In one part of my workshop, I talk about the "divine signs" that guide us in life. I really enjoy this section because sometimes these divine signs are literal signs — actual words that have been printed or painted on a surface somewhere. And these literal signs are so succinct and so direct, they are often as amusing as they are amazing.

One of the ways I was guided to the publisher of my book was through a billboard that was posted on the sign of the highway. That was not only a literal sign, but it was a very large one! And after I published my book, I saw another sign that encouraged me to focus on sharing my message, instead of dwelling on selling books. It was a poster on the side of a bus that simply read, "SPREAD THE WORD."
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Massage therapy…Reiki…spiritual counseling…acupuncture…music therapy…guided imagery…sounds like a New Age spa retreat. In actuality, these are alternative therapies you can now find in an increasing number of hospitals across the country. Numerous hospitals now incorporate a holistic vision of treating the whole person — mind, body, and spirit — into their mission statements.

Such therapies are used to help treat anxiety, depression, and chronic pain, and reduce the need for medication, lower blood pressure, improve stroke patients' memories, aid sleep, and speed recovery.
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Besides the extra 136 calories (35 g of carbs) from the eight teaspoons of sugar products added to each 12-oz can, there's another reason to avoid drinking soda and other similar carbonated beverages.

A new study by researchers at Loyola University in Chicago noticed that women of normal weight and who drank at least two sodas per day were at twice the risk of showing early signs of Chronic Kidney Disease (CKD). The National Kidney Foundation cites an increase of CKD by 30 percent in the last 10 years, now affecting approximately 26 million Americans.

Upon studying the findings of 9000 adults, the data led Loyola University researchers to believe the ingredient in the soda that may contribute to the disease is either high-fructose corn syrup (HFCS) or phosphorus. Men who took part in the study or those who drank diet soda did not show the same early signs.
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When Carol and I moved into our home in Sedona, Arizona, we quickly noticed an interesting phenomenon.  There is a large picture window in our living room that perfectly frames one of the most popular sights in Sedona . . . a red rock formation called Bell Rock.  When viewed from our living room, Bell Rock fills much of the window, and it looks huge.  But when we step outside onto the patio, Bell Rock seems to shrink.

Why?  Because when we are outside we see the whole picture. We see the vast blue sky above Bell Rock, all of the terrain beneath it, and the mountains that flank Bell Rock on the left and right.
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We are just now beginning to see the effects of food and water shortages, natural resources and energy shortages, climate change, and population growth, which, all put together as the effects multiply, will create a 'perfect storm' of huge global crises.

Great Britain's Government Chief Scientific Advisor, Professor John Beddington, spoke on this subject at the March 19 Sustainable Development UK 09 conference, telling an audience that the culmination of demands for resources will create a crisis with dire consequences.
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UN Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon today urged citizens around the world to join WWF's Earth Hour to demand action on climate change.

In a video-taped address, the Secretary-General said that Earth Hour — which takes place on Saturday 28th March — promises to be "the largest demonstration of public concern about climate change ever attempted."

"Earth Hour is a way for the citizens of the world to send a clear message. They want action on climate change." said Secretary-General Ban.

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Psychiatrist Simon Wessely of London focuses his career on treating people based on the effects of the mind on the body. He says a lot of people reject his unorthodox beliefs and successive treatments for chronic fatigue syndrome, irritable bowel syndrome, fibromyalgia, and Gulf war syndrome.

Dr. Wessely explains that negative experiences going on around you can affect your body, producing such physical symptoms as sleeplessness and anxiety. These psychological factors, over time, can eventually trigger chronic disease within the body. He has developed psychiatric treatment for these types of diseases using cognitive behavioral therapy and tailored programs of gradually increasing the individual's activity levels. Dr. Wessely helps about one-third of his patients completely recover and another third make good improvement.
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Have a green thumb but not enough green in your wallet? According to a 10-year study by Burpee Seeds completed last year, a $50 investment in gardening supplies will save you $1250 a year in produce. It is for these savings in food costs that there's been a recent "bloom" in the number of people buying seeds and deciding to start up their own gardens.

Seed companies have been one of the few industries to thrive during this recession. The National Gardening Association predicts an increase of 19 percent in home garden production for this year, and community gardens across the U.S. have become so popular there's a long waiting list to get your own plot.

Despite the fact that it takes at least several extra hours a week invested in tending your own, that hasn't deterred many from making the decision to begin a new gardening project. Read the rest of this entry »

Whenever I imagine the divine flow in my mind, I tend to picture it more like a river than a stream — a river that twists and turns as it meanders through the land . . . sometimes moving swiftly, but often slowing down to a virtual standstill.

A question that often arises in my talks and workshops is this one: Why can't the flow be more direct — leading us to our goal in a quick, simple, and straightforward manner?
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When money gets tight and drastic budget changes need to be made, people can eliminate their cable TV, their nights-out, cell phone, or internet. But people can't eliminate food from their monthly expenses, so they're forced to resort to cheaper alternatives of their regular meals. And since a lot of people lead such busy lifestyles, both of these factors mean that people choose value items from fast-food restaurants as their alternative.

There are quite a few chains now offering the Dollar Menu — fast food to go for only a buck an item. These items, however, tend to be overloaded with calories, animal fat, salt, and carbs, and of very low nutritional value.
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