We've all heard about May flowers as justification for April rain, and certainly, as anyone who has visited our nation's capital during cherry blossom season can attest, those flowers are worth the wet. But did you know a gift of May flowers (a May basket, to you May Day fans) was also believed to promote healing? Or that acceptance of a May bouquet could constitute engagement?
To ancient Pagans, May Day, known as Beltane, celebrated flowering fertility, as spring moved into summer. The Goddess and God were believed to mate at this time, and young lovers followed in amorous suit, using flowers to signify their intent. In Europe, young men would scale the Alps in collection of edelweiss, which, when publicly accepted by their maiden, signified that the couple were engaged.
Similarly, in a tradition of "May birching" or "May boughing," young men would fasten garlands along the windows or around the doorknobs of the young women they were squiring on Beltane Eve. Mountain ash leaves and hawthorn were particularly suggestive of love, but beware any thorny branches, which were said to represent disdain. With time, this tradition generalized to include the gifting of Beltane flowers to anyone in need of healing or prosperity.
But don't forget about the April showers! Rejuvenating spring rain was integral to Beltane festivities, and it was believed that washing your face in the pre-dawn Beltane dew would yield a year of health, luck, and beauty.
Enticed? Click HERE for instructions on making your own eco-friendly, recyclable May Basket. Just beware of thorns!
Whether it's the 'me first' attitude of an Aries or the workaholic nature of a Capricorn, we all have annoying little habits that can drive our partner or friends crazy. If we know what we are getting in to in advance it's a lot easier to play nice and not allow someone's usual behavior to drive us away. So before you throw in the towel on your relationship or jump into a new one, read more about your partner's sign sun to know first hand what annoying little habits come with the package.
Aries: Always First in Line!
Aggressive rams like to be first. To that end, they have a habit of pushing to the front of the line in everything they do - quite literally. While Aries' aggressiveness can lead to their successes, it can also compromise their relationships. Experts suggest tapping into the ram's more nurturing side. Give your Aries an animal or plant and see their selfishness subside.
Taurus: Too Trashy!
Ever known a hoarder? Odds are good the person was a Taurus. Being surrounded by all of their worldly possessions gives bulls a sense of security, but for those who share their space, it's chaotic. To strike a happy medium, Taureans should go for storage systems that keep their stuff on display. Stacking baskets, glass jars, and open shelving can promote organization whilst letting the stubborn bull see the possessions that allow them to feel so at home.
Gemini: Chew on This!
Whoever said idle hands are the devil's plaything was probably a Gemini. Since the twins like to keep their hands busy at all times, it's no surprise that they're the nail biters of the zodiac. So if you know a Gemini (or are a Gemini) who had a tendency to bite, get in on the knitting craze. Try carving or bead work. And for goodness sake, get manicures - even if you're a guy! Tending to your hands will help you keep nail gnawing temptation at bay.
Cancer: Sweet Surprise!
Sure, they're some of the sweetest people in the zodiac... but how do you think Cancers got that way? Sugar of course! Perhaps to ward off crankiness, crabs love cookies, candy and ice cream. But while tempered indulgence is a-okay, too much dessert can take a toll on waist lines and energy levels. Experts say however, that what Crabs are really after is oral gratification. Gnawing on health snacks like dried fruit and sugarless gum should do the trick.
Leo: Showing You The Money!
In fact, Leos show everyone the money - and that doesn't have to mean cash. Whatever the Lion's got is on display at center stage. And while it's only natural that a sign so blessed with creativity and charm would like to share their wares, the insecurity from which the desire to be in the spotlight at all times can be draining. Astrologers advise that learning to compliment others will bring Leos the praise they crave and move them off the most obnoxious list!
Virgos: Neat Freak!
Cleanliness is nice. Some say it's even next to godliness. Certainly a Virgo coined that phrase! The nit-picky Virgin sometimes compromises their own pleasure for the sake of perfection. But Virgo needs to learn that feeling good trumps looking good any day. By making time for a few minutes of messy fun each day (try baking, painting or sculpting), experts say Virgos can overcome their fear of filth and learn to love the messier aspects of life - in moderation of course!
Libra: Shop 'Til We All Drop!
If you're around a Libra for long, you'll realize that shopping addiction is a very real thing. Inspiration for the term "shopaholic," these folks have every credit card in the book. Blessed with undeniably impeccable taste, their penchant for the finer things isn't necessarily troublesome, though it can get them in trouble at bankruptcy court. Word is however, that what's really at stake here is a quest for beauty. Simple but inexpensive pleasures like nature walks and museums can quell the balance seekers' urge to splurge.
Scorpio: Stinging Resentment!
If you hurt a Scorpio, on purpose or even without meaning to, you may have an enemy for life. No one carries a grudge better than a scorpion, whose unfortunate tendency to cling to resentments sometimes crowds out room for love, happiness, and trust. Self-care is key for this stinging sign who can learn to let go of a grudge by softening their hearts. Getting a massage every month or writing in a journal each day will do a lot to enable forgiveness.
Sagittarius: Ouch! Honesty Hurts!
