.:|:. Dove Love’s .:. Points and Passions .:|:.

By Dove, www.TarotwithLove.com  I was just reading an old post I did on a book that I feel everyone should read — that is, those who are so very tired of being on a hamster wheel that never gets them to where they wish to be, wondering where’s the happiness, the freedom…   It’s called “The Paradigm Conspiracy.”  My previous post includes an overview of the book (note, the bolded areas were my doing). 

As I was reading over this overview, thoughts came up about a blog I was frequenting on here a while back — trying to tweak the minds of a group of rabid skeptics.  I was sharing a few of my experiences with them, particularly with the Tarot.  Of course, it mattered not that they had zero experience in this regard (and I’ve now spent about a decade almost incessantly using the Tarot), they still scoffed at the prospect that what I spoke was the truth.  Since they’d already warmed up to me a bit, they first tried to be charitable and suggested that I was imagining all of this (heh), but it was clear that if that wasn’t it, dishonesty had to be.  

I tried to not let it annoy me — I s’pose I asked for it by sharing such things with people who believe nothing that their science tells them they shouldn’t believe.  I remember posting my Edison post (where people mocked Edison — scientists, and other lofty ones) on that thread, and there was a brief pause … then one of them came back with something like, “Yeah, but those Edison things could be proved by science.”  At that point, I moved on, because it was clear their minds weren’t budging — but I was like, huh?  Then, why were highly regarded scientists among those who scoffed at and mocked Edison? …

My next thoughts were about a guy in my past.  My cards have actually referenced him as a “fool” (several times) in the negative sense (but there is also a positive take on the fool in the Tarot).  The way he thinks boggles my mind, but I don’t think he’s that much different than many — thinking that “success” is all about how much money you can make.  And so this guy is consumed by his work.  He sees no other way to become his version of a success.  I remember a few years ago when he started working this job, I told him that it was a prison, that it wasn’t worthy of losing his health over.  I heard from him recently — he said he’d been in the hospital a couple of times recently per lack of sleep…   What he doesn’t seem to get is that the present dictates the future.  If it isn’t balanced, the future won’t be.  If you’re not happy in the present, you won’t be in the future either.  The thing is, you can do something in the present that might not be all that you wish for, BUT you must BALANCE it with what you do want.  That is, some energy MUST be put towards what you do want.  If you are currently neglecting and abusing your body for some pay-off in the future, there’s no balance in that — so stay tuned for a messed up body in the future.  But hey, you’ll have lotsa money to go to the hospital and docs a lot…

It’s insanity.  Our bodies, our health, are PRICELESS.  Ya’ can’t go out and buy a new body — NO MATTER HOW MUCH MONEY YOU HAVE.  Ask someone who has no sight, but lotsa money what they’d pay for the gift of sight.  Someone with no legs what they’d pay to have them back?  …  And yet so many of us sacrifice our lives, our health, so as to make money — to buy STUFF.  Geez. 

Actually it isn’t insanity, or even stupidity (usually), it’s what the above-mentioned book speaks of.  A kind of brainwashing via “paradigms.”  And I would add that we keep doing this over and over, because the promise of what it supposedly brings (happiness, or even real security, per money/power), never actually happens — but we think (per the paradigms) that it will if we just work a little more, a little harder…  And then maybe ya’ get “there,” but all you discover is that you’ve been a fool…you’ve been duped into sacrificing your precious body, life, health, TRUE HAPPINESS…for a pile of green paper, a false sense of security/safety, a mountain of material stuff that’s momentarily gratifying but ultimately suffocating, and an illusion of power…  All you truly have in those things is NOTHING, but you’ve lost so much in this FINITE life…

It’s time to “wake up.”  And this book is a good place to start :)  Read the overview of the “The Paradigm Conspiracy” here.  And then also realize that you ARE the power, it’s all about what you believe… And it will be those who are endeavoring to overcome the brainwashing that will truly be powerful in the future, not those who continue to put their total focus and efforts in the outer world, all the while destroying their bodies, and consequently dishonoring the real power — within them.

Peace,
Dove

:)

By Dove, www.TarotwithLove.com  Okay, so I’m kinda getting this idea from Oprah and her “favorite things” show, which I must admit (as much as I like Oprah), I would never invest in.  Like…  I saw a quick blip of her show recently and she had on one of her favorite lounging outfits, very pretty.  “Just” about $200 for the top, and $200 for the bottoms (as I vaguely recall).  “Do-able” she says, regarding this price tag.  LOL, uh-yeah, okay ;) 

Anyway, so I was hanging my laundry today :) and was realizing how much I like my wonderful drying rack, which I’ve had for a million years — one of my very best “investments.”  I usually just hang my “delicates” and other nice clothes on it, but I’ve recently started even hanging my towels and “grungies” — my loungewear :) — on it.  It amazes me that I can hang two full loads on this thing.  The dryers at my apartment laundry don’t work — oh, they are fully operating, they go ’round and ’round — they just don’t actually dry the clothes, lol   I’ve spent about 3 hours and $2 or $3 dollars trying to get one load dry…and still toted damp clothes back up to my apartment.   Yep, this drying rack is one of my favorite things :)  Money and time saver.

