This article is written by Tara Stiles. Author of Slim Calm Sexy, founder of Strala, and Deepak Chopra’s yoga teacher. Posted: May 1, 2010 07:00 AM @ The Huffington Post.

A good teacher once told me that it’s impossible to live every moment to the fullest. (Fun fact: she wasn’t a yoga teacher.) She was right. We miss moments all the time. If we obsessed over fully living them all we might spontaneously combust, or appear intensely hyper and loony. Her simple message brought awareness to all the moments that we do miss, that we dull out on, ignore, or choose not to plug into. We tune out for all sorts of reasons. We’re tired, depressed, uninterested, bored, or simply lost in thought about the million other places we need to be. We’re not present. What does that even mean anyway? I know I have been put off in the past by so many new age teachings telling me in convoluted ways how to tap into the earth energy and blossom my inner bumble bee . . . or whatever. Sounds like more distractions competing for attention, when what we really need is a little quiet.

When we focus mostly on our immediate needs, wants and desires, we may achieve some of them, but hardly feel satisfied. When we feel connected to ourselves on a deeper level, we get happy. We feel safe. This doesn’t happen when we’re thinking about channeling our earth mother, or about how connected we are. It just happens when we get quiet, watch, and listen. It happens when we pay attention without thinking “I’m paying attention.” Best of all, what happens then is we’re able to connect with others and catch some of those precious moments that are always there. What’s the point? In these small moments lives a vibrant, renewable source of inspiration and creativity that fuels all things interesting, inspirational, joyful and fun.

Ever caught someone’s eye on the street and shared a simple smile? Sure, we all have. Those moments of innocence connect us deeply with our own potential and are available for us to enjoy whenever we choose. We only have to be willing to wake up.

5 Simple Ways to Live More Fully.

1. Observe. Take a look around. Watch people. Watch nature. Watch the sun and the clouds. The world is set up for us to observe. Check it out.

2. Take in. In order to take in we have to soften. When we have built up armor against all the bad things we think might happen in the world, we have a false sense of protection and have only built up isolation. We can start where we’re comfortable and build from there. Allow yourself to take in a sappy romantic movie at home. When vulnerability becomes just another feeling like excitement, we become more familiar with it and can allow it to flow through us.

3. Respond. We have to train ourselves in response just like we train ourselves in taking in. Our reactions are colored with our psychology and our mood. It takes some conscious effort to clear muddled psychology and make room for authentic response. When we find this clarity, we get to experience a gratifying release and much deeper relating.

4. Pay attention. Paying attention to what we allow ourselves to pay attention to is a tricky thing. It’s like being in two places at once, but completely worth the discipline. We can react mindlessly or respond mindfully. It’s up to us. When we turn on our observation capabilities we become much more in the moment, and much more powerful. Psychic powers have been known to develop from consistent practice of paying attention. It’s available to us all. It’s all in what we choose to practice.

5. Enjoy. Without a sense of lightness, life can become quite a drag. Our days fill with mundane tasks we need to complete and secret desires that lead to anxiety. Have fun and enjoy your life. Might as well while we’re here.

Follow Tara Stiles on Twitter: www.twitter.com/tarastiles

This article can be found at http://www.history.com/topics/nostradamus

Born in 1503, this French astrologer and physician published collections of prophecies that earned him fame and a loyal following during his lifetime. In the centuries since his death, people have credited him with accurately predicting pivotal events in history, from the French Revolution to the rise of Adolf Hitler to the terrorist attacks of September 11, 2001. According to Nostradamus, the world is slated to end in the year 3797.

Biography

Nostradamus began his medical practice in Agen in 1529 and moved to Salon in 1544, where he gained renown for his innovative medicine and treatment during outbreaks of the plague at Aix and Lyon in 1546–47. He began making prophecies about 1547, which he published in 1555 in a book entitled Centuries. The work consisted of rhymed quatrains grouped in hundreds, each set of 100 called a century. Astrology was then at a peak, and an enlarged second edition, dedicated to the French king, appeared in 1558.

