DROP THE ANCHOR

THE VERDE WORD

'Cruising down the river on a Sunday afternoon' is a very old song.

 Do we all sing from the same song book?  

Do we cruise the same river?  

Are we on the same boat?  

How do we know when to drop the anchor?

In boating, there can be many unseen or unknown obstacles or issues such as tides, water depth, rocks, sandy or weedy bottoms, boat reliability, weather, odd bits of flotsam and jetsam and, other boaters who may or may not be proficient with their craft or navigational expertise.  Of course, the biggest worry, is being on a leaky boat.  

How is your craft?  Is it leaky?  On board are there life jackets, or water wings. Are there port and starboard lights or only a torch.  How about emergency beacons, or is there only a red rag.  How about going offshore, is there a compass or GPS system?

This is like our life, are things in place to cope in an emergency.  Are our heart, mind and soul healthy or are we drifting aimlessly on a leaky boat.

Whether the boat is the SS Minnow, PT 109, Mayflower or the Endeavour, we are always in control, we are the Captain, the Master of our ship and it's seaworthiness is in our control.

Life is akin to being on a boat cruising down rivers, floating with the tides or drifting with ocean currents. There can be dramas, disasters and unforeseen unfortunate events.  Do they occur because 'that's life' or do they occur because we see them happening in our minds aforehand.

Often, when seeing situations we often build them into problems without knowing the full facts. Irrationally we imagine things being worse than they are.  We may see disasters continually happening however, if we alter our mindset to see positive events, those positivities have more chance of fruition than the negatives.  The power of the mind is phenomenal.  We are the Captain , we are in control and how we mentally see things dictates our course and final outcome.

The boat is heading for rocks.  To avert or avoid hitting the rocks do we cut the engine, throw the sea anchor over the stern, reverse the engines, use the bow thrusters, drop the bow anchor or yell for everyone to jump overboard, each man for himself?


LIFE IS A CRUISE  

Life may be a cruise but before boarding and embarking there are preparations to be made. 

The boat has to be secure and safely tied up at the jetty with sufficient water and fuel on board and the engine bay and tank area has to be aired for petrol fumes.  

Following, there have to be enough life jackets for everyone, the weather forecast has to be checked, charts have to be surveyed for water depth (and/or, have a sounder on board).  It is wise to establish the locations of beacons, speed limits, obstacles, wash areas, submarine cables, off-limit areas, rocks and shoals.  There are also additional checks and procedures when going offshore because it is wise to advise the authorities of the name, size and type of our vessel, time of departure, intended course and destination and, estimated time of return.

All of these procedures and tasks hold the same principle for the metaphorical boat that is our life.  

There is no such thing as constantly calm seas.  Life can become wild, rough and tough and we may be tossed around in a dark cauldron of storm fury.  Life is about learning as, 'A smooth sea never made a skilled sailor'.  Experience is often the teacher of life's lessons.  How well we survive is often dictated by our level of preparedness.

When personal emergencies happen, how well do we handle them?  Will our boat be leaky or sound. Will we be mentally prepared and able to readily handle things or do we drop the anchor and tell everyone to jump.


EMOTIONAL PREPARATION

There is an old saying, 'forwarned is forarmed'.  This is very well however there are many times in life when the unexpected happens.  There is no telling when Jack will fall out of the tree, a partner has a health emergency, someone needs immediate mental help or, grandma fell off the roof.  The words continually going through your head are... 

"What on earth was grandma doing on the roof?"  

Are we able to spot gradual behavioural changes of those around us, can we see a negative effect from a loved one who uses social networking and may be a target of trolls.  

Can we identify stress, or that a child seems unusually very quiet lately, the horse is lame, the cat not eating her food, the goldfish floating on the water, they are all the mark of those around us being in need of help. Mind you, I think it is too late for the goldfish.

With less than desired events happening around us, if our main concern is the light in the fridge not working, this is a pretty good indication that our priorities are misplaced and we need to see things differently.  


BE REALLY PREPARED

By preparing and having personal practices and procedures in place to assist those with mental issues is a part of our emergency kit.  Naturally, also important is having spare medications and/or pharmacist scripts for those who may need them as well as phone numbers of people to contact in a 'just in case' situation.  Put everyone who may be needed, from the police to the local park ranger on the list.  We all know these things but make them specific to our area.  For example, if living in the bush, forest or park area, we ensure we have the phone numbers for bush fire emergencies, snake and bear handlers.

But most of all, try and keep grandma off the roof.

Loving those around us is wonderful but it is vast overkill to be constantly asking those folks every day, how things are going, and advising them they should do this, that or the other.  Even worse, is expecting disaster to happen.  Relax.  If those those we love need help, we will be contacted.

If we think bad or unfortunate events happen in threes, they will, because we are waiting for them to happen. What we think will happen, will, because our mind is encouraging the event.  If we are constantly waiting for 'the other shoe to drop', be prepared and either wear shoes with laces, don't wear shoes or take the other one off before it falls.  That is preparation. 

