Image Of The Day

Sydney Harbour New Year's Eve 2010 - New Year's Day 2011

Courtesy - Sydney Morning Herald

New Year's Eve set to be damp squib as fog and drizzle ruin fireworks celebrations

Mist and lingering fog is threatening to mar revellers' enjoyment of tomorrow night's New Year's Eve fireworks displays. After weeks of snow and ice, the bitterly cold weather has given way to a welcome rise in temperatures across the UK. But despite the big thaw, increasingly warmer air has reacted with the cold ground, throwing a haze of fog and mist across much of the country this week. Weather experts predict this murky blanket shows no sign of easing, meaning hundreds of traditional New Year's Eve firework celebrations will be cast against a dull, rather than crisp winter sky. Met Office forecaster Mark Seltzer said: 'It will be mostly cloudy across the UK tomorrow with mist and fog patches and the odd bit of drizzle. The general outlook is quite murky and fog combined with the low-lying cloud is going to prove problematic for fireworks displays.' Aisling Creevey, of MeteoGroup, the Press Association's weather division, added: 'I don't think it will be as spectacular as it would be on a clear night. (Daily Mail)

Liquid Spirits Tonight Only ......

Well ... this is about it for 2010!! Not long now to commencing our New Year's Eve festivities! Islay Malt Whisky primed for consumption at 11.59pm ... and Boddington's bitter for consumption throughout the night!! Typical Pom abroad with Northern Hemisphere requirements!! Here approaches a non-magical, non-mystical night ... the only spirits around me will be of the liquid type. It's been a full on year and this will be one night that is richly deserved!!!! If you don't hear from us again before 12 midnight UK time ... our 11am tomorrow ... then enjoy yourselves and be ready for another hasty kind of year ....

Mushroom Mythologies

There have been many mythological mushroom heroes known throughout history. Perseus was an ancient mushroom hero, founder and King of the city-state of Mycenae (Mushroom City). Perseus flew around on winged sandals making “Perseia” a magical herb, grow wherever he dropped the chape of his scabbard. Wherever Perseus dropped his cap, “myces,” mushrooms would sprout underneath. Libertus is another mushroom hero whose depiction can be found atop the US Capitol building of all places. Libertus wears a Liberty Cap (or Phrygian Cap) which is shaped like and named after the Liberty Cap mushroom. This is where we get the idea of a “thinking cap” because when you ingest the cap you are teleported into an introspective, wondrous experience. The Phrygian/Liberty Cap was worn by Masonic revolutionaries during the French and American revolutions as well as by Perseus, Mithra, Santa, Elves, and the Smurfs. It is also worn as a “night cap,” a double entendre which nowadays means having an alcoholic beverage before bed. The original idea of a night cap, however, was when Mithraic/Mystery school initiates would eat a large mushroom cap then lay in hot tubs and astrally project out of body...Read More (The Atlantean Conspiracy)...

The Law of Economy

The Brahma aspect of the Logos is characterized by that method in the wide distribution of matter, the scattering of the atoms of matter and their dissociation from one another, vibratory rhythm, heterogeneity and quality and their inherent rotary action. This Law of Economy causes matter always to follow the line of least resistance, and is the basis of the separative action of atomic matter. It governs matter, the opposite pole of spirit. Initiates must master this law before they can achieve liberation, or enlightenment.

More of the 'From The Ridiculous To The Sublime' ...... FBI Delivers Anti-terror Flyers to Farm Supply Stores

'An Infowars.com reader was recently visited by the FBI’s Joint Terrorism Task Force and asked if he wanted to prevent another Oklahoma City bombing. “I work for a large farm store retailer with stores in Colorado, Texas and New Mexico yesterday I had a visit from the FBI joint terrorism task force requesting that we train our staff to help prevent terrorism,” the man writes. When the FBI agent was asked if it is mandatory to teach employees in the prevention of ill-defined terrorism, the agent said, “Not at the moment.” He left behind a flyer (see below) listing “indicators” of terrorist activities related to farm supply stores. He also gave the store employee his FBI business card. Similar flyers have been tailored for hobby shops, tattoo parlors, gun stores, and storage units. The FBI wants “kids to turn their parents in, they’re wanting parents to turn his kids in,” Jim Snow, owner of Rebel Arms and Sporting Goods in Nob Hill, Arkansas, told 4029.com, a local news station following the FBI visit in January....Read more:

Police Demand New Stop and Search Powers After Human Rights Ruling Scraps Previous Law

'Police are hoping to win government backing for a new counter-terrorism power to stop and search people without the suspicion of criminal activity. Officers say the powers are needed to better protect the public from attacks against large groups of people. Previously, section 44 of the Terrorism Act 2000 allowed counter-terrorism stops without suspicion, but this was scrapped by Home Secretary Theresa May after Strasbourg judges said it was illegal. Fearing their counter-terrorism powers are now weak, police have asked for a law which would be restricted to a specific period of time and to a limited geographic area, place or event, The Guardian reported. The new powers would need primary legislation to become law and could be introduced within months...Read more:...Opinion: If granted, where will this end? It's a further step towards big brother in complete control

