William Blooms Newsletter

William's eLetter   2 September 2009
Dear Friends - Greetings and Love First two quick announcements followed by a longer piece on "Talking Our Walk". ANNOUNCEMENT All the dates and blurbs for my Autumn/Winter/Spring workshops and Spiritual Companions Certificate are now up on my website. I also have the leaflets and if any of you in the UK would be kind enough to put a few out at your local centre, please let me have your mailing address and I'll gratefully send you some. Many thanks. ALTERNATIVES, ST JAMES'S CHURCH, PICCADILLY - MONDAY 12 OCTOBER 7pm For anyone in or near London, I'll be back home in St. James's to give a presentation on the Endorphin Effect. I look forward to seeing you there.  TALKING OUR WALK - PART ONE The following long piece is based on an insight that has been building over the last 12 months as to why a modern approach to spirituality is often not taken seriously. In a week's time I'll send you another email, asking you to help me with a step towards solving this interesting challenge. Do you know the worst accusation made against us? (By ‘us’ I mean those of us who are part of this new holistic, open-minded, open-hearted spirituality.) It is that we don’t have any morals. This accusation is crazy because if there is one thing that I do know about us, it is that we come from the heart, know right from wrong and do our best to practice love in action. I first became aware of this accusation almost twenty years ago when I found myself representing new age spirituality in interfaith circles and on the media. I remember so clearly a journalist saying, ‘No one will take your lot seriously until you give the appearance of having a clear set of values.’ This was also what I heard from clergy when I worked in St. James’s Church, Piccadilly. ‘You people have no historical foundation, no heritage of ethics. You’re just after personal experience. You never engage with real world problems and injustice.’ I was stung by these accusations. I also did not have an articulate answer. I remember two occasions – on the Sunday programme and the Moral Maize – when I spluttered incoherently to defend us. This was embarrassing. Lack of clarity on a live broadcast with millions listening is not enjoyable. *** As a result I began to rehearse a speech that might not only defend us, but also be a strong assertion of our values. I now know that speech by heart. Before I give it, I come home to my centre and settle in my heart. I then speak it clearly: ‘I absolutely refute your accusation that we have no morality. We embrace and support the core ethics of all the major religions, but instead of setting them up against each other in competition, we plait them together to make an even stronger statement of our values. These core ethics include: Do not kill; do not thieve; do unto others as you would have them to unto you; and so on. More than that, we integrate into this traditional morality, the values of environmentalism and sustainability, so that our grandchildren and great-grandchildren inhabit a healthy and harmonious Earth. And more than that too, we also integrate the values of contemporary psychology which fully understands that for human beings to develop fully and not become dangers to society, they need love, affection, support and respect. We entwine these all together for a strong and dynamic morality that is founded in the best of all that has gone before.’ *** Knowing our values is a crucial issue because for many people the major importance of religion and spirituality is that they tell us what is right and what is wrong. This is what believers of Christianity, Judaism, Islam, Buddhism, Hinduism and Sikhism expect – clear guidance about how they should live their lives. Do not kill. Do not lie. Do not commit adultery. ‘By their acts shall ye know them.’ But, say our detractors, modern spirituality is caught up in personal growth and the spiritual supermarket. In the jargon of post-modernism, we are lost in relativism – and have no moral core.  These accusations are not true. As I wrote above we have a very sure morality. So why do we appear to have no morality? Why don’t people know we have values? In my opinion, it is because we lack confidence. The reality is that most of us are living moral and good lives, but we don’t have the confidence to say so. The accusation against many religious people is that they don’t walk their talk. In my experience, the people inside holistic spirituality – us lot – we do walk our talk. We have the opposite problem. We don’t talk our walk. We do not seem able to assert our beliefs and values to people who may disagree with us. Whatever the reason for our collective low self-esteem (if that’s the right description) we need to get over it and begin to feel some pride. This is not the middle ages. We won’t get burnt. One thing that we know for certain about the evolution of humanity is that when people disagree yet talk together, good things can happen. Being an engaged participant, sometimes passionate, in the discussion is what builds bridges and heals conflict. Silence, especially nervous silence, does not help. We need to join in the great moral debates of our age. In general we need to assert our opinions.   When the women’s, gay and anti-racism movements began, they understood the importance of raising consciousness about what it meant to be a woman, a gay or a person of colour. Low self-esteem — the result of continual prejudice and suppression — was replaced by pride and confidence in their community, their human rights and their value. I am beginning to think that we too need to move in that direction. Our approach is profoundly valuable, but I know too many people who are spiritual and holistic but are unable to speak confidently with their colleagues and families. Again – we have the walk. But not the talk. I do not have any answers here but I do have a strong instinct that we need to raise our consciousness about these issues — and fully appreciate that we are good, generous and moral beings. All my love. William www.williambloom.com Show you're aligned with an open-hearted, open-minded, holistic approach — Register on www.holisticmap.org

www.williambloom.com

interesting article...

see

https://www.angelfire.com/ab3/biblesbestkeptsecret/article.html

What Is God? What Is Love?

