Tuesday, November 12, 2013

What Makes Us Happy


from freeacre







“We hold these truths to be self-evident, that all men are created equal, that they are endowed by their Creator with certain unalienable rights, that among these are Life, Liberty, and the pursuit of Happiness….”
From the Declaration of Independence

Happiness. Our founding fathers considered it very important - important enough to start a revolution. The declaration goes on to state, “ that whenever any form of government becomes destructive of these ends, it is the right of the people to alter or abolish it, and to institute new government laying its foundations upon such principles, and organizing its powers in such form, as to them shall seem most likely to effect their Safety and Happiness.” If he had not been the author of the Constitution, he might have become the father of the run on sentence. Anyway, happiness has long been held to be crucial to our well-being both individually and collectively.

Murph and I recently watched a documentary film entitled, “Happy.” I recommended it in one of my comments to the previous post. In it, several people all over the world were interviewed regarding how happy they were and what it was that made them happy. They found that once the basic needs of a roof over one’s head, food, access to medical care, and physical safety are met, say, $50,000 to an American, more money does not correlate to more happiness. So, making $250,000 is not going to insure that you will be five times happier. Nuts. There goes my fantasy of making a lot of people happy with my winnings from the Publishers Clearing House.

On the other hand, if I did win the Publishers Clearing House prize pf $5,000 each week for life, and if I DID give much of it to my friends, my happiness is almost guaranteed to increase, as giving seems to be one characteristic that does improve one’s happiness. I guess, that is, unless you are a sociopath, and don’t care about anyone but yourself, but I digress.

On a happiness index, a rickshaw driver In an Asian country, who pulled a rickshaw loaded with people through clogged streets in the hot summer sun and the rainy season as well, came home to a shack from work to his wife and children, and felt happy and blessed to live as he does. His happiness derived from the same elements that most of us need to be happy: family, friends, place/nature, and a sense of community.

I think we know that our values have become distorted. Every moment, it seems, we are bombarded with messages that tell us that more and more things will make us happy – more and more money, products, growth, investments, power, prestige, whatever. Just more. There seems to be never enough. Planned obsolescence insures that we will never have to stop buying stuff.

I know I have written about this before. Cultivating a sense of “enough” is a revolutionary act, along with cooking from scratch, and growing one’s own food.
But, being happy despite the horrors of the times, is also a revolutionary act. I’m not talking about the clueless ones who are untroubled because they are unaware and mostly numb. I don’t think they are really very happy. Heck, maybe they are. Are stupid people happier than smart people? I don’t know. The documentary did not address that question. At any rate, I am not talking about them.

I am talking about people who feel alive and loved and secure within their family and neighbors. People who spend a lot of time together face to face, helping each other with projects, co-operating, sharing, eating together, playing, and enjoying things together. It seems we are social beings, and we don’t do well when these natural needs are displaced with chasing the All Mighty Dollar. Money has become the cultural God. The mall is our tabernacle. On the television set - the idols we turn to for direction. It is a sad state of affairs. We are stalked at every turn by advertisements to purchase things to make us attractive, potent, cool, hip, in control, yada, yada.

But it’s more than that now. Now the problems go beyond shallowness, neuroticism, and bad taste. We have become so disconnected from each other that the police have become an occupying army of thugs. They have been armed as a paramilitary force by our own government with implements used for torture and death. The government has become corrupt and tyrannical. I could put in links, but you know what I am talking about. The collapse of the world as we have known it to be, is happening all around us. Fukushima could blow at any moment. And, we could also be on the brink of natural disasters as our planet enters the galactic plane and we encounter energy “fluff” and many more space rocks that react energetically within the vast pool of plasma that makes up the Universe. Everything is more intense. It could lead to the take down of the electrical grid, and that would lead to our demise. Or, the methane could melt in our oceans and perma-frost, and that would also lead to our demise. Oh, yeah, and we are also on the brink of nuclear war if the Israelis and their minions in our congress have anything to say about it. One of the few things that Obama has done right so far is he’s kept us out of war with Iran. But, who knows if that will last.