The volcanic ash cloud that brought chaos to Britain's skies, the WikiLeaks, and the alleged sex attacker behind them, Climategate and the Big Freeze

Daily Mail 31st December 2010: Terror plots, government secrets, espionage and natural disasters - 2010 has seen it all. It was the year that saw a Icelandic volcanic ash cloud cause travel chaos across the globe, grounding flights and leaving travellers stranded for days, much like the snow at Heathrow Airport. All over the globe the weather wreaked havoc - notably on the small island of Haiti which was brought to its knees after a severe earthquake struck followed by an outbreak of deadly cholera, and Pakistan where floods claimed the lives of thousands and left parts of the country submerged. But the disasters weren't all natural: in May an oil spill from a broken BP pipe produced a slick for miles along the Gulf of Mexico and cost the British chief executive his job. There were some uplifting events though. In October the world was gripped by the story of 33 Chilean miners trapped in the San Jose copper mine for 69 days. They emerged to discover they were global superstars. And of course the British Prime Minister and the leader of the opposition both became fathers.

The Magician

The Magician is normally numbered one and is sometimes called the Magus. The Magician is usually depicted as a powerful adept, a master of the four elements. He is able to shift events in his favour - to make the World change around him according to his Will. He is highly skilled, highly powerful and hence a highly dynamic and charismatic figure. He is that part of us which we harness to control our own lives. When we are the Magician we make what we want happen. However, you can be sure that we receive exactly what we ask for - "be careful what you pray for, you might just get it"! The Magician knows where to throw the pebble into the pool of the Universe in order to get exactly the ripples he wants. If we choose happiness and joy and put our Will behind them, that is what we can achieve. (Angel Paths)

Eurozone 'has 80% chance of losing the single currency in next decade,' claims think-tank

There is an 80 per cent chance that the euro will not survive in its current form, a leading think tank has warned.

The financial crisis that has crippled Greece and Ireland will spread to other debt-ridden European countries in the New Year, according to the Centre for Economics and Business Research. Among those in the firing line will be Italy and Spain – the third and fourth biggest economies in the single currency bloc behind Germany and France. 'We give the euro only a one in five chance of surviving in its present form for 10 years,' says CEBR chief executive Douglas McWilliams. The hard-hitting report also warns that Britain faces a tough 2011 as austerity measures bite. 'A double dip for the world economy is not likely because of the strength of the emerging economies,' says Mr McWilliams. 'But it is well within the bounds of possibility for the UK.'

An escalation of the eurozone debt crisis would be bad news for Britain because Europe is the UK’s biggest export market. (Daily Mail)

Some Buddhist Inspiration

In today’s highly interdependent world, individuals and nations can no longer resolve many of their problems by themselves. We need one another. We must therefore develop a sense of universal responsibility . . . It is our collective and individual responsibility to protect and nurture the global family, to support its weaker members, and to preserve and tend to the environment in which we all live. (View On Buddhism.Org)

Image Of The Day

Canberra Sunset

original image Matthew James

Out With The Old ... And In With The New

This is it.... the last day of 2010. Tomorrow is 2011 and the start of another cycle of human experiences signposted by manufactured time. So it's 'out with the old and in with the new' ... but will it be any different? Will it be the same old scene under a different wrapper? One thing for sure ... it's a year closer to the much anticipated 2012 ... the year of supposed spiritual change.

A review of the most notable events of 2010 will feature on A Light In The Darkness in due course. The two most obvious highlights, on a personal level, are The Seasiders being promoted to The English Premier League and England retaining The Ashes here in Australia.

May we take this opportunity to thank everyone for the support they have given for A Light In The Darkness since its conception in November 2006 and we wish everyone a happy and prosperous New Year. Because of the anticipated New Year's Eve celebrations, which have been planned already ... A Light In The Darkness may be a little sparse on posts today!!!

Anomaly Gallery

What are these strange looking structures on Mars ...??

Europe to Ban Hundreds of Herbal Remedies

'Hundreds of herbal medicinal products will be banned from sale in Britain next year under what campaigners say is a "discriminatory and disproportionate" European law. With four months to go before the EU-wide ban is implemented, thousands of patients face the loss of herbal remedies that have been used in the UK for decades. From 1 May 2011, traditional herbal medicinal products must be licensed or prescribed by a registered herbal practitioner to comply with an EU directive passed in 2004...Read more:

'Climategate' Debate: the Warmist Cult Demolished

IPod Playlist of the Day

Random Magnum playlist

Australia Swamped by Floods

'Days of torrential downpours have left many communities inundated, with up to 11 inches falling in a 24-hour period in some areas. Flooding has shut down about 300 roads across Queensland, including two major highways to the state capital Brisbane. At Chinchilla, Charleys Creek reached levels not seen for almost 70 years with about 40 homes and businesses inundated and residents also holed up at an evacuation centre. The rain has also caused at least $400 million worth of damage to crops across the state, including sunflower and cotton, that were just recovering from months of drought...Read more:

The Law of Universal Sympathy

This law concerns a yogic power which allows a Yogi (a person who is devoid of the ego-principle) to transfer information, or influence others' minds...

