To be what we are and to become what we are capable of becoming is the only end of life. — Robert Louis Stevenson (1850-1894) Author

Many of us believe the future holds new and wondrous things, clearer ideas, and more profound understanding of ideals. Some think it will be more of the same in a different form. If your vision is Farsighted, you may be able to share your more Captivating dream and make a better future.

Peace,
Jim

          FARSIGHTED

Definition: (1) having foresight and good judgment; sagacious; (2) planning prudently for the future; (3) able to take the long view, prospicient

Quotes:
A pilot who sees into the distance will not let his ship capsize. — Amenemope (c. 1100 bc) The Wisdom of Amenemope 26:15-16

The long run is possible only if we consistently take care of the short run. — William H. Calvin (1939 – ) The River That Flows Uphill

Comment: Sometimes you can see farther into the future than others. The farther you see, the greater the difficulty in bridging the gap with your contemporaries. The problem then is that you have no company in your vision. Or worse yet, you are sanctioned because you are politically incorrect. Consider Galileo, who lived in the times of the inquisition. He dared to agree with Copernicus that the sun, and not the earth, was the center of the solar system. Galileo faced the torture of the rack and decided to disavow his “blasphemous” claim. He lived out the rest of his life under house arrest. New ideas can be dangerous to established creeds.

Symbol: a telescope

          CAPTIVATING

Definitions: (1) able to effect intense attraction <as by beauty or some other charming positive quality>; enthralling; (2) holding full attention; fascinating

Synonyms: bewitching, enchanting, entrancing

Consider the Source

He who attains his ideal, by that very fact transcends it. — Friedrich Wilhelm Nietzsche (1844-1900) Philosopher

As we Mature we gain a more accurate idea of Riches. We certainly need to appreciate the physical value of material things: nature, travel, comfort, & health. And new ideas, entertainment, & interesting discussions are mentally stimulating. Yet we must also give friendship, soul growth, & service their due.
What will you bring with you to the other side?

Peace,
Jim

          RICH

Definitions: (1) possessing abundant possessions <as material wealth, mental knowing, and/or spiritual worth>; (2) having high value or quality; (3) plentiful; ample; (4) elaborate; luxurious

Synonyms: affluent, copious, fruitful, luscious, precious, sumptuous

Balancing Quality: gratitude

Quote: If you are in debt, it is because someone believed in you and had enough faith in you to trust you financially. If others are in debt to you, it is because you extended your trust to them. — Catherine Ponder (1927 – ) The Dynamic Laws of Prosperity

Symbol: all forms of treasure [including riches of the mind and of the spirit]

          MATURING

Definitions: (1) moving toward the next level of growth; (2) developing or working out fully; becoming complete; perfecting

Quote: Maturity: to have regained the seriousness that was had as a child at play. — Friedrich Wilhelm Nietzsche (1844-1900) German Poet

Reflections:
• Giving selflessly, in order to be truly mature, must include self-esteem, power, and the ability to clearly and compassionately communicate, especially in a confrontation.

• Maturity is our move from an egocentric universe to an other-centered universe. We traverse, as an individual or as a society, through survival, security, duty, subjective self-interest, pitiful altruism, helpfulness, and finally on to generosity – a person or group can get stuck in any one of these levels.

Comment: Children try to establish their identity. One of the immature ways they do so is by exaggerating the differences they see. Somebody who has glasses is called four-eyes; somebody who is large is fat. There is a lack of subtlety in their differentiation between themselves and others.

   Some adults (of any race) hold that someone who has a different skin color or a different genetic structure is superior or inferior. This prejudice gives the immature person a comparison to judge themselves by. Physical, emotional, psychological, intellectual, social, and historical differences are facts. Generalizations, especially negative generalizations, are very dangerous and cannot fit all of any class.

   The mature person goes beyond the façade If there is a need to judge, they will do so based on the character of the individual.

Consider the Source

Human efforts [are] cumulative, something in every effort [is] preserved and added to the whole. — Fifty Degrees Below Zero, Kim Stanley Robinson (1952-)

This week’s qualities are Aplomb and Fortified. They have in common a certain poise.

You may be wrong. Take that as a given. But more likely you are right in at least some respects. But if your convictions are sincere, genuine, & noble, then your truth need not fear insightful and honest critical examination. It is also a given that we are free to update our beliefs.

Peace,
Jim

          APLOMB

Definitions: (1) imperturbable self-possession; poise; (2) complete and certain composure; self-confidence

          FORTIFIED

Definitions: (1) possessing physical strength, courage, or endurance; invigorated; (2) one with staunch mental or moral strength; undaunted

Familial Quality: mettlesome

Tip: When you don’t feel loved or loving, or even if you do, take stock of your positive qualities; you’ll feel stronger and better able to continue.