The archer sure knows how to hit a bull's eye - only sometimes the target may be your soft spot! Known for their habit of merciless truth telling, even the most well-intentioned Sag will miss the mark with inappropriate comments on occasion, so don't say we didn't warn you when you ask a Sagittarius if your butt looks fat in a pair of jeans. But all hope is not lost, as archers are also quick studies, and the best way for them to cultivate tact is by hitting the books. Study up on Miss Manners and even the most honest archers will be able to discern when keeping their mouths shut would be the optimal option.
Capricorns: Work, Work, Work!
Hard work is good work according to the goat, who is, undoubtedly, the original workaholic. Afraid to loosen up for fear that poverty will set in as soon as they stop working, Capricorn's best cure for this tendency is learning to appreciate their non-material blessings. Astrologers suggest keeping a gratitude journal and enjoying even just a few minutes a day of relaxation/reflection or meditation. By learning to appreciate the present, goats can stop cutting vacations short for the sake of work!
Aquarius: Social Distortion!
Independence is a virtue... sort of! Water-bearers get into the habit of creating completely self-sufficient lives, making it difficult for them to achieve intimacy. Afraid that relationships will compromise their independence this means they sometimes have an aversion to settling down. Fortunately, experimentation is a true Aquarian love, so treating intimacy as an exercise will allow the Water-bearer to relinquish control and partake in relationships.
Pisces: Drowning Sorrows!
It's to be expected that the fish loves liquids. But when those liquids have a high alcohol content, problems can ensue for the sensitive Piscean. Naturally, a twelve-step program can be of enormous benefit here. But before things get that far, meditation and yoga are especially worthwhile for Pisces as they allow the fish to achieve a healthy sense of nirvana. In the end, that's all these dreamers are really after!
Compatibility’s In The Stars!
Click HERE for a quick astrological compatibility check, and find out if your relationship is destined to be enduring, annoying habits and all!
So... May Day. Something about Maypoles and flower baskets, right? Like Groundhogs' Day (aka Imbolc) before it, May Day has yet to make much of an impact among contemporary American holidays. And yet this day, also known as Beltane, has tremendous significance among Pagans, second only to Samhain/Halloween. So maybe those poles are worth a closer look...
As with all Pagan sabbats, Beltane parallels the wheel of the year, celebrating the bloom of spring flowers and blessing their growth into a bountiful harvest. Celebrated at the mid-point between the Vernal Equinox (Ostara) and the Summer Solstice (Litha), Beltane also marked the last of the spring fertility festivals (after Imbolc and Ostara), as the cattle were driven to pasture.
But let's get to the good stuff: fertility festivals? Just as crops burst from the earth and flowers expand into bloom, Pagans believe that at Beltane the, um, pleasures of the self are similarly awakened. That's right, from springtime courtships to that enormous ribboned phallus, Beltane is basically about sex. And frankly, it isn't even discreet.
Young couples were encouraged to test their fertility with Beltane trysts, and any babies born from Beltane were believed to be blessed by the Goddess herself. Trial unions, called hand-fastings (as the lovers' clasped hands were bound by ribbon), were also popular at Beltane, committing the couple to each other for one year and a day in preparation for a marital commitment. (Actual marriage, however, was discouraged in May, in deference to the union between Goddess and God.)
And that sexual union? Brings us right back to the Maypole, essentially an enormous phallus, thrust deep into the earth, around which young men and women dance, weaving colored ribbons in encouragement of the earth's (and their own) fertility. For many Pagans, dancing the Maypole is an enchanted experience, uniting the energy of the earth, and the energy of the sun to yield a bountiful harvest. So, whether you subscribe to the more... suggestive interpretations or not, clearly a day of celebration is upon us. We at Daily Mantra hope you enjoy.
This photo illustrates rather graphically a point I once made to my stepson, that you should always be nice to people because you never know when you'll meet them again. According to the rules of karma, it may wait until a next life to get back at you if you don't play nice, but these days it often works a little faster than that.
Of course you should always be nice to people. Period. But when you're explaining this concept to a teenager, whose eyes glaze over as you explain the finer points of being a good member of the human race, appealing to their self-interest can help drive the point home.
In this case, my stepson (who, it should be noted, is now much older and wiser) thought it was a good idea to break up with his girlfriend via text message. Exploiting the brevity of the medium, he sent two words to this poor, unsuspecting girl: "You're Dumped."
I tried explaining that this might not have been the most tactful approach. I asked him how he would feel if a girl did the same thing to him. And I offered alternative lines (to be used strictly in person) that would get the message across, but in a much nicer way: You're too good for me. I feel we're growing apart. I'm not sure what I want right now, so don't feel it's fair on you to continue this relationship. Etc.., etc...
Thanks to his teenage years, this appeal to his better nature was met with rolling eyes, so I decided to change tactics. I explained to him that the older you get the more you realize how small the world really is. The friend you shunned at school may turn out to be your new boss, and the girl you dumped by text message may turn out to be the heart surgeon who literally has your life in their hands one day.
Seeing this picture, brought memories of that life lesson back. In this fast paced world, karma doesn't always wait until the next life to bite you in the proverbial ass.
New research suggests that clever women are more likely to experience problems climaxing.
