Ivanka-Jared: Albania's Flamingo Revolution

We're just trying to capitalize on Albania's poverty like my family did in New York.

(DemocracyNow.org) Albania's Flamingo Revolution: anti Kushner-Trump luxury resort protests rock government, threatening to topple corrupt regime

Melania? Albania hates Ivanka, Jared, Trump

(Adam Mockler) Son Hunter Biden leaks truth about Ivanka Kushner Trump

(Meidas Touch)

Dead Bibi Netanyahu is ruining Pres. Don Trump

• (Rebel HQ) First Lady Melania Trump is terrified as Epstein accuser drops bombshell (TYT): Melania was a sex escort for Jeffrey Epstein and has been lying about it for years

What happened? Free LA Fire healing

Los Angeles' San Gabriel Valley suddenly feels like a faraway paradise beach

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WHAT HAPPENED?

What is a sound bath for spiritual cleansing?

In PR Russia with its worker cooperatives, the nation hides a glorious imperial past. Leningrad is actually Saint Petersburg, and this is where the czar stored the booty from imperial Eurasian adventures and conquests in the forging of the USSR, a Soviet super-nation, now mostly disassembled. The great Central Asian "stans" where the Buddha grew up are remnants of that time as is Ukraine and places as far away as Mongolia. The palace is now a museum. One needn't travel all the way there to see it, just visit The Langham Huntington Resort Spa in residential Pasadena on Lake Ave., which becomes Oak Knoll as it flows south.

The Langham Huntington, Pasadena

All the Gilded Age gold inlay on the ceiling...anyway, turn left to the Georgian Room, apparently named after the country of Georgia, where 60 yoga mats were arranged in a flower pattern streaming out from a center, where all of our "philosophical instruments" (Tibetan and crystal singing bowls, Zildjian gong, tingsha, giant shamanic drum, muyu wooden temple drum) were set up. Enormous amethyst and clear quartz crystals formed a ring around our sacred space. Eager participants, many of them guests of the hotel, streamed in and found a place, arranging themselves on the ground for maximum comfort, socializing and hugging. Then Seven sounded the drum and brought their attention to the basics for the evening:

• total relaxation
• receptivity with palms facing upward (downward for grounding)
• diaphragmatic breathing
• placing the mind on the breath to remain in the present moment, knowing the human superpower of adverting attention to a safe default (resting home) position at the nose or belly button.

Slowly the other musicians, the Zildjian Mistress Linda Lau Cole and Dr. O'Connor and Linda with the bell and her husband with the rain stick wandered about, enchanting the audience. Some sat to meditate, others taking a supine position to exhale.

The instructions were simple. What? Be. Where? Here. When? Now. How? Breathe and stay with the breath already breathing itself. Be a mindful observer of all that is coming up, without

• fixing
• judging
• evaluating
• clinging to
• rejecting
• fighting
• or even choosing

The work of the shaman is healing.

the content of experience. Be here now. Stay present. Know the safety of presence as Byron Katie and Eckhart Tolle explain it. Be in the now. The room was very safe. People kept streaming in, finding a mat. The sounds became ethereal, echoing, softening hearts and soothing minds.

Dr. O'Connor voiced otherworldly notes, traces of Tibetan chants, a heavenly choir as the Mistress joined in. Seven gave reiki and a laying on of healing hands, transferring prana and whispering a sacred mantra, for those open to it.

Dr. O'Connor began the process of emerging, signaling the supine to slowly move their heads side to side and rouse themselves with tapping. Slowly they sat up, smiling, looking at one another with lovely eyes.

Raising open palms, we intoned three long "OMs" together to send out metta and positive energy to an aching world. Outside, the earlier rain had quelled the fires and begun the cleansing process. Inside, the vibration had been raised, and there was clarity and a wish to connect.

• The next FREE sound bath and healing event was announced (February 8, 2025, at 4:00 pm, at The Awareness Center, Pasadena.

Roses were distributed to everyone as was water provided by the spa. Some people cried tears of joy, free hugs were on offer, and plans were made to reunite as everyone was invited to the next event.

RSVP for the next free session

• Los Angeles Fire FREE healing session (2/8)
• Disclosure Project: LA FIRE FREE HEALING, sound bath, meditation for all impacted by disaster, Sat, Feb 8, 2025, 4:00 PM | Meetup
• PasaDharma: LA FIRE FREE HEALING, sound bath, meditation for all impacted by disaster, Sat, Feb 8, 2025, 4:00 PM | Meetup
• Nature Center: LA FIRE FREE HEALING, sound bath, meditation for all impacted by disaster, Sat, Feb 8, 2025, 4:00 PM | Meetup

Event details

Event flyer: Sound Bath.

