Rumi knows what's up.

Inner Wakefulness

This place is a dream
only a sleeper considers it real
then death comes like dawn
and you wake up laughing
at what you thought
was your grief

A man goes to sleep in the town
where he has always lived
and he dreams
he's living in another town
in the dream he doesn't remember
the town he's sleeping in his bed in
he believes the reality
of the dream town
the world is that kind of sleep

Humankind is being led
along an evolving course,
through this migration
of intelligences
and though we seem
to be sleeping
there is an inner wakefulness,
that directs the dream
and that will eventually
startle us back
to the truth of
who we are

Rumi, (1207-1273)

The pope, pine cones and fluoride.

Cardinal Bergoglio was chosen as new pope today. Since the internet is buzzing with this news, I can't help but to bring up one of my all time favorite "conspiracy" theories. I use the term conspiracy loosely because I find more often than not, that conspiracies these days are just ways for those who are in control to make those who are awake seem crazy. Onward we go...

So, what does the pope, pine cones, and fluoride have in common? I'm going to break this down as simply as possible.

In mysticism the pineal gland, or the third eye, is believed to lead to higher levels of consciousness and enlightenment. (This is why those who practice Hinduism often wear a dot on their forehead.) The pineal gland is shaped similar to the pine cone, so the pine cone is often used as a symbol for the pineal gland. The pine cone of course comes from the evergreen tree, which represents fertility and eternal life (Christmas trees).

Biologically, the pineal gland regulates production of melatonin and serotonin which affects your sleep patterns and mood. It also produces dimethyltryptamine (DMT), a naturally occurring psychedelic compound, which is produced in large quantities at birth and death and during near death experiences. The pineal gland is situated between both hemispheres of the brain and does not operate in the left or right specifically, but rather on it's own. One way I like to think of it is as the combination of the left and right brain, or the combination of both analytical/logical (left) and intuitive/subjective (right) thinking.

Ok, so fluoride. Fluoride was added to our water supply in the 1950's and 1960's in effort to help prevent tooth decay. Today we are learning that fluoride is linked to brain damage among other issues and it calcifies the pineal gland. When fluoride calcifies the pineal gland, it clogs it and prevents it from working properly.

If the pineal gland is in fact linked to levels of higher consciousness and enlightenment, then perhaps this calcification prevents us from reaching those levels.

What does any of this have to do with the pope? Well, the biggest pine cone in the world is a statue at the Vatican in the Court of Pine Cones. The pope's staff has a pine cone on it, and the seal of the pope also has the pine cone symbolism. Pine cone symbolism is found all over the Vatican and in Catholicism.

Maybe it's just art, maybe it's a coincidence, or maybe the Vatican has some hidden knowledge they are suppressing. Perhaps the pine cone holds the same symbolism to the papacy to represent the enlightenment that comes from the third eye. The conspiracy centers around whether or not this information is intentionally kept from society and possibly used to control people through religion. Also, many think fluoride was added to water to "dumb" us down. Whether or not it was intentional or not doesn't really matter to me... fluoride is still in our water and is calcifying our pineal glands.

I think there are some valid and profound spiritual truths hidden in the sacred texts, however, the interpretation that is common in religious practices just doesn't resonate with me.

Matthew 6:22 The light of the body is the eye: if therefore your eye be sound, your whole body shall be full of light. 

I'm barely grazing the surface on all of this, so if any of this interest you, please do your own research. There is also a chance that I have no idea what I'm talking about! I just find this kind of stuff fascinating. Make up your own mind.

Here are some resources to get you started:

NaturalNews.com articles about Fluoride.

Video on how to de-calcify your pineal gland.

You don't have to know me for very long to know I have a distaste for big-arga business, Monsanto.

I wrote this blog post while hosting my blog on Wordpress a few years ago. Within about 30 minutes of posting it, I had a comment from a Monsanto rep basically saying all of my information is inaccurate. Maybe it is...

Today I logged into my old Wordpress account to try to retrieve the old comment and the whole post is missing. Now, there is a chance that I deleted it at some point... because the Monsanto rep comment did shake me up a bit. But, I think I'd remember doing that and I also think I would have deleted it on my blogger account as well when I moved my blog from Wordpress to Blogger. But, my post is still in tact on blogger. (and no other old posts seems to be missing from my old Wordpress account).

So, I'm lead to believe that my post on Wordpress was reported and removed for one reason or another. I may be jumping to conclusions... but right now I have no other explanation.

I don't really have anything else to say, except that I eat organic as much as possible. Peace.

small talk struggle.

Making small talk is a struggle these days. I'm finding the struggle to be a combination of a few things...

