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April 2006

Online Confessions

by heathervescent

A new website launched last Friday giving users the opportunity to confess their secrets and be ranked on whether they should be forgiven or not. I4giveU is filled mostly with teenage confessions; while NotProud, online for several years, merely categorizes confessions into one of the seven deadly sins. On both sites I wonder how many are actual confessions versus fabricated ones.

Both sites provide a few hours of entertainment, but afterwards, I wonder, are these the same people I interact with on a daily basis? Everyone has their own personal demons, and it's healthy to express them in non-violent ways, but I really like to think about the more positive virtues of my fellow human beings.

AddThis Social Bookmark Button | 04/28/06 | Entertainment | Permalink | Comments (0)
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John Lennon seance follow-up

by heathervescent

In case you missed the John Lennon pay-per-view séance on Monday (I know it was top priority for me) the producers said they made successful contact. Apparently Lennon contacted the show via EVP or electronic voice phenomenon. EVP according to different camps can be spirits of the dead manipulating white noise to communicate and skeptics purporting that it's just errant electronic signals.

So if it was John Lennon, then what did he say? Apparently his message was peace. Just peace. You know, I think he expressed that message more effectively when he was alive. Makes me wonder what kind of profit the show made. [Full story]

This reminds me of another unsolved Beatles mystery, where Paul McCartney thought John Lennon stopped by one of his recording sessions. [Full story]

AddThis Social Bookmark Button | 04/27/06 | Celebrities | Permalink | Comments (0)
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Overwhelmed by Enlightenment

by heathervescent

I've spent most of the afternoon research and reading about several different kinds of energy work. They interweave with each other like snakes, twisting me up in their egos. It's mind-numbing wading through the light. So I'm glad to know that I'll be back out in the Mojave in a few days. Although I won't be completely surrounded by the silence of Joshua Trees, just being in that space will be comforting.

It's sometimes hard to believe, that even the search for enlightenment (or once you've found it) can take on the characteristics of the corporate rat race. And you've got your same set of egotistical leader types (but they're not really egotistical) heading up competing factions, beliefs and practices.

Depressing really. You could just as easily read Ropp's Master Game and be done with it.

Too bad Tom Cruise has that silence gag on Katie. I could sure go for some sticky gossip right about now.

AddThis Social Bookmark Button | 04/26/06 | Commentary | Permalink | Comments (0)
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50 ways to leave your planet

by heathervescent

Earth Day was last week and it's become a lot easier to be environmentally conscious in the past 10 years. April is Vanity Fair's green issue and they offer 50 ways to save the planet.
[Full Article]

Some of my favorites include:

11. GET A GREEN ROOF A green roof is more than simply a roof with plants growing on it.
13. FOOD MILES MATTER Food is traveling farther than ever. The average American meal contains ingredients produced in at least five other countries.
30. STANDBY NO LONGER Televisions, video and DVD players, cable boxes, and other electronic equipment found in nearly every American home are wasting huge amounts of energy.
41. BAT BOXES Want to reduce the number of mosquitoes in your backyard? Then invest in a bat box.
46. DISCOVER YOUR CARBON FOOTPRINT If you think you're already pretty green, determine your carbon footprint: a measurement of how your lifestyle choices affect carbon emissions.

Along with standard reminders to buy recycled and reduce water waste at home.

AddThis Social Bookmark Button | 04/26/06 | News | Permalink | Comments (0)
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What's your alien name?

by heathervescent

I decided I needed to have an alien name before heading off to the Retro UFO convention this weekend, so I found this site, which will assign you a name.

I'm Kaldar Uranus, Galactic Thug. Pleased to meet you.

AddThis Social Bookmark Button | 04/26/06 | Entertainment | Permalink | Comments (0)
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Ghostly guest

by heathervescent

Apparently a ghost caused the burglary alarm in a local pub to go off. When the police they were met with a strange story.

"I heard the alarm go off for a second time, went into the pub and all the television screens had turned on," the pub owner said.

