tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-88869205266754642792024-03-04T22:40:33.803-08:00a path less travelled by...The story of Jack and Julia's move to Vilcabamba, Ecuador, 2009.Unknownnoreply@blogger.comBlogger10125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8886920526675464279.post-7317740773500064022011-05-03T19:47:00.000-07:002011-05-03T20:00:37.760-07:00the real & the unreal<div><i>by Jack Crompton – 5/2/2011</i></div><div>
<br /></div><div><b>Note of Acknowledgement: </b>While the ideas I express here have been seeded by many others, the following article is particularly inspired by the ideas expressed by <i>Arthur and Fiona Cristian</i> and their material on the <i>LoveForLife.com.au</i> website; in particular, this article. I am indebted to this courageous and gifted couple for their insights and articulation on this theme, which has deepened my own understanding. I wish to also acknowledge the insights of <i>Stephan Molineaux, Rob Hay, Mary Croft </i>and<i> George Kavassilas</i> in contributing major pieces of clarity to my present understanding.</div><div>
<br /></div><div><b>Disclaimer:</b> What I write here are only my own observations of the nature of life on Planet Earth, at this point in time. Although I am secure in that which I write here has been shown to bentrue to me personally, in no way do I claim to speak any ultimate truth, nor do I intend to lay any kind of dogma on anyone else. I simply offer these musings with the genuine intention that they may stimulate thought or discussion with others that may be of mutual benefit and clarity of perception for us all.</div><meta equiv="Content-Type" content="text/html;charset=UTF-8"><div>
<br /></div><div>I invite you to read with an open mind and come to your own conclusions. </div><div>
<br /></div><div><b>1) The Real and the Unreal</b></div><div>
<br /></div><div>As men and women upon the earth, there are two realms we currently exist in. We can describe these two realms as the extremes of polar opposites. One is of the Original Divine Creation (LIFE) and is alive with the pulsating lifeforce that drives all of Creation. We may call this realm the 'REAL WORLD'. </div><div>
<br /></div><div>Opposite of the real world is the 'UNREAL WORLD', or that which is 'artificial' in it's most fundamental nature. This artificial world is 'DEAD,' for it has no life it it... it is an imitation copy of life, but it has no true life in and of itself. The unreal is the creation of mind and ego, although there is indeed a counterfeit 'master intelligence' behind it's inception.</div><div>
<br /></div><div>I've come to the conclusion that the proper understanding of the difference between these two energies is the KEY to comprehending life on earth, and our role in the GRAND DESIGN.</div><div>
<br /></div><div><b>Characteristics of the Polarity</b></div><div>
<br /></div><div>The characteristics of that which is 'real' are obvious: freedom, love, creativity, abundance, health, well-being, co-operation, compassion, giving and allowance. </div><div>
<br /></div><div>The characteristics of that which is 'unreal' are equally obvious: control, restriction, fear, hate, greed, aggression, exploitation, competition, a lack of compassion, hoarding and forcing of one's will upon another.</div><div>
<br /></div><div>It should not be difficult to see which of these two worlds currently is the dominant influence in our day to day lives.</div><div>
<br /></div><div><b>2) The Real (Natural) World</b></div><div>
<br /></div><div>Men and women upon the Earth are inherently part of the Original Creation (LIFE), along with everything else we can see, hear, taste, smell, and feel in the natural world. Our existence was not manufactured artificially, but came into being through a brilliant combination of biological processes that far exceed our own minds to comprehend. We have been brought forth as part of a GRAND DESIGN, that includes many other beings and life forms, all which live and grow in synergistic balance. </div><div>
<br /></div><div>The real world is an amazingly beautiful place of balance, complexity and synergy. It's repeating cycles of life fuel the creation to continually expand, and grow in infinite varieties of expression. The physical world is only one of many aspects of this Creation that we exist within. This Universe is a vastly complex, intelligent, organic machine, and has Supreme Intelligence embedded within it, which is guiding it. Indeed, we are all individually an essential part of this organic machine itself, for it's operating system pulses through our veins.</div><div>
<br /></div><div>The baseline characteristic of the Real Word is that it is inherently benevolent – meaning, it exists for the benefit of all life on it. It's fundamental operating system is one of WELL-BEING and the continuation and expansion of life. If this was not so, the real world would have self-destructed a long time ago. </div><div>
<br /></div><div><b>The Real Gives Freely of Itself</b></div><div>
<br /></div><div>All life in the real world that is running on this 'operating system' gives freely of it's own essence to those around it. An examination of how the natural world functions will bear out this truth. Life runs in cycles of birth, growth, productivity and eventual surrender to return to the earth and begin a new cycle. It is no different with animals or men and women. Within each one of us is this basic inherent human desire: to contribute in a positive way to those around us. We thrive and invariably feel the most satisfaction when we are contributing in a positive way to the world around us, in whatever myriad ways that we are best suited for. Although, for many of us, this desire has been deadened and replaced with one of the various 'replacement roles' the system of the 'unreal' has given to us. </div><div>
<br /></div><div>The Real World is expansive rather than contractive. There is no counting (math) in the Real World, nor a need for names and labels; for in the realm of the real world, there is no time. All is ONE and all is simply NOW. Math, as well virtually all languages, sciences and technology is a CONstruct of the artificial; they only exist in the artificial realm where separation exists.</div><div>
<br /></div><div>There is no judgment in the Real World, for all is truly ONE – all simply IS now and exists connected to, in balance with and in harmony with all other life. Judgment can only exist through the perception of separation that is the baseline fundamental characteristic of the artificial world of the unreal.</div><div>
<br /></div><div>So, if the above is true, why are we not all living in a paradise? </div><div>
<br /></div><div><b>3) The Artificial World </b></div><div>
<br /></div><div>To properly understand the conditions of our life today, we need to understand a fundamental fact that has been deliberately hidden from us. It is not an easy thing to accept, but it is most definitely true, and once your eyes are open to it, you will perceive it within every nuance and activity of life on earth.</div><div>
<br /></div><div>That fact is this: An artificial CONstruct of the real world has been overlayed onto the real world in order to usurp, control and enslave all life within it. This artificial CONstruct is a 'mirror copy' of the real world but it has no life of its own to sustain it, so it must be 'propped-up' with the life energy of real people for it to exist. </div><div>
<br /></div><div>This is what we have all be indoctrinated to do since birth and this is what we call the matrix or the world system. It is we, the men and women who have been programmed to participate in the system, (collectively and individually) that sustain this artificial creation today.</div><div>
<br /></div><div>Let me repeat that realization: It is we who sustain this artificial creation today.</div><div>
<br /></div><div><b>The Usurper</b></div><div>
<br /></div><div>Many people will readily acknowledge the existence of the polarities of light and dark in all their variations. However, few have come to realize that the 'systems' which we have been conditioned to accept as our 'normal' way of life (corporations, government, politics, schools, religions, entertainment media, the monetary system, etc.), are themselves totally devoid of life of their own. They are not real or living, for they are 'synthetic' intellectual 'constructs.' All of these constructs are parasitical in nature... they must get their 'energy' from real living men and women to exist.</div><div>
<br /></div><div>It takes our compliance and participation to make them seem 'real'. In fact, they seem so real, that they have succeeded in enslaving over six billion people under their 'pseudo-authority'.</div><div>
<br /></div><div>Think with me for a moment: Does a government talk, stand, sing or create anything that has it's origins in LIFE? Would we really suffer without it? (well, maybe those on the welfare dole would, until they accepted the self responsibility to contribute to society). Is it essential to our lives and will being? Can we see it... taste it... feel it... hear it? What about corporations, schools, banks, religions and the 'stock market'? </div><div>
<br /></div><div>No, we only see 'dead' buildings, symbols and monuments that represent the ideas of these things. We can only sense the actions of other people who have assumed roles to act out the agendas of these artificial entities. These are all dead entities in themselves, simply lifeless thought-forms that have been created out of thin air to usurp the natural order of LIFE.</div><div>
<br /></div><div>They have no substance in themselves other than that which we give them.</div><div>
<br /></div><div>Without men and women to believe in them, populate them, and carry out tasks which make them function, these ideas simply do not exist in the real world. They have no connection to Original Creation and Divine origin... they are phantoms... illusions that need people to beLIEve in them in order for them to exist.</div><div>
<br /></div><div><i>Realize this:</i> We are ones supplying the POWER that makes this artificial, dead world operate.</div><div>
<br /></div><div><b>4) The SYSTEM: Peeling the Onion</b></div><div>
<br /></div><div>Lets break-down this CONstruct of an artificial world in more detail, so we can see it for what it is. By recognizing the truth of the web that has been spun around us, we can begin to consciously choose a better alternative. The fact is: these 'institutions' of the artificial world are contributing to making life on earth a hell for most people on the planet, not to mention really damaging the natural environment of the planet Earth itself. </div><div>
<br /></div><div>Tell-tale Characteristic of the Unreal: <i>Untruth</i></div><div>
<br /></div><div>In the world of the unreal, everything is in fact backwards of what it purports to be: </div><div>
<br /></div><div>Peace is presented to us as the necessity of continuous war; freedom is cloaked in a tight police-state style of enslavement (you are free as long as you do what the government or any of its agents tell you to do); health is taught to us as disease maintenance (through dependancy on 'big pharma'), and that which is declared as the truth are either outright lies and/or spin (a combination of truth, but 'spun' with a little disinformation to subvert the true fact).</div><div>
<br /></div><div><b>Pseudo-Auhtority & Choice</b></div><div>
<br /></div><div>Lets look at the concept of 'authority'. Today we have these various institutions which are all artificial CONstructs, which presume to have 'authority' over us – the living, breathing men and women who actually give them 'life'. </div><div>
<br /></div><div>Tell me: who gave these dead institutions 'authority' over us? I know that I have never given my conscious consent for anyone or anything to rule over me... have you?</div><div>
<br /></div><div>Now, religions and the royal families will tell you 'ALMIGHTY GOD' gave them the authority. If you believe that fairy tale, then you might as well stop reading and go back to sleep and be a good little slave. The Creator gave us a brain to use. </div><div>
<br /></div><div>Those entities who would rule over us gain their supposed 'authority' over us simply through our passive compliance. It's indoctrinated programming, and this is the state of the world today (although it is now cracking at the seams). It is a world of very sophisticated mind-control technology that we live in today, as we collectively walk lock-step towards a state of transhumanism: a totally artificial, un-real existence, populated by artificial entities, and propelled along by the profit motive. </div><div>
<br /></div><div>It isn't difficult to project the current trends. It is my opinion that if we do not individually and collectively wake up to the fact of this deception – and choose to live differently, by different 'rules' – that our future will become an absolute horror to live in. </div><div>
<br /></div><div><b>Mind Control on Auto-Pilot</b></div><div>
<br /></div><div>These 'pseudo-authorities' have gained their positions of control over us through covertly influencing the way we think and what we believe, so that we would create this world of the 'matrix'. From infancy, we are told 'the way it is' from our parents, siblings, peers and culture. We form our 'beliefs' based on this data, just as they all did, based upon what they were told. It is this matrix of beliefs, which has created the various governments, corporations, financial systems, religions, educational systems and media culture which have become the 'authorities' of this artificial world.</div><div>
<br /></div><div><b>Fruits of the System</b></div><div>
<br /></div><div>The Fruits of the System are self evident: economical and physical enslavement, control (the opposite of freedom), death, disease, pollution, chaos and scientific and biological abominations of nature in every shape and form.</div><div>
<br /></div><div>Make no mistake: It is us – the flesh and blood men and women who voluntarily perform our little scripted functions in the system that are perpetuating atrocities all over the world on a continual automated basis: endless war, death, destruction, disease, starvation, etc. Meanwhile, the public is put to sleep, distracted by fairy tales propulgated by the controlled media.</div><div>
<br /></div><div>The system has produced powerful artificial corporate entities such as the BIG PHARMA whose bottom line is profiteering off of human suffering and making sure people are dependent upon their products by eliminating the competition (natural healing remedies and effective healers and health practitioners). Oh, their drugs do relieve suffering on one level, but at the cost of economic enslavement and product dependency.</div><div>
<br /></div><div>This is the system that has given us monstrosities such as the Monsanto Corporation which has systematically taken over the farming industry, replacing naturally replicating annual life-giving seeds, with genetically modified 'dead' seeds which need to be re-purchased every year so that they can reap profits exponentially. Most, if not all of the farms in the US, as well as many other parts of the world are being forced by law to buy these genetically modified seeds. It's forced the small farmer out of business, or course, all by design. </div><div>
<br /></div><div>The recent events in Japan testify to the insanity of using nuclear energy for electrical power, much less building these reactors on known fault lines. I could fill many pages with examples of the utter stupidity of what this system is doing and how it runs contrary to the well-being of the people and the planet, but I trust that my point is made. </div><div>
<br /></div><div><b>5) The Trick of 'Re-presenting' Man</b></div><div>
<br /></div><div>Present -<i> to be fully aware and conscious, now.</i></div><div>
<br /></div><div>Re-present - <i>to present again, taking on an assumed role.</i></div><div>
<br /></div><div><b>Artificial Identity</b></div><div>
<br /></div><div>The 'System' is this matrix of artificial entities, which all have artificial identities, and it permeates all that people do in the world. </div><div>
<br /></div><div>For instance, one of the first things people ask when meeting someone new is 'what do you do'? Most people will answer without thinking and parrot their chosen career role which the system has labelled for us. We are so conditioned that the belief we have about ourselves, as well as what others think of us, is confined to a tight little box, which means it is controllable.</div><div>
<br /></div><div>The system is all pervasive and the diabolical brilliance of it's imposition and evidence of this fact is overwhelming once you start to question what things are and what they are for. But most people are lost in their conditioning and it is not difficult to see why. From childhood, we are groomed for a conforming functional slot in the matrix. This is not who we really are, which is a being of unlimited potential, a Creator, but a fictitous identity that we are re-presenting ourselves to be. </div><div>
<br /></div><div><b>Birth Certificate: Deed To Your Body</b></div><div>
<br /></div><div>Since around 1920, the system has created a little artificial corporate entity for each baby born into the world and called it a name, a 'person,' spelled in ALL CAPITAL LETTERS and has (under the guise of census) conned the mother of the infant to offer the 'State' an Application for Birth Certificate, which the State of course accepts, and this document becomes, in fact, the DEED to that living babies' economic output for life which the state assumes ownership of. In fact, the original birth certificate document is traded on the worldwide stock market to create funds for governments by the 'money-powers'. This is how the matrix has been built over most of the last century: money created out of thin air based upon fraudulent presumption of ownership of the 'principle' (human energy). </div><div>
<br /></div><div>All through our entire lives we are 'identified' by this corporate fiction. (passports, social security cards, driver licenses, photo IDs, etc.) Don't believe me? Look at anything you get from a government entity or a public utility and you will see it is true, for the unreal world cannot interface with the real world – they must con men and women into re-presenting themselves as artificial entities, whereby they can then affect absolute control over us, for the artificial corporate entity is indeed one of their own. </div><div>
<br /></div><div><b>Education / Indoctrination</b></div><div>
<br /></div><div>Think about it: as soon as one can walk and talk we are programmed into the system through the home, our peers, the church and schools. We are told what to believe, and are systematically conditioned to fit into a pre-scripted role in the matrix. The educational system doesn't encourage critical thinking but instead strongly encourages and rewards conformity – as does religion and the world of commerce. </div><div>
<br /></div><div><i>Conform, or Not Conform - That is the Question</i></div><div>
<br /></div><div>Actually, William Shakespear revealed a powerful truth in his famous 'To Be, or Not To Be' quote. They key to health and well-being lies in BEING, which can only be realized by living the the present moment, not in an artificial, unreality. For one to have a chance of escaping the soul-draining matrix of the system, and continuing to be a participating co-perpetrator of all of it's horrors, we must begin by, not only daring to not conform to societal 'norms', but to fully BE OURSELVES, which means reconnecting fully with our Source.</div><div>
<br /></div><div><b>Media Mind Manipulation</b></div><div>
<br /></div><div>But escaping the matrix's influence is not so easy, for our minds are continually and powerfully influenced on many levels by many applications of the systems technologies. The media is so powerful at thought manipulation that it is a piece of cake to implant certain beliefs into the popular 'hive' culture. For most people, their entire view of reality is a manufactured one, courtesy of the controlled media of the system. </div><div>
<br /></div><div>Very few people have truly original thoughts, based on their own thoughtful introspective conclusions, drawn on their unique personal experiences. Only those few individuals who have had the courage to take 'the path less travelled by' and deliberately cut themselves off from the programming propaganda have a chance of seeing with any clarity, so powerful is the consensus thought-forms and the technology used to disseminate them.</div><div>
<br /></div><div>Popular culture is a major conformist machine (even by providing an assortment of non-conformist artists and celebrities for you to identify with). You are either adopt one of those myriad identities sanctioned as 'cool' and 'ok' or you are on the outside of all social acceptance. Those that do not conform to these various 'cultural norms' are either ridiculed as 'uncool', considered 'fringe lunatics', or worse: terrorists (the favorite catch-phrase of our times).</div><div>
<br /></div><div>Indeed, if you do not conform at least somewhat, your very physical survival is questionable, for the system demands a certain measure of compliance for the bare necessities of life. (Tell me – how long would you live without using money?)</div><div>
<br /></div><div>What comprises the world system today is a conglomeration of thought-forms or 'identities' which we are all encouraged to embody and re-present ourselves as. It doesn't matter to the architects of control which identity we choose, as long as it is one which they can have influence over so they can steer the whole ball of wax towards their desired end: which is a single totalitarian, synthetic culture of artificial everything, including us. </div><div>
<br /></div><div>What they do not want is people thinking for themselves outside of the box of predetermined thought-forms, yet that is our birthright as children of the Divine Creator, for we possess within our very DNA this energy to create. True creation requires total freedom, or it becomes another manifestation of the coersion of the artificial world. In the divine Creation, our creative potential knows no limits or controls, as it follows the axiom of 'do no harm.'</div><div>
<br /></div><div><b>Creation/Destruction</b></div><div>
<br /></div><div>The artificial world requires the destruction of the real world, in order to impose itself upon it (us). Trees and other natural elements are destroyed and/or transmuted in order to CONstruct this artificial world with all its impressive structures of governmental and religious architecture, temples, monuments and the corporate world of office buildings, and cookie-cutter commercial franchises and housing projects. </div><div>
<br /></div><div>The corporate state creates billions of (mostly useless) 'consumer products' in order to hook our attention, enslave us and imprint our minds with beliefs of their supposed 'necessity'... but none of these things have LIFE in them. They are all dead matter. </div><div>
<br /></div><div><b>The War Machine</b></div><div>
<br /></div><div>Most everyone will say that they want peace on Earth, but the hard truth is: there can never be peace in the unreal world. For the military-industrial complex, which fuels the global economy, thrives on endless wars. It's simply business, based upon the profit motive. Our monetary system depends on the creation of endless wars for it's very survival. And numerous large corporations (like General Electric, British Petroleum, Standard Oil, Raytheon, MacDonnel/Douglas, Boening, Halliburton, and of course, Wall Street) profit off of it.</div><div>
<br /></div><div>You see, they must destroy life so their corporations can come in afterwards and rebuild their artificial CONstructs and profit off the reconstruction, while creating a new political structure that moves their ultimate agenda forward. If there was global peace, the world financial systems would all crash, so dependent are they on the war machine. </div><div>
<br /></div><div>As long as maximizing profits remains the 'carrot' of prime motivation on this planet, there can never be peace on earth. It simply doesn't fit the commerce-for-profit model. </div><div>
<br /></div><div><b>The System must be enFORCED</b></div><div>
<br /></div><div>The obvious giveaway that this unreal world is an abberation of the Divine Creation is that it's compliance must be enforced. A tagline for this artificial world might as well read, 'Might makes Right', for that is exactly how their world operates: the stronger force their will on the weaker. This is equally true for both individuals and institutions and it has worked this way throughout our history. </div><div>
<br /></div><div>Take a broad look at the system today... it is enFORCED upon people by jack-booted thugs-for-hire, weilding machine-guns and taser weapons to force the will of 'the system' upon people: You MUST BE IN COMPLIANCE is the mantra! This is totally in direct contrast to the free will nature of the Divine Creation. Everything in nature thrives in a state of freedom.</div><div>
<br /></div><div>In the case of corporations and businesses, the wealthier larger corporations end up buying up smaller businesses, and owning them... thereby controlling what they do. See how long you continue to have a 'job' if you decide to do something that conflicts with the corporate heirarchy or express an opinion that is 'politically incorrect'.</div><div>
<br /></div><div><b>The Power of Media</b></div><div>
<br /></div><div>This is also how the worldwide 'mainstream' media system works (newspapers, magazines, radios stations, tv stations, film conglomerates and online entities). Sad to say, most people get their 'truth' from what the TV, or any of the other controlled media tells them. </div><div>
<br /></div><div>Fact: Six Zionist individuals determine what is broadcast globally on TV, radio and newspapers as 'the truth' of what's happening in the world. They own 97% of the worldwide media, having systematically purchased up the entire worldwide grid of news media. It's a definitive monopoly. These people all share a common globalist agenda. Anything that directly conflicts with what they want people to believe will either be ignored, ridiculed or 'spun' to be presented in a negative light. By controlling the 'spin' of events, they thereby manipulate popular opinion and beliefs, and step-by-step manipulate the world to evolve into the anti-life totalitarian state it has now become.</div><div>
<br /></div><div>The only area this is not totally under control today is the internet, but they are working hard to control that as well. Currently, the internet is still a censor-free environment in which all information is available for people to sift through and make up their own minds about. This has rapidly raised the consciousness of the planet, for the truth can be discerned by those who have enough interest to research a given topic and 'connect the dots'. </div><div>
<br /></div><div>However, as it exists, agents of the unreal world deliberately seed disinformation among the true information (known as COINTELPRO) to confuse, obfuscate and help to create dissension among 'truth-seekers'. This is another tell-tale characteristic of the dark side: confusion over clarity. It's also how religions work. This serves to divide people by stirring up dissention and difference of opinion. Whenever people begin to think in terms that run contrary to the Agenda of the system, the strategy applied is mostly 'divide and conquer', and unfortunately, it has worked very well.</div><div>
<br /></div><div><b>Agents of the System</b></div><div>
<br /></div><div>Those individuals who have displayed characteristics that are congruent with the energies of the dark polarity (dominance, aggression, greed, competition, lust for power and imposition of its will on others) are eventually elevated to the positions of power in this artificial world system, for it thrives on these same qualities, which are not only encouraged, but handsomely rewarded. Just look at the major players in government, banking and most all corporate industries. Because the motivation that drives these people is so plain to see, they become easily controlled 'minions' of the system, and they assure the continuation of the 'agenda'.</div><div>
<br /></div><div><b>We're Not in Kansas Anymore </b></div><div>
<br /></div><div>So, we are born into a world that has been usurped by a powerful consciousness that created an artificial world of it's own design and has imposed this reality onto the original Divine Creation. This story has been told in many religions and cultures and most will know this conscious entity by various names such as: Lucifer, Satan, Molech, Baal or simply, the 'Demiurge'. </div><div>
<br /></div><div>Others claim that the architects of this system are not of this world at all but an alien species which has has been overseeing our 'soul evolution' and exploiting our energy for eons of time from a higher dimension, much like mankind exploits the animals and earth today for our own purposes. Whatever the name, the energy is the same: He is universally known as the 'father of lies.' And his artificial world of the unreal runs directly contrary to Divine purpose and principles.</div><div>
<br /></div><div>We are not promoting any specific religion or worldview here, but to communicate we need to adopt a name for this counter-life energy, and so we will call it Satan, and his system is a 'satanic', or mirror-image system that runs contrary to the Divine Creation in every way... indeed, it is a mirror copy, a reflection... only devoid of life, and upside-down. It's most basic characteristic is that of deception and lies. Aptly describes our recent succession of US presidents and other politicians, does it not?</div><div>
<br /></div><div><b>The 'Celestial Error'</b></div><div>
<br /></div><div>We all know the biblical account of the fallen angels, etc. There is another version of this tale that speaks of a highly evolved entity (angel?) which wished to speak directly to the Divine Creator. Although Creation was perfect and magnificent, he thought he could offer some worthwhile suggestions to make it better. </div><div>
<br /></div><div>But the Creator, being happy with it's creation, wouldn't 'talk' with him and this frustrated this entity. So obsessed was this entity with having a conversation with the Creator, that the only thing he thought he could do to get God's attention was to behave like a child and throw a tantrum. So, he decided to try to destroy the Creation, and himself with it. In doing so, he created his own world (a mirror, or reflection of the original), but by his destructive actions, he cut himself off from the divine flow of life. And so, he has carefully manipulated an artificial world where other beings, who are themselves connected to the Divine Source of Life are tricked into sustaining his unreal world for his own purposes.</div><div>
<br /></div><div>It is this artificial creation we are living within on this planet. Those men and women who have a good clear connection with their Divine Source will know this to be true for it is so very evident all around us, although most of us seem to prefer to live in denial.</div><div>
<br /></div><div>The simple test to determine what is of the Divine Source and what is of the Imposter is to ask if it is directly connected to the natural world (and LIFE) or not? It's really not complicated. You see, it is this imposter's alphabet languages, mathematics, religions, banks, governments, schools, corporations, military, and various other thought-form CONstructs that we have all been living within and trained to give our life's energy to sustain their existence all of our lives. </div><div>
<br /></div><div>But we don't have to – without our compliance, its all a 'house of cards' without substance. Like the wizard behind the curtain in the Wizard of Oz, there is just a weak manipulator there with no real power of his own.</div><div>
<br /></div><div><b>The Illusion of Fairness and Free Choice</b></div><div>
<br /></div><div>So, the architects of the system hold all the keys and monitor all the doors and exits of their system. But they have to create the appearance (illusion) of this world being a level playing field. So, they indoctrinate us with various beLIEfs that cause us to view these CONstructs as 'good', which is the opposite of the truth. And, they give us the left/right polarized political paradigm in which they can control both sides of the game completely... insuring the desired ultimate outcome. </div><div>
<br /></div><div>How do they accomplish this? It's simple when you control the lifeblood of the artificial system: money. </div><div>
<br /></div><div><b>Money: Artificial Blood for an Unreal World</b></div><div>
<br /></div><div>It is money that makes 'the corpse' move. Money itself is simply a belief that someone made up and the rest of us went along with. More accurately, we've been indoctrinated to go along with it. The monetary system we have in place today is an amazing fraud to anyone who has bothered to examine and understand it. It's based on nothing but a combination of beLIEf and the unconscious economic output of people who are living in ignorance of the truth.</div><div>
<br /></div><div>The system uses a form of slavery to impose it's agenda: economic slavery, through the imposition of the financial systems. The slaves are us, and we number in the billions. And the slave-owners (The Vatican, the Royal Family, and the House of Rothchild and their worldwide network of banking empires) number very few. Money only exists for the purpose of slavery. It has no other function than to be a mechanism for separating the haves from the have-nots and for controlling people. </div><div>
<br /></div><div><b>Two Worlds</b></div><div>
<br /></div><div>As noted at the outset, we have two worlds we are existing within. There is the real world of aware, present-in-the-moment men and women, living in balance and harmony with nature, the earth and with each other. This world is powered and perpetuated by the life force of the original Divine Creator.</div><div>
<br /></div><div>Then there is the artificial world of currency, insurance, commerce, laws, governments, rulers, military, law-enforcement pseudo-authorities, etc, which do not really exist (except as ideas), but require man to re-present themselves into minions of a false, artificial creation, for the false world could not exist without being populated by real flesh-and-blood people.</div><div>
<br /></div><div>This re-presenting mechanism is important to understand. You see, the real power is in men and women. The usurper has cleverly diverted that energy that flows through us to empower it's own false creation. He does this by getting us to re-present ourselves into these various roles in his artificial satanic drama. </div><div>
<br /></div><div>'Career Paths' all lead to the same objective: slavery. We are trained to trade our life's energy for money. We become bankers, lawyers, stock-brokers, salesmen, policemen, doctors, teachers, students, computer technicians, store clerks... whatever... for the sake of establishing a career which enables us to participate in commerce by which we earn money which we have all become brainwashed to believe is necessary for our survival.</div><div>
<br /></div><div>Guess what: <i>it's not.</i></div><div>
<br /></div><div>When we fall for this re-presenting fraud, we are no longer our most authentic selves functioning with unlimited potential with a desire to contribute positively to the world but have given ourselves over to a pre-scripted role that primarily benefits no-one but those at the top of artificial world pyramid and their satanic agenda. And that agenda is basically what is now in our faces: an inbalanced, brutally violent, destructive, fear-saturated, dysfunctional and chaotic environment for everyone.</div><div>
<br /></div><div><b>The Corporation: Birth of 'Limited Liability'</b></div><div>
<br /></div><div>The idea of the corporation is the perfect metaphor for this satanic world system, for it is a graphic example of what the system is in essence: a fiction. The Corporation is simply an idea of fiction, a thought-form. As such, it has no life of it's own and is artificial in its fundamental nature. </div><div>
<br /></div><div>The defining characteristic of the corporation is that it has what is called 'limited liability' – meaning, it assumes no responsibility for it's actions. How can it? It's artificial, its a fiction. It requires people to make decisions for it and to make things happen in the real world. </div><div>
<br /></div><div>A Corporation entity can do whatever it wishes to without assuming any responsibility for its actions. Oh, there maybe lawsuits against the corporation for damage done to someone, but no man is going stand up and say, 'I'm responsible for the actions of 'XYZ, incorporated' and be accountable. For the two entities: the fiction corporation and the man, are like oil and water – the two do not mix. </div><div>
<br /></div><div>Today, the entire world is ruled by corporations. They rule the world of commerce, as well as the political world, for governments are all corporations in their basic structure. Is it any wonder why corruption and scandals are now the 'normal' functioning of business and politics? There is no one taking personal responsibility for their actions... it's all avoided by hiding behind the fiction of limited liability... the UNREAL CONstruct. </div><div>
<br /></div><div>I wonder how people's choices of what they did in the world would change if each of us was made to be directly responsible for our actions and the harm that is done to others?</div><div>
<br /></div><div><b>6) Solution: Do No Harm</b></div><div>
<br /></div><div>Some may argue that human nature is so debased that we NEED these artificial constructs in place to provide some kind of order in society. This is the main theme propulgated by the major religions, many of which describe man as being inherently flawed or born into 'sin'. And this is the main theme that has been driving the globalist agenda to create a 'New World Order'.</div><div>
<br /></div><div>I disagree with this asssessment. VERY few people that I've met in my life I would describe as inherently 'evil'. Most people, in my experience, want to do good for others and co-operate with others to make this a better world. When they don't, it seems mostly an unconscious act of unawareness, rather than an act of deliberate malevolence. Pschopathic evil-doers do indeed exist, but they are a small minority. </div><div>
<br /></div><div><b>Abundance is the Nature of Divine Creation</b></div><div>
<br /></div><div>Scarcity is a manipulated lie of the artificial creation. Indeed, today, scarcity is engineered to a high science in the unreal world. The economies of this world are carefully monitored and manipulated to be exactly what they are: unbalanced, unstable and chaotic. This serves the ruling elite on this planet to maintain their control and move towards their ultimate objective of a world government.</div><div>
<br /></div><div>The truth is there is enough abundance in this world that would create a paradise on earth where no one would go hungry, or be without basic comforts and necessities. Without the artificial CONstruct of money, mankind would be freed from the drudgery of poverty to create innovations without limits. Technology for free energy (Tesla) has existed for more than sixty years. But oil, although heavily polluting, holds the current global control structure together due to the carefully manipulated dependency upon it.</div><div>
<br /></div><div>Without money, there is no motive to exploit your neighbor, for everyone has enough of whatever it is they could want. Men and women would be freed to be fully who they really are, and focus on using and sharing their unique gifts to benefit the whole of humanity. Of course, this would require co-operation and fair exchanges between people, but it's not hard to see that, once put in practice under the one agreed-upon principle of 'do-no-harm', it would create a wonderful world for all of us to live in and it could become the preferred paradigm for life on Earth if enough of us choose it. </div><div>
<br /></div><div><b>'Do No Harm' </b></div><div>
<br /></div><div>The phrase, 'Do No Harm' is simple enough for anyone to comprehend, and if it were to be put into practice, its power to transform life on earth would be powerfully potent. If humanity simply agreed to this one principle by which all activity on the planet would be governed, life on earth would transform for the better at lightening speed. In practical application, it is an alternative way of expressing the famous 'golden rule', that has been attributed to Jesus Christ: 'Do unto others what you would like done to yourself.' </div><div>
<br /></div><div>What would this world look like if churches, governments, military armies, corporations, and all of the people who populate those entities simply chose to live and function under the 'do no harm' mantra? Something to think about. However, we each are only responsible for ourselves and what we choose to do individually. But that world will come someday as more individuals dare to imagine it, and determine to live according to the 'do no harm' ethic.</div><div>
<br /></div><div><b>7) Closing Thoughts </b></div><div>
<br /></div><div>Given a clear look at how convoluted 'the game' is, it might be difficult to believe that there is a way out of participating in the soul-draining, artificial satanic system which is clearly counter all that consitutes well-being. Since it is nearly impossible to totally exist without money in the present world, we may feel forced to compromise to a certain extent to just survive. There are many of us that see the evil... and we don't like what we are doing, but we rationalize that we 'have no choice'. </div><div>
<br /></div><div>But is that really <i>true? </i></div><div>
<br /></div><div><b>Free-Will Universe</b></div><div>
<br /></div><div>The truth is we always have choices. This is a free-will universe. That's the basic 'ground rule' that everyone plays by. We choose where to live; we choose what we believe to be true; who we become friends with; who we listen to; who we don't listen to; what we read; and what we do during the moments that make up our day. </div><div>
<br /></div><div>We choose to comply with the imposter system of the artificial world, or we can choose not to and embrace true reality. Granted, that may put ourselves in harms way (the system doesn't like losing it's slaves), but if fewer of us complied with the system, it would not be able to sustain itself, for it needs us to live. As things are now deteriorating to such an obvious degree, it is becoming harder to compromise, as the truth of what this is all about stares us increasingly in our face.</div><div>
<br /></div><div>So, ultimately, it becomes a personal choice of how we direct our life's energy. It's got to go somewhere, but we live in a free-will universe and we can choose to live our lives according to the ethics of well-being, instead of those of an artificial creation that is perverse and destructive in the extreme. </div><div>
<br /></div><div><b>Getting Rid of the Baggage</b></div><div>
<br /></div><div>I suggest that, yes, it is totally possible to choose to live our lives by life affirming principles rather than by life-destroying principles and to not contribute to the strengthening of this artificial world of illusion.</div><div>
<br /></div><div>It begins by unplugging from the system as much as is possible: We can simply walk away from the madness, and start proactively recreating our lives to be based on the true REALITY by joining with others and creating conscious intentional communities that are based on the DO NO HARM principle. </div><div>
<br /></div><div>To acheive this, it is necessary to stop filling our heads full of the programming lies and distractions of the monopoly Media – they will never tell you the truth – their entire purpose is to be a distraction. One can gain a whole lot of clear perception and insight by unplugging or throwing out the television. It's possible to stop reading the newspapers and listening to the radio as if it is telling you the truth about anything... it's not. They spin everything towards politically manipulated objectives. </div><div>
<br /></div><div>Remember, the system is dedicated to perpetuating the LIE. So, one thing we can do is simply stop listening to the propaganda, and make a firm commitment to strip ourselves of the 'baggage of untruth'.</div><div>
<br /></div><div>Once we have divested ourselves of the needless baggage of distractions coming from the artificial creation, we can begin to consciously reconnect with Source and recreate our lives to be in harmony with the original Divine Creation. That may require making some changes in how we live our daily lives (it did for me), or it may not. Everyone must find their own path in terms of the details. But what is essential is that our primary motivation for living make a fundamental shift from one of personal self-preservation survival and self-serving interests to a solid commitment to that which will eventually benefit all life everywhere.</div><div>
<br /></div><div><b>The Power of Choice</b></div><div>
<br /></div><div>When one is standing on a railway track, it's not hard to see a freight train coming and predict the outcome: We can follow the established pathway of the world system and experience the consequences that we helped create through our passive compliance. Or we can consciously choose something proactively healthier. </div><div>
<br /></div><div>Certainly, actively resisting and fighting against the artificial creation will do nothing but serve to further empower it. As we said, they hold all the keys to their system and it will not be brought down by force. Indeed, the system THRIVES on the use of force. It would LOVE to stimulate a violent revolution, so that it can use it's military might to stomp it out. But only the spiritually weak use force to impose their will on others. </div><div>
<br /></div><div>But here's the important thing to understand: we really don't have to participate in the unreal world, except perhaps minimally for our physical survival. We can simply walk away from all that is false and unreal. We have that right given to us by the Creator (free-will). </div><div>
<br /></div><div>Two years ago, my wife and I did exactly that, and we did it for very clear ethical reasons. We did not want to support 'the Beast' with our energy, even if it was indirectly. We moved to a small mountain community in South America and it's been amazing to discover how little we need money in order to live well. Food here is cheap and grows out of the ground year round. Water is plentiful and pure. And we live among people with whom we have developed clean, mutually beneficial and respectful relationships. </div><div>
<br /></div><div>Best of all, I feel my life's energy is not usurped to empower that which I see as purely evil, exploitive and destructive. Consequently, I sleep very well at night. </div><div>
<br /></div><div>Now, I'm not suggesting that anyone follow our footsteps. But if you are seeing any truth in this essay, it might be beneficial to examine what you could do to channel your own energy towards your own truth. Yes, there are alternatives to the consumer madness lifestyle that is so heavily promoted in the affluent nations of the world, if one sets the intention of creating them.</div><div>
<br /></div><div><b>The 'Solution' is a New Way of 'Being'</b></div><div>
<br /></div><div>The only solution that makes sense to me is to individually withdraw the power and energy of our life-force away from empowering the system and 'channel' it back to the real world, where it belongs. Indeed, we can create a way of 'being' that is founded on the principles that sustain the real world: real relationships built on mutual trust, respect, mutually beneficial exchanges of services and value; where we can live close to nature with respect for the Earth, and 'do no harm' to others as well as the planet. It's possible to create a world where we learn to accept each other without judgment and live the 'law of allowance' that provides the framework by which we discover our own truths and grow accordingly. </div><div>
<br /></div><div>It's been said that wide is the way that leads to destruction and the way that leads to life is narrow, and few there be that find it. I guess that is simply the way it is at this point in the evolution of souls on this planet. The 'status-quo' will always lead us to hell, as it's doing at the moment, full speed ahead. Somehow, I have an intuitive knowing that we all make it through eventually, although we may individually be on diffferent timelines of learning.</div><div>
<br /></div><div>We each have our own choice to make as to which master we will serve.</div><div>
<br /></div><div>But I'm personally resolute in my own choice. Honestly, I am very tired of the unreal world where everything is upside-down and backwards. I'm tired of seeing fraud accepted as legitimacy. I'm tired of seeing perpetual lies paraded as' the truth'. I'm tired of war being promoted as the way to peace. I'm tired of seeing the beautiful earth polluted, poisoned, exploited and destoyed for control and corporate profits. I'm tired of seeing all that is natural and good perverted and co-opted for evil purposes. I'm tired of this artificial parasite that feeds off and exploits the creative energy of good men and women for its own life-destroying objectives. I'm tired of seeing men and women of the lowest and most debased character rise to the top positions of pseudo-authority in the global heirarchy, while truly brilliant men and women of good heart and noble character are one-by-one assassinated, or ridiculed, and publically humiliated and otherwise sabotaged. </div><div>
<br /></div><div>So, I choose to go the narrow road, for it is the only sane, rational thing to do. I choose to use my creative energy for sharing the Truth, as best as I understand it, for creating well-being and an atmosphere of 'live and let live' with those whom I interact. I do this for myself, for my children and grandchildren, for others, and for all other life on this planet. </div><div><i>
<br /></i></div><div><i>Jack Crompton</i></div>Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8886920526675464279.post-19228740866326733882011-04-08T14:09:00.000-07:002011-04-13T10:04:36.699-07:00Soul Defining Moments<meta equiv="Content-Type" content="text/html; charset=UTF-8"> <meta equiv="Content-Style-Type" content="text/css"> <title></title> <meta name="Generator" content="Cocoa HTML Writer"> <meta name="CocoaVersion" content="949.54"> <style type="text/css"> p.p1 {margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; font: 20.0px Helvetica; color: #e50616} p.p2 {margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; font: 13.0px Helvetica} p.p3 {margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; font: 13.0px Helvetica; min-height: 16.0px} p.p4 {margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; font: 14.0px Helvetica} p.p5 {margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; font: 14.0px Helvetica; min-height: 17.0px} span.s1 {text-decoration: underline ; color: #276e8a} </style> <p class="p1"><meta http-equiv="Content-Type" content="text/html; charset=UTF-8"> <meta http-equiv="Content-Style-Type" content="text/css"> <title></title> <meta name="Generator" content="Cocoa HTML Writer"> <meta name="CocoaVersion" content="949.54"> <style type="text/css"> p.p1 {margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; font: 12.0px Helvetica} p.p2 {margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; font: 12.0px Helvetica; min-height: 14.0px} p.p3 {margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; font: 12.0px Helvetica; color: #004fb0} span.s1 {text-decoration: underline} </style> </p><p class="p1"><font class="Apple-style-span" color="#000000">For many people, due to the increase and speeding up of upsetting events of the last few years, it may seem easier to get through these days by 'putting the blinders on'. However, we need to realize: that is a choice in itself that perpetuates and contributes to the escalation of the problems of the world in it's present state.</font></p> <p class="p2"><font class="Apple-style-span" color="#000000"><br /></font></p> <p class="p1"><font class="Apple-style-span" color="#000000">The so-called 'authorities' of this world would have us believe that there is nothing that we can do on an individual level to change the way things are. <span class="s1">This is a fundamental lie</span>.<i> We all are co-creators of it, and we contribute to the creation of it, moment by moment.</i> </font></p> <p class="p2"><font class="Apple-style-span" color="#000000"><br /></font></p> <p class="p1"><font class="Apple-style-span" color="#000000">The real power of change is within each one of us, at the basic level of <i>choice. </i>We choose the values we wish to support on an inner level and the external world reflects back to us what the collective consciousness is 'putting out there.' Forget politics, that is a dog and pony show to distract you from the real point of power. There is no political party on the face of the earth that will change the psychopathic, suicidal course we are currently on, for left and right are two sides of the same coin. It guarantees continuation of the present paradigm.</font></p> <p class="p2"><font class="Apple-style-span" color="#000000"><br /></font></p> <p class="p1"><b><font class="Apple-style-span" color="#000000">Simply CHOOSE... something better!</font></b></p> <p class="p2"><font class="Apple-style-span" color="#000000"><br /></font></p> <p class="p1"><font class="Apple-style-span" color="#000000">Know that conformity and acquiessence to the 'status quo' is also a deliberate choice for continuing the present paradigm of death, destruction and exploitation via the rule of the criminally insane. </font></p> <p class="p2"><font class="Apple-style-span" color="#000000"><br /></font></p> <p class="p1"><font class="Apple-style-span" color="#000000">But they only can rule the dumb and clueless... <i>those who blindly follow the path laid before them</i>. We are in a time where it is IMPERATIVE that we each choose which energies we wish to align with or we simply will not have a future that any of us will want to live in. Someone else coined the phrase that these are <i>'soul defining moments.' </i> I agree.</font></p> <p class="p2"><font class="Apple-style-span" color="#000000"><br /></font></p> <p class="p1"><font class="Apple-style-span" color="#000000">I employ everyone reading this to make your own <span class="s1">personal choice, in whatever form </span>you feel best suits you. It may warrant some action, or it may not. But it has eternal significance, whatever it is.</font></p> <p class="p2"><font class="Apple-style-span" color="#000000"><b></b><br /></font></p> <p class="p1"><b><font class="Apple-style-span" color="#000000">I, for one, choose life, health, sanity and peace.</font></b></p> <p class="p2"><font class="Apple-style-span" color="#000000"><b></b><br /></font></p> <p class="p1"><font class="Apple-style-span" color="#000000">Here is another man, Benjamin Fulford, who has made his choice:</font></p> <p class="p2"><font class="Apple-style-span" color="#000000"><br /></font></p> <p class="p3"><span class="s1"><a href="http://www.exohuman.com/wordpress/2011/03/did-us-nukes-trigger-japan-quake/"><font class="Apple-style-span" color="#3333FF">http://www.exohuman.com/wordpress/2011/03/did-us-nukes-trigger-japan-quake/</font></a></span></p> <p class="p2"><font class="Apple-style-span" color="#000000"><br /></font></p> <p class="p1"><b><font class="Apple-style-span" color="#000000">What do YOU choose?</font></b></p> <p class="p2"><font class="Apple-style-span" color="#000000"><b></b><br /></font></p> <p class="p1"><font class="Apple-style-span" color="#000000">In Peace;</font></p> <p class="p1"><font class="Apple-style-span" color="#000000">Jack</font></p><p></p>Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8886920526675464279.post-78656611059425722502010-08-09T20:45:00.001-07:002010-08-13T21:35:46.881-07:00Ecuador: One Year Later<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjmEpRqF2VqutIFAZ9r5swNtgSbNPNgBApX4SEkCi7InzhFKay6j3RveSw0iKUWRjP-WHi6Fvv8exSA2OdnXHUrz1Knfgah9D02S3tZalq7LrSxg_pl4OMxfnK9WsdK4ZN4GrO7pF5-veg/s1600/flowers.jpg"></a><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEivYe6AEhck2_0IsQPQGq19vIli0S2-f73Uov63-yJwblxGtrTe1VrGwZYsQm3mQ7w1LjllU454mVzRDHAF60F6mICjDfFF6KSq88QLwQVPT8w2TaeEoer5v3C3gV2gNPYInvJfFlUUMcI/s1600/DSCN8043.jpg"><img style="margin: 0pt 10px 10px 0pt; float: left; cursor: pointer; width: 242px; height: 320px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEivYe6AEhck2_0IsQPQGq19vIli0S2-f73Uov63-yJwblxGtrTe1VrGwZYsQm3mQ7w1LjllU454mVzRDHAF60F6mICjDfFF6KSq88QLwQVPT8w2TaeEoer5v3C3gV2gNPYInvJfFlUUMcI/s320/DSCN8043.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5503641115955602306" border="0" /></a><div><b><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-weight: normal;"><div style="text-align: left; display: inline ! important;"><b><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:verdana;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: rgb(51, 0, 0);">A Retrospective</span></span></b></div></span></b></div><div><br /></div><div>Well, I can hardly believe it but<b> a full year has come and gone</b> s<b>ince Julia and I moved here to Ecuador</b>, on July 20, 2009. The fact that I haven't found time to update this blog in a year gives you some indication as to just how full our days have been. Man – time continues to give the impression that it is <i>'speeding up'</i>, and each month now passes like weeks did only a year ago. Days seem to be over shortly after they have just begun. So much is happening all the time, its hard to keep up and still hold the same frame of reference to life. So, one must continually adjust in order to just function – and this 'adjustment' is often in the form of just 'letting go' and going with the flow. Interesting times indeed.<div><br /></div><div>When I look back over the past year, it becomes most apparent that the theme of living down here has been the rich interpersonal relationships that have developed among the people that find themselves here. What I remember most are the people. This has been true in regard to both the local people here as well as with other gringos like ourselves who had been 'magnetized' here for many of the same reasons. </div><div><br /></div><div>Speaking of the later, it's been amazing to me that most everyone you meet here is 'on the same page' in terms of awareness of what is happening in the world and in their shared desire to live their lives in the direction of <i>truth, freedom</i> and <i>well-being</i>. That seems to be the common denominator. I summize that is the primary reason we have enjoyed such rich friendships here that were so few and far between and hard to come by back in the States.</div><div><br /></div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: rgb(0, 0, 238);"><img src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhb51Oxhyphe85ZWFgy6HFO_TxZo1PNPd7P0iDvY9xybsxsR1VAHWNPp_1WnSJD2hrNEWKqVlYD2OFFdaYUcp0swbn5m8SZ7xkLtRK7IdEg_1eT4zMWBrTlXclouLxN5ikdd02pITOI9kw/s200/DSCN6603.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5503650481277757522" style="margin: 0px 10px 10px 0px; float: left; cursor: pointer; width: 158px; height: 200px;" border="0" /></span><div style="text-align: left;">What I also recognize, now that I've been down here and out of the US culture for such an extended period of time, is that there really does seem to be an all pervasive mind programming that affects the US population that molds their thoughts and perceptions within controllable parameters (right vs left, etc). Once I have been out of that influence for awhile, I noticed my own perceptions sharpening and my own intuition and inner guidance ratcheting up a few notches, and come into more of a holistic balance. Although I had long been a 'truth seeker', once I removed myself from the all pervasive cultural programming of the US, I began to 'see' things much clearer, and on a deeper level – and this path has only accelerated over the past year.</div><div><br /></div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: rgb(0, 0, 238);"><img src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj8QwWqDA6yQVt3DLt9SPRcFch68c-V3_CAONPGPP_gke-KBUxJ3lIqMHcJBuUlsStsIeHBA2R0I9kwI4hmgwLsX6zJ7-lIYUXcvuh-UoPaOVPjuaf1uSfIbSnfdUzKCp-92_dyjntzgo4/s320/DSCN3607.