Some of his prophecies appeared to be fulfilled, and his fame became so widespread that he was invited to the court of Catherine de Médicis, queen consort of Henry II of France, where he cast the horoscopes of her children. He was appointed physician-in-ordinary by Charles IX when Charles became king in 1560. The subject of many commentaries, Nostradamus’ prophecies were condemned in 1781 by the Congregation of the Index, the body set up by the Roman Catholic church for the examination of books and manuscripts. Because of their cryptic style and content—commingling French, Spanish, Latin, and Hebrew words—the prophecies have continued to create much controversy. Some of them are thought to have foretold actual historical events that have occurred since Nostradamus’ time, including certain details of the French Revolution of the 18th century. Others, having no apparent meaning, are said to foretell events that have not yet occurred.

Copyright © 1994-2009 Encyclopædia Britannica, Inc. For more information visit Britannica.com.

Facts

—Nostradamus treated plague victims with pills he made from rose petals. He instructed patients to keep the pills under their tongues at all times and also claimed the rose remedy helped fight bad breath and tooth decay.

—In addition to astrology and medicine, Nostradamus knew his way around a kitchen. In 1555, he published a book of recipes for cosmetics, perfumes and fruit preservatives.

—Nostradamus predicted the world will end in 3797.

—While living in Salon in the 1550s, Nostradamus invested heavily in an ambitious canal project designed by engineer Adam de Craponne to bring an irrigation system to the arid region. The canal was a success and still stands today.

—In late 1561, Nostradamus was arrested and briefly detained for failing to obtain proper permission from the authorities to publish his 1562 almanac.

—According to legend, Nostradamus once encountered a young Franciscan monk herding pigs in Italy. To the surprise of onlookers, Nostradamus respectfully addressed the lowly monk as “Your Holiness.” In 1585, years after Nostradamus died, that monk, Felice Peretti, became Pope Sixtus V.

—Legend holds that Nostradamus was buried with a document containing the secrets to his prophecies. In 1700, officials in Salon decided to relocate his coffin to a more optimal location. In the process, they decided to look inside. No document was located; however, a medallion inscribed with “1700″ was reportedly found around Nostradamus’ skeleton, leading people to believe the prophet had correctly predicted the year his coffin would be opened.

—Although Nostradamus died in the middle of 1566, his 1567 almanac was published because he had the foresight to prepare it before his death.

—The house in Salon where Nostradamus lived with his second wife and their children still stands today and is open to the public as a museum. Every summer, the town holds a festival honoring its world-famous former resident.

Hi all,

Just wondering if you are enjoying the content of the PSI blog? Are there any topics you would like to see more or less of? We are open to any suggestions! Your input will help mold the blog into the best it can be. Thoughts, ideas, and criticisms welcome

Love,
Michelle

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It all seems so daunting: Climate change. Carbon credits. Not to mention biofuels, hydrogen power and solar energy. The vocabulary of a new century. There’s a lot to learn.

The news is full of disturbing reports about global warming, threatened species, and the gradual realization that the way we live — particularly in developed nations — will have to change if we want to enjoy a clean and sustainable future.

But there’s no reason to feel overwhelmed. Every journey begins with a single step. We’ve rounded up the 10 easiest ways for you to start moving toward a lighter lifestyle. Some cost nothing at all. Others provide a lot of bang for your eco-dollar. In every case, these ideas will save you money, cut energy use, and help balance your household’s greenhouse gas budget — the amount of carbon dioxide released into the atmosphere to produce goods or electrical power.

So pick a few, and give them a try. Before long, you’ll establish the habits we all need to develop as we face the challenges of a resource-hungry planet.

1) Make the switch to compact fluorescent light bulbs (CFLs). Just a few years ago, CFLs were bulky, expensive, and hard to find. Thanks to environmental commitments by companies such as Walmart, CFLs are now readily available for about $2 each. That’s more expensive than incandescent bulbs, but lumen for lumen (the unit by which a light bulb’s brightness is measured), CFLs use much less power. They also last up to 10 times longer than regular bulbs. That means that the average CFL bulb will save $30 in energy costs over the course of its life. According to the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency, if every American household were to swap just one bulb to CFL, we would save enough energy to light more than 2.5 million homes for a year and prevent greenhouse gases equivalent to the emissions of nearly 800,000 cars.

