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One of our greatest living spiritual teachers uses details frher life story to help readers uncover the truth of their ow

“Gangaji is one of the smartest, clearest, and most poetic spiritual leaders of our time. Her writing in Hidden Treasure is compassionate, transparent, generous, and ruthless.” —Alanis Morissette

Quite often, who we think we are, we aren’t. How we have de-fined ourselves is not the truth of ourselves. What we think we must have is already present, and when we think we have lost the value of our lives, it is still here if we know where to look.

A LIFE-CHANGING BOOK BY GANGAJI

Read more at www.Gangaji.org.For advance notice about giveaways, contests, and promotions, sign up for our newsletter at www.tarcherbooks.com.

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HIDDEN TREASURE

TARCHER/PENGUIN • A MEMBER OF PENGUIN GROUP (USA) INC.

4 EARTH STAR AUGUST / SEPTEMBER 2011 www.earthstarmag.com

ON THE COVER16 Adventure in Everything

by Matthew Walker

22 Hidden Treasureby Gangaji

42 Galactic Gateway 2012Elenin, Nibiru and the Pole Shiftby Tricia McCannon

52 5 Ways to Age Gracefully and Healthfullyby Dr. Joseph Mercola

FEATURES12 Down To Earth Astrology

by Tim Gunns

25 Optimize Your Internal Defenses AgainstRadiation Exposureby Foster Stevens

31 The Wisdom of the Heartby Stewart Pearce

33 What Mom & Pop Stores Can Teach Us All About Successby Robert Spector

35 8 Pool Exercises that Burn Fat Fastby Kate Huntley

39 Walnuts Rank As Top Nutby John Phillip

60 Harvesting RainwaterHow to Make a Rain Barrelby Betsy Matheson

63 There is Nothing Wrong with Youby Robert Holden, Ph.D.

DEPARTMENTS

7 Up Front

18 Book Reviews

40 Calendar of Events

50 Green Living

EARTH STARCONTENTS AUGUST / SEPTEMBER 2011

Page 22

Page 42

Page 16

Cover ArtIsland Dreamsby Jim Warren

From the wild & whimsical tothe sweet & sensuous, forover 30 years Jim Warren hasbeen painting his way into thehearts and minds of peoplethe world over. Already con-sidered a "living legend of theart world", Jim is ever-growing& ever-changing. His versatili-ty ranges from his unique por-traits for celebrities, CEO'sand families, to his illustra-tions for books, movies andalbum covers. Most notablyJim won a Grammy award forhis artwork on Bob Seger's1981 album "Against theWind". His fine art oil paint-ings are featured in some ofthe top galleries in the world.Jim's latest paintings and clas-sics are now being producedas high quality, limited editionGiclee canvas print. You canvisit his website at:www.jimwarren.com

Jim Warren

Harmony in the Hoodby Richard Benishai

Geobiology is the study of the effects the environmenthas on human beings both physically and mentally.The ground on which our houses are built plays asignificant role in the health of the inhabitants. There are a number of factors involved that we call GeopathicStressors: underground water currents, cracks in the crust of the Earth, cosmo-telluric “chimneys” andtechnological disturbances affecting the human energeticfield. Some of the effects of these disturbances are: weakening of the immune system, insomnia, depression, cardio-vascular problems and sometimes even cancer.

As a Geobiologist, my primary focus has been to diagnosethe vibration level of locations, harmonize the elements and clear out negative energies of all sorts. When my work is done, the vibration level of the location is much higher and people experience better sleep, less domesticconflicts and a general feeling of well-being. Most of the time my work revolves around clearingprivate homes. However, during the twelve years of my practice, another aspect of my occupation has been torespond to the needs of communities.

One such case was a village in the south of Israel.Several people living on the same street had cancer. I discovered that the buildings were located above a great number of underground currents (in an arid part ofIsrael) running deep under the surface. Year in, year out, these people’s life-energy was being drained, undergroundstreams being one of the main causes of illness.

A Geobiologist functions with the intelligence of natureand the four elements: earth, water, fire and air, with each element having a suitable place and co-existing inharmony. In my intervention in this small village I used my mental capacities to correct the state of affairs. After the harmonization I measured the energy level; it was much higher than before. I was confident that the inhabitants of the street would now be able to enjoy better health.When I shared this case in my Basic Course, one of the students said that in his small town there was a high rate of domestic conflicts, divorce and traffic accidents. He asked me if I would agree to examine the situation. As I suspected, there were many factors causing Geopathic stress: water currents, negative chimneys, as well as overhead electric power lines and a large cellular antenna tower. I diagnosed the problems and worked to eliminate their affects, one by one, using my intervention techniques.

A few weeks later I was informed that the municipality had resumed the previously halted town development. The rate of illnesses and divorces had dropped considerably since then.

Other examples of my work in the public domain involvedtraffic accidents. On my first trip to the Ivory Coast I heard about a major intersection in Abidjan that was catastrophic: so many accidents occurred there that people just called it: “The Crossroad of Death “. This case would be another challenge and so I took theinitiative to go to the crossing and remedy the situation.The following year, on a subsequent trip, I asked a taxi driver about accidents occurring at this intersection. He told me: “The accidents have almost disappeared”.

Another place was not far from the capital city where there was a wide curve in the highway. There, accidentshappened almost on a daily basis. There is a lot of wa-ter in the Ivory Coast since it rains heavily almost all year round (almost 2 meters). I found that in both places, the problems were caused by underground water. Thenegative energy of the water influenced drivers. As they passed over these underground streams, they were affected so dramatically that they could even loseconsciousness for a split second or their judgment could be altered.

There is another aspect of my work that I haveencountered in the public domain: black magic. Though it is widely practiced in Africa, it is by no means limited to that continent. In the Ivory Coast I have dealt with quite a few cases. People usually come to me when they suspect that harm was done to them by others with malevolent intent. One of my friends told me that there was an entireneighborhood along the seashore of Abidjan where dark forces were at work. I decided to clear the area. When I got there, I talked to a few local people, discovered that this was a place of cult and human sacrifices. The processof clearing this neighborhood was a long one. It took 5 daysto balance that negativity. When the area was finallycleared, the energy level was substantially increased.A journalist heard about this project and it became thesubject of an article in an Abidjan newspaper.

To this day, I have taught several hundreds ofstudentsin numerous countries: Israel (where I reside), France, Spain, Portugal and the Ivory Coast. Many of my studentsare using their knowledge to harmonize their own homeand the homes of friends and relatives. To my satisfaction,some of them chose Geobiology as a profession andhave become colleagues. Together, we have manyopportunities for collaborating in projects intendedto raise the energy level for the planet.

During the month of September I’ll be offering a 3-daycourse on the east coast of America. This course will covermethods of detection, measurement and harmonizationof the Geopathic Stressors that affect our environment.We will learn to develop and strengthen our mentalcapabilities and practice the procedures necessary inclearing a location and raising its energetic vibration.The only aids necessary for this work are a pendulum,measuring graphs and telescopic antennas that will beloaned for the duration of the course.

Course InformationLocation: Light Heart Retreat, near Bar Harbor, Maine Date: 2/3/4 September For registration, information about directions, lodging facilities and other logistic details, please contact:Joanna Pinney Buellinfo@lightheartretreat.comwww.lightheartretreat.com

Additional informationFor further reading, you are invited to my website:www.geobiology.co.il

Richard Benishai, Master Geobiologistrichard3@bezeqint.net+972-52-8382823

AUGUST / SEPTEMBER 2011 EARTH STAR 5www.earthstarmag.com

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EARTH STARThe Leading Magazine for Holistic Living

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Earth Star Up Front

T he biofuels industry is beingblamed for record food pricesand high price volatility. Earlier

this month a report from the WorldTrade Organization and other interna-tional agencies recommended that gov-ernments cut support for biofuels to easethat volatility. On the heels of thatreport, the U.S. Department ofAgriculture issued its corn forecast; itsuggested that corn supplies will be verytight this year because bad weather haslimited planting and because the shareof corn going to ethanol is increasing.After the report, corn prices shot torecord highs, reaching $8 a bushel. Thenon Friday, the Organization forEconomic Cooperation andDevelopment released a report predict-ing that food prices will remain high forthe next decade.

Many experts say the unprecedent-ed prices are at least partially driven bygovernment subsidies and mandates thathave led to fourfold increases in produc-tion of ethanol biofuel and tenfoldincreases in production of biodieselbetween 2000 and 2009 worldwide. Inthe United States, multiple bills andamendments have been introduced toscale back subsidies as a way of trim-ming the federal budget, and onThursday the Senate voted to end taxcredits for ethanol that amounted to

nearly $6 billion. (The programwon't be killed unless the Housepasses its own law ending it.)

The WTO report cited manyreasons for the high prices andvolatility, including changes indemand for food, bad weather, lowstock, and the recent high cost of oil.Oil prices directly affect the produc-tion costs of food by raising theprice of tractor fuel and fertilizers. Ifoil is expensive enough, it can alsoincrease demand for biofuels, whichdrives up the price of crops such ascorn and sugarcane.

The WTO report also cited gov-ernment biofuel mandates as a signifi-cant problem. Not only do these require-ments drive up demand for crops such ascorn, increasing prices, but they limitthe ability of markets to respond to pricechanges, increasing volatility. “We’velost a lot of our ability for our agricul-tural system to be buffered from priceshocks from weather and other thingsthat affect production,” says Jason Hill,a professor of bioproducts and biosys-tems engineering at the University ofMinnesota.

Worldwide, eight percent of cornproduced is used for biofuels. In theUnited States, according to the newUSDA report, thirty-five percent of cornin the growing season ending in 2010

went to the production of biofuels; thisgrowing season it is predicted to be thirty-seven percent; it is expected to be thirty-eight percent in 2012.

Representatives for the ethanolindustry say that the share of corn usedfor ethanol is typically overstated. Afterprocessing in an ethanol plant, one-thirdof the corn used, by weight, can still beused as feed, decreasing the amount offeed that ethanol displaces, according tothe Biotechnology IndustryOrganization. The Renewable FuelsAssociation argues that other factors,such as the price of oil, have a fargreater impact than ethanol productionon the price of food.—MIT Technology Review 2011

THESE FTHESE FAKE CHINESE MICROCHIPSAKE CHINESE MICROCHIPSWERE MADE TWERE MADE TO DISARM U.S. MISSILESO DISARM U.S. MISSILES

L ast year, the U.S. Navy bought59,000 microchips for use ineverything from missiles to

transponders that turned out to becounterfeits from China.

Wired reports the chips weren’tonly low-quality fakes, they had been

made with a “back-door”and could have been remote-ly shut down at any time.

If left undiscovered theresult could have rendereduseless U.S. missiles andkilled the signal from air-craft that tells everyonewhether it’s friend or foe.

Apparently foreign chipmakers are often better at

making cheap microchips and U.S.defense contractors are loathe to passup the better deal.

The problem remains with these“trojan-horse” circuits that can be builtinto the chip and are almost impossible

to detect—especially without the orig-inal plans to compare them to.

The Intelligence AdvancedResearch Projects Agency (IARPA) isnow looking for ways to check thechips to make sure they haven't beenhacked in the production process.

Expect to see a whole lot morefunding directed to this goal. Or, con-sidering IARPA is the research anddevelopment section of the intelli-gence community—expect the moneyto be spent—don’t expect to seewhere. —BusinessInsider.com

Record Food Prices Linked to BiofuelsRecord Food Prices Linked to Biofuels

8 EARTH STAR AUGUST / SEPTEMBER 2011 www.earthstarmag.com

Earth Star Up FrontFRENCH VILLAGE WHICH WILL ‘SURVIVE 2012 ARMAGEDDON’ PLAGUED BY VISITORS

T he mayor of a picturesqueFrench village has threatened tocall in the army to seal it off

from a tide of New Age fanatics andUFO watchers, who are convinced it isthe only place on Earth to be sparedArmageddon in 2012.

Bugarach, population 189, is apeaceful farming village in the Auderegion, southwestern France and sits atthe foot of the Pic de Bugarach, thehighest mountain in the Corbières wine-growing area.

But in the past few months, thequiet village has been inundated bygroups of esoteric outsiders who believethe peak is an “alien garage”.

According to them, extraterrestrialsare quietly waiting in a massive cavitybeneath the rock for the world to end, atwhich point they will leave, taking, it ishoped, a lucky few humans with them.

Most believe Armageddon will takeplace on December 21, 2012, the enddate of the ancient Maya calendar, atwhich point they predict human civilisa-tion will come to an end. Anotherfavourite date mentioned is 12,December, 2012. They see Bugarach asone of perhaps several “sacred moun-tains” sheltered from the cataclysm.

“This is no laughing matter,” Jean-Pierre Delord, the mayor, told The DailyTelegraph.

“If tomorrow 10,000 people turnup, as a village of 200 people we willnot be able to cope. I have informed theregional authorities of our concerns andwant the army to be at hand if necessarycome December 2012.”

Mr Delord said people had beencoming to the village for the past 10years or so in search of alien life follow-ing a post in an UFO review by a localman, who has since died. “He claimedhe had seen aliens and heard the hum-ming of their spacecraft under themountain,” he said.

The internet abounds with tales ofthe late President François Mitterrandbeing curiously heliported on to thepeak, of mysterious digs conducted bythe Nazis and later Mossad, the Israelisecret services.

A visit to Bugarach is said to haveinspired Steven Spielberg in his film,Close Encounters of the Third Kind –although the actual mountain he used isDevil’s Tower in Wyoming. It is alsowhere Jules Verne found the entranceand the inspiration for A Journey to theCentre of the Earth.

Recently, however, interest in thesite had skyrocketed, said the mayor,with online UFO websites, many in theUS, advising people to seek shelter inBugarach as the countdown toArmageddon commences.

“Many come and pray on the moun-tainside. I’ve even seen one man doingsome ritual totally nude up there,” saidMr Delord.

Sigrid Benard, who runs theMaison de la Nature guesthouse, saidUFO tourists were taking over. “At first,my clientele was 72 percent ramblers.Today, I have 68 percent ‘esoteric visi-tors’,” he said.

Several “Ufologists” have boughtup properties in the small hamlet of LeLinas, in the mountain’s shadow for“extortionate” prices, and locals havecomplained they are being priced out ofthe market. Strange sect-like courses areheld for up to 800 a week. “For thisprice, you are introduced to a guru,made to go on a procession, offered achristening and other rubbish, allpayable in cash,” said Mr Delord.

Valerie Austin, a retired Britonfrom Newcastle who settled in Bugarachtwenty-two years ago who said the alienwatchers were spoiling the villageatmosphere.

“You can’t go for a peaceful walkanymore. It’s a beautiful area, but nowyou find people chanting lying aroundmeditating. Everybody has the right totheir own beliefs, but the place no longerfeels like ours.” She said alien watchersplanted strange objects on the mountain-side.

Recently she found ablack virgin statuettecemented to the rock face.

Although shedescribed the alien claims as“total rubbish”, she saidthere was neverthelesssomething special about theplace.

“It has a magneticforce in the scientific senseof the word. There is a spe-cial feeling here, but if Ireally believed the worldwere about to end, I’d havea whale of a time over thenext two years” rather thanlook for salvation, she said.—The Telegraph, UK

The mayor of Bugarach, Jean-Pierre Delord stands on the outskirts of the village - Photo: AFP)

AUGUST / SEPTEMBER 2011 EARTH STAR 9www.earthstarmag.com

Earth Star Up Front

I n response to the celebrated roleof Twitter, Facebook and otheronline services in organizing

protests across the Middle East, theU.S. State Department and Pentagonare stepping up efforts to produce 'lib-

eration technology'.A number of grants are supporting

work on independent cellphone net-works, while others support develop-ment of a device labelled ‘Internet in asuitcase’, according to The New York

Times.Such a smalldevice couldbe secretlyhanded off in ac e n s o r e dcountry, thenquickly set upto providew i r e l e s sInternet serv-ice over a

wide area,A group of young entrepreneurs

are working on that project out of afifth-floor office in Washington, withhelp from a $2 million grant from theState Department, reports The NewYork Times.

The State Department is alsofinancing development of stealth net-works that would allow users to com-municate with each other, unfetteredby government censors.

This could end up being a boon inareas where governments have tried toblock or seize control of Internet traf-fic, as well as other sources of media,including in Libya, Syria and Iran.—Daily Mail, UK

Anti-Foaming Anti-Foaming Agent Found in Chicken McNuggetsAgent Found in Chicken McNuggets

E ver wonder what's really foundin Chicken McNuggets? Someof the ingredients, it turns out,

seem to belong more to an industrialfactory of some kind, not a food retailer.According to the McDonald’sCorporation, its famous ChickenMcNuggets are made with ingredientsincluding autolyzed yeast extract (whichcontain free glutamate, similar to MSG),sodium phosphates and sodium alu-minum phosphate. But that's not thefreaky part. According to McDonald’sown website, Chicken McNuggets arealso made with “hydrogenated soybeanoil with TBHQ and citric acid added topreserve freshness” and“Dimethylpolysiloxane added as anantifoaming agent.”

At least two of these ingredients areartificially synthesized industrial chemi-cals. TBHQ, a petroleum derivative, isused as a stabilizer in perfumes, resins,varnishes and oil field chemicals.Laboratory studies have linked it tostomach tumors. “At higher doses, it hassome negative health effects on lab ani-mals, such as producing precursors tostomach tumors and damage to DNA. Anumber of studies have shown that pro-longed exposure to high doses of TBHQmay be carcinogenic, especially forstomach tumors.”

Dimethylpolysiloxane, a type of sil-icone, is used in caulks and sealants, as

a filler for breastimplants, and as keyingredient in SillyPutty. SaysWikipedia:

“PDMS is also usedas a component in sil-icone grease and othersilicone based lubri-cants, as well as indefoaming agents,mold release agents,damping fluids, heattransfer fluids, polish-es, cosmetics, hair conditioners andother applications. PDMS has also beenused as a filler fluid in breast implants,although this practice has decreasedsomewhat, due to safety concerns.PDMS is used variously in the cosmeticand consumer product industry as well.For example, PDMS can be used in thetreatment of head lice...”

Not that the other ingredients areany better. Because cotton is not regu-lated as a food crop, cottonseed oil maycontain chemical pesticides that arebanned in food production. It is alsoalmost always genetically modified.Hydrogenated oils, of course, typicallycontain trans fats, the artificially pro-duced fats that are unusable by the bodyand that studies have linked to a number

of detrimental health problems. Andautolyzed yeast extract is a chemicaltaste-enhancing ingredient containingfree glutamate that manufacturers use asa friendlier-looking replacement forMSG.

And what about the chicken inChicken McNuggets? It’s factory-farmed chicken, not free-range chicken.So it’s the kind of chicken that’s typical-ly treated with vaccines and hormoneswhile being fed conventional feed prod-ucts that are medicated with pharmaceu-ticals and grown with pesticides.

Yum!! Don’t forget to ask for extradipping sauce. We haven’t even talkedabout what you’ll find in there... —NaturalNews

'INTERNET IN A SUITCASE'

1 0 EARTH STAR AUGUST / SEPTEMBER 2011 www.earthstarmag.com

Earth Star Up FrontUS,US, UK UK TTo Cut Po Cut Poower Supplies Because of Solar Stormswer Supplies Because of Solar Storms

P eriodic solar events involvingsolar flares, coronal mass ejec-tions (CME), and geomagnetic

storms, are capable of disrupting anddamaging transformers, radio equip-ment, and even entire power grids,depending on their strength. In the eventof a massive Category 5 solar storm,which is the most severe type and thetype experts say may hit the earth verysoon, electrical and radio systems couldbe completely destroyed. This hasprompted officials from both the UnitedKingdom and United States to announceplans of controlled power “blackouts” toprevent national electricity grids frommassive destruction.

The British Independent reportsthat scientists from the UK Met Office,a weather and climate change organiza-tion, are taking the threat so seriouslythat they are constructing a secondspace weather prediction center to help“coordinate a global response” to the

threat. And US officials are onboardwith the initiative as well, as they agreethat action must be taken to preventpower systems from extensive damage,which in effect could bring down entirenations.

“It points to a potential scenariowhere large parts of either NorthAmerica or northern Europe may bewithout power from between days orweeks, to perhaps months and, inextreme cases, there are estimates thatit could last years,” said Dr. ThomasBogdan, director of the US SpaceWeather Prediction Center, to theIndependent.

The M-2 class (medium size) CMEthat took place on June 7th, for instance,could have had a much more devastatingimpact on the earth had it been pointeddirectly at it—and that was only a mod-erate solar storm. With the recent uptickin this and other solar activity throughthe month of May, which represents the

beginnings of a new period of “solarmaximum” activity following adecades-long “solar minimum” period,experts fear larger, more damaging solarevents could be on the way. —NaturalNews

Meditation, Military Style

C onsider this sort of a bootcamp for the mind—the USmilitary is now training sol-

diers in a type of meditation that helpsthem become resilient so they can han-dle the intense stress of the battlefield.The hope is that this program willresult in a reduction in the number ofarmed services personnel who sufferpsychologically after deployment. Justas we civilians have borrowed bootcamp’s tough-love strategy as an effec-tive way to get physically strong andfit, it seems to me that we also mightbenefit by borrowing from the tech-niques our armed forces use tostrengthen their psyches for difficulttimes. After all, who gets through life

without facing some tough emotionalchallenges?

The training program for soldiersis called Mindfulness-based MindFitness Training (MMFT, pronounced“M-fit”). John Schaldach, MMFT’sdirector of training, said that peopleoften mistakenly assume that MMFT issimply using mindfulness for stressreduction. While that’s “hugely help-ful” for most types of stress, he told methat MMFT goes beyond that. The pro-gram helps soldiers develop resilienceby pairing mindfulness with otherskills to help them regulate theirresponses to stress, to maintain peakfunctioning at all times and to makeeffective decisions during situations inwhich they might otherwise panic. Italso helps them come down from thehigh pitch and edge that they mustmaintain for combat so they canrespond appropriately to ordinary life.

Learning The WaySoldiers preparing for deploymentundergo 20 hours of MMFT trainingover eight weeks. They begin with

awareness exercises, learning to focusattention on what happens when theyexperience the stress response and itsaftermath. Rather than shutting thesesensations down or becoming over-whelmed, participants learn to notice andtolerate them, which supports the body’snatural capacity for self-regulation.

Example: After intense stress, thehuman nervous system needs to dis-charge the excess energy that wasmobilized for “fight or flight.”Commonly, people experience twitch-ing or trembling, heaviness in thelimbs, heat flashes, chills and/or cry-ing. If this release of energy is inter-rupted, the nervous system can becomeimbalanced—and that can be the seedfor psychological problems to developlater on.

Finally, soldiers learn to apply allthis self-awareness and self-control tomanaging their actions. “They becomemuch more skilled in accessing achoice—rather than reacting fromhabit—even under tremendous pres-sure,” Schaldach said.—Mind-Fitness-Training.org

AUGUST / SEPTEMBER 2011 EARTH STAR 1 1www.earthstarmag.com

Earth Star Up FrontBosnia's Moon Pyramid Built Over 10.000 Years Ago!