Consider the Source

Dreaming tiny dreams has become a favorite pastime in the past five or 10 years.  The “tiny house movement” is gaining greater traction as ever more people choose to downsize for economic or ecological reasons. A small house, usually being defined as one offering less than 400 sq ft of space, offers a stimulating challenge about living smart as people escape from debtor’s prison in droves.

In the USA, groups of enthusiasts offer inspiration and practical information on avoiding the government game of mother-may-I. They carefully navigate zoning laws, planning restrictions, and the burden of permitting. In the UK, it’s less of a movement and more of a frenzied pack of victims, refugees of the crazily distorted, government-aggravated madness infusing the property market. Those who can afford to buy something – anything, even if it’s a bit of infill – do so in order to get a toe on the ladder. Then there are  those who can’t even see the ladder through the fog of wagery and debt.

As long as we can still dream of freedom, one can easily while away the hours on tinyhouseuk.co.uk, nomadmicrohomes.com, microcompacthome.com, tinyhouseblog.com and hundreds of other similar websites. Facebook groups, youtube videos, and a good old fashioned Listserv can provide practical information on active and passive solar, micro-hydro, gasifiers, LED lighting and all the other components that make up the buffet of new lifestyles.

As governments devolve to the point where they are of, by, and for the bankers, we must now re-assert a most basic human right — the right to live. Consumer sovereignty is a game changer. Instead of cutting the cord to live off the grid, we can now sell the surplus power generated, on a homestead scale, to the electric utility. Instead of having entire nations that are effectively working for the financial services industry, we can build on a modularized, pay-as-you-go basis. We have options!

Consider the Source

 Consider the First Source!

“The foxes have holes, and the birds of heaven have nests, but the Son of Man has nowhere to lay his head,” and so it is today for many of his followers. Despite all the warnings about the snares laid by moneylenders, despite the fact that gage mort is literally translated as a pledge to give up one’s life, millions have lost their homes through mortgage exploits, and their quality of life through the service of debt.

Find Out How to Get Your Life Back!

“Petri dish milk will mirror the formula of the real thing — the yeast cultures will be churning out real milk proteins — it will retain the taste and nutritional benefits of cow milk,” says Perumal Gandhi, a co-founder of the synthetic dairy start-up Muufri (pronounced Moo-free) in San Francisco, California. “That will distinguish it from soy – and almond-based alternatives.”

Gandhi and Muufri co-founder Ryan Pandya are both vegans who view the livestock industry’s practices as inhumane. “Dairy production is responsible for roughly 3 percent of global greenhouse gas emissions each year, according to the Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations, mostly because cows belch methane. And although dairy is already a more efficient way than meat of converting plant feed into animal protein, bioengineers can do even better than nature,” Gandhi says.

Muufri will contain only those essential proteins, fats, minerals, and sugars. Pandya and Gandhi’s plan is to insert DNA sequences from cattle into yeast cells, grow the cultures at a controlled temperature and the right concentrations, and harvest milk proteins after a few days. The process is extremely safe, says Gandhi: It’s the same one used to manufacture insulin and other medicines.

Although the proteins in Muufri milk come from yeast, the fats come from vegetables and are tweaked at the molecular level to mirror the structure and flavor of milk fats. Minerals, like calcium and potassium, and sugars are purchased separately and added to the mix. Once the composition is fine-tuned, the ingredients emulse naturally into milk.

By controlling the ingredients, however, Pandya and Gandhi hope to make milk more healthful. The team is experimenting, for instance, with sugars other than lactose, which 65 percent of adults have trouble digesting. And it has engineered a more healthful, unsaturated fat that retains the distinct flavor of dairy. Reproducing that flavor is a prime goal for Gandhi and Pandya, who were not always vegan—and who say they miss the taste of cheese, butter, and ice cream.

Consider the Source

 Consider the First Source!

In the beginning was the Word, and the Word choreographed an assembly of amino acids into an exquisite array of specific proteins. Then God said, “I give you every seed-bearing plant on the face of the whole earth and every tree that has fruit with seed in it. They will be yours for food.” In so doing God demonstrated a penchant for genomic writing, preceeded by an amazing series of prebiotic events, in a highly orchestrated presentation of evolutionary overcontrol.

More about God’s Handiwork!

Always bear in mind that your resolution to succeed is more important than any one thing. — Abraham Lincoln (1806-1865) 16th U.S. President

We Maneuver through life with stumbles, fits, and starts. But we do move, we grow, we become better than we are — and occasionally our choices are Stellar.

Peace,
Jim

          STELLAR

Definitions: (1) like a star; brilliant; (2) outstanding

Saying: Per aspera ad astra (Latin): “through difficulties to the stars”

          MANEUVERABLE

Definition: able to move skillfully toward an objective or away from an obstacle; able to devise a successful stratagem or scheme; shrewd

Consider the Source

New reasons, new arguments, new motives . . . all can lead to new goals – new aspirations. — David Brin (1950 – ) Existence, American Author

Even if someone has looked into the unknown before you, each of us is a Pioneer when we look at it for the first time. We find out there is more to discover. The lessons each child is being taught in every family are the same (or similar) to the lessons every other child is being taught. Look at something new, or in a new way, this week. And share it with someone you are Familial with.