2) Monitor your thermostat. Small changes make a big difference over time. Make a note of where you normally keep your thermostat. Once you’ve got an idea where it is usually set in the summer and winter, make the Two Degree Pledge: up two degrees in the warmer months, and down two degrees when it’s cold. Check Lighter Footstep for energy-efficient ways to stay comfortable through the seasons, and save up to $100 a year on your power bill. That’s equivalent to 1 ton of greenhouse gases which would have been produced by the energy you saved.

3) Clean or replace your air conditioning filter. Depending on where you live, air conditioning filters can get dirty in a matter of days. An air conditioner with a clogged filter has to work harder, which means higher power bills and the creation of more greenhouse emissions. Running clean, you can save up to $150 each year. You’ll also enjoy the benefit of fewer allergy causing particles in the air, and a more comfortable home or office.

4) Unplug idle appliances and electronic devices. Just because that cellphone charger doesn’t have a phone attached to it doesn’t mean it’s not drawing energy. Devices such as televisions with standby modes can use up to half the power they would draw when turned on. Don’t just turn something off: unplug it. The average household can save up to several hundred dollars a year just by pulling the plug on silent energy vampires.

5) Buy a low-flow shower head with a shutoff valve. In most homes, you can replace an old-style shower head with a modern unit in about 15 minutes. You’ll reap two-pronged savings, both in water and the energy you’d have used to heat it. You’re also saving your community the power it would have used to treat the wastewater. The benefits can be pretty impressive, since water heaters account for about 25 percent of home energy use. Put several hundred dollars back into your budget each year and keep water use to a minimum.

6) Drive smarter. In real world testing of common fuel-saving tips, the Edmunds Automotive Network found some surprises. First, it’s a good thing to keep tires properly inflated, and this is a commonly recommended strategy for saving gas. But Edmunds found other ideas that make a more noticeable difference. Use your cruise control on the highway for up to a 15 percent improvement in mileage. Driving less aggressively is the single most effective way to save gasoline: accelerate out of lights more gently, avoid rapid braking, and only drive as fast as you must. And turn off your engine rather than idling excessively. If your car starts reliably, consider shutting it down at long lights. Skip the drive-through window, park and walk your business inside whenever possible.

7) Get an annual tune-up for your car. At $200 to $300, a full engine tune-up sounds like a pricey way to save fuel and money. In practice, it’s a good investment. A faulty oxygen sensor, for instance, can penalize your car up to three miles per gallon. Worn spark plugs and dirty air filters can cost you another four mpg. It all adds up  fast. Set a fixed time each year to give your car the attention it needs. And check that fuel cap, while you’re at it. A loose or poorly sealed cap will vent gasoline vapor, polluting the air and costing you up to two mpg. Tighten up!

Dust off that bike. Bicycles are the most efficient form of human transportation, and the only thing they burn is calories. Consider if bike commuting might fit your lifestyle. Even if this isn’t the case, bicycles are a healthy and environmentally friendly way to run those short errands. You’ll need a helmet, a good lock, and proper lighting if you’re out before dawn or after dusk. Start by resolving to use your bicycle instead of a car just once a week and build from there. Keep an eye out for more articles on choosing an appropriate commuter bike and outfitting for comfort and safety.

9) Go meatless once a week. If you’re not already practicing a vegetarian diet, consider cutting back on the amount of meat in you consume. As Frances Moore Lapp pointed out in her bestselling book, Diet for a Small Planet, livestock production absorbs 16 pounds of grain and soy feed for every pound of meat that actually gets to the plate. Each calorie of animal protein requires 78 calories of fossil fuels to produce, and irrigation directly associated with livestock production (including feeds) amounts to about half of all the consumed water in the United States. Give meatless substitutes like Boca Burgers a try, or scan vegetarian recipes for healthy and earth-friendly meal ideas.