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5503642200409599906" style="margin: 0px 0px 10px 10px; float: right; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 267px;" border="0" /></span><div><b><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:verdana;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: rgb(51, 0, 0);">Another World</span></span></b></div><div><br /></div><div>Here in Ecuador, its a much different world. It's an older world, where<i> families</i> have prime importance in the culture. Commerce, on the other hand, is of relative low importance. For instance, most all business close for 2-3 hours in the middle of the day for a long siesta, usually from 12:00 to 3:00 or so, with some variation. For many, if they don't feel like tending their shop for the afternoon, or the day, they don't. To us as Americans, this is abhorrent business practice, not to mention making it terribly inefficient for us as customers to get anything done! Often times, we have taken the slow bus to Loja, and just begin to get our bearings of where we needed to go and what we needed to do, only to find the place had just closed for their extended siesta! </div><div><br /></div><div>While often very inconvenient, I've come to appreciate the local culture's values and priorities. Ecuadorians don't think in terms of western productivity and profit. It's just not in their consciousness. Commerce is simply <i>not</i> what life is all about here – it's treated as just a necessary thing to do in between what's <i>really</i> important. Purchasing food at the weekend open markets is the predominant ecuadorian way of commerce, and where $10 - $15 could feed a couple well for a week, we adapted to that routine pretty well.</div><div><br /></div><div><img src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhl2ib0YJakN0f36ws1poQeiZdSRk5DAkV2Um1oXWaCh-pV9w12nmSwmod9aqP9JX5XwshWdYUkO3XT9H_avHHJUETDvPe7vTVaxLnvZ1gwcT3xFBEuSjkgPowDZM4rBvC3VQmqK6aeuJE/s400/pinksky.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5503644797689929698" style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 300px;" border="0" /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><i>Sunset over Vilcabamba</i></div><div style="text-align: center;"><i><br /></i></div><div>However, one can clearly see the increasing influence of 'western culture' down here, and how it is changing things. After all, that's the power of the tube, and it's been down here now for some time. Just like in the US, the average Ecuadorian home has that TV glow going all night long. American cars, movies, music, cell phones, and fast food.... are all being imported down here and one can clearly see the same empty madison avenue values quickly gaining a foothold in the consciousness of the people here. The indigenous and older people pretty much pass it by; the moms and dads, too tired from working and providing a home for their children, tend to just kind obverve it all curiously; but you can see the young people wanting more of it and saving up several week's pay just to wear something that has a silly, trendy american logo on it in order to feel 'cool. Marketing useless stuff knows no boundaries I guess. It's been most interesting to observe these same 'herd mentality' marketing techniques, that have been the very essence of American culture, prevail down here in such a vastly different cultural environment.</div><div><br /></div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: rgb(0, 0, 238);"><img src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgMWRKpBQsFSkPywrTKq8WzvacWJEXfI2MiE8BN1msT3HBEnNcdXC4m8SvvA1-pibjWGiYcgy7EIGN_QNldEEECNM-FyCc8SgcxiJWURgwIYWWx3Myf8tikO2pOauWMi5-rE03xMq2Q6lE/s200/DSCN4129.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5503648486770452050" style="margin: 0px 0px 10px 10px; float: right; cursor: pointer; width: 164px; height: 200px;" border="0" /></span><div>That said, we continue to miss some things that were plentiful in the US. The availability and wide range of choices in products of quality is one of the most obvious. I took those choices for granted all my life living there in the US. Here, there are few things you can buy that are of high quality. That's because this is simply not a consumer based lifestyle here as it is in the US. Most people live very simply, and require very little to be very happy and satisfied with their lives. So, we've adjusted our thinking and our desires over the last year to come into balance in order to live here. We've discovered that many of the 'things' we thought we needed simply are not necessary at all. Both Julia and I have shed many 'layers' over the past year, both physically and mentally.</div><div><br /></div><div>Fortunately, the most important things of quality –<i> good</i> <i>natural</i> f<i>ood, clean water</i>, and <i>pristine</i> <i>nature</i> are plentiful here in Ecuador in seemingly unlimited abundance.</div><div><br /></div><div>Lets continue with some of the highlights of the last year that my memory calls up:</div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: rgb(0, 0, 238);"><br /></span></div><div><b><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:large;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: rgb(0, 51, 0);">Month-to-Month Highlights of the Past Year:</span></span></b></div><div><div><b><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:large;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: rgb(0, 51, 0);"><br /></span></span></b></div><div><b><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: rgb(153, 51, 0);"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:large;">August 2009</span></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: rgb(0, 51, 0);"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:large;"> </span></span></b></div><div><br /></div><div><b></b>We arrived one year ago on July 20th, and the remainder of July and the first part of August was spent just getting acclimated to our new surroundings, (much of which has been detailed in my last posting). Our first home, as readers will recall, was an adorable little stone house called <i>'The Butterfly House' </i>due to the natural presence of butterflies around in the gardens and the fresco butterfly art motif in the front, created by inlaid rocks and gemstones. </div><div><br /></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: rgb(0, 0, 238);"><br /></span></div><img src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg_BdKkLAUe0ZiZ6vXQBe12wf-u3RyLCv-UZ8j3UekbVgzwI_z3KWcBmNBUTscTOx1-V4pI3qk7SSo4YAaP3nRT2WH2z7fM2Lf8Guz31eRaajRlNSf6A7uPHdiDd69EsESOeAvGOwFdGqM/s200/DSCN4372.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5503627874349698466" style="margin: 0px 10px 10px 0px; float: left; cursor: pointer; width: 200px; height: 150px;" border="0" /><div><b><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:verdana;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: rgb(51, 0, 0);">People Connecting</span></span></b></div><div><br /></div><div>We bonded with several really great people in town. <i>Jay and Caroline</i>, our very first friends here, lived next to us on the same property in the main house, and their enduring friendship continues to this day. I am currently collaborating with Jay on a book project.</div><div><i><br /></i></div><div><i>Tor</i>, a 'salt-of-the-earth kind of character from the Pacific Northwest has been here for a few years and is a general all-purpose handyman that possesses a wealth of practical knowledge on all kinds of things. We became very good friends with Tor and he lived with us for a season in the spring.</div><div><br /></div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: rgb(0, 0, 238);"></span><div>We also met and bonded strongly with a young couple that continually exude positive energy, <i>Akai and Camilla</i>, who stayed with us for a couple of weeks in the early fall. We remain close friends with them, and Camilla is due to give birth to their first child around Halloween, which is also my birthday!</div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: rgb(0, 0, 238);"><img src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjurwKCqxxbpNrNkGNhSZ7qjeVMNHQ6otb-i7Ch-c25zW3vZBT8SlRa6ZI6RQINJjFMtOoh88eqwCo4TVzYeZyQCzsdY7e-DG3wIeCWOXQmCKEMjFtvS27AUa4zTrFXisQYkZGnuQHFH-M/s200/akaicamilla.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5503653535632884290" style="margin: 0px 0px 10px 10px; float: right; cursor: pointer; width: 158px; height: 200px;" border="0" /></span><div><br /></div><div>Soon after getting settled here in our new home, we leased an office in the Cultural Community Center for the year and began rennovating the office for VIVE4U. We became Advisory board members of the Cultural Community Center soon after our arrival here, which was headed by an amiable asian woman named <i>Christina</i>, who had just given birth to her new baby, <i>Keola</i>. Jay, Caroline, Erin, Julia and myself comprised the board but we soon discovered, doing things by committee is not easy. It always seems to end up being political in one way or another, due to various factors, and after experiencing this frustration for a couple of months, we eventually bowed out as did the other board members.</div><div><br /></div><div>Over the next few months, the voluntourism vision of VIVE4U, which was one of the strongest impetuses for us making the move (especially for Julia), also never really panned out as expected. The organization of the CCC never really came together, and although we spent a good amount of money rennovating and newly painting our office at the CCC, it never really got used for it's stated purpose. Oh well – we were still glad to be here.</div><div><br /></div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: rgb(0, 0, 238);"><img src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi61tP3M-fTd4qgfcS02sPz4MLF6TejPdSSR2wywDypHnmTtReUYD_jJU-WkQfufPyFGH1_ouvJ5l9A6_4iURGXgYv7h6mSaEupQcVRGd7D5mxWf8hwtSKbGkeDa4Flc4vRxeATTqz1j98/s320/DSCF7220.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5503649533720899042" style="margin: 0px 10px 10px 0px; float: left; cursor: pointer; width: 273px; height: 320px;" border="0" /></span><div>We later let one of our friends, <i>Brian</i>, use it to do his massage work in town. But several key people did contact us through VIVE4U, namely <i>Daniel, Helen, Mike, Nani, Nate </i>and <i>Dova</i> – the latter four did indeed end up coming down here to live and become part of our ever expanding family of friends, (as I shall detail a little further on). Perhaps it was the connection with these people that was the divine purpose in it all.</div><div style="text-align: left;"><br /></div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: rgb(0, 0, 238);"></span><div>The highlight for the month of August was a trip took to <i>Saraguro</i> with Jay, Caroline, our hired Taxi Driver, <i>Lenin</i> and his son <i>Jason</i>. It was cold that day, as Saraguro is much higher in the mountains. Saraguro is famous for the women's penchant for wearing these bizarre 'cow hats' (hats with black and white cow spots on the wide brim). I got a chuckle out of that. There must be more to that custom... someday I'll find out. Overall, we were impressed with the charm of this little community and it inspired a series of paintings I would start 9 months later. (more on that later).</div><div><br /></div><div><b><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:large;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: rgb(153, 51, 0);">September 2009</span></span></b><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:large;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: rgb(153, 51, 0);"> </span></span></div><div><br /></div><div><b><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:verdana;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: rgb(51, 0, 0);">A Trip Back to the USA</span></span></b></div><div><br /></div><div>In order to get some needed paperwork for our extended VISA, we needed to go back to the states and in mid-September, we did so, via an all-night bus trip to <i>Guayaquil</i>, a major city on the coast of Ecuador. </div><div><br /></div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: rgb(0, 0, 238);"><img src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiMMM6SvQh7ZI3Rp56laNeqg5x2W_lHeA_yOhCMv3qEXPzEk8atePPv9qk-RMslqaX9-exQ1P-nz0V7FIUQ71cy4eiPIYWYPODrVsO9chyfsKW7E3TJSTQyILzPts7_XGt7BtOkKuPGq6w/s200/luckydog.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5503657919605955490" style="margin: 0px 0px 10px 10px; float: right; cursor: pointer; width: 200px; height: 186px;" border="0" /></span><div>We enjoyed a great visit for a few days in Venice, Florida with my mom, dad, and sister Nancy, and it sure was good to see them. They really love Julia and my dad spent the whole time pouring on the charm, flirting with her. My dear mom was doing really well and it was so great to spend this time with them although we all wished it could have been longer.<br /></div><div><br /></div><div>We spent the rest of the time in the Phoenix area where we were able to enjoy some family time there with Julias family and my daughter <i>Carrie</i>, and also a handful of close friends. I managed to get a round of golf in with Bob and had managed to break 80, shooting a 79 – even with a disasterous 8 on the 8th hole (<i>not bad for a rusty golfer</i>). We had to do an overnight car trip to L.A. to visit the Ecuadorian consulate in downtown Hollywood. The rest of the time there we were guests of my good friend <i>Ken Babb</i> in Scottsdale who opened his home to us to crash for the week. My doctor friend Helen was of great help getting us our needed medical clearance, and before we knew it, we were ready to head on back to South America, taking another load of several boxes of our 'stuff' that we had stored back with us.</div><div><br /></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: rgb(0, 0, 238);"><img src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgFAbFklMPd9AUWN3V6ioy2kaa1RW8GZB2OsYM9fnyGa6-aI7zrmoWodkzcr2xHK-kZBLJkmkG7gW5jpEBlv20NNEjiGDFp0dd3BFFMMCIQYZgP2nmBhdGH8j7dJ62wj1NoZQqGEMrioTs/s400/DSCN4819.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5503655051814947394" style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 300px;" border="0" /></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><i>The beautiful Malecon Boardwalk in Guayaquil</i></div><div style="text-align: center;"><i><br /></i></div><div><b><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:verdana;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: rgb(51, 0, 0);"> Ten Days in Guayaquil </span></span></b></div><div><br /></div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: rgb(0, 0, 238);"><img src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhoHZhfhNFHlzr6vk6-VqSeePIKEF3WD64ueDRCRYXZ0lX25sGD20srLVuVnXb7yxTo1IB4s1HcXPVRc5p4xEjZwPi74DApUYe0jRGZrSk1wBJKpP5YwlgiAGCJaGfeNrDIRX-NNc2qWQ8/s320/DSCN5401.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5503656051933871858" style="margin: 0px 10px 10px 0px; float: left; cursor: pointer; width: 253px; height: 320px;" border="0" /></span><div>On our return trip, Julia had some major abdominal surgery here in Guayaquil in late September, (We saved many dollars by having it done down here) and we stayed in the city at <i>the Malecon Inn</i>, just a block away from the famous and festive <i>Malecon (</i>boardwalk), with gardens, restaurants and clipper ships at the docks. </div><div><br /></div><div>Guayaquil had earned a reputation as a rough and dangerous city in times past, and in some areas, it still is, but they've chased alot of the criminals out in the last decade. Someone put a lot of money into modernizing and rennovating the waterfront area (<i>the Malecon</i>) which has a rich history. Its probably 3 or 4 miles long. We loved it there. It is much different in flavor from the Andean rural southern Ecuador that we have been living in, and the cosmopolitan and more sophisticated city of Guayquil was a nice change of pace for a bit. It has some of the most beautiful architecture that I've ever seen, as does <i>Cuenca.</i></div><div><br /></div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: rgb(0, 0, 238);"><img src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjqIWTRVy203t7xf8wRaYcBF41Y7qE0nqRm0gmhVApGooNb7mjyuSXLhQ6iWBQ3LNGC5O7dgokQw44zTA5xlEGmnrn-jY5ip06WmDiTGRSfeDR52n1tIAo2bd79IgXP0l9kOUdWEtmIWKM/s200/DSCN4737.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5503788533417103858" style="margin: 0px 0px 10px 10px; float: right; cursor: pointer; width: 200px; height: 150px;" border="0" /></span><div>Guayquil has beautiful places to walk along the waterfront – several lush beautifully manicured parks, duck ponds, an IMAX theatre, several good restaurants, and it ends at an antique section of the city that dates back to the 1500's. It is built on a steep hill that has 444 steps that reach a hill top with a lighthouse. Along those steps are festive merchants of every type. It's quite a great way to spend an afternoon, as we did on our last day there, when Julia had got her strength back after the surgery. The city is also a real showcase for some of the most magnificent cathedrals I've ever seen.</div><div><br /></div><div><b><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:verdana;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: rgb(51, 0, 0);">Antonio and Family Arrive</span></span></b></div><div><br /></div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: rgb(0, 0, 238);"><img src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjhPsCo6bdsBaCX8ZcpZZxuMLoNlQAvWBV3aQLWllTgm9P9BaQ3-jPe50m38qBSxEWn9Wx0GapxZ9EYrjcaas-HxjsC1ns04PC1UFpYrmp_Dj8m9f-zXrbpvNJ2YtVJfaUy91vPAc2JGH4/s200/antonio.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5503663590907399938" style="margin: 0px 0px 10px 10px; float: right; cursor: pointer; width: 160px; height: 200px;" border="0" /></span><div><b><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:verdana;"></span></b>Also in late September, our neighbors and now good friends <i>Antonio, Marli </i>and their adorable daughter <i>Marina</i> arrived from New York City and moved into the <i>Bamboo House</i>. Antonio was born in Romania but lived for most his adult life in the US, and his lovely wife Marli is from Brazil.</div><div><br /></div><div>Antonio worked for 15 years as a social worker in New York City. Two years previous to their move to Ecuador, being frustrated by working in a system that seemed dedicated to perpetuating problems, Antonio was deeply shaken by revelations of the lies that became clear after he took an objective look at the true facts surrounding 9/11, which in reality was a manipulated false flag <span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: rgb(0, 0, 238);"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: rgb(0, 0, 0);">event perpetrated by a cabal in the US government itself. As one living in New York City, the psychological impact of this blatant betrayal changed his life. This sparked an accelerated learning path of geo-political events and he began to 'wake up' to the reality of the thoroughly corrupt system he was living in. Determined to find a better way of life for his wife and daughter, he quit the dead end social work and </span></span>began a path of self-healing and a study of nutrition. </div><div><br /></div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: rgb(0, 0, 238);"><img src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiFn-6TiJsxWeyEEXJDJM1Y36d0IIo_nZ_SkjVwdk2eT6DeX3XSZtRGWPnpOycaK9NxTS5btS0vu32nuuB1-2C_5Qb_fYdOpW0SnGIxdx3u72nS-n9PKRW54TDsENxZIToptjDiSGrbWcY/s200/marlimarina1.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5503792302214989314" style="margin: 0px 10px 10px 0px; float: left; cursor: pointer; width: 188px; height: 200px;" border="0" /></span><div>Over several months they became very health conscious, and desired to get to a place where they could live and raise their daughter in an atmosphere of peace, health and well-being. Their research indicated <i>Ecuador</i> as a most desireable place for those values, and so they prepared their exodus.<br /><br />Interestingly, as synchronicity would have it, they happened to meet our good friend (<i>and transformation catalyst</i>) Jay Schumaker in an airport during one of their flights and just started a casual chat to pass the time. As the conversation progressed, Jay invited them to come to Vilcabamba and stay in the <i>Bamboo House </i>which had just become available for rent, and the rest is history. They were (and still are) great neighbors, and little Marina and Julia had quickly established a strong bond.</div><div><br /></div><div><b><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:large;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: rgb(153, 51, 0);">October 2009</span></span></b> </div><div><br /></div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: rgb(0, 0, 238);"><img src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhWXIKO_lmPwFeyvXgH1lpNFUV3Xg7v_QWhfEjNb2oT6gFOiZRYv9jTHmiDn78NJZglg3lRGec2NUkL3mVCWXgqz4xIaAYZSRXOFrVM7vANPH0Ilv1HUJS0GXyR2NR33goj6rEItSlHdh8/s200/BrianMelinda.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5503669120987388242" style="margin: 0px 0px 10px 10px; float: right; cursor: pointer; width: 150px; height: 200px;" border="0" /></span><div>Upon our return to Vilcabamba, Julia suffered an infection resulting from complications from her surgery a couple of weeks thereafter. While there were some tense moments in her recovery, (she had a very high fever and chills that was frightening to observe), she faired through it fine after taking some<i> 'magic water' </i>reputed to be<i> </i>from 'the center of the earth' given to us by our new friends (and healers) <i>Brian and Melinda</i> along with some MMS. These treatments had a dramatic positive effect and she was brought back to a normal state within 45 minutes.</div><div><br /></div><div><b><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:verdana;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: rgb(51, 0, 0);">3 Days in the Vilcabamba Clinic</span></span></b></div><div><br /></div><div>However, after her fever was gone, we discovered she had an internal infection and she had to go into the local hospital for an IV antibiotic to get it under control. What we discovered was that the level of 'free' medical care in Ecuador is really quite adequate, and <i>in some ways superior </i>to that of the US, but clearly <i>without frills</i>. For instance, <i>no toilet paper or soap</i> in any of the bathrooms. (You are supposed to bring your own). The care of the doctors was quite generously given, and one never got the impression that they were in a hurry. Without exception, they were intelligent and well spoken and seemed to generally care about the patient. She was in the local Vilcabamba Clinic for 3 days and the only thing we had to actually pay for was<i> the medicine</i>, which I went across the street to purchase at the pharmacy, and it were not very costly at all. </div><div><br /></div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: rgb(0, 0, 238);"><img src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhyTkdz9jKCtPhDlzDKxUcGZUR80SxXnj6lyIHXA4Av-HIh1AnEkRim19-dWmmVWLPdnNIu1Dr8u_VNLGdPGsLgG-A1kynY98lnRgInlTDf52sKqhVqhtAO5S0huQeUeFt_9lxirCuM2aM/s200/ken.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5503670924968984226" style="margin: 0px 10px 10px 0px; float: left; cursor: pointer; width: 128px; height: 200px;" border="0" /></span><div><b><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:verdana;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: rgb(51, 0, 0);">Musical Possibilities Emerge</span></span></b></div><div><br /></div><div>It was also around October that we met <i>Jan and Ken</i>, a San Diego couple who had arrived in Vilcabamba via a half year spent in Monediveo, Uruguay. They are both professional musicians around the same age as me (mid fifties) – and both excellent <i>blues singers.</i> They had made quite a stir in Montediveo, as the local music culture there just loved american blues music. Ken in particular had a great talent for stage presence, vocals and blues harp, and has rubbed shoulders with many of the greats of American Blues. They had been very successful there in Uruaguay, playing to sold out crowds seven nights a week. </div><div><br /></div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: rgb(0, 0, 238);"><img src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhFaD6sPPsddXWi63imCXCRFXnR6LyTuKhP4AFMFennP8pL5GiYb4XHZ43z4yLOr4J7s9xzd8QzdQdhsd3WHvsnw76ujfam1LekJDYpSE13sn8u9G0mdeTcIT0REa2nuGPgQl-Pqh5wUHI/s200/jan.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5503672258747197826" style="margin: 0px 0px 10px 10px; float: right; cursor: pointer; width: 152px; height: 200px;" border="0" /></span><div>However, Jan was eager to move on to check out Vilcabamba, which was next on their travel list. I was particularly happy they arrived, as Ken and I hit it off pretty good and we began to practice together regularly in hopes of putting a new band together here. I learned about two dozen new blues songs in a short time, and we tried to find other musicians of high calibre to complete a working band.</div><div><br /></div><div><b><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:verdana;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: rgb(51, 0, 0);">Halloween Weekend in Cuenca</span></span></b></div><div><br /></div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: rgb(0, 0, 238);"></span><div>As the end of October wound down, we were eagerly expecting the arrival of two couples we had connected with through VIVE4U: the first to arrive in early November: <i>Mike, Nani, </i>and their son<i> Declan</i>. But for the end of October and my birthday on Halloween, we went with our friends Jay, Caroline and Jay's daughter <i>Erin</i> to Cuenca to enjoy the cultural hub of Ecuador for three days. Many consider Cuenca to be the cultural jewel of South America, and it does have a distinct element of 'class' to it. The 4-hour trip by bus up there from Vilcabamba was breathtaking in it's scenery – a truly amazing journey that took us deep into valleys and then way up above the clouds. </div><div><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: rgb(0, 0, 238);"><span class="Apple-style-span" style=""><img src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhO-Pf8roRpzUCR-Pwx8jogDDLU81uLwq4Z4OJYxf1MXY0eV_7ch-A1iQufCaDhb5emChyphenhyphenGZfxgr3Z6Xqv68h0n04pmhT41Xxz4SO2gJzzEgU2zI1iF8Pt8vhHEdnHvi3msqkB2KuXtDQE/s400/DSCN5813.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5503796927399097714" style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 292px;" border="0" /></span></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: rgb(0, 0, 238);"><span class="Apple-style-span" style=""><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: rgb(0, 0, 0);"><i>The Central Cathedral in Cuenca is one many Ecuadorian architectural masterworks</i></span></span></span></div><div><br /></div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: rgb(0, 0, 238);"><img src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhqgFS2KvptLyBU4ZGDYoPNg6FSlzeEUjocolIJrHBRShtY67nzGYDMhwBXAEYoRCUaYPwlF543S0ncPHzfvzbgESWFpK0uHJLK3O24BuFaNLPDChplR_OO_AHfVR555IyBBdUutOLgQdQ/s200/cuenca3.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5503797665492735090" style="margin: 0px 10px 10px 0px; float: left; cursor: pointer; width: 153px; height: 200px;" border="0" /></span><div>At 8200 feet above sea level, Cuenca is a high altitude city, and the climate is decidedly on the cool side, compared to the warmer climate of Vilcabamba. But being one who lived 40 years in New England, it felt great to me. Once there, we really loved the vibe of the city. It has a level of 'sophistication' that is absent in Loja, and after more than three months in southern rural Ecuador, Cuenca was a welcome change.<br /><br />The pride the citizen's took in their city was obvious – they wash the streets at night, and there are trash barrels strategically placed throughout, which most of the people make use of, for it is a tidy city by South American standards. Cuenca has a wealth of music and art and those sensibilities are clearly valued by the city's inhabitants. </div><div><br /></div><div>Most welcome was that there are many great places to eat, walk and otherwise just 'hang-out' there and have a great cup of coffee or a gourmet pastry. It was easy to understand why Cuenca is home to so many ex-pats.</div><div style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: rgb(0, 0, 238);"><br /></span></div><div><br /></div><div><b><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:large;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: rgb(153, 51, 0);">November 2009 </span></span></b></div><div><br /></div><div><b></b><b><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:verdana;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: rgb(51, 0, 0);">Mike, Nani and Family – Our Friends from New Hampshire </span></span></b></div><div><br /></div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: rgb(0, 0, 238);"><img src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhDyR1LlmP2nq4UsfFwM4nKNqxF2DhhiSFKeHL3Le2KvpEBzUrSO2d58gH7-6jnKiZ6tVuwrJQs4kFxKJRyVGJGHfxKAHtSLSG-nON5odg9_oBHywZyZxPBEQA0bun_tnVVj_xFheQqpF8/s200/mikenani.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5503672868505670562" style="margin: 0px 10px 10px 0px; float: left; cursor: pointer; width: 188px; height: 200px;" border="0" /></span><div><b><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:verdana;"></span></b>Upon our return home to our Butterfly House, Mike, Nani and Declan showed up soon thereafter. It was a great evening meeting them in person after so much time spent on SKYPE calls over the last few months. Mike, (an unassuming, tall, lanky go-with-the-flow kind of guy) and Declan are quite musical. Nani is a very likeable, intelligent woman of strong character as well and we were so pleased to finally see them arrive here. They are from New Hampshire, an area I visited frequently in my 40 years living in Massachusetts. So, there was much common ground and we became instantaneous friends. Their long time friends, <i>Nate and Dova</i> were scheduled to come early the next month.</div><div><br /></div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: rgb(0, 0, 238);"><img src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiGodhPwwJrHjouHGIC5HRp3CNhkrnKL5y0mEaGSEgHesnofzoEn9X8griVzumnbMrfnDd3h4sorCYC6S1YBuggQmbHLncrYXdx-rnc6mKiD0hINK2fSlBYQGx1qtc4UC4BDoQ5zPCX8VQ/s200/daren.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5503676142340932162" style="margin: 0px 0px 10px 10px; float: right; cursor: pointer; width: 165px; height: 200px;" border="0" /></span><div>It was also around this time that I finally met <i>Daren</i>, our immediate neighbor up on the mountaintop behind us, who had been back in the States for several months. Daren's a professional basketball coach in the midwest, and goes back there for a few months every year to put on a series of clinics and makes his money, which he lives off of the rest of the year down here. A very tall likeable and ambitious young man of about 40, I liked him immediately, as he is an enthusiastic music fan. </div><div><br /></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:verdana;"><b><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: rgb(51, 0, 0);">'Casa de Carol'</span></b></span></div><div><br /></div><div>In mid-November, our friends Jay and Caroline decided to move from the main house on the property to another situation that came their way. The main house is a very large house, know by the locals as<i> 'Casa De Carol'</i> due to the fact that it was owned and partially built by the well-known NASA Scientist <i>Carol Rosen</i> and her husband/actor <i>John Cipher</i>. The house is huge, gorgeous, and sits high up on a mountain knoll. Of course the rent was higher, but it was still less than a 'b' grade 1-bedroom apartment in Arizona, so we were eager to move next door, up the hill and become the new on-site property caretakers while the owners were waiting for the property to sell, (which it did the following spring). Clearly, this was a house built for entertaining, and entertain we did with several parties and gatherings, as well weekly 'movie nights' on Daren's big plasma TV screen which he brought down (which we started a bit later in January).</div><div><br /></div><div>Our first act as the new on-site property managers was not pleasant: we had to fire <i>Franco</i>, the long-time gardener on the property for stealing $20 out of <i>Erin's</i> purse on our move-in day. He had long been suspected of other thefts but this time, he was caught and confessed to it, so there was only one thing to do in the situation, and that was to inform the owner's liason, Juan Diego, who directed us to terminate his position immediately. But once that was done, we quickly found another gardener, a likeable young man with a young family named <i>Rubin</i>, who was trained in organic gardening at the University in Loja. He and Julia quickly began planning working the various garden areas on the property.</div><div><br /></div><div><b><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:verdana;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: rgb(51, 0, 0);">'What's Working'</span></span></b></div><div><br /></div><div><b><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:verdana;"></span></b>Also during this time was an evolution of a group named <i>'What's Working'</i> which met weekly, spearheaded by <i>Susan Davis</i>. The group's purpose was to help all the 'gringo' visitors and residents to acclimate to living in Ecuador in a more 'tranquilo' fashion – by understanding better the local customs and mentality and come into better balance. So, it was basically information to help 'foreigner's' like us be less annoying to those that have long called this beautiful valley their home, for their ways are much different from our ways. We became acutely aware that not all locals welcomed the gringo influence, especially when it is accompanied with trademark arrogance.</div><div><br /></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: rgb(0, 0, 238);"><img src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh1PyUtyOSYSNIaEOmeOwi_JWicl_xJhpPN7jHEQE6PTh-y8BW1CWOz98GPXIUDAM5Fu5YvKGRUumaCghXH2zzwBbB334Gs3yS0uLFWqM-ucbxaH05ApMHDtr_30XVTgT4mjSAC0-1NS3M/s400/DSCN6335.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5503685261530443618" style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 300px;" border="0" /></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: rgb(0, 0, 238);"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: rgb(0, 0, 0);"><i>Walter gives Julia a hands-on lesson in organic gardening.</i></span></span></div><div><br /></div><div><b><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:verdana;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: rgb(51, 0, 0);">Sue Terry and Montesuenos Revisited</span></span></b></div><div><br /></div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: rgb(0, 0, 238);"><img src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEilop8HkVgmBnB8Za8BjHajvpV5rdZFM-CmTDEq_47U3grw1gIRzc2NulB7j-ep-Ab27VwYlgtTpsV7Scc5uy-Wq-tMNCkhLXTnpincQPArkCZ9TC2w2FRw9JyFChlkB6Fdp2D1D-QkqRk/s320/sue.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5503677886554686482" style="margin: 0px 10px 10px 0px; float: left; cursor: pointer; width: 258px; height: 320px;" border="0" /></span><div>Late November also saw another conference held at Montesuenos with our dear friend, teacher and saxaphonist extraordinaire, <i>Sue Terry</i>. We had met Sue when we were on vacation the previous spring, and shared a few days with her at the Montesuenos Guest Cottage, and liked each other enough to keep in touch ever since.</div><div><br /></div><div>Sue had just completed an <i>Ayahausca journey </i>in Quito with notable mystic, <i>Stuart Wilde</i>, which I was most interested in hearing about, as I was a long time reader of Stuart's writings and always valued his spiritual perspective as well as his sharp wit. Julia and I attended and assisted the conference as necessary. The place is as beautiful as ever, and we fondly recalled our vacation time spent there the previous April, which had proved to be such a pivotal, life-changing event that called us to make the move here to Ecuador. </div><div><br /></div><div>That Saturday night,<i> Susan Davis and Walter</i> hosted a big party up at their house that is up on the south ridge above Vilcabamba. Sue, Ken and I played music live and it was a great memory. There were probably 70-80 people there. On her last night in town, Sue stayed with Julia and I at the Casa De Carol and we enjoyed the brief opportunity to talk and catch up with each other.</div><div><br /></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: rgb(0, 0, 238);"><span class="Apple-style-span" style=""><img src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgVY1ibpkeg-IUYMjBkeJRsxUblZZBBWqXSKZI6_eQlzWvzlnqiOekD5onj1dFfor5UeUwiPbr11ARLMHo4TgpSFXNwSPdD9w5kyY1FIwhaYDqlRMFCyF3x6mPyfekuR6FABRGazc-wzTY/s400/2009+508.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5503803543693772082" style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 268px;" border="0" /></span></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style=""><i>Ken, Sue and myself jamming it out.</i></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: rgb(0, 0, 238);"><br /></span></div><div><b><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:verdana;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: rgb(51, 0, 0);">Mi Amigo Greg and One Magical Night</span></span></b></div><div><br /></div><div><b><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:verdana;"></span></b>Another nice connection happened in late November when a couple around our age, <i>Greg and Deborah </i>arrived from Cuenca looking for a place to stay and ended up renting the Butterfly House for a month. Greg and I really hit it off, and became fast friends. One of the most stress-free, laid back personalities I've ever encountered, I felt like I had met yet another long lost brother in Greg. He's been a world traveller for many years, buying and selling property and things to finance his vagabond lifestyle, and he's got it working for him. We discovered we enjoy the same kind of music and spent a lot of time just hanging out. However, after only three days in Vilcabamba, he and his partner of four years split up, as Deborah refused to stay, accustomed to more 'civilized' surrounding, and headed back to Cuenca. Greg ended up staying on til the end of the month but by the first week in December, he decided to leave as well. Last I heard he and Deb had reunited and are currently living up in British Columbia, very happily.</div><div><br /></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: rgb(0, 0, 238);"><img src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiyah7PAbKXeN1yoZ5DDioGyFDVo7xSSbnPZ4HkQCElcADUVjM8Xaey9NLuqrmBipeW4989IvIRtDhFFK24mRyfSapPPgfTV7wv6POboXYnqzLS77XrMQAF03o5cDKFKtGLKHg4tEKLNrM/s400/DSCN6769.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5503698770940509490" style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 299px;" border="0" /></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: rgb(0, 0, 238);"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: rgb(0, 0, 0);"><i>Morning Mist surrounds the Podocarpus Wilderness, adjacent to Vilcabamba</i></span></span></div><div><br /></div><div>I'll never forget <i>one magical night</i> in late november when Mike, Jay, Caroline, Greg, Johanna, Akia, Camilla, Julia and me, and a handful of others happened on a spontaneous adventure. Akai and Camilla had just returned from Quito with a Jeep they had bought full of their stuff and were heading up to their new mountain home for the first time, which they had just rented for $80 per month. It was quite remote. It was also Camilla's birthday and Akai was wanting a celebration. So, naturally we all volunteered to help move their things in as we happened to all be there down in the village square. </div><div><br /></div><div><i>Funny:</i> According to Camilla, their home was just a short '10 minute walk' from the end of the road. So, at 9 pm, we started up the path, each of us carrying what we could on our back and in our hands. No lights of neighbors anywhere in sight. It was pitch black, muddy and a steady incline as we followed the path next to the river up the mountain, which I could discern had sheer drop-offs here and there to the rocks and rushing waters below. </div><div><br /></div><div>Exhausted, and <i>an hour later</i>, we arrived at their mountaintop home, on the edge of vast the Podocarpis wilderness. It was the longest, hardest 10 minute walk in history! Unfortunately, because of the time it took to get up there, we only had a short time to celebrate before we had to return in order to meet a prearranged taxi ride home (unusual for one of the taxis to agree to come so late). But we opened a couple of bottles of wine, joked about Camilla's 'ten-minute easy walk', quickly drank, played and sang a few tunes with the guitars and headed back down again, laughing all the way.</div><div><br /></div><div>Fortunately, going down from their home went a lot quicker, and at one point, as I was leading the group down when I came face to face with <b>a cow</b> on the path, who greeted me with a profound 'MOOOOOOOOOOOO' in my face out of the darkness! That perfected the night. </div><div><br /></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: rgb(0, 0, 238);"><img src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgzXEkyb9XgFa6ypDakaYa_TfJKscWBTfr_tL_0kDY_gp4Oyp2s3xlRE0E_3gMyaKte9Rsp0tzjcds91zd1U63wwqJMTigxVeB1V25a-rhh91Z_aP4Eqa8Dn4c2k5sPuBaQXt7bljkXBAw/s400/cow.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5503683835217587122" style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 262px;" border="0" /></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: rgb(0, 0, 238);"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: rgb(0, 0, 0);"><i> What would Ecuador be without their cows?</i></span></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: rgb(0, 0, 238);"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: rgb(0, 0, 0);"><i><br /></i></span></span></div><div>The unlikeliness of this little spontaneous adventure was one of those things we live for, and that has happened quite a few times in the last year. It was a magical night of a in-the-moment unplanned 'happening', shared by good friends, and <i>full of the exhileration of being free and fully alive</i> – in a totally unknown place that is earmarked by laughter, joy, a bit of real danger, and a mooing cow. This, in a nutshell, is what the magic of Vilcabamba is all about.</div><div><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: rgb(0, 0, 238);"><br /></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:large;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: rgb(153, 51, 0);"><br /></span></span></div><div><b><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:large;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: rgb(153, 51, 0);">December 2009</span></span></b><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:large;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: rgb(153, 51, 0);"> </span></span></div><div><br /></div><div><b><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:verdana;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: rgb(51, 0, 0);">Nate and Dova Arrive, with 'Sampson' </span></span></b></div><div><br /></div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: rgb(0, 0, 238);"><img src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiSEcUYeUnVmdQI5w64q4K7DakdwMzVh8uU9G1ryjNSsbdppEStx0w_93Cr0MLlJKxbsjcj4KnRcuFDdP1PmQkTq7zCt4lCqiN-L8YqBURnCmt1mUPaUDdGO6HrBHpaMzKatkfT2BQfzaw/s200/2010WeddingJyJ+007.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5503684385841488610" style="margin: 0px 10px 10px 0px; float: left; cursor: pointer; width: 200px; height: 197px;" border="0" /></span><div><b><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:verdana;"></span></b>Mike and Nani's friends, <i>Nate and Dova</i> arrived as expected in early December and a lovely couple they are. They come from California, via Costa Rica. I quickly learned that Nate and I have much in common: art, music, a strong interest in esoteric subjects, and we're both Scorpios! (as is also Mike). So, I was excited by musical possibilities, as well as yet another strong friendship based on common values and similar level of awareness of things. Dova is a beautiful woman and gentle spirit. She, like Jay's wife Caroline, speaks with a decided british accent.</div><div>They brought a huge dog down with them, 'Sampson', and no sooner got here that they discovered Dova was pregnant! (<i>Update:</i> Dova had the baby last week, on 8/2, Nani's Birthday).</div><div><br /></div><div>Sadly (for me), my new friend Greg had to move on to attend some business back in the states and I think he wanted to try to resolve things with his partner Deb. I was sorry to see him go, as we had such an easy connection. Also sadly for me, by December, Ken had decided to move on too, as he was hungering for performing which is his gift and Vilcabamba just wasn't the place he could do that. I could clearly see that coming. Ken thrives in city life.<br /><br />However, Jan was determined to stay and establish her healing practice. So, sadly, another couple go their separate ways but it made sense, as each had very different preferred lifestyles. So, I was sorry to see Ken leave as well, but understood well his reasons. Last I heard he was back on the west coast of the US, happy, and regularly playing in another blues band.</div><div><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: rgb(0, 0, 238);"><br /></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: rgb(0, 0, 238);"><span class="Apple-style-span" style=""><img src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiT4HQ3285fBLrga_o1SapJgWuCStTiF-zmlKy-rynlhO6lmuKEMym26up-Gb7rVTek64_UNWEv2s87JbNOgY-ZxxyzDRlb68iMW7zhPMHA2fG2ZV3Oig_T98uAtrVtX6lMq_R7TrLoD9Y/s400/garden.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5503688245078322530" style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 248px;" border="0" /></span></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: rgb(0, 0, 238);"><span class="Apple-style-span" style=""><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: rgb(0, 0, 0);"><i> Me, Julia, Tor and Rubin work on preparing the garden beds</i></span></span></span></div><div><br /></div><div><b><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:verdana;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: rgb(51, 0, 0);">Planting a New Garden and Holiday Parties</span></span></b></div><div><br /></div><div>As December rolled on, Julia began to really get excited about rejuvenating the gardens at the Casa de Carol, and so, began plotting with Rubin about what to plant and where to plant it. She made hand-painted signs, and studied which plants do well together as neighbors. So, Anja, Julia, Rubin, me and Tor all helped prepare and plant the new gardens. Around this time Antonio and family moved out of the Bamboo House to another spot and a visitor from Amsterdam, <i>Anja</i>, moved in. </div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: rgb(0, 0, 238);"><img src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhnQn46SHwvjlhtZXpIXzAZs5I2nZpUapA_Zht_qwbTTjDjG3Cb5h_2GAmb1Uue9m9ahl7187E7dKly6KdhdxmTGKnBpZtPvibsFYSLE5P_ne3YkGWiX-6ut2khmrmBM5dhJr1EalbN7e8/s200/xmasdinner.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5503701037167121458" style="margin: 0px 10px 10px 0px; float: left; cursor: pointer; width: 170px; height: 200px;" border="0" /></span><div>We hosted two fun Christmas parties spaced only a few days apart... one for a small group of close friends, and the second one where we invited about 100 people. Both were well attended and we enjoyed lots of fun, music, food and drink. </div><div><br /></div><div>Some of our new circle of friends that were there were: <i>Jay and Caroline</i>, <i>Bruce and Jenice, Jose and Lucia, Susan and Walter, Daren, Tor, Mike, Nani, and Declan, Nate and Dova, Deloris, Ken and Joyce, Luli and Jose, Luke and Sarah, Anja, Marcel and Isabel, Brian, Melinda and their two boys, Joshua and Michael, Nick and Laura, Mark and Marie, </i>our housekeeper <i>Maria and her family, </i>as well our Taxi Driver of preference, <i>Lenin and his family, a</i>nd our new gardener<i> Rubin, and his family</i> as well as many others.</div><div><br /></div><div><b><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:verdana;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: rgb(51, 0, 0);">End of a Business Relationship / End of the Year</span></span></b></div><div><br /></div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: rgb(0, 0, 238);"><img src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgRMzawChBalKa7wx3poYCQdCHBBhw0UYJOYVAtZm-2GoPKlW2HQ7sPvbUnd6OtN_LGFHKPHUfMMWmpjxbfprNb7jvBVSB-eot0FZ6i85EYqd18uw6js4tqCYjtlD1bwgEBlwPZo-oqXrc/s200/dancing.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5503811969899843266" style="margin: 0px 0px 10px 10px; float: right; cursor: pointer; width: 153px; height: 200px;" border="0" /></span><div>It was around this time (late December) where my work took a dramatic change too. I had been having trouble with my primary collaborator for my graphic work for some time, and over November and December, he failed to keep our agreement (again) in paying me for my work, so by the last week in December, I had to end that relationship on a matter of <i>self respect</i>, as the balance he owed me was now well into five figures. Not so easy, as it was fairly easy money while it was flowing, but I was beginning to resent him and couldn't live with that kind of<i> negative energy</i>.<br /><br />It was a big decision, but it is one I now happy I made, for it freed me up to do so many other more positive, productive and creative things with my time. Honestly, the need to make money here is not nearly the stress factor of what it is in the US. It's been 8 months since then and we've been able to maintain ourselves here financially very well. </div><div><br /></div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: rgb(0, 0, 238);"><img src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi9y22HcgtcZpa6bwrq6HZ3ChOxHgvbmLwlCyA2vusnFNpHb6HViMgUtrFXVmCxElDzt69RPE3wO4JvhklnadEWHFpDCBtwZmTt8C6J5uZzyiQd22iQtSAGRPyYFbyEw2Mk6qE-QzJqjKw/s320/DSCN4635.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5503645341759759826" style="margin: 0px 10px 10px 0px; float: left; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 240px;" border="0" /></span><div>New Years Eve, 12/31/09 was also quite memorable, for the gigantic party that occurred down in the Vilca Village. The entire town square was wall-to-wall people. There were bonfires and dancing and music and general happy craziness all around. All good. We went home around 2, but we could still hear the noise from the village for another hour or two as we tried to fall asleep. </div><div><br /></div><div>For some strange reason, <i>Ecuadorians love loud noises</i>, and occasionally on the weekends and especially on any 'holiday' you can here loud bangs as cherry bombs are going off all over the place. I don't get it. It was really irritating at first, but we got use to it. Now, we just laugh.</div><div><br /></div><div><b><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:large;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: rgb(153, 51, 0);">January 2010</span></span></b></div><div><br /></div><div><b><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:verdana;"></span></b>As January began, we were beginning the process of permanent residency with a Quito Lawyer, <i>Gabriella Espinosa</i>, who proved to get the job done for us (with a little proaction and persistence on our part), athough it took right up to the very last day – (almost three months later). The total cost was around $2500. </div><div><br /></div><div><b><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:verdana;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: rgb(51, 0, 0);">The Beginning of a Local Crime Wave</span></span></b></div><div><br /></div><div><b><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:verdana;"></span></b>Also around this time period (end of December/beginning of January) was a <i>shocking armed robbery</i> of our friends Susan and Walter up at their remote home on the southern ridge of Mountains overlooking Vilcabamba. Several men, dressed in military garb knocked on thier door one night claiming to be the police. They busted in, brually tied them both up at gun point after confiscating their cash and proceeded to trash the rest of the house as violently as possible. </div><div><br /></div><div>A very community minded couple, Susan and Walter had done a lot of good in the community. They had donated quite a bit of money to building a school for the local people and other charitable endeavors, so that such a brutal thing would happen to such an altruistic couple was a real shocker for the entire region, the locals as well. We can only speculate that perhaps someone somewhere didn't like the progressive influences that they were bringing to the community, or it is possible it was just an act of random violence. But it does seem like they were specifically targeted. Fortunately, although they were very shook up they were relatively unharmed save for a sprained arm for Walter. </div><div><br /></div><div>Sadly, this was only the first of several similar events that were to impact this peaceful valley in the Spring of 2010. </div><div><br /></div><div><b><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:verdana;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: rgb(51, 0, 0);">Julia visits AZ / Movie Nights</span></span></b></div><div><br /></div><div><b><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:verdana;"></span></b>In mid January, Julia made a two-week solo return trip to Arizona. Her trip was two-fold in purpose: 1) to see her son <i>Christian</i> who was home from Iraq on Army leave, her daughter <i>Jasmine and family</i>, and her new grandson, <i>Caleb</i>, which had recently been born, and 2) to bring back down here the rest of our 'stuff' that we had stored there as checked baggage on the airplane. To conserve funds, and also keep an eye on our new home here, I stayed behind. It was a long two weeks.</div><div><br /></div><div><b><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:verdana;"></span></b>While Julia was away, I began a weekly <i>'Movie Night' </i>at the Casa de Carol. We had collected quite an extensive movie collection by then, and it was a real pleasure to share some great films, assorted musical concerts, and thoughtful documentaries with our friends. Our Movie Nights quickly became a popular weekly event in town.</div><div><br /></div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: rgb(0, 0, 238);"><img src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiSDEm9zFdfCJ80hg8pTKZu08U0T_O7WyRA__a2A4gaa1t085K87RaFKNgpyyuem3X-nTZfInkopyqfhNGEKd_kimqZv_OolW7i3ZeB8EjMhP94jN292rqzRsFkAteDPZviPKD9yqbeTmw/s200/daya.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5503697767079661410" style="margin: 0px 10px 10px 0px; float: left; cursor: pointer; width: 162px; height: 200px;" border="0" /></span><div>It was also during this time that I met a friendly and interesting lady named <i>Daya</i>, while having a scrambled egg breakfast down at the hostel <i>Madre Tierre</i>, at the base of our hill. Daya had travelled the world, hiked the himilayas, owned a flat in Rumania, and now was here to check out this famed <i>Valley of Longevity </i>with intentions of possibly staying long term. It was a pleasure to meet and talk with her. I invited her up after breakfast and gave her a tour of the property where we were staying.</div><div><br /></div><div>Around this same time period we met another family. <i>Peter Fox</i> (from Washington State) and his brother <i>Nathan</i> (from Switzerland) and their families came into town to check out Madre Tierre, which was also for sale by Carol Rosen. Indeed they eventually bought the hostel, finalized later in April, and the finca (farm) next to it. They are a really nice Christian family with children. </div><div><br /></div><div>A danish couple named Keung and Carolina eventually purchased the Casa de Carol and were slated to move in by May, so we knew our days at this wonderful house would be numbered. But little did we know, our living situation would just get better. The Vilca family of friends was ever expanding.</div><div><br /></div><div>I had really missed Julia when she was gone. Life was not the same without her, and once she returned we began to talk more seriously about our future together. It seemed to be destiny that we be together, and as would also be expedient for our residency Visas, we had decided on the spot to partake in a common law marriage at the notary's office in Loja on Feb 2.</div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><div><b><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:large;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: rgb(153, 51, 0);">February 2010</span></span></b></div><div><b><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:verdana;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: rgb(0, 51, 0);"><br /></span></span></b></div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: rgb(0, 0, 238);"><img src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhb8hzKcfMNyR1G1ikAGDbzDq8Rb2lzMblN1dpqzw-oo-iipZHCAnUmoobmpr3aNnaSiDSUCOgKDsw0UXXmwrKm5BlRQb4q0aQbjz7yHyrrXcpy6DkIZMD_4KsxMKl1u_2f3yvUW3F7LJU/s400/2010WeddingJyJ+172.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5503630043835304882" style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 268px;" border="0" /></span></div><div><div style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: rgb(0, 0, 238);"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: rgb(0, 0, 0);"><i>Julia and I toast at our informal Wedding Ceremony, 2/14/2010</i></span></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: rgb(0, 0, 238);"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: rgb(0, 0, 0);"><i><br /></i></span></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: rgb(0, 0, 238);"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: rgb(153, 102, 51);font-family:arial;"><b><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: rgb(0, 0, 0); font-weight: normal;font-family:Georgia,serif;"><div style="text-align: left;"><b><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:verdana;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: rgb(51, 0, 0);">We Get Married</span></span></b></div><div style="text-align: left;"><b><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:verdana;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: rgb(153, 102, 51);"><br /></span></span></b></div></span></b></span></span></div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: rgb(0, 0, 238);"></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: rgb(0, 0, 238);"><img src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiSh806iXJ-Q21ivGYZYIr0J55VqsF3gdWvvH7tjSLT7o4P6C3kYwNuw8hy1LqTlvsAtaAuC_UrsjMYDod6j4Mmm8UcODT2soAHnvyr9AR16VteihZI_Z6mFCzKkr0KDmLm2OS-TwY8xw0/s200/2010WeddingJyJ+038.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5503637886104709250" style="margin: 0px 10px 10px 0px; float: left; cursor: pointer; width: 200px; height: 195px;" border="0" /></span><div><b><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:verdana;"></span></b>February began with us signing documents declaring our union on February 2, making us legally married under Ecuadorian common law. We were eager to share the news with family and friends, but when we had got home that evening, we discovered we were without water, which is a serious crises for anyone here in Ecuador. So, for the next day and the day after, I was preoccupied with the logistics of getting our water situation straightened out. It turns out that the house, which was for sale, had a firm offer put in on it. The sale was considered in place and for that reason the water, which we had been getting from a well on another property, (also owned by Carol Rosen), was cut off to us without notice by her manager Juan Diego.</div><div><br /></div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: rgb(0, 0, 238);"><img src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEix8YSj6BldkzavllYiFdk5UgOZJv9wvCZvAvO4Hf9qgVVpUfFfDHMZnLGIUf0Gn5hPQV7-XJA7op-Ok-w4sMd3blwiXoXisGtjq6JGxKKwrT2KQ1QxOpFVzNo44AteTrRG7R7f1T53mPQ/s200/2010WeddingJyJ+237.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5503817829897628258" style="margin: 0px 0px 10px 10px; float: right; cursor: pointer; width: 134px; height: 200px;" border="0" /></span><div style="text-align: left;">We eventually got hooked up to the town water (via San Pedro), but the entire town system was down for several days that week due to mudslides from heavy rains and it took some time to get it up and running again. Anway, while I was preoccupied with attending to these practical matters, Julia was so thrilled at our union she changed her 'status' on facebook to 'married'. In checking my email one night, I simply had clicked 'ok' when I got an automatic email to that effect, without thinking of what it was for, as I was intending to write an official declaration to family and friends a bit later when I had more time to put my attention on it. Well, it wasn't until the third day after, a Friday, that I found the time to write a properly worded email announcing our union, but by that time, my children had noticed the 'status change' on Facebook and were all (understandibly) deeply offended! </div><div style="text-align: left;"><i><br /></i></div><div style="text-align: left;"><i>Oooppps.</i></div><div><br /></div><div>Well, what can one do? I was sad for the misunderstanding but was determined not to let it steal the joy of our occasion. We decided to have a small ceremony with a few of our closest friends (about 30) up at Montesuenos on St. Valentines Day. It proved to be a beautiful day and a very memorable event. I played an original song on piano that Julia had inspired of me, and our good friend Jay served as the <i>Justice of the Peace</i>, and we shared personal vows that we each had written.