W ho says there are no pyra-mids in Bosnia?Radiocarbon dating method

confirmed that the Bosnian Pyramid ofthe Moon was built about ten thousandyears ago!

Dr. Sam Osmanagic, one of themost controversial anthropologists ofmodern days, held in Slavonski Brod alecture on the Bosnian Valley of thePyramids.

The research project of the BosnianValley of the Pyramids is the largestarchaeological project in the world. Lastyear we were the most active archaeo-logical site with five hundred volunteersand forty-five professional archaeolo-gists coming from several countries(Italy, Spain, France, Hungary, Croatia,Malaysia etc.)—declared Dr. SamOsmanagic. Over the past seven yearswe spent 340.000 working hours exca-vating the pyramids, and some sevenhundred people from forty-two coun-tries/ six continents applied for positionsas volunteers in 2011.

People from all over the world wantto be part of the historical process of dis-

covering thefi rst Europeanp y r a m i d s ,which are alsothe largest inthe world, saidDr. Osmanagicwhose opposi-tion felt silentafter beingc o n f r o n t e dwith a growingbody of evi-dence.

Criticswhom oftenf e r o c i o u s l yattacked theresearch project in 2005 and 2006 seemcompletely withdrawn and its almostimpossible to hear publicly anyone say-ing that the Bosnian pyramids are a nat-ural phenomena.

Backed by experts from other coun-tries like Italy, Russia and Egypt, whounanimously confirmed the existence ofthe Bosnian pyramids, the attacks ofthose who spoke out against the project

seem to have ceased, Osmanagic said.The hardheaded pyramid researcher

got these days yet another importantconfirmation, whether anyone likes it ornot. During the past years Osmanagicfeverishly sought some organic materialon the pyramids for radiocarbon datingin order to be able to determine theapproximate age of the structures.—Bosnian-pyramid.com

"Super EMP" Capable of Disabling Power Grid "Super EMP" Capable of Disabling Power Grid Across Lower 48 StatesAcross Lower 48 States

T he Center for Security Policy,in a report issued last year, hasestimated that in the event of a

wide-scale EMP attack on the UnitedStates, as many as nine out of tenAmericans would be dead within oneyear:

“Within a year of that attack, nineout of ten Americans would be dead,

because we can’t support a populationof the present size in urban centers andthe like without electricity,” said FrankGaffney, president of the Center forSecurity Policy. “And that is exactlywhat I believe the Iranians are workingtowards.”

North Koreans, Iranians, terrorists(Al Queda or otherwise), it doesn’t

really matter.What does

matter is thatvery fewAmericans areprepared forsuch an outlier.

The first 24– 48 hours aftersuch an occur-rence will leadto confusionamong the gen-eral populationas traditional

news acquisition sources like televi-sion, radio and cell phone networkswill be non-functional.

Within a matter of days, once peo-ple realize the power might not be com-ing back on and grocery store shelvesstart emptying, the entire system willbegin to delve into chaos.

Within thirty days a mass die offwill have begun as food supplies dwin-dle, looters and gangs turn to violentextremes, medicine can’t be restockedand water pump stations fail.

For those interested in learning moreabout the after-effects of EMP and sever-al different scenarios in which you mayfind yourself, we strongly recommendreading / watching the following:One Second After by WilliamForstchenLights Out by David CrawfordPatriots by James RawlesJericho TV show (via Netflix oriTunes) —www.shtfplan.com

www.earthstarmag.com1 2 EARTH STAR AUGUST / SEPTEMBER 2011

An element of impetuosity per-vades the ethers as Augustbegins, when the sun squaresgiant Jupiter on the 1st. Curbimpulsive behavior, or squan-

dering precious resources; act only after care-ful deliberation, as you may be inspired totackle projects that you normally wouldn’tconsider, or perhaps to promise more than youcan actually deliver. Exercise great care anddiscernment with real estate investments orstock market speculation at this time.

Mercury stations Retrograde late on the 2nd, at01°12' Virgo (till August 26) so finalize pend-ing agreements where possible before thisdate, otherwise it would be prudent to post-pone important decisions or signings untilafter September 12th. Review plans or ideasfor a new project, or changes in career direc-tion. Do research Now.

When Mars enters Cancer early on the 3rd (tillSept 18), activities become more emotionallycharged, so try not to vent on loved ones. Itmay help to practice objectivity. Emotionalsecurity can become linked with sexuality withthe red planet in this sensitive, needy sign.

Neptune retrogrades back into Aquarius onAugust 4th (till Feb 3, 2012 when it reentersPisces), encouraging enlightened humanitari-an activities. Radical changes in scientificbeliefs and social values can occur, while thistransit can also bring uncertainties about thefuture. Creativity can be truly inspired now, soallow your imagination to soar!

The sun and Saturn align in a creative flow-inducing sextile on the 5th, when construc-tive progress can be made towards profes-sional or educational goals. Combiningpracticality and creativity achieves the bestresults now. Advice from an authority figure

could prove helpful at this time.

Seek financial support for personal projects onthe 7th, as Venus and Saturn harmoniouslyalign. A new partnership or professionalalliance could begin under this favorable influ-ence. Constructive artistic work is favored andsupported now. If you’re considering aninvestment, look into art, precious metals, orreal estate.

A highly volatile square between Mars andUranus becomes precise on the 9th, when irri-tability or excessive agitation could lead toaccidents, or heated arguments. Exercise cau-tion while driving, and avoid acting onimpulse... take the time to consider the conse-quences of your actions.

Then red planet, Mars, seemingly intent oncreating strife, moves into a precise oppositionwith Pluto late on the 10th—forming a potentt-square pattern between the three planets—when passions and desires are powerfullyaroused and potential exists for angry out-bursts and accidents. Remain calm and in con-trol of your actions. Using more force thannecessary to achieve a desired result will like-ly meet with an equal amount of opposition.Nonetheless, much constructive work may beaccomplished now through cooperation withothers.

August’s Full Moon culminates on the 13th, at20°41' Aquarius, heightening a need for inde-pendence and greater freedom. Indeed, issuesof personal freedom and relationship expecta-tions are likely topics for discussion now.One's values in terms of relationships could besubject to redefinition. Rely upon your owninner guidance and inspiration if consideringnew beginnings or a life-direction change.

On the 16th, the sun, Mercury and Venus align

in conjunction, when the desire for peace andharmony assumes greater importance. Socialactivities, the Fine Arts, and public relationsare well starred now. However, with Mercurycurrently in retrograde, financial extravaganceand self-indulgence could easily drain pre-cious resources, while a desire to be noticedcould attract the wrong kind of interest. Showappreciation for those you love. Be the roman-tic that you know you are, at heart! Expressyourself creatively.

Make the most of an exuberant, high-energyperiod on the 18th as Mars sextiles Jupiter.Consider important activities or decisions withthe “big picture” in mind. Advance your owninterests wherever possible.

One’s ability to discern reality from illusionmay be impaired on the 22nd when the sunopposes Neptune. Beware of self-delusion ordeception, as things or people may not be allthey seem or appear to be. Be completely openand forthright in all relationships now.

The sun enters Virgo on the 23rd, and for thenext four weeks, one’s ability to adapt tonecessary changes in plans or schedules isenhanced, while being practical and methodi-cal comes more easily. Do creative workrequiring attention to detail.

An energy-sapping square between Mars andSaturn perfects on the 25th, when the custom-ary vim and vigor conferred by Mars is inhib-ited by the constraining influence of Saturn.Don't push too hard to get things done now. Besure to get plenty of rest.

After 3-1/2 weeks in retrograde mode,Mercury stations direct on the 26th, at 18°42Leo, a cosmic signal that mental processes arebeginning to accelerate, and that logic and rea-son will become more reliable. Move ahead

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cautiously with plans, sign documents—after careful consideration. Avoid hasty deci-sions, as an air of impulsiveness will be ram-pant for a few days around the station.

August’s new moon arrives on the 28th, at05°27' Virgo. Nurture your special talentsand skills during the next four weeks.Adjustments in the work sector may have tobe made, in which case, use your intuitionand imagination to help determine job,career or business moves. Health awarenessand the healing arts are also in sharp focusnow, when much potential exists for healingdeep wounds from the past... physical, men-tal or emotional. Some partnerships may ter-minate, while new alliances can be readilymade with influential and powerful people.

Jupiter stations retrograde on August 30th, at10°21' Taurus (till Dec 25), a celestialreminder that we will need to exercisegreater tolerance of others’ philosophies andmethodologies during the next four months.Reassess goals and ambitions during thistime, and consolidate recent gains or busi-ness progress. While the truth “out there”may be harder to get at, we would be bestserved now by seeking our own truths with-in.

September begins, like August, with a sun-Jupiter alignment, on the 2nd, this time a freeflowing trine that encourages expandingone’s outlook on life, and the pursuit of edu-cational goals. Plan a long-distance businesstrip, or vacation in search of spiritual knowl-edge—a pilgrimage perhaps. Spend timewith friends, or participate in uplifting groupactivities. Reflect on life.

On the 8th, Mercury reenters Virgo until the25th, when logic and reasoning power areenhanced. Put your mind to work for younow. Cultivate your organizational skills.Plan projects.

Venus and Mars align favorably on the 10th,engendering harmony between—and with-in—the sexes. Indeed, love may bloom forthose available. This planetary pairing isfavorable for most forms of creative self-expression. Spend wisely, however, andresist the “urge to splurge”.

The forceful, dynamic energies at work asMercury trines Pluto on the 11th can giveone’s willpower a huge boost. Therefore, thiswould be an appropriate juncture at which to

begin a new physical exercise regimen ordiet. Improve efficiency wherever possible,eliminate waste and unnecessary effort.Passions and physical desires are dramatical-ly increased now, so be aware of the motiva-tions that prompt your actions.

A full moon culminates on September 12th,at 19°17' Pisces, when we may benefit fromidentifying and eliminating the unnecessaryin pursuit of objectives. Emotions are moresensitive at this time, while psychic percep-tions are enhanced. We are also spurred ontowards achieving goals and ambitions withthe help of a flowing grand trine involvingMercury, Jupiter and Pluto, all in earth signs,which highlights the chart for this lunation.

Sign contracts, negotiate a deal, or move for-ward with PR or advertising plans asMercury trines Jupiter on the 14th. Be opento new ideas and philosophies. Plan or take atrip.

Also on the 14th, Venus enters Libra (till Oct8), inspiring the cultivation of artistic abili-ties. Seek greater harmony in all relation-ships—personal, social, and business.

Pluto turns direct on the 16th, in 05°Capricorn, and for several days aroundPluto’s station, all Plutonic themes, such as‘power’, sexuality, joint finances, and controlissues are greatly emphasized. Strong seis-mic activity is also a possibility now.

Take care of business before having funwhen Venus opposes Uranus on the 17th, asfinancial surprises may be in the wind.Irresponsible or unwise behavior could placea strain on key relationships.

Mars enters the fiery realm of Leo on the18th (till Nov 10). Passions rise and physicalenergies move into high gear during thishighly stimulating Martian transit so be sureto get plenty of physical exercise. Take everyopportunity to express yourself creatively.

The autumnal equinox arrives with the sun’singress into tropical Libra on September23rd. The sun’s transit through the zodiacalsign of interpersonal relations engenders aheightened awareness of one's obligationswithin key relationships and partnerships.Constraints within alliances may becomeapparent, which could be impeding progresstowards personal objectives. During the fall,seek to redress the imbalances in your life.

Later on the 23rd Mars trines Uranus, a junc-ture at which progressive career opportuni-ties could appear out of the blue, so be on thelookout for new doors to open. Initiate newand innovative activities or ventures underthis influence. A good physical workout willhelp to reduce stress.

Interpersonal relations are in the spotlight forthe next four weeks, following September’snew moon on the 27th, in 04°00' Libra. Seeknew creative alliances with like-minded indi-viduals and groups during this lunar cycle.The “urge to splurge” could once again bequite strong now, so spend wisely.

The 28th is a busy day in the heavens, whenthe sun and Mercury align in conjunction,while both planets square Pluto. Identify andchange behavior patterns or business prac-tices that no longer work for you. Excessivepressures—from within, or without—mayeven force you to make some radicalchanges. Sexual tension and mounting pas-sions are also part of the mix today, when thewise will avoid attempts at emotional manip-ulation. Express your thoughts and views inkey relationships. Be on the lookout for busi-ness or educational opportunities.

Several aspects overlap on the 29th to wrapup the month’s major planetary activity. Thesun and Mercury both sextile Mars, so besure to get some physical and mental exer-cise today. Catch up on phone-calls, emailsand correspondence. Run local errands.Make productive use of an abundance ofdynamic energy through creative self-expression.

Venus conjuncts Saturn also on the 29th, at18°29' Libra, conferring a sobering, restrain-ing influence to counterbalance the prevail-ing high-energy transits. Responsibilitiesmay cut into your social life now. It’s possi-ble that a new business partnership couldbegin around this time, or that a relationshipthat has served or outlived its purpose maynow end.

Following is a general overview of how theplanetary trends for August/September,2011 apply to each sun sign. If you knowyour rising sign (Ascendant), read that, too,for additional insights.

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DDoowwnn TToo EEaarrtthh AAssttrroollooggyyAries (March 20—April 19)

It may be necessary to juggle your busywork schedule in order to accommodate

domestic needs and activities around the home inearly August, when Mars, your sign’s rulingplanet, enters Cancer and your solar fourth house.Seek creative solutions to any tense situations thatmay arise in an important relationship, so that youcan quickly restore harmony. You have plenty onyour plate to contend with as it is, and will wantto quickly move through any road blocks thatmight impede your progress towards a personalobjective.

Taurus (April 19—May 20)

You’re keen to implement some cre-a t ive changes in your l i fe , andthoughts of a domest ic relocat ion

may be given more ser ious considerat ion.Wi th lucky Jup i te r in your s ign fo r theremainder of the year, effor ts to improveyour lot in l i fe wi l l be more l ikely to meetwith success. Make good use of every oppor-tuni ty to advance towards your personal andprofessional object ives. I t may be possible tocombine your work and a creat ive project ina most product ive and sat isfy ing way.

Gemini (May 20—June 21)

Creat ive inspirat ion and innovat iveideas are long sui ts for you to play

wisely at th is juncture, in your effor ts tomake progress towards a p ro fess iona lobject ive. However, c lar i fy ing the r ight pathfor you to take, or determin ing the bestapproach to a prospect ive employer mayseem l ike a ta l l order at th is t ime, with yoursign’s ruler, Mercury, retrograde from Aug 2- 26, whi le oppos ing Neptune, p lanet o fmystery and i l lusion. After Mercury turnsdirect , your focus wi l l be sharper and yousee the possibi l i t ies begin to take form in theweeks ahead.

Cancer (June 21—July22)

Inc reas ing your income is adominant theme th roughout th is

forecast per iod. You have several goals thatare dear to your heart and are determined toattain them. The promise of f inancial gain iscertainly present, wi th lucky Venus in yourso la r second house o f persona l incomethrough mid-September. When Mercury,

dur ing i ts ret rograde phase, rev is i ts yoursolar second house (between Aug 8 and Sept8) the good news you’ve been await ing couldf inal ly arr ive. With act ion planet, Mars, inyour s ign and solar f i rst house from Aug 3through Sept 18 , you w i l l have a l l theenthusiasm and mot ivat ion you need to keepyou moving forward.

Leo (July 22—August 23)

You are current ly in a personal h ighcycle, fo l lowing July ’s new moon on

the 30th, and wi l l be highly mot ivated tomake progress towards an innovat iveobject ive you’ve had your s ights on for somet ime. However, de termin ing exac t ly howothers f i t in to your p lans cou ld p rovesomewhat i l lusive, as you may be reluctant tore l inqu ish cont ro l o f key e lements ,part icular ly i f doing so would threaten todiminish your own role, or depr ive you of thel ion’s share of the spoi ls upon the successfulcomplet ion of a project . Seek a pract ical andequi table resolut ion to the problem and youwi l l more quickly at ta in your object ives.

Virgo (August 23—September 23)

You may be happy to assume a rolebeh ind the scenes fo r the t imebe ing , as you work d i l igen t ly

towards severa l cher ished goa ls o r longstanding object ives. With lucky Jupi ter inyour solar ninth house, you’re keen to raiseyour s ights in search of new hor izons, andseek to at t ract the necessary resources tomake your v is ion of the future a real i ty.Pinning down the detai ls of how everythingis to come together may seem a daunt ing taskdur ing Mercury’s retrograde per iod (Aug 2 -26) . However, you can an t ic ipa te goodprogress in your quest fo l lowing August ’snew moon in your s ign on the 28th. Justremember to keep the “big picture” in yoursights.

Libra (September 23—October 23)

You’re feel ing more outgoing andgregar ious in ear ly August, so make

the most of every opportuni ty to get togetherwi th f r iends, and to par t ic ipate in groupact iv i t ies that inspire you to be creat ive. I tmay be necessary to overcome sel f -doubts orl imi t ing bel iefs i f you’re seeking to progress

www.earthstarmag.com AUGUST / SEPTEMBER 2011 EARTH STAR 1 5

DDoowwnn TToo EEaarrtthh AAssttrroollooggyyalong a chosen career path. Nonetheless,opportuni ty may knock for those avai lableand wi l l ing to take a chance on success.You ’ l l fee l much more conf idant andproact ive fo l lowing September’s new moon(27th) in your s ign, when effor ts gearedtowards se l f - improvement a re favorab lystarred.

Scorpio (October 23—November 22)

Breathing new l i fe into your profes-sional or career aspirat ions is high

on your agenda dur ing August . Don’t beafraid to blow your own trumpet, as younever know who wi l l enjoy the tune. Travelto distant c l imes is a possibi l i ty dur ing thisforecast per iod, wi th the possibi l i ty of adomest ic re loca t ion fo r some unset t ledScorpion-clan members. Change is seldomeasy, though of ten necessary in order tobreak free from l imit ing condi t ions, or topursue new goals or object ives. This may besuch a t ime, and you’re certainly up for thechal lenge!

Sagittarius (November 21—December 21)

You may be taking a c loser look atthe bigger picture of your l i fe, and

the d i rec t ion i t ’s cur ren t ly tak ing , todetermine i f any course correct ions need tobe made. You might revis i t a not ion that hadpreviously crossed your mind, perhaps inregard to plans for the future. You are veryclose to a promot ion or some other posi t ivebreakthrough at work, or making headwaywith an important and potent ia l ly lucrat iveproject , and could see this s i tuat ion unfolddur ing this forecast per iod. Don’t be shyabout toot ing your own horn i f the occasionwar ran ts , par t i cu la r ly a t p ro fess iona lgather ings. Make hay whi le the sun shines,and set aside resources for the inevi tablerainy day.

Capricorn (December 21—January 19)

A t ime of regenerat ion is at hand,and to breathe new l i fe into your

hopes and wishes for the future. However,your path to the future may be predicated, inpart at least , by that which you are preparedto let go of . You may have been feel ingunsett led for some t ime, and uncertain about

your career prospects. This s i tuat ion is aboutto change for the better, as a new opportuni tyto expand your hor izons wi l l short ly appear,which could be tai lor made for showcasingyour ta lents and abi l i t ies.

Aquarius (January 19—February 18)

Family and signi ficant others mayplay leading roles in your l i fe drama

during August, but you remain the star andcreat ive director. You’re feel ing inspired andcreat ive, and in the mood to take your l i feand labors to an ent i re ly new level . As youclose doors to the past, new ones almostmagical ly open for you to enter into a boldnew future. You’re not afraid to take chancesnow, but i t would be prudent to fu l ly th inkthrough your game plan.

Pisces (February 18—March 20)

Estab l i sh ing new hea l th , f i tnessand dietary regimens wi l l be high

on your agenda in ear ly August. You’re alsokeen to blow the cobwebs from your mindand learn a new ski l l , go back to school , orto s imply fami l iar ize yoursel f wi th a newsubject or interest , as you seek to t ransformyour prospects for the future. However, wi thyour ru l ing p lanet , Neptune, current ly inretrograde and crossing your solar ascendant,opposing Mercury, there may be t imes whenyou wi l l need to work harder to remain fu l lyfocused on your v is ion and game plan, lestyou lose sight of your pr ior i t ies.

Tim Gunns is an astrological consultant,conference coordinator and producer,and formerly program director of theL.A. Conscious Life Expo, and thenational Whole Life Expos.Tim prepares personalized no-nonsense inter-

pretations of Natal Horoscopes ($40), Future Forecast TransitReports ($75 for 1 full year), and Relationship CompatibilityReports ($45). Shipping is free. Send: Name (as you'd like it toappear on the chart), Date of Birth, Time (as close as possible),Place of Birth (city/country, etc.) for each person, and your returnaddress, phone# and check to: Tim Gunns, c/o110 Hilltop Drive,Waynesville NC 28786. (828) 452-7885. Consultations byphone may also be scheduled.

1 6 EARTH STAR AUGUST / SEPTEMBER 2011

The line is long. It stretches out past thepavilion, where it’s guided by the metalbarriers that allow people to snake backand forth past each other every few min-utes. The first sign you pass not only says

that you must be 48 inches tall to get on this ride, butalso that the wait from this point is 60 minutes. The nextsign says that the wait is now 45 minutes, even thoughit’s been at least 30 since you passed the last one. As youenter the pavilion, you catch a glimpse of the first hill agood 100 yards away, and you can even see a car mak-ing the ascent, only to plummet back down toward theearth.

You start to wonder what the hell you were thinkingwhen you decided to get in line for this roller coaster.

Eighty-five minutes after you entered the 60-minuteline, you make your way to the area where the nextround of passengers position themselves to enter the carsthey’ll be riding. As you and your neighbor are about totake your spots in the space reserved for the secondcar—the line for the first is far too long—you’re cut offby a man and his son, who claim the space for them-selves.

“Excuse me, sir,” you say. “I believe we’re supposedto be next.”

“No, you are not next,” the man hisses as he moveshis son behind him in response to the obviously menac-ing threat your polite tone suggested. “Pay attention.”

You look around for an attendant to intervene, butrealize that this misunderstanding was born of the factthat this ride—and this theme park as a whole—isseverely understaffed. You then look to your riding com-panion, who shrugs with a blank look on his face, andresign yourself to the fact that the few minutes you’ll bedelayed waiting for the next ride isn’t worth the amountof conflict you’ll create if you pursue this any further.

Eventually, it’s your turn. You enter the car, and thesafety harness locks into place as you guide it over yourhead and shoulders. You then look to your neighbor withthat eager, childlike smile reserved only for the mosthighly anticipated moments in life. The car jolts as itadvances out of the pavilion, and you roll out into thesun.

