The Wayseer Manifesto

Food For Thought

I have been thinking quite a lot about the beef industry of late. In case you are unaware, the beef industry is a huge part of our environmental crisis. Cows (and sheep) burp and fart methane gas which contributes at least as much as, and possibly more than, our petroleum burning cars contribute to global warming. Because of their four-chambered stomachs, a cow may fart up to 600 litres of methane every day, which is enough to fill 40 party balloons. Methane is a much more powerful greenhouse gas than its more common counterpart carbon dioxide, with one kilo of methane warming the Earth 23 times as much as the same mass of CO2.(Sarah Lewis for The Argus) And apparently that's not even including the gas passed through belching. Yikes! Being a vegetarian is actually good for the environment, alas! Now... I know that it is highly unlikely that people will just stop eating beef, not even to save the planet. And I don't think that it is entirely necessary either. Eventually it may come to that but, to kick things off, a drastic reduction in beef production might just help. Ya think? Hmmmmm.

Now here's some serious food for thought. Take a walk through any grocery store's meat department and look at all the meat and then check out the freshness dates. What happens to the out of date meat? I certainly hope that it's going into the garbage. In a better world it would go to be composted, of course, and hopefully that day will come. But just take a moment to think about all of the meat that ends up in the garbage before it even leaves the market. Now think about all of the times that people purchase meat and then forget to cook it or for whatever reason it goes uneaten. Okay, now think about all of the beef that is burned or cooked but still goes into the garbage. Imagine all of that meat, that HUGE pile of rotting meat wasting away, and for what? Just ponder, for a moment, how many cows that must represent. How many cows are in that pile just so that we won't have to wait for more than a few minutes in the drive thru? If that doesn't hurt your heart, well then buster, you need a transplant.

It seems to me that if the mass production of beef is harming our environment and so much of said beef is going into the garbage anyway, well, beef should cost a lot more and be quite a bit less available. If we want to be able to continue to eat beef we need to relearn what it means to appreciate that beef. Moderation is the cornerstone of health and it is the key to a truly joy filled life. I recently heard something so pertinent on The Sundance Channel, I heard a man say that he considered "disposable" to be a dirty word. Can I hear an "Amen!"? And I will add "convenience" to the new list of dirty words. I think that perhaps it's time for us all to grow up and get over our desperate need for convenience. In my experience, the best things in life are rarely convenient and never easily won.

So please think about cutting back on your beef consumption and do your body and taste buds a huge favor and buy organic! You will enjoy your beef even more, this I can promise. Do it for yourself, do it for the children, do it for your country, the planet... I don't care why you do it, just do it!

In the spirit of full disclosure, I am not a vegetarian. Shocking, I know! My family have been or are currently vegetarian but I have never been able to sustain myself without meat. I was muscle tested by a naturopath/nutrition specialist, in an ashram, who cringed when he was forced to admit that meat and fat were in fact what my body was testing positively with. In other words meat and fat are my natural diet. I don't eat red meat every day and I only eat organic or free range with no additives, hormones or whatever... but I do still eat meat and I enjoy it too! Now you know my dirty little secret.

Why Ask Why?

Imagine if you deliberately paused for just a moment before choosing to take action and asked yourself why? What paths would change in your life? Today I paused before choosing angry words and instead I chose to express pain. Each action becomes more deliberate and has more meaning when we pause for even a millisecond to evaluate our choice. I choose my actions and my reactions and when I remember to choose consciously I lessen the drama and heighten the quality.

Yikes! Just Say No To Embarrassment.

I was conversing with a younger woman at a dinner party recently and she was telling me about an embarrassing incident that she'd had. I waited for her to finish her story and then I told her something that perhaps comes with age or perhaps it only comes with certain guidance. Embarrassment is mostly useless and it can be greatly overcome. I practice by simply choosing to continue to do silly things that make me happy even while people are passing by. Like, I walk my dog with my ipod on and I sing along to the music, granted I do this on a country road where only my neighbours are subjected to my crooning but... you get the point. It started with me doing yoga in the backyard. I love doing yoga in the grass but I was feeling a little embarrassed about people watching me. At first I tried to block the view and then it occured to me that it really doesn't matter. I also realized that if I saw someone doing yoga in their backyard that I would think they were pretty darn cool. I don't know that I'll ever be immune to embarrassment but the more confidence I give to myself the less embarrassed I feel. Try it out, it's quite liberating.

A Box, A Catalog, A Gluestick & Scissors...

I needed a gift box to put my best friend Pam's birthday present in. Pam is a very creative and spiritual person and I love her dearly so I wanted the box to be special. I was also under a time crunch because I wanted to send off her gift immediately. I looked through my papers, bags etc. to no avail. As I pondered what to do my eye fell upon a catalog of meditation items. The photo on the front was stunning. So I grabbed a glue stick, scissors and a box and went to work! I not only saved time, money and gas, I also I recycled a catalog and a box! I used a few more photos from the catalog and an old card to make a new card. And on top of it all Pam will really love the personal touch. Give it a try, it's fun and incredibly satisfying.

