Well .... what a week that was ..... !!!

First week back in the fray after three week's holiday. I'm 'cream crackered' ... especially after discovering all those hard weeks of tendering on 'the big secret tender' are not over yet. One of the other consortiums ... one of our rivals ... has forced the State into agreeing to 'an unofficial' time extension. With the credit crunch hitting hard, someone struggled with underwriting their finance ... so the State has extended the bid (after we submitted our price) for another month or so. THEREFORE, there is more mayhem and madness to steer through. The maelstrom is spinning round and round again with poor me in the centre of the vortex!

It started off a quiet week, but quickly accelerated onto the fast lane of the stress expressway!

Here I am (again) looking forward to a rest over the weekend. Familiar territory these days ... the shortfall (why I'm telling you this) is the fact the volume of posts on ALITD will decline somewhat again this weekend.

Yes ... there may NOT be ANY posts this weekend. I'm resting (again) ... normal service will resume sometime early next week ... bfn

MJ

Is Quantum Mechanics Controlling Your Thoughts?

Source: Discovermagazine.com

On the face of things, quantum mechanics and the biological sciences do not mix. Biology focuses on larger-scale processes, from molecular interactions between proteins and DNA up to the behavior of organisms as a whole; quantum mechanics describes the often-strange nature of electrons, protons, muons, and quarks—the smallest of the small.

Many events in biology are considered straightforward, with one reaction begetting another in a linear, predictable way. By contrast, quantum mechanics is fuzzy because when the world is observed at the subatomic scale, it is apparent that particles are also waves: A dancing electron is both a tangible nugget and an oscillation of energy. (Larger objects also exist in particle and wave form, but the effect is not noticeable in the macroscopic world.)

Quantum mechanics holds that any given particle has a chance of being in a whole range of locations and, in a sense, occupies all those places at once. Physicists describe quantum reality in an equation they call the wave function, which reflects all the potential ways a system can evolve. Until a scientist measures the system, a particle exists in its multitude of locations. But at the time of measurement, the particle has to “choose” just a single spot. At that point, quantum physicists say, probability narrows to a single outcome and the wave function “collapses,” sending ripples of certainty through space-time. Imposing certainty on one particle could alter the characteristics of any others it has been connected with, even if those particles are now light-years away. (This process of influence at a distance is what physicists call entanglement.) As in a game of dominoes, alteration of one particle affects the next one, and so on.

The implications of all this are mind-bending. In the macro world, a ball never spontaneously shoots itself over a wall. In the quantum world, though, an electron in one biomolecule might hop to a second biomolecule, even though classical laws of physics hold that the electrons are too tightly bound to leave. The phenomenon of hopping across seemingly forbidden gaps is called quantum tunneling.

From tunneling to entanglement, the special properties of the quantum realm allow events to unfold at speeds and efficiencies that would be unachievable with classical physics alone. Could quantum mechanisms be driving some of the most elegant and inexplicable processes of life? For years experts doubted it: Quantum phenomena typically reveal themselves only in lab settings, in vacuum chambers chilled to near absolute zero. Biological systems are warm and wet. Most researchers thought the thermal noise of life would drown out any quantum weirdness that might rear its head.

Image of the Day

Borrowdale & Derwentwater UK

Americans suffer record cold as temperatures plunge to -40C

Americans were today shivering as bitter arctic winds caused temperatures to plunge to record-breaking levels in many parts of the vast country.

There are even fears that crowds planning to watch Barack Obama’s presidential inauguration next week could suffer hypothermia and frostbite in sub-zero conditions. This winter has been one of the toughest in decades with temperatures today reaching as low as -38C in large areas of the Midwest and -40C in the coldest place.

But even on the east coast – where conditions are typically milder than the fridgid hinterlands – the icy blast was being felt. New York endured a -14C chill today and further south Washington – which hosts Mr Obama’s inauguration on Tuesday – plunged to 11 degrees below zero. Some places have recorded record lows – with the temperature in Flint, Michigan dipping to an incredible -28C. Bone-chilling winds – known as the Alberta Clipper after a Canadian province – have also led to record snowfall ... Daily Mail

The Law Of Vibration

"This is the law of the first plane, and it governs all the atomic subplanes of each plane. It marks the beginning of the work of the Logos, the first setting in motion of mulaprakriti. On each plane the vibration of the atomic subplane sets in motion the matter of that plane. It is the key measure. We might sum up the significance of this law in the words, "light" or "fire." It is the law of fire; it governs the transmutation of differentiated colors back to their synthesis. It controls the breaking up of the One into the seven, and then the reabsorption back into the One. It is really the basic law of evolution, which necessitates involution. It is analogous to the first movement the Logos made to express Himself through this solar system. He uttered the Sound, a threefold Sound, one sound for each of His three systems, and started a ripple on the ocean of space. The Sound grows in volume as time progresses, and when it has reached its full volume, when it is fully completed, it forms one of the notes in the major cosmic chord. Each note has six subtones, which, with the first, make the seven; the Law of Vibration, therefore, comprises eighteen lesser vibrations and three major, making the twenty-one of our three systems. Two multiplied by nine (2x9), makes the necessary eighteen, which is the key number of our love system. Twenty-seven holds hid the mystery of the third system." (Taken from A Treatise On Cosmic Fire by Alice Bailey)

The Chaos Revolution

The Chaos Revolution always begins as an internal revolution, perhaps even evolution. It is the acceptance of chaos and the adaptation of a new lifestyle: the lifestyle inherent to Generation X, which is what we've become. We have been raised in a world of television, internet and incredible consumerism, capitalist/communist fascism. We have had enough of society, civilization. The supporter of the Chaos Revolution proclaims: 'F*** society, F*** the world.'

The Chaos Revolution is an Omega Point. It serves as a tool of communication for advocates of society. It begins internally, but these changes will have their effect on the outside world. It is this interaction between micro- and macrocosm that is Chaos Magick.

Now, we live in a beautiful world and we have the potential to do anything, but society, with its standards, norms and values, is standing in the way of full developement of all potential. Society has reached the point where it no longer serves the need of the individual, instead the individual is serving society, and that is wrong, since society was created for the individual. The Chaos Revolution is the destruction of values, norms, laws, regulations and the return to a life proper to the individual.

Scientists left baffled as mysterious columns of coloured light appear in the night skies

These stunning images show mysterious columns of light streaming into the sky above the town of Sigulda in Latvia at the end of last month.Taken by designer Aigar Truhins with a standard digital camera, the photographs have prompted excited online discussions among amateur astronomists all over the internet.

'My son exclaimed, 'The aliens are coming!'' Truhins was quoted as saying.'It certainly looked that way,' he added.