One, I don't really want to make small talk. It's hard for me to stay focused on the mundane.

Two... I don't know what to even talk about.

I've distanced myself from so many mainstream things... that there is little left to talk about at times. I probably haven't seen that commercial, or that show. I don't follow the latest gossip or fad diet. I don't watch mainstream news. I'm not interested in the latest way to network up the corporate ladder. I don't have a relationship or kids to talk about it... and I can only tell so many stories about my dog.

Unless you want to strike up a philosophical conversation about consciousness or quantum physics, I'm often clueless. I get a lot of eye rolls and blank stares. It can be a bit isolating.

Music works. That's usually my go-to small talk.

I'm grateful for my (mostly) drama free life that allows for plenty of time to be spent learning, researching and over analyzing my existence. But, it's hard to relate. I'm losing the knack of small talk... something I think I used to be so good at.

I'm working on it... bear with me.

p.s. where did that expression come from? "bear with me"? I'm going to go Google... 

Easy Kale and Quinoa Salad with Mustard Dressing

I was inspired by the sweet meghanlivingstone to make this kale and quinoa salad... and. I'm. obsessed. So, in hopes of paying it forward with inspiration, I'm going to share my version of her recipe here! (Click here to watch Meghan's video.)

Ingredients:

Salad
-Kale
-Olive oil
-Quinoa
-Apples

Dressing
-Mustard (your favorite kind!)
-Olive Oil
-Apple Cider Vinegar


Just tear up some kale and massage with a little olive oil. Then add some quinoa (I like to add it warm)... and put some cut up apples on top! Drizzle with the dressing and viola! Super delicious and super easy. The dressing is just mustard, olive oil and apple cider vinegar. I use about equal parts olive oil and mustard and a few dashes of vinegar... just smell it to make sure one doesn't overpower the other. I posted this on Facebook and many people suggested adding bacon, so if you are a bacon lover, that sounds like a good tip!

Let me know if you make it, and enjoy!

 

What is Kale?

What is Quinoa?

Tips for buying good olive oil.  

Talk a Walk.

Fun. [is an understatement.]

I just got done writing a review of this show for Ticketmaster, so I thought I'd write a blog while it's all fresh in my mind. The Fun show goes down on my list of the top 10 best shows ever (and I've seen hundreds, upon hundreds of live shows). It was SO much fun. I actually ended up going by myself as it sold out quickly and none of my friends were able to get in. Next time I'll be sure to buy some extra tickets so I can make sure my friends get to experience this!

The energy that filled the room was incredible. From the second Fun stepped out on the stage, the whole room shifted into a contagious vibe of happiness. People couldn't help but to dance and sing along to every word. This was my first time seeing Fun live, and while I was nervous about all the harmony and fun auto-tuned parts on the new album, they did a great job translating those songs to the live show. Nate harmonized with the audience a few times, and made each song unique for the live set without taking away from the original elements of the song. I was so impressed with this show, I cannot wait to see Fun live again! If you ever get a chance to see this band, don't miss it :)

My favorite moment was listening to "At Least I'm Not As Sad" live. This is the song that got me into this band, and I've been waiting for years to hear it in person. It was amazing.

Here is some video that I took and edited on my iPhone... I'll be watching this regularly until I get to see them again! Enjoy.

28 and feelin' great!

As you can tell, I don't do much blogging these days. I spend most of my time on Twitter and now, Tumblr... but I couldn't resist my annual birthday post on my blog!

I had such a great birthday this year... a rather routine Monday was filled with non-stop text messages, phone calls, Facebook messages and even the occasional e-card. It was an overwhelming day that ended with dinner with my mom and a few drinks/deck-time with some friends. It was exactly what I wanted.

I feel really good starting my 28th year. I no longer wish for the days of turning 21, and I've changed a lot since then. I eat and live healthier, I'm more centered spiritually, I have a greater understanding of life and the universe, I'm smarter... or at least I think I'm smarter ;).

I love the person I've become, and honestly, there is no other time I'd rather be living in, than the time right now.

Exciting things are happening on this planet. The information age is exploding all over the internet and in documentaries, even on TV. People are shifting into higher levels of consciousness and experiencing awakening and enlightenment. I remain optimistic that we can live in a peaceful world despite all the greed, hypocrisy and lies that have recently been uncovered and exposed in all industries. These are exciting times and I'm proud to say I've come a long way these past few years!

Read posts from my 25th, 26th, and 27th birthdays. Thanks for reading, those of you who are still out there. Cheers.

"Even after all this time the sun never says to the earth, "you owe me." Look what happens with a love like that, it lights the whole sky." -Hafiz

Happy Valentine's Day!