It is the Kali Yuga. Hindus and Buddhist have differing takes on it, but they both define it as the Dark Age of strife, contention, and materialism. It is the collapse that eventually leads into the next Golden Age. From Wikepedia:

Prophesied events during a Kali Yuga

A discourse by Markandeya in the Mahabharata identifies some of the attributes of Kali Yuga. In relation to rulers, it lists:
  • Rulers will become unreasonable: they will levy taxes unfairly.
  • Rulers will no longer see it as their duty to promote spirituality, or to protect their subjects: they will become a danger to the world.
  • People will start migrating, seeking countries where wheat and barley form the staple food source.
  • "At the end of Kali-yuga, when there exist no topics on the subject of God, even at the residences of so-called saints and respectable gentlemen of the three higher varnas [guna or temperament] and when nothing is known of the techniques of sacrifice, even by word, at that time the Lord will appear as the supreme chastiser." (Srimad-Bhagavatam (2.7)
With regard to human relationships, Markandeya's discourse says:
  • Avarice and wrath will be common. Humans will openly display animosity towards each other. Ignorance of dharma will occur.
  • People will have thoughts of murder with no justification and will see nothing wrong in that.
  • Lust will be viewed as socially acceptable and sexual intercourse will be seen as the central requirement of life.
  • Sin will increase exponentially, whilst virtue will fade and cease to flourish.
  • People will take vows and break them soon after.
  • People will become addicted to intoxicating drinks and drugs.
  • Gurus will no longer be respected and their students will attempt to injure them. Their teachings will be insulted, and followers of Kama will wrest control of the mind from all human beings.
  • Brahmans will not be learned or honored, Kshatriyas will not be brave, Vaishyas will not be just in their dealings.
So, in the oft-quoted lament of our dear Montana Freeman, “What is a motherfucker to do?”

After taking care of the basics of keeping a roof over our heads, preparing as well as we can with food and survival tactics, and being aware of what is going on enough to maybe not be blind-sided with damage and/or atrocities, I think the next step is to cultivate happiness. I know that many of us have come to the same conclusion. In fact, I may be among the last. Self-expression is one of the elements that were found to add to happiness. Many of you play musical instruments. That makes you happy. I don’t. But, I write and have started to paint things. When I first moved here and retired, I thought I would work with clay. But, I got involved in politics and gardening and things, so that didn’t happen. Much of my time has seemed to be determined by more and more duties and projects. The fire hasn’t helped. I need to get outside more. I need to go fishing. I spend too much time at the computer and not enough time socializing with people. I need to remember how important they are to me. I already know how important you are to me. I go to bed every night grateful for my life and those with whom I share it.

It’s going to take ethical people to resist the dark dynamics of the Kali Yuga and plant the seeds for a better world. It’s going to take courage and co-operation, imagination, energy, love, beauty, humor, song, dance, laughter, celebrations, and festivals. All those qualities that sustained tribal and aboriginal cultures for so long. It’s going to take happiness.

Does that mean we should be happy all the time? Of course not. Horrible things are occurring. People are suffering and dying and it will probably get worse. It may be as simple as losing a job, getting an illness, or it may be widespread devastation like what is happening now in the Philippines. Anger and horror will be felt. Compassion will be needed. Pain will be shared. But, when it’s all said and done, extending empathy and compassion and helping a situation are the things that lead to feeling happy. If not happy, then at least whole.

I also think that Liberty is a fundamental element of being happy. But, that’s another post.

http://www.thehappymovie.com/ This site is almost nauseatingly cheerful, but it has a lot of good information on what makes human beings happy, if you can get beyond the happy face and hopium.

On the other end of the spectrum, Carolyn Bakers, Speaking Truth to Power. She has several articles and books on how to deal with the emotions of despair and loss brought on by collapse.


61 comments:

freeacre said...

Stopping For Pelicans On A Summer Evening


Driving the Road to the Buffalo home,
Oldensoul, over my shoulder, spots
a helix of featherworks bursting
the cloudless blue near where
roads and waters merge. We pull off.
Low over yellow grass, black wings
work the yellow grass for what
it's worth, unaware, or perhaps,
unimpressed, by the grace overhead.

Flashes of winged bodies appear
out of nowhere unencumbered in air.
They flare white, a hundred points
of light, a flock of blossoms,
each banked turn when sun hits right.
Up and up they climb, uninstructed,
free, repeating explosions of ecstasy.
It takes our breath. They bloom,
fade and bloom again, delirious

anarchy on zazen wind.
This whirling is a public mirth, a stirring
of rapture, loosed of earth. And isn't
this coming together of a green day
with affirming moon and the scent
of new-mown hay a way to sing
our love song back to a black-winged world?

I thought I'd copy Rockpicker's latest poem, in case you didn't get to read it from the last post. It's a perfect example of a shared happy/wondrous moment with nature. Good for us all - and, a great poem. Thank you, Brother.

rockpicker said...