Brace yourselves for a 'mini ice age': This winter set to be coldest in 300 YEARS

If you thought last week was as cold as you could bear it, brace yourself. Forecasters say the worst is yet to come, and this winter could be the harshest since the Thames froze over more than three centuries ago. Temperatures for December are the coldest on record, with the average reading close to minus 1c – almost six degrees below normal. And with forecasters warning that this winter’s ‘mini ice age’ might last until mid-March, this winter could be the worst since 1683-84 when a fair was held on the Thames. Met Office figures show that the average temperature from December 1, the first day of winter, to December 28 was a bitter minus 0.8c (30.5f). This equals the record December low of 1890. (Daily Mail)

America Has Caught Up With 1984

'The year 2011 will bring Americans a larger and more intrusive police state, more unemployment and home foreclosures, no economic recovery, more disregard by the US government of US law, international law, the Constitution, and truth, more suspicion and distrust from allies, more hostility from the rest of the world, and new heights of media sycophancy.

2011 is shaping up as the terminal year for American democracy. The Republican Party has degenerated into a party of Brownshirts, and voter frustrations with the worsening economic crisis and military occupations gone awry are likely to bring Republicans to power in 2012. With them would come their doctrines of executive primacy over Congress, the judiciary, law, and the Constitution and America’s rightful hegemony over the world....Read more:

Today's Inspiration

"The voice of our original self is often muffled, overwhelmed, even strangled, by the voices of other people’s expectations." -- Julie Cameron

"For all those years you’ve protected the seed. It’s time to become the beautiful flower." -- Stephen C. Paul

Fulfilling Energetic Investments

As modern life makes a wealth of information and opportunities available to us, we may find ourselves torn between a wide variety of interests and projects. Our excitement may entice us to try all of them at once, but doing so only diffuses our energy, leaving us unable to fully experience any of them. Like an electrical socket with too many things plugged into it, we may be in danger of overheating and burning out. But if we can choose one thing at a time to focus all of our attention upon, we can make the most of our life-force energy, engaging ourselves fully in the moment so that it can nurture us in return. Our attention can be pulled in many directions, not only in our own lives, but by advertising, media, and the hustle and bustle of our surroundings. But when we take the time to listen to our inner guidance and focus our thoughts on the goals that resonate the most strongly within us, the rest of the world will fade away. This may mean focusing the spotlight of our attention upon developing one aspect of our work, one course of study, or one hobby to pursue in our free time, but it doesn't mean that we have to stay focused on only one thing forever. We may never know which of our interests is best suited to our abilities and heart's desires unless we give it a proper chance. By being fully present with all that we are and all that we have, we can experience each choice fully and make the most fulfilling choices for our energetic investments. Because we are multi-faceted beings, we are perpetually involved in many aspects of life in every moment. Our work in the world is necessary to attend to our physical needs, and our relationships are important for our emotional needs, but when we engage our spirit as well, we can choose the area that will nurture body, mind and soul. Staying focused in each moment allows us move with the rhythmic flow of the universe and harmonize all aspects of our being into balanced whole.

Image Of The Day

~Mystical Stonehenge~

Silencing The Truth????

I heard something disturbing recently. Now I don't know how true it is ... as I can't find any reference to it on the internet. I heard that a new law is about to be passed in the UK (Or it may already have been) ... that bans the discussion of; and the practice of Mediumship anywhere in the UK. In other words there is a new updated draconian witchcraft act that is now trying to silence the upsurge of communication with other realms of existence. How true is this? I don't know ... but it is a very disturbing thought. I would be grateful to hear from anyone who can either confirm or deny this information ......???

England beat Australia in Melbourne to retain Ashes

England have retained the Ashes for the first time in 24 years - and with a match to spare - after easing to a comprehensive win in the fourth Test. Australia, resuming 246 runs behind on 169-6 and with Ryan Harris unable to bat, were eventually dismissed for 258 before lunch on day four in Melbourne. Chris Tremlett, Graeme Swann and Tim Bresnan each took a wicket as England won by an innings and 157 runs. The tourists are now 2-1 up with only the Sydney Test remaining. If they avoid defeat there, England will win their first series down under since 1986/87. (BBC Sport)

Anomaly Gallery

What is responsible for these traces of light on Mars? Natural formations .... or intelligent life?

The Law of Planetary Affinity

This law is concerned with the connection of the interaction of the planets with each other and their eventual marriage.

Food Safety Bill Invokes Codex Harmonization and Grants FDA Authority to Police Food Safety of Foreign Nations

'Of all the talk about S.510, virtually no one has actually read the language in the bill -- especially not those lawmakers who voted for it. The more you read from this bill, the more surreal it all becomes. For example, did you know there's a global FDA power grab agenda hidden in the Food Safety Modernization Act? Keep reading and I'll quote text straight out of the bill itself...Read more:

2011: A Brave New Dystopia

'The two greatest visions of a future dystopia were George Orwell’s "1984" and Aldous Huxley’s "Brave New World." The debate, between those who watched our descent towards corporate totalitarianism, was who was right. Would we be, as Orwell wrote, dominated by a repressive surveillance and security state that used crude and violent forms of control? Or would we be, as Huxley envisioned, entranced by entertainment and spectacle, captivated by technology and seduced by profligate consumption to embrace our own oppression? It turns out Orwell and Huxley were both right. Huxley saw the first stage of our enslavement. Orwell saw the second....Read more:

