The Madisonville Crop Circles

2007 Madisonville Crop Circle

While watching something on HGTV, I notice a garden being designed in the format of a crop circle. Though this is old news, some of you might not have heard it and it seems timely, somehow.

Last year, in Madisonville, TN, a true, unman-made crop circle appeared in a wheat field. It was truly amazing and beautiful to behold.

Then again this year, another one appeared nearby. Wow.

However, the WOW is greatly dismissed this time around. It seems that this latest one was man-made. Oh well.

Now you are probably wondering how I know this. Easy. The Independent Crop Circle Researchers' Association came down to investigate both circles and gave a public lecture on their findings.



Here are a few factors that real natural crop circles have in common:

• The growth nodes on the plants within the circle are elongated, unnaturally so.
• There is more radioactivity measured within the circle than outside of it, as well as elevated EMF readings.
• Most appear on the down slope of a field.
• They are near a water source.
• They are near power lines.
• They are near Native American Burial Mounds.
• There are rarely pathways into the circle when first found.

The first crop circle met all this criteria. The second did not. There were pathways (and sprayer lines) and there were no changes in the nodes of the plants (they did 700 plant samples). The ICCRA speculated that it probably took someone two hours to create the second one, and it was fairly simplistic.

There is quite a bit more, but you get the general idea.

Sadly, despite the fact that these circles may be interesting, they actually hurt farmers. It is one thing when it occurs by an act of something other than a human, but when copy cats go out into the field, they are syphoning away a farmer's profits.

Just some interesting local stuff.

A Traveling Contemplation

Do you ever feel like you are stuck in one place? Maybe it is a mental thing or perhaps even physical? Maybe it is a rut or the pain of loss? Or maybe just every now and then you like to get away.

Today's contemplation is about traveling to a place other than where you are by mental means. Perhaps you envision a place you would like to be or even a state of mind. Allow thoughts of this place, preferably a peaceful or positive one, to fill your thoughts.

So, take a deep breath and exhale. Then think to yourself:

I am free. I can go anywhere my mind will allow me to go. I open the door and I am there.

Contemplating Another Religion

For today's contemplation, I am actually going to direct you elsewhere. I know, I know, but with Wesak upon us, there is much more to be gained than what I can offer today. So I send you on to download three different audios (not mine). They discuss what Wesak is all about and how to utilize the positive energy of the day productively.

The first is the Wesak Legend Meditation, Part 1 (3:35)

The second is Part II. (5:16)

And here is an audio about Wesak itself.(1:38)

Please note that this is the more New Age version of this event. It is a little religious, but I am sharing this with you as an entrance into how other people think about things. It is all in the quest for being open-minded. N*tranced does not endorse any particular religious faith or spiritualism.

These audios are from souledout.org, which is an outreach ministry of Safe Space.

Inspiration for a Meditation

Sometimes I wonder if indeed we are not too fixated on our thoughts. We claim to have trouble meditating or letting go of the here and now (i.e. our problems). A battle goes on when we sit down and try to just clear away our thoughts. They bombarded our little amount of time we have put away for just relaxing. Then we dwell unproductively.

But it doesn’t have to be this way. You can chose to focus on something positive. Coming from an art background, I have always personally been inspired by beauty (my own inner definition) and can easily find myself absorbed in various forms of art. Thomas Moran is particularly meaningful to me with his landscapes of the American west as seen in the 1800s. His color palette and composition bring harmony to my thoughts.

Relaxation can be as simple as going to an art museum like the Stark Museum of Art. They feature many works that deal with the American west, native American culture, and for the birders out there , several originals by James Audubon. Maybe it is the curve of a wing, the gesture of a tribal dance, or the rich detail of landscape that romances your inner peace. Try a number of types of art. It could be three-dimension, even. Whatever works and takes you away from the day-to-day and allows you to find harmony within, well that is just fine. Meditation does not mean sitting in a formal garden in the lotus position and humming. Meditation can be just letting go and becoming absorbed into something, allowing it to transform your consciousness.

Plus, if you spend a little relaxation time at the Stark, you will be helping the Stark Foundation with its mission statement of improving the quality of life in that area by encouraging and health, along with human services - not to mention that you will gain a little local color and culture with the arts.

Wesak

There are the big holidays we all either know about and celebrate or just let barely past our consciousness. These are events like Christmas or Passover. Then there are the days that are sort of known like Mari Gras and Purim. Sometimes we even think about days like the Chinese New Year or Cinco de Mayo. But what about Wesak?

