miramiramazing

Back home now safe and sound.
Worries for a while as my key would NOT unlock the outside door.!!

Horrors- I AM LOCKED OUT !!!

A passer by sees me struggling and offers help.
I hold his macdonalds bag and ice cream while he fiddles with the key.

No joy.

He gives up and goes on his way.

I phone my friends and ask them to call my neighbours .

Meanwhile two neighbours are on their way out and let me in. Lucky me ! Midnight and I am home safe and sound.

NUISANCE !!!

grrrrr will phone landlord and complain grrrrr

Meanwhile .. all's well that ends well eh ?

XXX night night

Halloween has sort of caught on on here and been around for a decade or so, but the main emphasis here is on Alla helgons Dag ( All Saints Day ) sober and spooky. The wine and spirits shop is closed until Monday so there was a big rush on there yesterday as people got stocked up for the weekend's festivities. Today is a public holiday and many shops are closed.

Kjell and I are doing our traditional walk and talk here :

http://www.skogskyr kogarden. se/en/

Walking around Skogskyrkogården woodland cemetery - a beautiful spooky place ! We will be listening to music in the chapel and talking to 'dead people 'and lighting candles on graves and afterwards a three course meal at Kjell and Pether's place. Perfect ! He's a great cook too. They are both great hosts.

Much love and light to you wherever you are ! Brightest blessings and big hugs all round

Salts Mill is a great place to visit as you will see if you read Isadora 101's post A Visit to Salts Mill

Lots of goodies there - David Hockney's art and even a nice crocododile in the restaurant upstairs.I'm afraid my photos don't justice to Hockney's work - but will give you some idea of what's there . Enjpy !

Salts Mill is a wonderful place to visit as you will see in Isadora101 's post A visit to Salts Mill

I'm afraid my photos don't do justice to David Hockney's art , but they might give you a taste of what is there to see at Salts Mill. Lots of goodïes when I was last there including the crocodile in the café . The dentist's chair evoked some rather gruesome memories , healed now , as I find myself chuckling away I can laugh now

Coming home on a crowded bus I happen to look out of the window and there she is - bold , bright and beautiful.

Seconds later I hear a little voice say ' LOOK mamma - I can see the moon ' .
The little person in front of me equally enchanted by the Lady moon .

Great to see her at last.

Yeahhhhh the sun is shining through the clouds to day.
Rye bread in 'toven.

Just had a Ichat with my friend Ian in Portugal about manifesting our wishes and desires.
Last time we chatted we were both concerned about the ways things work and now , a month later , pieces of the puzzle seem to be landing in place.

Great message from the Universe , akka Mike Dooley aboyt life .

Life, Mira, is not what you see, but what you've projected. It's not what you've felt, but what you've decided. It's not what you've experienced, but how you've remembered it. It's not what you've forged, but what you've allowed. And it's not who's appeared, but who you've summoned.

And this should serve you well, beloved, until you find, what you already have.
Yeah,
The Universe

May the sun keep shining today and bless you as you work and play

Good evening blogland ! Two weeks of darkness it getting to me. I'm not up to writing much . Words come in pictures rather than sentences. I'm finding it hard to string words together to make sentences. I miss the many sunny days of August and September. I got used to sun and blue skies . Nearly every day was sunny . Amazing.. but for the past two weeks or so it's been dull and cloudy. I haven't been able to see the new moon yet the full moon is on Monday.

Living here in the centre of town still makes me feel as if I am on holiday in a big town somewhere in Europe. I love my home . With every day that passes it becomes more and more mine. I feel so grateful as I look around at this extension of me. Every corner of Miraland mirrors back to me who I am; messy, chaotic ,tidy, calm and peaceful, imperfect, unfinished , bohemian , colourful , make-do, improvised, hippy chic and dust bunnies in corners.

Bought some delicious smoked salmon today that was on special offer: homemade bread, cream cheese , red onion , tomato, and salmon , Nom nom. Bliss. Life is still full of little pleasures and treats... like the nice long chat with a friend. Just now , full of this and that and with that , off to dreamland .. night night xx

Morning blogland .   The sun is shining through the clouds today...Happy birthday Sparkles101

The same stream of life that runs through the world runs through my veins night and day in rhythmic measure.
It is the same life that shoots in joy through the dust of the earth into numberless waves of flowers. --Tagore

Soul Message: The key to your happiness and contentment lies within you, within your own heart and mind. The way you start each day is very important; you can start off on the right foot or on the wrong one. You can wake up with a song of joy and gratitude in your heart for the new day, for being alive, for the very wonder of living, and for being in tune and harmony with the rhythm of all life. You can expect the very best from the coming day and therefore draw it to you. Or you can start the day with a chip on your shoulder, disgruntled and out of rhythm. You are responsible for what today will bring, and knowing it gives you an even greater responsibility than those souls who are not aware of it and therefore know no better. You cannot blame your state of mind on anyone else. It all rests with you. –Eileen Caddy (from The Spirit of Findhorn)

Chosen for you ( at www.ishalerner.com )  ,  by the fickle finger of fate for your birthday ! hugs and kisses xxxenjoy your day

Nothing much to say today. It's been very much a non- day apart from changes in Miraland telecommunication services.

My phone and broadband are now under the same service provider , Comhem, because instead of paying 115kr to Tele 2 for ground line phone rental and 99kr for broadband to Comhem, I now get both for 145 from Comhem. A savings of 75kr ( a decent bottle of wine ) a month.

However, we are experiencing teething troubles. These changes mean that the phone is no longer plugged in to the telephone jack but phone and broadband are now both plugged into the same gadget in one gigantic spaghetti knot of cables .Broadband works fine , but the phone can only receive calls and cannot be used to dial out.

Daft.
Something is amiss.

I've emailed the service provider, Comhem, to phone me 'cos it is not easy doing these kind of calls from the mobile phone.
( Am I being REALLY naiive in thinking that they will get it touch ? )

On the bright side , if I can't use my ground line to make calls there will be further savings ..... more wine , maybe

Where has the day gone ? The Prof and Johanna were here and the Prof connected my phone to the modem ( don't ask, techy stiff that I don't understand ) so now my phone and internet are with the same service provider

Happy Birthday to dearest Isadora101

May your day be filled to the brim with joy and all that your heart desires
.</"May the blessing of light be on you-
light without and light within.
May the blessed sunlight shine on you
and warm your heart
till it glows like a great peat fire."