Spend an hour or more with Dr. O'Connor and healers gathering for a sound bath, vagus nerve release, relaxation, and meditation.

Dr. O'Connor and Dharma Buddhist Meditation are offering a complimentary sound bath and emotional healing to support Los Angeles residents affected by the recent fires with our very own Seven and Devorah Anderson.

• COMING SOON: We will be at The Awareness Center yoga studio in Pasadena, providing this healing event to the community. See Dharma Buddhist Meditation (Meetup) for upcoming announcement details.

These Santa Ana winds are driving me crazy!

Using Tibetan singing bowls, Indian harmonium, shamanic drums, and a Zildjian gong, this healing session promotes deep relaxation, breath work, emotional release, de-stressing, and physical renewal.

Let the soothing vibrations help begin to restore balance, ease stress and strain, and bring about peace from within during this time of recovery.

WHO MAY ATTEND? This is for any LA resident emotionally, psychologically, or physically affected by the fires. (That means you).

There is good scientific evidence that sound stimulates the vagus nerve and can therefore positively affect our wellbeing.

• FREE meditation, spiritual healing, sound bath
• Georgian Ballroom at Langham Spa Resort Hotel
• 1401 South Oak Knoll Ave., Pasadena, California
• Monday, January 27, 2025, 6:15 pm
• Space is limited to 60. Sign up as guest to register:
• na.spatime.com/tllax/5684945/activity/activity-view/11679295
• Also please RSVP free here or here:
• Disclosure Project: Dharma Buddhist Meditation
• PasaDharma: Dharma Buddhist Meditation
• Nature Center: Dharma Buddhist Meditation
• Dr. O'Connor, Dhr. Seven, Ananda (Dharma Buddhist Meditation), Jen B. (eds.), Wisdom Quarterly

Pow Wow, Thunder+Lightning, SoCal (9/22)

Morongo (powwows.com); KESQ 3; Xochitl, Seven, Ashley Wells (eds.), Wisdom Quarterly

Braves drum and dance; females compete in Miss Indian World beauty pageant (pinterest).

Next it's onto the Barona Pow Wow (flickr.com)

The Morongo Band of Mission Indians host their annual Thunder & Lighting Pow Wow from Sept. 22-24, 2023, in Cabazon, California, on the grounds of the Morongo Casino Resort and Spa.

PowWows.com will stream this pow wow live! Or watch it in person at a luxurious resort. It is open to the public. All dancers, drummers, and singers are welcome to participate. Register now.

Info: morongopowwow.com

• Morongo Thunder & Lightning Pow Wow
• September 22, 2023-September 24, 2023
• 49500 Seminole Dr., Cabazon, CA, 92230
• FREE admission
• Contact – Morongo Powwow

Memories of beautiful avian ETs? (morongopowwow.com)

Driving directions

Bebe, can we go see indigenous traditions? - Yes!

It's on the way to Joshua Tree, past Banning. Morongo’s pow wow is located just off the 10 Freeway in Cabazon, approximately 20 minutes west of Palm Springs. Going eastbound from Los Angeles County, take the 10 Fwy. Exit on Morongo Trail. Turn left (north). Turn right (east) on Seminole Drive. Then follow the signs to the pow wow.

Schedule

Hopeful beauties in pageant to crown Miss Indian World at pow wow (pinterest.com)

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Friday, Sept. 22

SCHEDULE

• 4:00 pm Indian marketplace and registration opens; blessing of the dance arena; bird singers open
• 4:15 pm Open bird singing and dancing
• 7:45 pm Drum roll call
• 8:00 pm Color Guard grand entry
• 12:00 am Closing-retire flags

Saturday, Sept. 23

• 11:00 am Indian marketplace opens
• 11:00 am Open bird singing and dancing
• 12:45 pm Drum call
• 1:00 pm Color Guard grand entry and pow wow registration closes
• 5:00 pm Bird singers and dancing contest
• 5:00 pm-7:00 pm Dinner
• 7:45 pm Drum call
• 8:00 pm Color Guard grand entry; dusk Peon Games* (men, women, boys, girls)
• 12:00 am Closing-retire flags

Sunday, Sept. 24

• 11:00 am Indian marketplace opens
• 11:00 am Open bird singing and dancing
• 12:45 pm Drum call
• 1:00 pm Color Guard grand entry
• 6:00 pm Closing

Next we gather in Coachella for PowerTrip 2023

Don't miss the next pow wow. Get updates about upcoming pow wows sent directly to email.