10) Buy local; buy in season. According to the nonprofit group Sustainable Table, the typical carrot travels 1,838 miles before it ends up in your kitchen. That’s a lot of food miles, and a tremendous amount of wasted fossil fuels and packaging. Buying regionally produced food is a keystone of sustainability: not only does it save the energy costs associated with shipping bulk produce, it keeps a portion of your grocery money close to where live. So locate your local farmers market and add it to your weekly errands. You’ll be supporting local growers while enjoying fresh, seasonal produce. You can keep up with the latest advice and tips on eating local with MNN’s Food blogger, Robin Shreeves.

And you’re on your way
By the time you’ve taken a few of these steps, you’ll probably be thinking of other actionable ways to present a lighter environmental footstep. And that’s how meaningful change begins: consistent, incremental improvements to the way we manage our personal and community resources. Join with Lighter Footstep in fashioning a wiser and more sustainable future.

© Copyright 2010 Mother Nature Network. Thia article can be found @ http://www.cnn.com/2010/US/04/22/mnn.10.steps.to.lighter.living/index.html

Most guys if not all men are generally a proud lot and will not easily admit to liking or being in love with a woman they are dating. Question is, how then can you tell if your man feels the same way you do?

Well, try judging by the way he treats you when in the company of his closest friends. When a guy is deeply in love with you, he will tell his closest friends.

Guys generally find it much easier admitting their love for a woman to a close friend than in telling the woman they are in love with. He’s most likely in love with you if he lets you meet some of his close friends. If his guy friends treat you with respect, do not seem to alienate you during conversations even in his absence, it is probably a sign he told them how he truly feels about you.

Nothing in this world will stop a guy in love from treating his lady like a queen when in the company of his friends. Judging by the general reactions and comments of some of his closest friends, you will know if your man shares the same love you have for him.

If a guy likes you, he will definitely call you when he asks for and you give him your phone number. Don’t worry if he doesn’t call you the same day, as he probably does not want to appear to be too desperate.

If he truly felt something for you, it will not take long for him to call you and ask how you are doing, and even ask you out on a date.

Do you sometimes catch him unawares staring at you when in a social or public place? Well, it is probably signs of the guy’s interest in you.

If it is the first time you are meeting the guy and he likes you, he will most likely find an ingenious way to approach you and introduce himself. If by any unlikely chance he doesn’t end up asking for your phone number, chances are he may be shy.

Don’t worry, if he likes you and you somehow feel attracted to him, nothing will stop the guy from tracking you down. This you can tell judging by what he asks you like say ‘are you from around here?’

When your man is in love with you, he may admit and tell you openly how he truly feels. If he doesn’t do that and you are wondering or even doubting his love, chances are, he most probably told you he loves you and you missed it during a conversation or an argument you recently had with him. Always try to listen closely to what he tells you and mince his words carefully.

Reason most guys find it hard to openly admit their love or state how they truly feel towards a woman they are dating is due to fear of rejection.

If you like a guy and are in a steady relationship with him, it is in the best interest of the both of you, for you to constantly reassure him of your true love and affection.

Constantly flirting with other guys in his presence may hurt his man ego and limit his trust towards you. Make your guy feel he’s the only one for you and that your relationship with him is equally important to you. Do that and he will reciprocate and tell you how he truly feels about you and even say I love you.

If you meet a guy you like and feel courageous enough to want to approach and seduce him, stop! A guy will most likely warm up to your advances but in the back of the guy’s mind, he will most likely end up dismissing you as being either too desperate or loose, and not his type of woman to date, even though he may have felt something for you too.

Though it is not bad to let a guy know you like and want him. Just lead him to believing he’s the one chasing after your love. No matter whether he’s a Leo, Scorpio, Virgo, Taurus, Libra, Sagittarius, Gemini, Aquarius, Aries, Pisces, Cancer, or a Capricorn, guys have a natural tendency to be the hunter and not the prey. If you lure him into seducing you, chances are you will most likely end up winning over his heart and love just like you desired.

