Garbage Warrior - Michael Reynolds

For all you tech-heads out there you maybe interested in the work of Michael Reynolds, aka the Garbage Warrior. Michael is a trained and practising architect in the US. He has developed carbon zero low impact houses that have a gentle eco-footprint on the planet. As he says, 'the technology is already here'. What is getting in the way is the will to use it. The emerging new housing is springing up all over the place. Know as earthships, they are off-grid responses to a peak oil world. Earthships are built using waste materials, including tires, wines bottles, tin cans and plastic bottles.

There are many ways to checkout further information. For example, you might like to watch the documentary Garbage Warrior, you could click on the youtube video below or google Micheal Reynolds - The Garbage Warrior. It's controversial and yet worth consideration.

 

Space the final frontier

With my word of 2013 being spaciousness my senses become attuned when this term appears before me. This week it happened in a circuitous way while watching Iain McNay interviewing Dr Amit Goswami on youtube (search 'Consciousness, Quantum Physics and Being Human'). Amit referred to the idea of consciousness being the ground of all being. Further to this he was drawn to the idea, the observer is the observed introduced by J Krishnamurti. Following up on this I found the connection to space.  

In this sense Krishnamurti says "Space is necessary. Without space there is no freedom. We are talking psychologically. It is only when one is in contact, when there is no space, between the observer and the observed, that one is in total relationship - with a tree for instance. One is not identified with the tree, the flower, a woman, a man or whatever it is, but when there is this complete absence of space as the observer and the observed, then there is vast space. In that space there is no conflict; in that space there is freedom. Freedom is not a reaction. You cannot say, " Well, I am free". The moment you say you are free, you are not free, because you are conscious of yourself as being free from something, and therefore you have the same situation as an observer observing a tree. He has created a space, and in that space he breeds conflict.
To understand this requires not intellectual agreement or disagreement, or saying, "I don't understand", but rather it requires coming directly into contact with what is. It means seeing that all your actions, every moment of action is of the observer and the observed, and within that space there is pleasure, pain and suffering the desire to fulfill, to become famous. Within that space there is no contact with anything. Contact, relationship has a quite different meaning when the observer is no longer apart from the observed. There is this extraordinary space, and there is freedom."

Inequality coming to a place near you, if not already, then soon!

Like most children in the UK I was introduced to a board game called Monopoly at a reasonably early age. I can distinctly remember playing this game with my family one Christmas when I was about 10 years old. My dad said to me at the beginning when I asked to play - "you're not going to like this". Being as stubborn as I am I insisted on playing anyway unconvinced that a board game was going to upset me. And he was right, eventually as the game progressed I realised my Nan was going to be pushed out of the game because she was running out of money. And I did not like the inequity. What was most annoying is the rules did not allow anyone to help my Nan stay in the game by giving her some of their money. At this point I tipped the board up in the air in protest and left the room in tears.

Put simply Monopoly is a child's game that teaches us from the cradle how the economic system works. Money accumulates. The wealthy get richer and the poor get poorer.

Which brings me to the many recent reports, surveys and questionnaires on inequality, like the youtube clip above. I am astounded why so many of us are incredulous, surprised and shocked by what is an inevitable consequence of the economic system we live in.

I'm not for one second condoning neo-liberalism or the capitalist system that produces these inequalities.The system does absolutely what it sets out to do - make money. It doesn't for one moment make claims to make anyone healthier, happier or more whole. It is a money making machine - the end. So if the human purpose is to make money we've done well. However, if like me, you think the human purpose, our reason for being is something other than making money, then you maybe asking yourself what is the alternative.

And that's when I think back to my childhood and wonder what games I played that showed me another system other than the capitalist one. Well there were lots of sports games where we had to compete against one another, outwit our opponents and strive to be number one, the winner. I'm not sure if that is much different to the game of Monopoly. Then there were games like pass the parcel or musical chairs, where again one outright winner would emerge. I suppose the lesson was to win and lose with grace, whatever that means.

