(image from tonic.com)
   Australian couple, Kate and David Ogg had premature twins, a boy and a girl, at a hospital in Sydney. The boy, Jamie Ogg, was declared dead at birth. The couple was so grief stricken as Kate held two-pound Jamie to her chest. During this time period Jamie would take random breaths. Doctors told the Oggs that this was just nerves and their son was indeed dead. After two hours Kate put some breast milk on her finger and offered it to her deceased son who sprung to life. Doctors were awestruck by this miraculous occurrence.

References: Mother's cuddle brings baby 'back to life', Miracle Mom Cuddles Premature Son Back To Life

   “Compassion, forgiveness, these are the real, ultimate sources of power for peace and success in life.”
Tenzin Gyatso, 14th Dalai Lama
   I have been told repeatedly throughout my life that I "cannot save the world." What does that mean exactly? Well, it means that no matter how much I give and no matter how many I give to, there will always be those in need. This is because humanity is a conglomerate of takers and not givers. Call it socialism if you must, I don't care, the fact is that we all could use a little more compassion. If being a socialist is best for humanity and you're all too brainwashed by the rich (the only people that socialism wouldn't benefit) to see it, then shame on you. I digress.
   We have all turned away a reaching hand... maybe you didn't want to live without a luxury, maybe you were just plain selfish, or maybe you legitimately had nothing to give (which is rarely ever the case). How many homeless people have you passed on the street that a dollar could have helped? Sure one dollar could buy one item off of a value menu, but what if twenty people gave one dollar? We abuse money on a daily basis, how many one dollars do you blow on random things? A pop in the pop machine (usually more than a dollar)... what if you "toughed" it by drinking water for a day. Would being healthy "hurt" you? What about skipping a candy bar, movie rental, fast-food meal or alcoholic beverage? We all enjoy those things, but if giving up one of those things a week allowed you to give even $5 and everyone else did the same, would that not benefit humanity?
   We all have blood on our hands. None of us are perfect, far from it. I have done my share of ill-deeds just as you have. Calling a girl a name in fifth grade, ignoring an annoying person in high school, exchanging harmful words with a now ex. We've all spilled the hypothetical blood of another... if we haven't literally. What if that girl in fifth grade grows up to self-loath, putting herself in hurtful situations due to lack of confidence? What if she is killed in an abusive relationship? What if the annoying kid in high school overdoses on some hallucinogens and gives himself a shotgun face-lift in the front seat of his car? What if that lover goes out to drink to get over you and crashes their car? These examples are not that far off... each of us effects people more than we know (we cannot help but be self-centered, I'm the only person I really know, and I'm stuck with myself from birth to end). Should we feel responsible? The answer is... yes. We all are responsible for each other. I'm all for population control, but lets control breeding and prevent harm. Be proactive!
   Don't regret the past. There is nothing you can do about it now. Forgive yourself, forgive others, and learn from the experience. Think about all of those ghosts you've hurt. Let them each come to the surface of your mind, review them, study them. How does it make you feel, to know that you have harmed that person? That feeling is compassion (well, hopefully it is). If nothing else, have compassion for yourself, and prevent any further occasion when you will feel like this. I know it's not realistic, but being a good person is not whether you do good things or not. Being a good person means you know when you have done wrong and you strive to correct those mistakes. Succeed or not, it's the attempt that counts.
   If we do not take care of each other, no one else will. We are all humans, we all have that in common. We are fellow Earthlings... so lets grow together. The only thing holding us back is us. Man has no natural predator other than himself. I do my best to give to you what I my talents allow, please appreciate my gift and lend what strength you have to another. Thank you.

