Apropos of Nothing v.6

My next-door neighbors here are cheery, contented people. And totally ditzy ... they believe in a lot of vague nonsense that involves crystals & a theory that there are no mistakes in life. Meanwhile, Carol can't name a single Dylan song & Dave argues with me that the Coast range doesn't top out at more than 1,000 feet. (More like 3,200.)

We were whale-watching with them last week & Carol took pix, which she forwarded, commenting that the blue orb appearing above Jack's head in one of them was his angel. "Pretty special," she noted.

The "orb" was actually a misty pocket in the mountains that happened to be centered right behind Jack, and this really annoyed me. I fired off a note to Jack about it -- "That is total ((*&^%$ about the orb. Who comes up with this crap?"

Except that I hit "Reply" and not "Forward." Haven't heard from Carol since, except to get one of those sappy "Fw: The Whale Said Thank You" things she sends around.

So are they drug-addled? (Neither of them drinks.) Congenitally stupid? Smarter than I am?

Just deluded, SK.

Does a mind fail when it sees things others don't? Or is it on a plane of discernment that allows it to see what others don't? The philosophy of today.

Got sidetracked on their way to reality.

If an angel isn't visible to the naked eye, it will not magically become visible via a cheap digital.

My old yoga teacher would end each class with a pithy mantra or proverb. One day she told us that each human being asks for what happens to him or her. Children too?, my friend Susy asked? Yes, our teacher answered, we are all aware of the universe from birth.

I think Marianne lost any yoga-practicing incest victims that day ...

Grrr. I'm in a really cranky mood today, remembering all the sins that acquaintances have committed against my rational mind.

I am just questioning the reality of our perceptions. Because I have seen: Angels, Sasquatch (or what ever), a ghost, and very fast bright flying objects with no sound emmission 100 feet from me. So I question my sanity. Each one was seen by those around me. Well not the ghost. I was alone but the description I gave the building's owner knew it was her husband when young, who had built the veterinary practice I was working at. Hmmmmm.

I'm not saying that everything around us can be explained by scientific consensus. Just as the world was a very mysterious place in Galileo's time, I believe that there will be amazing things to be discovered for which we have no knowledge or measurement now.

There is no question that I regularly dream outlandish things that come true in 3 days or so. There is no question that I have had a wonderful, weightless, one-with-the-universe experience while doing yoga. I also believe that there are spirits, but that they can be evil so are not to be taken lightly.

Maybe that's why Carol's orbs & crystals & fairies annoy me so, because they cheapen & trivialize the awesome powers that *I* believe exist around us. This is a purely subjective viewpoint, posited by moi.

I am with you Summer. But I feel the powers of crystals can possibly come from other spirits. Those which I do not choose. But yes everyone wants to be part of the unknown that we all hear about. I too give credibility to certain aspects of spirits within or around several people we are involved with. But with all of this is a subjective view that may limit us to what is seen. I remember asking two of the young men who saw the same bright light and to them it was simply an unknown government experiment. My friend and I were changed with that moment. He died in Vietnam so I lost my best friend from early childhood there.

I think many unexplained occurrences also can be attributed to "tricks" of light or space -- I once saw what I thought HAD to be a plane on fire streaking into Lake Michigan. The newspaper got lots of calls about it, but it turned out to be a large comet burning up in the heavens. For some reason it appeared to be right over the city.

One of my exes once swerved to avoid a huge balloon that he thought was about to bounce onto I-80. (It was the full moon just coming up, over a weird sunset.)

Have you ever been sitting in a sunny garden when the shadow of a high-flying plane flicks over you? It seems, for a split-second, as if the earth shifts sideways & then snaps back into place. Now, if you didn't know to check the flight path for Midway Airport, you might think all sorts of things had happened.

I do understand the logical possibilities. But the vehicle was seen by over 30 people along the river we were on and reported by state police and seen by our local constable all at the same 30 minutes of time. The state police were 40 miles away in the direction of flight. I passed as I watched it under a bridge that had only 40+ feet of clearance. No reflection would have been possible that way. And the light was blinding.

I wasn't questioning your experience in particular, just some of mine.

Tell us more about what you saw, why it changed yer life.

You cannot experience such an unknown with asking why. The rest of my life was questioning why, what and how does everything work. I started reading all of the silly books about UFO's and that told me nothing so began studying science, mechanical advances and how this thing could be. My answers have been given to me, but being subjective and controversial, not here. I feel I understand the Being of the Universe that interacts with us all. This was a spiritual and scientific quest to define the face of God.

Ah! The "asking why" part brings us back to the people we see as not being astute enough to even read a rental agreement. So those downtrodden by a society whose rules & norms are not comprehensible to them grasp for an explanation of why they are not happy & successful -- could be conspiracy by the government, or perhaps the unseen-but-feared racial minority, whether it be Jews hoarding all the money or Mexicans getting all the good jobs ...

