November's Featured Member - Writer/Humanitarian Deborah

Click Here to see her in Heaven at her home in Missouri.

November's interacting guest writer is

   Deborah

Happy November… Deb!  I am proud to work with you this month and look forward to others contributing and having a great time from your waterfall setting stage and blissful smile and warm hospitality.  I will ask some questions from time to time and help moderate to set the stage.

Thanks for being in the limelight sharing new adventures & stories. Prior to answering questions if there is anything you want to share about what its like living in this heavenly part of the country, we are interested in all you have to say.

We will start the questioning with:   1~ Overall, on a scale of 1-10, how important is the Gaia community in your life?   What  factors contribute to your score?

Anything you want to say before we start we all welcome Deb to our Gaia stage and look forward to a delightful month getting to know you.

~Kathy

Gaia Networking Mod

Re: November's Featured Member - Writer/Humanitarian Deborah

Congratulations Deb.

I can honestly say I know a Gaia celebrity, worked alongside her and everything!!!

It is easy to see why you were chosen Deb, you are a very confident, sweet, honest, humble and wise lady, a lady in the best sense of the term.

I'll hop out of the way and give someone else a go.

Lots and lots of cuddles

Your born to cuddle eccentric Aussie mate (and fellow pod mod)

Andrew

Re: November's Featured Member - Writer/Humanitarian Deborah

What an absolutely wonderful choice!!!!!!!!

Congratulations, Deb….
Enjoy, dear one!,
CG

Re: November's Featured Member - Writer/Humanitarian Deborah

Deb, Congratulation on your moment in the spot light.
All that's been mentioned and a piece of cheese on top.
Let me open the door for you.

and let the light shine bright.
~lars

Re: November's Featured Member - Writer/Humanitarian Deborah

Deb, I know  you from so many places on Gaia: our work together on your pod Living Metaphysics and on 50stars; as an Ambassador; and someone on Gaia who looks at the community as a whole.

I enjoy the authenticity of your sharing, when you blur the divide between your offline and online life.

What  l love to read about, in your writing and blogs; is the outdoors that you are so much a part of.  You had once written about counting the frogs [or was it tortoises?] –could you tell us more about this off-line activity?

Re: November's Featured Member - Writer/Humanitarian Deborah

~KES,

It is amazing that when you were writing this, I was hugging the Sycamore Witness Tree at my sacred place, looking down the creek and thinking, “I really do live in heaven on earth here”.  Wow, that's a bit of synchronicity to start my month off right.

I promise to elaborate more but have to run off to prepare dinner, so it will be a few hours most likely.  I will say that this place where the photo was taken was the first place my husband took me to when I came here, we camped out there.  I remember realizing immediately how blessed they were to be stewards of such a place.

In Missouri, these places are called Shut-Ins.  They are waterfalls of a low sort, places where the rocks shut in the water and it tumbles down a ways.  The following is excerpted from ”Geologic Wonders and Curiosities of Missouri” by the Missouri Department of Natural Resources:

“As typically used in the Missouri Ozarks, a “shut-in” refers to a gorge cut by a stream whose valley is locally constricted as it cuts through or between resistant igneous knobs. Upstream and downstream from the shut-in the stream commonly has a relatively wide or open valley and, in some cases, the stream seems to be preverse as it elects to cut a canyon through an isolated mass of igneous rock instead of going around it as a sensible stream would.”

“A majority of the Missouri shut-ins are in the St. Francois Mountains area of Washington, St. Francois, Madison and Wayne Counties, with Ironton and Arcadia near the center. Another important area lies east of Eminence.”

I live in Madison County.  Our shut-ins is named Klondike and is not well known.  This is the first place where I went to pray but I later took possession of the place where my husband and I were married, the place where, I was thinking it, as you were writing it.

Until I can come back and say more about where I live, as I think fewer now have access to the kind of wilderness where I live, and so may find that interesting, you could visit my first blog after coming to Zaadz, where I describe the place that I still live today -

http://yhd52754.gaia.com/blog/2007/4/one_room_farmhouse 

More to come I promise …

Deborah
or you can call me Deb
or you can call me Deby
or whatever form suits your fancy 

Re: November's Featured Member - Writer/Humanitarian Deborah

Re: November's Featured Member - Writer/Humanitarian Deborah

KES -

My Sycamore would appreciate such a fine image of itself.  It is a bit taller in the trunk and more spindly in the leaves but it thinks of itself so … oh yeah, and bent in the trunk from the floods pushing heavy stuff at it when it was young.

My Sycamore is wise beyond its years and a very dear and loving heart.

Deb

Re: November's Featured Member - Writer/Humanitarian Deborah

Congratulations Deb!  And *thank you* for your first installment of sharing your heaven with us.



loving blessings -



Sylvia

Re: November's Featured Member - Writer/Humanitarian Deborah

Meenakshi,

Peeking in, while starting the grill for hamburgers, since the warm day feels like picnic weather still.  I can give a quick answer about the Frogs & Toads in my life, by linking this blog I wrote about it -

http://yhd52754.gaia.com/blog/2007/5/harmony_in_the_form_of_frogs_and_toads More about “the wilderness” later tonight…

It is heartening to be so warmly greeted, by so many of my closest friends, so quickly.  I love you all.

Deb

________________________________________________

{mod note–I added her frog:]  ~ Deb's Peace Frog ~

Re: November's Featured Member - Writer/Humanitarian Deborah

You certainly deserve to be spotlighted, Miss Divine Deborah!
It is an Honor and Pleasure to be counted among your friends and I am delighted to Celebrate YOU!

YOU…for ALL that you do, for ALL that you Are…
You are a Cherished part of the Zaadz/Gaia community!