Just like that, you’re off. Unlike those rides that usea chain system to get you over the first hill, this onestarts you off in a shock of speed. One second you’restill, and the next you’re traveling at what the brochuresand television commercials say is 128 miles per hour.You begin to ascend that first hill you saw an hour ago,and, like the cars you also saw, you only barely make itover the top. You’re sure you left your screams back atthe peak, for the descent is so fast and so . . . vertical thatyou might as well be breaking the sound barrier.Improbably, there’s a flash of light as you enter a loop,and you wonder if you were simply seeing things as yougo right into a double corkscrew, another loop, and the

By Matthew Walker

AdventureAdventure

This excerpt was taken from the upcoming book Adventure in Everything by Matthew Walker (September2011, Hay House)

inEverything

second steep drop before the car makes a sharp turn andthen finishes off with the standard series of camelbackhills that has ended nearly every roller-coaster rideyou’ve ever been on.

After disembarking, you waddle down the exit rampand try to reorient yourself to the ground. As you beginto relive the experience you just had, you notice a seriesof screens. One of them displays your picture, takenright after the longest descent—perhaps you really didsee a flash after all. You don’t remember screaming quiteas much as the photo suggests, but the ride happened soquickly that you barely remembered any one moment inparticular.

You already knew it was going to be short, however.You were told the ride was one minute and ten secondslong, and it lasted for exactly that amount of time.

Life Is Not an Amusement-Park Ride

Consider for a moment some of the choices you’ve madethat have had a significant impact on you. For example,what schools did you attend? Who is it you’ve decidedto spend your life with? What was the first career youpursued? Where was the first place you moved after youleft your childhood home? When did you have kids?When did you write a book or start your own business?

Next, consider how different your life would be ifeach of those choices had been gift wrapped with aguaranteed outcome. What if you knew what job youwere going to have before you even started your fresh-man year of college? What if you decided to have a boyand a girl born three years apart, and that’s exactly whatyou got?

On the surface, these situations sound pretty good,don’t they? In each one, you have complete control. Youare free to carefully craft, mold, and develop your pathwith the absolute assurance of the best possible result.Regardless of whether or not this sounds good, it doesseem just a bit ridiculous, doesn’t it?

However, this is precisely what we often attempt todo in our lives. We try our hardest to guarantee an out-come for every situation, and we go out of our way tomaintain control of all the different variables. Forinstance, we predict exactly where we see ourselves in 5years, even 20. This is not only a maddening proposi-tion, but it’s a losing one. It’s as if we’re wrestling aghost.

Now, think about the roller coaster featured in theprevious narrative. What happened during that initialshock of speed? It provided a thrilling rush of adrena-line, and then perhaps a moment of terror when it feltlike the car wasn’t going to make it over the enormous

hill. The experience was entertaining and momentarilyexciting, and for $14.95 it could be captured forever in asouvenir photo. It was, nevertheless, only a ride. It ledyou on a predetermined path to those thrills, withoutcausing harm to you or anyone else who’s at least 48inches tall.

But by the time it delivered you safely back to theloading platform, what were you left with except for aself-contained and predetermined experience? Asidefrom the long line and the conflict with the man and hisson, you went on the ride without incident and continuedwith your life. In truth, a roller coaster, for all the fun itmight provide, is just a temporary reprieve from theuncontrollable realities of the real world. It will alwayslast for one minute and ten seconds—no more, no less.

We all need a certain allotment of prearranged out-comes in our lives . . . a little control. We also benefitfrom having routines, such as being sure to always brushour teeth before going to bed, and arriving for work ontime every day. To neglect consistency would not onlybe irresponsible, but it would likely lead to chaos.However, habitual activities and predetermined conse-quences can only serve as backdrops for our growth ashuman beings. They aren’t vehicles for inspiration orillumination, and certainly not for finding Adventure inEverything.

Uncertain outcome is exactly what it sounds like: anend result that’s unknown at the outset of a pursuit. Anamusement-park ride, for all its thrills and excitement,may be immediately gratifying to the senses, but it is inno way beneficial to us in the long term. An endeavorwith an uncertain outcome, then, is filled with rewardingpossibilities. If you know what’s going to happen, thenit isn’t a high endeavor. Instead, it’s simply anotheractivity that fills up part of your day.

Seek Uncertainty in Your Life

Why should it even be necessary to explore the topic ofuncertain outcomes? Shouldn’t it be enough to simplysay that we need to find endeavors in which we don’tknow what the result will be and leave it at that?

Of course, while the concept of uncertain outcomesis simple, it’s not always easy to put ourselves in situa-tions that exemplify this quality. Not knowing howsomething will turn out opens us up to the possibility ofnot succeeding, of feeling like a failure, or generallybrings about a sense of pain or loss if things don’t go theway we want them to—it ultimately causes us to feelfear.

AUGUST / SEPTEMBER 2011 EARTH STAR 1 7

1 8 EARTH STAR AUGUST / SEPTEMBER 2011 www.earthstarmag.com

Summer Reading Summer Reading Discover the Gift

By Shajen Joy Aziz and Demian Lichtenstein

From brother and sister team DemianLichtenstein and Shajen Joy Azizcomes an inspiring book thatexplores the basic but vital reality thatwe are each given a unique Gift, apurpose in our life that is alwaysseeking to express itself. Find that Giftand you can experience joy, power,fulfillment, freedom and uncondition-al love in ways beyond your imagina-tion. Discover the Gift presents a simple roadmap to a journey of self-dis-covery that will, undoubtedly, change your life forever. Inspiring as wellas practical, Discover the Gift illuminates that place inside each of uswhere an extraordinary Gift awaits to come alive.

Harmony Books. Hardcover, $24.00.

Dancing with the Midwives

A Memoir of Art and GriefBy Ann Faison

Dancing with the Midwives is apersonal story that carries auniversal message: That griefis difficult and challenging, butultimately good. This book is both memoir and a work of art, in whichFaison embraces the grieving process after her child dies in-utero.She delivers careful observations in short, spare prose, vivid poemsand fine pencil drawings. Her simple drawings of seed pods, twigs,feathers and other tiny wonders carry the persistence of renewal, theundercurrent of all healing, throughout the pages. Dancing with theMidwives is a celebration of the beauty that is inherent, but oftenmissed, in the grieving process.

Black Dragonfly Books. Paperback, $14.95.

The Power of PranaBreathe Your Way to Health and VitalityBy Eric B. Robinsand Master Stephen Co

In The Power of Prana, Master Stephen Coteaches us a potent series of practices knownas the Nine Energizing Breaths. These simpleexercises-which can be completed in just tenminutes a day-combine breath retention, mus-cle tension, and basic postures to clear outenergetic blockages and enhance the flow of

prana throughout the body. The Nine Energizing Breaths help shift us toa level of abundance by stimulating our nervous system in ways thatmaximize our absorption rate of this vital force. Drawing on his vastknowledge of energy medicine, yoga, and martial arts, Master Co shareshis expert guidance for in maintaining health and longevity.

Sounds True. Paperback, $15.95.

Moon Phase AstrologyThe Lunar Key to Your DestinyBy Raven Kaldera

Telling the stories of the heart of all 96 Moonphase and Moon sign combinations, RavenKaldera explains the creative gifts and emo-tional challenges bestowed upon those bornunder each Moon archetype as well as howto nurture the positive traits and improve thenegative ones. Exploring the influences eachMoon archetype has on us as it passes, theauthor reveals which Moons are the most dif-

ficult, what innate qualities each Moon brings out in us, and what we cando to honor each Moon. Including evocative quotes illuminating thenature of each Moon, Kaldera shows how to use your natal Moon’sastrological sign and phase to find your “hidden Moons” and predicthow current and approaching Moons will affect you.

Destiny Books. Paperback, $19.95.

Saved By An AngelTrue Accounts of People Who HaveHad Extraordinary Experiences withAngels...and How YOU Can, Too!By Doreen Virtue

Do you wonder whether there are angelsaround you, who they are, and what they looklike? In this inspiring work-which is a compila-tion of the best of Doreen Virtue’s books AngelVisions and Angel Visions II, plus all-new mate-rial-you'll read uplifting, true stories by ordinarypeople who have had extraordinary experi-ences. You’ll read about children and adults

who received lifesaving messages from their guardian angels, deceasedloved ones, and ascended masters; and find out about helpful strangerswho appeared from out of the blue during a crisis and then suddenly dis-appeared. Doreen also gives you step-by-step instructions that will helpyou see and visually connect with your angels!

Hay House. Paperback, $15.95.

Green for LifeThe Updated Classic on

Green Smoothie NutritionBy Victoria Boutenko,

Foreword by A. William Menzin, M.D.

Green for Life details the immense health ben-efits of greens and suggests an easy way toconsume them in sufficient quantities: thegreen smoothie. This quick, simple drink bene-fits everyone, regardless of lifestyle, diet, orenvironment. Green smoothies eliminate tox-ins, correct nutritional deficiencies, and are delicious as well. Thisupdated edition offers important new research on the role that omega-3 and omega-6 fatty acids play in metabolic health and includes nutri-tional data on select green smoothies and updated findings on organ-ic versus conventional produce. Offering more in-depth nutritional andexperiential information than Boutenko’s recently released GreenSmoothie Revolution, Green for Life makes an ideal companion piece toits recipe-rich successor.

North Atlantic Books. Paperback, $16.95.

AUGUST / SEPTEMBER 2011 EARTH STAR 1 9www.earthstarmag.com

Summer Reading Summer Reading I'm Not Dead, I'm DifferentKids in Spirit Teach Us About Living a Better Life on EarthBy Hollister Rand

In I’m Not Dead, I’m Different, psychic mediumHollister Rand shares with readers the upliftingand enlightening wisdom she has gained fromthe spirits of children taken from the earthly planebefore their time, wisdom that far surpasses their

years on Earth. Readers of John Edward, Sylvia Browne, Alison Dubois,and Conchetta Bertoldi will immediately recognize the worth in the guid-ance offered by these departed young ones, and anyone seeking solaceor answers after the loss of a loved one will find great comfort in I’m Not

Dead, I’m Different. The insights they share in this uniquely comfortingbook will surprise, inform, and inspire. What’s more, their answers to ourquestions about death reveal many valuable tips for living a better lifewhile on earth too.

Harper. Paperback, $14.99.

The Whale Whisperer Healing Messages from the AnimalKingdom to Help Mankind and the PlanetBy Madeleine Walker

Imagine being in the ocean, eye-to-eye with a 40-foot whale. What if you could “hear” what it has tosay? This is what happens when a fifty-year-oldsingle mum embarks on a spiritual journey acrossseveral continents in search of wisdom from ani-mals. In turns moving, empowering and entertain-ing, The Whale Whisperer is Madeleine’s tale of

her extraordinary adventures, where she battles to reclaim her personalpower while communicating with wild animals such as elephants, hump-back whales, white lions, and dolphins. Thanks to them, Madeleine givesus practical ways to implement the animals’ knowledge, conveying vitalmessages to help save humanity and the natural world.

Findhorn Press. Paperback, $17.95.

Eating for BeautyBy David Wolfe

In Eating For Beauty, author David Wolfe,one of America’s foremost nutritionexperts, describes how to cleanse, nour-ish and beautify by utilizing the benefits ofa fresh-food diet. The lessons containedwithin this book can be applied toimprove one’s appearance, vitality, andhealth. This book is about how to becomemore beautiful, not just how to maintainbeauty or even slow the aging process. Itis about rejuvenation at the deepest level,and the enjoyment of life.

North Atlantic Books. Paperback, $24.95.

Atlantis in the AmazonLost Technologies and the Secrets of

the Crespi TreasureBy Richard Wingate

In 1923 an Italian priest, Father Carlo Crespi,came to Ecuador as a missionary. Befriendingthe indigenous Shuar people, he learned of anancient treasure they had sworn to protect hid-den within a network of underground tunnels.Providing detailed descriptions and his ownphotos of the advanced technologies andbeautiful art that comprised the “CrespiTreasure,” Richard Wingate reveals that theancient civilization responsible for these advanced artifacts wasAtlantis. Investigating ancient records, such as the Mahabharata, heshows how a prehistoric nuclear war between the Atlanteans and theAryans ultimately resulted in the sinking of Atlantis, and he uncoversthe radioactive archaeological evidence left behind.

Bear & Company. Paperback, $16.00.

Chakra FrequenciesTantra of SoundBy Jonathan Goldmanand Andi Goldman

In this step-by-step guide, sound healing pio-neer Jonathan Goldman and his wife, holisticpsychotherapist Andi Goldman, reveal specif-ic ways the voice can resonate the physicaland subtle bodies, including seven powerfulchanted Bija Mantras and sacred vowelsounds to balance and align the chakras.Providing exercises with breath, tone,

mantras, and seed sounds, the authors show how to practice soundhealing either individually or with a partner to strengthen relation-ships, reach deeper emotional levels, enhance communication,reduce stress, achieve inner balance, and create harmony with thosearound you as well as the whole planet. The accompanying 60-minute CD offers correct pronunciation, vocal exercises, as well asrecordings o various instruments, including Tibetan singing bowls.

Destiny Books. Paperback, $18.95.

The Path of EnergyAwaken your Personal Power and

Expand Your ConsciousnessBy Synthia Andrews

The Path of Energy is a unique handbook ofprinciples, practices and exercises to help youaccess your energy awareness and live amore empowered life. In the book are 13meditations that activate patterns of lightwithin your energy body to awaken specificabilities and levels of awareness. Subtle ener-gy is more than life force; it is the substance ofreality and the vehicle of consciousness. Yourbody is wired to navigate this domain. You are equipped with everythingneeded to engage the world of energy and creatively change your life.You simply need to remember how. The Path of Energy is a guide to liv-ing with expanded consciousness. Included are techniques that buildenergy awareness and use this skill to deepen your spiritual path, inti-macy in relationships, align with earth energy, clear space, create pro-tection, manifest goals, facilitate healing, and more.

New Page Books. Paperback, $16.99.

2 0 EARTH STAR AUGUST / SEPTEMBER 2011 www.earthstarmag.com

The Body Ecology DietRecovering Your HealthandRebuilding Your ImmunityBy Donna Gates

The Body Ecology Diet reveals how torestore and maintain the “inner ecology”your body needs to function properly, andeliminate or control the symptoms that robyou of the joy of living. Tens of thousands ofpeople have already benefited from theBody Ecology way of life-Donna Gatesshows you, step-by-step, how to eat yourway to better health and well-being . . . deli-

ciously, easily, and inexpensively! In this book, you will learn how to: useseven basic universal principles as tools to gain mastery over every healthchallenge you may encounter; focus on your inner ecology to create idealdigestive balance; conquer cravings with strategies for satisfying snackingand for dining away from home; and plan meals with dozens of delectablerecipes, an array of menus, and detailed shopping lists.

Hay House. Paperback, $15.95.

Primal Body, Primal MindBeyond the Paleo Diet for TotalHealth and a Longer LifeBy Nora T. Gedgaudas, CNS, CNT

In Primal Body, Primal Mind, Nora Gedgaudasshows how our modern grain- and carbohy-drate-heavy low-fat diets are a far cry from thehigh-fat, moderate-protein hunter-gathererdiets we are genetically programmed for, lead-ing not only to lifelong weight gain but also tocravings, mood disorders, cognitive problems,and “diseases of civilization”—such as cancer,osteoporosis, metabolic syndrome, heart dis-

ease, and mental illness. With step-by-step guidelines, recipes, and mealrecommendations, this book offers sustainable strategies for a primallybased, yet modern approach to diet and exercise to reduce stress and anx-iety, lose weight, improve sleep and mood, increase energy and immunity,enhance brain function, and live longer and happier.

Healing Arts Press. Paperback, $19.95.

Exposed, Uncovered, andDeclassified: UFOs & Aliens

Is There Anybody Out There?By Michael Pye and Kirsten Dalley

What are UFOs? Why are they here? What isthe Government not telling us? Exposed,

Uncovered, and Declassified: UFOs & Aliens

strives to address all of these questions bycovering new evidence of famous sightingsand contact with aliens, and uncoveringclassified files from world-class collections and archives—all courtesy ofthe world’s leading experts on modern ufology. The book includesOriginal Essays from leading authors and researchers Stanton T.Friedman, Erich von Daniken, Nick Pope, Marie D. Jones & LarryFlaxman, Thomas J. Carey, Donald R. Schmitt, Kathleen Marden, NickRedfern, John White, Jim Moroney, Gordon Chism, and Micah Hanks.Something is out there, and Exposed, Uncovered, and Declassified:

UFOs & Aliens will help us find out exactly what—or who—it is.

New Page Books. Paperback, $15.99.

Before We Leave YouMessages from the Great Whales

and the Dolphin BeingsWritten by Patricia Cori

What if whales and dolphins truly do have a supe-rior intellect, as many believe, and can speak to thehuman race? What would their message be? InNovember 2008, gifted clairvoyant Patricia Coriwas in Jordan teaching a workshop when a life-changing event occurred. A community ofCetaceans—”a choir of whales and dolphins,” asshe describes it—interrupted her talk with a frantic plea for help. Cori wassuddenly witness to a devastating scene of suffering, a communal grievingof scores of whales and dolphins. This was the first of several terrifying callsfor help, all of which were immediately followed by mass suicide events asthese majestic creatures collectively chose to leave us and our planet.

North Atlantic Books. Paperback, $18.95.

The Four DesiresCreating a Life of Purpose,Happiness, Prosperity, and FreedomWritten by Rod Stryker

For more than three decades, masterteacher Rod Stryker has taught yoga inthe context of its deepest philosophy. Hiscourse, called The Yoga of Fulfillment™,has helped thousands recognize theirsoul’s call to greatness and to achievetheir dreams. Now, in this wise and richlypractical book, he has distilled thosebroad teachings into a roadmap for

becoming the person you were meant to be. It is filled with revealingtrue stories, provocative exercises, and practices for unlocking yourinner guidance.

Delacorte Press. Hardcover, $26.00.

Red Eagle SpeaksA Book of Wisdom

By Riz MirzaAs Told to Oriah Miller

In 2008, musician and artist Riz Mirzabegan having some powerful psychicexperiences and found himself communi-cating telepathically with a being whoidentified himself as a Spirit Guide namedChief Red Eagle, a Native American elderwarrior who lived over a century ago. RedEagle told Riz that he would like to deliver messages of love, truthand awakening to the people of Mother Earth, and he offered tospeak through Riz the way a musician would express through aninstrument. Red Eagle Speaks is a compilation of these messages.Using simple, but provocative language that is easy to understand byall, no matter what “level” of spirituality they are on, Red Eagle Speaksgives insight into the ego, shifting perspective, and overcoming fear,while awakening the love within all of humanity.

Create Space. Paperback, $22.99.

AUGUST / SEPTEMBER 2011 EARTH STAR 2 1www.earthstarmag.com

HumaniTrees Exploring Human Nature throughthe Spirit of TreesBy Joan Klostermann-Ketels

Much more than a simple botanicaltext or field guide, HumaniTreestakes us on a walk through the for-est to explore aspects of our ownhuman nature. Using striking pho-tographs of trees that representthese qualities, paired with inspira-

tional quotes, this book encourages us to contemplate the relation-ship between our humanity, Mother Nature, and to somethinggreater than ourselves. A handy discussion guide is included thatprovides an interpretive starting point for classrooms, book clubs,nature walks, or family outings.

Findhorn Press. Hardcover, $16.95.

Your Psychic PotentialA Guide to Psychic DevelopmentBy Richard Ireland, Foreword by Mark Ireland

Known as the “Psychic to the Stars,” RichardIreland counseled celebrities including MaeWest, Amanda Blake, and Glenn Ford. Twelveyears after Ireland’s death in 1992, his son Markwas sent this manuscript, written in 1973.Recently, as Mark Ireland recounts in the fore-word, two psychic-mediums with no prior

knowledge of the project have received messages suggesting that hisfather deliberately delayed the book’s release until now, when it wouldreach an audience more receptive to developing their psychic talents.Your Psychic Potential includes a description of the four spheres/levelsof psychic activity, an exploration of the relationship between artistictalents and the psychic, tests and experiments to help unleash psychicability, a psychic’s diet and meditative exercises that support the freerflow of abilities, and tools to counter inhibitory fears.

North Atlantic Books. Paperback, $18.95.

Spirit JunkieA Radical Road to Self-Love

and MiraclesBy Gabrielle Bernstein

How does a New York City publicist and party girlturn into a guru for the next generation? In hernew book, Spirit Junkie: A Radical Road to Self-Love and Miracles, Gabrielle Bernstein shares thestory of how she transformed her life, offering herspiritual journey as a guidebook for overcomingfear, changing perceptions, and creating a lifeyou’re psyched to wake up for. Bernstein has traded self-doubt andaddiction for a new kind of high. In 2005 she became a student of ACourse in Miracles and since then she has been guided to teach thosespiritual principles to the next generation of seekers.

Harmony Books. Hardcover, $23.00.

Barbarian RitesThe Spiritual World of the Vikings

and the Germanic TribesBy Hans-Peter Hasenfratz, Ph.D.

Chronicling the original pagan tradition offree and wild Europe—and the use andabuse of its myths and magic by theNazis—Hans-Peter Hasenfratz offers aconcise history of the Germanic tribes ofEurope and their spiritual, magical, andoccult beliefs. Looking at historicalaccounts, church and assembly records,mythology, and folktales from Germany,Russia, Scandinavia, and Iceland as wellas an eyewitness report of Viking customs and rituals from a 10th-cen-tury Muslim diplomat, Hasenfratz explores the different forms of magicpracticed by the Teutonic tribes and examines their interactions withand eventual adaptation to Christianity.

Inner Traditions. Paperback, $16.95.

The Suppressed History of America

The Murder of Meriwether Lewis andthe Mysterious Discoveries of the

Lewis and Clark ExpeditionBy Paul Schrag

and Xaviant HazeForeword by Michael Tsarion

Examining the shadows and cracks betweenAmerica’s official version of history, XaviantHaze and Paul Schrag propose that theAmerica of old taught in schools is not theAmerica that was discovered by Lewis and Clark and other early explor-ers. Investigating the discoveries of Spanish conquistadors and Olmecstories of contact with European-like natives, the authors uncover evi-dence of explorers from Europe and Asia prior to Columbus, sophisticat-ed ancient civilizations in North America and the Caribbean, the fountainof youth, and a long-extinct race of giants. The authors reveal how Lewisand Clark’s finds infuriated powerful interests in Washington, culminatingin the murder of Meriwether Lewis.

Bear & Company. Paperback, $15.00.

Natural Pain ReliefHow to Soothe and DissolvePhysical Pain with MindfulnessBy Shinzen Young

With Natural Pain Relief, meditation expertShinzen Young teaches you how to retrainyour relationship to pain through traditionalmeditation practices. Drawing from fortyyears of results in the field, this widelyrespected teacher offers the essential tech-niques that have proven successful at pain-

management centers around the country. This integrated learning bookand CD adapts the core principles of mindfulness training to a practicalprocess that can treat even extreme, chronic pain effectively, possiblyreducing the need for drugs or surgery. Through step-by-step tech-niques taught in plain language, you’ll learn how to overcome yourinternal resistance to pain by observing and opening to it, which is thekey to transforming physical suffering into a flow of pure energy.