Quotes For The Day

"Life does not happen to us, it happens from us." -- Mike Wickett

"When we know that the cause of something is in ourselves, and that we (ourselves) are one of the few things in the universe that we have the right and ability to change, we begin to get a sense of the choices we really do have, an inkling of the power we have, a feeling of being in charge... of our lives, of our future, of our dreams." -- John-Roger and Peter McWilliams

"Be thine own palace, or the world’s thy jail." -- John Donne

Doing Our Best Work

In the great symphony of life, we all have important parts to play. While some people are best suited to be conductors or soloists, their contributions would be diminished considerably without the individual musicians that lend their artistry to the fullness of an orchestra. The magical accents of the percussion section might sound random and out of place without the music they accompany. But any one member of an orchestra, doing less than their best at their particular part, can destroy the harmony of the whole piece, such is their importance. So although we may not receive the same amount or quality of attention as another, all of our contributions are valuable and integral to the success of the whole. When we do our tasks well, we infuse them with our unique energy, making each act a gift. Each of our personalities and talents are suited to different roles of support. Even leaders and star performers support others in their own way. We can look around us at any moment to see that while we nurture some people with our work, others are supporting us with their gifts. Doing any job from this place within us allows us to do our part with humility and gratitude, while also learning lessons that move us steadily toward our goals. When we can be fully present in every job that we do, we bring the fullness of our bodies, minds and spirits to the moment. Our contribution is enhanced by the infusion of our talents and abilities, and when we give them willingly, they attract the right people and circumstances into our experience. Anything we do begrudgingly limits the flow of our energy and closes us off from the good that is available to us in every situation. But by giving the best in us to make the world around us better, we open ourselves to receive the best from the universe in return.

Image Of The Day

The Law of Summons

Otherwise known as soul talk, one can learn how to lift the soul from the physical body and summon another soul, to have a soul to soul talk. This is most powerful because there is no conscious ego present. The message of love and or explanation, or plea is received in a most profound manner.

Most Patients Believe Their Doctors are in League with Big Pharma

'A new Consumer Reports survey has found that the vast majority of patients on prescription drug medications believe that drug companies have too much influence over their doctors. Roughly half of those interviewed believe that their doctors are so influenced by Big Pharma that they would deliberately write a drug prescription even if a better, safer, non-drug option was available. Of the nearly 1,200 patients interviewed, nearly half believe that gifts from drug companies influence which drugs their doctors prescribe. And more than 80 percent believe that drug companies offer incentives to doctors to get them to write more prescriptions. Other concerns include doctors agreeing to be paid spokespersons for drug companies, speaking at drug industry conference and being "wined and dined" by drug company executives in exchange for favors...Read more:

BP Partners ‘Manipulating’ Oil Spill Evidence, Chemical Board Says

'The federal agency charged with investigating industrial chemical accidents has accused two BP partners of "hands-on manipulation" of evidence in the Gulf oil spill. The US Chemical Safety Board has asked for a halt to testing of the blowout preventer involved in the Deepwater Horizon explosion, saying that employees of Cameron International and Transocean have been permitted "hands-on manipulation" of the device...Read more:

Obama to Execute End-of-Life Health Plan

'The Obama administration is set to implement a new policy that will give doctors the permission to end patients' lives with their consent.

The new policy -- outlined in a Medicare regulation -- will be executed from January 1. Under the program, the US administration will pay doctors who are willing to discuss the option of end-of-life plans with patients that are approaching death. Seniors are believed to be a major target for precious resources under the Obama administration's healthcare plan...Read more:

Why Is It So Cold? Should the Big Freeze Alter Our Approach to Climate Change?

'However, neither a shutdown of the conveyor belt or a Northward-shifting jet stream would explain the extremely cold being experienced right now in the U.S. East Coast, Southern California, Australia and many other southerly locations. Specifically, if either condition was occurring, England and other parts of Europe would indeed be getting hit with blizzards, but Southerly locations shouldn't also be getting walloped. In other words, neither theory can explain what we are currently seeing. Indeed, the Met - England's official climate agency - says that the problem isn't that the jet stream has shifted North, but that it has temporarily shifted South...Read more:

Cold Heaven

Music by German Rockers Axel Rudi Pell ...

'What's The Score'? - Seasiders Vs Sunderland

A visit to the 'Stadium Of Light' for The Seasiders after a period of inactivity due to the wintry weather conditions postponing their last two home games. Sunderland return home after an away defeat at Old Trafford on Boxing Day. They are unbeaten at home. A fact that The Seasiders will brush aside. The spread suggests a classic encounter. Sunderland seemingly like Stoke & Bolton before them ... missing clear chance. The Seasiders appear to have the gods on their side in this game. But ... miss chances may well contribute to a probable draw in this game? It's not a clear cut advantage to either side according to this spread ... wishful thinking suggests at least a point for The Seasiders; as their lack of match play over Boxing Day may prove to be an advantage?