"I went to check the rest of the pub and standing in the women's lavatories was a woman with half her face missing. I was petrified."

AddThis Social Bookmark Button | 04/25/06 | Fringe | Permalink | Comments (0)
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Astrology: not for real?

by heathervescent

According to this Discovery channel article, there is no scientific basis for your sun sign.

"When considering the current scientific standing with respect to sun signs, it becomes clear that there is little or no truth in sun signs," said Peter Hartmann, who led the study, which will be published in next month's Personality and Individual Differences journal.

He goes on to add:

Hartmann, a researcher in the Department of Psychology at Denmark's University of Aarhus, added, "This does not necessarily mean that all astrology is without truth, but only that the independent effect of sun signs is most likely to be irrelevant. As for the weekly horoscope based on mere sun signs, then according to the current scientific standing, there is probably more truth in the comic strips."

Now, I'm sure we all thought those newspaper horoscopes were correct! ;)

AddThis Social Bookmark Button | 04/25/06 | Astrology | Permalink | Comments (1)
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An Act of God?

by heathervescent

So this guy was sitting in his living room when the floor of his house opened up from the bowels of the earth and swallowed him. Was this a possible act of God? A poltergeist or another malicious spirit? Or just bad engineering?

Chellew was relaxing in his living room about 9:30 p.m. Friday when he heard creaking noises, sprang up and began to move across the room just as the floor opened beneath him, authorities said.

“It’s unbelievable,” Placer County Sheriff’s Department spokeswoman Dena Erwin said. “From the front of the house, it’s absolutely normal. Then, in the middle of the house, is this enormous hole.”

What do you think? You can read more here.

AddThis Social Bookmark Button | 04/25/06 | News | Permalink | Comments (0)
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Hockey players on Yoga?

by heathervescent

Is the yoga trend continuing to rise? I think so!

Last week I wrote about dog yoga, laughing yoga, Torah yoga and the Indian army practicing yoga. (The US Air Force has also been known to practice yoga.) And now, Canadian Hockey players are also practicing. I know it's probably to help with flexibility, but somehow I can't imagine the rough and tumble guys who end up in the penalty box for their positive attitudes practicing downward dog before putting on the skates.

"I've always had, knock on wood, pretty good flexibility but I've had to work at it a lot to get it. I've kind of incorporated some of the stretches or positions into my routine," he admitted. "There are a couple of those in there, but I don't exactly know what they're called or what I'm doing."
- said Wade Flaherty, Manitoba Moose Goaltender

AddThis Social Bookmark Button | 04/24/06 | Yoga | Permalink | Comments (0)
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Psychic buys Elvis's House on eBay?

by heathervescent

Psychic Uri Geller has apparently put a bid on Elvis's first home, being auctioned on eBay.

"It will have all the bizarre things that Elvis Presley believed in," including his fascination with UFOs, [Geller] said.

Read the full story.

AddThis Social Bookmark Button | 04/24/06 | Celebrities | Permalink | Comments (0)
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What do you remember?

by heathervescent

Late last week NPR covered the story of a woman who can remember daily events from her life the past 25 years. A.J., as she is called, discovered that she could remember specific personal activities everyday, along with news events. For the past 6 years, researchers have tested her memory and recently published his results in the journal Neurocase with the article abstract found online here.

NPR has two parts on her experience. Part one tells about A.J.'s condition and how the researchers learned about her truly unique memory, while part two talks with A.J. herself and what it is like to live with her memory.

It is a fascinating story and makes me wonder how much of my life I remember. I think back to when I was a teenager, a child, a baby. I specifically remember when I was 6 I had the idea that I would remember every thing I did everyday. I practiced this for about a week, before my brain was too full with the past activities to pay attention to the present. But that didn't stop me from remembering the past. I would review myself and scenes from many positions trying to understand different points of view and why people acted and behaved certain ways.

It’s not as if you are constantly reliving your past, but having it available when you want it.