And oh my, oh my…you live in THE Madison County? As in the movie? Ahhhh I knew you were made from the stuff of legends ;-)

Thank You, Deb…your friendship and presence here is a Bright Blessing!

All My Love, Respect and Admiration,

~Ariela

Re: November's Featured Member - Writer/Humanitarian Deborah

Deb—I've only known you for a month or so, but I feel like I've known you much longer. Glad to know you, too, because you're a positive/authentic presence here on Gaia…you contribute so much to the site and to all of us.

Thank you for your friendship—and congratulations re: being the featured member this month. You truly deserve this honor! 

Re: November's Featured Member - Writer/Humanitarian Deborah

very exciting deb and you deserve to be this months featured member. you have always inspired me.

Re: November's Featured Member - Writer/Humanitarian Deborah

Re: November's Featured Member - Writer/Humanitarian Deborah

Dear Deb,

Congratulations with being November's Star !

I remember, first glancing upon your profile, the first words I read

Tree Hugging Dirt Worshipper 

I thought immediately YES I like ! and I was sold!
As someone who grew up and lived most of her life  in cities, it somehow resonated strongly with the deep yearning I have always had for being closer to the heartbeat of Mother Earth.

I enjoyed reading the link you just posted on your home and how you live. Great picture too.

I feel really honoured to have you as a friend, as well as appreciate the wonderful  Living Metaphysics Pod  and look very much forward to getting to know you better throughout this month.

hugs,
Lucienne

Re: November's Featured Member - Writer/Humanitarian Deborah

Congratulations Deb!  I look forward to learning more about the area you live in and reading your tips on navigating this wonderful community.  I am interested in sustainability, gardening and creating a healthy world for all to enjoy and care for our planet.  Blessings to you, Lee

Re: November's Featured Member - Writer/Humanitarian Deborah

Oh my Dear Friend Deb!

I bow deeply to you & celebrate you
Congratulations, Deb…. you have been very special in my life on Z/Gaia! Especially in our (private) Grandmother's Group:)
where we celebrate our lives and support one another..

Re: November's Featured Member - Writer/Humanitarian Deborah

Hooray for Deb!  I'm glad to see you getting recognized here!  =)

You've taught me so much already in the short time we've been speaking to each other.  Really helped me get my life back on track, and get back into the groove of things.  :)

Congratulations Deb!  You deserve this!

Re: November's Featured Member - Writer/Humanitarian Deborah

What Lucienne said reminded me wanted to tell you, Deb: I saw a bumper sticker the other day that said Tree Hugging Dirt Worshipper and I got quite disoriented, wondering whether I was home online or in a store parking lot. LOL !!!!!!!!!

Sometime last summer, I think it was, I wondered “Who would I love to see as the Featured Member for November? Who just makes sense for that? [by whimsical criteria]” and the answer inside me was “Deb! Deb! Deb!” I suggested you to the other mods here, who were amenable.

But then Meenakshi decided to run that contest for the November slot, and I thought “Oh well, maybe we'll feature Deb sometime later.” Then, fair and square, you won the contest ! That was thus a synchronicity, not a coincidence, in my experience !!!!!!!!!!!!!!

So here I am joyfully adding my little frog voice to the chorus here, saying the same things: What a remarkable person you are, how inspiring, how dedicated, how loving, how wise, how giving, how REAL, how growthful, ……….

We are fortunate to have you in this community, and I am blessed to have you in my life as a true Friend of the Heart – and we are gonna rock and roll this month !!!!

In the Love We All Are,
OM Bastet 

Re: November's Featured Member - Writer/Humanitarian Deborah

OM, dear friend -

You just knew I would love this story, didn't you?  Now Meenakshi and I have great respect for each other.  She could be forgiven, if she questioned whether I would really have the time to devote to this that it needs, but I'll do my best … I can do almost anything for a month - LOL. 

I just love this, that you were thinking it should be me and then, Meenakshi thought, well let's make a contest and the Universe (Source, God, All That Is, whatever) was so determined that it would be me, that it guided me to read Meenakshi's mass mailing, so quickly that it WAS me. 

Now, this may not seem remarkable but I know that timing was very remarkable.  I even noticed it at the time and thought, well, it probably isn't the answer I gave, it's something else, and I'm not trying to be the Featured Member for November anyway.  It's not like I really want that but I am already having tons of fun, seeing so many friends in one place, saying such nice things about me.  A once in a lifetime opportunity to be sure.

Too, too funny.  I love it.  Yep, I'm connected to something bigger than my little life and I know it and It knows I do LOVE it.  Anyway, the Universe has spoken and so, here I am.

Thanks for letting me know it was destiny, OM.

Deb

Re: November's Featured Member - Writer/Humanitarian Deborah

Deb, I remember realize how thrilled we mods were at all this unfolding. And how happy am that you agreed, inspite of all that you do.

I love the way the outdoors is coming into your thread.

Re: November's Featured Member - Writer/Humanitarian Deborah

Yes!! It just had to be Deb this month, somehow. I've just read your first blog, Deb; and can see that you started as you continued…not separating Zaadz and later Gaia from  your daily life, but expanding your One Room Farmhouse    to include the many of us who are here.

I can already see a tip forming that I'll later ask you to share!

Re: Featured Member Deb- sharing offline life

Deb, could I request you to add your perspective to the thread Privacy on Gaia? Methinks you would bring a valuable viewpoint to that topic.


We have new members on this pod; and sometimes people ask what is the right thing to do. So your view, as you share quite freely, would help a lot.

[I did warn you that a request for a tip  was coming!]