Sounds True. Paperback & CD, $14.95.

www.earthstarmag.com2 2 EARTH STAR AUGUST / SEPTEMBER 2011

At this time in our present history we havethe ability to be conscious of the storieswe have been taught and how theydefine us, as well as the stories weunquestionably have believed about who

another is. We can be willing to be naked to ourselves,and we can take responsibility for the result. We canmarvel when we discover that the stories of previouslydemonized others (enemies) are as beautiful and multi-layered as our own. We mature when we realize thatsome of the stories cherished as the foundation of ourculture are flimsy and insubstantial in truth and aresometimes outrightly false. One generation’s true anddefining story can be proved to be a lie in the next gen-eration. Stories that celebrate freedom and revolutionagainst tyranny can turn on themselves and become sto-ries of reigns of terror.

We recognize the location of the story in our flesh andemotions. From this recognition choice is born. We havemost often either chosen to continue the given story or to

rebel against that story. Naturally we have been thrilledto realize that we can choose to live a different story, onewe feel more in alignment with. There is yet anotherchoice. We have the capacity to take a moment andrelease all stories. We can experience what it means tobe nobody, uncovered even by our primary identity.

Underneath all the stories, we can experience thatdeep core of ourselves that is historyless, genderless,and parentless. Naked. That presence is unencumberedby relationships and has no past and no future. In thecore of our beingness we are free of definitions.Unencumbered by our definitions we experience our-selves as conscious intelligence aware of itself as open,endless space. This instant of being storyless is aninstant of freedom. For even if our story is filled withlight and beauty, to the degree that we define ourselvesthrough that story, we are less free.

After such a moment, stories are never the same.They can be present, as they most likely will be, but theyno longer have the inherent power to define our reality.The inner wealth that is available to us is no longer lim-

By Gangaji

Excerpted from:Hidden Treasure: Uncovering the Truth in Your Life Story permission of Tarcher/Penguincopyright Gangaji 2011.

www.earthstarmag.com AUGUST / SEPTEMBER 2011 EARTH STAR 2 3

ited or augmented by particular inner or outer events.While the personality or the “creatureness” of each indi-vidual continues just as stories continue, the underlyingawareness, the true “I” has come home to itself.

After such a moment, choice is present wherebefore we were blindly choiceless. When we are notblinded by the stories that have been created for us, orthe stories we create, we can appreciate the mysteriousvastness that is holographically present in each momentof any story. We can discover what is and has alwaysbeen here, throughout whatever rendition of story wasbeing lived or believed. Each of us can take any storyfrom our past, and we can discover the treasure that washidden only through unquestioning belief in narrowlyfocused assumptions of the time. Stories can then beprofoundly appreciated as displays of multidimensionallife expressing itself in all forms.

What is the frame or context of your life? You don’tknow how your story will end, but at this point you candiscover what your story is about. You can ask yourselfhow your inner sense of self is expressed, or has goneunexpressed, in the structure and message of your lifestory.

How does a particular success or failure fit into thewhole of your life story? We tend to focus on and mag-nify particular events, but if we see them as part of acontinuum, we can see the trajectory of the arc of ourlife story. Seeing in this way does not mean attemptingto take control of the story. Instead, this is an invitationto tell the truth about what your story has been teachingso far. It is an invitation to recognize how your story fitsinto the larger context of what is important now to youas a human being. It is an invitation to discover howawareness and inquiry naturally broaden, deepen, andexpand your own story so that it demonstrates preciselywhat needs to be learned. Since stories both archetypicaland banal ultimately teach us something, investigatewhat your story teaches. Regardless of where you are inyour story—still at the beginning, the hopefully longmiddle, or near the end—what bigger story does yourlife story contribute to?

Just becoming more aware of the stories we live,along with their infinite plotlines and subplots, begins towake us up. In lucid dreaming, we become aware of our-selves as both in the dream story and outside it. In lucidliving, as in lucid dreaming, we are no longer tyrannizedby the stories circulating around and inside us. Thedemon in the nightmare can be faced directly; the flyingdream can be enjoyed in its ecstatic moment. As we faceourselves in our stories, we have space for perspective.

We can stand back and see our personal story as part ofa bigger whole.

What is your story? You discover your story by noticingwhat you are telling yourself over and over. Notice whatyou tell yourself about your past, your present, and yourfuture. In order to have any lasting impact, our storieshave to be told and retold. All stories have a narrative.Your narrative is what you tell yourself through thoughtsand images with accompanying emotions. What is yournarrative? You can check right now. It is bound to befamiliar. It is natural as human animals with developedcognitive abilities to generate and follow the narrative ofour stories. It certainly is not wrong to do so. But it islimiting. It limits attention to events that are foreverchanging. To discover how your attention is being spent,discover what you habitually say to yourself. Listen toyour narrative while suspending belief in it.

There is great and mysterious power in knowing thepotential gift of your life as a teaching story. This bookis not written to teach you skills to create your version ofreality. You are already doing that with your internal nar-rative. It is an invitation to be quiet and unidentified inthe events that are appearing in and around your con-sciousness. In this quiet, there is a revelation impossibleto discern if your attention is caught by the noise ofidentification. The revelation does not bestow greaterpower to create a better story. It is bigger than that.Revelatory power can take the events of your lifeas theyare and show them as essential to your own awakeningas well as your contribution to the awakening of all

2 4 EARTH STAR AUGUST / SEPTEMBER 2011 www.earthstarmag.com

humanity.It is a power that shifts the story line from one lim-

ited to “about me” to one about all. With that shift thereis both a profound surrender and a closer attention tohow all is unfolding. There is paradoxically a disidenti-fication from any character and a truer welcoming of allaspects of each character.

In profound, redemptive stories there is a moment ofsurrender to a deep command of being. This is not eso-teric. It is concretely grounded in all who live fulfilledlives, however their fulfillment may be described.Whether it be religious, artistic, scientific, or ordinarilypersonal, there is recognition of something unarticulatedby intellect. Surrender to this is surrender to the con-sciousness of being rather than to the conditioned struc-ture of thought. With this deep and true surrender, storiesshift in their perspective. With this shift you are nolonger veiled from yourself. You are no longer bound bywhatever inner or outer definitions may appear in yourlife story. All definitions and stories arise from the silentcore, and in surrender all are then pointers to where theycome from and where they return at their end. In surren-der all is transparent from the luminosity of your nakedself.

This is a one-day course, intended for seasoned therapists. The course is the product of several years of research, practice and treatment of others. It is unique in its scientific approach in the detectionof problems, problems that are sometimes unknown to the patient. The entire process starts with theestablishment of a body whose chakras are opened and whose aura has been enlarged to the maximum possible for the person. Note that open-ing chakras involves some responsibility and other steps are to be taken prior to that phase.

The next step is to establish where the problem exists. The technique used allows for a pin-point location to be found. The treatment is alwaysconcentrated on this precise location, as opposedto conventional means that can radiate large areasor distribute medicine throughout the entirebody, thereby weakening the organism.

Participants will be exposed to all steps to be taken with a person, whether the person is near or at a

remote location. The diagnosis can be made with the person while treatments are best done from the distance. This process has been continuously improved. It is rapid, efficient and thorough, providing excellent results. So far I have taught this procedure only to a single person in France, whom I trusted to use conscientiously.

Date for the course: 5 September 2011The location for this course will be in Maine in a spot that is beautifully suited for such a course: it is called the Light Heart Retreat and it is located near Bar Harbor, in a place far from it all and in a wonderful,secluded area. Be directly in touch with Joanna for registration, directions, accommodations and other info you may need. Her contact details:

Joanna Pinney Buellinfo@lightheartretreat.comwww.lightheartretreat.com

SPECIAL COURSE FOR THERAPISTSby Richard Benishai (Israel)

___________________________________________________________

AUGUST / SEPTEMBER 2011 EARTH STAR 2 5www.earthstarmag.com

At the time of this writing, three nuclearreactors in Japan were crippled, releas-ing radioactive particles into the air, sea,and groundwater. A potential medicalcrisis has been generated—one that Life

Extension® members were warned about long ago.Just days after the devastating tsunami struck

Japan’s nuclear reactors—suppliers of the radioprotec-tive compound potassium iodide had noinventory left.

The reason potassium iodide needs to be availablefor a nuclear emergency is that the most carcinogenic ofthe radioactive isotopes of iodine (iodine-131) candestroy thyroid tissue and cause cancer. If potassiumiodide is taken in time, it saturates the thyroid gland withiodine so the radioactive iodine cannot easily enter.

Potassium iodide is the most important primaryintervention to protect against thyroid cancer. It has longbeen approved by the FDA for this purpose.

Based on our warnings dating back to 2002, most ofour members had already stocked up and were preparedin case of emergency.

Not everyone heeded our prior advice. Had therebeen a nuclear emergency in the United States, thosewithout immediate access to potassium iodide couldhave been exposed to lethal amounts of radioactiveiodine.

Radioactive particles damage far more than the thy-

roid gland, as leukemia and other cancers are elevated inthose exposed to radiation. We know that radiationinflicts free radical damage to our cells. Fortunately,supportive data reveals many of the nutrients alreadytaken by Life Extension members may optimize one’sdefenses against radiation exposure.

What Are the Real Risks Americans Face fromJapan?In the May 2002 issue of Life Extension Magazine®, wepublished an article titled “Vindication for LinusPauling.”

This article (re-published with this month’s issue),described a belated report from our Federal governmentwhereby they admitted that above-ground nuclear test-ing that took place between 1951 and 1962 directlycaused at least 15,000 cancer deaths in the United States.

If it were not for Linus Pauling, above-ground nucleartesting would have continued, killing thousands moreAmericans from what the Federal government initiallyclaimed was “harmless” radioactive ash.

At the time that Linus Pauling was warning aboutthe lethal dangers of radioactive fallout, our Federalgovernment was devising ways to have him (and others)incarcerated on pretenses that they were enemies of thestate.

But it was not only above-ground testing in the

OptimizeOptimize Your InternalInternal Defenses AgainstRRaaddiiaattiioonn EExxppoossuurree

By Foster Stevens

2 6 EARTH STAR AUGUST / SEPTEMBER 2011 www.earthstarmag.com

United States that was causing these cancers. Above-ground nuclear testing in the former Soviet Union andon Pacific Islands used by the US and its allies was alsogenerating radioactive particles that reached the UnitedStates.

We know today that small amounts of radiation fromthe crippled Japanese reactors are being detected in theUnited States. Government officials state there is nodanger. The track record of our government when itcomes to recognizing the long-term consequences ofradiation exposure, however, is quite dismal.

Since most Life Extension members recognize thedangers that free radicals pose to healthy tissues, theyare already obtaining some degree of protection by tak-ing nutrients that boost natural protection against radia-tion.

In the event that radiation levels in the United Statesspike, it would appear prudent to increase one’s inges-tion of the specific nutrients that are described in thisarticle.

A Bacterium That Thrives Inside Nuclear Reactors!

Most people think radiation is toxic to all living organ-isms.

Not so with a bacterium called D. radiodurans,whose ultra-high levels of antioxidants superoxide dis-mutase (SOD) and catalase enable it to thrive insidenuclear reactors.

Radiation acutely kills by inflicting free radicaldamage to life-sustaining cells. Due to its naturally highantioxidant status,D. radiodurans can withstand a radi-ation dose that is 3,000 times greater than what wouldkill a human.

Delicate cellular strictures are oxidized in the pres-ence of high levels of radiation. Intriguing data suggeststhat maintaining high levels of antioxidants confers atleast partial protection against radiation-induced freeradicals.

So while it is important to have potassium iodide onhand to protect the thyroid gland in case of a nuclearemergency, maintaining high cellular antioxidant levelscould add an additional layer of protection to cellsthroughout the body.

This article first explains how potassium iodide pro-tects the thyroid gland and then more importantly,describes the specific antioxidants and other nutrientsthat have demonstrated radiation-protective effects inpeer-reviewed published studies.

Potassium Iodide: First Line Defense

Thyroid cancer is the most common malignancy causedby exposure to materials released from damaged nuclearpower plants. Reactor accidents release a number ofradioactive elements, the most common of which iscalled iodine—Radioactive iodine is readily absorbedinto the body primarily by inhalation of contaminated airand also by ingestion of contaminated vegetation, dairy,and meat. It is rapidly taken up into the thyroid gland. Inthe thyroid, ionizing radiation given off by the isotopedamages DNA and causes cancer.

You can block absorption of radioactive iodine intothe thyroid gland by taking a 130 mg dose of potassiumiodide not later than 2 hours after possible inhalation oringestion of radioactive iodine. (Note that 130 mg is theadult dosage. The dose for children ages 3-18 years oldis 65 mg; the dose for children 1 month-3 years is 32 mg,and the dose for infants up to 1 month old is 16 mg.)

The thyroid gland absorbs all forms of iodine equal-ly; supplying the body with optimal amounts of iodine inthe form of potassium iodide prevents radioactive iodinefrom reaching vulnerable thyroid tissue in appreciableamounts. A dose of potassium iodide taken appropriate-ly can reduce the risk of thyroid cancer by a factor of 3and is the single most effective means of preventing thy-roid cancer following a nuclear disaster.

Keep potassium iodide tablets readily available inyour home, office, and any vehicle—there is not yet suf-ficient supply nor production capacity to obtain themduring an actual event. (Despite the Congressional legis-lation mandating it be available,only the state ofVermont has implemented a program for distributingpotassium iodide to its citizens living within 10 miles ofthe state’s nuclear facilities.)

Potassium iodide, however, should notbe taken on aregular basis as general protection. There are other nutri-ents, however, that have been shown to confer a multi-targeted radioprotective benefit. They may help to max-imizeyour body’s ability to withstand the effects of ion-izing radiation, the source of free radical damage thatultimately leads to radiation-induced cancer.

Polyphenols

Polyphenols are versatile molecules found in plants.They act across a range of biomolecular pathways in thebody, including favorable modification of gene expres-sion that protects tissues from ionizing radiation.

Resveratrol, quercetin, and green tea polyphenolsrank among the best-studied and most potent radiopro-tectants in this class. Resveratrol is both a radioprotectorin healthy tissue and also has antitumor activity. In ani-mal models, resveratrol has been shown to protect chro-

AUGUST / SEPTEMBER 2011 EARTH STAR 2 7www.earthstarmag.com

mosomes from radiation-induced damage. Its antioxi-dant properties prevent radiation toxicity to animal liverand small intestines, two tissues most immediately sen-sitive to radiation’s ill effects.

Quercetin and its related compounds protect lipidsand proteins from otherwise-lethal doses of gamma radi-ation, again largely through their antioxidant properties.Quercetin and other polyphenols not only provide chro-mosomal radioprotection, but also shield mitochondrialDNA from radiation-induced oxidant damage.Quercetin also ameliorates biochemical changes inhuman white blood cells following radiation exposure.The polyphenol epigallocatechin gallate (EGCG),derived from green tea, also protects animals fromwhole-body radiation, blocking lipid oxidation and pro-longing life span. Green tea extracts can protect rapidlyreproducing cells in the intestine and hair follicles fromthe damaging effects of radiation therapy, a form of radi-ation exposure far more intense than typical computedtomography (CT) doses—and one that more closelyresembles the immediate effects of exposure to a nuclearplant disaster.

Soy

Soybeans contain a wealth of health-promoting sub-stances, among them several with remarkable radiopro-tective effects. Genistein, an isoflavone, can protectmice from ionizing radiation injury after a single dose.One mechanism is its protection against radiation-induced lipid peroxidation, which when unchecked dis-rupts cell membranes and structures. Genistein alsostimulates production of red and white blood cells fol-lowing whole-body radiation, again after as little as asingle dose. (Blood stem cells in bone marrow areamong the most vulnerable to radiation’s deadly effects.)

Because of its powerful induction of cytokines that stim-ulate new blood cell formation, genistein is under inten-sive study as a way to protect military and civilian per-sonnel against a potential nuclear threat.

Soybeans also contain a radioprotective enzymeinhibitor known as the Bowman-Birk inhibitor (BBI).BBI activates genes involved in DNA repair, making itamong the most valuable compounds for preventing ormitigating the effects of radiation toxicity. BBI also sta-bilizes enzymes that would otherwise produce radiation-induced arrest of skin cell growth. Remarkably, BBIenhances survival of healthy cells, but not diseased cells,following radiation exposure. BBI survives processingin commercial soybean products (e.g., soy milk, soybeanconcentrate, and soy protein isolates), making it a high-ly accessible radioprotectant.

Curcumin and Other Plant Extracts

Compelling scientific evidence suggests that many plantextracts have valuable gene expression-modifyingeffects that are relevant in protecting our bodies fromradiation exposure.

Total Nuclear Power Reactors, Global 442

Percent of World’s Electricity 15%

Largest Producer of Nuclear Energy USA

Number of Nuclear Plants in the USA 104

Percent of US Power from

Nuclear Reactors 20%

NUCLEAR POWER STATIONS IN 2011

www.earthstarmag.com2 8 EARTH STAR AUGUST / SEPTEMBER 2011

Curcumin, derived from the curry spice turmeric, exertspowerful radioprotective effects as a result of its antiox-idant and detoxifying characteristics.

Curcumin supplements reduce DNA damage andtumor formation in rats; they reduce both DNA damageand lipid peroxidation in cultured human white bloodcells.

Curcumin has “dual action.” Its antioxidant effectsprotect normal tissue from radiation. But it also upregu-lates genes responsible for cell death in cancers, enhanc-ing tumor destruction by radiation. The result isincreased survival in animals exposed to high-dose radi-ation.

Together, garlic and ginger also afford significantradioprotection. Garlic’s high sulfur content supportsnatural antioxidant systems.69 Garlic extracts protectred blood cells from radiation damage by a glutathione-related mechanism. In mice, garlic extracts have beenshown to prevent radiation damage to chromosomes invulnerable bone marrow cells. Via a discrete physiolog-ical mechanism, garlic extracts downregulate X-ray-mediated increases in the inflammatory nuclear factor-kappaB (NF-kB) system. Ginger extracts boost glu-tathione activity and reduce lipid peroxidation by a sep-arate and complementary mechanism. These extractsdirectly scavenge a host of free oxygen and nitrogen rad-icals immediately following their formation by radia-tion.

Lab studies show thatextracts of ginkgo biloba reducethe effects of clastogenicfactors—external materials(including plutonium and otherradioactive substances) that frag-ment or delete DNA and inflictchromosomal damage, leading tomutation and cancer prolifera-tion. This effect is so powerfulthat it proved useful in treatingworkers at the Chernobyl nuclear plant long after theirexposure. More recently, ginkgo extracts proved to pro-tect animals’ organs from direct radiation-induced dam-age. Ginkgo also protected humans from cell damagefollowing radioactive iodine treatment for hyperthyroidGrave’s disease.

Ginseng is another plant important in traditionalmedicine that confers substantive radioprotectiveeffects. A variety of ginseng extracts have been shown toprotect against radiation-induced DNA damage. It pro-tects hair follicles and other rapidly reproducing (buthealthy) tissues from damage by radiation. Its antioxi-dant effects have resulted in protection of a variety of

radiation-sensitive tissues, including cells in bone mar-row, spleen, and testicles. Ginseng’s immunomodulato-ry effects make it especially useful in defending ourbodies against the ravages of radiation injury. A NorthAmerican ginseng extract was recently found to protecthuman white blood cells from DNA damage even up toninety minutes following radiation exposure. Thatmakes it of great interest to defense and national securi-ty researchers—and to the general public in an era ofconcern about nuclear plant safety.

Silymarin, an active compound found in milk this-tle, is well known for its ability to protect liver cellsfrom alcohol and various chemical toxins. Less wellknown is its power to protect liver tissue from radiationdamage as well. It reduces DNA damage and extendssurvival in animals exposed to dangerous levels of radi-ation. Silymarin’s free radical-scavenging and directantioxidant effects are credited with producing theseresults.

NUCLEAR POWER AND RADIATION RISKS

It has been known since the 1940s that so-called ioniz-ing radiation damages human DNA, causing many dif-ferent kinds of cancers, most notably thyroid cancer andleukemias. Ionizing radiation also causes immediate,catastrophic radiation sickness following short-term,

high-dose exposure. Recentevents at Japan’s FukushimaDaiichi Nuclear Power Stationserve as a grave reminder thatthese threats are neither futuristicnor theoretical.

There have been eight nuclearpower plant accidents, each caus-ing more than $300 million inproperty damage, since 1975.While the costs in human livesand long-term health from the

Fukushima tragedy remain unknown, we can expectthem to be substantial. The worst previous nuclear dis-aster, in Chernobyl in 1986, resulted in 237 cases ofacute radiation sickness with 31 immediate deaths, andmore than 5,400 cases of thyroid cancer in the 22 yearsfollowing the accident. The risk of thyroid cancer fol-lowing that accident was determined to be increased by4.5-fold in adults, 12.7-fold in adolescents, and 87.8-fold in children.

N-Acetyl Cysteine

N-acetyl cysteine or NAC is a sulfur-containing com-

www.earthstarmag.com AUGUST / SEPTEMBER 2011 EARTH STAR 2 9

pound that supports natural intracellular antioxidant sys-tems, particularly glutathione, rendering it an effectiveradioprotective agent. NAC minimizes liver damagefrom radiation in mouse models, reducing oxidativedamage and resultant DNA damage—both before andafter radiation exposure. By a separate underlyingmechanism of action, NAC stimulates release ofcytokines known to protect bone marrow against radia-tion injury. NAC also protects bone marrow cells fromradiation, largely by preventing DNA damage. A multi-compound mixture including vitamins C and E plusNAC significantly increased 30-day survival of miceexposed to a potentially lethal dose of X-rays.Remarkably, the effect was the same whether the sup-plement was given before or after the exposure.

S-adenosylmethionine (SAMe)

Like NAC, S-adenosylmethionine (SAMe) is a powerfulcompound essential for maintaining cellular levels ofglutathione. Enzymes vital forDNA repair (and hence cancerprotection) can’t function proper-ly in the absence of methyldonors such as SAMe. In early2010 we learned that ionizingradiation suppresses SAMe levelsin animal models. Increasing theanimals’ SAMe levels, on theother hand, minimized DNAdamage from ionizing radiation.

Antioxidant Vitamins

The “ACE” vitamins (A, C, and E) offer proven antiox-idant protection as a result of their molecular structures.High intakes of these vitamins and other antioxidantshave been shown to protect airline pilots from radiation-induced chromosomal damage, an occupational hazardfor those who work at high altitudes. ACE supplementshave been proposed as “space foods” to protect astro-nauts from high radiation levels.

Beta-carotene, the precursor of vitamin A, was firstused clinically in the wake of the Chernobyl nuclearaccident as a first-line treatment for children from theregion. Supplementation reduced the amount of radia-tion-induced oxidized lipids. More controlled animalstudies showed that vitamin A could reverse radiation-induced gene expression abnormalities that could lead tocancer. Other studies show that vitamin A amelioratesother radiation effects and enhances death of cancerouscells. Still other studies reveal that vitamin A can actual-

ly prevent radiation-induced death of healthy cells. Vitamin C, together with natural antioxidant sys-

tems such as glutathione, helps protect DNA and chro-mosomes from oxidative damage. Vitamin C alsoinhibits radiation-induced death of human blood cellsthrough modulation of protective gene expression.Remarkably, vitamin C can counteract radiation-induced“long-lived radicals” (LLRs) that destabilize chromo-somes and induce cancerous mutations. The ability tocounter both classical radicals and LLRs may be vital inpreventing genetic damage from radiation.