What Are You Feeding Your Brain?

Recently I had a conversation with two highly intelligent and dynamic female friends for whom I have a great deal of respect. We were talking over hot cups of organic white tea with agave and almond milk in an apartment high in the sky above Manhattan. Our conversation hit many topics and we were in agreement on most subjects. At one point the only mother in the trio mentioned that a woman in her area was petitioning to prohibit the hanging of horror film posters on blocks where there are schools. Oddly (in my opinion) she was against the petition. She actually thought the idea was ridiculous.

The specific poster that was being used as an example was a poster that I had seen several times and I'd found it quite disturbing. Each time I saw it I thought to myself that I would certainly prefer not to live with that image in my head. Since I believe in freedom of expression it's tough to argue for censorship. So, as much as I would love to never have to see another horror; poster, commercial, movie or image of any kind I will not argue for their censorship. (Instead I create images with the intention of inspiring joy and playfullness.) But I must say that a buffer zone around schools really seems like a no brainer to me.

So we discussed, and soon I was asking the question, "Why is violence more acceptable than the human form?". One of my two friends said something along the lines of, "That's just the way it is, most people in this country find violence to be more acceptable than nudity and sex." And so I pose the question, Why? Why does violence seem to be more acceptable than nudity to the general population? In fact, why is violence acceptable at all, really? In my reality that just seems totally nuts. In this day and age when science has proven that our thoughts shape our world... I mean yikes! What we put into our heads is as important as what we put into our bellies. What we let our children watch is as important as what we let them eat.

Many years ago, when I was a teen, my spiritual teacher spoke of this. She said that we should be very careful about what images we let into our heads. It took me many years to fully appreciate the advice that she gave. The understanding came in stages over time. The last thing to go were crime scene detective shows. I love figuring things out and so I loved all of the CSI type of shows. I finally realized that the context doesn't matter in the end. Violent images going into my head create fear in my body which does not go away for a long time. I am wanting to feel joy in my body. So nowadays I try to watch and read things that create the reality that I am wanting in my world. Imagine if even half of the world ingested uplifting media that offered messages of peace, love and unity on a regular basis. Seeds grow and awareness spreads!

Green Juice and Greener Pastures!

One of my best friends recently found out that she had a tumor at the back of her tongue and it was cancerous. Her reaction was to immediately change her diet, she went from being a total foodie to being basically vegan, literally overnight. Raw foods and raw juices instantly became a part of her daily routine. When she called me to ask if I would stay with her after her surgery to help her out while she recuperated I told her I was more than happy to do it. I ended up arriving before the surgery and staying with her through most of her two week hospital visit as well as for her recoup time. Her surgery and recovery could not have gone better, I am happy to report, we are a week out of the hospital and she's almost back to her old self!

Now I must give a little back story here. Fifteen years ago I did seva (selfless service) in what was then called a 'living foods' kitchen. I NEVER ate the food because it looked scary and it just was not my thing at... hmmmm, twenty four years of age. Several years later my brother and his wife owned a health food store where they sold raw green vegetable juice and swore by it. I simply was not interested. Patooey! Not for me! I don't like nasty things! Eventually I finally made the switch to buying organic and locally grown products but was still completely turned off by the whole raw foods/living foods lifestyle change idea. Too much work and I like to enjoy my food, for the love of Pete!

Okay, in walks my old friend. So we are in her apartment and I am complaining about bags under my eyes and she tells me that perhaps if I stopped drinking my one Coke a day and switched from coffee to tea I might lessen my baggage, so to speak. I really couldn't argue with her, so I just did it. It was so much easier than I thought, really. The next day we were at a store waiting for her raw green vegetable juice (with a single green apple added to take the edge off) and she encouraged me to try one and see how it felt. I took a sip of hers and, bleghch! I tried a second sip and it was not as bad but I still opted for a nice fruit drink with acai and apple. However the next day I did order the green drink, a small one, and while it didn't cause my taste buds to sing with joy, it didn't make me gag either. Later on that day I looked in the mirror and, lo and behold, the bags under my eyes were almost completely gone!

What was truly amazing was that the next day I actually looked forward to my green juice. I had a craving to feel the healthy burst that I'd gotten after drinking it. It felt so good to know that I love myself enough to have such a craving. I thought about it and I realized that enjoying food does not necessarily mean being a slave to your taste buds. The first taste of the drink turned me off, the second taste intrigued me and bucking it up and just drinking the darn thing created a new understanding of yumminess. The other fantastic effect that it has had on me is that I no longer enjoy really unhealthy drinks and foods. I used to love a particular brand of turkey bacon that I'm sure is packed with chemicals. It simply does not taste good to me any longer. I went to a restaurant with a friend recently and ordered a lemonade. It was obviously made from a mix and full of sugar, I just could not drink it. Now I wholeheartedly enjoy my green juice, flavor and all, down to the last drop! I am retraining my unruly taste buds, it can be done!