Watch how you dress in public places especially when you are intent on getting a date with a guy, and hope for a lasting relationship. Most men will easily give in to a date with a skimpily dressed woman just to have fun with her then dump her later.

Publicly displaying too much of your body assets will only make you end up with guys genuinely not interested in how you feel, but who’s only interest in you, is in the way you look.
If you seek a long-term relationship with a guy you really like, dress well while in a social or public place.

If a guy tells you that he likes or loves you, it will be in your best interest to believe him. Doubting your guy or even making him feel like you are not good enough for him, will go along way in alienating him from you than in strengthening your relationship bond. The reason he’s with you and not another woman is because he likes and loves you.

Finally, if a guy tells you he likes you but you don’t feel the same way he does, it is best you tell him. A guy will take it as a challenge to continue chasing after a woman or girl they like even if she does not like him and gives him a hard time, hoping she will one day reciprocate and admit to liking or even loving him too.

You can not force any good man to love you. If you are looking for your Mr. right, he may just be the guy you just met or are currently seeing. Show or teach the man how you want to be loved and you will discover true love.

This article can be found @ http://www.articlesbase.com/dating-articles/signs-a-guy-likes-you-how-to-tell-if-your-man-really-loves-you-too-1792767.html

Conversation starters can literally save your life on a first date.

Why?

Well, as you know, going on a first date can be very scary and intimidating. Our minds are overcome with fear and insecurities and we cave in to those emotions.

We’re scared of being rejected, we’re afraid of failure, we’re nervous about saying the wrong thing at the wrong time and we’re anxious about what our date will think of us.

All these anxieties are totally human and completely understandable – but they produce devastating results: they paralyze us and greatly inhibit our ability to behave normally and confidently like we do with our family and with our closest friends.

Our personal fears lead us to the most uncomfortable situation where we feel a terrible lack of confidence, all stressed out, angry and frustrated. The bottom line is that we’re doomed to end up in the most annoying, embarrassing and even humiliating situation, which we all know as that “awkward silence”.

Believe it or not, most of us do have the capacity to carry on a fluid, easy-going and enjoyable conversation with people we have known for years – so, with the right approach, it shouldn’t be any different with the woman we’re on a first date with.

And the right approach is… conversation starters!

Preparing a list of topics and questions that you can use on the first date can do wonders for your dating skills.

When you have an arsenal of conversation starters – it’s very easy to keep the conversation going.

You always have something to say, you develop a lively conversation like there’s nothing to it, you’re not nervous, “stuck” or “blocked” and you can avoid the awkward silence disaster pretty easily.

Here are 10 conversation starters that you can use on your next first date:

·Has any book had a major impact on you?

·What was the best bargain you ever found?

·What’s the most annoying thing someone could do on a first date?

·What’s the most unusual thing you know how to do?

·Is there anything you can’t say “no” to?

·What food could they not pay you enough to eat?

·Who are your cult heroes? Why?

·What was the craziest thing you ever did when you were a kid?

·If you could have any job in the world, what would it be?

·What would be the title of your biography?

There are so many conversation starters that can work for you fantastically. They can serve as a great base for a flowing, lively, enjoyable conversation that can let your date learn about the “real you” while you leave all the pressure, anxiety and fear behind you.

Don’t leave home to go out on a first date empty-handed. Sit down, prepare some great conversation starters, memorize and practice them and your chances for a great date will increase drastically.

This article can be found @ http://www.articlesbase.com/advice-articles/questions-to-ask-on-a-first-date-85.html

7 Cheap Ways to Go Green By Terra Wellington

One of the myths of being eco-friendly is that it takes a lot of money. While some large-scale changes may require a chunk of change, such as buying a tankless water heater or adding solar panels to your roof, the majority of going green choices don’t have to cost a fortune. Here are 7 ways to go green on the cheap.
Be a Friend to Farmers

The best prices on organic produce are usually close to home at your local farmers’ market. Organic is best for your body and the planet. By shopping more directly with the organic producers you can not only save money but also put more cash in the farmers’ pockets and support local food production. Find out more about living and eating organically.

