Ibogaine

Ibogaine is a very effective treatment available for strong addictions (like heroin) that comes from a plant traditionally used for a rite of passage ceremony in a Africa.

Ibogaine is not something that one would choose to do for fun. Most who undergo this treatment are psychologically brought to the roots of their illness (thus allowing them to heal) but never want to experience Ibogaine again. This is not a recreational drug.

This treatment is illegal in the United States, where all drugs are considered "bad" which I think is ridiculous, especially for substances that come from a PLANT. It's like saying God doesn't know what he's doing.

Fortunately, this treatment is being offered in Canada. Visit the link below for more information, especially if someone you know could benefit.

Iboga Therapy House
http://www.ibogatherapyhouse.net
The Iboga Therapy House offers a unique detoxification program using a naturally occurring psychoactive plant alkaloid called Ibogaine.

Ibogaine is the principal alkaloid found in the shrub Tabernanthe Iboga which grows in West Africa and has been used traditionally as an initiation tool for rites of passage by the Bwiti culture.

Research and anecdotal reports suggest it is effective in initiating a deep and cathartic experience that may facilitate insight into one's self while also significantly reducing or removing difficult and painful withdrawal symptoms from chemical dependence to substances such as Heroin, Methadone and other Opiates, Crack, Cocaine, Methamphetamine and Alcohol.

The Iboga Therapy House provides Ibogaine-assisted therapy and detoxification treatment to those with an honest desire and deep commitment to changing substance use patterns in a therapeutic setting. We provide a supportive environment for the exploration of deeper issues surrounding one's addiction through processes facilitated by an Ibogaine experience.

symptoms are signals

The medical establishment often puts far too much focus on "curing" the symptoms of illness rather than investigating the root causes of disease.

Often, a lifestyle change is far more effective than a pill regimen, though it's certainly not as easy or convenient.

Rather than think of illness as an inevitable disaster or unavoidable misfortune, we think of it as a powerful and useful message.
-- Shakti Gawain, Creative Visualization

to do list deux

1. wake up
2. relax
3. adapt

Zen and the Art of bus repair

I love this story and think this guy looks great for 100!

L.A. bus worker calls it quits at 100
http://www.cbc.ca/story/world/national/2006/03/22/century-worker060322.html
A bus maintenance worker in Los Angeles will mark his 100th birthday Wednesday by retiring after more than 70 years on the job.
...
According to transit officials, Winston had a near-perfect attendance record. The only work day he ever missed was when his wife of 65 years died in 1988, AP reported.

relaxation lesson for a recovering high strung perfectionist

remember this important skill:
learn to be chill
about how
we’re not always chill

even this
in:constancy of balance
all perfect lessons

start again
and again
and again
completely
at Peace with the need
for frequent re-recapitulation

practicing insta-forgiveness
for all
but especially the Self
perceiving everyone
as New in every moment

it’s unfolding
at the exact naturally ordained pace
and there’s nothing you can do about it anyway

the body
your character
it is what it is
& it does what it does

practicing accepting
& appreciating
the messy beauty
that is the Perfection
we be

Scorpio Sun, Pisces Moon, Capricorn Rising

I've been thinking about the whole idea of horoscopes and "what sign are you" etc. I admit that I check my horoscope out on the Internet fairly frequently, but I only like a few select sites.

I'm not sure if being born on a certain day on an artificial calendar really means anything, though it seems that there are galactic energetic cyles which affect us all simultaneously, coming and going like the weather. Some days, everything is just more intense for everybody.

I'm not really concerned about whether astrology is "true" or not, but I do find it interesting & worth exploring. Here are the sites I really like. They all feature exceptionally good writing & inspirational, timely insight.

Free Will Astrology
Brezny is pure gold. He's one that will be quoted far into the future and remembered for his literary might at a pivotal time in history.

Astro.com
Detailed astrology that takes into account where and at what time you were born as well as other more "advanced" astrological information. Some free, some for a fee.