But experts are agreed there may be a more prosaic explanation - ice crystals in the air. The air above the town was notably cold and filled with suspended ice crystals. It is believed that the columns were formed by those reflecting light from the bright streetlamps and other lights on the ground - beaming it back downwards again.

Skies all over Europe have been filled with such natural phenomena during the cold snap of recent weeks. (Source: Daily Mail)

Merlin Insight... Within The Trojan Horse?

DAILY MERLIN INSIGHT
For Thursday 15th January 2009
Using Servants of the Light Tarot

The focus is ‘the Shining Star’ and a sense of the atmosphere around the situation at this time … including any additional insights which might be uncovered.

Maker of Weapons
Nine of Staves
High Priestess
Five of Crescents
The Empress

Obstacles put in place by the High Priestess (Nine of Staves) stand to be cleared by the undertakings of the Maker of Weapons. Something which is expected of him may well be reaching fruition. It is thus necessary to assess who the Maker of Weapons is. He represents a party (singular person or even group of people) who were the cause of the conflict. Their intended goal blocked by obstacles the High Priestess put in their way … ‘the taking of the shining star’ perhaps?

She is devious, perhaps … but certainly she is a professional in her work and has many legal papers at her disposal. She appears to be well versed in betrayals etc. to suit her purpose. Her eyes observe many things … has minions undertaking the tasks for her. But who is she? She has access to the skeletons in closets and can utilise this information in blackmailing scenarios? Is she feeling guilty with regard to manufactured and planted information? Somewhere in her grasp is seen with a photographer’s pass and camera. Maybe a legitimate photographer for a newspaper … who appears to have been used to place evidence at scenes? She appears to be in a Press Agency as well as linked to Medical Advisory agencies and/or NHS?

Five of Crescents is an illusory ideal now standing in the way of the Empress … and a return. The Empress is K.McC? She holds the precious memories of the Shining Star and in her heart still believes there will be a return. There seems fresh hope of this at this time. The High Priestess is numbered 2 … perhaps representing February? The Empress is numbered 3 … perhaps representing March … something key does appear to be at foot. Out in the open appears more subterfuge to hide a direction towards the sun about to be take?

There is a singular individual of the Maker of Weapons who has done more work than others to complete a task. It is he who is now apparently putting himself at risk … and his hidden standing … by going out on a limb here. Things appear to be at the point of being revealed … the inner workings of the situation as a revelation. Very professional people do seem to be part of this group and the effects of the adversary represented by the High Priestess has affected many in a well trained profession.

There could well be arguments within the ranks behind the scenes. Conflict and disagreements, perhaps the breaking ranks is taking place …??

An offer of help may result which could turn the tides on those who have been apparently aloof?

A key identity appears to be someone who previously wore glasses who now has contact lenses. Their profession or role has changed. They know more than they claim now to know. Hands up in protestation … in an argument they can be pressed to reveal certain documents protected under the ‘OSA’ … a trained operative wounded the wrong target somewhere. They are being used as a bodyguard.

There appears to have been ‘strikes’ at targets added on a list here under the cover … part of the Trojan horse is a covert military operation to seize undesirables … and also ‘regain’ many of the spheres which had been stolen even though the spheres may now have two legs and a name … there seems to have been theft of a secret process here … and the use of it by a rogue organisation for their own financial gain. There has to have been a ‘plant’ to draw out this group and also a backfire where this mission has gone wrong?

Copyright Matthew James 15th January 2009

"Perfecting" the Imperfect"

One of the mottos in Freemasonry is "to perfect that which was left imperfect." This has different meaning to the lowly initiates at the bottom of the proverbial pyramid, who merely serve as useful idiots, compared to what the adepts at the top of the pyramid believe.

These adepts believe that the creator of the universe left the world -- including mankind itself -- in an imperfect state. The deviants at the top of the ladder, who run the stage show of consensus reality through their various levels of command and control, see themselves quite literally as Gods who, having reached perfection themselves, have the ability and natural right to shape and reshape the world according to their plan known as the "Great Work." They see themselves as re-creators, above and at odds with the true creator of the universe.

The secular humanists and high priests of science have largely taken over from the control mechanism of organized religion, instilling a belief in people's minds that the material world is the extent of all truth, and that all truth is to be found through the understanding of science. As with organized religion, Freemasonry and other such organizations, what the "profane masses" at the bottom are given to believe is far different from that which the controllers at the top know and use against us lowly, "lesser-evolved" types, who are seen as nothing more than cannon fodder for the rebuilding of Solomon's (Sol-Om-On) Temple, which itself is exoteric allegory for the Great Work; the "perfection" of mankind and everything else under the sun. Science fiction writer and futurist, Arthur C. Clarke, stated in his "laws" of prediction that "any sufficiently advanced technology is indistinguishable from magic," and it's this "magic," which is the science behind the advanced technology unknown to the general public, that is being developed and perfected, not to free humanity but enslave and ultimately destroy it.

Source: sovereignsentience.blogspot

"That Smell"

Lynyrd Skynyrd live in 1996.

Inspiration

Life whispers its meaning to us
in the silence of
the surrendered, open heart.

That which we do not understand
provides the key to this
dawning Recognition.

---

Clearing a Space for Change

In life, we tend to have an easier time acquiring possessions than we do getting rid of them. Just as we harbor emotional baggage that is difficult to let go of, our lives can tend to be filled with material objects that we may feel compelled to hold on to.

Most people are not conscious of how much they own and how many of their possessions are no longer adding value to their life. They fiercely hold on to material objects because this makes them feel secure or comfortable. While it’s true that the ownership of “stuff” can make you feel good for awhile, it seldom satisfies the deep inner longings that nearly everyone has for fulfillment and satisfaction. It is only when we are ready to let go of our baggage and be vulnerable that it becomes possible to recognize the emotional hold that our possessions can have on us.

It’s not uncommon to hold on to material objects because we are attached to them or fear the empty spaces that will remain if we get rid of them. Giving away the souvenirs from a beloved voyage may feel like we are erasing the memory of that time in our life. We may also worry that our loved ones will feel hurt if we don’t keep the gifts they’ve given us. It’s easy to convince ourselves that unused possessions might come in handy someday or that parting with them will cause you emotional pain. However, when your personal space is filled with objects, there is no room for anything new to enter and stay in your life. Your collection of belongings may “protect” you from the uncertainties of an unknown future while keeping you stuck in the past. Holding on to unnecessary possessions often goes hand in hand with holding on to pain, anger, and resentment, and letting go of your material possessions may help you release emotional baggage.

When you make a conscious decision to fill your personal space with only the objects that you need or bring you joy, your energy level will soar. Clearing your personal space can lead to mental clarity and an improved memory. As you learn to have a more practical and temporary relationship to objects, positive changes will happen, and you’ll have space to create the life that you desire.