Clean for Under a Buck

Did you know that you can clean most of your house with a non-toxic cleaner that usually costs less than a dollar? That magic bullet is baking soda. A little water and baking soda makes a terrific cleaning paste for tubs, sinks, stoves, and other surfaces. Its whitening effect is great for cleaning grout. Add a handful to your whites in the wash for brighter clothes. Baking soda is also a great deodorizer, and it won’t irritate your lungs.

Fertilize with Garbage

One of the great benefits of eating is that there’s waste. Seriously. Put your food scraps to work in an at-home compost and voila! You’ll have a free supply of soil amendment and mulch from the compost that can also be used as fertilizer for your lawn and garden. Compost is organic and non-toxic, extremely healthy for plants and the soil, and gives back to the planet with minimal effort from you.
Super Sun Savings

Open those blinds and curtains and turn off the lights. Sunlight is free … and completely renewable. You’ll save on electricity. And sunshine is better for your body. The sun’s rays are just the right brightness and spectrum to give you more energy, better regulate your sleep patterns, and improve your mood. Sun equals smiles.
Well-Contained Lunches

Opt for reusable containers for lunches whenever possible. You have a one-time investment on the containers that can save you a boatload – throwaway baggies and individually packaged lunch items (like juice boxes and applesauce cups) are much more expensive than if you filled up reusable containers at home with juice, fruit, and a sandwich. And that means less goes to the landfill too.
Old News is Good News

Have a package to send? Avoid the expense and waste of bubble wrap. Instead, reach for yesterday’s newspaper as packing material. It might seem old fashioned, but what was good for grandma is still good for you.
Save Money and Miles

Put on your thinking cap next time you plan errands and schedule them together on a miles-saving route. By strategically combining errands and avoiding unplanned trips to the store, you’ll save gas and make your wallet a little fatter. Plus, you’ll be spewing less pollution into the air from your car.

Terra Wellington is the author of The Mom’s Guide to Growing Your Family Green: Saving the Earth Begins at Home. She figures that anytime she can save a few cents while being green her wallet gets a little fatter and that brings her one step closer to spending money on what really counts – fun-filled family outings.

This article  can be found @ http://www.cfearthday.org/resources/

What is the difference between falling and flying in dreams? Some people would say it is a matter of attitude, not altitude.

Several years ago on a long plane ride I fell into a fitful sleep, and dreamt that I was plummeting through the air. I startled awake from this anxiety dream, only to slip back into it as I dozed off again. The feeling of vertigo made my stomach lurch, and was not helped by the bumpy ride we were experiencing.

This happened several times, until I became lucid enough in the dream to remember some of my aikido training. When falling in aikido, the most important thing is to get our center under us again. We slip into a ready stance, a hanmi, and open our awareness to be ready for the next attack.

With this body memory in mind, I drifted back into the dream, where I was still falling from 35,000 feet. As I tumbled through the sky, the lucid “me” in the dream organized my energy and got into a ready stance. Effortlessly my body stopped rolling and became upright, and soft as a feather I landed on ground that was not two inches below my feet.

I felt buoyant and relaxed, as we do when we experience a moment of grace. It was such a profound reversal of fortune, such a sudden shift, that I think of it to this day when boarding airplanes. I also think of it when people talk to me about their flying dreams.

Many dreamers consider their dreams of flying some of their most ecstatic experiences. As a dream consultant, I have known people who choose to fly every time they become lucid in their dreams. They can’t imagine a more positive thing to do in dreams, and are surprised when I offer them a few caveats.

Yes, flying is ecstatic. It can speak of great creativity and imagination, a capacity for joy that affects everyone around us. But flying can also mean avoidance, an inability to focus and follow through on things, and a lack of concern for others.

Questions I ask these dreamers are: What is happening immediately before you fly off? Is someone expecting you to do something, or have you just completed a task? Are you being chased and then take flight, or does the flying arise from witnessing something beautiful?

