A Few Things to Remember When Worry Takes Over

1. You are not your worry, thoughts, emotions or even your mind.
- "The beginning of freedom is the realization that you are not the possessing entity - the thinker. The moment you start watching the thinker, a higher level of consciousness becomes activated."

-"Learn to disidentify from your mind. Every time you create a gap in the stream of mind, the light of your consciousness grows stronger." -Eckhart Tolle, The Power of Now

2. Worry cannot exist in the present.
Worry is fueled by the ego which thrives in the past or future only.

3. Worry can be confined.
Here is an awesome technique to stop or control your worry:

"Want to confine your worry? Try scheduling ten to thirty minutes a day for worry. Use this time to visualize your anxious feelings, write them down, and come up with an action plan for dealing with the root causes of your worry. If the worry reappears outside this scheduled time, postpone it until the next worry period."  - 5 Things to Remember When Worry Takes Over (So You Can Let It Go)

How to manage the emotional Pain-body:
Pain-body = Accumulated pain acting as a negative energy field that occupies your body and mind. It is the dark shadow cast by the ego. The pain-body, like the ego, is afraid of being found out. 
 "It's survival depends on your unconscious fear of facing the pain that lives in you. But if you don't face it, if you don't bring the light of your consciousness into the pain, you will be forced to relive it again and again." - Eckhart Tolle, The Power of Now

Here is Tolle's formula for dealing with the Pain-body:
1- Focus attention on the feeling inside you.
2- Know that it is the Pain-body.
3- Accept that it is there.
4- Don't think about it - don't let the feeling turn into thinking.
5- Don't judge or analyze.
6- Don't make an identity for yourself oout of it.
7- Stay present, and continue to be the observer of what is happening inside you.
8- Become aware not only of the emotional pain but also of "the one who observes," the silent watcher. This is the Power of Now, the power of your own conscious presence. Then see what happens.

My 1st Day Volunteering at the Urban Ecology Center!

What a BLAST! Met some amazing people, and had really fun time with all the kids. Looking forward to many more interactions with this great organization! #Grateful #UEC

 

 

 

 

 

Local Wisconsinite Inspiring the World!

Thank You Rob Greenfield :)

Check out his TIMELINE as it highlights his transformation

Recycle Life Via Trees !

The first biodegradable urn designed to convert you into a tree after life....On Earth ;)

50 Things You Should Stop Buying & Start Making

Homemade Ketchup – This ketchup won’t break the bank, tastes better than the real deal and contains no added sugar – so it’s nutritionally good for the whole family.

Homemade Mayonnaise – This is a great recipe for any mayonnaise lover out there wanting to make their own at home, it’s simple and easy and tastes better than the store bought versions.

Peanut Butter – It is so simple to make this pantry staple it would be silly to buy it. With only 3 ingredients you can make a simple tasty Peanut Butter for your whole family.

Simple Loaf Of Bread – This is a classic recipe for you to make and stop buying your normal weekly loaf of bread – nothing beats the smell of freshly baked bread. Saving you pennies and preservatives.

Homemade Nutella – It would make more sense to give your children chocolate spread which you made and know exactly what is in right? Then how about this fantastic recipe…

Homemade Butter – Instead of buying preservative laden, calorific heavy butter from the store, make your own butter with just 4 ingredient and a standard kitchen mixer…so simple yet so tasty.

Homemade Yoghurt – This recipe makes a thick and creamy yoghurt that would rival any store bought version. Once you learn this method you won’t be buying it again!

Spice Mixers – Did you know that store bought spice mixers and rubs have all sorts of questionable ingredients in them like fillers, preservatives and other unwanted fake flavor enhancers? It is far healthier, cheaper and tastier to make your own, here are 17 combinations to start you off…

Salad Dressing – This simple recipe for homemade salad dressing will jazz up any old salad and make it fabulous. Forget the store bought versions, get your aprons on and get making.

Homemade Maple Syrup – This classic sauce is so expensive nowadays, did you know it is so simple and easy to collect your own!

Honey Shampoo – This shampoo helps reduce frizz, combat dandruff, moisturizer and softens you hair all in one. A natural, kind to your skin shampoo that will make you think twice next time you are in the store.

Coconut Oil Deep Conditioner – With just three ingredients, you can whip up an economical, natural and luxurious conditioner to treat your hair, leaving it soft, manageable and shiny.

Body Wash – If you want to save money but have little time to spare, then this is the natural alternative is for you. A simple recipe and method which makes a soapy bubbly wash great for all skin types.