Like boating, although it is prudent to be prepared for the unforeseen disaster, by expecting and waiting for disaster to happen is a total waste of emotional, physical and mental energy.

Running our own individual life can be tough sometimes, running others is nigh on impossible.

Relax, roll with the flow, if we are caught in a storm, or suddenly heading for newly revealed rocks, like life, there are options.  We can head in from the storm or try and avoid the rocks by opening the throttle, sharply veer to port or starboard, and cruise home.

Things are rearly serious enough, nor is it always wise to simply drop the anchor.  
Preparation is a key to survival.

We don't all sing from the same songbook

We are not all on the same boat

We don't all cruise the same river and,

When and where we drop anchor depends on the situation.

Namaste,

Verde.

WESTERN SUNRISE

THE VERDE WORD

Many of you know that my personal ethos is 'When we change the way we look at things, the things we look at change'.  Thus, I know there are many who also believe and practice this paradigm.

Western Sunrise takes this idea further and demonstrates that there is always another valid perspective.


THE SUNRISE

We accept and have observed the sun rising in the East and setting in the West.

Looking at this from a scientific perspective, the sun does not actually rise in the East.  Rather, planet Earth rotates towards the East giving the effect of the sun rising from the eastern horizon.  We all know this.

I assume the placement of north, south, east and west cardinal points on the compass is because thousands of years ago as the first map was conceived, the mapmaker had his paper, cloth, wood or soil in front on him and decided to place the areas he knew according to the placement of his blank map.  So, the concept of 'up' and 'down'  or 'over there' - (left) or 'over there' - (right) in the mapmakers mind were transferred to the flat plane of paper, cloth, stone or soil.

The invention of mapping with meridians of latitude and longitude and a compass with cardinal points were needed for land and water navigation to enable safe travel and to map the location of new discoveries.

We all know planet Earth is not at the centre of the universe, in fact as I understand it, we are further towards the edge, if indeed, the universe has an edge at all.

In space, the vacuum that is the universe, there is no such thing as up, down or sideways. So, viewing Earth from space, where is the East?  Planet Earth is a sphere, an orb and therefore only has one side, if the external of an orb is considered a side at all.


EAST OR WEST?

So, does the sun rise in the East or the West?

If we are on a space station or the moon, where are the compass cardinal points of north, south, east and west?  In space, do the cardinal points of the compass exist to reflect a particular position in space?

If a space station is in geo-stationary orbit over (opposite) the Equator, certainly the sun appears from the right hand side, or eastern side of our planet.  But what if the space station is geo-stationary orbiting directly over the North or South Poles?  In this case, it may be a reasonable assumption that the sun appears to make a clockwise journey around Earth.  However, in truth, the Sun is stationary. The sun does not revolve around planet Earth.  The sun does not rise in the East nor set in the West.  The sun is stationary.  It is planet Earth's axis rotation that we 'see' the sunrise and sunset.

A matter of language perhaps.  The reality is that instead of the sun rising and setting on our planet, rather, areas of planet Earth are coming into and out of the shadow of the Sun.  Then, instead we could say we are at shadup or shadown because there is no such thing as sun up and sun down because, the sun is stationary.

It is a combination of language and human understanding that continues since the beginning of mankind to this day that 'the sun rises in the East and sets in the West'.  Science has taught us that this statement is incorrect yet we continue to use the terms 'sun up' and 'sun down'  because it best fits our understanding of the world.  But what about other things, do we blindly accept without thinking or challenging what we are told about our world?

Looking at things from a different angle not only alters our perspective but also challenges our understanding and mindset.  In turn, this aids our intellectual growth.


ACCEPTING THE GIVEN

Many of us sometimes accept the given, and believe what we are told without question.

There are times we readily accept news items in print and digital media as being factual and true events being reported without bais and misrepresentation.  This is the aim of honest journalism.

Thus, often news reports and media show pictures and footage of citizens, people in the streets with their sticks, Molotov cocktails (bottle bombs) whilst wearing masks, bike helmets and thick clothing demonstrating or causing harm to personal and public property and, attacking government police or militia.

Do we really know what is going on or do we just 'tut tut' and think these people are simply malicious trouble-makers rising up in protest against their government for the fun of it.  Are they trouble-makers, religious fanatics or zealots after the freedom of democracy?  Perhaps we see them as down-trodden citizens attempting to overthrow a despotic corrupt government?

It unwise to accept the given without understanding and examination of the facts.  Look at things from a different perspective.  Attempt to see things differently.

Does the sun rise in the West?  Well, it all depends on your viewpoint.


SEE THINGS DIFFERENTLY

We have seen much footage of war, aggression, and crimes against humanity, but how do we recognise the truth?  Journalists report news as factual issues however in the limited time and editorial space we as readers or observers are not always able to grasp, understand or fully comprehend the implications of the action or events reported.  For many years I have been trying to truly understand the Israeli / Palestine situation yet only now, I am finally beginning to understand.

