 |
|
 |
| |
| Departments |
Home
Columns, Special
Topics & Features:
The Columns:
Angels, Guides, &
Loving Spirits:
Angel Blessings:
with Dr. Doreen Virtue
Ask Valerie Morrison,
Internationally
Acclaimed Psychic
Astrologer's Notes:
Ask Carrin Martin,
Astrologer
Basil Fearrington,
Astrologer
Diana Stone,
Astrologer &
Huna Shaman
Jeff Jawer
Astrologer
Martin Lass,
Astrologer
Glenn Perry,
Astrologer
Ray Merriman,
Financial Astrology:
MMA Market Week
Erin Sullivan,
Astrologer
Noel Tyl,
Astrologer
Stellar Scopes
Daija de Mornay
Daily Aspect Calendar
by Care
The Weekly Horoscope
By Care
Creating Bridges:
The Spiritual &
Philosophical
Act of Power
Discovering the Key to Living Your Sacred Dream
by Lynn Andrews
The BUT Doctor
Healing America's Real Crack Problem One Person at a Time
by Eddie Conner
Avant-Gardening:
Insights by Frank &
Vicky Giannangelo
Bodymind Integration: A Psychology of Potential
by Kevin Roberts
Breaking Free:
Anne Brewer
Choices: The Art of Conscious Creation:
by Teri Harris Saa
From The Heart:
Alan Cohen
Teachings from the Western Mystery Traditions: The Esoteric "Paths of Return"
by Jacquelyn Small, Eupsychia
"Letters from Heaven:" Spiritual Guidance from
the Hebrew Alphabet
by Avigayil Landsman
Memos From The
First Tabugian
Art Rosengarten, Ph.D.
The Path of Wisdom and Love
Dr. John Demartini,
Spirituality in Daily Life: by Bhikshuni Thubten Chodron
The Conscious Column
by David Ault
Spiritual Mastery
for the 21st Century
Dr. Gwen MacGregor
Pearls of Wisdom:
with Care
Feng Shui:
Wind & Water:
Carole J. Hyder
In Practice:
How to Create a Successful Holistic Practice- from Start to Success
by Shaun Brown,
CMT, BA BeWell Publications
The Business of Tarot
by Bonnie Cehovet,
Tarot Master
Pet Care:
Dr. Carson's Holistic Animal Care
by Dr. Kathleen Carson, D.V.M.
Tarot:
Soulforest:
Tarot and Spirituality
Rachel Pollack,
Tarot Grand Master
Gateway to Tarot:
by Bonnie Cehovet,
Tarot Master
Reviews:
Tarot, Cartomancy,
Oracle Decks,
Books, & Software.
by Bonnie Cehovet,
Tarot Master
Bonnie Cehovet's
Tarot Interviews
Humor:
Wake Up Laughing.Com:
Swami Beyondananda
Features:
Blessings & Messages
Crystals, Gemstones & Minerals by Kristi of MoonCave
Event Calendar
Historical Notes & Data
The MetaPersonals
Symbols, Seals,
Amulets & Talismans
The What in the
World Department
Trivia & Other
Novel Moments
Your Views
Interviews:
Watch for Upcoming Announcements
Healing & Alternative
Health:
"The Ancient Way of Chinese Medicine"
by Kevin O'Neil
Flower Essences
by Donna Cunningham
Living in Harmony-Astrology, Yoga & Ayurveda:
Venkat & Christine Machiraju
"Spirit and Practice
of the Wise Woman
Tradition"
By Susun Weed
Tai Chi & Qigong
by Bill Douglas
The Holistic Mystic,
by Lonny Brown
Medical Intuition: Tune
in to Your Body and Improve Your Health
by Caroline Sutherland, Sutherland Communications
Tools for Heartful Living
by Jackie Woods,
Healer & Spiritual Teacher,
Adawehi Institute
Conscious Breathing
for Health and Self Transformation
by Dennis Lewis
The Directory
The Book Nook
Archives:
Past Issues
General Information:
Synopsis of Contents
Editorial Submission
Information:
Articles
Columns
Editorial Opinions
"Your Views"
General Content
Event Calendars
Graphics & Photos
Editorial Deadlines
Advertising
Information &
Opportunities
About
The Meta Arts
Magazine
Department
Contacts:
Publishers
Editorial
Advertising Sales
Graphic Design
Promotion Dept.
Employment
Contact Us
Legal Notices
|
|
|
|
|
|
The Holistic Mystic: |
|
|
Planet Earth:
Better or Worse?
by Lonny Brown, Ph.D. |
|
|
Is humankind's glass half empty or half full?