Another UFO spotted over a lake by multiple witnesses

Recently we reported a UFO sighting in Argentina involving a number of UFOs seen rising from a lake in the province of Entre Rios on January 2 2009 by numerous witnesses. Now we have received reports of a very similar sighting in Indonesia. The parallels are striking and raise many questions.

A group of eight friends planned to go to a concert in the centre of the regional city of Jember in East Java on December 20 2008. Tickets to the concert were sold out so the group headed back to one of their homes in two cars. Heavy traffic in the centre of the city forced the group to go an alternative route past a lake on the outskirts of the town. One of the cars halted as the driver spotted a remarkable sight above the small lake that they were passing.

Two large lights rose from the lake, one white and one red. Two beams were then shot from the lights towards the lake and at that point the lights appeared to change formation; this lasted no less than ten minutes before the strange lights shot off upward into the night sky.

All of the group are willing to testify and it is understood that there have been other witnesses who have called local media outlets about the UFO sighting. The sighting has also been reported to Indonesia's main UFO research group BETA-UFO. One of the witnesses has insisted that what they saw was not a fireworks display, plane, kite, balloon or tower. All of the witnesses appear credible 'solid citizens' with no prior UFO sightings to their names (not that we are suggesting you can't see a UFO more than once).

The remarkable similarity of this sighting to the Argentinean sighting raises many tantalising questions. Are aliens hiding UFO bases at the bottom of lakes, possibly beneath the ground? It appears that lakes would provide the ideal camouflage. Does a network of tunnels connect these lake bottom bases at various points on the globe? The evidence at this stage seems to suggest that lakes are in fact very much a part of the aliens strategy for keeping us guessing in regards to their presence on this planet (Source: Allnewsweb)

Image of the Day

West Kennett, Avebury

Original Artwork by Matthew James

New giant database will store private details of EVERY person in 'Big Brother' Britain

Source: Daily Mail

Personal information detailing the lives of every person in Britain will be handed over to Town Hall bureaucrats in a new lurch towards the 'snooper state'. Under controversial plans unveiled yesterday, all public bodies will be able to request private details held by every Government department, agency or council.

The data will be transferred around the country in bulk, effectively creating giant databases of information.

It will sweep away data protection restrictions that require information to be used only for the purpose it was taken, such as limiting access to health records to the Department of Health.

Even low-ranking officials working for Town Halls could lay their hands on the most sensitive personal information, such as incomes and details of any benefits received. Critics give the examples of medical records being sent to the Driver and Vehicle Licensing Agency to identify drivers who pose a health risk, or school attendance data being handed to the Department for Work and Pensions to verify benefit claims made by parents.

They warn that, as well as marking another step towards a Big Brother state, there is also a grave danger of personal information being misused or lost.

Life on Mars?

Alien microbes living just below the Martian soil are responsible for a haze of methane around the Red Planet, Nasa scientists believe. The gas, belched in vast quantities in our world by cows, was detected by orbiting spacecraft and from Earth using giant telescopes.

Nasa are today expected to confirm its presence during a briefing at their Washington HQ. And the find is seen as exciting new evidence that Martian microbes are still alive today. Some scientists reckon methane is also produced by volcanic processes. But there are NO known active volcanoes on Mars. Furthermore, Nasa has found the gas in the same regions as clouds of water vapour, the vital “drink” needed to support life.

Experts speculate that the methane is being emitted as a waste product by organisms called methanogens living in water beneath underground ice. And they would have to be alive today because the methane would otherwise have been lost from the Martian atmosphere. (Source: The Sun)

Two Points Behind with One Game In Hand

Manchester United closed the gap on Premier League leaders Liverpool to two points - with a game in hand - as they struggled to victory against Wigan.

Wayne Rooney slid in Cristiano Ronaldo's cross in the first minute, but limped off with a hamstring injury five minutes later. Substitute Carlos Tevez then missed United's best chance after rounding Latics keeper Chris Kirkland.

Wigan had plenty of possession but could not carve out any clear chances.

United were not at their most impressive, but manager Sir Alex Ferguson will simply be delighted to have built on the 3-0 win against title rivals Chelsea with another vital three points to move into second place in then table. And United's defence stretched their impressive recent record to nine league games without conceding a goal.(Source: BBC Sport)

Walker discovers 10ft-wide, spinning frozen arctic circle in British waters for the first time

Source: Daily Mail

This disc of ice, which measures 10ft across, was spotted in Devon during last week's freeze, swirling on the River Otter near Honiton. Ice circles are known to appear in the Arctic, Scandinavia and Canada, but this is thought to be the first seen in Britain. They occur at bends in the river where the accelerating water creates a force called 'rotational shear', which breaks off a chunk of ice and twists it around. As the disc rotates, it grinds against surrounding ice - smoothing into a perfect circle.

A Quote ....

To live a pure unselfish life, one must count nothing as one's own in the midst of abundance. - Buddha

Avebury - Images of the Day

Avebury Stone Circle

Original Artwork (both images) by Matthew James

"Moths"

Video by Jethro Tull

The Ridiculous, the sublime .... it's a joke right? Part IV

Daily Mail Headline reads 'Coronation Street bosses spark outrage after hiding cross for church wedding scene - to avoid offending non-Christians'

Coronation Street bosses covered up a cross during filming at a 14th century church - because they thought it may offend viewers.The Rev. James Milnes said the producers asked for it to be removed entirely, but then settled on hiding it behind candles and flowers. He described the request - made during the filming of Molly and Tyrone's wedding scenes - as a disgrace. The cross was bolted down, so the soap's producers hid it behind candles and flowers for the scene, which was screened on Monday.

Rev Milnes said: 'I can't imagine how people would be offended. It's a church - you expect to see a cross in there. You would expect to see the Koran in a film of a mosque, a menorah in a film of a synagogue and similarly a cross when filming a Christian church.'

Stephen Green from protest group Christian Voice said: 'It's absolutely ridiculous.'

Introducing ....

Ben Brown - Healer & Space Cleanser

Healing - using sound therapy, creator and absent healing.
Ben uses a variety of methods to heal, all very proficiently. He is a very effective absent healer, for this method distance truly is no barrier. To use this service he will need a photo and a first name, email address below for more information – price is normally £30 per session.

Space Cleansing
Ben has a rare ability to contact earthbound spirits and has effectively ‘moved them on’ with exceptional results.

While Ben is willing to travel, financial restraints mean that each case would have a different charge. He is based in East Yorkshire, UK and has ‘cleaned house’ for grateful householders and businesses in the region. If you wish to ask Ben’s advice on such matters you would need to email him with your problem so that he can discuss options.

For More Details e-mail Ben at soundtherapybbrown@yahoo.co.uk

Gerry McCann back in Portugal

Gerry McCann flew back to Portugal yesterday for the first time since returning to Britain 16 months ago — and said he still hopes to find Maddie alive.