Re: Featured Member Deb- sharing offline life

Thanks for the Gaia Networking break… I helped Deb on the special request as it covers some important safety tips.  And  now, back to Deb..

Re: Featured Member Deb- sharing offline life

Meenakshi,

I have shared my perspective on the topic within that thread you have linked.

It has come up a bit from time to time since joining Zaadz, now Gaia.  I'm not the strongest on protecting privacy for myself but I do judge the safety of who I interact with from within and trust the guidance I receive from that inner self and do follow it.

Deb

Re: Featured Member Deb- sharing offline life

Don't miss this “hidden” piece of the Deb puzzle in the Privacy thread -

http://pods.gaia.com/z_network/discussions/view/297817#358463

Re: November's Featured Member - Writer/Humanitarian Deborah

What a stroke of luck, I'm a bit of a night owl when it comes to Gaia and tonight I can stay up an hour later and it will be an hour earlier and so, I think that's a fortunate coincidence for the first day of my month as featured member.  But I am a bit tired and so I don't promise to stay up half the night, though I sometimes get a second wind around midnight-1am.

I was touched to be described as a writer, since I have been writing since my early twenties, some children's stories for my daughter and nephew, one of which I did try to get published, and a novel (fiction) which was lost at about 3/4s of the way complete.  It feels good to be acknowledged as a writer, because I really enjoy writing, which is why some of my posts can become rather long, but I don't usually think of myself as a genuine “writer”, I suppose because I am unpublished.

It was a bit surprising to see myself called a ”humanitarian” because I have never thought of, or called myself such, so, I had to look up the definition in an on-line dictionary.  It says “a person promoting human welfare and social reform”, yes, I can see that in myself now.  Already being the featured member has gifted me with a new concept of myself.

I live on over 500 acres of mostly forested land owned by my husband's family.  The Mark Twain National Forest used to be to the south of us but, through political maneuverings over the years, a prominent local family came into possession of that land and, eventually, sold it to a paper company.  About 6 years ago, in a bit of poetic justice, a tornado came through and blew down 80% of the paper company's trees (and took out half the town that handles our mail).  We only lost about 6 trees along that border.  The paper company came in and salvaged the lumber, which was a great opportunity for my husband and then 18 mos old son to hike back there and watch the mechanized “tree chompers” do their thing.  The company replanted it in Pines and they are doing well and growing fast.  The thing about that land, that appeals the most to us, is that it is uninhabited. 

To our west, just past our neighbors along the road, is more empty, open land.  I've hiked to the west only once, it was a day long walk, and it was before there were neighbors there, whose property would have to be crossed through.  The second largest land owner (just over 300 acres) in our valley adjoins us to the north.  They've been here over 200 years.  To the east is the highway and some neighbors, many of whom are at least 2nd generation descendents or have been here even longer than that.  There was no electricity here until the 1950's and the one-room schoolhouse on our property was in use until the 1950's as well.  Much of the stability in our community is due to the rootedness of the people.

We have mountains that wouldn't be called such out west in states like Colorado.  The “mountains” on our property are just under 1,000 feet but can rise 200-300 feet from 700 feet quickly, on very steep slopes.  Taum Sauk is the high point for Missouri and is in the neighboring county.  It is just 1,772 feet high.  Mountains are what we call these because they are a bit tall to really be called hills. 

Two perennial creeks cross our property and confluence on the southeastern edge traveling on to the small river that eventually empties into the Mississippi.  The Mississippi is far enough away that we don't worry about its periodic floods.  Each of our creeks has shut-ins or small waterfalls.  There is an old roadway along the creeks, where pioneer families walked alongside wagons to flour & corn mills on the creek or to the little Walnut Grove white board church downstream, that is no longer used but it still stands. 

So, where we now live was a bit of a community at one time, perhaps with the same name as our shut-ins - Klondike - but the memory of any name is lost in history.  There is a small local family cemetery just up the road and when someone is buried there, that we know the family of, we walk up for the graveside services in our blue jeans.

I hike for about an hour every day I can, which is most days.  Living in such small quarters, home always with business and schooling the kids, it is the source of my sanity and a moment to be alone, I guard it fiercely.  We have trails all over the place and some days we spend a few hours doing maintenance on them to keep them open when needed.  A few years ago, we removed most of the old barbed wire cross-fencing and I can't tell you how much freer it feels not to have it.  I hike in all temperatures and all weather and we do have the full range of seasons, snow and ice in winter, jungle growth and heat/humidity in summer, flowers and floods in spring, or colorful leaves in fall.

There is a lot of wildlife here - coyotes, armadillos, occasionally bears or bobcat but they are rare, deer, possums, raccoons, mink, beaver, foxes, squirrels, all kinds of snakes (copperheads and timber rattlers are common poisonous ones) and small rodents of all kinds of many species from mice to ground hogs.  We have wood ducks and geese during migrations and a Great Blue Heronry on our southeastern border where several nests are in a small group during spring and summer.  I love that all of this life lives here with us and always realize the wildlife lives and belongs here as much as I do.

Being far from town (about a 40 min round trip to the county seat - our county is only 7,000 people, of which 4,000 live there) and being committed to organic, natural foods as much as possible, we combine our doctors and dentists visits in St Louis (2 hrs away) with grocery shopping at Whole Foods and other upscale grocers and tend to stock up with multiples of every item.  This usually means days starting at 7:30-8am and going until midnight or 1am at times.

Our water comes from a well and our trash is hauled in by ourselves to the transfer station and recycling center in our county seat.  Our sewer goes into a septic system.  The road to our home is dirt and so, our cars are usually pretty dirty looking when we go to the city.  We have 3 cats (2 outdoors ones that adopted us 2 yrs ago and love to hike the woods with us) and a 17 yr old indoor cat.  No dogs since we sometimes make 6 week long trips away from home and cats are easier to care for in general when away.

