WaveOfAction Only Just Launch A Facebook For activists!!!

Last night organisers call launched the website we'd been anticipating for days, since we sneaked a peek around it last week. It has been hard going keeping it to ourselves! 

www.waveofaction.org

It is just what is needed for the activist scene to keep up to date and get organised, furthermore it ties in beautifully with our Start a ripple make a wave article last week. We cant wait to get started properly with it and meet all you lovely people striving for a better tomorrow.

Signing up is simple, the standard email verification. If your visiting on a mobile please scroll down and click open full site if it doesn't seem like there's much there's, as a few people have mentioned this. Its very new so please bare with and report any glitches you may find to Wave Admin who will automatically be your first friend.

It has some excellent features Timelines, Chat, Petitions, Blogs, Crowd-Sourcing, Music, Pages, Mutual Aid all invaluable to activists and a real buzz from new users I have spoken too. It really is a fantastic way to collaborate with activists and organisations around the world.

Another bonus in my eyes, is stepping back from the evil empire of data mining AKA Facebook and still being able to communicate with everyone. Facebook has banned me, hidden posts from my favourite pages and even deleted my photos because I was feeding a baby in the background ffs! I for one will be glad to get on a social media platform that wont sell my details to the highest bidder, nor ban me for speaking out.

How I stay positive - Hope it helps you too

As my fellow blogger said in one of the wonderful ways to make change locally : spiritual wellbeing is crucial at this time, especially if you’re working on fighting the good fight, doing things differently, trying to make change.

So, let me share some stuff that brings me wellbeing - things that keep me sane, give me hope, inspire me to keep going, railing against the system, the injustices, campaigning, being the best I can be, as real as I can be, in spite of the tiredness, time restraints and apparent obstacles. Phew! Let’s face it, this era is exhausting. We could all do with some help at times. So here are my faves:

* Some yoga sun salutions every morning – otherwise I ache and feel sluggish. Definitely feels good and starts the day in a pro-active way.

* Meditating, sometimes just for a few minutes, every day, up to 20 minutes once a week with two friends, being still, connecting to the breath, the peace. It always makes me feel better, more patient, present. Essential, but easy to let slip for some reason - don’t!

* Regular listening to this inspirational and beautiful song by Nahko Bear (Medicine for the People) called Manifesto: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=MQBqtBgelnI
'Don't waste your hate, but rather, gather and create,' he sings. 'Find your medicine and use it.'

Spot the Banner of Peace flag at the very beginning, the official flag for the Planet Art Network and World 13Moon Calendar Change Peace Movement. The symbol and the Roerich Pact were created by Russian artist and humanitarian Nicolas Roerich, as a response to the destruction of the First World War and the Russian Revolution. It’s an international treaty protecting cultural and artistic heritage, signed in 1935, by India, the Baltic States and 22 nations of the Americas including the US. So just as the Red Cross protects hospitals, this symbol and signed international law is there to protect culture. On this symbol of human unity, the three red circles represent the arts, science and spirituality within the one greater circle of culture. Red to represent the one blood we all share. Worth remembering to wave this flag at any event you hold, along with the rainbows and slogan placards.

* Gathering with mates to dance to house music, began by the recently deceased Frankie Knuckles, among others, and carried on in many souls for the last 20+ years. Dancing to house lifts my spirits most, I think. It’s shamanic, eh? Mainstream news occasionally wonders: 'What became of the ravers?' And assumed we all settled down in our slippers and sofas. Well, no, not entirely. THIS is what became of many of the ravers. We are people who really connected with each other, across generations, races, cultural boundaries. So many of us have danced with and hugged strangers half the night, put the world to rights for hours (at the chill out afterwards), seen a better side to people, felt the love (drug-induced or not) of the music, of life, of each other. It was – and is – there between us all. Yeah, I’m clearly an old hippie, reincarnated into an old raver. I'd definitely do it all again. 