AddThis Social Bookmark Button | 04/23/06 | News | Permalink | Comments (0)
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Retro-UFO Convention

by heathervescent

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If you're a fan of UFOs you still have time to make plans to attend the RetroUFO convention next weekend in the heart of the Mojave - Landers, California.

It's going to be a full program with tours of the Giant Rock and sound baths in the Integratron. Check out the full schedule.

AddThis Social Bookmark Button | 04/21/06 | Fringe | Permalink | Comments (0)
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Yoga Potpourri

by heathervescent

Torah Yoga for Passover!

Yoga for dogs: here, and here.

And if you're not laughing yet. Read this.

Invented by a Bombay physician, Madan Kataria, in 1996, laughter yoga is predicated on the idea that "laughter for no reason" can promote spiritual well-being and health benefits, such as lowered blood pressure. The concept has given rise to laughter clubs in India and a number of other countries, including the United States, and inspired a 1999 documentary by celebrated Indian filmmaker Mira Nair.

"Breathe in--blast with the laughter!" commands Basavaraju, the ex-banker and resident laughtologist, prompting an explosion of loud guffaws.

During the 45-minute session, the group partakes of "ice cream laughter" (a low chuckle that is savored slowly), "coffee laughter" (performed while pretending to pour coffee) and "mobile laughter" (initiated by shouting "Hello! Hello!" into an imaginary mobile phone). The hilarity is infectious, especially when the members parody a mirthful lion--opening their mouths wide and wiggling their tongues--in the exercise known as "lion laughter."

AddThis Social Bookmark Button | 04/21/06 | Yoga | Permalink | Comments (0)
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Inspiring Notes

by heathervescent

dailyaff_blank.jpgYou may have noticed the daily affirmation I wrote for you, my readers, yesterday afternoon. I found these delightful little notes over at Knock Knock. You can pick up a pack and leave a little random enlightenment on cars, for co-workers, the waitress or anyone you choose.

They also have paper prayers and a Wheel of Religion, which has provided me and my friends with hours of amusement describing the religions of Snake Handlers, Consumerism and the Moonies as well as more traditional religions of Hindu, Voodoo and Quaker. (It also describes Catholicism, Scientology and Jehovah's Witness.)

I'm pretty impressed by the company philosophy which includes:

  • Ethics and decency are immeasurably important
  • Things should be both beautiful and useful, but they can also be beautiful and frivolous
  • Not everything should strive to be accessible to the lowest common denominator, or any common denominator, for that matter
  • Idiosyncracy, eccentricity, humor, controversy, and opinion are infinitely more interesting than corporate homogenization, committee-decision-making dilution, and widest-possible-audience scheming
  • Passion, curiosity, and enthusiasm can make anything interesting
  • Self-awareness is underrated
  • Turn signals should be used

Great attitude and great products. Go check them out!

AddThis Social Bookmark Button | 04/19/06 | Product Reviews | Permalink | Comments (0)
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Comment problems with IE

by heathervescent

Hi everyone. It appears that if you are using Internet Explorer to post a comment, they are not coming through. I am working on getting this fixed, but in the meantime, you can use the Firefox browser to view and make comments. I promise, this is not a ploy to get you to use Firefox, although it is my personal preference.

AddThis Social Bookmark Button | 04/19/06 | News | Permalink | Comments (0)
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Yoga cashes in?

by heathervescent

It's about time someone stood up and noticed the growing market that is yoga. It used to be there were one or two companies that you had to mail order your yoga mat and the only yoga bags available were ones you made yourself. Today you can walk into Target and not only buy a yoga mat, brick and video, but there is wide variety to choose from color coordinated sets to yoga styles. I just recently noticed this yoga mat cleaner at my local yoga studio, as reviewed by GizModo.

This is not really surprising because according to this article, Americans spend $2.95 billion dollars a year on yoga classes and yoga related products and activities.

But not everyone agrees with the commodification of yoga.

