WHAT NOW?

With the oil spill in the Gulf continuing for so many months, there are MANY people that are really upset. Unlike other disasters that have lost media attention and therefore the attention of the masses, this one is staying in the spotlight, and people are getting more and more concerned. As horrific as this event is, there is an awakening that I have not seen before. People are not just walking away and going back to life as usual. They are asking questions they haven't asked before and looking for ways to change the oil habit we all have. This is a GOOD thing, rising from the horror of the spill.

I have been SO grateful every day that the water where I live is still clean enough to swim in. But it occurred to me that the plastic I pick up that washes up on the beach each day is also OIL!!!! So there IS oil pollution here too, but just in solid form rather than liquid. AYAH!

We all know that we use oil in our cars and machines, but I recently saw a list of items made from oil that was shocking. The list was published by an oil company as a boast, as in "look how many things in your life we provide for you". This list looks really different now. Look how many things in my life are part of why this oil was being drilled in the first place. As I scanned down the list it was alarming: I have that, and that, and that, and on and on. Have a look for yourself and see what is in your life on this list. (I had to laugh that ballet tights was the very first item!!!)

CLOTHING/TEXTILES
Ballet tights
nylon cord
women's polyester blouses
beads
pajamas
women's polyester pants
bracelets
pantyhose
nylon zippers
plastic hangers
permanent press clothing
dresses
purses
thongs/flip flops
earrings
ribbons
fake fur
windbreakers
sandals
garment bags
shoe laces
rain coats
iron-on patches
sneakers
sweaters
men's nylon undershirts
sofa pillow material
men's polyester shirts
men's polyester slacks
tote bags
umbrellas

OFFICE
Ball point pens
diskettes
thermometer
Ink
computers
typewriter ribbon/cartridges
business card holders
copiers
waste baskets
calculators
printer ribbon cartridges
microfilm
carbon paper
protractor
name tags
correction fluid
ring binder
erasers
rulers
letter divider
scotch tape
magic markers
telephone

SPORTS/HOBBIES/GAMES
Back packs
fishing lures
air mattresses
Polaroid camera
beach balls
fishing poles
hang gliders
vinyl cases
cameras
footballs
glue containers
puzzles
darts
Frisbees
golf ball/bags
shotgun shell casing
ear plugs
knitting needles
waterproof jackets
stadium cushion
earphones
yarn
kites
tennis racket
fabric dye
decoys
life jacket
nylon strings
face protectors
volley balls
model cars
plastic water gun
fishing bobbers
soccer balls
oil paints
parachutes
fishing cylume light stick
earphones
playing cards
photographs
mono filament fishing lines
diving boards
poker chips
goggles
roller-skate wheels
whistles
guitar strings
picks
rafts
ice chests
tents
sleeping bags
pole vaulting poles
motorcycle helmets
skis
rubber cement
plastic flower pots
water skis
hot tub covers
sails
snorkels
monkey bars
photo albums
wet suits
flippers
tennis balls
boats
insulated boots

INFANT/CHILDREN
Acrylic toys
baby oil
laundry basket
waterproof pants
baby aspirin
bath soap
mittens
pacifiers
baby blanket
bibs
rattles
double-knit shirts
baby bottles
disposable diapers
baby shoes
teething ring
nipples
dolls
stuffed animals
baby lotion

MEDICAL
Allergy medication
cotton-tipped swabs
inhalator liquid
Pepto-Bismol
aspirin
first aid cream
lancet for blood testing
pill case
band aids
first aid kits
latex gloves
prescription bottle
burn lotion
glycerin
mosquito spray
rubbing alcohol
chap stick
heart valve replacement
nasal decongestant
surgical tape
syringes
Vaseline
antiseptics
hearing aids
anesthetics
artificial limbs
eye glasses
antihistamines
cortisone
vaporizers
Bactine
oxygen masks
stethoscope
prescription glasses

HEALTH & BEAUTY
cologne
hair brushes
lipstick
permanent wave curlers
perfume
hair color
mascara
petroleum jelly
comb
foam rubber curlers
denture adhesives
shampoo
contact lens/case
hair spray
hand lotion
shaving foam
cough syrup
hearing aids
hair dryers
shoe inserts
dentures
Keri body lotion
face masks
skin cleanser
deodorants
laxatives
moisturizing cream
soap holder
disposable razors
leather conditioner
mouth wash
sun glasses
facial toner
lens cleanser
nail polish
sunscreen
tooth brushes
toothpaste tubes
vitamins
synthetic wigs
bubble bath
soap
capsules

KITCHEN/HOUSEHOLD
vinegar bottles
egg carton
meat trays
trash bags
bread box
freezer containers
melamine dishware
tumblers
cake decorations
jars
microwave divided dishes
utensils
candles
freezer bags
milk jugs
vacuum bottles
coasters
gelatin molds
nylon spatulas
wax paper
coffee pots
ice cream scoops
oven bags
mops
drinking cups
ice trays
plastic containers
fabric softener
detergent
liter bottles
plastic table service
drain stoppers
dish drainer
lunch boxes
pudding molds
sponges
dish scrubber brush
baggies
drinking straws
Styrofoam
paper cup dispenser
measuring cups
Teflon coated pans
table cloths
refrigerator shelves