* Letting in astrology, about the bigger picture, how the planets are affecting us globally – as it all shows that a battle is being fought between the old ways of doing things that are now so corrupt and mercenary and murderous, and the rise of the new way of peace, the manifestation of the '60s spirit of peace and love. The planets also show the rise of the feminine side of life, after millennia of oppression, to bring balance, not overpower, the dominant, material, masculine world with a more feeling, caring, nurturing side. Change is occurring. It really is. Hang on in there and keep doing good stuff!

* I tune in every week to Kaypacha. He’s like Owen Wilson in Zoolander, for real, and very real. An incredibly perceptive, intuitive astrologer explaining the signs of our times very eloquently and clearly: http://newparadigmastrology.com/

He constantly explains how we’re going into a new paradigm, or rather, creating many new paradigms or ways of living differently. Many communities are getting together to make their area work more sustainably, cohesively and positively. Transition Towns, for example, are happening all over the country, and the world, with communities transitioning off oil, into being self-sufficient, growing their own food, making their own energy, helping each other spiritually, emotionally, physically, trading skills, and using their own currency (more on this in a future blog).

* Planning stuff to do for this Wave is exciting. I’m going to find out more about my nearest Transition Town and go to a meeting, and aim to get our large village into the zone as well. I want to show Occupy Love at the community centre. Who knows what else may come to mind or fruition. If I have to do more anti-fracking protesting, carnival style like on Solidarity Sunday in Balcombe, then I’m up for it. (But surely, fracking is so crazy and obviously about the money for the boys and sooo against the environment, the future, the people, that it’s got to disappear into the ether soon, when everyone realises it's proper madness. Please!). 

* This weekend, on Saturday 26th April, at 6pm. I'm going to join in Lynne McTaggart's Healing Intention Experiment, an online experiment to test the power of thoughts to change the world. Could be interesting, and seems as much a part of this Wave of Action as anything. And I'd like to get out in the woods and see the bluebells, as walking in nature is one of the best free medicines of all and we all need to get away from technology, sometimes.  

What are you going to do? What you do to stay spiritually sane and how will it help this wave gather pace? 

Plant Seeds of Positivity on Earth Day!

Today is Earth Day - even Google tells us so.

A day of worldwide love for Mother Earth, of unified meditations to connect us all together on this one beautiful planet.

Join in the Master Shift meditation today.  Or the Unify one here: www.unify.org/earthday

If you can't get to a computer, or haven't got the chance to tune in at the various times, tune in any time to mother nature, by getting outside and breathing the fresh air deep into your lungs. Go for a walk in the forest. Hug a tree! Feel the strength and resilience in its huge trunk, with roots going deep into the soil and branches reaching into the sky. You have that strength and resilience to get through whatever life is throwing at you, and help make this world a better place. You can do it. We can all do it together, as one.

Today, on Earth Day, plant some seeds in a pot, any old container, or your garden or windowbox. While planting the actual seeds imagine what seeds you'd like to plant in the world to make it better, to help it heal, spread more kindness and happiness. As you fill in the soil and water it, visualise your seeds of intention growing, blossoming, as the spring and summer progresses. Who knows what great things may grow as well as your tomato/lettuce/sunflowers?

In the 13Moon Calendar, this year is called Yellow Galactic Seed, which fits perfectly with the global seed planting happening today. We have the potential for great change, if we just focus our intentions on what we want to happen, not what we don't want to be happening. Seed years are about targeting our awareness on what we want to flower and trusting that nature will ensure that it blooms into life.

If you want to be more militant about your planting, then get Guerilla Gardening and dig in trees along concrete paths, or set seeds of vegetables on roundabouts. Any green or muddy space will do to plant some crops to feed the community, flowers to cheer people up or trees to clean the air.

It's time to get your hands dirty!

Good Friday Agreement

Gregorian Calendar: Friday 18^th April

13Moon: White Magnetic Dog

Good Friday

As well as taking the power back for ourselves, this worldwide wave of action is, of course, also about what we can do for others. How we can help each other make this world a better place: from paying restaurant bills for others to volunteering, to being kind more to connecting in the spirit of peace and happinedd. It all helps us, anyway, makes us feel good about ourselves to know we made someone or many happy in some way. Warm, fuzzy feeling inside. You know.