SUBSCRIBE if willing to consent to receiving emails and personalized ads. Source (powwows.com)

• Morongo Powwow 2023 Thunder & Lightning

*Peon Games? Who'ya calling a "peon"?

Peon Games 2023 for prize money

Peon is a guessing game that used to be played during the annual mourning ceremonies. Today, peon can be played at any type of Indian gathering or fiesta. Four member opposing teams of either males or females play. Similar to “hand games,” each player has two peon bones (one black, one white) made from coyote or deer leg bones. A band of rawhide is strapped to the middle of the stick, which is slipped over the player’s wrist. More

Phuket: How to SEE the Future (video)

Dhr. Seven, Ashley Wells, CC Liu, Kelly Yani, Wisdom Quarterly; Carsten "Jan" Kühne

Kwan Yin looks over devotees preparing to divine future: Thai-Chinese Mahayana Buddhist temple, Wat Chalong, Phuket, South Thailand (Carsten "Jan" Kuhne/photograph_jan/flickr)

Murals of the Buddha's life, angelic devas on right, Wat Chalong, Phuket (Carsten "Jan" Kühne)

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Buddhism at the Met, NYC (ASTERIX61)

PHUKET, Thailand - We entered the temple in a largely Chinese part of Poo-ket town in southern Thailand.

Here the temples are a grand Indochinese blend of Mahayana style, like royal Chinese courts, and Theravada Indian roots.

A loud rattle caught our attention echoing from the stone walls. Beautiful Thai women were holding canisters, bowing reverently, then tossing the contents to divine the future.

The West might resort to the Tarot or a beach pier "psychic," but in Chinese parts of Thailand and Malaysia divination sticks are the preferred method of casting the future. So long as people want to know, need to know, the future and what they will do and what will happen to them, there will be some form of determining which choice to make.

Thai Theravada Chinese divination: Das sind buddhistische Reisende bei ihrer Religionsausübung. Hier ist ein genauerer Blick auf die Frau in der Mitte interessant. Ich wunderte mich, was das Geklapper in dieser Halle sollte. In einem Becher ist eine größere Anzahl von nummerierten Stäben. Der Gläubige (und das darf wirklich jeder probieren) schüttelt den Becher so lange und heftig, bis nur ein Stab herausgefallen ist. Ansonsten neu ansetzen. Die Nummer des Stabes führt zu einem Zettel aus dem Zettelkasten (nicht im Bild). Der Zettel gibt dem Glaubenden eine Botschaft. Translated below (C.J. Kuhne).

 

KARMA (action) says we have choice, and we will experience the resultants and fruits (vipaka and phala). But with choice comes responsibility, so we like a little help in choosing.

• What is "good" karma, what is "bad" karma? That is easy to determine for oneself, hard to determine for others. If an action is motivated by greed, hatred/fear, or delusion, it is unwholesome, unskillful, and better left undone.
• If, however, an action is motivated by nongreed, nonaversion, or nondelusion, it is wholesome and skillful and should not be left undone. So do it, and do more of it because one never regrets merit when one finally experiences the pleasant results and fruits of good karma.

What will the future be? 

"God's a Buddhist" it turns out in Season 4 episode "Probably" when Satan learns that his real problem is that he's dependent on relationships and should consider being alone to find some balance in his life ("South Park"/VIDEO: SouthPark.nl/clips). 

 

Is there a way to know the future? Yes. Live it.

What must they be whispering? The religious hush was broken not only by the loudly rattling sticks but also by all the fevered chatter. "O, Universe, what should I do (to succeed)?!"

"Go for it, O supplicant."

"But I'm not sure it's what I want."

"Okay, then, don't go for it."

"But if I don't, I'll never know if it was meant to be!"

"Look, supplicant, what the h*ll do you want from me? Just do what you want!"

Cash, bhat, yuan, euros = happiness?

"I don't know what I want! Is this 'the One,' O Universe?"

"[You want love, pleasure, fulfillment, and anything you think might get you these, like money, power, intoxicants, and fame.] There are lots of Ones, just pick one!"

"But, Universe, will I be happy if I do?"

"Just do it and find out!!"

You just pick! Then eat at City Wok! (SP)

"I'm not sure. Maybe I should throw these sticks and pay the temple priest to divine from my subconscious what I really want to do."

"Yes, yes, good plan, and get off my back. The Sticks know all! Follow the Sticks."

"Thank you, O nurturing Universe."