Old Celtic Blessing

Love is like an eternal flame whose steady light can always guide you during times of personal darkness. Love is always there, and will never abandon you. kisses and hugs dearie *mwaaaah*

( Card is from www.ishalerner.com )

*class*

Hello blogland
So far today baked my own version of Latvian 'rupmaize' . It's taken 2 days plus a week or so of starter :-) NO commercial yeast at all, but the dough still rises . Amazing. Mostly whole grain rye with a little organic wheat flour. The result is... a VERY heavy loaf which I will cut into slices and freeze.

Now A friend is here .. cuppa tea time

xxx

( This is from Care 2 )
You might want to read some of these precautions before you sign up for the shot. If you’re opting for other ways to dodge the flu, here are 14 tips to boost your immunity and stay healthy this flu season.

1. Optimize your vitamin D level. Adequate levels of vitamin D are essential for our immune systems to function optimally. Unfortunately there are no significant dietary sources of vitamin D, most of our intake comes from exposure to sunlight. If you live far from the equator, you simply don’t get enough sun through Fall and Winter to make all the vitamin D you need. So unless you supplement during this period, your innate immunity will be compromised. vitamin D plays such a crucial role in so many aspects of your body’s functioning, that supplementing with it makes sense whether you decide to get the flu shot or not.

We know that influenza always gets worse during the winter months. Now there is good evidence to suggest that this is because as sunlight hours lessen during the winter, the people living in the northern hemisphere become vitamin D deficient and are susceptible to influenza infections of all kinds.

The current recommendations from the Food and Nutrition Board of the U.S. Institute of Medicine: from 200 to 600 IU/day depending on one’s age, are way too low.

These values were originally chosen because they were found to prevent osteomalacia (bone softening) and rickets. It is now recognized that vitamin D has many additional physiological functions, for which these levels are totally inadequate. A number of scientists are therefore calling for the Food and Nutrition Board in the U.S. and its counterparts abroad to reassess their current recommendations. Get your 25 hydroxy vitamin D level checked by your Doctor (if that is not an option, you can self test your level with ZRT labs)

Although the current normal range is between 20 and 50ng/ml, this is much too low for optimal health. You want your level to be between 50 and 70ng/ml.

This is the most important step you can take to prevent the flu! It may require a number of months taking 5,000 to 10,000 IU of vitamin D3 daily (especially during winter) under a doctor’s supervision, to optimize your blood level. Monitor your 25 hydroxy vitamin D status every three months until you are in the optimal range, then cut back to a maintenance dose of at least 2,000 IU a day.

2. Get adequate sleep. This is an indispensable requirement for a strong immune system.

3. Get adequate exercise. This keeps you robust.

4. Take actions to lower your stress levels.

Do breathing exercises, meditate, practice yoga, spend time doing something that makes you happy. Feeling spent, overwhelmed and or mentally run down has a causal relationship to your physical health.

5. Wash your hands frequently but not excessively. It decreases your likelihood of spreading a virus to your nose, mouth or other people. Be sure you don’t use antibacterial soap because of the risk of creating resistant bacteria. Rather use a simple chemical-free soap.

6. Avoid sugar and processed foods as they decrease your immune function dramatically.

7. Eat phytonutrient rich meals (lots of colorful salads and dark greens).

8. Eat lots of garlic, it works as a broad spectrum antibiotic.

9. Take a probiotic daily (look for one with 10-20 billion organisms). A strong immune system relies heavily on having a strong foundation in the gut.

10. Keep a supply of antiviral herbal supplements on hand. As opposed to antiviral drugs, antiviral herbs do not cause resistant strains because they are multifaceted and contain literally thousands of different medicinal compounds. Thus they are able to attack viruses with a full spectrum of synergistic substances. Andrographis, Olive leaf extract, Grapefruit seed extract and Elderberry extract all have antiviral properties. Use one or a combination of some of them as a prophylactic measure, for example, whenever you travel (airports) or enter a potentially compromised environment such as a large office, auditorium, stadium, theater etc.

And if you really want to go all out, here are 4 more tips:

11. Take 1-2 grams of fish oils daily– it’s beneficial for immune function.

12. Take 2 grams of vitamin C daily, yes it does help.

13. Stock your home pharmacy with an immune building formula. Look for one that contains Cordyceps and Astragulus — take it throughout the flu season.

14. Keep homeopathic Oscillococcinum on hand. Take it at the earliest sign of a cold or flu as early intervention is essential.

If you are exposed to someone with the flu directly, you can take one dose twice a day for two days. You can also take one vial once a week throughout the winter, and two or three times a week during flu season, as a preventative measure.

Frank Lipman MD, is the founder and director of the Eleven Eleven Wellness Center in NYC a center whose emphasis is on preventive health care and patient education. His personal blend of Western and Eastern Medicine combined with the many other complimentary modalities he has studied, has helped thousands of people recover their energy and zest for life. He is the author of the recent SPENT: End Exhaustion and Feel Great Again (2009) and Total Renewal; 7 key steps to Resilience, Vitality and Long-Term Health (2003).

Read more from the Care2 Swine Flu Project here:

Clean sheets tonight. Why ? 'cos I've done the laundry.

Also saying bye bye and bless to my lilies - two weeks is great going. It's amazing how flowers radiate such peace and beauty and spread joy simply by being.

I've also unpacked re-descovering my CD's. Wish I had a proper CD player. My only one is from the 80s always skips track 1 and is attached to dodgy speakers. They rattle when you shake them having been blown off the window sill when the picture window blew open during a storm ... the window that was NEVER opened. Weird. Ah well .....At least I have music. Great for the soul.

Ripe bananas have their uses. Bananas for s hiny hair....bananas a feel good fruit....antioxidant and rich in B6 ....bananas are a mind body soul fruit

Bananas: The potassium in this fruit can help soothe blow-dryer and chemical-induced damage. Mash a ripe banana into a smooth puree, and massage it into your locks. Let it sit about 15 minutes before rinsing. Feeling a little blah? Find out why eating a banana could help you smile more, too.

more banana tips

Mira's going bananas .. avoiding the Dole ones.

We all live by different rules and truths based on different beliefs.

My life is mirror of everything I think about ; all my thoughts and beliefs in fact everything I think believe and anticipate. I've created it all and I take responsibility for it all; the 'good' the 'bad' and the 'ugly'. It's all there for a reason.

This LIfe experience is an amazing adventure.

Happy Friday everyone !

X

Gordon Bennett - I find myself exclaiming quite a lot .. but where does the expression come from ?
Wikki was no good , but I did find this http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/uk_news/magazine/6226293.stm
...... AND hidden away in that article is yet another delightfully expressive word that deserves pride of place here .. namely ...