One Good Friday, in 2003, writer Danny Wallace made a Good Friday Agreement - http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/england/london/3120945.stm He decided to do good stuff all day, good deeds for others, random acts of kindness. It’s an idea has spread around the world with the Random Acts of Kindness group in the US and others setting up to encourage the many ways you can …well… do random acts of kindness. It’s nice. Life’s not all about fighting the good fight. Sometimes you’ve got to do the good things. Spread a little happiness. Be the love!

So, go for it! See what good things you can for others on every Friday from now on – and why stop at Friday? Every day, something different? From the large scale - holding a raising awareness gig, party or talk to going shopping for your elderly neighbour, volunteering for a charity or helping at your local school. Keep up the good work!

Astro insight

Astrologically, with the Grand Cross of four major planets in change-making signs causing chaos, but Venus guiding us through it, this is the time for the spirit of the 60s to rise again in its dreams for a better world. Could it be realised this time around? If enough of us get up and get involved. We have to do it ourselves now, with countless single brilliant acts, which will all add up to one big movement, if we’re all moving in the right direction: to something better.

In terms of the 13Moon calendar, it’s White Magnetic Dog – the start of a new wavespell, where the enquiry you can ask yourself on this first day of 13 is ‘what’s my purpose?’

Seriously. See how well that fits in? Synchronicity, see. So ask it and just see what you magnetise towards you, what comes up in line with the nature of the Dog, This time is now all about loving each other, loyalty to your tribe, living from the heart, compassion, running into the sea! And sometimes just resting, in front of the fire, with your tail wagging! Sounds pretty good to me. Read more here: http://resonanttruth.com/2014/04/white-dog-wavespell

Here’s a great piece for finding more out about the calendar and how you can make it work for you, from Kindred Spirit magazine – with the list of all 13 days’ questions to work with the energy of the White Dog:

http://www.dawnofthestorm.com/home/wp-content/uploads/2013/01/kspdf-lowres.pdf

Happy Good Friday and Easter (Oestre) Weekend. May the vibrant spring energy fill you with inspiration and action for the year ahead!

Meditation - that's all you need!

(includes link to free 21 day meditation series with Deepak Chopra and Oprah Winfrey)

The World Wide Web of Action began, in the UK, in Trafalgar Square, with a meditation. Sitting in a circle, together on the tarmac, those assembled wanted to set the tone of peace, centre their thoughts on what they were creating, connect with others doing it too, calm their nerves, and attract attention. I’m sure it did all that, and more, as meditation is one of the post powerful tools we have to use at this turbulent time. 

At the anti-fracking protest in Balcombe last summer, there was a meditation tent. It got trampled by the thuggish police (anyone want to investigate 'common purpose'?) but I love that it was there, to bring peace, stability and solidarity to the area. Cos that is what it would have done - so great are the powers of meditation. There have been enough tests and testimonies to show it can do many cool things: improve exam results, lower crime in an area, ward off stress, high blood pressure, disease and slow aging. 

Having meditated sporadically for the last 9 or so years, ten minutes in the mornings before my first boy was born (he's 7), a distant memory, in the last couple of years, I've been to three big group meditations, in Trafalgar Square. 

The first one (below) with Tibetan Buddhist monk Thich Nhat Hanh, in March 2012, which filled the place with people sitting in silence as he spoke his incredible words of wisdom. A massive range of folk, wrapped up in blankets, sitting on cushions, together, in peace. Afterwards, I walked to the Tube that grinning from ear-to-ear. It felt amazing to bring peace to such a noisy area - and to sense the peace inside me despite the sounds and busyness all around. 

 TRY IT!  

* Why not get a spiritual leader to come and speak at your town hall or community centre. Have a look at this list and see if any are local, or visiting the UK this spring and summer: Watkins bookshop have an excellent list of the top 100 spiritual people every year.   

One, on International Peace Day, 21^st September 2012, was a lovely ‘flahmob’ meditation, where we sat in a circle, around a CND sign made of flowers, under trees, in the rain and sang Imagine. It was a much smaller group but a powerful sentiment and message. Being rained on. Bah!

DO IT!

* Anyone up for doing the same on an upcoming significant date in their village green? In a yurt in a field - take a picture and post it.