More often than not, our urge to fly is a combination of several factors. The important thing is to view it in the context of the entire dream, so we can better understand our own motivations.

And what about dreams of falling? Sometimes plummeting from great heights is good, or at least necessary, especially when we have been living beyond our means or have an unrealistic picture of what is going on. Falling can also be due to disappointment, being “let down” when we have relied on someone or something that fails us.

But sometimes we fall in order to learn that things are not quite as bad as we fear. It can be one of those sickening feelings that reminds us to re-center, take a deep breath, and let our inner calmness ground the situation. Maybe the earth will rise softly to meet us, as in my dream, or maybe we will suddenly remember that we can fly, and begin to soar.

This article was written by Anne Hill. Author of “What To Do When Dreams Go Bad: A Practical Guide to Nightmares,” international dream consultant, and Dream Talk Radio host.  Posted: April 13, 2010 @ http://www.huffingtonpost.com/anne-hill/dreams-of-falling-and-fly_b_533490.html

This article was written by Sebastian Siegel. Actor, Artist, Athlete, and Lover of Life. Posted on April 14th, 2010, 02:03pm @ http://www.huffingtonpost.com/sebastian-siegel/consciousness-intuition_b_536664.html

Intuition is the pull of something beyond you, deeper than you, a subtle potentiality of second sight, telling you where you ought to go — your propensity, your destiny, your soul. Courage is the sure hand by which the potential that is intuited can be believed in without knowing the complete path of its manifestation. Living is the engagement of life, awareness of, and response to that call. And even more, it is the requisite for pulse and music. And this rhythm is the ultimate apothecary for the transcendence of loss and loneliness, and the ticket to eternity.

The tragedy of life isn’t that life ends, but that for most the end doesn’t feel deserved — as if it always comes too soon. In other words, the tragedy in life is not death, but exists in not nurturing the calling within to go beyond oneself. It is here that potential beauty is murdered by neglect. It feels magical when the sweet hint of destiny, and subtle call to action, comes as the dance of a falling leaf. And it is ominous, yet still beautiful, when that call becomes a warning, and the sign shows as the dark cloud on the horizon accompanied by an ache in the gut — but knowingly still not too late for response. But when it is easier to twist oneself into another animal, than to face the reworking that must be done to get back in touch with that call – that is when the neglect of that voice becomes a heinous self-crime. That is when the subtle, sweet musical call becomes a vociferating screech — the culprit being fear, or worse, complacency. You were born out of it, this voice that existed before you, and so your destiny is just to manifest its music out of the beautiful expression of you.

It is true that out of complacency, the minds power of justification to avoid a tall order of destiny can be conveniently mistaken as intuition. But the subtle currents of true intuition will resonate from the soul, through to the dreams and breathe and expression of the individual, so when it is cut off and denied, it only delivers the self into a muted wasteland of confusion. And the feeling of uneasiness from not heeding that call should be acted upon — it is an evolutionary mechanism of eternity itself, to find its being in the continual rhythm of unfolding and manifesting. It’s a sign post on a phenomenon, delivered to you by your greater being, in a deep language you’ve known forever. The process is the destination and consciousness is the ticket to ride.

And since consciousness precedes reality, when we don’t challenge ourselves, we feel ashamed. Because in every moment, we are either stepping towards growth and light or stagnancy and rot — towards life or towards death. It’s healthy to want this biological life, but at the expense of not living it for fear of loosing it, is to suffocate the soul. And since biological life is predeterminately brief, when the soul suffers, it seeps out so that Spirit may steal it away and deposit its essence in an account that can bear to give it life.

Yes, I wish to live! But I will never hold on so tightly that I cannot climb –
climb to the sky, climb to the moon, climb to the stars and climb to eternity. Yes the process really is the destination, so I’ll breathe, and make love to it. As you feel it, the face of destiny intuits you also, and its will is mirroring you right now.

Follow Sebastian Siegel on Twitter: www.twitter.com/SebastianSiegel