The doctor, who flies home today, said: “We think there is still a very good chance Maddie could be found alive, and that’s why we want the search to continue. The purpose of this visit was to look at what can still be done in the search. We want to be looking forward because we want to find our daughter.”

Gerry was met in the Algarve by British Embassy representatives and then went to the capital Lisbon to see Portuguese authorities.

He also met his lawyer Rogerio Alves “to explore steps that have yet to be taken and that could make a difference”.

It is the first time he has returned since he and wife Kate were named “arguidos” — or formal suspects — in the investigation in September 2007.

He added: “I hope it’s the first of many (visits) over the coming months.”

Source: The Sun

Another Look at Telepathy

We all have heard about - or even experienced - the process of sending or receiving thoughts from one person to another. In the past, and even in today's science fiction, a "telepathy" is seen as a rare breed of their species, called upon for special tasks which require their ability to constantly "pick up" the thoughts of other individuals or forces. However, ALL human beings actually have the ability to communicate by the process which has come to be known as mental telepathy.

As with any other ability - such as swimming, playing tennis, memory, and so on - some individuals are born with more natural talent than others. Yet even those born today with a high degree of natural telepathic ability will rarely show any consistent ability. The reason for this is due to the fact that most cultures do not accept telepathy as a common ability - so rather than creating programs to develop telepathic ability - society still debates amongst itself whether this talent exists or not.

Therefore, most known recorded cases of telepathic ability did not occur by one's will, but rather surfaced by "accident", or was forced out due to "special circumstances". In analysing a collection of documented cases of telepathic ability, several common factors were found which not only illustrate the energy behind mental telepathy, but also how this ability works.

The main reason our mental telepathic powers of communication are not known to us (or used) basically lies in the fact that we are not taught about them. There has been many accounts describing the occurrence of mental telepathy throughout history, and it was originally described as the power of the "third eye" - which humanity later altered to describe seeing elements in the spiritual world. Modern studies and tests have verified that telepathy exists not only in the human, but also in the animal, and plant kingdoms!. These examples of telepathy in other kingdoms we will look at later in the series, but first let us cover the historical data and evidence concerning telepathy.

As far back as 4,000 BC in Egypt and in Mesopotamia there have been descriptions of mental telepathy -some real, and many faked. The questionable accounts are easy to disregard, since these appeared as many of the "mind reading" acts one can see at a circus or carnival today. The "reader" did not actually see the thought of an individual at a particular moment, but usually claimed to "read" something ABOUT the individual by "looking" into their mind (which of course, only revealed a fact about the individual that could be easily found out by earlier questioning)

Many of the legitimate historical accounts sound like the one you hear about today. One case, a hysterical Greek woman around 340 BC, claims she "saw" the death of her brother in a "daydream". Months later the town find out he did indeed die on that day - in battle in a far off land. Many of these accounts had witnesses, or we can see from the technology of the time that these individuals had no other means to learn such news so quickly, so therefore would be difficult to fake.

Alien Artifacts Discovered Under Crop Circles

Go easy on the coffee, you could start seeing things

Source: Daily Mail

Drinking cup after cup of coffee dramatically increases the risk of hallucinating, research shows. Healthy young men and women who had more than seven cups of instant coffee a day were three times more likely to hear or see things that were not there than those who limited their intake to less than a cup.

It is thought that caffeine boosts levels of cortisol, a stress hormone. Confirming the link could lead to new treatments for those who suffer severe hallucinations, including schizophrenics, some victims of child abuse and the recently bereaved.

The Durham University researchers asked 219 students to document their caffeine intake, working on the principle that a cup of instant coffee contains 45mg of caffeine.

Coffee brewed at home contains more than twice as much, while that from cafes such as Starbucks can have almost 190mg of caffeine. The volunteers were also asked how often they suffered hallucinations. The high caffeine users were three times as likely to have had problems as those who rarely drank coffee. Large amounts of caffeine also made people more likely to think they could sense the presence of ghosts, the journal Personality and Individual Differences reports

It’s Never Too Late

There are times in life when we are committed to pursuing our passions. Every molecule in our body is focused on doing what we love. At other times, necessity and responsibility dictate that we put our dreams aside and do what needs to be done. It is during these moments that we may choose to forget what it is that we love to do. There are many other reasons for why we may leave our passions behind. A hobby may lose its appeal once we’ve realize it will never turn into our dream job. Someone important to us may keep telling us that our passions are childish and unsuitable – until we finally believe them.

Forgetting about what you love to do can be a form of self-sabotage. If you can forget about your dreams, then you never have to risk failure. But just because we’ve decided to ignore our passions doesn’t mean they no longer exist. Nothing can fill the emptiness that remains in a space vacated by a passion that we have tossed aside. Besides, life is too short to stop doing what you love, and it is never too late to rediscover your favorite things. If you gave up playing an instrument, painting, drawing, spending time in nature, or any other activity or interest that you once loved to do, now may be the time to take up that passion again. If you don’t remember what it is that you used to be passionate about, you may want to think about the activities or interests that you used to love or the dreams that you always wished you could pursue.

You don’t have to neglect your responsibilities to pursue your passions, and you don’t have to neglect your commitments to do what you love. When you make an effort to incorporate your interests into your life, the fire within you ignites. You feel excited, inspired, and fed by the flames that are sparked by living your life with passion for what you love.

Doctor My Eyes

Song by Jackson Browne .... for Kristine.

Clarity of Soul

Just as the physical spaces we inhabit require that we clear them periodically of clutter, the energetic fields that are a vital part of our being must also be cleared of old thoughts, energy, and emotions. Clearing your chakras and your aura restores and strengthens your connection to yourself and your divine inner wisdom. Unfettered by energetic baggage masquerading as fear, pain, and self-hatred, your consciousness is once again free to grow. If you find the thought of clearing your energy fields disconcerting, simply think of it as cleansing the energy that surrounds you and releasing any stagnancy. You may not be able to see the results of your efforts, but you will experience a lightness of being and clarity of mind.

You can begin by sitting or lying down on a comfortable surface. Take a series of deep breaths and allow your soul to connect with Mother Earth and the vast expanse of the Universe. Visualize your first chakra, situated near the tailbone, and imagine if you will, a valve opening there, much like a faucet. Imagine a cord dropping from your tailbone deep into Mother Earth and let everything that is stagnant within you flow through it. Let go of old energy, inactive thoughts, and anything else that no longer serves you. Ask the earth to accept what you are offering by turning this old energy into light. Continue to let old energy drain out of you until you feel like you’ve released all your energetic baggage. When you are done, imagine the valve closing. Before moving on to clear your next chakra, let vibrant terra cotta light travel upward from the earth and through the cord into your first chakra. Repeat this process with all seven of the body’s chakras. The second chakra is orange, the third is yellow, the fourth is green, the fifth is blue, the sixth is indigo and the 7th is violet. Afterward, visualize your crown chakra and draw beautiful, golden-white light from the universe flowing down through the top of your head. Release any worries or fears that you have been holding on to. Draw this light into your aura and enjoy the resultant feeling of peace.