Now don't get me wrong, I am not preaching Buddhism at you, just bringing an interesting day to light. Wesak is a day for celebrating Buddha and it is upon us. It happens on the first full moon in May. Souledout.org says it happens exactly on Sunday, April 20 at 3:25 am PDT.

Many in the New Age World believe this is a time when particularly positive energy is available to us. It happens 12 hours before and within twelve hours after this particular time.

This would be a great time to make sure we are all thinking positively.


Source: The BBC

A Quick Vacation

Today, I am tired - really tired. It is so tempting to just take off and crawl back into bed. Maybe it is the lack of sunlight or maybe I just need a vacation. Don't we all.

So, I have cranked up the Cajun music (a little Steve Riley) and find that it is really energizing. And I have allowed myself to take a mini-self-hypnosis vacation.

Here is how it works:

• Take a few deep breaths, releasing them slowly.
• Then starting with the top of your, going down to the tips of your toes, begin relaxing and releasing each part of your body.
• Think about where you would like to go (in my case I am using a very slow Cajun waltz to add even more atmosphere) and focus on the idea. Allow any criticism or over-intellectualizing to pass out of your mind.
• Allow your imagination to take you on the holiday. Maybe it takes you back to a favorite memory or even engages in the perfect vacation. Just let it be. Get as much detail as you can - atmosphere, weather, what it looks like and so on.
• And when you are ready, you can come back to normal consciousness.

For me, I went back to a favorite vacation I once took to the Omega Institute in Rhinebeck, NY. I spent the week learning the fundamentals of Cajun dance - eight hours a day and dancing into the night. It was amazing. Only this time, when I re-experienced it, there were no sore muscles or travel fatigue. I drove that trip, but if I were to do it again, I would check out flights to USA Omega.

However, if I were to take a trip this year, I suspect it would be to Guatemala and the land of the Maya. In fact, I am even toying about getting a group together to do this. Please let me know if you are interested. For all my UK friends, dialaflight.com has some amazing deals to that part of the world. You might want to take that route and meet us there. Just a thought.

What Will Human Rights Be Like in 2012?

Today is Blogger's Unite for Human Rights Day. I had thought about just going on with my normal stuff here, but then I thought instead I would talk about the future of human rights and to top it all off, I'll tie it into 2012.

If you have been keeping up with the various philosophies we have been exploring on this blog, you will note that there are a variety of ideas about what 2012 actually means for our future. There are optimistic notions (amen to the idea of a new positive consciousness shift being needed) and others that are very pessimistic.

And though I prefer to veer to the positive side of it all, the negative ideas that 2012 could mean a horrible shift of life for us has been the focus of several personal conversations I have had lately. There is a 2012 conspiracy theory out there that is just filled with ugliness. It is along the lines of serious world warfare. This will lead to a global government (maybe the Illuminati). In order to restructure society, the survivors of 2012, those still here will be put into camps where they will be easily controlled.

Now I have two friends who are both extremist in this ideology, if it were to happen. One believes he will be put into a camp for the mentally insane (Alaska, anyone?). The other says he will fight tooth and nail before he will go to such a camp. When thinking about these reactions, it boils down to human rights. One feels he will be forced to give them up and will accept it. The other refuses to give them up and will take extreme action. Neither side of this coin of lost rights is good.

I for one am not one to appreciate the idea of sitting back and doing nothing. I preach planning. I preach change. Maybe now is the time to do something. What, I do not know. But maybe if we keep positive thoughts coming, working on bringing about peace in our lives and to others, maybe we stand a chance at a life lived better than this conspiracy theory.

Origins

We all seem to get notions in our head and here we are, writing and reading, clicking and moving on, and we make no mention of the origins of our ideas. In my quest to become a transpersonal psychologist (I'll always be a hypnotist), it occurs to me that I should honor my origins for my 2012 passion. I did not just stumble upon it all; it came directly into my consciousness from a particular source.

A bit over a year ago, I became part of a group known as the Fortean Society. It is a group of individuals, who meet once a week to discuss tales of the weird and strange, ghosts, conspiracy theories, crop circles, and UFOs. Normally we meet at a charming book store called Southland's in Maryville, Tennessee (check first, sometimes we meet else where). It is a great way to wind down at the end of the day - get a decent cup of coffee (maybe a home-made cinnamon roll), browse the paranormal books, and enjoy in the good company of other open-minded souls or people who are respectful of other's thoughts and ideas.