Like vitamin C, vitamin E quenches free radicalsonce they form, reducing their toxicity, an effect vital inradioprotection. Importantly, vitamin E enhances thegrowth-inhibiting effect of radiation on cancer tissuewhile simultaneously protecting normal cells. Animalstudies show that vitamin E significantly protects micefrom dying after exposure to otherwise lethal levels ofgamma rays. Intriguingly, this effect is the result ofmodulation of cytokines; it is accompanied by valuable

increases in new blood cell for-mation suppressed by radiation.

A remarkable study among X-ray technicians reveals just howpowerful antioxidant vitaminscan be. Radiology technicians arenominally protected by elaborateshielding, but they’re stillexposed to unnaturally high levelsof radiation over the course of alifetime. As a result, they tend to

have higher levels of tissue oxidation. But when a groupof techs was supplemented with vitamins C (500 mg)and E (150 mg) daily for 15 weeks, their markers of tis-sue oxidation plummeted, and their levels of naturalantioxidants (such as glutathione and glutathione perox-idase in red blood cells) rose significantly.

Lipoic Acid

Lipoic acid is often referred to as the “universal antiox-idant” because it quenches free radicals in both aqueousand lipid-soluble environments, such as cellular mem-branes. Lipoic acid exists in two mirror-image forms: R-lipoic acid and S-lipoic acid. While most commerciallyavailable products contain a 50:50 mixture of the twoforms, only R-lipoic acid is produced by life processesand is thus likely to be the more potent of the two.Compelling evidence suggests that lipoic acid may offerimportant protection against the threats posed by varioustypes of radiation exposures.When used in combination with other antioxidants

3 0 EARTH STAR AUGUST / SEPTEMBER 2011 www.earthstarmag.com

including seleni-um, vitamin C,vitamin E, N-acetyl cysteine,and coenzymeQ10, lipoic acidhelped improvesurvival of micefollowing total-body irradiation.

This study was particularly noteworthy because theantioxidant combination was effective even whenadministered 24 hours after a dose of radiation exposurethat is often lethal.

Lipoic acid shows benefits for supporting theimmune health of individuals who were involved in theclean-up of the Chernobyl nuclear accident, even yearsafter the event. Eleven to twelve years after theChernobyl clean-up, study participants received 600 mgof lipoic acid daily for two months. Signs of generalimmune health improved, and white blood cells calledneutrophils demonstrated an improved ability to ingestinvading cells and cellular debris.

Radiation therapy as a component of cancer treat-ment frequently causes adverse effects on skin healthsuch as swelling and a sunburned appearance. When ani-mal skin cells were incubated with lipoic acid, theyexperienced less cell injury, compared with skin cellsthat received radiation but no lipoic acid. These promis-

ing findingssuggest thatlipoic acid mayhave importantapplications inpreserving skinhealth in indi-viduals whomust undergocancer radiationtherapy.

Trace Minerals

Your body’s internal antioxidant defenses, includingsuperoxide dismutase, catalase, and glutathione peroxi-dase all depend on trace minerals as cofactors for theirfunction. Zinc and manganese are of particular impor-tance for sustaining whole-body resistance to ionizingradiation. Zinc supplements have been shown to protectrats from oxidative damage to their red blood cellsinduced by radioactive iodine. And a zinc supplementprotected bone marrow, but not tumor cells, from radia-

tion-induced damage. Since mitochondria produce hugeamounts of free radicals, they are especially susceptibleto radiation damage. Both zinc and manganese providepowerful mitochondria-specific radioprotection in ani-mal studies.

Other Potent Radioprotective Nutrients

Most nutrients with powerful antioxidant activity can beexpected to protect you against radiation exposure frommedical tests and from temporary increases in radiationin the environ-ment. In additionto those alreadyexamined, there’sgood evidence forradioprotectionby spirulinaextracts, whichprotect bone mar-row cells fromDNA damage. Melatonin also protects dividing cells andcirculating blood cells from chromosomal injury byradiation. Licorice extracts block DNA damage and pro-tect cellular organelles from radiation. The Indiangooseberry (Emblica officianalis) increases survivaltime and reduces mortality of mice exposed to whole-body radiation. Effects include protection against lipidperoxidation and protection of rapidly-dividing cells inthe intestine. Carnosic acid and other rosemary extractsprotect against DNA damage through their antioxidantactivity, both before and after radiation exposure.

Summary

Potassium iodide is the single most important interven-tion to prevent lethal damage from radiation exposure.Life Extension® long ago warned the American publicto keep supplies of potassium iodide on hand in theevent of a nuclear catastrophe. Not everyone heeded ourwarning.

As we predicted, the world’s leading potassiumiodide makers failed to maintain adequate supplies andran out amidst Japan’s ongoing nuclear disaster. In addi-tion to keeping adequate supplies of potassium iodide onhand for short-term radioprotection, there exists a broadarray of scientifically-validated nutrients that may opti-mize your body’s natural defenses against radiationexposure.

Reprinted with permission from Life Extension Magazine,www.lef.org

AUGUST / SEPTEMBER 2011 EARTH STAR 3 1www.earthstarmag.com

Much before the astronomical cycle ofthe past 5,125 years, human beingsused a form of language completelyunlike the present. This languagewas of the heart. As ancient as the

rocks and wind, this mode of communication created afusion between mind and body, a coherence of both rightand left brain hemispheres, and a knowledge of thoughtand feeling as one.

The transmission centre was the secret chamber ofthe heart known as the Shante Ishta, the single eye of theheart. Indigenous peoples, such as the Mayan, the Aztecand the Kogi still believe the secret chamber of the heartto be the core of all that is sacred about life. Indeed, it isrecorded in the book of Genesis, that in ancient times allpeople of the Earth knew one language, until humanitydefied God by building the great Tower of Babel – ‘mak-ing their names to be scored upon heaven’.

God’s infinite wisdom responded by dispersing allnations, by separating all people in order to confoundtheir intention. From thence the soul became individual-ized, and egoist tendencies inflated the notion of separa-

tion from the Source. The life of heart-felt communionbecame isolated in each person, until this time.

The Secret Chamber of the Heart

The secret chamber of the human heart is where the indi-vidual soul attunes to the collective, universal heartbeat,that unites us all through a vast field of intention — thatof consciousness. When we choose to love from ourheart we enter into a chamber of creation where allthings meet in genesis, the legendary ‘gene of Isis’, forit is from the Great Mother Isis, the formative energy ofthe primordial silence, that all life originally arose. Andso the truth of creation unfolded and still unfolds.

There is an ancient legend of the magical Isis, whowas the Goddess of Fertility in the myths of ancientEgypt. Isis was the daughter of Geb, the God of theEarth, and Nut, the Goddess of the overarching sky. Isis,story suggests that her husband, Osiris, had been cruellykilled by the jealous Set, and his dismembered bodyparts, thirteen in all, had been strewn about the Earth.However, Isis found and brought together twelve of the

The WWisdomisdomof the

HeartHeart

By Stewart Pearce

The Sacred Language of the Past

3 2 EARTH STAR AUGUST / SEPTEMBER 2011 www.earthstarmag.com

parts, excepting Osiris’s penis; this she fashioned anewfrom gold, and sang a song of such exquisite beauty thatOsiris was resurrected from death, and became the Lordof the Afterlife.

If we can follow the example of Isis, taking her songof creation and once more singing our own song, speak-ing the language of our hearts from the secret chamberof the heart, we may truly become a vessel for theembodiment of love. Then ingratitude, judgment, hatred,lack of compassion, or refusing to forgive cease to exist- for to be anything other than love is to be without soul.

The Power of the Heart

Science reveals that a human foetus’s heart begins beat-ing before the brain is formed. This ‘auto-rhythm’ sug-gests the heart to have a self-initiated beat, which pre-cedes conscious thought, dispelling the illusion of thebrain’s intellectual function as the foremost principle inthe creation of human life - the heart’s beating is theelixir that enervates human consciousness.

The heart has its own independent nervous systemwith 40,000 neurons, as many as are found in the sub-cortex of the brain. Scientific experimentation at the FelsInstitute for Cancer Research and Molecular Biology inPhiladelphia discovered that when the brain sends ordersto the heart, the heart doesn’t obey. Instead, the heartappears to be sending messages back to the brain, andthe brain not only understands it obeys. It must be ourutmost conviction to allow the power of our hearts tomanage our thoughts and feelings, to live to the heart-beat of emotional truth. As we consciously move to thebeat of this drum, transformation reveals a bridgebetween linear thinking and intuitive sensing. This land-scape alone provides us with both a greater perception,

and a way of creating solutions to face future complexi-ty with greater ease.

We must stop the frenzy of our stress-filled living,fulfilling functions that simply create disease. We muststop the actions that lead to the closing of the heart, andthe explosions of the heart in the form of cardiac arrest.

Stewart Pearce was Master of Voice at Shakespeare’s GlobeTheatre and Head of Voice at Webber Douglas Academy. He’sworked with Diana Princess of Wales, Prime Minister Blair,Simon Callow, Vanessa Redgrave and many more. He isauthor of Alchemy of Voice,and The Heart’s Note. For moreinformation go to http://www.findhornpress.com

Huge Numbers of King Crabs Invade Antarctia

I t’s like a scene out of a sci-fimovie—thousands, possibly mil-lions, of king crabs are marching

through icy, deep-sea waters and up the

Antarctic slope.“They are coming from the deep,

somewhere between 6,000 to 9,000feet down,” said James McClintock,

Ph.D., University of Alabamaat Birmingham EndowedProfessor of Polar and MarineBiology.

Shell-crushing crabs haven’tbeen in Antarctica, Earth’ssouthernmost continent, forhundreds or thousands, if notmillions, of years, McClintocksaid. “They have trouble regu-lating magnesium ions in their

body fluids and get kind of drunk atlow temperatures.”

But something has changed, andthese crustaceans are poised to moveby the droves up the slope and onto theshelf that surrounds Antarctica.McClintock and other marineresearchers interested in the continentare sounding alarms because the vul-nerable ecosystem could be wiped out,he said.

“I am very concerned that speciescould disappear, and we could lose acure to a disease,” he said.—ScienceDaily

AUGUST / SEPTEMBER 2011 EARTH STAR 3 3www.earthstarmag.com

Few understand the importance of respond-ing to change better than the owners ofsmall businesses. New competitors...changing consumer tastes... and the end-less ups and downs of the economy can

cause a small company’s profits to disappear almostovernight. Unlike General Motors, mom-and-pop com-panies can’t count on a government bailout when thingsgo wrong.

Veteran business journalist and corporate historianRobert Spector took a close look at dozens of successfulsmall businesses to find out how they continued to sur-vive and even thrive in the face of potentially ruinouschanges. He discovered that what works for small-busi-ness owners often can work more broadly in people’sprofessional lives — and even in their personal lives...

Team up with others. Bill Furst, owner of Furst theFlorist in Dayton, faced a potentially ruinous change inthe 1980s. Flower suppliers were increasingly ignoringhis store’s needs in favor of larger clients. One Mother’sDay, Furst’s shop did not receive any shipments because

larger clients bought up all of the distributors’ flowers.Furst realized that if he was having trouble with his

suppliers, other small flower shops must be having thesame problem. He launched a wholesale flower distribu-tion business to serve small florists and solve his ownshop’s supply problem in the process. Furst’s wholesaledivision is now large enough to import flowers directlyfrom South America, a sure sign of success in the flowerindustry.

Lesson: If you feel powerless to stop a change that’sworking against you, either organize other victims of thechange into a group... or, better yet, start a business toserve other victims’ needs. Together the group might bepowerful enough to flex some muscle. If nothing else,speaking with others who share your problem can be asource of ideas and moral support.

Cultivate connections. It seems like a new coffee-house opens every day in Seattle. Lora Lewis, owner ofHotwire Online Coffeehouse, found a way to keep hercustomers loyal despite this competitive environment.Lewis’s employees are instructed to get to know as many

WWWWhhhhaaaatttt MMMMoooommmm &&&& PPPPoooopppp SSSSttttoooorrrreeeessssCCCCaaaannnn TTTTeeeeaaaacccchhhh UUUUssss AAAAllll llll AAAAbbbboooouuuutttt

SSuucccceessssSSuucccceessss

By Robert Spector

The secret to long-term success isn’t figuring out what works—it’s figuring out how to keep things working when conditions change,

as they inevitably do.

3 4 EARTH STAR AUGUST / SEPTEMBER 2011 www.earthstarmag.com

customers as possible, then greet them by name eachtime they walk through the door. Their greetings areloud enough that other employees hear the customers’names and learn them, too. Being known by name fos-ters a sense of belonging that customers cannot find atother coffeehouses.

Lesson: Build as large a circle of acquaintances aspossible. This starts with remembering people’s namesand greeting them as friends each time you meet. Peoplewho feel a personal bond with you are likely to remainloyal to you and support you.

Stand out from the crowd. A decade ago, it seemedthat demographic and economic changes would doomGalco’s Old World Grocery, a century-old family busi-ness. Galco’s was a traditional Italian corner grocerystore in a Los Angeles suburb that no longer had manyItalians. The shop couldn’t compete with the low pricesoffered by supermarkets and big-box discounters thathad moved into the area.

Galco’s owner, John Nese, realized that the onlyway to overcome this price disadvantage was to offerproducts that the supermarkets and discounters did notstock. If he could find a product so distinctive that it wasnot available anywhere else in the region, the demo-graphic changes in his neighborhood wouldn’t matter—customers would go out of their way to find him.

Inspired by the success of microbrew beers, Nesebegan stocking a wide variety of sodas—more than450 from small independent bottlers—and changed hisstore’s name to Galco’s Soda Pop Stop. This distinc-tive product line led to strong customer loyalty andnational media attention, and Galco’s soon returned to

profitability.Lesson: Following the pack is

not the safe course when a change isworking against the pack. Better to beknown as the only one who doessomething special. This distinctivestatus provides a degree of immunityfrom change.

Reduce debts and expenses.Few businesses are more vulnerable tochange than restaurants. Customersstop eating out whenever the economylags. And today’s hot restaurant oftenbecomes tomorrow’s old news.

Sanford Restaurant inMilwaukee has survived for twodecades, in part because it has mini-mal debt and low fixed costs. OwnersSandy and Angie D’Amato opened therestaurant in a vacant building owned

by their family, and they lived upstairs, so they had norent or mortgage payments. In the early days, they ranthe entire restaurant by themselves, when necessary, sothey didn’t have to pay salaries on slow nights.

Lesson: Debts and expenses that seem affordablewhen times are good can become anchors that pull usunder when our finances or the economy takes a turn forthe worse. Those with little debt and low expenses findit much easier to stay afloat.

Develop a reputation for exceptional quality.London hatters James Lock & Co. have stayed in busi-ness since 1676—quite a feat for a company in the fash-ion industry, where styles change every season. Thefamily-owned business keeps up with the latest hatstyles, but the key to its long-term success is somethingthat hasn’t changed in more than 300 years—Lock’s rep-utation for providing top-quality head wear. A customerwho couldn’t recall Lock’s name or address once mailedhis order to “The best hatters in the world, London.” Thepostcard reached its destination. From Admiral LordNelson to hip-hop star André Benjamin, Lock’s cus-tomers patronize the store rather than trendier competi-tors because they can be confident that they are buyingthe best.

Lesson: No matter what changes, exceptional qual-ity always is in demand.

Robert Spector is a business historian and journalist based inSeattle. He is author of The Mom & Pop Store: How theUnsung Heroes of the American Economy Are Surviving andThriving (Walker) and The Nordstrom Way (Wiley).http://www.RobertSpector.com

AUGUST / SEPTEMBER 2011 EARTH STAR 3 5www.earthstarmag.com

Working out is fun when you’resplashing in your gym or commu-nity pool. Aquatic exercises canburn fat faster. They’re healing too,easing symptoms for arthritis and

fibromyalgia sufferers. Dive into summer with 8 movesthat’ll keep you fit no matter what shape you’re in. Plus,what’s your fitness style? Take our quiz to find out…

Water is one of the best fitness tools: It providesresistance, which strengthens muscles and boosts cardiointensity. It also supports some of your weight, makingworkouts easier on joints and reducing injury.

Aquatic exercises can help you heal faster too.Doctors often recommend them for people with jointinjuries, infections or surgeries as a way to stay fit andshorten recovery time.

They also can ease symptoms of chronic conditions,such as chronic fatigue syndrome (CFS), fibromyalgiaand arthritis.

“Working out in water is very safe because no joints

or bones are forced to bear too heavy a load,” saysAndrew Jones, M.D., an orthopedic surgeon in ChapelHill, N.C.

That’s why it’s such a great low-impact initiationinto fitness if you’re obese or just way out of shape.

Pool workouts give you “better balance, agility andendurance, which is a great confidence boost for anyonewho has shied away from exercise in the past,” saysMary Sanders, Ph.D., associate professor at theUniversity of Nevada School of Medicine and co-authorof YMCA Water Fitness for Health.

It’s also a great fat-burner. “You can burn a higherlevel of calories in a shorter time in the pool,” she says.

Best of all, working out in the water doesn’t feellike, well, work.

“It’s impossible not to smile as you jump into a pool—and enjoying your workout is the best way to makesure you’ll stick with it,” Sanders says.

To get the most of your water workout, follow thesetips:

By Kate Hanley

8888 PPPPoooooooollll EEEExxxxeeeerrrrcccciiiisssseeeessss TTTThhhhaaaatttt BBBBuuuurrrrnnnn FFFFaaaatttt FFFFaaaasssstttt

3 6 EARTH STAR AUGUST / SEPTEMBER 2011 www.earthstarmag.com

• Don’t go deeper than waist-high. That way yourfeet will have good contact with the pool floor and yourleg muscles will be able to support some of your weight.

• Wear water shoes to improve traction andwebbed gloves (usually made of Neoprene with web-bing between the fingers) to add resistance and intensityto arm movements, Sanders suggests. (They’re notexpensive: Gloves cost about $20 from Amazon.com;shoes are under $30.)

• Drink lots of water during and after your work-out: “You can get dehydrated in the pool as easily as youcan on land,” she says.

One of the easiest and most effective pool workouts iswater jogging. At high intensity, this popular exercisecan burn 17 calories per minute — more than on land. Italso makes you stronger.

Sanders advises her clients to jog for one-to three-minute intervals in waist-high water, then alternate withless cardio-heavy water exercises.

“It lets you keep the number of calories burned high,but doesn’t require the endurance to jog for more thanseveral minutes at a time,” she says.Ready to jump in? Many gyms, community recreationcenters and Ys with pools offer water aerobics classes.But if you’re ready to go it alone, add these 8 fun waterexercises to your aquatic jogging routine (demonstratedby model Diane Stajszczak):

1. Spiderman

Climb the poolwall likeSpiderman climbsbuildings! Thisexercise helps youdefy gravity in away that just isn’tpossible on land. Italso provides aunique challengeto your core andback muscles.

How to do it:While standing in water at the side of the pool, stabilizeyour upper body by sweeping your hands back and forthas you run your legs up the side of the pool and thenback down to the floor. Do four Spiderman exercises,alternating the leading leg each time you reach the end

of one jogging circuit.

2. Pool Plank

Planks are aproven corestrengthener onland. But if youdon’t have astrong upper body,it’s hard to hold itlong enough togive abdominalmuscles a goodworkout. All ofthat changes in apool. Plus, planksboost yourendurance and “the water pushing and pulling on youincreases the challenge to your core,” Sanders explains.

How to do it: Stand on the pool floor. Hold a noodle(it’s also called a “water log,” a long cylindrical piece offoam that floats) vertically in both hands. Press itstraight down into the water and lean forward until yourbody is on an even incline. (Your head stays out of thewater.) Try to keep yourself stable for 1-2 minutes.

3. Chaos Cardio

This exercise takesjogging to a newlevel. By creatingseveral currents inthe pool and thenrunning throughthem, you’llstrengthen all yourcore stabilizingmuscles.

“Be sure to runwith proper align-ment — ears,shoulders and hips in one vertical line — so your core isforced to do the work of keeping you upright, not yourshoulders or your legs,” Sanders says.

How to do it: Run in a zigzag pattern from one end ofthe pool to the other, then run straight through all thecurrents you’ve just created. Do these in three-minuteintervals, alternating with something less cardio-inten-

AUGUST / SEPTEMBER 2011 EARTH STAR 3 7www.earthstarmag.com

sive, such as Pool Plank or One-Legged Balance (nextexercise).

4. One-Legged Balance

This strengthensyour leg and coremuscles, the onesresponsible forbalance, withoutthe risk of fallingand hurting your-self.

“The core hasto kick in to keepyou upright,increasing yourstatic balance,”Sanders says.

How to do it: Standing in waist-high water, lift your leftknee up and place the middle of a noodle under your leftfoot. (Its sides will float up into a U-shape.) Keep yourhands by your side and balance with your left foot on thenoodle for one minute. Then move your left knee out tothe side and balance for another minute. Switch legs andrepeat with the right knee lifted and the right foot rest-ing on the noodle.

For an extra challenge, lift both arms up over yourhead as you balance.

If you’re in the pool with your kids, have them jogin circles around you to create currents that will furtherchallenge your balance.

5. Fly Backs

On land and inwater, fly backswork the musclesin the upper chest,back and arms.They also improveposture.

How to do it:Start in a lungeposition with yourright knee bentand your left legextended straight

behind you. Reach your arms straight out in front of youat chest height — palms touching, fingers extended and

thumbs up. Open your arms straight out to the sides, thenreturn them to the starting position to complete one rep.

Do four sets of 8-15 reps, switching the forward legeach time you lunge. To boost your cardio workout andthe number of calories you burn, do your reps whilewalking or jogging across the pool.

6. Cardio/Resistance Combo

Strengthen yourupper chest, back,arms and corewith this challeng-ing drill. It alsoraises your heartrate and burnsmore calories.

How to do it:Straddle a noodleas if you were sit-ting on a horse.Pedal around thepool as fast as you can while doing the arm portion ofFly Backs (see above). Sit up tall with your spine verti-cal — no leaning. This will force your core muscles tokeep you stable. Continue for 3 minutes.

7. Core Ball Static Challenge

This deceptivelys imple- lookingexercise strength-ens your core asyou work to keepyourself upright.By changing theposition of yourarms and legs, itbecomes fourexercises in one.

How to do it:

Version A: Stand in a lunge with your right leg bent andyour left extended behind you. Hold an inflated ballabout 6 inches in diameter (like those found in a drug-store or toy store) with both hands directly in front ofyour navel. Keep your shoulders down and back. Holdthis position for 30 seconds, engaging your core to keepyou upright. Switch legs and hold for another 30 sec-onds.

www.earthstarmag.com3 8 EARTH STAR AUGUST / SEPTEMBER 2011

Version B: Do the entire exercise one more time, thistime holding the ball with your arms outstretched — sothe ball is just under the surface of the water — foradded challenge to your core.