How about hide and seek? We begin in a hidden unseen fragmented state and slowly by searching the group comes back to wholeness. And yet we still define the winner as the last person to be found. Nevertheless, it maybe that we are getting closer to an alternative system. We could explore all the cooperative games. Few spring to mind, although I know they exist. Such games teach us how to have fun, be ourselves and also play together for a shared experience. No winners, no losers, simply players. Maybe in this type of system difference would still occur, but it would not present itself in the form of inequality. Just a thought.

I am left asking myself the question, how can we transform -them / us- dualistic thinking into -and / both- non-dual thinking?

Answers on a postcard to ...

 

Horse Sense

This afternoon we went up close to Dartmoor near Hembury Woods to meet three amazing horses called William, Henry and Arthur. Despite the freezing cold temperatures we managed to spend a couple of hours hanging out with them in the fields. There is something special about being with other animals. It allows us to drop the human-ness and be our animal selves. William, Henry and Arthur live in the present moment and invite our authenticity. It's okay to be nervous, especially for someone like me unused to being around horses. They led the way in being natural, real and simply themselves. Our desire was to get a little closer to experience life through their eyes. To know the world in the way horses know the world.

Arthur has recently been brought back into the herd to be with William and Henry. This is a video of the moment they greeted each other again after a gap of 4.5 years.



Who said animals don't have feelings, emotions, cognitive awareness ... these three horse pals are as excited to be with one another again as any human reunion could match.

We spent a brief few hours with them today, saying hello, being amongst them as they ate their hay and walking them into their paddock while a few of us got to lead them on and ride on their backs. The horses are ridden mostly bare-backed. It looked so natural and from where I was standing they appeared to be enjoying themselves. I have a long way to go in building up my confidence around these huge powerful beauties. Their independence was quite apparent to me and yet them were playful and curious of us. A willingness to interact and communicate was palpable. William and Arthur adored the attention. A great way to spend the day!

Yellow

What a difference a couple of days make. Yellows brilliance can change everything. Travelling through the Cornish countryside we came across a field of daffodils. Never before had I seen such a sight. From a distance it first appeared to me like a field of oilseed rape. To our surprise and joy as we came closer we realised the yellow was that of daffodils in full bloom enjoying a rare moment of sunshine.

Such strong unabashed displays of yellow can lift the soul to soaring heights of glorious joy. It is a colour of sheer unadulterated happiness. This field of golden yellow daffodils is yet another clear reminder that spring is here.

Snow Easter Like a Cold Easter

Deep snow is blanketing parts of the country, making beautiful patterns on trees and forming natural frozen icicle sculptures. Biting winds from the north are cutting through cosy woollen coats. According to weather reports this is the coldest Easter in the UK since modern records began. Hold on to your hats this is not as astonishing as it might sound, as modern records began in 1960. We are not going back hundreds of years in our collective climatic memories. Nevertheless, average temperatures are down by 3 degrees Celsius, which is enough at this time of year to chill the average person to the bone! In other words it feels very much like winter is still amongst us.

While sleeping last night the clocks sped forward one hour. Alas this was not sufficient inducement for the sun to make an appearance today. The tiniest glimmer of sunshine and blue skies is all the encouragement needed to entice our mortal souls outside into the world to take advantage of the lengthening days. My body is missing the feeling of warm sunshine and the caress of a delicate breeze. I declare it is time for spring! The trees are in bud, their leaves pending, willing to burst open in verdant splendour. Seeds planted back in February are doing their utmost to emerge from their darkened blankets of soil. Slowly they grow their green tentacles towards the smallest hint of light whilst carrying with them our dreams and wishes for the year ahead.

It's all pendant, the pent up feelings of springs potential is pulling us into the days and weeks ahead. A readiness is palpable. The yearning, longing for the transformation from death to rebirth, renewal and celebrations of Eostre are upon us. Never mind these arctic temperatures and the wintry scenes outside our windows. Bring on the sunshine to go with the springtime and happy days are here again :)
   

Living with the mystery or what does it mean to be?