A survey, conducted by a German lifestyle website, found that 62% of women who had "completed their education" reported that they often had trouble reaching orgasm. That compared with just 38% of their less qualified colleagues. Over 2,000 women between the ages of 18 and 49 participated in the study.
Experts concluded that intelligent women are "too busy thinking" in bed. Seems like these smarter women may need to clear their minds with a meditation Rx.
With Sex And The City's Carrie Bradshaw taking to the New York streets again in her skyscraper high Manolo Blahnik shoes, it's time to learn an essential equation which could turn stiletto wearing into a science as well as an art.
The equation was formulated after a SITC-loving publicist, working at London's Institute of Physics, pondered the physical limitations of Bradshaw's stiletto shoed feet (or should that be feat?).
"I sat there thinking: How can she wear heels that height? There must be some kind of formula that says you can only go so high before you fall over," Dianne Stilwell recalls.
A colleague, Professor Paul Stevenson, of the University of Surrey, came to her aid, formulating an equation that would answer Stilwell's curiosity. (It should be noted, that when he's not pondering the physics of stilettos, Professor Stevenson turns his mind to more traditional scientific pursuits, such as researching nuclear structure theory.)
The equation he came up with to explain the secret of stilettos was:
H=Q x (12+3S/8).
In this equation H represents the height of heel, S represents the length of the shoe in terms of UK shoe sizes (a limitation given that Carrie may not know this), with Q representing a variety of sociological factors.
The key to this equation, is the value of Q, which takes into account the probability that wearing the shoes will turn heads (P), the number of years experience you have wearing high heels (Y), the cost of the shoes in British pounds (L), the time in months since the shoe was the height of fashion (T), and the units of alcohol consumed (A), and is defined by the following sub-equation: Q=[P •(Y+9)•L]/[(T+1) •(A+1)•(Y+10) •(L+£20)].
It should be noted that the equation only applies to stilettos, since shoes with wider heels are much sturdier. Professor Stevenson also feels that before publishing his work in a scientific journal of record he should find a way to express within the equation the curve of increased pain that higher heels induce.
If you’d like to give Professor Stevenson's formula a whirl before purchasing your next pair of shoes, click HERE for an international shoe size conversion chart and HERE for a currency converter. However, those who are more spiritual than scientific may want to achieve balance in their stilettos by tweaking their root chakra. If that’s your chosen stiletto-heeled footpath, click HERE.
We're enjoying the irony that one Chinese garment factory has been caught manufacturing forbidden Tibet freedom flags. The factory owner claims he had no idea what the brightly colored flags meant. He was shopped by some workers who saw images of similar flags on TV.
Police seized thousands of boxed flags from the factory, which is in the country's richest province, Guangdong, in Southern China. Chinese authorities fear thousands more may have already been exported in time for Olympic torch protests in Hong Kong and beyond. I'm sure the Dalai Lama would be most amused, since he's well endowed in the humor department.
The Daily Mantra is dedicated to the journey of enlightenment, and hopes to encourage its readers to put aside preconceived notions in order to allow themselves to be open to all the lessons and opportunities the Universe presents. I'd therefore like to illustrate this idea with a tale of serial serendipities from a recent trip I took to New York.
In a year when womens' pay has actually gone down relative to men’s, John McCain voted against the Equal Pay bill, which was killed in the senate on Wednesday night. To add insult to injury, he said that what women really needed was “education and training." Tell that to the many woman with strings of letters after their names, that are still getting paid less than their equally, or lesser qualified male counterparts for similar work.
On the up side, listen to Chelsea Clinton's incredibly erudite thoughts on the subject, which she gave in an off-the-cuff response to a tough audience question during an Open Thread campaign appearance in support of her mom at Duke University. Has Hillary sold-out her feminist principles? McCain has certainly sold out his (that's if he ever had any in the first place.) Given the values Hillary’s obviously instilled in her daughter, we think her feminist heart is in the right place.
In a tongue-in-cheek move the animal lovers over at PETA are asking you to go vegetarian to offset Al Gore's environmentally unfriendly diet. They say that though the former vice president has done a lot to raise global warming awareness, his meat eating habits speak louder than words when it comes to follow through and action, since meat production is one of the leading sources of climate changing pollution.
PETA has created a special page where you can pledge to go vegetarian to compensate for Gore's meat munching ways. The animal rights organization have also posted a few inconvenient truths of their own for the former Vice President to peruse:
A major United Nations study determined that the meat industry generates 40 percent more greenhouse-gas emissions than all the cars, trucks, SUVs, ships, and planes in the world combined.
Researchers at the University of Chicago concluded that going vegan is 50 percent more effective in combating the climate crisis than switching to a hybrid car.
The official handbook of the Live Earth concerts that Gore helped organize acknowledges that not eating meat is the single most effective thing you can do to reduce your climate change impact.
While we’re aware of the toll meat production takes on the planet, we understand the superhuman eco-warrior needs to keep his strength up, and appreciate he has a lot of official dinners he needs to attend. Since he therefore might find it harder than the average person to go vegetarian overnight, the Daily Mantra is offering to purchase credits to carbon offset Gore's diet for a year if the earth-saving superstar promises to stick to a heart and earth friendlier diet of vegetables, organic white meat and fish from now on. How about it Mr. Gore?