Version C: Move your legs out of the lunge and balanceon your right leg with your left knee lifted. Hold the ballin front of your navel as in version A and hold for 30 sec-onds. Repeat while standing on the left leg with the rightknee lifted.

Version D: Balance again on your right foot, left kneelifted. Hold the ball with arms outstretched as in versionB and hold for 30 seconds. Repeat while standing on theleft leg with the right knee lifted.

8. Cardio Core Ball Running

This exercisecombines old-fashioned cardiowith cores t reng then ing :The ball will addextra resistanceand pull you off-center, so yourcore muscles willhave to engage tokeep you movingf o r w a r d .

Changing the position of the ball works your core evenharder.

How to do it:

Version A: Hold the ball with both hands directly infront of your navel. Run across the pool as fast as youcan for one minute. Rest for 30 seconds, then repeatthree more times, increasing speed through each rep.

Version B: Tuck the ball under your right arm at waistheight. Keeping both shoulders facing forward (withouttwisting toward the ball), run across the pool as fast asyou can for one minute. Move the ball to your left sideand run for another minute. Repeat four times, runningfaster each time.

What’s Your Fitness Style?

There are specific aspects of your personality that deter-mine what kind of exerciser you are, so if you’re in a fit-ness rut, it’s time to put your unique interests back intothe equation. Take this quiz to find out what types ofexercise are right for you.

Coconut SugarCoconut Sugar Quickly Replacing Agave Nectar As Natural Sweetener of Choice

O ver the last two years, we’vewitnessed a mass exodusaway from agave nectar and a

search for more natural sweeteners thatare both low on the glycemic index and

high in nutrient density. Several candi-dates have emerged, but my all-outfavorite has become coconut sugar,which is really more like a coconutcaramel sap.

This sweetener isfast becomingextremely popularamong raw foodies,vegans and vegetari-ans. Many haveswitched from agavenectar to coconutsugar for all the rea-sons I'm coveringhere.

The coconut sugar(sap) I’ve been usingis a 100% pure

organic crystallized coconut sap fromThailand. It’s harvested from the sapof unopened coconut blossoms, thenboiled under controlled heat to driveoff the water and condense the liquidto a dark brown sap. There are no addi-tives used, no bleaching, and absolutelyno stripping of minerals or other nutri-ents. It’s not a raw food, however.Cooking the sap is a necessary part ofconcentrating it, just like with maplesyrup, which is really a concentrationof the watery maple sap.

Drop it into smoothies or recipesto give them a taste of heaven.

The claimed glycemic index (GI)of this food is 35—which is extraordi-narily low for a sweetener.—Natural News

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T he result of a new study presented to theNational Meeting & Exposition of the AmericanChemical Society found that the noble walnut

packed the highest level of quality antioxidants of anynut species. Not only do walnuts provide plenty of high-quality protein that delivers a perfectly balanced assort-ment of vitamins, minerals and fiber, but they also con-tain healthful polyunsaturated and monounsaturated fatsthat lower deadly artery-clogging small dense oxidizedLDL cholesterol. Adding a handful of walnuts to yourdaily diet can provide many of the essential antioxidantsnecessary to ward off cardiovascular disease and cancer.

Dr. Joseph Vinson performed the analysis thatshowed walnuts provide more antioxidants to the bodythan other nuts including peanuts, almonds, pecans andpistachios. He noted “A handful of walnuts containsalmost twice as much antioxidants as an equivalentamount of any other commonly consumed nut. Butunfortunately, people don’t eat a lot of them. This studysuggests that consumers should eat more walnuts as partof a healthy diet.” Tree and ground nuts have long beenknown to be among Mother Nature`s most perfectlypackaged foods, providing a complex of naturalenzymes and nutrients that promote human health.

This research analysis compared walnuts to nineother nut species that are ranked among the highest in

antioxidant capacity. Walnuts were found to be 2 to 15times more potent than vitamin E in terms of theirantioxidant capacity. Vitamin E is well known for itsability to promote cardiovascular health by loweringdangerous levels of small dense LDL cholesterol parti-cles. The analysis also found that it is important to eatwalnuts in their raw and natural form, as heating orroasting degrades the antioxidant properties of the nut.

Dr. Vinson found that despite the powerful antioxi-dant and nutrient punch provided by walnuts and othertree nuts in general, they account for less than 8% of thedaily antioxidant allowance for most people. This is like-ly due to misinformation regarding calories and excessfat content that has circulated about nuts over the past 50years. Research has demonstrated that regular nut con-sumption does not lead to excess weight and provides afeeling of satiety. The polyunsaturated and monounsatu-rated fats provided by nuts promote cardiovascularhealth and have been shown to dramatically lower therisk of a heart attack.

The analysis found that just 7 walnuts each day aresufficient to boost human health. Always eat walnuts intheir natural unprocessed and unroasted form to preservethe bounty of enzymes, nutrients and antioxidants thathave been shown to help prevent heart disease and can-cer.

WWaallnnuuttssWWaallnnuuttssRRaannkk AAss TTTT oooo pppp NNNN uuuu ttttProviding Highest Level of Providing Highest Level of Quality Quality AntioxidantsAntioxidants

By John Phillip

4 0 EARTH STAR AUGUST / SEPTEMBER 2011

events workshopsfestivals classes

8/17: Judy Collins features in the Summer& Fall Concert Series at the The historic BullRun Restaurant in Shirley, MA, Wed. August17th. Tickets & info at 877-536-7190.

Top Photo

CALENDARCALENDAR

AUG / SEPT9/2-9/4: Unique/exciting 3-day course inGeobiology. Presented by: RichardBenishai (Israel). Combines the basic con-cepts with applications via your mental. Forinitiated geobiologists this will be a newapproach. Place: Light Heart Retreat, BarHarbor, Maine. Dates: 2/3/4 September.Contact: Email: richard3@bezeqint.net ormy website: http://www.geobiology.co.il

6/14: Jyotti Mandir presents Krishna Das“Samsara By Bus” Tour, June 14th, at theSeaside Center for Spiritual Living, 1613Lake Drive, Encinitas, CA. Tickets fromhttp://www.jyotimandir.com

8/17: The historic Bull Run Restaurant, builtin 1740 and once known as the “StagecoachInn” on the route from Boston to Albany, isproud to announce a tremendous Summer& Fall Concert Series featuring JudyCollins, on wednesday, August 17th. Fortickets and info call (877) 536-7190.

ONGOINGFood As Medicine Workshop, Sharon A.Kane, Instructor. Live Superfoods canrepair the intestinal damage associated withceliac, gluten intolerance, candida, IBS,leaky gut and food allergies. This 8-sessioncourse teaches simple techniques to createlow cost live food at home. Kombucha,kefi r, gluten free bread, lacto-fermentedpickles. For complete info call Sharon A.Kane, (508) 881-5678 or emailGpath2003@yahoo.com.

Exquisite Energysm for Healers. Relax andget a dose of the good stuff for yourself. Easymovements from qigong and hands-on healingwith Cerridwen. Third Saturdays 7:00pm-10:00pm. Aquarius Sanctuary, Littleton, MA.(978) 486-0248. $20. Call ahead.

Reiki Certification, Boston and Wilton,NH. Libby Barnett, MSW. 26 years expe-rience. Reiki Energy Medicine co-author.Notebook, pin, certificate awarded.

Visa/MC accepted. CEU's. Call 1-888-REIKI-4-U or (603) 654-2787.

Exquisite Energysm for Women. Center,ground, and open to the flow. A nourishing,feel-good event. Cerridwen guides easymovements from qigong and hands-on heal-ing. Second Thursdays 7:30pm-9:30pm,Aquarius Sanctuary, Littleton, MA. (978)486-0248. $20. Call ahead.

Buddhist Meditation Group with PegTravers, Ordained Priest, Buddha HeartUSA, Sunday evenings, Haverhill, MA,5:00pm-6:00pm. Learn and practice theancient arts of meditation, chanting,QiGong, Buddhist Yoga & Reiki. Call theCenter for Spiritual Development, HaverhillMA, (978)-372-5173 or online atwww.uuhaverhill.org/happenings.

Drumming Circle with Kristine Malpica(of Imagine Studios) on third Friday of eachmonth. 7:00pm-8:30pm. Center for SpiritualDevelopment, 15 Kenoza Ave, Haverhill,MA. (978)-372-5173.

AUGUST / SEPTEMBER 2011 EARTH STAR 4 1

Shamanic DrummingCircle, founded 1993. Usually Secondand Fourth Fridays of every month,7:00pm. Quaker meeting-house,Cambridge. Open to all, but please callfi rst for full details and directions.Terrence (978)-952-2704 or Emily(781)-641-3980.

Workshops for Pain Managementand Improved Wellness. Offerings forBodyworkers, athletes, PersonalTrainers, Coaches and general pain-sufferers. Please visit our website:web.maynard.ma.us/biz/bmassage, orcall Barry Bailey at (978)-897-0110for information and brochure of cur-rent offerings.

The Labyrinth Ladies SpiritualEmpowerment Workshops, go towww.thelabyrinthladies.com for ourlatest programs and walks or call (401)-847-6551 for more information.Facilitator Trainings, site consultations,workshops for schools, hospitals andbusinesses.

Christ Church Unity - Experience thehealing power of music, prayer andmeditation, every Wednesday at

7:00pm. Daily Word Discusion Sundays at10:00am. Sunday Service, 11:00am. Cornerof Colchester & Chapel Streets, Brookline,MA 02466. Call (617) 232-4548 for moreinformation or visit: www.unityboston.org.

Free Energy Healing in Arlington. Johreihealing is available each Wednesdayevening from 7:00pm-9:00pm at 81Cleveland St. in Arlington, MA. Johrei puri-fies the spirit through the channeling ofdivine light, restores inner spiritual balanceand eases physical, mental, & emotional dis-tress. There is no charge for Johrei. Pleasecall (781) 646-0614 for directions or infor-mation on other area locations.

Stress Management, Imagery, and a rangeof Reiki programs, with CEUs for nurses,led by holistic nurse educators. Centered inAmesbury, MA with other locations inMaine, New Hampshire, and Massachusetts.Visit www.LymanCenter.com or call: 1-(888)-TLC-8485.

Earth Star Calendar

9/23: Greater Boston's 21st Annual BarryPrice Center Fundraiser and Concert willfeature pop singer Neil Sedaka on Friday,September 23 at the Holiday Inn Brookline,at 7:00pm, in the Holiday Inn ballroom. Fortickets and information call (781) 239-1480.

9/15: The Massachusetts Broadcasters Hall of Fame willproudly present a Gala Awards Ceremony and Luncheonhosted by WBZ 1030’s Jordan Rich, on Thursday,September 15 12:00pm to 2:00pm at the Marriott Quincy,Tickets, $45.00. Call (617) 969-5678 or (617) 763-0109.

The Deadline for listings in the

October/November 2011 issue

is Sept 23rd

8/27: MassEquality’s signature fundraising event, The Tasteof Provincetown - A Festival of Fine Food, Wines andCocktails, Sat., August 27, beginning at 6:00pm, ProvincetownTown Hall Auditorium. Tickets & info (617) 878-2365.

Chef Frank Vasello of Relish

Chef Laurence de Freitas of The Mews

Chef Michael Mishkin of Victors

Provincetown’sfirst QuickFireQuickFire

ChallengeChallenge

www.earthstarmag.com4 2 EARTH STAR AUGUST / SEPTEMBER 2011

The spirit of mankind is eternal, yet ourbodies are finite. Thus as long as humanbeings have lived, we have feared thedoom of imminent catastrophe. Suchapocalyptic disasters were predicted by

the early Christians in 365 AD, by the medieval SaintsMalachy and Hildegard von Bingen near the turn of thelast millennium, and by the famous Mother Shipton in1681. As the end of the first millennium arrived duringthe Dark Ages of Europe, entire populations set asidetheir farming tools and wandered into the wilderness tofast and pray, and await the magical moment of 1000Anno Domini, when the evil world would surely come toits richly deserved end. Similar to modern day funda-mentalists, they hoped that their ascetic practices wouldguarantee that they were among those who were“saved.”

In recent times the world has been gripped by theapocalyptic computer craze of Y2K, and by HaroldCamping, head of the Evangelical Family RadioNetwork, who predicted that the Rapture would begin

on May 21st 2011, leading to the destruction of the

world by fire on October 21st of this year. And of coursethere are the more advanced computations of an intricateworld calendar kept by the Mayans, who have foretoldthe end of this Age on December 21st, 2012 - a subjectwe shall come to shortly.

So perhaps we should ask why such dire end-of-the-world predictions carry such weight with otherwiserational people? Because humanity’s genetic and collec-tive memory holds the recollection of other great cyclesof destruction from our distant past. Echoes can still befound in the haunting legends of Atlantis, Lemuria, andHyperborea, even though the physical evidence for theirexistence has been largely wiped away.

The Great Flood and the Polar Twins

Virtually every civilization in the world has legends ofthe Great Flood, including Mesopotamia, Wales, Russia,India, China, Scandinavia, America, Sumatra, Peru, and

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EEEE LLLL EEEE NNNN IIII NNNN,,,, NNNNIIII BBBB IIII RRRR UUUU AAAA NNNN DDDD TTTT HHHH EEEE PPPP OOOO LLLL EEEE SSSS HHHH IIII FFFF TTTT

By Tricia McCannon

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Polynesia. In Moons, Myths and Men author H.S.Bellamy estimates that there are over 500 Flood legendsworldwide, and we know that the ancient Greeks,Egyptians, Romans and Chinese recorded the remains ofseashells fossils on top of mountains. This has been cor-roborated by modern day researchers like AdrienneMayor, who wrote Fossil Legends of the FirstAmericans, supporting ancient theories held by theGreeks that many land masses on Earth have been cov-ered with water several times. Native Americansexpressed this same belief in their oral histories, told toearly European settlers.

In fact, a wellknown Hopi legendtalks about the axialpoles as two twinsthat hold the Earth inbalance. At the endof each World Agethese twins areinstructed to leavetheir positions andallow the world toplunge into chaos.After this, a newworld is born and awhole new cyclebegins. Hopi cos-mology tells us thatthis has happenedthree separate times:fi rst by Fire, then byice, and lastly by theGreat Flood. Greeksand Etruscansbelieved that theseenormous cycles aremarked by both agalactic winter andsummer; in winter our planet is cleansed by water or ice;then, in summer we are cleansed by fire.

Certainly the Greek historian Herodotus (446 BCE)wrote in his Histories that Egyptian priests recorded thatover the course of some 36,000 years there had been noexceptional changes in the Earth’s rotation. “They didsay that four times within this period the sun changed hisusual position, twice rising where he normally sets, andtwice setting where he normally rises!” This means thatat one time the Sun rose in the west and set in the east.Plato seconds this in his dialogue The Statesman: “Thereis a time when God himself guides and helps to roll theworld in its course; and there is a time, on the comple-

tion of a certain cycle, when he lets go, and the world...turns about and by an inherent necessity revolves in theopposite direction.” He goes on to say, “At periods theuniverse has its present circular motion, and at otherperiods it revolves in the reverse direction... Here therenecessarily occurs a great destruction of them [the ani-mals], which extends also to the life of man; few sur-vivors of the race are left... Of all the changes which takeplace in the heavens this reversal is the greatest and mostcomplete.”

Religious literature also seems to make reference tostrange celestial activity. In Joshua 10:13, we read the

“Sun stood still, andthe moon stopped, tillthe people hadrevenge upon theirenemies.” What couldpossibly make thishappen? We willcome to this presently.And the Bible is notthe only religious textthat speaks of suchunusual events. TheTalmud reports:“Seven days beforethe deluge, the HolyOne changed theprimeval order andthe sun rose in thewest and set in theeast.” The IslamicKoran also tells usthat there is the Lord“of the two easts andtwo wests!” a seemingreference to theEarth’s changing ori-entation to the Sun.

The Celestial Clock of Time

Eastern Vedic wisdom claims that the Universe isdesigned like a gigantic clock that periodically resetsitself. Just as we have 60 seconds in a minute, 60 min-utes in an hour, 24 hours in a day, and 30 days in onelunar cycle, the Universe is designed in cycle after cycle,giving us many opportunities for growth and experience.The Vedas in fact define four Great Ages or Yugas. Theycall them the Golden, Silver, Bronze and Iron Ages, alltogether making up one manvantara. The descendingcycle of time that moves from Spirit into matter was

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seen as the inevitable descent from the great pole ofEssence, towards the more material pole of substance.The gradual decline of the Golden Age into the lessadvanced Iron Age is said to affect not only the nature ofphysical matter itself, but humanity’s degree of spiritualawakening or slumber. As we spiral slowly downwardwe transform our own natures from being 3/4rds Spiritand only 1/4 matter (the Golden Age), to becoming3/4ths matter and only 1/4 Spirit (the Iron Age).

Yet even within the densest of these ages, there arepeaks and valleys that represent a heroic return to morespiritually based civilizations. Vedic cosmology tells usthat the Iron Age, the darkest of these ages, is marked byignorance, fear and superstition. The Bronze Age ismarked by rationalism, empirical science and material-ism. The Silver Age is marked by intuition and spiritual-ity, and the Golden Age is marked by a direct connectionwith the Source.

Hindu mystics claim that Earth moved into the larg-er Iron Age around 3102 BCE, close to the start of theMayan Calendar in 3114 BCE, and will remain there forthousands of years. Yet this shift did not happen sudden-ly. There were still many highly evolved civilizations5,000 years ago, including the first human dynasties inEgypt, and the beginning of the current Mayan cycle.Prior to that, ancient Sumeria, India, Egypt and Greecerecorded that the gods lived among us and ruled theancient world. Yet as we view the spiral of history overthe last 5,000 years, it is clear that humanity began thisgradual descent into amnesia from this point onward,moving downward to the ignorance of the Dark Ages, orthe smaller dark age within the larger Iron Age. Over thepast 600 years we have once more begun to climb thegreat spiral of time, slowly embracing the rationalism ofthe Renaissance and the Industrial Revolution (the

smaller Bronze age within the larger IronAge), the current Electronic and Space Age(the smaller Silver cycle within the larger IronAge), and perhaps soon, we will even see areturn to the glorious Golden Age even withinthis more materialist Yuga.

While we can observe that much of thisprocess of ascension and descension is grad-ual, there are even larger cycles that signal amore abrupt transition. This occurs at the endof each long World Age, wiping clean the cul-tures of the previous cycles altogether, andstarting anew. The end of one cycle leadsdirectly to the beginning of another, a processsymbolized by the ancients as a snake bitingits tail, known as the Ouroboros. ClassicalGreco Roman mythology believed that a given

cycle of manifestation can emerge fully formed as a newGolden Age, followed directly on the heels of a eschato-logical cataclysm, or Day of Purification. This view isalso shared by other tribal people and has been adaptedby many Jews, Christians, Muslims and Hindus, leadingto the current religious fever among fundamentalistsregarding an inevitable Apocalypse or Doomsday.

This brings us to the Mayan Calendar and the excit-ing events of 2011, 2012 and 2013.

The Mayan Calendar

The classical Mayan culture, which flourished fromabout 200 to 900 AD, lived in the tropical forests ofCentral America. They taught that our current worldcycle began in 3114 BCE, and that this cycle wouldcomplete the larger World Age on February 19, 2013.

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This is a few months after the famous December 21st,2012 date, but appears to be a more accurate renderingof this prophecy. The most recent cycle has lasted some5,125 years and will culminate on this day. Through theintricacies of the now famous Mayan Calendar, theyidentified a transformation into a new World Age calledthe Fifth Sun, or Age of Illumination. By their reckon-ing, our planet has already been through three such enor-mous incarnations, and we are now at the end of theFourth Age or Fourth Sun. As each World Age com-pletes its cycle, a huge natural disaster occurs. The FirstWorld they claim was destroyed by fire; the Second Ageby ice; the Third Age by water. Now, as we approach theend of the Fourth Age, we seem poised on the brink ofmany global changes, among them an astonishingincrease in the amount of solar flares being given off byour Sun, indicating that indeed the transformation of theSun may be pivotal to a new phase of existence.

After all, in recent years we have discovered thatlight itself carries information (photons) and that it pro-grams living matter, including the structure of DNAitself. Experiments carried out in Russia led by Dr. PjotrGarjajev, member of the Russian Academy of Sciences,as well as the Academy of Sciences in New York, hasdiscovered that both light and sound can affect DNA.The research team included bio physicists, molecularbiologists, embryologists and even linguistic experts

who were able to modulate coherent laser light and radiowaves, and add semantics to the carrier wave. In thisway they were able to reprogram the DNA in vivo in liv-ing organisms using modulated laser light. In one casethey programmed a frogs’ eggs to be born as salaman-ders; in another case a chicken’s eggs were hatched ashalf duck-half chicken, all using only light frequencies.In addition they found that spoken language can also bemodulated to the carrier wave with the same DNA repro-gramming effect. This is a stunning scientific discovery!Our own DNA can simply be reprogrammed by humanspeech, if the words are modulated on the correct carri-er frequencies!

The latest Russian research explains how the socalled “junk DNA” that Western scientists have discard-ed, actually gives access to our clairvoyance, ability toheal ourselves or others, ability to influence weather pat-terns, and even produces magnetized wormholesbetween entirely different areas in the universe throughwhich information can be transmitted. Our DNA attractsthese bits of information and passes them on to our con-sciousness. And the activating frequency that allows usto access the latent talents and abilities stored in ourDNA is 528 hertz, or the frequency of love. Stunningly,this is the exact frequency used by genetic biochemiststo repair broken DNA—the genetic blueprint uponwhich life is based! MI—528 Hz—relates to crown

4 6 EARTH STAR AUGUST / SEPTEMBER 2011 www.earthstarmag.com

chakra.This means that when the Mayans speak about a

Fifth Sun, or an evolutionary change in our planet, theymay be referring to a particular wavelength of solar fre-quencies that will be emitted by our Sun, and that willessentially reprogram the DNA of all living beings onEarth. This could take our planet and humankind to thenext step in its evolutionary cycle.

Mayan cosmology also teaches that every 25,920years, we cross the Galactic Equator, coming into align-ment with the Dark Rift at the center of our galaxy. Thiscompact, luminous, star-forming center has over onetrillion stars, and is believed to be over two trillion milesin diameter. Mayan culture believed that it is here thatcreation itself began. In their Book of Creation, thePopol Vuh, they refer to this as the Black Road or theEagle’s Path leading to Xibalba Be. Xibalba Be is thecelestial corridor that connects our world to the center ofthe galaxy. Envisioned concurrently as the womb of theGreat Mother, and a giant serpent with its mouth open,this dark band of interstellar clouds reveals an elongatedcore that Mayans believe connect us with the energies oflife, death, heaven and the Underworld.