Pessimists might feel well justified by the daily news of terrorism, genocide and war, corporate corruption scandals, government ineptitude, the deficit epidemic, and environmental disasters. The glass-full set puts its hope in an emerging world spirituality, borderless communications, a reinvigorated international peace movement, and astonishing advances in energy technology, medicine, genetics and space exploration.
In reality, the answer to the perennial doom vs. hope debate is that both are correct: these are still the best of times and the worst of times. Evil is afoot and the good inevitably rises to the occasion. It has always been this way and always will be.
We know all too well the dangers and liabilities of our time: In a shrinking world of diminishing resources and accelerated change, political and environmental mistakes made now may be magnified a thousand fold in the years to come. Yet that very same leverage applies to the possibility of inspired policy and innovative solutions uniting humanity to heal the world. The future is in our hands as never before. More than ever, informed choice matters tremendously.
The question then becomes not one of inevitable fate, but of our individual and collective powers to influence outcomes. Given the growing influence of democracy, mass communications, and the global economy, it is less about what we think will happen, and more about what we want to happen. The key to a successful tomorrow is enlightened action today.
But in a complex world of conflicting priorities, how do we discern right from wrong, smart choices from poor? Protecting national interests, for example, is universally accepted as the primary mission of government, yet these very same interests can conflict directly with world concerns. One good example is the issue of global warming and the fate of the Kyoto Treaty devised to deal with it. The current US administration has decided that the near- term cost of compliance is too great, and opted out of this multi-national agreement to protect the atmosphere. Was this prudent, or simply expedient?
The irony of the question was recently brought into stark focus when global warming was pronounced a real threat to national security by none other than that bastion of defense, the Pentagon. Evidently this conclusion hasn't moved the Bush administration, but the ultimate outcome remains inevitable: Sooner or later, for better or worse, we're all destined to share the fate of our planet. As the founder of Earth Day, Senator Gaylord Nelson said, the economy is a wholly-owned subsidiary of the environment.
One way to wisely navigate the moral minefield we find ourselves in is to analyze the role of ego in our position. In our present stage of social evolution, it is usually understood that extreme self-centeredness - though still all too common - is dangerous and dysfunctional. This is why we praise and at least attempt to emulate (if not vote for) selflessness. What we may not realize yet, however, is that humans tend to merely trade in their little egos for larger, group versions. Hence, an individual with an inflated ego may earn our disapproval, while at the same time we tolerate and even champion its larger manifestation, hyper-nationalism. We suffer the same fallacy of identity when our membership in a particular political party, religion, or commercial interest engenders the same old self-righteous, dualistic (unholistic), God-on- our-side, us-against-them mentality.
The antidote to this ego-trip writ large is to seek the wider context: the greater good, the global perspective, the long-term implications. For example, if for reasons of negligence or ignorance or arrogance (or perhaps a sense of impotence), you, your family, your company or your community may not yet be recycling paper, metals and other materials, consider what might happen if everyone behaved similarly. Imagine duplicating your choice by millions.. leading to massive shortages or incredible savings. Hopefully this would influence your actions for the better. In other words, consciously choosing optimism may very well foster positive results. Acting as if we can make a difference can become a self-fulling prophecy.
The Internet particularly is an excellent medium through which the impulse of intelligent cooperation for mutual benefit can percolate. It only remains for us to manifest it in the concrete world. Why not choose engaged optimism today, and let your friends, relatives and co-workers what you're doing about it? You'll never know how many potential world-savers you might influence!
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Lonny Brown,
Ph.D.
|
 |
Lonny J. Brown, Ph.D. is the author of "Self-Actuated Healing" (Naturegraph, Publ.), and "Enlightenment In Our Time," (BookLocker.com/
LonnyBrown).
His writings on holistic health have appeared on AOL's Alternative Medicine Forum and in Alternative Health Practitioner, Yoga Journal, and many other progressive publications.
Dr. Brown teaches holistic health, mind/body healing, and stress reduction courses at hospitals, schools and businesses throughout the US. His Web site also features essays, tapes, books, and links to a variety of integrative health sources.
Lonny J. Brown, Ph.D. is also the author of " ENLIGHTENMENT ONLINE - The Newsletter for Spiritual Cyberspace.
holistic.com/lonny
lonny@holistic.com
lonnybrown@aol.com
|
Send your questions to:
The Holistic Mystic
|
 |
You'll find it in
The
Directory! |
|
|
|
|