The third one (pictured at the top) was another brilliant and fairly big 'flash mob' meditation, organised by Wake Up London http://wakeuplondon.org/  a meditation group for 18-30 year olds (although anyone can join in the flashmobs), trying to affect change with meditation. They've done others around the city and should definitely get involved with this Wave, because what they do is powerful and creates such a massive change - in you personally, and in the surrounding area, and world at large.

JOIN IN!

* Join a regular meditation group, or get others to join in with a flashmob meditation in your local square or school?

Meditation is just so good in countless ways, emotional, personal, global, galactic. It makes you feel calm, at peace, relaxed, chilled, happy, loved, loving, connect to something deeper that goes beyond the surface world, feel the peace within us all, see the peace within us all. It will make you less stressed, give you more time, make you look younger, help you deal with issues, know there is always the present moment where everything feels alright. Makes you breathe. And stop thinking on and on. Lets the mind rest. Gives you more energy. Makes you nicer, kinder, more patient (eventually, I'm hoping). Connects us to each other, something deep inside us, always there. Life Force. Source. The Universe?

And, most of all, it's actually fairly easy. After not that long at all, you'll get to like it, crave it, that time for peace. Given some focus, dedication - but only for ten minutes a day to get started - and willingness to sit with it. That's mostly all it is: sitting. And being. And allowing. Watching the breath, repeating a mantra, simply trains the mind to be still, stop chatting away nonsense, going over the past, worrying about the future.

Then, in the stillness, better ideas arise, creative insight, solutions to problems. You feel connected to the all, us all, so you want to do more for the all, for the good of humanity. You might suddenly want to get into your local allotment; spread the word about meditation or whatever else gives you peace or raises your awareness; helping kids read, giving food to the homeless, dropping spiritual DVDs on park benches for others to watch or screening OCCUPY LOVE in your local cinema http://occupylove.org/screenings/ . It all contributes to the world, at large, in a positive way. And that's how we've got to make change, by doing what is virtuous and fun (as the previous blogger says). That's not saying that people don't already do this anyway, loads do. We just need more to join in, showing the way forward, living the way out of this mess. 

GET STARTED MEDITATING NOW with this free 21 days finding your flow series of meditations with Deepak Chopra and Oprah Winfrey - https://chopracentermeditation.com/ . It began yesterday, so get your skates on and sign up. You could even do the first two today to catch up with thousands around the world tuning into it. It will only make you feel good. 

                                                                                                                                                             

 

ASTROLOGICAL ASIDE:

For anyone who’s interested, the astrological influences of this very time – with the lunar eclipse right now, are pretty intense and all point to this wave being big, if we all go for it!

http://esotericembers.wordpress.com/2014/04/13/cardinal-eclipse-and-cross/

“If we can gain a greater sense and presence in our authentic nature at this time of great calamity in world events, we will want to be able to integrate this sense of self into society so that we can help not only ourselves, but others in need.  It is important at this time to reclaim your sense of Will and the power of your Self not for yourself, not to brag about yourself on social media, but to powerfully make your presence felt so that you will be heard, to put yourself in position to not only listen to others, but to take action on the behalf of others or to serve the needs of others around you in dire straits…

We do not need some outside hero to come rescue us at this time, however- our hero and heroine is inside of us.

And for a lively, always informative, weekly update on planetary influences: check out the amazing Kaypacha on www.newparadigmastrology.com

Change the Calendar - Change Time?

Gregorian calendar: Saturday 12^th April 2014

13 Moon calendar: Yellow Galactic Seed

in the Red Earth Wavespell, 

in the Yellow Galactic Seed year.

Just over a week ago, the exciting World Wide Wave of Action began, kick-starting a movement for as many people as possible to do things differently. Stand out, make some noise, change the world! 

So I’m going to start by writing about changing the calendar, which can lead to a richer life, more in tune with nature.

The Wave began on Friday 4^th April, according to the random calendar given to us by the Romans, for the purpose of collecting taxes. But, on the 13 Moon calendar, the same day was Yellow Cosmic Warrior. What a perfect day to start an intelligent, fearless fight, questioning the integrity of the way things are done in our world – all the energy of this very day, Cosmic Warrior, at the end of the Yellow Seed Wavespell.