What Is God? What Is Love?

What is God? The eternal One Life underneath all the forms of life. What is love? To feel the presence of that One Life deep within yourself and within all creatures. To be it. Therefore, all love is the love of God.

The Power of Now Eckhart Tolle

www.maacenter.org

www.maacenter.org

 The Mesothelioma and Asbestos Awareness Center has long been recognized as the web's leading organization for relevant and authoritative information regarding asbestos and health complications associated with asbestos exposure. Our organization is staffed entirely by writers and other developers who recognize the importance of building awareness in the fight against cancer. As nearly all of us have been touched at some point by cancer, we realize that sometimes the greatest resource we can provide is support and education.

Our organizational goal is to extend as much information as possible to those experiencing battling mesothelioma or other asbestos related disease. We are one hundred percent committed to providing the full spectrum of relevant and expert-researched information, from live clinical trials and other medical resources to the legal implications of asbestos exposures.

Soil Assoc Newsletter
 

Dear Supporter Welcome to August’s newsletter. This month we’re addressing the report recently published by the Food Standards Agency, asking for your help at the Organic Food Festival, highlighting a series of Soil Association meetings for you to attend, providing an update on the Food for Life Partnership and giving a run down of this month’s competitions. FSA report on organic food A literature review on nutrient levels in organic food, funded by the Food Standards Agency received widespread coverage from the media. The report concluded that there were not significant nutritional differences between organic and non organic food. We were disappointed with the conclusions that the researchers reached, partly because the review rejected many of the studies of nutrient levels as they did not meet the particular requirements decided by the researchers. The researchers say that the increased levels of nutrients found in organic food were not significant because of the consequently small number of studies. The researchers also failed to include the results of a major European Union funded study (QLIF), which ended in April this year, and has already produced over 100 scientific papers. Results from this study include the findings that: 'Levels of a range of nutritionally desirable compounds (e.g. antioxidants, vitamins, glycosinolates) were shown to be higher in organic crops' and 'Levels of nutritionally undesirable compounds (e.g. mycotoxins, glycoalkaloids, Cadmium and Nickel) were shown to be lower in organic crops'. Although there was obviously some negative media around this story, there were also a number of positive pieces. As I am sure you will all recognise, organic farming and food systems are holistic, and have many other benefits, including the fact that organic food is not covered in pesticides, is a system which has the highest animal welfare standards, bans the routine use of antibiotics and increases wildlife on farms. For more information please click here. Soil Association Organic Food Festival Right in the middle of Organic Fortnight comes the ninth Organic Food Festival, which will take place at Bristol Harbourside on the 12th and 13th September. The festival depends heavily on volunteers to help look after the exhibitors and help the organisers run the largest organic event in the UK. We need people that are reasonably fit and healthy to work quite long hours over the weekend and so we are asking you if you would like to get involved. If you’re interested, please contact Ben Quarrell at ben@theorganicfoodfestival.co.uk or call 011... for more details. Members are entitled to free entry to the festival but you must remember to bring along either your welcome letter or membership card. If you’re not already a member but wish to sign up when you arrive, you’ll not only receive free entry but you’ll also be able to pick up a free goody bag worth £15. So whether you decide to volunteer your help or simply go along to enjoy the day, we hope to see you there! Organic Fortnight runs from 5-20 September – find out more here     Food Security in the 21st Century - Soil Association Meetings As we respond to climate change and the imminence of peak-oil we are standing on the threshold of the most far reaching changes in our farming and food systems for over a half a century. Business as usual is no longer an option. But how can Soil Association members and licensees lead the change towards relocalised and resilient food systems in the UK? Our Director Patrick Holden will give an opening address on this theme at a series of Producer Roadshow meetings to which our members and supporters are warmly invited. One of the key changes that need to be made is the relationship between producers and the public and these meetings provide a forum for mutually supportive relationships to be formed. The meetings take place across England and Wales in September and October and our dates, venues and booking procedures can be found on our website. We'd love to see you!   Food for Life Partnership The Soil Association-led Food for Life Partnership - the programme that works with schools and their communities to transform food culture - has ended this school year on a high. There are now more than 1,100 schools enrolled on the programme and they have all committed to achieve at least the Food for Life Partnership Bronze Mark. This means they will be serving seasonal school meals with at least 75% of dishes freshly prepared by a well-trained school cook; pupils and parents are involved in planning improvements to school menus and the dining experience via a School Nutrition Action Group, boosting school meal take-up. Every pupil has the opportunity to visit a farm during their time at school, and opportunities are given for groups of pupils to do cooking and food growing activities. Here's looking forward to the new term!   Competitions! Remember to visit our competitions page this month - we have a case of fantastic wine to be won from Vintage Roots, some gorgeous Organic Body Spa Body Butter from Green People and a gift voucher to be spent on skincare products from Essential Care. See our webpage for more details. And if you are not one of the lucky winners of the Body Butter but would still like to try some of Green People’s products just email organic@greenpeople.co.uk with your name and address and they will send you a catalogue and a selection of sachets. Please quote ‘Soil Association competition’ in the subject line.  Speak to you again in September.   Stephen Last Director of Membership and Supporter Services The Soil Association is a membership charity. If you would like to make a donation, click here. Thank you for your continued support. If you would like some information to do with an area of our work that we haven’t addressed in this update, why not ask your question online?   Registered Charity Number: 206862   Soil Association e-news has chosen Pure360.com for its email marketing needs

