True Journalism is Dead

True Journalism is dead.
Gone with the days of Superman and Loise Lane.

So while we have a cup of tea
Let's talk about the history
We're writing for our children, please!
Because we create our own realities.
What we make it into, the world will be.
And standing together for equality
Me and you and the Chief.

The land I grew up on happens to be
One of wild and pristine beauty
Mountains, lakes, trees, clean air,
Everywhere I looked, wilderness there.
Now there are people who just want to hurt
The land. What is it worth?

Laid barren the forests, oil the lure.
The soil, our true resource, our food and future
Gets blown away with the wind in the dust
For money and greed and their powerlust.

And the Chief, who was the one with the heart
To stand up and say we will not take part
The one to take a stand
To say I will not sell my people's land
Out from under them
For my own greed
And luxury.

Then those with luxury struck back
Just a venomous attack
To say that she had wasted funds
And that her cause had come undone.

A pit of vipers at the foot of her tee pee,
She sips on nothing but fish broth and herbal tea,
And stands her ground majestically.
The people's humble Chief.

The people, in their hearts, they know
The land is our future, our only hope.
Without our soil, nothing will grow
And with the trees, wildlife goes.

The Chief and the others are doing what's right
Through non-violent protest they shed the light
Protecting the land and resources we've got
If you think, what can I do? The answer's a lot!
So, I don't beg or plead, but I implore,
That together we IDLE NO MORE.

President Kennedy's Inaugural Address

"We observe today not a victory of party but a celebration of freedom -- symbolizing an end as well as a beginning. For I have sworn before you and Almighty God the same solemn oath our forebears prescribed nearly a century and three quarters ago.

"The world is very different now. For man holds in his mortal hands the power to abolish all forms of human poverty and all forms of human life. And yet the same revolutionary beliefs for which our forebears fought are still at issue around the globe -- the belief that the rights of man come not from the generosity of the state but from the hand of God.

"We dare not forget today that we are the heirs of the first revolution. Let the word go forth from this time and place, to friend and foe alike, that the torch has been passed to a new generation of Americans -- born in this century, tempered by war, disciplined by a hard and bitter peace, proud of our ancient heritage -- and unwilling to witness or permit the slow undoing of those human rights to which this nation has always been committed, and to which we are committed today at home and around the world.

"Let every nation know, whether it wishes us well or ill, that we shall pay any price, bear any burden, meet any hardship, support any friend, oppose any foe to assure the survival and the success of liberty.

"This much we pledge, and more.

"To those old allies whose cultural and spiritual origins we share, we pledge the loyalty of faithful friends. United, there is little we cannot do in a host of cooperative ventures. Divided, there is little we can do -- for we dare not meet a powerful challenge at odds and split asunder.

"To those new states whom we welcome to the ranks of the free, we pledge our word that one form of colonial control shall not have passed away merely to be replaced by a far more iron tyranny. We shall not always expect to find them supporting our view. But we shall always hope to find them strongly supporting their own freedom -- and to remember that, in the past, those who foolishly sought power by riding the back of the tiger ended up inside.

"To those peoples in the huts and villages of half the globe struggling to break the bonds of mass misery, we pledge our best efforts to help them help themselves, for whatever period is required -- not because the communists may be doing it, but because it is right. If a free society cannot help the many who are poor, it cannot save the few who are rich.

"To our sister republics south of our border, we offer a special pledge -- to convert our good words into good deeds -- in a new alliance for progress -- to assist free men and free governments in casting off the chains of poverty. But this peaceful revolution of hope cannot become the prey of hostile powers. Let all our neighbors know that we shall join them to oppose aggression or subversion anywhere in the Americas. And let every other power know that this hemisphere intends to remain the master of its own house.

"To that world assembly of sovereign states, our last best hope in an age where the instruments of war have far out-paced the instruments of peace, we renew our pledge of support -- to prevent it from becoming merely a forum for invective -- to strengthen its shield of the new and the weak -- and to enlarge the area in which its writ may run.

"Finally, to those nations who would make themselves our adversary, we offer not a pledge but a request: that both sides begin anew the quest for peace, before the dark powers of destruction unleashed by science engulf all humanity in planned or accidental self-destruction.

"We dare not tempt them with weakness. For only when our arms are sufficient beyond doubt can we be certain beyond doubt that they will never be employed.

"But neither can two great and powerful groups of nations take comfort from our present course -- both sides over-burdened by the cost of modern weapons, both rightly alarmed by the steady spread of the deadly atom, yet both racing to alter that uncertain balance of terror that stays the hand of mankind's final war.

"So let us begin anew - remembering on both sides that civility is not a sign of weakness, and sincerity is always subject to proof. Let us never negotiate out of fear. But let us never fear to negotiate.

"Let both sides explore what problems unite us instead of belaboring those problems which divide us.

"Let both sides, for the first time, formulate serious and precise proposals for the inspection and control of arms -- and bring the absolute power to destroy other nations under the absolute control of all nations.

"Let both sides seek to invoke the wonders of science instead of its terrors. Together let us explore the stars, conquer the deserts, eradicate disease, tap the ocean depths and encourage the arts and commerce.

"Let both sides unite to heed in all comers of the earth the command of Isaiah -- to 'undo the heavy burdens . . . (and) let the oppressed go free.

"And if a beach-head of cooperation may push back the jungle of suspicion, let both sides join in creating a new endeavor, not a new balance of power, but a new world of law, where the strong are just and the weak secure and the peace preserved.

"All this will not be finished in the first hundred days. Nor will it be finished in the first one thousand days, nor in the life of this Administration, nor even perhaps in the lifetime of our planet. But let us begin.

"In your hands, my fellow citizens, more than mine, will rest the final success or failure of our course. Since this country was founded, each generation of Americans has been summoned to give testimony to its national loyalty. The graves of young Americans who answered the call to service surround the globe.

"Now the trumpet summons us again -- not as a call to bear arms, though arms we need -- not as a call to battle, though embattled we are -- but a call to bear the burden of a long twilight struggle, year in and year out, 'rejoicing in hope, patient in tribulation' -- a struggle against the common enemies of man: tyranny, poverty, disease, and war itself.

"Can we forge against the enemies a grand and global alliance, North and South, East and West, that can assure a more fruitful life for all mankind? Will you join in that historic effort?

"In the long history of the world, only a few generations have been granted the role of defending freedom in its hour of maximum danger. I do not shrink from this responsibility -- I welcome it. I do not believe that any of us would exchange places with any other people or any other generation. The energy, the faith, the devotion which we bring to this endeavor will light our country and all who serve it -- and the glow from that fire can truly light the world.

"And so, my fellow Americans: ask not what your country can do for you -- ask what you can do for your country.

"My fellow citizens of the world: ask not what America will do for you, but what together we can do for the freedom of man.

"Finally, whether you are citizens of America or citizens of the world, ask of us here the same high standards of strength and sacrifice which we ask of you. With a good conscience our only sure reward, with history the final judge of our deeds, let us go forth to lead the land we love, asking His blessing and His help, but knowing that here on earth, God's work must truly be our own."


I've copied this from the following website, which contains some excellent history on the kind of person and the kind of President that JFK was:

http://www.sott.net/article/124960-The-Bushes-and-The-Lost-King

Chief Theresa Spence and Harper's Illegal Pipeline

Since December 11, 2012, Chief Theresa Spence, Chief of the Attawapiskat Nation, has been camping out in a tee pee on Victoria Island, 12 miles from Parliament Hill.  She is on a hunger strike, a fast of fish broth and herbal tea.  Her peaceful protest is a response to the Canadian government infringing on the land rights agreed upon between First Nations and the Crown.  She has vowed to maintain her hunger strike until she is granted an audience with the Queen's representative in Canada, the Governor General.  She has been waiting and fasting 1 month as of today.

Our Prime Minister, Steven Harper, refuses to address the issue, claiming that Spence's protest is blackmail.  In reality what she is doing is putting her neck on the line to protect our natural resources, the future well being of life in Canada, and her people's birth right and way of life.  Harper has proven his tendency to sell off land rights to the highest bidder with no regard for sustainability.  He has also shown his intention to pander to corporations at the expense of the people, especially the oil and gas industry.  He has demonstrated contempt for Canadian law and disrespect for indigenous people by attempting to change the treaty agreements without approval from native leaders.  His attempt to infringe on treaty rights is illegal, as changes to the treaty can only be made by mutual consent of First Nations leaders and the Crown (or Governor General in this case). 

Recently, the federal government and mainstream media has attempted to discredit the Chief's cause by making her the target of some slanderous accusations.  Their first tactic was to audit the Attawapiskat Nation and release the results to the public, claiming that record keeping was incomplete for funds allotted to the Nation by the federal government.  The implication is that money that was supposed to go towards housing for her people was squandered or misappropriated in some way, at least that is what media is trying to get Canadians to believe.  They have highlighted the fact that contractors are not always specifically named, a fact that seems appropriate, given that the Chief probably tried to create as much work for the Attawapiskat people as possible, giving her own people the contracts for building and physical labor jobs, as any good Chief would. 

What they are not saying is that Chief Theresa Spence is not the only one to have incomplete financial records.  An increasing amount of our federal tax money falls into this category.  A few years ago, the Harper government spent $50 million on a gazebo for the G8 summit.  When the citizens came to protest peacefully in the allotted "Free Speech Zone", they were arrested without cause and many were brutally abused, illegally detained and treated inhumanely by the police, all under Harper's direction to silence the people and save face in front of other government leaders.  If you were unaware of this, I encourage you to watch CBC's Fifth Estate episode "You Should Have Stayed Home."  The Harper government has had so many scandals, they are hardly in a position to be slinging mud at the Chief.

The Chief, in her wisdom, has seen through the attack, claiming that the audit and accusations are merely a distraction from the real issue.  The real issue is this:  Harper is trying to pass a bill allowing a pipeline to be run through First Nations land.  This would benefit oil and gas companies while posing significant threat to the people of Canada.  Pipelines have a history of being unstable and undependable, and the prospect is quite likely that a malfunction will upset the ecosystem and ruin valuable drinking water.  This will affect our children and grandchildren's ability to live in Canada, and more directly affect the First Nations people living nearest the pipeline, already struggling to maintain a decent standard of living.  The Chief understands that Harper does not have the authority to pass the bill to make this happen.  She intends to speak to the Queen's representative about how the proposed pipeline affects her people.  It is not only her right to do so, it is her responsibility, one that she is carrying with courage and grace.

Yesterday, the National Post printed stories on how Harper had finally agreed to meet with First Nations leaders, and Chief Spence was refusing to show up, claiming that she will continue her hunger strike until she meets with the Governor General.  The National Post claimed that the Chief's demands are unfounded, and that the Queen wouldn't presume to get involved in these issues anyway, being merely a figurehead in our country.  The National Post must not be aware that the Queen, or Governor General, is legally required to approve any changes to the treaty, as are the First Nations Chiefs.  Harper can not run a pipeline through reserve lands without the approval of First Nations and the Queen.  The National Post story I read was so filled with misinformation, it can hardly be called reporting.  It is nothing more than propaganda, at best misinformed, at worst disrespectful and bigoted.  The fact that they would allow this to be printed is disgraceful:

            "One of the complaints made about dealing with First Nations is that nothing is ever enough.  No agreement ever solves problems. There’s always something more, some other offence, often intangible and difficult to comprehend, the origins lost in time."

There is prejudice dripping from this statement, oozing from it's slimy core.  Chalking up the Chief's cause as "just another Native complaint" is a low blow, even for mainstream media.  The Chief deserves more respect than that.

She is protecting her people, and the rest of us too, trying to preserve some of our resources and ecosystem for future generations.  She is saving my children and their children, and I am thankful.  Her demand to meet with the queen's representative is perfectly in order, and both the Prime Minister and Governor General should comply if they care about Canada and Canadians at all.  If we care about fairness, equality and our children's future, we should support Chief Spence in whatever way we can. 

Meditation and the Maharishi Effect

On Friday I posted a picture of the chakra system, and explained how each chakra is an energy center in the body representing a different aspect of our self.  This knowledge is often used in meditation, as a quick exercise to assess the energy within the body and adjust to achieve a more balanced state.  This promotes a feeling of inner peace, relieving stress and keeping problems in perspective, a tool that can be very useful in our modern, fast paced world.
The art, Chakra Peace, shows the energy system and the figure forming a peace sign, and includes a poem about war which implies the question, is peace merely an illusion in our world, an unattainable ideal.  Many would say that it is.  Does peace belong in the same category as fairies and unicorns, nice to talk about, but not grounded in any sort of physical reality?
It is a question worth asking, especially given the current state of our world.  War has become so prevalent that it is not even considered news.  The Invisible War has been waged for over 11 years now, so named because no one is reporting on it, all details hidden from the public.  Now drone warfare is being employed, so that killing of random and targeted people can occur from the comfort of a lazy boy recliner.  Hundreds of children and thousands of innocent people are murdered without accountability on the part of the military.  Communities are ripped to shreds and left to rebuild after senseless and unjustified destruction.
Many, including the president and even my own dad, an ex-marine, would say that there is no easy solution to this problem.  It seems we have dug ourselves a hole that is now so deep we cant see our way out of it.
I admit I have also felt the weight of the problem, and the lack of clear solutions, even as I put the pressure on the president to call an end to drone warfare and the killing of foreign innocents.  At the same time, many individuals wonder what they can do on a personal level to affect change, to make the world a better place.
I have long believed in meditation as an avenue to personal healing and growth, but after Fridays blog on peace and the psychic energy system, something else came to my attention.  The Maharishi effect establishes the idea that individual consciousness affects collective consciousness.  When just one percent of the population is practicing trancendental meditation, effects such as reduced crime rates and positive social, economic and political changes can be seen.  The affect on consciousness can register on a national level, as improved national harmony and well being, and on a global level as improved international relations and reduced international conflicts.  Studies have shown that with a group of just 7,000 people meditating, positive effects appear immediately, including reduced international conflict and reduced incidence of terrorism.  For those who like math, 7,000 is close to the square root of one percent of the worlds population.
Meditation is not complicated or difficult.  There is no need to spend a ton of money or time sitting in classes to learn it.  You do not need to master yoga or a martial art to understand it.  Meditation can take many different forms, and no one form is more valid or inherintly more effective than another.  A person can meditate while doing the dishes, bathing or for a few minutes before they fall asleep at night.  Meditation can be mixed with movement, such as jogging, dancing or stretching, or practiced while sitting in a quiet room.  There are as many different forms of meditation as there are personality traits, it is just a matter of finding a style that works for you.
Chakra meditation involves visualizing the energy in you and around you and bringing it into an ideal state.  This takes some imagination.  Imagine the spheres of energy, one at a time, starting with the red.  For example, lets say your red energy is weak.  It has been allowed to spread too far.  Instead of a bright swirling ball, you see red energy dissipating through the pelvis, with streaks of brown muddying the color.  Since red energy represents the needs of the physical body, this could be because you skipped breakfast and ate fast food for lunch.  Your body is reminding you to take care of it.  You imagine yourself containing the red energy, moving it back into a ball shape at the base of the spine, letting a breeze air out the chakra until the color is shining, a true bright red.
Now you move up to your orange chakra.  You do the same for each of the chakras, recognizing the part of you that each chakra represents, visualizing its current state and taking steps to bring it back to its natural state of harmony.  This visualization can take less than 5 minutes, and helps align the energy within our bodies.  It becomes more than just imagination.  It can even produce changes in physical health, since blocked energy can produce illness or pain in our bodies.
And I imagine the effect on the physical world around us works in much the same way.  Imagine clearing the air around you, allowing negativity and conflict to be swept away, while inviting peace and harmony.  Doing this over your own household can create more harmony in your family.  It can change our communities, our cities, provinces, states and countries.  The Maharishi effect shows that if just one percent of the population would do this on a daily basis, we could maintain world peace.