"We've taken this ancient tradition, science, and art of yoga out of a culture and a religion and world view and we've tried to transplant to the other side of the planet," said Judith Hanson Lasater, a longtime yoga instructor and author who holds a doctorate in East West psychology. "I believe there's not a complete match up."

It's not like you can buy enlightenment, but you can make a buck off trying.

AddThis Social Bookmark Button | 04/19/06 | Yoga | Permalink | Comments (1)
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Your Daily Affirmation

by heathervescent

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AddThis Social Bookmark Button | 04/18/06 | Practices | Permalink | Comments (0)
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More on Tom Cruise

by heathervescent

Tom can't wait until the new baby is born. Yuck!

And here's an article that says Katie is becoming a Scientologist too.

And Glitterati reports on more Katie/Tom Scientology birth techniques/gossip.

(Thanks for the pointer, Colleen)

AddThis Social Bookmark Button | 04/18/06 | Celebrities | Permalink | Comments (0)
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Spirit increases health?

by heathervescent

In this article it suggests being spiritual has a positive benefit on your health.

Shavers also cited study done in 2000 by the Duke University Center for Spirituality, Theology and Health that showed a link between spirituality and mortality.
The study, which examined the effects of private religious activities such as prayer, Bible study and meditation in aging adults found a 47 percent greater risk of dying for those who did not participate in any of the activities.

AddThis Social Bookmark Button | 04/18/06 | Beliefs | Permalink | Comments (0)
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Way of the Peaceful Warrior

by heathervescent

Years ago I read Dan Millman's Way of the Peaceful Warrior. It's the story of an athlete who rediscovers his life purpose. I've been spending the last week rereading the book, which is a light and easy read that reminds me of many things I have learned in my own travels.

As I reread the story I was surprised to realize that I passed by the same gas station in the story when I lived in Berkeley. Street names and locations were familiar and I traveled to Tilden Park and Inspiration Point with them, places I had also practiced.

I'd like to share a story from the book.

"Milarepa had searched everywhere for enlightenment, but could find no answer - until one day, he saw an old man walking slowly down a mountain path, carrying a heavy sack. Immediately, Milarepa sensed that this old man knew the secret he had been desperately seeking for many years.
""Old man, please tell me what you know. What is enlightenment?'
"The old man smiled at hime for a moment, and swung the heavy burden off his shoulders, and stood straight.
"'Yes, I see!' cried Milarepa. 'My everlasting gratitude. But please, one question more. What is after enlightenment?'
"Smiling again, the old man picked up the sack once again, lung it over his shoulders, steadied his burden, and continued on his way."
- excerpt from Way of the Peaceful Warrior, Dan Millman

Now, this book is being turned into a movie under the same name. The Way of the Peaceful Warrior opens in select cities (Seattle, Portland, San Francisco, Los Angeles, San Diego and Phoenix) on June 2nd.

Yahoo! Movies has the trailer here.

If you want further information on Dan Millman, go to his web site where you can download and listen to his podcasts as well as get information on his other books and seminars. His question and answer section is interesting, straight-forward and accessible.

If you are interested in following the opening of the movie, check out the Peaceful Warrior Pod at Zaadz.

AddThis Social Bookmark Button | 04/17/06 | News | Permalink | Comments (0)
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Does your company have Spirit?

by heathervescent

The Association for the Spirit at work announced the 2006 Spirit at Work award, which recognizes companies that have specific policies, programs or practices that nurture spirituality inside their organizations.

One of the basic principles of organizational change is that you get more of what you reward. One of the basic spiritual principles is that what you give energy to grows. Most of the news about organizations these days is about negative actions and practices; fraudulent accounting, greed, laying people off while giving executives large bonuses, and so on.
The International Spirit at Work Award was created as an antidote to these negative stories.