(www.energytribune.com)
   I finally watched "An Inconvenient Truth" the other night. Yes, I realize this movie came out over four years now... I have never been much of an Al Gore fan and I honestly am skeptical of Global Warming. Did the movie sway me? Perhaps. What the movie did show me was a man with a passion and what appeared to be credible data to back it up. And really, he didn't tell me anything I didn't already know, humans are wasteful and it hurts the planet. Whether Global Warming is real or not, we should still recycle and cut back on energy. We should still push for emission laws and pollution standards. We should still take care of our one home. No matter where you're from or what you believe in, one thing still remains the same, we have one planet. I understand that it can be difficult, and a lot of solutions cost money upfront (although save money in the long run). I myself am hardly perfect. And Al Gore "flies" all over the country to give speeches about not wasting. But we can push for improvement. Perhaps in the future a hybrid or electric car regulation could be passed for car companies, like that of the catalytic converter. This way people wouldn't be forced to immediately invest in something, but eventually anything out of standard would be weeded out. Or we could start with mileage code. Just an idea. Maybe all of the money from The Giving Pledge could go to turning the United States green, instead of random or useless causes. So whether Global Warming is just another apocalyptic hysteria or poetic justice, why not try to improve the quality of our planet? We could learn to coexist with our habitat instead of being a parasite.

   I would recommend watching "An Inconvenient Truth" if you get a chance.

www.climatecrisis.net

(image from CNNmoney.com)
   Warren Buffet and Bill Gates, along with his wife Melinda, are in the process of organizing the largest charitable cause in the history of the world. Organized on thegivingpledge.com by Melinda Gates, the two richest men in the world (okay so Mexico is richer than us now... or at least Carlos Slim Helú is ranked number one on the Forbes 400 this year) have been slowly formulating a pledge among the world's billionaires to give away a minimum of half their fortune in their lifetime or in their will.
   Although where the money goes is yet to be declared, this would be a tremendous amount of turn around. Forbes 400 net worth for 2009 was estimated at $1.2trillion dollars. If they were to give half of that away it would equal $600million dollars, double what the United States, the most charitable country in the world, gives away annually. To put this into perspective, according to Fortune Magazine, in 2007 the 18,394 taxpayers who had a ten-million dollar or more adjusted gross income claimed a total of $32.8 billion in charitable causes, a total of 5.84% of their $562 billion income. A 50% pledge would be an increase in donations close to eighty-six times more.
   Through numerous dinners, Buffet and Gates have acquired forty pledges. Only ninety percent more to go from the Forbes 400. The Gates have yet to give a percentage of their pledge, but Warren Buffet has pledged to give away 99% of his wealth by the time he dies or upon death. Other pledges include Mayor Bloomberg, David Rockefeller, Ted Turner and George Lucas. To see a full list of the current pledges check out thegivingpledge.com. The billionaires hope to eventually receive pledges from the rich worldwide.

References: The $600 billion challenge, Bill Gates No Longer World's Richest Man

Odin’s Ordeal: 8/17-8/25

Odin, like the Greek Zeus, is the principle deity of the Norse pantheon. Spelled Odin, Odinn, Odhin, Othin or Odhinn; his name is derived from Old Norse meaning “wind” and “spirit”. One of his nicknames is “Thundur” which means “one who thunders” or “the stretched one”. Odin received this title after what we now call “Odin’s Ordeal” where, according to the Edda, he hung himself from the Tree of the World for nine days and nights.

The World Tree, also called Yggdrasil, is where Odin sacrificed himself in an initiatory manner to gain the knowledge of the Runes. For nine long days and nights, hungry, thirsty and in tremendous pain, he stared into the abyss after piercing himself with his own lance and sacrificing one of his own eyes.

The number nine is considered the most sacred in the Norse concept of numerology. Odin’s nine nights hanging from the World Tree also coincides with the nine nights it takes the human soul to travel to the Underworld. The Celts, who found the number three to be significant, felt that the power of three times three to be the most powerful as it multiplies to the sum of nine. Just like Odin did when he sacrificed himself, the Norse saw how the number nine always “gives itself to itself”. Take a look:

1 X 9 = 9

2 X 9 = 18 and 1 + 8 = 9

3 X 9 = 27 and 2 + 7 = 9

4 X 9 = 36 and 3 + 6 = 9

5 X 9 = 45 and 4 + 5 = 9

6 X 9 = 54 and 5 + 4 = 9

7 X 9 = 63 and 6 + 3 = 9

8 X 9 = 72 and 7 + 2 = 9

9 X 9 = 81 and 8 + 1 = 9

Odin’s passion for the knowledge of the Runes is what led himself to self-sacrifice and therefore brought the Runes to mankind. This sacred event is commemorated from August 17th, the first day hanging from Yggdrasil, to August 25th, when Odin spied the Runes and with the last of his energy, fell from the World Tree screaming and seized them.