Phil Booth
The dailies from the Toronto Star which are really quite awesome.

Daily Om Astrology
Emails a beautifully written horoscope to you every day. Check out the one below, which I believe is great advice for anyone of any sign!

March 19, 2006
In Harmony With Life
Scorpio Daily Horoscope
Feelings of contentment may well up in your soul today. Though your schedule may be full and your social life quite busy, you may have found a balance between seeing to your responsibilities and your need for relaxation and fun. If you haven’t found that balance yet, you may be looking over your schedule with the intent of creating that balance. Consider your personal life, your professional life, and any instances where these two areas collide today. Ask yourself which items on your calendar can be rescheduled so that you can manage your time more efficiently.

Finding a balance between what you have to do and what you want to do can help you achieve blissful harmony. When you make time for both parts of your life, you don’t ever need to feel like you are neglecting one for the other or that something is lacking. You can fulfill your obligations to your work and relationships while having enough time to satisfy the needs of your soul. Your soul can be at peace as you work and play because you are secure in the knowledge that you have created ample time for both. You never have to work or play halfheartedly because you are trying to do both things at once. Embrace a philosophy of balance today, and you will feel like you are in harmony with life.

delicious funky cheesy beats

If you like disco, progressive house, and/or other kinds of happy dance music, check out Friskyradio.com. It's yum.

last day at the cabin

Tomorrow I'm moving from a cabin in the woods to a small town in the woods, just down the road.

I am ready to have a little bit more social contact and to live within walking distance of stores. The view from the balcony isn't so bad either:



In other renewal news, I'm still planning on changing the name of this site. Though some have warned me that I should keep my "branding" here, this isn't about selling hamburgers. This is about my online identity, and that needs to evolve as I do. Plus, I'm not really a hippie as I'm too young. My parents went to Woodstock before I was born.

"Hippie" also has too many connotations with lazyness, burnout, being anti-technology, and/or dirty. Though not everyone feels the same way about this word, it is not the image I am into portraying!

If you like this site the way it is don't panic. I won't be taking anything away, it's all forward motion from here.

enlightenment is a journey not a destination

The process of so-called "enlightenment" is multi-faceted, and some people who get one part of it might not necessarily get another. We each embody a unique set of special sensitivities and blind spots.

How You Treat Others
http://www.adyashanti.org/index.php?file=writings
Enlightenment can be measured by how compassionately and wisely you interact with others; with all others, not just those who support you in the way that you want. How you interact with those who do not support you shows how enlightened you really are.

As long as you perceive that anyone is holding you back you have not taken full responsibility for your own liberation. Liberation means that you stand free of making demands on others and life to make you happy. When you discover yourself to be nothing but Freedom, you stop setting up conditions and requirements that need to be satisfied in order for you to be happy. It is in the absolute surrender of all conditions and requirements that Liberation is discovered to be who and what you Are. Then the love and wisdom that flows out of you has a liberating effect on others.

bus stop graffiti, Sunshine Coast style

what you say is what you get

I've been experimenting with being more conscious about what I say and how I say it.

Though it takes time to change verbal habits (both in thought processes and conversation) it's worth the effort.

Your Future Is In Your Mind and Mouth
http://www.mindpowernews.com/FutureInYourMind.htm
For example, some people say "I can't lose weight. Nothing I do works, there is no use trying to lose weight, it just doesn't work for me. Every time I don't eat I get a headache and every time I exercise I get sore, this is just not going to work for me."
Now you can substitute any topic you want in there -- having money, finding a mate, getting a better job, whatever.

If this is what you think about most of the time and what you are constantly saying everything in the universe is working to fulfill your words. A day after day you find more and more evidence to prove you right, so you say to yourself, "See, I told you, I can't do this."

Now, some will say that they don't want it to be that way and that may be true mentally or intellectually but if your heart and mind are still dwelling on that belief you have no other option than to receive it.

dissenting ideas can bear fruit

In my career I've had some altercations with various bosses due to my refusal to just follow along and be a yes man. I've also had a lot of benefits come my way because of this attitude. I once criticized an idea of the CEO in a company meeting and though some people were shocked, he laughed and loved me ever after for it.