Shaving Cream – This shaving cream will leave your skin soft and smelling fantastic. With ingredients like coconut oil, Shea butter, mint and rosemary you will feel invigorated and fresh after every shave.

Squeezable Homemade Toothpaste – Ditch those commercial toothpastes on the market and opt for this natural re-mineralizing toothpaste that encourages white healthy teeth and improves oral health.

Minty Mouthwash – Not only is it chemical and alcohol-free, it’s practically free, well nearly is at $0.02 /oz! You will save loads on money this, and improve your family’s oral health at the same time – simple.

Super Strength Herbal deodorant - Rather than use expensive chemical filled deodorants, why not make your own? This requires just a few ingredients, is “super strength” and totally natural! (Alternative Link)

Honey, Beeswax & Almond Oil Moisturizing Creme – This recipe was  first devised almost 2000 years ago. It’s thick, velvety and decadent qualities will leave your skin silky smooth and hydrated.

Homemade Natural Sun Screen – Most sun screens contain toxic chemicals and other harmful ingredients that could actually damage you when they should be protecting you. Check out this natural alternative and make the swap.

Cleansing Wipes – These organic  wipes are totally natural and only contain ingredients you are aware of. Perfect for cleansing your face or as baby wipes for diaper changes.

Mascara – Arsenic, beryllium, cadmium, nickel, lead and thallium are toxins we do NOT want to be applying to our skin! So opt for this homemade version and you will save money and protect your skin.

Tinted Lipstick – This recipe includes beeswax pastilles, Shea/cocoa butter and coconut oil. It allows you to customize it with different natural powders, such as beetroot powder for red hues, cocoa powder for brown hues and bentonite clay for a matte texture.

Eye Liner – How would you like to be able to make your own natural eyeliner (which can also be used as a smokey eyeshadow) for just $0.24? If yes – then check this recipe out.

Bronzer – This homemade bronzer is really easy to make, simple to customize and so much better for your skin than store-bought varieties. A brilliant way of saving money too.

Natural Blush – Give your cheeks a rosy tint and brighten up your complexion with this easy natural blush recipe. Cosmetics are so pricey these days now really is the time to start making your own.

Foundation – This foundation from Robin at ThankYourBody.com contains all natural and non-toxic ingredients, it works fantastically (see a before and after foundation picture on the blog) and it’s really easy to make.

Under Eye Serum – Ingredients such as tamanu oil, vitamin E oil, grapefruit seed extract, avocado oil, carrot seed oil and more make this such an effective anti-wrinkle eye serum that is totally natural.

Copycat Burts Bees Lip Balm –  This wonderful copy cat recipe from HappyMoneySaver.com reveals how you can make your own version of Burts Bees Lip Balm (Normally priced $2.50) for just $0.12 per tube – what an incredible saving!

Lavender Bath Salts – Making these lavender bath salts couldn’t be simpler. You need just a few ingredients such as Epsom salts, sea salt, dried lavender buds and lavender essential oil and then you just have to follow the instructions.

Anti-wrinkle Cream – Have you ever been tempted by those “miracle” creams that will make you look “ten years younger” that all the major beauty companies produce? Well most are packed with chemicals, preservatives and artificial ingredients and on top of that, they are outrageously expensive. Make your own instead!

Lemon Lavender Aromatherapy Candle – These Lemon Lavender Aromatherapy Candles burn clear and fragrant – unlike many toxic store bought candles that release smoke and soot – and will make a wonderful addition to your home.

Reed Diffusers With Essential Oils – You can buy one in the stores, but usually they are quite expensive and the scents are made primarily from chemicals. Instead why not make your own at home? You can use any essential oils you like and can blend different oils together to create an aroma that is perfect for you and your family.

Homemade Potpourri – Potpourri is so simple to make it would be silly to pay for it. You can tailor the fragrances with your favorite smells and add some seasonal elements to make it even more special.

Homemade Herbal Incense – Incense can be a wonderful way to add a beautiful aroma to your home so take a look at this fantastic video which shows you how to make your own homemade incense with herbs.

DIY Scented Plug-in Refill – This fantastic tutorial which reveals how to get rid of the horrible toxic liquid found in chemical laden store bought plug-ins and replace it with health giving, wonderfully fragrant, toxin free essential oils.

Essential Oil Jelly Air Freshener – The great thing about these jelly air fresheners are that you can add ANY essential oil you want to, or even blend a few different oils together. Perfect if you have a particular scent you are trying to create.