Editors note: We don't mean to give the should've-been-president a hard time. We'd just hate to see him prematurely croak due to his beef-eating ways before his work securing the sustainability of our human habitat is complete.
CharityWater.org hope to raise awareness and funds for the 1.1 billion people on the planet that don't have access to safe drinking water with this video featuring Blood Diamond actress Jennifer Connelly. The ad is also a reminder that having instant access to fresh water at the turn of a tap makes it far too easy for us to undervalue this relatively rare and most valuable commodity.
The world's most entertaining Scientologist, Tom Cruise, is set to return to Oprah's couch, where he will face his most challenging role to date: acting normal. Cruise's previous over-exuberant appearance on Oprah's soft furnishings in 2005, during which he debuted his much imitated scary laugh, proved to be unforgettable for all the wrong reasons, so the move is a Risky Business for the star.
Oprah will tape an interview with Cruise at his Colorado home, in which, according to a press release sent out by the show, he will discuss "his family, his life and the future." Cruise will then head to Oprah's headquarters in Chicago to tape a show on May 5 celebrating his 25 years in show business. The interview is good news for Oprah, but it remains to be seen if the actor who was once Hollywood’s Top Gun can repair his damaged reputation. Regrettably, the Daily Mantra thinks that mission is impossible.
With the Olympic torch serving a catalyst, it seems that the Chinese government is bowing under the weight of international pressure and is seeking to resume a dialog with the Dalai Lama. Xinhua, the official Chinese government press agency, has announced that direct talks between government officials and a representative of the exiled Tibetan leader are likely to begin in the "coming days." Xinhua quoted an unnamed official government source in a statement released today (April 25).
"In view of the requests repeatedly made by the Dalai side for resuming talks, the relevant department of the central government will have contact and consultation with Dalai's private representative in the coming days."
The Chinese government has repeatedly claimed that the Dalai Lama is behind the recent protests and violence in China, and has accused him of "scheming and instigating."
Referring to the charges in his statements, the official is quoted as saying, "It is hoped that through contact and consultation, the Dalai side will take credible moves to stop activities aimed at splitting China, stop plotting and inciting violence and stop disrupting and sabotaging the Beijing Olympic Games so as to create conditions for talks."
As we reported last week, the Dalai Lama had indicated that "some efforts" were being made with regards to diplomacy. When asked about China's latest overtures on Friday, the Dalai Lama's spokesman, Tenzin Taklha, said they had yet to be officially contacted by the Chinese government, but would be open to talks.
"Since His Holiness is committed to dialog, we would welcome this," said Taklha. "We also have to look at when the offer does officially arrive."
With the Tibetan troubles threatening to overshadow the Beijing Olympics, and mounting pressure from international governments (including our own) for China to resume talks with the Dalai Lama, it's questionable whether this is merely a public relations exercise or a sincere attempt at meaningful dialog. The Daily Mantra therefore thought we'd consult with a practitioner of the ancient Chinese art of astrology to gain some insight into the situation.
Looking at the Dalai Lama's astrological chart (he's a home loving Cancer BTW), our experts tell us that the "transiting Saturn in Virgo is weighing heavily on the 72-year-old" and that any talks with the Chinese are likely to be "stymied and frustrating."
On the plus side, since Saturn also rules accomplishment, we're told that "these talks may ultimately create a stronger foundation from which to negotiate Tibet's freedom." Oops sorry, since freedom is a dirty word as far the Chinese government is concerned when used in reference to Tibet, perhaps those pesky, all-seeing stars are just predicting some form of "autonomy" (a word The People's Republic seems marginally more comfortable with). For now, we'll just have to wait and see how the fortune cookie crumbles.
We've all experienced it. You're in mid-conversation and all of a sudden you forget a word or name. It's on the tip of your tongue, you've used the word numerous times in the past, but for some inexplicable reason you just can't recall it.
Surprisingly, a new study reveals that you should stop right there, since straining to recall something in this way may actually reinforce the "mistake pathway," making it more likely to happen again.
In the study, which was published in the Quarterly Journal of Experimental Psychology, a group of thirty students were asked to perform word retrieval exercises. They were given a series of definitions, and had to come up the corresponding words.
They were then asked do indicate whether or not they knew the answer, or if it was on the tip of their tongue (TOT). If the answer was TOT, students were given either 10 or 30 seconds to recall the answer. In follow up tests performed two days later using the same set of definitions, those given more time to recall the answers in the previous test were more likely to get stuck again.
"We know this is how the brain works, it reinforces whatever it does. So [the study results] completely make sense," says researcher Karin Humphreys of McMaster University in Ontario. "But at the same time, it's so counterintuitive to how we feel, we should learn from all our mistakes."
So next time, rather than torturing yourself with the prolonged anguish of attempting to recall an evasive word, save yourself the frustration and just go look it up on Google. You'll be doing yourself (and your friends) a favor.
