The last time I could even remotely be called an “activist” was in 1959 when I was a freshman at University of Florida.  These were the days of segregation in the U.S.

Coming from a Northern State, I had never seen separate drinking fountains and hand sinks for white people and “colored” people, as the signs said.

My family abhorred prejudice, and this was instilled in me deeply. My 18-year old heart hurt empathizing with the hurt all the “colored” people must feel to be treated in this manner.   My personal activism was not great, but began with my using the drinking fountain marked “colored only” when I was in public places, and then extended to sitting in the back of the Greyhound bus which took me from Northern Florida through Macon, GA, to East Lansing, Michigan during vacation times.  The scowls and sidelong glances from white people as I spoke animatedly with my “colored” seat mates, including a Howard University student, did not deter me.  Later learning the unfortunate fate of many of those who defied this negative social order, I realized that I was somehow very protected.

Since those days, I have been aware of a lot of injustice in the world, but other than voting for someone who promised to change it, participating electronically through MoveOn.org, leaving a phone message on a Senator’s hot line, or donating to various causes, like Save Darfur campaign, I admit that I never have taken the time to search out a person of influence to register my feelings against something that I felt was extremely irresponsible.

Not until today, that is.

I enjoy watching the HGTV channel, which is all about good design in living.   I find myself grinning at every “reveal”, enjoying the pleasure of the people whose space has been upgraded beautifully.  For me it is “feel good” t.v. and entertaining.  Apparently the folks who watch this channel are a target demographic for Allstate Insurance Company, because they run numerous commercials.   Heavy duty actor, Dennis Haysbert, is the Allstate spokesperson.   I have always noticed an edginess to Allstate’s commercials, that never fails to wipe the grin off my face.  Their underlying current is FEAR.

Fear is what sells insurance.  Our fear of what might happen in some future time fuels us to buy various insurance.  Allstate understands this and, of course, plays up to it to sell more insurance.  O.K.,this is free enterprise, this is their right.

A few days ago, I turned on HGTV and caught part of Allstate’s new ad campaign.  What I saw was a close up of a man’s hand gouging a long hideous scratch along the side of a shiny vehicle in a parking garage.   Then on the screen came the words:  “MAYHEM IS COMING…  Are you in good hands?”

MAYHEM IS COMING????? Allstate is predicting mayhem?  It is the most socially irresponsible commercial I have ever seen.  I understand that Allstate needs to manipulate fear in order to sell more insurance, but this latest commercial is unconscionable, in my opinion.   I am choosing to believe that Allstate is ignorant of the effect a message like that has on the collective psyche, beyond stimulating the urge to buy insurance.

Humanity is already traumatized by a collapsing world financial situation, the National housing collapse, Wall Street debacle, BP oil spill, Global Warming, and the concurrent Iraq, Iran, and Afghanistan wars.   It is not necessary to add to this fear or be party to whipping it up to panic level, as is possible when hundreds of thousands of viewers are bombarded with the message.

Not only does the visual message have an immediate negative impact, but on the quantum level—a level that science has proven is just as valid, though not visible—the scary specter spreads unseen, and seeps its way into the unconscious mind of every viewer creating even more worry, concern, fear.

We create whatever it is that we put attention upon. This is a Universal Rule of manifestation.

One of our recurring themes on Miracles and Grace is to place our attention on what is of positivity, of balance, cohesiveness, coherence, to bring about a great healing of our world; together we can re-build upon that foundation.  We wish to raise the consciousness of humanity, not feed its ignorant, dark side.   In his book, “POWER vs. FORCE”, Dr. David Hawkins remarks: “We’ve become fully accountable, whether we like it or not.  We’re at the point in the evolution of our collective awareness where we may even assume stewardship of consciousness itself.  Humanity is no longer resigned to passively paying the price of ignorance. . .”

Today, I obtained the telephone number of Allstate’s Corporate Headquarters and registered my view about their new campaign.  I spoke to one of the executive secretaries who was extremely accommodating.  She informed me that Allstate is getting calls from other people who share my feelings.  I will check back in a week to see how many more people are taking stewardship of consciousness and speaking up for themselves and their neighbors.  Hopefully, Allstate will rethink their output, take responsibility for the potential cost of their ads upon the communal consciousness, and will withdraw this insidious commercial series.

In the end, what do we really need to fear?  Truly, aren’t we already in Good Hands ?

(Allstate Corporate Office phone number is:  847-402–5448)

A HUGE CHANGE ON OUR PLANET IS IMMANENT!