According to the Hopi prophecies concerning the end of this current world, the "great purification", it is said when you hear of a dwelling in the sky falling to earth, that will be the last sign before the Blue Kachina dances in the plaza.

http://www.theguardian.com/technology/2013/nov/12/international-space-station-virus-epidemics-malware

freeacre said...

Wouldn't that be somethin' if the space station got taken down? It could get hit with a meteor or some debris. If Stuxnet cripples it, payback is probably going to be a motherfucker.

With 4 comets within our solar system right now, it sure makes one wonder about the blue katrina. Do you know, Rockpicker, what the Hopi vision of the world is after the "purification"?

The grid has to hold up. We have just been told that we are getting a quarter of a grass fed beef in two weeks. The freezer needs to continue to work. I find myself going through seed catalogs. It ain't over 'till it's over.

Anonymous said...

Another thought provoking post FA, thinking about "Happiness" during some meditation time yesterday, I decided the word it's self doesn't describe the state of mind I want to achieve. Happiness is a transient emotional state, I'm aiming for something akin to happiness, but a little more permanent.

Can we measure happiness with a survey asking what makes people happy? I think there is something missing from the equation. What makes people unhappy? Course unhappiness is also a transient emotional state.

As an aside, I wondered about the rickshaw driver in the OP, is he truly happy, or is he content. Is Contentment an emotional state?

I think to get down to the crux of it, we need to look at another powerful emotional state, Fear.

Some people seem to think the opposite of fear is courage, we've been hearing a lot about courage in the media recently because of armistice day, but fear is an emotional state, courage is an action performed while in that emotional state, so it's not an opposite of fear.

I think the opposite of fear is peace. If you can lose the fear, you have true peace, you don't need to act courageously. If you have inner peace, anything can make you happy, if you lose the fear, you lose all the unhappiness.

I googled "the opposite of fear". The top Yahoo answer was...

"Two Basic Emotions In Life – Love and Fear

There are only two basic emotions that we all experience, love and fear. All other emotions are variations of these two emotions. Thoughts and behavior come from either a place of love, or a place of fear. Anxiety, anger, control, sadness, depression, inadequacy, confusion, hurt, lonely, guilt, shame, these are all fear-based emotions. Emotions such as joy, happiness, caring, trust, compassion, truth, contentment, satisfaction, these are love-based emotions. "

Therefore, in this context, Peace = Love = NO FEAR.

Tina: Glad the advice went down well :)

Gd.













freeacre said...

eligsvi 1199gd, I, too, am not real pleased with the term, "happy." I prefer contentment, inner peace or something like that. It does, though, percolate down to love vs. fear. It took me years to read "A Course in Miracles," which explores this concept in minute and repetitious detail.

Love in its many expressions is what is needed to heal this world. But, it's like there is a taboo against taking it seriously. Puts you in the wingnut, hippy, or lunatic fringe. Notice how "having sex" has replaced "making love" as a concept.
But, the country of Bhutan has gone against the tide and opted to value happiness more than GDP, astoundingly. Their economic policies are determined by a Gross Happiness Commission formed in their constitution. They consciously chose to forgo an oil pipeline deal in favor of non-development because it would be better for the well-being of the people and planet. Love in action, I would say.
The evil-doers are doing everything they can to intimidate the populations of the world into submission to their self-serving agenda. Turning from a fear-based society to a love-based one is the challenge of our times.

Anonymous said...

"Turning from a fear-based society to a love-based one is the challenge of our times." Amen to that FA!

My recent reading list contained the work of Walter Bowart "Operation Mind Control" (1976) a truly fascinating look at the work of the CIAs various mind control projects, MKultra etc. Talks a lot about the use of fear in mind control. I was left with the feeling... if they could do all that then (60's & 70's) WFT can they do now?!!

One of the Authors of ACIM, William Thetford, got a mention in the book, working on a sub-project of MKultra "Subproject 130: Personality Theory" between 1971-78. When you mentioned ACIM I did a bit of googling about it, the other author sounds like she was well mixed up in it, but as a subject herself rather than an instigator (e.g. she thought Jesus was talking to her telling her what to write). Since ACIM was published in '75 right in the middle of his CIA project, it wouldn't surprise me if it was part of the whole "big picture" plan.

Just noticed in the search results that Conspiracy Times has an article laying all this out, would have saved me thumbing though the book for the reference :/ Gd.

Hotspringswizard said...