Periodically, all solar systems come into alignmentwith this Black Road, creating an enormous gravitation-al pull upon our solar system. This creates massive solarstorms, as our Sun receives new information from theGalactic Center. At an esoteric level it is also possible,that the Sun transmits the combined experience of all thesentient beings from its various planets into the GalacticCenter, while simultaneously downloading new pro-grams for the continued evolution of planetary life. Thisequatorial crossing only happens every 25,920 years, aperiod that the ancients called the Great Year. And

because of the enormous gravitational pres-sure, the polarities of the entire solar systemcan change, causing massive pole shifts on theplanets. Mayan cosmology tells us this eventmarks the end of each World Age. During thisalignment we become allied with the Heart ofthe Great Mother; a mother who, like theHindu goddess Kali, simultaneously givesbirth to mankind, while eating him at the sametime. The name Kali means “the Dark Onewho stops time.” This is the womb from whichwe all emerge and to which we shall all return.

Evidence for the Pole Shift

But is there scientific evidence to supportthese claims? In fact, there is. According to

paleomagnetists, the Earth reverses its magnetic fieldevery few hundred thousand years. The most recent mas-sive pole shift having occurred around 730,000 yearsago, leaving the north and south magnetic poles at 75degrees North, 102 degrees West, 67 degrees South and140 degrees East. When this reversal of the poles occursabruptly, it is called a Magnetic Pole Shift (MPS), andcan cause all manner of geologic havoc. While minorshifts in the magnetic pole locations also occur overtime, these create less devastating effects. Scientists dis-tinguish these magnetic pole shifts from the larger shiftsby using lower case letters. In a major MPS scenario thepoles reverse completely, and this is far more devastat-ing.

But does this apply to us? In recent years rumorshave begun circulating throughout the scientific commu-nity that Earth is due for such a sudden reversal.According to the National Association for Scientific andCultural Appreciation, “A report in the January 12th edi-tion of the London Sunday Times says that research car-ried out by Nils Olsen of the Center for PlanetaryScience in Denmark warns of vast changes now occur-ring deep within the Earth’s core. It is from this swirlingcore that our magnetic field is controlled, as molten mat-ter affects the level of the magnetic field above the sur-face of the Earth. Once in awhile these vortices becomeso turbulent that they trigger a complete reversal in themagnetic field. Scientists say the next such a reversal isnow long overdue.”

In addition, scientists have discovered that Earth’smagnetic field, the force that protects us from deadlyradiation bursts from space, has also dropped sharplyover the past two hundred years and may disappear alto-gether. “Earth’s magnetic field has disappeared manytimes before,” said Dr. Alan Thomson of the British

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Geological Survey in Edinburgh. This is“as a prelude to our magnetic poles flip-ping over, when north becomes southand vice versa.” He adds, “Reversalshappen every 250,000 years or so, andsince there has not been one for almosta million years, we are due one soon.”In the last 25 million years, the poleshave inverted once every 250,000 years,on average, but estimates for theamount of time a magnetic field rever-sal would take to complete vary widely,from 5,000 to several thousand years.You will notice that a cycle of 250,000years is roughly ten times 25,000 years,indicating that roughly every ten “GreatYears” we see this larger pattern.

In support of this, Gauthier Hulot ofthe Paris Geophysical Institute has dis-covered that Earth’s magnetic field seems to be disap-pearing near the poles, a clear sign that a flip may beimminent. Hulot used data from satellite measurementsof field variations taken over the past 20 years, plottingthe currents of molten iron that generate Earth’s deepunderground magnetism. Hulot found huge whorls nearthe poles, and he believes that these magma vortices arerotating in a direction that reinforces a magnetic fieldreversal. As they proliferate these eddies will weaken thedominant magnetic field of the planet - the first stepstoward a new polarity. Using a concept called TheEarth Tide Theory, which links Earth’s enormousstreams of flowing magma to the weight of polar ice,this theory tell us that as the ice caps begin to melt, itcauses a sudden surge of magma below the surface. Thisis highly unsettling to Earth’s equilibrium. In otherwords, the less ice at the polar caps, the more intense themagma flow; the more ice at the poles, the more stablethe magnetic field.

The Obsession With The End Of The World

So what might happen if this were to occur? The effectscould be catastrophic. Powerful radiation bursts wouldheat up the atmosphere’s upper layers, triggering hugeclimatic disruptions. Vast storms would bring spectacu-lar, but terrifying displays of thunder and lightning as wehave seen lately in the Midwestern and Southern UnitedStates. Navigation and communication satellites wouldbe destroyed, and electrically operated equipment wouldfail. Seismic and volcanic activity would increase dra-matically. Migrating animals would be unable to navi-gate, beaching themselves on land, and being confused

in their flight patterns. Over the past several years thesesymptoms have begun taking place. We have seen anincrease in the number of earthquakes, tsunamis, andsolar flares just in the past few years, and some scientistsbelieve that Neptune, Uranus and even Saturn may bereversing their poles. While pole shifts are a natural phe-nomena, the question becomes how we shall adapt whenit happens.

Ancient astronomers, priests, and sages seemed toalso know the severity of these great cycles. They estab-lished astronomical observatories across the world towatch the heavens, and to keep up with these enormouschanges. Today we see the remains of their obsessionwith the stars in the ruins of pyramids and stone circleslike Stonehenge, Chichen Itza, the Great Pyramid ofGiza, Teotihuacan, and Tiwanaku. But what is it theywere charting?

Nibiru, Elenin And Massive Changes

This brings us to the periodic renewal of three greatcelestial events. The first is the arrival of a planet calledNibiru, written about in Sumerian records that were dis-covered in the ancient city of Nineveh during the late1830’s. Nibiru is many times larger than Earth, andreturns in a great elliptical cycle every 3,600 years.Depending on its passage, and Earth’s location, it cancreate major disruptions in Earth’s climate, even affect-ing its magnetic field. Nibiru has long been known as theplanet of the “gods,” the great civilization makers whohanded down the arts and sciences of many of Earth’scivilizations of the past. Its occupants are human, butthey are far taller than we are (9 to 15 feet), luminous in

www.earthstarmag.com4 8 EARTH STAR AUGUST / SEPTEMBER 2011

appearance (the Shining Ones), and their exceedinglylong life spans make them appear virtually immortal tous. They are the Elohim spoken of in the Bible, the godsof Norse, Greek, Roman and Egyptian mythology, andhave been instrumental in not only seeding, but caretak-ing, humanity in the past.

The second, less frequent event is the return ofNemesis, a brown dwarf dark star that scientists believemay be the dark companion to our own luminous Sun.Since we now know that 80% of all stars are binary, it islogical that our Sun might have a companion. In fact, ifNibiru moves in a 3,600 year elliptical orbit, then it musthave another celestial body that holds its gravitationalaxis. This is also true for comets. What is it after all, thatcauses them to return to our Sun in a predictable pattern?While we do not cur-rently know the rota-tional cycle ofNemesis and our Sun,it is possible that itmight occur every26,000 years or even250,000 years, rein-forcing the galactictimetables we havealready discussed. Weknow that thePrecession of theEquinoxes through alltwelve signs of theZodiac, which marksthe 25,920 year GreatYear, was also knownand studied by theancients. And if Nibiruand Nemesis do exist,then their current pas-sage through our solar system would account for thehuge rash of planetary anomalies already mentioned.

Right now it is possible that all three events may behappening at once. Nibiru can certainly be observed inour skies, with over a dozen videos on YouTube markingits slow passage over Australia, India and Russia in2009, to its recent trajectory over England and Norwayin early 2011. It will return to visibility inFebruary/March of 2013, when Earth rotates into posi-tion between the Sun and Nibiru. This event could liter-ally be earth changing, since Nibiru is thought to be aslarge as Saturn, but much closer. Plus it is rotatingcounter clockwise. Just to give you some comparison,that means that if the Sun was the size of a basketball,Nibiru would be a grapefruit in comparison; Earth

would be the size of a piece of rice. Not only couldNibiru’s momentum literally stop Earth’s rotation, but itcould set Earth spinning in the opposite direction.Legends of this period of three days of light or darknesscan be found in the oral traditions of people around theworld, telling us that this cyclical event has occurredbefore.

This brings us to what may prove to be an equallytransformative series of events this autumn. We speaknow of the celestial body NASA is calling Elenin thatwill pass within 1/3 of an Astronomical Unit (AU) fromEarth. Its orbital rotation is thought to be every 11,750years, or roughly one half of a Great Year. While Eleninseems to have been named after amateur Russianastronomer Leonid Elenin who discovered it on

December 10th,2010, we cannot helpbut notice that ELEstands for ExtinctionLevel Event. Thischoice of names wasused in theHollywood movieDeep Impact to des-ignate a comet calledELE (Ellie).

Each of themajor tsunamis andearthquakes of thepast few years haveall occurred on datesof exact alignmentbetween Elenin, theEarth and the Sun,including the 8.8earthquake in Chilion February 27th,

2010, the destruction of Christ Church, New Zealand onFebruary 22th, 2011, and most recently, the huge 9.0earthquake and tsunami in Japan on March 11th of thisyear. These events took place when Elenin was between2 and 6 Astronomical Units away (one AU = the distancebetween the Earth and the Sun), but the events of thiscoming fall will be much closer. This gravitational pullhas caused many people to begin asking whether Eleninis really just a comet, or perhaps the larger, more myste-rious body called Nemesis.

In early fall of this year, September 26th & 27th,2011 NASA tells us that Elenin will pass inside ofEarth’s orbit only 1/3rd of an AU away. Then on October16th, 2011, the comet will pass within a quarter of anAU from Earth (22 million miles). Finally in November,

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as we move through the debris trail of this mysteriouscelestial object, it makes another alignment to the Sunand Earth on November 11th. Finally, as it passes out ofinfluence, Elenin will once again come to oppositionfrom the Sun at 175° from the Sun on November 22,2011. This is approximately the same degree of align-ment that we saw in the Japanese earthquakes (178° onMarch 14, 2011).

While Don Yeomans of NASA’s Near-Earth ObjectProgram Office at NASA’s Jet Propulsion Laboratory inPasadena, California claims that “It will have an immea-surably miniscule influence on our planet,” the magni-tude of Elenin’s passing cannot be predicted with anyprecision; experience and prudence would suggest thatwe prepare for some challenging times ahead. Considerputting away two weeks or more of non-perishable food,water, flashlights, batteries, and blankets, and get awayfrom the coastline if you can. Low altitude properties,tectonic fault lines, and beachfront properties are partic-ularly at risk if we are to take the earthquakes andtsunamis of Chili, Japan, Hawaii, Haiti, and NewZealand seriously. While we may miss the bullet of aMassive Pole Shift this fall if we are lucky, at the veryleast this celestial “comet” could cause some majorglobal mayhem.

The Phoenix Fire Lodge - “Galactic Gateway 2012”- T. McCannon - copyright 2011

Notes:Herodotus, The Histories, Penguin Classic, (London,England, 1972), p. 154.

http://ebooks.adelaide.edu.au/p/plato/p71st/statesman.html

Drunvalo Melchizadek,Serpent of Light Beyond 2012: TheMovement of the Earth’s Kundalini and the Rise of the FemaleLight, 1949 to 2013, Weser Books, (San Francisco, CA, 2007),p. 202.

http://www.rexresearch.com/gajarev/gajarev.htm

http://thecriticalthinker.wordpress.com/2010/06/30/the-sound-for-dna-repair-frequency-528-hz/

Moria Timms, “Destination Galactic Center,” editor DouglasKenyon, Forbidden History, Bear & Co. (Rochester, Vermont:2005), p. 125.

“Heaven and Earth Shall Pass Away,” Charles Upton,Parabola Magazine, Winter 2009, p. 41.

http://www.nasca.org.uk/Strange_relics_/reversal/magma_tides/magma_tides.htmlhttp://www.guardian.co.uk/world/2002/nov/10/science.research

http://www.netplaces.com/guide-to-2012/earth-changes-and-the-pole-shift/magnetic-versus-physical-pole-shift.htm

http://www.nasca.org.uk/Strange_relics_/reversal/magma_tides/magma_tides.html

http://www.jpl.nasa.gov/news/news.cfm?release=2011-135

Horizons output. “Barycentric Osculating Orbital Elementsfor Comet C/2010 X1 (Elenin)”http://ssd.jpl.nasa.gov/horizons.cgi?find_body=1&body_group=sb&sstr=C/2010+X1.

http://solarsystem.nasa.gov/news/display.cfm?News_ID=37184

Tricia McCannon is an internationally known clairvoyant,speaker, hermeticist, and the author of two books and some 25DVD’s. She has been on over 175 radio and TV shows includ-ing COAST TO COAST AM. To find out more about how thisrelates to modern day UFO sightings, legends of the gods, theMayan prophecies, and the future that awaits us, visit herwebsite at http://www.triciamccannonspeaks.com.

www.earthstarmag.com5 0 EARTH STAR AUGUST / SEPTEMBER 2011

GREEN LIVING natural home and garden

T he Plank Vintage Bed from VivaTerra pays homage totraditional design and timeworn materials. It’s made inthe United States with reclaimed Douglas fir salvaged

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The LoTek Lamp

T he LoTek lamp was created from tradition. Its baseis a rudimentary iron shape which acts as a coun-terweight and is the perfect support for an articu-

lated, revolving lamp. Its articulated aluminium arm allowsit to move 180° vertically, without friction, and to adopt dif-ferent positions that give different focuses to its luminoushead. The 21st century can be found in the technology ofits shade, the LED source of light, a cold light that has alot of advantages, which include its low consumption. It isturned on and off by gently caressing its head. There is nofuture without the past. From http://www.mariscal.com

Arcata Rug

D id designer Pierre Charpin have the Humboldt Countyhippie stronghold in mind when he designed this hand-tufted wool rug? The doodle-like intersecting lines betray

the influence of Arcata’s premier cash crop. Made by: Ligne RosetAvailable from, http://www.ligne-roset.lt

P eak Organic Brewerywas created “to celebratelife’s peak moments.” In

keeping with the company’s grass-roots spirit, the website allows beerlovers to share their own “peak expe-riences” through photos, images andstories. Visit the site and you’ll seeskateboarders, swimmers, backpack-ers—even skydivers. These individualmoments exemplify what’s excitingabout a company like Peak OrganicBrewery: its strong sense of commu-nity and its dedication to sustainable,delectable experiences. Six pack ofMaple Oat Ale, $31.25.www.peakbrewing.com

PPeak Oreak Organicganic Maple Oat Ale

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GREEN LIVING natural home and garden

GREEN BUILDING WITH AWARENESS My LifeMy Life USB Drives

L ike a spy pen that doubles as a stealthy camera, theseceramic charm necklaces do unsuspecting double duty asdata-carrying thumb drives. Each pendant is dedicated to

the four most important aspects of our lives:"My Family", "MyWork", "My Secret" and "My Passion". Material: porcelain.Comes with 4 different color strings. Capacity: 2GB. $69.95. Fromhttp://www.urban-butik.com

Solar MosquitoMosquito Guard

T he Solar Mosquito Guard is an ingenious device that emits abarely-audible, high-frequency sound wave that repels manydifferent mosquito species while leaving humans and pets

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H ere is a detailed, enjoyable and beautifully pre-sented video on working with natural materials.Building with Awareness follows the construc-

tion of one home, step-by-step, from start to finish. Theaccompanying guidebook was developed to furtherexpand and explain the step-by-step methods of strawbale and green home construction. Building WithAwareness should be in everyone's green buildinglibrary. This product contains the equivalent of thou-sands of dollars of green building consulting time for thelow price of only $39.00 for the DVD/guidebook combi-nation or $29.00 for the DVD alone. Available from:http://www.buildingwithawareness.com

www.earthstarmag.com5 2 EARTH STAR AUGUST / SEPTEMBER 2011

Everyone wants to age gracefully. Butwhether or not you do is largely based onyour own choices. Planet Green hasassembled some tips on how to stayhealthy as you age. Here are a few of

them:Cultivate Happiness: Happiness boosts your

immune system and reduces stress.Seek Out Novelty: Your brain loves new experiencesand sensations, which help it continue to build neuralconnections throughout your life.

Exercise: Exercising regularly makes you less like-ly to develop diabetes, heart disease, dementia,osteoarthritis, depression and obesity.

Dr. Mercola’s Comments:

Most people do not revel in the thought of getting olderbecause or many “aging” is synonymous with aches andpains, forgetfulness, and loneliness. It certainly isinevitable that you’re going to get older, but I can tellyou from personal experience that this does not have tobe a bad thing.

Now, in my mid 50s, I am the fittest I have ever

been in my life, and I also live out every day to its fullestpotential. I may have been able to run faster when I wasyounger but I would never trade that for the musclestrength, flexibility and knowledge that I have today.

You too can achieve wellness on both physical andmental fronts, and you can do so at any age. In fact, inmany respects life only continues to get better as theyears go by.

Your Choices Impact Your Real Age

When thinking about aging, it’s important to rememberthat your age in years is only a number. I know it soundscliché, but it’s very true, especially if you begin to applyfoundational health principles in your life that allowyour body to function at its peak.

It’s very possible for a 60-year-old to be just as fit,biologically speaking, as a 30-year-old, or even more fit,depending largely on lifestyle. So your age in years isjust a numerical measurement, but your real age is yourbiological age as dictated by your choices and habits. AsPlanet Green noted in the article above, genetics is onlypart of the equation, and a small part at that.

Your lifestyle has far more influence on your health

Ways to Age Gracefullyand Healthfully

By Dr. Joseph Mercola

5

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at any age, and this includes not only the obvious likehealthy eating and effective exercise, but also tending toyour emotional needs by deciding to be happy, thinkingpositively, socializing and seeking out new and excitingexperiences.

The 3 Primary Keys to Graceful Aging

Aging is a complex matter, but if I had to pinpoint justthree factors that absolutely have to be addressed to keepyour body and mind “well-oiled” into your golden years,they would have to be:

1. Proper Food Choices

For a comprehensive guide on which foods to eat andwhich to avoid, see my nutrition plan. Generally speak-ing, you should be looking to focus your diet on whole,unprocessed foods (vegetables, meats, raw dairy, nuts,and so forth) that come from healthy, sustainable, localsources, such as asmall organic farmnot far from yourhome.

For the bestnutrition and healthbenefits, you willwant to eat a goodportion of your foodraw. Personally, Iaim to eat about 80-85 percent of myfood raw, includingraw eggs andhumanely raisedorganic animalproducts that havenot been raised on a

CAFO (confined animal feeding operation).Nearly as important as knowing which

foods to eat more of is knowing which foodsto avoid, and topping the list is fructose.Sugar, and fructose in particular, acts as atoxin in and of itself, and as such drive mul-tiple disease processes in your body, not theleast of which is insulin resistance, a majorcause of accelerated aging.

Further, according to Professor CynthiaKenyon, whom many experts believe shouldwin the Nobel Prize for her research intoaging, carbohydrates (glucose) directlyaffect the genes that govern youthfulnessand longevity. So, you may actually be able

to extend your life and stay fit throughout your old agewith a simple dietary change that switches on your“youth” gene.

Kenyon’s research with C. elegans roundwormsshowed that decreased carb intake can lead to significantlife extension and improved long-term health. One of themost interesting details of her findings is that not onlydid the roundworms live up to SIX TIMES longer thannormal, but they kept their health and youthful vigoruntil the end—and isn’t that what “healthy aging” isreally all about?

2. High Intensity “Anti-Aging” Exercise like Peak 8

Even if you’re eating the healthiest diet in the world, youstill need to exercise to reach the highest levels of health,and you need to be exercising effectively, which meansincluding high-intensity activities into your rotation. A

recent study pub-lished in the jour-nal Mechanisms ofAging andDevelopment con-fi rmed the “anti-aging” effect ofh i g h - i n t e n s i t ytraining, such asPeak 8. In fact, theresults suggestthere’s a directa s s o c i a t i o nbetween reducedtelomere shorten-ing in your lateryears and high-i n t e n s i t y - t y p e

exercises.This is very exciting, as the prospect of being able to

reduce telomere shortening—essentially stopping thecellular aging process that may eventually end yourlife—is one of the most promising anti-aging strategieswe know of to date.

High-intensity interval-type training also boostshuman growth hormone (HGH) production, which isalso essential for optimal health, strength and vigor. I’vediscussed the importance of HGH for your health onnumerous occasions, so for more information, pleasereview this previous article.

So along with core-strengthening exercises, strengthtraining, and stretching, I highly recommend that twicea week you do Peak 8 exercises,’which raise your heartrate up to your anaerobic threshold for 20 to 30 seconds,followed by a 90-second recovery period.

3. Stress Reduction and Positive Thinking

You cannot be optimallyhealthy if you avoid address-ing the emotional compo-nent of your health andlongevity, as your emotionalstate plays a role in nearlyevery physical disease—from heart disease anddepression, to arthritis andcancer.

It’s simply no coinci-dence that many centenari-ans mention positive thoughtand emotional wellness intheir advice on how to stayhealthy. As 114-year-oldWalter Breuning said lastyear before his death:

“Tell yourself that every day is a good day, andmake it that way.”

Effective coping mechanisms are a major longevity-promoting factor in part because stress has a directimpact on inflammation, which in turn underlies manyof the chronic diseases that kill people prematurelyevery day.

Meditation, prayer, social support and exercise areall viable options that can help you maintain emotionaland mental equilibrium. I also strongly believe in usingsimple tools such as the Emotional Freedom Technique(EFT) to address deeper, oftentimes hidden, emotionalproblems.

Anti-Aging Secrets You Probably Haven’t Heard Of

As I mentioned earlier, one of the most exciting anti-aging strategies being explored and recommended bysome of the leading anti-aging biologists and experts inthe world is extending your telomeres. Telomeres areessentially the ends of chromosomes, and telomereshortening occurs as you age, at a rate influenced byyour lifestyle and exposure to toxins. Research suggeststhat slowing this shortening may actually extend yourlifespan and potentially even help REVERSE the agingprocess.

So how do you do this?Greta Blackburn’s new book The Immortality Edge,

which is based on Nobel Prize-winning genetic research,is, in my opinion, the best current book on how toincrease telomere length using a simple, easy-to-followand practical plan. It’s highly recommended. You can

also try:

Peak 8 Exercise andGlutathione: High-intensityexercises like Peak 8 are oneof the best ways to slowtelomere shortening, and youcan also follow your exercisewith whey protein for addedbenefit. Whey protein is richin the sulfur amino acidsyour cells need to synthesizeglutathione, and there arestudies in progress showingthat increasing glutathionelevels may actually help slowtelomere shortening.

Intermittent Fasting:Combining intermittent fasting with short intense exer-cise like Peak 8 may be a revolutionary way to keep yourbody biologically young. Thisincludes either fasting completelyor minimizing your food intakeduring the day to small servings oflight, low glycemic mostly rawfoods such as fruits, vegetables,whey protein or lightly poachedeggs every 4-6 hours. ??You thendo your workout while fasting (30minutes after your latest snack)followed by a very importantrecovery meal (whey protein) and

5 4 EARTH STAR AUGUST / SEPTEMBER 2011 www.earthstarmag.com

AUGUST / SEPTEMBER 2011 EARTH STAR 5 5www.earthstarmag.com

then have your main meal at night.??The combinedeffect of intermittent fasting and short intense exercisemay help you to:

Turn back the biological clock in your muscle and brainBoost growth hormone Improve body composition Boost cognitive functionBoost testosteronePrevent depression

What Else Can You do to Age Gracefully AND Maximize Your Lifespan?