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News from Moon Times aug 09
Mood:  a-ok
Topic: archive newsletters

That Would Heal the World

That Would Heal the World

I invite every minister, every priest, every rabbi, every teacher, every guru, every Master, every president, every prime minister, every king, every queen, every leader, every nation, every political party to issue one statement that would heal the world: OURS IS NOT A BETTER WAY, OURS IS MERELY ANOTHER WAY.

Friendship With God Neale Donald Walsch Page 153

Forgiveness
“When you hold resentment toward another, you are bound to that person or condition by an emotional link that is stronger than steel.

Forgiveness is the only way to dissolve that link and get free.”........Catherine Ponder

Click here to learn how to remove the shakles that bind you:

www.TheDailyGuru.com/forgiveness.htm

Natural Remedies for Swine Flu

Swine Flu Outbreak and Natural Remedies

What is Swine Flu?

Swine flu is a respiratory disease, caused by influenza type A which infects pigs. There are many types, and the infection is constantly changing.

Until now it has not normally infected humans, but the latest form clearly does, and can be spread from person to person - probably through coughing and sneezing.

The World Health Organization has confirmed that at least some of the human cases are a never-before-seen version of the H1N1 strain of influenza type A.

What are the symptoms?

Symptoms of swine flu in humans appear to be similar to those produced by standard, seasonal flu.

The Mexican government reports seeing these symptoms:

-- Sudden fever above 38degree Celsius / 100 degrees Fahrenheit.

-- Dry cough and/or sore throat.

-- Headache.

-- Joint pain.

-- Nasal congestion.

-- General fatigue.

Most cases so far reported around the world appear to be mild, but in Mexico lives have been lost.

In contrast to seasonal flu symptoms Swine flu may cause more severe vomiting and diarrhea. In rare cases, flu virus attacks the lungs, a complication that can be fatal. This strain also differs because it is so new. As a result, no one has natural immunity to it, unlike with seasonal flu.

What is the Conventional Treatment?

The US authorities say that two drugs commonly used to treat flu, Tamiflu and Relenza, seem to be effective at treating cases that have occurred there so far. However, the drugs must be administered at an early stage to be effective.

Use of these drugs may also make it less likely that infected people will pass the virus on to others. The UK Government already has a stockpile of Tamiflu, ordered as a precaution against a pandemic.

It is unclear how effective currently available flu vaccines would be at offering protection against the new strain, as it is genetically distinct from other flu strains. US scientists are already developing a bespoke new vaccine, but it may take some time to perfect it, and manufacture enough supplies to meet what could be huge demand.

A vaccine was used to protect humans from a version of swine flu in the US in 1976. However, it caused serious side effects, including an estimated 500 cases of Guillain-Barré syndrome. There were more deaths from the vaccine than the outbreak.

Is This Just a Short Term Concern?