The Spell

This spell is designed to be as simple as possible. You won’t need to make a run to the New Age Store for supplies, but you will need a few things:

Supplies:

* Something to work your spell for. Pick something that you need or want or desire. Perhaps you need a new job or a promotion at your current place of employment. Maybe you need a new car or to be able to fix the vehicle that you already have. Whatever it is that you need, you will be working towards it for nine nights in a row. The happy new is that you will not have to go through the same ordeal that Odin experienced!
* 9 candles; color and size of your choice (you might want to try tea-lights as they are inexpensive and do not burn very long so you don’t have to worry about leaving them unattended or relighting them)
* Peace, quiet and time (you will need time each night to meditate undisturbed). Also, try to perform this spell and meditate at the same time each night for maximum results.

On August 17th, light the first candle and say nine times:

“By the power of 9 times 1, on this night my spell’s begun.”

Take nine deep breaths and meditate on the things that you need to start to change to meet your goal. If you need to, keep a notebook next to you to jot down any ideas that pop up.

On August 18th light the second candle and say nine times:

“By the power of 9 times 2, on this night I change my view.”

Take nine deep breaths and meditate on how you can re-program your thought processes to bring about the change that you desire. What have you been doing that has impeded your won growth? What can you do to get out of your won way? Again, have a pen and notebook handy just in case you need to make yourself a spiritual “to do” list.

On August 19th light the third candle and say nine times:

“By the power of 9 times 3, one this night I am set free.”

Take nine deep breaths and meditate on how you are throwing away all of your old concepts and you are opening yourself to the positive changes to come.

On August 20th light the fourth candle and say nine times:

“By the power of 9 times 4, on this night I open the door.”

Take nine deep breaths and meditate on the fact that you have closed one door and you are ready to open a new one. Open the door, and learn what is on the other side that will aid you in your spell-working.

On August 21st light the fifth candle and say nine times:

“By the power of 9 times 5, on this night I come alive.”

Take nine deep breaths and meditate on how you are like a seed that has grown into a plant that is now blossoming and will bear fruit. Water yourself…give yourself fertilizer…feel the warmth of the life-giving sun…and watch yourself grow!

On August 22nd light the sixth candle and say nine times:

“By the power of 9 times 6, I stay vigil for mental tricks.”

Take nine deep breaths and mediate on how you may sabotage yourself. We all hate change, and sometimes we can set bear-traps to step into to impede our own progress. Find ways to keep yourself on track in spite of any roadblocks that may come your way.

On August 23rd light the seventh candle and say nine times:

“By the power of 9 times 7, I call in the power of Earth and Heaven.”

Take nine deep breaths and meditate on the power of Mother Earth and Father Sky. Ask Them for Their help. Ask Them for their wisdom and guidance. You are Their child and They want to help you. However you see Them, have a “family meeting” as to how you can obtain your goal.

On August 24th light the eighth candle and say nine times:

“By the power of 9 times 8, I call in the power of the ladies of Fate.”

Take nine deep breaths and meditate on the Norns, the three women that tend to Yggdrasil; who represent the past, present and future. Or, you could tap into the Fates, their Greek counterparts. Either will work. Chat with them about what in your past has lead to where you are today. Ask them what you are doing today that will lead you to tomorrow. Finally, ask them what you can do tomorrow that will bring about your desire in the future.

On August 25th light the last candle and say nine times:

“By the power of 9 times 9, what I’ve worked for is now mine.”

Take nine deep breaths and meditate on the final outcome of your desire; what you’ve been working towards for the last eight nights. Set a date; make a deadline if you can. If you need to, use a calendar and a fire-engine red marker and make a big circle. See the image firmly in your mind. See how your life will change for the better after you have obtained your goal; how will it affect your environment?, your friends and family? or your day-to-day life? Take the time to set these images in your mind like cement or concrete.

Finally, say your thanks nine times to the Universe and go about making things happen!

Sources:

* Book of Runes by Ralph H. Blum
* Lammas: Celebrating the Fruits of the First Harvest by Anna Franklin and Paul Mason
* Northern Magic: Rune Mysteries and Shamanism by Edred Thorsson
* Pagan Book of Days by Nigel Jackson
* Rune Mysteries by Silver RavenWolf and Nigel Jackson