To finish clearing your energy and ensure that you have rid yourself of the last vestiges of clutter, take a bath infused with one cup apple cider vinegar, one cup Epsom salt, and one cup sea salt. After completing this exercise, be sure to thank Mother Earth and the universe for their help.

Buddhist Inspiration

In Buddhism, there is a teaching called the "three bodies" (sanjin), also called the "three properties" or the "three enlightened properties". These are the three kinds of form that a Buddha may manifest as:

1) the Dharma Body (dharmakaya or hosshin) is the form in which a Buddha transcends physical being and is identical with the undifferentiated unity of being or Suchness (Skt. tathata, Jp. shinnyo);
2) the Bliss or Reward Body (sambhogakaya or hojin) is obtained as the "reward" for having completed the bodhisattva practice of aiding other beings to end their suffering and having penetrated the depth of the Buddha's wisdom. Unlike the Dharma Body, which is immaterial, the Bliss Body is conceived of as an actual body, although one that is still transcendent and imperceptible to common people;
3) the Manifested Body (nirmanakaya or ojin) is the physical form in which the Buddha appears in this world in order to guide sentient beings. It is considered that the historical Buddha, Shakyamuni, is nirmanakaya. Honen believed that Amida is sambhogakaya.

Power Animals: The Squirrel

When the squirrel comes into our lives it is often a message for us to have more fun, and take life a little less seriously. We can see this in the squirrel's daily antics in our yards and surroundings.

Other animal symbolism of squirrels deal with practicality. As the squirrel is commonly known to hide and save its food and return to it in the winter months - we take this as a sign in our own lives.

It's not commonly known that the squirrel only actually finds 10% of the nuts he hides for safekeeping. This is another message from the squirrel that we can also foolishly over-prepare. Here there is a lesson of balance to be considered.

However, there is a higher significance in this message of finding our 10%. All those nuts our squirrels do not recover are all primed and ready to seed themselves. This means, that thanks to our furry friends, we are gifted with new generations of trees and plants sprouting from all the seeds and nuts burrowed in the soil by squirrels.

This symbolically coincides with the old adage "what we sow is what we reap." What may seem like absent-mindedness is actually a strong message to us to be mindful of the metaphorical seeds we plant in our own lives as they we will surely reap the consequences.

Squirrels are quite sociable, and are often seen in pairs or groups. Any amount of observation of the squirrel will reveal that it is a vocal creature as well, and using extensive communications - particularly when in play or when it feels threatened. In this manner, the animal symbolism of squirrels addresses our ability to express ourselves in social settings. The squirrel reminds us to communicate effectively with others, and to honour those around us with our presence (rather than dishonour them with inappropriate or rude behaviour).

Image of the Day

The Temple of Palenque

Mayan ruins

The Pythagorean or Western number system

The Pythagorean or Western number system was thought to have been discovered by Pythagoras, the famous Greek philosopher, mystic, mathematician, and astronomer in the period 600 B.C. However, from some earlier recordings, the origins of Numerology may even have predated Pythagoras.

Pythagoras taught that there was a definite relationship of numbers to one’s total life experience. He studied under the Jewish Mystics and the Gurus of India and had been initiated into many of the mysteries of the spiritual teachers of the East and had both used and taught their system of numbers. Later on in life, he founded a school to pass on the mystical sciences to Western students that was based on knowledge from his travels and learned studies. The school was run by a religious brotherhood on the basis of a belief system derived from mathematics, astronomy, physics and philosophy.

Unfortunately, very little of his teachings survived other than a story told by Philolaus, a student believed to have studied under Pythagoras. It is suspected that after Pythagoras’ death, Philolaus declared that a certain system of numbers (we assume his) had been developed and blessed by Pythagoras before his death. Philolaus proclaimed Pythagoras as the “Father” of Western Numerology and for over 2,500 years, people accepted this declaration as valid since there was never any evidence to disprove this claim.

The Western number system assigns the number value by the sequence of the Western alphabet and uses a number formula based on calculating 1 – 9. Years of experience prove that this method is not as accurate as the Chaldean method. The Western alphabet assignment totally discounts the most important aspect of numerology–the concept of vibration and the numerical designation of each vibrational pattern. As a result, the Western number system virtually destroys the validity of the name numbers (or any other name number) and their meaning. What Western Numerology fails to acknowledge is the fact that the language of the numbers, coming off our name, gives us the most important facts about the direction in which our lives are unfolding. (Source: numbersru.com)

Inspiration for Today

When one sees Eternity
in things that pass away and
Infinity in finite things,
then one has pure knowledge.

---

Israel Admits No Hamas Rockets Fired During Ceasefire

.... watch this news video footage ...

The Trinity of Global Empire

There are three cities (city-states) across this planet that share striking similarities and play a crucial role in the global governmental system we have long been living under. The three city-states (along with the role they serve) is as follows:City of London (finance)Washington DC (military)Vatican City (religion)

The aforementioned city-states listed above are sovereign, corporate entities not connected to the nations they appear to be part of. In other words, the City of London (that is the square mile within Greater London) is not technically part of Greater London or England, just as Vatican City is not part of Rome or Italy. Likewise, Washington DC is not part of the United States that it controls.These sovereign, corporate entities have their own laws and their own identities. They also have their own flags. Seen below is the flag of Washington DC. Note the three stars, representing the trinity of these three city-states, also known as the Empire of the City. (There is also high esoteric significance to the number 3.)

Washington DC was established as a city-state in 1871 with the passage of the Act of 1871, which officially established the United States as a corporation under the rule of Washington, which itself is subservient to the City of London. Corporations are run by presidents, which is why we call the person perceived to hold the highest seat of power in the land "the president." The fact is the president is nothing more than a figurehead for the central bankers and transnational corporations (both of which themselves are controlled by High Ecclesiastic Freemasonry) that really control this country and ultimately call the shots.Washington DC operates under a system of Roman Law and outside of the limitations established by the US Constitution. Therefore, it should not be a surprise that the name Capitol Hill derives from Capitoline Hill, which was the seat of government for the Roman Empire. If you look at the wall behind the podium in the House of Representatives, you will notice that on either side of the US flag is the depiction of bundles of sticks tied together with an axe. These are called fasci, hence the root word of fascism. This was the symbol of fascism in the Roman Empire, as it was under the Nazis and still is today. It is not a coincidence that these symbols are featured on the floor of Congress.

