive in the stone or rock through the seeker's inner image of the mineral.</div><div style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><br />
</div><div style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><b style="color: blue;">The seeker may explain, for example: “I chose this craggy rock to represent my father who was alcoholic and angry. I chose this shiny, silver stone to represent me because I am the black sheep in my family.</b> I chose this small, soft pink smooth stone to represent my mother because she is just like this stone—she is soft and quiet, gets along with everyone, very sweet and kind. This big stick-like rock I chose for my grandfather because he was bigger than life; he was solid and he really stood out. These tiny little gray stones—I picked them to represent my great grandparents because I don't know anything about them.” The stones and rocks begin to come alive in the seeker's mind and heart. As the seeker describes an issue with one of the family members it is as though that member is actually in the room; the stone or rock appears amazingly capable of holding the energy of that non-present individual. It is common for a seeker to tear up as she or he holds the stone and speaks of that family member.</div><div style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><br />
</div><div style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><b style="color: blue;">After stone representatives are described, the next step is that of identifying the specific issues in the family; questions are explored, for example: who struggles with alcohol, anger, mental health issues, who died </b>prematurely, who suffered from grief/loss, who experienced abandonment, who experienced betrayal, who was excluded or shunned, who was a victim of tragedy, who went unacknowledged (abortions/ miscarriages—little white marbles serve as these representatives). Thin 'sticky-note' strips are then place with each stone identifying the issue(s) of that individual.A theme for a family begins to emerge when all the sticky-notes are placed; a seeker may be struck by one side of a family, multi- generationally suffering from grief & loss (when a father's mother dies when he is 7 years old--and his father loses his wife in the prime of their lives); or when a secret has been suppressed (a great-grandmother gives birth to a child without benefit of marriage...and she is not allowed to marry the father of the child whom she loved...and this secret is suppressed out of shame by her parents...the shame passed on to her...and passed on to the son to whom she birthed...even though he never knew that the man he'd called 'dad' all these years is not his birth father... not until his late 20's did the secret tumble out... leaving him with a host of confusing emotions and sense of betrayal.)<br />
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<b><span style="color: blue;">Viewing the stones and their 'tags' from this vantage point, the seeker feels to be standing high on a hillside looking down at the town; more perspective is provided.</span></b>.. a larger picture is offered... the ability to witness the interconnection of the inner wounds of family members and ancestors. Taking in this new awareness, along with the conversation with the counselor, one's inner vision of their own familial 'wounds' is offered an opportunity to expand. This is a first step, at least. The seeker may also find a workshop where a group of participants stand, instead of rocks & stones, as representatives for family members... feeling within their own bodies (in the 'knowing field') and articulating the emotions and truths of the seeker's ancestors. The field comes alive evidencing the pain and struggles passed down the generations. With this larger picture, deeper understanding and the budding of compassion may begin to surface.<br />
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</div><b style="color: blue;">We may believe we already 'know' the issues of our family generations, and/or that we have already 'gotten over it'; however, I notice a significant difference between <i>'mind knowing'</i> and heart knowing</b>. The heart-knowing seems to generate inner shifts that seem to allow individuals increased emotional freedom from their '<i>stories</i>' of <i>what happened</i>. The recounting of the story tend to be more informational; the emotional charge appears absent. On the contrary, I notice a particular emotional 'caught-ness" when a person telling their story is less free, emotionally--the upsetting emotion feels fresh, again.This is usually a good test examining where we may be still caught in the story. Heart-knowing is a process of and supports acknowledging '<i>What Is'</i> - moving toward deeper understanding and compassion--antidotes for heart-blocking emotions of resentment and blame.<br />
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<b style="color: blue;">An important aspect of this sort of healing work is acknowledging that which has either been forgotten, not spoken of, or suppressed out of shame or guilt</b>. Allowing the Truth to be <u>seen</u> is the beginning of acknowledging '<i>What Is' </i>– this is the beginning of healing.</div><div style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><br />
</div><div style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><b style="color: blue;">Stones may also be our allies in service to representing a particular 'issue' one wishes to work on. A person I know, who graciously gave me permission to share this story</b>, invited the stones to represent an issue with which she wanted help. We began with her describing and clarifying her issue: </div><div style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><br />
</div><div style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><b style="color: blue;">She shared how she has been struggling with using food as a 'comfort' – she acknowledged that addictions ran in her family of origin. She stated she ate when </b>she was stressed, worried, anxious, bored or wanting to reward herself. She also explained that she was facing divorce even though the actual process hadn't started yet. She knew she would have to find another place to live because the house she lives in has too many unpleasant memories for her to remain there. She told me she is also on a job search to find a new job as her present situation is no longer fulfilling for her. She expressed that she is facing so many unknowns at this time—so many aspects of her life are or will be in flux, changing and seemingly beyond her control. She said she frequently feels anxious and afraid; then, she would compulsively eat and over-eat. She told me that she has gone to a number of Overeaters Anonymous meetings and has attended Adult Children of Alcoholics meetings in the past but she was only peripherally involved currently. She stated that a few women had reached out to her regarding sponsorship but that she had not taken that step yet for herself.</div><div style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><br />
</div><div style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><b style="color: blue;"><i>Being with</i> the information she was sharing, I received a felt sense of what issues might prove most fruitful in a visual representation. I asked her to,</b> with intention and centering, select a rock or stone to represent herself, a rock or stone to represent the Fear, a rock or stone to represent the Unknown, and one to represent her Recovery. I invited her to place these rocks or stones as feels right to her inner eye in relation to each other. She placed the allies in a row on the same plane – I will illustrate:</div><div style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><br />
</div><div style="margin-bottom: 0in;"> <span style="color: blue;">Recovery Unknown Fear Client</span></div><div style="color: blue; margin-bottom: 0in;"> X X X X</div><div style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><br />
</div><div style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><b><span style="color: blue;">We dialogued together about the woman's choice of placement of the stones.</span></b> I mentioned to the woman that it appears that she is looking ahead to the Unknown through the lens of Fear. We explored together what that was like for her. I shared my observation that her Recovery was furthest away from her – even beyond the Unknown, and invited her to discuss this felt experience. After further exploring I asked her to consider how it might be if she moved the stone representing Recovery and where would she place it. The woman paused for a moment, then she moved the stone representing herself further <u>away</u> from fear and then she placed Recovery in between the representative for herself and the Fear.</div><div style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><br />
</div><div style="margin-bottom: 0in;"> <span style="color: blue;">Unknown Fear Recovery Client</span></div><div style="color: blue; margin-bottom: 0in;"> X X X X</div><div style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><br />
</div><div style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><b><span style="color: blue;">I pointed out to client that she had created an intentional space for her Recovery by stepping back—by moving her stone representative further away from the Fear</span></b> and placing the stone for Recovery in between the Fear and herself. I, then, noted that the woman would now be able to view Fear and the Unknown through the lens of Recovery program rather than through Fear. This proved a powerful statement for her to realize. Although she did not, yet, have a sponsor I asked her if she might find a stone representative for a potential sponsor. She selected her representative and place it to the side of Recovery. With this visual in front of her she was able to viscerally experience the support and strength of the possibility of this new 'inner vision', support that she recognized was currently lacking in her life. She told me: “<i>You know, we've talked about this for some time now, how important it is to be involved in a recovery program and how important it is to have a relationship with a sponsor for emotional support. All this time it's just been <u>knowledge in my head</u> – I knew about it, but, seeing it here in the flesh, so-to-speak, just makes those concepts Real! What we've been talking about all this time has more meaning to me, now. I feel as though I have a <u>new image of this reality inside me, now</u></i>.”</div><div style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><br />
</div><div style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><b><span style="color: blue;">In closure</span></b>, the seeker silently thanks each stone for their representation and releases them from the representation and returns them, each, to their container.</div><div style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><br />
</div><div style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><a href="http://www.blogger.com/blogger.g?blogID=4245486953533717680" name="yiv164588318yui_3_2_0_22_1335753960671777"></a><a href="http://www.blogger.com/blogger.g?blogID=4245486953533717680" name="yiv164588318yui_3_2_0_22_1335753960671772"></a><a href="http://www.blogger.com/blogger.g?blogID=4245486953533717680" name="yiv164588318yui_3_2_0_18_1342121604406187"></a><a href="http://www.blogger.com/blogger.g?blogID=4245486953533717680" name="yiv164588318yui_3_2_0_18_1342121604406196"></a><a href="http://www.blogger.com/blogger.g?blogID=4245486953533717680" name="yiv164588318yui_3_2_0_18_1342121604406201"></a> <span style="color: black;"><b style="color: blue;">Entanglements show up in our lives as</b>: chronic health or energy issues, relationship issues that chronically repeat without resolution, lack of sense of belonging, sense of isolation, feelings of failure or dissatisfaction with one's life, difficulty maintaining relationship, weight issues, eating disorder, issues with money, chronic pain, psychiatric problems, anxiety, depression, chronic irritability, substance abuse, alcoholism, schizophrenia.... experiences that may suggest 'entanglements' with ancestors...</span></div><div style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><br />
</div><div style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><a href="http://www.blogger.com/blogger.g?blogID=4245486953533717680" name="yiv164588318yui_3_2_0_22_1335753960671769"></a> <span style="color: black;"><b><span style="color: blue;">The experience of taking over the fate of an earlier member is called an "entanglement"</span>. </b>Other entanglements, can be living out unconscious loyalties for our parents or grandparents without our realization.</span></div><div style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><br />
</div><div style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="color: black;"><b style="color: blue;">Resolution of entanglements is possible when the Love through the generations becomes "knowing" rather than entangled... bringing visibility </b>to that which has been forgotten or unacknowledged. This resolution creates a <b>new image</b> in the client's mind's-eye and a process of healing and fulfillment for the client and the ancestors within that family system begins to percolate.</span></div><div style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><br />
</div><div style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="color: black;">Also explore Systemic (Family) Constellation work.</span></div><div style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><br />
</div><div style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="color: black;"><b style="color: red;">Your comments, questions, sharing are Most Welcome :) </b></span></div>ms nancyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17167039337990325976noreply@blogger.com9tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4245486953533717680.post-55928631119157360222012-05-28T21:44:00.000-07:002012-05-29T12:19:15.921-07:002012 - What is being Called for?<br />
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="font-family: Arial,sans-serif; font-size: small;"><i><span style="font-style: normal;"><span style="font-weight: normal;"><span style="color: blue;">An
Awakened human being is amazingly emotionally available – is
someone who is not </span>defending her / himself on the emotional or
intellectual level – this being feels completely unguarded, open,
available. When we are unguarded, Love flows out of us in a very
natural way – it is known as </span></span></i><b><i><i>Unconditional
Love.</i></i></b></span></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="font-size: small;"><br /></span>
</div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="font-family: Arial,sans-serif; font-size: small;"><i style="color: blue;"><span style="font-style: normal;"><span style="font-weight: normal;">The
most reliable sign of an awakened heart is reflected by </span></span></i><b style="color: blue;"><i><i><span style="text-decoration: none;">Loving
What IS </span></i></i></b><i><span style="font-style: normal;"><span style="font-weight: normal;"><span style="color: blue;">–
for example, </span>Loving people that the personality may not 'like',
loving the world as it </span></span></i><i><i><span style="font-weight: normal;">Is
</span></i></i><i><span style="font-style: normal;"><span style="font-weight: normal;">rather
than how we believe it </span></span></i><i><i><span style="font-weight: normal;">Should
be</span></i></i><i><span style="font-style: normal;"><span style="font-weight: normal;">
– in other words, the heart of an awakened human being loves
</span></span></i><i><i><span style="font-weight: normal;">Everything
</span></i></i><i><span style="font-style: normal;"><span style="font-weight: normal;">–
because there is no separation—no separate you or me – seeing
Everything as itself. This is Unconditional Love.</span></span></i></span></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
<br /></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
<br /></div>
<div style="color: blue; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="font-family: Arial,sans-serif;"><b><i>"Then
it was as if I suddenly saw the secret beauty of their hearts, the
depths <br /> of their hearts where neither sin nor desire nor
self-knowledge can reach, <br /> the core of their reality, the person
that each one is in God's eyes. If only <br /> they could see
themselves as they really are. If only we could see each other <br />
that way all the time, there would be no more war, no more hatred, no
more <br /> cruelty, no more greed... I suppose the big problem would
be that we would <br /> fall down and worship each other."
<br /><br />
- Thomas Merton </i></b></span>
</div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
<br /></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="font-family: Arial,sans-serif; font-size: small;"><i><span style="font-style: normal;"><span style="font-weight: normal;">The
other evening at satsang, I had the privilege of meeting a woman
named Jeannie Zandi, exemplifying an <span style="color: blue;">awakened heart</span>. Prior to her
conversation with our small group, we sat in a brief silent
meditation. As she spoke in response to questions from the
participants, there was a sweet stillness that seemed to emanate from
her voice. A feeling came over me as I listened – however, I was
not responding to the sound of her voice. Rather, an energy was being
generated in the room – a gentle, calming, Loving energy. And, even
though her words seemed to cut through a participant's mental
conditioning with the precision of a scalpel; the energy of her
presence was truly Love – the energy was palpable. It's as if her
guiding words for the seeker caught in their belief system, to me,
didn't even matter – I felt as though I was riding on the wave of
the energy of her Being. Often, I simply sat with my eyes closed and
enjoyed the flow of her presence—of Unconditional Love.</span></span></i></span></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="font-family: Arial,sans-serif; font-size: small;"><i><span style="font-style: normal;"><span style="font-weight: normal;">My
heart felt touched. I felt at peace.</span></span></i></span></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="font-size: small;"><br /></span>
</div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="font-family: Arial,sans-serif; font-size: small;"><i><span style="font-style: normal;"><span style="font-weight: normal;"><span style="color: blue;">On
the other hand, the experience of emotional conflict alerts us </span>that
we are holding a thought or belief that is not true. All our lives,
the mind packages bits of information about experiences that have
happened—interpretations, perceptions we made-- and these are
stored and, from time to time, become activated. Then we contract
and, believing these thoughts, we experience negativity. These
experiences are pointers to what is unresolved in our being –
however, instead of examining what is being pointed to – we believe
the negativity and simply reactivate the stored material creating a
deeper groove in the brain. All too often, our activation affects
others in our lives – with their package activated, they, too,
become negative. This is a prime example of the statement: </span></span></i><i><i><span style="font-weight: normal;">You
are the World</span></i></i><i><span style="font-style: normal;"><span style="font-weight: normal;">....
how we affect the planet.</span></span></i></span></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="font-size: small;"><br /></span>
</div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="font-family: Arial,sans-serif; font-size: small;"><i><span style="font-style: normal;"><span style="font-weight: normal;"><span style="color: blue;">We
are living in amazing times – extreme changes have occurred</span> in the
past hundred years. The discovery of oil, the development of the
automobile, the airplane, the advancement of electronics have raced
our lives forward to a pace we, humans, can barely keep up with.
However, with all this technological advancement, it is clear that
our spirits have been unable to keep pace with the frenzy of change
and the rapidity of daily life and its demands. Many feel pushed and
pulled, not enough time in the day to respond to all the demands,
never mind find quality time for family and, what about oneself. As a
result of these pressures, many feel a nagging sense of emptiness –
consciously or unconsciously. What does it look like? you may ask.
Some may find this list offensive or ridiculous—because these
charateristic behaviors fit into the social norms – in other
words, are considered 'normal'. However, the invitation is to take a
deeper look: </span></span></i></span>
</div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="font-size: small;"><br /></span>
</div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="font-family: Arial,sans-serif; font-size: small;"><i style="color: blue;"><span style="font-style: normal;"><span style="font-weight: normal;">>>
being really busy,--needing to feel 'needed' or 'important' (“I</span></span></i><i style="color: blue;"><i><span style="font-weight: normal;">'m
really the only one who can do this! Who will do this if I don't</span></i></i><i><span style="font-style: normal;"><span style="font-weight: normal;"><span style="color: blue;">”</span>;
using food for comfort (carbohydrates, ice cream, excess portions),
rapid ingestion of food rather than leisurely experiencing; seeking
the latest technological devices, unable to unhook from these
devices—constantly checking cell phone, Internet, Facebook, e-mail;
acquiring possessions as proof of my value, discomfort in being alone
and with unscheduled down-time...</span></span></i></span></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="font-size: small;"><br /></span>
</div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="font-size: small;"><i>“<span style="font-family: Arial,sans-serif;"><i><span style="font-weight: normal;"><span style="color: blue;">To
allow oneself to be carried away by a multitude of conflicting
concerns, to surrender to too many demands, to commit oneself to too
many projects, to want to help everyone in everything, is to succumb
to the violence of our times.”</span> <br />― <a href="http://www.goodreads.com/author/show/1711.Thomas_Merton">Thomas
Merton</a> </span></i></span></i></span>
</div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="font-size: small;"><br /></span>
</div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="font-family: Arial,sans-serif; font-size: small;"><i><span style="font-style: normal;"><span style="font-weight: normal;"><span style="color: blue;">How
are we to prepare ourselves to best meet these amazing and
challenging times?</span> Do we simply roll along with Time and see what
happens? Is there anything required of us as human beings living at
what appears to be a critical juncture in time? Might there be a
necessity to evolve our consciousness? With so much polarity in the
world, all we have to do is watch the 'Talking Heads' on the nightly
news as they bash the “other side”. Might emerging consciousness
be what is called for...co-creating a shift in
consciousness—intentionally, leading to an evolutionary shift. Is
our current level of consciousness sustainable for human relations,
wildlife survival on the planet? Can you imagine an evolutionary
shift moving from fear, materialism, greed, and self-center to
Unconditional Love, compassion, non-dual consciousness?</span></span></i></span></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="font-size: small;"><br /></span>
</div>
<div style="color: blue; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="font-family: Arial,sans-serif; font-size: small;"><i><span style="font-style: normal;"><span style="font-weight: normal;">Consider
becoming aware of inner contraction, the fear, the guardedness. Where
and when does my heart close?</span></span></i></span></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="font-family: Arial,sans-serif; font-size: small;"><i><span style="font-style: normal;"><span style="font-weight: normal;">...feeling
offended, the need to protect, to explain, to be Right, feeling inferior, or it's opposite: superior, shutting down, emotionally, needing to
control or direct what is happening...</span></span></i></span></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="font-size: small;"><br /></span>
</div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="font-size: small;"><i style="color: blue;">“<span style="font-family: Arial,sans-serif;"><i><span style="font-weight: normal;">The
more you try to avoid suffering, the more you suffer, because smaller
and more insignificant things begin to torture you, in proportion to
your fear of being hurt. The one who does most to avoid suffering is,
in the end, the one who suffers most.</span></i></span></i></span><span style="font-family: Arial,sans-serif; font-size: small;"><i><span style="font-style: normal;"><span style="font-weight: normal;"><span style="color: blue;">”
</span><br />― <a href="http://www.goodreads.com/author/show/1711.Thomas_Merton">Thomas
Merton</a>, </span></span></i><i><i><span style="font-weight: normal;"><a href="http://www.goodreads.com/work/quotes/982713">The
Seven Storey Mountain</a> </span></i></i></span>
</div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="font-size: small;"><br /></span>
</div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="font-family: Arial,sans-serif; font-size: small;"><i><span style="font-style: normal;"><span style="font-weight: normal;"><span style="color: blue;">Our
culture insists that we must control everything. Not much good comes
of letting things simply unfold.</span>.. is the belief. We hold the belief
that the world is dangerous and needs to be controlled...just as we
see that man believes that Nature must be controlled, dominated and
exploited. Become aware of the moment to moment need to control –
or how I object to this or that thing that is happening.</span></span></i></span></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="font-size: small;"><br /></span>
</div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="font-size: small;"><i style="color: blue;">“<span style="font-family: Arial,sans-serif;"><i><span style="font-weight: normal;">You
do not need to know precisely what is happening, or exactly where it
is all going. What you need is to recognize the possibilities and
challenges offered by the present moment, and to embrace them with
courage, faith and hope.” </span></i></span></i></span><span style="font-family: Arial,sans-serif; font-size: small;"><i><span style="font-style: normal;"><span style="font-weight: normal;"><br />―
<a href="http://www.goodreads.com/author/show/1711.Thomas_Merton">Thomas
Merton</a> </span></span></i></span>
</div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="font-size: small;"><br /></span>
</div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="font-family: Arial,sans-serif; font-size: small;"><i><span style="font-style: normal;"><span style="font-weight: normal;"><span style="color: blue;">I
read the news and I have a reaction! “Oh, NO!</span>” The SEC is
deciding to not hold Lehman Brothers accountable for their
participation in the economic collapse of September 2008! Contraction
occurs within my heart. I object! I feel incensed! Indignant, I
send the article as a 'Share' on Facebook! Perhaps others will read
this article as well and may, no doubt, contract and feel disgusted,
as well. And, this is how I, we, perpetuate the suffering on this
planet.</span></span></i></span></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="font-size: small;"><br /></span>
</div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="font-family: Arial,sans-serif; font-size: small;"><i><i><span style="font-weight: normal;">I<span style="color: blue;">nstead
of hating the people you think are war-makers, hate the appetites and
disorder in your own soul, which are the causes of war. If you love
peace, then hate injustice, hate tyranny, hate greed - but hate these
things in yourself, not in another.” </span><br />― <a href="http://www.goodreads.com/author/show/1711.Thomas_Merton">Thomas
Merton</a> </span></i></i></span>
</div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="font-size: small;"><br /></span>
</div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="font-family: Arial,sans-serif; font-size: small;"><i style="color: blue;"><span style="font-style: normal;"><span style="font-weight: normal;">People
are talking about 2012, December 21</span></span></i><i style="color: blue;"><sup><span style="font-style: normal;"><span style="font-weight: normal;">st</span></span></sup></i><i><span style="font-style: normal;"><span style="font-weight: normal;"><span style="color: blue;">.
