wakingtimes--2020-02-06--Antidepressant Effects of Ayahuasca

Antidepressant Effects of Ayahuasca

A study published in Psychological Medicine found a positive correlation between a single dose of ayahuasca and a significant and rapid reduction in depression severity amongst patients with moderate to severe depression .
[ i ] While further research is needed to determine the efficacy of different dosage amounts and reduce possible side effects , researchers hypothesize that ayahuasca could be one of the most powerful natural antidepressant substances yet discovered , with multiple documented physical and psychological health benefits .
A study conducted in 2018 estimated that some 350 million people worldwide suffer from depression , and the World @ @ @ @ @ @ @ that depression will soon rank second in global disease burdens .
[ ii ] The core symptoms of depression include loss of interest or pleasure in daily activities , insomnia or hypersomnia , agitation , appetite and weight loss or gain , low feelings of self-worth , reduced concentration and in some extreme cases , thoughts of suicide or suicide attempt .
The severity of depression-related symptoms is of global cause for concern .
[ iii ] While antidepressant medications have dangerous side effects and are often ineffective , they ’ re the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ physicians .
A particular related concern is treatment-resistant depression .
In this study , treatment-resistant depressive patients were defined as patients who had tried two or more antidepressant medications and had seen no improvement in their condition .
Additionally , all participants in the study were described as having moderate to severe depression , had no prior experience with ayahuasca and had no personal or family history of schizophrenia or bipolar affective disorder .
Ayahuasca , a tropical plant native to the Amazon jungle , is known for its psychedelic properties and the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ religious tea ceremonies in South America .
[ iv ] As its usage has spread to the western world , researchers have become increasingly interested in its potential therapeutic benefits .
The active ingredients in ayahuasca are β-carboline , a compound displaying numerous pharmacological properties including antitumor , anticonvulsant , sedative and antimicrobial properties , and tryptamine elements , which can cause hallucinogenic effects .
[ v ] , [ vi ] As the research of ayahuasca advances , multiple studies have presented ayahuasca usage as a safe and viable option for treating @ @ @ @ @ @ @ this study , most research had not accounted for the placebo effect or fully studied the possible side effects of ayahuasca usage , including nausea , severe vomiting and diarrhea .
[ vii ] Ayahuasca works by stimulating multiple areas of the brain and upregulating platelet serotonin transporters .
Disorders associated with low serotonin transporters include depression and alcoholism , and researchers have theorized for years that ayahuasca could have a positive impact on these diseases .
[ viii ] Furthermore , ayahuasca is non-addictive , making it an attractive substitute for antidepressant @ @ @ @ @ @ @ qualities .
[ ix ] , [ x ] Additionally , ayahuasca has been found to have numerous neuroprotective and psychological benefits thanks to its main compounds , β-carboline and tryptamine .
Benefits of ayahuasca include : • Increased mindfulness , improved mood and assisted cognitive function up to 4 weeks after consumption .
A single dose of ayahuasca seems to produce benefits similar to those of meditation .
[ xi ] , [ xii ] • Improved memory and learning , and a reduction in inflammation and oxidative stress from harmine , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ xv ] • Supports neurobiological and psychological processes needed to recover from substance dependencies including alcohol and nicotine addictions [ xvi ] • May mediate the effects of traumatic memories in post-traumatic stress disorder ( PTSD ) patients [ xvii ] , [ xviii ] While additional research is needed to further authenticate these benefits , researchers are pleased with the potential benefits even a small amount of ayahuasca brew produces in patients with depression .
Short-term side effects of ayahuasca are well known and include : • Fear of death or a @ @ @ @ @ @ @ only temporary and are often considered purgative rather than toxic , they can be unnerving and unpleasant .
In a few cases , more serious effects of ayahuasca usage include increased blood pressure and heart rate , headaches and interactions with medications .
[ xxi ] , [ xxii ] However , all long-term studies found that ayahuasca and other psychedelics were well-tolerated and resulted in only short-term headaches and mild increases in heart rate .
[ xxiii ] Until further research can be done to determine ways to maximize the benefits of @ @ @ @ @ @ @ side effects , doctors caution against the use of ayahuasca , especially for those with heart conditions , psychiatric disorders , or anyone taking medications .
Additionally , ayahuasca should only be taken under the guidance of a trained health care provider able to monitor for potentially life-threatening side effects .
[ xxiv ] Still , as the research surrounding ayahuasca benefits grows , researchers are convinced that ayahuasca offers potential benefits that far outweigh any potential short-term side effects .
Long-term studies indicate that even a one-time dosage of ayahuasca can positively @ @ @ @ @ @ @ and suggest that ayahuasca may be the most powerful antidepressant discovered to date .
Clearly , the potential for ayahuasca ’ s therapeutic value in treating depression , especially treatment-resistant depression , is immense .
To learn more or to view additional research on the therapeutic benefits of ayahuasca , visit the GMI Research Dashboard on ayahuasca : The GMI Research Group ( GMIRG ) is dedicated to investigating the most important health and environmental issues of the day .
Special emphasis will be placed on environmental health .
Our focused and deep @ @ @ @ @ @ @ which the present condition of the human body directly reflects the true state of the ambient environment .
© [ 02/15/20 ] GreenMedInfo LLC .
This work is reproduced and distributed with the permission of GreenMedInfo LLC .
Want to learn more from GreenMedInfo ?
Sign up for the newsletter here //www.greenmedinfo.com/greenmed/newsletter .

Antidepressant Effects of Ayahuasca
GreenMedInfo Research Group, Guest
Waking Times
A study published in Psychological Medicine found a positive correlation between a single dose of ayahuasca and a significant and rapid reduction in depression severity amongst patients with moderate to severe depression.[i]
While further research is needed to determine the efficacy of different dosage amounts and reduce possible side effects, researchers hypothesize that ayahuasca could be one of the most powerful natural antidepressant substances yet discovered, with multiple documented physical and psychological health benefits.
Depression As a Growing World Problem
A study conducted in 2018 estimated that some 350 million people worldwide suffer from depression, and the World Health Organization (WHO) has predicted that depression will soon rank second in global disease burdens.[ii]
The core symptoms of depression include loss of interest or pleasure in daily activities, insomnia or hypersomnia, agitation, appetite and weight loss or gain, low feelings of self-worth, reduced concentration and in some extreme cases, thoughts of suicide or suicide attempt. The severity of depression-related symptoms is of global cause for concern.[iii]
While antidepressant medications have dangerous side effects and are often ineffective, they’re the first line of treatment for many conventional physicians. A particular related concern is treatment-resistant depression. In this study, treatment-resistant depressive patients were defined as patients who had tried two or more antidepressant medications and had seen no improvement in their condition.
Additionally, all participants in the study were described as having moderate to severe depression, had no prior experience with ayahuasca and had no personal or family history of schizophrenia or bipolar affective disorder.
What Is Ayahuasca?
Ayahuasca, a tropical plant native to the Amazon jungle, is known for its psychedelic properties and the bark and leaves are often used for religious tea ceremonies in South America.[iv] As its usage has spread to the western world, researchers have become increasingly interested in its potential therapeutic benefits.
The active ingredients in ayahuasca are β-carboline, a compound displaying numerous pharmacological properties including antitumor, anticonvulsant, sedative and antimicrobial properties, and tryptamine elements, which can cause hallucinogenic effects.[v],[vi]
As the research of ayahuasca advances, multiple studies have presented ayahuasca usage as a safe and viable option for treating treatment-resistant depression. However, prior to this study, most research had not accounted for the placebo effect or fully studied the possible side effects of ayahuasca usage, including nausea, severe vomiting and diarrhea.[vii]
Benefits of Ayahuasca Usage
Ayahuasca works by stimulating multiple areas of the brain and upregulating platelet serotonin transporters. Disorders associated with low serotonin transporters include depression and alcoholism, and researchers have theorized for years that ayahuasca could have a positive impact on these diseases.[viii]
Furthermore, ayahuasca is non-addictive, making it an attractive substitute for antidepressant medications, many of which have addictive qualities.[ix],[x] Additionally, ayahuasca has been found to have numerous neuroprotective and psychological benefits thanks to its main compounds, β-carboline and tryptamine. Benefits of ayahuasca include:
Increased mindfulness, improved mood and assisted cognitive function up to 4 weeks after consumption. A single dose of ayahuasca seems to produce benefits similar to those of meditation . [xi] , [xii]
. Decreased feelings of depression, stress and anxiety [xiii] , [xiv]
Improved memory and learning, and a reduction in inflammation and oxidative stress from harmine, the main β-carboline found in ayahuasca [xv]
Supports neurobiological and psychological processes needed to recover from substance dependencies including alcohol and nicotine addictions [xvi]
May mediate the effects of traumatic memories in post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) patients[xvii],[xviii]
While additional research is needed to further authenticate these benefits, researchers are pleased with the potential benefits even a small amount of ayahuasca brew produces in patients with depression.
Side Effects of Ayahuasca Use
Short-term side effects of ayahuasca are well known and include:
Vomiting
Diarrhea
Severe nausea
Paranoia
Feelings of despair or loneliness
Fear of death or a sense of dying
Dizziness[xix],[xx]
While these effects are only temporary and are often considered purgative rather than toxic, they can be unnerving and unpleasant. In a few cases, more serious effects of ayahuasca usage include increased blood pressure and heart rate, headaches and interactions with medications.[xxi],[xxii]
However, all long-term studies found that ayahuasca and other psychedelics were well-tolerated and resulted in only short-term headaches and mild increases in heart rate.[xxiii]
Until further research can be done to determine ways to maximize the benefits of ayahuasca use and minimize any potentially dangerous side effects, doctors caution against the use of ayahuasca, especially for those with heart conditions, psychiatric disorders, or anyone taking medications. Additionally, ayahuasca should only be taken under the guidance of a trained health care provider able to monitor for potentially life-threatening side effects.[xxiv]
Still, as the research surrounding ayahuasca benefits grows, researchers are convinced that ayahuasca offers potential benefits that far outweigh any potential short-term side effects. Long-term studies indicate that even a one-time dosage of ayahuasca can positively impact mood with minimal adverse effects, and suggest that ayahuasca may be the most powerful antidepressant discovered to date.
Clearly, the potential for ayahuasca’s therapeutic value in treating depression, especially treatment-resistant depression, is immense. To learn more or to view additional research on the therapeutic benefits of ayahuasca, visit the GMI Research Dashboard on ayahuasca:
About the Author
The GMI Research Group (GMIRG) is dedicated to investigating the most important health and environmental issues of the day. Special emphasis will be placed on environmental health. Our focused and deep research will explore the many ways in which the present condition of the human body directly reflects the true state of the ambient environment.
References
[i] Psychol Med. 2019 Mar; 49(4): 655-663
[ii] Sci Rep. 2018; 8: 2861
[iii] Dialogues Clin Neurosci. 2008 Sep; 10(3): 279-289.
[iv] Psychopharmacology (Berl). 2018; 235(10): 2979-2989.
[v] Curr Med Chem. 2007;14(4):479-500.
[vi] Front Pharmacol. 2016; 7: 35.
[vii] Psychol Med. 2019 Mar; 49(4): 655-663.
[viii] Curr Neuropharmacol. 2019 Feb; 17(2): 108-128.
[ix] Int J Ment Health Nurs. 2018 Dec;27(6):1805-1815. doi: 10.1111/inm.12488. Epub 2018 Jun 5.
[x] Patient Prefer Adherence. 2016; 10: 1401-1407.
[xi] Psychol Med. 2019 Mar; 49(4): 655-663.
[xii] Psychopharmacology (Berl). 2018; 235(10): 2979-2989
[xiii] Scientific Reports.volume 7, Article number: 5309 (2017)
[xiv] Ther Adv Psychopharmacol. 2016 Jun; 6(3): 193-213.
[xv] J Psychoactive Drugs. 2017 Jan-Mar;49(1):1-10. doi: 10.1080/02791072.2016.1260189. Epub 2016 Dec 5.
[xvi] J Psychoactive Drugs. 2014 Jan-Mar;46(1):63-72.
[xvii] Front Pharmacol. 2018; 9: 330.
[xviii] Front Pharmacol. 2016; 7: 35.
[xix] Nat Prod Bioprospect. 2019 Aug; 9(4): 251-265.
[xx] Front Pharmacol. 2016; 7: 35.
[xxi] Psychopharmacology (Berl). 2018; 235(10): 2979-2989.
[xxii] Ment Health Clin. 2017 Jan; 7(1): 39-45
[xxiii] J Affect Disord. 2019 Nov 1;258:11-24. doi: 10.1016/j.jad.2019.07.076. Epub 2019 Jul 30.
[xxiv] J Psychoactive Drugs. 2013 Apr-Jun;45(2):179-88.
© [02/15/20] GreenMedInfo LLC. This work is reproduced and distributed with the permission of GreenMedInfo LLC. Want to learn more from GreenMedInfo? Sign up for the newsletter here //www.greenmedinfo.com/greenmed/newsletter.


