Reminded once again the reason we are put on this earth. To reach that perfect moment of blissful peace within ourselves, the world and the people around us. To live life, create, be inspired and to inspire others. To feel connected to the soil (or sand ), to lose our ‘selves’ and find unity with the universe inside and out.
Suddenly in that moment of realisation I feel happy and content once again and back onto the path of simply being and not worrying about every little or seemingly big thing.
Happiness is not about reaching any particular goal or status it is right here within you to be experienced right now. There is nothing at all that can take you away from the happiness that stems from your connection to each and every thing.
This beautiful picture is where my sister is right now- living life, connecting with others and appreciating what is within and all around us. I feel slightly envious I admit, which is not a good feeling to have (!) but more than that I feel so happy that she is doing what we were all put on earth to do- to experience and enjoy! and that potential is there for everyone. There is always a way =)
While young, I was not used to worldly cares,
And hills became my natural compeers,
But by mistakes I fell in mundane snares
And thus entangled was for thirty years.
A caged bird would long for wonted wood,
And fish in tanks for native pools would yearn.
Go back to till my southern fields I would.
To live a rustic life why not return?
My plot of ground is but ten acres square;
My thatched cottage has eight or nine rooms.
In front I have peach trees here and plums there;
O’er back eaves willow trees and elms cast glooms.
A village can be seen in distant dark,
Where plumes of smoke rise and waft in the breeze.
In alley deep a dog is heard to bark,
And cocks crow as if o’er mulberry trees.
Into my courtyard no one should intrude,
Nor rob my private rooms of peace and leisure.
After long years of abject servitude,
Again in nature I find homely pleasure.
As a young girl I was lucky to grow up in the English countryside. One of the most beautiful wild animals I saw was the badger. My father was driving us home and a huge badger walked slowly down the lane while we slowed down and watched him.
The UK Government have just given the go ahead for Badgers to be culled in an effort to prevent TB spreading amongst cattle. There are alternatives to doing this that would be more effective. This culling could lower the numbers of Badgers by more than 70%. They will be killing some perfectly healthy animals and they won’t even necessarily erradicate the problem of TB amongst cattle.
If you are a UK citizen or living in the UK please help to stop the cruel and pointless Badger cull in Britain by signing this petition now and letting your voice be heard. They have already reached the target of 100, 000 signatures, but more signatures will only strengthen the petition.
‘In the last 30 years, we’ve lost as much as three-quarters of the floating ice cap at the top of the world. The volume of that sea ice measured by satellites in the summer, when it reaches its smallest, has shrunk so fast that scientists say it’s now in a ‘death spiral’.
For over 800,000 years, ice has been a permanent feature of the Arctic ocean. It’s melting because of our use of dirty fossil fuel energy, and in the near future it could be ice free for the first time since humans walked the Earth. This would be not only devastating for the people, polar bears, narwhals, walruses and other species that live there – but for the rest of us too.
The ice at the top of the world reflects much of the sun’s heat back into space and keeps our whole planet cool, stabilising the weather systems that we depend on to grow our food. Protecting the ice means protecting us all.
A new Arctic oil rush is starting. Shell, BP, Exxon, Gazprom, Rosneft and others want to risk a devastating Arctic oil spill for only three years’ worth of oil.
The same dirty energy companies that caused the Arctic to melt in the first place are looking to profit from the disappearing ice. They want to open up a new oil frontier to get at a potential 90 billion barrels of oil. That’s a lot of money to them, but it’s only three years’ worth of oil to the world.
Previously classified government documents say dealing with oil spills in the freezing waters is “almost impossible” and inevitable mistakes would shatter the fragile Arctic environment.
To drill in the Arctic, oil companies have to drag icebergs out the way of their rigs and use giant hoses to melt floating ice with warm water. If we let them do this, a catastrophic oil spill is just a matter of time.
We’ve seen the extreme damage caused by the Exxon Valdez and Deepwater Horizon disasters – we cannot let this happen in the Arctic.
Industrial fishing fleets are starting to trawl Arctic waters.
Local people have fished sustainably in the Arctic for thousands of years, but that could be threatened if we let giant fishing companies exploit the Arctic ocean.
Arctic nations are preparing for possible conflict over the Arctic.
As the Wikileaks cables show, the US has spoken of “increased military threats in the Arctic” and Russia has predicted “armed intervention” in the future.