The situation is complex, began at least a thousand years ago and involves arguments over home, territory and power.  It is a shame that basic human needs of home, family, faith and love is faced by the bloodiness of religion.

Humans can experience the need of a compass for moral, ethical, physical and mental health issues to find comfort, safety and security.  Some use the compass and direction of a god, belief, faith or philosophy.  Wherever that compass is found is at the sole discretion of the individual.

All humans have independant thought.  It is sheer folly to enlist, entreat, or force others to follow our personal beliefs, faiths or philosophies as everyone likes to find their own way.  By bringing others 'to the fold' is to treat them like sheep and put them in a pen. No one likes to be caged.

As civilisation progresses so does education and intellectual ability.  Research has shown that as each century passes, human beings are becoming more intelligent than those of previous centuries. Therefore, we are all able to develop our own path/s either with or without belief or faith and do not necessarily need religion to lead morally healthy and productive lives.

It is my opinion for humanity to peacefully survive, humans need four things:

1. Recognise and accept inherent love and kindness
2. Develop an ability to see things differently
3. Continue intellectual growth
4. Know there is a compass available when needed.

Namaste, 

Verde

FOLLOW YOUR STREAM

THE VERDE WORD

Follow Your Stream reflects the perspective that our life has a dome with many rivers of silver flowing to the pinnacle.  The myriad capillaries, veins, streams or rivers of silver are your life journey streaming to a bright and beautiful future.  Use the steam of silver to guide and lift your life.

The more complex your life and choices and paths followed, the more silver streams can be seen. The silver streams can be straight, narrow, thin, wide, never ending or like tendrils of a grape vine.


STREAMS OF SILVER

You have entered, and are alone in a large marble building with a magnificent dome.  It is comfortably cool after the heat outside. The interior being the floor, walls and dome are shining opalescence marble.  A small virginal white silk pillow is placed in the middle of the floor.

Laying down, facing upwards you feel the weight of your head sink deeply into the pillow.

Close your eyes.

Your body is completely relaxed.

Underneath, feel the coolness of the marble under your legs, hands, arms and torso.

Listen.

It is so peaceful and quiet that once the sound of blood pulsing through your head has disappeared, the sound of quietness is heard, and it is almost palpable.

Comfortable and relaxed, the mind empty, not conscious of any thought.

Feeling nothing physical, you feel yourself drifting, floating.

You feel an impulse to open your eyes.

It is as a dream.  You move a finger, you are awake. You are not only awake but you are experiencing a true awakening.  An awakening you have never felt before.

The sight of the white opalescence walls and dome is the same.  However you slowly become aware of tiny silver streams and rivulets flowing across the floor and up the cool walls to the domed pinnacle.

The streams appear as tiny capillaries and veins, but instead they are of shining liquid silver.

To find the silvery source, your eyes follow the rivulets down the walls and across the floor.  The beautiful silvery fluid streams emanate from yourself.

You see and feel the silver capillaries and veins flowing from your source as they slowly, gently ease their way across the floor towards the walls.  The silver steams are indeed sourced from your being.  The silver streams are yours and only you are allowing them to flow.

The silver, looks solid, but dense, thick but light, imagined but real.  At your heart there is one single flowing silver stream but leading to the dome, there are many.  It is your life, commencing with one stream which leads to a multitude of others.  Upon reaching the dome, all the streams meet at the pinnacle as one shining glowing silver sun.  The pinnacle is radiant, it is dazzling.

Your conscious thought reflects and realises that the silver stream sourced and coming from you is the beginning of your life. As the streams flow and divide into ever increasing veins, capillaries and tendrils of silver, they represent your journey through life.

Then you  realise, these silvered steams flowing upwards, ever flowing, never endingly proceeding to the pinnacle, they are not only your past and current life, they are also your destiny.  Thus, as each path taken in life, regardless of the stones or pebbles in the way, the rivers still proceed their pre-determined way.  Regardless of decisions made and opportunities chosen, you end up exactly where you are supposed to be.  At the pinnacle.

Feeling the silver throbbing in your heart, soaking and saturating your soul, you find clarity that everything you ever imagined is possible.

Then comes further clarity.  The various silver shimmering streams can be how you want your life to be.  You see the shimmer of professional success, streams to personal comfort and love.  You see your life flowing to a very old age with excellent health.  Most of all, you see much love of wisdom.

The dome, the walls reach to the pinnacle of light.  In your mind, written in the streams and rivulets on the walls leading upwards, is the information and the steps  you need to reach the pinnacle that you want in your life.  All has been revealed to you with succinct clear beautiful streams of silver.

With kindness, compassion, love and honesty, no matter where, why or what you do, your life is a continual silver stream that must be followed in order to reach the pinnacle of your life.  The silver streams are forever and everlasting.

Take advantage of this gift and allow the shining glowing silvered dome of your life to shine everlastingly upon you.

Verde.