Yes we do need to take time to connect with others around us in meaningful ways, and immersing ourselves in nature regularly is also I find so very much an integral part of finding true fullfillment in one's life. I was at the place shown in this pic just last night:

http://www.flickr.com/photos/hotspringswizard/10877486975/

The largest hot pool there is called the Womb ( at 102 degrees )and I was soaking in it alone and just after sunset a very bright moon rose over the horizen of the surrounding mountains and graced the landscape in its magical and so brilliant moonbeams :)

I was sitting in one of my favorite spots in the hot pool and looking across the creek to a large white sandy beach illuminated brightly by the moonlight, and then I saw a little fox come down the beach to the shoreline to get a drink, with its short legs and long bushy tail. It was so wonderful hiking out of the canyon in the cool breeze under the moon, with Venus so bright to see to in the low southeastern night sky.

Such times are what keep me sane, keep me going and waking up each day with a sense that there is truly something to look forward to, in each new day :)

Enjoyed your post Freeacre, like always :)

Hotspringswizard said...

Here is a pic of that hot pool that I was soaking in when I saw the Fox :)

http://www.flickr.com/photos/hotspringswizard/10505303354/

rockpicker said...

Light breaks where no sun shines.
Where no sea runs, the waters of the heart push in their tides...
-Dylan Thomas

What makes us angry, angry enough to stand up and say, 'no more?'

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=yZB0r1zf820&feature=youtu.be

rockpicker said...

weather manipulation made simple

http://21stcenturywire.com/2013/11/16/did-the-phillipines-become-a-target-of-weather-weapons/

be sure and watch the video @ the bottom of the page

say it ain't so

freeacre said...

What a great photo, Hot Springs! What a gorgeous place. Nature provides us with these beautiful places to enhance our peace of mind, and for some reason, we get distracted by all this bullshit anyway. Fatal flaw, I guess.

There's so much reprehensible stuff going on right now that I am afraid if I start laughing I won't be able to stop. Jeez.

Anonymous said...

Hot springs,
Thank you for enabling me to experience water and the natural world, albeit vicariously.
Your words and pictures refreshed one whose life has been too stretched to be able to re-center in my favorite element.
Regards to you and yours.
Otter
Song to go to...
Take me to the River

Hotspringswizard said...

Thank you Freeacre and Otter :)
Here is another photo I took at Deep Creek Hot Springs just earlier this year, and I titled it Paradise Found :)

http://www.flickr.com/photos/hotspringswizard/10940102165/

You can see a couple of folks dipping in the creek, the temp of it being about 80 degrees and just so wonderful for a swim in that beautiful and blissful landscape :) I wanted to add this little gem to go along with the theme of your title " What Makes Us Happy " :)

Hotspringswizard said...

I forgot to mention, if you click on the double arrows going in opposite directions off to the right of the photo you will get a much larger version of the pic :)

rockpicker said...

Kick back, stretch out, sigh deeply, feel those tense muscles relax and ask yourself this: can I think of one instance of a country enveloped by a police surveillance grid that did not eventually victimize a significant proportion of its citizenry?

freeacre said...

I'm sorry to take so long to respond to you info on a Course in Miracles. I was just shocked to think that it might be a part of MK-ULTLRA. I went to the link. I am even more shocked. I feel like I don't know who I am. HOw much has been created by forces that I don't know about? Fuck, there's a conspiracy that I'd rather not know about. We really seem to be living in The Matrix. I gotta think on this.

Boy, the 60's sure had some cool stuff going on. It's like in "The Men Who Stared at Goats." I don't think it was all dark and evil. I think a lot of people were beginning to turn on to all sorts of things through psychedelic experience. We were on the verge of riding a big, transformative wave, and then Darth Vader and his neo-con compadres turned it to the dark side. Bill Herbst says that the stars point to riding the wave again.

Hot Springs, I am having trouble accessing your links. I will try again. Suffice it to say that you and Rockpicker are like the Yin and Yang. lol

I went to the Dutchsinse article, too. Good grief. Are we in some sort of contest to see how we can get the whole world to hate our ass?

For one, I'd like to be in Hot Springs pond, kicking back, and watching comet ISON goading the Sun into turning off the lights. That would be a show. All that fancy cop equipment gone to waste. heh

Anonymous said...

Yeah FA, it can really knock you sideways eh!

If you read some of the "David Icke Debunked" stuff knocking about, it'll give you references back to Helena Blatsvatski, Alister Crowley et al, the whole "new age" thing harks back to their work. If you zoom forward and look at some of the "alternative media" in a bit more depth, a lot of the main players seem to be "on side" with the spiritual aspect of the NWO, it's a right head spinner for sure, but the look ar Russel Brands latest incarnation of himself and it all starts to look like the "spiritual awakening" is well planned by the PTB ;)

Not that I could do this subject any justice via a blog post, DYOR :) Gd.