Is the world coming to an end this year? </span>Better yet, might this be
the call to participate in an evolutionary shift in consciousness...
discovering how to increasingly embrace the Present Moment, 'seeing' through thought rather than believing thoughts...particularly those "sticky" thoughts -- you know, the ones that stick to us, reactivating our 'story' about...(whatever, from the past) and re-create the same suffering; increasing awareness of all that
activates in the psyche—motivating our behavior—in ways that are less
than Love. Adyashanti states: “</span></span></i><i><i><span style="font-weight: normal;">Make
no mistake about it—Awakening is a destructive process. It has
nothing to do with becoming a “better person” or being happier.
Awakening is the crumbling away of untruth...seeing through the
facade of pretence. It is the complete eradication of everything we
imagined to be true</span></i></i><i><span style="font-style: normal;"><span style="font-weight: normal;">.”</span></span></i></span></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="font-size: small;"><br /></span>
</div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="font-family: Arial,sans-serif; font-size: small;"><i><span style="font-style: normal;"><span style="font-weight: normal;"><span style="color: blue;">Returning
Home to our Essential Nature rather than the constant striving to
'be' </span>what we think others want, or expect.</span></span></i></span></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="font-size: small;"><br /></span>
</div>
<div style="color: blue; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="font-size: small;"><b><span style="font-family: Arial,sans-serif;"><i><span style="font-style: normal;"><span style="font-weight: normal;">Your
comments and impressions are most welcomed. Let's start a shared
discussion.</span></span></i></span></b></span></div>ms nancyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17167039337990325976noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4245486953533717680.post-54335032048557709672012-01-15T20:56:00.000-08:002012-01-16T17:36:07.278-08:00SHIFTING PARADIGM<div style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><br />
</div><div style="font-weight: normal; margin-bottom: 0in;"><b style="color: blue;">Apparent <i>CHANGE</i> typically appears to occur slowly and, therefore, often goes unnoticed or is written off or rationalized in some manner. For example, although we witness extreme floods, tornadoes, hurricanes, intense wildfires,</b> often we don't take much notice of these occurrences happening 'somewhere else'. In 2011 the year was promptly 'kicked off' with the first of many citizen uprising; the entire year has focused on on-going screams for Change! from Tunisia, to Egypt, Libya, and, finally in the U.S. and then Syria. Many of us are more likely to take notice as the sights of demands for change by ordinary people begin to rock our 'own' world. Facebook friends seem more likely, these days, to share political posts than they are to share the frequent trivia that seemed important prior to one year ago.How do we <i>manage </i>to Notice these gradual changes that are occurring while also retaining this awareness in our consciousness so as to see and Remember this on-going puzzle/bigger picture. One possibility may have to do with the degree that "busy-ness" tends to interfere with our Noticing.</div><div style="font-weight: normal; margin-bottom: 0in;"><br />
</div><div style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="font-weight: normal;"><b style="color: blue;">A paradigm can be understood as an accepted norm or perception of 'reality' or world view that controls and dictates how [we believe] things work.</b> This view is based on teachings we have received from those who influence the masses from positions of “authority” on a global or national scale on down to what we're taught in our professional life or our church. For example, our current paradigm holds that we are all "unique individuals'. The shifting paradigm, however, is the recognition--from millenia ago -- that we are All One... that there is <i>Only One,</i> that 'individuality' is an illusion. Interestingly, the First People of this land appeared to come the closest to this paradigm whereby their way of life did not tout the individual - rather, they lived in honor of the Collective. There is also the paradigm asserting that God is "<i>out there</i>" or "<i>up there</i>" -- separate from 'us'... while the shift is moving into the realization that there is <i>Only One </i>- there is No Separation. </span><br />
<br />
<span style="font-weight: normal;">P</span>aradigm is formed from a mixture of current scientific ‘fact’, best guesses and the comfortable fictions of belief. Most people are deeply ingrained with their paradigm and changing it in even the slightest way causes deep anxiety and fear. Clearly, groups murder in the name of their sacred paradigms.<br />
Paradigms can be personal or global.<span style="font-weight: normal;"> Theoretical frameworks exist within a particular paradigm.</span></div><div style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><br />
</div><span style="color: navy;"><span lang="zxx"><u><a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Donella_Meadows"><span style="font-weight: normal;">Donella Meadows</span></a></u></span></span><span style="font-weight: normal;"> author of </span><i><span style="font-weight: normal;">Limits to Growth</span></i><span style="font-weight: normal;"> states:</span><br />
<blockquote style="color: blue;">“<b>Your paradigm is so intrinsic to your mental process that you are hardly aware of its existence, until you try to communicate with someone with a different paradigm.”</b></blockquote><div style="font-weight: normal; margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="font-size: large;"><u><b>Examples of paradigm shifts in history:</b></u></span> </div><ul><li>Columbus (late 1400's) disturbed and upset the conventional paradigm of his time when he proved by his voyages that the world was not flat. </li>
</ul><ul><li>Galileo (early 1600's) very much upset the powers-that-be when he proposed, accurately, that the earth along with other planets were orbiting the sun—disrupting the paradigm that the sun and planets orbited the earth. Galileo was in big trouble with the Church for disrupting the accepted paradigm.</li>
</ul><ul><li>Darwin, (1800's) disrupted the religious paradigm belief of creation by God, but rather proposed how life form evolved over millenia from more primitive forms. </li>
</ul><ul><li>Two photo images of the Earth from space (1968 & '72) are thought to have created an emotional shift in attitude toward our planet giving birth to environmental issues.</li>
</ul><div style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><br />
</div><div style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="font-weight: normal;"><b style="color: blue;">Our present perception of reality may be undergoing a seismic shift.</b> Globally, we are experiencing dramatic revolutions, externally—as we witness in the outer world of appearances. However, more compelling is the possibility for inner revolution—the potential shift in inner world of psyche and spirit. </span></div><div style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="font-weight: normal;">Gandhi reminds: </span><i><b>“BE the change you want to see in the world.”</b></i></div><div style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><br />
</div><div style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="font-style: normal;"><span style="font-weight: normal;"><b style="color: blue;">The “settled” world view: duality consciousnes – You and Me – we are separate..</b>. <i>of course</i>, we believe this on an emotional level! </span></span></div><div style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="font-style: normal;"><span style="font-weight: normal;">well, just look! I have a body and so do you—and they are separate, so that settles it! Well, not so fast! A growing consciousness over the last several decades has realized the </span></span><span style="font-size: small;"><span lang="en">ultimate nature of reality is Oneness, or non-dual consciousness. The world of separate objects, the world of 'Appearances', of things, from this perspective is realized as a superficial illusion, that masks the deeper reality that all is One, Only One.</span></span></div><div style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span lang="en"> <span style="color: blue;">Many are becoming aware of this truth </span><u style="color: blue;">Intellectually </u><span style="color: blue;">- the question is how to </span><b style="color: blue;"><i>Realize</i></b><span style="color: blue;"> this truth.</span></span></span> </div><span style="color: blue;"> </span><br />
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><br />
</div><div style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><b style="color: blue;">Over the past decades New Age ideologies have opened doors for further understanding of the invisible world; however, not without its own form of duality consciousness... for example, supporting the belief that somehow “<i>you <u>caused</u> your illness</i></b>”, —an unfortunate belief to impose on one who is ill or with dis-ease.</div><div style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><br />
</div><div style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><b style="color: blue;">However, on a day-to-day basis with the demands and the rush of the work-a-day world, how do we maintain the mindfulness and deeper truths on the true nature of reality that we 'know' on an intellectual level?</b> </div><div style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><br />
</div><div style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><b style="color: blue;">Also apparent is that the 'powers-that-be' have set up the design for the maintenance of the status quo for the masses. Think about it:</b> How many people do you know who work [too] long hours each day, feeling exhausted, little time for reflection--never mind knowing what they truly need or want, believing they must cart their children around to countless activities in order for the child to be 'productive' or 'well-adjusted', having little time to connect with each other, always yet another thing that must be done or another place to be.</div><div style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><br />
</div><div style="margin-bottom: 0in;">Consider-- if we don't have time to think - and if the super-rich control the political system with their wealth - THEIR democracy is safe -- for they pull the political strings with their wealth and we, the people, have little time to think. This is why the belief that change from the outside is an illusion. Externally, we bounce from one polarity to the opposite. Nothing seems to change - it all seems to be more of the same -- because the Opposites are on the SAME coin! </div><div style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><br />
</div><div style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><b style="color: blue;">The [mistaken] beliefs many still find themselves attached to, unwittingly:</b> that change happens from the outside, that change happens from the top down [certainly not in our political system], or that <i>in time</i> things will improve, or that the body and the mind/spirit are separate. Consider how we tend to compartmentalize our lives—God is for Sundays and a materialistic focus on striving / accomplishing leads us through the rest of our week. The media publicizes that the mind <i>is</i> the brain. Depak Chopra states that c<span style="font-family: Times New Roman,serif;">ontrary to popular hopes, materialism cannot explain cancer or depression. It cannot tell you why talking to somebody can help your free-floating anxiety while tranquilizers may fail, or why memories haunt us. </span></div><div style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><br />
</div><div style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><a href="http://www.blogger.com/post-edit.g?blogID=4245486953533717680&postID=5433503204855770967" name="yui_3_2_0_1_1326677768306433"></a> <span style="font-family: Times New Roman,serif;"><b style="color: blue;">Depak Chopra states: “The modern world isn't about to throw science out the window. Instead, science must expand, so that we look at cancer,</b> depression or the Big Bang and say, "Now I see." In particular, the mind-body connection with cancer needs exploring. A worldview succeeds when it explains more than the old one, when it opens people's eyes and when it achieves practical results.” </span><br />
<br />
<span style="font-family: Times New Roman,serif;"><span style="color: blue;"><b>And, then there is the whole issue of race--'whiter' skin is considered normativ</b>e</span>. One topic that continues to be avoided is that of race--</span>one of the most challenging concepts for European immigrants in this country to grasp (or, perhaps more accurately, one that they are most <span style="font-style: italic;">reluctant</span> to grasp) is <i style="color: blue;">normative whiteness</i>. The idea behind normative whiteness is that white people are socialized to perceive white skin as "morally neutral, normative, and average," to quote <a href="http://books.google.com/books?hl=en&lr=&id=olUbQdOIbpMC&oi=fnd&pg=PA147&dq=unpacking+the+invisible+knapsack&ots=CAUz3OA9DR&sig=Rg3dYV5UGASC06MmNrDeiRDOJRg">Peggy McIntosh</a>. That is, when white people see other white people in print advertisements, on television and movie screens, on the street, or elsewhere, they do not perceive those white people as having "race". Because whiteness is the default category, white skin does not register as being "raced" in any way.<br />
Conversely, when white people see people of color, they immediately perceive them as having race because people of color do not fall into the racially-neutral or normative category. However, for white people who have never grappled with issues of race and white-skin privilege, the <span style="color: blue;">concept of normative whiteness also challenges their perceptions of themselves as "colorblind</span>," which makes comprehension even more difficult. This issue is hidden deep in the American psyche<span style="font-family: Times New Roman,serif;"> as a paradigm believing in 'colorblindness'. Racism is denied in America--perhaps because our country was founded upon the dominant culture's 'rule' over non-whites. This topic is ticklish in a damaging way - and, as long as the topic is avoided, not discussed... the issue does not go away and negatively impacts possible advancements in social justice, employment, legal system, prison reform...to name a few.</span> </div><div style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><br />
</div><div style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><b style="color: blue;"><span style="font-family: Times New Roman,serif;">Paradigm shift – increasing realization with the idea that All is One, and that "The One" is consciousness. An otherwise difficult concept that Byron Katie has popularized is the notion of '</span><span style="font-family: Times New Roman,serif;"><i>projection'</i></span></b><span style="font-family: Times New Roman,serif;"><b style="color: blue;"> </b>– everything you believe that you see on the outside is really a </span><i><span style="font-family: Times New Roman,serif;">projection</span></i><span style="font-family: Times New Roman,serif;"> of your own mind. You are the storyteller, the </span><i><span style="font-family: Times New Roman,serif;">projector</span></i><span style="font-family: Times New Roman,serif;"> of all stories, and the world is the </span><i><span style="font-family: Times New Roman,serif;">projected</span></i><span style="font-family: Times New Roman,serif;"> image of your thoughts. </span> </div><div style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><br />
</div><div style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="font-family: Times New Roman,serif;"><b style="color: blue;">Today, some farseeing speculative thinkers in physics are exploring the possibility that we live in a conscious universe. I recall many decades ago reading about the notion</b> that the outer planets in our solar system were 'vestures of consciousness'. A tiny handful of neuroscientists are grappling with the possibility that the mind controls the brain and not vice-versa. Eastern wisdom has taught of the various levels of consciousness from the ordinary every-day consciousness of the personality and physical body with its five senses to the causal body--</span> the receptacle and treasure house of all that has been assimilated from the life (at the so-called <i>end</i>)." <span style="font-size: x-small;">(Annie Besant, Ancient Wisdom, p. 161) </span> </div><div style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><br />
</div><div style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="font-size: small;"><b style="color: blue;">How do we, individually, participate in this paradigm shift? </b>Is it in part the spreading of new ideas? Is it the shifting of realization? Is it the shifting of behaviors that impact one another and the planet? <b>Your impressions, experiences are most invited and welcome.</b></span></div>ms nancyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17167039337990325976noreply@blogger.com10tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4245486953533717680.post-23423948848154307802011-10-21T20:42:00.000-07:002011-10-21T20:48:39.608-07:00Experiencing Inner Life<div>i have been deepening involvement with the way of non-duality... reading adyashanti, ken wilber, and krishnamurti...</div><div>beginning to attend satsangs... did so this past weekend and had a 1:1 meeting (resting in presence) with a man (Florian Schlosser) who possesses a deep inner connection - here is the description i put into words of the experience about four hours later...</div><div><br />
</div><span style="color: #0000bf;"></span><br />
<div style="color: #0000bf; margin-bottom: 0in;">Who would I be without my concepts, without my beliefs about how things are, about how I am, without how things <i>should</i> be? Today, I am experiencing a taste of this. With such gratitude I sit here looking out the window witnessing the soft orange feathery streak known as clouds resting across the pale blue background that we call sky. In the foreground I witness the hummingbird rapidly fluttering in place at the feeder. A thought passes through awareness – how much energy must be required to hoover stationary in order to drink the red liquid in the feeder. What has meaning for me is how much energy I expend unnecessarily in my day – every day!</div><span style="color: #0000bf;"> </span> <br />
<div style="color: #0000bf; margin-bottom: 0in;"><br />
</div><span style="color: #0000bf;"> </span> <br />
<div style="color: #0000bf; margin-bottom: 0in;">As I sit, now, I notice the inner experience: calm, quiet, peaceful, content, relaxed, still, open – no sense of having to do anything, my muscles relax, the tension leaves the body.</div><span style="color: #0000bf;"> </span> <br />
<div style="color: #0000bf; margin-bottom: 0in;"><br />
</div><span style="color: #0000bf;"> </span> <br />
<div style="color: #0000bf; margin-bottom: 0in;">As we sat together <i>resting in awareness</i>, like having “my own private <i>satsang”</i>, Florian affirmed that there is all the time necessary; no need to rush or to hurry, or to worry about not having enough time. This is another construct of the mind that I have always believed – 'not enough time'. And, the other task master>>Doingness – however, there's nothing I have <i>to do</i>.</div><span style="color: #0000bf;"> </span> <br />
<div style="color: #0000bf; margin-bottom: 0in;"><br />
</div><span style="color: #0000bf;"> </span> <br />
<div style="color: #0000bf; margin-bottom: 0in;">Case in point: The chiropractic appointment for re-aligning the body existed in time from <span class="yiv1556504511yshortcuts" id="yiv1556504511lw_1319049567_5"><span class="yiv1556504511yshortcuts" id="yiv1556504511lw_1319137192_1"><span class="yshortcuts" id="lw_1319252900_1">11:15 am until 12:20 p.m</span></span></span>. after which was a need to ingest some food before heading off to meet with Florian who was approximately 15 miles away for <span class="yiv1556504511yshortcuts" id="yiv1556504511lw_1319049567_6"><span class="yiv1556504511yshortcuts" id="yiv1556504511lw_1319137192_2"><span class="yshortcuts" id="lw_1319252900_2">1:15 pm</span></span></span>– and already the clock indicates <span class="yiv1556504511yshortcuts" id="yiv1556504511lw_1319049567_7"><span class="yiv1556504511yshortcuts" id="yiv1556504511lw_1319137192_3"><span class="yshortcuts" id="lw_1319252900_3">12:40 pm</span></span></span>. Letting the thoughts pass through that would worry about 'being late'.</div><span style="color: #0000bf;"> </span> <br />
<div style="color: #0000bf; margin-bottom: 0in;"><br />
</div><span style="color: #0000bf;"> </span> <br />
<div style="color: #0000bf; margin-bottom: 0in;">Arriving at <span class="yiv1556504511yshortcuts" id="yiv1556504511lw_1319049567_8"><span class="yiv1556504511yshortcuts" id="yiv1556504511lw_1319137192_4"><span class="yshortcuts" id="lw_1319252900_4">1:20 pm</span></span></span> and it's right on time! Plenty of time, he says. All the time we need!</div><span style="color: #0000bf;"> </span> <br />
<div style="color: #0000bf; margin-bottom: 0in;"><br />
</div><span style="color: #0000bf;"> </span> <br />
<div style="color: #0000bf; margin-bottom: 0in;"><b style="color: purple;">An absolutely transformative experience sitting with another in silence – </b><i style="color: purple;"><b>resting in awareness</b>.</i><span style="color: purple;"> </span>We're not meditating, the eyes are open – but soft, unfocused – there is no 'me' or 'him' making their presence known. We are simply together – sharing energy. And, yes, there are some words … words that help clarify what is more true – clearing up what is less true, or misunderstood for a long time.... like:</div><span style="color: #0000bf;"> </span> <br />
<div style="color: #0000bf; margin-bottom: 0in;"><br />
</div><span style="color: #0000bf;"> </span> <br />
<div style="color: #0000bf; margin-bottom: 0in;"><ul><li>the belief in the need to protect one's heart - (which we aren't really conscious of, anymore.. the decision was made so long ago </li>
</ul></div><span style="color: #0000bf;"></span><br />
<div style="color: #0000bf; margin-bottom: 0in;"><ul><li>how the mind creates clever ways for closing off the heart and keeping it safe from feeling--the "explanations" we provide ourselves </li>
</ul></div><span style="color: #0000bf;"> </span> <br />
<div style="color: #0000bf; margin-bottom: 0in;"><ul><li>belief in the need to 'hold back' (emotionally) - protection - the mind provides good rationale for this, as well</li>
</ul></div><ul style="color: blue;"><li>believing that we're flawed and need to fix something... improve, become '<i>More</i>'</li>
</ul><span style="color: #0000bf;"> </span> <br />
<div style="color: #0000bf; margin-bottom: 0in;"><ul><li>believing that there's not enough time – which creates immense tension in the body</li>
</ul></div><span style="color: #0000bf;"> </span> <br />
<div style="color: #0000bf; margin-bottom: 0in;"><ul><li>believing that there is so much to do – which gives birth to the 'pusher' who must get stuff done...accomplish this or that--externally, or in our home environment--always something 'to do' - can't relax til it's done<span style="color: #0000bf;"></span> </li>
</ul></div><div style="color: #0000bf; margin-bottom: 0in;"><ul><li>believing in the need to “<i>be-on-top-of-it</i>”</li>
</ul></div><span style="color: #0000bf;"> </span> <br />
<div style="color: #0000bf; margin-bottom: 0in;"><ul><li>holding the belief that there is 'so much to do' – therefore, busy-ness becomes a way of life – chronic state of 'doing-ness'</li>
</ul></div><span style="color: #0000bf;"> </span> <br />
<div style="color: #0000bf; margin-bottom: 0in;">the body responds and muscles take on chronic tension corresponding to protection against particular<span style="color: #0000bf;"></span> emotions and held in place by beliefs</div><span style="color: #0000bf;"> </span> <br />
<div style="color: #0000bf; margin-bottom: 0in;"><br />
</div><span style="color: #0000bf;"> </span> <br />
<div style="color: #0000bf; margin-bottom: 0in;">Paying attention to what is happening in one's own body – sensing the sensations there and clearing the tensions. </div><span style="color: #0000bf;"> </span> <br />
<div style="color: #0000bf; margin-bottom: 0in;"><br />
</div><span style="color: #0000bf;"> </span> <br />
<div style="color: #0000bf; margin-bottom: 0in;">The system (our nervous system) is unfamiliar with being open – receiving impressions from another... from life.</div><span style="color: #0000bf;"> </span> <br />
<div style="color: #0000bf; margin-bottom: 0in;"><br />
</div><span style="color: #0000bf;"> </span> <br />
<div style="color: #0000bf; margin-bottom: 0in;">How close can I allow you to feel me – and how close can you allow me to feel you?</div><span style="color: #0000bf;"> </span> <br />
<div style="color: #0000bf; margin-bottom: 0in;"><br />
</div><span style="color: #0000bf;"> </span> <br />
<div style="color: #0000bf; margin-bottom: 0in;">The mind kicks in to “process” the information, intellectually – in this way, we stay safe.</div><span style="color: #0000bf;"> </span> <br />
<div style="color: #0000bf; margin-bottom: 0in;"><br />
</div><span style="color: #0000bf;"> </span> <br />
<div style="color: #0000bf; margin-bottom: 0in;">More energy is used for tasks than is required – there is a tendency to over-focus – as though the ON switch has become stuck in the ON position – it feels like hyper-vigilance – for example: as well as the busy-ness and the doing-ness, notice the MIND chatter, notice the discomfort with silence with another—must not have a lull in the conversation—or, having the television on for background “noise” even when not watching it.</div><span style="color: #0000bf;"> </span> <br />
<div style="color: #0000bf; margin-bottom: 0in;"><br />
</div><span style="color: #0000bf;"> </span> <br />
<div style="color: #0000bf; margin-bottom: 0in;">Notice the tone of the voice – ways we speak that don't connect (we may not hear it but the other feels<span style="color: #0000bf;"></span> it </div><span style="color: #0000bf;"></span> <br />
<div style="color: #0000bf; margin-bottom: 0in;">one's monotone... or forcefulness or the volume of the voice.<br />
<br />
</div><span style="color: #0000bf;"> </span> <br />
<div style="color: #0000bf; margin-bottom: 0in;">All of the ways of being 'ON' is how we protect the heart.</div><span style="color: #0000bf;"> </span> <br />
<div style="color: #0000bf; margin-bottom: 0in;">Vigilance is the residue of survival-mode – from our past.</div><span style="color: #0000bf;"> </span> <br />
<div style="color: #0000bf; margin-bottom: 0in;"><br />
</div><span style="color: #0000bf;"> </span> <br />
<div style="color: #0000bf; margin-bottom: 0in;">We felt unsafe – and we were clever enough to find just the right coping strategy to keep us safe. And it worked!! However, maybe now the fear of really connecting – the fear of really being seen or heard, the fear of reaching out, the fear of really making contact (we avert our eyes from each other – we say that we're shy), we're clever--relating from the mind -- all serves to protect the Heart.</div><span style="color: #0000bf;"> </span> <br />