Well, this may be as much as you really want to know (or way more than you wish I had written ;-p) but do ask those “what do you do about?” questions, if they come up in your mind and I'll gladly answer.  So much of what our life is like here - quiet (not many car sounds), peaceful (dark at night with lots of stars) and private - I take so for granted, that I don't give it much mind.  We are environmentalists.  Our property is a wildlife refuge and forest preserve.  We are raising our children to love and know the land as much as we do.

Re: November's Featured Member - Writer/Humanitarian Deborah

A very warm welcome, to you Deb, as November's Featured Member.
I can see already that it going to be a great month!

I have known and respected you, around Gaia for a long time
 -but now I really get to know you.
 
I love the way you write and I love what you have to write about.
You are truly blessed to live the life you do and I thankyou
so much for sharing it with us.

Peace and love,

Sandy

Re: November's Featured Member - Writer/Humanitarian Deborah

I am glad for both you and the land, that each of you can care for and comfort the other…..Sounds like a wonderful sanctuary.
love and blessings to you and all you hold dear, my friend,
CG

Re: November's Featured Member - Writer/Humanitarian Deborah

I can smell the cool clean air as you describe all that, Deb. It strengthens my body and soul.

Been meaning to mention also that one Cosmic Reason I suspect you are in this setting is that your children are probably sensitive to the intense electromagnetic pollution the rest of us don't even notice consciously (but it takes its toll on our bodies and psyches.) You probably live in a small fraction of that particular kind of pollution compared to the rest of us. How marvelous !!!!! 

Blessings,
OM

Re: November's Featured Member - Writer/Humanitarian Deborah

OM,

You remind me of how when I was pregnant with my older son, I hiked every day then, in big baggy bluejean overalls.  I would tell him what a lucky kid he was to have all this as his backyard.  I started walking him as an infant, alongside the creek at 3 mos, to get him to nap.  Later, I took him for about 2 years in a backpack carrier on my daily hikes, so he could nap in the quietness.  I did that with the younger boy too, but he was born weighing a lb+ more than the first and both were big babies (8lb2oz & 9lb8oz on my 5'0” frame).  So, I had to quit earlier with the younger boy. 

We never used strollers but always carried them on us.  My older boy taught me that I could compose songs and sing acapella - I had no idea before then.  I made up songs about the natural world around us.  Interestingly, after a very young age, the younger boy NEVER wanted me to sing (I think it reminded him too much of the lullabyes I would sing, while I walked him to sleep).

My favorite song was about the flowers (sung roughly to the tune of Edelweis from the Sound of Music) -

Daffodils, daffodils, yellow flowers that bloom in the chill
February's cold, March winds, April rain, Daffodils
Gone again, back next year, full of cheer, Daffodils.

Quince, since, Daffodils, Pink flowers bloom hence
When they go, next we see, Violets, Phlox and Iris 3

April showers bring May flowers, a heavenly scent fills the air
Pale or bright, Pink Delight, Azaleas cover our bowers

Each year, I hope you see, they still bloom for thee
When I'm gone, perhaps you'll sing, this song of mine
Each spring and summertime

Daffodils, Quince, Azaleas

Re: November's Featured Member - Writer/Humanitarian Deborah

Wonderful to join this celebration of Deb!
much love

Re: November's Featured Member - Writer/Humanitarian Deborah

Congratulations Deb!
Love mia xx

Re: November's Featured Member - Writer/Humanitarian Deborah

Yeah!  This is gonna be a great learning, sharing, growing month.
Congrats, Deb
Blessings, David

Re: November's Featured Member - Writer/Humanitarian Deborah

Hi HummingBird, mia, HeyOK, OM, C.G. & Sandy ~  

Re: November's Featured Member - Writer/Humanitarian Deborah

Re: November's Featured Member - Writer/Humanitarian Deborah

KES -

I think we've seen gas down to $2.09/gal.  The high we saw was almost $4.

This is a poor community and a retirement community and so, the cost of living is much lower than other places but the availability of goods (Walmart is the best provider, which tells you something, not that I'm Walmart bashing because without them … ) and services is very limited and so, we drive 2 hrs one way for medical/dental and groceries, other things worth buying and to give the kids experiences like the zoo and science center, children's museums.

I am glad the city is both close enough and far enough away.  Those who are country folk would understand.  I am a very plain and natural person on the outside but extraordinary on the inside, as should be the case if one is authentic.  ;-p  LOL

I want to have fun, so keep bringing it on ! ! !

Deb

Re: November's Featured Member - Writer/Humanitarian Deborah

Dear Deb,


The “10” doesn't really surprise me as I have come to experience your wise and loving Presence in many places here on Gaia.

The fact that you balance your presence here on Gaia with being the wife, mother, businesspartner and many other things that you are to people in your community,  deserves great respect. I often wonder how does one do all that ? But apparently it can be done and you are such a great example.

You said:  but I think there was a very deep yearning in me to share the spiritual side of myself with others, who are able to appreciate and resonate with such insights.     
                                               
The spiritual side of you has been an interest for a long time as you write. I wonder HOW did you share and express this before Gaia, if it wasn't something you could discuss with your husband.
Have there been people in your environment you could actually share some of this with?  And if not, how was this for you, how could you find a way to translate and imbed all this in your everyday life.

I've just been trying to imagine living in your environment, being such a rich spiritual person as you are and not being able to share in those terms, must not always have been easy.

Re: November's Featured Member - Writer/Humanitarian Deborah

Alluvja / Lucienne,

You asked -

>>>”I wonder HOW did you share and express this before Gaia, if it wasn't something you could discuss with your husband.”<<<

Good question.  No, I really had no one to share it with. 

