Secrets from the Edge

Life is a process lived in a constant state of eager anticipation of the next bewilderment. I returned to this blog to see if I should let go of it and delete, believing no one was reading it. My self assessment told me no one found it worthy of any interest. To my surprise, I found two comments that spurred me on to re-start this endeavour. I am filled with gratitude for the comments from the Healing Garden writer, Matt Gallagher in Nottingham in England and from the great poet frm Salerno Italy. Thank you for your comments.

My work at the Co-operative Auto Network continues apace with some hiccups here and there. Why is it that an organization built on co-operative principles can be so capitalistic and hierarchical in the way it prioritizes and treats its staff? I believe it is one of the ironies that will continue to amuse me.

My partner has not been well. His main focus, now, is planning a trip to England so that I will have my first experience off of the North American continent. We will be taking a journey around the southern part of England. I am thrilled, but sad to think that he is believeing may be his last major trip.

THE CHANGELING

Time has passed since my last post. I am still alive, though my life has changed. I

manifested

a job and a change in residence. I work at the Cooperative Auto Network in Vancouver and live in Dunbar.

http://cooperativeauto.net

The quality of life has changed. There is no doubt an sense of empowerment that comes with being gainfully employed. The noise and litter of the West End arebehind us, as well as, the drug dealing in the building in which we were living.

Dunbar is a quieter neighborhood. Michael and I have roommates who help us to afford the rent. The healing of the garden from which we have been harvesting our own veggies feeds our spirits.

Election Day 2006

Election day 2006 and we are witnessing what may be a convergence of a win for the political right in Canada and the rebirth of true activism. A Harper government will most certainly polarize and energize the left wing parties. I am hoping for a minority goverment so that Stephen will be hung by his own pitard as his government fumbles in front of the complex issues that will come his way.

My prediction is a Harper minority goverment that shakes its way to untimely death to the amazement of a Canadian public. A citizenry awed by the speed of having to vote so soon again, let's say, in 6 to 9 months!

Patriotism: The Last Resort for Scoundrels

It is time to add my cynical little voice to the thunderous roar of political content in the current Canadian election. Harper's slogan "Stand Up" for Canada has an eerie U.S. style ring to it, especially since dissent against Bush in the United States means being un-American.

Does this mean that if you vote anything other than Conservative you are not standing up for Canada? Canada is not a partisan concept the country belongs to all of us. By exercising our democratic rights and privelieges we are "standing up for Canada."

A point to remember, the tax cuts given to lower income people will be repealed by the Conservatives and shifted to businesses! This report is from the CBC news with Peter Mansbridge last evening. Is this evidence of a "hidden agenda" and of deliberate confusion and obfuscation on the part of Harper and the Conservative Party. Remember this is not the Progressive Conservative Party.

Self-restraint or Control of Others

Inherent power is the volition of self which creates health and well being. The virues of inherent power are self-awareness, self-esteem, sense of personal responsiblity as well as a capabilty ot respond to life situations rather than react.

Aggrandized power is exercised by those who want to control others. Most systems operate on aggrandized power and are anti-empowerment for others. The key is keep people in their place and let them know you have more power by demeaning them and exploiting their energies and talents.

Aggrandized power almost always fails when the group consensus challenges its authority. Look at all the great figures of the eras who had a sense of their own inherent power and worth. One person, even today, challenges systems and institutions Jesus Christ judges the church because the churches have given him the power. "Forgive them for they know not what they do."

Media Overload

I go for weeks on end feeling it is important to keep up wit the news. Then I notice I am being fed the same news stories over and over and over again. I am sure we must be on our one hundredth outbreak of the avian flu pandemic.

No one seems motivated to come up with an original lead story, the corporate media spoon feeds us with entertainment news. The Asper family keeps our information highway busy with the same old lines of inquiry and there is little or no real whistle blower or hardy investigative reports to raise questions other than the tired old routine of backing up a fiscally and pro-United States conservative line.

Even if our political leaders decided to act and speak from a place of unequivocal authenticity it would be shrouded in the dominant perspective and interpretation of the corporate agenda. I grieve for the lack of the independant news sources of yesteryear. I remember reading about William Lyon Mackenzie in the 1800s in Upper Canada and the stir his publication would make in political circles.

http://www.bartleby.com/65/ma/MackenzWL.html

The Tyee and Rabble.ca are the nearest to the tradition of the populist press in the present day; these news sources present a balance to the "Family Compact" Papers and the Corporate hegemony of Canadian business circles.

http://www.thetyee.ca/

http://www.rabble.ca/

It is important to choose to question and seek out the information behind any news item and to be conscious of the fact that news is constantly being thrown at us whether it is welcome or not. Finally it is important to find your own voice and write to your political represntatives and to thr editor of the newspapers.

There is no voice as worthy as your own.....

the faerieshaman

Back to the City!

I have returned from a few days on Salt Spring Island. The Island made an impression on me. I want to move there. The quiet of the night was so refreshing and comforting and I did not miss the car alarms, the dirt and anxiety of living in the Bonaventure, the panhandlers, the screaming of meth addicts on the street and the sound of carts rattling down the alley way in the middle of the night.

I discovered an evening with friends at their home and I had the opportunity of hosting them at our place. If I suddenly disappear from the city scene, please look me up if you are ever on Salt Spring Island.

Be well......