wakingtimes--2020-02-07--Olivia Newton-John Credits Cannabis for Help in Surviving Stage IV Breast Cancer

At age 71 , famed actress and singer Olivia Newton-John is winning a long battle with cancer , and she gives major credit to medicinal cannabis for helping her to overcome pain and get much-needed rest so that her body could heal .
Having been fought off cancer in 1992 , then also in 2013 , she was again diagnosed in 2017 , this time with stage IV breast cancer , which eventually spread into her lower back , causing extreme pain .
While she did work with traditional medicine under the care of her physician , she says that @ @ @ @ @ @ @ herbs has helped her to stay off of destructive opioids for pain management .
Opioids are highly addictive , have terrible side effects , and are causing a shocking number of overdose deaths in America today , but switching to cannabis for pain is proven to be very effective , and is what ultimately led to a positive turn around in Newton-John ’ s most recent effort to beat cancer .
Newton-John is married to John Easterling , otherwise known as Amazon John because he is respected for his work with Amazon rainforest @ @ @ @ @ @ @ of the region .
Olivia refers to him as a ‘ medicine man , ‘ and explains that his knowledge of the healing properties of plants , along with his cultivation of cannabis and preparation of specific cannabis tinctures , provided her with a synergistic , natural approach to coping with cancer .
Recently , at the G ’ day USA gala in Los Angeles , she commented : Appearing on the Dr. Oz show in 2018 , she talked about the miraculous and instantaneous pain relief from taking homemade cannabis tinctures : @ @ @ @ @ @ @ of my recovery and… my husband is a medicine man , really a plant medicine man and he grows , because we live in California so we can , he grows cannabis for me and makes tinctures , and the pain relief was incredible , even from the first time , even just a few drops of the tinctures made such a difference to me that I totally believe in it.
” [ Source ] She is now a passionate advocate for medicinal cannabis , and while her story is quite remarkable , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Many people around the world are benefitting from the healing properties of cannabis , including CBD ’ s , and her story mirrors that of celebrity actor and comedian Tommy Chong .
In 2012 , Chong was diagnosed with prostate cancer and went public with the news that he aimed to treat himself with hemp oil .
In 2013 , Chong reported to the world that he had beaten his cancer with a proper diet and cannabis oil derived from plants that he grew on his own rooftop in California .
“ After @ @ @ @ @ @ @ June that a cancer doctor told me I had prostate cancer and suggested a high frequency treatment that is not approved in America and could only be done in Mexico at the cost of $ 25,000 , I immediately looked at alternatives .
I contacted my nephew in Vancouver , who was about to become a doctor , and he suggested I meet with a Dr. McKinnon in Victoria , BC .
That doctor changed my diet and put me on supplements , and within a year I brought my PSA numbers down @ @ @ @ @ @ @ I also treated the condition with hemp oil ( hash oil ) .
With the diet , the supplements and the hash oil , plus a session with a world-renowned healer , Adam Dreamhealer , I ’ m cancer-free .
That ’ s right , I kicked cancer ’ s ass !
So the magic plant does cure cancer with the right diet and supplements .
I ’ m due for another blood test , MRI , etc.
, but I feel the best I ’ ve felt in years .
And now @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Kush… ” [ CelebStoner ] Tommy Chong is still doing very well today , and is , as always , another staunch advocate for the legalization of cannabis nation-wide and world-wide .
Research into how cannabis actually works to treat cancer continues to evolve , further supporting the case for legalization , which is terrible news for the medical establishment , because it democratizes cancer treatments .
If enough people shift towards homegrown medicines it could radically change the economic dynamic of how people approach cancer treatment .
This is especially important in @ @ @ @ @ @ @ are on the rise worldwide .
Please share this information far and wide to help with the liberation of natural medicine !
Alex Pietrowski is an artist and writer concerned with preserving good health and the basic freedom to enjoy a healthy lifestyle .
He is a staff writer for WakingTimes.com .
Alex is an avid student of Yoga and life .
This article ( Olivia Newton-John Credits Cannabis for Help in Surviving Stage IV Breast Cancer ) originally created and published by Waking Times and is published here under a Creative Commons @ @ @ @ @ @ @ WakingTimes.com .

Olivia Newton-John Credits Cannabis for Help in Surviving Stage IV Breast Cancer
Alex Pietrowksi, Staff Writer
Waking Times
At age 71, famed actress and singer Olivia Newton-John is winning a long battle with cancer, and she gives major credit to medicinal cannabis for helping her to overcome pain and get much-needed rest so that her body could heal.
Having been fought off cancer in 1992, then also in 2013, she was again diagnosed in 2017, this time with stage IV breast cancer, which eventually spread into her lower back, causing extreme pain.
While she did work with traditional medicine under the care of her physician, she says that supplementing with cannabis and a variety of herbs has helped her to stay off of destructive opioids for pain management.
Opioids are highly addictive, have terrible side effects, and are causing a shocking number of overdose deaths in America today, but switching to cannabis for pain is proven to be very effective, and is what ultimately led to a positive turn around in Newton-John’s most recent effort to beat cancer.
As noted by Express:
“Before turning to the herb she described as a “safe alternative”, Olivia said she went through “months and months of excruciating, sleep-depriving, crying-out-loud pain”. She said she weened herself off morphine with cannabis, and doctors had supported her.”
Newton-John is married to John Easterling, otherwise known as Amazon John because he is respected for his work with Amazon rainforest conservation and his relationship with indigenous people of the region. Olivia refers to him as a ‘medicine man,‘ and explains that his knowledge of the healing properties of plants, along with his cultivation of cannabis and preparation of specific cannabis tinctures, provided her with a synergistic, natural approach to coping with cancer.
And it’s working!
Recently, at the G’day USA gala in Los Angeles, she commented:
“My tumours are receding or they’re going away or they’re staying the same. On a Stage 4 metastatic breast cancer that’s pretty amazing. “If I hadn’t had the experience I’m having with cannabis I wouldn’t be able to talk about it.” [Source]
Appearing on the Dr. Oz show in 2018, she talked about the miraculous and instantaneous pain relief from taking homemade cannabis tinctures:
“Medicinal cannabis is a big part of my recovery and… my husband is a medicine man, really a plant medicine man and he grows, because we live in California so we can, he grows cannabis for me and makes tinctures, and the pain relief was incredible, even from the first time, even just a few drops of the tinctures made such a difference to me that I totally believe in it.” [Source]
She is now a passionate advocate for medicinal cannabis, and while her story is quite remarkable, it is not at all unique. Many people around the world are benefitting from the healing properties of cannabis, including CBD’s, and her story mirrors that of celebrity actor and comedian Tommy Chong.
In 2012, Chong was diagnosed with prostate cancer and went public with the news that he aimed to treat himself with hemp oil.
“I’ve got prostate cancer, and I’m treating it with hemp oil, with cannabis. So [legalizing marijuana] means a lot more to me than just being able to smoke a joint without being arrested.” ~Tommy Chong
In 2013, Chong reported to the world that he had beaten his cancer with a proper diet and cannabis oil derived from plants that he grew on his own rooftop in California.
“After I came out with the news last June that a cancer doctor told me I had prostate cancer and suggested a high frequency treatment that is not approved in America and could only be done in Mexico at the cost of $25,000, I immediately looked at alternatives. I contacted my nephew in Vancouver, who was about to become a doctor, and he suggested I meet with a Dr. McKinnon in Victoria, BC. That doctor changed my diet and put me on supplements, and within a year I brought my PSA numbers down drastically and eliminated the cancer threat. I also treated the condition with hemp oil (hash oil). With the diet, the supplements and the hash oil, plus a session with a world-renowned healer, Adam Dreamhealer, I’m cancer-free. That’s right, I kicked cancer’s ass! So the magic plant does cure cancer with the right diet and supplements. I’m due for another blood test, MRI, etc., but I feel the best I’ve felt in years. And now for a celebration joint of the finest Kush…” [CelebStoner]
Tommy Chong is still doing very well today, and is, as always, another staunch advocate for the legalization of cannabis nation-wide and world-wide.
Research into how cannabis actually works to treat cancer continues to evolve, further supporting the case for legalization, which is terrible news for the medical establishment, because it democratizes cancer treatments. If enough people shift towards homegrown medicines it could radically change the economic dynamic of how people approach cancer treatment. This is especially important in light of the fact that cancer diagnoses are on the rise worldwide.
Please share this information far and wide to help with the liberation of natural medicine!
Read more articles by Alex Pietrowski .
About the Author
Alex Pietrowski is an artist and writer concerned with preserving good health and the basic freedom to enjoy a healthy lifestyle. He is a staff writer for WakingTimes.com. Alex is an avid student of Yoga and life.
This article (Olivia Newton-John Credits Cannabis for Help in Surviving Stage IV Breast Cancer) originally created and published by Waking Times and is published here under a Creative Commons license with attribution to Alex Pietrowski and WakingTimes.com.