<div style="color: #0000bf; margin-bottom: 0in;"><br />
</div><span style="color: #0000bf;"> </span> <br />
<div style="color: #0000bf; margin-bottom: 0in;">My 'take-away' from my connection with Florian:</div><span style="color: #0000bf;"> </span> <br />
<div style="color: #0000bf; margin-bottom: 0in;"><br />
</div><span style="color: #0000bf;"> </span> <br />
<div style="color: #0000bf; margin-bottom: 0in;">He said, again and again: “<b><span style="font-style: italic;">Let the Heart Break</span></b>”</div><span style="color: #0000bf;"> </span> <br />
<div style="color: #0000bf; margin-bottom: 0in;"><br />
</div><span style="color: #0000bf;"> </span> <br />
<div style="color: #0000bf; margin-bottom: 0in;">What does that mean? I kept wondering. Finally, I heard an example he shared. Such a common occurrence - … feeling misunderstood... or someone behaving unconsciously in a way that feels hurtful...</div><span style="color: #0000bf;"> </span> <br />
<div style="color: #0000bf; margin-bottom: 0in;"><br />
</div><span style="color: #0000bf;"> </span> <br />
<div style="color: #0000bf; margin-bottom: 0in;"><b style="color: purple;">This is my understanding of <i>Letting the Heart Break</i> - allowing the feelings to go all-the-way through </b>– not defending in our usual ways – <u>Not </u>telling myself – 'oh, don't take it personally', Not making the other person wrong, Not saying 'it doesn't matter' or hiding behind “spirituality” by claiming that 'it's not real'... Not even separating the <i>observer </i>of the pain from the <i>observed</i>... the key word here being separation...<br />
<br />
Rather, really allowing the feelings to move through with Compassion—for all – for this body system (that I call 'me') and for the other – there is no two – we are One--no separation.</div><span style="color: #0000bf;"> </span> <br />
<div style="color: #0000bf; margin-bottom: 0in;"><br />
</div><span style="color: #0000bf;"> </span> <br />
<div style="color: #0000bf; margin-bottom: 0in;">Being OPEN to life – without resisting anything, without trying to avoid this or that experience because we believe it will be unpleasant, or won't like it or because it will be difficult...</div><span style="color: #0000bf;"> </span> <br />
<div style="color: #0000bf; margin-bottom: 0in;"><br />
</div><span style="color: #0000bf;"> </span> <br />
<div style="color: #0000bf; margin-bottom: 0in;">Allowing the body to reorganize without trying to 'figure out' what's happening.</div><span style="color: #0000bf;"> </span> <br />
<div style="color: #0000bf; margin-bottom: 0in;"><br />
</div><span style="color: #0000bf;"> </span> <br />
<div style="color: #0000bf; margin-bottom: 0in;">As a result of energy exchange in his presence, my physical system (body) feels at peace, relaxed, open. We'll see what will be, tomorrow.</div>ms nancyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17167039337990325976noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4245486953533717680.post-89282212849839256332011-10-10T13:15:00.000-07:002011-10-10T13:15:07.549-07:00THE BIRTH OF EGO & the SPIRITUAL JOURNEY HOME<div id="yiv745734239yui_3_2_0_19_131639260988599" style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><b><span style="color: blue;">The path toward freedom includes understanding the ego – that paper mache creation from our childhood...</span></b><span id="yiv745734239yui_3_2_0_19_131639260988598" style="font-size: small;"><span style="color: blue;"> </span>since our infancy, we are taught – first by our parents, then by our school teachers, and by our church, and by our society – including the social class into which we were born – we are taught: <span style="font-weight: bold;">Who</span> we are, <span style="font-weight: bold;">How</span> we should be, <span style="font-weight: bold;">What</span> we should believe (in order to fit in), Who we should love, What we should fear, Who we should shun, … this list goes on and on...and so, too... the increasing layers of paper mache... covering over that which is Essential in us...</span></div><div id="yiv745734239yui_3_2_0_19_1316392609885124" style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><br />
</div><div id="yiv745734239yui_3_2_0_19_1316392609885130" style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="color: blue; font-size: small;">We are creating our own </span><span style="color: blue; font-size: small;"><b>personal story </b></span><span id="yiv745734239yui_3_2_0_19_1316392609885129" style="font-size: small;"><span style="color: blue;">– in our families – which includes the story of our </span>parents/grandparents/siblings or no siblings; what “<span style="font-weight: bold;">happened to us</span>” in our childhood – all of this perceiving of experiences creates our paper mache ego, layer by layer, year after year. You may be surprised to hear that ALL of this is what we <span style="font-weight: bold;">Learned</span>, what we were <span style="font-weight: bold;">Taught</span> – and, Not who we Truly ARE. Who we Truly are >> the Essential being is covered over by this paper mache layering. The paper mache layering is created from our <span style="text-decoration: underline;">perceptions</span> of our experiences and what others have taught us....told us to think and believe. It is <span style="text-decoration: underline;">manufactured,</span> therefore, NOT the Essence of our being.</span></div><div id="yiv745734239yui_3_2_0_19_1316392609885141" style="margin-bottom: 0in;"> <span style="font-size: x-small;">more will be added to this post, when you revisit</span></div>ms nancyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17167039337990325976noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4245486953533717680.post-18253947791105836472011-09-30T10:35:00.000-07:002011-10-10T13:17:19.013-07:00FREEDOM FROM.....<div id="yiv745734239yui_3_2_0_19_1316392609885394" style="color: blue; margin-bottom: 0in;"><b>What you may wish to know about freedom from entrapment by the mind – by <i id="yiv745734239yui_3_2_0_26_131662581450563">thought.... </i>for further discussion together...</b></div><span style="color: blue;"> </span><br />
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><br />
</div><div style="margin-bottom: 0in;">It has long been said that <i>thought</i> is the source of all our suffering. However, we believe it is the SITUATION that is causing our suffering. If we truly look at it, though, it is our <span style="color: blue;">THOUGHT</span> <b><span style="color: magenta;">ABOUT</span></b> the situation, not the actual situation, itself. Whatever situation is occurring... and we think a negative thought about it... this is what harms us... the Thought - consider:</div><ul id="yiv745734239yui_3_2_0_23_1316625814505235"><li><div style="margin-bottom: 0in;">I'm not good enough</div></li>
<li><div style="margin-bottom: 0in;">What is she/he thinking about me?</div></li>
<li><div style="margin-bottom: 0in;">She/he is probably angry with me</div></li>
<li><div id="yiv745734239yui_3_2_0_19_131639260988554" style="margin-bottom: 0in;">I hope I don't make a mistake</div></li>
<li id="yiv745734239yui_3_2_0_19_131639260988581"><div id="yiv745734239yui_3_2_0_19_131639260988576" style="margin-bottom: 0in;">She didn't call me back</div></li>
<li id="yiv745734239yui_3_2_0_19_131639260988581"><div id="yiv745734239yui_3_2_0_19_131639260988576" style="margin-bottom: 0in;">That company is probably not interested in me</div></li>
<li><div style="margin-bottom: 0in;">I'm fat<br />
I'm stress out... overwhelmed<br />
I can't <i>Stand</i> this...person... situation... weather...<br />
He/she is smarter than me – I don't fit in<br />
I can't believe he's <span style="font-style: italic;">Doing</span> that! </div><div style="margin-bottom: 0in;">I will have to fight til the end!</div></li>
</ul><ul id="yiv745734239yui_3_2_0_23_1316625814505235"></ul><div style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><br />
</div><br />
<div id="yiv745734239yui_3_2_0_19_1316392609885176" style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="font-size: small;">Where do thoughts come from?</span></div><div id="yiv745734239yui_3_2_0_19_1316392609885185" style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="font-size: small;">You say: they come from the brain.</span></div><div style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="font-size: small;">But, do you Know that for a fact?</span></div><div style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="font-size: small;">The thought that arises: “I'm not doing this well enough” - or other negative thoughts that come up about you -</span></div><div style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="font-size: small;">How did this thought arise?</span></div><div style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="font-size: small;">Did I actually <i>make</i> this thought arise? Did you DECIDE to think this thought?</span></div><div style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="font-size: small;">We have beliefs that <i>I thought this thought. </i><span style="font-style: normal;">Really?? Does it make sense that you chronically WANT to think badly about yourself? or... the chronic self-doubt... that's also a Thought... </span></span></div><div style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><br />
</div><div id="yiv745734239yui_3_2_0_19_1316392609885205" style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><span id="yiv745734239yui_3_2_0_23_1316625814505261" style="font-size: small;"><span id="yiv745734239yui_3_2_0_23_1316625814505260" style="font-style: normal;">What if you consider thoughts to be like clouds – or farts simply passing by... and then evaporating into thin air. They come – then they go.</span></span></div><span style="font-size: small;"> </span><br />
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</span></div><span style="font-size: small;"> </span><br />
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-style: normal;">Consider this:</span></span></div><span style="font-size: small;"> </span><br />
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="font-size: small;"><br />
</span></div><span style="font-size: small;"> </span><br />
<div id="yiv745734239yui_3_2_0_19_1316392609885193" style="color: blue; margin-bottom: 0in;"><span id="yiv745734239yui_3_2_0_19_1316392609885192" style="font-size: small;"><span id="yiv745734239yui_3_2_0_19_1316392609885191" style="font-style: normal;"><span id="yiv745734239yui_3_2_0_19_1316392609885202" style="font-weight: bold;">AWARENESS</span> (or Presence) simply Exists – think of AWARENESS as a movie screen at the theater</span></span></div><span style="font-size: small;"> </span><br />
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</span></div><span style="font-size: small;"> </span><br />
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-style: normal;">Thoughts / Emotions / Experiences / Sensations are “Appearances” (things that Appear) – that merely </span></span> </div><span style="font-size: small;"> </span><br />
<div id="yiv745734239yui_3_2_0_19_1316392609885216" style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><span id="yiv745734239yui_3_2_0_19_1316392609885215" style="font-size: small;"><span id="yiv745734239yui_3_2_0_19_1316392609885214" style="font-style: normal;"><span id="yiv745734239yui_3_2_0_19_1316392609885225" style="color: blue; text-decoration: underline;">cross the movie screen</span><span style="color: blue;"> </span>and then disappear. They come and they go – like clouds or farts.</span></span></div><span style="font-size: small;"> </span><br />
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="font-size: small;"><br />
</span></div><span style="font-size: small;"> </span><br />
<div id="yiv745734239yui_3_2_0_19_1316392609885230" style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><span id="yiv745734239yui_3_2_0_19_1316392609885229" style="font-size: small;"><span id="yiv745734239yui_3_2_0_19_1316392609885228" style="font-style: normal;">If we simply allowed these Appearances to come and go, we would be much more free. However, we ATTACH ourselves to the thoughts, emotions, experiences. Unwittingly, we may cling to particular negative thoughts--about ourself... about the world... these negative thoughts become habits, and over time, form our world view... we know people who see a "half-empty" glass, or frequently pessimistic, fearful... </span></span> </div><span style="font-size: small;"> </span><br />
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="font-size: small;"><br />
</span></div><span style="font-size: small;"> </span><br />
<div id="yiv745734239yui_3_2_0_19_1316392609885245" style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><span id="yiv745734239yui_3_2_0_19_1316392609885244" style="font-size: small;"><span id="yiv745734239yui_3_2_0_19_1316392609885243" style="font-style: normal;">We judge our experiences as <i>Good</i> or <i>Bad</i>. We get delighted and want more of it – or we get upset that we have any of it. Experiences that we don't like – we think: This shouldn't be happening. He shouldn't be doing this – or she should do that. (In fact, in these '</span><i>shoulds/shouldn'ts</i><span style="font-style: normal;">, we are Arguing with Reality)</span></span></div><span style="font-size: small;"> </span><br />
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<div id="yiv745734239yui_3_2_0_19_1316392609885259" style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><span id="yiv745734239yui_3_2_0_19_1316392609885265" style="font-size: small;"><span id="yiv745734239yui_3_2_0_19_1316392609885264" style="font-style: normal;">These are examples of being <b>Attached</b> to an <b><i>Appearance</i></b> – rather than NOTICING the experience or thought with detachment and allowing the Appearance to come and go.</span></span></div><span style="font-size: small;"> </span><br />
<div id="yiv745734239yui_3_2_0_19_1316392609885268" style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="font-size: small;"><br />
</span><span id="yiv745734239yui_3_2_0_19_1316392609885265" style="font-size: small;"><span id="yiv745734239yui_3_2_0_19_1316392609885264" style="font-style: normal;"></span></span></div><span style="font-size: small;"> </span><br />
<div id="yiv745734239yui_3_2_0_19_1316392609885269" style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><span id="yiv745734239yui_3_2_0_19_1316392609885265" style="font-size: small;"><span id="yiv745734239yui_3_2_0_19_1316392609885264" style="font-style: normal;"><span id="yiv745734239yui_3_2_0_19_1316392609885322" style="color: blue; font-weight: bold;">When a <span style="text-decoration: underline;">useless </span>thought passes the screen of my mind, I notice it and I will say >> </span><span style="color: blue; font-style: italic; font-weight: bold;">Oh, here's an Appearance passing through Awareness. I will let it go!</span></span></span></div><span style="font-size: small;"> </span><br />
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</span></div><div style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="font-size: small;"><b><span style="color: blue;">What will assist our Noticing and Detaching from these negative thoughts & feelings?</span></b><br />
</span></div><span style="font-size: small;"> </span><br />
<div id="yiv745734239yui_3_2_0_19_1316392609885342" style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><span id="yiv745734239yui_3_2_0_19_1316392609885341" style="font-size: small;"><span id="yiv745734239yui_3_2_0_19_1316392609885340" style="font-style: normal;"><span style="color: blue;">Consider practicing '</span><u><span style="color: blue; font-weight: bold;">Resting in Awareness</span></u><span style="color: blue;">' – at any moment you remember to do so</span> that is convenient – by Focusing On Your Breathe – and simultaneously <span style="text-decoration: underline;">bringing Awareness of Sensation in the Center of your Chest</span></span></span></div><span style="font-size: small;"> </span><br />
<div id="yiv745734239yui_3_2_0_19_1316392609885370" style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><span id="yiv745734239yui_3_2_0_19_1316392609885369" style="font-size: small;"><span id="yiv745734239yui_3_2_0_19_1316392609885368" style="font-style: normal;">(<span id="yiv745734239yui_3_2_0_19_1316392609885379">Sensation may be enhanced by initially placing your finger on the center of your chest). </span>See what is Noticed in these moments of Resting in Awareness-- Notice that all that is present is Awareness of the Present Moment. </span></span></div><span style="font-size: small;"> </span><br />
<div id="yiv745734239yui_3_2_0_19_1316392609885390" style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><span id="yiv745734239yui_3_2_0_19_1316392609885369" style="font-size: small;"><span id="yiv745734239yui_3_2_0_19_1316392609885368" style="font-style: normal;"><br />
</span></span></div><span style="font-size: small;"> </span><br />
<div id="yiv745734239yui_3_2_0_24_131662581450583" style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><span id="yiv745734239yui_3_2_0_19_1316392609885369" style="font-size: small;"><span id="yiv745734239yui_3_2_0_19_1316392609885368" style="font-style: normal;"><span style="color: blue;">When there is No Thought, there is No Story of the past, or of the future, or even of ME. </span><br />
There is Only the Present Moment. NOW.<br />
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<span style="color: blue;">We are not trying to Get Rid of thoughts... rather, become Aware of them and NON-attach</span>. So many of the thoughts that occur are unnecessary and even upsetting. We can discard unnecessary thoughts by <i>Being</i> in the Present Moment.... at Any Moment we remember to do so...<br />
</span></span></div><span style="font-size: small;"> </span><br />
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</span></div><span style="color: blue; font-size: small;"> </span><br />
<div id="yiv745734239yui_3_2_0_24_1316625814505128" style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><span id="yiv745734239yui_3_2_0_24_1316625814505134" style="font-size: small;"><span id="yiv745734239yui_3_2_0_24_1316625814505133" style="font-style: normal;"><span style="color: blue;">Try Resting in Awareness in the grocery line, waiting at the red light... for example...</span><br style="color: blue;" /><span style="color: blue;"> This is </span><span style="color: blue; font-style: italic;">Being</span><span style="color: blue;"> in the Present Moment</span><br />
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<div id="yiv745734239yui_3_2_0_19_1316392609885397" style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><span id="yui_3_2_0_13_1317402809873255" style="font-size: small;"><span id="yui_3_2_0_13_1317402809873254" style="font-style: normal;">See for yourself and share your experience with us.</span></span></div>ms nancyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17167039337990325976noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4245486953533717680.post-4650331579100710572011-09-09T22:39:00.000-07:002011-10-05T12:57:48.593-07:00Awakening the felt awareness that we are all one – opening the heart to the Present Moment<div style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><b><span style="font-size: small;"><br />
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</div><div style="font-weight: normal; margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;"><span style="color: blue;">We have heard that 'we are all one' </span>– the phrase can be like a cliché – we know this intellectually, but is there a felt experience of this? Living in our minds in the past or the future, we experience feeling separate and not in the Present Moment.</span></div><div style="font-weight: normal; margin-bottom: 0in;"><br />
</div><div style="font-weight: normal; margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;">I have come across a few writings of others that I wish to share that, to me, are <b><span style="color: blue;">down-to-earth and practical ways of accessing a reality different from the world of 'appearances' that ordinary mind believes to be reality.</span></b> Accessing a reality of the Present Moment where we may experience a sense of connectedness – different from our ordinary state of separation and beliefs in the 'stories' of our lives.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;"><span style="color: blue;"><b>Why does this matter in our busy lives</b>- the notion of ego and belief in the 'story' of our lives</span> ? </span><br />
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<ul><li><span style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;">Ego has taken on the role of Master in our lives - rather than as the servant - it's appropriate position</span></li>
<li><span style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;">For many, ego has usurped our identity...not knowing who we are without our material markers that demonstrate that we are 'someone' (the prestigious car, home address... or simple need for approval, or to be 'right'</span></li>
<li><span style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;">Believing in our thoughts, we find ourselves carrying--often unwittingly-- regrets from the 'past' and worry about the future.</span></li>
<li><span style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;">Believing in our thoughts, we also find ourselves locked in conflict with others who are important to us - we may be holding beliefs that the 'other' <i>should</i> or <i>should</i> not be doing something (<b><span style="font-size: x-small;">according to our belief</span></b>)- or <i>should</i> or <i>should </i>not have done what they did. This belief becomes a story in our head that gives birth to unresolved conflicts & resentments.</span></li>
<li><span style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;">We believe in Separation - that we are separate 'things' and that our life is 'happening' to us.</span></li>
<li><span style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;">For many, we are Not in the Present Moment - therefore, the alternative is being caught in Thought about what has already happened (and our disapproval or dissatisfaction with it - or thoughts of what is going to be in the future--creating worry, frustration, sense of hopelessness. This frequently causes us suffering, feeling stressed out or conflict, feeling separate from other people and living creatures.</span></li>
<li><span style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;">As ego thinks in terms of 'me' and 'mine' - these thoughts perpetuate a subtle (or not so subtle) fear of lack - creating needs for Things, sense of 'not-enough' as evidenced by the rampant consumerism today - consider how many storage units exist in a square mile around your location.</span></li>
</ul></div><div style="font-weight: normal; margin-bottom: 0in;"><br />
</div><div style="font-weight: normal; margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;">Imagine how this way of Being may impact our planet and her resources?</span></div><div style="font-weight: normal; margin-bottom: 0in;"><br />
</div><div style="font-weight: normal; margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;"><span style="color: blue;">Ego creates the sense of being a person</span> – separate from others and from everything in life. Ego believes in past and future—it is never in the Present Moment.</span></div><div style="font-weight: normal; margin-bottom: 0in;"><br />
</div><div style="font-weight: normal; margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;"><span style="color: blue;">Richard Moss, MD has an excellent description of ego—out of which we live, continually affirming it's existence.</span> Ego believes in 'me' and 'mine' and the sense that we are all separate. He states that ego's job is to make us feel special; and ego achieves this in two ways... creating stories that you are more than you really are – or less than you really are.</span></div><div style="font-weight: normal; margin-bottom: 0in;"><br />
</div><div style="font-weight: normal; margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;">He asserts <span style="color: blue;">we feel special through 'inferiority'</span> – ie. I'm humble and I don't put people out... I don't ask for what I want... believing inadequacy; believing unlovability; believing you're a burden, that you don't matter, unattractive, incompetent, a failure, bad or wrong—resulting in constant apologizing...</span></div><div style="font-weight: normal; margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;"><span style="color: blue;">OR, we feel special through 'superiority'</span>... grandiose, I don't wait in lines... boy, people are stupid these days, I don't have to deal with this!; domineering; you know best, you're right while others are usually wrong; this superiority cuts one off from their ability to be vulnerable in intimate relationship.</span></div><div style="font-weight: normal; margin-bottom: 0in;"><br />
</div><div style="font-weight: normal; margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;"><span style="color: blue;">Ego does not care about how you feel; ego only cares</span> about it's continued existence—assuring that you continue to believe in it's story about you and how you are special – through superiority or inferiority.</span></div><div style="font-weight: normal; margin-bottom: 0in;"><br />
</div><div style="font-weight: normal; margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;"><span style="color: blue;">Ego is an outgrowth of all that we have learned..</span>. have been taught—verbally or non-verbally—throughout this life. We are told as toddlers what is 'good' and what is 'bad'. We are told who we are. We are told what we are like. We are told how we should or shouldn't feel! Indoctrinated into a particular religion, we are told what to believe. Indoctrinated into a particular social strata, attitudes are infused. Our identity and ego become intertwined.</span></div><div style="font-weight: normal; margin-bottom: 0in;"><br />
</div><div style="font-weight: normal; margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;"><span style="color: blue;">I make no judgments about ego – rather,</span> I offer a perspective in considering the degree to which it is or is not helpful in accessing Reality.... other than that of the story we believe—otherwise known as the 'dream'.</span></div><div style="font-weight: normal; margin-bottom: 0in;"><br />
</div><div style="font-weight: normal; margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;"><span style="color: blue;">Writer Scott Kiloby writes about living life in non-duality. His teachings address </span>how our thoughts, and our belief in our thoughts are the source of all our suffering and sense of separation.</span></div><div style="font-weight: normal; margin-bottom: 0in;"><br />
</div><div style="font-weight: normal; margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;">Kiloby indicates that <span style="color: blue;">bringing oneself into the Present Moment (Being in Presence) interrupts thought and the belief in separation</span> (if only momentarily, at first). </span> </div><div style="font-weight: normal; margin-bottom: 0in;"><br />