The book that my healthy friend gave me, and I feel that I can really work with, is 'Raw Food Detox Diet'. It allows one to enter the world of raw food on there own terms which I find refreshing. I think part of the reason that I could never go there before was because it always seemed like an all or nothing lifestyle change. Giving myself permission to start small has opened the door to those changes and they are no longer so terribly daunting. In fact they are quite exciting! So, drink up gang, drink to a healthy and well oxygenated future you! You will not be disappointed.

Power Animals! Who'd A Thunk It?

I have been a creature lover since... the beginning of time! I love all creatures except for mosquitoes (sorry mosquitoes!). Once, when I was very young, I was strolling down the street with my family in Provincetown, MA when suddenly they realized I was no longer walking with them. (In those days this was not quite as alarming as it would be today.) My family backtracked and found me in a biker-y bar hugging a Great Dane. I saw him and just walked right in and latched on without so much as backwards glance! Also, I have always talked to creatures. Not like an animal communicator, I just talk to them. I like to think they get the drift but, if nothing more, I suppose that they feel my respect and love. It is my wish that every creature feel these things. Anyway, as usual, I digress and digress and...

If you've followed either of my blogs you will note that eagles come up quite often. I have a whole mess of em living near me and flyin' around above me. I see them pretty much every day now. I find that I actually feel incredibly strong feelings of love, gratitude, peace and joy when I see them. I also feel power surging through my being. Not wild raw power but what I can only describe as graceful liquid power. Often times I will see them when I am doing my yoga practice on the grass and it's like drinking a power drink. Seriously. I am not certain if my words do the experience justice. Alas! I only have my words to convey my feelings!

So, the other day several eagles came flying across the lake and I stopped to gaze upon their glory. I was pondering my infatuation with these majestic creatures and it occurred to me that eagles really and truly are my power animal! My mom had a boutique for many years that sold Native American art and 'stuff' and I've read plenty of books that include references to and stories about such things, so power animals are not a new concept for me. However, until I had this experience I honestly never really understood how real they actually are. I do indeed get power from seeing them. Whether they are 30 feet away or a mile I get the same intense jolt every single time I see them. It's very difficult to take my eyes away from them. Now, as much as I love creatures, I've never had this reaction before. I mentioned my revelation to my dad and he said that this had occurred to him as well.

Lately I see eagles almost everywhere I go, so far, in about a sixty mile radius. I see them pretty much every time I drive. Two or three times I've had one pause for like five to ten seconds directly above my head. They truly are masters of the wind! Sometimes they fly through the yard only twelve feet or so off the ground which is very cool. Finally, I'm sure this is not as fascinating for y'all as for me, one time I had one land on a tree close by. Amazingly I'd remembered my camera, which I grabbed and walked as closely as I could get to him/her (there was a fence between us). I talked to the beauty and snapped photos for about ten minutes. (That's him/her to the right.) I figured that eagles must be making some kind of a massive comeback but I looked online and so far I've found no information supporting an eagle boom.

I decided to write a little something about my experience so I jumped online and googled power animals and found a lot of interesting info. My favorite site is Shamanism ~ Working With Animal Spirits Core. They have a list of animals and their particular wisdom. It's a beautiful site and quite informative as well. Here is what the site says about Bald Eagle;

Bald Eagle's Wisdom Includes:

• Swiftness

• Strength

• Courage

• Wisdom

• Keen sight

• Illumination of Spirit

• Healing

• Creation

• Knowledge of magick

• Ability to see hidden spiritual truths

• Rising above the material to see the spiritual

• Ability to see the overall pattern

• Connection to spirit guides and teachers

• Great power and balance

• Dignity with grace

• Ability to see the "big picture"

• Connection with higher truths

• Intuitive and creative spirit

• Respect for the boundaries of the regions

• Grace achieved through knowledge and hard work

It's pretty cool. I actually do have really keen sight. When I go to the eye doctor they tell me to read until I can't read anymore and then they always stop me and tell me to stop showing off! I've been told my insight ain't too bad either! And as for the rest of the list, well, I definitely have the capacity for all of them and I would certainly like to cultivate those qualities and fully realize and embrace their potential in myself! What a truly wonderful life!

Through my further research on the subject I found out that we may have several power animals looking out for us and they can change over time. When we disconnect from one we may form a new bond with a new friend! I remembered having feelings similar to my eagle 'infatuation' with Pelicans, oddly enough! And at that time a Pelican landed about a foot away from me and just sat there for about ten minutes. I felt so incredibly privileged but I did not consider the possibility that he was a messenger or helper. Duh! So, today, I clicked on Pelican and here's what it said;

Pelican's Wisdom Includes:

• Proper use of abundance
• Control of ego
• Recovery from loss
• Ability to float through emotions
• Ability to return from the edge of extinction

I was going through a very difficult time with my (now) ex-husband when Pelican came to call. We were having some money troubles and I was beginning to see that he had some very serious personality issues that I'd not realized before. It's hard to explain but when I read this list the whole Pelican experience made sense to me. I still love Pelicans and I hope that they will always be here to help me out! So there you have it, gang, power animals are very real... So if you see a creature and have a strong emotional response, check out Shamanism ~ Working With Animal Spirits Core. They might have something very interesting to convey!