FURNISHINGS
Carpet padding
Naugahyde
Venetian blinds
TV cabinets
extension cords
picture frames
flocked wallpaper
shower doors
Formica
refrigerator lining
vinyl-coated wallpaper
curtains
kitchen carpet
shag carpet
welcome mats
fan blades
lamps
shower curtain
patio furniture
swings
linoleum
upholstery material
rugs

BUILDING/HOME MAINTENANCE
caulking material
light switch plates
plunger
faucet washer
clothesline
measuring tape
polyurethane stain
water pipe
electric saw
paint brush
propane bottles
wood floor cleaner/wax
vinyl electrical tape
plastic pipe
shingles (asphalt)
light panels
garden hose
plastic wood
spackling paste
awnings
glazing compound
Plexiglas
spray paint
enamel
epoxy paint
artificial turf
folding doors
floor wax
glue
house paint
paint rollers
toilet seats
water pipes
putty
solvents
roofing material
plywood adhesive
sockets
propane

AUTOMOBILE
Anti-freeze
flat tire fix
street paving (asphalt)
car battery case
coolant
motor oil
tires
loud speakers
bearing grease
sports car bodies
traffic cones
car enamel
brake fluid
dash boards
windshield wipers
visors
car sound insulation
oil filters
car seats
convertible tops
fan belts
gasoline

MISCELLANEOUS
Ash trays
dog food dishes
tool boxes
cd's
balloons
dog leash
tape recorders
synthetic rubber
bubble gum
dog toys
flashlights
nylon rope
bungee strap
fertilizer
flight bags
disposable lighters
cassette player
flea collars
flutes
lighter fluid
cigarette case
electric blankets
tool racks
name tags
cigarette filters
ammonia
insecticides
newspaper tubes
calibrated container
insect repellent
food preservatives
phonograph records
crayons
ice buckets
dyes
pillows
credit cards
flashlights
fly swatter
plastic cup holder
dice
movie film
k-resin
plastic tie
polyethylene
polypropylene
rain bonnets
luggage
video cassettes
charcoal lighter
rayon
safety glasses
safety gloves
safety hats
shoe polish
signs
cassette tapes
toys
watch bands
waterproof boots
shopping bags
bed spreads
traffic cones
check books covers
tobacco pouches
clothes hangers
flea collars
flavors
masking tape
safety flares
flags
signs
butane

Wow. And the website says this is a "partial" list! So what now? How do we shift this??? Look at what you could either do without, or find an alternative that does NOT require more drilling to keep these things in our lives. If we continue to buy all these things we continue to say we want more drilling. If that is NOT what we want, then we need to be CLEAR. That means changing our lives in ways that we maybe have never considered before. We must not go back to business as usual now that this gushing oil is stopped. Let this catapult us in a new direction. It is time.

Thanks for listening and making new choices.

AMPLIFY THIS!

There is magic in the air. Friends of mine have a magnificent property that is several acres nestled in the bend of a river, so they have water on 3 sides and the entire thing is forest. Once a month they invite whoever wants to come, to spend an afternoon swimming in the river, eating, singing, communing. This past week they added something powerful, a Sacred Council. It is a practice they have been doing with a core group for several years, and they decided to host one for a wider community to "seed" it and start other Councils on the island. It was so beautiful. We gathered in a circle and had a few minutes of silent meditation, and then a question was introduced and each person around the circle had a chance to speak their thoughts on that question. It was done with a "talking stick", so when you are holding the stick you are the only one speaking, and everyone else is invited to listen. Powerful. It creates so much focus. The woman introducing the question spoke of this current time being one where things are greatly amplified, and her question was this:

What would you choose to be amplified at this time?

WOW. The answers that came were so moving. Clean water, sharing community, caring for children, sacred touch, awareness of the Earth, and many more. As I listened I felt like all the things people want amplified would happen if only we could bring back a sense of the Sacredness of these things. Sacredness of water, of community, of children, of touch, of the Earth. And so when my turn came I asked that Sacredness be amplified.

How would it change our lives if we actually considered things Sacred?

If you consider the water running through your home to be Sacred, would it change what you pour down the drain?

If you consider the air you breathe to be Sacred, would it change how you pollute it?

If you consider the soil beneath your home to be Sacred, would it change what you throw into the trash bin?

If you consider other people to be Sacred, would it change the way you speak to them?

If you consider touch to be Sacred, would it change the way you touch others?

Yes. Yes it would. All of us have things we consider Sacred. But what if we began to view EVERYTHING around us as Sacred? I ask you all to stop for a moment when you are about to do something, and ask yourself if what you are about to do honors the Sacredness of whatever you are facing. That one question would transform our lives and the damaging effect we have on many things. I believe the more we treat as Sacred the more that ripples out into the rest of the world. People see us treating things as Sacred and they are inspired to do that in their own life.

Bring back the Sacred. I choose to Amplify This! YES!

What would you choose to amplify right now?

Thanks for listening.