The story of stuff.

story of stuffThe story of stuff  is a great 20 minute video explaining the unsustainable nature of our production and consumption systems. It’s quite shocking to see the impact of our use of stuff!

‘From its extraction through sale, use and disposal, all the stuff in our lives affects communities at home and abroad, yet most of this is hidden from view. The Story of Stuff is a 20-minute, fast-paced, fact-filled look at the underside of our production and consumption patterns. The Story of Stuff exposes the connections between a huge number of environmental and social issues, and calls us together to create a more sustainable and just world. It’ll teach you something, it’ll make you laugh, and it just may change the way you look at all the stuff in your life forever.’

http://www.storyofstuff.org/movies-all/story-of-stuff/

The evolution of consciousness

This is a great video focused on all the topics I love! Rob Williams who created it describes it as ‘The world is in crisis and transformation. Now, our civilization has the opportunity to evolve it’s thinking. We are beginning to realize that the old ways of competition and “survival of the fittest” are not sustainable, for individuals, businesses, or the planet. Nature may be our most qualified life coach, with millions of years of experience in creating sustainability. It’s time to look to Her wisdom for some answers. It’s time to do something different! The evolution occurs when we try smarter- not harder!’

The video explores what we can learn from ancient wisdom from indigenous cultures, from nature and from neuroscience. It shows how we can change and create a more sustainable world for us all. One of the things I love out of the video is its acknowledgment of the principles of nature including interconnectedness. Rob shares some of the many cultural greetings that acknowledge this interconnectedness including:

  • India – “Namaste” – the divinity within me recognises and honours the divinity within you
  • Mayan – “In’ Lakesh” – I am another you
  • Africa – “Eh-ti-zain” – How is your soul perceiving the world
  • Lakota / Native American – “Mitakuye Oaysin” – All are related
  • Polynesia – “Aloha” – I recognise the presence of divine breath in you
  • German – “Gruss Gott” – Greetings God

He shares findings from neuroscience, physics and biology to show that scientific minds also believe in these principles of nature. For instance, Erwin Schrodinger, Nobel Prize Winner in Physics 1933, is quoted as saying “The total number of minds in the Universe is one.” While Albert Einstein is quoted as saying “A human being is a part of the whole called by us universe, a part limited in time and space. He experiences himself, his thoughts and feeling as something separated from the rest, a kind of optical delusion of his consciousness. This delusion is a kind of prison for us, restricting us to our personal desires and to affection for a few persons nearest to us. Our task must be to free ourselves from this prison by widening our circle of compassion to embrace all living creatures and the whole of nature in its beauty. Nobody is able to achieve this completely, but the striving for such achievement is in itself a part of the liberation and a foundation for inner security”

Rob explains how our subconscious beliefs affect what we think, feel and do. He shows how much of current society is based around beliefs of separateness, survival of the fittest, greed is good, etc and how these have led to the state of the world we see. He explains a scientifically proven process for changing subconscious beliefs called Psych-K and encourages people to change their subconscious beliefs to align with the principles of nature – such as cooperation, collaboration, harmony, balance, and interconnectedness. This would dramatically change the way that we operate in the world.

Psych-K is just one of many techniques now available that enable change of subconscious beliefs. I am trained in Psych-K and use it on myself on a pretty much daily basis to change any negative, self defeating or just unhelpful beliefs that I discover. It has been one of the most significant tools I’ve used in my healing journey.

Wisdom from Amma – poems about our relationship with nature

Amma
Sri Mata Amritanandamayi Devi, or AMMA (“Mother”) as she is affectionately known, is world-renowned as an extraordinary humanitarian and spiritual leader who is transforming the lives of hundreds of thousands of people. From her headquarters in Amritapuri, Kerala, India, Amma has established numerous projects for the service of humanity, and travels the world annually spreading her boundless compassion and love in a most personal way ~ she has embraced (hugged) over 30 million people.

“Human beings are not different from Nature, we are part of Nature. Our very existence on earth depends upon Nature. In truth it is not we who protect Nature but Nature who protects us”. p26

“Without Nature no creature, no human being, nothing would exist. Thus it is our responsibility to lovingly care for every living being.” p27

“In modern times we have chopped down all the forests on earth and have planted jungles in our minds.” p28

“How easily Nature overcomes every obstacle. The tiny ant walks over the stone. The roots of the tree embrace the rocks in the soil. The river flows around every log and boulder in its way. Like Nature, we should adapt to life’s circumstances, overcoming them with patience and enthusiasm.” p31

The above are short poems from the 2009 book titled ‘Messages from Amma: in the language of the heart’, edited by Janine Canan and published by Jaico.

What is sustainability?

Caring for the Earth, living as sustainably as possible.
Caring for the Earth, living as sustainably as possible.

Channeled from Source/God/Universe/Whatever (25 May 2013).

Sustainability is not about going without. It is about living fully in your heart and in harmony with the Earth. It is a state of wholeness and harmony, not one of sacrifice and drudgery. Sustainability simply means to live in ways that do not deplete the Earth’s resources to a massive extent. It is choosing to live more simply, with what you need rather than continuously consuming more and more and more to fulfil unnecessary wants.

When we find peace within we no longer need to succeed, to have fancy gadgets to be trying to impress others with our stuff. We no longer have to compete or conquer anything or anyone. We have peace and simply choose to feel that, to do activities that bring us joy and align with our unique purpose.

Today’s consumerist society encourages us to use, use, use. To buy, buy, buy, but this just leads to waste, to debt, to feeling burdened and trapped by all our stuff, by wanting more and by feeling empty inside, unfulfilled, frantic and desperate, rushing around for no real purpose except going through the motions – Many feel like a hamster on a spinning wheel. They do the same thing day in day out, year after year and then wonder why they feel so lost. Reconnecting to your heart, to Spirit and freedom can help shift these feelings, this drudgery and help you find peace.

Channeled by Jodi-Anne (25 May 2013).

See more answers to pertinent life questions on the Life Insights page of this website.