My day has just got better !

Today is a good day to be 'shrunk' or is it 'shrinked '
It's dull and cloudy outside , cold too.
We've been spoiled by a wonderfully sunny autumn so each cloudy is a disappointment.

Anyway ,leaving soon for I have an appointment with Mr H today , bless him; slappy me happy please, Mr H.

X

I'm waiting and going bonkers while I am at it.
I've been waiting for a decision to be made and to receive it in writing having learned that from past experience that the spoken word is not enough.

On Monday , the phone call came advising me that a favourable decision had been made and that I would get it in writing. I forgot to ask WHEN

So... still too early to celebrate .

I've just phoned the my contact people and both of them are away. A third person tells me that she can see that the letter is there today and awaiting to be sent out ......

ARGHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHH

I'm going bonkers waiting !!!!
Tomorrow is Friday , so at this rate I may have to wait till Monday or even mid next week !

So close now to the finish line .
The last few metres are always the hardest , aren't they ?

Sayeth the Universe just now :

"I do believe, Mira, that if people would just start by saying "it's fun," when it seems hard; "I'm happy," when they seem sad; and "I know," when it seems as if they don't, they'd finally discover that it really is, they really are, and they always have."

The universe akka mike dooley www.tut.com

It's fun
yes it is
It's fun ....... it's all good !

Gosh it's dark- pitch black and cold by 6 p.m. I have no desire whatsoever to go out - all I want to do is curl up and hibernate. I'm fine with people coming to see me - always welcome for cosy chats , tea and sympathy , ( wine on a weekend) and a bite to eat, There are few things more enjoyable than eating drinking and chatting with people you like.

It's been a long day, I've not had much sleep.
In lats night's dream Taylor Hayes ( psychiatrist character in " the bold and the beautiful ") is in pain and about to miscarry , but then gives birth to a beautiful baby girl, I see the baby's head emerge and she just plops out In the same dream I am aware that there is something dangerous or suspicious in the cellar and I dare not look.

The cellar is probably something to do with my subconscious.Something is lurking there and will probably emerge at some point

I'm making soups all the time telling myself that they are warming and full of goodness ; carrots, tomatoes, onions, garlic , lentils ..all made from scratch.

soups fill me for a while , but not long , not without bread *sighs* and I suspect it is bread that is adding to the roundness of my tummy The rye bread I made last with sour dough is FAB , and actually quite filling and satisfying. I allow myself 3 slices a day

Candles .. candles and more candles .. might make some ... do you know you can make your own scented candles with paraffin wax , and a few drops of essential oils ?

TTFN may you be as snug as a bug in a rug

-

Thank you , Goddess, Universe , 
for all my gifts and blessings.

love love love
in all dimensions
bless us all
night night blogland

New moon abundance ritual
( abundance cheques )

These rams were just outside Skansen, on Djurgården. Right behind them is where the wolves live, separated only by the wire fence. While I was there I saw a few wolves run back and forth but the rams didn't seem to mind one bit. One actually posed for me.

This sheep was in the orchard at Rosendal

P.S. I believe that when animals are here to teach us and have powerful lessons to give us. When a particular animal cross your path it is always meaningful. It is an omen.

Ram:

Seeking new beginnings. Power, strength, agility, great mental activity; curious and imaginative. The ram offers energy to act upon the mental faculties. It reminds you to trust your abiility to land safely as new endeavours are made, balance as you climb. The ram in ancient Egypt was a symbol of the god Amon, patron god of the pharaohs of Thebes whose cult was merged with the sun god Ra. It was also associated with the potter god Khnum.

Goodmorning , Blogland
New day, well on its way.
New Moon too.
I will be writing my abundance cheque later today.
New Moon is the the time for new beginnings;starting projects that will come to fruition at the full moon.
We are rapidly approaching Samhain / Halloween the time of the year when the veil between worlds is at its thinnest.
This is a magical time; a wonderful time for introspection.

We are vehicles or instruments that respond.
If we respond to goodness, goodness becomes our property.
If we respond to evil, then evil becomes our property
If we respond to love, then love becomes our
possession.
If we respond to hatred, hatred becomes our life. And if we respond to the things of the earth so much that our whole life becomes absorbed in worldly things,
then it is quite natural that we should not respond to those riches which are within us.

Blessed be all riches within us as well as without us.

Ok .. I'm off out for a walk now, while it's still sunny. TTFN .. have a wonderful Sunday

A spontaneous invitation. Gifts. A beautiful home full of candlelight, warmth, plants. Pure and tasty food lovingly prepare. Tea, scrumptious apple dessert, toasted oat and almond crumble topping with generous dollops of vanilla cream. Gracious hosts. Interesting conversation. All ingredients for a great evening, so why , on my way home , was I feeling so shitty and evil ? It felt like I was wading through a nightmarish goo unable to put words to what was going on inside me. Decided to sleep on it.

On reflecting , I saw myself getting more and more provocative and challenging as the evening progressed. The little devil in me had emerged and was running wild. I tried to hold the lad back ( or did I ? ) but he was having a whale of a time trying to knock things over, trying to knock Harmonyoff her beautiful throne. The little Imp seemed determined to upset the proverbial apple cart laden with colourful apples even introducing an ugly word or two in an attempt to shock.

This morining I decide to phone and apologise for my " insane" behaviour. I really did feel awful. " Awakening Demons " says my friend and laughs. " I'm like that too. It happens to me too ". She'd already spoken to our hosts who had said they'd enjoyed having us over and meeting me. The fools (!!) but then I remembered something:when you let Light in , everything gets illuminated, not only the beauty but all the ugliness as well including the sleeping hidden demons. It is the way of things. OK then ... "let the holy rumpus begin" it's alright .. and remembered Max and the Wild Things.

All is well once more in Miraland.

* P.S. There was an absence of wine

The perfect soup for a cold and wet autumn's day.

Jerusalem artichokes are weird looking, knobbly veggies , a little tricky to peel 'cos they can be quite small , but so tasty and go well with the cauliflower. Half cauliflower , half artichokes is about right.

Sautée a finely chopped onion ( or shallots) in a little olive oil until soft and still transparent.

( No problem if they go brown , but you will lose the white colour , the soup will look brown and have a fuller flavour , but won't look as nice . Been there done that )

Add peeled and sliced artichokes, cauliflower florets ( discard the core ) , milk / cream / white wine to just cover the veggies , plus a little stock. I used fish stock this time , but you can also use veggie stock, or chicken stock if you prefer, but warn your veggie friends if you do

Bring to the boil and then simmer until completely soft. Takes about 30 minutes.