Anonymous said...

song to go...

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xUaqwwq8PXo

easy chords for the strummers.. easy Bm is sliding the Am up 2 frets and not hitting the top or bottom string ;) Gd.

Anonymous said...

buggered up the first link LOL try this

Passenger | Let Her Go

Anonymous said...

Good post, FA.

Happiness... hmmm....

Years ago we went out East to visit family and friends. I wasn't making as much as I am now so we tried to save some money by staying with my brothers and her friends, renting the cheapest car, etc. Well, it was a lousy trip. The car sucked, staying with my brothers and Wifeepoo's friends REALLY sucked and the flights superbly sucked.

So, this past summer we reluctantly went back East to do another visit, but this time, we spent a bit more money -on direct flights (first flying trip and vacation in over 5 years), a midsize rental car, B&B's and WOW -what a difference. We had a GREAT time on this trip because we spent the extra money. So, the moral of this story is:
Money doesn't buy happiness, but... it sure rents a whole hell of lot of it.

Now THIS-

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Gz3ZdWF5siY

makes me pretty happy.
The beer helps a bit, too, I guess.

-Randy

Hotspringswizard said...

Freeacre, I tried all three photo links I posted here and they worked fine for me :) You can always google hotspringswizard to find my site too :) I was up there again at DCHS this last Thursday and it rained all day, but a dozen of us soakers still had great conversations and fun soaking in the hot water with raindrops falling on our heads :)

rockpicker said...

By now, meaning fifty years on, I would guess there are few who come to this site who accept the official explanation of what occurred in Dallas, Nov. 22, 1963.

For myself, overwhelming evidence exists to indicate rogue elements of this nation's clandestine corps of spooks and spies took Kennedy out, and received help from "friendlies" in both government and the private sector in making a clean get away.

After fifty years, it is painfully obvious to see that the real "kill shot" fired in Dallas that sunny, November day, was to the nation itself. A coup d'etat was carried out that day by vigilantes as fearful as they were self-righteous. And, because they got away with it, this country has been hijacked ever since.

The fault is ours. We've all seen this slide from constitutional republic to totalitarian nightmare accelerating, and done little or nothing to stop it. Perhaps there really was nothing to be done, and maybe it's too late now.

But here's a link to a story about some people who want to try and apply a little braking power.

http://www.wnd.com/2013/11/u-s-generals-now-take-action-to-watch-obama/#MKHFJf0j2GJWuTow.99

Anonymous said...

YO! Happy Thanksgiving all!

And... you all do know that my last post was a joke, right?

It's my Dad's joke actually. He used to tell it each time he bought a $1 lottery ticket.

Later -

-Randy

Unknown said...

I hope you all have a Thanksgiving to remember.I send up offerings of hope, water and creating personal realities and stands taken, that by their personal, private commitment, send out ripples of change, adaptation,evolvement and that unlikely, controversial word...HOPE.
Geo love to all. Let synchronicity and interaction rule.
Seeker
Songs to go to... Wolf Eyes, Paul
Winter
Whale syllabus, Paul Winter, off the Common Ground Album, Every cut, a beauty.
I looked up and saw sharp crystalline stars against an ebony backdrop.
I listened and heard only the beauty of early morning silence.
I reached out and felt the beauty of my daughter's hand in mine.
I opened myself to the world and felt my son swirling around us in a protective embrace.
I felt life.

Anonymous said...

Comet ISON appears to have gone 'poof' as it looped around the Sun, one less thing to worry about :)

Randy, money can't buy you love, winning the lottery is for all those other things you don't need, but would be cool to play with ;) Gd.

rockpicker said...

Freeacre, et al; Here's a short clip on the Hopi prophecy.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3yI7lzk3ioY


wv= 24 alselfe

rockpicker said...

I was trembling before I got to #10.

"...#15 Using Your Cell Phone Microphone As A “Roving Bug”: The FBI appears to have begun using a novel form of electronic surveillance in criminal investigations: remotely activating a mobile phone’s microphone and using it to eavesdrop on nearby conversations.

The technique is called a “roving bug,” and was approved by top U.S. Department of Justice officials for use against members of a New York organized crime family who were wary of conventional surveillance techniques such as tailing a suspect or wiretapping him."

http://thetruthwins.com/archives/32-privacy-destroying-technologies-that-are-systematically-transforming-america-into-a-giant-prison

rockpicker said...