</div><div style="font-weight: normal; margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;"><b><span style="color: blue;">A method for coming into Presence (present moment) wherever you may be - you may bring your attention to your breathing, and </span></b>to focus on sensation in the center of your chest (touching a point with your finger can activate sensation there). Take a moment to experience this, now.</span></div><div style="color: blue; font-weight: normal; margin-bottom: 0in;"><br />
</div><div style="font-weight: normal; margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;"><span style="color: blue;">Notice, there is no Thought there, only a <i>sense of presence</i>... a space</span>. We can return to this space as often as we remember to do so in our day...providing a respite from the constant 'thinking' that typically occurs.</span></div><div style="font-weight: normal; margin-bottom: 0in;"><br />
</div><div style="font-weight: normal; margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;"><span style="color: blue;">Notice how ~</span></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;"><span style="color: blue;"><u>Thoughts</u> (<span style="font-size: x-small;">I can't stand this - this is horrible, I have to wash the car, go to the bathroom, </span></span></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;"><span style="color: blue;"><span style="font-size: x-small;"> I have too much to do, I don't have enough money, I think she's mad at me)</span></span></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;"><span style="color: blue;"> <u>Emotions</u> <span style="font-size: x-small;">(frustration, annoyance, worry, anxiety, guilt, excitement, hopeful)</span></span></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;"><span style="color: blue;"> <u>Sensations</u> <span style="font-size: x-small;">(hot, cold, ache, tingle)</span></span></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;"><span style="color: blue;"> <u>States</u> <span style="font-size: x-small;">(low mood, elation)</span></span></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;"><span style="color: blue;">and <u>Experiences</u> <span style="font-size: x-small;">(losing your keys, having a fender-bender, receiving a positive review at work, caught in traffic, walking on the beach)</span></span></span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif; font-size: small;"><span style="color: blue;">these all come and go </span></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;"><span style="color: blue;"> </span>– like clouds passing through the sky. Awareness (Being in Presence) sees these internal and external things appearing and then disappearing. Awareness is always available to us no matter what is happening – we can return to the present moment – Presence - creating that inner space.</span></div><div style="font-weight: normal; margin-bottom: 0in;"><br />
</div><div style="font-weight: normal; margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;"><b><span style="color: blue;">The possibility exists to begin to unhook from thoughts, emotions, sensations, states and experiences</span></b> (Appearances) - seeing how they pass through Awareness – like clouds – and noticing the stories attached to these appearances. This is the beginning of true freedom.</span></div><div style="font-weight: normal; margin-bottom: 0in;"><br />
</div><div style="font-weight: normal; margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;"><span style="color: blue;">Many of our thoughts are unnecessary, needless and incessant. Notice.</span> Notice how our emotions are mostly a result of our thoughts...causing suffering, stress, conflict. Notice how </span><br />
<ul><li><span style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;">thoughts appear out of nowhere </span></li>
<li><span style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;"> suddenly, thoughts disappear. </span></li>
<li><span style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;">They arise on their own </span></li>
<li><span style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;"> you don't cause them</span></li>
<li><span style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;"> Simply Notice, without judgment and without needing to manipulate or change anything. </span></li>
<li><span style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;">That which sees the thought or emotion is Awareness. <u>Awareness is who we truly are.</u> We are <u>not</u> the ego that says "I am". </span></li>
</ul></div><div style="font-weight: normal; margin-bottom: 0in;"><br />
</div><div style="font-weight: normal; margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;"><b><span style="color: blue;">Awareness (Presence) is like the movie screen. Thoughts, emotions, experiences, states are the characters and the scenes <u>moving across</u> the screen.</span></b> They simply appear and disappear on their own (they are called 'Appearances'). They are fleeting. Human life is a wake-up call – we are called to wake up from this movie – to wake up from our story that has been created in our minds. We can stop believing that life is happening to us. We see that life is just happening.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;"><span style="color: blue;">We see around us, today, how increasingly polarized people's thoughts and attitudes are</span>, today. Believing in our thoughts, we are polarized, we believe in separation - the Other - who is Demonized. Cooperation becomes non-existent - in the workplace, in our relationships, in our political system. </span></div><div style="font-weight: normal; margin-bottom: 0in;"><br />
</div><div style="font-weight: normal; margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;"><span style="color: blue;">The more frequently we allow ourselves during our day to return to and rest in Presence</span> (<i>while waiting in line, sitting at a red light</i>) – and to let all appearances be as they are – moving through Awareness (presence) – we begin releasing ourselves from our story.... less and less do we buy into it or get caught in it... we notice it and step back - </span><br />
<span style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;"> and no longer believing the thoughts that perpetuate the story.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;">We find ourselves less and less arguing with reality.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;">More often we are accepting <i>'What Is</i>'... rather than resisting, complaining or 'shoulding' (it shouldn't be this way - it should be that way)</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;"> Being in presence, we may gain a sense of peace... of connectedness. </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;"><b><span style="color: blue;">Experiment with this - share your experiences of Noticing in this community of readers :)</span></b></span></div>ms nancyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17167039337990325976noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4245486953533717680.post-71597870660332601722011-08-12T23:05:00.000-07:002011-08-14T10:10:55.210-07:00BECOMING WHOLE - CONNECTING UNCONSCIOUS WITH SUPER-CONSCIOUS<div style="font-weight: normal; margin-bottom: 0in;"><br />
</div><div style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="font-family: Times New Roman,serif;"><span style="font-style: normal;"><span style="font-weight: normal;"><span style="color: blue;">Increasing numbers of individuals are clearly needed in our world, today, who wish to work toward the Greater Good,</span> starting within their own inner lives.</span></span></span><span style="font-family: Times New Roman,serif;"><span style="font-style: normal;"><span style="font-weight: normal;"> We clearly live in troubling times – —we need those individuals who can make a practice of living by the axiom: </span></span></span><span style="font-family: Times New Roman,serif;"><i><span style="font-weight: normal;">Do No Harm. </span></i></span><span style="font-family: Times New Roman,serif;"><span style="font-style: normal;"><span style="font-weight: normal;">The following are excerpts are from: </span></span></span><span style="font-family: Times New Roman,serif;"><i><span style="font-weight: normal;">The Secret Science Behind Miracles </span></i></span><span style="font-family: Times New Roman,serif;"><span style="font-style: normal;"><span style="font-weight: normal;">by Max Freedom Long – copyrighted in 1948.</span></span></span></div><div style="font-weight: normal; margin-bottom: 0in;"><br />
</div><div style="font-style: normal; font-weight: normal; margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="font-family: Times New Roman,serif;"><span style="color: blue;">The simplified version of Long's message is that, rather than taking myself for granted simply as 'Me' </span>– I can increase my awareness of levels of the personality, each level having it's own value and function. The three levels: the Child-part, the Rational, Logical part (referred to as the middle self), and there is the Spirit or Superconscious. (May I <u>caution the tendency for associative thinking</u> - "oh, this reminds me of <i>that"</i>. This is Not transactional analysis - which totally leaves out the Spirit component.)</span></div><div style="font-weight: normal; margin-bottom: 0in;"><br />
</div><div style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="color: blue; font-family: Times New Roman,serif;"><span style="font-size: x-small;"><span style="font-style: normal;"><u><span style="font-weight: normal;">Excerpt from Long's book:</span></u></span></span></span><span style="font-family: Times New Roman,serif;"><span style="font-size: x-small;"><span style="font-style: normal;"><span style="font-weight: normal;"> </span></span></span></span><span style="font-family: Times New Roman,serif;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-style: normal;"><span style="font-weight: normal;">“Unfortunately, the majority of humankind is moved by greed and the animal instincts of the child-part with its complexed and unreasoning emotional hates and fears</span></span></span></span><span style="font-family: Times New Roman,serif;"><span style="font-style: normal;"><span style="font-weight: normal;"> rather than by the unemotional logic of the middle, adult self. Few, indeed, listen the the promptings of the Spirit Self where the rule of Love and Service holds sway.</span></span></span></div><div style="font-weight: normal; margin-bottom: 0in;"><br />
</div><div style="font-style: normal; font-weight: normal; margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="font-family: Times New Roman,serif;">Our conscious mind selves may be said to rule the world, but they are dominated by the child-part selves which are still like animals as a part of their nature: willful, savage and unthinking. As middle selves we have been given free will, but until our cumulative world experience is sufficient to teach us the lessons we must learn, we will use that gift of free will very badly, both as individuals and as nations.</span></div><div style="font-weight: normal; margin-bottom: 0in;"><br />
</div><div style="font-style: normal; font-weight: normal; margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="font-family: Times New Roman,serif;">The Hunas taught that there was an ideal condition to which the individual might aspire—a condition in which the aid and guidance of the Spirit Self was requested, received and then acted upon.<b><i> The one rule of life that must be obeyed was that we should do nothing to hurt one another. For those more advanced, the rule included loving service. Love can unite men and women and enable them to do great works for the good of all. Hate and fear can unite humankind only for war and destruction.</i></b>”</span></div><div style="font-style: normal; font-weight: normal; margin-bottom: 0in;"><br />
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</div><div style="color: blue; margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="font-family: Times New Roman,serif;"><span style="font-style: normal;"><u><span style="font-weight: normal;">The three levels</span></u></span></span><span style="font-family: Times New Roman,serif;"><span style="font-style: normal;"><span style="font-weight: normal;">: </span></span></span><span style="font-family: Times New Roman,serif;"><span style="font-style: normal;"><u><b>The Child-part; the Middle self; the Spirit-Self</b></u></span></span></div><div style="font-weight: normal; margin-bottom: 0in;"><br />
</div><ul><li><div style="font-style: normal; margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="font-family: Times New Roman,serif;"><u><b>The Child-part </b></u></span> </div></li>
<li><div style="font-style: normal; font-weight: normal; margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="font-family: Times New Roman,serif;">belongs to the subconscious, is irrational</span></div></li>
<li><div style="font-style: normal; font-weight: normal; margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="font-family: Times New Roman,serif;">is connected with the physical body</span></div></li>
<li><div style="font-style: normal; font-weight: normal; margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="font-family: Times New Roman,serif;">creates all our emotions</span></div></li>
<li><div style="font-style: normal; font-weight: normal; margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="font-family: Times New Roman,serif;">stores all our memories, stubbornly held-fixed ideas</span></div></li>
<li><div style="font-style: normal; font-weight: normal; margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="font-family: Times New Roman,serif;">connects us with our intuition</span></div></li>
<li><div style="font-style: normal; font-weight: normal; margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="font-family: Times New Roman,serif;">the part of us that is 'literal' and responds to ritual</span></div></li>
<li><div style="font-style: normal; font-weight: normal; margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="font-family: Times New Roman,serif;">holds our resentments toward others as well as toward oneself (ie. feeling undeserving)</span></div></li>
<li><div style="font-style: normal; font-weight: normal; margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="font-family: Times New Roman,serif;">can reach out and 'read minds' or gather telepathic impressions</span></div></li>
<li><div style="font-style: normal; font-weight: normal; margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="font-family: Times New Roman,serif;">is under the dominion of the animal world</span></div></li>
<li><div style="font-style: normal; font-weight: normal; margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="font-family: Times New Roman,serif;">without proper guidance from the Middle self, can run away with emotions, child-like impulsivity, quite frequent change of plans, shifting desires, angers </span> </div></li>
<li><div style="font-style: normal; font-weight: normal; margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="font-family: Times New Roman,serif;">the home of beliefs and convictions (unconscious)</span></div></li>
<li><div style="font-style: normal; font-weight: normal; margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="font-family: Times New Roman,serif;">the home of childhood beliefs of our failures and inabilities – fear of others or even of God</span></div></li>
<li><div style="font-style: normal; font-weight: normal; margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="font-family: Times New Roman,serif;">the home of our childhood conditioned patterns of beliefs from our family</span></div></li>
<li><div style="font-style: normal; font-weight: normal; margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="font-family: Times New Roman,serif;">the location of origin of many illnesses</span></div></li>
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</div><div style="font-style: normal; margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="font-family: Times New Roman,serif;"><u><b>The Middle self</b></u></span></div><ul><li><div style="font-style: normal; font-weight: normal; margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="font-family: Times New Roman,serif;">conscious mind, entity who manages day-to-day tasks of living</span></div></li>
<li><div style="font-style: normal; font-weight: normal; margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="font-family: Times New Roman,serif;">logical, reasoning part of the personality</span></div></li>
<li><div style="font-style: normal; font-weight: normal; margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="font-family: Times New Roman,serif;">in relation to the child-part, the Middle self is the Parent whose task it is to educate the child-part</span></div></li>
<li><div style="font-style: normal; font-weight: normal; margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="font-family: Times New Roman,serif;">Middle self develops a relationship with the child-part, who will then be of service through intuition, through receiving impressions, has the ability to take prayer to the Spirit-Self</span></div></li>
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</div><div style="font-style: normal; margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="font-family: Times New Roman,serif;"><u><b>Spirit-Self</b></u></span></div><ul><li><div style="font-style: normal; font-weight: normal; margin-bottom: 0in; text-decoration: none;"><span style="font-family: Times New Roman,serif;">a separate spirit or self connected distantly with the child and middle selves and acting as an “over-self,” or parental guardian spirit </span> </div></li>
<li><div style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="font-family: Times New Roman,serif;"><span style="font-style: normal;"><span style="text-decoration: none;"><span style="font-weight: normal;">the spirit-Self is distantly connected to the physical body, probably for the most part, by </span></span></span></span><span style="font-family: Times New Roman,serif;"><i><span style="text-decoration: none;"><span style="font-weight: normal;">aka </span></span></i></span><span style="font-family: Times New Roman,serif;"><span style="font-style: normal;"><span style="text-decoration: none;"><span style="font-weight: normal;">threads </span></span></span></span><span style="font-family: Times New Roman,serif;"><span style="font-size: x-small;"><span style="font-style: normal;"><span style="text-decoration: none;"><span style="font-weight: normal;">(</span></span></span></span></span><span style="font-family: Times New Roman,serif;"><span style="font-size: x-small;"><span style="font-style: normal;"><span style="font-weight: normal;">the energy substance which surrounds us and connects us to each other it is how information and mana ( the life force and energy) travel. All contact whether in the physical or on another level involves the exchange of threads of aka material or energy. Ongoing relationship will build cords, energy and information is exchanged along these cords and connections ) </span></span></span></span><span style="font-family: Times New Roman,serif;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-style: normal;"><span style="font-weight: normal;">issued by the child-part.</span></span></span></span></div></li>
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</div><div style="color: blue; font-style: normal; margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="font-family: Times New Roman,serif;"><span style="font-size: small;"><u><b>Applying these ideas</b></u></span></span></div><div style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><br />
</div><div style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="font-family: Times New Roman,serif;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-style: normal;"><span style="font-weight: normal;"><span style="color: blue;">The manner of application I was taught was that of cultivating a relationship – as a middle or 'parent' self </span>to the child-part. Beginning this process, I inquired of my child-part what name she preferred. This occurred decades ago. Initially, '</span></span></span></span><span style="font-family: Times New Roman,serif;"><span style="font-size: small;"><i><span style="font-weight: normal;">she</span></i></span></span><span style="font-family: Times New Roman,serif;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-style: normal;"><span style="font-weight: normal;">' told me her name was Frankie – and, that felt right. After several years, as I made inner shifts, I was told her name was now Renie. And, even later her name changed, again, as if she was growing up.</span></span></span></span></div><div style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><br />
</div><div style="font-style: normal; font-weight: normal; margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="font-family: Times New Roman,serif;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="color: blue;">Day-to-day I encourage, acknowledge and thank the child-part within. I thank her out loud</span> when she helps me remember even some small thing – like, when I'm walking out of the house and suddenly she reminds me that I've forgotten something I needed for that day. She does this frequently for me. I thank her for her help when I walk into a clean kitchen in the morning because she helped me wash rather than leave a mess for morning! Or, if I've misplaced something – she helps me know where to look. The child-part connects us to intuition. However, I will hear her when I'm <u>not </u>distracted. Being too busy, too much noise, brain-clutter - affects our connection.</span></span></div><div style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><br />
</div><div style="font-style: normal; font-weight: normal; margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="font-family: Times New Roman,serif;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="color: blue;">It's also important that we create adequate joyfulness, in a healthy way, for the child-part </span>– as the child connects us with our vital energy – and if we overwork her or him, this would be very detrimental and unkind. Individuals who are 'pusher-types' are typically TOO busy, have difficulty relaxing, compelled to accomplish-- as if proving their worth, continually. These individuals often operate from a sense of urgency and lack sufficient and regular connection with their child-part. </span></span> </div><div style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><br />
</div><div style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="font-family: Times New Roman,serif;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-style: normal;"><span style="font-weight: normal;"><span style="color: blue;">On the contrary, others have their child-part running their lives with little parent-self supervision</span>. What does this look like? The person's choices are ruled by their likes and dislikes. What is good for the person is less relevant than what they '</span></span></span></span><span style="font-family: Times New Roman,serif;"><span style="font-size: small;"><i><span style="font-weight: normal;">like</span></i></span></span><span style="font-family: Times New Roman,serif;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-style: normal;"><span style="font-weight: normal;">' or '</span></span></span></span><span style="font-family: Times New Roman,serif;"><span style="font-size: small;"><i><span style="font-weight: normal;">want</span></i></span></span><span style="font-family: Times New Roman,serif;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-style: normal;"><span style="font-weight: normal;">'. They may still live very much along the tight lines of their childhood conditioning – what they were 'taught', and/or ruled by habits and appetites.</span></span></span></span></div><div style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><br />
</div><div style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="font-family: Times New Roman,serif;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-style: normal;"><span style="font-weight: normal;"><span style="color: blue;">Another sign is an ignored child</span>—the adult person who possesses an ignored child-part fears others' disapproval, needs to feel liked, needs to feel validated by others, needs attention. These emotional needs are a sign that the adult person is probably not in sufficient contact with their child-part in a supportive way. The individual most likely offers limited to no acknowledgment to their child-part—does not praise or thank her; does not recognize or approve of her help in the individuals daily life. This child-part is being taken for granted. Distinguishing between the parent self and child-part is crucial.</span></span></span></span></div><div style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="font-family: Times New Roman,serif;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-style: normal;"><span style="font-weight: normal;">This is how we increasingly become differentiated.</span></span></span></span></div><div style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><br />
</div><div style="font-style: normal; font-weight: normal; margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="font-family: Times New Roman,serif;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="color: blue;">An important part of this relationship between the middle self and the child-part is that of helping this child-part to grow up</span>. This is a task of the middle self, that of a loving parent – especially important and critical that we provide this to the child-part if we felt we lacked this type of validation as a child in our own lives...and even more crucial if we experienced abuse.</span></span></div><div style="font-style: normal; font-weight: normal; margin-bottom: 0in;"><br />
</div><div style="font-style: normal; font-weight: normal; margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="font-family: Times New Roman,serif;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="color: blue;">We can begin fostering this connection through the growing awareness that 'I am Not alone'.</span> I have within me a connection to my child-part as well as my inner Spirit. This growing awareness can give great comfort in a time in our world where we are so distracted by so many externals trying to grab our attention and keep us asleep and disconnected from our inner life. </span></span> </div><div style="font-style: normal; font-weight: normal; margin-bottom: 0in;"><br />
</div><div style="font-style: normal; font-weight: normal; margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="font-family: Times New Roman,serif;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="color: blue;">Begin <u>noticing where and when</u> your attention is grabbed away from you and discover the <u>ways and means you find yourself distracted.</u></span>.. by technological devices, by food, shopping, by keeping <i>busy.</i>.. Explore new ways to minimize these distractions.</span></span></div><div style="font-style: normal; font-weight: normal; margin-bottom: 0in;"><br />