To be eligible for an award, an organization must meet the following criteria


  • Must have at least 60 full-time employees (or the equivalent in full and part-time employees)
  • Be at least five years old, so they have faced the testing of the marketplace;
  • Both vertical and horizontal dimensions of Spirituality are demonstrated at the organization
  • The explicitly spiritual project, policy or practice being acknowledged must have been in place at least one year to demonstrate a minimum level of sustainability.
  • There is a long term commitment to continuing Spirit at Work initiatives. This can be demonstrated by the effort put into creating systems and procedures to ensure that Spirit at Work is an ongoing, established part of your organization’s culture and overall approach to business.

The organization defines spirituality as: "The “vertical” component in spirituality – a desire to transcend the individual ego or personality self."

For more information and the application, go to the Spirit at Work website. Deadline for applications is May 14, 2006; with the awards ceremony taking place in New York State in October.

AddThis Social Bookmark Button | 04/17/06 | News | Permalink | Comments (0)
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Polyphasic Sleep experiment - the full cycle

by heathervescent

sleep.jpgA friend forwarded me Steve Pavlina's blog on polyphasic sleep last year and it was fascinating to read his detailed journal of starting this unusual style of sleeping. For those of you who aren't familiar, polyphasic sleep is where you take several naps of about 20-30 minutes each 24 hour cycle, skipping the traditional 5-9 hour block of sleep at night.

A few days ago, Pavlina posted to his blog his reasons to return to monophasic sleep - and they are extremely thought out, but mostly boil down to - our current society doesn't support an around the clock life. Included in his post are his complete archive of sleep notes.

Steve Pavlina's blog is full of insights and great posts. Check it out, if you want to read someone who is constantly working to improve himself and share his findings.

AddThis Social Bookmark Button | 04/14/06 | Practices | Permalink | Comments (0)
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Tom Cruise psychic?

by heathervescent

As if we need more Hollywood gossip on Tom Cruise, what with the South Park scientology episode; however according to this article, Tom Cruise is considered psychic because he "knew" Katie Holms was pregnant before she told him.

Does that mean that I'm considered psychic if I think about my mom right before she calls me? Maybe Char is right.

AddThis Social Bookmark Button | 04/14/06 | Celebrities | Permalink | Comments (1)
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Where's the daily mantra?

by heathervescent

Hi there. Yesterday I was researching a new kind of energy work for hours and it wiped me out. Kind of funny, I thought, when the energy work is supposed to GIVE you energy, instead all I could do was go home and sleep afterwards. I'll tell you all about it in a few days.

AddThis Social Bookmark Button | 04/14/06 | News | Permalink | Comments (0)
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I know you're out there

by heathervescent

Hi there. I know you're out there - reading this blog - yeah - you, right now. So, what do you think of it? Why are you reading it? Do you find these stories fantastic, crazy, entertaining? Why don't you leave me a comment, let me know what you think and start a conversation with you other readers? Or maybe this is your guilty pleasure and you want to keep it a secret.... If that's the case, you can use a pseudonym and I promise I won't tell anyone...

AddThis Social Bookmark Button | 04/12/06 | News | Permalink | Comments (0)
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Not always a nice visit

by heathervescent

It's sometimes difficult enough for your parents to visit you when you are living, but when they show at your psychic reading on National Television it's not suprising to explode. That's exactly what happened to supermodel Janice Dickinson on Sci Fi's Psychic at Large with Char Margolis.


"I really thought that when my father died, he was going to be gone," says Janice, tearing up. "For him to be in the room today, which I truly believe that he was, it's difficult. It's really difficult."

Char says this was probably the first experience she ever had where she had a spirit coming in and the loved one is trying to kick them out! But Janice has a good reason, as she says her father was a "pig" and once locked her in a trunk.

You can watch the session tonight on the Sci Fi Channel or go here to view a video archive including Char's session with Janice.

Char in fact believes that everyone is psychic and talks here about the power of thought.

AddThis Social Bookmark Button | 04/12/06 | Celebrities | Permalink | Comments (0)
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Indian Army practices Yoga

by heathervescent

Apparently the Indian Army practices yoga!

