Wesak

There are the big holidays we all either know about and celebrate or just let barely past our consciousness. These are events like Christmas or Passover. Then there are the days that are sort of known like Mari Gras and Purim. Sometimes we even think about days like the Chinese New Year or Cinco de Mayo. But what about Wesak?

Now don't get me wrong, I am not preaching Buddhism at you, just bringing an interesting day to light. Wesak is a day for celebrating Buddha and it is upon us. It happens on the first full moon in May. Souledout.org says it happens exactly on Sunday, April 20 at 3:25 am PDT.

Many in the New Age World believe this is a time when particularly positive energy is available to us. It happens 12 hours before and within twelve hours after this particular time.

This would be a great time to make sure we are all thinking positively.


Source: The BBC

What Will Human Rights Be Like in 2012?

Today is Blogger's Unite for Human Rights Day. I had thought about just going on with my normal stuff here, but then I thought instead I would talk about the future of human rights and to top it all off, I'll tie it into 2012.

If you have been keeping up with the various philosophies we have been exploring on this blog, you will note that there are a variety of ideas about what 2012 actually means for our future. There are optimistic notions (amen to the idea of a new positive consciousness shift being needed) and others that are very pessimistic.

And though I prefer to veer to the positive side of it all, the negative ideas that 2012 could mean a horrible shift of life for us has been the focus of several personal conversations I have had lately. There is a 2012 conspiracy theory out there that is just filled with ugliness. It is along the lines of serious world warfare. This will lead to a global government (maybe the Illuminati). In order to restructure society, the survivors of 2012, those still here will be put into camps where they will be easily controlled.

Now I have two friends who are both extremist in this ideology, if it were to happen. One believes he will be put into a camp for the mentally insane (Alaska, anyone?). The other says he will fight tooth and nail before he will go to such a camp. When thinking about these reactions, it boils down to human rights. One feels he will be forced to give them up and will accept it. The other refuses to give them up and will take extreme action. Neither side of this coin of lost rights is good.

I for one am not one to appreciate the idea of sitting back and doing nothing. I preach planning. I preach change. Maybe now is the time to do something. What, I do not know. But maybe if we keep positive thoughts coming, working on bringing about peace in our lives and to others, maybe we stand a chance at a life lived better than this conspiracy theory.

A T-shirt for 2012

Every now and again I get a Spring urge and that urge is to design some new t-shirts for N*tranced. You know, something snappy and catchy (okay, here is showing my age again, but I was heavily influenced by the "Frankie Say" t-shirts of the past millennium). Maybe something to the affect of be N*tranced for 2012. LOL. Actually...

So, I have been playing around with Blue Cotton's t-shirt design studio for making custom t-shirts. Needless to say I have spent way more time playing around with it, but it is fabulously easy and they give a lot of choices for design motifs.

Now I created the above design and am trying to decide if it is worthy of being a t-shirt. Let me know if you would be interested in one and that will help me decide.

Consciousness Shift

Hypnosis is a consciousness shift. Meditation is a consciousness shift. Life can be a consciousness shift.

Though this is mostly a blog about my hypnosis practice N*tranced Hypnosis and Guided Meditation, I am a student of consciousness. I have blogged and will continue to blog about the idea that we are experiencing a shift in our evolution. We have the choice to be part of that which moves forward. It is seen in the legends of the Mayan Calendar and other areas of enlightenment intellectualism.

One of my instructors passed this video on to me. It is a beautiful concept of biologist and futurist, Elisabet Sahtouris ideas about such a shift.

And for those who really know me, you may find the butterfly reference ironic.

Thoughts About the Magic of New Years

Happy second day of the New Year!

With World Hypnotism Day coming up in just two days (check back for specials and more) and the idea of New Year's resolutions abounding, it seems like a good time to share some of the topics I have been studying.

In one of my classes, I am reading Up From Eden by Ken Wilber. It deals with the evolution of consciousness, so I will spare the casual reader the details. However, for the once over lightly, one of the early levels of consciousness is one that he terms "Mythic Membership." This really does apply to the topic. One trait of this level is the idea of primitive magic. Primitive magic is very present based. What happened in the past is forgotten or not associated with the current. A good example of this in current life is the idea of "starting totally fresh" with the occasion of a new year. It does not matter what came before, but now is the time for magic properties to occur and change to happen. In some ways the turning of a new year gives us the idea that anything is possible. The woes of yesterday are forgotten.

Now I do not plan to rain on any parades, I think any new beginning is good, no matter when. And maybe that is the crux of it, viewing each new day, each new moment as a time for untapped potential, for great change or becoming more peaceful. Whether you work on change today, because it seems like a natural starting point, or tomorrow because the timing is right, it is all good.

When I read Wilber's statements about primitive magic, I originally thought - how simple. But then over the last few weeks, I have really been noticing it. Conditioning is sort of like primitive magic. Superstition is totally primitive magic. I have developed a habit of crossing my fingers during stressful times. Literally, I cross my fingers. Deep down, I believe this will help make things better. And maybe it does. Maybe it grounds me and allows me to relax a little more.

Anyway, whenever you are inspired to make a change, there is little magic in the moment, except perhaps the magic of timing, things coming together in life to help motivate you and make the change. It is totally you.

So, whether you have made a resolution or not, all change originates within.