wakingtimes--2020-02-07--The Magnificent Truth of Why We Are Here

When Michael Becker of NewEarthKnowledge.com asked me to share my thoughts about the question of “ Why are we here ?
“ for his upcoming eBook , I assumed he meant “ why are we here having this Human Experience on Earth.
” Which in my mind boils down to , what ’ s the purpose and meaning of all of this , if any .
Is there a point to it ?
I was kind of amused when I received his invitation because this topic is one of the very first that I wrote about when I started this @ @ @ @ @ @ @ article is pretty dated now because my understanding of the greater reality has evolved since then .
Hence , I ’ m delighted to have the opportunity to write about this subject again .
The question of Why are we here ?
” doesn ’ t have a singular answer .
Like many of the subjects in spiritual metaphysics , the answer is multi-layered and multifaceted .
I ’ m only going to discuss this question from two very distinct points of view , but there are certainly others .
Yet , I @ @ @ @ @ @ @ are probably the most relevant and essential .
But before we dive into that , let ’ s take a quick look at what people throughout the ages have thought about this topic .
The Meaning and Purpose of Life ?
Some believe that we are here by happenstance .
That life arose in the universe by a long process of random chance and hence there is no real meaning or purpose to any of it — it just is .
And this point of view is okay because we can always choose @ @ @ @ @ @ @ for ourselves why we are here and proceed accordingly .
There ’ s nothing wrong with that .
But is it possible that there ’ s a deeper meaning to all of this ?
Is it possible that there ’ s something else going on behind the scenes ?
From our superficial observations of our world and our universe , it certainly seems like what we ’ re seeing is all there is .
If there ’ s something bigger going on , it isn ’ t readily apparent .
So , I @ @ @ @ @ @ @ decide that what we see is all that is .
And that it arose merely by virtue of the physical laws and is not by design , and hence doesn ’ t have any inherent purpose or meaning .
Yet many people believe there is something bigger going on and that it all has a profound purpose .
And if you study the ancient cultures of the world , you ’ ll find that most of them shared this belief .
And even though I ’ ve been an atheist for most of @ @ @ @ @ @ @ come to believe that there is indeed something going on behind the scenes and that it definitely has a profound purpose .
I ’ ve also come to believe that this bigger purpose has a direct relationship to why we are here having a human experience .
The human experience is not an accident — it ’ s by design .
To understand the purpose of the human experience and the purpose of each soul ’ s journey through those experiences , you ’ ll need to understand the bigger picture .
So @ @ @ @ @ @ @ First off , let ’ s reframe the original question in the broader context .
The question “ why are we here ?
” then becomes — why did Source decide to create our reality ?
And why is it playing all the parts in the game ?
Did you know that Source is playing all the parts in all the realities it has created ?
Yes , at least indirectly it is , but that ’ s another topic ( check out The Multidimensional Self to learn more about that ) .
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ secrets of existence .
Every single soul playing a character in this game ( or any other game ) is a piece or part of source consciousness !
We are all Source — ultimately , there is only one playing this game .
And this is not the only game it ( we ) created — it ( we ) are playing many characters in many games !
So why is it doing this ?
Why is it creating multitudes of realities and worlds and then diving in and playing within them ?
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ simple and somewhat surprising — there is nothing else to do !
Let me explain .
And to explain this adequately , I ’ m going to have to review the ultimate nature of reality and existence .
At the very ground of existence is an intelligence that presides over a field of energy/information .
This intelligence has been referred to by many names , but I prefer the term “ Source Consciousness.
” This field of energy/information that this intelligence presides over , we could refer to as the Source Field and @ @ @ @ @ @ @ stuff that is molded into worlds , into universes , and into the bodies of the avatars that we use to represent ourselves when playing within these worlds .
And of course , Source Consciousness is the intelligence doing the molding .
That ’ s why Source is often referred to as “ The Creator !
” The Only Game in Town But why does it create worlds ?
It creates them so it can have experiences within them !
But what ’ s the point of that ?
For one thing , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ expansion and evolution of its consciousness !
For another thing , it ’ s the only game in town .
Source is pure consciousness , formless , and non-physical .
And although we say that the Source field is energy , it ’ s essentially information .
In effect , Source is an intelligent and aware information system !
And as such , it can only read , process , store , and communicate information between its parts !
Natively It can “ think ” but not much else .
Unless of course @ @ @ @ @ @ @ experiences other than that , which it did — the creation of “ Realities.
” Which allowed it to experience itself as individualized “ physical ” beings within so-called “ physical ” worlds .
And the really fun part is that in this reality we ’ ve carefully hidden both of these facts from ourselves ( check out Constructing the Separation Game to learn more about that ) to make it a more immersive and exciting game !
That ’ s why you may be surprised and more than a little skeptical of @ @ @ @ @ @ @ it might be to believe , Source consciousness is creating and playing many virtual reality games — and it ’ s doing it through us !
Wholly crap !
That ’ s incredible !
And here ’ s the deal , it turns out that “ virtual ” experiences are just as good as “ real ” experiences .
The experiences are real even if the worlds you are having them in are not .
All that matters is that those experiences are formative to consciousness — which they most definitely are .
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ ” I mean they drive the expansion and evolution of consciousness , which is the whole point — because ultimately there is nothing but consciousness !
The One is the Many , and the Many Are the One And the amazing thing is that WE ( all of us ) are individualized pieces and parts of this consciousness — of source consciousness .
How is this possible you might ask ?
Even though Source consciousness is the one and only consciousness in existence , it is not monolithic .
If it were , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ consciousness is a composite , a multiplex ; a network .
It has many nodes of consciousness that are all connected together into one larger consciousness .
And yes , we ( our consciousness ) are all those nodes .
Source consciousness can subdivide itself into as many individualized nodes of consciousness as it likes .
Which allows it to do many things at once — including designing and generating multitudes of virtual realities and playing all the parts in them !
The nodes of consciousness that dedicate themselves to playing parts in @ @ @ @ @ @ @ been referred to as Souls .
Souls are parts of Source that are many levels of subdivision removed from the root of the source consciousness system .
With our review of the big picture complete we can now explore the question of “ why are we here ” from the perspective of the soul .
Everything a soul experiences , while playing parts in various realities , contributes not only to its own learning and growth , but to that of Source as a whole .
All experience , and all knowledge and @ @ @ @ @ @ @ up through the network of consciousness to the root node .
It all accumulates at the top — it all accumulates in Source itself .
From the perspective of the souls playing parts in this reality , we call it learning , we call it growth , but what we ’ re really talking about , is the expansion and evolution of our consciousness .
And because our consciousness is part of a composite consciousness ( that is , Source ) , our expansion contributes to its expansion , and our evolution contributes @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , we are here to contribute to the expansion and evolution of source consciousness .
And having experiences within virtual realities does that in a big way .
Yet within this context of our larger purpose , each and every soul has its own specific reasons and purpose why it plays the game of being human over and over again .
Each piece of consciousness , each soul is on an extended journey of human experiences , gradually learning , growing , and expanding and evolving its consciousness .
It ’ s like @ @ @ @ @ @ @ game with many levels .
And at every step of the way , it ’ s choosing the themes it wants to experience , and the potential lessons it wants to learn .
It ’ s going through a progression of learning and growth that is specific to it , but helpful to the whole .
The earth game and the human experience ( like all realities ) are chosen both because it is fun and interesting and because it ’ s formative to our consciousness .
In a sense , its both @ @ @ @ @ @ @ .
So , the soul does desire to have fun , but it ’ s also trying to learn and grow .
And here ’ s the thing , what drives learning and growth the best is challenge and adversity .
So , remember that , and you won ’ t complain so much — after all , you did sign up for this .
Everything ultimately serves a higher purpose .
There is so much more I could say about the journey of souls , but for now this is enough .
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ and our experiences !
Source is accumulating a vast amount of experience and derived knowledge and wisdom through this process that we are integral parts of .
Ultimately , we are Source , and Source is us , and we are truly all one .
This is the magnificent truth of what we are and why we ’ re here !
Jeff Street awakened about a year and a half ago , after having been an atheist/agnostic scientist type with absolutely no spiritual beliefs for most of his life .
After many ‘ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ now passionate about learning and sharing his insights about spirituality and metaphysics on his blog www.divine-cosmos.net .
You can also follow Jeff on Facebook via www.Facebook.com/DivineCosmoz This article ( Transcending the Illusion of Light Versus Dark ) was originally at Divine Cosmos and is posted here with permission .

