Caged Wild Animals - Come ON, PEOPLE!

Ok, now look (and I quote our adored President there). We've all seen the news lately: Key West being overrun with boa constrictors and exotic snakes. Key West being a place where there was never a snake problem before.

Why? Because people who wish to appear exotic themselves purchase these wild animals, then when they cannot care for them they take the easy way out and dump them. Please tell me who can cuddle and love a snake ..... go ahead ......
tell me ...... and the reptile "loves" you in return, right? Uh-huh.

What happens next? Snakes lay 40 eggs or more so guess what. The countryside fills up with unwanted animals which are not native to the area and they cause problems for humans and other animals. Do YOU want to accidentally cross paths with a 12 foot boa constrictor? Me, either.

I don't have anything against snakes. We have lots of 'em here in Missouri ....... the ones which belong here in order to keep the environment under control. I see them often. The little ones are adorable ..... the big ones are necessary. The hawks love to munch on them. But do I wish to find a boa constrictor crawling out of the couch my child is sitting on as just happened in New York? NO!

The latest chimpanzee attack has brought to light, once again, the problem with keeping a wild animal and treating it as a child. It doesn't work. I researched chimp attacks and they happen often and ferociously. Chimps do not behave as do domesticated dogs and kitties. Why? Because they are wild animals, people!

Sorry to all who wish to appear Madonna or Wytchy-like exotic by having a white snake or some other exotic reptile, but they are not domesticated animals and simply do not belong in your home. What sounds "cool" is actually WRONG.

Caging animals is WRONG. Have you read "I Know Why the Caged Bird Sings"? As far as that goes, zoos have always seemed inhumane to me ...... or inanimalmane, as it were. These animals are caged, gawked at and held against their will in unnatural environments so that humans can "enjoy" their plight? Wha? How is this a good thing?

As humans we wish to control the world, including the environment. Well, Mama Nature is showing us who's boss, isn't she? Global warming is upon us. We want to drive and travel all over the place in our gasoline powered cars rather than staying home, living a simpler life (myself included in the past). Instead of powering our transportation naturally (which can be easily achieved but the Rockefellers preferred that we use oil) we choose the production of carbon monoxide, filling the environment with pollutants.

But I digress. As usual.

I'm not preaching to the choir here ...... I'm hoping to hit a note with those who want to keep exotic animals in their homes for whatever reason. I doubt that any of the reasons, if examined closely, have anything to do with the welfare of the animal. As humans and, for the most part, the top of the food chain, we should be invested in caring for the animals in our worlds, not torturing them by putting snakes in aquariums, birds in cages and chimps in a home built for people.

Yes, we share 98% of our DNA with chimps, but evidently that 2% which is not shared is the killer 2%.

In general I'm not pro more and more laws. I'm pro common sense. But since there seems to be a dearth of common sense around lately it looks like we need laws.

It's time to enact laws protecting wild animals again. Once again we need to protect them from US. From humans bringing exotic, wild animals into their homes, finding out that it doesn't work out well and then producing a tragedy beyond sanity or releasing wild animals where they don't belong.

Many of us have kept birds in cages, myself included. I love birds and would like to have a large, exotic bird in my home. But I had to rethink that. I'd love it, but how would the bird feel about it? I came to the conclusion that the only way I could justify that purchase would be after we've built a greenhouse, filled with trees and plants, where we could allow the bird to fly free.

However, is even that enough? It's still a caged environment.

I invite your responses both pro and con. Perhaps I'm wrong about our desire to keep wild animals in unnatural environments. But I doubt it. What do you think?

Cemetery Haunting

Constructed in 1857 and designed by John Wood, the Woodland Cemetery in Quincy, Illinois is one of the more intriguing cemeteries I've haunted recently. It overlooks the Mississippi River from the bluff on which Quincy is set. The view is wonderful.



Oh ...... you didn't know that one of my favorite pastimes was haunting old cemeteries? How long have I known you?

Yesterday afternoon found me creeping around Woodland with my camera while listening to Marschner's "Der Vampyr" on NPR radio. Really, does it get any better than that?



Well anyway, I got to thinking about why it is that cemeteries have always attracted me. When I was growing up there was a large cemetery about 6 blocks from my home. In those days kids were allowed to run around at night, stay at others' houses, camp in our backyards ...... you name it. We weren't so paranoid back then that there was a child molester hiding around every corner. Now we hear news from all over the world, news that every day tells us we are not safe. How can this not have affected our sense of being safe in our own space?