Remember the good old days when, once every blue moon, you'd buy an album on CD and get surprised by a secret song? These unlisted ghost tracks were often hidden beyond the last song, and would reveal themselves after a brief moment of silence. Also known as "easter eggs," these elusive gems have been concealed by a myriad of artists from Dave Matthews to Dido and Nirvana to No Doubt. HiddenSongs.com has uncovered the secrets of many CDs, and has compiled a database of these invisible tracks. Click HERE to find out if your favorite artist or band has a ghost song entombed in the digital code of an otherwise ordinary looking compact disc.
As an astrologer I get asked all of the time about money. Some want to know if and when their financial luck will turn around. Others ask if they will ever win the lottery, or marry a millionaire (which, sadly, some consider to be the same thing). While no astrologer may know for sure how much money you will make, I give clients guidance on how and when they can best seize the day to earn their own personal fortunes (in whatever form that may take).
I once read that approximately 12% of today's billionaires are Virgos. Virgos are known for their meticulous attention to detail and their workaholic behavior. Then we have Oprah Winfrey, one the world's wealthiest women, who is an Aquarian. This sign is known for their humanitarian nature. It therefore doesn't surprise me that Oprah is one of the world's most giving people with her Sun, Mercury and Venus all in the sign of Aquarius, and all positioned in her second house of money. We should all be so lucky.
So what is your earning potential? Much of that depends on what sign your planets are in and what houses the planets fall into in your chart. It can be rather overwhelming to know for sure if you were born to become a billionaire, but knowing a little about your attitude toward money can be helpful.
Most of us want to make money for a variety of reasons. For example we may believe money represents power or that it will provide security. Others may want wealth to buy their freedom or define their social status. Below is a brief list by sign of what your earning desires may be:
Aries
You are always involved in something, so for you having money may be a way of financing the numerous projects you would like to get off the ground.
Taurus
Most Taureans see money as a way of providing a solid foundation. You also know how to enjoy your wealth, but should be wary of boasting to others about the material possessions your money can buy.
Gemini
You are always on the go and rarely like to be tied down. Money to Geminis represents freedom.
Cancer
You have a strong connection to home, and view money as security. Cancerians are therefore great at saving money for those rainy days.
Leo
Leos have a great sense of their own self worth. You see money in social terms and enjoy lavishing your wealth on your numerous friends.
Virgo:
You can be very status conscious, so work hard to earn the money you have. Virgos are also very service and socially oriented, so giving money to help others is also very important to you.
Libra:
You love to be surrounded by beauty and art. However unconsciously, you use your wealth to buy status symbols and as a means of expressing love.
Scorpio
For you, having money is all about power, and how you can use your financial wealth to gain favor.
Sagittarius
You love your freedom of movement and don't want to be tied down. You need money you can travel and escape your world.
Capricorn
You can be very materialistic and view money as a way of validating your own social status and self worth. On the plus side, you work very hard to earn your money.
Aquarius
You need to be able to do whatever you want, when you want, so having money represents freedom for you. With your generous spirit, you also want to make sure you have more than enough, so you can give some of your money away.
Pisces
You are known for your compassionate side, so to you money represents love. You use all of the things that money can buy to express your love to yourself and others.
The Daily Mantra has a new favorite chocolate. It's a delicious and nutritious gourmet confection that borrows its name from the Sydney suburb of Woolloomooloo.
The region is known for its macadamia nuts, which have been cultivated by the indigenous people there for centuries. The Woolloomooloo chocolate bar combines roasted & salted macadamia nuts with Indonesian coconut, and yummy hemp seeds. The well-balanced, salty-sweet mix is submerged in what the manufacturer calls "deep milk chocolate," which has all the smoothness of milk chocolate and just enough of the bitterness of dark.
As the label says, the "hemp seeds are the true secret weapon in this scrumptious bar." They're packed with beneficial omega fatty acids, amino acids, and minerals, which are said to soften skin, strengthen nails, and add shine and thickness to hair. (With the state of our nails, we need to eat a lot of this stuff!)
Our new love is manufactured by a boutique company called Vosges Chocolate, which was founded by Chocolatier Katrina Markoff. The company manufactures an inspirational range of unusual premium bars and truffles. The exotic flavors, which feature rare spices and flowers, are inspired by Markoff's extensive travels.
Markoff believes in maximizing the green factor while minimizing the guilt. Her Chicago kitchen is a certified organic manufacturing facility. She uses organic ingredients where possible, packages her chocolates in boxes made of 100% recycled paperboard, and purchases renewable energy to offset the electricity used in the manufacturing process.
If that's not enough yin with chocolate's slightly wicked yang, Markoff is a strong believer in the healing power of the dark stuff. She runs yoga and chocolate retreats (which sound like our kind of Nirvana), and has a range of confections that are blended according to the ancient medicinal principles of Ayurveda.
One or more of three special truffles (Vata, Pitta and Kapha) are recommended according to the balance of your doshas. Click HERE to take a test to find out which type of truffle would best harmonize yours. You can order your prescribed dosha dose from the Vosges website. That's our kind of alternative medication.
This animated video states what should now be the obvious as far as global warming is concerned, albeit in a very entertaining way. However one Australian physicist, Phil Chapman, thinks we should be worrying about climate change in the other direction, as he touts the possibility of a return to an Ice Age.