The tools of enslavement, sold to us as convenience.

http://www.brasschecktv.com/videos/the-surveillance-state/its-cool-to-wear-the-mark-of-the-beast-.html

wv= heircut 395

rockpicker said...

All that noise last week about TEPCO moving rods out of the #4 SFP at Fukushima? That was all BULLSHIT. There is no spent fuel pool at #4, or #3, for that matter. They blew up, years ago.

http://hatrickpenry.wordpress.com/2013/11/25/fukushima-unit-4-hoax-underway/

freeacre said...

How's everybody? Woke up to -30F this morning. Was afraid to look, but all the animals survived the night. Brought a big bowel of warm oatmeal to the chickens. Even their water on a heating pad froze. Rabbits made it. Brought them towels to lay on. Water freezes almost immediately. Will have to change it many times a day. Good grief. The hot water in the house is frozen. Murph is attempting to thaw it out with a rocket heater as I write. Damn! It's scary cold. -8F right now.

Hope everyone is OK.

Anonymous said...

When death comes, it does not ask your permission; it comes and takes you; it destroys you on the spot. In the same way, can you totally drop hate, envy, pride of possession, attachment to beliefs, to opinions, to ideas, to a particular way of thinking? Can you drop all that in an instant? There is no “how to drop it”, because that is only another form of continuity. To drop opinion, belief, attachment, greed, or envy is to die—to die every day, every moment. If there is the coming to an end of all ambition from moment to moment, then you will know the extraordinary state of being nothing, of coming to the abyss of an eternal movement, as it were, and dropping over the edge—which is death. I want to know all about death, because death may be reality; it may be what we call God—that most extraordinary something that lives and moves and yet has no beginning and no end. -

K/langosta

Anonymous said...

Blimey FA, those temps could freeze yer bits off! the UK grinds to a halt when it hits about -8C LOL

K: we'll all find out for ourselves soon enough, no point looking for it IMO, life is for the living :) Gd.

rockpicker said...

Knowing there's at least one cop out there who understands the situation makes me happy.

http://beforeitsnews.com/alternative/2013/12/florida-cop-arrested-for-wearing-anonymous-mask-warns-theres-a-war-coming-video-2841992.html

rockpicker said...

Another log on the fire...

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=20RoAfflGCM&feature=youtu.be

rockpicker said...

Brasscheck is running a series on the Boston marathon bombing.


http://www.brasschecktv.com/page/25484.html

freeacre said...

Harkening back to the happiness theme, I am finding some pleasure in the Christmas preparations. Love the lights and the food and the giving. All these rituals, as well as the yule log, the tree, etc. were also parts of the earlier Roman festival as well. And there's might have been expropriated from some other people's winter solstice celebration. At any rate, it wouldn't have endured so long if people didn't like it, I figure.
Good vibes abound when I drag my consciousness away from the computer. The lady who bags my groceries and takes them to the car for me even gave me a Christmas hug today. We talk about dogs a lot, and I am bringing her a buckeye candy that I made. I'm making killer eggnog sweet potato pies, and Mushrooms Berkeley. It's going to be a great potluck with good friends. It is so nice to go around and give little presents to people, like homemade candy or cookies. Anyway, I feel happy and I extend my happiness to all of you. I wish you all the best of this season.

Anonymous said...

SATS

Hi guys, just swinging by with New Years wishes to all. Sorry I have been absent for a bit but at least it has kept going without my input. I have a feeling (could be wrong) that 2014 is going to be allright, relatively. I had a feeling that Syria was going to be the closing event in 2013 but BO stepped back from the brink. Only just thought of calling him that ;) Everybody knew it was a set piece but it is what we have come to expect. I really thought he was going to go through with it to stop all the personal acusations and become pres of the world. Out of all the games playing out at the moment the one I see as significant is the Ukraine. I don't think the Ukrainian people are aware of the extent of the power they have, the game is bigger than they realise. There have been hints in the past that Russia and China are 1984 type dummy advisories but I am sure that is not the case. If any of you remember that post I wrote a while back on the Russian Empire it is clear that Russia does not feel comfortable without its mountain ranges to hinder a land invasion. Air and missile attacks can only do so much and after that it is feet on the ground to hold any gains. The EU is offering western style affluence which Russia cannot match so the EU has the balance of Ukrainian hearts and minds at the moment. Putin is responding with the iron hand in the velvet glove. Give away energy prices if you join our Customs Union or energy starvation if you don't. The Ukranians are looking west at the moment but it could go either way. One guess where the down and nearly out EU is finding the money to buy out the Ukraine. Moves are already underway to undermine the new structure in the Caucus's and the Tian Shan. There will be other side shows as usual but I see these as the major events of the comng year or so. The second ammendment stuff will continue in the US but Europe and the US will be relatively trouble free as I see it. Probably after 2016 oil supplies will start to thin out especially if the anti fracking loby has its way. This will cause a different set of problems all of its own.