</div><div style="font-style: normal; font-weight: normal; margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="font-family: Times New Roman,serif;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="color: blue;">Begin creating a relationship with the child-part of yourself.</span> Talk to her or him as you would any child whose trust you were wanting to elicit. Ask how she would like you to call her or him. Begin to grow your awareness by differentiating between your child-part and your middle (parent-self). For example, I was working on differentiating whether it was my child-part or my middle self that didn't want to help me get to the gym. I concluded that my child-part wanted to stay home and do something else. It was necessary for me to give more energy to my middle-self so as to work with the child-part and encourage her to cooperate. Then, of course, at the end of the workout I always say, out loud... Good Girl!! and, I put a smiley face in my day-timer for that day. She likes that! She feels appreciated!</span></span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Times New Roman,serif;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="color: blue;">Furthermore, the child-part in us can feel a heart relationship with child-parts of other individuals</span> as this self is intuitive and picks up on the feelings of others. They have the ability to relate from the heart to one another, playfully, without the typical 'adult-like' trappings of the middle self. It is a special connection when two individuals can slip away from their middle-selves and connect together on this heart-felt level. Judgments, however, such as: "oh, your acting childish" are felt as barriers to spontaneous and free expression of this part.</span></span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Times New Roman,serif;"><span style="font-size: small;"><b><span style="color: blue;">A word about fear and greed on the world stage</span></b> > Emotions of fear, greed and subsequent behaviors of grasping live in the child-part of us. Throughout the history of humankind we read about men's greed and grasping for resources. We read in the history books about the barbarism, the conquering of groups. Cooperation has not been known to be a shining example in our history of the world. Looking back two to three thousand years B.C.E. we find men waring in conflict rather than cooperation over land and resources in the middle east. Millenia later, we believe ourselves to have dramatically become a more "civilized" people than in ancient times, however, a closer look reveals that it is our technological ability--not our human civility that has increased. Our human civility has not kept pace with our tech-knowledge. </span></span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Times New Roman,serif;"><span style="font-size: small;">As a result, the child-part of most leaders--then and now--continue to be based in fear of lack which leads to greed. The child-parts of these men design wars so that they can conquer and, therefore, HAVE the resources of the other. This level of <i>being</i> has been in existence for millennia. As a group, our potential is to raise our level of being t<span style="color: blue;">hrough conscious connection between Middle, Child and Spirit selves. In this way, true faith, trust and the desire to contribute to the Greater Good overrides fear, greed and the desire to conquer and control others.</span></span></span></div><div style="font-style: normal; font-weight: normal; margin-bottom: 0in;"><br />
</div><div style="font-style: normal; font-weight: normal; margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="font-family: Times New Roman,serif;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="color: blue;">The more we are able to distinguish between the child and middle selves, the more we are able to give to ourselves what we need rather than </span>expect our needs to be met by others - which leads to feeling hurt and disappointed when they are not met by others. A grounded middle or parent self is able to make requests, negotiate, and to say 'no' to others comfortably without worry of disapproval or paralyzing fear of hurting someone's feelings. This is not the job to be left to the child-part - however, many individuals leave these grown-up tasks to their inner child-part who then frets, worries, and becomes anxious. Sound familiar?</span></span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Times New Roman,serif;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="color: blue;">More to come regarding the Connection to the Spirit or High Self - </span></span></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Times New Roman,serif;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="color: blue;"> </span> </span></span></div><div style="font-style: normal; font-weight: normal; margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="font-family: Times New Roman,serif;"><span style="font-size: small;"> </span></span></div><div style="font-style: normal; font-weight: normal; margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="font-family: Times New Roman,serif;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="color: blue;">Experiment ! Notice ! Connect and Communicate with your Child-part. Come back and share your observations and experiences with us.</span></span></span></div>ms nancyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17167039337990325976noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4245486953533717680.post-27918372699459705442011-07-04T00:35:00.000-07:002011-07-04T15:41:10.395-07:00Have you Questioned your own Thoughts? Are they True? How Do Your Thoughts Make You Feel?<div style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><b style="background-color: #eeeeee;">So much has happened since the beginning of the year</b> – and, since my last blog post – now six months ago, a time frame gap I never would have chosen intentionally--however, due to unforeseen circumstances---.which I will discuss. </div><div style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><br />
</div><div style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><b style="color: blue;">Much has happened in the global scene</b> – the Middle East, countries finding their voice against long-standing oppression. And, in the U.S. we struggle with our own political dramas between Republican and Democrat representatives--one side tearing the other side down with fault-finding, criticism and stone-walling that maintain the status quo or set us on a backward course rather than exploring means of finding common ground and benefit for all.<br />
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<b style="color: blue;">And, in my own life my sense of security was shaken by</b> theft of personal identity documents, a lap top, cell phone involving an intrusion into the safe space of my home. Even after a renewed ability to access a computer, I've found it difficult to connect with what I truly find meaningful to express from my heart until now, just over two months after the burglary. Since such random 'bizarre' events are unfamiliar in 'my world'... and, it<i> WAS </i>bizarre... the window of opportunity was only a half-hour - where someone got in and got out of my home! ... knew right where to look... I continue to sit with the question: 'What does this experience mean?'</div><div style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><br />
</div><div style="margin-bottom: 0in;">These times are challenging for all. These times demand quite a bit from us. Each of us is experiencing her or his own story--an opportunity to observe the way in which we move through the condition. We may move through these experiences with more conscious awareness or less consciousness. What will sustain us? My experience shows me that help cannot be found on the same level as the “problem”. Sustenance appears to be key; this question is what I propose for the subject of this post.</div><div style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><br />
</div><div style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><b style="color: #351c75;">In the last several months I have been exploring, deeply, family constellation work </b>and continue to find myself ever amazed at the phenomenon from the invisible world that emerges as information, direction and possibility for opening to a new mental image for the seeker of the so-called 'problem'. We tend to hold an <span style="color: blue;">image</span>—of an idea of a person, a problem—well, of everything in our lives – we hold an<span style="color: blue;"> image </span>of it – how we '<span style="color: blue;">imagine</span>' it to be.... of course, to us, that image is absolutely REAL! Then, we come to expect things to be the way we, unconsciously, imagine.The difficulty is, we are unconscious to this pattern of Thought; and this is how we continually carry the past with us--caught in Time-- unconsciously--be it in relationship, with issues around money, health, weight, food as well as emotional patterns of disappointment, anxiety, depression, feeling unappreciated, abandoned...<br />
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<b style="color: blue;"><span style="color: #351c75;">Working with family constellations, we may have an opportunity</span> </b>presented to receive a <span style="color: blue;">new image</span> that arises from the invisible, phenomenological world. This new image has the possibility of working deeply within--allowing what is not real to fall away.<br />
We may also develop a new way of <i style="color: blue;">being</i> in the Present Moment... perhaps only for a few seconds at the start.</div><div style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><br />
</div><div style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><b style="color: #351c75;">Recently, I have been also exploring an author's work on non-duality </b>and find myself most resonant with his expression of the ideas of application. I am feeling moved to share both the constellation work and the way of working with non-duality in daily life as we are in a critical time of human consciousness—these collections of crises—banking, debt (global, national and individual), housing market, energy, ecological, lethal weather patterns -- contributing to the threat of human existence and bringing us to a tipping point when enough humans perceive the need for a shift in consciousness.</div><div style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><b style="color: blue;"><u>The challenge</u>: Either we don't see these crises</b> because of their gradual progression– or the crises have become so much a part of the background noise in our culture we simply tune the bad news out -- and most of us are so busy trying to simply survive, day-to-day.</div><div style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><br />
</div><div style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><b style="color: #351c75;">Because we are ruled by thoughts, we are caught up in beliefs </b>– we “believe” in the past and in the future – so, how do we become Present in Awareness in the present moment--basic awareness? We are troubled by the past, or want to block it out, or we are looking forward to the future, tomorrow, or some day <u>when</u>...<i> we finally have our degree, when we meet that special person, when we have the house paid off, when we retire, when we can finally be out of debt... </i>These are all Thoughts... we attach ourselves to them, these thoughts separate us from our Present Moment.<br />
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<b style="color: blue;">These thoughts also create a sense that this present moment is Not Good Enough AS IT IS</b>. The result is that we do not feel satisfied in this moment. We unconsciously feel that something is missing. We don't even know, really, what this 'missing' is - however, we feel something nagging, gnawing inside of us. So, then we get really busy in our lives so we don't notice that feeling... so busy that there's never enough time; we shop to make the feeling subside, or we eat, or use other substances, or we're super-productive...busy 'doing', or spending long hours at work. But, being quiet, being still can be rather uncomfortable for many. However, if we trace it back - I mean Really back-track... we will find the origin of the discomfort is in Attaching to and believing in our thoughts...<br />
<i style="color: blue;">This is, in large part, corporate induced... Notice how advertising presents us with the latest techno-gadget and advises that we must Have It; the latest automobile has different lines in body design; the latest shoes have a distinct change to the shape of the toe; the slacks are looser or more form-fitting... What we currently have is No Longer Good Enough - so we Must Have...</i> or...<span style="color: blue;"><i>advertising media asserts that our teeth need to be whiter,</i> <span style="color: black;">or, <span style="color: blue;"><i>we need to have a better body,</i> <span style="color: black;">or, <span style="color: blue;"><i>improve our performance in the bedroom.</i>..</span></span></span></span></span> and, we believe IT.... Not Good Enough as it is.<br />
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Ask yourself: <b style="color: blue;">Where do my thoughts come from?</b><br />
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<ul><li> <b><span style="color: blue;">Can I state, without a shadow of doubt, with 100% certainty that <i>this thought is True ?</i></span></b></li>
</ul><ul><li><b><span style="color: blue;">How do I <u>FEEL</u> when I Think this thought?</span></b></li>
</ul><ul><li><b><span style="color: blue;"><i> </i>Regarding this situation, if I didn't Have this thought - how would I feel in relation to this situation?</span></b></li>
</ul><ul><li><b><span style="color: blue;">Must I believe this thought?<i> </i>How important will it be in one year from now? </span></b></li>
</ul></div><div style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><br />
</div><div style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><b>In dealing with the theft of my identity information</b>, I could not allow myself to project worry into the future. It was imperative that I focus in the present moment and simply refuse to allow thought to project into the future... <i>what if this happens?... what if that?.</i>.. This focus in the Present prevented me from losing energy through fear, worry and anger that 'this happened to me' and 'what will happen if...".<br />
I would simply bring myself back to basic Awareness of the present moment.</div><div style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><br />
</div><div style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><b style="color: #351c75;">'Presence' is what we are </b>– however, our culture tells us that we are 'I', 'me' – and separate from You. This belief allows me to hate you – and, on our planet – how wars are able to continue – I kill you because we are separate. You are <i>different</i> than me. Humanity at this time is caught up in the belief in external so-called reality as the only reality in existence: the difference in color of our skin; the difference in our religion, of our cultures, the difference in our 'beliefs'...the illusion of our separateness.</div><div style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><b style="color: #351c75;">Awakening to the awareness that there is No Separation</b> - we are All Connected - this awareness is more than an intellectual construct.This awareness will affect humanity as the notion of separation dissipates - not as an idea, or a thought - rather, as an actual experience. Personally, this would be an astonishing breakthrough for human beings.</div><div style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><br />
</div><div style="margin-bottom: 0in;">Basic Awareness – non-conceptual presence that is here right now – in the present moment.</div><div style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><br />
</div><div style="margin-bottom: 0in;">Notice – when you take a momentary break from 'thinking' – this basic awareness presents things 'as-they-are'. (Can I accept things 'as-they-are' rather than how I want/expect things to be to suit my expectations?--of perfection, of satisfaction)</div><div style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><br />
</div><div style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><b style="color: #351c75;">If we stop thinking for just a moment and glimpse a basic awareness already within</b> - </div><div style="margin-bottom: 0in;">simply notice.</div><div style="margin-bottom: 0in;">Notice when thoughts arise, again.</div><div style="margin-bottom: 0in;">We find that thoughts distract from basic awareness when we get attached and caught up in the thought – which often leads to a feeling – frequently unpleasant: disappointed, hurt, angry, resentful.</div><div style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><br />
</div><div style="margin-bottom: 0in;">It has been said by many teachers – <i>Thought is the source of all suffering</i>.</div><div style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><br />
</div><div style="margin-bottom: 0in;">In fact, <b style="color: #351c75;">the thought we have about an event or experience may cause us more upset than the experience, itself! </b>I may tell myself how horrible a situation is.... Or... that it Shouldn't have happened to me... then, I find myself even more upset by my thoughts. We process our life almost exclusively through thoughts – through our intellect. This fact causes humanity to be caught in various beliefs that limit awareness and cause much harm.</div><div style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><br />
</div><div style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><b><span style="color: #351c75;">In any present moment, we can bring our attention to our breathing or to the sensation in our body</span>,</b> allowing thought to come to rest and simply 'be' with the space that is left once the thought falls away, momentarily. We can 'be' here in the moment without labeling the experience (which is another thought). 'Be' in the stillness without “struggling” to Stop Thought. Allow thought to float on by. 'Be' in the space that remains. We can experience this throughout our day – increasing our awareness of this present moment of 'what is'.<br />
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<b style="color: #351c75;">Personally, I have noticed ... in taking moments of <i>being</i> in the space of presence</b>, of awareness... without thought... while waiting in the check-out lane in grocery store--an activity I strongly found disagreeable to me -- Yet, here, in the moment: simply <i>being</i> -- without thought... and subsequently noticing a sense of diminished feeling of impatience as I go from here to there... noticing more relaxation even when driving! Increased sense of inner quiet. Do I really need all these Thoughts? Perhaps not...</div><div style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><br />
</div><div style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><b><span style="color: #674ea7;">Your comments, experiences and questions are most welcome to continue the dialogue</span>. </b></div>ms nancyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17167039337990325976noreply@blogger.com15tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4245486953533717680.post-18300176522354073492011-02-27T21:52:00.000-08:002011-02-28T20:32:02.478-08:00Welcome to Plutocracy - What is it? Why should I care?<div style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="font-size: small;">I wrote my last post, Living in Non-duality, over the New Year's weekend hopeful toward a new year. By late January the Tunisian revolt captured our national attention; then rapidly on the heels, the demand for jobs, ability to afford food, democracy over dictatorship explodes on the Egyptian scene. This yearning fanned the flames next in Libya. We are still holding our breath in these last hours in wait of the outcome of a brutal dictatorship. How will it end? How many lives will be lost? <i>(This may be a l o n g post, take your time, return to read bit by bit, or print it out for further digestion.)</i></span></div><div style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><br />
</div><div style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="font-size: small;">Now, at the end of February we find the flame erupting here on our own doorstep-- igniting the need for political reform. In Madison Wisconsin at least 70,000 demonstrators flooded the square around the Wisconsin Capitol on Saturday in what the authorities here called the largest protest yet in nearly two weeks of demonstrations, </span><span style="font-size: small;">'ordinary' folk—teachers, firefighters, policemen/women... </span><br />
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<span style="font-size: small;">Unions are the <i>only</i> organized group in this country that, at this juncture, have the power to stand up to corporate greed. </span></div><div style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><br />
</div><div style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="font-size: small;">Most of us, whether or not we are backed by unions, are experiencing the larger health insurance payments demanded by insurance companies that are eating up a higher percentage of our income; and low-income employees are feeling the squeeze more sharply than those of high-income employees. </span> </div><div style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="font-size: small;"><br />
</span> </div><div style="background-color: white; color: black; margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="font-family: Times New Roman,serif; font-size: small;">An ideology is a conceptual framework with the way people deal with reality. Everyone has an ideology. The question is whether it is accurate or flawed.</span></div><div style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="font-size: small;"><br />
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</span> </div><div style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: large;"><b style="color: red;">Bill Moyers addressed Boston University with his speech: </b></span></span><br />
<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: large;"><b style="color: red;"> "Welcome to Plutocracy"</b></span> </span><br />
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<span style="font-size: small;"><b><u>Plutocracy defined</u>:</b> </span> Literally 'rule by the rich', the term is used to denote a wide range of situations where a group of individuals are able to exert disproportionate power and influence in society and social institutions because of their wealth.<span style="font-size: small;"> </span><br />
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<span style="font-size: small;">here are some excerpts:</span></div><div style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="font-size: small;"><br />
</span> </div><div style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="font-size: small;">Whirlpool refrigerator factory in Evansville, Indiana—female employee of 17 years was making $ 18.44 an hour when Whirlpool announced (2010) that it was closing the operation and moving it to Mexico. Eleven hundred workers lost their jobs. Their opportunity for affording a middle class way of life snatched from their hands. The company defended its decision by claiming high costs, underused capacity, and the need to stay competitive. </span> </div><div style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="font-size: small;"><br />
</span> </div><div style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="font-size: small;">Between 2001 and 2008, about 40,000 US manufacturing plants closed. </span> </div><div style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="font-size: small;">Six million factory jobs have disappeared over the past dozen years, representing one in three manufacturing jobs. </span> </div><div style="background-color: #eeeeee; margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="font-size: small;"><b>Many of us are wondering: “How, without any good-paying jobs here in the United States, are people going to pay for their health care, put their children through school, save some money to avoid living pay-check to pay-check.” </b></span> </div><div style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="font-size: small;"><br />
</span> </div><div style="font-family: inherit; margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="font-size: small;">The new BMW plant that recently opened in South Carolina. Workers will be paid $15 an hour – about half of what BMW workers earn in Germany </span></div><div style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="font-size: small;">In polite circles, among our political and financial classes, this is known as “the <i>free market </i>at work.” In fact, it is “<b>wage repression,” and it’s been happening in our country since around 1980.</b></span> </div><div style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="font-size: small;"><br />
</span> </div><span style="font-size: small;">Note this seeming contradiction – <i><b><u>falling</u> sales and <u>rising</u> profits</b></i> – Example: despite falling motorcycle sales, Harley-Davidson profits are soaring – with a second quarter profit of $71 million, more than triple what it earned the previous year </span><br />
<span style="font-size: small;">That’s how financial capitalism works today: Conserving cash rather than bolstering hiring and production; <b><span style="color: blue;">investing in their own shares to prop up their share prices and make their stock more attractive</span></b> to Wall Street. To hell with everyone else.</span><br />
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<div style="color: blue; margin-bottom: 0in;"><u><span style="font-family: Times New Roman,serif; font-size: large;"><b>How Deregulation and the Evolution of Wall Street Culture </b></span></u><br />
<span style="font-family: Times New Roman,serif; font-size: large;"><b> <u>Led to the Financial Crisis</u></b></span><u><span style="font-family: Calibri,Calibri,sans-serif; font-size: large;"><b>.</b></span></u> </div><div style="font-family: inherit; margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="font-size: small;">A bit about history</span><span style="color: black; font-size: small;"><span style="font-weight: normal;">. </span></span><span style="color: black; font-size: small;"><span style="font-weight: normal;">Following the Great Depression, between 1933-35, motivated by financial abuses that contributed to the Great Depression, <b>new laws</b> such as the <b><span style="color: blue;">Glass-Steagall Act</span> </b>and the <b style="color: blue;">Securities and Exchange Act</b> placed <b style="color: blue;">limits on financial risk-taking</b><span style="color: blue;"> and </span><b style="color: blue;">required extensive disclosure</b> of financial information . Furthermore, bankers/traders earned salaries in line with other professionals; tightly regulated financial sector. </span></span><span style="color: black; font-size: small;"><i><span style="font-weight: normal;">Local banks and investment banks formed small, private partnerships </span></i></span><span style="color: black; font-size: small;"><i><b>putting up their own capital</b></i></span><span style="color: black; font-size: small;"><span style="font-weight: normal;">. So, naturally, conducting business in a traditional financial manner, and <b style="background-color: yellow; color: black;">putting up their own money, the bankers of forty to sixty years ago</b> care about the loans they are making and to whom.</span></span><br />
<span style="color: black; font-size: small;"><span style="font-weight: normal;"> Fast forward to the 20th & 21st century: </span></span><br />