Countries are spending billions on Arctic weaponry, threatening the long-term peace of the region. Nuclear-powered ice-breakers, submarines and fighter jets are being purchased by Arctic states with overlapping claims on the area around the North Pole.
The best way to maintain the peace there is to make its resources off-limits. That’s why we’re campaigning for a global sanctuary and a ban on oil drilling and industrial fishing.
Just like in Antarctica, we need an Arctic Ocean dedicated to peace and science.
There is no government or army to protect the Arctic, only countries and companies looking to carve it up. Help us plant a Flag for the Future at the North Pole.
There are seven billion of us on our planet. Each and every one of us is affected by the health of the Arctic: by reflecting the sun’s rays off its ice, the Arctic shapes our weather patterns and the food we grow and eat.
But the Arctic is the frontline of our warming climate – heating up twice as fast as anywhere else. It’s also the frontline of the oil industry – one of the dirty, dead fuels responsible for the melting in the first place.
By stopping the new oil rush in the Arctic we are creating the conditions for a radical change in how we power our lives, accelerating the clean energy revolution that will fuel the future for our children.
We know we’re going up against the most powerful countries and companies in the world.
But together we have something stronger than any country’s military or any company’s budget. Our shared concern for the planet we leave our children transcends all the borders that divide us and makes us – together – the most powerful force today.
That is why we’re taking your name – and millions of others – to the North Pole with a Flag for the Future designed by the youth of the world. It will show that our shared vision of a green, peaceful, healthy planet depends on an Arctic protected by us all.
But the flag is only a symbol. We’ll be taking your voice to every political leader in the world to ask them where they stand on the Arctic. One by one, as our movement gathers momentum, we’ll turn towards the United Nations, where we’ll demand a global deal to protect the Arctic.
30 years ago we launched a similar campaign to protect the Antarctic. Nobody thought we would succeed, but we did, and we created a world park around the South Pole.
A green roof, or ‘living roof’ really helps regulate the temperature of a house or building, keeping it cooler in the summer and warmer in the winter. You can even graze your goats on them! Indeed: goats can climb ladders, they are quite agile! generally only grass or wild plants that do not require deep soil are used or found on living roofs, and it is better to plan a building from the beginning to accomodate a green roof, retro-fitting is an expensive idea…but you can also have plant boxes on your roof, and even consider living walls! inside or out.
The first time I was really exposed to Cancer was some years ago when my Auntie was diagnosed with Breast cancer. It came as a great shock, she was a healthy person, and you know, you never think it will happen to someone close to you.
But more and more it is… and statistics very clearly show that the diagnosis rate of cancer has been increasing at an astonishing rate.
Well, my Auntie did go through chemotherapy. But she also changed her diet, and switched to a purely vegan diet. My dad has long been a strong supporter of a diet that cuts out meat, dairy, and promotes fresh fruits, vegetables, soya, whole grains for a long time.
In short- she was cured of cancer.
Perhaps the chemo helped. BUT one thing was clear- she actually looked amazing- fresh, healthy, happy. and she continues to do so today- I would say fresher even than before! The diet really changed how she felt inside and how she looked on the outside.
I was forced to turn my attention to health again last year when my fiancé was diagnosed, not with cancer, but with a serious condition called with Diverticulitis. They don’t know exactly what caused it, (apparently) but it is almost certainly related to the food we eat (lack of fibre), and is made worse by smoking (he was smoking 40-60 cigarettes per day at that time). After a grueling time in surgery- they removed 12 inches of his colon, and he had a temporary stoma for over 3 months. It was a seriously awful experience for us both and for all our friends and family. He was in extreme pain and discomfort for a while. Diverticulitis is a condition rarely seen in patients under the age of 60, but is becoming increasingly common.
Since he had the reversal procedure and is back to normal, we’ve both been watching our health more and will continue to do so. But the lure of fast food & MSG containing foods is always there. Adverts are everywhere. Unhealthy foods are faster, cheaper, easier and tempting… until you start to eat healthily and notice the change you feel inside! Organic foods are expensive and harder to come by. It takes a little more thought and dedication, but is worth.. well, your life.
Basically, the food and pharmaceutical industries are billion dollar making industries, that directly fund the members of Government placed there to “regulate” the food and health industries themselves. So, in short that means there is virtually no regulation, and that they have every vested interest in keeping you dumb (and in the end- dead!!!)
They profit too much to care about your well- being.