Mix until smooth with a hand mixer or in a food processor.

Flavour with salt and freshly ground white pepper , a bit more cream or a drop of sherry is nice if you haven't used wine.

For added luxury drop in a few prawns in each bowl before serving

nom nom

Bon apetit !

Cardamon has numerous health benefits:

- Improves digestion and stimulates the metabolism.
- Detoxifies the body of caffeine
- Cleanses kidneys and bladder
- Expectorant action
- Improves circulation to the lungs and thus considered good for asthma and bronchitis
- Antispasmodic
- Can counteract excess acidity in the stomach
- Stimulates appetite (ooops )
- Remedy for tendency to infection
- Cures halitosis (bad breath)
- Natural tooth whitener ( thanks Blumoon )
- Stimulates digestive system and reduces gas

Elletaria cardamomum from the Zingiberaceae(ginger) family hails from India, and is mentioned in Vedic texts and in Ayurvedic medicine. Ancient Greek, Roman, Egyptian and Arab cultures were equally fond of the spice, which was considered to have aphrodisiac qualities and was used in love potions; the Arabian Nights makes frequent reference to it. Besides being a catalyst for romance, cardamom also has numerous other health benefits, which stem from high amounts of volatile oils such as borneol, camphor, eucalyptol, limonene and terpinine, among others.
http://www.thefoodpaper.com/features/health/cardamom.html

Cardamom ....cardamon, Grains Of Paradise, Ela (in Sanskrit) and elachi or elaichi (in India),

The seeds can be ground into powder, or you can use whole pods (they often have the seeds removed). For the most flavour, crack them a bit before cooking.

Cardamom oil is popularly used in massages and is known to ease muscle tension.

More on Ayurveda and cardemon here:

I just love the taste and recently I have been craving cardamon. Methinks my body knows x

Cardamon , my latest obsession
Cardmon and chocolate.
Cracked open a dozen or so pods and baked into a chocolate cake studded with bits of chocolate.
That's it .... had a piece so now I can sleep in peace

Sweet dreems, blogitty pals

XXX

I would like to see this book " The Soul of Sex " an integral part of sex education in shool and recommended it to everyone who is seeking soul to soul heart to heart relationships.

An Excerpt from The Soul of Sex by Thomas Moore

Thomas Moore ponders the life-affirming and soul-nourishing dimensions of sex, eros, pleasure, the human body, and the body of the world. In this excerpt, he ruminates on the sensuality and sexuality of Jesus.

"The Gospel Jesus is intimate, emotional, physically expressive, and even sensual in many ways. The Jesus of the moralizing preacher, in contrast, is inhumanely pure and uncompassionately asexual. A hint of Epicureanism in the Gospel Jesus appears when he assures, through a miracle, that a wedding celebration has enough good wine. On another occasion, he gives people bread and fish, again through a miracle, not feeding starving people in severe need, but simply taking care of an audience who needs lunch. Like Epicurus, he has prostitutes in his company, and he saves from a certain death a woman condemned for adultery. His heart aches at the death of his friend Lazarus, and this loving feeling is the motive for the miracle of Lazarus's return from the dead. His touch is healing and his presence is full of magic. This is an image of a man who is not afraid of eros, who lives from his heart and from his body.

"In the Gospels Jesus is contrasted with the moralists and legalists of his time as a man of infinite compassion. Paradoxically, the churches that profess to carry on his teaching are not known for their compassion as much as for their legalism. The Epicurean Jesus is nowhere to be seen, and eros often appears to be the chief enemy, not the chief characteristic, of his followers. The sexuality of Jesus evaporates in these rigid attitudes, replaced by anxious and obsessive suppression of eros.

"The Jesus I see in the canonical Gospels is a sexual celibate or a celibate lover. He would be a scandal in our time, as he was in his own, because he tolerates so much humanity. At first glance it may seem a contradiction to be chaste and morally tolerant, but Jesus' celibacy never seems anxious or repressive. It allows him to love in an embracing way and is so comfortably part of his philosophy and style that he doesn't have to judge others for their sexual ways. Moralistic judgments always betray confusion and struggle in the one making the judgments, but in Jesus there is no sign of this neurosis that sometimes plagues his followers. . . .

"The sexuality of Jesus consists in his openness to strangers and friends, the physicality of his healing, the sacramentality in his approach to food, the tolerance he displays in the face of sexual transgression, and his espousal of a philosophy based on love. Only a worldview mired in materialism could fail to see the sexuality in this expansive and inclusive erotic philosophy. The sexual teachings of Jesus, told best through his example, present a soul-centered eroticism in which friendship and a compassionate heart are not only included but placed at the center.

"We have a strong tendency to think of sex as emanating from the sex organs or from the purely physical body, but Jesus demonstrates a quite different notion

Some people feel a strong urge to build, create , become involved and achieve. Others lead a seemingly more passive existence and would rather go home than go out.

FREQUENCY HOLDERS

Their function is to anchor the frequency of the new consciousness on this planet.
I call them the frequency-holders.
They are here to generate consciousness through the activities of daily life,
through their interactions with others as well as through "just being."

Eckhart Tolle
Source: A New Earth : Awakening to Your Life's Purpose, Page: 307

I think I've found my 'job description'

Wednesday and time for "The Law of Least Effort" which is the fourth spiritual law of success. I've been focusing on one a day. This is my favourite one

Nature's intelligence functions with effortless ease. Grass doesn't try to grow, it simply grows; the sun doesn't try to shine it shines, and planet earth spins at a dizzying speed. There is a Vedic principle " do less and accomplish more " and I also subscribe to " make haste slowly "

When you are in harmony , things happen effortlessly but when you seek power and control over other people or meddle in their business you waste energy. When your actions are motivated by love, your energy multiplies and accumulates. It's brilliant the way things are organised in the greater scheme of things, isn't it ?

There are three components to the Law of Least Effort - three things that you can do to put this principle of " do less and accomplish more" into action. More here :

Still giggling as I crept under my fluffy duvet drifting off into dreamland , I was Imagine my surprise when I realised that my 'Nocturnal Viewing' was a thriller murder- mystery

My dream last night was about military people killing each other In the end , I was the only witness of these crimes and thought 'hang on .. they've eliminated all these people without blinking an eye what's to stop them silencing me ? I pondered on that for a while and then went on to dream another dream

Laughter is great though, isn't it ? I'm looking forward to Mumbai Calling again next week

have a glorious day !

