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Welcome... Our InnerSelf welcomes your inner self.
As per our "resident astrologer", Pam Younghans' "Astrological Journal for the Week", we are heading into a powerful week, what she is calling Tornado Week. While this might sound frightening, let us remember that sunshine always follows a storm, and some storms come with rainbows. So while things may look bleak in the world, light is always present, even when hidden by clouds of discord and disharmony.
The articles we bring you this week invite you to see beyond appearances to the truth within. We start with "Looking and Seeing: Dissolving Divisions and Boundaries" and we follow that with "Accepting Ourselves Completely, Inner Monster and All". Yes, the monsters are not all "out there"... some of them reside within our own being and they must be loved and accepted and thus tamed and taught to "play nice" with others. We also need to face the outer monsters with "Spiritual Activism and Service: A Deep Dimension of Planetary Healing"
While we might think we prefer to stay away from "politics", everything in our world is affected by the political, whether we want to acknowledge it or not. The food we eat is touched by laws set in place by political maneuverings, the roads we drive, the salaries we earn, the environment we live in, the internet and TV we watch or hear about. All of it is affected by politics. There is no division between "it" and us. We are all in the same world, thus we are also involved in politics. We are all in this together. The choice becomes... do we just sit back as spectators and then cry over the game "going to hell", or do we stand up and participate. Paul Brunton, many years ago, wrote about "Mysticism and Politics: Fulfillment Through Contemplation, Action, and Service."
And while you might think there is nothing you can do, it's really not that complicated. The first step is to "Be The Light That You Are and Set Your Self Free". We are all in a learning curve... many things we need to learn we've never known, and other things we just need to remember. Of major importance is "Honoring the Cycles of Time, Nature, and Space". We must learn or remember to live in harmony with ALL... with the people in our family, neighborhood, in our country, on our planet, with Nature, with animals, with Spirit, and of course with our own self/Self.
Life is a learning process. We go through ups and downs, we have "tests". We struggle at times, but through it all, we need to remember to be true to the Light of Love within, to the highest angels of our nature. We cannot just pretend that we are not involved with whatever is going on "out there". If we are living on Planet Earth, we are involved. If the house you're living in is flooding, or ravaged by fire, it doesn't matter if you own the house or not -- you are involved and you need to do something.
The first thing to do is to keep a calm, clear head.. focus on breathing, and on tuning in to your heart and your intuition as to what you need to do to help make the world a better place. It may be tiny, or it may be huge. But even tiny actions can have a huge effect. Perhaps the person you smile at, or you hold the door open for, will then not feel so hopeless and won't commit some sort of despondent act. We never know the outreach of our actions. All we know is that if we follow our heart and our intuitive guidance, we are being true to ourselves and playing our role in this cosmic drama.
Remember, we are all in this together. There is no "them"... it's all "us". First we clean and heal our inner house, and then we will be able to see clearly as to what needs to be done on the outside. And since time is not linear, it's all now. As we heal within, we heal the outside as well. As we attain peace within, as we create peace in our thoughts, so we create it through our actions... and that creates a ripple effect..
Wishing you a week of clarity, of staying centered in faith in the goodness of humans, and of living up to the best "you" that you are.
Please scroll down for the featured articles in this new issue of InnerSelf, and also the recap of all the articles that were added to the website during the week.
Marie T. Russell
editor/publisher,
InnerSelf.com
"New Attitudes...New Possibilities"
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NEW ARTICLES THIS WEEK
***** articles and videos added daily *****
Looking and Seeing: Dissolving Divisions and Boundaries
Written by Imelda Almqvist
A lifetime of making and studying art has taught me that there is a world of difference between looking and seeing. Assuming that we are not visually impaired, we like to think that we see what we look at. In reality we see mostly what we think is there. Our own mind plays tricks on us.
Accepting Ourselves Completely, Inner Monster and All
Written by Barry Vissell
We all have parts of ourselves that we prefer to remain hidden. We are all ashamed of certain things we have done or were done to us, or even feelings or thoughts we have had. We imagine that if people knew these things about us, they would not like us. We would be rejected, abandoned, judged or criticized.
Spiritual Activism and Service: A Deep Dimension of Planetary Healing
Written by Pierre Pradervand
I believe there is no authentic spirituality where there is no healing of one’s community and of the world – just as social, environmental and political activism without a spiritual dimension can easily lead to anger, bitterness and burnout.
Mysticism and Politics: Fulfillment Through Contemplation, Action, and Service
Written by Paul Brunton
There is a common belief that writers on a higher thought should avoid politics, but it is a belief common only among the mystically inclined or monastically minded, not among the philosophically trained. It is, however, part of the business of philosophy to examine political principles and ethical problems.
Be The Light That You Are and Set Your Self Free
Written by Debra Landwehr Engle
My book is called Be the Light that You Are. It’s an imperative. You are the light, now be that light in the world. Don’t ignore that part of yourself. Don’t be falsely humble and pretend that you’re not good enough. Don’t buy into the collective “I don’t matter.”
Honoring the Cycles of Time, Nature, and Space
Written by Gabriela Jurosz-Landa
Western science, in its perception of quantitative time, might eventually edge toward a dynamic concept of time (such as the Maya have). Physicists such as Fay Dowker (2018) have started to look for a way out of the concept of fixed time. Dowker says that her teacher Stephen Hawking only touched on the question of whether time really passes.
The Best Way To Ditch Bad Habits
by Ian Hamiltonk and Sally Marlow
Come February, 80% of people will have given up giving up. So what can we learn from the 20% who make it?
Here’s What We Really Know About CBD’s Benefits
by Ryan Vandrey
Assertions about the benefits of CBD often go far beyond what science has shown, according to one expert.