<ul><li><span style="color: black; font-size: small;"><span style="font-weight: normal;">investment banks went public--no <u>longer using their own money</u> - allowing for risky investments & higher rates of pay-back, </span></span></li>
<li><span style="color: black; font-size: small;"><span style="font-weight: normal;">the safety laws for financial institutions that had been put in place were stripped away (deregulation)</span></span></li>
<li><span style="color: black; font-size: small;"><span style="font-weight: normal;">borrowers without adequate credit or down-payment were not only allowed - but encouraged to take large loans to purchase inflated-priced homes</span></span></li>
<li><span style="color: black; font-size: small;"><span style="font-weight: normal;">investment banks paid rating agencies to distort the truth on the safety ratings of these loans (ie. subprime loans rated as excellent)</span></span></li>
<li><span style="color: black; font-size: small;"><span style="font-weight: normal;">subprime loans most profitable--predatory lending--these buyers were charged higher interests rates > their loans bundled and sold to unsuspecting investors as Triple-A rattings - </span></span></li>
<li><span style="color: black; font-size: small;"><span style="font-weight: normal;">CDO's (Collateral debt obligations) - Pay an investment banking firm $15 Million to put together a CDO full of bad mortgage- related assets that were believed to likely lose value. Next, sell slices of the bundle to many global investors . Next, secretly bet against it - knowing that it will fail. Then, make $1 Billion in profit - while the global investors lose over $1 Billion. This is how Goldman Sachs defrauded investors.</span></span></li>
</ul><span style="color: black; font-size: small;"><span style="font-weight: normal;"><span style="color: blue; font-size: large;"><b><u>Example</u></b>:</span> these unsuspecting investors from all over the world bought these bad bundled loans (subprime) - <u><span style="color: blue;">here's a small scale scenario</span></u>, <b>Visualize yourself going into a meat market to purchase</b> a quantity of what you anticipate to be prime quality beef because you are hosting a large party. You trust your meat market to carry nothing but the best because the proprietor has a Triple A rating. When you return home, however, and unwrap the package of beef, to your horror you discover the meat is rotting - You've not only been lied to - you are also out considerable amount of money - and, imagine there is Nothing you can do, now - No one you can turn to. This is what happened to investors who purchased these subprime loan packages that were rated Triple A by the Credit Rating Agencies.</span></span><br />
<ul><li><span style="color: black; font-size: small;"><span style="font-weight: normal;">Goldman Sachs sold 3.1 Billion dollars of bad loans & worthless securities</span></span></li>
<li><span style="color: black; font-size: small;"><span style="font-weight: normal;">CDO's (collateral debt obligations) - imagine the owner of your meat department betting against the bad meat he sells - knowing it is bad - in the same way these investment banks bet against the bad mortgage securities - betting that they would fail - and then profiting from the high interest they made!</span></span></li>
<li><span style="color: black; font-size: small;"><span style="font-weight: normal;">Foreclosures jumped to Six Million by 2010 and are expected to grow to Nine Million.</span></span></li>
<li><span style="color: black; font-size: small;"><span style="font-weight: normal;">Men who destroyed their companies got to keep there money (in the Millions $$$) and didn't go to jail</span></span> </li>
<li>NO Attempt made to recoup the millions $$$ made by these CEO's who defrauded the financial system - nor No attempt to indict them!</li>
</ul></div><div style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="font-size: small;"><br />
</span> </div><div style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="font-size: small;">Also, from 1950 through 1980, because the nation’s economy was growing handsomely, the average income for 9 out of l0 Americans was growing, too – from $17,719 to $30,941. </span></div><div style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><br />
</div><div style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="font-size: small;"><b>But then it stopped.</b> </span><br />
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<ul><li><span style="color: black; font-size: small;"><span style="font-weight: normal;">Since 1980s we live in a more UNequal society</span></span></li>
<li><span style="color: black; font-size: small;"><span style="font-weight: normal;">Outsourcing jobs to other countries - corporations save money, Americans lose jobs</span></span></li>
<li><span style="color: black; font-size: small;"><span style="font-weight: normal;">American factory workers laid off to the tens of thousands</span></span></li>
<li><span style="color: black; font-size: small;"><span style="font-weight: normal;">Americans trying to pay for college go into debt - $50 to 100 thousand dollars</span></span></li>
<li><span style="color: black; font-size: small;"><span style="font-weight: normal;">American tax policies shift to Favor the Rich - Bush decreases taxes for the wealthiest 1% of Americans</span></span></li>
<li><span style="color: black; font-size: small;"><span style="font-weight: normal;">Americans RESPOND to these changes by: working longer hours, going deeper into debt to afford their homes, cars, college for children, vacations </span></span><span style="font-size: small;"> </span></li>
</ul></div><div style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><br />
</div><div style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="font-size: small;">Since 1980 the economy has also continued to grow handsomely, <b><span style="color: blue;">but only 1% at the top have benefited</span></b>. A dramatic change in the ratio of the average CEO's paycheck to that of the average factory worker over the past 40 years. The line flattens for the bottom 90% of Americans. Average income went from that $30,941 in 1980 to $31,244 in 2008. Think about that: the average income of Americans increased just $303 dollars in 28 years.</span></div><span style="font-size: small;">That’s wage repression.</span><br />
<span style="font-size: small;">Furthermore, remember how the traditional bankers put up their own capital in making loans? In the 1980's the investment banks went public—no longer using their <i>own </i>money. The Reagan administration and the lobbyists started in with <b style="color: blue;">deregulation</b>. With it, <span style="color: blue;">away went the Glass-Steagall Act</span>! With deregulation and the selling off of bad (sub-prime) loans to unsuspecting others, the<b><span style="color: blue;"> investment bankers went unscathed in the global financial meltdown in 2008. </span></b></span><br />
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<b style="background-color: #fce5cd;">Notice how these high powered men continue to be Recycled through the Government/Banking system Despite their unethical conduct.</b><br />
<b><u>1989 - early '90s</u>: </b>Savings & Loan Crisis - the Chairman, Keating serves five years for corruption charges;<br />
DeConcini, a senator involved in the scandal was later appointed by President Clinton in February 1995 to the Board of Directors of the Federal Home Loan Mortgage Corporation <br />
<span style="color: black; font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: Calibri,Calibri,sans-serif;"><b><span style="font-family: Times New Roman,serif;"><u>In 1990s:</u></span></b><span style="font-family: Times New Roman,serif;"><span style="font-weight: normal;"> <b>Clinton</b> era and <b><u>increasing revolving door between Washington and Wall Street</u></b></span></span><b> </b></span></span> <br />
<span style="color: black; font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: Calibri,Calibri,sans-serif;"><b><span style="font-family: Times New Roman,serif;"><u>In the decade of 2000s:</u></span></b><span style="font-family: Times New Roman,serif;"><span style="font-weight: normal;"> George Bush pushes for further deregulation and relaxed enforcement—remember Enron, Worldcom, accounting fraud of Fannie Mae & Freddie Mac. ?</span></span></span></span><br />
<span style="color: black; font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: Calibri,Calibri,sans-serif;"><span style="font-family: Times New Roman,serif;"><span style="font-weight: normal;">massive housing and mortgage credit bubble sweeps the United States; mortgage lending quadruples, housing prices double </span></span><b> </b></span></span> <br />
<span style="color: black; font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: Times New Roman,serif;"><b>2004: </b><span style="font-weight: normal;">After intense lobbying by investment banks, the SEC lifts the leverage limits on the investment banking industry, allowing them to borrow more </span></span></span> <br />
<span style="color: black; font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: Times New Roman,serif;"><b>2005:</b></span></span><span style="color: black; font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: Times New Roman,serif;"><span style="font-weight: normal;"> IMF chief economist warns of dangerous incentives and risks in the financial system; Larry Summers, who later became </span></span></span><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-weight: normal;">director of the National Economic Council </span></span><span style="color: black; font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: Times New Roman,serif;"><span style="font-weight: normal;"> </span></span></span><span style="color: black; font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: Times New Roman,serif;"><span style="font-weight: normal;">dismisses his concerns, calling him a “Luddite”</span></span></span><span style="color: black; font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: Times New Roman,serif;"><b> </b></span></span> <br />
<div style="font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-family: Times New Roman,serif; font-size: small;"><span style="color: black;"><b>2005-2008</b></span><span style="color: black;">: investment banks begin using credit default swaps to bet against the same 'bad' mortgage securities that they are selling and calling extremely safe </span></span> </div><div style="font-weight: normal;"><span style="color: black; font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: Times New Roman,serif;"><b>2006:</b> Hank Paulson, CEO of Goldman Sachs, becomes Treasury Secretary </span></span> </div><div style="font-weight: normal;"><span style="color: black; font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: Times New Roman,serif;"><b>2007</b>: The housing bubble bursts </span></span> </div><span style="color: black; font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: Calibri,Calibri,sans-serif;"><b><span style="font-family: Times New Roman,serif;">2008</span></b><span style="font-family: Times New Roman,serif;"><span style="font-weight: normal;">: Great Recession begins with the collapse of Lehman Bros--one of the 4 largest investment banks in the US, a primary dealer in the US Treasury Securities market; and AIG--an American Insurance Corporation- suffering a liquidity crisis when their credit ratings were downgraded to below AA</span></span><b> </b></span></span> <br />
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="color: black; font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: Times New Roman,serif;"><b>Housing prices drop by 32 percent over three-year period </b></span></span> </div><div style="margin-bottom: 0in; text-decoration: none;"><span style="color: black; font-size: small;">• <span style="font-family: Times New Roman,serif;">Record foreclosures </span></span> </div><div style="margin-bottom: 0in; text-decoration: none;"><span style="color: black; font-size: small;">• <span style="font-family: Times New Roman,serif;">Unemployment rises from 5% to 10% in one year </span></span> </div><div style="margin-bottom: 0in; text-decoration: none;"><span style="color: black; font-size: small;">• <span style="font-family: Times New Roman,serif;">Tens of billions in bailout money go to AIG and Goldman Sachs </span></span> </div><div style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="color: black; font-size: small;"><span style="text-decoration: none;">• <span style="font-family: Times New Roman,serif;">$700 billion emergency bailout for the financial industry- because of threats to our economy if we didn't!! </span></span></span></div><div style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="color: black; font-size: small;"><span style="text-decoration: none;"><span style="font-family: Times New Roman,serif;"> Turns out these weren't so true. </span></span></span><br />
<b>The beautiful thing about creating fear</b> is people will not only accept that something must be done, but – if enough fear is created – they're usually willing to act without even contemplating or debating the direction. <span style="color: black; font-size: small;"><span style="text-decoration: none;"><span style="font-family: Times New Roman,serif;"> </span></span></span> </div><div style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="font-size: small;"><br />
</span> </div><span style="font-family: Times New Roman,serif; font-size: small;"><span style="color: black;"><span style="text-decoration: none;"><span style="font-family: Times New Roman,serif;">In the mad rush to privatization over the past few decades, democracy itself was put up for sale, and the rich are the only ones who could afford it; the Great American Rip Off – <b>Too Big To Fail Bank Bail Outs</b>; </span></span></span><span style="color: black;"><span style="text-decoration: none;"><b>Wall Street embroiled in obscene criminal scandals</b> that impoverished millions and collectively destroyed hundreds of billions, in fact, trillions of dollars of the world's wealth — </span></span><span style="color: black;"><span style="text-decoration: none;"><i><b>and nobody went to jail.</b></i></span></span></span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Times New Roman,serif; font-size: small;"><span style="color: black; font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;"><span style="text-decoration: none;">"</span></span><span style="color: black; font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;"><span style="text-decoration: none;"><i><b>Terrified that this injustice would inspire a movement to change all of that</b></i></span></span><span style="color: black;"><span style="text-decoration: none;"><span style="color: blue; font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;">,</span><span style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;"> </span>corporate interests including the Koch Brothers spent billions in 2009 and 2010 on misinformation campaigns and political theater designed to </span></span><span style="color: black;"><span style="text-decoration: none;"><b><span style="color: blue;">turn the resulting Great Recession into a weapon</span> to divide us rather than the unifying wake-up call it was destined to be.</b></span></span><span style="color: black;"><span style="text-decoration: none;"> </span></span><span style="color: black;"><span style="text-decoration: none;"><span style="font-family: Times New Roman,serif;"> </span></span></span></span> <br />
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</span> </div><div style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><div style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="color: black;"><span style="text-decoration: none;"><b>Obama appoints many Wall Street executives to senior regulatory and economic policy positions </b></span></span><span style="color: black;"><span style="text-decoration: none;"><span style="font-weight: normal;">(<b style="color: #351c75;"><i>the foxes are strategically placed in positions of guarding the hen houses)</i></b></span></span></span></span></div><span style="font-family: Times New Roman,serif; font-size: small;"><span style="color: black;"><span style="text-decoration: none;"><span style="font-weight: normal;"><b style="color: #351c75;"><i> <span style="font-size: large;"> </span></i></b></span></span></span></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Times New Roman,serif; font-size: small;"><span style="color: black;"><span style="text-decoration: none;"><span style="font-weight: normal;"><b style="color: #351c75;"><i><span style="font-size: large;"> </span></i><span style="color: #444444;"><span style="font-size: large;">WHO ARE THESE FOXES who were put in trusted positions </span></span></b></span></span></span></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Times New Roman,serif; font-size: small;"><span style="color: black;"><span style="text-decoration: none;"><span style="font-weight: normal;"><b style="color: #351c75;"><span style="color: #444444;"><span style="color: blue; font-size: large;"> to GUARD OUR HEN HOUSE?</span> </span></b></span></span></span></span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Times New Roman,serif; font-size: small;"><span style="color: black;"><span style="text-decoration: none;"><span style="font-weight: normal;"><b style="color: #351c75;"><span style="color: #444444;"> <u>PLUTOCRATS</u>: </span></b></span></span></span></span><br />
<ul><li><span style="font-family: Times New Roman,serif; font-size: small;"><span style="color: black;"><span style="text-decoration: none;"><span style="font-weight: normal;"><b style="color: #351c75;"><span style="color: #444444;"><span style="font-size: large;"><u>Larry Summers</u> - head of the NEC (National Economic Council) - hired as Chief Economic Adviser to Obama -- and former Clinton Treasury Secretary</span> - influenced deregulation</span></b></span></span></span></span></li>
<li><span style="font-family: Times New Roman,serif; font-size: small;"><span style="color: black;"><span style="text-decoration: none;"><span style="font-weight: normal;"><b style="color: #351c75;"><span style="color: #444444;"> </span><span style="font-size: large;"><u>Henry Paulson</u> - Chairman and CEO of Goldman Sachs</span> <span style="color: black;">(one of the top defrauders for promoting investments they new would fail) - was <u>hired by Obama</u> to be (74th) US Treasury Secretary - denying any problems: "We're going to keep growing - if we're growing then we're not in a recession."</span></b></span></span></span></span></li>
<li><span style="font-family: Times New Roman,serif; font-size: small;"><span style="color: black;"><span style="text-decoration: none;"><span style="font-weight: normal;"><b style="color: #351c75;"><i> </i><span style="font-size: large;"><u>Timothy Geithner</u> - previously the president of the Federal Reserve Bank of NY</span> - </b></span></span></span></span><b>put him at the heart of the global economic crisis as it unfolded in 2008</b>. <b><u>Hired by Obama </u></b>in January 2009 as (75th) <b>US Secretary of the Treasury</b> -- <b>defending the Bail Out of the banks</b>.</li>
<li><span style="font-size: large;"><b><u>Ben Bernanke</u></b></span> - <b><span style="color: #351c75;">previously served as the Federal Governor & Chairman of George W. Bush'</span>s </b>Council of Economic Advisors - sitting on the Financial Stability Oversight Board that oversees troubled asset relief (appointed in 2006 - during the heat of the impending financial melt-down) <b>In 2009, appointed by President Obama</b> </li>
<li><span style="font-size: large;"><u><b>Alan Greenspan</b></u> </span>- Chairman of the Federal Reserve from 1987 <span style="font-size: xx-small;">(remember Ronald Reagan Administration - deregulation) <span style="font-size: small;">to 2006. </span><span style="font-size: small;">He rebuked regulations.</span></span> </li>
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</span> </div><span style="font-size: small;">Some dramatic facts: how the <b>wealth distribution became even more concentrated </b>between 1983 and 2004, in good part due to the tax cuts for the wealthy and the defeat of labor unions: </span><br />
<span style="font-size: small;">Of all the new financial wealth created by the American economy in that 21-year-period, fully 42% of it went to the top 1%. </span><br />
<span style="font-size: small;">A whopping 94% went to the top 20%, which of course means that the bottom 80% received only 6% of all the new financial wealth generated in the United States during the '80s, '90s, and early 2000s </span><br />
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<span style="font-size: small;">Just as wealth can lead to power, so too can power lead to wealth. Those who control a government can use their position to feather their own nests, whether that means a favorable land deal for relatives at the local level or a huge federal government contract for a new corporation run by friends who will hire you when you leave government. If we take a larger historical sweep and look cross-nationally, we are well aware that the leaders of conquering armies often grab enormous wealth, and that some religious leaders use their positions to acquire wealth. </span><br />
<span style="font-size: small;">If the top 1% of households have 30-35% of the wealth, that's 30 to 35 times what they would have if wealth were equally distributed, and so we infer that they must be powerful. And then we set out to see if the same set of households scores high on other power indicators (it does). Next we study how that power operates. Furthermore, if the top 20% have 84% of the wealth (and recall that 10% have 85% to 90% of the stocks, bonds, trust funds, and business equity), that means that the United States is a power pyramid.</span><br />
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<div style="color: blue;"><span style="font-size: large;"><i><b>It's tough for the bottom 80% -- maybe even the bottom 90% -- to get organized and exercise much power. </b></i></span> </div><span style="font-size: small;">Hear the chief economist at Bank of America Merrill Lynch, Ethan Harris, who told the <i>Times</i>: “There’s no question that there is an income shift going on in the economy. Companies are squeezing their labor costs to build profits.”</span><br />
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<span style="font-size: small;"><b>The financial sector employs Three Thousand lobbyists - Five BILLION $$ on lobbying and campaign contributions - <u>Wall Street Government </u>- Plutocracy at its finest! </b></span><br />
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<div style="color: blue;"><span style="font-size: small;"><b><i><span style="font-family: Arial,sans-serif;">Years from now, we will think of February 2011 as the tipping point in America’s great awakening. </span></i></b></span> </div><span style="font-size: small;"><i><span style="color: #000066;"><span style="font-family: Times New Roman,serif;"><b><span style="color: red;">Wake UP calls:</span></b> T</span></span></i><i><span style="color: #000066;"><span style="font-family: Times New Roman,serif;"><span style="font-style: normal;">unisian revolt; Egyptian Revolt (</span></span></span></i><i><span style="color: #000066;"><span style="font-family: Times New Roman,serif;"><span style="font-style: normal;">Egyptian people 'have made clear they will settle for nothing less than greater democracy and more economic opportunities)</span></span></span></i><i><span style="color: #000066;"><span style="font-family: Times New Roman,serif;"><span style="font-style: normal;">; Libyan Revolt, Wisconsin protests & the Prank Call --Americans are being asked to settle for less democracy & fewer economic opportunities.</span></span></span></i><i><span style="color: #000066;"><span style="font-family: Times New Roman,serif;"> </span></span></i><i><span style="font-family: Times New Roman,serif;"><span style="font-style: normal;">After all the warnings and wake-up calls, this be will remembered as the time when the <span style="color: blue;">American people came together to confront the plutocracy that plagues our republic, and do something to change the economic inequality / instability that has grown from it.</span> There is a tide. </span></span></i></span><br />
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<span style="font-size: small;"><i><span style="font-family: Times New Roman,serif;"><span style="font-style: normal;"><b>Charles Ferguson, producer of Inside Job > "For decades in the past the financial industry was safe but something changed - the financial services industry went corrupt and they corrupted the regulators and the academia and engaged with the government. They will tell us it won't happen again."</b> </span></span></i></span><br />
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<div style="color: blue;"><b><span style="font-size: small;"><i><span style="font-family: Times New Roman,serif;"><span style="font-style: normal;">The more people who get involved, the more meaningful it will be. So, please share this page with others who may still need a reason to wake up and stand up.</span></span></i></span></b></div><br />
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<div style="color: blue;"><span style="font-family: Times New Roman,serif; font-size: large;"><b>Socrates said to understand a thing, you must first name it.</b></span></div><div style="color: blue;"><br />
</div><div style="color: blue;"><span style="font-family: Times New Roman,serif; font-size: small;"><b> <span style="font-size: large;">The name for what’s happening to our political system is Corruption – a deep, systemic corruption. Democracy has gone on sale in America.</span></b></span></div><div style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="font-size: small;"><br />
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</div>ms nancyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17167039337990325976noreply@blogger.com5tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4245486953533717680.post-5239173564858244612011-01-09T22:48:00.000-08:002011-07-17T10:47:07.300-07:00Living Life Without DUALITY - What would my life look like?<div style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><u><b><br />
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</div><div style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif; margin-bottom: 0in;"><b><span style="font-size: small; text-decoration: none;">I started writing this blog on the idea of <span style="color: blue;">non-duality</span> over the New Year's weekend feeling <span style="color: blue;">inspired by my readings in J. Krishnamurti and also Byron Katie</span>. And then the frightful news of the Tucson shooting rampage occurred along with the news that a certain previously elected public official targeted a number of other current political figures who are “on the other side” by using cross-hairs of gun-sights on her website. To me, this screams duality: </span><span style="color: blue; font-size: small;"><i><span style="text-decoration: none;">Us against Them</span></i></span><span style="font-size: small; text-decoration: none;"> to the point where </span><span style="font-size: small;"><i><span style="text-decoration: none;">They</span></i></span></b><span style="font-size: small; text-decoration: none;"><b> should be targeted and shot! Doesn't it seem that these times in our country is spinning out of control? </b></span><br />