But I digress. As a child, along with my friends, we used to run through this cemetery at night. We would continually fascinate ourselves with the one above ground "tomb" of cement, trying to dislodge the lid. Which, of course, we couldn't. There was a crack in the corner of it, however, and this made us believe that somehow, some day, we would surely be able to slide that 500 pound lid over just far enough so that we could have a peek inside. This was the extent of our attempt at vandalism, at which we were dismal failures.

Well there was one other little thing, but that's a different BLOG.

When my daughters were young we used to pick up sandwiches and park in the middle of a cemetery for our picnic. This could explain the way they turned out, perhaps. Hmmmm. Nevertheless, it was always a peaceful outing. Rarely is anyone trampling through a cemetery with their barking, pooping and peeing dogs. I like that about cemeteries.



Other than the errant young vandal, seldom do you find anyone being disrespectful in a cemetery. I imagine that we still, as a society, respect the spiritual and for that I'm thankful.



So what is it about cemeteries? Fear of the unknown? Our craving for the mysterious? The intrigue of the "other worldly"? Or is it the feeling that we are playing with fire, with things we don't understand and which pump our adrenaline a bit faster, make us feel slightly more alive by contrast with the peacefulness following death?



I know there are many who dislike the thought of cemeteries or viewing them. It seems to me that were we to more readily accept that death is part of life we would find the passage through our lives into old age more acceptable. Rather than trying to always look younger and avoid thoughts of what it means to be old, would we be more at peace with the knowledge of old age and death were we to allow ourselves more contact with them?



My Dad's death was a heavy blow for me emotionally. When Dad was showing signs that he might not be around on this plane much longer I asked him if he cold try to contact me from the other side. He said he would "have to think about it." Har. To my knowledge he hasn't done so yet ......... but then again I have noticed that this past winter I've seen so many more hawks, eagles and what I call the "God sky" ...... I have to wonder if maybe he isn't having something to do with that.



There isn't anything about Woodland Cemetery that isn't intriguing. From the old grave markers which are in disrepair and falling down the bluff, to the "City Vault", built into the hillside and now housing seemingly the castoffs of the cemetery, the place has a feel of calm solitude.



Next time I think I'll bring a bottle of wine to share and sip it under one of the incredible cemetery trees providing shelter for the still living. I highly recommend a trip through the oldest cemetery you can find, reading the names and dates and giving blessings to those who have passed this way before.



Namasté

My Evening with Deepak Chopra at Unity Village

Stained Glass Window in Unity Chapel


There is a calmness on the expansive grounds of the Unity Village which one would expect to encounter. What is surprisingly interesting is the architecture which is a mix of cottage style structures and Mediterranean architecture. One such cottage style building, evidently used now as a potting shed of sorts, could easily serve to be a model for my dreamy witch’s cottage in the mountains one day.



Easy to find and right off interstate 470 southeast of Kansas City, Unity Village is the complex consisting of chapels, prayer tower, gardens, motels, conference centers, golf course, book store and many buildings associated with the business side of the Unity Church.

Driving onto the grounds I was pleased by the familiarity of several of the buildings which I had often seen in the monthly Unity magazine I received years ago. Always a source of peace and often enlightening, the magazine was my first introduction to the Unity Church’s unique brand of spirituality. At that time Dr. Marcus Bach was still writing a monthly column for the magazine. Dr. Bach, an author and minister, had been a friend of my Father’s for years and had traveled the world, writing of the similarities in the world’s religions as opposed to their differences. He was a fascinating friend and an amazing man.


Unity Tower Dr. Marcus Bach


This evening was to be a first for me: my first time visiting Unity Village and the first (hopefully of many) times I would meet and learn from Deepak Chopra. Dr. Chopra is, arguably I imagine, one of the leading spiritual teachers of our time. As most of you will know he has written many books. At this time he is on a book tour for his most recent book, “Jesus: A Story of Enlightenment.”



I was thrilled ...... nearly overwhelmed, really ....... to be at his private reception prior to the lecture and book signing. The new friends I had made while sitting around the fire in the hotel lobby were first in line with me to meet Dr. Chopra. In person he is as kind and soft spoken as you would expect after seeing him interviewed and lecturing on television. There was one surprise, however. This evening he was wearing bright red, glitter encrusted glasses which prompted me to wonder if he was a distant cousin to Liberace.


Great glasses, eh? Yes, I can be a dork even around Deepak Chopra

The reception afforded an opportunity to meet many people associated with Unity Village. Some who work behind the scenes and others with their own Unity radio programs which you can find online at www.unityfm.ning.com. Once again I was struck by the universe’s ability to link me with people of commonality. This time it was with two sisters who had lived in the city where I had spent most of my adult life previous to moving to the countryside of Missouri.