</div><div><br /></div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: rgb(0, 0, 238);"><img src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjFQ2taKfSBVyMb57csUbDzKvJbgW2gRR_TWJ6AJ4-q0fm4Nw0cNvIjX-dIYRsp4zXXMxdGSwAcPWeVgERwPHh1oCTSCa8_XBeA6-_OdU70_a5gp4dxnW5iES4JXcaVFpmwXItqRU9KWgg/s200/2010WeddingJyJ+326.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5503636725125196914" style="margin: 0px 10px 10px 0px; float: left; cursor: pointer; width: 200px; height: 176px;" border="0" /></span><div>Knowing well how I love chocolate, Jay's sweet wife Caroline made the most incredible triple chocolate cake, with all natural ingredients, which is her forte. She really went overboard on this one. We really felt so much love from everyone. A more perfect day for such an event I could not have imagined, save for our families being there. We feel so very blessed.</div></div><div><br /></div><div><b><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:verdana;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: rgb(51, 0, 0);">A Mishap on the Mountain</span></span></b></div><div><br /></div><div><b><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:verdana;"></span></b>A week or so before the wedding celebration, we went with Akai and Camilla to look at some land they were trying to purchase on the other side of Mondango (the trademark 'sacred mountain' that guards Vilcabamba). It was quite beautiful but severely mountainous. At one point, Julia decided she wanted to climb up a steep section with Akai. She didn't get too far when she reached for a branch that didn't hold her and she fell some 15 feet or so, badly hurting her left shoulder, which left her a lot of pain. (pain that persists to this day, in August). </div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:arial;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: rgb(0, 51, 0);"><br /></span></span></div><div><b><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: rgb(51, 0, 0);"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:verdana;">Contrasting Energies</span></span></span></b></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:verdana;"><b><br /></b></span></div><div>So, February was a quite a month of contrasting energies, that began with a host of practical problems with water, and unintentionally offending my children, and Julia falling while hiking and hurting her left shoulder. However, it also was a beautiful month in terms of our marriage celebration, and our continued weekly movie nights, which as many as 25-30 people would show up for on Friday (and later Sunday) nights. Life here in Ecuador continued to unfold in unexpected ways.</div><div><br /></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: rgb(0, 0, 238);"><img src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjVUzQoia7bgw9v0kwmPPp-MsWAUesCDSnY8ObqNvmTUoeexFXiG306FnTw_NosPl5Jj8mxPKBpf73ZvrfHwqaqalSzSROpJIsZRdcApPdBivQIn2UxPt1RipjyN4vSWUGCC08zkUpn2as/s400/2010WeddingJyJ+368.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5503637249207904626" style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 268px;" border="0" /></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: rgb(0, 0, 238);"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: rgb(0, 0, 0);"><i>Julia, me, Akai and Camilla on our wedding day at dusk</i></span></span></div><div><br /></div><div><div><b><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:large;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: rgb(153, 51, 0);">March 2010</span></span></b></div><div><b><br /></b></div><div><b><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:verdana;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: rgb(51, 0, 0);">Introduction to Consul</span></span></b></div><div><br /></div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: rgb(0, 0, 238);"><img src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiJBK47Hrm4T-X-e5cpgMGFxHjy8GXLrIdtNnvZj9MvN8gqj_uo1vJzG2xl35LRy4DhjcLZz_Wgt-MieY14X6EZmbgLt1-Xa3zw0OswkN5Drg0acq-bQ7SzNg4-51ANaLuhrFAnPxSzujY/s200/mark.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5503696770940188994" style="margin: 0px 10px 10px 0px; float: left; cursor: pointer; width: 166px; height: 197px;" border="0" /></span><div><b><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:verdana;"></span></b>In early March we began weekly gatherings that were initated by a new friend in town, <i>Mark</i>. Mark spends part time in Vermont, and the rest of the time either travelling or here in Vilcabamba. He was one of the most enthusiastic fans of our weekly 'movie nights', so we had good rapport. </div><div><br /></div><div>One evening, after the weekly movie about six of us gathered around the round table at our house and Mark initiated us into a way of improving interpersonal relationships named <i>'Consul'</i>. </div><div><br /></div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: rgb(0, 0, 238);"><img src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgSXG3j60gr_rFCUaDfhGUiFp35fc7c7FAS_2x2Pfd-P7WGPFHgykcnzmkWF5m0Sk_KaEdIfnPprcAcL2rg7abp_82z63JoPYeEj4kXPhVTSRsZ94fkf4fLvN3Vk5VbXMGON9iMrG83Aoc/s200/tor.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5503696973293469746" style="margin: 0px 0px 10px 10px; float: right; cursor: pointer; width: 165px; height: 200px;" border="0" /></span><div>The basic premise of Consul is to establish <i>a forum</i> in which everyone has an opportunity to speak. It's based on the native american <i>'talking stick'</i> idea. When one has 'the stick' no-one else is allowed to talk or interrupt, thereby insuring that the speaker is given all the time and space to say whatever they wish to say to completion. </div><div><br /></div><div>It is the 'job' of everyone else at the table, who is not holding the talking stick, to listen with their hearts, as wells their ears. The subject matter is completely open. We usually began be simply stating a 'weather report' of how we are feeling and anything that is pressing on our minds in that moment. Then, once everyone has chimed in their presence, the topic of conversation would often morph for the remainder of the evening, usually set to a two hour time period. </div><div><br /></div><div>We found Consul very valuable. For, it allows a 'sacred space' in which it is ok to 'be real'. It improves interpersonal communication... both on the speaking end, and especially on <i>the listening end</i>. During our two months involved with Consul at the Casa de Carol, we maintained a consistent core group. However, a few people came and went during that time. For us, it was always a highlight of the week. Our friend <i>Anja</i>, who began our first two Consul meetings with us, decided to go back to Amsterdam after a couple of weeks, being frustrated by financial problems and not finding a way to make money to sustain her life here. She was a brave soul, coming here by herself with very little resources. And we wish her well. </div><div><br /></div><div>But we had another new couple come into town around this time name <i>Lina and Linas</i> from Lithuania. Linas did not stay involved past the first two sessions but Lina was an enthusiastic participant. She is a trained engineer, and her partner Linas is also brilliant, in an 'out-of-box kind of way. <i>Tor, Daya, Daren</i>, and later, <i>Stan and Elena, </i>as well as<i> Julia, Mark, </i>and<i> myself </i>became the core group, until we moved in late April.</div><div><div><div><div><i><br /></i></div><div><i><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-style: normal;"><b><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:verdana;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: rgb(51, 0, 0);">Another Robbery Hits Close to Home </span></span></b></span></i></div><div><i><br /></i></div><div>On the flip side of all this good, positive stuff happening, our friends and neighbors <i>Dan and Joel </i>up near Malacatos were victims of another (attempted) armed robbery by gunpoint at about 11pm one night. But as it turns out, Susan and Walter's unfortunate event had inspired a tighter security network. The local community banned together and formed a communication network with cell phones and walky talkies. Several homes also installed alarm systems. So when Joel called Daren (who was in Quito) on his cell phone that a robbery was in the process of taking place, Daren immediately called a bunch of people, including Tor, who was in the house with us at the time. We were out the door in within 3 minutes and scurried down the hill to meet a taxi that was retained by Brian, and about a dozen of us when up there in support of our friends as fast as we could. </div><div><br /></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: rgb(0, 0, 238);"><img src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiv0Ekd6PfctEzT37raKbLcG4nBqfzmwmzrJYgTOyFJzZs0tBfyChITjK1JSEsrOmjYUkuMGk6jdLbuY_UdKhQeFcZAIbakguYuw4UpG8cY0mYaMa6EqI1cwhxUj5TJ0_H0H93GjJB4WWk/s400/image676.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5503703558728233586" style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 311px;" border="0" /></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><i>The Dome House of Dan and Joel</i></div><div><i><br /></i></div><div>A few of us actually beat the police, who had a rather unconcerned attitude, and looked like they didn't quite know what to make of all these people showing up at the crime scene close to midnight. When we arrived we learned that Joel's window was violently shattered as he lay in bed and after rolling over and calling for help, he found his handgun and fired at the window after he saw a shotgun poke through the broken window. The criminals quickly fled without a trace after that shot. It was obvious from the lack of any blood trail that he had missed.</div><div><br /></div><div>It was not clear who these 'ladrones' were. Some said they were roving bands of thieves from Columbia that just roam all over the continent, hit an an area for awhile, and then move on. Others said they had local 'moles' here that were complicit in setting up specific 'hits'. We don't know exactly. We have learned that even this tranquil little valley has its own version of <i>a local 'mafia' </i>and some of these individuals are in installed in various levels of powerful positions. Consequently, the local people are in a state of fear to speak out when these things happen and just remain silent, even when they know a person that is involved. </div><div><br /></div><div>Of course, none of this is proveable, but its being whispered about and seems to be the accurate state of affairs. So, there were a handful of these types of incidences that happened in the spring, mostly consisting of petty thefts and they were not all aimed at gringos, for several local people were also victims of this gang of theives, including the robbing and beating of a 86 year old Ecuadorian grandmother. Fortunately, all this insanity died down by the end of April and there has been no incidences reported since that time. The positive thing about all this violence is that it had tightened up the local community – gringo and locals alike and inspired the necessity of being our brother's keeper. As was shown in the fast response to Dan and Joel's place that night, it became well understood in the community that we were ready to come to each other's aid when anyone is threatened by an unwanted intuder. </div><div><i><br /></i></div><div><b><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:verdana;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: rgb(51, 0, 0);">Residency Completed: We are Now Legal Residents of Ecuador</span></span></b></div><div><br /></div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: rgb(0, 0, 238);"><img src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEipHvwAvy2jxKDwkfoZaKd7vFWUMY4eLLZRtb29Jh_tC2z4m4Cx2c43uxw3A4wPVRyExDm_ugTl1Bd9DItj76CU1B3jM4h-jqOs-K-Fn-vf5Xvd3hGT92senNmRbVHBbPofqDzOwVyE6J0/s320/ecuadorMap.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5503704948244412210" style="margin: 0px 10px 10px 0px; float: left; cursor: pointer; width: 255px; height: 320px;" border="0" /></span><div><b><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:verdana;"></span></b>On a happy note, on March 21, we got our permanent residency officially done. It took to the very last day, but <i>Gabriella Espinosa</i> and our first attorney, <i>Marco Munos</i> got it done for us. Marco was particularly helpful in drafting the <i>Union de Hecho</i> (common law marriage document) and didn't even want payment for it. He's a real gentleman and a man I've come to have a lot of respect for. However, due to Gabriella's relationship with a key person in the Ecuadorian Consulate in Washington DC, and the proximity of her office to all the government offices in Quito, we decided to have her guide us through the Visa completion. So, now we are full Ecuadorian residents and can stay here as long as we wish to. Julia and I breathed a big sigh of relief, as such a process does not often go as smoothly as it did for us. We counted our blessings.</div></div><div><br /></div><div><b><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:verdana;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: rgb(51, 0, 0);">William </span></span></b></div><div><br /></div><div><b><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:verdana;"></span></b>In March, I also had an uncommon connection with a visitor named <i>William</i>, a University Professor of History who is about my age and was on an exploratory trip from Florida. I continue to be amazed at how I manage to meet these people who feel like long lost family to me. William is another example of one of these great people connections. He only stayed for a few days, but left intending to pull up his roots and return later in the summer with his two daughters.</div><div><br /></div><div>During this time, I was writing an ebook, <i>'Down the Rabbit Hole' </i>(see my website, SpiralDream.org), which was a synthesis of my awareness of things at this point in time, incorporating a timeline of supressed history. William contributed some details I was not aware of concerning some of the history of Lincoln's era and the<i> 'National System of Economics'</i>. As a professor who teaches 'alternative history' in an all black university, he is a most knowledgeable individual. It was enlightening to see yet another layer of how we've all been lied to in the American public educational system and how the truth of history has been witheld from us by the controlling powers that be.</div><div><br /></div><div><div><b><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:large;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: rgb(153, 51, 0);">April 2010</span></span></b></div><div><br /></div><div><b><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:verdana;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: rgb(51, 0, 0);">Brian Helps Julia with Theraphy</span></span></b></div><div><br /></div><div>All this while, Julia continued to be in a lot of pain from her shoulder injury, and fortunately Brian gave much help to her in exchange for use of our office space. He and Melinda also had a heated bed that utlized crystals for healing that they let us use for several nights, and that seemed to help quite a bit. They've been a wonderful help to us, and very generous with their time. Gradually, her pain has diminished but it is still an issue and she continues to work on mobility exercises to heal the torn tendons. </div></div><div><br /></div><div><b><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:verdana;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: rgb(51, 0, 0);">New Friends and Our Next Move </span></span></b></div><div><br /></div><div><b><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:verdana;"></span></b>As our departure from the Casa de Carol loomed closer, we received an offer from our friends Antonio and Marli to house-sit the finca that they were staying at, for they were about to take a two-and-a-half month trip back to New York for a family visit. This proved to be a really wonderful opportunity for us to live rent free for awhile in a most beautiful location, albeit remote, as I will detail in a moment. </div><div><br /></div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: rgb(0, 0, 238);"><img src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEinabOR9ihVa2U_TMCmr91do9cbUXn4Y7y_Z6hJOneapsc9R0H2S33VXumTBWV1LBteMvIWPxC4yR90bfRNEErfa2taImkXzj3kacTFZXlbTHuUzU7-MLCz8RMPSjAT-CMh2i_VKQvH4rk/s200/2008145_32467.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5503939810424727762" style="margin: 0px 10px 10px 0px; float: left; cursor: pointer; width: 200px; height: 194px;" border="0" /></span><div>We had also developed still more friendships with new people we continued to get to know. <i>Patrick </i>is on of these cherished friends, whom we've begun to really love. He looks much like you would expect Santa Claus to look like with a big white beard. Patrick is 80 something years old and lives alone in <i>San Jaoquin</i>, a bario of Vilcabamba. Like two other families we met here, he comes here by way of <i>Maui</i>. A most interesting man, Patrick is full of interesting stories and was drawn here by his studies in longevity. He was a police officer when he was young and an art gallery respresentative in Maui for many years. I tell you, for 80 something he's quite 'the man' and possesses a very sharp intellect and open mind. He is, without a doubt, one of the most aware and awake men I've every met of his age.</div><div><br /></div><div>Another couple of friends we've really come to appreciate is <i>Greg</i> (another greg, yes) and his wife <i>Jill</i>. They are building a house in San Joaquin and we connected just shortly before their 3 month departure in April back to Washington State, where they have rental properties that sustain their early retirement here. (They are my age). As of this writing they just arrived back here and we were pleased to see them last week when stopped by the Finca here for a visit. We hope to get to k now them better as well.</div><div><br /></div><div><b><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:verdana;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: rgb(51, 0, 0);">Mike and Nani Go Back to New Hampshire</span></span></b></div><div><br /></div><div>Mike, Nani and Declan returned back to New Hampshire in early April, intending a short stay there to get some things resolved before coming back to complete their residency requirements here. However, unresolved trouble with Mike's ex-wife ended up changing their plans and making a longer stay necessary, as Mike honorably chose to stay and try to resolve the conflict for as long as it takes. They are a much loved family by all who know them, and they are very much missed by everyone here, and we wish them a speedy return, whenever it is right for them to do so.</div><div><br /></div><div><b><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:verdana;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: rgb(51, 0, 0);">2nd Trip to Cuenca</span></span></b></div><div><br /></div><div><b><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:verdana;"></span></b>In mid-April we made a return trip to Cuenca for a getaway holiday for a few days before we needed to move out of the Casa de Carol. We stayed with a young Ecuadorian mother and her baby in a 3rd floor flat right near the center of the city. It was a perfect location to access everywhere on foot. It turns out she is an english teacher, and they offered us a room for $50 for the week. We only needed 4 days/3 nights, but it was very nice, and on our final night there, she and her boyfriend cooked us a wonderful seafood dinner with wine. </div><div><br /></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: rgb(0, 0, 238);"><img src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjDnIRDvwkGDNm0Ig45UUppAocKYjN7plBs2Cl657cJ7Hl5RZAik5E298cI-ZcJvxiyGbLwCjHOnDkE-dbHCARh10Gr5FBECOGsyUaGguJwGTC1zk688iOQDSTNJ6cUJKqtFIfMJM2xid0/s400/DSCN5682.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5503706064423855778" style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 300px;" border="0" /></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><i>One of many charming Cuenca doorways</i></div><div><br /></div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: rgb(0, 0, 238);"><img src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhbrFglzlJ_FIg0f9_rWIQZgHBWSFEq_UJOfqASnqTVV5d-4L397mmSsmdaPEgGxNOrSKmGoUegVNE84fXgnKv3gUOVS2U6MDi9BTcpHGBXcme0vVihO1IyJLnNGjtXbfMOh42Jbq5jr2c/s200/ednkathy.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5503706609611424882" style="margin: 0px 10px 10px 0px; float: left; cursor: pointer; width: 200px; height: 192px;" border="0" /></span><div>During our Cuenca visit we got more in touch with the city. On several occasions we ran into Californians <i>Edward and Cathy</i>, who are now residents of Cuenca, but had attended our wedding at Montesuenos, as they just happened to be staying there at the time. On Edward's enthusiastic recommendation, we discovered what I considered to be the best breakfast place in the country: <i>Bananas</i> (incredible hash brown potatoes), as well as several other great places to eat. We took in a free movie that was shown in the central square, and also took in a memorable evening at the symphony in a beautiful old cathedral, also performed for free for the people of Cuenca.</div><div><br /></div><div><b><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:verdana;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: rgb(51, 0, 0);">Artist Amigos</span></span></b></div><div><br /></div><div><b><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:verdana;"></span></b>Best of all, we saw a flyer of an interesting house for sale on the edge of town and we went out to take a look. It turns out the home is owned by an artist couple (<i>Gonzo and Katy</i>) and it was a lovely home indeed. Three levels, with a terrace, lots of creative stone work and a separate income producing apartment, offered for $120K. </div><div><br /></div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: rgb(0, 0, 238);"><img src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgpEBMRjtWcPlDMU2FK1hHJIGKRjogR5rGcSxQfZnTDzvfiEf7q1vxGtdWR68aRt-di4vwvllhganTLSjG3iWWjnm_QA2ZAgUWiG9nFY7BlQe3WVocLPO6_mRKLml9e_cCjdlrbGArkYJs/s320/DSCN5811.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5503707025298007362" style="margin: 0px 0px 10px 10px; float: right; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 241px;" border="0" /></span><div>However, after meeting and talking with them, they suggested we come with them to see their land where they are building their new home out in the country. So, we ended up spending the entire day with them as they proudly shared their family's property with us. </div><div><br /></div><div>They live about 35 minutes southwest of Cuenca in an area that looks like switzerland. It's gorgeous. And, they are both really very good artists, in fact, the entire family are all artists of one kind or another. Katy's father is quite famous in Ecuador. They have a huge beautiful home under contruction that has panoramic views in all directions. We were really touched by the warm friendliness and openness of this young couple, who went out of their way to personally drive us back to the city. We certainly intend to keep up the friendship when we next return to Cuenca.</div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><b><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:verdana;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: rgb(51, 0, 0);">Ecuadorian Golfers Welcome Us</span></span></b></div><div><br /></div><div><b><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:verdana;"></span></b>On our last day in Cuenca, I was determined to find the golf course! Being a golf bum in withdrawal that I am, I just wanted to see a golf course, if not play it. Ecuador has only seven golf courses in the country, and one of them is in Cuenca. It is, however, <i>a private club, </i>and it is most beautiful. It is nine holes over severely sloping land with huge mature trees. It was quite an ordeal finding it, in an area south of the city named San Jaoquin, tucked in its own private little valley at the end of a road. But after exploring by foot for an hour or so, we finally found it. By that time, it was raining, but we went up to the clubhouse and were warmly greeted by a foursome of guys who had just finished playing. They were s<i>o friendly</i>. We must really stand out from the locals, for they waved us over, and ordered us drinks. They told me anytime I wish to come and play, to contact one of them and I can play as their guest anytime and even use their clubs! If it wasn't raining, I would have taken them up on the offer in that moment, but we'll have to consider a raincheck for that. We left Cuenca feeling supremely welcomed, as we entertained ideas of a possible future there.</div><div><br /></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: rgb(0, 0, 238);"><img src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj-fjEM1Fo2da-ycpvItJGE8Jpnd9Nms6shFrab-0-VqkkHRwKqxaTXLdR_cbuQmXrx2OER8lZ6zQGeHSAWdbh4IqyK6ZD8VvV9Ms5UMLRnFvHg2u7d886FivdRI_NomLz6Kvr_MKb6kHE/s400/DSCN7820.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5503712178516546818" style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 300px;" border="0" /></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: rgb(0, 0, 238);"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: rgb(0, 0, 0);"><i>Morning Clouds cover the valley below at the Finca de Allan</i></span></span></div><div><br /></div><div><b><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:verdana;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: rgb(51, 0, 0);">Finca de Allan</span></span></b></div><div><br /></div><div><b><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:verdana;"></span></b>When we got back to Vilcabamba, we barely had time to collect our things in order to move up to the <i>Finca de Allan</i>, our new home for several months. The Finca de Allan is a wonderful working, productive farm sitting at about 6,500 feet (much higher in altitude than Vilcabamba) on a mountaintop that is about ten miles or so up the road towards Loja. It has corn, several different kinds of berries, many vegetables and frut trees of many varieties. It also has a windmill set up. When the owner (Allan) returns later this year, he will activate it for self-sustained off-the-grid power. <i>Beautiful.</i></div><div><br /></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: rgb(0, 0, 238);"><img src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjv01XaPiJlq3FB_znPB5k9C2MsbqoqiNzrAfvZb8Ab09Lp55_ZGVDk-WusWuVfDBcBCtNktFbjDCJKb0ChkJd2aeHdO1bnDTrg2jKyHSJElmayVziqZ3YcKsNmwk1P-W_eHM53et3VWzE/s400/DSCN7846.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5503710139043274466" style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 300px;" border="0" /></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: rgb(0, 0, 238);"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: rgb(0, 0, 0);"><i>The front room at the Finca affords astounding views of mountains above and the valley below</i></span></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: rgb(0, 0, 238);"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: rgb(0, 0, 0);"><i><br /></i></span></span></div><div><br /></div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: rgb(0, 0, 238);"><img src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjW6Jav4_UC68gOUm4_b94zmSUX-9v-K0pxjuvnaBcxecIDpzMamZcUKViF3mttV7PS9vuU0WnU6gdb_1NUSePutOxJhzqAdvWecixXx1v49c8i9yFpzTf_czbSgUNonmj8tDhyphenhyphenKjTBwFA/s200/DSCN7804.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5503712851766606338" style="margin: 0px 10px 10px 0px; float: left; cursor: pointer; width: 200px; height: 144px;" border="0" /></span><div>So, as Antonio and family were on their way at this time, it was <i>moving-in day</i> for us. I apologize for the overuse of superlatives but the scenery up here is <i><b>truly amazing</b></i> and even grander than that of the beautiful home we left. Allan is an attorney in Alaska, preparing for his exodus from the oppressive legal world. So, we were now charged with keeping the place safe and also seeing to it that the finca continues to operate and that the workers get paid, etc. So, with three or four trips with a taxi/truck, we managed to get all our stuff up here for about $35. Our new (temporary) home felt absolutely wonderful to us. </div><div><br /></div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: rgb(0, 0, 238);"><img src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjmEpRqF2VqutIFAZ9r5swNtgSbNPNgBApX4SEkCi7InzhFKay6j3RveSw0iKUWRjP-WHi6Fvv8exSA2OdnXHUrz1Knfgah9D02S3tZalq7LrSxg_pl4OMxfnK9WsdK4ZN4GrO7pF5-veg/s200/flowers.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5503943798512074482" style="margin: 0px 0px 10px 10px; float: right; cursor: pointer; width: 188px; height: 200px;" border="0" /></span><div>On the southern end of the house is a spacious covered porch that looks directly down on the entire Malacatos Valley, far below. In the grass yard out front are beautiful flowers of every color. And the light changes continually throughout the day as different mountains get illuminated. Best of all, there is an ever present breeze which I love. Julia is less enthusiastic on this point, as she gets cold much easier than I do, but the prevailing breeze has cut down a lot on the amount of mosquitos that became kind of a nuisance at the Casa de Carol, so it really was a welcome change. </div><div><br /></div><div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhuLq9i81Y11V6frazDckU6YUvoOtE4-JiUUPOJ_qnvwZdPZCaP9DDR3TTiS7_ml1WB4A6G5XCZzod6rlZ0pyhqXPhehIIWuhUTZXahJs-QlMwyH_8UMJ4Zuiv07fuk5U8S1n22r4IR9Ig/s1600/DSCN8034.jpg"><img src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhuLq9i81Y11V6frazDckU6YUvoOtE4-JiUUPOJ_qnvwZdPZCaP9DDR3TTiS7_ml1WB4A6G5XCZzod6rlZ0pyhqXPhehIIWuhUTZXahJs-QlMwyH_8UMJ4Zuiv07fuk5U8S1n22r4IR9Ig/s400/DSCN8034.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5503625130580909266" style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 300px;" border="0" /></a></div><div style="text-align: center;"><i>The view off our porch</i></div><div><i><br /></i></div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: rgb(0, 0, 238);"><img src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhuhplCsSktsPsTyLUzaVXw_YGPi5KeRddOZimYBBMvdoKeqr5pTR7IYoyg8UGyius0NOIve6q4HQ32L5doyoGM77wcIl2y4L-MjmFMg9KE7WmlU_FMO3QiAdt0-BN_G5Eobzy-1Zfsiho/s200/DSCN7853.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5503711720155548722" style="margin: 0px 0px 10px 10px; float: right; cursor: pointer; width: 200px; height: 150px;" border="0" /></span><div>But it was change in more ways than one: The Casa de Carol had become a popular social spot, as we were central to three other houses on the property and consequently, there was always people around. We really enjoyed playing host to parties and other gatherings during our six months there, however, by the time we needed to move to make way for <i>Keung and Carolina</i>, the new owners, we were ready for some reflective 'down time' to relax and take a break from what had become a very active social life. The Finca, in its somewhat remote location and being a bit of a challenge to get to, forced us into this more 'tranquilo' relaxed space. It was just what I needed and it really fed my creativity.</div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><b><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:large;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: rgb(153, 51, 0);">May 2010</span></span></b></div><div><div><br /></div><div><b><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:verdana;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: rgb(51, 0, 0);">Julia Teaches English at the Technical University in Loja </span></span></b></div><div><br /></div><div><b><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:verdana;"></span></b>As we settled into our new home, an opportunity to teach at the Technical University in Loja was presented to Julia, and she enthusiastically accepted her two-and-a-half-month, 2-day-a-week assignment. However, it turned into a full time job! (more on that in a bit). She would start near the end of the month of May.</div><div><br /></div><div><b><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:verdana;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: rgb(51, 0, 0);">Global Genius Trust </span></span></b></div><div><br /></div><div><b><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:verdana;"></span></b>It was during this month that I began getting to know Dan and Joel better, and I agreed to help co–create with them a vision they have had for some time of creating a network of likeminded, nobel-intentioned people of high ideals, to co-create innovative solutions for many of the problems facing humanity on a global level. After looking at their stated intentions, I decided this was a project I could get behind. They needed a website and I had the skills to get one built. So, it was a match and we began creating the website for Global Genius Trust (currently at more than 100 pages, and still in progress). </div><div><br /></div><div>Joel (in his past) was a highly skilled computer programmer and is someone with very large ideas for making this world a better place. Dan is a doctor who has partnered with him some five years ago in establishing a cutting-edge <i>Stem Tech Lab</i>, here in their home in Malacatos. I've come to trust and respect them both. Now, we are neighbors, sort of. Where we are currently at, the Finca de Allan, I can see their dome house in the distance about 5 miles across the valley on a hill top on the other side of the Malacatos Valley.</div><div><br /></div><div><b><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:verdana;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: rgb(51, 0, 0);">Summer of 2010: A Creative Streak </span></span></b></div><div><br /></div><div><b><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:verdana;"></span></b>So much of the my time since then has been involved with getting GGT up and running. I also had entered partnership agreement with my old friend B<i>ob Wildes </i>on the Cape, to bring some of his ideas to fruition. His two projects are<i> 'Bob's Making a Movie' </i>which will give ordinary people a chance to star in a feature file, and also '<i>Portent Publishing' </i>which will give aspiring writers an opportunity to get their work published. Both projects are currently still in progress. So, since our move up to the finca here, I've been fairly glued to my computer, working hard and putting in long hours.</div></div><div><br /></div><div>But all aspects of my creative instincts have been fed since moving here: Jay (a gifted hypnotherapist and counsellor) and I have begun a<i> collaborative book together </i>dealing with the <i>'Optimization of Energy'</i>. He's feeding me concepts and ideas and I'm putting it together in words, (and later, graphics). I have increasingly enjoyed writing as another avenue of creative expression, and I am thoroughly immersed in putting these concepts forth with clarity For me, it's nothing but <i>fun.</i></div><div><br /></div><div><b><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:verdana;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: rgb(51, 0, 0);">A New Ecuadorian-Theme Painting Series</span></span></b></div><div><b><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:verdana;"><br /></span></b></div><div>Also, I completed a tryptech oil painting, my first one in Ecuador. It is a theme of 3 canvass panels called <i>'Threshold of a Dream' </i>for an Artshow that was scheduled to open the first week in June at a new gallery in Vilcabamba that is hosted by our friends <i>Maya and Yazu</i>. I drew inspiration for this, and also a forthcoming series that I intend to complete, from our trip last August to Saraguro, a community about two hours away that is known for it's indigenous inhabitants. The town there had an amazing collection of wall painting/art and inspiring sculptures which epitomize for me what Ecuador was all about. </div><div><br /></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: rgb(0, 0, 238);"><img src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgJKlYW94ws5gUlS_RH-qPl-iatnfsgDec5jJVnsugNdTYacEMo4HfXGu2MtXq9nr5w-gV_FTkd990lmEniHUhD-xhfTjlkcENAByjjRCCQL7CpvJDEJiWt96wUTakymcFo7MrqhD0vZyg/s400/Triptich-Threshold.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5503709254376730610" style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 145px;" border="0" /></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: rgb(0, 0, 238);"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: rgb(0, 0, 0);"><div style="text-align: center;"><i>Tryptich: Threshold of a Dream</i></div><div><br /></div></span></span></div><div><br /></div><div><b><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:verdana;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: rgb(51, 0, 0);">New Musical Inspirations</span></span></b></div><div><b><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:verdana;"><br /></span></b></div><div>In addition to submitting a painting, I was asked to perform solo music for the event. So, in preparation, I spent several weeks recording some new tunes, including four new brazilian <i>Jobim classics</i>, which I just love to play. This has now become a monthly event which we look forward to, as its well attended by many people, and my art as well as my music has been very well received. </div><div><br /></div><div><div><b><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:large;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: rgb(153, 51, 0);">June 2010</span></span></b></div><div><br /></div><div>June was another month I was totally immersed in work. If I wasn't working on a website, I was recording new background music tracks to play in my live gigs, (which I was asked to do more of), or working on my next painting. My second painting for the July Show I did during this time – I named it <i>'Juxtaposition'</i>. </div><div><br /></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: rgb(0, 0, 238);"><img src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgOWL6LUUi8hECR8SpTl_qoM6YcRIf9x8h00hDuqq6IMRhbgeX800ll1XvSnOl3wiA8eqv_M7a5YRoPdp4-gsIjdd3XM3AxtlXVzYJbyn6K0fI2qQBCmLWv7iDSQQnkCImmi9-1LkoUmzU/s400/DSCN8046.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5503709663613536018" style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 347px;" border="0" /></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: rgb(0, 0, 238);"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: rgb(0, 0, 0);"><i>Juxtaposition</i></span></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: rgb(0, 0, 238);"><br /></span></div><div><b><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:verdana;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: rgb(51, 0, 0);">Professor French Sloshes down the Donkey Path</span></span></span></b></div><div><br /></div><div><b><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:verdana;"></span></b>Julia was continuing her teaching gig at the University. She really was enjoying it, and getting enthusiastic response from her students (one of which indicated having somewhat of an 'older woman' fantasy/crush on her). But the logisitics of getting to and from the University in Loja were exhausting for her, given her schedule. At the beginning of the term, it was still the rainy season, and she had to begin her first class at 7am. That means she would be up before 4am and start heading down the donkey path (20 minute in dry daylight) – in total darkness and often in the pouring rain to get down to the highway in order to catch a ride with either the bus or a fellow instructor by 6am. (She later hooked up with Vilcabamba resident and fellow instructor <i>Gregg</i> who had a similar schedule at that time). </div><div><br /></div><div>I learned that Julia is very dedicated when she takes something on: For her two days a week she was actually putting in a full time effort as she would spend at least a couple of days a week her preparing her classes for the next week and another day grading papers. Consequently, I was most impressed by her work ethic.</div><div><br /></div><div>Although it was hard on Julia doing the trek into Loja two days a weeek, life was good. I think Julia rediscovered her love for teaching and really appreciated having students that were so responsive to her creative lessons. We both were immersed in work we loved to do. An we'd developed a routine of playing card games or <i>Scrabble</i> (<i>Upwords</i>) at dinner time..<i>. 500 Rummey</i> (my favorite),<i> </i>or<i> Casino </i>(Julia's favorite),<i> </i>or<i> Kings in the Corner o</i>r (for those no-brain evenings):<i> Go Fish – </i>Anything to pass the time and give her the extended time she needs to digest her food (a requirement of her digestive operation two years previously). Then we would often, as we do now, enjoy a movie or concert afterwards.</div></div><div><br /></div><div><div><b><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:large;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: rgb(153, 51, 0);">July 2010</span></span></b></div><div><br /></div><div><b><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:verdana;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: rgb(51, 0, 0);">Julia Tries to Get Paid for Working 2.5 Months, and is Still Trying</span></span></span></b></div><div><br /></div><div><b><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:verdana;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;"></span></span></b>Incredibly, when Julia's term was complete the first week in July, <i>she still had not been paid anything!</i> She was due a little over $500. for her two months of work. (I wonder if she averaged even $2 per hour for all the time she put in, but money wasn't the reason she was working). Still, herein began a whole other misadventure in simply trying to get paid, which still has not been resolved. We've been working on it for a month and a half now and we still have no check. </div><div><br /></div><div>The University, which has a really beautiful campus, is owned by the Catholic Church, which of course has more money than God. However the administration has shown itself to be quite disorganized. In fact, on her first day she showed up to the classroom and the door was locked, with a line of students waiting outside. It took most of her class time just to find a maintenance worker for the University who had a key to unlock the door. This happened not once, not twice, but several times during her term there. In order to get paid, she had to complete several forms and each time was told by someone different that it wasn't filled out correctly (Ecuadorians have this thing about their forms being filled out letter perfect). The trouble is, you get a diffferent version of what 'correct' is with each administrator you talk with! Each person in the chain told her something different as to what was required. </div><div><br /></div><div>We have learned this level of disorganization is <i>a very common theme</i> in all of Ecuador – the beuraucracy is unbelievably <i>inept.</i> Clearly, Ecuador is a place where common sense does not have a firm footing. The rules change from person-to-person, day-to-day and there seems to be no overiding standards that anyone can depend upon.</div><div><br /></div><div><b>There's an upside to this:</b> At least it's not the <i>Big Brother Total Surveillance Control society </i>that has systematically taken over the USA. Here, its the <i>antithesis of that</i>. And we can deal with it. But it does make life frustrating but also quite a comedy at times. One has to keep a sense of humor about these things or you will just go nuts. In our year living here, we have encountered this kind of thing everywhere – in the immigration offices, as well as with most all other government offices and businesses alike. Its kind of like entering a movie starring the <i>Three Stooges</i>. Really. I don't mean to be unkind, but the people here just don't have business kind of stuff together at all. When Julia and I went last week to the University in person to find out why she hadn't been paid yet, <i>the finance office couldn't even find a record of her teaching there!</i> And she had taught there faithfully for two and a half months and had submitted all this paperwork before she started!!! </div><div><br /></div><div>Well, we still await resolution of this... well, see how it plays out. Meanwhile, we just have to laugh.</div><div><br /></div><div><b><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:verdana;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: rgb(51, 0, 0);">Antonio and Family Return</span></span></span></b></div><div><br /></div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: rgb(0, 0, 238);"><img src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi4cnbyY16xsKKE-TYRpnZ3S2Hc5mfKF0HDzXFBlpd-hq_qDEneV40gLaU2Ym_hc07AA7FFrFre3KCnnZ4RMU1UbdoAkRWWJaY5y9-VnIVcFxVR7DsSqpEljkJuujTiTLrAhA4HhCtIOJg/s200/daisygriselda.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5503776064967632370" style="margin: 0px 0px 10px 10px; float: right; cursor: pointer; width: 200px; height: 193px;" border="0" /></span><div><b><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:verdana;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;"></span></span></b>It was not long into July when Antonio and Family returned from their journeys, this time purchasing a truck on their arrival here in Ecuador. So, as they had first dibs on the main house, Allan offered the newly finished Casita for us to stay in for the duration until they arrive later in the year. At first, we thought the Casita might be too cramped for us, but then again, free rent is hard to pass up. So we made efforts to organize it well (Julia and I share a compatible sense of organization) and made good use of available space. Now that we are in and got it organized, it felt great. We have often been greeted in the morning by darling Marina's sweet little voice saying "Good Morning Neighbors' as she brings one of her stuffed animals over to do a 'sleep over' with one of our cows, <i>Grizelda</i> and <i>Daisy Belle</i> or one of our giraffes, <i>Gonzo</i> and <i>Pidi</i>. They all get along really good.</div><div><br /></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: rgb(0, 0, 238);"><img src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjnDhjpHEBuJmcmBM3hrGoAU_zUp09DSYYbGMrGtdjjs4HN_bbwYW9yBj1XXE6HERxyzoUiVU9DQD-UGO7zEE2OX-5p_u70AODLdMkM_muiP_Derl86bteO1JQmKbGMVG-3sStip8Wmays/s400/DSCN7814.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5503713304451732034" style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 300px;" border="0" /></span></div><div><br /></div><div><b><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:verdana;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: rgb(51, 0, 0);">An Unexpected Health Crises Emerges and is Resolved</span></span></span></b></div><div><br /></div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: rgb(0, 0, 238);"><img src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh8zSA_NAN5klL2Egczg4XqtZWMfjG7XvcqMDlmlUCIBhWqObbw3YdnnJ_AvgRDozVgkqaOSUnYo6cfQW1IYyCwxK7BLUm1as0PyCcSl7dOM9dB6rr9uCP8f0rv2HnAu5pJePbDlnK7lHU/s200/DSCN8048.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5503713641735884386" style="margin: 0px 10px 10px 0px; float: left; cursor: pointer; width: 200px; height: 150px;" border="0" /></span><div><b><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:verdana;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;"></span></span></b>The move next door into the casita went smooth enough, however I may have overdone it lifting some of the things we brought over for on July 12th (my daughter Carrie's birthday), I began to get chest pains that wouldn't go away. They increased throughout the day, extending down both my arms and by nighttime, it was so painful I couldn't sleep. I first tried several doses of nitro that I had on hand from my doctor in the States, but it had no effect. The pains increased. So, in the wee hours of the morning, Julia insisted we wake up Antonio next door and have him take us to St. Augustine, the best private hospital in Loja. She seemed really scared.</div><div><br /></div><div>They responded without delay, and we were there in about 40 minutes. I was still hurting for several hours after being taken in to their ICU. They began working on getting my blood pressure down, and gave me morphine for the pain (nasty stuff – make me vomit twice). Eventually, with the help of a multitude of drugs, I was able to sleep. I had a stent put in five yeras ago, and that seemed to be the point of blockage. It turned out my heart did not go into cardiac arrest, but I did indeed have a heart attack, and was very lucky (or rather a recipient of divine grace) our friends and neighbors were there with a vehicle to help us get timely help when they could. </div><div><br /></div><div>Both Julia (who is a Registered Nurse) and I were very impressed with the quality of care I received there at St. Augustine's. It's very clean, modern, and my Cardiologist, <i>Dr. Cobos</i> was a well-spoken, polite and intelligent man with a pleasant demeanor. He was trained in the US as well as Japan and Ecuador and came to visit me several times per day to see how I was doing. He was never in a rush, and took time to answer any questions at length. Four days in the hospital, including a day and a half in ICU, including all tests, doctor fees etc, netted a bill of only $14oo. Twelve years ago I was in a Scottsdale hospital for less than two days and the bill exceeded $14,000! So, I was thankful that if one needs a good hospital, one exists here and it is reasonably priced. The doctor gave me a list of drugs to start taking and sent us home.</div></div><div><br /></div><div><b><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:verdana;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: rgb(51, 0, 0);">Diet and Excercise Changes become Mandatory</span></span></span></b></div><div><br /></div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: rgb(0, 0, 238);"></span><div>Upon returning home, Antonio and Marli encouraged us to 'go 100% raw food' to facilitate my most rapid healing. After what I had been through, it didn't take much to convince me I needed some kind of radical lifestyle change. We had been eating fairly healthy since moving here to Ecuador, but we were still ingesting processed food in condiments, white flour products, etc. which all contribute to disease states. So Antonio and Marli began to initiate us into the raw food world by providing a lavish picnic out of the front lawn of the Finca main house. Marina brought her family of little stuffed animals to join in the fun, and the food was absolutely delicious. We were very impressed at how tasty and diverse the food was. As they've been on this 'all natural/raw food' path for two years now, they are both very knowledgeable about the subject. </div><div><br /></div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: rgb(0, 0, 238);"><img src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgNNH47ycGeqncEX1pKOAeOo2OgsEQrNggWDlAVvuisMXt_4DxtpEo-hCHnwBQtQUu3iDbyDbfxXQilwbCj1xvBSwX5SW6FEZwbLelTk2W4SbYFgU3csF_AP4BKatE1QWnqq8KufW-HLlI/s200/gonzo.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5503775977178626850" style="margin: 0px 10px 10px 0px; float: left; cursor: pointer; width: 200px; height: 196px;" border="0" /></span><div>With their help, Julia has now jumped in with both feet, doing hours of research on the internet about nutrition and food, collecting recipes and having great fun creatively experimenting in the kitchen. We threw out all our condiments and anything 'processed,' due to the toxins all these products have, as well most of our bathroom and cleaning products which were also loaded with chemical toxicity. So, it's been a pretty radical lifestyle change, but a really good one.</div><div><br /></div><div>It's been more than three weeks now that I've been on this diet and I feel great. I had a follow up visit with the Cardiologist last week, and <i>all my tests showed better than normal – <b>Low Chesteraol, Low Plaque, Low Blood Pressure</b>..</i>. Quite a turnaround in two weeks time! So good, in fact, that <i>he took me off half the meds he had previously prescribed</i>. I had also been forcing myself to walk every day, a little more each day – and now I am able to fully walk up the mountain here without straining. I have good energy and feel great. So, all is good, and continues to head in the right direction.</div><div><br /></div><div><b><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:verdana;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: rgb(51, 0, 0);">A Little Help from Our Friends</span></span></span></b></div><div><br /></div><div><b><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:verdana;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;"></span></span></b>But that is not all, for my friend Dan has begun an allergy treatments me so that animals and other allergens which have plagued me for so long will not trigger an allergic reaction. He is an excellent alternative medical doctor. He also is a specialists in <i>Stem Cells</i>, which he will begin me on next week. </div><div><br /></div><div>So, we 'get by with a little help from our friends.' : - )</div><div><br /></div><div><div><b><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: rgb(153, 51, 0);"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:large;">August 2010 (present)</span></span></b></div><div><br /></div><div>Well, another Art Show has come and gone (Aug 7), and this one was more fun than ever. It's great to have these regular events that bring everyone together. Such good energy. Besides me doing a solo music thing, there are always a handful of other musicians and/or singers around and some really nice stuff comes out of it. <i>Nate, Jan, Joeseph, Matt, Shawn, Dan, Anna</i>, and a host of percussionists such as <i>Jay and Akai</i> often contribute to a jam session with some occasional in-the-moment magic! It's really quite fun and something I look forward to doing more of.</div><div><br /></div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: rgb(0, 0, 238);"><img src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhogFnn2q3iEk-_5Bab5oNHq0nmnr3rjC4RVLsrMs3jaiUr4JaIsmJGUfZPt2XsmmoE0OoQFWVQrrmnJwUZRUd9mSCOet-dMN0aXMipF6R6ZWH95B8-Ih3kqdXZ-Wv5kObQQi5W0izxSjM/s200/DSCN8142.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5503710954319268434" style="margin: 0px 10px 10px 0px; float: left; cursor: pointer; width: 200px; height: 150px;" border="0" /></span><div>So, we are now quite content where we are, eating very healthy, and enjoying the moment. Between an odd paying job here and there, as well as my book project with Jay, and collaborations with Bob and GGT, develop music tracks and painting, I have plenty to do, and so does Julia, as she is fast becoming an amazing <i>raw food gourmet </i>(seriously, she has a real gift for putting this food together in a way that is really delicious)!</div><div><br /></div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: rgb(0, 0, 238);"><img src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg1UeqZ6V1Rql7OX05tkVXkiNyKcKM4GuPqG7Qxzby5yJEvA-MxzXIDzHhVXnCc_FlDuBAk8lxudTyDvepjvDEWKZjdHjxeU1f-rHqeWe3y1-mrQYPWNej0X9lDs93vCpRQDwH3GQDKOEw/s200/DSCN8152.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5503708904594188034" style="margin: 0px 0px 10px 10px; float: right; cursor: pointer; width: 156px; height: 200px;" border="0" /></span><div>Julia has the same opportunity to teach at the University, if she wants it – (We'll see if they can find a way to pay her first!) – but that won't be till later in October. Until then, we are learning together a new way of eating and living. </div><div><br /></div><div>Fortunately there are many raw foodists in Vilcabamba who are only too happy to assist and support us on this path. We have purchased a barely used, high-end <i>Blendtec Blender </i> from one of our friends in the last couple of weeks, as well as a nice <i>Cuisineart Food Processor</i> from another. </div><div><br /></div><div>Julia was discovering that prepping all this food was a full time job in itself, often consuming all available time during the day, and hours of labor-intensive cutting. But with these machines, the chore is done much faster, so while it set us back about $500, it was money well spent. Fruits and vegatables here remain cheap. We fill four big baskets of produce per week for about $25 - sometimes less. The most costly thing are the nuts and spices. But still, not buying condiments and the chemical foods is still a much more economical way to go, as well as the vastly healtheir path. One new friend in Vilcabamba, <i>Kirsten</i>, has loaned us her <i>Food Dehydrator </i>while she is away for few months back in California. So, we are set to start preparing and also storing lots of food. </div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: rgb(51, 0, 0);"><br /></span></div><div><b><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:verdana;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: rgb(51, 0, 0);">We Finally Get Mobile!</span></span></span></b></div><div><br /></div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: rgb(0, 0, 238);"><img src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhEBvXc4zL93D0ePNzaPB-08gWoB_hskErIAI_WtPSDufZxqtMLM32tiYMtG97VtcpOYOcwpYz2B6Sq0yupAlJnFSS1eGtR-yZvJ7HA8_zFOy7OXd4hYRvFcDkakelceBeA7M1QrzDB70s/s400/DSCN8161.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5503708390994156418" style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 310px;" border="0" /></span></div><div><div style="text-align: center;"><i>Our 'Wheels'!</i></div><div style="text-align: center;"><i><br /></i></div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: rgb(0, 0, 238);"></span><div>What is sure to make our lives easier from this point on is the fact that <i>we finally have wheels</i> to get us around. After two months of looking, we finally found a little <i>2002 Chevy Jeep Vitara 4x4</i> that was in very good condition at a fair price. These cars are made here in Ecuador, so they are easy to get parts for and to fix. This one is very clean and economical (we can fill the tank for $12), and it's a 'go-anywhere vehicle'. It was touted by <i>Carlos</i>, who sold it to us, as a 'bien carro por mal caminos' (good car for bad roads). And indeed, it has so far lived up to it's description with flying colors. </div><div><br /></div><div>In reality, bad roads are just about all that exist here in Ecuador. I drove it over a pile of rocks in the road Saturday, and we took it down into the <i>Rumizhitanza Valley </i>yesterday for a picnic by the river. After our picnic, we followed the gravel road along the river edge... over rocks, through the rushing river in a couple of places and up on rock ledges with shear drop-offs and the vehicle performed amazingly. And it as so much fun! So, we are looking forward to more exploring into the wilds of the Ecuadorian natural wilderness.</div></div><div><br /></div><div><b><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:verdana;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: rgb(51, 0, 0);">Summing it All Up – Today</span></span></span></b></div><div><br /></div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: rgb(0, 0, 238);"><img src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgmYVEZCDNCzN7A_OnVGpYqkjZH2Rcao_EctS04SGjrsISGl82NgU79y2-F5FO_O-96O7laRDOozGWMXpkX_xTaYJ7Dk6VOeCqUa7aM7oWJiScV6ezZ0LAD48TNuStgfv1CAaCkduSXclw/s320/DSCN8158.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5503708671831605282" style="margin: 0px 10px 10px 0px; float: left; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 240px;" border="0" /></span><div>Well, today I went out and picked <i>fresh raspberries</i> from the bushes up the hill out back – just enough for Julia to make into a delectible desert tonight, made from raw cacao (chocolate), almonds, honey, tahini and coconut – and probably enough to mix with other stuff to make a great tasting fruit juice in the morning. </div><div><br /></div><div>While descending down the path back to the Casita I paused and looked around. <i>What sheer majesty I see!</i> The enormous green peaks of the Andes surround us here, changing to multi-color shades with the movement of the sun. The Malacatos Valley is far below us, at least two thousand feet, and a gentle breeze soothes and refreshes my face as I smile. I am overcome with the precious gift of living in this kind of exquisite everyday beauty. I realize that my dreams of manifesting my most excellent life are happening before my eyes. I can do nothing but bask in gratitude. Suddenly, It occurs to me that I am happy.... so very very happy.</div><div><br /></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: rgb(0, 0, 238);"><img src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjrr2Mb9hCqfYKC0CKwaOIWfiZK_xXZUAZ6TdSfl3-D52oBZ5TOLCCrJGFN6P3-hgNf48se4TLXIiFwlldDDPFYg4H2NNHpNy_CT0W8lBWC-vSEuB5cGWuCYzWnPJ0rVggNSdCqOkYbwwc/s400/DSCN7805.