Homemade ‘Fake Febreeze’ - A bottle of Febreeze is currently selling on Amazon for a whopping $6.99, yet you can make a homemade version that’s just as effective (and natural) for only $0.15. If you buy just one bottle per month, then that’s a monthly saving of $6.75 – and a yearly saving of $81! (We suggest you use a homemade natural fabric softener for this recipe.)

Homemade Mod Podge – If you are a keen crafter and go through tonnes of Mod Podge then why not have a go at making some for yourself, you will be surprised at how much you will save.

Un-paper Towels – Are you fed up of buying endless paper towels? If so, then this is the answer for you, these will act just like paper towels, but look pretty, and are totally re-usable, meaning you only have to purchase the materials once. Not forgetting them being economically friendly.

Homemade Natural Bleach Alternative – If you find bleach cleaners too strong and sometimes irritate your skin or eyes, then this alternative promises to clean just like bleach but without the harmful side affects.

Beeswax Furniture Polish – This is a  really simple recipe for a beeswax furniture polish that will restore shine and add gloss to your wooden furniture returning it to its original beauty. No need for expensive store bought polish!

Homemade Bath Tub Scrub – A wonderful bathtub scrub enriched with lemon essential oil and a surprising ingredient…ground up eggshells which give the scrub its abrasiveness and mixed with baking soda and a citrus-y essential oil makes this fantastic bathtub scrub a real winner.

World’s Best Homemade Laundry Detergent – It is all natural, it is much cheaper (you’ll be saving around $0.16 per load!), it cleans incredibly effectively, it works in all washer types and it’s also safe for septic tanks.

Homemade Liquid Dish Soap – This homemade liquid dish soap is fantastic. It’s natural, organic and antibacterial. Plus it’s a great money saver! To make a 32 oz batch costs about $1.20 compared to $4.47 for the equivalent in Dawn dish soap.

All-Natural Foaming Hand Soap – This homemade foaming hand soap is: natural, green, non-toxic, chemical free, organic, gentle and Antibacterial. What more could you want from a hand soap?

Homemade Dishwasher Detergent Cubes- These are so simple to make, it simply requires mixing four simple ingredients together: washing soda, Epsom salt, Borax and lemon juice and then allowing to dry. The resulting cubes work wonders on your dishes!

Homemade Natural Fabric Softener – Want to make your laundry smell amazing, stay fresh and soft, well this is the recipe for you. Most fabric softeners are really toxic and could be harmful to skin.

Natural Disinfectant Spray - It contains just four ingredients: water, eucalyptus, lavender and tea tree essential oil (all of which can be bought here). The essential oils have antibacterial, antiviral, antifungal and antibiotic properties helping to clean and disinfect surfaces in your home without the chemicals, without the expense and with a wonderful aroma, too!

Non-Toxic Glass Cleaner – Here’s a great tutorial revealing how to make your own green, non-toxic, all-natural glass cleaner for just $0.45 per bottle! Best of all, this cleaner works better than any commercial cleaner you can buy in the stores – and you can feel happy that you are not putting yours – or your families – health at risk with toxic chemicals.

H/T: Natural Living Ideas

“If You Meet the Buddha on the Road, Kill Him”

Every master knows that we are all Buddha disguised as the Self. We are all God in hiding. It’s just that some of us are playing the victim and some of us are free. Like Alan Watts asked, “Do you define yourself as a victim of the world, or as the world?” Most of us are walking tragedies, suffering in a cruel world. We all experience pain. We all have scars. But true masters flip the tables on tragedy and choose comedy instead, thus completely altering the power dynamic.

Fractal Enlightenment

Post by Fractal Enlightenment.

Being “Awake” Means Nothing; Acting Towards Positive Change Means Everything

"Part of acting to make positive change is to embrace humility. Moving in a humble manner through time includes realizing that everyone has had different life experiences, has come from a different sociological background, and has been genetically dispositioned to favor certain tendencies of thinking. Not everyone, in his or her current mindset, is capable of perceiving our world’s state of affairs and our state of existence like you, or has the same intuitive abilities and critical thinking skills as you."

"There are many good souls who find themselves trapped in this mindless vortex of thought. That is why it is essential to be positive and embracing towards every soul, and to try and guide him or her onto a better path. Alexandra K. Trenfor said it best: “The best teachers are those who show you where to look, but don’t tell you what to see.” We cannot force anyone to believe anything, no matter how correct that we think we are. We can only point to the facts, and hope that they are embraced."

Mudras: The Healing Power in your Hands

“In this respect, Kundalini Yoga assumes that every area of the hand forms a reflex zone for an associated part of the body and the brain. In this way, we can consider the hands to be a mirror for our body and our mind” -Lothar Rüdiger Lütge, Kundalini yoga expert

LILA: Came across this term in Tolle's "The Power of Now"...