Wall painting and mosaics in Silent Unity Chapel and Unity Buildings

We moved to the Unity Village Chapel for Dr. Chopra’s two hour lecture. Here I was pleased once again that I had reserved seating so that I could see Dr. Chopra close enough to interpret facial expression. Finding that his red tennis shoes were a perfect compliment to the glittery glasses was an extra added treat.


Brass sculpture in the lobby of the Unity Chapel

Anyone who has listened to Dr. Chopra speak knows that a two hour lecture would be impossible to summarize in one brief article. His lecture centered more around his recent DVD lecture series entitled “Jesus and The Awakening to God Consciousness” which is based on his book “The third Jesus: The Christ We Cannot Ignore.”

You may be wondering how all of this information which centers around Jesus Christ has relevance for me, a believer of the "old ways", a person most disinterested in modern organized religion and its hypocricies. However, to listen to Dr. Chopra is to learn that all spirituality is intertwined. As an organization which focuses on spirituality rather than religion, Unity Village is the perfect setting for increasing one’s knowledge of the Godliness within all of us.

One of the thoughts presented by Dr. Chopra was the “fight or flight” level of consciousness. This is our lowest, least spiritual reaction to any event. It is our immediate instinct to either run away or lash out at any perceived injustice. It is the reaction of those who are full of self-importance, not of a more evolved spirit. This is the reactive level which is the basis of fundamental religions. Hence our world is home to terrorists on a global framework, and even those small time terrorists we find lashing out in our personal lives.

There may be drawn certain parallels between politics and this spiritual theory. Do we take the time and effort involved to discover the right path to take, or do we simply react? Do we commence a discussion with our global neighbors, or do we simply strike out? We need to progress from our win-lose alignment to one of win-win mindset not only in global politics but in our own lives as well. It is from our changes within that the global creative leap will occur.

Dr. Chopra went on to explain that evil is not our enemy. Evil is the personal and collective shadow. It is easy to understand how this is our learning experience from which much is gained. We learn not only from experiencing, but hopefully from watching also.

“The universe does not exist unless someone is looking at it.” Now there is a thought provoking statement, is it not? Because I am far too inexperienced at Dr. Chopra’s level of consciousness I can only offer that which I understand of this concept. As Dr. Chopra explains, we are all made up of light. Our universe is formed from that which we see, which is light transmission. If we don’t see it, does it exist? This brings to mind the age old question, “if a tree falls in a forest and no one is there to hear it, does it make a sound?” Previous to this lecture I thought, “well, of course it does!” Now I am not so sure.



Dr. Chopra tell us to look within. Look within our mind/body and our egos. For within is our “inner self awareness” which is the co-creator, along with the larger mystery of the universal being. Ultimately we are immortal beings. “Death is quantum creativity.” This and so much more was squeezed into two hours of rather mind boggling ideas which to this day have left me pondering and altered. There is a mood which is created by one who has such intense knowledge to share. When shared in person and kept alive by conscious thought it transforms the listener more quickly than is possible by the written word alone.

Dr. Chopra left the crowd of approximately 350 attendees with a challenge. A challenge of how to change the world as quickly as possible to that of a world of non-violence. He had recently attended an international conference made up of 500 people from 35 countries. As he rose to the lectern a thought occurred to him. He asked this group of esteemed politicians, “movers and shakers”, to stand if they would be willing to take a vow of non-violence. This means non-violence not only in action but in words and thoughts. Not an easy task.

One by one, all 500 people finally stood up. He asked our lecture group to consider doing the same after giving his request the concentration it deserves. He asks all who will take the vow to go to his website at http://deepakchopra.com/ and sign that you, also, will take this vow and then will ask two other people to agree to do the same. Three by three we shall conquer violence and become a peaceful world. Perhaps the new age has begun.

~This article was previously printed in "Ye Olde Witches' Brew" Magazine, which you can find here: http://www.yeoldewitchesbrew.com/




The labyrinth I walked at sunrise ...... not far from my room at the Inn


Wall painting and stained glass window in the tiny 6 person meditation chapel

Has our country finally entered "the new age"?

It's hard to imagine that anyone could be thinking of anything besides the outcome of the election at this point in time. Historic, moving, enlightened, hopeful, gratifying ....... well, I could go on.