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5503708187857367442" style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 295px;" border="0" /></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><i>A brilliant rainbow arches over the windmill at the Finca</i></div><div><i><br /></i></div><div> And so, that brings us up to date folks! Stay tunes for further updates. Til' next time, Namaste.</div><div><br /></div><div>Jack</div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div></div></div><div><br /></div></div></div></div>Unknownnoreply@blogger.com5tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8886920526675464279.post-38325686576267188182009-08-01T23:11:00.000-07:002009-08-06T06:44:43.607-07:00Continuing Adventures in the Realm of All Possibilities<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgJaMf2duldrmttODhhgfL06VtOpiUFqQdEvyPEoZY_4L4ng19LO4WDZ09rXwlbAWsBAfs6OGvF6c91AEiHR_O9DZOG-JLbTR1a86vE6cn8cY31947MNoG23oARlpUN6ts_bA7z878PMIk/s1600-h/DSCN0309.jpg"></a><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj0ikYWmiwEArsNXDvhlzusplrZ0wyO3wBQJjbOier929EuqFYubMP9pvPqhRBHggh9CYxwAK9p90iM9aA8ZJO9PXyxJ7S6OnpB5j6qtNh2eo8ItEvJBPIggpirnWU3_v-Y4LZbRqbzJJw/s1600-h/DSCN3577.jpg"><img style="float:left; margin:0 10px 10px 0;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 200px; height: 178px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj0ikYWmiwEArsNXDvhlzusplrZ0wyO3wBQJjbOier929EuqFYubMP9pvPqhRBHggh9CYxwAK9p90iM9aA8ZJO9PXyxJ7S6OnpB5j6qtNh2eo8ItEvJBPIggpirnWU3_v-Y4LZbRqbzJJw/s200/DSCN3577.jpg" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5365775195050671986" /></a><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: rgb(153, 51, 0); "><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:large;">How It Began</span></span><br /><div><br /></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style=" color: rgb(204, 102, 0); font-size:large;"></span>I now sit in the small studio room of <i>'The Butterfly House'</i> in <i>Vilcabamba, Ecuador</i> and I marvel at the chain of events over the last nine months that has brought me here. Interesting time period, isn't it? <i>Nine months</i> to the day, October 17th to July 18th –the gestation period of giving birth.</div><div><br /></div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: rgb(0, 0, 238); -webkit-text-decorations-in-effect: underline; "><img src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEglMcER_7NhmL0HIMj7HsIDvJHRxjyQ9fedZAf1Hf33Q8dxEvjCQBbwt0IrTLioHbpa0FV8jAniyZ2dEgdOEApdQa49m1X75cU1M0kV77q6wdGFTSYr2NzBODsI0-nDr_Yk3xB4_Drk9-4/s200/DSCN1912.jpg" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5365059179764503074" style="float: right; margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 10px; margin-left: 10px; cursor: pointer; width: 200px; height: 198px; " /></span><div>Outside my window is some of the most tranquil and beautiful mountain scenery my eyes have ever seen. What's more, I share this path with a wonderful, loving and complementary partner, <i>Julia</i>, whom I love dearly and who shares my vision and purpose in being here. A more comfortable, yet also stimulating and esthetically pleasing situation would be difficult to imagine.</div><div><br /></div><div><div><div><div><div>Without a doubt this latest chapter in my life that is currently being written is the fulfillment of a deep <i>inner intention</i> that has incubated within me for several years. Perhaps, it is simply a subtle subconscious yearning for 'something more', but in the spring of 2009 my intention finally gained the <i>clarity</i> and timely opportunity to become a reality. And it has been most interesting to take a look back and see how intentions and actions magically conspired to bring it about. Perhaps this intention could best be described as a yearning for <i>greater purpose</i>, and <i>a more authentic way of life</i>. </div><div><br /></div><div>I hope that you will find this interesting reading, and that through the exercise, you may be inspired to follow your own dreams, in your own way.</div><div><br /></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color:#993300;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:large;">A Little Background History</span></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color:#993300;"><br /></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: rgb(0, 0, 238); -webkit-text-decorations-in-effect: underline; "><img src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiJ_SH-vLLW4cKZ6Y6ZTWx8yWmsp2dpAFpuL3EdYReTkHAGzaUvBLmJBqeE2MBe9oISijiu6Sl8u12J-NRhvJqhVtFJ2qf4ozB9mTX5q7roqgd9PN3dCkOe8B-DAyr0LEv8RG4x57R7MvU/s320/surprise.jpg" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5365050720208801074" style="float: left; margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 10px; margin-bottom: 10px; margin-left: 0px; cursor: pointer; width: 267px; height: 199px; " /></span><div>Since the fall of 2004 I was living in Surprise, Arizona, having purchased a nice new home there in a peaceful, growing community with every convenience at my doorstep. Prior to 2004, the previous decade-plus was a personally difficult period and I was finally feeling a new invigoration. My business as a freelance computer graphics artist was doing well and I was enjoying a period of relative prosperity and freedom from previous constraints. Years of just squeaking by to make my rent were over and although I had taken on the debt of a car and a house, I was now handling it all without a great deal of stress each month.</div><div><br /></div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: rgb(0, 0, 238); -webkit-text-decorations-in-effect: underline; "><img src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgdkPRwpkg2B8tTV7R1zgWHUCL-dAoV7-AgDjCzPVFxkhoHBy9nVbOjuV8Y1G6eObB1L6F_4ChrHQkFzsieD5En9W16dGAxuYeTP-TX7eMzFkfcRcdqGa-uZIDxnCdkU1dMERM-ZjqTV70/s200/DSCN0043_3.jpg" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5365056137026127250" style="float: right; margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 10px; margin-left: 10px; cursor: pointer; width: 150px; height: 200px; " /></span><div>In the last five years I had also explored many new sides to my innate creative instincts. I had developed a musical repetoire as a instrumental soloist on guitar and played a regular gig at a local country club for a couple of years playing both original material as well as a few established 'cover' tunes which I love. It was well received and I got a lot of satisfaction from a few personal comments from people as they were leaving of how much they enjoyed my music. That made it all worthwhile.</div><div><br /></div><div>In the fall of 2005 I explored exciting new techniques in painting through the inspiration of Farrell Douglas, a gifted artist and my girlfriend at the time. I created several fresh new works that quickly filled up the walls of my new home.</div><div><br /></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: rgb(0, 0, 238); -webkit-text-decorations-in-effect: underline; "><img src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi448ymMwGhnMpJtLuQbmup56xiDDnhN1ZLIRvgIml2U5l_yhJV_Uk1U3Ml6m346rM3M6Ecy4wOVPcpttAs0ddjHevk_oKsB4OpfPFo2i2Cc_fmkGWW6NUAowr02sODPDMyp1Kd_KxLmKw/s400/apassionado_2.jpg" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5365056376203545954" style="float: left; margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 10px; margin-bottom: 10px; margin-left: 0px; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 262px; " /></span></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: rgb(0, 0, 238); -webkit-text-decorations-in-effect: underline; "><img src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgUyZ3M-MzfvqCdHZ5TmcjDlHm4H-Jw2NJT6XiBjh16EURPxRBNXbv-O5og2yMQ6yE5VOM3kFYZIuxnnGlScf7c8D6lwobQLKh1Ghp2ImVn3ez4mK3i3P4qslyhFy0MxHq6D2hXOkK3QCc/s200/TheNobleWay-1.jpg" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5365057133851837826" style="float: right; margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 10px; margin-left: 10px; cursor: pointer; width: 200px; height: 154px; " /></span><div>In mid 2007, <span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-style: italic; ">Scott McLaine, <span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-style: normal; ">a friend and previous business contact resurfaced after a period of hiatus and asked me to illustrate and design a 'new-paradigm' book which he had been visioning for several years, and he was certain I was the guy to do it. And so, I began illustrating the new project<i>, 'The Torch of Noble Wisdom'</i>. It has a wonderful </span>pay-it-forward<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-style: normal; "> message to it and I was afforded the luxury of an extended period of time to do the illustrations. I finally finished the book in March of this year, 2009. It was the first hand-illustrated book I had done in a decade and I really enjoyed it, especially because the message was something I could totally endorse.</span></span></div><div><br /></div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: rgb(0, 0, 238); -webkit-text-decorations-in-effect: underline; "><img src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgukBi2sTwrwhsfJtBrWyHh2QRw6krTg1bBQ18zYKksSsUL92c2s97wJotSw4PyDYhnoCGfKCjcWQhp99rw2M6ejaKsQDxsKmBFyM6jVvE1jlkl7U4vZlv2BxA0JN6lBpMrgJNjqp-Uhm4/s200/100_7903.jpg" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5365063865742047282" style="float: left; margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 10px; margin-bottom: 10px; margin-left: 0px; cursor: pointer; width: 188px; height: 200px; " /></span><div>Also during these few years I found myself playing more golf, a game which I have loved my entire life since caddying for my dad as a child. At least 20 golf courses were within a ten mile radius of my home in Surprise and I indulged as much as my pocketbook would allow, particularly in the summer months when the rates were low. While never reaching the playing level of the competive pro, with a streak of dedicated practice I got pretty good. </div><div><br /></div><div>I had always had a desire to teach the game, as I understood the mechanics very well, and enjoyed introducing several friends to the game. After training with <i>Dan Shauger</i> of Los Angeles in the summer of 2008, I acheived certification as a Class A professional golf instructor and became the featured Arizona staff contact for <i><a href="http://aperfectswing.com/">APerfectSwing.com</a></i>. I began teaching the game to students of my own, which I thoroughly enjoyed and discovered I had a natural gift for.</div><div><br /></div><div>There were several lovely women in my life during these years, which whom I had developed deep, heart connections with, but for a variety of reasons each of these relationships proved over a period of time to have a destined season and eventually evolved into each of us going our separate ways. Having been married for 19 years once a long time ago, I remember the quiet stability that such a union brings, and I confess part of me longs for that again. And so, such a relationship with a partner that has 'staying power' has been a primary intention lurking in my subconscious that had yet to be fulfilled.</div><div><br /></div><div>So, despite my missing that <i>enduring</i> relationship, in the fall of 2008, life was pretty good for Jack. I was in a good place, busy with interesting work, playing lots of golf and always hopeful, I held a clean slate for the future and sensing something really good was on the horizon for me.</div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:large;"><br /></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color:#CC6600;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: rgb(153, 51, 0); "><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:large;">A Splinter in the Mind</span></span></span></div><div><br /></div><div>But there is another facet to this story that needs to be expressed here: For the past three years in particular, as comfortable as my life had evolved, I became aware of a growing <i>discontent</i>. It was hard to define at the time, but as the doors of my perception grew, I began to feel increasingly uncomfortable with my <i>'external' life</i>. It didn't seem to match the intentions of my internal state which was steadily evolving. </div><div><br /></div><div>Although, it was easy and comfortable, I felt like I really didn't 'fit' well in this metropolitan area and the environment I found myself in was increasingly distasteful. More to the point, I had become tired of the predictable, <i>homogenized illusion</i> that life in greater Phoenix had become. I found myself dreaming of a simpler life, in a rural community of clean water and air, divorced from the ever-expanding corporate control structure, and were relationships with people were more 'real', in-synch and rewarding. Perhaps most of all, I desired to create a way of life where money wasn't the ruling motivation or sole basis of existence.</div><div><br /></div><img src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgglw8UbVRTVSoplh2LvAVc5EW5_u64bikh-eDx6VYw-jmYBPRH47nyK1oGG7TZ0ui-ognan9nreliLSRY16mlw3Jvaf0sjKTamypdbK9_zBHVUhtwH0mdtS9ku1vACRXahezU8nOyYOMg/s320/2034-400x400-az_phoenix_downtown.jpg" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5365049533223669186" style="float: left; margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 10px; margin-bottom: 10px; margin-left: 0px; cursor: pointer; width: 263px; height: 320px; " /><div>In my 14 years there, I had watched in astonishment as the city more than doubled in population and infrastructure. It was now an immense metropolis, albeit a rather comfortable, spread out and 'residential' one. Phoenix represented to me the epitome of what to me were the worse characteristics of what America had become: <i>a corporatology</i>, based on the relentless pursuit of material wealth at the expense of a deadened spirit and compromised values of the heart and soul. </div><div><br /></div><div>The same 3oo or so franchises were endlessly repeated between housing developments, apartment complexes, golf courses (well, ok, I didn't mind that so much) and office buildings, mostly for mortgage brokers, finance companies, doctors, dentists, real estate agencies, all replicated with cookie-cutter precision in slight, predictable variations, and ultimately owned by the same conglomerations of soulless corporate entities whose sole objective and purpose is <i>greater profits</i>. (see the online video: <a href="http://video.google.com/videoplay?docid=7065205277695921912">Zeitgeist: The Addendum</a> for an excellent expose on the ultimate insanity of our present profit-based economic system.)</div><div><br /></div><div>Ten years earlier, I had begun to understand the enslavement aspect of the world's financial system that exists to benefit the 'elite' at the head of the banking pyramid and through which they maintain the power structure that controls things globally. Although I had resigned myself to the fact that while in this world, I had to play 'this game' to some degree in order to survive, <i>I inwardly resented it</i>. I grew increasingly dissatisfied with myself for compromising my internal values by becoming part of a system I saw as purely <i>predatory</i> in nature.</div><div><br /></div><div>Yet, at the same time, I was quite aware that if I were to make a change in my life, I needed to be careful that I was moving <i>towards something</i>, and not away from something, for I had become savvy to the effects of positive and negative energy, and wanted to empower my life in the direction of good things. The thing is, I didn't yet have the c<i>larity</i> of what I should move towards. </div><div><br /></div><div>I had been gifted with considerable creative abilities and I was aware that I had the responsibility to use them well. How I used them, and <i>to what end I used them for</i> would be forever become my imprint on this world... my legacy, and I desired to make it count for something that had eternal value. Doing anything for wealth, accumulation of 'stuff', or even public recognition meant nothing to me. I saw it as the great lie that is fed us from cradle to grave, and sadly, that most people never break free of in order to realize their greatest potential.</div><div><br /></div><div>So, as I moved through the past few years, I was formulating these ideas in my subconcious, and they gradually became conscious, deliberate questions: </div><div><br /></div><div>• Where is the best place for me to be?</div><div>• What should I do with my life?</div><div>• With whom shall I do it with? </div><div><br /></div><div>And I went about my daily life watching the signs as I waited for the answers.</div><div><br /></div><div>I didn't yet know what I'd be moving towards, but I decided I wanted to reshuffle the deck and try to exit the rat race, to the greatest extent I was able to. In early 2007, I put my home up for sale on the market. It sat there for 11 months with but only one showing. The timing was just too late and the market in Phoenix went dead <i>quickly</i>, almost overnight it seemed, as did most expanding communities throughout the nation. The only activity in home sales in my area were in the multitudes of vacant spec homes that developers were selling off at very low prices. Well, I trust my intuition, but I shrugged my shoulders and just figured <i>it wasn't the right time</i>. Another year passed.</div><div><br /></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color:#CC6600;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: rgb(153, 51, 0); "><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:large;">A Crossing of Paths</span></span></span></div><div><br /></div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: rgb(0, 0, 238); -webkit-text-decorations-in-effect: underline; "><img src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiyMnNwZdnSh-Bbq2AbU3Wx1RQcNkGj7SJ-mNrM0DU5_JU6c6izL_7cDWq8ompxAs3T_cK2WjxYx8lcUheYEfKjvw7ZqQwIjpALDdQWtUqj5DVKu_yGFTR4oHlf_G-Hh2XmggSVgNZazeM/s320/7746.jpg" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5364509850108669138" style="float: left; margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 10px; margin-bottom: 10px; margin-left: 0px; cursor: pointer; width: 275px; height: 320px; " /></span><div>On October 17th of 2008 I met <i>Julia French</i>. Our initial meeting did not reveal at first the significance which has since proved to become a profound destiny. We talked easily together, as we had on the telephone and through email earlier, but my first impression was that we came from two different worlds, although a natural 'chemistry' was undeniable.</div><div><br /></div><div>Julia is three years younger than I, the mother of two grown children and lived in the opposite end of the metro Phoenix area from me in the 'fringe' town of <i>Apache Junction</i>, right next to the amazing <i><a href="http://www.ajmotel.com/images/749px-superstitions_az15_ahh4.jpg">Superstition Mountains</a></i>, which features the most dramatic and rugged terrain in the mid-Arizona area. </div><div><br /></div><div>She worked as a nurse/administrator in a hospital emergency room and I was searching for common ground between us and not really finding much at first. On an inner level, I believe I absolutely knew this was a fateful crossing of life paths, as I now recollect the moment our eyes first met. But on our first day, I sensed a decided 'coolness' to her demeanor. However, two things powerfully attracted me: her sparkling blue-green eyes, and a very alluring scent, which immediately got my full attention. So I determined to get to know her better. </div><div><br /></div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: rgb(0, 0, 238); -webkit-text-decorations-in-effect: underline; "><img src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg_34o1R6Zc2-Co-ZtGsnhfBfFAOe68twQ4TjaWvchGhueCxE6q0Quh_byuofU0dCWjtI1-WECNTQ0jYKiwQOlnIEryOqlMq8n0qmtxDFJoMFwivK5vMoPA28B-4SOFlQMLfsz2Vv6kdog/s200/jackjulia-0.jpg" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5364528593451816082" style="float: right; margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 10px; margin-left: 10px; cursor: pointer; width: 200px; height: 180px; " /></span><div>I guess that was enough. I asked her out for a second date the next weekend for a concert and some hiking in Carefree, Arizona. By this time, she had dropped her guard down and let her </div><div>natural warmth be revealed that she had somewhat concealed on our first date. It was not till sometime later that I learned I was the <i>first man she had dated in 20 years</i>, since her ex-husband had committed suicide. </div><div><br /></div><div>No, this is not light, casual stuff. Julia was just coming out of a lengthy period of self protection after great emotional trauma and even accepting the opportunity for a date with me (which had been denied scores of other men) was a huge step forward for her. When I understood that she needed time to know if I was someone she could trust, I knew then that I was in her life for an <i>uncommon purpose</i> at the very moment she was ready for it and I recall making a conscious choice to BE that man that she could trust. From that point on, we have simply grown in love together.</div><div><br /></div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: rgb(0, 0, 238); -webkit-text-decorations-in-effect: underline; "><img src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgg63sb04A9R4WspryIGhvDjq_uQjf_z_WJcn4-5olDBWM2VY2y50mayIGL9VuHNJwbEQw9Xht7r28oiGnx77cvFrPOHAK3wLDhJJ3uhal0NqVCAImf010E4YqPmLWaFCC3YK1SedLgAkA/s200/julianjackson.jpg" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5364508694974814706" style="float: left; margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 10px; margin-bottom: 10px; margin-left: 0px; cursor: pointer; width: 161px; height: 200px; " /></span><div>So, as it turned out, meeting Julia was indeed a <i>pivotal event</i> in my life. As the winter holidays came and passed, we became quite intertwined and spent every weekend together, even though we lived about 70 miles apart. I enjoyed playing Eucher (a card game) with her friendly mom and dad, visiting with her son and daughter and especially her adorable, beautiful grandson, <i>Jackson</i>, with whom I established an easy bond. We took a couple of road trips together, played golf together (she was eager to learn and interested), enjoyed home meals and movie nights together, and enjoyed indulging our mutual fondness for <i>Starbuck's Expresso Truffle coffee</i>. As time passed, I noticed a real <i>complementary comfort</i> with her that felt easy and right.</div><div><br /></div><div>Julia is very <i>grounded</i>, outgoing and wonderfully adaptive, yet she has a healthy appetite for adventure and is not afraid of change, which is an excellent match for my quiet but intense scorpio nature. She is a Capricorn born the day after Christmas, and as such is a natural nurturer in the home, a great cook and an excellent organizer, which I love. Over the course of several months, it became apparent that we simply didn't have many 'rough spots' and when they did come up, we were able to quickly put them behind us without holding onto them. </div><div><br /></div><div>Most importantly, I seemed to be playing the part of a catalyst of sorts in a <i>spiritual awakening</i> for her. She was hungry for the uncommon knowledge I had assimulated over the years in regards to spirituality, metaphysics and what is happening on the planet right now. I delighted in seeing her 'connect the dots' and become a more conscious individual. And I was learning my own lessons from her as well in becoming less self absorbed, which I saw as a healthy path that was needed for my own personal growth. </div><div><br /></div><div>This relationship, which I questioned as having any staying power at first, had taken on a life of it's own and was evolving into a <i>transformative union</i> for us both.</div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:large;"><br /></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color:#CC6600;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: rgb(153, 51, 0); "><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:large;">A Random Link Begins a New Timeline</span></span></span></div><div><div><div><div><br /></div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: rgb(0, 0, 238); -webkit-text-decorations-in-effect: underline; "><img src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjeyNAakYC1CBbNvgaQubIg5aYOQbWoGjeBxETnOl22gCGEB5IG7xz8Y3MNU3tsj29rFU45Zdzdstrc5ZiyqlMHcpWjXK3oxcMks3MmwHZONUtdVXQPPMgnlzybG3BeZjV0IDxN2K9R9oM/s200/DSCN1907.jpg" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5364652411930793538" style="float: right; margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 10px; margin-left: 10px; cursor: pointer; width: 200px; height: 150px; " /></span><div>One day in February of this year, while perusing the website, <a href="http://www.ProjectCamelot.org/">projectcamelot.org</a> –which I had often frequented for their video interviews with interesting people, I was watching the videos of a conference that was held here in Vilcabamba at <i>Montesuenos</i>, the eco retreat center/home of <i>Brian O'Leary</i> (scientist and ex-Nasa astronaut) and his wife <i>Meredith Miller</i>, (an extraordinary visionary artist) in the previous month of January. Vilca-what?... I had never heard of the place before.</div><div><br /></div><div>The conference itself was quite interesting, which featured several <i>new paradigm</i> speakers on a variety of topics, including some valuable perspectives on the current worldwide financial meltdown and the overall trend of current world events. Always interested in seeing <i>the big picture</i> of things, I watched with interest to further my own understanding. However, as I watched, I felt compelled to check out Brian's links, one of which featured a beautiful <a href="http://www.vimeo.com/2436843">15 minute video</a> of their eco retreat home there high up on a mountainside in the Andes, and just outside the famed 'valley of longevity': <i>Vilcabamba</i>. I was mesmerized by what I saw.</div><div><br /></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: rgb(153, 51, 0); "><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:large;">'Wanna go?'</span></span></div><div><br /></div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: rgb(0, 0, 238); -webkit-text-decorations-in-effect: underline; "><img src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiJiB1ACIw7HAVVr2gcqUmRkMsKqpM_Z7h1tTILiBPJqr3Sk3M4RW_tbjngNckU1grw9PyXRVAZGleiyryQyCzTcxionrSPbRYWrpUelaKELyYrXlRP08e1vMz0kF5-O8FKh6NrQYRoDj4/s400/DSCN1919.jpg" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5364470662981857010" style="float: left; margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 10px; margin-bottom: 10px; margin-left: 0px; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 300px; " /></span><div>The eco-retreat center <i><a href="http://www.montesuenos.org/">Montesuenos</a></i> was created by Brian and Meredith as a work-in-progrress over the last five years in one of the most fabulous locations you could imagine. It is an astonishingly beautiful and unique architectural work of art in itself. The video also featured a <i>beautiful soundtrack</i> composed by Brian himself, also a talented jazz musician. I was impressed!</div><div><br /></div><div>I found the mix of images and music of the Montesuenos video presentation quite compelling. It spoke to my heart and soul in a subtle, yet powerful way. As I watched, I felt like the answer to the question of what the next step was for me had finally been answered... it felt like 'green lights' in every cell of my body saying the same thing: YES. </div><div><br /></div><div>I immediately emailed Julia with the link and the short inquiry: <i>'Want to go?</i></div><div><br /></div><div>Her response was <i>immediate</i>: a resounding <i>YES</i>, as she had independently watched the same link a short while before and had already contemplated the location's beauty. This was the first in a line of many synchronicities that guided this journey.</div><div><br /></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: rgb(153, 51, 0); "><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:large;">April Trip to Ecuador</span></span></div><div><br /></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: rgb(0, 0, 238); -webkit-text-decorations-in-effect: underline; "><img src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgOFEFZ9SZMkXfAgFNgC85HpeL4UGZZXjIP8rE_sCBNDfC_Qdz_OjhabB6wr2-jprM4-TaB0YSSja7NVlBrqAeqO95GvLdY5SGvScAT0Z-eXr-9OXIJXLypfgZ7FtiMFbP8TOIU0pNH9s0/s400/100_8006.jpg" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5364467886852614466" style="float: left; margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 10px; margin-bottom: 10px; margin-left: 0px; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 299px; " /></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color:#993300;"><br /></span></div><div><br /></div><div>I immediately began formulating plans and buying airline tickets for an April vacation in Ecuador. We contacted Brian O'Leary and secured a week's stay at the Montsuenos 'guest cottage', a sprawling 4 bedroom hacienda next to the main house that feature large windows that afford spectacular views of the mountains surrounding and the valley below. We then each independently began to research this mystical place online.</div><div><br /></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color:#993300;"><br /></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color:#993300;"><br /></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: rgb(153, 51, 0); "><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:large;">Vilcabamba</span></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color:#993300;"><br /></span></div><div>To our surpise, there was a wealth of information available online about Vilcabamba. We were intrigued to learn that Vilcabamba has earned the subtitle 'The Valley of Longevity' as it is one of the few places on earth to produce an extraordinary high ratio of people who live past the age of 100, due to it's mineral rich soil, clean air and water and pristine ecological conditions. Ages in excess of 130 have been documented in the church records.</div><div><br /></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: rgb(0, 0, 238); -webkit-text-decorations-in-effect: underline; "><img src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhyHGcBCJOWmtwBBZfQg7UcePzqkcLAgNWCuik7ZHAqsx-ouLqMwNtU7Yz3ka0GIlaTGtQ-YNRqqsnD-xvrm8PjeZhLC6440m7yl1vg3GJ5QvOVc4v4V7AXAMnHzN3yTB_EaMC2KkfqD_c/s320/eccolor.jpg" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5364471154379157234" style="float: right; margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 10px; margin-left: 10px; cursor: pointer; width: 289px; height: 320px; " /><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: rgb(0, 0, 0); ">It lies in the souternmost province of Loja, Ecuador, bordering Peru to it's south. It's location is a virtual nexus point between the high Andes and the end of the Amazon basin. At 4,900 feet above sea level, it's location is just a little lower than the city of Loja , which is 40 killometers to it's north. The temperature doesn't vary much year round, stays mostly in the seventies and the valley enjoys a great deal of daily sunshine with brief periods of rain. In short, an ideal year round climate for human habitation. The year is divided by a predominantly wet and dry season. The wet season is in what the USA defines as it's winter months although South America is actually upside down from the States in relating its summer and winter months.</span></span></div><div><br /></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: rgb(0, 0, 238); -webkit-text-decorations-in-effect: underline; "><br /></span></div><div>The valley has a rich history of being a vacation spot for the elite Incas, and is watched over by the ever present sacred mountain, <i>Mondango</i>.</div><div><br /></div><div><img src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhHuTozv7erBxBcOWalj9E3wbP_6vD5GZTtDj1hO12vMnk1RpCT4A39hgX-tUp_IGjA-HbUrswpwm0lvJ6VjB6hdVVd1OJ-y03vEAzV5SgBgm2lSJ9DnL7XighEzRziaHlQifraZC50Tgg/s400/100_8178.jpg" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5364468544112126306" style="float: left; margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 10px; margin-bottom: 10px; margin-left: 0px; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 299px; " /></div><div> Access to Vilcabamba is gained through a highway from Loja, the nearest city of about 200,000 which is about 45 minutes away by taxi over an undulating, twisting mountain road that occasionally turns to gravel. No superhighways here. And what few corporate franchises exist in Ecuador, they are confined to the larger cities and are few in number.</div><div><br /></div><div>And so, on April 12 we departed for an 8 day vacation to this mystical place. Our trip was long, due to the four legs of flights and transpired almost 24 hours from Phoenix to Loja. But we finally arrived excited at our adventure and in good spirits. Just as promised by Brian, a taxi was waiting for us with a driver named Carlos. It was the tail end of the rainy season when we arrived there and sure enough it began to rain as soon as we landed. The 90 minute trip from Catamaya Airport, north of the city of Loja to Vilcabamba seemed endless as the day turned into night. </div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:large;"><br /></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style=" color: rgb(153, 51, 0); "><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:large;">Cultural Contrasts</span></span></div><div><br /></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style=" color: rgb(153, 51, 0); font-size:large;"></span>We were not used to the Ecuadorian driving protocols, which includes pretty agressive driving: passing around blind corners, asserting one's position in regards to other cars and even pedestrians. It's pretty much every man for himself in regards to travelling on the roads. There are (seemingly) no rules! To the average American, this seems quite reckless and I remember how this shocked me at first during my previous trip to Quito and Cotacachi in 1990. Crosses lined the highways into the mountains, remembering those who have died going off the cliffs, which are mostly sheer drop offs of significant heights. </div><div><br /></div><div>Well, thankfully, I didn't notice any crosses this time. I've since learned that the roads here are not as dangerous as they seem to the <i>uninitiated</i>: This is simply the way things <i>are</i> down here. Among the locals, <i>the taxis are all assumed to have the right of way.</i>.. it is something well understood by all vehicles on the road, and while some of their maneuvers might seem risky in comparison to the very orderly driving habits of most Americians, who mostly drive their cars in fear of the police radar and photo cameras, the drivers in Ecuador know what they are doing. A good taxi driver expecially knows every inch of the road, spending their lives driving up and down it daily. Now that I've spent some time travelling by taxis here, I no longer feel anxiety when I ride.</div><div><br /></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color:#CC6600;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: rgb(153, 51, 0); "><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:large;">Arriving at Montesuenos</span></span></span></div><div><br /></div><div>The last half of our road trip was in the dark and it was still raining so we didn't get to see to much of the terrain we were driving into, except to note that is quite mountainous and the road twisted and turned, sometimes down to a single lane the further we went. They also had recent landslides from the rains which made for slower than usual going, which I learned is another facet of life here that happens in cycles.</div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color:#0000EE;"><br /></span></div><div>Finally, the village lights of Vilcabamba came into view below us as we descended a series of hills from <i>Malacatos</i> and just ten minutes later, we had climbed the gravel road to the other side of the valley, up another steep incline and into the driveway of <i>Montesuenos</i>, where Brian and Meredith both greeted us with warm and smiling faces. We made it!</div><div><br /></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: rgb(153, 51, 0); "><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:large;">The Paradise that is Montesuenos</span><i><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:large;"> (Mountain of Dreams)</span></i></span></div><div><br /></div><img src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjWXv1n9Dg38wdfHS34n5y-SdLtynk7me8Im4EXLrKNvZooa2UzJavJFjDirdQ00qj6th4FTPFHTWtf-EUqPYhZCZ2zNg3lEwie7HDGUzmoj0eKojZNYkIX59YcQkyEvIq8mhz755IaWm8/s200/DSCN2187.jpg" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5364512141477307458" style="float: right; margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 10px; margin-left: 10px; cursor: pointer; width: 190px; height: 200px; " /><div>Although it was dark outside, we could tell we were in a very special place. It just <i>felt </i><i>incredible</i>! Friendly and congenial, Brian and Meredith welcomed us with a chat by a nice fire they had prepared in the guest cottage for us and they gave us a tour of where we would sleep. It felt like <i>a reunion</i> more than a first meeting. <i>Wonderful people:</i> Brian is an ex-Nasa Astronaut who was trained for the Mars mission in the seventies (which was eventually scrapped). He is a scientist, a contemporary of the late Carl Sagan, and has since been an outspoken advocate for ecological responsibility and free, non-polluting energy systems. He currently spends his time writing, occasionally lecturing, doing some of the manual labor himself in the continued building of Montesuenos plus playing and writing music in his spare time.</div><div><br /></div><img src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiMMWuvk91B5GClY3XYVxmu4Hfemutbht1oWAAVbjEhSdlf7n_th-V3T4A4o-eVJxS0w66h2qhjU-IY6biBw31Ess2WN1WFhnERjRzh1sKWAS5skH4PP4e-mu4GGyvZ7WNwgUzunackZhU/s200/100_8213.jpg" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5364533192603670546" style="float: left; margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 10px; margin-bottom: 10px; margin-left: 0px; cursor: pointer; width: 197px; height: 200px; " /><div>Meredith is a gifted visionary artist and her mystical artwork gracefully adorned the walls. She clearly has<i> the</i> <i>gift of seeing beyond this reality</i> and possesses and great sense of color and texture. Her paintings are of mixed media, and sparkle with intricate detail. Her inspirations are very spiritual and that is what is powerfully communicated in her paintings. Meredith's artistic touch however is not limited to her artwork, but is evidenced in the entire edifices and environment of Montesuenos grounds, down to the design and building of a beautiful cascading waterfall in back of their home and the meandering walkways and paths through natural gates that are lined with flowers and exotic plants.</div><div><br /></div><div>I could strongly relate to both of these remarkably creative and conscious individuals.</div><div><br /></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: rgb(153, 51, 0); "><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:large;">The Montesuenos 'Guest Cottage'</span></span></div><div><br /></div><div>The beautiful two-story structure we found ourselves in was built of tile, rough hewn beams, and rock and had a decided organic, natural feel to it. It was quite spacious and could accommodate up to ten people easily. We felt extremely relaxed. So when we went to sleep that night (and sleep we did, as we were exhausted) we had but only a little introductory taste of the special place we would call home for the week, but still could not have possibly imagined what dramatic vistas we would see upon waking.</div><div><br /></div><div>Upon waking the next morning, my first sensations were auditory: <i>mooing cow</i><i>s</i>, followed closely by roosters crowing, donkeys eye-owing and birds chirping. I lay there for a long time in bed with my eyes closed, just listening, and smiling at the thought of cows mooing outside my window. I then opened my eyes, to see where I was as my waking consciousness slowly began to emerge from my state of sleep.</div><div><br /></div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: rgb(0, 0, 238); -webkit-text-decorations-in-effect: underline; "><img src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhHfd_sMuzFutpvwhZzfLivCxKOPKvXz6xXRSRPHXVM6BcKjuWPA5x4PmJ9VuQNzgvr7d5dUtCM30EkPyZsbQkOFBUIhyphenhyphens1fo6WrTFPKraHtr5RLkyyc_5Bs2tZEKTdX6airD3J43lRJjc/s400/DSCN1714.jpg" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5364469801587874482" style="float: left; margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 10px; margin-bottom: 10px; margin-left: 0px; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 300px; " /></span><div>Words are inadequate to describe the experience... it was simply so much <i>larger</i> than can be translated verbally or can be conveyed in these few photos. Our bedroom had huge windows on two sides that looked out over the village of Vilcabamba, about two miles below us and a magnificent panorama of the huge lush mountains that surrounded us on all sides which revealed so many different hues of green. The vista was of such staggering beauty that I literally had a hard time believing we were really there. I remember having a similar experience visiting <i>Maui</i> and <i>Kauai</i> a couple of decades earlier: The sheer beauty of the place altered my state of being and I smiled to myself in recognition. Certainly, a greater contrast to the dry deserts of Arizona and concrete metropolis of Phoenix could not be possible. Yes, this is just what the doctored ordered!</div><div><br /></div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: rgb(0, 0, 238); -webkit-text-decorations-in-effect: underline; "></span><img src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjWtIzVKpmzsRpcnBAbfFksPpdufpoC73XFhgS00j5gNjETjpbQRLBkacwQN1iYuOD08zRPgh-pVqepuHii2c9IK0uwVxQU-gVBsKIkcQzpALLnG6QV2I9Jumhyphenhyphenz9q6vAaoN4iqztafDho/s200/DSCN2173.jpg" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5364513247217313378" style="float: right; margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 10px; margin-left: 10px; cursor: pointer; width: 200px; height: 150px; " /><div>The kitchen had <i>fresh organic fruits and vegetables</i> filling baskets for us (a daily occurance) and it was fully equipped for our use. Any details that we needed during our stay were promptly attended to by the good-natured and intelligent young man named <i>Ullyses</i>, the Guest Manager of Montesuenos, who actually went down the path to milk cows one day when we ran out of milk! He came back a half hour later with a full bucket, fresh from the cows udder! Gotta love it. There was one morning I was starting to feel a bit sick to my stomach (not uncommon for westerners visiting) due to the difference in the local water. Ullyses took some local herbs, mixed it up into a drink and gave it to me and <i>within an hour I was back to feeling normal!</i> Pretty amazing, as earlier I was starting to feel like I'd down for a day or two. The bathrooms of the guest cottage are gorgeous works of art (all four of them), displaying exceptional craftmanship of colored, inlaid tiles of swirling designs that endowed each space with a unique identity. Throughout the house, colors and shapes swirled and gracefully stimulated and teased the eye. Many architectural elements such as railings and gates were hand-crafted from the local tree branches and polished smooth, adding to the wonderful natural flow of everything. Windows and doors were configured with arches and circles and other angles... a most creative design.</div><div><br /></div><img src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhI0Ks7mbEaP71gKYhJk8SUTVPQU9J6kOH3lI6cUL54lmoBHETIR6WZRpHAKQu3wtzGjNpRbn0z34t1XRvQazilBZNHnHxMvmy6gTNlXo_UsrxbriqbukLT8s5ohJ3pgbuNZHczI83o3yE/s400/DSCN1757.jpg" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5364470147469295058" style="float: left; margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 10px; margin-bottom: 10px; margin-left: 0px; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 300px; " /><div>We spent several days touring around the property, hiking up to the local <i>sacred space</i> which was the top of a hill a ten minute walk away that afforded even more dramatic vistas and were treated to a tour of Brian and Meredith's home, which was quite literally the most impressive property I've ever seen due to the extraordinary combination of artistic vision, organic flow and the amazing natural location of the property that sits high on a mountainside. </div><div><br /></div><div>It certainly is one of the most unique bed and breakfast retreats in the world. All this, for only $25 per night, pp.! (which is actually the high-end of hotel costs in the area).</div><div><br /></div><div>As the week went on, we both experienced our own individual internal response to this extraordinary new environment we were in. I was simply soaking in the extraordinary visual and sensual beauty that was everywhere, taking a lot of photos and not thinking much at all.</div><div> </div><div>Julia was similarly affected, but her response took the form of gestating ideas of practical action. After a few days she began to speak more of a vision of work that had been incubating in her mind for some time now regarding <i>voluntourism</i>, a combining of the adventures of tourism with the practical purpose of doing needed volunteer work to help make the world a better place. She was curious as to wether this village would be a place that would welcome an idea such as this and if so, would it be well recieved? Is it workable? </div><div><br /></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: rgb(0, 0, 238); -webkit-text-decorations-in-effect: underline; "><img src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjcgLR7BAfU_-uHCZMmY1eJwdlKa2H9evxQ8fOojvCGB-PPuC2ke3WZXY35uHYf5PLVnnSeA8eWuHkWbyPcUM_zP30FxqoYoZ7z16P1xsXKeCCDlQG_2U2exHuaWVl6p9wG_D2QYaWbFu4/s400/DSCN1979.jpg" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5364651238874511250" style="float: left; margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 10px; margin-bottom: 10px; margin-left: 0px; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 300px; " /></span></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div>So, as we enjoyed exploring Vilcabamba, we both were inwardly formulating possibilities of a renewed purpose for being. Like me, Julia was also feeling like she was ready for a change, but didn't know what. She had gone back to school to get her nursing degree, yet felt stagnant in her job at the Hospital and while she performed an important function there, she found it difficult to continue in it. Julia had dealt with the reality and trauma of death on a daily basis, as she was the primary person that would communicate with the families of a deceased loved one. I remember she would sometimes remark how she had a particularly sad case that day and just be totally spent emotionally. She also found it hard to exist in the highly structured, bureaucratic box of the profit-based system of western medicine, and her soul cried out for more authentic and meaningful life experience.</div><div><br /></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: rgb(153, 51, 0); "><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:large;">A Fateful Stroll </span></span></div><div><br /></div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: rgb(0, 0, 238); -webkit-text-decorations-in-effect: underline; "><img src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEggy96aT0GT3Hw2rHQfTkuMyWg4_psIjjrRdl0kQpx-zz1Ydf4Ari40B83OLahb8ihiY6nw7FHN0aBFRAGZZiRsSad8pMMdU7QBkahlXnBQTg_gIt0E72ZunZPMHJ0Sc-MRMhdoZ2SKblU/s200/100_8253.jpg" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5364652506945960114" style="float: left; margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 10px; margin-bottom: 10px; margin-left: 0px; cursor: pointer; width: 200px; height: 196px; " /></span><div>Most days included a walk down into the village, a two mile stroll, which often took an hour or two, simply because of the things we would notice along the way, and of course, I was taking lots of photos... talking to the cows and just enjoying the wonderful ambience. We would occasionally meet local people, both young and old (such as the 100 year old man on the left), who routinely walked up and down the steep hilly roads on a daily basis. I could never run out of interesting and inspirational subject matter for photos or paintings in this place... It had and abundance of what life in Phoenix so sorely lacked: <i>character! </i>Julia had brought little gifts that she gave to the children we would meet and it was a joy to watch their faces light up! They were so easily pleased.</div><div><br /></div><img src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhcqnUnzGytRIlLZK_y7A_vVs8f4KiiAxeGH2l5U6hCwGIpbFD14hNbsaQxFxOIXobmA5ZnrTOtkUcww0DM2dXVpKj0tBcR3Pv3nr2G7LGg826S4M1CgL33s-QJBfFj1geQfwwQrSOUv3U/s200/DSCN1895.jpg" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5364656533104133714" style="float: right; margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 10px; margin-left: 10px; cursor: pointer; width: 200px; height: 150px; " /><div>About mid week, we walked down the mountain road on our way to the village and came upon a fork in the road where two roads merged into one, at the precise moment that three other people were coming down on the other side from the other road. We greeted each other and learned there names: They were <i>Mary, Jay</i> and <i>Caroline</i>. We began to talk as we walked on and to my astonishment I learned Mary was from Plymouth, Massachusetts, in the region where I spent the first forty years of my life! I had actually spent a year living down the street from her at White Cliffs. Another extraordinary synchronicity. <i>Hmmm...</i></div><div><i><br /></i></div><div><i><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-style: normal; "><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: rgb(0, 0, 238); -webkit-text-decorations-in-effect: underline; "><img src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiz0EsYc2tF2FD8wXnWv7Ohupz2z87WvnaErUCFBdduT66ZDRRjly0G1rbRSDnSl5XMNt_cDjzJ9bgcVbdNZGdDRsCxCniF4PLZ5gtv7HlyxfKFZrVNboPmS8PBCClEhtictDWpbkwrMPc/s400/DSCN2452.jpg" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5364522501028256866" style="float: left; margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 10px; margin-bottom: 10px; margin-left: 0px; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 300px; " /></span></span></i></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div>But it was Jay and Caroline that proved to be the most pivotal connection for us. We were all enjoying each other's company so when we got to the village, we decided to stop at one of the local cafe's named Sambuca, and enjoyed a leisurely conversation over lunch. Like many Ecudorian villages, Vilcabamba has a town square as it's center, which has a beautiful tiled water fountain and a gorgeous colonial <i>Cathedral</i> (above) as it's most visible landmark. Small shops and cafe's line the streets around the square. </div><div><br /></div><img src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhHHXzfcn7Tcucu2EZxsA0CW61zwTjvoRixqb74093IjKIIDN9lXp_dvBNNc8DRWLXjEk97Wy3P2QyWfifW51Fg7nqi6xlhQqxF-JzA_9Jr3NmUg6D69TW2ndX4aq0JY37vpeiGXkoiyUI/s200/jay.jpg" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5366295865304655122" style="float: left; margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 10px; margin-bottom: 10px; margin-left: 0px; cursor: pointer; width: 170px; height: 200px; " /><div>Similar to meeting Brian and Meredith, it felt like we were reuniting with old friends. Jay and I seemed to instantly recognize each other and were immediately 'on the same page'. He was from Santa Fe and as he shared his personal story with me, I learned we had travelled a very similar path in life. </div><div><br /></div>I experienced the same with Caroline too, who spoke in the beautiful british accent of her origins. Julia had a similar experience and we all became friends easily. While we were there we also met <i>Erin</i>, Jay's energetic, sandy-haired daughter </div><img src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhA0i0V3Vnxh_4e5m9-qkog1nUgs0kIWI2rJqfrZs1K6YfVh3ki7gGY-mX4tnVlk9kX-pyeTxWINAX-ap8QDkf7udiKihBLo99scnYNtBhVD_gMSexToJcUwvDZyJl1WbdFqnpUiODzrOY/s200/100_8152.jpg" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5364520417209835234" style="float: right; margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 10px; margin-left: 10px; cursor: pointer; width: 200px; height: 188px; " /><div>whom we would later become good friends with as well. Jay and Caroline had travelled the world over the past few years looking for a place to put roots down. They finally found Vilcabamba and have been here since September of last year, luring Erin to join them as well. They are both involved in the healing arts. Jay is a hypnotherapist and spiritual counsellor, well experienced in past life regression. Caroline is a Yoga instructor, dance instructor, gourmet vegetarian cook, herbologist and healer.<div><br /></div><div>At one point in our conversation Julia began to open up and share her thoughts on doing voluntourism here in the village. Jay's immediate response was, "How soon can you get yourselves here and get started." Julia and I looked at each other. The answer was obvious.</div><div><br /></div><div>I have come to understand that <i>synchronicity</i> is the language of <i>Divine Spiri</i><i>t</i>. If we learn to notice it, it can become a valuable <i>guide</i> to us. As we each were discovering these experiences of synchronicity, Julia and I would simply look at each other with the common unspoken understanding: <i>There is an intelligence bigger than us was a work here</i>, and a <i>destiny</i> was being laid before us. We simply had to have the courage to take the steps forward.</div><div><br /></div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: rgb(0, 0, 238); -webkit-text-decorations-in-effect: underline; "><img src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjbz7PiaYqzPFm4Cm-nq3BqeTBVYfaeFukVDoVDLz1VSJoRiAyUDYPYIg0XlE83J0Lnw3CS1Tm2gSqpcnKQwr4jcK1ypQFKavqTgX2tGictuTr0aWDjWZb3mKv78kTo3bbHMzyMZADnIpU/s200/DSCN2225.jpg" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5364644725831826258" style="float: right; margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 10px; margin-left: 10px; cursor: pointer; width: 192px; height: 200px; " /></span><div>During the week, we had other travellers come and share accommodations with us at Montesuenos. A group of Canadians stopped for a night coming up from some extensive time touring Peru, whom we enjoyed a late night of conversation over dinner. </div><div><br /></div><div>Then the next night we had a visit from a wonderful musician named<i> Sue Terry</i> from New York. Sue travelled in major league professional jazz circles and had just attended <i>Stuart Wilde's Ayahausca workshop</i> in the Quito area and decided spontaneously to extend her trip to Ecuador by coming down to Montesuenos for a couple of days. (Another synchronicity here: Stuart Wilde is an author I read for many yearsr and is one of my favorite teachers). </div><div><br /></div><div>One of the real highlights of our trip was a jam session that was spontaneously arranged one evening with Brian and me trading spots on the piano while Sue improvised beautifully on her alto saxophone. It was a magical night and I grew to like her a lot in our short time together. Somehow I think she may be back here to visit again.</div><div><br /></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: rgb(0, 0, 238); -webkit-text-decorations-in-effect: underline; "><img src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj_rhD1ejjUbdz27VoD4odyTa0QbrXZycws4HD70neIfZI2rLViLWNCQiCa8Fv9puiCAq6wI-L9GWZ1ftwJ3S9ZTKTIWlM_8P_AIIeoZOCg_3zR0NsrlaXHW3E1bP_Fs54Q5JnjBslbMrs/s400/100_8277.jpg" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5366298463805852914" style="float: left; margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 10px; margin-bottom: 10px; margin-left: 0px; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 299px; " /></span></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div>Our last day at Montesuenos was shared with three generations of an Ecuadorian family (left) that were in the midst of a travelling family reunion which included members from Paris, California and Ecuador. Good hearted folks all, we enjoyed their energy and enthusiasm of being here.</div><div><br /></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color:#CC6600;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: rgb(153, 51, 0); "><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:large;">Archetype of Transformation: The Butterfly</span></span></span></div><div><br /></div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: rgb(0, 0, 238); -webkit-text-decorations-in-effect: underline; "><img src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiG0AstDUbKgQtxgN7Nz8VypQmxozRALlO82yBkSvlXqcKevtpF0NW0kBFMIOzh6-BIs_ViYKim6wrwDiBmLjcXZspa2bS0bylvnEWAxH9i9NhMB8FvuYOZi7DB0DDr86KGhoKbbLGzM6M/s320/DSCN2473.jpg" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5364473880576508818" style="float: left; margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 10px; margin-bottom: 10px; margin-left: 0px; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 239px; " /></span><div>To really tell this part of the story, I need to back up a bit. Shortly after Julia and I had met last fall, she was inspired to create a series of 'vision boards', one of which featured <i>three butterflies</i> and the words, "I am set free: boundless and without limitations, and able to become all that I am meant to be." The motif of the butterfly was important and imprinted a powerful archetype of transformation in her mind.</div><div><br /></div><div>The morning of the day we took our walk to the village and had that fateful meeting with Jay and Caroline, Julia had begun the day with a meditation in the garden. As she did so, she was pondering the idea of voluntourism and also her relationship with me. She felt a strong desire to pursue the voluntourism idea, but was unsure if this was something she would undertake alone or if it was something that she would co-create with me as her partner. In that very moment, an orange and black butterfly fluttered up and landed on her big toe!</div><div><br /></div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: rgb(0, 0, 238); -webkit-text-decorations-in-effect: underline; "><img src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiCg1Qnn61z8yagDCGmq4_d0w8y-WfTISySnW-wpCTXgY0gXDf8xBl3cgxjDymvnVK5sEoS-osY-uJ_JjJh850Oa1stc-WS2NlWw1xQGwKe_NIICk-OqT7gfhK07fF0LLgevVHeX406_X4/s200/flower-butterfly.jpg" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5365112424717621426" style="float: left; margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 10px; margin-bottom: 10px; margin-left: 0px; cursor: pointer; width: 170px; height: 200px; " /></span><div>Staring at the creature and contemplating it's possible significance, which she perceived as <i>validation</i> from the Universe of what she had been contemplating, Julia then heard Meredith's voice from inside the house and went inside and began to tell her of what just happened. Meredith said, 'Stay right here, I have something for you," and came back in a minute with a book about <i>Messengers</i> <i>in the Nature</i>, which featured a section on <i>butterflies</i>. It said this (paraphrased): "If a butterfly visits you, it means that the idea you have been considering<i> is ready to go to the next level</i>. It then detailed the various stages a butterfly goes through: the <i>Larva</i> stage, which is the initial creation of the idea; the <i>Cocoon</i> stage, which the idea is given mental energy and goes through silent possibility planning; and finally the <i>Metamorphis</i> stage, which is the speaking out of one's intention, followed by action and thus making it a <i>physical reality</i>.</div><div><br /></div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: rgb(0, 0, 238); -webkit-text-decorations-in-effect: underline; "><img src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhLi3HasdAD3Dqwvj_PWu5VuS6OhSnnhE5uR_PBNzy36X8Djb50_-D0Z1n5SW0euro1clO_h6s6HphpK2mls6zmq-MTz1Ar5srzUUfhHFvQ2IIgpu0wCaH66agbpR4rAiwVQM-XdHOUbNk/s200/100_8202.jpg" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5364652961453274386" style="float: right; margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 10px; margin-left: 10px; cursor: pointer; width: 200px; height: 150px; " /></span><div>As we had walked down the path just prior to meeting Jay, Caroline and Mary, Julia was sharing with me what she had just read and was quite moved by it's significance. So after we had met Jay and Caroline, and the topics of conversation went the way they did, and Jay posed that fateful question to us, it became clear to both of us that we were being called to speak our intention out and make it a reality. There was no choice really involved, as it seemed to be divinely orchestrated. But, there's more. <i>Much more...