Unfortunately now that the H1N1 virus has spread within the human population it can continue to evolve into forms that can be more easily transmitted between people, as well as into forms that become more severe over time. This could lead to second or third waves – possibly next winter - of the pandemic with higher mortality rates.

What General Measures Can I Take to Prevent Infection?

Avoid close contact with people who appear unwell and who have fever and cough.

General infection control practices and good hygiene can help to reduce transmission of all viruses, including the human swine influenza. This includes covering your nose and mouth when coughing or sneezing, using a tissue when possible and disposing of it promptly.

It is also important to wash your hands frequently with soap and water to reduce the spread of the virus from your hands to face or to other people. Wash your hands after being on public transport and clean hard surfaces like door handles frequently using a normal cleaning product.

If caring for someone with a flu-like illness, a mask can be worn to cover the nose and mouth to reduce the risk of transmission. The UK is looking at increasing its stockpile of masks for healthcare workers for this reason. But experts say there is no scientific evidence to support more general wearing of masks to guard against infections.

How Can I Boost my Immunity?

It is sensible to make sure your immune system is in peak form by:

• Taking care of your body – i.e. get enough sleep, keep warm etc
• Addressing any stress that can easily run you down and make you more susceptible to illness. Drink Lemon Balm tea and take the herb Astragalus to help your body adapt better to stress and increase B vitamins. (Stop taking Astragalus if you develop active flu symptoms as it is too stimulating).
• Eating nourishing, balanced food, including plenty of fruit and veggies, especially cruciferous ones such as broccoli, cabbage, cauliflower etc.
• Anthocyanins are antioxidant compounds found in high amounts in dark blue, black and red berries. Antioxidants have many benefits such as improving general cellular health, reducing inflammation and improving circulation. Eat blueberries, blackberries, cherries etc, drink cranberry capsules, or take bilberry tincture.
• Add warming, antimicrobial herbs liberally to food – e.g. garlic, thyme, sage, rosemary, turmeric, ginger, cayenne
• There has been some research done, by Friel and Lederman for example, into the best supplements to take to prevent and treat severe flu. The key supplements appear to be: vitamin C, selenium, vitamin E, zinc, resveratrol (red grape extract) and quercetin.

 

To help prevent getting ill, combine different natural therapies:

• Elderberry and Echinacea: Traditional herbal remedies to prevent and shorten the duration of the symptoms of colds and flu. Take 1ml of combined tincture 3 times a day for prevention during an outbreak.
• Use an oil burner at home and work with antimicrobial essential oils such as lemon, pine, thyme, rosemary, eucalyptus, lavender, tea tree
• The following herbs are anti-inflammatory, fever-reducing, anti-microbial and have been scientifically researched by the Complementary Medicine Association, USA to have specific relevance to the health problems faced by people with severe influenza: garlic, turmeric, resveratrol (red grape extract), ginger, rosemary. Add these to your diet or take supplements.
• Take at least 500mg of vitamin C and a multivitamin and mineral supplement daily.

 

What if I Get Flu?

If you feel yourself coming down with a cold or the flu, use:

Homoeopathy

Homoeopathy had great success recorded during the devastating flu epidemic of 1918. Just one example from the USA is of Dean W. A. Pearson of Philadelphia who collected 26,795 cases of influenza treated by homeopathic physicians with a mortality of 1.05%, while the average under conventional treatment was 30%. Recoveries in the National Homoeopathic Hospital were 100%. (Winston, J., The New England Journal of Homeopathy, Spring/Summer 1998, Vol.7 No.1).

The challenge with homoeopathy is that there are a number of different remedies that may be needed. The most likely ones are described below, and you should definitely keep these at home ‘in case’ but you should also check out the National Centre for Homeopathy website for more detailed information, or talk to a qualified homoeopath.

• Gelsemium 30: Classic flu symptoms – the most common ‘life-saving’ remedy given in the 1918 flu epidemic. Shivers in spine. Headache. Person feels weak. One dose every 4 hours for several days until symptoms improve.
• Aconite 30: Feeling of going down with something. Sudden onset of feverish stage of colds and flu. Sore throat. Dry painful cough. Symptoms may come on after exposure to cold. Take every 4 hours for the first day then consider if a different remedy is needed.
• Ant tart 30: The flu virus can go on to cause severe respiratory symptoms with congested lungs and pneumonia. This homoeopathic remedy best covers this stage of flu symptoms, so take this if the flu symptoms develop onto the chest. One dose every 4 hours for several days until symptoms improve.
• Arsen Alb 30: Flu with shivering, restlessness and anxiety. Great exhaustion. Vomiting and diarrhoea.
• Bryonia 30: The second most useful remedy for the 1918 flu outbreak. Symptoms are of a severe splitting headache and the patient just wants to be left alone. Flu symptoms may develop into gushing diarrhea. A cough may also begin to develop. One dose every 4 hours for several days until symptoms improve.