I am no authority on this by the way. I am just giving my own personal feelings about a likely scenario. The message as I see it is that we have a bit of a longer breathing space than it seemed a while ago so let out a sigh and eat lots of turkey. I hope 2014 is everything you want it to be and you can all find a personal peace. Happy New Year.

Anonymous said...

The green witch stands poised on the brink of a precipice.The white wizard awaits the return of the azure seer whose essence shimmers and pulses.
The deep water selkie stands hip deep in her eastern waters waiting to lend support if needed, while the purple woman/child, wends her way thru paths of self healing and closure.The elvenchild watches,listens and learns from her kindred,while heartson stands guard
Over those that he loves. Powerful ebony wings outstretched. Protection from within. Warning to stand clear from without if one approach without pure intent.
The New Year is here. Dimensions waver and stretch. Potential and consequence await, balancing on the seesaw of Destiny compiled of choices made and chances squandered.

Anonymous said...

As we trundle our well worn trajectory we pass the self appointed marker of old endings and new beginnings. All is the same and all is different as we enter a new age of Aquarius. This rainbow world seems somehow more hopeful. An illusion, a trick of the mind? When aspiration is a certainty, it becomes a fact that cannot be denied.

Anonymous said...

An illusion, a trick of the mind?

...or a reality that lay within the realm of possibilities, waiting to be conceived, gestated, born? ...p

ps... besides as the first breath of a new babe, who ARE you?

Anonymous said...

new age of Aquarius = NWO one world religion, rising from the ashes of the old world they're intent on destroying, most of us along with it.

Anonymous said...

;-) Everything is a reality that lies within the relm of possibilities (-:
No need to get your feathers ruffled, I was just waiting to see if a reaction floated by.
Btw, you misinterpreted that Aquarious thing.
Actually, I was waxing lyrical. It was a total mis-quotation from the Scottish play, so no reason why you should have made the connection. Here is the way the great Bard wrote it.

“Is this a dagger which I see before me,
The handle toward my hand? Come, let me clutch thee.
I have thee not, and yet I see thee still.
Art thou not, fatal vision, sensible
To feeling as to sight? - or art thou but
A dagger of the mind, a false creation,
Proceeding from the heat-oppressed brain? -
I see thee yet, in form as palpable
As this which now I draw.
Thou marshall'st me the way that I was going;
And such an instrument I was to use.
Mine eyes are made the fools o' the other senses,
Or else worth all the rest;....”

In other words, it was something that he held but could not believe he held. In Macbeth's case it was a dagger to kill the King for ultimate personal gain, in your case it is something to hold for a good purpose.

Your old friend Selkie – Who else would it be?

Tenuous? I had to look up what a Selkie was. I thought I was up on some of the Norse legends but not the Orcadian ones. Been called many things in my time but that was a first ;-) There again I will bet it is the first time the purple woman child has been compared to a dagger :-)

No offence intended and I hope none taken.

Unknown said...

No offense taken by the green witch,but who are you, for you are not my selkie.
What a breath of fresh air. I have missed the ephemeral and the creativity and human perceptions of the right sided mind. I dive into this water with joy.

freeacre said...

Heads up, Guys. An X1.5 flare went off today with a large CME coming directly at Earth. Coming in at a really high rate of speed, so it should arrive tomorrow, I think, rather than 3-4 days. Keep an eye on things as they develop on spaceweather.com or http://solarwatcher.net/index.php?option=com_content&view=article&id=1510:joe&catid=3:newsflash
or any of your favorite sun watcher sites.
Might affect electronic gear, so might want to put stuff in a Faraday cage or a car to be on the safe side. Just sayin'...
Heightened alert for earthquakes, too.

Anonymous said...

i guess its my turn soooo... twas NOT i who road in on the eleven O five. i only felt the warm, fresh breeze wisp gently over the stark, cold landscape, even midst the sacred, eternal flame of this campfire, as the mission came in for what, so far, appears to have been no more that a touch and go. leaving behind more than it brought - the news. and more questions than answers... p

Anonymous said...