</i></div><div><i><br /></i></div><div><i><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-style: normal; color: rgb(153, 51, 0); "><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:large;">The Butterfly House</span></span></i></div><div><br /></div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: rgb(0, 0, 238); -webkit-text-decorations-in-effect: underline; "><img src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiV19kbrEt8wYmuKe_bVWBNIaMNS7QO_Ik3gtLLuORwvLaXq4Ohx_2FYW9LafBot9gOvIru6yuS6abi0BNXjbl5_Zpizx9_iMrk_Wy-S5dCRjXLxCUz2vZMn3XKeXKX1Jm3nIltsWd0FRk/s200/DSCN2462.jpg" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5365116086028815586" style="float: left; margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 10px; margin-bottom: 10px; margin-left: 0px; cursor: pointer; width: 200px; height: 194px; " /></span><div>The next day I had booked a counselling session with Jay at his home as I was desiring healing of my health problems (asthma, hypertension) as well as personal clarity of my life's purpose. So, I came to his home (he and Caroline were then living in the home we now occupy.) Interestingly enough, it's called <i>'The Butterfly House'</i> – it has butterflies etched into the facade of the house in tile and stone. It's absolutely charming... a storybook-like cottage on the opposite mountain slope from Montesuenos. One must traverse about a half mile of a very steep mountain road to get to it. It is one of three private homes on a property that includes another eco retreat spa and hotel, <i><a href="http://www.madretierra1.com/">Madre Tierra</a></i>.</div><div><br /></div><div>When I told Julia about the Butterfly House later, her jaw dropped open, although you would think we'd be used to this kind of magic by now... The motif of <i>transformation</i> was all around us. The Intelligence that creates worlds was speaking to us, and we made note of it!</div><div>And so, we left Vilcabamba at the end of the week a changed and more cohesive couple. Both of us were profoundly moved by our visit there and the people we had met. Most importantly, we agreed we both felt that Divine Intelligence was making a path for us to follow. It seemed to be calling us, with a mutual purpose for being there and it seemed to have the assistance of Spirit in every way. There were still questions that filled our heads and a vision and future that had yet to be fully defined, but we were pretty certain of one thing: we would find a way to return, together.</div><div><br /></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style=" color: rgb(153, 51, 0); "><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:large;">Family Visits</span></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color:#993300;"><br /></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color:#993300;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: rgb(0, 0, 238); -webkit-text-decorations-in-effect: underline; "><img src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgJaMf2duldrmttODhhgfL06VtOpiUFqQdEvyPEoZY_4L4ng19LO4WDZ09rXwlbAWsBAfs6OGvF6c91AEiHR_O9DZOG-JLbTR1a86vE6cn8cY31947MNoG23oARlpUN6ts_bA7z878PMIk/s400/DSCN0309.jpg" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5366303904724596386" style="float: left; margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 10px; margin-bottom: 10px; margin-left: 0px; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 300px; " /></span></span></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div>The very day we returned my mom and dad flew in from florida for a planned ten day visit... the first in three years, so I returned back to the airport to pick them only a few hours after getting home. It was great to see them again, and they really loved meeting Julia. This was their first visit west in three years and I enjoyed playing some golf with my dad and going for a ride out to the Superstition Mountains which we topped off with a stop by my favorite restaurant down in Julia's neighborhood, <i>'The Feed Bag'</i>! But without a doubt the highlight of the week for me was figuring out how to play my Mom's favorite song,<i> 'Star Dust'</i>, on the piano, which she just delighted in as it was the song of her and my dad when they were courting, sixty-something years ago. She asked for encore after encore with tears in her eyes!</div><div><br /></div><img src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhabcbiRmAcffBPWTs3a6utx_ixzsYhKnMd8Zo9uLiANkxzxvEBRys_6vBG0S-uWDSzoXP15kBFi2Glh2-ke88igFWVRCKI2b9zF7ec3_CPEIgv_5e6AJtvZI8jKNxeTw3ESqRImBSG8Ag/s200/21910049.jpg" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5365125403948227954" style="float: right; margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 10px; margin-left: 10px; cursor: pointer; width: 200px; height: 186px; " /><div>We also enjoyed a Diamondback's baseball game courtesy of my daughter <i>Carrie</i>. She is a first grade Schoolteacher in downtown Phoenix and doing a terrific job. She also had her class of cute little kids with her and they all had a ball!</div><div><br /></div><div> A couple of month's earlier, my son <i>Justin</i> came out for a week's visit. He is a new father with a daughter Amelia born last October, the first for him and his wife Jennifer. It was a year and a half since I had seen him and that was a great pleasure as well. Justin plays golf as well and we enjoyed some fun times on the links while he was here including a concluding round at the new</div><div>Raven Course at Verrado, one of the Phoenix area's best.</div><div><br /></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: rgb(153, 51, 0); "><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:large;">Creating VIVE4U</span></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color:#993300;"><br /></span></div><div>During this time, we also began to brainstorm between ourselves and with a conference call with Jay and Caroline formulated some essential groundwork for our voluntourism vision, which we labeled <i>VIVE: Voluntourism in Vilcabamba Ecuador</i>. We added the acronym 4U simply so that we could have a unique website url: <a href="http://www.VIVE4U.com/">VIVE4U.com</a>. We then developed the logo and website over the next few days and set up the domain and hosting plan.</div><div><br /></div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: rgb(0, 0, 238); -webkit-text-decorations-in-effect: underline; "><img src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhFRooRmepInrPxj9kr1A1k7_ugvIOLk8c6fD-7DphAWCOl_jAK7I2e8lchdjXBbbPPatZxOKsaKQJmAmz6T-PROdpa-LRNJrVac0lX1tGK_ocLsT5q9vm_wsds6B9n2v_Et_Nhs22qXDg/s200/DSCN1935.jpg" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5364522224996160834" style="float: right; margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 10px; margin-left: 10px; cursor: pointer; width: 200px; height: 150px; " /></span><div>The process of writing and editing the text for the website flowed quickly and easily and it became the working model of our business plan. At this stage, we didn't know how VIVE4U would support us financially and we still have to work that part of the puzzle out, but we determined to step into the unknown and figure it out along the way. This would begin essentially as a volunteer project on our part and I could fund our modest living expenses in Ecuador with my continuing graphic work via the internet. As things develop we hope to recoup something for</div><div>our time and expenses in doing this but that is a secondary consideration to getting it started and off the ground.</div><div><br /></div><div><img style="float:left; margin:0 10px 10px 0;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhJvaBj2PBkhKBWEKBUKGUWKBIElJN2CSalLFyROB1rcDH4NBByGobAKqizm_j7e7Rkqj8Kuya2pK2Xd2uONvMWLmg50LtO6RtDldABaoYtCYzWNQ7bqNb435Lnx3DGGoxauSghVxdIdiw/s320/DSCN2328.jpg" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5364313288519028754" /></div><div>As VIVE became further defined as a concept we were introduced by Jay to <i>Christina Chaya</i>, the Director of <i>Vilcabamba's Community Cultural Center</i>. At this point she was very pregnant and about to give birth and thus had to reduce her involvement with the Community Center which she had been working for a year on getting various programs going, but by herself it was slow going and she was in need of help. She welcomed our involvement and asked us to step in and take up the mantle of trying to attract the volunteers necessary for the various community projects, which would begin with the community building itself, a fabulous three-story building situated near the town center but in need of cleaning, repairs and refurbishing. Properly restored, the Center would be able to offer viable community services in the arts and education and we were offered office space there by which we would run VIVE4U to organize volunteers.</div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:large;"><br /></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color:#993300;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:large;">An Offer We Can't Refuse</span></span></div><div><br /></div><div>Near the end of May, Jay contacted us and informed us that the 'large house' in back of them was becoming available for them to rent so they had decided to take it and asked us if we would be interested in renting the Butterfly House, as it would be vacant starting June first. This was our open door and we quickly seized the opportunity and secured the rental starting June 1st. Julia's son <i>Christian</i> was in the Army and was due to come home on leave for the first two weeks in July, so we planned our trip to be on July 18th, so that Julia could spend some time with hime before our move. Monthly rent was set at $325 per month, which <i>included</i> electricity, a weekly maid and a daily gardener of the grounds! When I took a look at my current adjustable mortgage, which was now upside down, and all the related expenses of keeping up the house, it was a no-brainer! </div><div><br /></div><div>My home would either sell as a 'short sale' or eventually go to foreclosure, (along with the significant number of other Americians). I was perfectly aware that this of course would destroy my credit, however Eduador does not function in the western paradigm of credit. It is a cash system here, and based on the U.S. dollar, so a credit score was irrelevant where we were going. What's more, 100% of my income was now coming by working from home via the internet. This would no doubt continue as long as I had functional internet, which I knew was available in Vilcabamba, as I had tested that aspect while I was there in April. In considering all factors, <i>there was no reason NOT to do this:</i> I could continue to earn money as I had done, but with the stress of my high monthly bills reduced significantly, (by approximately 75%), I could now reclaim time for more personally meaningful and creative pursuits. </div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:large;"><br /></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: rgb(153, 51, 0); "><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:large;">Family Visit to Santa Cruz and Yosemite</span></span></div><div><br /></div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: rgb(0, 0, 238); -webkit-text-decorations-in-effect: underline; "><img src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg-zk92Hj7_Yb6BluMyW8MNAzd3bbmv2kSkLBRLdo43cseWgF4-dUftikk_XKnwdH0igXW63ibkuhBC8qQS-HareM0NA_3xHVefuA12A58smYoyqFbFJ9kSrCYJaSrVtMQc9RGMZzXk7N4/s200/DSCN3453.jpg" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5364477154539403282" style="float: left; margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 10px; margin-bottom: 10px; margin-left: 0px; cursor: pointer; width: 200px; height: 150px; " /></span><div>We now had a green light to go forward without hesitation and subsequently listed both our homes with an agressive real estate agent and began to plan for our move. Knowing it would be some time before we would be back in the states, I had one more road trip I wanted to make to visit my youngest son <i>Nathan</i>, his wife <i>Sarah</i> and four of my five darling granddaughters: <i>Bella, Hana, Abigail</i> and <i>Elizabeth</i> in Santa Cruz while we still had an Arizona address. So we planned a weekend trip for early June.</div><div><br /></div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: rgb(0, 0, 238); -webkit-text-decorations-in-effect: underline; "><img src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgAGlm7Y7xPwNboijFsQNcxQfYEO1od_LuSca-MvlQfeHZCIbuGD32CiX4dSVup_kOv0T_sRhKt3yL71IlxZ_oNV3HAMiK8dWu6EW2aClDHhE3cZKRkhjgDnXT42RkN2vGzH_7ZrjIU4vg/s320/DSCN3361.jpg" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5364477944910553410" style="float: right; margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 10px; margin-left: 10px; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 240px; " /></span><div>We drove through the night on a friday night to take the family out for breakfast at<i> Paula's</i> on Saturday morning. Paula's is a great little breakfast spot with a funky surf ambiance and we then went north up highway 1 and spent some time at the beach while Nathan and the girls flew a kite and played at the water's edge. After enjoying a couple of days with the family (those girls are just too cute for words), we embarked upon the 800 mile return trip (running out of gas on the way, but fortunately within a 15 minute walk to a gas station for assistance) through <i>Yosemite National Park</i>, which I had never seen before, and that was an amazing experience in itself.</div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:large;"><br /></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color:#993300;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:large;">Craig's List & Estate Sales</span></span></div><div><br /></div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: rgb(0, 0, 238); -webkit-text-decorations-in-effect: underline; "><img src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjPBbUwct4m8byYEnfSCBI22PwL6JbJXUj0V24kCA70vRehegh1KiWI3p2N5yfxwPx_X1NubXOF7h3DVTDLyj5WiCvn-gIU0TEo8Q6SGP5cZxu9neR-3yY0V2J1VB8XjC05FT8U6Mspq7U/s200/new_garage_sale_left_plt+(Small).jpg" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5365214734474538066" style="float: right; margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 10px; margin-left: 10px; cursor: pointer; width: 200px; height: 129px; " /></span><div>Once we were back, Julia put her truck up for sale and quickly attracted a buyer. The speed and ease at which this happened was amazing. I started posting my household items and furniture on Craigslist, and by the first week in July, had sold most everything. I just kept putting up ads and crossed off things as they sold each week and repeated the process. We also had planned three garage/estate sales for the last three weeks in June. The first one was at Julia's house in Apache Junction, and we virtually sold everything in the house that weekend. What little was left over, we carted over to my place for the next two weeks of garage sales, only this time, I decided to have it in my living area instead of the garage, as my garage door unexpectedly broke. This proved to be a good thing for this time of year in Arizona is pretty hot and people enjoyed coming into the air conditioning of the house while they looked over our stuff. We worked hard and spent the time to create excellent, attention getting signs and placed them around at strategic locations. After two weekends of this, we had again almost emptied my house out. I was particularly pleased to sell all of my paintings, albeit at greatly reduced prices save for a handful which I gave away to family and a couple of close friends. </div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:large;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color:#CC6600;"><br /></span></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color:#993300;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:large;">Packing Challenges: Lessons in Letting Go</span></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color:#993300;"><br /></span></div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: rgb(0, 0, 238); -webkit-text-decorations-in-effect: underline; "><img src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhVw4KfkaeSeFtbyaNxrKPQAJWplIEdtt3eM8aY4COdbDze338alJIeebLhKxjlSRcuZyuwlctx3yJDN48Mf-ScnuFv67b4_A_qzI2D6hTfVz3OQdWbyjHRE7PHUBqW1p9Ti1mrk7DP8iI/s200/cardboard-boxes.jpg" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5365215282484244434" style="float: left; margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 10px; margin-bottom: 10px; margin-left: 0px; cursor: pointer; width: 168px; height: 200px; " /></span><div>So, in the space of less than one month, we had emptied our homes and were faced with the final week of packing and making the difficult choices of what to take with us and what we had to leave behind. Back in the middle of May, after investigating various methods of shipping things down there, I decided to make a priority mail package through the US Postal Service. It was an 18"x15", 45 lb. box containing the sound system for my computer, some choice boxed set DVDs, printer toner and books. It cost me a total of $186. However, this was much less than it would have cost with any other carrier such as FedX or UPS. Jay provided his PO Box in Loja, along with the disclaimer that things work a little differently in Ecuador and the precision and accountability we take for granted in the US is non-existent there. Sometimes, parcel mail never arrives, or is endless ties up in customs, or simply stolen enroute. Still, I was willing to take my chances and off it went on May 18th. The USPS says it should arrive in two weeks. </div><div><br /></div><div>After a month and no sign of it showing, I had pretty much given up hope of it ever appearing but around July 1 we got a note from Jay saying the package arrived. It's a bit of a hassle getting it, as Jay's daughter Erin had to take three taxi's to the customs, go to a bank, wait in line two hours, go back to customs again and pay the duty, which is whatever they say it is, not what you declare it's worth. They wanted to set it at $180, but fortunately, because Erin is fluent in Espanol and knows the gatekeeper there she was able to negotiate it down to $80. So, figureing some money to cover Erin's efforts my 45 lb. box cost me $280. to get down there. Pricey, yes, but still the best method for anything essential that we can't take down there with us ourselves.</div><div><br /></div><div>We then plotted our Air Cargo which was pretty trickey too. After reading the restrictions and requirements of USAirways and then going to the Ecuador Customs site to find out what they require, we determined this: We are allowed two checked baggage items up to 50 lbs each, plus one carry-on item and a personal item (smaller bag or laptop computer). They also had size requirements: a box could not exceed 80 inches, total dimensions (HxWxD). </div><div><br /></div><div>So now it was down to deciding what wast truly 'essential' and worth the expense to send down there, and what were the highest priority items to fit in our luggage that we would take with us on the trip down.</div><div><br /></div><div>This presented a particular challenge to one of my prime priorities to bring down there, my greatest joy: a <i>digital grand piano</i>. I carefully measured the dimensions: <i>exactly 80 inches.</i> I would have to build a custom cardboard travelling box that fit it exactly (and I did). But would it pass the check points? With the cardboard, it actually measured closer to 81". I was hopeful. The other items that were critical for me were my two computers, plus two external hard drives, cables and related assessories and my three prized guitars and I was already over the limit without allowance for clothes or anything else. I intended to bring an expensive Water Ionizer and Juicer with me as well, but it wasn't looking like we would have room. It was getting depressing. Julia had a similar dilemma, which as most women could probably relate to: <i>shoes, clothes </i>and<i> treasured household items</i>. </div><div><br /></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: rgb(153, 51, 0); "><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:large;">Julia Has Emergency Surgery</span></span></div><div><br /></div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: rgb(0, 0, 238); -webkit-text-decorations-in-effect: underline; "><img src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiZ2A1KruGjGihmYwHT2BS0sx2pmEpFuIZFAd-tlsF2TDopm6pQ0SNBuVDfkOAwa5TR0w02wvgoy0DCKvFiWbAceBYm5fjUZg-zPTgh_zPZ1MUATuE48HZIGY_vWLAjuYhjeNGnP74f4PQ/s320/st_lukes.jpg" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5365218853458604034" style="float: left; margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 10px; margin-bottom: 10px; margin-left: 0px; cursor: pointer; width: 272px; height: 170px; " /></span><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: rgb(153, 51, 0); "></span>To make matters more complicated, Julia doubled over with acute abdominal pain one day at work and it was determined she needed to have <i>emergency surgery. </i>This all happened less than <i>two weeks</i> before our scheduled flight. A co-worker at the hospital had died without warning the previous week who had the same condition, so it was a <i>critical situation</i> to be taken care of with surgery ASAP. As it turned out, she had an <i>estrangulated internal hernia</i> and obstruction in her intestines that would have had serious consequences had it not been immediately alleviated. The timing of all this, and the fact that she was able to get it done before our trip and o<i>n the very last day before her insurance ran out</i> we felt was itself another instance of divine providence. But as a result of the surgery, Julia would not be able to lift anything for the next several weeks, which made our final preparations more challenging to say the least.</div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:large;"><br /></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color:#CC6600;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: rgb(153, 51, 0); "><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:large;">Another Amazing Synchronicity</span></span></span></div><div><br /></div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: rgb(0, 0, 238); -webkit-text-decorations-in-effect: underline; "><img src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgtQP61xd1r7x1wJqPikQKNYyif4n6f0neRFLhjD0XTuOZruXLemFELlt1CCIotipnmvFdaBXIrzoQqXyCZf17PvdIZeq2YJGlrRfF06O91SsDmym_oNKT48kjUstAPYby-Q2qRgE_XOto/s200/synchronicity-energy.jpg" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5365221957766481842" style="float: left; margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 10px; margin-bottom: 10px; margin-left: 0px; cursor: pointer; width: 170px; height: 200px; " /></span><div>All this time, I was continuing to work on my daily jobs with <i>Brian Penry</i> and other clients, which brings up another mind-boggling instance of synchronicity which deserves a detailing:</div><div> </div><div>For the last three years Brian and I have collaborated daily through his business, <i>Penry Creative</i>. Brian functioned as the overseeing Art Director and interfaced with a variety of clients, mostly in the New York City area near where his home base is in Connecticut. I function as his primary graphics support guy. One of our biggest clients in these last three years is a business woman named <i>Deborah</i>, who controls several business operations and networking organizations which I was curious to note displayed a decided holistic and progressive philosophy. During this time, we had, and were continuing to develop several websites for her various business entities. </div><div><br /></div><div>As Brian was her primary contact, I had no ongoing direct contact with her. Consequently, <i>she had no idea I had planned this move to Vilcabamba</i>, nor any knowledge of my connection to Jay and Caroline, etc. Get this: One day in late June, Brian called me in amazement to inform me that his client Deborah and her husband Coley were currently travelling out of the country and... guess where? Ecuador.<i> "No kidding... where in Ecuador?"</i> Vilcabamba. I was stunned. I mean, of all places in the world, she finds this tiny remote village in the Andes? "<i>You've got to be kidding!"</i> No...Guess where they are staying? They are renting your Butterfly House!!!</div><div><br /></div><div>I am not sure what any of this means, but <i>it is one amazing synchronistic connection that totally defies odds of chance</i>. They apparently had an email friend, <i>Susan</i> who lives here in Vilcabamba (we have heard her name mentioned a few times but have yet to meet), and Deborah had decided on a visit and also to attend Jay and Caroline's July 4th workshop, <i>"Past Lives & Personal Reality" </i>through Susan's suggestion. <i>(small world, isn't it?)</i> As our Butterfly House was vacant, Jay made it available as a short term rental until we arrived. Perhaps that is the end of this story. Maybe there is a continuation that will play out in the future, but it certainly has got our attention and served as a powerful <i>validation</i>, if nothing else, that this move is our <i>destiny.</i></div><div><i><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:large;"><br /></span></i></div><div><i><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-style: normal; color: rgb(153, 51, 0); "><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:large;">Creative Solutions / With a Little Help From My Friends</span></span></i></div><div><br /></div><img src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEggs-dyOwXMOG_WAyN7fqQWgKmISTjojRrgMzCWWYZ5c7yqZutgA9eLOsMoI-KuRWtVcajZuwfLpEMb7AsggWecw7H4J7-PaITyPD0IjgZBb_6g1FzvUAAaqF11AY2YbSUqPApotJbawb8/s200/009+-+Copy+(2).jpg" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5364483007531697730" style="float: right; margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 10px; margin-left: 10px; cursor: pointer; width: 198px; height: 200px; " /><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: rgb(51, 51, 51); ">Back to the move: In considering the exhorbinant expenses of shipping, and not really wanting to go that route, it suddenly dawned on me that if another person travelled there, he/she could take some critical things down with them for us as their checked and carry-on luggage and enjoy a nice vacation at the same time!</span></div><div> </div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="-webkit-text-decorations-in-effect: underline; "><span class="Apple-style-span"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color:#333333;"><div><br /></div>I asked my good friend </span><i><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color:#333333;">Ken Babb</span></i><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color:#333333;"> if he would have any interest in taking an expense-paid trip down to Ecuador in return for acting as our 'pack mule' to assist us in this move and, being the good sport he is, he eagerly accepted. So, as challenges presented themselves, solutions were being created, one by one.</span></span></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color:#333333;"><br /></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="-webkit-text-decorations-in-effect: underline; "><span class="Apple-style-span"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color:#333333;">That took care of most of our essential things to get down there. I packed two boxes to leave with Ken to take down with me on the next trip when I return in a few months for a visit. Julia did likewise with her daughter, Jasmine, and thus we had a workable plan for this dramatic and extraordinary move abroad.</span></span></span><div><br /></div><img src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjCqgzsbMGgmntaCu6I-IzapOY3DyMde7kcf2lFB_G2pGOhlX-FOIJ623HUHzL_2gHoi8tPVIoivgvPNpGS32Qq9RUyyQWB529jRiBzHYxfzvp99tqIi9hVDGR8ueynLXh3FEvJt-LqVaY/s200/100_4715.jpg" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5364484141508953282" style="float: left; margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 10px; margin-bottom: 10px; margin-left: 0px; cursor: pointer; width: 200px; height: 150px; " /><div>It was the last week and we were scheduled to leave Saturday afternoon. It was now Thursday morning and I did the final emptying of my home in Surprise, did a general clean up, put the remaining few items in the garage and arranged for Goodwill to pick them up as donations, and with that I bid my last 5 years in Surprise goodbye, not looking back. It was surprisingly easy to do (pardon the pun), although now, when I see this little photo of my house up here I am reminded of all the sweet times that were spent there and the people in my life during those years, and I can't help but feel a little sentimental. I've been blessed with wonderful memories and experiences. But hey, life is <i>now</i> and the future remains to be written, so it profits no one to look back. <i>Onward!</i></div><div><br /></div><img src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgUxEqfF1Ly1ODHmrS38IxROf7JxtQAPjWTF9xaW46vwwPzngBmnTp3yfTdI1dHAt6b3lfbnU_o7mHO6UZsRXJcQ6dRbSBa24e_AUSDKuVfyDdpBquur8g7eOkfLCSBJPQGcVKnjrG-u1g/s200/DSCN3129.jpg" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5364484459602272322" style="float: right; margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 10px; margin-left: 10px; cursor: pointer; width: 200px; height: 150px; " /><div>We arrived at Julias home in the late afternoon after several errands along the way (we had a long list) and began to do our final packing there. This was a complex process of trial and error to try to get the weight of each box under 50 lbs using a bathroom scale. We were up until the wee hours of the morning early friday before we finally completed the task and made a makeshift bed on the floor out of some pillows and a few spare clothes. I had previously arranged a final golf game at Gold Canyon shortly after dawn on Friday so we only got 2-3 hours sleep that night, which was the predominant pattern all that final week.</div><div><br /></div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: rgb(0, 0, 238); -webkit-text-decorations-in-effect: underline; "><img src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhlmjrt-u1i4kit8TK_Rv6761vrHNM9c4X7IVgod8FydZz55ngxzY0C7_rL3WybqhlKxKsiLVC75ueW_0BOOW1NDUtaYUimicck3Ffr0YCTgHlNCtFpPznl-VmCTopc9kIj4_vqzhbcO1g/s400/Image11.jpg" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5364484939503818850" style="float: left; margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 10px; margin-bottom: 10px; margin-left: 0px; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 266px; " /></span><div>My golf outing went great, and I got to play a final round on a course I had long wanted to play: <i>The Dinosaur Course at Gold Canyon</i>, but I had always considered it too expensive. <span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-style: italic; ">Doug Hoxeng, <span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-style: normal; ">a great guy I had recently coached regarding his golf game offered to cover my fee and also bought me lunch too. We shared the round with another golfing friend, <i>Bob Keiser </i>and had a great time of it.<i> </i>I was exhausted and did not play my best but it sure was fun and a fitting goodbye to Arizona golf... at least as a resident.</span></span></div><div><br /></div><div>Julia and I regrouped Friday afternoon to do our final checklist and bring our final boxes over to her daughter Jasmine's house, as they would be bringing us to the airport in their truck Saturday afternoon (our moving day). The night before while were going through the difficult process of trying to fit our stuff in our checked luggage boxes, we decided we still had things we needed to get down there that wouldn't fit, so at the last minute we decided to send a couple of packages priority mail (like the first box we sent in May) and we would just have to wait lag time and pay the tarrif on the other end, whatever it turns out to be. Phew!! Done.</div><div><br /></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color:#993300;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:large;">Goodbye Arizona / July 18th</span></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color:#CC6600;"><br /></span></div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: rgb(0, 0, 238); -webkit-text-decorations-in-effect: underline; "><img src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjiaqo4rhKyVY7Lxlux_jFljCtdIEuCe8822v3BGhJxBBXYV1HTN4ESiBi4U1AXMqpgKkF4ygr4WHIItOhJwxAKacljz97x2bUx88FyA14Zi4MiZE1Rwm843pT_7mdYInZ5TNFgnK5i2T0/s200/100_7347.jpg" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5365231131977982338" style="float: right; margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 10px; margin-left: 10px; cursor: pointer; width: 200px; height: 149px; " /></span><div>Our last day in Arizona was spent meeting up with my friend and work collaborator<i> Alfredo Saavedra</i> for breakfast and doing some minute last errands in preparation for our flight. As it turned out there really were no moments to spare, but we had everything highly organzied and had planned it perfectly: All went like clockwork. I also had driven my car for the last time and I turned in my vehicle with the keys to the bank/leinholder and went directly to the airport. </div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color:#0000EE;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color:#000000;"><br /></span></span></div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: rgb(0, 0, 238); -webkit-text-decorations-in-effect: underline; "><img src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhGGrDDgwxx36jBtaPFJTcPG57U5bRegAWoK1PD_4GXlOJYxnk8aeQPSw5eh3ChKYSodNohuZJAdYoL0icWfOr16dD2p2Ahha84K7hWaE2XF_PISIC_DzTxozbYX7Onbnws2SDPOdc4bjo/s200/US-airways-5.jpg" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5364648482747838114" style="float: left; margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 10px; margin-bottom: 10px; margin-left: 0px; cursor: pointer; width: 200px; height: 135px; " /></span><div>We checked our bags in and to our astonishment, <i>they were 50 lbs on the dime</i>. My 81" piano box also sailed through! I was relieved about that but was concerned about my partner: Julia was <i>not</i> feeling well during all of this and was experiencing sharp stomach pains. I think all the stress of the last couple of weeks was particularly tough on her, as she really wasn't able to get the rest she needed after the surgery. She also still could not lift anything and it was uncomfortable for her to walk, so we gladly took advantage of the airport wheelchair policy for her, and I managed to wheel a cart with our considerable carry-on luggage though the five airports of our trip and all the related check points, (not an easy task, thanks to TSA and Homeland 'Security') but all went quite flawlessly and without undue hassle.</div><div><br /></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: rgb(153, 51, 0); "><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:large;">Touching Down in Loja</span></span></div><div><br /></div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: rgb(0, 0, 238); -webkit-text-decorations-in-effect: underline; "><img src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhG9UAxUEZDjtFMbQKQ4E08T7iu0DjATzWjDlmO0IQB1DEaP-OHGi9iXSu3nBxR5Cw_FsWCApGAbqgW7PQomAgmigf8j-1e6oAR0o8H6PtCwWuTsqyKw-zigBqlbceIlHJQU2VwaQ7jyaI/s320/DSCN2502.jpg" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5364474506661435330" style="float: right; margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 10px; margin-left: 10px; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 240px; " /></span><div>We arrived at our final destination airport at <i>Catamaya</i> (Loja) in the late afternoon, just as we had done on our earlier trip in April. Only this time the afternoon sun was shining on the mountains surrounding the airport turning them a warm orange/gold color and to our delight, a <i>brilliant double rainbow</i> appeared out of the rainy mist that covered the tops of the mountains. Again, we received a welcome message that could not be denied. <i>We were where we are supposed to be. </i></div><div><br /></div><div>Jay and Caroline sent a trusted Taxi driver named <i>Lenin</i> to pick us up and it wasn't hard to pick him out of the crowd that gathered at the airport terminal as he held up a sign that said, </div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: rgb(0, 0, 238); -webkit-text-decorations-in-effect: underline; "><img src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjUyIEtRX9PDw8k_qPoGBZGI77ukoa_QZ-FKJ2Emr0LOXR3mII2_XDsfl27bIk6B8sX-tgV6K6a_SJazx13xJISmnEdYuukxAdRsWFdgyHryjpLWffBaEIrrr4-UEVFicW1lmuOFIx-Q-g/s200/JACK.jpg" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5365233303877481474" style="float: left; margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 10px; margin-bottom: 10px; margin-left: 0px; cursor: pointer; width: 119px; height: 98px; " /></span><div>'JACK'. We were to retain Lenin's services much in the days and weeks to come as driver, guide and all round handyman as we later bought appliances for the home in Loja, which to a foreigner, is like trying to find a needle in a haystack. He possesses a great disposition and friendly personality and although he didn't know english well, he pretty much understood our intentions. We feel we've made another trusted friend. Although she would deny it, Julia has been a big help in communicating as her espanol is quite decent and she could actually carry on conversations in the language. Me, I was limited to my kindergarten level two and three word simple phrases, like <i>mi gusto los vacas</i> and <i>quiero ir al bano,</i> but I'm slowly learning.</div><div><br /></div><div>The 90-minute ride to our new mountain home at the butterfly house was interrupted by a stop at a grocery store in Loja where we tried to find some edible things that we could recognize. The most assessible one is called the <i>'Supermaxi' </i>and, to my knowledge, it is the only grocery store of it's size in Loja. It is the closest thing to an 'american style' grocery store both in size and style with brightly lit isles and a slick neon sign. But that is where the similarity ends. Most of the brands were not familiar to us. Oh, a few were, but most were not, and it was a daunting job just to figure out what we were buying.</div><div><br /></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: rgb(153, 51, 0); "><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:large;">An Ecuadorian Supermarket</span></span></div><div><br /></div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: rgb(0, 0, 238); -webkit-text-decorations-in-effect: underline; "><img src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi3BJ7XCjR_kVdNM4bf7REJx_jfay-RuMhxpoe7M3qcnn_ZbGQ36S4QZk7W6pli2AISJlHVEuj_Wlje3hZdZoB4X977lQsnUfrYDGR26Yvg47pGDm-_9gcvpaRr5JAwv9jnAM1G_aRxusU/s200/SuperMaxi.jpg" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5364783576379047218" style="float: right; margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 10px; margin-left: 10px; cursor: pointer; width: 200px; height: 170px; " /></span><div>The most comical aspect of the Supermaxi is that they built about a dozen or so check out counters but made the isles so narrow that one could not push a shopping cart through them! In fact, your average obese American wouldn't be able to squeeze through! As this store is popular and crowded, this created a massive gridlock of empty shopping carts out in the isles that continually blocks access to the check out counters creating a mass of confusion as customers tried to navigate their full carts into the gate keepers in order to buy their stuff! Sheer <i>lunacy!</i> </div><div><br /></div><div>It didn't take long for us to realize that this kind of lack of foresight and 'reverse efficiency' was a common theme to business in Ecuador. It's just the way business has evolved down here and no one really thinks about changing it for greater profit, although it would be easy to do. More on this aspect of Ecuadorian life later, but when we left the Supermaxi we had a greater appreciation for just how <i>different</i> life down here would be. We were trading convenience, choices and efficient order for freedom, adventure and a much simpler life that simply was not based on product consumption. 'Stuff' could be found, in limited choices and quality, but it clearly was not the basis of a way of life it is in the States. </div><div><br /></div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: rgb(0, 0, 238); -webkit-text-decorations-in-effect: underline; "><img src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgzfi5bpqmPPlpuISxbhsKM-TFpHwE7swkgqy9IY-WcT__dw-OIgKBIGMObe3fQkvm7o82E8Qw5wDY7Eg59NTVXvZW_l4tmwNeROriqB9dbU8WZUHu97ogcC63Li69Gg_xnrIZ5ms6wtxk/s200/DSCN2020.jpg" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5365910287021502738" style="float: right; margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 10px; margin-left: 10px; cursor: pointer; width: 200px; height: 150px; " /></span><div>Well, that's fine. That's not why I chose to come here anyway. So, we piled into the waiting taxi with Lenin keeping an ever watchful eye on our luggage in back under a secured tarp and continued on our innaugural trip to Vilcabamba and our new home, smiling at the experience. About halfway down the twisting mountain highway we were treated with the sight of a wandering cow as it waddled it's way down the middle of the road. I just had to laugh... as <i>that one was for me personally</i>. We continued to see things we were unaccustomed to: Burro's carrying cargo also shared the roads with cows, taxi's, buses and private cars. I like this place!</div><div><br /></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color:#0000EE;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="-webkit-text-decorations-in-effect: underline; "><img src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiLoq4kopcwzcoMi7XJz6dbTkLnce2Y0k6gkGsn2siJ2f9M2S1uwzzRLIx0PnuufIcyk7Rn60qnDPW0PmQthIroho4M3FrWZ87rtyg8Yw-wWvtkryjrVlOXFESw0n7hlib0eeno-X-lAaI/s200/DSCN3720.jpg" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5366300429618467970" style="float: left; margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 10px; margin-bottom: 10px; margin-left: 0px; cursor: pointer; width: 200px; height: 150px; " /></span></span></div><div>Finally, we decended the mountain from the neighboring town of <i>Malacatos</i> and Vilcabamba emerged in our sight. This time, instead of travelling through the village and up the southern slopes to Montesuenos, we took a right turn a good mile before getting to the village at the sign for the hotel/spa named '<i>Madre Tierra',</i> and another mile up a steep and very narrow gravel road, we came to the entry gate of the property where our Butterfly House lay waiting for our arrival.</div><div><br /></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color:#993300;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:large;">Home At Last</span></span></div><div><br /></div><div>Our new home was a joy to behold. At night, the brightly colored internal walls of red, orange and blue hues look warm and cozy. Jay and Caroline, who were already retired for the night in the big house further up the hill from us, had left a sweet note for us on the table with a vase of fresh flowers welcoming us. And after emptying the back of the taxi out with our stuff and groceries, we were delighted to finally relax a bit, after a rudimentary unpacking to see how our cargo survived the long trip. Not bad... only two things were broken and fortunately, nothing of irreplaceable value. We collapsed in the comfortable queen bed and slept for probably twelve hours, which we repeated for the next several days as our bodies definitely needed a major recharging.</div><div><br /></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: rgb(153, 51, 0); "><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:large;">Shopping in Ecuador (or, the Search for the Holy Grail)</span></span></div><div><br /></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: rgb(0, 0, 238); -webkit-text-decorations-in-effect: underline; "><img src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhfeG___PFpnMeHFAEh5WnGHLTUkQ0usB7MslqSViF6_4CAdddyaEBP1AGVo3NtskALgX-Lf0wOXYmxy9p0Rn2nzKRKTuBtUEvfgl4-U6A1fSP6Tsm6o9xx_xViihsLybqo3Kf2BxG6wfg/s400/100_8262.jpg" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5364650095851882818" style="float: left; margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 10px; margin-bottom: 10px; margin-left: 0px; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 299px; " /></span></div><div>The next day, after unpacking our things and checking out the resources of our new home, we had some immediate needs to fill and called Lenin to take us back to Loja for the day to do some major shopping. Actually, one day was not enough. But over the next week we gradually got what we needed as we worked daily to organize our living space. First on the list was a small refrigerator that could fit in the limited space in our kitchen. We also needed a stove, oven, coffeemaker, linens, towels, etc. and a bunch of little things, mostly for the kitchen and bathroom.</div><div><br /></div><div>In the USA, such shopping would be a slam dunk and only require 2-3 hours rather than three days. But like I said, this is a different world down here and looking for a specific thing can be like the search for the holy grail. Kinda funny really, and not without a good measure of entertainment value in itself. I think the different way of commerce here is one of the greatest contrasts to life in America. Personally, I don't mind it, but it helps to have a good sense of humor about it. Ecuador's commerce is mostly through small, family owned shops, and there are few places that provide variety of products and choices all in one place.</div><div><br /></div><div>Take something as ordinary <i>light bulbs:</i> It took us two shopping trips into the city, and we still can't find the size we need for our lamps here. On a third attempt we finally found the right size, bought them, brought them home and plugged them in and they started to blink on and off: Aaagggghhhh!!! they were <i>Christmas lights </i>for God sake!!! I tell you, humor goes a long way here. It also took us two trips and about four hours to find some push pins and velcro strips. It's not that these items are in such rare scarcity, but they are just not available on every street corner as they are in the states, and one can only know from experience where to go for a specific thing. </div><div><br /></div><div>Fabric and thread is another example: Julia was intending on creating a quilt and so we went to several fabric stores that sold fabric where she picked out wonderful colors and patterns, but none of them sold thread or needles! Now, does that make any sense at all? We still haven't found a place to get thread... And once we do find a store to buy thread, I bet you anything they won't sell needles. A different world indeed. </div><div><br /></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color:#993300;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:large;">Cross Comparisons: US/Ecuador</span></span></div><div><br /></div><div>But, alas, its all a trade-off and one I am happy to make. Although I still have much yet to experience in this beautiful country, I'll make a cross comparison for the interested reader:</div><div><br /></div><div><b>Things I like about Ecuador:</b></div><div><br /></div><div><i>• freedom (relative)</i></div><div><i>• an abundance of cows and other farm animals... </i></div><div><i> who make themselves known at dawn</i></div><div><i>• abundance of natural beauty</i></div><div><i>• simple lifestyle</i></div><div><i>• very low cost of living</i></div><div><i>• exceptionally comfortable, and balanced climate</i></div><div><i>• good hearted friends and neighbors of like mind</i></div><div><i>• beautiful native people, unspoiled by a consumer lifestyle</i></div><div><i>• a credit score is irrelevant, a cash only economy</i></div><div><i>• immunity to political nonsense</i></div><div><i>• a more real, authentic way of life</i></div><div><i>• small family-owned stores are the norm</i></div><div><i>• the women are beautiful</i></div><div><i>• if the power grid went down permanently, I'd still eat </i></div><div><i> well, have decent water to drink, and clean air to breathe. </i></div><div><i><br /></i></div><div><i><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-style: normal; "><div><b>Things I don't particularly like about Ecuador:</b></div><div><br /></div><div><i>• it can take 3 days to find the right sized light bulb,</i></div><div><i> and even then it might blink on and off.</i></div><div><i>• the appearance of chaos and free-for-all on the roads</i></div><div><i>• apparent lack of order and efficiency</i></div><div><i>• very limited product choices and few of good quality</i></div><div><i>• the presence of military police in public places in the city</i></div><div><i>• poorly designed supermarkets</i></div><div><i>• Ecuadorians can get noisey at times, particularly in </i></div><div><i> celebration... they love loud noises, cherry bombs, etc.</i></div></span></i></div><div><br /></div><div><b>Things I like about the United States:</b></div><div><i><br /></i></div><div><i>• my family and good friends</i></div><div><i>• golf courses</i></div><div><i>• an abundance of diverse and beautiful scenery</i></div><div><i>• people are generally polite and considerate to each other</i></div><div><i>• convenience of product choices</i></div><div><i>• exceptionally good quality of most products</i></div><div><i>• easy access to information</i></div><div><i>• easy travel on well maintained roads</i></div><div><i>• motorists obey common rules</i></div><div><i>• well planned infrastructure that allows for expansion</i></div><div><i>• the illusion of 'order'</i></div><div><br /></div><div><div><b>Things I like don't particularly like about the United States:</b></div><div><i><br /></i></div><div><i>• Empire building / Agressive military policies</i></div><div><i>• Bush Jr's 'Patriot Act', 1 and 2 – the destruction of freedom</i></div><div><i>• the emerging police state (checkpoints, surveillance cameras, etc.)</i></div><div><i>• thoroughly corrupt politicians who are devoid of integrity and </i></div><div><i> a political system that ensures that psychopaths stay in power</i></div><div><i>• the reality of enslavement through debt</i></div><div><i>• a predatory monetary system (usury), as the basis of life</i></div><div><i>• a consumer based existence</i></div><div><i>• the lies of religion that entrap true light beings into </i></div><div><i> disempowerment</i></div><div><i>• advanced electronic mind programming through the main </i></div><div><i> stream media, cell phone towers, HAARP, etc.</i></div><div><i>• the relentless chemtrail program over the last decade</i></div><div><i>• rap music, heavy metal / the sell out of the youth for a buck</i></div><div><i>• an educational system designed to dumb down the public,</i></div><div><i> reward conformity and discourage critical thinking</i></div><div><i><br /></i></div><div>Well, I could go on but I'll stop here. There are of course, negative aspects common to each country as the States have no corner on the market for criminals in government and other positions of power. In fact, that's pretty much the rule all over the globe, as only those who lust after postions of control get to those positions in the first place and are so thoroughly compromised that they have no choice but to dance to the tune of the money barons who finance their campaigns. </div><div><br /></div><div>However, from my above lists, you can see clearly what the trade offs are... at least how I see them. I am sure having been here only two weeks I am still heavily programmed by the sophisticated technologies that cover every square inch of the US and all 'developed' nations... there is no way I could not be affected, even though I have been unplugged from the mainstream propaganda for over 15 years now. </div><div><br /></div><div>However, I definitely can feel a difference here. I feel <i>lighter</i>. </div><div><br /></div><div>As one expatriate here put it, <i>"You just don't know just how much you've been living a life of illusion until you've broken the ties that bind, and have spent a good amount of time away from it. Then, one day, all of a sudden you see it.... you see clearly the consciousness prison which once held you, and you notice that you think differently than you used to, you feel differently than you used to and you realize you have reclaimed your personal freedom."</i></div><div><br /></div><div>(see the short YouTube video, '<a href="http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zRNMZEDOBrM&feature=related">The Matrix and the Cave</a>')</div><div><br /></div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: rgb(0, 0, 238); -webkit-text-decorations-in-effect: underline; "><img src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjoZraNhpsHwvgwgOIjvEA0waRlZC6oCgz-ejcUW-fbwcrFtwk_bX5-vhvYqHEXfKOkzVY5oVbL6pSp_FOS8copB8QaqfxhhC7iB7QLBL0wh4Wk0g1sG0KauPnAofSBcLUO3I8issDGpr8/s200/ecuador.jpg" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5364810601131841394" style="float: left; margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 10px; margin-bottom: 10px; margin-left: 0px; cursor: pointer; width: 178px; height: 200px; " /></span><div>Ironic that I find that in order to reclaim my freedom, I leave a country in which 'freedom' is it's most heavily promoted propaganda. But it is only an illusion of freedom. And while Ecuador is not without it's own version of control system's and oppression, it is relatively benign by my investigation and experience. True, there have been periods of criminal governments in the past, (promoted by the USA incidentally) and Ecuador has also had good presidents who refused to be corrupted by the money powers that have ultimately been 'taken out' (by the CIA). But lets not spend too much time on that stuff. It is out there for any serious student of world affairs to discover if they really want to. </div><div><br /></div><div>The present national administration of Ecuador has been quite positive in the opinion of most people living here, instituting several new policies that benefit the people over more powerful corporate interests. How long this present condition will last is anyone's guess. We are living in times of dramatic change globally as polaric forces increase exponentially. And if anything is certain, it's uncertainty.</div><div><br /></div><div>But those who can read the signs are preparing for the obvious: <i>a global financial crash</i>, possibly in unison with <i>a carefully planned lethal flu pandemic</i> (instituted by the CDC and the WHO), <i>forced vaccinations</i> which will implement the long-planned <i>microchipping of populations</i>, <i>manipulated terrorist strikes</i> and <i>carefully orchestrated wars</i> to keep the fear factor up on the dumbed-down masses. Should such things come to pass, it is not hard to predict that people will gladly accept any 'solution' presented to them, even a worldwide totalitarian dictatorship, which is what we will get if current trends continue. History repeats itself. The currrent events of today are a textbook repeat of Nazi Germany in strategy, and most are completely blind to this fact. Not a pretty picture in my view, yet any truly aware individual can see this train rapidly approaching in the daily news. </div><div><br /></div><div>However, that is not the big, BIG, BIGGEST picture... as <i>all experience on this planet is ultimately for our benefit as souls</i>. We are all here because we have things to learn on an experiential level. So, there are some major changes in the winds, that's for sure. But who knows?... maybe we will be <i>pleasantly surprised</i><i>?!!</i></div><div><br /></div><div>I always like to hold out that possibility. One must never lose hope, or living is pointless.</div><div><br /></div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: rgb(0, 0, 238); -webkit-text-decorations-in-effect: underline; "><img src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgYA-F7f7xsxarMLLabb639Ut0kPA9OQuzUL6y8FebignzRZFQX-zzwPCOEehUeTe9hifoYJOgUeavBgMDN-JWTIOd3ZRjukC2VDnkq215ZP7DrtvCS0hpyFmNd8kj7s-fXwhaVO_gm3Xo/s200/vive_vilcaveggies.jpg" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5364818377043136146" style="float: left; margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 10px; margin-bottom: 10px; margin-left: 0px; cursor: pointer; width: 200px; height: 190px; " /></span><div>But for right now, I am happy in this place I've chosen to be, <i>(or has it chosen me?).</i> Vilcabamba, along with it's tranquil neighboring villages are sweet, beautiful rural communities... the kind which I had always longed to be part of. The cows alone are enough to make me feel at home. The air quality and climate is ideal. The light wonderful. It is the healthiest environment on the planet. I have a wonderful woman to share the experience with and have seeded good friendships with individuals I truly like and respect. I've even managed to inspire several friends from back in the States to contemplate visits down here, a couple of which are already in the works. I do enjoy playing the role of a catalyst! :-D</div><div><br /></div><div>And so, I'll end this lengthy saga now as I settle into life here in the Butterfly House of Vilcabamba. I'll continue to work everyday, do my best to be a blessing to others as I continue to develop my skills, and assist in the Cultural Community Center and VIVE4U.com as best as I can, and of course, nurture my creative instincts, which I can feel stirring a rebirth within me as I write this. </div><div><br /></div><div>It feels good, and it feels right.</div><div><br /></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: rgb(0, 0, 238); -webkit-text-decorations-in-effect: underline; "><img src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg19m0bDLaJ023PDEkMGZVp6ky-vCgkPeTDIhtgCjIQKeWk4KZea3EBcHUAPGTtWKpON53OQsESDHO0YslmWVh7zAofPniraey1MXJUP7UPkEz_Pz1cFa6intJigncxtS9XXmbsEzSaEAc/s200/vivelogo.jpg" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5364818483285283970" style="float: left; margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 10px; margin-bottom: 10px; margin-left: 0px; cursor: pointer; width: 144px; height: 125px; " /></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color:#0000EE;"><br /></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color:#0000EE;"><br /></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color:#0000EE;"><br /></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color:#0000EE;"><br /></span></div><div>Till next post, Hasta Luego.</div><div><i>Jack Crompton</i></div></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div>Unknownnoreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8886920526675464279.post-12020879421567924932007-03-02T01:04:00.000-08:002009-08-02T01:30:45.622-07:00The Ego<span class="Apple-style-span" style=" ;font-family:Helvetica;font-size:medium;"><div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:georgia;">We have all been fed a fundamental lie from infancy through religion, schools and our culture. And its effects are evident everywhere in the conflicts we see in the world around us. That lie is basically a perspective, or a 'lens' that sees ourselves and the world around us as separate. The lens discolors everything we see and perverts true undestanding of who we are and what is going on in this world. That lens is the human ego.<br /><br />Components of the Ego<br /><br />1) I am WHAT I HAVE;<br />('I am my stuff; materialism')<br /><br />2) I am WHAT I LOOK LIKE;<br />(body identification)<br /><br />3) I am WHAT I DO;<br />(my job, career, interests, responsibilities)<br /><br />3) I am WHAT OTHERS THINK OF ME;<br />(self defined by the mirrors in society)<br /><br />4) I am SEPARATE FROM OTHERS;<br />(sees others as enemies/threats or allies)<br /><br />5) I am SEPARATE FROM WHAT I DESIRE;<br />(what I want is outside of me)<br /><br />6) I am SEPARATE FROM GOD or SOURCE;<br />(the BIG LIE....)<br /><br />The most common thread in all ego dominated perspectives is the latter notion that we are separate from Source. This lie is the root cause of all dysfunction, war and unhappiness in the world.<br /><br />We extrapolate that feeling of separateness to encompass being separate from other people and indeed the entire world around us. By seing others as separate from ourselves, we naturally go on to judge them as good and bad, right and wrong. By seeing others as separate from ourselves, we disassociate from them, and indeed give ourselves permission to inflict our judgment upon them, albeit passively or agressively.<br /><br />The ego thrives in this atmosphere of competition. We are encouraged by our cultural society to engage in competition with other egos and be better, bigger and have MORE than others. The ego VALUES itself by the cultural parameters of how much stuff we have, how beautiful we are, how important or influential we are, how much money we make, and how popular and well liked we are. It is either relishing the domination of other egos, or it is feeling worthless by virtue of the fact of others domination over them.