UPDATE 30th December 2010 ... The Seasiders certainly did brush aside Sunderland's unbeaten home record. They certainly did have the gods on their side with Sunderland missing around 30 clear cut chances .... !!!

Image Of The Day

~Stonehenge Sunset~

Inspiration ... for today

"The future is not some place we are going, but one we are creating. The paths are not to be found, but made. And the activity of making them changes both the maker and their destination." -- John Schaar

"Let him who would enjoy a good future waste none of his present.” -- Roger Babson

"Do Aliens Exist?" - Latest Poll Result

Days To Vote: 4
Yes: 79%
No: 12%
Don't Know: 9%

The Heart Of Humanity

The last thing most of us want to hear or think about when we are dealing with profound feelings of sadness is that deep learning can be found in this place. In the midst of our pain, we often feel picked on by life, or overwhelmed by the enormity of some loss, or simply too exhausted to try and examine the situation. We may feel far too disappointed and angry to look for anything resembling a bright side to our suffering. Still, somewhere in our hearts, we know that we will eventually emerge from the depths into the light of greater awareness. Remembering this truth, no matter how elusive it seems, can help. The other thing we often would rather not hear when we are dealing with intense sadness is that the only way out of it is through it. Sitting with our sadness takes the courage to believe that we can bear the pain and the faith that we will come out the other side. With courage, we can allow ourselves to cycle through the grieving process with full inner permission to experience it. This is a powerful teaching that sadness has to offer us the ability to surrender and the acceptance of change go hand in hand. Another teaching of sadness is compassion for others who are in pain, because it is only in feeling our own pain that we can really understand and allow for someone else's. Sadness is something we all go through, and we all learn from it and are deepened by its presence in our lives. While our own individual experiences of sadness carry with them unique lessons, the implications of what we learn are universal. The wisdom we gain from going through the process of feeling loss, heartbreak, or deep disappointment gives us access to the heart of humanity.

England close in on Ashes victory in Melbourne

England moved closer to retaining the Ashes for the first time in 24 years following another dominant display at the Melbourne Test on day three. England added 69 to their overnight total as they were dismissed for 513, with Jonathan Trott unbeaten on 168. Australia had been progressing steadily at 99-1 when Tim Bresnan ripped through the middle order with three wickets for five runs in the final session. The hosts ended the day on 169-6, still 246 runs adrift of the tourists. That deficit is purely mathematical with only three lower-order wickets remaining - Ryan Harris is unlikely to bat after sustaining a stress fracture of his left ankle bowling in the morning session - and with England's bowlers rampant. A superb, disciplined display from the quartet was characterised by sustained periods of pressure, starving Australia's beleaguered top order of run-scoring opportunities. At the forefront of the middle-order demolition was Bresnan's superb spell of 3-17 from seven eventful overs, dismissing Shane Watson, Ricky Ponting and Mike Hussey in quick succession. The Yorkshireman was ably assisted by the frugal Chris Tremlett and the ever consistent James Anderson, who once again exemplified why he is the best swing bowler in the world. And Graeme Swann's canny ability to collect wickets at crucial stages left Australia staring down the barrel of yet another humiliating innings defeat on home soil. (BBC Sport)

Today's Inspiration

"When you fight something, you’re tied to it forever. As long as you’re fighting it, you’re giving it power." -- Anthony de Mello

"What you resist persists. And only what you look at, and own, can disappear. You make it disappear by simply changing your mind about it."

Anomaly Gallery

Another interesting landscape from Mars which appears to offer strong evidence of intelligent life on Mars ...

Suspicious Acts Before 7.3 Christmas Quake Terrorizes Vanuatu People

'Only several weeks before the 7.3 earthquake hit the South Pacific Island, Vanuatu on Christmas Day, terrorizing locals, all of its seismic monitoring equipment had been stolen, leaving no way to monitor earthquakes in the vicinity of the Port Vila city, no means to warn of tsunami triggers, and less means to determine if the U.S. military is to blame due to testing environmental warfare technology. The criminal act of stealing the equipment is suspicious in lieu of military Weapons of Mass Destruction that can trigger or cause what appears to be "natural disasters" for geopolitical gain....Read more:

Recommended Meditation Music: "Sacred Circle" by Runestone

Runestone are inspired by their fascination with the power of ancestral sites: stone circles, earth works, dolmens and hallowed places where the lines between knowledge, understanding and faith have become blurred by time. Runestone's music seeks to capture and portray some of the primal atmospheres that are always present in these sacred places. Discover the ancient world of standing stones and pagan mythology with this atmospheric and enchanting release crafted by the experienced talents of Runestone. (Astral Aspects) .....