From that realization, I decided to do a little list of some of my favorite things and this can also serve as a gratitude list :)   So here ya’ go:

1)  My wonderful drying rack!  I’ve had this puppy for at least 15 years.  I used to shop from a plethora of high-quality catalogues (Spiegel, Pottery Barn, Hold Everything…) and I think I got this baby from the Hold Everything catalogue.  I think one of the many reasons I like it is, it’s cute :)  Very cute.  And that’s important to we Libra people :)  It has sort of a star shape (one of my fav symbols) — the “arms” and “legs” are true to the star shape, but no proportionate pointy “head” :)  The way I set it up (it’s adjustable), it’s about 4.5 feet high and a little over 3 feet wide (but can go much wider).  It’s what I’m assuming is enamel-coated (white) steel, because it is surely very high quality.  It still looks like new except for a bit of scraping of the coating around the “hooks” that hold the arms into place.   And, as indicated, I load it down with wet clothes, towels and such.  I put shirts and other items on hangers to make even more room — and those little rungs have held up, no bowing even after all the use.  That’s why I think it’s steel.  All the rungs still welded tight in place.  I’m pretty sure I paid about $30 for it all those years ago.  I haven’t seen it in any catalogue or elsewhere since purchasing it.  I wouldn’t sell it for 100 bucks, lol :)  Love my drying rack!  Yay! ;)

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2) Cuisinart Convection Oven.  I bought it about ten years ago to wean myself off the microwave, which I gave away.  It’s wonderful.  You can bake a potato, broil some fish or other meat, cook the little frozen entrees, make toast to perfection, heat up a muffin or whatever…  I’ve lived here for three years, I’ve never used my large oven.  I sometimes forget those microwave things still exist.  After ten years, it does make a little “I’m old” noise while it’s doing its thing, heh, but I still love my little oven.

3) Okay, this is actually a recent purchase — rare for me, ’cause when I purchase, I try to make it one that I won’t have to repeat for a long, long time :)  But these little jewels are called “Klean Kantenes.”  For toting water.  I love them, for a lot of reasons.  Cute :)  And very lightweight.  I had been toting my water to work in glass (very heavy!), so this is a wonderful new thing for me.  I recommend the flat-top caps.  Also, I was not happy when I first drank water from them, because there was a metallic taste (they’re stainless steel), but I hoped that was just the initial “newness.”  And sure enough, it’s no longer an issue — either I’ve gotten use to that taste (doubtful) or the “newness” wore off.  I carry three of the 18 oz size to work, I also have a 12 oz that’s good for toting juice or almond milk in my lunch bag.  I got them at a discounted price since I bought several, but, as I recall, they range from $13 to $20 — something like that.  I noticed the site where I purchased them went up on price right after I got mine.  These are wonderful to have, especially if you’re concerned about the plastic taste and leaching…

4)  I was just thinking today how much I love my little baby crockpot (one/two quart), perfect for single people.  I’m not Hattie Homemaker (at all), so I don’t like to cook, but I gotta eat healthy.  I think it’s so cool how you can just put meat. veggies and seasoning in this little pot, turn it on, go about your business, and at the end of the day, a yummy meal.  So awesome :)

5) This I also recently got, a Fit Ball — there are several different names for it, stability ball, etc.  I never dreamed I would like it so much.  I play on it more than I do the actual exercises…  I especially like arching my back on it, feels sooo good!  And sometimes I sit too close to the TV while sitting on it — if I don’t have my glasses on ;)  It makes a great ottoman too :)  Oh, and sometimes I bounce it (fun to bounce!) just to bug the neighbors downstairs, LOL! Just kidding!! ;)

6)  Okay, one more.  I’m only 5′2″ so I have a couple of these wonderful wood step stools.  Ya’ know, they don’t fold up or anything, they would also make a nice planter ;)  But, they look nice, they can blend in with the decor.  I have one in my living room and kitchen area, and one in my walk-in closet.  Use ‘em almost constantly for top-shelf stuff.  And, in case I forgot to mention it, they’re cute ;)

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This and so much more that I’m grateful for… And as per my gratitude part of this list, I’m so grateful I no longer feel a desire for an excess of stuff, and having honed down in that area so much in the last several years, I can now see what I truly love and appreciate.  Minimalism is good stuff :)

Hugs,
Dove

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Dove’s Art    Dove’s Posts At-a-Glance    Dove’s Tarot Website

Go figure.  Taking it slow (focusing on “the now”) is a good thing.  Valuing people, your employees, is good business.  All the forcing and rushing is, well, stupid :)  Hmmm. Here’s an excerpt from an article at a great site called ”Zen Habits.”

Dove

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Basically, the movement questions the sense of “hurry” and “craziness” generated by globalization, fueled by the desire of “having in quantity” (life status) versus “having with quality”, “life quality” or the “quality of being”. French people, even though they work 35 hours per week, are more productive than Americans or British. Germans have established 28.8 hour workweeks and have seen their productivity been driven up by 20%. This slow attitude has brought forth the US’s attention, pupils of the fast and the “do it now!”.

This no-rush attitude doesn’t represent doing less or having a lower productivity. It means working and doing things with greater quality, productivity, perfection, with attention to detail and less stress. It means reestablishing family values, friends, free and leisure time. Taking the “now”, present and concrete, versus the “global”, undefined and anonymous. It means taking humans’ essential values, the simplicity of living.

It stands for a less coercive work environment, more happy, lighter and more productive where humans enjoy doing what they know best how to do. It’s time to stop and think on how companies need to develop serious quality with no-rush that will increase productivity and the quality of products and services, without losing the essence of spirit.

Many of us live our lives running behind time, but we only reach it when we die of a heart attack or in a car accident rushing to be on time. Others are so anxious of living the future that they forget to live the present, which is the only time that truly exists. We all have equal time throughout the world. No one has more or less. The difference lies in how each one of us does with our time. We need to live each moment. As John Lennon said, “Life is what happens to you while you’re busy making other plans”.

Excerpt from http://zenhabits.net/2007/02/slow-down-to-enjoy-life/

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