<br /><br />The ego can love itself or hate itself. It really doesn't matter. It is two sides of the same coin. When the drama of 3rd dimensional life ends, so will all the 'prized' possessions of the ego. The possessions and toys will all be gone, the opinions of other people won't amount to squat, and what your body looked like will be meaningless. You will be left with only your expreiences of engaging in this competition for dominance with other egos.<br /><br />What will that have accomplished in the larger game of your soul? That is something worthwhile to think about.<br /><br />The ego is built on illusion: lies and untruths, and is primarily an artifact of a dysfunctional mind. It is built on beliefs and opinions that have carefully been crafted in our mind by our society, and augmentaed by our life's experiences. But it is not who we really are.<br /><br />The ego is a really a major distraction to discovering who we really are and what we have come to here accomplish.<br /><br />So, who are we really? And what are we really here for and what is truly of value, if our egos are simply temporary vehicles that give no lasting happiness?<br /><br />It is a desire to answer this question that is the BEGINNING of all wisdom and the KEY to the next evolution in human consciousness. We are living in exciting times, as spiritual concepts that have been with us for millenia are now being supported by our most cutting edge science: the world of quantum mechanics. And from that perspective, the human ego is a phantom and everything it believes about it being special or separate is simple a lie, for EVERYTHING is made of the same raw materials and is interconnected.</span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:georgia;"><br /><br /></span><div></div></div><div><br /></div></div></span>Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8886920526675464279.post-31730738814107924472007-01-11T17:55:00.000-08:002009-08-02T01:21:51.961-07:00Truth vs Lies<span class="Apple-style-span" style=" ;font-family:Helvetica;font-size:medium;"><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style=" ;font-family:georgia, fantasy;">"The human mind, once expanded, can never return to it's previous proportions." <span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:small;"><i>–Albert Einstein</i></span></span></div><div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:georgia;"><br />What is real? What is false? What is true? You decide.<br /><br />Do the last two words make you uncomfortable? I challenge you to read on. I must begin this essay with a mild disclaimer: If you hold fast to a particular religious dogma, you may have a reaction to what I wish to express here. So with that said, read at your own risk, and please accept this in the spirit of which it is written... I am not a know-it-all, nor do I purport to hold absolute anwers to the deep questions of life. But I do have my conclusions which feel right to me in this moment, and that is what I intend to express here.<br /><br />I also feel it is healthy to question thoughts and beliefs and why we either accept or reject them. Please know that I'm not out to change anyone's mind here. But only wish to express my own insights, based on my own experiences in life. Perhaps in doing so, another may also benefit from them.<br /><br />I've come to see over the last several years that our culture is permeated with falsehoods. These lies are all presented to us as the truth. They have been preached through religion, education, the cultural media, and virtually all facets of human life, since we were born. Because these falsehoods are so prevalent, to us it just seems to be 'the way things are'. Conditioned from infancy, our minds are thoroughly programmed with this stuff by the time we reach 2nd grade.<br /><br />What's more, I believe they are deliberate lies, crafted to keep us ignorant of our true potential, for the simple reason that a few benefit greatly with power and wealth through keeping the masses subjugated in ignorance. This game (duality) has been going on for as long as there has been intelligent life on the planet.<br /><br />In many ways, we are born into a prison... a consciousness prison... one that has been carefully constructed by bricks of fear and into which one has been carefully led without their being aware that they have been entrapped. I have empathy and compassion for those locked up, as I was once there, and I know and remember it well.<br /><br />So that the reader may appreciate where I'm coming from in this essay, I'd like to share a very brief overview of my own evolution in consciousness. Since as early as I can remember, I have always interested in and in search for that which is true. At the impressionable and rather innocent age of 18, I was introduced to the belief system of Christianity and I spent my subsequent younger years thoroughly immersed in the experiences of that religion. Grass roots fundamental Christian religion to be exact, although I was loathe to call it such. That is because I believed I had found 'the truth'. To me, religions were all dead, the my newfound faith in Christ was alive and something very vital and real. I felt what I believed was 'the real thing'. Indeed, for me at that particular time, it was.<br /><br />Although my perceptions of things have radically changed from then to now, I do not look at these experiences in a negative light at all. At that point in my spiritual awareness, it was my truth. Fully experiencing that viewpoint was essential to my learning and growing, and all of it was necessary for me to learn what I came here to learn and accomplish in regards to my primary intention of life, which is simply to evolve in my consciousness and spiritual growth.<br /><br />Somewhere along my path through this life, at least a decade after my years as a zealous evangelical, it occurred to me that this notion of 'truth' was an elusive thing, and seemed to change from church to church and group to group. Indeed, it changed from person to person. Jesus is often quoted as saying 'I am the way the truth and the life...", yet everyone's interpretation of him, his words and his life were different. Churches were fairly unanimous in espousing the party line of black and white thinking. Truth is absolute, they would say. But after spending several years observing people, monitoring my own gut feelings and trying to resolve the discrepancies, I finally had to accept that the whole concept of truth was subjective. After all, most everything I observed in religion was an ego show.<br /><br />Bottom line I was faced with was: As everyone's experience of truth was vastly different, the only thing relevant was 'what is true for me?'. That is my responsibility to find out and be congruent with.<br /><br />Of course, organized religion hates this thought. And that is because all religions exist, not for the purpose of setting men and women free, as was Christ's mission, but for erecting prisons for their consciousness... confines of the parameters that box them into a particular mold and boundaries of thinking. Throughout thousands of years, religion has been very successful in doing just that.<br /><br />I am not saying the world 'should' be any different. This is all as it should be, as this is a natural path of the evolution of consciousness. The thinking of people must be controlled if their bodies and their possessions are going to be controlled. As I learned much later in my adventures in life, this is what all religion is really about: the desire for the few to control the many, and keep them in line. And nothing keeps people 'in line' like fear.<br /><br />What I believe the progression is, is this: These control mechanisms of culture, religion, education, and entertainment are there as boundaries, harnessing a persons consciousness and keeping it under control until a spirit reaches a certain level of maturity. At this point, they begin to question authority and develop sufficient faith in their internal spiritual connection with Source to break those boundaries when they do not feel correct.<br /><br />This is the beginning of the emancipation and transformation of the caterpillar into the butterfly. But it takes a certain amount of courage and willingness to follow your own path, even in the face of judgment, scorn and total misunderstanding of those closest to you, even your own family.<br /><br />There are scores of people (the mass majority) who are content to be told what the truth is and embrace what they are told to be the parameters of their life. They live within these rules that someone else tells them they must obey and buy into a reality that is manufactured for them. In highly technological countries, like the USA, this disempowering cultural programming has become a highly sophisticated technology utilizing all aspects of the culture (religion, business, entertainment, education, government, banking, etc) and firmly maintained by electronic media, especially television and ELF waves emitting from the network of communication equipment that is almost everywhere on the planet now.<br /><br />But for the really genuine 'truth seeker', I believe a quiet awareness of 'something not quite right with this picture' begins to emerge beneath the layered years of heavy programming. A 'splinter in the mind' if you will, to use the Matrix analogy, which is an excellent one. This, I believe is a very healthy thing, and the beginning of one who is in the process of waking up out the hypnotic trance.<br /><br />So, I"m thinking about this whole polarity scenario: love, fear, truth, falsehood, absolute or perceptual for many years. I get bits and pieces over a ten year period. Eventually, dots connects in my mind and integrate in congruence with my spirit and one day I see things clearly. At least, for me, its clear. Suddenly, the illusion drops, and I can see.<br /><br />An entire fear-based paradigm gives way, and a new one of inner liberation emerges. In subsequent writings, I'll be exploring this new paradigm in depth, but before we go there, I think it helpful to understand what is 'really' happening in our culture and how we have been exploited and manipulated. Why? Because one cannot fully embrace the new without seeing the old in it's true light and letting it go. Like Dorothy in The Wizard of Oz, we need to pull the curtain back and see the scam, so we can operate in a reality that is based on truth, rather than a light show of smoke and mirrors.<br /><br />I do not wish to get into conspiracies 'theories' here, as many others have covered those aspects in volumes of other writings, and I certainly have nothing to add. Suffice it to say, I am convinced that many of those theories are not theories at all but factual connections to the events that have manipulated and shaped the course of human history. Of course, it continues today, in which the geopolitical control apparatus is at its all time most entrenched in all facets of human life. Once you are aware of the 'dots connecting', you can see through the spin of the smokescreens on the 'newspeak' and see exactly what is happening. But the irony is, once you do connect the dots, you no longer have the need to watch the puppet show.<br /><br />The purpose of this steady diet of fear-based lies and misinformation is control and disempowerment of the 'subject's' (ordinary people's) consciousness. For if one can harness human consciousness, one controls their thoughts, their beliefs, their lifestyle, their assets, their lives, their (illusion of) freedom and their destiny. Those few who pull the strings to this illusionary world, enjoy their power trip, for by meticulously constructing this matrix they have, to a large degree, successfully created a fear farm. Nothing is as effective at harnessing the unlimited potential of human consciousness and keeping it restricted to the status quo as fear. And for millennium, religion has been a prime vehicle in which the seeds of fear have been sown. Today, religion is joined by the powerful electronic media in accomplishing the same end goal: The enslavement of people, through control of their consciousness.<br /><br />Today's world is very much like the one depicted in the remarkable 1999 movie, The Matrix. The architects of the our matrix understand very well the nature of consciousness and how 'reality' is created. And for millennia, the human race has been manipulated into living in an illusionary world, having been drip fed a steady stream of lies from infancy to influence the manifestation of human life on this planet.<br /><br />Let's examine some of these base falsehoods we all have been programmed to believe by our culture:<br /><br />• You are a sinner and separated from God • You are separate from other people<br /><br />• You are separate from the Earth and the cosmos<br /><br />• You are your body (what you look like)<br /><br />• You are what you have (stuff)<br /><br />• You are what others think of you (opinions)<br /><br />• Your eternal value & destiny is determined by what you beLIEve<br /><br /><br />Lets take a closer look at each one of these lies:<br /><br />LIE #1) You are a sinner and separated from God.<br /><br />I think this is the biggest lie of them all, because it the root of just about every ill we have in the world: from hatred, to conflicts with our neighbors, to global war and suffering. It all stems from this perverse notion that we are separate.... from each other, and of course, the Almighty One. Just as destructive, it defines our self image as being fundamentally evil! This has been the main plank of dogma in the Christian church since it's inception, and it is absolute poison to the soul.<br /><br />I remember when I first got 'saved' when I was 18 years old, being handed a little tract called, 'The Four Spiritual Laws', published by an organization called 'Campus Crusade for Christ'. The first 'law' was this statement above that we are sinful and separated from God, our Source. The rest of the tract was a carefully crafted bait and hook scheme that exploited the very dark energies of guilt and fear and used them to get the recipient to buy into the belief system being sold. Presented in corporate efficiency as 1, 2, 3, 4, my guess is millions of people have been entrapped into the dark guilt and fear based thought forms of religion through this little booklet, or variations thereof.<br /><br />Even taken in light of the teachings of Jesus, this idea that we are separate from God runs contrary to the main thrust of what Christ taught. If we are separate from our Creator, why would he say things like "The Kingdom of God is inside you?" or many other empowering, positive, teachings? Isn't that a blatant contradiction? In the bible, there are many such blatant contradictions, but once the hooks of guilt are deeply embedded into a person's psyche, the fear factor keeps most from questioning facts rationally. Such are the debilitating effects of fear.<br /><br />Why is this? Well, one reason I believe this is the case is because there really is some spiritual truths in the bible... it's just mixed in with the dogma of men. And people are born as primarily spiritual beings. That's who we are, spiritual beings having a temporary physical experience. So most of us have a built-in nostalgia for eternity... a drive to return to that knowing of spiritual wholeness. So, this lie capitalizes on that innate drive and uses the techniques of fear and guilt to do it.<br /><br />But where does this lie come from? It comes from the Bible, of course. Ok. And under what context was the bible assembled? Well, it was assembled by The Council of Nicea under Constantine, who just got back from a campaign of murdering and raping in his narcissistic desire for control, and he was looking for a political means of further his empire and solidifying his control over several divergent groups of people and geographic areas. A new religion, made official by the state, was a brilliant political ploy to both unite an empire and keep them in line with dogma.<br /><br />Thus, the official religion of Christianity was born, but it was primarily a political move and in no way was even remotely like the concepts that Jesus spoke of during his life. Indeed, there were many books and texts of the account of Jesus's life (do some research on the Gnostics and the Essenes, - interesting stuff!) that were omitted and trashed, because they didn't fall into the control paradigm that Constantine wanted as his religion. He sure didn't want to empower the common people. He wanted to CONTROL them and keep them his subjects, and this is the bible that we got... one that does exactly that.<br /><br />You see, when you can get out from all that fear and guilt crap, and you begin to question facts and history and investigate, you start to see that religion is all about creating God in man's image.<br /><br />Now, don't misunderstand me. I do not mock 'God', nor do I discount a spiritual life. On the contrary, I consider nurturing a deep heart-connection with our Source the most sacred and most important thing we can do in life. It's all just a matter of perception. I"ve come to know that truth that God is NOT SEPARATE from any of us!<br /><br />Lets be clear: I make a distinction between true spirituality and the dogma of men's religion. They are vastly different. One liberates and looks much like the life of Jesus. The other one enslaves through the low, 'heavy' energies of fear and guilt. One is about being connected to Divine Source. The other is about being separated. One is alive with the simple joyful presence of the present moment. The other is about complex mind stuff, rules, regulations, dogma. It's dead.<br /><br />So, when you really get right down to it, this thing about 'original sin' is simply a concept, it's 'mind stuff', a story. But it's one that has really gotten it's hooks into the human psyche.<br /><br />Back to this first cultural false belief: that we are SEPARATED from God. Think about that statement. Is that really true? How can anything that is created be separate from the Creator? Especially when we know that everything, and I mean EVERYTHING, every atom, every micro atomic particle is connected to everything else in the universe by a higher intelligence that makes it all hold together?<br /><br />The notion that the universe is full of separate entities that have no connection to each other is simply ignorant in my view. The same consciousness that creates Universe's animates our bodies and minds. We are part of one ocean of being.<br /><br />And as for us being sinners. Well, who among us is not aware of being less than perfect? The fact is, we live in a world that is based in duality. There are aspects of both polarities in everything in existence, down to the micro world. So does the fact that we exist in a dualist framework separate us for eternity and require a horrific, bloody sacrificial death of God incarnate for our 'atonement'? Think about it. Is that a reasonable belief? What kind of a god is that?<br /><br />This is the dogma of the Jews who established the blood sacrifice rituals of the passover for atonement of 'sin'. Their 'god', Yahweh, was curiously full of very 'human' characteristics, wasn't he? And rather base, nasty ones at that: violence, vengeance, arrogance. anger, wrath, jealousy, judgment, homophobia, an obsessive, narcisistic demand to be worshipped, etc, etc, etc. – doesn't sound like anybody that I want to get to know!<br /><br />If that is the kind of character that's running the Universe, then dare I say it: "God help us!". An unbiased reading of the 'god' of the old testament depicts a classic psychopath! Well, each to his own, and I can understand that some people have been so bound by fear that they are unable to let themselves think rationally or challenge 'sacred cows' such as this.<br /><br />But as for me, now that I've had some distance from this kind of perverse dogma, it seems so ridiculous, it's almost laughable. I say 'almost', only because religion is still the primary reason why people are killing each other today. And that's not funny. It's both sad and insane.<br /><br />Am I proud, puffed up with arrogance and lifting myself up over others? Hardly. I'll be the first to admit I understand very little and I am but a child trying to see the light through the darkness. But I see no good thing about embracing a belief system that not only conflicts with common sense and the laws of cutting edge science, but also has such a terribly violent and exploitive historical legacy and has been the root cause of so much hatred, cruelty and suffering on the planet.<br /><br />.<br /><br /><br /><br />LIE #2) You are separated from other people; and<br />LIE #3) You are separated from the earth and the cosmos.<br /><br />Two more very destructive lies here. They are similar, so we'll discuss them together. Like the first one, it is a result of a perceptual viewpoint that sees everything in terms of separation. And that's a lie. We are not separate at all, but intertwined and interconnected at the most fundamental level of life.<br /><br />Yet this backwards notion is responsible for wars and human misery unfathomable. It is all the byproduct of operating out of EGO, which is a fiction. For our ego is simply collection of ideas that we have about ourselves, that are most entirely conditioned into us from birth by family, schools, religion and society. None of it is real. It illusionary.<br /><br />This viewpoint is brutal because as we have been programmed to see other people as separate from ourselves, we therefore do not equate the fact that when we do harm to another, we actually do harm to ourselves.<br /><br />This understanding of karmic cause and effect is the beginning of real wisdom and a healthy society. The TRUTH is we are all interconnected. Not only people, but the earth, and all living things. We share the same energy and it is only ONE CONSCIOUSNESS that breathes through all of us. Someday, when the 'tipping point' of understanding this truth is reached, there can never be wars again. There can never be hunger and some who have so much and others who have nothing. And there can never be a poisoned earth, waters and sky. Who really wants to annihilate themselves? Who would want to exploit or disadvantage themselves. Who wants to poison a part of themselves?<br /><br />Yet, we are doing all these things right now. To ourselves, because we don't understand the true nature of who we are and that we are all interconnected. This is collective learning right now. I don't know how long it will take, or even if we will survive on this planet long enough to find out. But this is the global lesson for humanity. Human consciousness in presently in the state of passing from one paradigm to another.... from one that sees the world in terms of separation, to one that sees the world as ONE BEING. We will all act more responsible and kind to one another when this is understood by all.<br /><br />.<br /><br /><br /><br />LIE #4) You are your body (you are what you look like)<br /><br />Body identity. This is a lie that is firmly imbedded in all facets of our lives and is driven and fueled by our entertainment culture, which is obsessed with what things look like on the surface. Our value in present day culture is to a large degree determined by how attractive we look. (particularly for women)<br /><br />This is the lie that is constantly being pumped out into the entertainment world of TV, movies, music and advertising of consumer goods so there is is a lot of investment in it by the powers that be, which should clue us in to how its been used to distract us from the truth of who we really are.<br /><br />There's nothing wrong with desiring to look our best, feel attractive and make a good impression on others, but to the level this untruth affects most people, with its constant bombardment on the senses, it can easily become a debilitating obsession. It's mind programming BIG TIME, and a smokescreen, a distraction tactic from truly knowing ourselves.<br /><br />The truth is: We are not our bodies. We are eternal, magnificent beings co-creating with God through a wide variety of differnt bodies. Bodies are needed as vehicles for the soul's evolvement and collection of needed experiences in life to achieve a broadness and a wholeness of understanding, but it not who we are.<br /><br />.<br /><br /><br /><br />LIE #5) Your value is determined by what you have<br />(your accumulation of money and things)<br /><br />This is one of the most thoroughly indoctrinated lies in our culture. Particularly in the USA. It is the gospel of consumerism. 'The one who dies with the most toys wins' mentality. We see it all around us. It is the drive that fuels our economy and builds and fills our shopping malls. It's what makes everyone want to go to college, and conform to predetermined 'careers' to make a little bit more than their neighbor so they can buy more stuff and drive around in more expensive automobiles and buy houses and enjoy luxuries, etc, etc, etc.<br /><br />If that is where your TREASURE lies, then it's an extremely vulnerable place to live in. Because the things can disappear in an instant. The toys can vanish much more quickly than they appeared, and if our sense of self worth is tied up into that, then if we loose our 'stuff' we are devastated with the loss because it's equal to loosing ourselves. So what happens next is one becomes fearful of the potential loss of his toys and obsesses about keeping them, insuring them, and installing expensive sercurity systems to protect them.<br /><br />I have personally lived through my own version of this lesson. I once was in a position when I was still fairly young when I had all kinds of 'stuff'. Yet, it didn't satisfy my soul. I had realized I had a case of misplaced identity, and it took me several years to find my real self and balance out and be at peace with myself.<br /><br />I am by no means an advocate of poverty being a virtue. No way. Money is a neutral energy field. We can allow it to flow and use it to our benefit and to finance the experiences we desire in life. But we need to be aware that letting it define our value and identity is a recipe for great unhappiness. The pursuit of things as a means of ego grandisement is a pure dead end street.<br /><br />Probably the worse thing about buying into this lie is how much real life it steals from you. The drive to make money and buy more things actually becomes your life, and you stop really 'living', in the sense of being fully aware of the wonders of life that do not have price tags attached to them.<br /><br />No, our value is not determined by our possessions. There is a sage old saying that says, 'The more possessions you have, the more those things possess you."<br /><br />So, is the answer then to become a street person and own nothing? Maybe, but I don't think that would be a practical goal for many. But for some who need that experience for a purpose, perhaps.<br /><br />One of today's greatest spiritual teachers, Echart Tolle once roamed the streets of the city for two years without an identity, money or a home. This is how he extricated himself from the consiousness prison and got free. That was an essential part of his learning path unique to him, to give him understanding of where true joy comes from and prepared him to be the powerful teacher his is today.<br /><br />As always, balance is the key to living healthy, and we get to choose what kind of life we desire to live and what we want to get out of it. There is no judgment on what we choose. Some routes just get us where we want to go quicker than other routes.<br /><br />.<br /><br /><br /><br />LIE #6) Your value is determined by what others think of you.<br /><br />We are dealing totally with the ego here again. The ego is terribly concerned with how it is perceived by others. It's entire sense of self rises or falls on the attention and respect others give it. or lack thereof.<br /><br />This falsehood is usually rooted in the home and is imprinted very early in life. But like most of these other indoctrinated lies, it is a phantom, just a collection of ideas that don't have any real substance. If we buy into this lie, then we are doomed for a life of unhappiness, because there is always someone that just doesn't like you.<br /><br />And if you fall out of favor with others and your sense of self value is based on what others think of you, then you're not going to like yourself very much! And it's not rocket science to understand that if an individual doesn't like himself, then they aren't going to experience a very happy or fufilling life, nor will they have much to contribute to the well being of others.<br /><br />The truth is the opposite, of course. You have great value in just existing! You don't have to do anything to earn your value... it's inherent in your being here, just being yourself. You have a purpose here that only you can fufill. You do not have to earn your right to be here and to step into that destiny, your value is given to you by life itself, to be exactly who you are. It is not dependent on anything or anyone else.<br /><br />.<br /><br /><br /><br />LIE #7) Your eternal value & destiny is determined by what you beLIEve.<br /><br /><br />This is the mechanics of religion defined. According to this lie, if you believe the 'correct' things, in terms of that religion's dogma, and conform to their 'status quo', then you have value and are deemed worthy of salvation. (if you do A, B, and C then you get D). It really doesn't matter what the particular religion's belief system is: whether it be Jesus, Buddha, Krishna, or Mohammad, or Bozo the Clown.You see, its the technique of mind control that we are examining here. The employment of fear to get you 'in the fold', conform to the belief system and become one of the 'herd'.<br /><br />According to this lie, if you don't believe the correct dogma, then your are damned to eternal punishment. You are judged, if not overtly, then certainly subtlely with subconscious negative judgmental attitudes by those 'in the fold'. Then you are usually 'snubbed' and treated as an outsider. What's truly ironic is that is so contrary the teachings of Jesus.<br /><br />Ok, so what's the truth here? The truth is in understanding the nature of consciousness itself. You see, the consciousness that gives us life, breath and the very ability to think is the same force that creates Universes. And one dependable characteristic of consciousness is that whatever it believes becomes real. That really is the truth.<br /><br />What we deeply believe, down at a very subconscious level, becomes truth for us. That is why 'dark entities' have used religion and cultural conformity with such tenacity... because the human mind is at stake. The dark ones know very well how reality is created. By controlling our beliefs and thoughts to be channeled into the confines of religion, consumerism and body identity, they succeed in restricting our own power and keeping us consciously disconnected from the knowledge and expression of our true selves. Buy maintaining the 'fear farm' they also maintain their own power structure, which is their particular agenda (and part to play in the overall drama of polarity).<br /><br />Consciousness, functioning THROUGH OUR BELIEFS, creates. It creates in accordance with the filters that the belief system has.<br /><br />That's why Christians believe so fervently in their savour, and that is true for them! And why Moslems with fight to the death for Allah. For them, that is their truth. But the conclusion of studying all this is inescapable: Reality conforms to our beliefs and attitudes about it. Consciousness creates. Thought molds that creation into whatever is it's likeness.<br /><br />.<br /><br /><br /><br />CONCLUSION<br /><br />So here we have explored some of the primary lies that we've all been subjected to and continue to be bombarded with. At this point, I suppose one can do one of two things in a scenario like this:<br /><br />1) Simply go with the status quo, don't rock the boat, fit in with everyone else, follow the crowd, try to enjoy 'the good life' if you can, and not think about what you believe or why you believe it, and don't ask too many questions, especially regarding what this whole game is about. That's the easier path. But, there's not a whole lot of soul growth or spiritual evolution to be gained by that route. Yet, for some, that may be exactly the reason they are here and that may well be exactly the kind of experiences their higher selves are out to gain in this incarnation. All is perfect.<br /><br />The other option, and the one I have chosen to fully embrace, is to:<br /><br />2) Live life deliberately, and to consciously take part in the creation process. This requires a disconnect from the 'status quo', questioning any authority that purports to impose a belief system on me, and releasing all remnants of any religious dogma or assimulated belief systems that I have not thoroughly examined and chosen to embrace. This can take some time to unravel, but once it's done you start to really experience freedom... inner freedom and it feels absolutely liberating.<br /><br />This also does not mean one drops out of the daily responsibilities of life. A certain engagement with the mundane is necessary to live in the world. Nor does it advocate the tearing down of the existing external power structures, although there are some individuals whose life purpose may call for specific actions out in the world.<br /><br />But for the spiritual traveller, it is important to understand that all is perfect as it is. Even when it looks like hell. Even when there is suffering and exploitation happening in every corner of the world and in every avenue of human endeavor. All that is simply the 'polarity' stage upon which are lives are set. There is also great BEAUTY, LOVE and JOY in the world.<br /><br />Our work is primarily inside of ourselves. For everything 'out there' is a by-product of what's inside of each of us. So, it becomes a matter of questioning the things we've always believed before without question. It's about choosing our beliefs deliberately, because they serve us and our fellow man and they feel good to us, rather than just blindly following a prepared script handed to us by someone else. It's about readjusting priorities and focus. And it's about developing the awareness to really create our lives the way we desire them to be.<br /><br />We have the opportunity to live a life consciously, on purpose.<br /><br />From what I have learned through my own life experiences, this is the only game in town worth playing: the evolution of the soul. And its way more fun than anything on TV. I feel that for one to make much progress along this path it requires unplugging as much as possible from the main sources of mind manipulation and programming, such as the corporate controlled news media and television. These are all heavily censored and biased towards maintaining the status quo. (I unplugged from network television 12 years ago). It's amazing how much time one reclaims when they don't sit in front of the tube every night undergoing the ritual mind control sessions.<br /><br />All this is time that can be used to strengthen your inner self and awareness by first shutting off the noise and chatter of the 'world' and tuning into your own internal guidance. You won't be able to hear true guidance with the TV on. It requires a fair amount of silence. When you are moved to learn something or enjoy something out in the world, you can choose your input material (books, articles, audios, or videos) rather than passively receive what the heirarchy of the mainstream media would feed you. By doing this, you take a more interactive approach to how you assimulate information. The internet has accelerated this learning process, simply by being a database where one can have access to the free exchange of uncensored ideas, both expressing and receiving. This has allowed individuals to self direct information, which I think is a very good and healthy thing.<br /><br />Each day, I set my intentions firmly grounded in the steam of well-being, gravitate to those people and situations that feel good (which is language of my internal guidance system), and occasionally check-in with myself (a kind of self monitoring) as to exactly what kind of energy I am projecting, as I try to guide my reality into one that I would prefer to experience. I remind myself of things to appreciate, for I know that is a very powerful key to creating good things in my life. I also try to develop the habit of focusing my thoughts and attention on the things that I wish to have more of in my life. I call this 'self determined living', or conscious creating.<br /><br />To live according to option one is to remain in the programming and live life by default. Don't be fooled. If you are still plugged into the progamming, you are not living your own life. You are running the program. The programming of television and the mainstream media is very powerful in terms of making you part of the 'herd'. It happens on very subtle, subconscious levels, but its a very advanced technology and very effective. (That is, until you are AWARE of what it is and what's it doing.) The herd still evolves, of course. But it's a much slower pace and a group experience.<br /><br />Let me underscore that I also respect that everyone has their own timetable and agendas for learning different things in the incarnation they currently hold. There is no right or wrong way for any one of us. We are all guided to the experiences we need and what we are ready for. Each has their own unique path and it is never the prerogative of one to decide what another's path should or should not be. It's not a competition either, as we all get to the same destination anyway, eventually. The value in life is in the unique experiences that we collect along the way. THAT'S what I believe we are here for.<br /><br />So, why did I write this? I suppose, for the simple expression of my own thoughts... to define my own perception. But also, I delight in sharing awareness. Perhaps there is one person who is reading this, that now has that 'splinter in their mind'. Maybe my words may act as a conduit to allow light to shine in areas long permeated by the darkness of the deep sleep.<br /><br />Then again, maybe not. But it's worth the effort.</span><br /></div></div></span>Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8886920526675464279.post-769308599656740122006-11-18T23:22:00.000-08:002009-08-02T01:29:10.731-07:00The Power of Appreciation<span class="Apple-style-span" style=" color: rgb(51, 51, 51); font-size:-webkit-xxx-large;"><div class="post hentry uncustomized-post-template" style="margin-top: 0.5em; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 1.5em; margin-left: 0px; border-bottom-width: 1px; border-bottom-style: dotted; border-bottom-color: rgb(204, 204, 204); padding-bottom: 1.5em; "><div class="post-footer" style="margin-top: 0.75em; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 0.75em; margin-left: 0px; color: rgb(153, 153, 153); text-transform: uppercase; letter-spacing: 0.1em; font: normal normal normal 78%/normal 'Trebuchet MS', Trebuchet, Arial, Verdana, sans-serif; line-height: 1.4em; "><div class="post-footer-line post-footer-line-1"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:georgia, Trebuchet, Arial, Verdana, sans-serif;color:#CC6600;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="letter-spacing: normal; line-height: 78px; text-transform: none;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: rgb(51, 51, 51); line-height: normal; font-family:Georgia, -webkit-fantasy;font-size:13px;"><h3 class="post-title entry-title" style="margin-top: 0.25em; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; padding-top: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-bottom: 4px; padding-left: 0px; font-size: 18px; line-height: 1.4em; color: rgb(204, 102, 0); "><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: rgb(51, 51, 51); font-size: -webkit-xxx-large; font-weight: normal; line-height: 76px; ">Once one has learned how 'reality' is created, and has come to the pivotal realization that we are co-creators with Source Energy (God) of that reality, then comes the task of directing and controlling our consciousness so that it stays focused on the things and the direction that we want it and thus creates the kind of life and experiences we wish to have. That is the subject of this essay.</span></h3><div class="post-body entry-content" style="margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 0.75em; margin-left: 0px; line-height: 1.6em; "><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;"><br />At first, this can be a frustrating task, as the nature of the human mind is 'conditioned' to react to and draw conclusions from outside stimuli. In other words, we are strongly programmed from infancy to look at objective reality (everything 'out there') as hard and inflexible truth: (the cause or reason why things are the way they are in our lives) and to view ourselves as relatively powerless to change anything 'out there'. But this is the basic falsehood that we must both recognize and rise above if we are to be deliberate creators of our reality.<br /><br />The truth is: it's the other way around. We know from the highest knowledge of both science and spirituality that all matter arises out of consciousness... the very consciousness that sees through your eyes and thinks your thoughts. And that consciousness actually creates particles out of a waveform of all possibilities. (see 'Beyond the Veil' for a laymans primer of quantum physics for more info).<br /><br />So, assuming we have some understanding of this, how do we best tap into that flow of well-being? How do we cease resistance (negative vibration)? How do we deliberately create what we want and keep our lives enjoying a positive, joyful and happy existence?<br /><br />In a word: Appreciation.<br /><br />This truly is a magically powerful tool to use in your life in every arena. Lets examine why this is so.<br /><br />We live in a universe that is entirely comprised of energetic vibrations, from low and slow to high and fast. The higher and faster the vibrations, the more power they have, and the more quickly things manifest. The vibration of appreciation is among the highest of vibrational states a human can achieve. In fact, it is so powerful that once you've 'locked into' something to appreciate, it quickly transmutes whatever other negative creations may have been in progress right in that moment.<br /><br />Appreciation is POWERFUL. It is way more powerful than anger, depression, apathy, victim-mentality, or any other negative emotion on the Hawkins scale of consciousness. So, entering into a few moments of appreciation is like pouring water on a raging fire that torments our mind and soul, snuffing out negativity. It stops the debilitating influence of the lower vibrations dead in their tracks. Not only that, it transmutes the negative, and immediately begins the healing and positive flow of creation.<br /><br />Put into daily practice, this appreciation thing has enormous impact on our practical, day to day lives. For as you make a habit of appreciating things, you begin to attract more of what you appreciate. This is one of the foundational laws of the Universe.<br /><br />Fortunately, it is one of the easiest states to achieve and can be accomplished in only a few seconds. We all can think of something we can appreciate, right? Even if things are predominantly negative in our lives and it 'looks' like things are all falling apart, we can always appreciate the fact that we can breathe! (Don't laugh! I actually do this, as I have had a long history with asthma!)<br /><br />With practice this will become automatic. I suggest this: Take a few moments every day, either at the beginning or the end of each day (preferably both), and make mental note of the various things in your life that you appreciate. Be real and authentic in your feelings of appreciation.<br /><br />For example, you may have just paid the rent or mortgage payment and still have a little change left over. Well, appreciate that! That means you are allowing the energy of money to flow through you and as you do so, more will flow into a wider river of abundance! You may have just been divorced or you may even be in the middle of an ugly and abusive relationship. Is there something to appreciate there? Sure. Your can appreciate the fact that you always have the option of making another choice and not having an abusive person in your life. Appreciate that! We live in a framework that provides multiple choices to us. That is a tremendous blessing. Appreciate it. You may be in relatively good health! There are many people in the world that have serious health problems. Appreciate that!<br /><br />My point is, you can never run out of things to appreciate once you start noticing them, because your brain connections start to change and you start looking for those things that feel good to you. Start making a list and expand on it every day. Make it a habit. And when you do this, take a few moments extra to really FEEL the emotion of appreciating whatever it is.<br /><br />You see, its really about retraining your mind. That is the real work that appreciation does. It reformats your brain, to direct it's reality creating thoughts into positive ones that mirror the things that bring us happiness.<br /><br />Know this: Each moment spent in authentic appreciation is counteracting hours or days spent dwelling in negativity, frustration and hopelessness. Once you've appreciated enough to 'tip the scales', you will notice that life starts flowing more harmoniously. Keep it up! You are on the right track and there is much to be joyous about because your life is in the process of being transformed into one where all your dreams can come true.<br /><br />Appreciate every day!<br /><br />Although I am not always 'consciously' aware of it, I know I am in the process of creating my life deliberately every moment of every day and I use appreciation as a central tool to keep me on that path. My attitude is one of being engaged in a really fun game. What's more, I have been blessed with great 'inside knowledge' as to how to play it well! The wonderful thing is, this inside knowledge is so simple, a child can grasp it! And, of course, its freely available to anyone and everyone.<br /><br />The true richest blessings of life are non-exclusive and non-discriminating.<br /><br />Example: Right now, I have immense appreciation for the fact that I can work at home and don't have to go out to a job and deal with all the stress of freeways, competitive people, office gossip and the like. On the other side of the coin, I could dwell in a state of fear, not knowing from one month or week to the next where my income will come from. I could worry and put alot of energy into wondering how I'm going to pay my bills, etc. (like I used to do by habit!), but I now CHOOSE not to do that. Whenever I feel old anxieties come up, I use this technique and it works every time! I find something... ANYTHING... to appreciate, and that changes the energy, my vibrational output, instantaneously!<br /><br />Instead, I really appreciate that I have the freedom and a skill that I can offer to those who need it, and spend time in my own happy environment doing it. I'm so appreciative of that, and as I stay in appreciation, I notice that my situation continues to improve and new opportunities flow into my life that are positive and support my well-being. What's more, when I deliberately choose be appreciate various things, it actually just cancels out any fear based vibrations. That is because of the high vibrational state of appreciation is much, much more powerful than fear.<br /><br />Do this: Close your eyes right now and find something to appreciate for a minute or so. Really ponder it and let it grow larger in your mind. Examine the various aspects of it. What would your life be without this wonderful thing you appreciate so much? Isn't it great that this wonderful __________ (thing/person/experience/ situation) is in your life? Yes, indeed it is. Really, truly appreciate it. Value it. Be thankful for it.<br /><br />How do you feel right now?<br /><br />I bet your feel just great! (if you really moved your consciousness into the appreciation). Your feelings right now are your barometer of how you are vibrating and what you are sending out into the sea of all possibilities.<br /><br />Remember this fact, as it is so important to understand: Universe/Source Energy/God can only say YES to whatever we are offering vibrationally. It just gives us whatever we are expecting/believing/and in vibrational harmony to. When we project fear and other negative vibrations, Source has no choice but to deliver to us, through the experiences of our lives, people, events and situations that mirror that vibration.<br /><br />"You want discouragement, fear and poverty? YES! Here it is! Here's more people, events and situations that will continue to make you feel discouraged, fearful and in lack!"<br /><br /><br /><br />You see, it ALWAYS gives us exactly what we ask for. ALWAYS.<br /><br />Likewise, when you are in the state of appreciation, Source energy has no choice but to flood your life with the stream of well-being, because that is the match for your vibration of appreciation.<br /><br />"Oh, what's that? You want love, joy, peace, harmonious relationships, health and abundance? YES! Here it is!"<br /><br />Source Energy is never negative. It just says YES. It is a non-judgemental, non-discriminating power source, empowering our consciousness into the reality we experience as life. This is what it does. And it holds no value judgments about what we are putting forth.<br /><br />It's really that simple. We get what we think about, whether we want it or not. Our egos love complexity, but truth is always very simple and it is not difficult or complicated to integrate into your life.<br /><br />Lets now distill this all down into these four simple steps:<br /><br />1) INTEND TO BEGIN APPRECIATION FOR ALL THE THINGS YOU LOVE IN YOUR LIFE – Stop the negative patterns of consciousness that play like broken records in your life by CHOOSING things to appreciate. Remember that those things, people, situations, emotions that you love, you will get MORE OF when you appreciate them!<br /><br />2) BE PERSISTANT – by doing this routinely... every day. The more you make a habit of it, the easier it will be, the higher your own being will vibrate and the quicker all the things you desire will be magnetized to you and manifest in your life. When you catch yourself going back to old habits of thinking about what's wrong with your life and your world, STOP RIGHT THERE, and lock on to something to appreciate!<br /><br />3) ALLOW LIFE TO FLOW and BE WHAT IT IS. Remember, you do not know the end from the beginning, But that's not your job either. So, there's nothing for you to try to manipulate into being. That is the job of the superior intelligence of Source Being and it can do it way more effectively than you ever will.<br /><br />4) NOW APPRECIATE the manifestation! You can be sure you are going to see well-being flow into your life if you follow this simple exercise! For these things that we talked about here are immutable laws that Source energy is very consistent about. Keep on appreciating – this will keep the positive cycle going.<br /><br />If you are clear in your intentions and desires and hold to a vibration that firmly rooted in appreciation, you can be sure that the intelligence that creates worlds is fully in charge of manifesting your desires and is busy doing so 'behind the scenes' right in this moment! I can think of nothing more exciting to contemplate.<br /><br />I sincerely hope this has been of value to you. I appreciate you taking the time to read it!<br /><br />Namaste<br /><br /><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:small;">11/06/2006 –Jack Crompton, Surprise, AZ</span></span></div></span></span></span></div></div></div></span>Unknownnoreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8886920526675464279.post-28493051901632314472006-11-18T02:27:00.000-08:002009-08-02T01:28:38.130-07:00The Numerology of Jimi Hendrix<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: medium;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:georgia;">Some say that mathematics is the most pure language. Now, I'm not really 'into' numerology and confess to not knowing very much about it, but this morning I read this article on a 'prophecy' blog about Jimmy Hendrix which has some astounding numerology pertaining to his life, death and (seemingly) self fufilling prophecies in his music (article below). It's fairly astounding.<br /><br />As a guitar player myself and one who grew up in the sixties, I was profoundly influenced by Jimi Hendrix. And as the years have passed since his death, it is only all the more obvious to me that he was either a 'walk-in' or simply was a ripe and receptive recipient of a HUGE download from 'the other side', higher dimensions of reality, whatever because of his almost instantaneous transformation from a run-of-the-mill R&B session guy to one who actually created a whole brand new, never been heard before type of music.<br /><br />I have studied Jimi's playing style, since first hearing 'Little Wing' in 1968, and was awed from the beginning of the sheer musicality and brilliant creativity that was inherent in not only the innovative sounds and textures of his music, but the subtle 'space' between the notes and the 'feel' of what he was doing. Although there came many after him to emulate his style, what he did was totally new at the time. Nobody had even conceived of playing the way he did.<br /><br />Although overdriven amps to create distortion were just being discovered in the mid sixties (The Beatles, "I Feel Fine" I think was the first actual recording to feature it, and that was an accident that they happened to like how it sounded), Hendrix actually took that sound beyond any conceptions anyone else had about it. He was a genius and a pioneer that this world has not seen since, in the world of music (Thats not to discount the scores of VERY creative musical masters since!) It's just that Hendrix created what he did out of nothing. There was no one doing it the way he did it. And for Hendrix, I always felt there was a very deep spirituality in him. It came out always in the music itself, but also in the lyrics, which were very often other worldly and metaphysical.<br /><br />I always felt the sixties in general was a time period where our culture received a HUGE DOWNLOAD of creativity. The evidence is right there in the music... in the incredible diversity and variety of new musical styles that evolved almost simultaneously. And the free flowing creativity and expanded consciousness extended into every facet of life. Certainly, in the world of music, we havenot exprienced anything near it's proportions before or since. It was probably 'triggered' by the consciousness-expanding hallucinogins, still there was an incredible variety of expression in the arts that has not been seen since that time period. It seem to just explode into our collective consciousness for a few years and then seemed to fade out in the early seventies. Or perhaps it just got diverted into more 'controllable' avenues by the powers that be.<br /><br />I realize some younger readers may not agree with me, but I don't hear very much of anything really NEW since that time period. There's lots of copies, with a particular individual flair, but NOTHING that was of such a total paradigm-shifting substance as what occured in the 1960's. And there was no musician that broke through those boundaries further or more dramtically than Hendrix.<br /><br />So, it was with great interest that I read this article, which shows remarkable number synchronicity in both his birth and death. What it actually means is open to discussion. The author's conclusions are interesting, and if Jimi is indeed a ten year boy living in Chile today, what he is doing would be of great interest to me. –Jack Crompton<br /><br />Here's the article:<br /><br />*****************************<br /><br />THE CHRONOLOGICAL ACCOUNT<br /><br />Jimi Hendrix was born on November 27, 1942 (1+1+2+7+1+9+4+2=27).<br /><br />He lived 27 years, and died on 9/18/(9+18=27) 1970.<br /><br />Hendrix' most famous act was when he played at Woodstock, 1969<br />(69= peace).<br /><br />Now note for a minute that Jimi Hendrix had a song titled, "If 6 was 9"<br /><br />It is also worth noting, that if you counted 27 years from 1969 (remember, now, Jimi died at 27; was born on the 27th) you would reach 1996 (if 6 was 9? 96=chaos?)<br /><br />If you were to mark a halfway point inbetween 1969 and 1996 you would get somewhere within the year of 1983 (Jimi Hendrix has a song called "1983, A merman I turn to be" and in this song, Jimi speaks of rebirth)<br />6x9 = 54; and fifty-four years after Hendrix was born is the year 1996.<br />54 = 27 doubled, the digits sum to 9 also.<br />11/1996 (1+1+1+9+9+6 = 27)<br /><br />November 17, 1996, a plutonium-powered satellite probe "Mars 96" fell from the sky and at first was said to have crashed into the ocean west of Chile, but was then later figured to have landed in Chile itself. (fourth line of "If 6 was a 9" says 'IF THE MOUNTAINS FELL IN THE SEA'" Now I know the mountains didn't fall into the sea there, but Chile is a mountain range and it still did refer to the water and the mountains, as well as falling-- a bit strange? (an omen?)<br /><br />Back to the matter of Chile; Jimi Hendrix has a song called, "Voodoo Chile" in which he sings of being reborn to a fire-red moon. I had always wondered why the song was spelled Voodoo Chile with an e rather than a d (when he even sings it as Child)... In Voodoo Chile, Hendrix also says "I make love to you in your sleep, and the Lord knows you feel no pain". Doesn't this seem to be referring to the Immaculate Conception of the Christ?<br /><br />It's interesting to know that Chile's second largest city is called Concepcion, Chile. Isn't reading the name of that city reminiscent of Child Conception (Concepcion, Chile)? Especially when a song that refers to the Immaculate Conception uses Chile in place of child?<br />Also, the Longitude of Concepcion, Chile is 69 degrees, 27 minutes S (No lie, look it up, kids!)<br /><br />And Chile announced its independence from Spain on September 18 (9/18-- Jimi's deathdate), 1810.<br /><br />The Immaculate Conception was solemnly defined as a dogma by Pope Pius IX in his constitution Ineffabilis Deus, published December 8, 1854 (the Feast of the Immaculate Conception), and then completely consecrated (set apart) by Pope Pius XII in 1942 (The Year of Hendrix' birth).<br /><br />Now get this, on the day of November 27th (Jimi's birthday), 1996, Catholic Church head Pope John Paul II officially declared Mary the "Mother of God". ("The Wind Cries Mary" - Jimi Hendrix)<br />Concepcion, Chile. Conception Child.<br /><br />According to Wikipedia's article on Voodoo, its Haitian branch used to hide and pass its religion off as Roman Catholicism, which is the indigenous religion of Chile. I must also add that Haitian voodoo (vodou) services begin with a series of Catholic prayers and songs. According to a few info sources, voodoo began in Africa, but then spread to the Caribbean-- which went to the extent of South America, Brazil or so.<br /><br />Also, there is a kind of sequel to the song called "Voodoo Child (Slight Return)" so that also made me wonder why the first was not spelled the same way. In Voodoo Child (Slight Return), Hendrix highlights, "Standin' next to a mountain, I chop it down with the edge of my hand" Chile = mountain.<br /><br />Another remarkable thing about this, is although Hendrix had no particular reformed religion, he was obsessed with numerology, and believed in reincarnation as well.<br /><br />The Liturgical year in the Eastern Orthodox Church is characterized by alternating fasts and feasts, and is in many ways similar to the Roman Catholic year, but is traditionally held to begin on September 1, not on the first Sunday of Advent. It includes the 12 Great Feasts, plus Pascha (Their Easter) itself, the Feast of Feasts. These feasts generally mark various significant events in the lives of Jesus Christ and of the Virgin Mary.<br /><br />Roughly 9 months after the probe crash, (give or take a few days, as if it were childbirth) there was a partial solar eclipse from Aug. 31-Sep. 1 that was over the Southern Hemisphere, Chile being included in the area below the eclipse. ("The night I was born, Lord, I swear the moon turned a fire red" - lyrics from Voodoo Chile)<br /><br />And now I dare say it, (as you may have guessed what I may now disclose):Could it be that the greatest guitar player known to man has been reincarnated and is now a ten year old boy or girl living in South America? and on top of that, could Hendrix have prophecized his own rebirth?<br /><br /><br />THE NUMEROLOGICAL ACCOUNT<br /><br />11/27/1942 = Jimi Hendrix' full birthdate.<br />1+1+2+7+1+9+4+2 = 27, the age of which he died.<br />9/18/1970 = Hendrix' full deathdate, 9+18 = 27<br />He was born on the 27th, 2+7 = 9<br />He died on the 18th, 1+8 = 9<br />69 = harmony, yin yang: face eachother in agreement. Woodstock, peace, love<br />96 = chaos, yin and yang oppose eachother in disagreement, war<br /><br />96 - 69 = 27<br /><br />96 x 69 = 6624, 6+6+2+4 = 18 (there are a lot of 18s-- 9,18,27-- and of course those digits add to 9 as well)<br />6x9 = 54; which is 27 doubled<br />54 = Fifty four years after Hendrix was born is the year 1996. in 54, the digits sum to 9.