Chapman cites an 11-year low in sunspot activity, and says that our plant actually cooled by 0.7 degrees Centigrade between January 2006 and 2007. "This is the fastest temperature change in the instrumental record," notes Chapman in an article that appears in today's Australian.
As the ice caps melt before our Googled eyes, critics have accused Chapman of cherry picking data, but regardless of whether we should be reaching for the sun tan lotion or for another layer of warm clothes to prepare for the future, living a green life still makes sense. There are so many reasons beyond global warming for ending our reliance on fossil fuels.
A recent study has concluded that even short-term exposure to smog can be linked to premature death. Our ever increasing appetite for oil funds wars and corrupt regimes, and is contributing massively to the food crisis we now face. The latter, which is caused, in the most part, by the fact that rising fuel prices are raising the cost of food production and transportation beyond what many consumers can afford, is ALREADY pushing many here at home over the poverty line into privation.
While experts can't agree on the extent and exact direction of climate change (two recently released reports claim that global warming may be far worse than the U.N. had previously predicted), there is a general consensus that the food crisis will bite before global warming does. And since the causes of both global warming and the food crisis are the same, namely over use of fossil fuels and over population, working towards a comprehensive solution should be a no-brainer.
In the scheme of things the dire problems we now face are so easily fixed. We already have the know-how to replace oil power with renewable, clean energy. We also know that cutting down rainforest and turning away from food crops in order to produce biofuel is "profoundly stupid," to recycle the words of Professor John Beddington, the UK Government’s Chief Scientific Advisor (who, unlike our scientific advisers, at least has the benefit of talking real, unabridged science with his boss).
The issue of the planet’s burgeoning population is a little trickier. While environment and sustainability issues are now firmly on the agenda, population control is the other side of the coin, and the elephant in the room that few in the West like to talk about (unless it’s in terms of “pro-life,” a policy that ironically, in global terms, results in more death). Again, it's not like we don't have the methods, but motivation is a problem, which is compounded by religious beliefs and our delicate sensibilities. How ironic that China, with their birth control already in place, may ultimately look enlightened where this issue is concerned.
Their one kid per couple policy may seem harsh by our standards, but five kids, with two more mechanical gas-guzzlers in the garage, is not a sustainable existence. We really have to learn one very simple lesson: we can't have it all. But next to the possible oblivion of our planet and/or our race, a little compromise and a lot of enlightenment, and action, seems like a small price to pay. For now, let’s at least get population control on our “to do” list alongside ending war, hunger, poverty, pollution and oil reliance, since these issues cannot be dealt with in isolation, and require a holistic approach.
You were born a Taurus, but you exhibit more of the flightiness of an Aries than an obstinate bull. Maybe you're supposed to be a chatty Sagittarius, but boy do you brood like a scorpion. Not everyone identifies entirely with their Sun sign, and one of the reasons why is already written in the stars. It's a 13th sign!
Number 13
For the sake of simplicity and neat mathematics, 2300 years ago, astrologers divided the Sun's path into 12 neat slices affording each constellation 30° of the heavens. That's all well and good, but some constellations are far larger than others, and they left someone out! Ophiuchus (funny name, we'll get to that later) is the forgotten sign of the zodiac. We know that astrologers (all the way back to the days of Ptolemy) knew about Ophiuchus, however, due to the ever changing heavens, the sky we see today isn't the same as the skies of yesteryear.
Enter Ophiuchus
Taking up 18° of the Sun's path, and sitting comfortably between Scorpio and Sagittarius is Ophiuchus (O-fee-Yoo-cuss). According to Greek tradition, Ophiuchus (a.k.a. Serpentarius, the serpent bearer) was Asclepius, the half mortal son of Apollo. After killing Asclepius' mother in a vengeful rage, Apollo sent the boy to be raised by Chiron. Chiron taught Asclepius the secrets of healing and medicine. Worried that Asclepius' knowledge would lead to the immortality of humans, Zeus killed Asclepius and gave him a place in the heavens as thanks for his noble deeds.
True empathy
Those born between November 29 and December 17 may see in themselves a natural empathy toward others and are particularly drawn to the healing of the mind, body and soul. They are kind to the point of naïveté and are blessed with dramatic powers, this however can be to their detriment if they allow themselves to empathize too much with the pain of others.
Star power
Some notables born under Ophiuchus: Winston Churchill, Woody Allen, Jim Morrison, Walt Disney, Jane Austen, Bette Midler, Ludwig van Beethoven and Emily Dickinson.
Now that the myth of the 13th sign has been dispelled, it doesn't mean that you aren't the same person that you were before. It's important to remember that while our Sun sign tells us something about our ego, we were born with all of the planets in our charts, and therefore have a little bit of everything in us all at once!
Norwegian electric carmakers Think have announced plans to manufacture and sell their reasonably priced, eco-friendly vehicles here in the U.S.
The company has partnered with two leading clean-tech venture capital firms, RockPort Capital Partners and Kleiner Perkins, Caulfield and Byers, to form Think North America. The new venture was announced at the 2008 Fortune Brainstorm Green Conference held in Pasadena, California (April 21-22, 2008). The aim of the invitation-only event is to bring industry leaders together to discuss the impact and opportunities presented by the green-movement.