.. here in Stockholm, and it's hilarious Started last week.

hehehehe ....... night night

It's dark and cold outside , just 2C, but warm and cosy here in my candlelit 'middle room'.

I'm about to take bread out of t'oven to go with the tea and after that a soak in the bath before bed. Bliss. May your evening be both tasty and blissful TTFN

How wonderful life would be without huge amounts of negativity, stress, worries and complaints. Coping with all this day in day out requires enormous amounts of energy. No wonder we get tired.

Just found this ...

Freedom from Fear

by Owen Waters

Fear is the great separator of mind from spirit. While you fear, you are unable to trust your divine origin. It follows that people who pressure you to fear things in life want to keep you away from the power of your inner connection so that they may gain some kind of power over you.

Love neutralizes fear. At the human level of consciousness, love and fear are opposites. Fear will drive out love. Love will drive out fear. You choose which one you wish to concentrate your focus upon. You choose whether you will give your energy to love or to fear.

The Antidote to Fear

Giving thanks is the expression of gratitude, and gratitude is one of the most beautiful secrets in spiritual life.

Gratitude is an expression of love, and love is something which flows from the Creator of the universe through all forms of life and all forms of manifestation. Without love, life in the universe cannot exist. Love is the universal force of preservation which holds creation in manifestation.

The Natural Flow of Love

Love is as natural as the universe. By design, there is a tension between the forces of creation and universal love. It is this tension which controls the size of the universe, holding it within its envelope. It is this tension which regulates the size of an electron’s orbit around a nucleus. Love is the force which retains electrons in their orbits, making atoms possible and therefore the existence of life as we know it.

You can block love, or you can allow it to flow naturally through you. Falling in love with another person is an allowance of the flow of love through your heart. In a world where everything has the appearance of separateness, it is a surrender to the underlying unity of all life. It is a place of apparent vulnerability, a willingness to take the risk that the illusion of separation will once again return if that love is later lost.

When you allow your heart to open to the universe’s flow of love, gratitude comes with that flow. Gratitude for being alive, for just existing, for just being in the flow of the adventure of life. Gratitude for the Sun that gives us life. Gratitude for the Earth that gives us our home in the cosmos. Gratitude for the people that you love, and for those who share your journey through life.

Gratitude flows unimpeded from an open heart. When you allow it, it flows as freely as the sunshine, unobstructed by judgments or conditions.

Regular sex can improve memory and ability to concentrate.

Read that in a magazine while waiting for my acupuncture treatment this afternoon . Now .. what was I saying ... ?

Apparently eating an apple before meals reduces calorie intake by 16%. Read that too in the same magazine

Such a joy it is being punctured with needles.. being the ears, head , tummy, wrists, ankles .. needles everywhere. Stomach started to gurgle and then I fell asleep. Woke up 45 minutes later and had intended to run a few errands, but forgot

Two nice phone calls
Two pieces of dark chocolate eaten together with cardamon seeds. I LOVE cardamon

That's it - my day in brief.

Need to have a lie down now

Before you have food on the table, you have only ONE problem in life. Once you have food on the table, a thousand other problems arise.

Money won't buy happiness, it is said. People say it is better to cry in a Mercedes than in the gutter. Just heard a professor who has been researching Happiness that the monetary value of a broken relationship in terms of happiness is 50,000 kronor a month ( approx € 5,000 )

The source of all creation is pure consciousness

. . . pure potentiality seeking expression from the unmanifest to the manifest.

And when we realize that our true Self is one of pure potentiality,

we align with the power that manifests everything in nature.

1. I will get in touch with the field of pure potentiality by taking time each day to be silent, to just Be. I will also sit alone in silent meditation at least twice a day for approximately thirty minutes in the morning and thirty minutes in the evening.

2. I will take time each day to commune with nature and to silently witness the intelligence within every living thing. I will sit silently and watch a sunset, or listen to the sound of the ocean or a stream, or simply smell the scent of a flower. In the ecstasy of my own silence, and by communing with nature, I will enjoy the life throb of ages, the field of pure potentiality and unbounded creativity.

3. I will practice non-judgment. I will begin my day with the statement, 
"Today, I shall judge nothing that occurs,” and throughout the day I will remind myself not to judge.

Source : Chopra Center Library

 

The Chopra Center Library : An amazing resource

Today's focus , it being Sunday, is  " The Law of Pure Potentiality " and as I type in these words into google's field of pure potentiality I find this place, The Chopra Center Library . *happy face*  . The seven laws of success, blog, newsletter, articles, guided meditations and more ............ all there !  A treasure !

oooooo I get all excited ... now for breafast /brunch ! TTFN

'The Uproar ' is what my friend Roger ,(bless his soul , may he RIP,)used to call the Opera.

We have two opera houses in Stockholm, The Royal Opera ( like London's Covent Garden or the Met in N.york , or La Scala in Milan ) and Folkoperan , ' the Opera house of the people ' which happens to be just down the road from me

Yesterday , Maarja and I went to see The Pearl Fishers. Maarja , who is a journalist was given two complimentary tickets for some work that she did and she chose to take ME xxxxx's and hugs :>>:>>:>>

I made dinner , Fish curry from Kerala and roasted butternut squash with blue cheese, drizzled with honey for dessert, and then we strolled down to Folkoperan 200 yards down the road

WOW .. THE PEARL FISHERS ...what an experience with Mira Bartov as the director. All the singers were in excellent voice, the scenography and choreography , stunning. I was drawn into the performance hook line and sinker. The music is out of this world both blissful and dramatic.

© Mats Bäcker

sound , click on 'ljud'

“The Pearl Fishers is a romantic opera that has been overshadowed by Bizet’s most famous work, Carmen. It is a gripping story with beautifully seductive music. It is set amidst the ruins of a civilisation and depicts a turning point when old values are overturned and the need for new ones emerges. The Pearl Fishers is a timeless tale of our eternal search for happiness and meaning,” says Bartov.

The Pearl Fishers had its world premiere at the Théâtre-Lyrique in Paris in 1863 and was first presented in Sweden at the Royal Swedish Opera in 1913.

SYNOPSIS

Zurga is chosen as leader of the pearl fishers, a people who believe there is a large pearl hidden somewhere at the bottom of the ocean. Many people have sacrificed their lives searching for this pearl. Although the pearl is said to bring great good fortune, the people have lost sight of the value of love which is now virtually forbidden. People are governed by a fear of nature which is heightened by a raging storm outside. They try to appease the wrath of nature with songs and prayers and drive away all evil and rekindle hope of a brighter future.