Any American who thinks they are living in a free country does not have a clue.The fact is that the United States corporation is controlled from the City of London, by the Crown, which is not the British Monarchy as many believe, but rather the private corporation that is the inner 'City of London' itself, also commonly known as "The City" or "The Square Mile." This square mile that makes up the center of Greater London has its own mayor, laws, courts, flag, police force and newspaper. It is the heart of the global financial system.

Vatican City also has its own mayor (called the Governatorate), laws, flag, postal service, newspaper, radio and television stations, and even its own prison.Another thing these three city-states have in common are their own obelisks. Obelisks are tall, four-sided shafts of stone which taper at the top in a pyramidal fashion. The obelisk is phallic in its appearance and represents the male penis. It is symbolic of the Egyptian sun god, Ra, and is an ancient symbol of male energy and generation (G) in Freemasonry.

So how are these three cities ultimately connected? We must first go back to the Knights Templar and their initial 200-year reign of power. The Knights Templar were first called "the Poor Fellow-Soldiers of Christ and the Temple of Solomon." This is a blatantly misleading title, considering the immense wealth and power of the Templars, who operated 9,000 manors across Europe and owned all the mills and markets. It was the Templars that issued the first paper money for public use in Europe, establishing the fiat banking system we know today. In England, the Templars established their headquarters at a London temple, which still exists today and is called Temple Bar.

This is located in the City of London, between Fleet Street and Victoria Embankment. The aforementioned "Crown," to be exact, is the Knights Templar church, also known as the Crown Temple. It is the Crown Temple that controls the legal/court system of the US, Canada and many other countries. All bar associations are directly linked to the International Bar Association and the Inns of Court at Crown Temple in the City of London.

Anytime you hear somebody refer to the Bar Association, they are talking about a British/Masonic system that has nothing to do with a country's sovereignty or the constitutional rights of its people. This is why, when you go to court in the US, you see the US flag with a gold fringe, denoting international rule. The government of the United States, Canada and Britain are all subsidiaries of the crown, as is the Federal Reserve in the US. The ruling Monarch in England is also subordinate to the Crown. The global financial and legal system is controlled from the City of London by the Crown. The square mile making up the center of Greater London is the global seat of power, at least at the visible level.

Most Americans (and people in general) believe the US declared independence from Britain when this is simply not the case. Of the signatories to the Declaration of Independence, at least five of them were Temple Bar attorneys, all of whom had sworn allegiance to the Crown.

Alexander Hamilton was one of the Middle Crown agents during the formation of the US and was assigned to set up the American banking system on orders from the Crown, to control the United States. In fact a 'State' is a legal entity of the Crown. This is why we also have the STATE of Israel.

Furthermore, of the members of the Constitutional Convention that signed the completed US Constitution, seven were Middle Inn Templars who had also pledged allegiance to the Crown. Therefore, it is no coincidence that today copies of both the Declaration of Independence and US Constitution hang on the wall in the library of of the Middle Temple in London.

To put it all in context, it is the Crown that controls the global financial system and runs the governments of all Commonwealth countries, and many non-Commonwealth 'Western' nations as well. The Crown traces back to the Vatican, which is headed by the Pope, who is the figurehead for the real powers that be behind the curtain, some of which are known but many of which are completely unknown to the general public. (Source: Sovereign Sentience blogspot)

Ronaldo Crowned Best In The World

Manchester United winger Cristiano Ronaldo has been crowned FIFA World Player of the Year.The 23-year-old midfielder received 935 votes in a worldwide poll of national team captains and coaches.

The results were announced by the man widely thought to be the best player in history, Brazilian striker Pele, at a ceremony in Zurich.

The award completes a clean sweep of football's top individual honours for 2008 for the Portuguese international. Ronaldo previously won the Ballon D'Or as European player of the year and World Soccer magazine's player of the year award.

"It is an overwhelming moment, a very special moment in my life," he said.
"I would like to say to my mother and sister that the fireworks can be fired off now."

He scored 42 goals last season, firing United to the Premier League and Champions League titles in May. His spectacular pace, allied to his ability to perform tricks with the ball at lightning speed, would alone make him an outstanding player. (Source: Sky News)

The Truth About Self

All the Power that ever was or will be is here now.

I am a centre of expression for the Primal Will-to-Good which eternally creates and sustains the Universe.

Through me its unfailing Wisdom takes form in thought and word.

Filled with Understanding of its perfect law, I am guided, moment by moment, along the path of liberation.

From the exhaustless riches of its Limitless Substance, I draw all things needful, both spiritual and material.

I recognize the manifestation of the Undeviating Justice in all the circumstances of my life.

In all things, great and small, I see the Beauty of the Divine Expression.

Living from that Will, supported by its unfailing Wisdom and Understanding, mine is the Victorious Life.

I look forward with confidence to the perfect realization of the Eternal Splendor of the Limitless Light.

In thought and word and deed, I rest my life, from day to day, upon the sure Foundation of Eternal Being.

The Kingdom of Spirit is embodied in my flesh.

Source: B.O.T.A

Inspiration Today

You are not alone.
You do not exist in isolation and separation
from the Reality and Truth you seek.

The One always contains The Many...
...and every finite form is a dynamic manifestation
of Infinite Fullness.

---

Yellowstone National Park Supervolcano is a 'restless volcano'

..... is it about to explode? Watch this video ...

Releasing Negativity

We all have days when the bad things seem to outweigh the good ones and we begin to think that life isn’t fair. You get stuck in traffic, which makes you late for an important meeting, and then your car gets towed. You might ask yourself, “Why me?” Events like this one can test anyone’s ability to be grateful and feel optimistic. If you have a tendency to feel sorry for yourself, and many of us do, things usually progress to the next stage: the pity party. You begin to feel like the innocent victim of a dismal fate because you are seeing your life through inaccurate lenses. Most of the thoughts that run through your mind at times like these are not helpful, and they mainly serve to increase your indignation and feelings of powerlessness. What these feelings and thoughts don’t do is change your circumstances or make you feel better. When you have a terrible day, there should definitely be a time and place to have your feelings so you can process them. It’s important not to pretend that you are fine with things when you aren’t. It’s also important, however, to notice when you’re having a pity party. It’s a good idea to set a time limit in which to fully express your emotions and not feel guilty, ashamed, or judge yourself. Having a friend witness you during this process can be helpful. You may also want to write about your feelings. When your time is up, let go of the negativity you just expressed. You can declare your intention to your friend. If you’ve written down your feelings, you can burn the piece of paper or throw it in the recycling bin. Try not to dwell on unpleasant experiences and do everything you can to avoid holding on to negative emotions. When you indulge in self-pity, you only make a bad day worse. Stop feeling sorry for yourself, release the notion that you are a victim, and notice the good that exists in your life.