Personal Review: 'I've been a avid fan of Runestone for many years. Every since I bought Stonehenge when it was first released. Their music is inspirational, thought provoking and an excellent meditative aid. Crystal Lord has been a personal favourite until I recently played 'Sacred Circle' ... its music is evocative and their best album yet in my opinion. Secrets Of Avalon is also highly recommended'

IPod Playlist of the Day

Inspirational music by RUNESTONE

Experts call them ANTS - Automatic Negative Thoughts and unless you learn how to stop them, they'll ruin your life

Ever dipped into the ­biscuit tin then decided you’ve ruined your diet so you may as well eat the lot? Or thought that because you didn’t get a promotion this year, you’re destined for failure in your career? You’re not alone. Even the most optimistic person is not immune to negative thoughts, but for some, the destructive chatter of self-doubt can be relentless. Psychologists now believe that just as feeling embarrassed can cause a physical ­reaction (blushing) so self-destructive thoughts can lead to ill-health, weight-gain, poor skin and misery. Psychiatrist Dr Daniel Amen has spent a lifetime studying how thoughts influence our appearance, energy and diet success. His studies have revealed that by ­flipping negative thoughts to positive, we can ­transform our lives for the better. In his new book Change Your Brain, Change Your Body, Dr Amen identifies the infuriatingly common scourge: the ANT (Automatic Negative Thought), which he describes as ‘the ­little voices that pop into your head and tell you you’re not good enough, not thin enough, a rubbish daughter, mother, worker’. A few ANTS, he says, can be managed. But he warns to watch out for ANT ­infestations — when thousands of ­negative thoughts start to take over. The answer, he says, lies in simple ANT-eater techniques that stop the bugs in their tracks, ensuring they never return. ‘Your brain is a powerful organ,’ he says. ‘If you see yourself as fat, old, wrinkled or forgetful, you boost production of the stress hormone which affects your health, your weight and your mind.
‘Negative thoughts can make negative things happen. In the never-ending ­battles, redemption lies in building your own arsenal of ANT-eater solutions. (Daily Mail)

Flu crisis hits cancer surgery: Hospitals struggle to cope as deaths rise and Britain teeters on the brink of an epidemic

Vital cancer operations are being cancelled as hospitals struggle to cope with soaring numbers of flu victims. Trusts have begun postponing major surgery because intensive care beds that cancer patients might need for post-operative recovery are being kept free to accommodate critically ill patients struck down by the flu virus. Experts predict that Britain is on course for the first flu epidemic in over a decade after the number of cases more than doubled in the past week. They say rates are rising faster than during December 1999, which marked the start of an outbreak which claimed more than 22,000 lives and brought the NHS to its knees. There are now 460 people in intensive care, taking up around one in seven beds, up from 182 last week. Professor John Oxford, a virologist and influenza expert at St Barts and the London Hospital, said the situation was still deteriorating and added: ‘I would not be surprised if we get to epidemic levels within one week.’ The vast majority of victims have swine flu and the strain is proving particularly serious among children, pregnant women and those with underlying conditions such as asthma. (Daily Mail)

The High Priestess

The Priestess (or High Priestess, Papess, Pope Joan, Isis) is numbered two. This is the representation of the Goddess. She is the complementary partner of the Magician, possessing all his skill and ability, but with far more insight and psychism. She is more subtle yet somehow far more noticeable. She is almost always shown with the Lunar Crescent, conveying her natural affinity with the forces of Nature and natural cycles. The Magician generates his own power, whereas the Priestess draws upon the forces of life itself. She sits between two pillars with veils suspended between them - it is the Priestess who allows us to penetrate the innermost secrets of life. She is also the bridge between our conscious and Higher selves, by teaching us through our dreams and our subconscious. It is in our subconscious that we hold the keys to the Universe. (Angel Paths)

The Law of Spiritual Approach

This law depicts the conscious act of a personality to create with its every thought, word and deed the ability to be the reflection of its god self. Every action is a prayer to the Creator of All. When this is done with success, the personality becomes a mirror or reflection of the god self for others to learn from and emulate. This is a walking, talking example of becoming our higher self.

Ashes: England dominate woeful Australia in Melbourne

England put themselves in a remarkably dominant position after day one of the fourth Ashes Test having bowled out Australia for just 98 in Melbourne. Chris Tremlett and James Anderson swung the ball beautifully to take four wickets each after captain Andrew Strauss had won an important toss. Australia showed poor technique to contribute to their demise. And they were made to pay when Strauss and Alastair Cook pushed England along to a very healthy 157-0 in reply. (BBC Sport)

Gulf Oil Spill Probe Credibility Questioned

'The credibility of investigations into the oil spill in the Gulf of Mexico is undermined since the representatives of the companies involved in the accident were allowed to participate in the probe. The United States Chemical Safety Board that monitors the analysis of evidence said in a letter to the Bureau of Ocean Energy Management, Regulation and Enforcement that the presence of the suspected companies in the probe undermines its authenticity. In its letter, the US Chemical Safety Board called for the discontinuation of the investigation until the representatives of Transocean and Cameron, the two companies which have made and maintained the blow out preventer device, were removed from the analysis...Read more:

Image Of The Day

~Castlerigg Sunset~

original artwork Matthew James

Inspiration ... for today

“I can change. I can live out my imagination instead of my memory. I can tie myself to my limitless potential instead of my limiting past.” -- Stephen Covey

“Change. It has the power to uplift, to heal, to stimulate, surprise, open new doors, bring fresh experience and create excitement in life. Certainly it is worth the risk.” -- Leo Buscaglia