My grown daughter has been aware but she spent very little time around me, as her father raised her along with a step-mother and a half and step sister and they were always far away geographically.  Yet, it was my daughter who told me about The Secret and said, “this is the stuff you have always lived”. 

I remember teaching her the Law of Attraction or Law of Cause and Effect as it is called in Science of Mind, as a child - when she thought she would get into trouble from her “parents” for attending a rock concert with me, that was totally harmless and that we both enjoyed alot.  We “visualized” the welcoming she would get when she got home and it eased her fears and it was as we practiced - all was well.

Mostly, it was a solitary practice for about 18 years after I married and came to live here (I did have access to like-minded people at the Science of Mind church I attended in St Louis, when I was single and living there alone) and I got a bit complacent about my practice, as there was no one to share it with, but it was there and it took on the natural elements around me for temple and environment.  I became a bit more Pagan.

Since coming to Zaadz, now Gaia, it has definitely taken on a bigger role in my life again, and some say I have blossomed, and I certainly can attest that it has felt that way.  The biggest decision I made was inspired, it was to start the Living Metaphysics pod as Helen and Denise/Flowerchild (moderators there along with Meenakshi and Gail/Spirit in Action) know I gave that much thought beforehand.  Yet, when it came to me, the name and basic format came to me all at once in my head and I knew it was the right decision to go forward.

To your other question >>>”if not, how was this for you, how could you find a way to translate and imbed all this in your everyday life.”<<<.  Spirit was always there as my companion and so, I never felt alone, it was just solitary in practice.  I used it, whenever the need was there - someone was sick, there were money issues, I wanted to have a child, relationship problems, etc.  There is always a reason to practice ;-}.  Life just keeps unfolding.

Sometimes, I felt a bit alone, that is true, in the sense of human spiritual contact - no longer, thanks to Gaia.

Deb

Re: November's Featured Member - Writer/Humanitarian Deborah

In my meditation hour, it came to me that I best give some background and context to a little remark that I made in response to Alluvja / Lucienne's questions.

Re: November's Featured Member - Writer/Humanitarian Deborah

Oh Deb ! You really got me smiling here:

“I became a bit more Pagan.”

I don't want anyone jumping to the conclusion that I worship the devil and perform bizarre rituals because nothing could be further from the truth, as those who know me best here would probably believe.
                                           
                                                         

I can't speak for others of course but i'm pretty sure no one here envisioned you doing a bit of devil worshipping under your tree.
I appreciate your explanation but can't stop giggling at this one. You know it never really occurred in my mind but now I have this  funny image …..(Lol) !
But you know Deb, it's All Good, You Know if  God is All Love Everywhere Present He's gotta love the devil at least a little bit….(LOL). 
Oh I don't mean to make fun of what you said because I realize you're earnestly trying to explain something and I totally respect that, but…… you got me laughing here girl!
LUV YOU. HUGS !




                                                 

Re: November's Featured Member - Writer/Humanitarian Deborah

Alluvja,

I'm glad you're smiling and I was a bit tongue in cheek with that  paragraph but it occurred to me that some would not know what a Pagan really is, it's been so skewed over time, that it was best to out it before it could take root in someone.

Actually, the tiny bit of God I am able to comprehend does like that little devil the trickster.  Without bad, why would we seek good?  And how many times does the bad set us on a new path that is good?  And does the devil really exist?  I'm not sure I want to challenge him to prove himself to me.  Call me superstitious.

The closest thing I do recognize is what Eckhart Tolle calls the Pain Body.  It is an energy form that feeds on negative energy.  It can take over a rational human in a moment of irrationality and provoke suffering, pain and worse.  Tolle describes it as ancient and that is my sense of it.  We can deny the pain body any hold in us and it may still try to provoke through vulnerable others.

Think about what a really angry or irrational person looks like.  I've seen this entity like an overlay over the genuine human being.  The appearance of the face and eyes change.  One can choose not to see it, to ignore it or best of all seek the love and peace inside the afflicted person, extend compassion and forgiveness.

I was once in a situation where I was attacked by a large woman, she had hold of my hair.  She was 3 times bigger and very mean at that moment.  There was a handgun within reach, the thought passed through my mind in a moment of fear but I immediately rejected it as “no solution”.  She let go at that precise moment and the chickens outside the window in a coop began fighting.  I doubt I'll ever forget that experience.  Did an entity leave the room?, did it seek an outlet in other living beings?, was the timing simply a coincidence?  I can't answer, I simply know how it felt and impacted me at the time.

But thanks for smiling and for the cute litte icon of angel and devil playing see-saw.  To be human can be like the little one down below seeking the balance point of wholeness, stillness.  I am smiling too.

Deb

Re: November's Featured Member - Writer/Humanitarian Deborah

Thanks for the sharing of your ideas about this.

That is an interesting story about the woman and then the chickens. I'll guess noone will know what really happens.

But it got me thinking about what you said of how you relate it to Tolle's pain body. I always interpreted that as being something subjective within my own range of emotions and experiences and not as an entity by itself.
Now I know we're All One at some level so everything is out there as well but somehow I never looked at Tolle's pain body that way.
I understand all of us can tune in at any level so also into negative energy but to say it would actually be possible that would jump into chickens,  it preassumes a life of its own and I'm not sure if i believe in that.
Another thing could be that the chickens simply felt the energy.

Food for thinking.

Re: November's Featured Member - Writer/Humanitarian Deborah

Alluvja,
 

I delight to see a comment come in from you.  I love the way your mind works.  You prod me to review and search within myself, to clarify and understand more deeply, particular points.  Truly, I remain a student, always.  I am not an expert in anything, and especially in the subjects I will touch upon in response to your thoughtful comments.