An Image for the Day

Mysterious Castlerigg

What is B.O.T.A.?

Builders of the Adytum is a religious organization dedicated to spiritual attunement through study, practice and worship in the Tradition of the Western Mysteries. Spiritual aspirants participate through the B.O.T.A. lesson instructions. Wherever they may be geographically, they actively participate in mystical-esoteric meditations that unify them into a powerful metaphysical body of enlightened worship.

Adytum is the Greek word for ‘Inner Shrine’ or Holy of Holies. Like Jesus, who many believe was trained in Qabalah, members of the Order aspire to build the Inner Temple, to construct the Holy of Holies within.

Form and awareness evolve simultaneously. Consequently, as evolution unfolds, all men and women will ultimately be possessed of higher levels of consciousness. Almost incomprehensible periods of time elapse before such changes occur. Yet acceleration is possible. Humanity is endowed with mental and physical faculties which can be trained to speed up the evolutionary process. This cultural forcing process has been the work of the Mystery Schools for many centuries.

Higher Consciousness, Illumination, can be attained by learning theory and testing it in the rigors of daily life. These instructions and practical secrets constitute what is known as Ageless Wisdom. It is called ‘Ageless’ because it is not susceptible to the mutations of time. Ageless Wisdom is not primarily a product of man’s thinking. It is “written by God upon the face of nature,” and is always there for men and women of all epochs to read.

Builders of the Adytum is an authentic Mystery School in the Western Tradition. Its teachings are based on the Holy Qabalah and the Sacred Tarot, and have been handed down from one group of initiates to another since ancient times. However, B.O.T.A. does not claim value on the grounds of being old, but because its instructions have met the tests of centuries of practical application. (Source: B.O.T.A)

"New World Man"

Rush live in Rio ...

Earth On The Brink Of An Ice Age

The earth is now on the brink of entering another Ice Age, according to a large and compelling body of evidence from within the field of climate science. Many sources of data which provide our knowledge base of long-term climate change indicate that the warm, twelve thousand year-long Holocene period will rather soon be coming to an end, and then the earth will return to Ice Age conditions for the next 100,000 years.

Ice cores, ocean sediment cores, the geologic record, and studies of ancient plant and animal populations all demonstrate a regular cyclic pattern of Ice Age glacial maximums which each last about 100,000 years, separated by intervening warm interglacials, each lasting about 12,000 years.

Most of the long-term climate data collected from various sources also shows a strong correlation with the three astronomical cycles which are together known as the Milankovich cycles. The three Milankovich cycles include the tilt of the earth, which varies over a 41,000 year period; the shape of the earth’s orbit, which changes over a period of 100,000 years; and the Precession of the Equinoxes, also known as the earth’s ‘wobble’, which gradually rotates the direction of the earth’s axis over a period of 26,000 years. According to the Milankovich theory of Ice Age causation, these three astronomical cycles, each of which effects the amount of solar radiation which reaches the earth, act together to produce the cycle of cold Ice Age maximums and warm interglacials. (Source: english.prada.ru)

Tarot Card of the Day WIDGET!

No doubt many of you will have noticed the new Tarot Card Of The Day Widget located on the right hand side of the blog page ....

It's just something fresh to add to A Light In The Darkness ... for the New Year 2009.

Other widgets are being sought out in cyberspace ... numerology, I Ching etc ...

Just part and parcel of a slow but steady upgrade to A Light In The Darkness which began with the new background colour ... and includes new categories being added on almost a daily basis. The intention with the categories, to create a concise and comprehensive guide to all aspects of The Occult (and the Conspiracy Theories) here on A Light In The Darkness ....

Many thanks, incidentally, to those who took part in the recent poll appertaining to the new blog colours .... more polls will follow in due course .... bfn ...

Well ...that was easier than expected!

Manchester United turned up the heat on Premier League leaders Liverpool and manager Rafael Benitez as they closed the gap at the top of the table with a convincing win against Chelsea at Old Trafford.

Nemanja Vidic headed United in front in first half injury-time after Dimitar Berbatov flicked on Ryan Giggs' corner. Wayne Rooney then turned in Patrice Evra's cross after 63 minutes to set United on the path to a deserved three points - leaving them five points behind Liverpool with two games in hand. Berbatov rounded off the win by grabbing the third from close range four minutes from time, turning in Cristiano Ronaldo's free-kick as United's fans finally sensed their title charge was hitting top gear.

Sir Alex Ferguson will regard the victory as the perfect response to public taunts from Liverpool counterpart Benitez that United may be "a little bit scared" at the sight of their great rivals at the Premier League summit.

United were not at their free-flowing best in a game that was too stop-start to be of the highest quality, but they showed none of the fear Benitez might have been hoping to detect. (Source: BBC Sport)

Remains of 9/11 Killers Found?

Forensic investigators have recovered the charred remains of most of the 9/11 hijackers - to honour a pledge that they would never be buried with the victims. The £30million CSI-style probe has taken seven years. Flesh or bone from 13 of the 19 Al Qaeda terrorists who flew passenger jets into the Twin Towers in New York and the Pentagon in Washington have now been identified. In the most intense crime scene investigation in history, scientists sifted through a mountain of concrete dust, buckled iron and shattered glass to find what was left of the terrorists. The final tally was 24lb of burnt flesh and shattered bone.A combination of dedicated FBI detective work and the brilliant skills of forensic scientists eventually put names to the fragments by matching them with DNA traces discovered at the terrorists’ hideouts. Somewhere deep in an FBI complex in Virginia, a locked steel freezer carries all that is left of nine of the hijackers who carried out the attack on the Pentagon and brought down Flight 93 in Pennsylvannia. Another secret building in New York holds the charred bone fragments of four of the fanatics who attacked the World Trade Center.The glass containers are under 24-hour armed guard as Amer–ica still tries to come to terms with the enormity of the 2001 atrocities and the ramifications of keeping hold of the body parts of killers hailed across the Middle East as martyrs. The FBI and coroner’s office staff are holding on to the remains while the 9/11 inquiry stays open, but eventually it may be left to the President-elect Barack Obama to decide their fate. (Source: Daily Express)