Expect More Extreme Winters Thanks to Global Warming, Say Scientists

'Scientists have established a link between the cold, snowy winters in Britain and melting sea ice in the Arctic and have warned that long periods of freezing weather are likely to become more frequent in years to come. An analysis of the ice-free regions of the Arctic Ocean has found that the higher temperatures there caused by global warming, which have melted the sea ice in the summer months, have paradoxically increased the chances of colder winters in Britain and the rest of northern Europe. The findings are being assessed by British climate scientists, who have been asked by ministers for advice on whether the past two cold winters are part of a wider pattern of climate change that will cause further damaging disruption to the nation's creaking transport infrastructure....Read more:

Unity Of Opposites

The dark of night or the brightness of a sunny day. Freezing cold or piping hot. Celebrating a birth or mourning death. Many in the West are used to classifying these opposing concepts as contradictory and removed from each other. Yet there is another approach to looking at these differences: the Taoist tradition teaches that there is a unity in opposites, as presented in the Yin-Yang philosophy. Yin-Yang is an essential teaching in the canon of Chinese wisdom, and is described in the writings of the I-Ching. In Yin-Yang, ideas that appear to be conflicting are believed to simply be extremes of an underlying essence that is always the same. Yin is attributed to "female" qualities - a cool, passive, modest energy; while Yang is attributed to "male" qualities - hot, active, and vigorous. The opposing traits both attract and repel each other, giving birth to the constant activity of life. This philosophy may be elusive to grasp at first, but can be applied to all areas of life in a way that emphasizes moderation over excess. The familiar black-and-white Yin-Yang icon is more than just a basic image of balance. It is a fitting symbol for the entire philosophy of balance, as many of the universe's essential pairs are all contained within it: summer and winter, full moon and new moon, the earth and the heavens. No element of the world is made of purely Yin, or only Yang. Understanding the essential balance of energy in all things can help us celebrate the harmonious potential of any situation. As we learn more about the ebb and flow of energy as described in Yin-Yang, its message of balance can remind us that our actions, our attitudes, even the food we eat can serve us best when chosen in balanced combinations.

The Law of Rebound

The law of rebound concerns the right of one to come out of a negative situation stronger and bolder and with more soul growth than previously experienced. This has been used as an example in stories since the beginning of mankind. Traumatic situations create the need for rebound, and the soul often seeks these negative occurrences to give self and observers a leap in faith.

Anomaly Gallery

Interesting anomalies from the surface of The Moon ...

Quotes For The Day

"The most pathetic person in the world is the person who has sight, but no vision." -- Helen Keller

"Far away there in the sunshine are my highest aspirations. I may not reach them, but I can look up and see their beauty, believe in them, and follow where they lead." -- Louisa May Alcott

"The only limits are, as always, those of vision." -- James Broughton

The Thermos flask terror threat: U.S. warns airlines to prepare for new tactic during Christmas

American anti-terror chiefs have warned airlines to prepare for possible attacks involving Thermos flasks during the Christmas holiday. They warned passengers to be extra vigilant if travelling during the festive period – although no specific details of the new tactics were revealed. President Barack Obama, who is in Hawaii with his family, has also ordered U.S. security services to be on heightened alert. It follows last year’s attempt to blow up a passenger jet by a terrorist who had sown an explosive powder into his underwear. The timing of Umar Farouk Abdulmutallab’s Christmas Eve effort on board the Northwest flight from Amsterdam to Detroit was reminder that holiday periods are ripe moments for attacks. White House counterterrorism chief, John Brennan, held an inter-agency conference call yesterday to review steps the government is taking to ensure vigilance. They include enhanced security measures and coordination with foreign partners such as Britain. (Daily Mail) ... Opinion: Unlikely. More like scare the s41t out of the gullible and the means to substantiate the increased security in airports. Another stepping stone in the direction 'they' want to go. I wouldn't be surprised that they are leading to microchipping. Being microchipped will guarantee you don't have to go through the increased scanners and their inconveniences.

Christmas Day will be coldest ever with mercury plummeting to MINUS 18... and snow is set to return on Boxing Day

Traditional family walks to help the turkey go down could be off the cards this year as December 25 is set to be the coldest Christmas ever. The mercury plummeted to -5.9C at Glenlivet in 1996, but that record was smashed last night when temperatures dropped to -17C at Worcester and -18C at Altnaharra in northern Scotland. And just as people will be thinking about heading home on Boxing Day, more snow will fall in the afternoon across England and Scotland bringing new misery to those who want to travel. Weather forecasters say they are expecting 'heavy and prolonged snowfall' in some parts of the country, particularly from the Midlands up to southern and central parts of Scotland. That will continue throughout Monday when it will head towards the South East and it will keep falling into Tuesday morning. (Daily Mail)

Image Of The Day

~Great Langdale Sunset~

original artwork Matthew James

The Law of Sound.

Every living thing in existence has a sound. Through this knowledge changes will be brought about and new forms developed through its medium. The release of energy in the atom is linked to the science of sound. Healing with sound is profoundly effective (vocal sounds - tuning forks - music). Sound has the power to restore people to their harmonic patterns. Chanting specific sounds and mantrams brings about great healing and raising of vibration, and produces virtually unimaginable results when done with group mantric chanting. The most powerful mantram known to present man is 'Om mani padme hum'.