In the 13Moon calendar, a sequence of 13 days is called a wavespell, which has the energy of the first day running through the 13. So in this Yellow Seed wavespell just gone (23/3-4/4), we felt the potential inside the Seed, for flowering awareness and blossoming life, if we nourished ourselves, physically, spiritually, and targeted our intentions right. The World Wide Wave was planning, publicising,  preparing to bloom on the last day which transcends everything and brings us back into the present moment, ready to start another wavespell.

Then, on Saturday 5^th April we plunged into the Red Earth Wavespell, and have been running through various days (called kin) ever since. Today is Yellow Galactic Seed, which is, incidentally, the same energy as the whole 13Moon year, this year. Powerful synchronicity. 

This time is all about evolving, synchronicity and navigating our path.

It really is time to pay attention to the world around us, to the synchronicities that show us we’re on the right track, and give thanks to Mother Earth for letting us walk on her, grow our food in her, and keep on turning, travelling in space.

Now, if I haven't lost you altogether, don’t tell me you’re not a little bit intrigued about why the 13 Moon days sound so much cooler than your bog-standard calendar, that doesn’t even make sense anyway. It’s got 12 months of unequal length, 30, or 31, or 29 days long, some bizarrely named after Roman Emperors: Julius (July) and Augustus (guess?). Plus, the last three months OCTober, NOVember and DECember, were clearly the 8^th, 9^th and 10^th months before the Caesars got in the way. Have you ever wondered why none of it fits with the fact there are actually 13 cycles of the moon going round the sun every 365 days? It’s not just cos 13’s an unlucky number (it isn’t anyway, that’s just dumb, anti-feminine propaganda, but that’s another blog for another time).

The 13 Moon calendar is inspired by Mayan timekeeping and the natural cycles of the planets, created by artist and historian Jose Arguelles, and followed in over 90 countries - see www.13moon.com and www.lawoftime.org. It’s a creative, alternative to the norm, which connects us more to nature, each other and to the magic of synchronicity. It’s not another rigid dogma to follow, and you don’t have to live in a commune to do it – although there are communities around the world where people live life according to Natural Time (see www.crest13.org).

All I do to follow it, is tune into whatever the day is, each morning, feel the energies at play that day, and see where it leads and what thoughts or realisations occur. Each wavespell of 13 days can take you on a journey of self-discovery, transformation, or enlightenment. Or, at the very least, just give you extra tools to see you through the tough times.

Why don’t you find out your personal Galactic Signature – that’s a fun way to start getting into it. I’m Yellow Planetary Seed. Who are you? Find out here: http://www.lawoftime.org/decode/ 

Obviously, the first time most people heard about the Mayan calendar was when 2012 started to loom out of the shadows and everyone got a bit scared that the end of the world was nigh. But that’s not what the Mayan’s meant, and most sensible, spiritual people knew it. They meant the end of time as we know it, linear, rigid time. A new era was beginning, living in the Now.

But the world was unlikely to drastically improve immediately or re-start with another bang. Changing the course of humankind is like turning around a juggernaut, and running out of gas. 

For me, what the focus on the calendar did, at winter solstice 2012, was unify the minds of much of the world – mostly in peace. There was the Shift 2012 three-day webathon, with speakers and prayers birthing a new cooperative reality, as well as the Unify worldwide meditation event, which linked us all at 11.11 on the solstice morning, if you chose to tune into it. I did, and it felt magical, subtle but definitely something profound – a birth of humankind’s connectivity that was tangible, not just technological.

This World Wide Wave feels like it’s following on from that, as well as the Occupy movement, and other protests along the way. Connecting us in positive change. At last, there’s something deeper going on, people are looking for something more than this mindless, destructive consumerism. The answer is inside us, and all around us, if we just have a little time, curiosity and courage to explore.

In future (shorter!) blogs, I’ll explain more about this magical calendar, and how it takes you away from capitalism, where ‘time is money’, to something more beautiful and magical, where ‘time is art’...