God's a Buddhist (South Park, Season 4)

*GERMAN TRANSLATION: "These are Buddhist religionists in their reverence. Here taking a closer look at the woman in the center is interesting. I was wondering what the loud clatter in the hall was. In a can (in her hand) is a larger number of numbered sticks. The believer (and one must really believe), by shaking the cup long and hard, sees what stick comes out. Otherwise, she starts again. The number on the stick leads one to a list from the list box (not pictured). The list gives the believer a message (not in German but in Chinese and possibly in Thai). - Carsten "Jan" Kuhne (photograph_jan/flickr.com)

Formerly Buddhist Maldives in turmoil (video)

Wisdom Quarterly; ABC News "Around the World" with Christiane Amanpour

The remarkable documentary "The Island President," which takes a closer look at the life of Nasheed, comes to theaters on March 28, 2012.

MALE, Maldives - There was once a set of idyllic Buddhist islands. One day a ship wrecked on its sandy bars. Aboard the ship was a Muslim saint who converted the islanders to Islam. This is the story of the formerly Buddhist Maldives, off the southern coast of India, west of Sri Lanka.

• The Maldive (Lakshadweep) Islands are the tops of a vast submarine mountain range in the Indian Ocean that form a terrestrial ecoregion. The atolls of Maldives encompass a territory spread over roughly 35,000 square miles (90,000 sq km), making it one of the world's most geographically dispersed countries. Its population of 328,536 (2012) inhabits 200 of its 1,192 islands. It is the smallest Asian country in both population and land area with an average ground level of 4 feet 11 inches (1.5 m) above sea level, it is the planet's lowest country. As the country with the lowest natural highest point in the world, at 7 feet 10 inches (2.4 m), its forecast inundation is of great concern.

Fast forward hundreds of years and climate chaos is raising sea levels (whether caused by human activity, solar flares, the dawn of a new age, galactic realignments, Al Gore's "An Inconvenient Truth," the wrath of extraterrestrials, or whatever).


Who cares about the Maldives? Billabong surfer-model Catherine Clark's ghostwriters!

With an average height of four feet, the Maldives is most at risk from changes in water levels due to the melting poles. Meanwhile, we keep polluting the air. We keep tossing plastic into the ocean, leaking oil, wiping out fish stocks, and disregarding the rest of the world.

But it all comes back to us eventually. Ousted and exiled President Mohamed Nasheed speaks exclusively to Christiane Amanpour on Around the World. He did not step down. He claims he was deposed, forced to resign. What happens in the microcosm of the Maldives impacts the rest of the world.

Christiane Amanpour's exclusive interview with deposed President Nasheed

Pres. Nasheed became the first democratically elected president of the Maldives in 2008. These islands are known more for their diving and ritzy resorts than for their religious history or culture.

(Tourists are kept far from the people so as not to despoil uncorrupted native traditions). After the coup, Nasheed is hiding on the nearby island nation of Buddhist Sri Lanka, which has a considerable Indian Muslim, Tamil Hindu, British Christian, and Portuguese Catholic presence.

"Democracy is at stake," Nasheed believes. "What happens in the Maldives happens in the Middle East always two or three years later." More

Bhutan: Buddhist Winter Retreat Program

(Bhutanretreat) Hotel ZhiwaLing

Winter under perpetually clear blue skies and snow capped peaks, in the peaceful atmosphere of Himalayan Bhutan, ensconced in its ancient Buddhist culture, the Hotel Zhiwa Ling introduces week-long Buddhist retreats. There is a growing quest for spiritual fulfillment and interest in Buddhism as an answer to this search, this program has been created to impart Buddhist knowledge as well as lifestyle in the luxurious surroundings of the Zhiwa Ling Hotel. (The staff of Wisdom Quarterly will gladly visit with you).

• Info: zhiwaling.com
• Tours: bhutanecoventure.com

Move to Yogaville

NPR Radio "Day to Day," Your Money segment

• Broke and Jobless? There's Always Yogaville

Where do you go when you run out of money? One alternative to mom's couch is an ashram in rural Virginia. People who were recently laid off are welcome, so long as they're willing to clean, forsake beer and meditate daily.

Day to Day (March 17, 2009) · Where would you go when you're running out of money? As the economy continues to sputter, I've turned this question into a hypothetical game of sorts.

At gatherings held by my (mostly unemployed journalist) friends in Los Angeles, a city where the jobless rate now stands at 20 percent, we'd rank the obvious options: parents' house, friends' futon, military. Then there's the less obvious ones: laboring on an organic farm... More>>