Two people, Nadir and Leila, refuse to accept the laws of their civilisation, and are prepared to give up their lives for love. But they encounter resistance from Nadir’s best friend Zurga, who also loves Leila. As leader of his people, Zurga has to uphold the myth of the pearl.

Abundance can arrive in the form of friendships, wisdom, money, creative expression, good health, loving relationships, mental energy and enthusiasm, peace of mind, and in infinite other ways. But however wealth manifests, the point is that these effects are the spontaneous outgrowths of inner spiritual awakening; they are not sought after for their own sake. Money, achievements, accolades – all of these are byproducts of life’s true gift: the unfolding of your inner divinity. --Deepak Chopra

read more here :

Do any of you know anything about NASA bombing the moon on Friday ???
To me it sounds downright MONSTROUS !

NASA to Bomb the Moon Friday
============================

Mission is aimed at exposing water that may be below the surface

NASA's going for full impact Friday, firing a bomb-laden missile at the moon in a dramatic search for water.

The National Aeronautics and Space Administration is sending its Lunar CRater Observing and Sensing Satellite (LCROSS) on a mission to fire a missile into the south pole of the moon as twice the speed of a bullet.

The guided rocket will crash into the moon's surface creating a blast powerful enough to a huge plume of dust and debris. The spacecraft following closely behind will then take pictures and analyzing the debris kicked up after the impact.
If you've got a 10-to-12-inch diameter telescope you'll be able to see the debris cloud created by the missile's impact. NASA predicts the impact will visible at 7:30 a.m. EDT on Friday morning.

Scientists have long differed over whether there could be water in the forms we know on the moon. Some believe there could be billions of tons of ice left from comets that have smashed into the moon over eons.

Last month, the online journal Science reported that data from a recent space probe confirmed the presence of traces of water on the moon.

"It's not liquid water, it's not frozen water and it's not gaseous water,” said Jessica Sunshine, a University of Maryland astronomer who studied data from the probe. She said the water is a thin film of molecules on the moon's surface. But it could mean more traditional water deposits below the surface.

The Chandrayaan-1 spacecraft launched in India last October, discovered the first sign of water on the moon’s soil. Scientist double-checked the findings with two other space probes, NASA’s Cassini, which passed the moon in 1999, and Deep Impact, which went by the moon in June.

The discovery could be a potential resource for astronauts, namely drinking water and rocket fuel.

NASA has been working on a plan to return to the moon by 2020, but the plan is currently being reviewed by the Obama administration.

Earthsong 2012 -- An Online Community for Seekers
EarthSong 2012 is a global internet based community with members all across the world. Featuring channeling, healing and member's forums, EarthSong 2012 provides a sanctuary for every spiritual or metaphysical seeker. Educational as well as supportive, Earthsong 2012 is certain to connect you with like-minded souls. Come see what others are saying!

" For more energy , chew chia seeds " said the article I read.

Right ... so googling lead me here

According to this article , these chia seeds amazing superdooper cure to all ills seeds

Never heard of them before .. have you ?
Have you tried them ?
Do share your chia seed experience with Mira .. pleeeeeez
Ta !

Live and learn ;yes:
I'z got to get me some of dem seeds
*yawn*

A curry is like Indian music, Camellia Panjabi tells Michael Bateman, open to improvisation and with spices as the notes. This week, she selects her favourite recipes from the country's main regions
MICHAEL BATEMAN

WE ALL know that there's more to making a curry than stirring in the curry powder. But the secrets of Indian cuisine do not yield themselves up so easily. Without instruction from Indian teachers, is there any hope for keen home cooks?

The book we introduced last week, Camellia Panjabi's 50 Great Curries of India (Kyle Cathie, pounds 20), offers real guidance. The recipes, gathered together from a dozen main regions of India, have been tested in India and in Britain to allow for the availability of ingredients and even variations in cooking equipment (aluminium pans give shorter cooking times for onions, they discovered).

Camellia Panjabi has also analysed Indian cooking, and last week revealed how flavours and textures are achieved. For texture Indian cooks use thickening agents such as fried onions, coconut milk, dal (lentils), nuts and seeds - never flour. For colour, they use turmeric, saffron and fresh herbs; for souring, tamarind pulp, yoghurt, vinegar, lime juice, mango juice; for taste, cumin and coriander, cinnamon and cloves, fennel seeds, fenugreek, mustard seeds; for aroma, garam masala (mixed sweet spices, cinnamon, cloves, cardamom); and for varying heat, dried or fresh green chillies.

This week we publish a selection of Camellia Panjabi's own favourite recipes. But first, some tips from her about cooking Indian-style.

There is not a rigid or classic recipe for any curry dish, she says, and compares Indian cooking to their classical music, handed down through generations without a written code, open to improvisation. She defines curry as a dish with a spiced gravy, usually, but not essentially, eaten with rice. In many parts of India it's eaten with home-made roti (flat bread) made of wheat or millet.

There is always an essential ingredient: meat, fowl, eggs, a single vegetable like potatoes, brinjal (aubergine), mushrooms, or a mixture of vegetables such as peas, diced carrots and french beans or potatoes and cauliflower.

Indian cuisine is no different from French in its dependence on good stock as the basis of all sauces. When Indians use meat, chicken or fish they always leave it on the bone to give a robust flavour, and cuts include a few gelatinous pieces as well to give body. For extra body the shankbone, including the marrow, is used. Most curries start with the heating of cooking fat; traditionally this was clarified butter, ghee, but in western India this has been superseded by the healthier sunflower or corn oil.

The use of spices is the key to making curries, Camellia Panjabi says, and you need to understand the complex effect of each one and its part in providing colour, texture, aroma and flavour. 'Spices are like musical notes. All curries, like melodies, are composed of the same spices. For example, if a dish contains a lot of red chilli and is combined with coconut milk, then the red- hot flavour is balanced with sweetness. When the proportion of coconut is higher than the chilli the result is a delightful symphony of flavours.'

The choice of spices makes the sum total of taste and flavours. But the sequence in which they are put in the pot is important, and so is the length of time each spice is fried to release its flavour (frying releases the flavour of the spice more strongly than plain cooking). If all spices are added simultaneously some will burn in a few seconds, and some will remain uncooked. For example, you need to fry coriander powder for about six minutes, but cumin for less than a minute.