There are many among us, especially in the various online "communities" who can find a myriad of forces to blame for being poor, sick, overweight, unemployed when the truth is that they are not equipped to work within what the rest of us might consider normal society. I think back to that nightmare roommate I almost took in, who didn't understand why her friend's husband was adamant that she could no longer sleep on their couch for free, or why I was angry that she didn't call or show up when she said she would. Life probably will always be one big mystery to her.

I hope not to be coming across as unsympathetic. I feel VERY sorry for people whose lives are hard, and am very very aware of my own self-sabotaging traits & can't even call myself a particularly content person. Two of my brothers' mothers drank while pregnant & those 2 little boys were never going to have easy lives. Mark, who was Cheyenne, never even made it to the average life expectancy for a Native American, which still stands at a whopping 39.

But Summer we are aware and therefore patient with these others. I say this only because I am working on patience in this tenure of my life. I always say when I see people like that "but by grace so am I". This is the work on compassion I am also working on. Yes we can be frustrated in our interactions with those around but I just remember what my DW has to deal with each day.

I think that's the challenge of being truly "open". We're always concerned with being too naive, so we confine our "openness" to some things and not others. I don't really know that what they say creates rainbows creates rainbows -- I just took somebody's word for it.

I don't know that "ghosts" aren't really something that can only be seen by digital images and not the naked eye.

I don't know that I wasn't sitting next to God on the bus today.

Is a simple mind a pure mind and hence more sacred purely because of its naivete?

I had a friend with zero social skills, but the way she could read your palm blew me away (I witness several situations that I can't explain). I still have trouble reconciling this unbalanced, egotistical, obnoxious, too-much-wine-drinking woman with that ability. Doesn't fit into a pretty, neat picture.

A simple mind is not influenced by knowledge, or creative inspiration. Therefore it is more recptive to any emotions that interject their influence. Many of these people are burdened by unwanted destructive emotions due to life's events. Or they're blessed by continual joy as the Down's syndrome human projects.

This message was edited Jan 5, 2010 10:02 PM

I don't agree. I think that the term simple can have many interpretations. A simple mind can have tremendous creative inspiration . . . and not necessarily be receptive to emotions from the outside. Those are all variables down the line . . .

Oh, very well said, everyone! Well said, indeed! I hardly know where to begin to respond so I'll be brief (yes, I know. Get your jaws off the floor.)

Tinfoil hats: whatever feels fashionable in the moment. A poor substitute for spiritual protection if you ask me, but no one did.

Soferdig: Post #7432658 Excellent! Thank you for posting that. You rock.

I have seen and communicated directly with an angel. Actually, more than one. The first one I saw, back when I was 17, I knew almost immediately must be an angel because the first thing I 'thought' was 'do not fear'. I love that whole thought transference way that angels can communicate. So cool.

UFO's that are then found to be moons, or light reflections, etc, are no longer 'unidentified' and thus do not count. Sofer's experience sounds mind shattering. Wish I had been there. I always look, but I have not yet seen. That doesn't mean 'they' don't exist. I don't see the wind, either. But I'm pretty sure it's there.

Summerkid: yes, I agree. Life will always be a big mystery to your almost-roommate. She may have to go through life feeling victimized by others for a long time, or forever, before she learns to take her own responsibility for her own choices in life. Who knows? Maybe she is here to teach us lessons in boundaries and in the fallacy of 'rescuing' others. I am practicing being opportunistic in my learning.


Crystals - excellent energy if you know how to use them and are sensitive to them. Just because I'm sensitive to some but not to others doesn't mean other people are crazy. I am completely responsible for any energy that comes through them and how that energy is used. If I want protection from negative or dark energy, it is mine for the asking, just as it is yours.

Kathy, you are an excellent woman. I think I saw God at your house the other day. Or was that at Summerkid's place? I get confused. God seems to be everywhere I look.

Laurie, tinfoil on one's head at the right time and place, and with the right hairdresser, makes one completely happy.

Sometimes 'crazy' people who believe in orbs, spirits, crystal energy, whales and dolphins, tin foil hats with antennae, fairies, etc. are happier than others. Their world is always enchanting and interesting, never dull and mundane. They see the wonder of the universe through childlike eyes, many times without being at all childish.

I think you two are not using the term 'simple' in the same way?

Geeze.. One small incident at work takes me on the road for half a day and I miss most of the good stuff.

"Beadmom, I have it on good authority that a drop of tea tree oil on your horse's haunches will keep cougars off 'em (told to me in total seriousness...)"

A loud bray from a terrified donkey seems to ward off almost anything...and keeps non farmy guests from reoccurring too...

Ginger

It has to be because Kathy and I agree on everything................ except politics. LOL

Yes, Pix, I think you're right. I think we each have our own definitions of "simple" and "pure" and "smart" and "stupid" and "open", etc.