Peace,
Jim

          FAMILIAL

Definition: pertaining to or characteristic of family bonds

Consideration: The family is the basic unit of society, then comes the clan, race, state, nation, world, and universe. Once we all recognize our kin, we will have a chance for world peace.

Quote:
So much of what is best in us is bound up in our love of family, that it remains the measure of our stability because it measures our sense of loyalty. — Haniel Long (1888-1956) American Poet

Symbols: 1) the chain; 2) the ruby slippers (silver in the original written version) [Dorothy of Kansas wore them in The Wizard of Oz when she declared, “There’s no place like home.”]

　          PIONEERING

Definition: venturing into that which is unknown or untried <sometimes to prepare the way for others>

Compatible Quality: courageous

Parental Qualities: faith, freedom

Familial Quality: adventurous

Symbols: 1) the covered wagon; 2) a space capsule

Consider the Source

We change the outcome of our future through the choices we make in each moment of the present. — The Dead Sea Scrolls (ca 100 AD)

Is it Fitting that any of us call ourselves Auspicious? I have read that progress is the watchword of the universe. We will always be moving from our current accomplishments, our present state of completion, to a greater state of being. Some of the keys to such growth is in the definitions and derivations of this interesting word symbol.

Peace,
Jim

          AUSPICIOUS

Definitions: (1) a high-minded attitude; (2) a promise of good fortune; encouraging activity; prosperous opportunity

Derivation: Sanskrit, “kind,” “gracious”

Synonyms: advantageous, favorable, lucky, propitious, successful

Theological Figure: Shiva {The Auspicious One} [the “transformer” of the Hindu Trimurti]

          FITTING

Definitions: (1) suitable or appropriate; proper or becoming; (2) to be in harmony or accord; belonging <I plan on fitting in at my new school.>

Synonyms: adequate, apposite, apt, competent, conformable, congruous, expedient, seemly

Consider the Source

The social pathology, existential vacuum, and meaninglessness experienced by contemporary society is the result of intrinsic values starvation, Being-value deficiency. Transpersonal values command adoration, celebration, and reverence. They are worth living and dying for. Contemplating and becoming one of these values gives the greatest sense of worth and joy that human beings can experience. — Spiritual Psychology, Meredith Sprunger, Minister

From whence comes the Bountiful? The source is Openhanded. Nonetheless, we are required to seek – and in seeking an ever-expanding universe is progressively revealed.

Peace,
Jim

　          BOUNTIFUL

Definitions: (1) generous in bestowing gifts or favors; munificent; (2) abundant; plentiful

             OPENHANDED

Definition: generous; liberal; munificent

Symbol: the removal of the right glove

Consider the Source

Match the frequency of the reality you want, and you cannot help but get that reality. — Albert Einstein (1879-1955) Deep Thinker

The word good in a Good Self-image can represent quite a few descriptors, including the words in the definition of Clean. We all have an idea of self which often does not match the ideas others have of us. And most probably neither is our actual nature, character, or soul.

Peace,
Jim

          CLEAN

Definitions: (1) pure and flawless; clear of imperfection or defect; (2) shapely; well-proportioned; clean-limbed; lithe; (3) not awkward, clumsy, or bungling; dexterous; adroit; deft; skillful; (4) without limitation or modifying quality; entire; complete; thorough; (5) free from moral corruption, guilt, or blame; innocent

Synonyms: purified, sinless, spotless, untarnished

Saying: Cleanliness is next to Godliness.

          GOOD SELF-IMAGE

Definition: (1) a positive concept of oneself; (2) a realistic understanding of one’s capacity

Observation: It is ironic how often those with a poor self-image usually have a sensitive perception of the values of others: “I’m no good but look at how wonderful so-and-so is.” Subjective reality is folded in such a way that the person with a poor self-image cannot see or accept his or her own positive qualities. Consider Marilyn Monroe; her beauty was certainly obvious to an adoring public, and she surely must have been aware of it, but it was not enough. Those who study theatrical art say she was a talented actor, but her lack of self-esteem helped to destroy her.

Structure: The following are from “Anxiety—Recognition and Intervention” The American Journal of Nursing, Barbara C. Schutt R.N., Editor.

Components of a Good Self-Image

• An ability to understand and be understood

• Satisfaction of personal expectations

• Reasonable control of environment

• Satisfaction of personal wants

• Satisfaction of personal goals

• Reasonable control of self

• A sense of productivity

• A sense of usefulness

• A sense of belonging

Threats to a Good Self-Image

• A sense of isolation, alienation, or loneliness

• A sense of insecurity (a threat to identity)

• A sense of helplessness

Consider the Source

• Fear