An essential technique is bhuna, when spices are stir-fried in medium-hot fat or oil, in continual contact with the base of the pan, stirring so that they don't burn. Alternatively, onions are fried first and, when their moisture has been driven off, the freshly ground spices are added in the right sequence. From this point onwards, most Indian curry dishes are cooked very slowly, often with the lid on, to concentrate flavours.

The are several recipes in this article here :

http://www.independent.co.uk/arts-entertainment/food--drink--variations-on-a-classical-composition-a-curry-is-like-indian-music-camellia-panjabi-tells-michael-bateman-open-to-improvisation-and-with-spices-as-the-notes-this-week-she-selects-her-favourite-recipes-from-the-countrys-main-regions-1437647.html

MAIN COURSES

CHICKEN PISTACHIO

(DELHI)

CHICKEN CHETTINAD

(CHETTINAD)

CHICKEN DOPIAZA

(BENGAL)

FISH CURRY (GOA)

WATERMELON CURRY

(RAJASTHAN)

AUBERGINE CURRY

(KERALA)

SIDE DISHES RAITAS

CUCUMBER RAITA

CHUTNEYS

GREEN CHUTNEY WITH COCONUT

CAULIFLOWER AND POTATO CURRY - a Camellia Panjabi recipe

(MANGALORE)

In India the cauliflower is usually cooked as a dry vegetable, rarely as a curry. However on the west coast of India, around Mangalore, the Hindu community do make a curry with it (called a gashi), combining it with large pieces of potato. Serve with white rice.

Serves 2

6oz/150g chopped fresh coconut

(or can of coconut milk)

7-8 tablespoons oil

10oz/300g onions, chopped

5 dried red chillies

2 teaspoons coriander seeds

1/8 teaspoon mustard seeds

1/8 teaspoon fenugreek seeds

1/4 teaspoon cumin seeds

1in/2 1/2 cm cinnamon stick

4 peppercorns

2 cloves

1/2 teaspoon turmeric

1/2 teaspoon paprika powder

1 heaped teaspoon tamarind

3/4 in chunk of ginger, finely chopped

4 garlic cloves, finely chopped

7oz/200g potatoes,

peeled and chopped into large pieces

salt, to taste

14oz/400g cauliflower, cut into large florets

Soak 4oz/100g coconut in 3/4 pint/ 400ml warm water. Leave for half an hour then put into a blender. Strain and keep the coconut milk.

In a non-stick frying pan heat one tablespoon oil and saute 2oz/50g chopped coconut for 2-3 minutes. Set aside. Heat another tablespoon oil and saute half the onions for 2-3 minutes. Set aside. Heat one more tablespoon of oil and saute the red chillies, coriander, mustard, fenugreek and cumin seeds, cinnamon, peppercorns and cloves for half a minute, and remove.

Now put the coconut, onions and spices into a blender. Add the turmeric, paprika and tamarind and 4fl oz/100ml water and grind to a smooth paste. In a saucepan, heat four tablespoons oil and saute the ginger and garlic for 15 seconds, followed by the balance of the chopped onions for about 7-8 minutes, until translucent. Add the spice paste, saute for two minutes, then add a little water and the potatoes and saute for about five minutes. Sprinkle in the salt (about one teaspoon). Add 4fl oz/100ml water, close the lid and cook for 6-7 minutes. Now add the cauliflower, 3/4 pint/400ml coconut milk and cook until done.

Bon Apetit !!

Found it !!

I was making potato and cauliflower curry when Monica rang on her way home. Fenugreek was called for and I'd never used that before. The recipe called for real coconut , but I used coconut milk . I inprovised a lot , but it was still ok .

Come on up , says I and give her the door code

Curry was ready as she stepped through the door.
I open a bottle of wine-
*Cheers*
The wine complemented the curry very nicely. I'd never made this recipe before but it turned out to be absolutely delicious even though I 'd improvised and forgotten the cinnamon

Monica had been to Malta and had also just started a year long Qigong training.

A super spontaneous meeting all on a Tuesday evening.
Luvverly

.

We finished one bottle of wine ... awwww.... says I.... .... but my friend Ian says " there's plenty more where that came from "

TRUE !

Today NDW says the same thing.

There's more where that came from.

This is a key teaching; a most important message. The goodness of the Universe is not limited. When something "looks as if" it is running out, do not fret. This, or something better, is on its way.

Sufficiency is the natural order of things. Good never runs out -- although it may change form.

Did you get that last part?

Love, Your Friend.... Neale Donald Walsch

(The Gift -- versions of Hafiz by Daniel Ladinsky)

How's that for a book title ?
or what about " It's good to be Mira Maze " ?

Once again cheerful inspiration from Notes from the Universe

*smiles* amazing how perspective changes as you change the title of " Your Story " and begin smile at your the journey of your life and embrace it all with ALL its ups and downs, bumps and double bends and dead-end streets

Tell you what, Mira: If you can get happy right now, in spite of any problems, challenges, and circumstances that now seem to taunt you, I'll take care of those problems, challenges, and circumstances, as well as "ever-after."

*chuckles*

Go on I dare you to try it as you write your own story / comedy /tragedy

" The Amazing Life of '+ your name' "

I'm feeling better already .. and the sun is shining too Bless you as you write your own amazing story , starting right now

The full moon is a good time for releasing and letting go unwanted stuff. I'm a little late , but two days either side of the full moon still count , in my book at least , and that is what matters

I thought of doing the ritual in the middle room , but there is a fire detector there and I did not want it going off since it makes a heck of noise , so took my cauldron to the kitchen and the stove which has an air extractor

cunnning plan, eh ?

So I hereby bless and release these 8 things:

Excess fat on my tummy
Panic
Unwanted thoughts
Excess weit
Worry and anxiety
Pain
Dis-ease
I am letting go of everthing that does not serve my highest good.

DONE !
Fire burn and cauldron bubble

Outside the Lady is shining brightly and I could swear I saw her wink her approval

..... when they learned of Bella's bendy's great escape and joined in a group hug

.. albeit in a nice way

I'd love to cuddle that lion

Apparently Christian the lion's ancestors came from Jerusalem , then Amsterdam , then London.

The've completely lost track of him now , which is a good thing as it means he is once again wild.

Amazing how animals remember.

I love my Sunday mornings
going with the flow and simply being
I'm obsessed with writing and getting lost in my thoughts.
I get lost in my thoughts and daydreams and my self commenting on my own thoughts.

Refecting ...