Think North America hope to have their first vehicle, the Think City, in production in the U.S. sometime in 2009. It is likely that the company will be based in Southern California, and that cars will be assembled locally. The electric car, which is currently only available in Norway, is a 100% emission free, battery-powered vehicle. Made of 95% recycled material, it has a top speed of 100 km (65 miles) per hour and can drive up to 180 km (110 miles) on a single charge.
The Think City "is a mass-market vehicle," said Kleiner managing partner, Ray Lane . "Our desire is to be selling 30-40-50,000 of these cars in a couple of years." The two-seater cars, which can be fitted with additional rear seats intended for children, will retail for under $25,000.
Think was founded under the name Pivco (Personal Independent Vehicle Company) in Oslo in 1991. Ford acquired the company in 1999, but sold its stake in 2003, around the same time that General Motors dropped the now mythical EV1 after California passed legislation significantly backtracking on its ZEV (zero-emissions vehicle) mandate. In March of this year General Electric announced an alliance with Think at the Geneva Motor Show, investing $4 million in the EV company, and a further $20 million in A123 Systems, who will manufacture the car's batteries.
Interestingly, in Norway, Think offer a "Mobility Pack" lease program for the car's batteries. Under this business model, Think own the batteries and charge a monthly fee in exchange for a full maintenance, service and replacement plan. They promise to "take responsibility for battery performance throughout the car's life span" for a fee of around 200 EUR (approx $290), which also covers insurance and electricity costs. The move is intended to give customers peace of mind, and maintain the car's re-sale value. It has yet to be announced if a similar program will be available for North American customers.
Can you hear that choking sound? That’s the sound of Madonna extracting her thigh-high boot from her mouth, where it appears to have got stuck. When asked by a reporter from New York Magazine if she sympathized with Tom Cruise, Madonna, who is doing the rounds to promote the release of her new album Hard Candy, responded by saying:
"I don't care if people worship turtles or frogs - if they're good people, that's all I care about, and he (Cruise) is a good person. I think he gets a raw deal, just as I think the orphans in Malawi get a raw deal; just as I think a lot of marginalized people get a raw deal."
While the material girl clearly meant well, we can't help but enjoy that fact that she inadvertently called the much maligned Cruise a "marginalized" person, and compared his Scientology beliefs to the deification of amphibians. With friends like this....
Just a reminder on Earth Day, that as students of the Law of Attraction, we should focus on the positive rather than the negative in order to bring about the planetary change we desire. So don’t get caught up in the doom and gloom of global warming, or get depressed about the oceans of trash. Instead, focus on the beauty of this planet we call home, and how you can nurture it, both in big and small ways, everyday, to preserve it for generations to come. And celebrate the fact that there are millions of like-minded individuals all around the globe with similar goals on this very special day.
I've never subscribed to the philosophy of debt, which seems to be one of the leading sources of misery in the Western world. I've always valued the peace of mind that zero debt gives me far above the stuff that going into debt allows me to buy.
I'm not naive, I know for some it's hard to escape debt since a minimum wage hardly covers even the necessaries of life (which is obscene, and a whole other story). But most of us do have a choice: A new car and new debt vs. keeping your old car, and your peace of mind. A new flat screen TV and new debt vs. keeping your old tube TV, and your peace of mind. It's a question of values, and what you value more.
Americans are tempted and brainwashed into debt from a very early age, with credit and debit cards marketed to kids, and obligatory student loans ensuring that we embark on our adult lives chained and enslaved by our society of debt.
We all know to stay away from loan sharks, but few question the wisdom of "respectable" institutionalized debt, such as car loans, which are likely to be our biggest monthly expense after rent or mortgage payments.
We're conditioned to believe we can have the car we "deserve" now, rather than merely the one we can afford. Worse still, we are told if we don't drive the "right" car it'll harm our personal and job prospects, the “right” car for our social group inevitably being one that’s more expensive than we can really afford.
This form of corporate-driven peer pressure is truly insidious. Few realize that by subscribing to this philosophy, and something as seemingly innocuous as a modest monthly car payment, they may well be trading in their future financial security.
Do the math. If you saved up and bought a more modest used car cash down, and put the $400 a month the average American spends on their car payments in a high yield mutual fund that earns 12% annually, after 30 years you'd have a nest egg of well over $1 million.
So what does that BMW say about you now? Is the luxury car company really selling you "sheer driving pleasure" or "sheer debt forever?"
In the future, as in the past, we may very well be fighting our wars over fresh water rather than oil. After all, there are many alternatives to crude oil, but not that many for drinkable H2O. This video from Good Magazine explains the issues of supply and demand well.
We're amazed at this story of a British hypnotist, who practiced what he preached, and underwent surgery without any anesthetic.
Alex Lenkei, 61, is a registered hypnotist and underwent surgery on his hand and wrist to alleviate his arthritis. During the 83-minute operation the surgeon removed a piece of the bone at the base of Lenkei’s thumb, cut tendons, and fused several joints together.