The Magnificent Truth of Why We Are Here
Jeff Street, Contributor
Waking Times
When Michael Becker of NewEarthKnowledge.com asked me to share my thoughts about the question of “Why are we here?“ for his upcoming eBook, I assumed he meant “why are we here having this Human Experience on Earth.” Which in my mind boils down to, what’s the purpose and meaning of all of this, if any. Is there a point to it?
I was kind of amused when I received his invitation because this topic is one of the very first that I wrote about when I started this blog back in early 2015. That article is pretty dated now because my understanding of the greater reality has evolved since then. Hence, I’m delighted to have the opportunity to write about this subject again.
A Multifaceted Answer
The question of Why are we here?” doesn’t have a singular answer. Like many of the subjects in spiritual metaphysics, the answer is multi-layered and multifaceted. I’m only going to discuss this question from two very distinct points of view, but there are certainly others. Yet, I think the two I’ve chosen are probably the most relevant and essential. But before we dive into that, let’s take a quick look at what people throughout the ages have thought about this topic.
The Meaning and Purpose of Life?
Some believe that we are here by happenstance. That life arose in the universe by a long process of random chance and hence there is no real meaning or purpose to any of it — it just is. And this point of view is okay because we can always choose our own purpose. We can decide for ourselves why we are here and proceed accordingly. There’s nothing wrong with that.
But is it possible that there’s a deeper meaning to all of this? Is it possible that there’s something else going on behind the scenes? From our superficial observations of our world and our universe, it certainly seems like what we’re seeing is all there is. If there’s something bigger going on, it isn’t readily apparent. So, I think it’s perfectly reasonable to decide that what we see is all that is. And that it arose merely by virtue of the physical laws and is not by design, and hence doesn’t have any inherent purpose or meaning.
Yet many people believe there is something bigger going on and that it all has a profound purpose. And if you study the ancient cultures of the world, you’ll find that most of them shared this belief. And even though I’ve been an atheist for most of my life, I’ve now come to believe that there is indeed something going on behind the scenes and that it definitely has a profound purpose. I’ve also come to believe that this bigger purpose has a direct relationship to why we are here having a human experience. The human experience is not an accident — it’s by design.
To understand the purpose of the human experience and the purpose of each soul’s journey through those experiences, you’ll need to understand the bigger picture. So, let’s start there.
Exploring The Bigger Picture
First off, let’s reframe the original question in the broader context. The question “why are we here?” then becomes — why did Source decide to create our reality? And why is it playing all the parts in the game? Did you know that Source is playing all the parts in all the realities it has created? Yes, at least indirectly it is, but that’s another topic (check out The Multidimensional Self to learn more about that).
This is one of the big esoteric secrets of existence. Every single soul playing a character in this game (or any other game) is a piece or part of source consciousness! We are all Source — ultimately, there is only one playing this game. And this is not the only game it (we) created — it (we) are playing many characters in many games!
So why is it doing this? Why is it creating multitudes of realities and worlds and then diving in and playing within them? The answer to this question is both simple and somewhat surprising — there is nothing else to do!
Let me explain. And to explain this adequately, I’m going to have to review the ultimate nature of reality and existence.
The Ground of Existence
At the very ground of existence is an intelligence that presides over a field of energy/information. This intelligence has been referred to by many names, but I prefer the term “Source Consciousness.” This field of energy/information that this intelligence presides over, we could refer to as the Source Field and Source Energy. Source energy is the stuff that is molded into worlds, into universes, and into the bodies of the avatars that we use to represent ourselves when playing within these worlds. And of course, Source Consciousness is the intelligence doing the molding. That’s why Source is often referred to as “The Creator!”
The Only Game in Town
But why does it create worlds? It creates them so it can have experiences within them! But what’s the point of that? For one thing, having “physical” experiences drives the expansion and evolution of its consciousness! For another thing, it’s the only game in town. Source is pure consciousness, formless, and non-physical. And although we say that the Source field is energy, it’s essentially information. In effect, Source is an intelligent and aware information system! And as such, it can only read, process, store, and communicate information between its parts! Natively It can “think” but not much else. Unless of course, it invents a way to have experiences other than that, which it did — the creation of “Realities.” Which allowed it to experience itself as individualized “physical” beings within so-called “physical” worlds.
The Virtual Nature of Reality
And the really fun part is that in this reality we’ve carefully hidden both of these facts from ourselves (check out Constructing the Separation Game to learn more about that) to make it a more immersive and exciting game! That’s why you may be surprised and more than a little skeptical of my assertions. But as hard as it might be to believe, Source consciousness is creating and playing many virtual reality games — and it’s doing it through us! Wholly crap! That’s incredible!
And here’s the deal, it turns out that “virtual” experiences are just as good as “real” experiences. The experiences are real even if the worlds you are having them in are not. All that matters is that those experiences are formative to consciousness — which they most definitely are. And by “formative to consciousness,” I mean they drive the expansion and evolution of consciousness, which is the whole point — because ultimately there is nothing but consciousness!
The One is the Many, and the Many Are the One
And the amazing thing is that WE (all of us) are individualized pieces and parts of this consciousness — of source consciousness. How is this possible you might ask? Even though Source consciousness is the one and only consciousness in existence, it is not monolithic. If it were, none of us would exist. Source consciousness is a composite, a multiplex; a network. It has many nodes of consciousness that are all connected together into one larger consciousness. And yes, we (our consciousness) are all those nodes.
Source consciousness can subdivide itself into as many individualized nodes of consciousness as it likes. Which allows it to do many things at once — including designing and generating multitudes of virtual realities and playing all the parts in them!
The nodes of consciousness that dedicate themselves to playing parts in the so-called “physical” realities have been referred to as Souls. Souls are parts of Source that are many levels of subdivision removed from the root of the source consciousness system.
With our review of the big picture complete we can now explore the question of “why are we here” from the perspective of the soul.
The Journey of Souls
Everything a soul experiences, while playing parts in various realities, contributes not only to its own learning and growth, but to that of Source as a whole. All experience, and all knowledge and wisdom derived from that experience, trickles up through the network of consciousness to the root node. It all accumulates at the top — it all accumulates in Source itself.
From the perspective of the souls playing parts in this reality, we call it learning, we call it growth, but what we’re really talking about, is the expansion and evolution of our consciousness. And because our consciousness is part of a composite consciousness (that is, Source), our expansion contributes to its expansion, and our evolution contributes to its evolution.
Hence, ultimately, we are here to contribute to the expansion and evolution of source consciousness. And having experiences within virtual realities does that in a big way.
You are here to enable the divine purpose of the Universe to unfold. That is how important you are! — Eckhart Tolle, The Power of Now
The Individual Souls Journey
Yet within this context of our larger purpose, each and every soul has its own specific reasons and purpose why it plays the game of being human over and over again. Each piece of consciousness, each soul is on an extended journey of human experiences, gradually learning, growing, and expanding and evolving its consciousness. It’s like a school with many grades or a game with many levels. And at every step of the way, it’s choosing the themes it wants to experience, and the potential lessons it wants to learn. It’s going through a progression of learning and growth that is specific to it, but helpful to the whole.
The earth game and the human experience (like all realities) are chosen both because it is fun and interesting and because it’s formative to our consciousness. In a sense, its both an entertainment game and an educational game. So, the soul does desire to have fun, but it’s also trying to learn and grow. And here’s the thing, what drives learning and growth the best is challenge and adversity. So, remember that, and you won’t complain so much — after all, you did sign up for this. Everything ultimately serves a higher purpose. There is so much more I could say about the journey of souls, but for now this is enough.
The Bottom Line
Source is expanding and evolving through us and our experiences! Source is accumulating a vast amount of experience and derived knowledge and wisdom through this process that we are integral parts of.
Ultimately, we are Source, and Source is us, and we are truly all one. This is the magnificent truth of what we are and why we’re here!
About the Author
Jeff Street awakened about a year and a half ago, after having been an atheist/agnostic scientist type with absolutely no spiritual beliefs for most of his life. After many ‘magical’ new experiences, he is now passionate about learning and sharing his insights about spirituality and metaphysics on his blog www.divine-cosmos.net. You can also follow Jeff on Facebook via www.Facebook.com/DivineCosmoz
This article (Transcending the Illusion of Light Versus Dark) was originally at Divine Cosmos and is posted here with permission.


wakingtimes--2020-02-07--2020 Is Going To Get Much Crazier, Prioritize Your Mental Health