Today on the film that I watch last night.. Match Point, one of Woody Allen's creations. What a mind that chap has. Imagine getting lost in Woody Allen's mind

Featured in the film were snippets of Opera ,recordings of Caruso complete with lovely 78 gramaphone crackles http://www.archive.org/details/Caruso_part1

What a resource.
I love the old 78 records and would love to own a gramaphone. We once took one with us on a picnic, 20s style , with a picnic hamper , 6 pf us in an open vintage car owned by Peter. Peter was quite eccentric in those days, It was through Peter I discover Jimmy Hendrix. He used to play Jimmy Hendrix full blast out of his bedroom window . Peter refused to go through being confirmed until his parents succumbed to his bribe of state of the art stereo music equipment . *respect *

picture courtesy of http://lionheart-designs.com/

Just seen " Match Point" , the film, on TV . The murderer goes free. Some lovely opera music and altogether very entertaining.Perfect for a rainy Saturday evening.

After that blue2pink's video of Bumble digging at the seaside to the background of this ( only by bony m ) Did Bumble find what he was digging for ?

Now for a lovely hot bubble bath and bed xx night night blogland xx

What PASSION !!!
In this opera , in this role ( 60s)
Sadly she burnt out , I'm told

Sock it to'em Elena Souliotis

I didn't want to be alone last night , but it turned out to be just what I needed.
The personality can be a tantrum child , while the soul knows what's best.

Have you noticed how lighting a few candles and playing music fills the room with magic ?

Today is a new day , the day of the full moon.
Full moon rituals are about cleansing , purging and letting go of what no longer serves.
For me it is aches and pains ( or do they serve at all ?)
worries, anxieties, despair , fears, panic
outdated thoughts ideas
ailments ...

What would you like to release , bless and burn ?

Today .. this morning .. I have baked bread and drinking coffee

Connecting with friend's souls on the world wide web is awesome ... fills me with wonder , gratitude and love ... never ceases to amaze me x

Reading Kahlil Gibran :

"Your hearts know in silence the secrets of the days and the nights.But your ears thirst for the sound of your heart's knowledge.You would know in words that which you have always known in thought.You would touch with your fingers the naked body of your dreams."

I so want to know in words that which I have always known in my heart x

to touch with my fingers , the naked body of my dreams ... aye .. yes yes yes x

* leaves to top up coffee *

.

The Lady is outside my bedroom window , to the east . I had to lean out of the widow to take her picture. In a couple of hours she will have moved directly opposite me

Looking good, she is . My little digital camera does not do her justice , but I still have to mark the occasion somehow.

X

Good moaning , says Mira in best 'ello 'ello voice
Got up at 8 a.m .today , wrote my 3 morning pages and meditation and toddled off to facebook where Elisabeth , former neighbour , had posted the link of the last episode of Little Britain in the USA and laughed......I laughed in a caring way , as Dame Edna would say.

Remember getting into a deep water discussion with a friend in the USA about humour. She found Dame Edna offensive and also some of the jokes that I emailed her. ( Don't mention the war ) . I've stopped sending her things that I find funny .. well almost

The other day I commented on a picture of cat biting a young Alsatian dog. The expression on the dog's face was priceless and I thought, very funny. My friend commented that she felt sad for the two animals. Oh dear oh dear ....

Laughter is such a great gift and like music, so personal. I think you should be able to laugh at anything. Well, almost . It's about distancing yourself enough to see the absurdity in a situation. I love Little Britain humour although sometimes they do go too far. I think I must have a warped sense of humour . I don't find slapstick funny and the classic Charlie Chaplin and I love Lucy's are downright irritating or depressing not to mention Americas funniest Videos which makes me cringe. Give me Monty Python , Life of Brian any day .. Vicar of Dibley and Father Ted, The Kumars. Goodness Gracious Me and Everybody Loves Raymond.

What do you find funny and do I really want to know ?
Anyway , one thing 's for sure.. I am so grateful that I can laugh at things , especially myself and the things I get up to .. albeit in a CARING way... of course

Happy Friday everyone xxx

Together we can make a difference.
I want all the frogs and creatures of the rainforest to keep their homes.The rate of deforestation is horrific. Please pass this on and do what you can . Ta

I am grateful to my facebook friend Alexander K. Rai for introducing me to Alan Watts; who seems like a very wise and interesting chap whom I'd not heard of before yesterday. Sometimes I feel as if I've struck gold

We shall see as I explore further

X

October 1, 2009
Serving the Higher Self
The Ego

( taken from www.dailyom.com )

In most spiritual circles, the ego gets a pretty bad rap. The reason for this is that the ego, to some extent, is the principle in our psyches that separates us from one another, while spirit is the principle that shows us that no such separation exists. Sometimes the ego is depicted as an almost demonic figure that keeps us from realizing our true nature. But at its most basic, the ego is simply a tool that helps us organize the various aspects of our personality so that we can function in the world. In this sense, the ego is simply a way for us to understand and attend to ourselves at the same time as we understand and attend to the world around us. The ego is a tool that we use to navigate the world.

Perhaps the problem is that the ego sometimes gets out of control. This happens when the higher self loses control of the psyche. The psyche then falls under the leadership of the ego, an entity that was never meant to lead. The ego is meant to be definitively in the service of the higher self. When this relationship is functioning, the ego is a useful intermediary representing the whole self but not thinking that it is the whole self. Then, it is almost as if the ego is the self playfully pretending to be the separate entity called "I." Like an actor, the ego plays the roles that the world asks us to play in order to be part of the program. In this way, the ego can be a tool enabling us to be in the world but not of it.

As long as we are in touch with our higher selves, our egos are not a threat. They are simply useful tools in the service of spirit. We keep our egos in check when we continually nurture our awareness of who we really are. Then our egos are free to serve without trying ineffectually to rule. It is healthy to have ego, but like all things in life, ego functions best when it is in balance and harmony with your whole self.

See also Alan Watts on " Opposition and Unity "

Speaking of loo paper ( i.e. no toilet paper, malakeas post ) I feel I must take a moment to express my gratitude for loo paper I've not mentioned this item in my gratitude journal before now. It is so easy to take loo paper for granted until , that is , the day that it runs out and you find yourself up shit creek , literally without a paddle

I am truly grateful for my flush loo.
I am grateful that I can flush loo paper down the loo and not have to put it in a bin beside the loo as you do in Greece.

*flashback many years* to the time I stayed in the medina in Tunis. There was a lovely tiled courtyard and the loo was a hole in the ground and next to it there was a tap , but no loo paper.

I was told that the reason why it was rude to shake hands with the left hand was because one used only one's left hand during visits to the loo

Ahem..... and ond that note I must run out to stock up on loo paper. I am down to my last roll.