Well, it was at one particular meeting that 2012 came up. Maybe it was David Icke or a Discovery Channel show that we were centered on, but there it was, something odd about 2012. From there the rest is history.

But, Jason, our fearless leader of the Forteans has just begun a 2012 blog. It is still in its infancy, but if it is anything like the man behind it, it will prove to be very thought provoking (I mean that in the kindest of ways). So, please consider stopping by and visiting with him.

5/16/08 Update: If you tried to visit Jason's 2012 blog and found the link did not work, we have updated it.

Are You Afraid to Ask for Help?

Seriously? Are you the sort of person who holds it all in and figures you can handle it all alone? Or are you the sort of person who relies on other people to help you with everything? Or do you have a good balance between asking for help when you really need it and functioning on your own when it is most healthy?

By asking for help, you are often helping someone else. Allowing someone else to be part of your life, part of a positive solution, you can strengthen relationships. But you can not do this grudgingly, just as the person helping you cannot lord it over you. It is all part of a give and take, and it can work smoothly.

An example of this is one of the finalist in the RenuzitTriScentsHomeMakeover Contest. In this competition, people entered the Transform Your Home with Tanya Memme Promotion in hopes of winning a $20,000 home makeover. The entree I am mentioning is a very simple plea for help. In it is just a photograph of a family's house and accompanying it is a letter. The letter is straightforward and talks about the struggles the family is currently undergoing. All they want is a sanctuary, which is what a home has the potential of being. So, they entered this contest, thus asking for help. Perhaps the help will come. To see this entry and vote for it, just visit the semi-finalist gallery. You can be part of the solution for these people.

Now ask yourself, doesn't it feel good to help someone else out? This little exercise is so simple. Put yourself in their shoes. Maybe when you need help, it will be easier to ask for it.

A Cleansing Contemplation

Continuing on with my Monday Contemplations, I am going to be a bit more vague in the wording. I am still working on the idea of healing grief, but I want to allow those who are not sad a chance to enjoy the imagery.

Cliches are coming to mind today - such as "in every life a little rain must fall" (strange weather, you know) or "with every door that closes, a new one opens." Most people tend to cringe at cliches, but they can be extremely helpful because it means so many people relate to it.

So, breathe deeply and enjoy:

I open the door of my mind and allow the rain to wash away that which hinders me.

Technological Singularity

by Francis Scudellari of in-the-stream.blogspot.com

L.S. graciously asked me to write this guest post in connection with her fascinating series of articles exploring the meaning of the Mayan calendar and its seemingly portentous end date of 2012. My formidable task here is to try to connect the Mayan's ancient prediction of a soon-to-be world-changing event with an eerily similar forecast of a paradigm shift by our contemporary technologists.

There is a very tangible and widespread sense today that we're currently living through a critical stage of human history. What exactly our time may be prelude to is of course a question that can provoke a very heated debate. As L.S. has very insightfully interpreted here, the Mayan myths associated with 2012 seem to intimate an evolutionary leap in consciousness. Modern futurists describe an equally momentous transition that could either mark the end of the human era, or propel us to feats beyond our wildest imagination.

This turning point is most commonly referred to as the "technological singularity." The term singularity was first used in the field of astrophysics to describe a phenomenon, such as a black hole, where the normal methods of measurement cease to exist. When applied to technological advancement, it's meant to signify a knowledge explosion that disintegrates conceptual obstacles that have long hindered our problem-solving capabilities.

In 1965, British mathematician I.J. Good described the implications of the advent of a super-human, artificial intelligence:

"Let an ultraintelligent machine be defined as a machine that can far surpass all the intellectual activities of any man however clever. Since the design of machines is one of these intellectual activities, an ultraintelligent machine could design even better machines; there would then unquestionably be an 'intelligence explosion,' and the intelligence of man would be left far behind. Thus the first ultraintelligent machine is the last invention that man need ever make."

In his 1993 essay entitled "The Coming Technological Singularity: How to Survive in the Post-Human Era," science-fiction author Vernor Vinge predicted that the singularity could happen within 30 years (a timeline that neatly brackets the Mayan's own projected terminus for human history) and would mark the end of humankind's dominion as masters of our world's destiny.

