so....uncivilized?

The way we deal with our shit says a lot about our society. With all it's modern conveniences the 'west' has deemed itself civilized, but when we look at something as primal as taking a dump and how we deal with it - we really see how civilized we truly are. Looks like the loin cloth wearing pigmies of Africa might have one up on us.

Would a civilized society flush their poop back into the water they end up drinking? haha, of course they wouldn't that's just ludicrous. Oh wait. That's what we do.

After a visit to The Hostel in the Forest, and having a taste for some sustainable living - it became clear that the proper CONSCIOUS disposal of our poop can have a profound affect on the cleanliness of our environment.

If we're aware of not flushing poop with clean water down the toilet to become part of the sewage system, we are probably aware of not tossing other unfavorable things into the water simply because it's comvenient. My utopian self would like to think that we'd behave this way.

The Hostel in the Forest was great just for this solitary observation - proper shit disposal - ....because at the end of the day it was a little too "hippie" for my tastes - the people here talk a little too slow and they didn't have wifi there. I do recommend visiting if you have a chance. It's quite an idyllic little place, and it's cool that someone actually brought this from concept to reality.

Note: Internet access is important to me because it's a portal to my means. To stay at the hostel for an extended period wasn't sustainable for me. I could enjoy natures splendour - know that my crap would nourish the land at some point, and help maintain the land - pitching in with the various tasks & initiatives necessary to keep the hostel thriving - but alas it wasn't set up for me to keep taking action (via the internet) - which I feel is part of our current evolution.

It's cool to work the land, but also cool & important to connect with others via the web.

Sure it's great to unplug. But it's also great to plug in and make things happen.

Anyway....back to flushing, i guess.

I love you, knee

Getting double bounced on the trampoline has the cheap thrill factor, unless there's a weak point in the anterior cruciate ligament from a previous injury. Dag. That can slow down life in the fast lane in a hurry.

This reinjury, however has been an interesting point of reflection - despite the level of pain I felt, I've also enjoyed a relatively speedy recovery. This I feel is due to many things:

1) immediate attention from a skilled medical professional.

2) serious & devoted r.i.c.e (rest, ice, compress, elevate) attention.

3) using all the lotions, potions & anti-inflamatory 'meds' in my arsenal in a dedicated, acute fashion.

4) having a better state of mind (a strong, cellular level healing belief system), & more love for myself than when I originally injured my knee several years ago.

Back then, I wasn't the happiest kitty in the litter box. I did all of the above things....but that forth one was missing and it seemed like it took FOREVER for me to get my knee back to normal functioning.

It took so long that I didn't even fully appreciate how injury free I was until I was hobbling on the ground after I got off the trampoline. Geez. What a moment that was.

These days I am much more content - I love myself and wish for myself the best in life - including a radiant, healthy functional body. And I know I deserve it.

Perhaps that sounds like the bullet train to fromage-ville, but I'm convinced by my speedy recovery theory. And the pro that I was working with this time encouraged me to reflect about the energetic message this knee injury was sending me while he was manually manipulating my knee and body back into a less traumatized state.

Energy medicine is a powerful component of healing. Intergrated medicine is where it's at for speedy recovery. Mind training is is the medicine of the future.

pictured above: me and my beautiful knees, crouching to feed a roo in Oz.

Curb your Consumerism

It's an interesting phenomenon going shopping cash in hand, surrounded by beautiful things but also the knowingness that there really is no point in purchasing any item unless it's absolutely perfect - because I'll have to physically carry it with me in my suitcase until i wear it out or give it away. It's easy to say NO since this is the case.

I've said NO so so many sweet articles of clothing, jewellry & boots - oh the beautiful boots. Sandals too. Sigh.

The other day I was walking down Queen Street West in Toronto, going into the various shops....and I had this moment of satisfaction as I was walking through Lavish & Squalor. They had many lovely articles of clothing there, and in fact their second floor reminded me of the Rag & Bone store in Soho. (aka AWESOME). If you haven't been...just go.

It had been a great day of shopping - mostly just looking at what's "in", and I just realized that we've come a long way in terms of fashion. Today, a pair of casual pants in a regular store in a touristy area tickles the senses in a way that was unimaginable just ten years ago. Interesting is IN. This is good news.

The second realization I had, was that wouldn't it be amazing if we as humans developed our emotional intelligence as fast as we developed our fashion intelligence? Great style is available to EVERYONE now. It's there for you and me. We can easily acquire and wear it. Emotional awareness, however, that's another story.

I watched Sharkwater the other evening, and let me tell you - the humans who were featured in this movie cutting off the fins of sharks and then tossing the live sharks back into the water to suffocate & drown are definitely NOT showcasing the pinnacle of human development.

I'm embarrassed on behalf of the human race. Imagine if we'd put as much energy into the care & reverence of our animal friends (and fellow human beings for that matter) as we do with our material adornment.