The outrage over the Iowa caucus scandal has continued to burn white hot as more and more establishment manipulations against the Bernie Sanders campaign come into view .
At the beginning of a CNN town hall with Democratic presidential candidate Pete Buttigieg last night , immediately following the network ’ s town hall with Sanders , the event ’ s host Chris Cuomo announced that 100 percent of the caucus results were now in and the former South Bend mayor had narrowly won the contest .
These results had been announced by the Iowa Democratic Party moments before Buttigieg ’ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ no reason for anyone , let alone a major news outlet , to believe these results are legitimate .
They are full of easily demonstrable errors and discrepancies which have been highlighted by both the Sanders campaign and The New York Times , and they have yet to be addressed .
Furthermore , Sanders has a perfectly legitimate claim to the win given the undisputed fact that he received thousands more votes .
This is without even getting into all the other extremely shady shenanigans with the now-infamous Shadow app whose crash has @ @ @ @ @ @ @ ’ s praise , which has in turn given him a major polling bump for New Hampshire .
But Chris Cuomo ( who is the brother of a Democratic New York governor and the son of another Democratic New York governor ) declared Buttigieg ( who because of his establishment grooming and alt-centrist ideology is beloved by billionaires and spooks ) the winner anyway .
In front of millions of people .
While Buttigieg was standing right there in the spotlight .
Immediately after the “ results ” were released .
We ’ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ rigged in real time , right in front of our eyes , and it ’ s intense .
And it ’ s only just getting started .
In the 2016 race between Sanders and Hillary Clinton , the Iowa caucuses saw some suspicious activity and there was some controversy over improbable coin toss results , but nothing like the furor we ’ ve been seeing over Iowa for the last several days .
It wasn ’ t until the Nevada caucus that things really started to get crazy in the 2016 race , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ of weeks out from that .
So we ’ re way ahead of schedule in terms of emotional intensity tied to this presidential primary race , and possibly at a more heated point after the very first 2020 primary contest than at any point in the 2016 race between Sanders and Clinton .
And it ’ s only going to get crazier from here .
And that ’ s just looking at the US Democratic presidential primary .
Later this month we ’ ve got the beginning of Julian Assange ’ s extradition @ @ @ @ @ @ @ OPCW narrative managing its own scandal by smearing the whistleblowers who revealed that the US , UK and France almost certainly bombed Syria in 2018 under false pretenses , we ’ ve got continuing revelations that pretty much everything the Trump administration told the world to justify the assassination of Qassem Soleimani was a lie , we ’ ve got an escalating new cold war between the US and Russia , increasing establishment attempts to censor the internet , an increasing propaganda war against China , the general militaristic belligerence of the US-centralized @ @ @ @ @ @ @ .
As I said back in November , things are going to get weirder and weirder throughout the foreseeable future .
We ’ re coming to a point in history where the only reliable pattern is the disintegration of patterns , and 2020 has come storming out of its corner swinging for the fences working to establish this pattern with extreme aggression .
We ’ re not going to hit a point of stability or normality this year , we ’ re going to see things get crazier and crazier and crazier .
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ s going to happen , but I know it ’ s going to be nuts .
In such an environment , it ’ s going to be absolutely essential to take exceptional care of your psychological health if you want to remain engaged with what ’ s going on in the world in a positive way .
And I do mean exceptional .
Whatever you ’ re doing now , do more .
Start cultivating new habits to keep yourself lucid and serene , and start now before things get super crazy .
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ and with yourself .
Remember to move your body in ways that feel good to you .
Carve out some time out each day for just being quiet with yourself .
Notice the beauty around you .
Give cuddles , get cuddles .
Take a shower and sing your heart out .
Feel your feet on the floor , nestle your bum into your chair and listen to yourself breath like it ’ s a song on the radio .
Yawn .
Belch .
Stretch .
Roar .
Put on some loud music @ @ @ @ @ @ @ works for you to get you out of your head and back in to your body , remember to do it , and remember to do it regularly .
Make it habitual .
Be proactive with this rather than reactive ; if you wait until you have to react to things going ass-side up later on it ’ s going to feel like you ’ re fighting to get your head above water .
If you do it now you ’ ll have the mental space needed to navigate tumultuous waters .
This @ @ @ @ @ @ @ want to engage with the increasingly frenetic narrative matrix in the future .
The only alternative will be to disengage completely and throw your attention into escapism , or at least away from politics and news .
And if you don ’ t make the cultivation of mental well-being your first and foremost priority you will be forced , in a very unpleasant way , to disengage anyhow .
And honestly this is something all activist types should be doing anyway .
Believing you can help the world without doing serious inner work @ @ @ @ @ @ @ house while covered in raw sewage .
You can always spot the political activists who engage without doing any inner work by the chaotic , unskillful and frequently counterproductive form their actions take .
They can ’ t see clearly enough to operate efficaciously , because their vision is clouded with unresolved suffering and conflict .
Get in the shower and wash the yuck off yourself before trying to clean the house .
Some of my readers want a Sanders insurgency in the Democratic Party , some support third parties or independents , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ endorse other approaches to pushing for real change .
But in my experience you all care deeply about the world , regardless of your preferred path toward doing so , and that ’ s going to take a heavy toll as all manner of things unravel over the next year if you don ’ t have the psychological spaciousness to navigate it lucidly .
Above all , be gentle with yourself .
We got a ways ahead of us , and we need you fresh and feeling good .
You won ’ t @ @ @ @ @ @ @ up if you let the chaos and confusion drag you down .
Know when to take a break from the information stream and all the babbling narratives trying to twist your perception of it .
Use your tools to distance yourself from the narratives so that you can perceive them objectively .
Ground yourself , find your center , then , when you ’ re ready , wade back in .
No matter how chaotic things get , your ability to navigate that chaos skillfully needs to be your first and foremost priority @ @ @ @ @ @ @ and everything else will fall into place .
Be the peace and harmony you want to see in the world .
The best way to get around the internet censors and make sure you see the stuff she publishes is to subscribe to the mailing list for her website , which will get you an email notification for everything .
Her articles are entirely reader-supported , so if you enjoyed this piece please consider sharing it around , liking her on Facebook , following her antics on Twitter , checking out her podcast @ @ @ @ @ @ @ on Patreon or Paypal , or buying her book Woke : A Field Guide for Utopia Preppers .

2020 Is Going To Get Much Crazier, Prioritize Your Mental Health
Caitlin Johnstone, Guest
Waking Times
The outrage over the Iowa caucus scandal has continued to burn white hot as more and more establishment manipulations against the Bernie Sanders campaign come into view.
At the beginning of a CNN town hall with Democratic presidential candidate Pete Buttigieg last night, immediately following the network’s town hall with Sanders, the event’s host Chris Cuomo announced that 100 percent of the caucus results were now in and the former South Bend mayor had narrowly won the contest. These results had been announced by the Iowa Democratic Party moments before Buttigieg’s town hall appearance.
There is no reason for anyone, let alone a major news outlet, to believe these results are legitimate. They are full of easily demonstrable errors and discrepancies which have been highlighted by both the Sanders campaign and The New York Times, and they have yet to be addressed. Furthermore, Sanders has a perfectly legitimate claim to the win given the undisputed fact that he received thousands more votes. This is without even getting into all the other extremely shady shenanigans with the now-infamous Shadow app whose crash has given the media days to sing Buttigeig’s praise, which has in turn given him a major polling bump for New Hampshire.
But Chris Cuomo (who is the brother of a Democratic New York governor and the son of another Democratic New York governor) declared Buttigieg (who because of his establishment grooming and alt-centrist ideology is beloved by billionaires and spooks) the winner anyway. In front of millions of people. While Buttigieg was standing right there in the spotlight. Immediately after the “results” were released.
Here's what just happened. The Iowa Democratic Party and the DNC sat on remaining results to release right before Mayor Pete does a CNN town hall. They then pretend to declare him the winner, when there are ***specific problems yet to be fixed that would make Bernie win*** https://t.co/5w9aeJUE2B — Secular Talk🎙 (@KyleKulinski) February 7, 2020
We’re watching a major US election being rigged in real time, right in front of our eyes, and it’s intense. And it’s only just getting started.
In the 2016 race between Sanders and Hillary Clinton, the Iowa caucuses saw some suspicious activity and there was some controversy over improbable coin toss results, but nothing like the furor we’ve been seeing over Iowa for the last several days. It wasn’t until the Nevada caucus that things really started to get crazy in the 2016 race, and we’re still a couple of weeks out from that.
So we’re way ahead of schedule in terms of emotional intensity tied to this presidential primary race, and possibly at a more heated point after the very first 2020 primary contest than at any point in the 2016 race between Sanders and Clinton. And it’s only going to get crazier from here.
And that’s just looking at the US Democratic presidential primary. Later this month we’ve got the beginning of Julian Assange’s extradition trial, we’ve got the OPCW narrative managing its own scandal by smearing the whistleblowers who revealed that the US, UK and France almost certainly bombed Syria in 2018 under false pretenses, we’ve got continuing revelations that pretty much everything the Trump administration told the world to justify the assassination of Qassem Soleimani was a lie, we’ve got an escalating new cold war between the US and Russia, increasing establishment attempts to censor the internet, an increasing propaganda war against China, the general militaristic belligerence of the US-centralized empire, and God knows what else.
As I said back in November, things are going to get weirder and weirder throughout the foreseeable future. We’re coming to a point in history where the only reliable pattern is the disintegration of patterns, and 2020 has come storming out of its corner swinging for the fences working to establish this pattern with extreme aggression. We’re not going to hit a point of stability or normality this year, we’re going to see things get crazier and crazier and crazier. I don’t know what’s going to happen, but I know it’s going to be nuts.
Things Are Only Going To Get Weirder "I often hear people in my line of work saying 'Man, we’re going to look back on all this crazy shit and think about how absolutely weird it was!'
No we won’t. Because it’s only going to get weirder."https://t.co/z5ivGMEMoY — Caitlin Johnstone ⏳ (@caitoz) November 1, 2019
In such an environment, it’s going to be absolutely essential to take exceptional care of your psychological health if you want to remain engaged with what’s going on in the world in a positive way.
And I do mean exceptional. Whatever you’re doing now, do more. Start cultivating new habits to keep yourself lucid and serene, and start now before things get super crazy. Work out your issues with your family and with yourself. Remember to move your body in ways that feel good to you. Carve out some time out each day for just being quiet with yourself. Notice the beauty around you. Give cuddles, get cuddles. Take a shower and sing your heart out. Feel your feet on the floor, nestle your bum into your chair and listen to yourself breath like it’s a song on the radio. Yawn. Belch. Stretch. Roar. Put on some loud music and rock out. Whatever you know works for you to get you out of your head and back in to your body, remember to do it, and remember to do it regularly. Make it habitual.
Be proactive with this rather than reactive; if you wait until you have to react to things going ass-side up later on it’s going to feel like you’re fighting to get your head above water. If you do it now you’ll have the mental space needed to navigate tumultuous waters.
This is what will be necessary if you want to engage with the increasingly frenetic narrative matrix in the future. The only alternative will be to disengage completely and throw your attention into escapism, or at least away from politics and news. And if you don’t make the cultivation of mental well-being your first and foremost priority you will be forced, in a very unpleasant way, to disengage anyhow.
And honestly this is something all activist types should be doing anyway. Believing you can help the world without doing serious inner work is like believing you can clean the house while covered in raw sewage. You can always spot the political activists who engage without doing any inner work by the chaotic, unskillful and frequently counterproductive form their actions take. They can’t see clearly enough to operate efficaciously, because their vision is clouded with unresolved suffering and conflict. Get in the shower and wash the yuck off yourself before trying to clean the house.
Some of my readers want a Sanders insurgency in the Democratic Party, some support third parties or independents, while others eschew electoral politics altogether and endorse other approaches to pushing for real change. But in my experience you all care deeply about the world, regardless of your preferred path toward doing so, and that’s going to take a heavy toll as all manner of things unravel over the next year if you don’t have the psychological spaciousness to navigate it lucidly.
Above all, be gentle with yourself. We got a ways ahead of us, and we need you fresh and feeling good. You won’t be able to help wake the world up if you let the chaos and confusion drag you down. Know when to take a break from the information stream and all the babbling narratives trying to twist your perception of it. Use your tools to distance yourself from the narratives so that you can perceive them objectively. Ground yourself, find your center, then, when you’re ready, wade back in.
No matter how chaotic things get, your ability to navigate that chaos skillfully needs to be your first and foremost priority. Put your mental well-being first, and everything else will fall into place.
Be the peace and harmony you want to see in the world.
About the Author
Caitlin Johnstone – Rogue journalist. Bogan socialist. Anarcho-psychonaut. Guerrilla poet. Utopia prepper.
The best way to get around the internet censors and make sure you see the stuff she publishes is to subscribe to the mailing list for her website, which will get you an email notification for everything. Her articles are entirely reader-supported, so if you enjoyed this piece please consider sharing it around, liking her on Facebook, following her antics on Twitter, checking out her podcast, throwing some money into her hat on Patreon or Paypal, or buying her book Woke: A Field Guide for Utopia Preppers.


