Too Cool!

Mars in Cancer……Om Shanti

http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/33213245/ns/msnbc_tv-countdown_with_keith_olbermann

Something else you may not know about me…..

I’ve been listening to a lot of speech’s recently.

Today, I listened to someone speak about speech’s and speechwriting.   In 1989 & again in 1998 I spent some time working as a speechwriter.  It was part of my job as an Assistant to the President to a hugely successful and powerful female, real estate broker/owner in NJ.  I learned a lot about a lot, and I’m grateful for that job experience.  During that time, I was also learning how to deliver speech’s myself.

There is No Substitute for good communication skills, regardless of gender, education, intellect, socio/economic class, religion, or anything else.  And yet, it has obviously not been a priority in our culture….. either for the masses,  public officials, and don’t even get me started on the level of communication skills within our established medical/legal communities!!  For this reason alone I applaud Barack Obama, regardless of whatever he does or does not do.

As a graduate of NLP, I feel a certain responsibility to practice conscious, effective, and clear communications as often as possible and to teach/train others to improve their communication skills with others.  In my yoga classes I have often guided the students thru what is called Co-Listening. I learned & practiced many variations of this technique at Kripalu Center in the Berkshires. (1994 – 2008.)  The combination of NLP techniques with yoga philosophy & practices is quite effective when skillfully applied…..at least in my experience.

This century has challenged us to learn how to communicate thru technological mediums.  The internet has indeed changed everything and some are being left behind.  However, for those out here in the blogosphere with me, it’s vital that we all remember that these are just words on a screen.  There is no substitute for human-to-human contact.  Sounds, smell, touch, sight, movement, gesture, are also parts of the whole of communication.

Here’s a cardinal rule to follow.

We are all, as individuals, responsible for what we say & what we hear.  When you ask a question and do not get the response you anticipate, ask again, differently.  If you have an emotional response to something you’ve heard….seek clarification to make sure that what you heard was what the speaker intended to say.  Defense mechanisms have deep roots and we are all responsible for pruning back what no longer works.   (I feel a rant coming on here so that’s a good time to sign off.)

Mercury is still retrograde and will remain so until January 31.  A good time to re-consider how to improve your communication skills.

Have a nice day.

….more video

I really don’t want this to become a ‘media’ heavy blog site, however some things are just too good to pass up.  Go over to my vodpod on the right side and check out The Girl who Silenced the UN for 5 minutes.

Statistics can be fun as long as………..

……you don’t get too “attached”.

I was perusing around wordpress today and decided to take a closer look at my stat’s.  Just for fun.

Since my posting is rather random & seemingly scattered, at best, it’s interesting to see just how people get here to this site and what they like to read.

Since beginning this online adventure in Feb07, I have created 157 posts in 29 different categories.

This post has received 3,060 views, way more than this post which comes in second with 990 views.

This post is next with 922 views.  #4 on the list is this one with 715, and #5 has had 687 views.

These numbers may not be enough to impress some of you, but I am blown away by the power & potential of this online medium.

Each of these 5 posts have hovered around the top-5 for a long time.  It certainly makes food for thought.

Have a nice day.

Last Days: Pluto in Sagittarius

This morning I turned on CNN to see what ‘news’ was being reported thru this media/channel and I was immediately dis-appointed again to discover that the bloggers and the internet had these headlines day’s ago.  The ’story’ they are telling was seeded long ago and today’s headlines are no surprise.  Nor should they be!  (Uh, oh…..there’s one of Those Words…..”should”.)

Sagittarius rules publishing/media/journalism as well as all the other ways & means that information reaches The Public.  Ethics, morality, judicial conduct, lawsuits, our relationship with ‘aliens’ (foreign/legal/illegal/et’s/etc., etc.), how we understand foreign languages and our ability (or inability) to understand the ‘truth’ of what is spoken/written etc………………..these are all other topics that are assigned to the Sag agenda.

When Pluto was making it’s first entrance into this sign (1995ish), after many tumultuous years in Scorpio, the headlines of the day were all about OJ Simpson.  This celebrity event brought together all the issues of both Scorpio & Sag and gave us a preview of what was in store for the Pluto in Sag years to come.  (Oh!  Did I mention scandals around athletes up above?  Sag also rules those who compete in sport…………..  This year’s Olympics will be held during the death throes of Pluto in Sag……pun intended.)

The headlines of today are showing us what we have learned (or not-learned) regarding all of the Sagittarian themes.  We’ve only got a few more months to get it right.  Otherwise we’ll have to get our selves reborn into the next cycle of Pluto in Sagittarius which will occur………….when, it’s gotta be at least 240+ years from now.  Quick, anyone got an ephemeris?

Pluto stuck a toe into Capricorn earlier this year, and by October,2009 it’s manifestations will become visible to the masses.   Immediately we began to see the ‘foundations’ of our society show signs of crumbling. Bridges came down.  Foundations are a Capricornian word.  Foundations are very important for stability & structure…….think big here, for now.  (Pluto in Sag taught us how to ‘think big’, too.)