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<span style="font-size: small; text-decoration: none;"><b><span style="color: blue;">By understanding the nature and effects of living in duality, we increase our awareness of the urgency </span>for individuals to wake up — by understanding the workings our own mind and intending, each day, to bring more</b> </span><span style="font-size: medium;"><i><span style="text-decoration: none;"><b>Love </b></span></i></span><span style="text-decoration: none;"><b>into each of our own inner and outer worlds. It's easy to shrug my shoulders and say, how could my little effort make any difference in this chaotic world; I'm just one person.</b></span></div><div style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif; margin-bottom: 0in;"><br />
</div><div style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif; margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="text-decoration: none;"><b>We have heard it said: <span style="color: blue;">“</span></b></span><i style="color: blue;"><span style="text-decoration: none;"><b>Be the Change you wish to see in the world</b></span></i><span style="color: blue; text-decoration: none;"><b>” - as well as “Y</b></span><i style="color: blue;"><span style="text-decoration: none;"><b>ou Are the World</b></span></i><span style="text-decoration: none;"><b><span style="color: blue;">”.</span> The way you and I relate to our brains, to each other, to our possessions, to money, to work, to sex—these immediate relationships create our society. Just imagine, our relationship to ourselves and one another multiplied by the how many billion people inhabiting this planet, now, creates the world. The collection of each of our prejudices, all our separate lonelinesses put together, each greedy or fear-driven ambition, each physical or emotional hunger, every anger, or resentment and sadness in each one of us—we are the world.</b></span></div><div style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif; margin-bottom: 0in;"><br />
</div><div style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif; margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="text-decoration: none;"><b>It is increasingly becoming <span style="color: blue;">more than a concept to me that </span></b></span><i style="color: blue;"><span style="text-decoration: none;"><b>the world is not different from me</b></span></i><span style="color: blue; text-decoration: none;"><b>—the world </b></span><i style="color: blue;"><span style="text-decoration: none;"><b>is</b></span></i><span style="text-decoration: none;"><b><span style="color: blue;"> me.</span> My thoughts, </b></span><i><span style="text-decoration: none;"><b>good/bad/or ugly</b></span></i><span style="text-decoration: none;"><b> get projected out into the world. So, it follows: if I become more aware of my thoughts, if each one of us becomes more aware and selective of our thoughts, we shift the projected thoughts onto the world. If even one of us makes this conscious effort, it has a ripple effect. </b></span><span style="font-size: medium;"><span style="text-decoration: none;"><b>Love</b></span></span><span style="text-decoration: none;"><b> is contagious—this </b></span><span style="font-size: medium;"><span style="text-decoration: none;"><b>Agape Love</b></span></span><span style="text-decoration: none;"><b> has NO Opposite.</b></span></div><div style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif; margin-bottom: 0in;"><br />
</div><div style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif; margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="color: blue; text-decoration: none;"><b>We are typically taught </b></span><i style="color: blue;"><span style="text-decoration: none;"><b>what</b></span></i><span style="color: blue; text-decoration: none;"><b> to think, but not </b></span><i style="color: blue;"><u><b>how</b></u></i><span style="text-decoration: none;"><b><span style="color: blue;"> to think</span>. We learn to </b></span><i><span style="text-decoration: none;"><b>escape</b></span></i><span style="text-decoration: none;"><b> loneliness and mental suffering (by a myriad of behaviors: shopping, buying, working, being busy, eating, drinking, relationships, gambling...) but we don't learn how to put an end to it.</b></span></div><div style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif; margin-bottom: 0in;"><br />
</div><div style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif; margin-bottom: 0in; text-decoration: none;"><b><span style="color: blue;">Doesn't it make sense to you that without understanding the way our minds work we cannot understand</span> and resolve the very complex problems of living. This understanding does not simply come through book knowledge. The mind is, in itself, quite a complex issue. In the very process of understanding one's own mind, the crisis which each one of us faces in life can be understood and moved through.</b></div><div style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif; margin-bottom: 0in;"><br />
</div><div style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif; margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="text-decoration: none;"><b><span style="color: blue;">Perhaps you may have a growing sense that we live in a world of duality. This world we live in is a world of opposites and of separation.</span> We have created this world with our minds... by the way we think and believe. Have you noticed how much of our beliefs are results of our visual perceptions—external perceptions belonging to our outer senses. Some have heard it said that </b></span><i><span style="text-decoration: none;"><b>we are all One</b></span></i><span style="text-decoration: none;"><b>. Have we thought deeply about what this means—that there is truly no separation. </b></span><br />
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<span style="text-decoration: none;"><b><span style="color: blue;">That </span><i style="color: blue;">we are all One</i><span style="color: blue;"> is a difficult reality to truly grasp because we believe in what our senses perceive</span>. To our senses, our bodies appear to be separate so we believe we are separate from each other. Our minds, our language reflect this world of duality, of separation—which breeds isolation and disconnect.</b></span></div><div style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif; margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="text-decoration: none;"><b> And, <span style="color: blue;">as this perception of duality escalates we see more and more violence.</span> One political party wants to kill the other. No longer are people able to have a sane discussion on topics of religion or politics--unless we already <i>agree</i> with each other. We cannot fathom ourselves within each other. We believe in the separation as defined by our religious beliefs, our political beliefs, the attitudes we were taught as children if we have questioned them no further, the belief in our separation by our national borders.</b></span></div><div style="color: blue; font-family: Verdana,sans-serif; margin-bottom: 0in;"><br />
</div><div style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif; margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="text-decoration: none;"><b><span style="color: blue;">The definition of duality</span>: </b></span><i><span style="text-decoration: none;">the state or quality of being two or in two parts; dichotomy </span></i> </div><div style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif; margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="text-decoration: none;"> <span style="font-style: normal;"><b>dichotomy: </b></span></span><i><b>division into two parts or classifications, especially when they are sharply distinguished or opposed </b></i> </div><div style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif; margin-bottom: 0in;"><br />
</div><div style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif; font-style: normal; margin-bottom: 0in;"><b><span style="color: blue;">For most in this Western culture, our minds function in the opposites</span> – in a dual nature. Many think in terms of 'yes' or 'no'; 'good' or 'bad'; 'right' or 'wrong'; 'better' or 'worse'; 'should' or shouldn't'; 'higher' or 'lower'. Our minds are continually and habitually judging, comparing, measuring, evaluating and criticizing. This way of thinking has become part of most people's nature. As a result, this dualistic thinking can you see how it becomes a source of much pain and suffering.</b></div><div style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif; font-style: normal; margin-bottom: 0in;"><br />
</div><div style="color: blue; font-family: Verdana,sans-serif; font-style: normal; margin-bottom: 0in;"><b>Let's make this practical. Let's look at language; do you know people who think like this:</b></div><div style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif; margin-bottom: 0in;">“<span style="font-style: normal;"><b>That was good of me – I'm glad I gave that homeless person a dollar.”</b></span></div><div style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif; margin-bottom: 0in;">“<span style="font-style: normal;"><b>I should have given that homeless person some money.” (implying I am in some way not good or was wrong)</b></span></div><div style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif; font-style: normal; margin-bottom: 0in;"><br />
</div><div style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif; margin-bottom: 0in;">“<span style="font-style: normal;"><b>I'm not very good at keeping my check book balanced.”</b></span></div><div style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif; margin-bottom: 0in;">“<span style="font-style: normal;"><b>I should get better at keeping my check book balanced.”</b></span></div><div style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif; margin-bottom: 0in;">“<span style="font-style: normal;"><b>Other people seem to do better than I when it comes to.....”</b></span></div><div style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif; margin-bottom: 0in;">“<span style="font-style: normal;"><b>I didn't do a very good job on.....”</b></span></div><div style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif; margin-bottom: 0in;">“<span style="font-style: normal;"><b>I hope I can get better at....”</b></span></div><div style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif; margin-bottom: 0in;">“<span style="font-style: normal;"><b>I really messed up....”</b></span></div><div style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif; font-style: normal; margin-bottom: 0in;"><br />
</div><div style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif; margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="font-style: normal;"><b><span style="color: blue;">Looking deeper, what is the implication hidden in these sentences? </span>>> Right now, </b></span><i><b>I am </b></i><span style="font-style: normal;"><b>Not good enough</b></span><i><b>, </b></i><span style="font-style: normal;"><b>I </b></span><i><b>need to</b></i><span style="font-style: normal;"><b> and hope to CHANGE and be</b></span><i><b> better </b></i><span style="font-style: normal;"><b>in the 'future'</b></span><i><b>.</b></i><span style="font-style: normal;"><b> These unconscious thoughts tend to be the source of much inner doubt and insecurity.</b></span></div><div style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif; font-style: normal; margin-bottom: 0in;"><br />
</div><div style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif; margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="color: blue; font-style: normal;"><b>Many think that by criticizing, comparing or judging ourselves, this mental activity will help us “</b></span><i style="color: blue;"><b>get better</b></i><span style="font-style: normal;"><b><span style="color: blue;">”</span> … at whatever we believe we </b></span><i><b>need to</b></i><span style="font-style: normal;"><b> 'improve'. By getting down on ourselves we hope to </b></span><i><b>improve</b></i><span style="font-style: normal;"><b>. If we 'beat ourselves up' when we 'mess up' we hope this will teach us to do better. How many have been taught this way from childhood? Parents who teach by criticizing, lecturing, scolding, informing that you 'disappointed' them, or worse. Then, we turn around and apply these tactics to ourselves.</b></span></div><div style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif; font-style: normal; margin-bottom: 0in;"><br />
</div><div style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif; margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="color: blue; font-style: normal;"><b>And so, the concern about Acceptance of <i>'What Is'</i> appears to be that if I simply accept what </b></span><i style="color: blue;"><b>Is </b></i><span style="font-style: normal;"><b><span style="color: blue;">in this moment, I will become complacent, lazy, unmotivated.</span> I will stay stuck and won't '</b></span><i><b>get better</b></i><span style="font-style: normal;"><b>'. Many think that this critical, judging part of us will, hopefully, keep us 'moving' forward in a good way. Why? Because, within many of us who believe in this constant need for 'improvement', lies the often hidden belief that we are, somehow, flawed...not good enough—</b></span><i><b>yet</b></i><span style="font-style: normal;"><b>!</b></span></div><div style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif; font-style: normal; margin-bottom: 0in;"><br />
</div><div style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif; font-style: normal; margin-bottom: 0in;"><b><span style="color: blue;">Have you noticed that this judge and criticizer never seems to be satisfied and, furthermore, never ever seems to come around and offer a pat on the back, never says 'good job'.</span> The reason for this fact is that this criticizing and judging belongs to dualistic thinking. When we are caught in dualistic thinking we are caught in dichotomy: <i>this OR that</i>. There is no '<i><span style="color: black;">both' 'and'</span></i>. </b></div><div style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif; margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="font-style: normal;"><b> Furthermore, there is <span style="color: blue;">NO acceptance of what </span></b></span><i style="color: blue;"><b>IS</b></i><span style="font-style: normal;"><b><span style="color: blue;"> in the moment. </span>Conversely, the act of Acceptance—LOVE--allows an alchemical transformational process to proceed within us. In other words, when I accept this moment and myself as I am--right now... as I accept this next moment (whether or not I think I "should" have done "better")... accept this moment as it is and as I am - knowing that, in each moment I am doing my best. This on-going effort of Acceptance--of Love in this moment--allows this transformation process.</b></span> </div><div style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif; font-style: normal; margin-bottom: 0in;"><br />
</div><div style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif; margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="font-style: normal;"><b>Consider, if you will, <span style="color: blue;">another piece of this illusory puzzle--the belief that TIME--in and of itself, alone--can improve things.</span> People say that “in Time you'll </b></span><i><b>get over it.</b></i><span style="font-style: normal;"><b>” As if, just by waiting long enough whatever was bothering you will no longer bother you simply because TIME has Passed. I have never seen this bear out in reality. For example, I have witnessed individuals touching on a painful memory of their childhood and the emotional pain they exhibit appears as strong and as raw as the pain must have felt decades earlier. While it is true we can stuff those feelings and memories in Time, Time alone, does not appear to improve anything.</b></span></div><div style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif; font-style: normal; margin-bottom: 0in;"><br />
</div><div style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif; margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="font-style: normal;"><b><span style="color: blue;">Have you ever noticed how feelings are confused with evaluation?</span> For example, someone asks me, “How do you </b></span><span style="font-style: normal;"><u><b>feel </b></u></span><span style="font-style: normal;"><b>about that decision?” If I answer: “I feel </b></span><span style="font-style: normal;"><u><b>good</b></u></span><span style="font-style: normal;"><b>” - I am giving an evaluation. '</b></span><i><b>Good</b></i><span style="font-style: normal;"><b>' and '</b></span><i><b>Bad</b></i><span style="font-style: normal;"><b>' are evaluative words and belong to the world of duality. In sharing my feelings I might say: “I feel at peace with the decision.” or, “I feel relieved.”</b></span></div><div style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif; font-style: normal; margin-bottom: 0in;"><br />
</div><div style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif; margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="color: blue; font-style: normal;"><b>This thought that we </b></span><i style="color: blue;"><b>need to be better</b></i><span style="color: blue; font-style: normal;"><b>, or that we </b></span><i style="color: blue;"><b>should have</b></i><span style="font-style: normal;"><b><span style="color: blue;">... done this or that.</span> </b></span><span style="font-style: normal;"><b>What do you imagine the effect this thinking has on us?</b></span><span style="font-style: normal;"><b> Doesn't it seem that the unspoken implication is that, as I am – in this moment – I am </b></span><i><b>not good enough</b></i><span style="font-style: normal;"><b>, yet. If I </b></span><i><b>try</b></i><span style="font-style: normal;"><b> harder, I will </b></span><i><b>be better</b></i><span style="font-style: normal;"><b>. This very common thought that is believed is an example of 'non-acceptance' of what </b></span><i><b>Is</b></i><span style="font-style: normal;"><b>, in this moment.</b></span></div><div style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif; font-style: normal; margin-bottom: 0in;"><br />
</div><div style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif; margin-bottom: 0in; margin-left: 1.04in; margin-right: 0.85in;"><span style="font-style: normal;"><b><span style="color: blue;">What would my inner experience be if, at any point, I accepted the reality that in this moment... right here... right now, I and this moment is acceptable Enough. </span></b></span><br />
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<ul><li><span style="font-style: normal;"><b><span style="color: blue;"> </span>Can I trust myself to '</b></span><i><b>do my best'</b></i><span style="font-style: normal;"><b> without the constant scrutiny of the inner judge and negative inner critic? Do I believe that without these judgmental, non-accepting parts that I'll end up a slacker? </b></span></li>
</ul><ul><li><span style="font-style: normal;"><b>Am I able to think about this in a new way? Can I accept that there is </b></span><span style="font-style: normal;"><u><b>nothing</b></u></span><span style="font-style: normal;"><b> that I must change? Can I accept that this moment is acceptable Enough, as it is right now? </b></span></li>
</ul><ul><li><span style="font-style: normal;"><b>That if I simply set my intention in 'Noticing'... my thoughts as they go by, my feelings as they arise in me... without any need to fight them, change them or get 'rid' of them, simply to Notice – this thought is here... hmmm... interesting. And, I can always choose to Send LOVE in any moment. </b></span></li>
</ul></div><div style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif; margin-bottom: 0in; margin-left: 1.04in; margin-right: 0.85in;"><br />
</div><div style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;"><b><span style="color: blue;">Your thoughts, feelings, impressions and experiences are most welcome and appreciated..</span>.</b></div><div style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;"><br />
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</div><div style="margin-bottom: 0in; margin-left: 1.04in; margin-right: 0.85in;"><span style="font-style: normal;"><b> </b></span> </div>ms nancyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17167039337990325976noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4245486953533717680.post-18110012687124086392010-12-04T23:24:00.000-08:002010-12-05T17:32:21.792-08:00What is it about these holidays ??<div style="margin-bottom: 0in;"></div><div style="margin-bottom: 0in;">What is it about the holidays? Thanksgiving to Christmas to New Years Eve? that sends so many into a tailspin of anxiety, sadness, worry, stress and depression.</div><div style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><br />
</div><div style="margin-bottom: 0in;">So much is going on – with daylight savings time abruptly ended, it's suddenly so much darker so much earlier—so little light. It's cold, rainy, snowy, windy. Sunshine has SO diminished! </div><div style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><br />
</div><div style="margin-bottom: 0in;">Then, there's the “holidays” - 'family' is a word automatically associated with Thanksgiving and Christmas. And, some of us don't have such great associations, emotionally, with the word, 'family'. And then, there's the 'Expectation' word. We have expectations... how we want things to go. We want everyone to be 'happy', <i>we</i> want to be happy, but we find ourselves feeling to anxious and stressed out with how to make it good for everyone. How to please everyone. Especially at Christmas. Will we find the perfect gift for this person and that person that will best prove our love for them? What is it, really, that tugs at so many of us that we end up spending more than we intended or going into debt much of the coming year paying for the love we hope to show our loved ones with the presents we believed would best express our love--in ways we may, otherwise, tend not to. </div><div style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><br />
</div><div style="margin-bottom: 0in;">I've heard it acknowledged by many – December is the month of emotional 'regression'. Emotional regression is a reverting backwards in feeling and behavior to an earlier, often childhood period of our lives whereby our coping strategies were primitive. These strategies were ways we found effective in our young life. A few key examples of emotional regression might be: shutting down, withdrawing emotionally, becoming angry or aggressive, manipulative, sarcastic, joking, clowning, pleasing.</div><div style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><br />
</div><div style="margin-bottom: 0in;">Sandy told me she knows something is off when she finds herself feeling 'irritable' (or <i>cranky</i>). She tells me that when she picks up on this inner experience, she knows she needs to stop and take stock with what is going on within her psyche. 'Irritability' is what is one of the five <i>cover-up</i> feelings. Irritability most typically covers up our vulnerable feelings such as <i>sadness, loneliness, emptiness, powerlessness, disappointment, hurt – </i><span style="font-style: normal;">to name a few.</span></div><div style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><br />
</div><div style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="font-style: normal;">She shared with me the struggle with 'expectations' – the struggle of living up to our perceived expectations that we believe others have over us – or the expectations we have over ourselves to do, to give, to be for others... known as <i>perfectionism. </i>Or, the subtle (or not so subtle) disappointment that my family (of origin) is not even close to being the loving support that I need or wish for. Although her parents weren't alcoholic, they interacted in an emotionally aloof manner, pretending all was well as if they were a close family, when, in fact, their interactions were superficial, emotionally cool and less than honest.</span></div><div style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><br />
</div><div style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="font-style: normal;">Barbara shared her observations she noticed while decorating her home for the holidays. She was anticipating feelings of excitement and joy as she pulled out her safely tucked away Christmas ornaments. She was surprised and distressed in feeling an unexpected sense of low-grade sadness. She didn't know where this feeling was coming from. She had been reflecting, this fall, more deeply on meaning and her standard assumptions. She became aware that she was unable to rely on the same habitual feeling year after year when so much was expanding and changing within her personal awareness and in regards to the turmoil in the greater world around her. </span> </div><div style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><br />
</div><div style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="font-style: normal;">Toni admits that her joy had come from </span><i>'WoW'</i><span style="font-style: normal;">-ing her family and friends, guests at her holiday table with the biggest, best and brightest food preparations, expensive wine, best china, table center piece ect. She acknowledged that she would knock herself out for days all for the aggrandizement in pulling off a stunning holiday feast that one would anticipate could only be accomplished by a crew rather than a lone individual. This year she took an unthinkable step – she kept it simple, her eight-year-old daughter created the center piece as a school project; she asked her guests to contribute in a pot-luck style. As a result, with the space created from these previously <i>unthinkable</i> choices, Toni enjoyed the absence of stress and, therefore, the opportunity to actually sit and visit and enjoy the company of her guests. She was happy to 'allow' her husband to help in ways that, in years previous, she believed that only she could manage.</span></div><div style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><br />
</div><div style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="font-style: normal;">Shonie reflected on a vague sense of emptiness she felt as the holidays approached. She continued her effort in noticing so as to understand where these feelings were coming from. She began to catch the connection. The T.V. commercials – the jewelry ads, the expensive car ads—the surprise gift of a Lexus waiting in the driveway outside of the lovely home with a gigantic red bow to the wife's unexpected amazement and joy. </span> </div><div style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="font-style: normal;">Shonie mused, 'it's all about being <i>given to</i>, it's about showing one is loved by being given <i>things</i>, being given the amazing fantasy gift to prove how loved I am—that someone </span><i>else</i><span style="font-style: normal;"> loves me.' If I'm not receiving an awesome gift, am I really loved, enough ? If I don't find you the most amazing gift, will you feel loved enough?</span></div><div style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><br />