Out walking before sunrise this morning, enjoying a lightness in my steps which wasn't there yesterday (possibly something to do with my new pink Crocs covered in "diamonds" ...... but I think it's more than that), I felt the tired elation of staying up late to hear the hopefulness and wisdom of President-elect Obama's acceptance speech (recording it to listen again today). Of course we have a long way to go but now is the time to revel in this moment in history. Those of us who voted for Obama are the catalysts of this historic moment. I want to feel it, reflect on it, and promote it.

I couldn't help but reflect, also, on McCain's concession speech. Had he chosen to run a campaign with a graciousness similar to that of his acceptance speech, might he have won the election? Definitely a possibility. The fact that he chose to go low-level with fabrications, anger and the usual misleading accusations helped him lose. I'm not complaining. In fact what pleases me is to recognize that it's clearly not the direction most of us wanted to go any longer. We're onto the fear mongering to get votes .... the out of context 6 second soundbites to misconstrue ........ and the pubescent grimacing and rolling of eyes during debates. Level headedness has conquered the right wing's continuing attempts to spread panic in order to gain votes. Isn't it about time.

As for the red eyed Ms. Palin, her return to Wasilla cannot come fast enough, although I pity Alaska for their choice. The Republicans made a stab at appealing to their fringed far right and to women, and women saw through it. Palin and the Republican party's attempt to set women back decades has failed. The fact that they showed us their true agenda is enlightening and powerful.

Our country now needs to take steps to unify and to heal, and President Obama will be the one to lead us in that direction. It's a new chapter in our country's story. So many memories come to mind: Martin Luther King, John Kennedy, Bobby Kennedy. A chapter of hope which began with the horror of slavery. A chapter of change which began with the fear and cynicism of the far right and is ending in the rich ambition of promise.



Here is my hope: that this is the end of apathy. I hope that our country as a whole will now embrace change, grasp the path to a higher road and now truly enter this new age of Aquarius which was promised to us.


Blessings and peace.

Huh? What? What happened to my catch phrases ........

Poor John McCain. I know. You didn't expect me to say that. But really. The poor guy keeps forgetting to add in his catch phrases and has to backtrack all the time, throw out his catch phrase, and then start in on his lack of his strategy again.

Barack Obama keeps coming back in his calm, collected, elegant way with a plan in reaction to every question. John McSaim says succinct statements such as, "I will get 'em." Ok then. That's reassuring. Huh.

Now Mr. McCain "has the scars to prove" that he's disagreed with the Bush administration. Isn't it curious that both parties must make a point that they disagree whole heartedly with the current administration. When has that happened before?

Holy crap. I owe my computer an apology. I just spit all over it after hearing John McCain say that Sarah Palin is a "role model to women." Huh? Which women would that be? Yes indeed, John. She is indeed a "fresh of breath air." "She understands that autism is on the rise." Well holy god bless. That surely does make her qualified to be president.

I wonder if John McCain understands that a $5,000 tax credit does not equal $5,000 cash. Do we think he has ever prepared his own taxes? Is this man clueless? That was a rhetorical question.

And finally, the constantly blinking John McCain reassures us that he will "allow Joe the Plumber to keep his wealth." Well now ....... I can sleep peacefully tonight knowing that all Joe the Plumbers whose incomes exceed $250,000 will not have to give up one penny of their wealth.

In essence, this 90 minute debate has finalized the definition between these two presidential candidates. One has eloquently stated his ideas, hopes and plans for leading this country. The other has repeated his lies and platitudes.

PS - I haven't heard Mr. McSaim-Catch-Phrase call himself a "maverick" even once tonight. Generally this word has come into play roughly 86 times per speech in the past. Is it possible that the Maverick family's condemnation of this non-maverick actually registered?

We just can't be too thin or too .......... nuts.

Ok, I cannot be silent about this one minute longer. Being bombarded by these photos of anorexic/death camp appearanced women is just plain astounding. How can we be silent about this?

Here it is, the ad that pushed me over the edge:



I believe that to be Angelina Jolie on the left. Take note of the skeletal look: the bony arms that make her (no doubt) small hands look huge, the wrist and collar bones sticking out. This woman appears as though she has just left a concentration camp and needs sustenance for she may die at any moment! This is what we hold up to our young girls as the epitome of female beauty? Puhleeeeeease!!!!!!!

These bony thin, skeletally frail images of women must cease! What are we teaching here ........ that to be a woman is to be skinny little helpless beings? Gag me!! I've had enough!!!!