At an altitude of over 11,000 feet when every breath catches in the throat due to paucity of oxygen, the army at the forward bases in Ladakh have taken to yoga in an effort to keep the troops in good health.

AddThis Social Bookmark Button | 04/12/06 | Practices | Permalink | Comments (1)
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Oregon Coast Ghosts

by heathervescent

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Ghosts are being spotted everywhere! Here's a story on some haunted locations on the Oregon coast like the following one:

The Heceta Head Lighthouse, north of Florence, is the subject of some truly chilling tales. This yarn has shades of the old "Ghost and Mrs. Muir" TV series, with families who've run the B&B at the keeper's quarters saying the lady phantom is like a member of the family. This coastal ghostly tale is the one with the most witnesses, also backed up by famed nature photographers Steve Terrill and Steve Gaddis.
The Yaquina Head Lighthouse and the Yaquina Bay Lighthouse in Newport both have ghost tales surrounding them, but they’ve been proven to be rumor and their sources traced.

AddThis Social Bookmark Button | 04/11/06 | Fringe | Permalink | Comments (0)
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Mind Body Challenge

by heathervescent

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iVillage is sponsoring a 6 week Mind Body Challenge starting Monday, April 24th.

Coach Kate Hanley describes the program:

Deep down inside, you know there's got to be a way to feel more relaxed, more appreciative and more at peace ‑- some way to stop feeling frazzled and start feeling fulfilled. The Mind-Body Community Challenge® is all about finding that way. Together, we'll learn how making small, simple steps can have a profound impact on our daily lives and on our outlook.

Will you take the Mind-Body Challenge?

AddThis Social Bookmark Button | 04/11/06 | Health | Permalink | Comments (0)
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New Conference studies "Spiritual Transformation"

by heathervescent

Last week a conference supported by the Metanexus Institute and UC Berkeley.

Spiritual Transformation Scientific Research Program. In order to initiate a new multidisciplinary program of scientific research focused specifically on spiritual transformation, we developed a working definition with the understanding that this definition may be further developed and modified as the findings emerge. Spiritual transformation is defined here as: dramatic changes in world and self views, purposes, religious beliefs, attitudes, and behavior. These changes are often linked to discrete experiences that can occur gradually or over relatively short periods of time. ...

It is interesting to note that the recent exponential increase of studies into spirituality/religion and health in psychology shares an important focus on the basic and significant role of spirituality in human life but rarely mentions spiritual transformation. And while anthropologists have studied spiritual transformations in relation to revitalization movements and to traditional healer development in the past, these studies have not been well integrated into the other scientific literature on spirituality. Similarly, there is a well-established literature in religious studies on conversion experiences that has also developed without broad connections to integrated multidisciplinary empirical scientific research on the neuropsychosocial processes underlying the capacity and development of spiritual transformation in individuals and social groups. Hence this symposium program will provide a variety of new insights viewed from the lens of empirical science on spiritual transformation that will help bridge, integrate with and extend the existing knowledge bases.

I really wish I had heard about it before now, as I would have loved to attend. It's interesting to see the scientific community utilizing traditional methods on traditionally difficult to quantify experiences. It looks as if this will eventually become a bonafide school of scientific study.

AddThis Social Bookmark Button | 04/10/06 | Practices | Permalink | Comments (0)
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Messages of Inspiration

by heathervescent

Are you tired of t-shirts that promote power, violence and negativity? If so, here are two places you can find inspiring t-shirt.
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First off Emotional Armor, was started by Jenifer Hoffman after she was injured in a triathlon. She found it difficult to buy inspiring and uplifting t-shirts, so she started her own company, printing inspiring words on shirts for women, children and men. And the proceeds of the shirts go to a local crisis center.

Second is the SuperViva store. SuperViva is a website where you create a list of things you want to do. In the store you can find t-shirts with some of the most popular goals. [Disclaimer: I have been a huge supporter of SuperViva from the start, and although I am not officially employed with the company, I promote it as much as possible!] I personally inspired this one because I wanted to really push myself into new realms in 2006 and do an amazing job (aka Kick Ass) at the same time.