Pluto will re-enter Capricorn around the end of November, 08  and stay there until 2024. (Time for a long, deep breath.) Saturn is the ruling planet for Capricorn so you might want to check this site and others to learn better how to navigate (a sag word) these changing times to come. (Capricorn is a ‘cardinal’ sign.  All cardinal signs bring Change.)

Capricorn is the leader, of the family, of the town, of the country.  Whomever holds  authority over others is the human representative of capricorn energy.  For the past 2000 years or so, this person has frequently been of the male gender, with some notable exceptions.  Capricorn is the ‘father’ role, and these days we see people of both genders assume that role.   There is much to come with Pluto in Capricorn!

I’ve been around for nearly six decades and I’ve experienced Pluto changing signs 4 times. This will be my 5th (the number of transitions) time.   Her orbit is widely elliptical and therefore each passing thru a sign covers a different length of time.  (Check with your favorite astrologer for more).  In my experience I have noticed that the time’s during the Entering and Leaving of Pluto are the most difficult.  During the twenty degrees or more of substantive time within the sign, life may be intense however most of us can hold on and maintain our daily life.  However, these enterings and leavings can be hard, just like beginnings and endings.  (Go here)

So, during these days of tumult, uncertainty, and yes, let’s call it Fear………..remember to make your yoga practice a priority.  Use this time everyday to learn how to move strong sensations & feelings through your body.  Use the breath to help you.  It will.  Take time to calm your mind thru meditation, prayer, art, music, or other solitary pursuits.  Find a class or a teacher to support you when your private practice falters.   The ancient masters lived thru much of the same tumult as we did and were able to survive and thrive despite the challenges.  Evidence is everywhere.

Be still, now.

Pause,

Take a breath.

Notice what’s :  in your body.     mind.       emotions.

Take another breath.

Let it be.

Om shanti.

Later………………….

I’m supposed to be packing right now and instead I’ve gotten caught up in this website where you re-create yourself as a South Park character. The choices are many, the decisions confuse me! Anyway, this is what I’ve come up with and you can click on the picture to go there yourself. Have fun!

I need to get myself into ‘travel mode’ now. I’ll probably be offline for a few days until I settle in in sunny southern California.

May all beings live in peace.

Om

Yipes! I’ve been tagged!

One of my favorite bloggers has ‘tagged’ me, which means that I am supposed to answer the 5 questions and then tag 5 others to do the same. Thanks Muse, (??).

These online ‘games’ are an interesting way for bloggers to get to know each other a little better. Not a bad idea actually…..there are some very interesting people out here in the blogosphere.

Today’s post are my responses to the “fluff five”…..hmmm, who picks these names? I, too, would never use the word fluff(y) to describe my blog or my self!

Nevertheless, here goes.

5 Things found in your bag. (I try to travel everywhere as light as possible, keeping clutter to a minimum…..so today I have…..

ipod

keys

loose change

mala beads

biz cards

5 Things found in your room (hmm, which room would that be? how about the one I’m in!……..I like muse’s room)

computer

the ever present cup of coffee

the overflowing bookcase

my favorite photo from Ashes and Snow

another ipod & speakers

5 Things you always wanted to do:

Travel around the world visiting all the spiritual sites on the planet.

Live in an ashram for a while

Hike the Grand Canyon….all the way down, and all the way back up

Lose 10 pounds……….

Write a book (or 2, or 3, or………..)

5 Things you’re currently into:

Cleaning up my hard drives!

Reading fiction and catching up with all my favorite authors.

Re-organizing my life to make room for grandchildren!

Expanding my teaching to new places & to new people

Learning new music on my harp

5 people you want to tag……..hmmm, this is a hard one! Please forgive the blogs that are not wordpress!

http://opalescentwords.wordpress.com/

http://constantstateofflux.wordpress.com/

http://pisces-chronicles.blogspot.com/

http://sahajapower.wordpress.com/

http://raginguniverse.blogspot.com/

Hmmm. Looking over my responses I appear quite boring. Oh well…… what can I say when I’m feeling like I have nothing to say!

Sun’s out……time to bask and practice doing nothing for while.

Om shanti.

The Learning Curve

What I love about blogging is that I have had to learn new skills in order to produce something that pleases me.  I am fussy.  Today I added vodpod to this site.  If you look over to the sidebar (you might have to scroll down a bit) you’ll find a few video’s that I thought were worth sharing.  Personally, I don’t really care to sit in front of my computer watching video.  I’d rather be on my comfy couch.  The written word remains my entertainment-of-choice.  Nevertheless, check out my video choices and feel free to comment.

Have a nice day.

Om shanti.

Best Day, Ever…..so far

Wow.

After all that technological turmoil traveling thru my airways,

today is the best day ever according to my Blog Stat’s and it’s not even 9:30am EST.

I’m glad it’s a balsamic moon…………….

no need to do any kind of follow-thru to that piece of information………yet.

Let’s Celebrate……………..

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