The Earth Mother and The Mystic

These two are used to hanging side by side, but they shine as individuals.
Each has her own magic, and her eyes reveal a very old soul. 
Sensitive but strong, treat them right or you might find them gone. 
So guard them well and hang them high. 
They like to be at a level where they can look you in the eye.


With every donation of $10 or more I am offering a free gift, your choice of hand drawn art, printed on 8x10 glossy cardstock.
Please include your choice as well as your shipping address in the message as you go through paypal.

My ideas about exodus lately have translated into freeing myself from everything that keeps me from my vision and purpose.  This includes everyday distractions that set themselves up as hurdles on the way to my success, as well as the very real system of slavery we've all been a part of.  I've left the work place.  My husband has left the workplace.  We will no longer give away hours and years doing things we don't love, working to build some one else's empire while we as a family struggle to make ends meet.

When you donate, you are showing your support and solidarity.  You are putting a little bit of energy towards a future where we are not all born slaves, but where it is recognized that we are born with potential, and with the tools and clues we need to help us realize it.  Where we are free to be ourselves. The world is changing.  Namaste.

I`m going to do something illegal this weekend, and I`m going to do it with gusto!  I`m going to walk into the forest with my family and chop down a small Christmas tree and bring it home.  And all with out a permit (gasp)!

I fully believe in my right to do this.  First of all, I believe that all plants are put on this earth for my use.  I believe I have every right to take a tree from crown land once a year, and would be willing to defend my choice in a court of law should anyone have a problem with it.  I also believe in my right to celebrate the ancient pagan tradition of decorating a tree for the solstice, which makes this a religious right as well. 

As far as paying the government for a permit, I don`t believe I should have to.  The government refused to send me my child tax money until I jump through their hoops, and delayed me getting this money before Christmas when everybody else`s money came in on the 13th.  There really was no reason for the delay, and all it accomplished was to add more stress to a family that is already struggling financially.  These are the kind of decisions our government makes.

The government may not trust its citizens, but I trust my ability to use the earth`s resources wisely, without having the government police my use of plants (trees or any other type of plants).  A corporation or oil company is somehow allowed to rip up hundreds of acres of boreal forest and desecrate the land, but the citizens are not allowed to go out into nature and pick a tree for their holiday celebrations?  I can`t agree with this.

So, as an act of civil disobedience, I`m going to pick a Christmas tree from the forest.  And I`m going to have a good time doing it.  I`m going to teach my children how to pick a Christmas tree.  I`ll probably even post pictures.

Dreams and Reality

What do these dreams mean?
Visions seeing through time.
In my head, whispers pound
about days gone by.
They show eternity in an instant.

Shay Sampson, 2003. 

Eagle is sick today, poor little guy.  He's throwing up.  His little 14 month old body coming up with nothing but breast milk.  In between nursing him, catching his throw up, and rubbing his back as he drifted off in my arms, I wrote this:

Innocent until proven guitlty
Is a human right all people have.
If anyone has an accusation,
The accused has the right to a fair trial.

Meaning, in the case of drone warfare,
The president does not have the right
To put someone on the hit list and kill them
Without giving them the opportunity to defend themselves

When at all possible, violence should be avoided,
and unless a violent act can be justified in a court of law,
The perpetrator of violence should have to stand trial.

Seems a strange thing to be writing while nursing a sick baby, but I got a bit of drawing done today too.  Baby duties take over, and I'll most likely be holding him the rest of the night.  Making dinner for the kids, and watching Brian get things done towards the project.  Something great, we hope will be done by the end of the week.

If you want to learn more about drone warfare, what is going on, and how innocent people are being killed, their murderers never brought to justice, here is a link to a video of a speech about drone warfare.  It is worth a watch to stay aware of what's happening in the world around you.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=iUryRgQR0W8