wakingtimes--2020-02-07--Fungi That Absorbs Radiation Has Been Growing All Over Chernobyl Plant

For a long time , scientists have known that certain types of fungi are attracted to radiation , and can actually help to break down and neutralize radiation in certain environments .
The radioactive site of the abandoned Chernobyl Nuclear Power Plant has acted as a real-life laboratory in many ways over the years , giving researchers a look into the physical impact that radiation has on plant and animal life .
In 1991 , while a team of researchers was searching the Chernobyl area remotely with robots , they noticed black-spotted fungi growing on the walls of one of @ @ @ @ @ @ @ that the fungi appeared to be breaking down radioactive graphite from the core itself .
The fungi also seemed to be growing towards the source of the radiation , as if it was attracted to it .
Follow up research in 2007 , at the University of Saskatchewan found that different types of fungi are attracted to radiation .
A team led by Professor Ekaterina Dadachova observed that some types of fungi grew more rapidly when exposed to radiation .
The three species that were tested were Cladosporium sphaerospermum , Cryptococcus neoformans and @ @ @ @ @ @ @ faster when exposed to radiation .
The scientists believe that since these species had large amounts of the pigment melanin , it allows them to absorb things like radiation and convert it into chemical energy for growth .
Another follow-up study , in which eight species collected from the Chernobyl area were sent to the International Space Station ( ISS ) began in 2016 , but has yet to be published .
Scientists are eagerly awaiting the results of the study , considering that the samples are being exposed to between 40 and @ @ @ @ @ @ @ here on Earth .
If this study is successful , experts hope that the knowledge gained can be used to produce drugs that could protect astronauts from radiation on long-term missions .
It has also been suggested that the results of this study could lead to the development of fungi-based cancer treatments .
John Vibes is an author and journalist who takes a special interest in the counter culture , and focuses solutions-oriented approaches to social problems .
He is also a host of The Free Your Mind Conference and The Free Thought @ @ @

Fungi That Absorbs Radiation Has Been Growing All Over Chernobyl Plant
John Vibes, Truth Theory
Waking Times
For a long time, scientists have known that certain types of fungi are attracted to radiation, and can actually help to break down and neutralize radiation in certain environments. The radioactive site of the abandoned Chernobyl Nuclear Power Plant has acted as a real-life laboratory in many ways over the years, giving researchers a look into the physical impact that radiation has on plant and animal life.
In 1991, while a team of researchers was searching the Chernobyl area remotely with robots, they noticed black-spotted fungi growing on the walls of one of the nuclear reactors. They also observed that the fungi appeared to be breaking down radioactive graphite from the core itself. The fungi also seemed to be growing towards the source of the radiation, as if it was attracted to it.
Follow up research in 2007, at the University of Saskatchewan found that different types of fungi are attracted to radiation. A team led by Professor Ekaterina Dadachova observed that some types of fungi grew more rapidly when exposed to radiation.
The three species that were tested were Cladosporium sphaerospermum, Cryptococcus neoformans and Wangiella dermatitidis, all of which grew faster when exposed to radiation. The scientists believe that since these species had large amounts of the pigment melanin, it allows them to absorb things like radiation and convert it into chemical energy for growth.
Another follow-up study, in which eight species collected from the Chernobyl area were sent to the International Space Station (ISS) began in 2016, but has yet to be published. Scientists are eagerly awaiting the results of the study, considering that the samples are being exposed to between 40 and 80 times more radiation than they would here on Earth. If this study is successful, experts hope that the knowledge gained can be used to produce drugs that could protect astronauts from radiation on long-term missions. It has also been suggested that the results of this study could lead to the development of fungi-based cancer treatments.
About the Author
John Vibes is an author and journalist who takes a special interest in the counter culture, and focuses solutions-oriented approaches to social problems. He is also a host of The Free Your Mind Conference and The Free Thought Project Podcast.


wakingtimes--2020-02-07--New Bill Seeks to Commit US to Planting 3.3 Billion Trees Every Year

At the World Economic Forum in Davos , Switzerland would leaders addressed various ways to combat climate change and help the environment .
It was there that U.S. President Donald Trump committed to the Trillion Trees initiative .
A bill is currently being drafted by Rep. Bruce Westerman ( R-Arkansas ) that would set in stone the commitment to the planting of billions of trees annually .
If the legislation passes , the U.S. will plant 3.3 billion trees each year over the next 30 years .
Over the last few years tree planting initiatives have increased across the world @ @ @ @ @ @ @ million trees over the next 20 years to Ethiopia breaking the world record by planting 350 million trees in a mere 12 hours , Sikhs pledging to plant 1 million trees around the world in a few short months , and India planting 50 million trees in only 24 hours back in 2017 , inhabitants of planet Earth are responding to the scientists who have urged the world to plant billions of trees in what they say is the fastest and cheapest way to reverse climate change .
Professor Thomas Crowther , a @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Institute of Technology in Zurich who led the research , told the Associated Press in July : However , despite the world-wide effort and research to back it up , experts are now expressing their concerns about the tactic .
“ Trees do take carbon out of the atmosphere and if you want to permanently store carbon in trees , you have to permanently commit to keeping the trees forever .
The fossil fuel carbon is so much bigger than all the carbon in the trees .
You can ’ t do carbon @ @ @ @ @ @ @ of a Band Aid.
” Nevertheless , Trump says the U.S. “ will continue to show strong leadership in restoring , growing and better managing our trees and our forests.
” Whether or not scientists , lawmakers , and citizens can agree on if planting trees is the best strategy to combat climate change , no one can argue the fact that such efforts are not in vain and will indeed help the U.S. and planet one way or another .
According to a 2018 U.S. Forest Service study , the U.S. lost @ @ @ @ @ @ @ urban and rural areas between the years 2009 and 2014 .