History Of The Two-day Weekend Offers Lessons For Today's Calls For A Four-day Week
by Brad Beaven
The idea of reducing the working week from an average of five days to four is gaining traction around the world.
Everyone Wants Meaning In Their Work — But How Do You Define It?
by Elodie Chevallier
Working people often try to figure out that elusive ingredient that will help them reach their full potential in an…
by Cian O'Driscoll
Victories have also been proclaimed in the recent wars in Iraq, Afghanistan and Libya, only for violence to continue…
How A Month At Sea Taught Me How To Steal My Life Back
by Robert Hassan
A survey this year revealed that Australians, on average, spend 10.2 hours a day with interactive digital technologies.…
Daily Weather Now Shows Climate Change’s Fingerprints
by Reto Knutti and Sebastian Sippel
Climate researchers can now detect the fingerprint of global warming in daily weather observations at the global scale.
5 Things You Can Do To Make Your Microbiome Healthier
by Connie Rogers and Darrell Cockburn
It’s common for people to focus on their health at the start of the year. But few consider the well being of the…
How To Use Habit Science To Help You Keep Your New Year's Resolution
by Wendy Wood
More than 80% of people who make New Year’s resolutions have already given up on their goals by February.
5 Questions Answered About Tracking Your Heart Rate
by Anne R. Crecelius
The rise of wearable fitness trackers has increased the number of people monitoring their heart rate, both throughout…
Why You Should Beware Of Organic Labels On Nonfood Products
by Sarah Morath
Product labels offer valuable information to consumers, but manufacturers can misuse them to increase profits.
America's Love Affair With The Single-Family House Is Cooling
by Robert Parker and Rebecca Lewis
For decades land use regulation across the U.S. has emphasized single-family houses on large lots.
Why Lawyers Are Trying To Scare You With Facebook Ads
by Elizabeth C. Tippett and Jesse King
Some ads can be more than misleading – they can put your health at risk.
How Ecotherapy Aims To Tap Into Nature To Improve Your Wellbeing
by Carly Wood
One type of therapy that is starting to become more popular is “ecotherapy”; which advocates claim can improve mental…
How To Rethink Your Idea Of Success In The New Year
by John Sellars
By attaching your sense of self-worth to these kinds of external successes, the road ahead can be fraught with danger.
The January Blues: Cross-Country Skiers Hold Clues To Beating It
by Martina Svensson
The festive season is over and we are left with the prospect of months of darkness and nothing to celebrate.
Why Your New Year's Resolution To Go To The Gym Might Fail
by William Clark
Come January, 40% of Americans will make New Years resolutions, and nearly half of them will aim to lose weight or get…
How Sales Shopping Is Killing The Planet
by Kokho Jason Sit
The sale events don’t seem to pause but instead persevere throughout the year and in various forms.
Entering the New Year Gradually and Gently
by Ellen Kanner
If other species are aware of seasons of the year and hours of the day, they don’t make a big deal about it. We humans…
New Year's Anxiety Hangover? Here's What's Happening In Your Brain
by Amy Reichelt
Have you ever woken up in the morning (or afternoon) in a cloud of worry after having a few drinks the night before?
How To Pick The Right Sunscreen When You're Blinded By Choice
by Katie Lee and Erin McMeniman
There’s an enourmous variety of sunscreens to choose from. Major supermarkets each sell more than 60 options. And one…
The Resolve To Be Thinner and Fitter This Year Won’t Lead To Salvation
by Patty Thille
Did you make a New Year’s resolution this year? If so, you are participating in a social as well as a personal ritual.
4 Ways To Keep Kids Learning While Travelling
by Florence Monique Boulard
The school year is over and holidays are upon us. But that doesn’t mean your children’s learning experiences can’t…
Which Is Better For Mental Health, Team Sports Or Solo Exercise?
by Laura Healy
Exercise is not only good for your physical health, it’s good for your mental health, too. Indeed, many people even…
Why Desexing Dogs Isn't Always The Best Thing To Do
by Jessica Dawson, et al
Many desexed family pets are the ideal parents of the next generation of family companions, having demonstrated their…
Is There Evidence Self-Hypnosis Reduces Pain During Childbirth?
by Kenneth Finlayson
The latest celebrity-endorsed health trend is the bizarre-sounding practice of “hypnobirthing”.
How Pottering About In The Garden Creates A Time Warp
by Harriet Gross
What’s not to like about gardening? It’s a great way to get outdoors, away from everyday routines, and to exercise your…
Why PSA Testing For Prostate Cancer Is Only Worth It For Some
by Shomik Sengupta
A recent UK study showed no significant difference in survival between men who had a single prostate-specific antigen…
Protest Has Helped Define The First Two Decades Of The 21st Century – Here's What's Next
by Feyzi Ismail
The first two decades of the 21st century saw the return of mass movements to streets around the world.
Why Thinking The Millennium Bug Was A Hoax Is A Bad Attitude
by Nir Oren
It’s not hard to find echoes of the late 1990s in the zeitgeist. Now as then, impeachment is on many peoples’ minds…
6 Positive Climate Change News Stories From 2019
by Heather Alberro, et al
Climate researchers have not given up hope and authors were asked to highlight some more positive stories from 2019.
7 Strategies To Boost Your Willpower and Succeed With Your New Year’s Resolutions
by Jelena Kecmanovic
It’s that time of year when people make their New Year’s resolutions – indeed, 93% of people set them, according to the…
Astrological Journal for the Week
Written by Pam Younghans
This weekly column (updated every Sunday afternoon) is based on planetary influences, and offers perspectives and insights to assist you in making the best use of current energies... Read this week's journal here
It is also highly beneficial to reread the past week's astrological journal as it gives a hindsight view of the events that took place and may provide many "ah-ha" insights.
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