Rock 'n' Roll

Classic song by Status Quo .... 1981

Mystic Insight ... RV Locality

Mystic Insight
Sunday 11th January 2009

Relating to the RV of an undisclosed location in relation to the 'mystery location' ... a strong sense of familiarity with this locality. Within a rural area. A winding road leads to the locality. A series of outbuildings. Well observed with a good communications network around the locality. Animals including several dogs around the locality. Young children and an 'assigned' family within the locality. A sense of wellbeing. The main premises are in a state of disrepair on the outside. Fairly modern on the inside. A kitchen with dark wood ... good entrance and exit routes around the premises. Suspicious activity in the outbuildings around the main building with operatives not displaying 'the skills' expected of the rural activities at this place. Dark sunglasses are here with mobile phones and high tech surveillance. A link now with a helicopter and a network of satellites. Faces linked waiting for responses. Back to the premises. Light stone rubble walling. There is the outskirts of a town nearby ... maze like country roads. Vantage points for watchers. Vehicles out of place travel to this safety house. There is a basement ... a well stocked room which can be blocked off in times of danger. All mod cons down there. An adventure for the girls. Someone there is actually very healthy ... well being ... signs are monitored by way of computers ... not for an illness. Just monitored as part of the claims. Linked now to suitcases of cash money. With faces who only use paper money. Reward for a process. A white boat on calm seas ... a large boat ... private jetty in warm waters. Directly linked to the house in the heartland ... back to the girl. Back to her own sunglasses ... a pose with a finger in her mouth and her head tipped to one side. Mannerisms are the hardest thing to be changed ... what comes naturally will still be an instinctive thing. Taught to speak so well ... still smiles. Still mischievious ... and bad tempered. Still. Little changes. This situation is very, very far reaching ... implicates rich and influential. Implicates bloodlines not found in the Who's Who by the common mortals. This is historic. There is something big to hide.

Copyright Matthew James Sunday 11th January 2009

Defining 'Telepathy'

The psychic phenomena by which communication occurs between minds, or mind-to-mind communication. Such communication includes thoughts, ideas, feelings, sensations and mental images. Telepathic descriptions are universally found in writings and oral lore. In tribal societies such as the Aborigines of Australia telepathy is accepted as a human faculty, while in more advanced societies it is thought a special ability belonging to mystics and psychics. Although not scientifically proven, telepathy is being increasingly studied in psychical research.

"Telepathy" is derived from the Greek terms tele ("distant") and pathe ("occurrence" or "feeling"). The term was coined in 1882 by the French psychical researcher Fredric W. H. Myers, a founder of the Society for Psychical Research (SPR). Myers thought his term descrbed the phenomenon better than previous used terms such as the French "communication de pensees," "thought-transference," and "thought-reading."Research interest in telepathy had its beginning in Mesmerism. The magnetists discovered that telepathy was among the so-called "higher-phenomena" observed in magnetized subjects, who read the thoughts of the magnetists and carried out the unspoken instructions.

Soon other psychologists and psychiatrists were observing the same phenomena in their patients. Sigmund Freud noticed it so often that he son had to address it. He termed it a regressive, primitive faculty that was lost in the course of evolution, but which still had the ability to manifest itself under certain conditions. Psychiatrist Carl G. Jung thought it more important. He considered it a function of synchronicity (1). Psychologist and philosopher William James was very enthusiastic toward telepathy and encouraged more research be put into it.

When the American Society for Psychical Research (ASPR) was founded in 1885, after the SPR in 1884, telepathy became the first psychic phenomenon to be studied scientifically. The first testing was simple. A sender in one room would try to transmit a two-digit number, a taste, or a visual image to a receiver in another room. The French physiologist Charles Richet introduced mathematical chance to the tests, and also discovered that telepathy occurred independent of hypnotism.

Interest in telepathy increased following World War I as thousands of bereaved turned toward Spiritualism attempting to communicate with their dead loved ones. The telepathic parlour game called "willing" became popular. Mass telepathic experiments were undertaken in the United States and Britain.

Going Deep

There are times when life urges us to seek more. Small changes to our comfort zone may fail to alleviate any sense of stagnancy or frustration, and we may need to examine our lives and ourselves more deeply to find the right place to start. Everything we need for success and joy lies within. But so often, life’s debris accumulates, building layers around our core that makes it difficult to access the truth that resides within. To reach the depth we wish to access, we must dive below these layers to the deepest parts of ourselves.

The first layer can be found in our minds. Our to-do lists and busy work are usually less important than we think, so we must look past them to examine the thoughts that matter most to us. The next layer can be found in our hearts, where past hurts and disappointments can sometimes cover up our vulnerabilities, as well as the truth of who and what really stirs the love within us. We can choose to go even deeper – to our center. If we can go beyond anything has affected us to the point that it blocks us at the gut level, we can reconnect with our power, our raw instincts, our organic yeses. Here, at the core, lies our truth. Our core is our foundation that supports us and what we’d like to build our authentic life upon.

When we examine ourselves to these depths, we are able to find what we wish to bring to the surface and what we wish to let go. When we remember what lies beneath our layers, we can look at what was floating on the surface, causing blocks and pains, and understand the purpose that they served. Oftentimes, it is the built up debris that causes us to go deeper, so we can search for the truth. Go deep, live life from your truth within, and watch your innate beauty manifest outward.

Another Look at Telomerase

Telomerase is an enzyme that adds specific DNA sequence repeats ("TTAGGG" in all vertebrates) to the 3' ("three prime") end of DNA strands in the telomere regions, which are found at the ends of eukaryotic chromosomes. The telomeres contain condensed DNA material, giving stability to the chromosomes. The enzyme is a reverse transcriptase that carries its own RNA molecule, which is used as a template when it elongates telomeres, which are shortened after each replication cycle. Telomerase was discovered by Carol W. Greider and Elizabeth Blackburn in 1984.

The protein composition of human telomerase was identified in 2007 by Dr Scott Cohen and his team at the Children's Medical Research Institute in Australia. It consists of two molecules each of human Telomerase Reverse Transcriptase (TERT), Telomerase RNA (hTR or TERC) and dyskerin. The two types of protein subunits of the enzyme are coded by two different genes in the genome. The coding region of the TERT gene is 3396bp, and translates to a protein of 1131 amino acids. The polypeptide folds with TERC (451 nucleotides long), which is not translated and remains as RNA. TERT has a 'mitten' structure that allows it to wrap around the chromosome to add single-stranded telomere repeats.

The enzyme telomerase allows for replacement of short bits of DNA known as a telomere, which are otherwise lost when a cell divides via mitosis.

In normal circumstances, without the presence of telomerase, if a cell divides recursively, at some point all the progeny will reach their Hayflick limit. With the presence of telomerase, each dividing cell can replace the lost bit of DNA, and any single cell can then divide unbounded. While this unbounded growth property has excited many researchers, caution is warranted in exploiting this property, as exactly this same unbounded growth is a crucial step in enabling cancerous growth.

Embryonic stem cells express telomerase, which allows them to divide repeatedly and form the individual. In adults, telomerase is highly expressed in cells that need to divide regularly (e.g., in the immune system), whereas most somatic cells express it only at very low levels in a cell-cycle dependent manner. (Source: Wikipedia)

Image of the Day

Ashness Bridge, Cumbria, UK