Imagine if we were that emotionally developed that it was a casual thing - expected. A non-issue. Just like walking down QSW and having my fashion senses tickled. I would just look around at some random point in my life and marvel how wonderful we are.

WOW. If that were the case, if I were from another one I think I'd like to visit this planet.

i just want to be pretty

I invest a lot of money into my looks. In fact, I could even say I've embraced a career that not only funds this pattern of investment, but fuels it as well.

Of course the things I do are of the natural realm - unless I'm sporting some lycra blended leggings etc. In other words, I'm not into cutting my face and pulling it back, nipping and tucking, using pills or crazy $400 designer creams etc in the name of 'beautifying'. I'm not spending crazy amounts of money on the latest designer trends either.

And the beauty I'm aiming for is more than just a pretty face. Zits aside, being able to hold an interesting conversation or be inspiring to others or feel profound wellness in my body is also part of 'good looks' I aspire for myself.

What I eat, the company I keep, the air I breath, the water I drink, the thoughts I think, the clothes I wear, the movements I make, the face & body products I use - all contribute to what I consider as my beauty regime.

Dangit though I feel a tad miffed at the cooked actions of my earthly cohorts when I consider the whole Fukashima Nuclear Plant accident. This event could have be far less severe and damaging if short term visions hadn't reigned supreme during the construction and maintenance of the plant.

Not only are the poor people of Japan working to recover from devastating earthquakes, Tsunami waves, and nuclear radiation poisoning....on the otherside of the world we too have to consider how this nuclear fallout activity might affect us, including my efforts to look beautiful.

In addition to all the things i'm currently doing to look my best, I now must add an anti-radiation routine to maintain what I'm already doing.

(Click HERE if you want to get the lowdown)

Like seriously! I'm already doing so much for myself....and even that must now be added to keep my health (aka beauty) in check.

I'm not allowing my 'youth-ening' efforts be derailed by rain seasoned with radiation, for example. BOOO. Rain is meant to be danced in, not avoided because it's worse than a cleanser with parabens.

Anyway, I'm going to say a prayer for all the silly men that sit behind closed doors making dumb-ass decisions. Trust me, they're gonna need it.

get over yourself (smiley wink!)

Is it "High Vibe" if you have to say it? I have said this before....and I'll say it again: just cuz your clothes have bells on them and you smell like incense does not necessarily mean you're spiritual.

I find that often spiritual types are more concerned with their wardrobes and "medicines" and communities, but forget about simple things like taking care of their necessities, being considerate of others (aka good manners), and taking action (which might just tie in with my first point).

Back to work, hippie, etc.

I'll just post this video and let that do the talking for me.

The sickest buddhist

moon tea

T'was moved tonight, via intuition, to make some moon tea. My homegirls and I went out and picked some lemon balm.

Lemon balm is a herb of evolution. It's timely, what with all the nuclear radiation floating about the atmosphere that we invocate evolution in ourselves....seed ourselves with this energy of catalytic positive change.

I placed it in a big jar of water, invocated & blessed the brew, and left it in the moonlight. There it will steep, inviting in the lunar magic. Tomorrow on the full moon, which is an extra special "super moon", we'll all sip this tea and ponder its deepness.

The moon, afterall, helps us to realize that forces greater than our own thoughts guide our evolution. The lemon balm is the medium that the moon works through to get to our deepest emotions. Acknowledge, release and transcend.

Isn't plant medicine wonderfully galactic?

fuel for independence

freedom, glorious freedom.

I've been exploring various expressions of freedom lately. Previously, I felt extraordinary independence hopping in my car and speeding off to wherever I wanted to go, whenever. Damn, that felt so good, especially since 9 times out of 10 I was headed somewhere awesome, in a kick-ass vehicle.

Now in place of my turbo charged wheels I have a turbo charged life. It looks great on paper for sure, but in reality I have to re-learn to feel independent...since driving fast down a stretch of highway on some adventure or running errands around town is currently not as close to my fingertips as it once was.

Last week I did rent a moped when I was in Bali. I felt like a motorized angel speeding down the roads with my butterfly dress flapping in the wind. This is the ultimate dessert.

Interestingly, one of the ways that has really fulfilled me lately (after feeling quite smothered due to my "independence outlet" not being in place) is through exercise.

It started with a 30 yoga challenge what was going well until two days of travel broke my streak (halfway through). I was loving the rhythm of getting up early every morning to yog, no matter what time I laid down at night. My dedication to myself has been reactivated.

Now in Hawaii I've added another rhythm to my body movement training - running. A great way to get to the beach and learn the lay of the land.....which is ultimately what I crave for myself to feel truly grounded.

The other day I was "namasted" by a passerby as I was running to the beach. It felt incredible to be acknowledged for my actions and reinforced the power of what I'm doing to feed my needs. The light in me was seen as I floated past my neighbourly friend.

Perhaps this is real independence - having body mind spirit primed for self-propelled movement. I can embrace this. At least until I manifest the best car ever.