mermaidcamp
Keeping current in wellness, in and out of the water
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Cycles of Rebirth
March 30, 2013
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Aesculapius
I: And the crown? Solve the riddle of the crown for me!”
Soul Bird: “The crown and serpent are opposites, and are one. Did you not see the serpent that crowned the head of the crucified?”
I: “What, I don’t understand you.”
Soul Bird: “What words did the crown bring you?
“Love never ends”-that is the mystery of the crown and the serpent.” ~Carl Jung; Red Book.
Carl Jung was the son of a reform minister who grappled with his own religion throughout his life. He had high aspirations and did some deep Dante style soul searching. His final spiritual expression was the Red Book, published after his death. In it he links symbols to deeper meaning. He was a student not only of mythology and history, but also of the ancient sciences. He studied the astrologers and the work of the alchemists to find clues to the collective consciousness as it has passed down through history. He was interested in Kundalini, the serpent coiled at the base of the energetic spine.
During the time of Christ the GrecoRoman god of healing Aesculapius was still popular. Cures and diagnosis in the cult of this demi god involved dreams and dream healing. His symbol, and indeed his assistants in healing temples, were the snakes. They were deemed to be powerful psychics. The symbol of the snake as natural healer was traded for the image of snake, the temptation of Eve, which got everyone thrown out of the Garden of Eden, reptiles included. We are not sure who lives there now..
If you have dreams of crowns or serpents, pay special attention. Something may be attempting rebirth within your soul.
Wealth
March 29, 2013
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Andrew Carnegie wrote an essay he called The Gospel of Wealth. This idea came to him after Carnegie had become the wealthiest man in the world. As we check the biblical Gospel for Easter, we should check the reality gospel that is practiced in our nations and neighborhoods. The most disgraceful have been hogging the assets of society, and ultimately of the planet. Symbols of power and politics today are all about over consumption. It does not matter which one— fraud, health care scandals, or useless government busy work are the source of the waste. The point is that our wealth is being used to destroy the general good of the entire society. Our assets are spent to promote shameless partisan destruction of our best interests. We are going morally broke. In 1889 Carnegie wrote:
Thus is the problem of Rich and Poor to be solved. The laws of accumulation will be left free ; the laws of distribution free. Individualism will continue, but the millionaire will be but a trustee for the poor; intrusted for a season with a great part of the increased wealth of the community, but administering it for the community far better than it could or would have done for itself. The best minds will thus have reached a stage in the development of the race in which it is clearly seen that there is no mode of disposing of surplus wealth creditable to thoughtful and earnest men into whose hands it flows save by using it year by year for the general good. This day already dawns. But a little while, and although, without incurring the pity of their fellows, men may die sharers in great business enterprises from which their capital cannot be or has not been withdrawn, and is left chiefly at death for public uses, yet the man who dies leaving behind many millions of available wealth, which was his to administer during life, will pass away ” unwept, unhonored, and unsung,” no matter to what uses he leaves the dross which he cannot take with him. Of such as these the public verdict will then be : “The man who dies thus rich dies disgraced.” ~Andrew Carnegie
Charlton Heston meets Dame Edith
March 23, 2013
The relatively dead Charlton Heston is resurrected to play Ben Hur and Moses this time of the year. His public image at his death with his cold fingers wrapped around his gun have somehow surpassed that of the young buff actor who played these religious roles. He came to stand for the NRA, and the NRA has come to stand for a whole lot. Some old angry dude lent his celebrity to the NRA like Clint Eastwood did for the Republican party. Somehow an untarnished reputation as a pure actor seems more valuable to me than these actor endorsements of political positions. Their mothers told them that if they die in a political public outrage their face will freeze like that ( in the public memory). If Charlton is believable in Planet of the Apes, then he is not believable as a political voice of the people. We never should have allowed Ronnie and Nancy to ride out of Hollywood and into the White House, blurring the lines between politics and showbiz. At least Dame Edna shows the proper amount of respect.
Dreams and Dreamers
March 22, 2013
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Your dreams are personal and they arise from the collective unconscious as well as your own. We all share a foundation of unknown mythology that our ancestors built into our beliefs. We share, and sometimes rebel against, cultural practices and teachings. To deeply analyze our own psychological types dream work is necessary. The setting and the characters portrayed in dreams are metaphorical players in our spiritual lives. Deeper understanding of our own unconscious leads to better understanding and appreciation for all of life.
There has been an attempt to hijack the word dream and turn it into a house or a car, or that illusive American Dream. The big consumer consciousness promotes purchases of certain items in order to fulfill a dream. It also spotlights outer image as the key to dreaminess. I think it is important to note that marketing experts use the personality types to design ad campaigns and sales persons use them to craft the appropriate pitch for the prospect. The archetype technique is being used strategically to manipulate you and your dreams. If you submit willingly you will buy a lot of stuff with dubious dream fulfillment. Take the reigns, gentle reader. Design your own dreamscapes and accept no substitutes.
The Prince Archetype
March 21, 2013
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In literature and mythology the prince is an archetypal figure. In drama or our lives the prince represents one who must take the mysterious and trying journey to become king. His dark shadow companion is the wanderer, who never accepts reposnsibility and continues to avoid the dignity and responsibility of his royal inheritance. They look a bit like William and Harry, honestly. The prince can be charming or dark in his presentation. He may complete his journey and become king, but there is no guarantee.
Carl Jung identified 4 masculine archetypes, and made the assertion that to be whole man must be in touch with all of them. He also explained the bi-polar potential inherent in each character. They are described as shadow and positive qualities. The soul embarks on an epic journey to mature on earth. The heroes and Prince Charmings of our lives have lessons to teach as well as to learn. When you think of this archetype who pops into your thoughts? Americans have some pretty wild versions of the prince from Disney to the artist formerly and once again known as Prince. How do we know when our American prince becomes a king? tricky..
Connessione
March 19, 2013
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Systems thinking was described by Leonardo da Vinci as “Everything is connected to everything else”. He called this connessione, or connection. Now that we study quantum physics, we can see that Leonardo’s concern with the connectedness of all things was ahead of his time. Ecology is the whole picture, with all the actions and reactions charted, considered and studied. Man has now reached the conclusion that the unenlightened connections to our environment are probably destroying the future of man.
Where and how do you connect with all of creation? We can think of many examples of disconnection….government, education, so called health care, all the failed and failing systems created without any thought of wholeness and balanced contribution. How do you effect the world around you and how does it effect you? Are you aware of any connections in your life? What is the most important intellectual connection you have made up to this point? I notice that resources abound for those who notice, respect, and care for them. I have connected human greed, depression and insatiable consumption of resources as a single downward spiral. I believe that mindless overconsumption of everything around us is our biggest threat.
Leonardo observed,” every part is disposed to unite with the whole, that it may thereby escape from its own incompleteness.” How do you apply this idea?
@Pontifex Francis
March 18, 2013
— 1 Comment
Pope Francis has the twitter handle of the Vatican now, and this is his first tweet:
“Dear friends, I thank you from my heart and I ask you to continue to pray for me. Pope Francis.”
His style is matter of fact. He keeps asking for the people to pray for him. He breaks out and kisses babies. I think he is a very smart and astute cookie. The Jesuits are big into discernment as a key to practice. The order teaches ways to recognize the activities of the spirits in action in everyday life. They devote a good deal of time and effort into understanding the emotions and the spiritual meaning in the details. They listen for the voice of God. It is most tempting for the human ego to impersonate the Creator, rather than deeply search for divine guidance.
The Catholic church needs now to both listen to the membership and discern what is spiritually best for the world. A closed, authoritarian, dogmatic institution has the need for a live wire to bring it back to awareness. The first deliberate steps taken by Pope Francis (who I believe is named for both Francis of Assisi and Francis Xavier) signal a new direction. I am neither Catholic nor a fan of any church, but I do appreciate discernment. He seems ready willing and able to bring fresh discernment to a troubled institution. He has already changed the vibe.
Saving Tucson’s Environment
March 17, 2013
— 3 Comments
This week I had the opportunity to take a workshop with Watershed Management Group. I am concerned about the use and abuse of our water resources in Tucson, so I was curious to learn what this group is teaching. I found the format to be very effective. Our 2 day workshop took place at the Ward 1 City of Tucson office near the Santa Cruz River. A grant has been secured to improve the environment around the office. The water harvesting techniques we learned to retrofit neighborhoods with green infrastructure are needed in all parts of the Tucson valley in order to preserve and repair our water table. The city of Tucson Water, and the Arizona Department of Environmental Quality sponsor and fund some of these storm water harvesting projects. Others are created by neighborhoods and cities. Lake Havasu City has been an active client, as is the city of Sierra Vista.