Some bosses hire geniuses who are awesome at what they do, let them do their thing, and express their ideas, even when they contradict the boss' thinking. Others want to have authority and power over others and be told that everything they say is brilliant.

Guess which method of management I feel works better in the long run?

sunset run

My first contribution to Google Video is a short clip of running towards a beautiful sunset.

More videos coming soon.

it's a miracle?

Why do some people assume that whenever a vision of a male face appears it's Jesus and whenever a woman appears it's Mary?

I wonder what Jesus would think about this if he were around today.

Cloth image draws visitors to P.E.I. church
http://www.cbc.ca/story/canada/national/2006/03/06/jesus_tignish060306.html
"When I first came up the aisle I thought I saw a torso but when I came closer ... I saw the face of our Lord Jesus," said Kathleen Gallant. "From a slightly different angle ... I saw the face of our blessed mother."

"I heard about it early last night and just had to come to see it today, and see for myself," says Martin Avery, who owns a religious book store in Charlottetown.

"I don't know if I'm a doubting Thomas or not but once I seen it, it's true to me and it's just beautiful to see."

Holy Hardware: Face Of Jesus Appears On Piece Of Sheet Metal
http://www.americanchronicle.com/articles/viewArticle.asp?articleID=6275
Thomas Haley was unloading supplies at "Hardy's Hardware" when he saw the face of Jesus Christ on a piece of sheet metal.

Haley did not take this as a sign to sell all his belongings and give the money to the poor.

Instead he did what any red-blooded American would do, he auctioned the holy hardware on eBay.

coffeeshop scribbles this afternoon

I am blessed
the biggest challenge
in my life Now
is to remain calm
about how Awesome
everything is becoming.

Because when we get "excited"
(even about the good things)
a corresponding "down"
will follow.

This doesn't mean
we never get excited
but
if we notice
this phenomenon
and cultivate calm
Grace happens.

dissolving in order to dream

the past is over

the present is perfect

the future is unknown

investigating value = smart spending

There are many sites online which have reviews of products like cars, cameras, washing machines, TVs, etc.

It has become a common practice for manufacturers, retailers, publishers, etc. to go in and pad the content on these sites with glowing reviews. Many companies now pay someone to post to these review sites posing as everyday consumers in order to increase market share.

For this reason, the Internet is not really the best place to research product value.

I suggest the site below as a source for quality information about which products are actually designed well and to last. It's especially valuable for cars and other high price purchases where value really matters.

If you don't want to pay to subscribe, the librarian at your local library (in North America anyway) can help you with the print version for free.

You do know where your local library is, don't you?

Consumer Reports
http://www.consumerreports.org
Consumer Reports® and ConsumerReports.org® are published by Consumers Union, an expert, independent nonprofit organization whose mission is to work for a fair, just, and safe marketplace for all consumers and to empower consumers to protect themselves. To achieve this mission, we test, inform, and protect. To maintain our independence and impartiality, CU accepts no outside advertising, no free test samples, and has no agenda other than the interests of consumers. CU supports itself through the sale of our information products and services, individual contributions, and a few noncommercial grants. Consumers Union is governed by a board of 18 directors, who are elected by CU members and meet three times a year. CU's President, James Guest, oversees a staff of more than 450.

finding inspiration

I'm reading The Artists Way again, and I recommend it to anyone who seeks to increase their creativity and productivity, and it's not just for so-called artists!

One of the exercises it promotes is morning pages, or writing three pages of longhand anything every morning, first thing. There is no need to censor or critique what you put down, just get the pen moving. It doesn't matter what you write about.

It might sound silly, but I've been doing it for a few days and it's really having a powerful effect...

Anyone who faithfully writes morning pages will be led to a connection with a source of wisdom within. -- Julia Cameron