New Bill Seeks to Commit US to Planting 3.3 Billion Trees Every Year
Emma Fiala, The Mind Unleashed
Waking Times
At the World Economic Forum in Davos, Switzerland would leaders addressed various ways to combat climate change and help the environment. It was there that U.S. President Donald Trump committed to the Trillion Trees initiative.
A bill is currently being drafted by Rep. Bruce Westerman (R-Arkansas) that would set in stone the commitment to the planting of billions of trees annually. If the legislation passes, the U.S. will plant 3.3 billion trees each year over the next 30 years.
Westerman explained:
“The pragmatic, proactive thing to do is to plant forests and manage them so that you’re actually pulling carbon out of the atmosphere.”
Trump said at Davos:
“We’re committed to conserving the majesty of God’s creation and the natural beauty of our world.”
ICYMI: U.S. President Donald Trump dismissed the 'prophets of doom' at #WEF20 and climate activist @GretaThunberg said planting a trillion trees was 'nowhere near enough', in their latest high-profile tit-for-tat. Full #ReutersDavos coverage https://t.co/WJ2UekUi2f pic.twitter.com/nbSaWgUCEg — Reuters (@Reuters) January 27, 2020
Over the last few years tree planting initiatives have increased across the world. From Ireland pledging to plant 440 million trees over the next 20 years to Ethiopia breaking the world record by planting 350 million trees in a mere 12 hours, Sikhs pledging to plant 1 million trees around the world in a few short months, and India planting 50 million trees in only 24 hours back in 2017, inhabitants of planet Earth are responding to the scientists who have urged the world to plant billions of trees in what they say is the fastest and cheapest way to reverse climate change.
Professor Thomas Crowther, a climate change ecologist at the Swiss Federal Institute of Technology in Zurich who led the research, told the Associated Press in July:
“This is by far—by thousands of times—the cheapest climate change solution.” As previously reported by TMU, “an area of trees roughly the size of the United States could scrub 205 billion metric tons of carbon emissions—out of the roughly 300 billion metric tons of carbon pollution spewed into the atmosphere over the past 25 years.”
However, despite the world-wide effort and research to back it up, experts are now expressing their concerns about the tactic.
University of Chicago geophysical sciences professor David Archer explains:
“Trees do take carbon out of the atmosphere and if you want to permanently store carbon in trees, you have to permanently commit to keeping the trees forever. The fossil fuel carbon is so much bigger than all the carbon in the trees. You can’t do carbon neutral by planting trees…it’s sort of a Band Aid.” Nevertheless, Trump says the U.S. “will continue to show strong leadership in restoring, growing and better managing our trees and our forests.”
Whether or not scientists, lawmakers, and citizens can agree on if planting trees is the best strategy to combat climate change, no one can argue the fact that such efforts are not in vain and will indeed help the U.S. and planet one way or another. According to a 2018 U.S. Forest Service study, the U.S. lost 36 million trees per year from both urban and rural areas between the years 2009 and 2014.
By Emma Fiala | Creative Commons | TheMindUnleashed.com


wakingtimes--2020-02-07--Trump Admin Finalizes ‘Atrocious’ Plans to Allow Drilling and Mining on Gutted National Monuments

The Trump administration finalized plans Thursday to open public lands in Utah to the fossil fuel industry .
The move completes a process begun in 2017 when the administration announced the largest rollback of land protection in U , S .
history : It shrank Utah ’ s Bears Ears National Monument by 85 percent and its Grand Staircase-Escalante National Monument by nearly half .
Now , the Interior Department is releasing a land-use blueprint that would allow oil , gas and coal companies to lease land for drilling and mining on around 861,974 acres that were once part of @ @ @ @ @ @ @ reported .
Conservation and Native American groups are especially outraged by the administration ’ s action because they are in the midst of suing to block the the shrinking of the monuments in the first place , The Guardian explained .
The shrunken monuments include land sacred to Native American tribes and important sites for paleontological research , as well as unique , relatively undisturbed ecosystems .
The groups think the courts will rule the administration ’ s actions illegal under the Antiquities Act .
“ It ’ s the height of arrogance @ @ @ @ @ @ @ on what ’ s left of Bears Ears and Grand Staircase Escalante while we ’ re fighting his illegal evisceration of these national monuments in court , ” Center for Biological Diversity Public Lands Director Randi Spivak in a statement reported by The Guardian .
“ Trump is eroding vital protections for these spectacular landscapes .
We won ’ t rest until all of these public lands are safeguarded for future generations.
” The administration , meanwhile , presented its actions as a boon to the Utah economy against the overreach of past @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Grand Staircase-Escalante as a national monument in 1996 , while Barack Obama created the Bears Ears National Monument in 2016 .
“ The approved plans keep the commitment of this Administration to the families and communities of Utah that know and love this land the best and will care for these resources for many generations to come , ” Interior ’ s Acting Assistant Secretary of Land and Minerals Management Casey Hammond said in the government announcement .
“ These cooperatively developed and locally driven plans restore a prosperous future to communities too @ @ @ @ @ @ @ of those that would not listen to the voices of Utahns.
” However , so far the decision has not generated a lot of interest from industry .
The decline of coal also means there has not been much interest expressed in a reserve of the fossil fuel found on the now-unprotected lands , according to The Guardian .
However , if this changes , the decision to shrink the monuments wouldn ’ t just contribute to the climate crisis .
It would also make it harder to study it.
” As a @ @ @ @ @ @ @ of minimal human impact , as well as its enormous ecological diversity , it provides mankind with rare opportunities for unique comparative climate change studies , ” Grand Staircase Escalante Partners Executive Director Sarah Bauman told The Guardian of the monument .

Trump Admin Finalizes ‘Atrocious’ Plans to Allow Drilling and Mining on Gutted National Monuments
Olivia Rosane, EcoWatch
Waking Times
The Trump administration finalized plans Thursday to open public lands in Utah to the fossil fuel industry.
The move completes a process begun in 2017 when the administration announced the largest rollback of land protection in U,S. history: It shrank Utah’s Bears Ears National Monument by 85 percent and its Grand Staircase-Escalante National Monument by nearly half. Now, the Interior Department is releasing a land-use blueprint that would allow oil, gas and coal companies to lease land for drilling and mining on around 861,974 acres that were once part of Grand Staircase-Escalante, The New York Times reported.
“These plans are atrocious, and entirely predictable,” Natural Resources Defense Council (NRDC) Senior Director for Lands Sharon Buccino said in a statement emailed to EcoWatch. “They are the latest in a series of insults to these magnificent lands by the Trump administration that began when Trump illegally dismantled Bears Ears and Grand Staircase at the behest of corporate interests two years ago.”
“These plans are atrocious, and entirely predictable. They are the latest in a series of insults by the Trump administration that began when Trump illegally dismantled Bears Ears and Grand Staircase at the behest of corporate interests two years ago." — NRDC's Sharon Buccino — NRDC 🌎🏡 (@NRDC) February 6, 2020
Conservation and Native American groups are especially outraged by the administration’s action because they are in the midst of suing to block the the shrinking of the monuments in the first place, The Guardian explained. The shrunken monuments include land sacred to Native American tribes and important sites for paleontological research, as well as unique, relatively undisturbed ecosystems. The groups think the courts will rule the administration’s actions illegal under the Antiquities Act.
“It’s the height of arrogance for Trump to rush through final decisions on what’s left of Bears Ears and Grand Staircase Escalante while we’re fighting his illegal evisceration of these national monuments in court,” Center for Biological Diversity Public Lands Director Randi Spivak in a statement reported by The Guardian. “Trump is eroding vital protections for these spectacular landscapes. We won’t rest until all of these public lands are safeguarded for future generations.”
The administration, meanwhile, presented its actions as a boon to the Utah economy against the overreach of past administrations. Former President Bill Clinton designated Grand Staircase-Escalante as a national monument in 1996, while Barack Obama created the Bears Ears National Monument in 2016.
“The approved plans keep the commitment of this Administration to the families and communities of Utah that know and love this land the best and will care for these resources for many generations to come,” Interior’s Acting Assistant Secretary of Land and Minerals Management Casey Hammond said in the government announcement. “These cooperatively developed and locally driven plans restore a prosperous future to communities too often dismissed and punished by unilateral decisions of those that would not listen to the voices of Utahns.”
However, so far the decision has not generated a lot of interest from industry.
“There has been almost no interest in mining and drilling on the lands excluded from Grand Staircase,” Interior spokeswoman Kimberly Finch told The New York Times.
The decline of coal also means there has not been much interest expressed in a reserve of the fossil fuel found on the now-unprotected lands, according to The Guardian.
However, if this changes, the decision to shrink the monuments wouldn’t just contribute to the climate crisis. It would also make it harder to study it.”As a result of its physical isolation and areas of minimal human impact, as well as its enormous ecological diversity, it provides mankind with rare opportunities for unique comparative climate change studies,” Grand Staircase Escalante Partners Executive Director Sarah Bauman told The Guardian of the monument.
“Without protections, these opportunities will be lost and with them our ability to build essential knowledge and resources for mitigating climate change.”
About the Author
Olivia is a freelance reporter for EcoWatch.