There is no quick fix when it comes to healthy aging—no pill and no magic fountain—which is why, ideally,you should strive tomake positive well-ness choices foryour entire life. Bystarting young youcan help ensure thatyour body will beminimally affectedby the hands oftime. But even ifyou haven’t beenleading the healthi-est of lifestyles,starting to makepositive changes atany age will offerbenefits.

I also recom-mend you find ak n ow l e d g e a b l e ,d o w n - t o - e a r t hphysician who is well-versed in the facets that make upa healthy lifestyle. Many physicians simply are not ableto truly help their patients get well because they’ve beenmore or less handcuffed by the pharmaceutical industry,which rules the current medical paradigm with an ironfist.

However, the number of doctors beginning to sidestep the drug paradigm to focus on optimizing health asopposed to simply treating symptoms of disease, isgrowing. When it comes to finding a suitable doctor foryour needs, your local community is a great place tostart. Health food stores, for example, can be excellentsources of word of mouth recommendations, andbeyond that the Internet and social networking sites canhelp you identify reputable wellness health profession-

als.If you’re interested in learning more about slowing

down the aging process and aging gracefully, you canwatch my presentation at the 2010 anti-aging confer-ence, as well as browse through the rest of my top “anti-aging” recommendations below:

Take high quality animal-based omega-3 fats –Animal-based omega-3 fat is a strong factor in helpingpeople live longer, and many experts believe that it islikely the predominant reason why the Japanese are thelongest lived race on the planet.

Avoid as many chemicals, toxins, and pollutants aspossible – This includes tossing out your toxic house-hold cleaners, soaps, personal hygiene products, air

fresheners, bugsprays, lawn pesti-cides, and insecti-cides, just to name afew, and replacingthem with non-toxicalternatives.

Avoid pharmaceuti-cal drugs –P h a r m a c e u t i c a ldrugs kill thousandsof people premature-ly every year. And, ifyou adhere to ahealthy lifestyle, youmost likely will neverneed any of them inthe first place. Seekto identify what thecause is of the prob-

lem you are taking them for. You can use our searchengine LINK to help you in your investigation. Onceyou understand the cause you can seek to apply simpleinexpensive approaches that will address your symp-toms at the correct level.

Dr. Mercola is the founder of theworld’s most visited naturalhealth web site,www.Mercola.com. You canlearn the hazardous side effectsof OTC Remedies by getting aFREE copy of his latest specialreport The Dangers of Over theCounter Remedies by going to hisReport Page.

www.earthstarmag.com5 6 EARTH STAR AUGUST / SEPTEMBER 2011

Orbital space tourism is a niche industryat the moment, but business could real-ly boom if costs come down by a cou-ple of orders of magnitude, a new studyasserts.

To date, only seven people—beginning with multimil-lionaire businessman Dennis Tito in April 200—havepaid to launch into Earth orbit, and they’ve reportedlyplunked down between $20 million and $35 million forthe experience.

Those are not the numbers of a thriving industry.But things could change dramatically if prices drop sig-nificantly—down to about $500,000 per seat or so. Thatreduced rate could lure in hundreds of thousands of cus-tomers for orbital tourist trips, potentially generatingrevenues in excess of $100 billion per year, according tothe study.

“This is the first time in the theoretical realm that weare at a closed business case,” said study lead authorAjay Kothari, president and CEO of the aerospace engi-neering firm Astrox Corporation. “So that, to me, is veryexciting.”

Kothari and his colleagues have also mapped out arough plan for dropping the cost to $500,000 per seat orless — and it involves developing fully reusable, two-stage-to-orbit spaceships.[Vote Now! The BestSpaceships of All Time]

Shallow Customer Pool

The current going rate for a two-week tourist trip tospace—including a stay at the International SpaceStation—is more than $30 million. The Virginia-basedcompany Space Adventures sells seats for such flightsaboard Russian Soyuz vehicles, and right now they’rethe only game in town.

That’s not terribly surprising, because the pool ofpotential customers willing and able to pay $30 millionfor a space jaunt isn’t very deep. Kothari and his teamwanted to figure out how that pool might deepen if theprice came down.

They started out by looking at a landmark 2002space tourism study put out by the technology consult-ing firm Futron, with help from the polling company

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Could See Orbital BoomCould See Orbital Boom

By Mike Wall

The Russian Soyuz rocket launches from the Baikonour Cosmodrome in Kazakhstan. Each of Space Adventures’ spaceflight participantslaunched aboard a Soyuz rocket. CREDIT: Space Adventures

www.earthstarmag.com AUGUST / SEPTEMBER 2011 EARTH STAR 5 7

Zogby. This report used interviews with 450 Americanmillionaires to make an assessment of the market forspace tourism, both in the orbital and suborbital realms.

Though the Futron/Zogby report is nearly a decadeold, it remains the most in-depth look at space tourism’spotential customer base, Kothari said.

The report found, among other things, that thirtypercent of the polled millionaires would be willing tospend $1 million for a two-week orbital trip, thoughonly seven percent would go if the price was set at $20million per seat.

More Potential Customers

Kothari and his team used the Futron-Zogby results—aswell as data from studies of the numbers and purchasinghabits of wealthy people—as a starting point. Then theyperformed their own in-depth analysis of the potentialglobal tourist market for orbital spaceflight.

The researchers took into account a variety of fac-tors, including eagerness to go to space and physical fit-

ness. For example, the average age of American mil-lionaires is 57—so a substantial proportion of willingcustomers is likely to be too old or infirm to safely with-stand the rigors of spaceflight.

The team then computed a conservative case, whichassumed that passengers would be willing to spend justone-point-five percent of their net worth on an orbitalvoyage. And they calculated a more optimistic scenario,which assumed a five percent net worth threshold.

After crunching the numbers, Kothari and his teamdetermined that the worldwide customer base at $5 mil-lion per seat is only about 600 people at the one-point-five percent threshold, and about 1,500 folks in thefivepercent scenario. So even if prices drop by a factorof four, that’s not good enough to “close the businesscase” for orbital tourism.

If the price comes down to $1 million, the pool isabout 9,000 people at the one-point-five percent thresh-old and 23,000 at five percent. That’s better—but stillnot good enough to support a thriving industry, Kotharisaid.

But that changes if tickets go for $500,000. At that

(Dennis Tito became the first space tourist when he launched toward the InternationalSpace Station in April 2001. Here, he shares his experiences at a space conference in 2003.CREDIT: NASA Kennedy Space Center

5 8 EARTH STAR AUGUST / SEPTEMBER 2011 www.earthstarmag.com

price, the global customer base is 14,000 in the conser-vative case, but nearly 225,000 in the optimistic sce-nario. With hundreds of thousands of people willing tofly, revenues could top $100 billion per year within afew decades, according to the study.

“A closed business case is definitely possible,”Kothari said. He presented the results in San Franciscorecently, at the 17th International Space Planes andHypersonic Systems and Technologies conference,which was organized by the American Institute ofAeronautics and Astronautics.

A New Vehicle

It’s a steep drop from over $30 million per seat to$500,000, but Kothari and his team have some ideasabout how spaceflight companies could get there.

The key is having the right spaceship.After analyzing a variety of designs, the researchers

determined that a fully reusable, two-stage-to-orbit vehi-cle is the best bet. Kothari presented one such design atthe conference.

The concept vehicle would have a payload capacityof 20,000 pounds (9,091 kilograms) and could carry 40passengers. It would launch vertically, with a rocket

booster doing the heavy lifting for the first part of thejourney. At an altitude around 75,000 feet (22,860meters), the booster would separate and glide back hometo the launch pad.

At that point, advanced engines on the upperstage—the actual spaceship—would kick in. Theseengines would be dual-function, employingramjet/scramjet technology—which uses vehicle speedto compress outside air before combusting it—untilabout 100,000 feet (30,480 m) and Mach 10 (10 timesthe speed of sound).

Then the engines would switch over to a rocketfunction, which would carry the craft the rest of the wayinto orbit.

After completing its space mission, the vehiclewould land on a runway, like an airplane or NASA’sspace shuttle would. While development costs for such anew spacecraft would be high, the vehicle’s ownerswould recoup their money over time by flying it often,according to the study.

This fully reusable architecture could eventuallylead to launch prices as low as $340 per pound (com-pared to current figures of $5,000 to $10,000 perpound), Kothari said. And that could well translate toticket prices lower than $500,000.

The Stern family of Colorado float in weightlessness during a Fourth of July holiday flight aboard a Zero Gravity Corporation aircraft on July 4, 2010.CREDIT: Steve Boxall/Zero-G

AUGUST / SEPTEMBER 2011 EARTH STAR 5 9www.earthstarmag.com

Getting There

This spaceship is just a concept vehicle for now, andmore work needs to be done before it can become a real-ity. For one thing, scramjet technology needs to be fur-ther developed and tested, according to Kothari.

“The scramjet is the cake, and everything else is theicing,” Kothari told SPACE.com. “If you don’t have thescramjet, you cannot get there.”

Still, such a spaceship is eminently possible, and itcould be operational within a few decades — provided itreceives enough funding, Kothari added.

“This needs to be developed,” he said. “It really

should become a program.”

Works In Progress

Of course, many other orbital vehicles are further alongin development than the spaceship Kothari envisions.Multiple companies are devising their own crewed craft,with considerable funding help from NASA.

In April, for example, the space agency doled outnearly $270 million to four companies—Blue Origin,Boeing, Sierra Nevada Corp. and Space ExplorationTechnologies (SpaceX)—for this very purpose. NASAwants private industry to start carrying cargo and crew tospace as soon as possible, in the wake of the space shut-tle program’s retirement later this year.

So orbital space tourists may not be limited to the

Soyuz for much longer.“There are going to be other vehicles coming down

the line,” said Tom Shelley, president of SpaceAdventures. “And I think pretty much all of those vehi-cles have private spaceflight as part of their businessplan, if you like. It’s part of what closes the businesscase.”

Space Adventures, for its part, has signed a contractwith Boeing to fly people to orbital space on its CST-100vehicle. And those trips could start relatively soon.

“We hope, come 2015, we’ll be able to start flyingsome paying passengers” on the CST-100, Shelley toldSPACE.com.

This new race to orbital space could help drive costsdown substantially, through competition and the devel-opment of new, more efficient techologies. But only timewill tell if prices drop — and if so, how much and howfast.

Still, all signs point toward the dawn of a new era inhuman spaceflight, experts say. NASA’s effort to encour-age private companies to develop their capabilities couldopen the heavens to more and more folks who don’t have$30 million lying around.

“This really is what I would call an inflection pointfor human spaceflight,” said Bretton Alexander, presi-dent of the Commercial Spaceflight Federation. “Thischange in human spaceflight will not only regain leader-ship [for the United States], it will take us light-yearsahead of everybody else.”

Practically everything around your housethat requires water loves the natural good-ness that’s provided with soft rainwater.When you know how to make a rain bar-rel, you can begin harvesting rainwater to

irrigate your garden or lawn, water your houseplants, ortop off swimming pools and hot tubs. A ready supply ofrainwater is also a reliable stand-by for emergency use ifyour primary water supply is interrupted.

Collecting rainwater runoff in rain barrels can savethousands of gallons of tap water each year. A typical40-by- 40-foot roof is capable of collecting 1,000 gal-lons of water from only one inch of rain. A large rain-water collection system that squeezes every drop fromyour roof can provide most—or sometimes all—of thewater used throughout the home, if it’s combined withlarge cisterns, pumps, and purification processing.

Sprinkling your lawn and garden can consume as

much as forty percent of the total household water useduring the growing season. A simple rain barrel systemthat limits collected water to outdoor (nonpotable) useonly, like the rain barrels described on the followingpages, can have a big impact on the self-sufficiency ofyour home, helping you save on utility expenses andreducing the energy used to process and purify water foryour lawn and garden. Some communities now offersubsidies for rain barrel use, offering free or reduced-price barrels and downspout connection kits. Check withyour local water authority for more information. Getsmart with your water usage, and take advantage of theabundant supply from above.

Rain Barrels

Rain barrels, either built from scratch or purchased as akit, are a great way to irrigate a lawn or garden without

www.earthstarmag.com6 0 EARTH STAR AUGUST / SEPTEMBER 2011

HarHarvvesting Resting Rainwainwaaterter

How to Make a RRRRaaaaiiiinnnn BBBBaaaarrrr rrrreeeellll

By Betsy Matheson

The following is an excerpt from DIY Projects for the Self-Sufficient Homeownerby Betsy Matheson(Creative Publishing International, 2011). This handy book is your first step toward participating in thefast-growing self-sufficiency movement. Even if you live on a small urban lot, you can take steps to gaina little more control over things you consume using the plans in this book. This excerpt is from Chapter1, “Collecting Rainwater.”

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running up your utilities bill. The most common systemsinclude one or more rain barrels (40 to 80 gallons) posi-tioned below gutter downspouts to collect water runofffrom the roof. A hose or drip irrigation line can be con-nected to spigot valves at the bottom of the rain barrel.You can use a single barrel, or connect several rainbarrels in series to collect and dispense even more rain-water.

Plastic rain barrel kits are available for purchase atmany home centers for around $100. If kit prices aren’tfor you, a rain barrel is easy to make yourself for a frac-tion of the price. The most important component to yourhomemade barrel is the drum you choose.

Obtaining a Rain Barrel

Practically any large waterproof container can be used tomake a rain barrel. One easily obtained candidate is atrash can, preferably plastic, with a snap-on lid. A stan-dard 32-gallon can will work for a rain barrel, but if youcan find a 44-gallon can choose it instead. Althoughwood barrels are becoming more scarce, you can still getthem from wineries. A used 55-gallon barrel can beobtained free or for a small charge from a bulk food sup-

plier. Most 55-gallon barrels today are plas-tic, but some metal barrels are still floatingaround. Whatever the material, make surethe barrel did not contain any chemical orcompound that could be harmful to plants,animals, or humans. If you don’t know whatwas in it, don’t use it. Choose a barrel madeout of opaque material that lets as little lightthrough as possible, reducing the risk ofalgae growth.

A barrelful of water is an appealingbreeding ground for mosquitoes and a per-fect incubator for algae. Filters and screensover the barrel opening should preventinsect infestation, but for added protectionagainst mosquitoes add one tablespoon ofvegetable oil to the water in the barrel. Thiscoats the top surface of the stored water anddeprives the larvae of oxygen.

How to Make a Rain Barrel

Tools and Materials• Barrel or trash can • Drill with spade bit• Jigsaw• Hole saw• Barb fitting with nut for over-

flow hose• 1 1/2” sump drain hose for overflow• 3⁄4” hose bibb or sillcock• 3⁄4” male pipe coupling• 3⁄4” bushing or bulkhead connector• Channel-type pliers• Fiberglass window screening• Cargo strap with ratchet• Teflon tape• Silicone caulk

1. Cut a large opening in the barrel top or lid. Markthe size and shape of your opening—if using a bulk foodbarrel, mark a large semi-circle in the top of the barrel.If using a plastic garbage can with a lid, mark a 12-inchdiameter circle in the center of the lid. Drill a starterhole, and then cut out the shape with a jigsaw (see ImageGallery).

2. Install the overflow hose. Drill a hole near thetop of the barrel for the overflow fitting. Thread the barbfitting into the hole and secure it to the barrel on theinside with the retainer nut and rubber washer (if pro-vided). Slide the overflow hose into the barbed end ofthe barb elbow until the end of the hose seats against the

6 2 EARTH STAR AUGUST / SEPTEMBER 2011 www.earthstarmag.com

elbow flange.3. Drill the access hole for the spigot (either a hose

bibb or sillcock, brass or PVC). Tighten the stem of thesillcock onto a threaded coupling inserted into the accesshole. Inside the barrel, a rubber washer is slipped ontothe coupling end and then a threaded bushing is tight-ened over the coupling to create a seal. Apply a strip ofTeflon tape to all threaded parts before making each con-nection. Caulk around the spigot with clear siliconecaulk.

4. Screen over the opening in the top of the barrel.Lay a piece of fiberglass insect mesh over the top of thetrash can and secure it around the rim with a cargo strapor bungee cord that can be drawn drum-tight. Snap thetrash can lid over the top. Once you have installed therain barrel, periodically remove and clean the mesh.

How to Install a Rain Barrel

Whether you purchase a rain barrel or make your ownfrom scratch or a kit, how well it meets your needs willdepend on where you put it and how it is set up (seeImage Gallery). Some rain barrels are temporary holdingtanks that store water runoff just long enough to direct itinto your yard through a hose and drip irrigation head.Other rain barrels are more of a reservoir that supplieswater on-demand by filling up watering cans or buckets.If you plan to use the spigot as the primary means fordispensing water, you’ll want to position the rain barrelwell off the ground for easy access (raising your rainbarrel has no effect on water pressure).

In addition to height, other issues surrounding theplacement of your rain barrel (or rain barrels) include theneed to provide a good base, orientation of the spigotand overflow, the position relative to your downspouts,and how to link more than one rain barrel together. Tip:Wherever possible, locate your rain barrel in a shadedarea. Sunlight encourages algae growth, especially inbarrels that are partially translucent.

Tools and Materials• Drill/driver• Screwdriver• Hack saw• Rain barrel• Hose & fittings• Base material (pavers)• Downspout adapter and extension• Teflon tape

1. Select a location for the barrel under a down-spout. Locate your barrel as close to the area you want

to irrigate as possible. Make sure the barrel has a stable,level base.

2. Install the spigot. Some kits may include a sec-ond spigot for filling watering cans. Use Teflon tape atall threaded fittings to ensure a tight seal. Connect theoverflow tube, and make sure it is pointed away from thefoundation.

3. Cut the downspout to length with a hacksaw.Reconnect the elbow fitting to the downspout usingsheet-metal screws. Attach the cover to the top of therain barrel. Some systems include a cover with porouswire mesh, to which the downspout delivers water.Others include a cover with a sealed connection (nextstep).

4. Link the downspout elbow to the rain barrelwith a length of flexible downspout extension attachedto the elbow and the barrel cover.

5. Variation: If your barrel comes with a down-spout adapter, cut away a segment of downspout andinsert the adapter so it diverts water into the barrel.

6. Connect a drip irrigation tube or garden hose tothe spigot. A Y-fitting will let you feed the drip irrigationsystem through a garden hose when the rain barrel isempty.

7. If you want, increase water storage by connect-ing two or more rain barrels together with a linking kit,available from many kit suppliers.

AUGUST / SEPTEMBER 2011 EARTH STAR 6 3www.earthstarmag.com

Imet Peter at a summer camp for the RoyalNational Institute of Blind People inHampshire, England. Peter was in my class. Iwas teaching a day on self-esteem to 50teenagers. They were like any large group of

teenagers in school—creative, unruly, funny, boisterous,challenging, and very energetic. They were normal . . .and blind.

Peter was one of the few quiet ones. He sat at theback of the class. He was half-Chinese, half-English,about fifteen years old, tall, and slender. There weremany jokes flying around, most of them at my expense.Peter laughed heartily, but he never spoke. At the end ofthe class, he stayed behind. “Mr. Holden,” he said.

“Call me Robert,” I said. “Can we talk?” he asked.

“Certainly.”Peter looked troubled. He was pensive and painful-

ly shy. We talked small talk for a while as we walkedaround a large green sports field out behind the maincollege building. “I feel I can trust you Robert, eventhough we’ve only just met,” he said.

“That’s a real compliment,” I said. “I need to ask you a question that I have been put-

ting off my whole life,” Peter said. I was in no way prepared for Peter’s question when

it finally came. “I need to know,” he said, “is there any-thing wrong with me?”

“What do you mean?” I asked. “I was born blind, and I have never seen myself. I

need to know from someone I trust if I am beautiful ornot,” Peter said.

There is NNNNooootttthhhhiiiinnnngggg WWWWrrrroooonnnnggggwith You

By Robert Holden, Ph.D.

The following story describes one of the most poignant and tender moments of my life.

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With all my heart, I told Peter that he was hand-some, perfect, and beautiful.

“You really mean it?” he asked. “Yes—totally.”Peter flung his arms around me. “There’s nothing wrong with me?”“No!”“Not even a little bit wrong?”“Not one bit.”“What about my breath? I had pizza for lunch,” he

laughed. “I love garlic,” I coun-

tered. We both laughedand cried. Rarely have Ifelt so moved. Peter’srelief was such a joy towatch.

For six years I trainedin a profession that focuseson finding things wrongwith people. We take in“ugly ducklings” and mer-rily pluck away for disor-ders, dysfunctions, neu-roses, psychoses, syn-dromes, and schemas.Psychology is obsessedwith diagnosis. Every daywe invent new labels, newdiseases, and new coursesof treatment for the “uglyducklings.” We never seethem as swans.

The fear that some-thing is wrong with you isyour greatest block to joy.In truth, there is no otherblock.

For as long as you feel there is something wrong,bad, lacking, or not good enough about you, your lifewill reflect this belief. On the face of it, it will look asthough others reject you, the world blocks you, fate isunkind, life is against you, and the Heavens are punish-ing you. But in fact, it is you who are condemning your-self and sabotaging all that is good. Hence everything isa struggle, successes are hard-fought, happiness is short-lived, love always goes wrong, and there is no peace.

There is nothing wrong with you. Certainly, yourperception can be sick. And your thinking can be off.And you can make poor choices. For instance, you can

choose to see flaws in yourself that no one else sees. Youcan invent a story of how bad you are. You can try toconvince the world how unlovable you are. Give thesestrange ideas all of your power, if you want,but who youare—your Unconditioned Self—remains whole, worthy,and well.

True psychotherapy is a process of changing yourmind about yourself. Shift happens whenever you prac-tice unconditional self-acceptance. Shift happens when-ever you give yourself a break. Shift happens wheneveryou choose kindness instead of judgment, forgiveness

instead of self-attack, andlaughter instead of condem-nation. Life always getsbetter when you treat your-self better.

Happiness is all aboutbeing willing to be innocentagain. Remember that oldbumper sticker,God doesn’tmake junk? It’s true.

The final (and only) actof healing is to accept thatthere is nothing wrong withyou. Try this powerful exer-cise today. Make a point oflooking for the good ineveryone you meet. See thelight in their eyes, theirfaces, their smile, and theirpresence. Mentally bow tothe light in everyone youmeet today. Above all,teach no one that there isanything wrong with whothey are. As you offer thislight to others so will you

strengthen it in yourself.

This excerpt was taken from the upcoming book Shift Happensby Robert Holden, Ph.D. (September 2011, Hay House)

About the AuthorRobert Holden, Ph.D., is the director of The HappinessProject and Success Intelligence. His innovative work on hap-piness and success has been featured on Oprah and in twomajor BBC-TV documentaries, The Happiness Formula andHow to Be Happy, shown in 16 countries to more than 30 mil-lion television viewers. He is the author of the best-sellingbooks, Happiness NOW!, Be Happy, and Shift Happens!Visit: http://www.robertholden.org and http://www.behappy.net.

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