The closer I am to the unknown the more challenging life can be. And yet that is where I keep finding myself, sitting at the door of the unknown wondering whether to open it and step inside to be with the mystery. Each time I go through agonies of indecision, of not knowing. In the end all I need do is open the door and step inside. Sounds so easy when put like that. Each time the mystery gets a little closer it appears in a different guise. A new set of clothes to fool me and I reacquaint myself with self doubt, indecision and procrastination. How do I stay in the flow and keep moving? Daily I have to commit to revealing myself. Which part of myself do I have the courage to be? The closer to me I can dare to be the more of the mystery I can turn and face. There is my challenge each and every day … to be me … as simple as that.

You're a Life Lover If ...

Creative and imaginative, you like to be inspired. Your expressive character means that from an early age you've loved nothing more than putting personal touches to your space. You have a super relaxed attitude to life. Naturally down-to-earth, you don’t believe in sweating the small stuff. Life’s for living, with minimum stress and maximum enjoyment and so fun with family and friends is top of the list as far as you’re concerned. Food is a definite passion too and you’re always up for tantalizing your taste buds. You’re a bit of a dreamer at heart. But there’s nothing wrong with that. Set your sights high and you’ll create the life you deserve.

You are calm and refined with a very refined eye for style.

Asking about the latest book you've got on the go is probably the best way to get you talking. You like to lose yourself in another world or lifetime, as each page is turned you become more involved with the plot and characters and increasingly enjoy the sensation of fueling your imagination and knowledge.

Chillout?...Don't mind if you do! Taking a break for you is about rejuvenating physically as well as mentally. Calm and tranquil times to yourself allow the stress of your everyday life to ebb away until you are left feeling like yourself again, and what a great feeling that is.

At the end of the day, you are definitely an emotional spirit and you make really strong friendships. Good buddies and lots of laughs are the recipe for exceedingly happy days. And nights!

I wish ...

Spring Seeds

There are many books that speak of the beginning and ending of civilisations. In Peter Kingsley's allegory called 'A Story Waiting To Pierce You' he puts forward the premise that the purpose of Western Civilisation is to remember it's own divinity. I'm interpreting that to mean this culture and civilisation I am a part needs to seek it's own spiritual meaning. Peter Kingsley traces this back to Pythagoras, suggesting he was witnessed and seen as a divine spirit by a Mongolian emissary called Abaris Skywalker. On seeing Pythagoras Abaris gave up his arrowhead and passed it on to acknowledge and anoint Pythagoras.

Towards the end of 'A Story Waiting To Pierce You' Peter writes about where those of us living in Western civilisation find ourselves now; "In our unconsciousness we take credit where no credit is due, oblivious to the real source of everything we pretend is ours - the sacred origin not just of religion but also of everything else, of science and technology, education and law, of medicine, logic, architecture, ordinary daily life, the cry of longing, the excruciating ache of the awakening love of wisdom.

And then there are those who quietly go about doing whatever is needed. The ones who wait in a state of ecstasy to help bring new civilisations into being, the ones without whom nothing is possible.

But not only are these people needed to bring new worlds into existence. They even are needed to bring them to an end so as to help make way for the new" (Kingsley, 2010, p.80-81).

This reminds me that doing what we know we need to do comes from a place without desire or expectation for recognition or acknowledgement. We do simply because we can. It is done for the benefit and in service of others. Read the Ben Okri quote from Astonishing The Gods . To paraphrase him he says 'when we create from the vast unknown places within us, we create from beyond and make the undiscovered places and infinities in them our friends. We live on the invisible fields of our hidden genius. Our most extraordinary achievements are unseen, invisible, and therefore cannot be destroyed. This endures forever. Such is the dream and reality of this land.'

To me Peter Kinglsey and Ben Okri appear to be saying the similar things, that there is a source of oneness which we are all capable of connecting with, tapping into, creating from - and when we do this such things come forth that are beyond our imaginations. I sense Peter is suggesting we need to remember this act of divinity and not seek to take individual credit.

What if our education system taught us of this oneness we all belong to and are yearning for? 

What if we woke up to our wholeness, the source of our oneness?

What then?

What seeds would we plant?

A letter to the future

During the week I was invited to picture the face of a child I know and write them a letter intended for them to read in 25 years time.

Here is my letter:

Dear You,
     
Take your own footsteps,
find your own voice and trust your own intuition.
Take your passion and weave
your story into the stories of those around you.
The stories of your friends, family and others you meet
along the twisting swirling mysterious path of life that
includes the stories of the trees, plants, animals,
rivers, mountains, rocks; the entire living community.