Just when one thinks one has the secret to it all, if one is lucky, the Universe will come along and blow it all away.

That's the point, right? To seek, not to know . . .

God is around me in my little corner of the world and that's not hard to appreciate. What's hardest for me is to see God in the young smelly man on the bus with weird hair who is talking on his cell phone too loudly. Or the self-entitled yuppee who cuts in front of me on the freeway. Or the girl at the cash register who doesn't look like she even begins to understand what customer service is. I believe that God is in each of these places. It's just a challenge for me to see. And that's why I'm on this journey. ^_^

You hit it on the nose, Steve. ^_^ And I have to believe, deep down, that we agree on the goals behind the politics, too. It's just the way to get there that we differ on.

I mean, I have to love someone who is as compassionate with the animals as you are. Because I'm only part human - the rest of me is animal . . .

That's a point I needed to hear, Katie, about seeing God in the difficult people.

"non-farmy guests" - superb!
Thank you Ginger for a new phrase - it will be one I can utilize well.

I see God in all of those people by accepting the path to which they became unhappy to reflect those toxic characters. I think to inject a praise, compliment, or appreciation to the person or quietly thanking our Creator for the grace that made us different.

My friends are all freaked out because I've made a big wooden sign to nail on the bedroom wall that says "Death Awaits" in pink & celadon on white, with vines & flowers twining through it.

To them it seems negative & morbid & completely not in the genre of "Carpe Diem."

To me, "Carpe Diem" means something extraordinarily vague that I might lie in bed & ponder. "Death Awaits" gets my feet onto the floor & into slippers in no uncertain way.

Well, I guess nothing motivates some people like fear! LOL!

Seeing the divine in significantly different 'others' is difficult, I suppose, for almost everyone. But then, if darkness didn't exist, we'd fail to appreciate the light, so maybe that's one way to look at it. No simple, neat boxes there, I'm afraid.

I love the motivational sign Summer. I can see a small crowded bedroom full of character on the second floor with a closet next to a fire pole with slippers waiting at the bottom of the pole. LOL

It's not fear! Death holds no mystery. It's just a kindly reminder.

Right on, Sofer. If only I had a 2nd floor.

I too look forward to death. Its just the dying that worries me. The adventure that waits is to me overwhelmingly exciting!

Whatever it is that helps you tap into your deepest wisdom and your connection with soul....is good. This can be mighty hard for me sometimes in this crazy world.

It is not the eventual dying itself that I worry about, it's is not knowing whether the people I love will be alright when I am unable to be there for them in their times of need and difficulty.

This message was edited Jan 5, 2010 10:00 PM

But of course they will, Maury. It is the way of the world. If not you there for them, someone else.

Here is a little light hearted humor to de-motivate all of us. I love this stuff:
http://www.despair.com/

Holly, I agree. And also, I don't want to miss them. So I hope I won't have to.

I was hoping for this: http://www.despair.com/somevedi.html for Christmas. The shirt, not the man. I already have one of those. No luck. I may have to order it for myself.

What frustrates me most (and literally scares me) is sanctimonious-ness in me and in others. There are those people who think they've already learned it all. "It" is vague and "we" are but infants in our understanding. IMO, it's important for us to wake each day to the humility that knowledge brings.

Summer - I love your sign. It's not morbid or frightening to me at all. It's a kick in the pants to live each day to the fullest. Much more specific than the euphemism 'Carpe Diem'. Nice. I might have to steal it.

I had a T-shirt once that represented my competitive spirit well. It said, "I've never lost. I've just been behind when time ran out." Your sign seems to say the same thing. Seek/live/experience the journey. For me, then end is not the end, but in some way (what goes around comes around?) I will be held accountable . . . for what I "intend", not necessarily for the result. :-)

I just said good-bye to a very nice Sheriff's deputy. Someone (most likely my dog-sitter) stole my jewelry when I was gone over Christmas, so I was filing a police report. Now there's a challenge for me to see God in her. And that poor Sheriff's deputy must be faced with quite a challenge on a daily basis, as well.

Kathy was he cute!!!!???? Seriously I am sorry for such a violation of trust in a moment of fun and relaxation. I couldn't be anyone involved with the dark side of life. Attorneys, judges, police, or pastors.
I have never found you santimonious Kathy so I am assuming someone has seemed that way. I have and never will learn it ALL until the afterlife awaiting me. We 3 dimentional beings live only in the 4th being 'now' so observations are very limited. Currently there are I think 11 to 13 dimentions assumed in quantum theory. Can you imagine the actual processes around and in us unobserved? Then when we are spirits with no gravity and time restrictions we will be overwhelmed with the real story.
Pixy I have been anxiously and laughingly flipping through the calendar. Especially the cloud with a silver lining. ROTFALMBO

edited to say - opps pix already said that.

This message was edited Jan 6, 2010 5:41 PM