Get inspired and inspire others.

AddThis Social Bookmark Button | 04/10/06 | Product Reviews | Permalink | Comments (0)
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Psychic Judge fired

by heathervescent

It would seem like an asset to be psychic, if you were a judge, but apparently not everyone thinks so, according to this article.

[Florentino] Floro, [a Philippine judge] who told a courtroom that he has psychic visions, also claimed he can appear in two places at once and is able to inflict pain on corrupt officials using his paranormal powers, the Supreme Court said in a statement.

He also held “healing sessions” in his chambers and claimed he was so powerful he could perform his duties, including writing, while in a trance. “His mental problems, for now, appear to render him unfit for the delicate task of dispensing justice, not because of any acts of corruption and debasement on his part, but clearly due to a medically disabling condition,” the Supreme Court said in its decision.

Although I have heard of stories where people are able to do feats described above, they still seem beyond the realm of my possibility.

Still, if he can actually do what he says he does, it's pretty amazing. Too bad he's out of a job, but if he's really able to be in two places at once, that's probably the least of his worries.

AddThis Social Bookmark Button | 04/09/06 | News | Permalink | Comments (1)
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Interview with a Ghost Whisperer

by heathervescent

Last night was the first episode of the second season of CBS's Ghost Whisperer and you can catch an interview with Aisha Tyler, show co-star, here.

The show site offers a fabulous ghost gallery and a haunted house quiz, but I can't seem to access them, even though I have the most recent flash plug-in installed. You may have better luck.

James Van Praagh has a blog that chronicles the show and although it's not updated regularly, it does have some fun photos and inside stories.

AddThis Social Bookmark Button | 04/08/06 | Fringe | Permalink | Comments (1)
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UFOs vs Bigfoot?

by heathervescent

40 years ago, around 200 people supposedly saw a UFO. Today they will meet up and continue to discuss what it was they saw.

Witnesses described the as silver, saucer-shaped and silent. Others who saw the object say they saw it drop behind trees at Westall's Grange Reserve, then rise vertically and leave.

Flattened and charred grass "crop circles" were said to have been left behind in the reserve.

In the meantime, Chris Rutkowski, a UFO researcher from Canada, released his 2005 report on UFO sightings. According to Rutkowski, UFO sightings are down, while bigfoot sightings are up.

Interested in more UFO sites and blogs? Australian news has a good overview here. Here's an interesting article how certain Air Forces avoid flying in airspace where UFO's have been sighted. And I remember a friend pointing out islands in the Caribbean owned by the US Military, where UFO's had also been sighted.

A friend of bigfoot? Then be sure to stop by Cyptromundo and check out the Texas bigfoot exhibit photos.

AddThis Social Bookmark Button | 04/08/06 | Fringe | Permalink | Comments (0)
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Nigeria: Separate Church and State

by heathervescent

Meanwhile in Nigeria, former Head of State, General Yakubu Gowon implored his followers to stop choosing leaders based on their religion.

"We must ensure an honest, free and fair election and demand that any Nigerian with requisite qualifications and qualities, irrespective of tribe, faith or belief, has a right to the highest office in the land."

It's interesting to note, that he delivered this message in his sermon - which might be a strange place to suggest selecting leaders not based on their religion.

AddThis Social Bookmark Button | 04/07/06 | News | Permalink | Comments (0)
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Los Angeles - A God for everyone

by heathervescent


The LA Alternative Magazine has a wonderful cover story on the diverse spiritual landscape in Los Angeles.

Storefront churches are an urban phenomenon, but perhaps no city has as vibrant a culture of these curbside congregations as L.A. From living room temples to Pentecostal warehouses to old movie theaters turned Evangelical pulpits, there’s a God on every corner in L.A. And as they pop up where other businesses have failed-often in the grittiest corners-they buck the trend of the mega-churches that prosper so well behind decorative suburban gates.