I know only what I have pondered and experienced.  Ever I do try to bring up into my consciousness that self, often referred to as higher, which I interpret to mean of an order beyond the current time/space physical experience, what could be called an expanded sense of self or awareness or consciousness.  I know that in considering and contemplating Eckhart Tolle's concepts I feel an understanding and a resonance.  Language is so inadequate at times to try and describe something that is beyond the scope of language but we must try.

The experience with the woman and the chickens happened when I was too young to have much spiritual awareness, though I had a sense of a spiritual self in my early teens, a connection to God within.  I was in my early 20s.  The woman came into my room, I was sitting on the floor.  She was angry, I knew not why at the time nor do I know why now in hindsight.  She grabbed my hair and pulled upward so severely that it nearly lifted me off the floor.  The insight came all as a complete picture, the gun, the fear, the wish for the experience to end, the realization that the gun would not end it no matter what resulted and so, I chose complete non-reaction, I just sat there unmoving, not speaking.  Then, she let go and immediately I sensed the negative energy leave that space and then, immediately the ruckus in the chicken coop.

Can I know what happened or how or why?  No, I can not.  I know how it felt and your explanation is as good as any.  Yet, chickens are living beings, who am I to say what their consciousness consists of?, whether they have a pain body or not.  I know that energy is never contained and does move and diffuse.  Now, with some study and contemplation, I can see that the woman had a pain body, and it tried to trigger mine, to inflict suffering on us both. 

Tolle describes the Pain-Body in his book A New Earth as “semi-autonomous” (meaning partially self-governing, having the powers of self-government within a larger structure).  He definitely describes it as individual but also collective, as in the female, racial or national pain body.  In the Oprah on-line class he says “when I say that the pain-body can be considered almost an entity in its own right that lives in you, some people find that's a little spooky, but all that I'm trying to say here is that it's an energy form. Entity is another word for it.  So an energy form lives in you that you may not be aware of all the time because some of the time it is dormant, and it's only active for a certain percentage of the time.”

Eckhart describes the pain-body as needing to feed on negative energy and the frequency of those feedings depends upon individual factors not completely understood.  It can not have a life of its own, you are correct.  For it always needs a self or a living being to express physically the emotional energy of which it is composed.  Yet, many people act not like their “normal” selves under its influence.  They are “possessed” by it for as long as it remains active.

In trying to understand the pain-body, I think of the phenomena of channeling.  I have observed more than one person who channels on video tape.  It is as though the normal consciousness gets out of the way and allows a non-physical entity to take over the vehicle of the body.  The normal consciousness usually remains aware, is what my understanding is.  Often the voice and language are different than what one might expect usually from the person, the entity can control facial expressions and the mouth and vocal chords and make gestures.

I can not explain with any certainty why this is able to occur, either.  But I have personally seen a change in the energy body, of people physically present in my environment, when the pain-body arises and their facial features become contorted and their actions nearly unstoppable, somewhat beyond their personal ability to control.  How to explain?  Tolle comes as close as I can and there is no doubt, man's inhumanity to man stretches back to the beginnings of our collective awareness as humans and therefore, this energy form, this entity is ancient in its cumulative expression.

Thank you for sharing your thoughts.  In no way do I seek to change them in any degree, for each individual contributes to the wholeness that is perfect.  I only seek to respond with what came up for me personally as I meditated on your comments.  I do not believe that most of us “seek to tune into” negative energy but it has its way with us however often.  Given a choice, we would not chose it, so what does happen there?  For me, there are always more questions, than absolute answers.

Re: November's Featured Member - Writer/Humanitarian Deborah

Dear Deb,

Thank you so much for your thoughtful and elaborate answer.

I have witnessed negative energy just zooming out of somebody but then it just seemed to dissolve.
Anyway it's all powerful and interesting stuff.

Thank you for the video, I have a copple of Tolle's books,  as well as attented a lecture of him some years ago. I didn't  finish A New Earth yet, eventhough I've had it for quite a while, but I will pick it up again ( oh I still have so many books calling at me read me, finish reading me , ah it's all Gaia's fault , LOL!)

Well I'll be looking forward to the rest of Kathy's questions and your answers.
Hugs.

Re: November's Featured Member - Writer/Humanitarian Deborah

Deborah,

It is so exciting to see you as the featured member for the month of November.  You mean so much to so many of us….it's wonderful that you can share all your wisdom and thoughtfulness with us on the Gaia Networking pod.

One of my first impressions when reading and meeting you was the deep and thoughtful way you look at many angles and perspectives before adding your own awareness to the mix.

It is such a treasure to know you and see you shine in the spotlight.
Love,  Kathy 

Re: November's Featured Member - Writer/Humanitarian Deborah

Congrats to one of my friends.  :)   Enjoy the moment, and all the wonderful feelings being sent to you by people who care.   Just as you do.

Have the best day today and much joy,
Di

Re: November's Featured Member - Writer/Humanitarian Deborah

Congratulations Deb!  A well deserved recognition, during the month when the harvest is officially over, and the land begins to prepare itself for a long, well deserved winter's rest.

Best…

Dave

Re: November's Featured Member - Writer/Humanitarian Deborah

Dear Bubbles:

WOW, this is wonderful!

Why do I call you Bubbles, everyone want to know? I remember when we were first friends and your picture was surrounded by bubbles in the air! This seemed to epitomize your energies!

Bubbles! Your bubbly nature. Your enthusiasm and your verve for life…being a mom to two little guys! Wow…I am having a hard time with a puppy!