<br /><br />Hendrix birth = 11/27<br />11x27 = 297; 2+9+7 = 18<br />297x2 = 594; 5+9+4 = 18<br />594x2 = 1188; 1+1+8+8 = 18<br />Hendrix death = 9/18; 9x18 = 162; 1+6+2 = 9<br />162x2 = 324; 3+2+4 = 9<br />324x2 = 648; 6+4+8 = 18<br />648x2 = 1296; 1+2+9+6 = 18<br /><br />So, you tell me...<br />what is the statistical chance of all this synchronization and confluence<br />of numbers being a random coincidence?</span></span><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:Helvetica, -webkit-fantasy;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: medium;"><br /></span></span></div>Unknownnoreply@blogger.com8tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8886920526675464279.post-42009715279267175732006-10-27T11:11:00.000-07:002009-08-02T01:29:58.030-07:00On the Passage of Time<span class="Apple-style-span" style=" ;font-family:Helvetica;font-size:medium;"><div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:georgia;">I recently had the occasion to travel back to the place of my roots – Cape Cod, Massachusetts for a week in celebration of my son's wedding. I have been living in Arizona now for over eleven years, and this was my first trip back to the Cape in over seven years. My visit was wonderful in every respect, and I reconnected with family members and many old friends and acquaintances, many of whom I have not seen in fifteen or twenty years.<br /><br />I met several friends of my own kids– whom last time I saw them were very small children, and now standing before me are grown men and women... a doctor, a lawyer, an entrepreneur, a beautiful lady, etc. It's a bit of a shock and reality check. The external changes are dramatic from the age of say five to twenty-five. For adults, the changes are more subtle, yet can be just as marked.<br /><br />It's interesting... I can't quite fully appreciate the fact that I have changed and aged quite a bit too. From doing some quick math on the date of birth on my drivers license it would appear I"m 52 years old. Somehow, I just can't relate to that! I feel to myself like I've always felt. I'm me! Jack. Yet, to one observing my life from another viewpoint, I probably evidence a great deal of change both internally and externally. But I think to ourselves, these changes are transparent, because we live with ourselves every day. We're on the inside, looking out. But now that I look at the wedding photos and see images of myself, it is like I am looking at somebody else. Kinda weird.<br /><br />I reunited with old family and extended family members that I had not seen in a very long time and was quite struck by the fact that some have changed so much, and others apparently very little. Indeed, some I did not recognize on first meeting at all! – that is how much they're outside persona had changed. They were like different people altogether. I saw people whom I once was close friends with and shared a common rapport or 'vibration' with, only to now silently acknowledge that things are not the same as they used to be. And I met with other old friends that surprised me with how much the vibrational interaction between us is the same as it always had been, or better.<br /><br />As I met and talked to these people who all made up a large portion of my life, I was filled with many feelings, that are no so easy to define. It was both a strange and wonderful experience, this seeing the evidence of the passage of time written into people's faces. As I would look into each person's eyes, the details of various experiences that we shared long ago would flood back into my waking, conscious memory. So many memories, yet they were all present in a single moment, as if frozen in time forever.<br /><br />As I processed my unusual emotions during those days I realized just how eternal life really is, and how nothing ever is lost. Every experience we have lives on for eternity, for it actually becomes part of who we are. I'm very thankful for that.<br /><br />Over the years, we all change at different rates of speed. Some age on the outside quicker than others. Some mature on the inside radically, while others very much are the exact same person they were long ago. But I noticed, even in those that showed the most external and internal changes, there remained a core of 'who they are' that did not change at all... a soul signature, if you will. This is the thing I find most beautiful about people. We each have a very unique imprint on the world.<br /><br />I think there is something for us to learn from the passage of time... something important to notice. I was struck very deeply with a kind of wondrous nostalgia and awe at the nature of life, of change... of growth and the very things that make us unique, individual beings. I think more than anything, I was struck with how precious it is, this experience of being in our bodies, and to take part in the magical play of life with all of it's stories and drama, both the good times and the difficult times.<br /><br />The mystics say life is but a dream and we are all here for but a fleeting moment. Time, they say, does not exist in the ultimate reality... it is but a construct for consciousness to gain knowing through experience. Perhaps.<br /><br />I conclude that the definition of life is simply the present moment. I like things simple. Yet all the present moments that came before (our past), are also contributing to what this one is and who we are in this instant... just as who we are right now is contributing to who we will be tomorrow. As each of us integrates the experiences of our lives and modifies our intentions and actions in the present, we direct the course of our lives.<br /><br />We can never hold on to anything, I'm realizing. We have to just let go of all of it. The present moment comes, and it is gone in an instant. And so it is with all experiences of life: love, hate, joy, sadness, etc... we can't hold onto any of it. It's simply there for our experience. And once experienced, becomes part of us, somehow making us more expanded than we were before.<br /><br />I'm alive. I'm content. I'm here, now. And I love life. Taken altogether, I just so appreciate it all.</span><div></div></div><div><br /></div></div></span>Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8886920526675464279.post-41898331946502437362005-02-24T00:56:00.000-08:002009-08-02T01:57:25.108-07:00Beyond The Veil<span class="Apple-style-span" style=" color: rgb(51, 51, 51); font-size:13px;"><div class="post hentry uncustomized-post-template" style="margin-top: 0.5em; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 1.5em; margin-left: 0px; border-bottom-width: 1px; border-bottom-style: dotted; border-bottom-color: rgb(204, 204, 204); padding-bottom: 1.5em; "><h3 class="post-title entry-title" style="margin-top: 0.25em; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; padding-top: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-bottom: 4px; padding-left: 0px; font-size: 18px; font-weight: normal; line-height: 1.4em; color: rgb(204, 102, 0); "><a href="http://tomatochip.blogspot.com/2009/02/beyond-veil.html" style="color: rgb(204, 102, 0); text-decoration: none; display: block; font-weight: normal; "><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:georgia, -webkit-fantasy;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: rgb(0, 0, 0); font-family: Helvetica; font-size: medium; line-height: normal; "><div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:georgia;"><i><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color:#660000;">Disclaimer: </span></i></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:georgia;"><br />I have no idea of exactly what I will write here, and no guarantee that it will make any sense. I do not purport to know THE TRUTH, nor do I seek to force these ideas on others. They are simply offered for consideration and food for thought to those that may have interest. I am a child myself, attempting to make sense amidst both the beauty and chaos I find myself in. This is simply an expression of my understanding at this particular moment, and it may totally change in the next. So, kindly take it as such, and draw your own conclusions. Enjoy the ride.</span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:georgia;"><br /> Namaste –<br /> <i> Jack Crompton<br /> February, 2005</i><br /><br /><i><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color:#660000;">Dedication: </span></i><br />This book is dedicated to an angel sent into my life to show me what love really is: my daughter Carrie Ann Crompton.<br /><br /><i><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color:#660000;">Acknowledgments: </span></i></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:georgia;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color:#660000;"><i><br /></i></span>The information contained in these pages are things I've absorbed from many teachers, both directly and indirectly, through personal interaction and the written word, as well as what my own life experience has taught me. These people include:<i> Philip Béna, Daniel Pietroniro, 'Angelo-the Janitor', Sanaya Roman, Greg Braden, Marianne Williamson, Deepak Chopra, Ken Carey, Robert Monroe, Stuart Wilde, David Icke, Drunvalo, Va Valerian, Harry Palmer, Ray Dudley, Brenda Ellis Suaro, Dan Millman, Len Satov, Ramtha, Janet and Stewart Swerdlow, Enocha Ranjita</i>, and many others --- you know who you are.<br /><br />This writing is offered in the spirit of assisting a global paradigm shift towards a world that is more benevolent, more respectful and honoring of all living things. A world that values peace, love and truth. A world that honors the interconnectivity of life and the <i>One Spirit</i> that animates all life everywhere. We are all in this together.<br /><br /><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;"><i><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color:#660000;">COPYRIGHT NOTICE:</span></i></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;"> This work is protected by copyright law. Limited permission is granted to copy and share this work with your own personal contacts, providing that it be passed on in it's entirety and nothing be omitted or changed. Any commercial use or distribution is prohibited without consent of the author.</span></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:georgia;"><br /><br /><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: large;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color:#993300;">Preface: How I got here. </span></span><br /><br /><i><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color:#660000;">A Short Personal History.</span></i><br /><br />A broader, more holistic perspective of life has emerged within me over the last 15 years that now wants to be expressed, having been incubating for some time. Perhaps I am just expressing this for myself only, for some clarity and resolution in my own mind. I don’t know. But I also hope that by the conclusion of this exercise that others might find something of value in what follows.<br /><br />As I write this, I am fifty years old. Since I was as young as I can remember, I have had an intuitive awareness of Spirit, or what most of us would call ‘God’. But this awareness was rather undefined and vague. The only exposure I had to ideas about God was in a ‘social’ oriented protestant church where the saturday bake sale and upcoming Christmas pageant were the prime order of importance. Now, I like cookies and cake and all that, but I found the whole church environment supremely boring and uninteresting. It felt dead and lifeless.<br /><br /><i><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color:#660000;">Nowhere Man</span></i><br /><br />Interestingly, the ONLY church experience that I can remember that really spoke to me positively was one Sunday when I was about 11 years old, we had a visiting minister come speak at our church. The theme of his sermon that day was on the lyrics to the Beatles song, popular at that time: ‘Nowhere Man’. In examining the lyrics to that song, the new minister pointed out the truth that my generation could relate to: the fact that there is something essential missing from the present consensus reality of life that was very important, that we had become like blind rats running around on a treadmill, going nowhere. But also that the world is truly 'at your command'. (an idea that I would not come to fully appreciate until over 35 years later). Like many other examples of music in the sixties, it was a powerful spiritual download of truth, and it planted a seed deep in my subconscious mind.<br /><br />As is usually the case, parents miss what children see clearly. On the ride home, for the very first time I was excited about what I heard because it resonated as TRUE inside me. It pointed to something BIG and REAL. And I desired to discuss it with mom and dad. But my zeal was cut short that day as they said to each other how they thought today's sermon was just terrible and how they hoped he didn’t come back to do any more nonsensical sermons! I mean no disrespect —my folks are good people and well meaning, but they just didn't ‘get it’. I knew I was alone as I rode home in silence.<br /><br /><i><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color:#660000;">Reconnection</span></i><br /><br />However, shortly before my 18th birthday, attending art school in Sarasota, Florida, things dramatically changed in one day. I was feeling restless in my spirit and I was longing to make sense out of the world. And, I was feeling very alone. In a moment of authentic sincerity, alone in my dorm room, I prayed and opened my heart to know ‘God’...this Spirit... this prime essence that I desired a greater connection with. I remember saying ‘God, if you are there and you are real, then please reveal yourself to me.” It was a moment of humble innocence. I now can see that in that moment I did indeed lay everything down, and became as a child. I was open and receptive.<br /><br />What happened next is hard to put in words, but my genuine, humble request was answered profoundly: I was filled with the most incredible experience of pure LOVE that cannot adequately be described with words. Tears flowed in my solitude, and I was filled with an orgasmic energy in every cell of my body that gave me goose-bumps, only it was not sexual. I knew that I knew... but I didn't know what I knew! But in that moment, it didn’t matter, for I had found my true home and the sense of belonging to something much greater than my little ego was the most gratifying feeling I think I had ever felt.<br /><br /><i><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color:#660000;">My Christian Years</span></i><br /><br />I felt an immediate need to put a label on this experience. And I found one in Jesus Christ. I began reading the gospel of John that a friend gave me. From the beginning, I resonated strongly with the character of Jesus, and felt there was something TRUE in who he was. I observed through my reading that the things he said and the things he did ran directly contrary to the culture and world system he lived in. His teachings, such as “love your enemies”, and “do good to those that harm you”, possessed a brilliance of paradoxical logic that transcended the ‘world’ that operated by force, control by subjugation and exploitation. I loved his 'less is more' style of interaction. He commanded great power, yet he used it with restraint. And taught by living example. I saw him to be a true revolutionary who upset the ‘status-quo’ of his time. Something inside of me leapt for joy in validation and acknowledgment of the truth I saw exemplified in the character of who he was.<br /><i><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color:#660000;"><br />The View of Separation</span></i><br /><br />My subsequent years as a young man were spent studying the bible and exploring various forms of Christianity. I got married and began a family. I was taught that man was separated from an external ‘god’. And that in order to be acceptable to ‘him’, I had to accept the gift of his Son’s death for me as atonement for being a fallible human and I was also to believe the bible without question because it was ‘God’s Word’ and therefore infallible. Being as wide open and as ‘teachable’ as I was, and tender in my heart, I accepted all this as the truth, and endeavored to live my life in obedience to do what I thought God wanted me to do to the best of my ability.<br />From the beginning, the impression of an infinite God, out of love, laying down his life for me, a 'nowhere man', was the most beautiful and powerful concept I had ever encountered. I was indeed humbled: I was very aware of my own ‘sins’, limitations, and self-serving nature. It wasn't hard for me to be convinced I was a miserable sinner.<br /><br />Assisted by those powerful techniques of fear and guilt, (the domains of darkness),<br />I bought into this belief system with my whole heart, and embraced my new found saviour with uncompromising zeal. My faith was total and authentic. I was forgiven by the Great Judge of all! I had been ‘born again’.<br /><br /><i><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color:#660000;">A Splinter in the Mind</span></i><br /><br />After several years, I became ultimately frustrated, disillusioned, and, well... simply bored! I knew that what I experienced at age 18 was REAL, yet my gut instinct told me there was something very wrong with this dogmatic way of interpreting life in the Christian world. Contradictions, limitations and the ridiculous display of egos became increasingly hard to ignore. I noticed how Christian theologians, beginning with St. Paul took the essence of who Christ was (love) and what he taught (freedom) and codified it, regulated it, bound it up in a neat little packages, and distributed it for mass consumption. They took what is definitionless and infinite, and defined it, put boundaries and rules around it and confined it to a book! And of course, they prescribed eternal judgment for anyone rejecting their version of ‘the truth’, or even questioning it.<br /><br />Most importantly, I noticed how fear was often used as the prime tool of manipulation in the churches... a technique to harness the consciousness of people from thinking for themselves and exploring beyond the boundaries of the ‘status quo’ in a highly effective effort to keep them ‘in the fold’. This was a subtle key that later would unlock the prison door for me.<br /><br />While I knew first-hand the power contained in the scriptures, I also intuitively felt that there was something not quite right with this deification of a book, the Bible. After all, words are just symbols that point to something real, they are not the real thing itself. Only experience is real. Everything else is just information... mind stuff. Christians are told to blindly believe this book as infallible, the Living Word but yet they argued endlessly among themselves on points of dogma. Who was right and who was wrong? And each group pridefully proclaimed themselves to be ‘right’. Each different church I was involved with felt they had a unique corner on the truth and promulgated their own version of ‘the truth’ with unbridled evangelism. In essence this was pure elitism: “We are saved and correct, and you are not and damned. Here. the Bible say so!”<br /><br />I also began to notice that the writers of the Bible attributed very human characteristics to their ‘god’, and rather undesirable ones at that, like vengeance, judgment, anger, jealousy, homophobia, and an extremely violent nature. In short, I really could not pretend that the god described in the old testament (and parts of the new) was nobody I'd really like to get to know!<br />The more I pondered these things, the more I could not ignore the obvious, and the more uncomfortable I became with my own state of being. I couldn’t pretend that I my perceptions were not what they were. I felt like I was living a lie and not being honest with myself when I would sit in church.<br /><br />Ultimately, the fallacy of the inerrancy of the Bible would become completely clear to me years later when I decided to look into exactly how the present Christian bible was assembled by Constantine and the Council of Nicea. I found out the current bible that is hailed as the Word of God by Christians was primarily politically conceived. Indeed, this new religion was a manipulated blend of Judaism and Paganism going back to ancient Egypt and mixed into a new concoction incorporating the more recent powerful impact of the life of Jesus Christ which had spread as a grass roots movement among the common people. When the Council of Nicea composed the books of the bible, many of the accounts of the life and teachings of Jesus were edited out, as they spoke of individual empowerment and ‘God within’. This new religion was to be a control mechanism, not something that would free people! Yet, they had to include enough ‘real stuff’ (truly inspired scripture) to attract people who have an inborn resonance with divine truth.<br /><br />So, what we have as today’s bible is hardly infallible divinely inspired messages, but a highly CENSORED text that was based on some divinely inspired messages. It was a total dark side move, mixing truth with falsehood. Soon afterwards this became the new official religion of the Roman Empire and a very effective tool of political control and subjugation of the masses. Over the years, it has continued to serve this purpose.<br /><br />I also observed a phenomena common to any assembly of people in human society:<br />It was the strongest egos that surfaced in the positions of leadership and control. It was those who had an obsessive desire for attention and control, or who felt special and chosen that gravitated to these positions of authority. As I observed this happen over and over, I intuitively felt this was the opposite of the Spirit that was of and in Christ. Something was dreadfully wrong with this picture.<br /><br />So, after more than 12 years ‘on the path’, I became quite disillusioned with the whole trip. Despite heavy programming, deep inside of me, this all spelled B-U-L-L-S-H-I-T. The worse realization was that religion had constructed a mental prison for people. Every Christian that I knew, although well-meaning, good-hearted people, had a box around their intellects that says ‘BIBLE’... and a powerful filter it is! I felt sorry for humanity. It became obvious to me that we just can’t help distort and corrupt even the most pure and precious gifts sent into this world for healing and liberation.<br /><br /><i><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color:#660000;">Falling Away / Breaking Free</span></i><br /><br />By the late 1980’s, and the time of the Jim Baker and Jimmy Swaggart scandals I was embarrassed to call myself a Christian, not because of Christ, as I could never deny the authenticity of my own prayer experience when I was 18, but because of the idiotic and incongruent behavior of those teaching and following him. And privately, my own hypocrisy stared me in the face: I really didn’t know what I believed anymore.<br /><br />I struggled for years battling this inner conflict of having experienced something pure and true, but yet also living with a growing awareness that perceived there was so much more to the picture. Through my experience with Christ I had a taste of what was real but that ‘reality’ seemed to get completely snuffed out in the context of church and religion. It got covered over with so many lies and distortions of men that I couldn't trust that path anymore. My soul was aching for growth, and my life had to change in order to do that. Even though I had begun to experience some measure of success in regard to home, family, material things and career, I was fundamentally unhappy.<br /><br />Like the 1999 film ‘The Matrix’ so eloquently described as a ‘splinter in the mind’, I knew I was missing something important but I didn't know what it was. This ‘in between’ space was a very uncomfortable place to exist in. After years of this drought, I finally shrugged off the guilt trip and found the courage to walk away... both from my beliefs and a marriage that had evolved into mutual unhappiness and disconnection, (despite 3 wonderful children.) This was an excruciatingly difficult thing to do for obvious reasons, and it literally tore my heart and soul apart, for I loved my family dearly. Yet, a compelling peace called to me from beneath the turmoil. Through the darkness, this still voice that pulled on my intuition was the closest thing to hope that I could hold on to. I now can see that I suffered spiritual atrophy, and that Spirit was allowing me this inner turmoil and emotional pain in order to motivate me to change my life in the direction of seeking a truer, more authentic way of being.<br /><br /><i><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color:#660000;">Crossing the Bridge</span></i><br /><br />Some moments that change your life forever are indelibly stamped in your mind, although at the time, you have no way of knowing the significant impact of turning a particular way at a fork in a road may have. One night, this state of melancholy simply became unbearable. I was in my car driving on the main route and heading towards the bridge that joins the peninsula of Cape Cod to the rest of mainland (and the rest of the universe). I could turn right and go back home to the numbing existence of all that I knew so well. Or I could keep on going and see what lay on the other side of that bridge. That night, I went over the bridge. And nothing has been the same since.<br /><br />A key that helped me find the courage to change my life that night was happening upon the book “A Return to Love” by Marianne Williamson in a bookstore one day, which presented the basic principles of the Course in Miracles simply and eloquently. Curious, I opened it up and began reading random pages. I remember when I read “all human choices are motivated by either LOVE or FEAR”, something clicked inside of me.<br /><br />I knew in that moment that it was only FEAR that kept me from thoroughly exploring life...and going beyond the boundaries of my previous programming, emotional addictions and habits. I knew in my heart that if I followed after what was true with self honesty, I really had nothing to fear.<br /><br />And I believed if I lived my life with self honesty, it would ultimately be the best choice in regards to the other people in my life, particularly the woman I as married to for 16 years and my children. I was fully aware that I had the capacity for self deception but I also had basic trust that with the honest intent to follow what was true for me, that God would protect me from self deception and error.<br /><br />If anything is true about me, it is that I have an innate passion for the truth. It became very clear to me that it was only fear that would prevent me from living life to its fullest and continuing to learn and grow. As I contemplated where I was heading, I was filled with that inner joy of a child playing.<br /><br />Once I started, I never looked back.<br /><br /><i><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color:#660000;">Awakening</span></i><br /><br />From that point on, Summer 1989, I began an accelerated path of seeking and learning that censored nothing. During the next several years I expanded myself creatively, composing and playing music, painting and learning to adapt art and design skills to computer technology.<br />I read everything I could find that peaked my interest, which was a lot. My appetite, discernment and sensitivity to information was heightened. I tuned into my internal guidance and developed trust in it. And I permanently unplugged my television set.<br />Being an artist, I was naturally drawn to the world of imagination and ideas. I was fascinated with the UFO phenomena and the idea of life on other worlds or other realms, other dimensions of existence. I read everything I could find on these subjects with an open mind and without judgment, one way or another. I began meditating and connecting directly to that same presence of Spirit that I experienced at age 18. I became fascinated with metaphysics and the idea that we create our own reality (topics that were considered occult and taboo in the christian world). I went through an intense study of the mechanics of consciousness.<br /><br />Around 1994, I began to feel a strong internal pull towards the Southwest. My children were no longer young, and entering their period of establishing independence. My work connections on Cape Cod were diminishing and through the synchronicity of some rather dramatic events, I saw this as the next step for me. Even still, it wasn’t an easy step to take. Then, in the summer of 1995, events beyond my control synchronistically lined up that I interpreted as a ‘green light’. It felt very clear what I was to do. Once the message came, I didn’t hesitate. I put what little I owned into a little U-haul, attached it to the back of my small sedan and dragged it across the country, destination site unseen, and without a job, or personal connections.<br />I selected Phoenix as an arbitrary destination but wasn’t sure where I would end up settling. Why Phoenix remains a mystery, except that I simply had a feeling to come here. I always loved that bittersweet Jimmy Webb/Glen Campbell song, which interestingly, mirrored exactly what was happening in my life at the time.<br /><br /><i><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color:#660000;">A Rocky Road</span></i><br /><br />Coinciding with all this internal growth and expansion, this period of my life also presented the most challenges in regards to practical life and my outside world. Financial difficulties that appeared hopeless, bankruptcy, divorce, a tragic near-fatal accident of my son Justin in the summer of 1996 (from which he miraculously recovered), the prolonged emotional turmoil of divorce aftermath and frustrating health problems combined for stress that felt beyond my ability to handle. For awhile, life didn't make sense. I knew from experience that money didn’t buy happiness, but now I was experiencing the other side of the coin and that wasn’t fun either! I had some serious financial burdens to carry as a result of my divorce and I found myself falling behind in child support payments as I found it difficult to find consistent work. And it seemed the harder I tried, the worse it got. My dear son suffered a horrible accident, and despite my best efforts, I was powerless to help in financial ways.... my emotions were a mess.<br /><br />I also had some serious problems with asthma, a condition I’ve had since childhood, yet became much worse during these years. In 1998, I had collapsed in a panic and lapsed into a coma, unable to breathe as a result of a sudden attack one night. I awoke six hours later in a hospital with tubes down my throught. I later learned that the EMT's thought I was dead, as I had no heartbeat nor breath registering as I was interbated. I have no conscious recollection of being on the other side, except for the feelings of complete relief when I went out, and a sense of travelling down a tunnel into the extreme discomfort of returning to my body. I recovered quickly from that point.<br /><br /><i><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color:#660000;">Connecting the Dots<br /></span></i><br />Somehow, all these difficulties inspired deeper internal investigation and creative expression. I began to throw myself into my creativity with abandon completing the recording and publishing of my first CD recording of original music (Inner Space) later that year. I attempted to follow my joy and it felt very satisfying. My life became a relentless pursuit and exploration of self knowledge and understanding of the world I live in and seeking wholeness of my body, mind and spirit.<br /><br />Around the turn of the millennium, it seemed that all these various subjects I had studied and information I had absorbed seemed to gel together into a coherent whole. Whenever I wasn’t working, I was reading. Suddenly, dots started connecting and things started to make sense to me, but not in the way I could have predicted.<br /><br />In fact, it was very much the opposite of anything I would have conceived of myself. The veil of illusion that so comprehensively saturated our culture, was now lifting and for the first time I began to perceive things much differently than I did before. Yet, I felt very much isolated with this awareness, and there were very few that I found that I could even have a ‘real’ conversation with, for that requires a common frame of reference, and mine was shifting fast. I consider it no accident that this period of my life transpired simultaneously with the release of the remarkable film, ‘The Matrix’. Like a mirror image of what I was going through in my own life (and synchronistically, many others), the movie was a powerful allegory of the truth that nobody dare talk about.<br /><br />The film was full of potent metaphors and meaning that was profound: Truly, it seemed to be a powerful ‘download’ from the other side of the veil of illusion. Somebody, somewhere wanted this knowledge placed into the collective consciousness... a seed that would awaken many to the true nature of reality.</span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:georgia;"><i><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color:#660000;"><br />Redemption</span></i></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:georgia;"><br />Shortly after this time, in mid 2000, I became interested in what was referred to as ‘cracking the code’ of a fraud that was covertly executed on our nation in the early part of the 20th century. The more details I heard, the more it made sense. This was gaining in popularity in Arizona among some very intelligent people whose character and values (like a love for freedom) I respected. This had come to be known as <i>‘Redemption in Law’</i>, and it was fascinating stuff... an in-depth study of history, the principles of contract law, the right meaning of words, and how the entire monetary apparatus we presently live under had been covertly constructed to enslave the people for the benefit and power of the few (the handful of families that own the Federal Reserve, who now own virtually all assets of the entire planet).<br />To make a very long story as brief as possible; The bottom line of this material was that we all have been the victims of a scam of enormous proportions when the Federal Reserve was created and FDR ‘mortgaged’ the american people as collateral to the international bankers, the Creditors of the United States. The details of this information were fascinating to me, as the diabolical brilliance of the fraud began to be exposed to light. What was most incredible is that the entire world still runs according to this system and no one questions the facts regarding the origins. I guess I can understand that due to it’s complexity in how it was implemented.<br />More and more illusions were being revealed, as I discovered that nothing is what it seems to be. The redemption process also promised a lawful remedy to this exploitation through the use of contract law, which made total sense to me and caught my interest, as I was swimming in debt at that point.</span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:georgia;"><br />The dots all connected now and I came face to face with the disturbing truth that almost everything I had been taught in schools, religion, the news media, and the entertainment culture to believe as truth is a LIE. Like Neo in the Matrix, waking up to discover his whole life was an illusion and that in truth his life energy was being covertly used to sustain an artificial parasite entity, I realized that was not a fiction, but a parable for the truth of what our present world system was. My innocence was lost, and my eyes were now opened wide.<br /><br /><i><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color:#660000;">Drama</span></i></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:georgia;"><br />I jumped into the Redemption program with both feet. I filed the proper UCC forms with the Secretary of State to support my position as a matter of proper law procedure, and fueled by my passion for the truth I embraced a boldness of spirit to take action on what I learned. I submitted my meticulously detailed document to the US Treasury for the cancellation of a debt.</span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:georgia;"><br />To make a long story brief, it proved to be an unwise choice, (at least on the surface level, although I am sure there was a larger purpose in it all that remains to be fully understood). The result of all this was me spending several months detained in a federal jail. What a trip!—I had never been in trouble with the law in my entire life... and suddenly I’m surrounded by men in black with automatic weapons pointed at my head! I felt like I just stepped into someone else’s bad movie.</span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:georgia;"><br />I was initially told by the public defender first assigned to me that this would all probably just ‘go away’ if I just acknowledged making a mistake to the court. But fueled by my passion for the truth, I was determined to prevail as I had become solidly convinced everything I asserted was lawful and true and based on solid principles of law and facts of history. I was zealous about standing up for what I believed in.</span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:georgia;"><br />Well, it all was quite a unique experience, but not one I would want to repeat. As the months passed, and the prosecution delayed, delayed and delayed again, I concluded that I could not prevail. The 'system' uses force to protect its survival. And the court environment if full of all kinds of manipulation games played by both the prosecutor and the lawyers.</span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:georgia;"><br />Ultimately, I realized that I was in a conflict of paradigms. I had bumped square into a creation of the collective unconscious, and it wasn’t going to budge. As much as I believed in the ‘correctness’ of what I as doing, being correct no longer mattered! The position I was asserting was in direct conflict with the consensus reality of that time, and even though I knew there was lawful substance behind it, I realized that all the other ‘players’ (the prosecutor, the judge and the lawyers) were operating according to an entirely different established ‘reality’ that they didn’t want to even consider being any different from what they had always known.<br />I realized I really didn't want to live a life that was arguing with reality. Even if that reality was a manipulated sham. My choices were clear: relent or possibly lose my life in a federal institution.So, I ended up doing what any other rational person would do when they see that the game is ‘rigged’. I chose to do what I had to do (agree to a plea bargain) to get out of there. I was immediately released at that point.<br /><br />Since that time life has flowed for me in a positive direction, to where now that whole drama is far behind me.</span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:georgia;"><br /><i><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color:#660000;">What I Have Learned</span></i></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:georgia;"><br />This was a powerful lesson and it gave me substantial insight into ‘the game’ we are all involved in here in duality. It also put me into one of the most fearful experiences that anyone could face, and I survived. I know myself on a whole other level now that I didn’t before. I discovered I have courage that I didn’t know was within me. I actually grew tremendously in my spirit and understanding as a result.</span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:georgia;"><br />Ultimately, I’ve gained a sense of balance from it all. I’ve had a good look at another side of life that most people never see and close interaction with people I normally would not have been ‘rubbing shoulders’ with. It’s an interesting perspective. I gained a lot of understanding of life from this ordeal. Most importantly, it taught me the importance of accepting the world as it is, and not living in resistance to ‘what is’. This proved to be a key understanding in my spiritual growth. We live in duality: an environment of both good and evil, black and white, and everything in between. I am content that one day, all lies will be exposed, and all truth will be made known. However, this is a very sobering thought, for it also means our own personal lies and darkness will also be made known. This awareness is a good reminder for me to live with congruence and self honesty.</span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:georgia;"><br />So these are the key events that have contributed to where I find myself today. Although my journey had accumulated some intellectual understanding, it ultimately showed me to be the fool. For I had to let all of that go to find my own liberation and peace. It required that I surrender to ‘what is’, stop arguing with it and give up the desire to ‘be right’.</span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:georgia;"><br />Our life stories will always be just that: stories. It's really a great relief to let all of that go. I understand now that true humility is highly underrated. Christ used the metaphor of being like a little child. Indeed, an uncluttered, flexible belief system and an non-judgmental openness to new experience is the key to unlocking the door to deeper perceptions and greater awareness.<br />To fully understand the remainder of this book, you may have to be willing to let go of some baggage in terms of prior beliefs about the nature of reality. But if you keep an open mind, I think you will find the journey worthwhile.<br /><br /><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: large;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color:#993300;"><br />Introduction —a change of view</span></span></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:georgia;"><br /><i><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color:#660000;">Life is but a Dream</span></i></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:georgia;"><br />What follows is not new information. This ‘knowing’ has always been with us. Yet,<br />it has been hidden in the deepest part of our collective consciousness... ever silent beneath the constant chatter of our conscious minds... still beneath the manipulated cultural programming of ‘consensus reality’ that has been broadcast to us from birth.</span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:georgia;"><br />Indeed, you already know this, but it could be you have forgotten. We all have forgotten who we really are. That's what the descent into this world of vibration and matter is all about. We have divided up and taken on roles by which we can experience the world from a variety of perspectives. But now, one by one, we are waking up from our hypnotic dream and remembering where we come from.</span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:georgia;"><br />Why this is happening now and where we are going from here is anyone's guess. Not to worry... there is an intelligence behind all of this that is so immense in its power, so absolutely in command of the most intricate detail, that it cannot begin to be understood by our conscious minds. Yet, we can know its reality in our hearts. We can sense its presence with our intuition. We can feel its purposeful love with our core being. It's all happening right on schedule, gently, gradually and according to an unfolding of a plan of unfathomable magnificence and beauty.<br />For centuries great spiritual teachers have all pointed to these facts from unique perspectives. And now, at the beginning of the twenty-first century, our most cutting-edge science, the field of quantum physics, is also beginning to acknowledge and understand these truths.</span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:georgia;"><br />These are remarkable times. At this point in the evolution of human consciousness, science and Spirit are converging together to give us a glimpse of the true nature of what we call ‘reality’. And it's nothing like what we have been programmed to believe it is.The integration of this awareness will change the nature of life on earth as nothing has before. We stand at the very threshold of this paradigm shift now.</span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:georgia;"><br />The veil of illusion is now lifting. To most of us, the realization is shocking, as it runs contrary to most everything we have been taught. We do indeed exist in a realm that is upside down and back to front in every way. But an essential part of the human experience is about finding our way out of the maze of our own creation. It is the integration of this knowledge from belief into the experience of knowing that gives true liberation.</span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:georgia;"><br />Once you do, there is no going back. You will never be the same.</span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:georgia;"><br />In the pages that follow you have the opportunity to discover for yourself a remarkable new way of experiencing life... but to 'get it', it will require you to let go of all preconceived notions of what you think you know. And this is the biggest challenge.</span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:georgia;"><br />The ego loves to hold on to it’s beliefs, it’s life stories. It places supreme value on them. Without them, it has no identity. The ego's identity is vested in the stuff of mind and what it believes: measuring, comparing, judging, labeling, etc. By doing so, it attempts to validate its sense of ‘specialness’. But it’s ultimately a futile exercise.</span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:georgia;"><br />Granted, we cannot live and function in this world without some kind of belief system in operation, nor can we exist in duality without ego. It’s part of the human experience. Indeed, I cannot communicate with you except through the use of language which is the domain of the ego mind.</span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:georgia;"><br /><i><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color:#660000;">Definitionless</span></i></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:georgia;"><br />Language is a very rudimentary form of communication. The best it can do is point one in the direction of a previous understanding... a link by association. For this reason, I cannot adequately tell you about the things I know. For they are beyond the ability of words to describe. It is a thing that may be called ‘awareness’, but to define it in words is virtually impossible. And, of course, I am a child in this new frontier of perception myself.<br />But, I'll do the best I can here, and perhaps through these musings I can point you in a direction where you can discover what I point to firsthand, on your own. But know this upfront, information is just that: information, but what gives it value, what makes it alive is experience... what you take into your life and know because you have lived it.</span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:georgia;"><br />If you are able to suspend your dogmatic beliefs: about God, yourself, the world... step out of your life story and become, as Christ illustrated, a 'little child', the rewards will be an expanded new perspective that will profoundly change your life. There are no limits to the power of the essence that animates our bodies and minds. Indeed, the only limits are our imagination and what we believe to be true and real. This one realization, when fully understood and known, can and will change the world.</span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:georgia;"><br />So empty your cache and make some room on the hard disc of your mind. It's time for a change of view.<br /><br /></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:georgia;"><br /><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: large;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color:#993300;">The Illusion </span></span></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:georgia, -webkit-fantasy;"><br /></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:georgia;"><i><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color:#660000;">—the Veil of Separation</span></i></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:georgia;"><br />Our experience of powerlessness over the world around us and our own lives seems all too obvious to many people. It just seems so immense, complex and fucked up! Many of us simply resign ourselves to the status quo, believing we can do little to change our lives and a world system in place that seems determined to bring humanity to the threshold of extinction.<br />Despite the fact that people do not want them, wars continue to proliferate, extending and expanding human misery and suffering in a relentless march toward more of the same. And the dark forces behind all these events work continually to keep the mayhem going on and on.</span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:georgia;"><br />Why? What's really going on here?</span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:georgia;"><br />All of this destructive behavior points to the same fundamental dysfunctional cause: The human experience has been at a level of consciousness that sees everything through <i>a veil of separation.</i></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:georgia;"><br />We do not have a political problem. We do not have an economic problem. We don’t have a financial problem. It's a consciousness problem. The level of consciousness that humanity on a whole has been at for several millennia is one which perceives through the ego and sees us all as separate beings. "I am me here and you are you over there." In this paradigm survival of the ego is paramount. Indeed, all of life revolves around the ego when seen through the veil of separation.</span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:georgia;"><br />As we experience life limited by our five senses, the world seems dense and solid and events seem so random that it often appears that we are victims of circumstances totally beyond our control. This is not really the case. The truth is we exist in a universe that only 'appears' to be solid. Because the consensus reality of the collective consciousness of our species believes it is solid, we are all entrained in this illusionary belief from birth. It’s all part of our agreement to come into the world to begin with.</span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:georgia;"><br />Indeed, we have descended into the world of matter to take roles as play actors in a dream of our own making. What we have forgotten is that the ‘play’ is of our own creation. Let's get right to the point: Things are not what they appear to be. Life, as we know it, is an illusion. More specifically, it a holographic virtual reality that is created by the amazingly powerful Source consciousness residing within our minds. And so, because consciousness makes whatever it believes 'real' in terms of experience, it seems real to us. This is a fundamental step to making an important shift in our awareness:</span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:georgia;"><br /><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color:#660000;">THERE IS NO<br />OBJECTIVE REALITY<br />OUTSIDE OF OUR OWN<br />CONSCIOUSNESS</span></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:georgia;"><br />Think about that for a moment. This is a startling realization to get a hold of . And it<br />may take you awhile to grasp if these concepts are new to you. But it is absolutely revolutionary in its implications, and holds the key to a fundamental transformation of the entire human experience.</span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:georgia;"><br /><i><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color:#660000;">A Creative Experiment</span></i></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:georgia;"><br />This is the Game we play. And like all games it has rules and a purpose or goal. We are all part of the ultimate creative experiment by which Consciousness can know itself. As Source Consciousness, we have descended into our own creation to experience life from divergent perspectives. In so doing, we have forgotten we created it to begin with and become the experiencer of our creation.</span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:georgia;"><br />This has allowed us to experience the full spectrum of possibilities in the world of duality: the good and the bad... of pleasure and pain... of dark and light... of masculine and feminine. Within these parameters lie an infinite number of possibilities for Consciousness to know itself.<br />You and I are expressions of Spirit at play in the illusions of matter. The result of this ‘experiment’ is the accumulation of wisdom from these experiences. Without descent into duality, oneness simply IS. There is no movement, and therefore no change and nothing new to experience.</span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:georgia;"><br />The world of duality has been created as a game by which Source Consciousness (God) can know itself. As individuals holding this Source Consciousness and being animated by it, you and I have the supreme honor and privilege of taking part in this amazing experiment as co-creators with this Supreme Source Consciousness. I say co-creators because that is very accurate, as we shall learn in a moment in more detail when we take a look at the basics of quantum physics. The world, and all events and matter, arise through this thing called consciousness. You and I, as human beings are resonators that focus this creative Source Consciousness to specific creations based on what we choose to focus on individually, and what beliefs we choose to accept.<br /><br />What we see as the world around us is a dream our own creation. But it is by fundamental definition, an illusory existence. A dream. I say this because it is extremely flexible, changeable. In fact, it is being recreated from one moment to the next and is totally responsive to what we are holding in our own personal thoughts as well as what the collective thought forms of everyone on the planet.<br /><br /><i><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color:#660000;">Ego & Duality</span></i><br /><br />It needs to be understood that the power of creation rests not with the ego (individual personality) of the individual. Our egos are small, petty and relatively powerless... more entertainment factor for the game than anything significant. But yet, every one of us is an essential puzzle piece in the master picture of ‘all that is’, for we provide a vehicle for infinite Source Consciousness to interface in the game and experience it’s creation from the inside... through our unique individual perspective.<br /><br />The creation that we call ‘the world’ is the result of the power of the infinite consciousness that resides within us as it continually recreates it in every moment. This is the innate power that we have been gifted with. It is so enormous, so all encompassing, and yet so transparent to us that most of us are totally ignorant of its existence and presence within us, let alone have any understanding of how it functions.<br /><br />Indeed, to consider that we have God’s consciousness within us, that God's consciousness is indeed who we really are has long been considered blasphemous heresy by the Christian church. But it is the truth. And the truth shall set you free. This power is ours to use to create either heaven or hell. It is the power spoken of by Jesus Christ and other spiritual masters throughout human history. It is the power than can move mountains.<br /><br />The original state of all creation is Oneness (some may prefer the label, 'God'). It cannot be divided, labeled, or even defined. It is complete and perfect within itself, and because there is no other, it simply IS. But for Oneness to know itself, it has to create this thing we call duality, a realm that has polar opposites defining it’s form. (good/evil, male/female, black/white, etc.). Thus, the illusory world of matter was born: the particle vibrating between two points: the yin and the yang... all for Source to know itself and for you and me to take part in it. For clarity on the above, consider the following, which is a simplistic overview of the principles known as ‘quantum physics’:<br /><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: large;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color:#993300;"><br /></span></span></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:georgia;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: large;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color:#993300;"><br />The Quantum Field</span></span><br /><i><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color:#660000;">The basic principles of Quantum Mechanics (in layman's terms)</span></i><br /><br /><i><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color:#660000;">What is ‘Matter’?</span></i><br /><br />• All matter is made of tiny atoms. Atoms are comprised of even tinier, miniscule electrons that revolve around a tiny nucleus very fast, in direct proportion and formation to the stars and solar systems of the universe.<br /><br />• 99.99+% of an atom is a void: it is almost entirely empty space.<br /><br />• All matter is made of atoms --- it is, in essence, congealed energy. Therefore, all<br />matter is comprised almost entirely of empty space.<br /><br />• Everything in the physical universe vibrates: it is in a state of motion.<br /><br />• Time and space are intricately linked. One cannot exist without the other.<br /><br />• In order to vibrate, an atom must oscillate between two points in space. This is the realm of duality or polarity: Two opposing opposites. The length of the space determines the character of what the atom is defining.<br /><br />• Atoms that share a common purpose are called particles.<br /><br />• This is the context in which everything in the physical universe happens. Here’s where it gets really interesting:<br /><br />• The human mind operates much like a television set. It is a frequency decoder. The eyes pick up waveform frequencies, passes them on to the brain which interprets (decodes) them into images, impressions, sensations and sounds. We do not see with our eyes. We ‘see’ with our mind.<br /><br />Let’s take a closer look at this and try to keep it simple: When we see, we take in energy<br />information through the eyes. At this point that energy information is a waveform, a sea of potentiality (possibility yet undefined). The eyes then pass it onto the brain where it is decoded and interpreted by consciousness as ‘reality’... images, sounds sensations that we experience with the five main senses. What determines what is interpreted is entirely dependent on what beliefs, intentions and thought projections are in the subconscious mind of that individual and the collective consciousness of the species. There is no world out there other than what we create through our interpretation. So how does this interpretation happen? Lets take this a little further...<br /><br />• Quantum theory states (and has been validated by physical experiments) that<br />the universe is an incredibly complex tapestry of information or energy packets of possibilities called waveforms. It is like a sea of potentiality (all possibilities), containing every possible intent, choice and consequence all there waiting to be called upon in a moment’s notice to materialize into matter (a particle). All these possibilities exist and are networked together via a mathematical grid of energy that permeates all 'space' at the subatomic level.<br /><i><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color:#660000;"><br />The Observer</span></i><br /><br />• The mind decodes these wave frequencies and interprets them into particles through simple observation. This process is automatic in us... we do not have to think about it. It just happens.<br />GET THIS! Energy is always a waveform until it is observed, whereby it instantaneously becomes a particle. It is the act of observation that makes things ‘real’. Without the observer, the universe is simply a sea of energetic waveform possibilities... potentiality.<br /><br />• When the particle is no longer observed, it reverts back into a waveform state of pure potentiality. It only becomes ‘something’ when it is observed.<br /><br />• So who is this ‘observer’? Consciousness. Yours, mine, God’s, everybody’s.<br /><br />• There are two distinct realms of the human mind, each with a distinct purpose and unique way of functioning: The Conscious Mind and the Subconscious Mind.<br />Conscious Mind<br /><br />• The conscious mind is the mind that thinks every day thoughts, tries to solve problems, decides what to wear, what to eat and is concerned with day to day functioning. The conscious mind is the realm of the personality or ego. It is self aware and sees itself as existing separate from others. It has an identity, a past and a life story. The conscious mind only exists in duality.