Dance, sing, laugh and celebrate.
Don't turn away from pain and suffering.
Gentle lean into it.
Look fiercely into its eyes until you can see
the gift being offered to you.
Share those gifts, your gifts with others.

Seek to be in the flow and cycles of life
to notice all the seasons and what they bring.
Above all participate with an open heart
without fear of harm to yourself or others.
And know that everything will change eventually.

We are part of an impermanent co-arising
seeking to experience ourselves in communion
and awareness - simply enjoy being yourself.
Know through your own experience
that it is love and open heartedness
that connects us all in an inseparable bond.

You are never alone.
I am in you as you are in me.
With all my love always,
tx

Beyond development is a place where I don't feel alone

The theme of my week has been community. What is community? Is it important? How do you build community? How does my community reach out to the lonely? What is it I do to build and nurture my community? And what is it I should not do to build community?

When a person passes through a rite of passage in a ritualistic way by leaving their community, going out alone into a threshold experience and reintegrating their new learning back into community, it is this final stage that is so essential and so neglected in modern society. We need to be witnessed and seen in our newness. We learn not just for ourselves, but in order to share our gifts with others. That is what connects us all together in this web of life. That is what makes us one living consciousness constantly coming into being.

With this in mind check out the beauty of the sounds contained in this song and allow your imagination to drift off to wherever it needs to go.




First we develop ourselves, our souls. Then we build our society by tending to our communities contained within our society. Finally we nourish and regenerate our Mother Earth, Pachamama and all her ecosystems contained within of which we are also a part.

Similarly, first we build our home, then we build the home of another and before you know it a community is born.

As within, so without. As below, so above.

Love Week is Round the Corner

I was reading an email daily message from a writer called Richard Rohr. And the theme of love came up. I found it to be a timely comment on the week I have just experienced. The last paragraph of his message especially got me thinking, it goes like this:

"Is there at least one place in your life where you are giving and receiving love? If it happens in one place, it can happen everywhere. If you are truly capable of loving one person, you’re capable of loving more than one, and eventually even your enemy, and finally all. Love is one piece. Thus, we rightly speak of being “in love” and Paul speaks of being “in Christ.” Love is all or nothing. You either express love or you don’t. The Scholastic philosopher, Josef Pieper, said it very well, “the proper habitat for truth is human relationship.” How we relate to anyone is how we relate to everything else, too."

Bring on the love ... only love!

Watery Depths

The month may have changed from January to February, however, the watery theme has remained. Where there is water there is emotion. This week has been a deep swirl of stirred up feelings. Imagine giant waves crashing to shore and you'll have an image of how this week has felt.

Syncronistically, remember there are no accidents, I have regularly been exposed throughout the last 7 days to the sound of whale song accompanied by the dulcet tones of a clarinet. Music, emotions and water. A heady mix if ever there was one. No wonder my heart is all shaken up.

And now we are on the cusp of the week of LOVE. valentine's day is fast approaching ... Oh boy ... emotion and heart energy to the max. I am swimming in feelings !!! So much so that the words of a poem have been leaking out:

Love and passion in Totnes
  I am falling
     falling
        head over heels
in love
  with my beloved
her smiling eyes shining
my heart wide open
      in synchronicity
         beating in rhythm
boom- ka-cha-boom-ka-cha-boom
                     YEAH!
     just like that
 we are in a deep embrace
   of such beauty and grace
swept up into a kiss
            of immeasurable bliss
  travelling beyond space and time
       and yet of this place
TOTNES!
oooohhhhh passionate Totnes
     where trees hug you
love tasted here is never forgotten
        instead it is begotten
like a threshold moment
      a line crossed in the sand
                  our hearts are entwined
  inclined to kindness
   senses re-attuned
to the invisible
             inseparable pulse that is shared
                   between us
                           all of us
               the continuum of everything
making the sound of love music
     that goes something like this ...
 do-be-do-be-do
  one continuous melody
one simultaneous movement
   a compassionate flow
        we all know
            that grows
                   in love
                 from love
           towards love
here in Totnes.