FA... thx for the heads up.

perhaps it is a sign of right time and place. from the one who has finally figured out he would not be but for the moon to reflect himself back to it's self.

time.

and place.

for the feminine rising.

a pov which, btw, wears no feathers to be ruffled and is only another interpretation of the meanin of the age of the star/aquarius.

in which case a warnin is/will be timely cuz when she does there will be hell to pay!

why?

cuz thats where she's been... p

Anonymous said...

SATS

As Janos says as he gazes into the eye of a stuffed whale and sees only the wonder of the Lord's creation, “All is well in the cosmos”

http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0249241/reviews-44

Anonymous said...

SATS

Noo, I was the sole occupant of the 11,05 as we headed away from Breakheart Pass into warmer climes leaving in our wake only a fleeting fresh breeze and a warm feeling in the hearts of the Railway Children. As we sped through a station en route we gave a cheery wave to the driver of the 01,17 but realised later it was someone that very much resembled him and it was a case of mistaken identity.

Anonymous said...

SATS

Day is the veil that you can't pull aside like a curtain
Sewn from a black cloth - a cloth that no-one can see.
No-one can take it away and you know this for certain.
No-one can help you, you might as well let the cloth be.
You no longer are able to see, you no longer have foresight.
And you can't part the curtain, there's no way to know what's in store.
You're stranded in time, a ghost that is lost in the twilight.
And the curtain is woven from the memories of time gone before.


Day is the thief that you don't have the courage to track down,
Who forces himself into all of the rooms of your home.
He comes to your garden, your secrets - he's quiet! Makes no sound.
He steals all the answers and leaves all the questions alone.
And you know there'll be days, just like the ones that you once knew.
And you know that love is really a question of thirst.
And you know that one day there will be a new power within you.
But you dread all the days in between that will seek you out first.

Kari Bremnes - Day

rockpicker said...

there is no sfp
at unit four,
and
life can never be
as it was before

rockpicker said...

will our 'leaders' see
or just ignore
the cadavers and debris
tides leave along the shore?

freeacre said...

Anybody want to write a new post? I can't seem to get my shit together.

rockpicker said...

http://beforeitsnews.com/alternative/2014/01/classified-fbi-investigation-implicates-israeli-involvement-on-911-forensic-document-examination-2869298.html

You can get these docs on a CD by submitting a FOIA request.

rockpicker said...

P: Sorry Oldensoul and I missed you in Zoomoola over the holidays. A six-foot tall birdie told me you were in town. Was hoping to run into you somewhere on First Night.

Anonymous said...

was looooong gone by then rp. time waaaay too short.

rockpicker said...

from Quayle's alerts:

FCC RULING WILL TAKE ALL ALTERNATIVE WEB SITES DOWN HEADS UP EVERYONE!

Steve,

This one is big. This means that unless you have a service level agreement (SLA) set up with your ISP, and your ISP has an SLA set up with the major carriers, the traffic to/from your web site can be slowed to the point of being unusable. I would also expect the carriers to start charging based on level of service. On a more sinister note, the carriers can completely drop the traffic to sites such as yours, infowars, drudgereport, etc., AT WILL. The age of the truth being told by the alternative media via the internet is coming to a close.

God bless,Paul

rockpicker said...

Blueprint of the New World Order. An art project?...

http://www.brasschecktv.com/videos/government-corruption-1/one-bank-uber-alles.html

rockpicker said...

Jane Burgermeister: an update.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=OOIFNaeTu5g

Anonymous said...

SATS

I am putting you guys on the spot here, how many of you have ever heard of José Mujica? No me neither but more of us should have. He is the world's poorest president. Check this out:

http://www.leegly.com/the-worlds-poorest-president/

Listen up Obama.

rockpicker said...

Si, senior SATS

...You who choose
to lead, must follow.
But if you fall,
you fall alone.
If you should stand,
then who's to guide you?
If I knew the way,
I would take you home...

Lucretia Heart said...

I seem to comment really late for some reason, and still there are several posts where my comments are not showing up. I don't seem to have that problem with any other site. Bummer.

ANYWAY! Just wanted to say that I am very much in tune with what you write here. I think the Kali Yuga aligns perfectly with the planetary climate change and "Decline." Its funny how many things line up when you just look around a little, you know?

I think I would enjoy giving away extra largesse as well. My husband and I are naturally generous people, and we often find ourselves helping friends. We've been helped too, of course, so giving just seems like a natural way to live to us.