Technologist and futurist Raymond Kurzweil's view of the singularity is more inclusive of humanity. He believes that the development of artificial intelligence will proceed hand-in-hand with that of our own. Computer intelligence will be modeled on the human brain and breakthroughs could occur as hardware implants are invented to augment our own gray matter. He sees this as the first step toward immortality. Consciousness will be stored like software on redundant servers; a reality that will enable it to transcend the limits of its currently degradable container.

Both Vinge's bleak and Kurzweil's rosy interpretations are predicated on the "universal law" that knowledge undergoes exponential growth. Some dispute that, but it's hard to argue against the widespread feeling that we're being propelled into uncharted waters by a seemingly constant flow of innovations. As more and more advances occur, and apparently disparate fields (biology, genetics, robotics, artificial intelligence, nanotechnology, etc.) begin to converge, we could reach a tipping point after which rapid-paced changes cascade down on us.

Kurzweil, who has proven himself fairly reliable at estimating timelines so far, predicts that the singularity will happen in 2045. That's a bit further into the future than the Mayan's key date of December 21, 2012, but what happens four years hence may be just the planting of a seed that takes 30 years to bear fruit.

The microchip was invented in 1971, but it wasn't until the past decade that we've witnessed its truly paradigm-shifting repercussions. So too, we may see a breakthrough in 2012 that precipitates the singularity Kurzweil and other futurists forecast. It might be the first flickering of self-awareness in a computer program's subroutine, or the first successful implant of a silicon chip to cure blindness, or the waking to consciousness of the noösphere as the vast stores of our collective experience on the Internet reaches critical mass. The Mayans may well prove better soothsayers than we ever imagined.

References:

Wired Magazine: 16.04
Futurist Ray Kurzweil Pulls Out All the Stops (and Pills) to Live to Witness the Singularity

Wikipedia
Technological Singularity

Nope, I am Not a Smoker

Have you quit smoking? How's it going if so?

In perusing Cyberville, I came across an interesting widget for smoking cessation. It was created by Josh Houghtelin of www.burnmytime.com. You'll notice I put it at the beginning of the this post (since I am not a smoker, I don't have great data, but you get the point). If you find it inspiring to remind yourself of your progress then this is great. It can be a wonderful tool for reaffirming your commitment of being a non-smoker.

To get your own non-smoking banner, click here.

On another note, stay tuned tomorrow. We are having guest blogger Francis Scudellari carrying on in our thoughts behind 2012 series. He is a wonderful writer and extremely creative. His blog is in-the-stream.blogspot.com.

How trendy are you?

Here is something to think about: are you trendy? Seriously? Do you have to have the latest, coolest fashions like Roca Wear Boots or whatever else is deemed coolest at the moment?

Why am I asking this on a hypnosis blog or more exactly, why am I asking this on a Tuesday? Well, it is simple, especially since this is the weekly post where we talk about ways for you to have a positive hypnosis experience. If you are a trendy sort then it helps define what currently motivates you and motivation is a really important part of the hypnosis process.

It works two ways.

1. It may be an indicator of why you chose to try hypnosis or not. It could be that the real reason behind why you chose to go - because those around you think it is cool. Now this can be a good thing, provided that you really want to make a certain change. If you do not want to make the change, then it will be a waste of your money and time.
2. However, if you find the only reason you are not going to a hypnotist is because it isn't cool, but believe it can help you, than sticking to this trend is bad. It means that you are letting someone else stand between your personal success or failure.

Everything in life can work for or against you. Look at your life and take notice. For instance, there is a trend to clean up our acts and stop smoking. Many who come to me for smoking cessation mention how badly they feel they are treated by non-smokers. This motivates many to eventually give it up. It helps. Or how about clothing. Sure there are companies who make larger fashions, but the labels that the populace favor often exemplify those who are in great shape. This can be a motivating factor to lose weight. If one does not chose these trends, it can impact one's self-esteem and marketers would have it that your self-esteem improves with being able to use their products. And sometimes, it can work to our advantage.

Just notice what motivates you and let it help you make the changes you want to make.

A Little Relaxation, Some Flowers, and a Day Off

Mother's Day is almost upon us. Some are stressing out over it, other's are trying to ignore it, and some are totally ready. We would like to remind you that the one thing mothers can really use is a little relaxation (who can't).

For relaxation gift ideas, our Midweek RELAXation can be given as a four session gift card and our audios are also a great way for her to get away for a little while and rejuvenate. Want to make it even more relaxing or traditional, team it with mothers day flowers delivery and give her the day for herself. I originally though a bouquet of lavender would be nice for the relaxation theme, but 1800flowers.com has some really original ideas. If you check out their website they offer four other ideas to help her really relax (and these ideas are things that do not necessarily cost money).