<br />Subconscious Mind<br /><br />• The subconscious mind is infinitely more powerful than the conscious mind, as it is the part of the mind that is continually recording and storing information throughout every moment of your life. It is the mind that is linked to the Infinite Oneness of Source Consciousness.<br /><br />• Unlike the conscious mind, the subconscious mind doesn’t forget or miss anything. It is like a vast library of data. Even things long forgotten by the conscious mind are recorded and readily available in the subconscious part of our mind. The subconscious mind not only picks up every nanosecond of stimuli from the 5 senses, but it also absorbs the entire electro-magnetic spectrum of information that is continually broadcasting around us that is much more vast than any of us can appreciate.<br /><br />• The subconscious mind is also where accumulated impressions from life experiences (or deliberate programming from external sources) connect to each other in patterns and form beliefs. These accumulated beliefs of the Subconscious Mind have a profound influence on the Conscious Mind and affects daily experience to a large degree.<br /><br /><i><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color:#660000;">Belief Filters<br /></span></i><br />• These beliefs act as filters by which the conscious mind continues to experience<br />life. These filters edit out information that doesn't fit the belief, and welcomes through information that fits the belief's likeness. Thereby, affecting experience.<br /><br />• These belief filters of the subconscious mind appear to be an integral part of existing in the game of duality. I don't know if it is even possible to exist in duality without some kind of belief system or filter. However, they are very flexible and can be molded and edited according to individual intent.<br /><i><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color:#660000;"><br />Intention</span></i><br /><br />• Intent is where the concept of free will (choice) comes in. Through our intention, we make choices concerning what we want to experience. This sends a new thought form into the matrix where it is mixed with the countless other beliefs and thought forms. By reinforcing intent with both word and action, and sustaining that intent over a period of time things manifest. If a new intention is not congruent with a belief, it may not manifest in reality, for it will be overridden by the stronger thought form of the belief.<br /><br />• What we call life is simply the experience of the conscious mind interpreting the infinite field of all possibilities through the filters and intentions stored in the subconscious mind, occasionally modified and re-directed by employment of our deliberate intention.<br /><br />• The number and variety of experiences possible are only limited by the number of belief/filters possible. Virtually, without limits.<br /><br /><i><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color:#660000;"><br />Collective Consciousness</span></i><br /><br />• The subconscious mind is also intricately linked to what is known as the collective consciousness, which is simply a term for referring to all subconscious minds of a given species together. We are all hardwired into the Collective Conscious of the human race and are affected by it. It is the sum total of all human consciousness and experience. Each individual consciousness feeds data into this collective consciousness every moment through its unique individual experience. Therefore it is dynamic and forever changing according to the understanding and evolutionary experience of the individuals.<br /><br />• Because of this interconnected nature between all consciousness, the collective consciousness of the human race acts as a form of overriding or governing filter, but it is not absolute, as consciousness is continually evolving and new data is continually added.<br /><br /></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:georgia;"><br /><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: large;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color:#993300;">Evolution of Consciousness</span></span><br /><br /><i><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color:#660000;">Individual vs Group Creation</span></i><br /><br />Now that we’ve reviewed some basic concepts of quantum theory, we can begin to understand how consciousness functions and creates this world of matter, and how we are taking part in this process, either consciously or unconsciously.<br /><br />Each individual intent and thought affects the total in a direct way, whether we are aware of it or not. Because of this, we always have choice —the power to change the outside ‘world’, our lives. There seems to be some kind of innate reciprocal agreement between all consciousness in that no one can create within your own experience without your participation and agreement.<br />Ultimately, we have the most influence over what the creation of our individual lives become. It is not done by working on the ‘outside’ (results, what has already been made manifest) but from the ‘inside’, through deliberate intent, and focused thought.<br /><i><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color:#660000;"><br />The Journey of Expansion</span></i><br /><br />There is a progression of consciousness that discernably moves towards it’s source, yet expands outward at the same time. In essence, this is an evolutionary process. Paradoxically, it is also a process that points us to a return trip home, and awakening out of the illusions of dense matter... a remembering. It would appear that the purpose to all of this drama is to experience. God, Source Consciousness is thus in a process of continual expansion through the creation and accumulation of experience. Thus, limits of what is possible to experience are continually expanding and changing according to the intents, thoughts and beliefs of us all.<br /><br />When a new thought, understanding or ability is placed into the collective consciousness by an individual, it then becomes available to the entire species. Perhaps you have seen examples of this: An athlete running the 4 minute mile once seemed virtually impossible. However, once one individual did it. Suddenly, others were able to do what formerly seemed impossible. Today, it’s no big deal! What happened is the experience was placed into the collective consciousness and the fact that the ability was POSSIBLE suddenly made it easier for others to achieve. This is a sterling example of performance following belief.<br /><br /><i><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color:#660000;">The Hundredth Monkey Syndrome</span></i><br /><br />This is also known as the Hundredth Monkey Syndrome. This refers to a phenomenon discovered by a team of researchers observing the habits of monkeys on an isolated remote island. It was observed that one of the younger monkeys discovered that there was a benefit (cleanliness, better taste) if he dipped his sweet potato in water before eating it. Slowly, they observed other monkeys following this example, beginning with the younger ones. Gradually, others caught on until at one point a ‘critical mass’ was achieved (arbitrarily labeled the ‘hundredth monkey’) and that knowledge accumulated such strength in the collective subconscious of that species of monkeys that suddenly one day, every monkey started to wash their sweet potatoes.<br /><br />Now here’s the mind blower: Not only did all monkeys on that island begin doing it, but other monkeys on islands far removed from the one in observation also started doing it at the same time, with no possible physical contact or observation possible. What is learned from this is that some kind of an invisible ‘grid’ of information that interconnects a species is not just an abstract idea but a demonstrable fact. This is a simple demonstration of evolution in consciousness*.<br /><br />As pointed out earlier, the realm of matter is the realm of duality. This duality realm is a dream and is extremely malleable by the beliefs and filters that are stored in the subconscious mind. This is due to the fact that it is vibrational in nature. It exists by virtue of particles oscillating between two points: the yin and the yang.<br /><br />Within this realm we experience polarity: (polar opposites) Good and evil, male and female, chocolate and vanilla, paper or plastic, etc. (ok, sorry- I got carried away there). This serves Source Consciousness in giving us a wide variety of experiences in which to learn, evolve anddevelop wisdom and understanding.<br /><br />* Evolution in consciousness – Not to be confused with Darwinism, which is something quite different, and a flawed perspective, as it denies the existence of this inherent interconnected, omnipresent Source Intelligence.<br /><br /><br /><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: large;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color:#993300;">Polarity —The Drama on Planet Earth</span></span><br /><i><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color:#660000;"><br />Light and Dark</span></i><br /><br />The paradigm we have been living in has been somewhat of a passion play between these two opposing forces. As participants in the game, we all have both polarities as part of our nature and exerting influence over us. However, there are some entities that are extremes of either side... hence the legends and experiences of angels and demons.<br /><br />What we see happening on this planet is a result of this dichotomy. Beings that have embraced the dark polarity... the principalities and powers of the air referred to in scripture have usurped control of this planet* through covert influence and manipulation because it is simply the nature of dark to do so. It is the nature of the dark side to control and manipulate to serve it’s own ends, just as it is the nature of the light to allow and set free. This has been the case since the beginning of human history and long before. This is what sets up the conditions of 'The Game' of Polarity. Now, don’t be too hard on these guys, they are simply doing their assigned job in the dance of creation, and although it’s not a pretty sight, they are doing their job well.<br /><br /><i><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color:#660000;">The ‘Parasite’ Consciousness</span></i><br /><br />We already established that there is no separation in the ultimate reality. We live in a universe that is One Unified Whole. However, it is the nature of consciousness to experiment and explore all possibilities in it’s creation process. This realm that we are living in of polarity was created when a group of beings decided to create a sub creation in an experiment to try to make a new creation independent of Source. This is explained as the fall of Lucifer and his angels in the scriptures and many other ancient texts. These ‘false light’ beings that we might simply label ‘darkness’ cut themselves off from the quality of love in Source Consciousness in their own intention and desire to make a separate sub-creation. This created the existence of a polar opposite of light: dark and our present realm of duality.<br /><br />Now, because it has chosen to block off it’s connection with Source, the dark cannot sustain it’s own existence by itself. Because of this, it must siphon off Source creative energy from others that do have it. (us) The dark polarity is parasitical by nature, exploiting and feeding off of others for it’s own survival and benefit. This is the essential base characteristic that you see in all beings that are dominated by the dark polaric essence. They are by definition, parasites, or energy vampires.<br /><br />Many of the UFO abduction experiences of the last century involve this kind of interference from these ‘demonic’ entities(and/or their human counterparts), however most of their activity is covert and hidden behind institutions and symbols of ‘authority’ and ‘goodness’ in human cultures. It is helpful to one’s discernment to know that it is the nature of the dark side to deceive, hide and lust after positions of institutional ‘authority’ as dark seeks to control others as part of it’s basic nature. These include churches, religious institutions, schools, colleges, governments, business conglomerates, medical institutions, the entertainment culture and central to all of these: the banking system.<br /><br /><i><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color:#660000;">Division</span></i><br /><br />The architects of darkness have utilized the technique of ‘divide and conquer’ to carefully and patiently build a 'fear farm' of the human race, insuring their constant feeding of fear energy which matches their essential polaric nature. Through their influences over their human puppets, who have traded all sense of ethics and morality for personal wealth and power, the ‘parasites’ orchestrate and maintain racial divisions, economic divisions, religious divisions, gender divisions and a general sustaining of the illusion of separation and the resulting conflicts and negative energy, as well as a sustaining of their own (external) power and preserving the status quo.<br /><br />The implementation of usury (a 4,000 year old babylonian practice) by our banking system is a clear example: This is fundamentally perverse, exploitive, and runs contrary to the natural laws of Creation as it requires payback of more funds than actually exist, creating an escalating energetic imbalance which is reflected in the hidden tax of inflation. This has created an ongoing world of enslavement through debt. Over the many centuries, it has served to transfer virtually all of the wealth in the world into the hands of the very few. Everyone else, including the most powerful nations on earth, are debtors. So even those powerful nations ‘owe their souls to the company store’.<br /><br /><i><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color:#660000;">The Matrix</span></i><br /><br />The contemporary film ‘The Matrix’ told this story through analogy quite well and with fascinating detail. (even in a highly censored and controlled media environment something of divine origin slips through now and then). While the Light seeks to allow, liberate, uplift and extend love and affirm life, the dark seeks to control, restrict, exploit for personal gain at the expense of others and doesn’t care who or what it destroys in the process.<br /><br />Through the corporatisation of the world into hierarchal organizational structures, it is not difficult to see how the few can control the many. Orders come from the top down in the hierarchy. Control those in positions of power at the top, and the whole structure is controlled. Now, it is not my purpose to get into an in-depth expose of the dark side, the illuminati and their agenda, but it’s important to at least touch on it to gain a balanced perspective as it is one of the essential ‘dot connections’ to make in order to get a sense of the bigger picture.<br /><br />The control and manipulation of nations and all people by the few through this system is the primary cause of all violence, misery and suffering in the world. Race against race, nation against nation, faction against faction, conservatives against liberals, are all manipulated into conflict to keep the world scene in a constant state of chaos and fear. This serves the purposes of the ‘elite’. Their prize is not wealth, because they already have it all. Their lust has always been about control. Their ultimate goal is total global control through a one world police state, totalitarian government ala: George Orwell’s ‘Big Brother’. (How prophetic was that book!)<br />They are able to accomplish this kind of widespread control and manipulation because they control the money system, which of course controls everything else, including national governments. With very few exceptions, politicians sell out every time. Liberal or conservative, they are bought and paid for, to carry through a particular agenda that will serve the interests of this global elite, who hide behind a maze of influential bureaucratic institutions, corporations, and secret societies. The puppets dance to the puppetmaster on both sides of the political fence.<br /><br />They have, over centuries, patiently worked towards realizing this plan that is right at our door steps to becoming our consensus reality. This gives us a major clue as to where we are at as a race of beings at this time in history. As the world stage looks like it is being set for a major showdown, the evolution of human consciousness is right there in the middle of it, having an increasing impact. Very interesting times indeed! We have to wonder if enough of us ‘monkey’s’ will learn to wash our potatoes before ‘time runs out’.<br /><br />A reminder is due here: When uncovering the facts behind the ‘unseen hands’ that steer the course of world affairs towards a global state of fear and disempowerment, it is always essential to keep in mind that we are not victims here. This geo-political structure exists because as a collective consciousness, we created it. What’s even more important to realize is that the world of duality exists for the evolvement of our souls. We do well to remember this one fact: The intelligence that creates Universes knows what it is doing. Let’s continue...<br /><br /><i><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color:#660000;">News at Eleven~!</span></i><br /><br />Through the technology of television, the careful molding of belief systems that serve to preserve and sustain the status quo is a piece of cake. This is responsible for bringing the consciousness of huge numbers of people under control. Especially in America, we now have three plus generations of people who have been put into a trance state and have allowed their subconscious minds to be entrained by this ‘false light’ reality that is continually broadcast on the networks. Oh, we all are wonderfully entertained in the process, aren’t we! But all the while we are receiving subliminal encoding that creates a ‘consensus reality’ in our minds according to a predefined script. And so, for most of humanity, we create and 'solidify' a fear-based existence.<br /><br />So, this is what we now see happening here on our planet. Kissinger, Clinton, Bush, Cheney, Rumsfeld, Blair, Sharon, Bin Laden, Hussein... the personalities matter not because it is the same darkness that controls and acts through all of them. It has always been that way, and no matter what time period in human history you look at, you can see the same thing happening with those in positions of ‘authority’.<br /><br />There are isolated exceptions, of course. Ghandi stood for dignity and freedom and eventually prevailed against the British Empire. And in America we have had several presidents that exhibited integrity and courage. History shows that Thomas Jefferson, Andrew Jackson, Abraham Lincoln and John F. Kennedy were men of solid, ethical ideals and refused to be ‘bought’. (two of these men were assassinated).<br /><br />But by and large, those individual personalities who lust for elite status and control/ domination over others find congruence with the host of the demonic. ‘Like attracts like’ is the primary law of the universe. Puppetmasters and their puppets. Though they may experience a lifetime of wealth, fame and ego grati-fication, spiritually, these souls are toast, and they are not to be envied.<br /><i><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color:#660000;"><br />Resolution of the Global Shadow</span></i><br /><br />As mentioned briefly a moment ago, the human elite are actually not totally in charge either. They dance to another sort of master, and here we get into highly technological, yet spiritually regressive ET’s, demons and other dark entities, and ghouls. The dark ones are the real ‘high command’ for those orchestrating the mayhem in the world. They live in the dimension next to ours, and are cleverly covert, hidden from our view. Those that claim they can see into that dimension say there are trillions of them all around us and they know well how the mechanics of consciousness work. And they use it to their advantage, offering all kinds of stimuli to keep us in a state of fear, if we give room for it.<br /><br />For millennia, they have taken advantage of human ignorance and the fact that we deliberately have forgotten our origins while we played in the world of matter and duality. They find their likeness in our own individual darkness, or shadow and find a home there. They speak to our subconscious mind, and exert their influence to fuel fear, the sense of separation and suffering. Indeed, it is fear that is their food. They feed off of the fear we generate. It empowers them to continue the drama.<br /><br /><i><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color:#660000;">As Within, So Without</span></i><br /><br />This is essential to understand, in order to not fall into victim mentality, which is easy to do when discussing these matters. These dark beings only exist in the first place because we have a darkness, or shadow side inside of ourselves. Remember this, and you will always have a healthy, balanced frame of reference:<br /><br />The external world is a reflection of what exists within us. That bears repeating. The external world is an exact reflection of what exists within us, collectively. We have all been born into the ‘program’ and have contributed to its maintenance. This is why the world is the way it is with all of its horrors and problems: We have created it with the fear that exists within us. And we have been going around on this fear-based merry-go-round so long now that the FEAR has actually developed a self-aware illusionary consciousness of its own.<br /><br />Not to worry. I call it the Illusion because indeed it is not a permanent state. It can all be changed in a moment and someday it will, one by one we learn to give no place for fear inside of us. The key is to change human consciousness. And we are now at the threshold of understanding this and doing exactly that.<br /><br />When human consciousness changes from separation to oneness and we will see hell changed into heaven. As nasty as the ‘outside world’ gets, remember this: Source Consciousness (God), is still in ultimate control of the whole drama. Remember, Source created both the dark and the light. When the two halves of the whole are reconciled, we achieve balance. And balance is the hallmark of health and well being.<br /><br />This is our work, individually. This is something each one of must do on our own. We must acknowledge, embrace and accept our own individual darkness inside ourselves... our shadow side —reconcile it, and love it into wholeness. When we can love and forgive ourselves for all of our own fear, hate, egotism and nastiness, we become whole, and can forgive each other. We are then ready for a world based on unity. When this is done in critical mass, we will have a paradigm shift.<br /><br /><i><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color:#660000;">The Reality —Thought Made Manifest<br /></span></i><br />From what we just learned a moment ago from looking at the basics of quantum mechanics, we know that what appears real to us is simply a dance of atomic particles obeying the observer (Source Consciousness) projecting its creative powers through the intentions and filters of our focussed thoughts and belief system. We live in a world that is recreated moment by moment. Reality is simply that which is made manifest. But it is dynamic and subject to change at every nanosecond. In fact, as already stated, there is no objective world out there. It is all made up in the moment by the power of consciousness. And this dance of particles is what we experience as our lives. Incredible, isn’t it? The world of ‘solid matter’ does not exist independently from consciousness.<br /><br />The energy that creates and sustains everything is Source Consciousness. It is the energy that creates universes and animates and creates all life. And this is the part that most of us are just beginning to understand: We are co-creators with this Source Energy. We get to be active participants in the creation of matter, either deliberately, or unconsciously, by default.<br />Source Always Says ‘YES’.<br /><br />We ‘get’ what we think about, whether we want it or not. Source Consciousness is neutral and doesn’t judge things good and bad like our conscious minds do here in duality. It just empowers and creates. It just says, ‘YES’ to whatever we are projecting through our own thoughts and feelings. When those thoughts and feelings are sustained by habit over a period of time, they manifest as our life’s reality. If your remember anything from this writing, make it this: Source energy is always saying yes. It leaves it up to us to determine what it is that it is saying yes to!<br /><br />This is what it is doing every moment of our lives. So, if we have a deeply ingrained belief that says, for example: “I'm not worthy of love”, then guess what? Source Consciousness comes in and shines through that filter and creates exactly what is in congruence with that belief, down to the infinite detail of seemingly ‘random’ events in our lives. Knowing this, it is very important to examine what we believe and why. Few people realize they can deliberately choose what they believe.<br /><br />It is truly an amazing process. The underlying INTELLIGENCE on display in our everyday life is staggering in its enormous multi-tasking abilities. Indeed, we cannot begin to comprehend it, it is such a vast power. Yet, it is at work in us all the time, every moment of every day.<br /><i><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color:#660000;"><br />Deliberate Creation 101: Overview</span></i><br /><br />So how do we create reality deliberately, rather than by our ‘default’ programming?<br />This is a very exciting topic for me, and one I’ve been drawn to since I first encountered it many years ago. I was on vacation and stayed at a charming bed and breakfast place by the ocean. On the table in the room was a little book that I have not seen before or since. The title was, “THE SECRET OF LIFE”.<br /><br />I do not recall the author, but his/her name did not ring a bell, they weren’t a celebrity. The book was obviously quite old and tattered and I was intrigued. Anyway, I picked it up and brought it to the beach with me that day. Within minutes, I was hooked and I became very excited about the new information I was absorbing. It was a small book, and I read it in one afternoon. It very simply and directly explained many of the things I am sharing in this essay.<br />That was my first real exposure to metaphysics and the idea that we create our own reality and it profoundly changed my orientation of looking at the world. I know now that Source Consciousness (God) guided me to that very room so that I would encounter that little book at the very moment when I would be open to the information contained within it. It was a direct answer to my desire to understand life more clearly, which I had been 'sending out' in the previous months and weeks in my own thinking. Its amazing how the synchronicity of Source Intelligence works.<br /><br />I have since discovered many other spiritual and personal growth teachers all saying basically the same thing in different ways and pointing the way for understanding how we create the life we do... and how we can gain some self determinism over it. I will share with you here what I learned in a nutshell:<br /><br />First, we need to understand that reality creation is what happens naturally through our consciousness by default. We’re already doing it. It’s going on every moment, although very few of us are aware of the process. Because we have been oblivious to this remarkable gift, and our attention diverted away from it through the distractions of the world we are born into, it operates by default, creating our lives through imbedded beliefs and programs that are part and parcel of the realm of separation.<br /><br />Young children are like sponges. We absorb all these beliefs of the 'collective subconscious' at a very young age and pick up the 'programming' in layers upon layers as we mature. By the time we are adults our collection of beliefs and indoctrination are firmly entrenched, yet quite transparent to us. To us, it is just the 'way it is'. (Bruce Hornsby’s song by the same name really speaks a great truth.) Most everything that goes on in our minds has an underlying belief attached to it.<br /><br />Thus we all go about our lives with this overriding consensus reality in place. We speak an agreed upon language, we drive cars and (most of the time) avoid crashing into each other, get insurance, get our prescription meds, work at jobs, vote, go to church, shop at the mall, stop at the drive-thru window and pick up a burger and fries, chase the opposite (or in some cases, the same) sex, watch tv, and pay taxes. In essence, most of us are conditioned to basically do the same things with our lives and think within a framework of predefined parameters.<br />Most of this goes on without our individual choice being involved. What choice of ours is involved, is restricted to certain predetermined options already established by the consensus reality (ie: republican or democrat?). And it controls almost every nuance of our lives to some degree. That is, until we truly awaken to the truth of our nature... Looking at Our ‘Filters’<br /><br />Because reality is created by Source Consciousness projecting itself through the intentions and filters of our Subconscious Mind and the Collective Consciousness, it is necessary to examine what kind of filters and beliefs we have absorbed and have run by default if we want to start creating deliberately the things we want.<br /><br />Most of us don’t really know what we believe. It is transparent to us. The beliefs mask themselves as simply ‘the way it is’. These usually are imbedded in our Subconscious Mind by early childhood from parents, schools and society. Don’t be fooled! EVERYTHING is a belief – even the so-regarded sacred rules of physics and science or religion. Some are just more firmly ingrained into our consciousness than others are.<br /><br />Questioning all beliefs is the first step towards freedom and self actualization.This can be a lot of work, but its rather fun to play with and will be ultimately very rewarding. If you are honest with yourself, you will find that your belief structure mirrors your life. Just take a look back at what happened and ask the question, ‘What would someone have to believe in order to create ___________ (what happened in your life)?’ Then write down what pops into mind.<br />Simply examine each item and feel it out. When you have a strong ‘hit’ you will know it. It will feel like an ‘AHA!’ You might not hit the real underlying belief right off the bat, but if you persist in this inquiry, you will eventually get to it.<br /><i><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color:#660000;"><br />Questioning Beliefs</span></i><br /><br />Once you’ve identified a belief you wish to change, the next step is simply to take that belief and experience it fully. Go INSIDE OF IT and feel it --- notice where it exists and where it doesn’t exist. By doing so, something important happens in your awareness: you know that it is a created thing. Why? Because it has edges that define where it exists and where it doesn't.<br />When you do this, you will discover that you are no longer ‘inside’ the belief but you have popped out of it, and that belief is inside of you. When you are inside a belief or thought it can appear to be enormous. But when you fully explore it to it’s edges and pop out of it, then suddenly it’s simply a ‘thing’, and that thing, that creation, is smaller than you are. And anything that you create you can also discreate.<br /><br />This realization: that you are larger and more powerful than any belief is a powerful key that will enable you to make a choice as to whether that belief serves your best interest or not. This is an effective method for dealing with addictions also.<br /><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color:#660000;"><i><br />Attention, The Sustaining Energy of Manifestation</i></span><br /><br />You are now free to choose to withdraw your attention (the sustaining energy) from that thing you created and choose to create something else. Discreating the thing is as simple as pulling the plug on your television set. Simply remove the juice, or the sustaining energy that makes it go: which is, your attention.<br /><br />Attention is very powerful. It is the means by which Source consciousness animates life. It functions much like electricity which empowers an electrical appliance. Without the ‘juice’, the thing just doesn’t go. It works the same with thought forms and beliefs. What we put our attention on grows LARGER, and when we withdraw our attention off of something, it will eventually just disappear from our experience. Delving into the realm of your beliefs can be like peeling an onion. As soon as you handle one layer another one appears underneath it. Simply handle them as they come up, taking the one ‘on top’ first. (the issue that is the loudest in clamoring for your attention). This is the way you will get yourself free and in a place where you can ask the question: What do I wish to create now?<br /><i><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color:#660000;"><br />Intention - The Birth of Creation</span></i><br /><br />At this point, you step into a new paradigm. You are now choosing what you want your life to be instead of letting it be controlled by default consensus reality programming. You are stepping out of the herd and stepping into a place where few have dared to go. You are now in the realm of ALL POSSIBILITIES! It is a very exciting and liberating place to be.<br /><br />The beginning is to set an intention. This is best done with careful reflection of what you wish to be and do in life. Its very important to have CLARITY, and not be wishy washy. It is most effective to have very specific intentions. For instance, instead of just saying ‘I am a good person’ you can get specific about what excites you and say, “I am a healer and a catalyst to help improve the lives of those around me.” The more detail you can imagine into your intention, the better. Have some fun with it, and really get into what you are creating.<br /><br /><i><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color:#660000;">A Personal Example<br /></span></i><br />If you are just starting out in this arena, you might want to start with small things. I discovered this process by accident a few years back which I’d like to share with you because it beautifully illustrates how amazing this process of deliberate creation is:<br /><br />When I first moved to Arizona, I didn't have much of any furniture. I remember one day looking at my big blank wall and thinking, “mmmmm, ya know, a nice big mirror would go great right there and would help to make this place look larger”. That’s it. Just a moment of absolute clarity of what my apartment needed and what I wanted. I looked at the blank wall and vividly contemplated for about 20 seconds the size I wanted it to be. I then totally forgot about it.<br />Later that week I was visiting a friend, and as I was leaving he said to me, “Oh, my wife and I are getting rid of some old things”, and pointed to this huge mirror leaning up against his garage wall. “Do you want this?” My jaw dropped open, as I observed it was exactly what I had envisioned for my wall.<br /><br />This same sequential process happened a few weeks later: I didn’t have much in the way of furniture for my apartment. In fact, I had been eating my dinners on my sofa without a table. I was content to do so, but I had an empty side of the room where a nice little table and chair ensemble could fit nicely and I remember thinking to myself, “Ah yes, that will be nice someday... a table and 4 chairs just about this size, and this shape (as I defined it in my minds eye) ...” A moment of absolute clarity, then I completely forgot about it. Out of the blue, later that same week, I get another call from another friend, this time regarding a complete dining room table and chair set she wanted to get rid of because she and her husband were buying a new set. Within a day, they had come over anddelivered right into that same corner of the room --- a dining room table of the shape and size I had envisioned with 4 matching chairs! Amazing.<br /><br />Now granted, these are little things, but welcome little miracles nevertheless. It works<br />exactly the same whether we are intending BIG things or little things. What I want<br />you to notice here is that there is a technology of creation involved here. It is:<br /><br />1) IMAGINATION and clear expression of INTENT.<br /><br />2) Absolute CLARITY of what is desired, sustained for at least 17 seconds.<br /><br />3) Total DETACHMENT of how it would manifest.<br /><br />That’s the formula for creating anything in your life, right there!<br /><br />I can’t say I’ve completely mastered this process, but I’ve witnessed many, many times over this phenomena working in my life. If something I desired was blocked from manifestation, there was a good reason for it involving either something else that I wanted (absence of clarity), or because there was something better already in creation. Sometimes, a belief that was transparent to me was later shown to inhibit the manifestation. But all in all, there have been so many of my desires that have manifested in my life that I’ve learned to really TRUST that the Source is completely responsive to our intent. This trust is a wonderful state to rest in.<br />Empower with EmotionTap into the FEELING of what is being created as much as you can. This really charges the energy. We imagine with our minds, but it is our emotions that give our dreams POWER. This is a very important step in creating your intention.<br /><br />Here is another important thing to keep in mind regarding intentions: ALWAYS speak or write these intentions in the present tense, as if they were already created. Because, in truth, they ARE already created... as soon as you send it out there! What you do NOT want to do is express any want. If you express to the Universe that you want something, it is inferred that you lack it. So, always operate in the positive and BE that which you desire in your expression and in your emotions. Let your words create for you. This follows with how you conduct yourself in the rest of your life too. Mindful of your intentions, BE IT in your words and actions.<br /><br />Spend some quiet time and choose your intentions deliberately. There is no rule here, except that the intentions that are most closely aligned with your connection to Source are those that will instill in you the most JOY and PASSION. Follow that<br />and see where it goes. Select an intention that will be in alignment with what you perceive to be your higher purpose.<br /><br />For example, my joy and passion lies in doing anything creative such as this writing, creating a painting and playing or composing music, creating websites, etc. When I am seized by an idea of something to create, I am lost in it— time ceases to exist, and it is hard for me to do anything else during the creation period, including eating and sleeping! When I have found this state, I know that I am in my joy.<br /><br />It always starts with a great PULL to do something. At this point I get an idea and establish an INTENTION. I then really get into what I want it to look like as my attention gets focussed upon it. Once I begin, I’m kind of in a free fall, undefined state as new ideas present themselves once I take a first step towards working it out.<br /><br />I then become the FOLLOWER instead of the leader, as the creation takes on a life of its own. It is very exciting and gives meaning to my life. Take that analogy and apply it to what gives YOU the most passion and joy. Then have fun as you witness the magic of things happening. There is much more to this process that can be said regarding intention and creation, but my goal here is to just give an introduction and overview to these ideas.<br /><br /><i><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color:#660000;">Congruence with Higher Purpose</span></i><br /><br />Deliberate creation carries with it an inherent responsibility. At the level of personality and ego we may want to be rich and famous, but if that intention is not in congruence with Infinite Intelligence's purpose for our life, then it may not come into being in the way we may want it to. We may see evidence of it trying to manifest, as any intention sent into the matrix has equal opportunity for manifestation, but the result will probably be somewhat ‘muddy’ and something other than what would make us truly happy if it is not totally in alignment with our higher self.<br /><br />When an individual’s consciousness evolves to a point of playing in the arena of deliberate creation, it becomes increasingly important to align with that higher aspect of who we really are, so that what we create in life has rewarding meaning and contributes positively to all life everywhere. Deliberate creation is really the Technology of Oneness, and if tried to be applied in the lower paradigm of separation, well, it may work or it may not. Either way, it is important to examine your motives behind all intentions. No one escapes karma– the balancing consequences of your actions.<br />It is true we are free to create whatever we want. But in some instances, Infinite Intelligence may deliberately block us from some things for a specific purpose. That purpose usually has to do with the greater good, an individual or collective lesson, or to manifest our intention in a way that is different from what our ego may want... in a way that is in truer alignment with Source. This is actually a built-in safeguard for the misuse of this enormous power. You have to be humble and mature enough spiritually to apply it in your own life.<br /><br />Sometimes an intention may only appear to be temporarily blocked for the reason that Source Intelligence wants to bring it into manifestation in a way that is usually way far better than anything we could imagine! This is why it is so important to let go of the ‘how’ it will come and simply trust like a child in the supreme intelligence that is in this moment - orchestrating the ‘how’.<br /><br />This is important to understand. Remember, its not all about our egos. We are here co-creating with many other beings in a magnificent tapestry of incredible beauty. We each have an important, vital part to play in the dance. But there is but one Spirit orchestrating and empowering it all. So, to navigate these waters, one must surrender control of the ego, completely detach from outcome and trust the conductor.<br /><br />Trust in the inherent benevolence of the Universe is essential. Do you think the Power that created this universe is worthy of your absolute trust?<br /><i><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color:#660000;"><br />Detachment<br /></span></i><br />Once we have set an intention that is well defined and feel peace that it is congruent with higher purpose, it is essential to detach from the how and where and when that it will be manifest. This is important because our natural inclination in the world of the ego is to ‘make it happen’. Of course, efforts to make something happen in the world sometimes work and sometimes don’t. More often than not, they create something else.<br /><br />But it is ultimately way more effective when we surrender this control of the ego and<br />put in the hands of Universal Intelligence to work out. After all, Universal Intelligence’s ability to work out the details is way more competent than our feeble efforts could ever be... as it knows the end from the beginning. In fact, we often get in our own way when we try to make something happen. I'm sure you know what I mean.<br /><br />So, it goes back to trust again. Our task at this point is simply to let go, listen and look for the signs that point us in the correct direction. This brings up the next aspect of creating deliberately: Synchronicity.<br /><i><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color:#660000;"><br />Synchronicity</span></i><br /><br />Simply stated, Synchronicity is universal intelligence aligning energies and events in order to accomplish a purpose, manifest an intention, or to call our attention to something we need to pay attention to.<br /><br />Synchronicity usually makes itself known though coincidences that defy rational explanation. Because the rational conscious mind of the ego is limited and does not see the end from the beginning or past, present, and future as does Source or Universal Intelligence, it can sometimes be difficult for it to know what steps to take.This is the purpose of synchronicity.<br />It is a guidance system that comes directly from God.<br /><br />The thing is, nobody can tell you what a given coincidence can mean. You’ve got to figure that out for yourself. But that’s half the fun! As you ‘tune in’ to it with a clear openness, you will develop a sensitivity and an inner knowing what the message is.<br /><br />Remember: the Universe always responds to your intent. Always, no exceptions. Set an intention that you will receive guidance according to your highest purpose. The more you pay attention to synchronicity, the more you will see it occur in your life. This is an important thing to practice daily if you really want to create miracles in your life. There is no more exciting path through life than riding the waves of synchronicity.<br /><br /><i><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color:#660000;">Summary</span></i><br /><br />So, here we have the process of creating the life we want to have:<br /><br />1) daily, or frequently, reaffirm our intentions<br /><br />2) detach in regards to ‘how’ they will come to pass, let them go completely<br /><br />3) trust in the benevolence of the universe<br /><br />4) then ask, ‘what can I do, now, in this moment, that will help me progress<br />along my desired path?’<br /><br />5) be quiet and listen to the answer –guidance will surely be given<br /><br /><br /><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: large;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color:#993300;">Awakening – To the Real You</span></span><br /><br /><i><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color:#660000;">You Are The Observer</span></i><br /><br />The real you is the observer. The observer is the one who experiences your life. And, this is where life really begins. We could say it is the same as the Subconscious Mind, and it is, but it is even more than that. For it is indeed one and same as Source Consciousness. It functions through our personality or ego in order to experience the world and take part in the game, but it is not the personality or ego. It is much larger and it encompasses all that is. Ego... conscious mind... identity and life stories... these are all artifacts of the illusion. They serve an important purpose as the vehicle by which we can participate in the game, explore duality and create, but they are temporary and not lasting. After a few years of experience on this planet, they go away. But the real you is eternal and takes the experiences of your life, all the memories and integrates them into the accumulated wisdom of all.<br /><br />We are part of something magnificent beyond words! Every moment experienced is never lost. It becomes part of the eternal database. All of it. The good, the bad and the ugly. Looking at it in this way, God’s knowledge through experience is continually growing and expanding. And it will never end. None of us ever really die. Nothing of value is ever lost. It is an amazing life that we are privileged to be participating in.<br /><br /><i><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color:#660000;">Beyond labels and definitions</span></i><br /><br />The real you is in fact outside of any means of labeling it or defining it at all. When we try to define the definitionless, we corrupt it, for the real you exists outside of this realm of duality. But we are restricted to using words here, so we do the best we can to point to it from where we are (in ego).<br /><br />The wonderful teacher Deepak Chopra has coined the term 'definitionless awareness' to point to it. That says it pretty good I think. Another term used in recent years is 'higher self'. It is the more essential you, the eternal you. It is one and the same with Source, or God. Others include God-Mind and Oversoul. There are others. The label doesn’t matter as it’s just a symbol that points to something. Find the term that feels most authentic to you. I personally prefer the label Source –only to take it out of religious context.<br /><br />Those coming from a judeo/christian perspective may cringe at reading those words and cry ‘heresy’. According to the traditional teachings of the church, to consider that we are one and the same with God is tantamount to blasphemy. But wait a minute... Isn’t that what the religious leaders of the day accused Christ of? The traditional view of religionists would classify this view as a humanist orientation and ‘godless’. They say elevating man to the status of God is just about the worst sin a man can commit.<br /><br />Well, of course they do! But that is simply how things are perceived from the perspective of separation. They are so indoctrinated inside the box of dogma that they even see the God-force of Life that animates their very cells as something separate and different from who they are! This is because they perceive through their ego and not through true Spirit. You see, this all has to do with perception.<br /><br />Let’s be perfectly clear on this point: what we are talking about here is NOT elevating our individual egos to be a ‘little gods’. No.... not at all. It is something quite different and quite frankly, beyond the ability of those locked into the separation paradigm to comprehend, because what I’m talking about comes from an understanding of Oneness and not the paradigm of separation. That oneness with God or Source Consciousness has nothing to do with our egos.<br /><br />The Bible has some truly inspired truth in it, and that is the bait that has attracted us who have that ‘nostalgia for eternity’ and desire to have a greater connection to our Source. But the Christian bible was both created and given to a people who lived under the veil of separation, and it has been interpreted and passed down for millennia under that same structure of perception.<br /><br />Of course this has been used to great extent by the dark forces in control of duality to exploit and control people and feed off their energy. By keeping mankind in the separation box, they can keep negative energy, wars and conflicts continually stirred up and manipulate us into slaughtering each other... just as long as we see other people in the world as ‘other’ than ourselves and succumb to the vibration of fear. The examples of this are quite self evident. It is this perspective of separation that is responsible for untold amounts of death, pain and human suffering. And of course, under the leadership of our ‘christian’ president, it continues today.<br /><br />When you view the eternal God, Source Consciousness as separate from who you are, you are trapped in duality, and you cannot see past the veil. When you view another human being as separate from you, it is easy to hurt them, because you perceived them as being other than you. You are removed from identification with them. But would you do the same if that person in truth was another aspect of yourself? Of course not. Well, the truth is, that person IS just another aspect of you. This is the essence of the ‘golden rule’ and is the core of so much of what Jesus taught: “Do unto others as you would have done unto you.” The teachings of Christ have been greatly misinterpreted because of the limitations of the minds that passed them on to us: Jesus spoke from SOURCE and unity, or Oneness consciousness. And he called us to follow him, meaning, follow his example in how he lived his life and his perspective of awareness . He did not seek to be put on a pedestal as a hero or 'the saviour'. Those that came afterward and wrote about him made up that theology.<br /><br />Jesus encouraged us to follow his example, and enter that same perspective and level of consciousness that sees the truth: THAT ALL IS ONE SPIRIT. And he said ‘greater things shall you do’.<br /><i><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color:#660000;"><br />The Awakening has Begun</span></i><br /><br />This dysfunction of separation is breaking down. Awareness of Oneness, and remembering of our true identity is now happening individually on a worldwide scale, despite the best efforts of the dark side to harness human consciousness and keep it in a box so that they can continue to have their fear feast. This awareness is coming to each one of us at the perfect time when we are open and ready for it, so there is no need to ‘push’ this on anyone like the evangelicals push their gospel. We see when we are ready to see.<br /><br />But the awakening cannot be stopped. A few of the monkeys have learned that potatoes taste sweeter when dipped in water*, and it’s catching on. The information is there in the grids (the subatomic network of information that permeates all space), and we are ‘getting it’ one by one when we are ready for it.<br /><br />It is just a matter of time before all the old, regressive perspectives get washed away... much like the notion that the world is flat got washed away once a few pioneers with vision broke that paradigm. Remember, even after Columbus’s voyage, it took some time for the rest of the world to accept the truth of what he proved by experience. The global shift in perspective did not happen until many others proved it true with their own experience.<br /><br />And so, we are in that phase now, as a race of beings. There are those who have ventured out ahead of the others, and as more and more souls accept this perspective, the pull of this awareness gets stronger until it reaches a tipping point.... the hundredth monkey.<br /><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;"><br /></span><i><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;">* see the Hundredth Monkey Syndrome, earlier.</span><br /><br /><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color:#660000;">Waking Life</span></i><br /><br />In discussing life in terms of illusion and reality, we are not talking about avoiding or escaping life here in duality, but living it more fully alive. The new paradigm is one of bringing the knowing of oneness into this world of duality. Things are going to change dramatically. Its already happening now at an increasing speed.<br /><br />Most of us live our entire lives in the grand illusion and are totally asleep to the reality of who we are. We go through the cultural programming that implants our belief system from birth and live out a life accordingly: school, marriage, house, car, career, death... all pretty much pre-programmed experiences. All within the framework of what has been deemed acceptable by the status quo. Don’t forget you need insurance and to pay your taxes -- Make sure you are covered for ‘death benefits’ too!<br /><br />However, the truth is we exist in a state of absolute FREEDOM. We are so free, we are free to believe lies and create a life that we do not want. And most everyone has been in that state by default, simply due to lack of awareness of how life works and the power that we have been entrusted with.<br /><br />Children have always been closer to the truth. Ever see the absolute presence and wonder in a baby's eyes? But, due to the nature of duality, the truth is snuffed out of us by the programming of the system we live in. Beyond the toddler years, we become firmly entrained by the beliefs of the cultural paradigm. Our consciousness adapts and conforms to the collective consciousness of our species.<br /><br />The entertainment culture of the last century has accelerated this programming exponentially since the use of television. It is loaded with subliminals that feed conditioning into the subconscious —all matter of thought forms to distract us from the truth. Control and manipulation of the human race is a high science to the dark architects<br />of this realm.<br /><br />It is amazing that any of us are waking out of the hypnotic sleep of the illusion of duality, but it is now happening on a massive scale. It is simply time for it to happen. I suppose the lessons of the illusion have been learned, or are at a point where another kind of lesson is needed. It is a very exciting time to be alive. The fact that I have written and you are now reading these musings confirms that there is something happening to both you and me. Some of you will even understand what I am saying! And some won’t, but that’s ok. Even for those of you who don’t fully understand what I am writing about here a seed may be planted that will later bear fruit.<br /><i><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color:#660000;"><br />Connection</span></i><br /><br />When I first started contemplating and considering these things I had a hard time getting my mind around it and understanding it. This was because I was trying to understand it with the rational, conscious mind. I was coming from the world of duality and trying to make it fit by defining it and putting it into a neat box. Can’t be done. The only way to know what I speak of here is to experience it for yourself. It’s easy to do. As I said back in the introduction, you already know how to do it. When you do experience it, it will be like remembering and coming home... coming home to who you really are. And, it’s a supreme relief to get out of the conscious mind, out of time and into a state of wide awake presence. All stress falls away and becomes meaningless as you awaken to the absolute MAGIC of the present moment. If this state of the Observer is new to you, it might take a little effort at the beginning as we are all so used to interfacing with the world through our ego. But to know the Observer, you have to get out of the ego. You have to suspend the chatter of your conscious mind and enter a state of NO MIND.<br /><br />The canadian spiritual teacher Echart Tolle beautifully teaches this connection in very simple<br />terms in the Power of NOW. It is not a state of sleep but quite the opposite: a state of<br />being fully awake, fully present in the moment, without the interpretation of the egoic conscious mind to muddy up the experience. Eastern mediation practices, which involve fixing your attention on the breath have been a reliable technique for achieving this ‘quiet mind’ state. But there are others and no one way that is ‘correct’. You may find one that works for you that is unique. But I'll share a very basic one here:<br /><br /><i><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color:#660000;">A Basic Connection Technique</span></i><br /><br />Simply get comfortable and quiet and assure your uninterrupted privacy for a period of time. 20 minutes is sufficient, but longer, 30–45 minutes if possible is better. Begin by breathing slowly and noticing your breath. If you are beginning, you may want to work up to longer periods.<br /><br />You might want to notice where the breath comes from. Who is doing the breathing?<br />Your mind with be making all kinds of noise but as you continue it should gradually settle down. Just observe it. Observe how the ego continually wants to make up a story. Observe how it wants to worry about what’s going to happen later that day or tomorrow. It is really quite entertaining in it’s silliness. Simply observe it’s chatter and love it into submission. After a period of time, the mind will quiet down, and you will be in that place of NO MIND and you will know and be the Observer.<br /><br />As you continue to visit this space and practice it, you will notice a change in your daily life. You will become more present, you will discover a refreshing peace that is independent from outside circumstances, and you will notice synchronicity popping up, as you will align yourself with the Intelligence of the Universe. As you pay attention to it and trust it, you will create a life that is truly magical and miraculous. And you will know great Joy that has nothing to do with external things.<br /><br /><i><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color:#660000;">Final Thoughts</span></i><br /><br />When I began writing this piece two days ago, I had no idea of what I wanted to express. I think that is a good thing, for it seems it expressed itself without my help. My thanks for your interest in reading up to this point. It is my prayer that whatever was communicated here helps lift you up and fills you with wonder of the magical experience we call life. And, I hope this assists to further connect you to the Source of All That Is, for that alone is where home and happiness is. I appreciate the opportunity to share with you.<br /><br />And remember: If you are not having fun, you are missing the point!<br /><br /></span></div><div><br /></div></div><div><div><div></div><div></div></div></div><div id="latency-4850134010934925410"></div></span></span></span></a></h3></div></span>Unknownnoreply@blogger.com2