You have always been there for this community with your inspiring posts to the metaphysics pod each week, your commitment to assisting others and in your spare time…(LOL) checking blogs and occasionally writing some!

I think of the work you have done here, and applaud the love you have shared with us all.

there is no one quite like you Deb.

Congrats on this honor, of which I know you humbly appreciate. 

With much love and many hugs and lotsa Bubbles!

Aley

Re: November's Featured Member - Writer/Humanitarian Deborah

Aley,

So, now that you've shared our little secret :-o, when you call me Bubbles on my grapevine, it will make a bit more sense.  Isn't this just the most wonderful thing for clearing up all those old misconceptions? or “I would have asked, but didn't want to seem impolite” thoughts.

Oh, so many of you have come, to wish me well going into this month, when I will be here so much of the time, and I dearly, dearly appreciate it and though I'd love to thank you each individually, just know - please - that I do cherish that you took the time to stop by, and the I AM reading every one of them ! ! !

Hugs-
Deb

Re: November's Featured Member - Writer/Humanitarian Deborah

Having fun with Enlightened Thinker…  The bubbles… :-) Kes

Re: November's Featured Member - Writer/Humanitarian Deborah

Re: November's Featured Member - Writer/Humanitarian Deborah

Deb,
Congratulations on being this months bright and shinning star… and how beautiful you are…  This is so right and you so deserve it… I am so happy for you.. You do such wonderful things for so many people. May you always be blessed with Peace, happiness and joy in your life.  Much Love to you, LittleDove

Re: November's Featured Member - Writer/Humanitarian Deborah

Deb, Congratulations! Sorry I've been so preoccupied this week with computer viruses or I would have dropped by earlier.

Lots of love and big hugs,

Nicole

Re: November's Featured Member - Writer/Humanitarian Deborah

Re: November's Featured Member - Writer/Humanitarian Deborah

I forgot to mention before, but was reminded on my hike today, of something else I like about living where I do - eating right off the land.  In the spring, we have Morel mushrooms, Black Raspberries, Blackberries, Wild Blueberries, Wild Cherries and Wild Grapes, in the fall we have Autumn Olives (little tart sweet red berries), Pawpaws (a tropical fruit somewhat like a cross between a Papaya and a Banana), other mushrooms, Coral, Chantrelle and Hen O The Woods, Rose Hips and Persimmons.  We also have a profusion of Black Walnuts, Hickory Nuts and Butternuts.

I was eating Rose Hips and Persimmons today.  I love that the food is so natural and close to life itself.  It is like the Garden of Eden here in that regard.

It gives a sense of security to know there are Wild Turkey, Deer, Fish, etc that could be eaten but we don't do that at this time.  It is just good to know that would be there, if needed.  For the time being, we prefer our animal neighbors to be alive and sharing our life experiences with us.

Deb

Re: November's Featured Member - Writer/Humanitarian Deborah

Deb,

I want to thank you for inspiring me so much , and I am so happy for you.
You are truly one amazing friend , and I love you big time!
Love, and light ,

Lori

Re: November's Featured Member - Writer/Humanitarian Deborah

Hi Deb!

I am having such a grand time reading thru your blogs about frogs, living off the land, and spirituality! It almost…. almost… makes me wish I lived back on our 20 acres of bird estuary where I grew up without a television or city water!

I have morphed into a city girl with country girl roots… I know precisely how valuable a roll of Duct Tape can be, and am glad to know, in the city, I rarely have to use it… (my current roll is hot pink! ~grin~)

You are living a unique life in these United States where most of the population is concentrated in the urban areas and most people have no idea what their food looked like before it became Frozen Mixed Vegetables! I'm amazed that NONE of my friends know how to sew!

What?! Not even how to sew on a button? Nope. It's good to know there are people like you living close to the land. You're preserving not only the information but the 'feeling' the 'sense' of being at one with our planet and you're passing it on to the next generation!

I'm glad to see you on the stage this month with your unique perspectives, clear and engaging writing style, and most of all your smile!

amber

Re: November's Featured Member - Writer/Humanitarian Deborah

congrats, Deb!!  I am eager to learn more about you through this process; what fun!!

Blessings Dear Friend!!
~K

___________________________________________________

[moderator] -  Lori, Amber, Kelly & Lee ~ Your comments mean so much to the making of this community.  Thanks so much for adding to the fun in making this a great month for all who read and contribute.  

And  Kelly,  thanks for showing all your new profile.  We wish you success with your new venture.  ~Kathy

Re: November's Featured Member - Writer/Humanitarian Deborah

I have enjoyed reading this thread.  Deb, you do live in God's Country with the waterfalls, hills and acres of natural land.  This link goes to my front yard in Eagle Rock showing the view from my neighbor's balcony.
Then my back yard has even more organic fruits and vegetables and we just had a Yam Fest where I invited about 200 people to dig out yams and roast them along with the other vegetables of this season.  It was a hit.

When you mentioned:   of something else I like about living where I do - eating right off the land.  In the spring, we have Morel mushrooms, Black Raspberries, Blackberries, Wild Blueberries, Wild Cherries and Wild Grapes, in the fall we have Autumn Olives (little tart sweet red berries), Pawpaws (a tropical fruit somewhat like a cross between a Papaya and a Banana), other mushrooms, Coral, Chantrelle and Hen O The Woods, Rose Hips and Persimmons.  We also have a profusion of Black Walnuts, Hickory Nuts and Butternuts.

I was eating Rose Hips and Persimmons today.  I love that the food is so natural and close to life itself.  It is like the Garden of Eden here in that regard.