 

 

 

Herbs

Herbal Flu Blend

A herbal blend to treat initial symptoms of flu, i.e. feverishness, headache. It is thought that if the initial, feverish, symptoms of flu are treated properly then serious symptoms are less likely to develop.

Plantain 25%, Yarrow 25%, Peppermint 25%, Elderflowers 25%

To make infusion, take one large teaspoon of blended herbs and cover with 250ml of boiling water, let it infuse, strain and drink. Not suitable during pregnancy.

 

What else can I do?

As with all illness, it is important to rest to ensure your energy is directed into fighting off the infection and getting well again. As influenza is contagious, it is also better to remain at home to help contain the virus.

To help prevent or prepare for illness, it would be wise to consider:

• Stocking up on relevant remedies, supplements, food and juices
• Cooking and freezing some meals in case you get sick

Soil Association e-news July 2009

Welcome to July’s newsletter. This month, we’re focusing on this year’s Soil Association Organic Fortnight, a range of competitions for you to enter to enter and an opportunity to show your support for a book which endorses nationwide accommodation with organic credentials. But first, we’d like to bring you up to date with the petition we’ve launched to help protect honeybees.

The plight of the honeybee Hopefully you received an email about our honeybee petition earlier in the week – so far we’ve had an encouraging response to the petition. As of this morning we’d had 3,734 confirmed sign-ups. You can show your support for our work by signing our online petition, find out more about the plight of the honeybee here, or write to your local MP asking them to bring the issue to the attention of Hilary Benn, Secretary of State for the Environment, Food and Rural Affairs - click here for advice on what to include in the letter. We’d also like to say a huge thank you to all of those who’ve made a donation to support this piece of work. It’s great for us to know that our beliefs are shared and your help allows us to shout louder when voicing our concerns at government level. And if you’re not already a member of the Soil Association charity, why not join us? Membership is key to the funding of all our campaigns and allows us to plan ahead with real conviction – join us here.

Soil Association Organic Fortnight – 5-20 September 2009 We’ve a little way to go yet but we’re fast approaching this year’s Soil Association Organic Fortnight, so why not get the dates in your diary right now? With a strong focus on going organic on a budget, we’re encouraging everyone to get involved in promoting the benefits with all kinds of events being hosted up and down the UK. Keep an eye on our dedicated webpage for ideas on how to get involved and for updates about events near you. The real highlight of the fortnight will be the Soil Association Organic Food Festival, which will take place here in Bristol on the weekend of 12th and 13th September. Soil Association members will be given free admission, so if you’re not already a member, why not join us this month? We’ll even send you the wonderful free book ‘Local Food: How to make it happen in your community’ to thank you for joining.

Soil Association competitions Every month, generous Soil Association certified organic brands give you the chance to win some of their fabulous products. You could win one of four luxurious organic cotton bathrobes from Greenfibres; £50 off an organic holiday or a pamper hamper from So Organic containing fabulous moisturisers, balms and bath products. Just take a look here to give it a go!

Special offer for Soil Association members! We have two year long subscriptions to Grow Your Own magazine (worth £41.40 each) plus a free magazine binder for each winner, (worth £7.25 each) to give away to Soil Association members. For more details about the magazine, click here. If you’d like to be in with a chance of winning, send an email to Lisa Metcalfe at lmetcalfe@soilassociation.org with the email title 'Grow Your Own magazine' stating your membership number, name and address before 31 July 2009.

Organic Places to Stay, UK and Ireland For some time now, we’ve been working closely with Linda Moss, author of the fantastic 'Organic Places to Stay, UK and Ireland', which featured on our whyorganic website. We’re delighted to learn that Linda’s book has been short listed for the People's Book Prize in the non-fiction category and we’re encouraging those who’ve enjoyed it to show their support by voting for it online. Each month, twelve voters will win a book of their choice from the next month's collection on the People's Book Prize website. You have until the end of July to vote, so if you’d like to, click here and follow the instructions.

Speak to you again in August.

Stephen Last Director of Membership and Supporter Services