It was the second time Lenkei had undergone surgery without the aid of anesthetic. He’d previously been hypnotized by a colleague before a hernia operation in 1996. But this time Lenkei opted to hypnotize himself. The operation was undertaken by Dr. David Llewellyn-Clark at Worthing Hospital in West Sussex on the south coast of England.
"It took between 30 seconds to a minute for me to place myself under hypnosis, and from that point I felt a very deep relaxation," says Lenkei. He was conscious throughout the operation, and could hear his surgeon talking, which caused a little concern at one point.
"I heard him say, 'Can I have the saw please?' and imagined him holding this great big thing in his hand. But fortunately he then said 'I think we'll use the smaller one,'" recalls Lenkei.
"He used a hammer and chisel at one stage and I could hear him hammering away at the bone.
"I heard everything he was saying to his assistants and anesthetist, but there was no gossip. It was a shame - I was hoping to hear something juicy."
The doctors, who were not used to holding conversations with their patients while they were operating on them, were shocked at one point when Lenkei asked how everything was going.
An anesthetist was on stand by throughout the operation, but was not needed. Lenkei says he felt no pain. "I could have certainly told them if I was in pain. I told them to zap me straight away if I cried out."
Mr. Lenkei has been practicing hypnosis since he was 16, and has lectured on the subject at the prestigious Royal College of Nursing. Dr. Llewellyn-Clark says he was confident that Lenkei was a skilled hypnotist before the operation, and was “delighted” that it went so well.
"If he had been grinning and bearing it we would have known - but his heart rate and breathing remained constant throughout.”
The Daily mantra is excited to be one of a select few invited by Current.com to curate its Earth Day page. The organizers of Earth Day hope to promote "environmental citizenship and year round progressive action worldwide."
Current is the "world's leading peer-to-peer news and information network," where what's considered news is a democratic affair. Environment superman Al Gore, someone who understands the meaning of democracy (and the lack thereof), is the network's chairman.
We're sad Al's not running for president, but understand that he has more important things to do. In the meantime, since we worry about the environment everyday, we're making April 22nd the unofficial Worldwide Al Gore Day.
Click HERE for a special message from the man who should have been president.
We've all heard about May flowers as justification for April rain, and certainly, as anyone who has visited our nation's capital during cherry blossom season can attest, those flowers are worth the wet. But did you know a gift of May flowers (a May basket, to you May Day fans) was also believed to promote healing? Or that acceptance of a May bouquet could constitute engagement?
Whether it's the 'me first' attitude of an Aries or the workaholic nature of a Capricorn, we all have annoying little habits that can drive our partner or friends crazy. If we know what we are getting in to in advance it's a lot easier to play nice and not allow someone's usual behavior to drive us away. So before you throw in the towel on your relationship or jump into a new one, read more about your partner's sign sun to know first hand what annoying little habits come with the package.
So... May Day. Something about Maypoles and flower baskets, right? Like Groundhogs' Day (aka Imbolc) before it, May Day has yet to make much of an impact among contemporary American holidays. And yet this day, also known as Beltane, has tremendous significance among Pagans, second only to 
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Carrie Bradshaw taking to the New York streets again in her skyscraper high Manolo Blahnik shoes, it's time to learn an essential equation which could turn stiletto wearing into a science as well as an art.
We're enjoying the irony that one Chinese garment factory has been 
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We've all experienced it. You're in mid-conversation and all of a sudden you forget a word or name. It's on the tip of your tongue, you've used the word numerous times in the past, but for some inexplicable reason you just can't recall it.
Remember the good old days when, once every blue moon, you'd buy an album on CD and get surprised by a secret song? These unlisted ghost tracks were often hidden beyond the last song, and would reveal themselves after a brief moment of silence. Also known as "easter eggs," these elusive gems have been concealed by a myriad of artists from Dave Matthews to Dido and Nirvana to No Doubt. HiddenSongs.com has uncovered the secrets of many CDs, and has compiled a database of these invisible tracks. Click 
As an astrologer I get asked all of the time about money. Some want to know if and when their financial luck will turn around. Others ask if they will ever win the lottery, or marry a millionaire (which, sadly, some consider to be the same thing). While no astrologer may know for sure how much money you will make, I give clients guidance on how and when they can best seize the day to earn their own personal fortunes (in whatever form that may take). 
The Daily Mantra has a new favorite chocolate. It's a delicious and nutritious gourmet confection that borrows its name from the Sydney suburb of 
You were born a Taurus, but you exhibit more of the flightiness of an Aries than an obstinate bull. Maybe you're supposed to be a chatty Sagittarius, but boy do you brood like a scorpion. Not everyone identifies entirely with their 
Can you hear that choking sound? That’s the sound of Madonna extracting her thigh-high boot from her mouth, where it appears to have got stuck. When asked by a reporter from New York Magazine if she sympathized with Tom Cruise, Madonna, who is doing the rounds to promote the release of her new album 
I've never subscribed to the philosophy of debt, which seems to be one of the leading sources of misery in the Western world. I've always valued the peace of mind that zero debt gives me far above the stuff that going into debt allows me to buy. 
We're amazed at this story of a British hypnotist, who practiced what he preached, and underwent surgery without any anesthetic. 
The Daily mantra is excited to be one of a select few invited by 