That statement is the source of a range of emotions–Fear being the greatest of these. How many times have you heard someone say:  “Look at how the world is deteriorating, and how rapidly”, “a huge upheaval, an apocalypse, is approaching and not many will survive”?

Truly, if we could hover above the surface of the Earth and examine it from a distance and consider the condition of the civilization populating its surface, things don’t look all that promising.   The situation in the Middle East, the so-called Holy Land is a perpetual un-holy war zone.  Mayhem by the strong upon the weak is being perpetuated throughout the planet.  We consider ourselves an advanced society, but from this aerial perspective we can see that we are still like primitive bands of warrior states, clustered into opposing groups and forces.   With advances in technology, mankind’s immaturity as evidenced by avarice and greed, have managed to negatively affect the financial health of every single country, not to mention the overall ecology of our planet.  A recent television documentary indicated that if we continue to fish commercially in the ways we have done in the past, within 40 years fish will be extinct and the oceans will die.

I recently looked up the definition of the word apocalypse and found:  “lifting of the veil”, “revelation”,  “a disclosure of something hidden from the majority of mankind in an era dominated by falsehood and misconception”.  I do believe that our civilization’s eyes have been covered by a veil of ignorance, preventing us from seeing the bigger picture as it relates to our very survival and enjoyment of balanced life of health and happiness.

However, not everyone is consumed by a “me me me” attitude.  Far from it!  Every day, new information and more stories surface that reveal a wide-spread awakening is occurring.  It represents a shift in the consciousness of man and womankind.  I believe that we are ready to see through lies we have too easily believed and followed (throughout history) and whose effect is the condition of the world we see today.  I believe we are ready to transcend the falsehoods about each other that have created mistrust and have divided us from our fellow passengers on our planet.

Most importantly, I believe that we are ready to think in terms of “WE”, rather than “me”.  We are ready to open ourselves to ways of living our lives that consider the world as a whole, as a community.  I believe that we are recognizing (on numerous levels at once) that this is ALL ONE interconnected organism in which we are an integral element.

Change is imminent.  But, then, perpetual change is the very nature of action in/of time-space.  It doesn’t have to be a “bad” thing.  To this mind and heart the process to bring about a more positive outcome, a better future—or, to actually HAVE a future at all!—has already begun.  It has begun in your mind and heart and is expanding throughout our shared existence.  If you have chosen to read these words, you know what I am talking about.

A few years ago a friend sent me a copy of something called The Hopi Elders’ Statement.  I don’t know its author nor the date it was written, but it is a beautiful contemplation of the situation at hand and offers pertinent questions for us to search within to answer:

“You have been telling the people that this is the eleventh hour.
Now you must go back and tell the people that this is the hour.

And there are things to be considered:

Where are you living?  What are you doing?  What are your relationships?  Are you in right relation?                                                                                                                          Where is your water?  Know your garden.  It is time to speak your truth.
Create your community.  Be good to each other.
And do not look outside yourself for the leader.
This could be a good time!

There is a river flowing now very fast.
It is so great and swift that there are those who will be afraid,
They will try to hold onto the shore.                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                      They will feel they are being torn apart And they will suffer greatly.
Know that the river has its destination. The elders say we must let go of the shore,
Push off into the river, Keep our eyes open, And our heads above water.
Look around, see who is in there with you and celebrate.

At this time in history we are to take nothing personally, Least of all ourselves.
For the moment that we do our spiritual growth and journey comes to a halt.
The time of the lone wolf is over.  Gather yourselves!
Banish the word struggle from your attitude and your vocabulary.
All that we do now must be done in a sacred manner and in celebration.

WE ARE THE ONES WE HAVE BEEN WAITING FOR!”

The emergence of these kinds of documents, the healing presence of a Braco, or the marvelous enlightening presentations of physicist Nassim Haramein support us in our conscious awakening and in taking the right actions on each others’ behalves.

This could very well be a good time, a time we will look back at and say: “WE pulled together, and saved our world”.

WE ARE THE MIRACLE WE HAVE BEEN WAITING FOR!

Painting “ALL ONE” 8″ x 24″ on canvas  :  by Sherry Remez

At the end of Spring this year, my healer moved away. I was in despair because I had come to depend on her for my physical well being. It was difficult for me to look for a replacement because in my experience, no one would be able to do what she does.  I decided that I would purchase a massage chair instead. And it so happened that Costco offered  one on the floor that week and I purchased it.

I must say that I have been able to hold my own since my healer’s departure and I find that my back is getting more supple every day.
With the realization that my back is in good shape now, I have named the massage chair “My seat of Gratitude”, and I sit in it daily thanking God for this Miracle.

Janet–Maui, Hawaii