The Unholy Trinity: Doctors, Dentists, and Attorneys

'People are probably not aware that it was the oligarchic Rockefeller family, heavily invested in the oil and pharmaceutical industries, which almost single-handedly narrowed American medical schools to their present focus of being pill pushers virtually to the exclusion of everything else. What is called the AMA is the dictatorial organization that enforces this monopoly on the American people.

For over 70 years AMA monopolists have insisted on using fear tactics and implied color of law to inject our children with vaccines containing thimerosal (mercury), aluminum, and live cancer viruses. AMA doctors are pitifully educated in the field of nutrition and instead of helping their patients avoid or cure degenerative diseases, they sell them expensive drugs that mask the symptoms. There is no competing paradigm as anyone competing with the Rockefeller/AMA drug pushers is charged with a crime and locked away in prison....Read more:

Kiwi-gate, the Final Chapter

'The outcome is that data published in 2009 by New Zealand’s National Institute of Water and Atmospheric Research (NIWA) entitled ‘Are we feeling warmer yet’ has been abandoned and replaced with real, unadjusted data that shows a picture that warmists don’t want you to see:

NIWA makes the huge admission that New Zealand has experienced hardly any warming during the last half-century. For all their talk about warming, for all their rushed invention of the “Eleven-Station Series” to prove warming, this new series shows that no warming has occurred here since about 1960. Almost all the warming took place from 1940-60, when the IPCC says that the effect of CO2 concentrations was trivial. Indeed, global temperatures were falling during that period...Read more:

Piers Corbyn On Britains Coldest Winter in 100 Years

'As the snow buries Britain under a freezing white blanket, Piers Corbyn has a lot to say about the weather forecasting in Britain, which is a good time to remember that the Head of the UK Met Office is a one time director of eco mentalists pressure group WWF. The WWF along with Friends of the Earth, Greenpeace and Oxfam are major players in the great global wealth redistribution scam, no one really calls it Climate something or other anymore...Read more:

Honouring All Experiences

Honouring the experiences we have in our lives is an invaluable way to communicate with life, our greatest teacher. We do this when we take time at night to say what we are thankful for about our day and also when we write in a journal. Both of these acts involve consciously acknowledging the events of our lives so that they deepen our relationship to our experiences. This is important because it brings us into closer connection with life, and with the moment. Only when we acknowledge what's happening to us can we truly benefit from life's teachings. It is especially important when pain comes our way to honor the experience, because our natural tendency is to push it away and move past it as quickly as possible. We tend to want to brush it under the rug. Yet, if we don't, it reveals itself to be a great friend and teacher. As counterintuitive as it seems, we can honor pain by thanking it and by welcoming it into the space of our lives. We all know that often the more we resist something, the longer it persists. When we honor our pain, we do just the opposite of resisting it, and as a result, we create a world in which we can own the fullness of what life has to offer. We can honor a painful experience by marking it in some way, bringing ourselves into a more conscious relationship with it. We might mark it by creating a work of art, performing a ritual, or undertaking some other significant act. Sometimes all we need to do is light a candle in honor of what we've gone through and what we've learned. No matter how small the gesture, it will be big enough to mark the ways in which our pain has transformed us, and to remind us to recognize and value all that comes our way in this life.

Wikileaks Cable Reveals U.S. Conspired to Retaliate Against European Nations if They Resisted GM Crops

'Wikileaks continues to rock the political world by shedding light on conspiracies, corruption and cover-ups. The latest batch of diplomatic cables released by Wikileaks reveals what can only be characterized as a U.S.-led conspiracy to force GMOs onto European countries by making those countries pay a steep price if they resist.The cable reveals the words of Craig Stapleton, the US ambassador to France, who was pushing the commercial interests of the biotech industry by attempting to force GMOs into France....Read more:

Anomaly Gallery

Another look at Mars with earthly-like colours.

Silent Change

We all see things about ourselves, our relationships, and our world that we want to change. Often, this desire leads us to take action toward inner work that we need to do or toward some external goal. Sometimes, without any big announcement or momentous shift, we wake up to find that change has happened, seemingly without us. This can feel like a miracle as we suddenly see that our self-esteem really does seem to be intact, or our partner actually is helping out around the house more. We may even wonder whether all of our hard work had anything to do with it, or if it just happened by way of grace. As humans, sometimes we have relatively short attention spans, and we can easily lose track of time. We may worry about a seedling in a pot with our constant attention and watering for several weeks only to find ourselves enjoying the blooms it offers and wondering when that happened, and how we didn’t notice it. Nature, on the other hand, has infinite patience and stays with a thing all the way through its life. This doesn’t mean that our efforts play no part in the miracle of change—they do. It’s just that they are one small part of the picture that finally results in the flowering of a plant, the shifting of a relationship, the softening of our hearts. The same laws that govern the growth of plants oversee our own internal and external changes. We observe, consider, work, and wonder, tilling the soil of our lives, planting seeds, and tending them. Sometimes the hard part is knowing when to stop and let go, handing it over to the universe. Usually this happens by way of distraction or disruption, our attention being called away to other more pressing concerns. And it is often at these times, when we are not looking, in the silence of nature’s embrace, that the miracle of change happens.