Now it is a true statement that I have pounds to lose to be healthy. I do not advocate being overweight. However, latest medical reports show that being slightly overweight is healthier than being underweight. I mean, to look at the above image makes my stomach turn. I think this woman's body is eating itself. Why do we as the women of this country allow men to portray this as our society's standard of beauty?

Ok. I have a theory. As usual. It seems to me that this commenced right about the time that the Women's Movement rocked into full swing in the sixties. Remember Twiggy? Yep. She came around when I was in high school or college. We all made fun of her back then. She looked ridiculous with her bony arms and legs. Her name became synonymous with death camp skinny. Now she would be considered today's perfect weighted woman. What has gone wrong here?!

I'll tell you what. As women's power increases, men's desire to keep us powerless increases. It can't be done in the marketplace anymore ........ at least not legally. So it's accomplished in another way. Now we're supposed to be physically completely helpless. No muscle, no tone, no body.

For Goddess' sake let's start standing up for ourselves, our daughters and granddaughters. Do NOT buy magazines with these anorexic women on the covers ....... or inside. Write to advertisers who portray these itty bitty unhealthy women in their television advertising. Get off our bony or padded butts and do something about this.

Bring back the Goddess. The time is now.

Who has come a long way?

I got to thinking the other afternoon about Sarah Palin and O.J. Simpson. Not that there is any connection. Well other than societal and political issues o' the day. Let's throw Mr. McCain into this mix now, too. Now that he has given veracity to the shouts of "terrorist" coming from his supporters. That would be aimed at Barack Obama, of course. Barack Obama is a terrorist. That's the Republicans' new chant. And yes, this actually did occur, and John McCain said nothing. NOTHING.

Does it occur to us that these three people are setting us back decades in our race relations, decades back in Feminism and ........... well, about as far back as yesterday where older middle aged white men are concerned. But there you see my own prejudice slipping below my skirt an inch or two.

If there ever was a time for good public manners to reappear it would be now. If there ever was a time for good people to speak out, it is now. Now is the time for all good women (and men) to come to the aid of their country. For the first time since the Revolutionary War we need ....... no we MUST have good people stand up and say this is enough. We've had enough. If you can't speak publicly then do it with your vote. No one of sound mind and heart can vote for someone who allows his opponent to be called a terrorist. No one of sound mind and heart can vote for a woman to be our Vice President who must read from note cards in order to have anything of substance to say, and even then she gets her facts wrong.

O.J. managed to divide the nation by color. The Republicans AND the Democrats had a chance to bring the country together, finally, in support of a woman running for high political office. Instead they threw Sarah Palin into the mix for all the wrong reasons. John McCain could have proven that even white life-long politicians can resist appealing to the lowest common denominator with his campaign ......... but he didn't.

There will always be the Rush Limbaugh fans and Howard Stern fans out there amongst the most insecure of our society. The ones who must lower themselves to a state of prejudice and hatred in order to feel their own "power."

It's time to publicly reject these attitudes. Time to bring back good manners and gentlemanliness. Time to rise above bad language, hateful insinuation, acceptance via omission of people who shout "terrorist" and appealing to the lowest of human nature in order to garner votes for a failing campaign. In fact it's time to raise society to a higher level in general. A higher spiritual plane on which we view each other with a gentility that has been largely left unused for decades.

I hadn't intended this BLOG to morph into a treatise of a spiritual nature. But since I've ended up at this point, please refer to this link to read the BLOGS of Deepak Chopra, who has it way over me where it comes to spiritual issues and most everything else for that matter:

http://www.myspace.com/deepakchopra

It's time for change and not just political change, although a vote for Barack Obama is a vote for societal change, also. It's time for all good people to step up and demand something better.

Republicans and the Truth

Ok - gotcha with that title, didn't I? You thought it was an oxymoron. It is.

This morning I listened to Bill Bennett (former Secretary of Education and later the "Drug Czar" under the first Bushy) answer a reporter's questions regarding Sarah Palin. He was asked what he thought about her saying she'd been to Iraq (she hasn't), about her saying that most vice presidents have never met with foreign leaders either (they have, with the exception of Spiro Agnew, a Republican), about her saying she said an emphatic "NO" to the bridge to nowhere (she didn't). His response? All that is quite minor, stop talking about it.

Ok .... I want to get straight on the Republican point of view. Clinton lied about getting a blow job and should be impeached. Palin and McCain lie about their own records and their opponents' records and that's minor, stop talking about it.

I think I understand now.

Check it out:

http://afp.google.com/article/ALeqM5hjO6YPkd2LcstrGwzE3p9bRY7k0g