</div><div style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="font-style: normal;">She continued, 'The commercials tell me I'm missing something. They show me everything I don't yet have – and that I need to have in order to feel satisfied, in order to feel loved by someone else, and good about myself--of value. There is a subtle sense of emptiness if I don't have this </span><i>thing</i><span style="font-style: normal;">. If someone is not giving me this thing.</span></div><div style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><br />
</div><div style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="font-style: normal;">How many of us feel </span><i>compelled </i><span style="font-style: normal;">to buy gifts at Christmas time? How else will we let our loved ones know we care about them? How their feelings will be hurt if we don't buy them just the perfect gift. All the energy we spend shopping at the malls. Do we find ourselves feel <i>Alive</i> there in the bustle of shopping? How much do we set ourselves back, financially, each holiday time? What compels us to make this choice? Will our children be disappointed? What are we teaching them about expectation? Has the essential meaning of this holiday time been obscured by corporate encouragement for us to spend, to buy, to prove our love by giving more stuff? Has heart-felt Love and caring for one another been reduced to '</span><i>show me the money</i><span style="font-style: normal;">'?</span></div><div style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><br />
</div><div style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="font-style: normal;">More families these days have decreed a moratorium on gift-buying in the holiday season. Instead, these families are directing their Love for one another and love for others by </span><b><i>spending</i></b><span style="font-style: normal;"> <b>Time</b> at food banks as a family repackaging food for the hungry; </span><b><i>spending</i></b><span style="font-style: normal;"><b> Time</b> making home-made baked goods, hand-made crafts for their family and friends; spending a small sum of money planting a tree in honor of a family.</span></div><div style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="font-style: normal;">More parents are concluding that their children do not need the newest toy on the market to add to their collection of piles of abandoned gifts from the previous year. Fortunate children of such parents are learning the essential personal characteristic of appreciation instead of the typical 'expectation' of </span><i>you-owe-me</i><span style="font-style: normal;">. Families are focusing with their children in prayers of concrete gratitude for that which they already <i>have</i> rather than 'wants'. Adults are experimenting with the experience of giving from their hearts instead of from their credit cards.</span></div><div style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><br />
</div><div style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><i>What does my Essential Self care for and about this Season?</i></div><div style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><br />
</div><div style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><br />
</div><div style="margin-bottom: 0in;">I welcome you to share a story from your own experience that has meaning for you in this season<i> ...</i><br />
and, honored if you care to share this link with others... <br />
<i><b><span style="color: red;">Have a Safe and Meaningful Holiday Season</span></b> </i></div>ms nancyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17167039337990325976noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4245486953533717680.post-44758410602172467912010-11-18T21:21:00.000-08:002010-11-18T21:21:00.135-08:00A Birthday Wish I received & wish to Share with ALL my Valued Viewers<b><span style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;">"We didn't come here to fit in.</span></b><br />
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<b><span style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;">We came here to Be who we are.</span></b><br />
<b><span style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;"> </span></b><br />
<b><span style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;">We didn't come here to simply work at a job.</span></b><br />
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<b><span style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;">We came here to Live our dreams.</span></b><br />
<b><span style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;"> </span></b><br />
<b><span style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;">We didn't come here for the <i>Stuff</i>.</span></b><br />
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<b><span style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;">We came here to Love each other.</span></b><br />
<b><span style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;"> </span></b><br />
<b><span style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;">We didn't come here by Accident!</span></b><br />
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</span></b><br />
<b><span style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;">We Each came here with a distinct Purpose</span></b><br />
<b><span style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;"> that is uniquely our own."</span></b><br />
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</span></b><br />
<b><span style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;"> <span style="font-size: large;">B E</span></span></b><br />
<b><span style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;"><span style="font-size: large;"> D R E A M</span></span></b><br />
<b><span style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;"><span style="font-size: large;"> </span></span></b><br />
<b><span style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;"><span style="font-size: large;"> L O V E</span></span></b><br />
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<b><span style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;"><span style="font-size: large;"> T H R I VE</span></span></b><br />
<b><span style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;"><span style="font-size: large;"> </span></span></b><br />
<b><span style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;"><span style="font-size: large;"> A L W A Y S</span></span></b>ms nancyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17167039337990325976noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4245486953533717680.post-25769640327707505722010-11-15T00:15:00.000-08:002010-11-29T10:53:39.457-08:00A MUST SEE Documentary: "Inside Job" - playing now in seattleI just viewed the much awaited documentary film, <i>Inside Job,</i> a documentary by Charles Ferguson. OMG !! An AMAZING documentary !! First off, he is SO professional in his handling of his documentary... classy in his approach... and, you don't <i>see</i> him... you only hear him interview his subjects.<br />
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The photography is fantastic... yes, who would have 'thunk' that a documentary would have fabulous photography... well, much of it takes place in NYC... as well as the origins of this story starting in Iceland, of all places !<br />
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I appreciated this film much more than the recent 'Wall Street' film because Ferguson really educates the viewer on how these <i>Collateralized Debt Obligations </i>(various hedge funds) and other Wall Street <i>Tricks </i>are explained in very concrete terms and made understandable for the ordinary viewer who doesn't work on Wall Street. The film helps us laypeople understand what happened in terms we can understand.<br />
I was AMAZED !<br />
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What stands out the most to me - in simplistic terms, our government is in bed with the financial institutions - or, if you will, the wolf has been appointed to stand guard over the hen house! Yes, this wolf gets to eat whenever he wants...and as much as he wants - without repercussions - because he's NOT there to protect the hens!! (and, gasp... also true of our educational institutions.. frightful!)<br />
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Sadly (I've already been through the shock emotions) - those at the Top who are responsible for bringing down not only our national economy - but, also the rest of the world because we are all in this together as a global economy!! Those responsible at the top are NOW (rewarded for creating disaster) in top positions in our government creating financial policies... favoring Guess Who ? <br />
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This film truly makes an argument that these very individuals should be in prison instead of overseeing our financial policies in the Obama administration...(No Change here, that we were promised) Other financial 'bandits' already in prison that had committed crimes (ie. Enron) pale in comparison to the CEOs of these companies who bring down the economy of an entire nation... yet, these people are rewarded with Billions $$$ - or given positions in our current administration... <br />
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So many americans are struggling to either save their homes, pay for their things, make ends meet, work more hours, too many don't have the time or emotional energy to engage in grassroots change - so... WHOMEVER C A N...<br />
PLEASE D O what you can DO!<br />
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Please visit this link:<br />
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<div style="color: #bf00bf; font-family: verdana,helvetica,sans-serif; font-size: 10pt;"><div><a href="http://www.alternet.org/media/148758/inside_job%3A_film_brings_us_face_to_face_with_the_people_who_nearly_destroyed_our_economy" rel="nofollow" target="_blank"><span class="yshortcuts" id="lw_1289802336_0">http://www.alternet.org/media/148758/inside_job%3A_film_brings_us_face_to_face_with_the_people_who_nearly_destroyed_our_economy</span></a></div></div><br />
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<div class="UIStoryAttachment" data-ft="{"type":"attach"}" id=""><div class="UIStoryAttachment_Info "><div class="UIStoryAttachment_Caption"><a href="http://www.alternet.org/" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">www.alternet.org</a></div><div class="UIStoryAttachment_Copy"><span style="font-size: large;"><b>Director Ferguson makes the case that the meltdown wasn't just an unfortunate accident, it was totally avoidable.</b></span></div></div></div>ms nancyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17167039337990325976noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4245486953533717680.post-18809665374976553262010-10-30T15:42:00.000-07:002010-10-30T22:26:22.805-07:00Share information and be Strengthened<span id="FONT40" style="font-size: x-small;"><span style="font-size: small;">As Bernie Sanders, senator of Vermont travels around his state, he hears from working people and those unemployed, struggling to find jobs. The real life stories are reflected in a new report by Pulitzer Prize winner David Cay Johnston, pasted below. Total wages fell 5 percent from when the economy peaked, he reported. Wages fell in 2009 for all Americans except those at the very top, who saw a five-fold leap in income. </span></span><br />
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<span id="FONT40" style="font-size: x-small;"><span style="color: blue; font-size: small;">Because this post is detailed, long and contains numbers... i've taken the liberty to <b>bold</b> and <u>underline</u> areas to stand out - in case some wish to scan this article... simply gaining an overview of these issues...</span><br />
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<span style="font-size: small;">Analyzing government <span style="font-weight: bold; text-decoration: underline;">data virtually ignored by mainstream media</span>, Johnston blamed the recession, of course. <span style="font-weight: bold;">Another culprit he identified is so-called "<span style="text-decoration: underline;">free trade</span>," which he called "nothing more than tax-subsidized mechanisms that encourage American manufacturers to close factories, fire workers, and ship American jobs overseas using cheap labor in </span><span class="yshortcuts" id="lw_1288477097_1">China</span><span style="font-weight: bold;"> and </span>other developing countries." We have heard one midwest senator say for years that free trade is Not <span style="font-style: italic;">free</span> ! Those Americans who lost their jobs - shipped overseas and now, American manufacturing jobs shipped to Mexico --are paying dearly for so-called free trade. And, now, as more and more Americans are out of a job, can't pay their mortgages - our economy appears to be strained.<br />
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I'm posting this because clear, concise and full information about what has affected our economy is not made available by mainstream media, as this article attests. We tend to receive bits and pieces - and arguments for or opposed these bits and pieces -- enough to keep most people unclear, uncertain, and, well... just tired of it all! We need to be informed, understand the implications, and make our voices heard in objection. <span style="font-weight: bold;">Our </span><span style="font-weight: bold; text-decoration: underline;">social networks</span><span style="font-weight: bold;"> can be venues for energizing change </span>! Let's inform each other, be involved, share our understanding of the complete picture... avoid apathy!</span><br id="BR44" /><a href="http://aiss.enews.senate.gov/t/124666/5280259/3441/0/" id="A42" rel="nofollow" style="color: #70322e; text-decoration: none;" target="_blank"><span id="SPAN43" style="color: #70322e;"></span></a></span><br />
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Source: <a href="http://tax.com/" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">Tax.com</a> <br />
<table align="right" cellpadding="6"><tbody>
<tr><td><br />
<div id="page-tools-top"></div></td></tr>
</tbody></table><span id="author">By <b>David Cay Johnston</b></span> <br />
<div class="date">October 25, 2010</div><div class="date"><br />
</div><div class="date"><span style="text-decoration: underline;">The Shrinking Middle Class</span></div><br />
Every 34th wage earner in America in 2008 went all of 2009 without earning a single dollar, new data from the Social Security Administration show. Total wages, median wages, and average wages all declined, <span style="text-decoration: underline;">but at the very top, salaries grew more than fivefold.</span><br />
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<span style="font-weight: bold; text-decoration: underline;">Not a single news organization reported this data when it was released</span> October 15, searches of Google and the Nexis databases show. Nor did any blog, so the citizen journalists and professional economists did no better than the newsroom pros in reporting this basic information about our economy.<br />
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<div style="font-weight: bold;">The new data hold important lessons for economic growth and tax policy and take on added meaning when examined in light of tax return data back to 1950.</div><span style="font-weight: bold;">The story the numbers tell is one of a strengthening economic base with income growing fastest at the bottom until, in 1981, we made an abrupt change in tax and economic policy.</span> <span style="text-decoration: underline;">Since then the base has fared poorly while huge economic gains piled up at the very top, along with much lower tax burdens.</span><br />
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<span style="font-weight: bold;">A weak foundation cannot properly support a massive superstructure</span>, as the leaning Tower of Pisa shows. The latest wage data show the disastrous results some of us warned about, although like the famous tower, the economy only lists badly and has not collapsed.<br />
Measured in 2009 dollars, total wages fell to just above $5.9 trillion, down $215 billion from the previous year. Compared with 2007, when the economy peaked, total wages were down $313 billion or 5 percent in real terms.<br />
The number of Americans with any wages in 2009 fell by more than 4.5 million compared with the previous year. Because the population grew by about 1 percent, the number of idle hands and minds grew by 6 million.<br />
These figures show, far more powerfully than the official unemployment measure known as U3, how both widespread and deep the loss of jobs was in 2009. While the official unemployment rate is just under 10 percent, deeper analysis of the data by economist John Williams at http://www.shadowstats.com shows a real under- and unemployment rate of more than 22 percent.<br />
Only 150.9 million Americans reported any wage income in 2009. That put us below 2005, when 151.6 million Americans reported wages, and only slightly ahead of 2004, when 149.4 million Americans held at least one paying job.<br />
For those who did find work in 2009, the average wage slipped to $39,269, down $243 or 0.6 percent, compared with the previous year in 2009 dollars.<br />
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The median wage declined by the same ratio, down $159 to $26,261, meaning half of all workers made $505 a week or less. Significantly, the 2009 median wage was $37 less than in 2000.<br />
<span style="font-weight: bold;">To give this some perspective, from 1992 to 2000</span> the number of people earning any wages grew by 21 million, but nine years later just 2.8 million more people had any work.<br />
These wage data, based on the Medicare flat tax on all compensation, tell us only about the number of people who earned wages and how much. They tell us nothing about whether these individuals were underemployed, had to work more than one job, earned fringe benefits, or were employed at a level commensurate with their abilities.<br />
But they do give us a stunning picture of what’s happening at the very top of the compensation ladder in America.<br />
The number of Americans making $50 million or more, the top income category in the data, fell from 131 in 2008 to 74 last year. But that’s only part of the story.<br />
<span style="font-weight: bold;">The average wage in this top category increased from $<span style="text-decoration: underline;">91.2</span> million in 2008 to an astonishing <span style="text-decoration: underline;">$518.8</span> million in 2009. </span>That’s nearly $10 million in weekly pay!<br />
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You read that right. <span style="font-weight: bold;">In the Great Recession year of 2009 (officially just the first half of the year), the average pay of the very highest-income Americans was more than five times their average wages and bonuses in 2008.</span> And even though their numbers shrank by 43 percent, <span style="font-weight: bold;">this group’s total compensation was 3.2 times larger in 2009 than in 2008</span>, accounting for 0.6 percent of all pay. <span style="font-weight: bold;">These 74 people made as much as the 19 million lowest-paid people in America, who constitute one in every eight workers.</span><br />
Back in 1994, when the top category the government reported on was $20 million or more of compensation, only 25 people were in that rarefied atmosphere, and their average earnings came to just under $45 million in 2009 dollars.<br />
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<span style="text-decoration: underline;">What does this all mean? </span>It is the latest, and in this case quite <span style="font-weight: bold;">dramatic, <span style="text-decoration: underline;">evidence that our economic policies in Washington are undermining the nation as a whole</span>. We have created a tax system that changes continually as politicians manipulate it to extract campaign donations</span>. We have <span style="font-weight: bold;">enabled ‘‘<span style="text-decoration: underline;">free trade</span>’’ that is nothing of the sort, but rather tax-subsidized mechanisms </span>(outsourcing of jobs) <span style="font-weight: bold;">that encourage American manufacturers to close their domestic factories, fire workers, and then use cheap labor in China for products they send right back to the United States.</span> (Let's find out who these companies are who engage this practice - and boycott them). This has <span style="text-decoration: underline;">created enormous downward pressure on wages, and not just for factory workers</span>.<br />
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Combined with government policies that have <span style="text-decoration: underline;">reduced the share of private-sector workers in unions</span> by more than two-thirds — while our competitors in Canada, Europe, and Japan continue to have highly unionized workforces — the <span style="text-decoration: underline;">net effect has been disastrous</span> for the vast majority of American workers. And of course, less money earned from labor translates into less money to finance the United States of America.<br />
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This systematic destruction of the working class and middle class has come during an era notable for celebrating the super-rich just for being super-rich. From the Forbes 400 launch in 1982 and Robin Leach’s Lifestyles of the Rich and Famous in 1984 to the faux reality of the multiplying Real Housewives shows, money voyeurism has grown in tandem with stagnant to falling incomes for the vast majority. There has also been huge income growth at the top and the economic children of income inequality: budget deficits and malign neglect of our commonwealth.<br />
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This orgy of money exhibitionism has created a society in which commas — it takes three to be a billionaire — count more than character. We have gone so far down this path that <span style="font-weight: bold;">we bailed out bankers, allowing them to keep the untaxed wealth in their deferral accounts and, with a few exceptions, retaining shareholder value</span>, while wiping out investors in General Motors and Chrysler as a condition of their bailouts. And while <span style="font-weight: bold;">autoworkers had to take severe pay cuts, bonus time on Wall Street is at new record levels.</span><br />
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<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-weight: bold;">The American economy in the three decades before Ronald Reagan’s election</span></span> did not produce a mass audience for celebrating wealth. In that era, <span style="text-decoration: underline;">books that emphasized character sold better than today</span>.<br />
<span style="font-weight: bold;">During the years from 1950 to 1980,</span> the share of total income going to those at the top declined, and the real incomes of the vast majority grew much more quickly than did nearly all incomes at the very top.<br />
<div style="font-weight: bold;">In those years, America had the money, and vision, to invest in the future through education, research, and infrastructure.</div><br />
<span style="font-size: small; font-weight: bold;">In nearly three decades of Reaganism, however, we have become a society of mine-here-and-now.</span> Now what we hear from Washington is about today, not tomorrow. <span style="font-weight: bold;">War without sacrifice </span>(or a congressional declaration). <span style="font-weight: bold;">Savings without interest</span>. More government services while lowering taxes.<br />
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<span style="font-weight: bold;">In this era, the incomes of the vast majority have barely grown while incomes at the top have soared</span>. <span style="font-weight: bold;">Reaganism has trimmed the base of the income ladder while placing a much heavier weight on the top. Narrowing the base while adding weight to the apex does not make a stable structure</span>. Here are some numbers that may surprise those ages 50 and under, taken from the latest analysis of tax return data by Emmanuel Saez and Thomas Piketty, who have won worldwide praise for their groundbreaking work <span style="font-weight: bold; text-decoration: underline;">examining changes in income distribution</span>:<br />
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So a three-decade era in which the bottom 90 percent increased their share of all income slightly was followed by a 28-year period at whose end income had fallen sharply. The 2009 data show that it has only gotten worse since then.<br />
While the vast majority must get by on a much smaller share of the national income pie, the re-slicing resulted in concentrated benefits at the top. The top 10 percent enjoyed a nearly 40 percent increase in their share of the income pie. But within the top 10 percent, the re-slicing of the income pie between 1980 and 2008 was also heavily weighted to the top.<br />
Those in the 90th to 95th percentile income category saw their income share rise by just 0.24 percentage points. The 95th to 99th income category got 2.43 percentage points more slice of the national income pie.<br />
That means that of the 13.59 percentage points of increased pie going to the top 10 percent of Americans, the top 1 percent earned almost 11 percentage points of it. Now look at how the pie was sliced within the top 1 percent:<br />
Notice that as you move to the right, the numbers of taxpayers shrink, but the percentage points grow. <br />
<div style="font-weight: bold; text-decoration: underline;">The theme: more and more for fewer and fewer.</div><br />
Income shares tell us about how groups are doing relative to one another. But you can’t spend income shares, so let’s look at incomes.<br />
<span style="text-decoration: underline;">From 1950 to 1980, the average income of the bottom 90 percent grew tremendously.</span> Not so since then:<br />
Had income growth from 1950 to 1980 continued at the same rate for the next 28 years, the average income of the bottom 90 percent in 2008 would have been 68 percent higher, instead of just 1 percent more.<br />
<div style="font-weight: bold; text-decoration: underline;">That would have meant an average income for the vast majority of $52,051, or $21,110 more than actual 2008 incomes. How different America would be today if the typical family had $406 more each week — less debt, more savings, and more consumption.</div><br />
So how about the top? This is where the changes in incomes in these two eras become interesting, very interesting.<br />
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What the figures below show is that the closer you got to the top of the ladder in the era from 1950 to 1980, the smaller your relative increase in income, except for the very top, whose gains were slightly more than those of the bottom 90 percent. Since 1980, however, the bottom 90 percent of Americans have seen their incomes go nowhere, while on the highest steps of the income ladder, the further up you are, the greater your gains.<br />
Add in today’s decreased number of jobs, and all these data add up to policies that can be described with one word: failed.<br />
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<span style="font-size: small;"><b>Let's stay informed, use our social networks to address issues, stay motivated, share information and be strengthened rather than feeling overwhelmed and hopeless - let's be part of the solution !</b></span>ms nancyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17167039337990325976noreply@blogger.com2