It gives a sense of security to know there are Wild Turkey, Deer, Fish, etc that could be eaten but we don't do that at this time.  It is just good to know that would be there, if needed.  For the time being, we prefer our animal neighbors to be alive and sharing our life experiences with us.

Can you post pictures of some of these wonderful tasty things for us to see that part of the country?  I bet the soil is great for starting a garden too but it sounds like the wholeness of the foods is more how nature inteneded for us to have.  I like the idea that you can take your family on a picnic at your waterfall and be at one with them and nature. Thanks for sharing your adventures in Missouri.  It such a pleasure to read how you survive and with the internet can help bring these experiences on all levels including the spirituality aspect.  You are a good writer and as one of your audience, I feel you have brought us into your world.  I just had the pleasure of sending my gardening dvd's to a platoon in Iraq and go letters back from them that they are going to be building Victory Gardens upon their return.

Anyway, thanks for sharing about the food and the wonderful ways you are helping with the environment. 

May you and your family be continually blessed.
Lee

Re: November's Featured Member - Writer/Humanitarian Deborah

Re: November's Featured Member - Writer/Humanitarian Deborah

Re: November's Featured Member - Writer/Humanitarian Deborah

KES,

Yes, they classify Autumn Olives as an invasive now but it was “they” (USDA, Extension, Soil & Water Conservation) that encouraged farmers all over our area to plant them.  Now, they want them gone.  They spread all over but they are not really that bad of a plant.  Bees love the flowers, birds and squirrels eat the berries in fall and people in my family eat them too.  They are high in Vitamin C and Lycopene.  You can make wine or jelly from them but we eat them “fresh” right off the bush.

It is a Garden of Eden here, no?

Deb

Re: November's Featured Member - Writer/Humanitarian Deborah

Nice edition, Kathy!
I like the visuals along with Deb's introduction to the land and all its inhabitants. This is is more like taking a walk with you, Deb….being introduced to all–the ones you visit with when you take those walks every day.

love and continued blessings, dear one,
CG

Re: November's Featured Member - Writer/Humanitarian Deborah

Lee,

Thank you for the work you do spreading the word about organics, and for showing how one can be “at one” with the land, no matter where they live.

KES has granted your wish and put together a beautiful presentation of the available wild foods we enjoy for our health and nutrition where I live. 

I am hopelessly challenged to post photos in pods.  I've never been able to get it to work, I don't know if it's my browser or just a lack of skill to overcome the limitations or both. 

Thankfully, I have the “perfect” partner in KES because she is able to do this for me (and she's much more visually creative than I am too, what an unexpected blessing to have her personal assistance for my month here ! ! !) 

Deb

Re: November's Featured Member - Writer/Humanitarian Deborah

Thanks for the tour of these natural fruits and nuts
in Missouri Deb and Kath! 
Its nice to be reminded of the treasure of earth
and wonderful to read about things form the wilderness. 
You are a true steward of the land and are helping 
future generations as well. 
What a wonderful example you have set.

The old time farmers
considered themselves–
stewards of the land
knowing that the soil’s been here
long before the farmer,
and it’s going to be here long
after we’re gone. 

As the soil passes from
generation to generation,
it’s all of our duties
to preserve it for the next generation.

So I think it’s important to keep all of these
modern miracle chemicals completely away from
our soil.  We don’t want to damage it. 
We want to keep improving it.

It’s been said that there was four feet of
top soil when Europeans first came to this
continent.  And because of our mis-use and
greed of trying to get everything out of
the ground that we could, because of our
poor farming habits in the past, erosion,
destruction by chemicals and pesticides,
it’s believed today that our average top
soil in this country is one foot.  So we’ve
already wasted three-quarter’s of our top soil.

I think its the duty of all of us to try to
build back what we’ve destroyed.
May you have abundance always,
Lee

Re: November's Featured Member - Writer/Humanitarian Deborah

Lee,

You make a good point about stewardship and chemicals.  We signed up for a program 6 years ago with the USDA to protect the riparian buffer (that is the land that adjoins a watershed creek) from soil erosion by planting trees. 

We enrolled 40 acres on the combined farms (we had to get a 15 yr lease from my in-laws for their portion, because the government didn't expect them to live until the end, and my FIL did die last Nov 4th and my MIL is almost 87 yrs now).  We planted 18,000 trees of 15 different species (we were only required to plant 3 species and we planted them twice the density required).

The species of trees included Black Walnut, Pecan, Sycamore, Green Ash, No Red Oak, White Oak, Tulip Poplar, Sweet Gum, Bald Cypress, River Birch, Black Cherry, Black Oak, Shumard Oak, Ward Willow and Mixed Hickory.  For 2 years after that, my husband walked the rows and hand planted replacements - we added Cedar, Pine, Dogwood and Redbud to the diversity.

The government wanted us to kill off all the Fescue Grass from previous pasture improvement with herbicides before planting.  We refused.  They allowed us to mow between the rows, for 2 successive years, to give the trees a start.  I'm not sure that mattered to their growth really but it did make walking the rows easier.  ;-}

The trees are getting big enough to be noticed.  We call our venture a Forest Preserve.  We only have a minimal amount in pasture now.  It grows “wild”, except that we allow a local farmer to cut the pastures for feed once a summer.  It is always nice to be able to walk through the pasture afterwards because it is a jungle out here in summer.

Deb

Re: November's Featured Member - Writer/Humanitarian Deborah

Deb,
  Hearing what you are sharing, I am so glad that land has you and your husband to care for it, and your family has that land to care for you. To seldom is it a mutually beneficial relationship (usually with the non-humans getting shorted). It gives me joy to hear about what your family is doing to care for your part of the earth—and the benefits that you receive (physical and spiritual) from the land in return.

love and blessings, dear one,
CG