Begining to Release Loss Contemplation

Loss is the subject of today's contemplation. We have all lost things we have cared about that are no longer with us, whether it was someone leaving or losing something material. The effects are always hard and sad. Perhaps we look back and think about ways we could have prevented the loss. Maybe we regret. Maybe we need to take better care of what we do have or maybe it was inevitable. Very little last forever.

Though the next few Monday's will deal with loss, the contemplations, as always, seek to uplift you and give you a positive focus to carry through your week. So, even if you are not suffering from the pangs of loss, the words will still be beneficial.

This week's contemplation is about the old cliche: If you love something set it free. But we will stop there. I do not necessarily mean this literally. Indoor cat owners, don't let you cat out. Don't let your children run rampant without supervision and so forth. In thinking about the idea of loss and that which is gone, before it can get better, you have to accept the loss and that it is gone.

Take a deep breath in and release it at your own pace. Now focus on the pain of the loss. Yes, it will hurt, but the key here is to focus on it, not blaming, not regretting, not holding it in, but letting it be. Allow it to soften. Give it space. It is okay to be sad about it. It is okay to mourn. Then, when you are ready, allow your focus to concentrate on something deeper than the loss. Focus on what is gone, but in a way that is not possessive. Think of all the good things about that person or thing. There has to be something or the loss would not affect you as it has. Separate the thing that is lost from yourself and let it exist as it is, on its own. Just because it maybe out of your possession, does not mean it has lost its own value. It is still beautiful. It is free. You are free. Allow both the object and yourself to be free. Know that your grief too will pass if you allow it.

Breathe.

And now focus on the following:

In my hand I hold beauty. It has connected with me, touched me. I open my hand and it floats away on the wind. Beautiful. Free. I am free.

A Little Focus

Maybe you notice my cufflinks - my shiny, beautiful and Unique Cufflinks. Maybe you notice them because they are different, maybe you didn’t know they are still part of the fashion culture or maybe they glint from the sunlight that envelops the room. You listen. You relax. And then you find yourself speaking honestly about a certain product experience you just had. The words come naturally and you say them truthfully, not living up to anyone else’s expectations. It is an honest review of the product. And then may it is the word Tateossian that brings you back to normal consciousness, remembering everything from your participation in a focus group.

Am I making this up? No. It is a new use for hypnosis and one that Brand Week’s article Hypnosis Brings Groups into Focus discusses. The article says hypnosis is used by several large corporations to help understand how people really feel about certain products. The difference between a hypnotized focus group and one that is not allows the marketers, branders, etc. to go deeper. For instance a certain car kept coming up in a non-hypnotized group with the idea that the product was “safe.” To get more in depth, the hypnotized group was able to unravel this farther. What it found was that the car was “middle age” and that was not exactly helping the buyer image or selling cars. It is particularly useful when a product is thought of as good, but the consumer chooses not to purchase it.

We are planning to make focus group hypnosis a part of N*tranced and will keep you posted. But for now – Tateossian.

Will Rigoberta Menchú be Part of The 2012 Prophecy?

If you were anything like me, you might have been under the misunderstanding that the Maya are extinct. In reality there are more than 10 million modern Maya in the world today.

So here is the question: is the whole 2012 phenomenon mostly the New Age community being hopefully optimistic for a positive consciousness shift or is it truly anchored in the Maya belief system?

A time of great change, however, is not far removed from many of the Maya, even though it may not be centered on 2012. There are several references that relate the notion of significant change, in which after great warfare the Maya society will see a new dawn, such as the story from the Chilam Balam as Robert Sitler writes in The Mystery of 2012: Predictions, Prophecies and Possibilities.

These ideas are filled with the same optimism the 2012 New Age groups hope for, but maybe, just maybe, this is more of a Maya for Maya prophecy. Maybe it is theirs. They have been an oppressed society for so long. They have watched their rain forest dwindle away, their culture begin to disappear, so maybe it is time for them to come into their own again.

Here is a little food for thought, though I cannot truly substantiate this. The Guatemalan president in 2012 maybe the first Maya president of that country. Though the 1992 Pulitzer Prize winner ran in 2007 and did not get elected, Rigoberta Menchú may well be the contender for the elections in 2011. (1)

Source: New York Times