From urban chapels hidden away in strip malls, Scientology on Sunset to the wide variety of Buddhism on the West Side, an Argentine Mormon missionary confirms that in LA "driving is a little crazy."

* photo courtsey of the Los Angeles Alternative Newspaper

AddThis Social Bookmark Button | 04/07/06 | Beliefs | Permalink | Comments (0)
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Walking on Water, or Ice?

by heathervescent

Dr. Doron Nof, a professor of Oceanography at Florida State University set out to answer the question: "Did Jesus walk on water?" and what he theorizes, is instead Jesus walked on ice. There's been a fair amount of news coverage, included this article from the New York Times, but you'll have to go here to read the professor's abstract which explains his research.

Dr. Nof's does not set out to say definitively that Jesus walked on ice, but rather to provide a scientific explanation of the unique if unusual freezing phenomenon that occurs when specific meteorological conditions are met in the location where it is purported Jesus frequented.

In 1992 Dr. Nof's theory, scientifically explaining the parting of the Red Sea was picked up by many newspapers, including the LA Times. (Read the article here.) Dr. Nof theorized that wind blowing a certain direction for a consistent amount of time, could have uncovered a high ridge, which could have been used to cross. If the wind died down suddenly, the ocean would have immediately recovered the ridge.

The question remains, did Moses and Jesus take advantage of these meteorological conditions, or did they create them? And if they acted in conjunction with the Divine, what is much the difference?

AddThis Social Bookmark Button | 04/06/06 | Beliefs | Permalink | Comments (0)
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Funny Astrology Songs

by heathervescent

I was driving around Los Angeles and recently saw www.astrologysongs.com painted on a car, so I decided to go on over and check out the site. Harvey Sid Fish has written and recorded 12 songs, one about each sign in the zodiac. It appears the songs are from the late 1980's and they sound a lot like children's sing-a-longs, but the lyrics are amusing enough. Here's a few lines from the song for Scorpio...

SCORPIO...SCORPIO
I'VE GOT THE WORST REPUTATION IN THE ZODIAC
I'M OVER ABUSED AND ALWAYS UNDER ATTACK
I'M JUST TENDER LOVING LOYAL I'M NOT CRAZED AND COMPLEX
WHY IS EVERYTHING THEY SAY ABOUT ME SIN OR IT'S SEX

The recordings, of which you can hear at this page, are nothing to write home about. Still, enough for a laugh.

AddThis Social Bookmark Button | 04/05/06 | Entertainment | Permalink | Comments (0)
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Trip Report: Panamint Valley

by heathervescent

So last week I mentioned I was going on a quest to contact Nuri Alexander, aka The Blue Scout and special colleague to Carlos Castaneda. Her body was recently identified, although it was found several years ago.

I embarked on the trip with a colleague and we headed North from Los Angeles mid-day on Thursday arriving in the Panamint Valley around dusk. Our first stop was the mountain of strata on the northeast side of the valley. We camped halfway up the canyon. Our plan was to locate the spot Nuri might have jumped from and ask her some burning questions.

click to read the rest of the post...

AddThis Social Bookmark Button | 04/04/06 | | Permalink | Comments (2)
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Happy Accident or just paying attention?

by heathervescent

Have you ever dreamt of something before it happened? I think this is more common than we might expect. If you've practiced any dream recollection on a regular basis or kept a dream journal, I'm sure you can find events that you dreamt about before they happened. Is this dream Deja Vu or are you dreaming the future?

This week, MTV reports that both Shakira and Wyclef Jean dreamt of working with each other.

"It was a sign from heaven," Shakira said. "So I took a plane to meet him in Miami, and that's how it all got started. It's a happy accident or one of those games with destiny."

Happy accident or not, dreams often give information or suggestions on what you should do with your life.

AddThis Social Bookmark Button | 04/03/06 | Celebrities | Permalink | Comments (0)
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