wakingtimes--2020-02-08--Reclaiming Your Self Esteem From Mainstream Society

It is a difficult task to live in this world and remain immune to the detrimental effect which mainstream culture has on one ’ s self esteem .
Even the tyrants who themselves destroy people ’ s self-esteem by violently imposing their will on others must live a life of mental discomfort because they are demoralized by their own actions and the world that they create .
From the moment we begin to observe the world as children , everyone around us seems so big and intimidating that we give their opinions and beliefs an undue amount of credit and @ @ @ @ @ @ @ In short , we give others power over us .
Since our early years are so vital to our mental development and the formation of our worldview , we carry this tendency to unquestionably submit to authority throughout our entire lives .
As we grow up , various “ authority ” figures subject us to daily , if not hourly , judgments on our value in the community and our moral integrity .
These authority figures can be found at home , at school , and in the larger society .
The authorities @ @ @ @ @ @ @ of the general population , by making these judgments and treating those in their care like second class citizens .
It is not necessarily the fault of the individuals who end up in these positions of authority , as they are merely passing along the oppressive cultural norms that were forced onto them at one time or another .
This does not mean that these individuals are not responsible for their actions but that they are merely a symptom of a larger problem , not the root cause .
In a world where @ @ @ @ @ @ @ people who have complete control over us , especially from a young age , it becomes very difficult to develop any self-confidence , and the idea of living free and independent can seem absolutely horrifying to some .
The rise of centralized government schooling in the past 200 years has accelerated this process by treating people like toddlers well into adulthood , causing many to develop with immature and dependent personalities .
In school we are taught how to conform to the majority , regurgitate meaningless facts , and submit to authority , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ anything of value .
That which is valuable and taught in public schools can obviously be taught and learned without government involvement , centralized control , and the overall oppressive form that these indoctrination centers have taken .
It is this mechanism of control , maintained by government , which makes up the larger system responsible for the dumbing down of our society and for totally destroying an entire generation ’ s self-esteem .
For the most crucial years of our development we are constantly getting the message that our thoughts , ideas @ @ @ @ @ @ @ are completely unimportant .
We learn that our needs and our opinions are secondary to people in authority who are not to be questioned and who have the ability to punish or exile you at any time .
This is an incredibly scary and traumatizing situation for any child , even if the repercussions are not immediately felt or seen .
These scars are then carried into adulthood , and eventually create very serious problems in the real world by causing people to act violently and irrationally , or at least make them @ @ @ @ @ @ @ do not value themselves are often nihilistic and apathetic to changing the world for the better .
Those who are lacking in personal power are also less likely to pursue radical solutions outside the accepted forms of resistance ( politics , voting , etc ) .
These are legitimate traumas that need to be recognized and worked out by everyone .
The predominant culture of the Western world could easily be seen as “ primitive ” , a place where we are subject to expectations and standards that we should not have had @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the expectations are impossible to fulfill , and in many cases are completely pointless and diametrically opposed to the individual ’ s self-fulfillment .
Realizing these simple facts is the first step in repairing one ’ s self esteem after being beaten down by an authoritarian , soul destroying culture .
Far too many of the world ’ s people feel inadequate and insignificant because they don ’ t match up with the unrealistic and insane expectations that are set by the mainstream culture .
Forget about those expectations and forget about those @ @ @ @ @ @ @ anyone and they are not a true measure of your worth .
Using arbitrary traits like wealth , status , and appearance as social measurements is a recipe for disaster as it degrades human beings and sets false ideals of self-worth .
It ’ s difficult to gauge the value of someone ’ s life by external factors , but if we must be judged , it should be according to our actions and how we treat those around us , not the superficial standards of the mainstream culture .
This was a @ @ @ @ @ @ @ “ Finding Freedom in an Age of Confusion ” which can be found on Amazon , or at the link in my bio below .
John Vibes is an author and journalist who takes a special interest in the counter culture , and focuses solutions-oriented approaches to social problems .
He is also a host of The Free Your Mind Conference and The Free Thought Project Podcast .

Reclaiming Your Self Esteem From Mainstream Society
John Vibes, Steemit
Waking Times
It is a difficult task to live in this world and remain immune to the detrimental effect which mainstream culture has on one’s self esteem. Even the tyrants who themselves destroy people’s self-esteem by violently imposing their will on others must live a life of mental discomfort because they are demoralized by their own actions and the world that they create.
From the moment we begin to observe the world as children, everyone around us seems so big and intimidating that we give their opinions and beliefs an undue amount of credit and sway over our decisions and opinions. In short, we give others power over us. Since our early years are so vital to our mental development and the formation of our worldview, we carry this tendency to unquestionably submit to authority throughout our entire lives.
As we grow up, various “authority” figures subject us to daily, if not hourly, judgments on our value in the community and our moral integrity. These authority figures can be found at home, at school, and in the larger society. The authorities are constantly working to undermine the self-esteem of the general population, by making these judgments and treating those in their care like second class citizens. It is not necessarily the fault of the individuals who end up in these positions of authority, as they are merely passing along the oppressive cultural norms that were forced onto them at one time or another. This does not mean that these individuals are not responsible for their actions but that they are merely a symptom of a larger problem, not the root cause.
In a world where we are constantly forced to engage with people who have complete control over us, especially from a young age, it becomes very difficult to develop any self-confidence, and the idea of living free and independent can seem absolutely horrifying to some. The rise of centralized government schooling in the past 200 years has accelerated this process by treating people like toddlers well into adulthood, causing many to develop with immature and dependent personalities.
In school we are taught how to conform to the majority, regurgitate meaningless facts, and submit to authority, but we really don’t learn anything of value. That which is valuable and taught in public schools can obviously be taught and learned without government involvement, centralized control, and the overall oppressive form that these indoctrination centers have taken. It is this mechanism of control, maintained by government, which makes up the larger system responsible for the dumbing down of our society and for totally destroying an entire generation’s self-esteem.
For the most crucial years of our development we are constantly getting the message that our thoughts, ideas, desires, fears, and disagreements are completely unimportant. We learn that our needs and our opinions are secondary to people in authority who are not to be questioned and who have the ability to punish or exile you at any time. This is an incredibly scary and traumatizing situation for any child, even if the repercussions are not immediately felt or seen.
These scars are then carried into adulthood, and eventually create very serious problems in the real world by causing people to act violently and irrationally, or at least make them completely miserable and obedient. Individuals who do not value themselves are often nihilistic and apathetic to changing the world for the better. Those who are lacking in personal power are also less likely to pursue radical solutions outside the accepted forms of resistance (politics, voting, etc).
These are legitimate traumas that need to be recognized and worked out by everyone. The predominant culture of the Western world could easily be seen as “primitive”, a place where we are subject to expectations and standards that we should not have had forced upon us. In most cases the expectations are impossible to fulfill, and in many cases are completely pointless and diametrically opposed to the individual’s self-fulfillment. Realizing these simple facts is the first step in repairing one’s self esteem after being beaten down by an authoritarian, soul destroying culture.
Far too many of the world’s people feel inadequate and insignificant because they don’t match up with the unrealistic and insane expectations that are set by the mainstream culture. Forget about those expectations and forget about those standards, they are no good for anyone and they are not a true measure of your worth. Using arbitrary traits like wealth, status, and appearance as social measurements is a recipe for disaster as it degrades human beings and sets false ideals of self-worth. It’s difficult to gauge the value of someone’s life by external factors, but if we must be judged, it should be according to our actions and how we treat those around us, not the superficial standards of the mainstream culture.
This was a selction from my book with Derrick Broze “Finding Freedom in an Age of Confusion” which can be found on Amazon, or at the link in my bio below.
About the Author
John Vibes is an author and journalist who takes a special interest in the counter culture, and focuses solutions-oriented approaches to social problems. He is also a host of The Free Your Mind Conference and The Free Thought Project Podcast.


wakingtimes--2020-02-08--Architects Are Designing A 100% Food And Energy Self Sufficient “Smart Forest City”

In most of the world , the cities and their architecture were not designed with the environmental impact in mind .
Until quite recently , humans were unaware of the effect that they had on the environment , but now that our capabilities to cause damage have become so great , the fact has become impossible to ignore .
Experts are finding that there are more efficient and sustainable ways to organize our cities , but there aren ’ t many real-life examples of these ideas in action .
However , an architecture firm based in Milan called Stefano Boeri @ @ @ @ @ @ @ The firm is working on designs for what they are calling a “ nature-infused smart city , ” which they hope will provide an example for future sustainable designs .
They are currently bidding for a 557-hectare site in Cancun , Mexico , with the property developer Grupo Karim .
It is not certain that they will gain control of the site , as there are also other plans to turn the area into a shopping district .
However , if the “ Smart Forest City ” is picked , it will become @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , along with 7,500,000 plants .
If it comes to fruition , the city will be surrounded by a ring of solar panels , which the German company Transsolar has already offered to help out with .
There will also be an agricultural field belt that wraps around the center of the city , with a channel of water that will run along the crops to keep them watered .
“ In particular , water is a key element in the project : it is gathered at the entrance of the City in @ @ @ @ @ @ @ also a desalination tower , and it is distributed by a system of navigable canals in the whole settlement up to the agricultural fields belt that surrounds the urban area .
A series of water gardens are designed to fight floods as a model for resilient landscapes , ” the press release said .
These features are what will make it possible for the city to be entirely energy and food self-sufficient .
John Vibes is an author and journalist who takes a special interest in the counter culture , and focuses solutions-oriented @ @ @ @ @ @ @ also a host of The Free Your Mind Conference and The Free Thought Project Podcast .

Architects Are Designing A 100% Food And Energy Self Sufficient “Smart Forest City”
John Vibes, Truth Theory
Waking Times
In most of the world, the cities and their architecture were not designed with the environmental impact in mind. Until quite recently, humans were unaware of the effect that they had on the environment, but now that our capabilities to cause damage have become so great, the fact has become impossible to ignore.
Experts are finding that there are more efficient and sustainable ways to organize our cities, but there aren’t many real-life examples of these ideas in action. However, an architecture firm based in Milan called Stefano Boeri Architetti is hoping to change that. The firm is working on designs for what they are calling a “nature-infused smart city,” which they hope will provide an example for future sustainable designs.
They are currently bidding for a 557-hectare site in Cancun, Mexico, with the property developer Grupo Karim. It is not certain that they will gain control of the site, as there are also other plans to turn the area into a shopping district. However, if the “Smart Forest City” is picked, it will become the home of up to 130,000 humans, along with 7,500,000 plants.
“Thanks to the new public parks and private gardens, thanks to the green roofs and to the green facades, the areas actually occupied will be given back by nature through a perfect balance between the amount of green areas and building footprint,” a press release said.
If it comes to fruition, the city will be surrounded by a ring of solar panels, which the German company Transsolar has already offered to help out with. There will also be an agricultural field belt that wraps around the center of the city, with a channel of water that will run along the crops to keep them watered.
“In particular, water is a key element in the project: it is gathered at the entrance of the City in a huge basin, where there is also a desalination tower, and it is distributed by a system of navigable canals in the whole settlement up to the agricultural fields belt that surrounds the urban area. A series of water gardens are designed to fight floods as a model for resilient landscapes,” the press release said.
These features are what will make it possible for the city to be entirely energy and food self-sufficient.
About the Author
John Vibes is an author and journalist who takes a special interest in the counter culture, and focuses solutions-oriented approaches to social problems. He is also a host of The Free Your Mind Conference and The Free Thought Project Podcast.