My fellow students came from as far away as Buffalo, New York. There were several New Mexicans. All were professionals in the fields of landscape design, civil engineering, architecture, permaculture, and real estate management. I attended out of my general interest in water quality and health. I have a specific interest in stopping the rape of the environment in my neighborhood by my own HOA board. There is an insistence on as much water waste and plant destruction as possible, which has left us with a more and more barren urban heat island. The value of our property as well as the quality of life around us has been destroyed, along with wildlife habitat, by simply following worst environmental practices for more than a decade. If no steps are taken to stop the destructive practices we can expect our value to continue to drop and our crime rate to continue to rise. Environment and greenery have a very direct effect on crime rates.
I learned more than enough to convince some of my neighbors to join me in turning the tide of waste and ghetto creation in our hood. I look forward to participating in more projects with Watershed Management Group.
Benefits and techniques
Costs
Healthy snacks
we assess the site
checking all deets
Parking lot project
polenta pizza
beets, greens, salad
greens
I am a huge fan of the entire process, about which I will tell you much more, gentle reader. Let it suffice to say that taking courses in watershed management will get you into the best lunch you have ever tasted. Incredibly tasty local ingredients were catered for us picnic style. A good time was had by all. The learning was fine, but the camaraderie and gourmet enjoyment put this experience over the top in my book.
Embrace and Drive Change
March 14, 2013
Zappquarters
The second core value of Zappos is simple, but not so easy. Change is never as easy as it seems. The investment in any status quo is heavier than it appears to the naked eye. To start something new is much easier than to destroy something old that does not work (think Congress). People feel that change involves admission of some kind of error, and that is why they will not enter the zone. Being right is important to the point that it can alter the mind of the thinker significantly. When driving change that involves others, be sure that you do not threaten their self images. Any indication that there is a better way, also indicates that the present path is the wrong one. Egos invest in this kind of righteous battle. Ego battles virtually always get out of control because the individuals cannot control the egos. It is best to show by example how change can work for the benefit of all participants.
- inventing an official company sport is a metaphor
- defying gravity is a change most people do not consider
- sports are defined too narrowly
- everyone can win
- strength, fitness, and flexibility are just a side effect of the fun
- coaching is more effective combined with movement
- It is HOT in Vegas
- the product can make us all some bucks while helping others
We are joined at the core, Tony…..tweet me, maybe.
Personal Religion
March 12, 2013
— 1 Comment
My favorite author, teacher, and living spiritual expert is Thomas Moore. He is finishing a new book called A Religion of One’s Own. His concept is not to do away with religion, but to inspire and revive it. The Dalai Lama has recently spoken about a similar concept. Institutional religion is having momentum problems in the developed world. Yoga, in all the many forms, is still enjoying a growth in popularity in America. Although yoga was brought to the world by Hindus, yoga is not a religion in itself. It is a philosophy.
The casual way he talks about warming up for the book by translating the Gospels from ancient Greek lets you know what kind of scholar he is. He has taught in full on Latin, composed music, and become a well respected therapist. His own fluid path was probably never suspected by anyone, least of all him, when he became a monk. When is a monk more than a monk? I think we have two excellent living examples today. Both Thomas Moore and the Dali Lama of Tibet teach kindness, meditation, and natural magic. As experts in religion, as scholars, and as holders of the traditions, these men are shining stars. We are lucky that they have both chosen to write books for us, teach us, and even, bless their hearts, tweet us. They are both telling us we need to connect to spirit and each other for quality of life.
I think that worldwide the ways of communication have changed and the drift toward a meaningless existence has increased. Churches and temples reflect this in both a positive and negative way. If people look at their own religion as a sham, but still pay dues in order to just be a member of something, the future of those institutions is bleak. Keeping up the facade has become an expensive, and sometimes self destructive activity in some religious organizations. Personal practice that is designed to cultivate compassion and mindfulness can nourish the soul of the world. We are in need of this kind of responsibility taken and embraced by individuals and communities. We had religious reform, some have had revival. Let us have personal religious renaissance. The book will not be out for a while, but I am already in favor of the whole idea.
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