I stumbled upon the term, LILA, term today and I am truly fascinated by it! Here is the segment from page 99 of The Power of Now, which I will be dissecting and blogging asap.

"The world arises when consciousness takes on shapes and forms, thought forms and material forms. Look at the millions of life forms on this planet alone. In the sea, on land, in the air - and then each life form is replicated millions of times. To what end? IS someone playing a game, a game with form? This is what the ancient seers of India asked themselves. They saw the world as Lila, a kind of divine game that God is playing."

Did a little research on Lila, but plan to delve into this much more and will revisit this post. Here are a couple quotes discussing the meaning:

"There is an old Sanskrit word, lila, which means play, richer than our word, it means divine play, the play of creation, destruction, and re-creation, the folding and unfolding of the cosmos. Lila, free and deep, is both the delight and enjoyment of this moment, and the play of God. It also means love."

"Lila may be the simplest thing there is — spontaneous, childish, disarming. But as we grow and experience the complexities of life, it may also be the most difficult and hard-won achievement imaginable, and its coming to fruition is a kind of homecoming to our true selves."

Both quotes are from Stephen Nachmanovitch's book, Free Play

Ubuntu Coordinator Hangout #10

Special Guest Appearance by Sir Michael Tellinger Himself !

The Story of Interbeing: Excerpt from Uplift 2014

"Any action creates ripples through a matrix of causality that we cannot maybe see."

"We are not separate selves. Any human being that we judge as unenlightened is a mirror of something unenlightened in ourselves, and we will not be fully enlightened until that person is."

Our Story In 2 Minutes

Shine

“As we let our light shine, we unconsciously give other people permission to do the same. As we are liberated from our own fear, our presence actually liberates others.” – Marianne Williamson

Racism Needs Us To Feed It In Order To Exist

Just like capitalism and money...These systems/ideologies/cultural narratives, stereotypes, etc "NEED US TO FEED IT!" Stop looking externally for change folks...it starts with you. Felonious Monk breaks it down nicely here as does Morgan Freeman:

Here is the Felonious Monk Video...

And Morgan's simple yet renown message:

Structure & Consciousness: A Sacred Geometry Summary

 

Came across this a couple years ago..

The technology this guy uses to monitor and control his Aquaponics Greenhouse is impressive. I can only imagine the myriad of ways technology can be implemented with Aquaponics!

Ego & Thoughts

Here are a collection of valuable quotes from 2 Fractal Enlightenment Articles:

"If we believe every thought that we have that things are bad, or not going well, or life is terrible, then we will start giving our attention and awareness to thoughts of this nature and when a thought comes in that tries to say otherwise, we probably will discard it and not believe it.

Since all thought is energy, and energy will go where the attention is placed, we can assume that all of our energy will be focused on the higher vibration thought patterns (based more in love rather than fear). Also, since like attracts like with energy we see that the more attention we give to these types of thought will attract more of the same type.

It has been said that we don’t attract to us what we think, but we attract to us what we BELIEVE. If we can pick and choose what we believe by bringing awareness to our thought patterns and retraining our minds, then why WOULDN’T we choose to believe that all is well, and that the universe is always supporting us? Wouldn’t these types of beliefs allow for a more enjoyable life experience?"

"The mere desire of wanting to get rid of something stems from the belief that the thing you are trying to get rid of actually exists. So on one hand we have the fact that a certain amount of ego is necessary in order to participate in life. On the other hand we have the issue that the ego causes us suffering. It causes us to buy into beliefs about ourselves or about others that aren’t true and limit our experience of the world.

People spend years believing in all the stories it is creating about reality only to later find out it was all a lie. We could have literally decided to believe or not believe or create even any story we wanted to about our lives. But the ego does not want us to know that.

It masquerades as “us”, causing us to think that we are the ones generating the ideas and beliefs in our minds but in actuality we are the awareness that is behind the thoughts and ideas. This is the most important thing we must realize when becoming master of the ego. Once we come to terms with the fact that it is not us, we can start identifying where our ego is causing suffering in our lives from a place of presence rather than identification. From this level of presence we can observe the ego without judging it and without fighting with it. 

Do not fight with your ego. Do not try to get rid of it or kill it. Surrender to it, make friends with it, observe its nuances and when you begin to recognize a thought pattern that is starting to cause more suffering than you would like, simply, observe it without believing in it. The ego is feeding off of belief, and wherever the belief is placed is exactly the energy that will be amplified."

Eckhart illustrates an eloquent Butterfly analogy regarding the ego: