Redemption

One way to redeem yourself in this life, find a way to be of service.  Serving others for the purpose of giving and not for self gratification is how to rid yourself of karma from this life or any others.  Do something for others in which you don't get paid or just want the attention.  Not only will you see a difference, you will begin to feel a difference in your life!

Karma of Meat

I remember how sad it felt to realize at six years old and out with family that the catfish swimming in the rock pond by where we waited for our table would soon become my dinner. I am not a vegetarian, but for many years I have danced with the moral issues of eating meat. Despite the reasons for vegetarianism, I think what we should be more concerned with where our meat comes from and what eating it is doing to us.

When we are in the grocery store, we don’t think about where the neat, clean package of meat comes from, we easily just slip it into our cart and never think twice. Most of us have heard of free-range chicken, but do we truly understand what is happening to the majority of the animals we eat?

The last 40 years have seen the principles of mass production introduced into the farmyard. In the name of efficiency, production systems have been devised that inflict unspeakable suffering on calves, pigs, chicken and turkeys throughout their short and miserable lives. People are becoming educated about the disgusting environment in Confined Animal Feeding Operations, also known as CAFOs. These factories are putting our health at serious risk with the issue of the recurrent use of antibiotics meant for human use in animal feed. Using antibiotics in this fashion endangers human health and puts the health of future generations at risk with the loss of effective antibiotics. Not only are we at risk, the workers in these operations are frequently in unhealthy environments filled with dust and ammonia and other pathogens, creating respiratory issues. These health concerns have been raised by the American Public Health Association, the American Medical Association, and other similar organizations.

CAFO operations significantly add to climate change. According to the United Nations’ study, “Livestock’s Long Shadow,” almost a third of climate-changing gases can be attributed to the way we raise livestock (Jacobson). They pollute our land, our water and our health. Rural sociologist Linda Lobao of Ohio State University concludes that CAFOs hurt communities and animals significantly (Andrews).

In his article, “Eating and the Culture of Death,” from the National Catholic Reporter, David Andrews contends,

The way we treat animals is of moral significance. In theological words used by Pope John Paul II, the institutionalized and industrialized mode of treating animals that ignores their being creatures of God can be considered “a structure of sin.” The factory farms are part of a culture of abuse, not a culture of life. The operators, workers, the environment and the animals are all abused. The problem is not just that of specific farms or the good intention of operators, the problem is the entire system. It is not sustainable. An adequate definition of sustainability includes the way animals are treated… I grew up in rural Massachusetts living close to animals. I helped feed and raise chickens for their eggs and meat. During my novitiate with the Holy Cross brothers, I worked closely with pigs and cattle. I learned how to slaughter and skin steers. I have looked food animals in the eyes and learned a certain sense of spiritual concern as I cared for the animals before they were consumed. There is a living sense of dying and rising, of the paschal mystery, in food animal farming. There comes an appreciation of animals as sentient beings. The distancing that accompanies mass production removes that sensitivity from human interaction. A focus on efficiency leads to desensitization. Violence replaces care. Suffering becomes justified on the basis of economic necessity. This becomes a fact of life, seldom acknowledged (4a-6a).

Michael Pollan provides a graphic description in his article, “Power Steer,” of his first-hand account of the conditions in which our beef is raised. The animals are injected with growth hormone, human antibiotics, fed animal proteins from other cows, chickens and pigs plus lots of cheap corn. Corn fed meat is less healthy to eat because it contains more saturated fat. Meat of grass-fed livestock not only has substantially less fat, the type of fat is much healthier plus it has more omega 3 fatty acids and beta-carotene.

Animal factory proponents say that CAFOS are the most cost-effective method in the world in producing meat, milk and eggs. They credit modern America for producing the cheapest food, which is true, but at what cost?

In India, traditional Hindus believe food is the body’s source of chemistry, and what we ingest affects our consciousness, emotions and experiential patters. They believe if one wants to live in higher consciousness, in peace and happiness and love for all creatures, then he cannot eat meat, fish, shellfish, fowl or eggs. It is said that in ancient India meat would be fed to the soldiers during military campaigns, especially before combat, to bring them into lower consciousness so that they would forget their religious values. They performed these deeds in the in fulfillment of a warrior’s way – with not the least restraint of conscience. In Hinduism Today’s article The Meat-Free Life they sum it up to these five reasons not to eat meat (34-39):

• Dharma. Vedic scripture proclaims that ahimsa, non-hurtfulness, is primary religious obligation in fulfillment of dharma, divine law.

• Karma. By involving oneself in the cycle of inflicting injury, pain and death, even indirectly, by eating other creatures, one must in the future experience in equal measure the suffering caused.

• Consciousness. By ingesting the grosser chemistries of animal foods, one introduces into the body and mind anger, jealousy, fear, anxiety, suspicion and a terrible fear of death, all of which are locked into the flesh of the butchered creatures.

• Health. Vegetarians are less susceptible to all the major diseases that afflict contemporary humanity. This they live longer, healthier, more productive lives. They have fewer physical complaints, less frequent visits to the doctor, fewer dental problems and smaller medical bills.

• Environment. In large measure, the escalating loss of species, destruction of ancient rain forests to create pasturelands for livestock, loss of topsoil and the consequent increase of water impurities and air pollution have all been traced to the single fact of meat in the human diet.

Even in India, they are seeing more people abandon the vegetarianism ways of their parents and grandparents to the new modern age of meat.

As early as 2030, according to the World Bank, the world will need to produce 50% more food than it does now, chiefly because as India and China get richer, its newly affluent population will be demanding meat instead of greens. For 60 years, food production has risen in line with global population growth, but that is coming to an end. We can no longer take our food supply for granted.

For the first time, we have a generation of children not expected to outlive their parents. No matter your point of view on eating meat, things need to change. Many in my neighborhood are growing food in their gardens, but this will only take us so far. It’s time for use to wake up and really see what is going into to the food we are eating. It is true now more than ever, we are what we eat!

Works Cited

Andrews, David. Eating and the Culture of Death. National Catholic Reporter 46.6 (2010): 4a-6a. Academic Search Complete. EBSCO. Web. 26 Feb. 2010.

Jacobson, Michael F. Livestock's Long Shadow. Nutrition Action Health Letter 36.5 (2009): 2. Academic Search Complete. EBSCO. Web. 19 Mar. 2010.

Kirby, David. Animal Factory. New York: St. Martin’s Press, 2010 Print.

Pollan, Michael. Power Steer. New York Times, March 21, 2002.

"The Meat-Free Life." Hinduism Today. 29.1 (2007): 34-39. Academic Search Complete. EBSCO. Web. 26 Feb. 2010.

Awakening

Without change, something sleeps inside use and rarely awakens...The Sleeper must awaken.  ~Dune 1984

An old friend from high school posted this on facebook this morning and it got me thinking.  We are all sleepwalking through life to some extent, so what will it take for us to wake up?



The current state of affairs in our country makes you feel like a rat in a maze, fighting for survival.  We get so wrapped up in survival we don't thrive.  We are too afraid to take chances or to try something different because we are insecure, feeling unstable in our futures.  So we follow the same path daily to feel safe.


Sometimes change is forced upon us without warning.  I think this happens when we are too afraid to change ourselves.  We must look deep within and wake up.
I believe people don't want to see the ugly truth of what we are becoming.  Our culture seems to put celebrity, money and power above all else.  We need to have a heart, be compassionate and value humanity.  We must wake up and get ourselves back on track.  It may be a battle you fight everyday, but it's worth it.  Be positive, smile at others, feel love in your heart for everyone.

When it comes down to it, we are all connected.  The anger, hate and judgement you feel for others is a mirror for how you feel about yourself.  Time to get yourself straight.  Take a long hard look at yourself.  Not the image you project, your facade you show to the world.  Dig deeper and go beyond, find the real you.  If you don't like it, change it.  Don't pretend and just shove it under the rug.  That only makes it harder, a growing problem you have to deal with eventually. You can't run forever.  Face the music and take a real look.  Only you can make changes in you.

Come now, time to wake up.

Ignatius

An interesting man and even more interesting the homeopathic remedy named after him...even more interesting that I run across him today in a Deen Koontz book!


Teach us...
To give and not to count the cost;
To fight and not to heed the wounds;
To toil and not seek for rest...


St. Ignatius Loyola

Ignatia is a homeopathic remedy that is derived from the bean of a small tree that is native to the Philippine Islands and China. The bean was named after St. Ignatius Loyola, a Spanish Jesuit who was responsible for bringing the beans to Europe from the Philippines in the seventeenth century. As a result, the beans are often called St. Ignatius beans. The missionaries were introduced to the beans by the locals, who wore the beans as amulets to prevent disease. The bean was then used as a treatment for gout, epilepsy, cholera, and asthma. 

Ignatia is one of the best remedies for conditions brought about by emotional upset such as grief, shock, jealousy, fear, anger, depression, embarrassment, fright, or ridicule. Homeopaths frequently recommend ignatia when the patient is suffering from romantic disappointment or the loss of a spouse, relative, friend, or pet. The remedy helps the patient bear the grief and suffering common to emotional upsets.

Designs by Willow

Intriguing art site!

http://www.designsbywillow.com/site/10-Home.html

Commitment

I love the Pat Riley quote, "There are only two options regarding commitment. You're either in or out. There's no such thing as a life in-between." This week has been all about me coming to terms with that reality. I must let go. If after seven years, he still isn't sure that he sees a place for me in his life, I must buy a vowel and move on.

I feel good about it. I hold no grudge, I wish this man the best of luck in his future. I hope he can find a way to let someone in and feel good about it. We all deserve to find our place.

I have plans, goals, dreams, and all of this nonsense is just keeping me distracted from what I should be doing. I have so many beautiful things on the horizon. I need to stay focused, looking forward at what is to come. Today I finally feel free and at peace. I will be fine and I did the best I could to make things work. There comes a point where you have to turn and walk way.

For me, today is that day.

Brightest blessings of love & laughter to all in the universe!

Love & Light

Today is a beautiful day.  I am amazed with human resilience.

Lately it has felt as if a tidal wave of darkness has been continually crushing down, wave after wave, trying to break the human spirit... untimely deaths, betrayals, job loss, a general energy of conflict and upheaval.  Strange days have been surrounding our souls. In spite of it all, today the sun is breaking through.  I can see the sun shining, like waves of light through the clouds, ebbing and flowing.

Feel the warmth and joy.  It's beautiful.  I wonder if the dark times are just another lesson.  Resilience, the will to keep going, the test of patience.  How easy do we let ourselves get knocked off course?  We forget the big picture and sit feeling sorry for ourselves, licking the wounds of our ego?  When you take a step back and really take it all in, are you sweating the small stuff?  Losing your joy and bliss by the minute?

I am going to enjoy every moment of today. We have survived, now let's thrive!  Carpe Diem!

The Chicago River on St. Pat's Day!

Perspective

One minute I am whining, complaining things aren't going the way I would prefer. I am having trouble with life, love and things not being all neatly squared away in my life when I hear news of a close friend dealing with a painful, sudden loss.  There seems to be quite a bit of loss going around these last few weeks.

It makes me wonder why I even spend time on issues that in the bigger picture, may not be that big of a deal.  Life is too short to waste time. Why is it so easy to let the ego rise up and knock you off kilter and skew your view of the big picture?  We need to live life to the fullest, every moment of every day, like there is no tomorrow.   You never know when your time will be up, so what are you doing with your time?

Life is Beautiful, People are Beautiful

It's not always easy to remember that everyone is beautiful in their own way.  Some people get trapped in their own drama and become bitter.  They may spew forth bad energy to everyone they come in contact with, but deep down, there is still beauty in there.  

We must have the strength to let go of our ego and take stock in who we are and what we have become.  To take a step back to see our lives from a better perspective.  Are things really so bad?  Don't you know someone who has it worse? So why not chose to see the beauty.  Embrace those who love you, even if they drive you crazy every now and then.

We chose the path we take and the we chose the way we react to things that come our way.  Life is what we make it.  We chose to be awake and alive or sleep walking like a zombie in the Matrix.  Sheep being led to slaughter.  Wake up and be glad you are alive.  Feel it, see it, embrace the beauty everywhere around you.

Don't miss a moment of being happy!