So the choice, is ours :)
To stay healthy, avoid terminal disease and strengthen your immune system, here are are a few general pointers that tons of resources can account to. But please do read up and do some research yourself for clarification –>
- Avoid foods containing MSG- and if you don’t, at least save your children- who are less brainy, and focused as a result of it! Please see–> http://topdocumentaryfilms.com/beautiful-truth/
-Cut down, or better- eliminate dairy (huge link with breast and prostate cancer in particular- Please see–> http://foodismedicine.podomatic.com/entry/2012-02-01T00_00_00-08_00
-Eat lots of fresh organic fruits and vegetables (and juice them for great effect too)
-Eat small amounts, often. Easier on the system
-If possible- eat locally grown foods that are ‘in season’
-Cut down on meat, eliminate if you have cancer already- and if you eat fish, try to eat the smaller fish which have a lower concentration of the poisonous- infertileity inducing- Mercury.
A personal account on health-
Well, much to my annoyance as a child I was banned from white bread, fizzy drinks, sweets, dairy milk etc. – but today I am grateful. Touch wood- I have barely ever been in the hospital, (except to be born), and even today- I think it’s been more than 2 years since I had a day off work due to flu or any other ailment.
I am grateful every day for my health… and account it to my diet- control- freak Father- who made sure that I eat healthily, exercising regularly, and managing stress- by following my passion and laughing a lot!
We cannot avoid death. But we can certainly make the living part enjoyable, and avoid a lot of health related illnesses.
Lastly, check out the following links for inspiring recipes and more information –>
Pilanesburg Game reverse is about 2 hours drive from Johannesburg and is one of the countries best National Parks, with over 7000 animals including ‘The Big Five”- lion, leopard, black and white rhino, elephant and buffalo.
We were really lucky to see great close up views of the Matriarch herd of elephants with a nursery, 3 pairs of white rhinos with their babies (adorable!), hippos, a giraffe, zebras, warthogs, and many more. We didn’t see lions, leopards or buffalo, but we’d been to the lion park already, so it was okay.
I am in love with warthogs, elephants and rhinos after seeing them in the wild. Such beautiful animals! Rhinos are extremely cute- especially the babies!! as are warthogs!! (Pumbaa!!)
Elephants- wow. Majestic creatures…
I was impressed learning more about elephants. They live in a Matrichal society, are extremely intelligent, emotional and social, with a strong social norms. When an elephant dies, they bury the dead and mourn them. They basically hold a funeral! Quite extraordinary.
We were lucky to be driven and guided by a lovely lady called Paula, who has been spotting game since she was a child. She has an amazing talent for spotting seemingly hidden wildlife, and knows exactly how to act around the large mammals, so we were able to get really close to them without disturbing or being disturbed.
Next time, Kruger Park!!
But if like me you are in Johannesburg with only time for a day trip- I would strongly recommend Pilanesburg for a fantastic experience
‘Tenderly, he looked into the rushing water, into the transparent green, into the crystal lines of its drawing, so rich in secrets. Bright pearls he saw rising from the deep, quiet bubbles of air floating on the reflecting surface, the blue of the sky being depicted in it. With a thousand eyes, the river looked at him, with green ones, with white ones, with crystal ones, with-blue ones. How did he love this water, how did it delight him, how grateful was he to it! In his heart he heard the voice talking, which was newly awaking, and it told him: Love this water! Stay near it! Learn from it! Oh yes, he wanted to learn from it, he wanted to listen to it. He who would understand this water and its secrets, so it seemed to him, would also understand many other things, many secrets, all secrets.
But out of all secrets of the river, he today only saw one, this one touched his soul. He saw: this water ran and ran, incessantly it ran, and was nevertheless always there, was always and at all times the same and yet new in every moment! Great be he who would grasp this, understand this! He understood and grasped it not, only felt some idea of it stirring, a distant memory, divine voices.’
‘No man ever steps in the same river twice, for it’s not the same river and he’s not the same man.’
A unique concept created by Scott Mason in 2001 in Nepal, parahawking combines falconry and paragliding for an Avatar- esque adventure.
I cannot recommend it enough… peaceful, beautiful, exciting, tranquil… life at its finest!
I feel a bit nostalgic watching the video now .. and try to transport my mind back up to being high in the sky surrounded by the sunshine and mountains, feeling weightless….
), to lose our ‘selves’ and find unity with the universe inside and out.
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