Plants Are A Model To Us

One of the things that I enjoy doing is growing vegetables in my earthboxes. While this looks like just something that is a hobby, it is more than that to me. No matter what is going on in my day, week or year, I can always count on my plants to be there, doing what they do best - growing.

So here are some pictures of my plants (just click on the links below). A few facts for the gardeners out there. These were all planted on Feb 19 and the growing zone is in Central Florida near the Atlantic coast. I have six earthboxes, 3 of which are planted with tomatoes, 1 with sweet corn, 1 with peas and 1 with cantaloupe.

EarthBox - Tomatoes Picture

EarthBox - Sweet Corn Picture

EarthBox - Cantaloupe Picture

EarthBox - Peas Picture


Growing vegetables and plants not only gives me a feeling of being connected to mother earth, but it helps center me when the storms of life hit the hardest. Just being out there around these plants gives me a feeling like no other can give. It is like nothing else matters in that moment. When the plants have finished their growth cycle, I find that sadness fills me as I see the end of their lives appear.

Just like plants, we too grow in cycles with our lives. We emerge and discover through the rocks, soil and weather conditions of the environment surrounding us. Hopefully we grow strong roots that can carry us through these various cycles. As we emerge, we head towards the light, learning and yearning for all that there is. Plants are a model to us and they are beacons of hope, living in that they encounter.

More information on the earthboxes can be found at www.earthbox.com . They are unique growing systems designed to maximize resources and provide an abundance of produce. They last for years and are very efficient systems. I have been growing garden vegetables with the earthbox for almost 4 years now.



Blog Post & Images (c) 4/12/11 Don Shetterly - use by permission only
http://www.donshetterly.com

Simply Just Open The Door

The picture on this blog post was one taken by mistake but it just seems to have a story to tell. And so as I thought about it, the story begins to unfold. Of course, one could just look at it as a ladder leaning against a closet door but would be rather boring in many ways. Feel free to make up your own story on this but here's my take on the ladder against the door.

How many times do we go through life searching for that which we need. We may realize that what we need is in a closet or some area which is not readily seen by us. We may or may not know for sure that the item that we seek is inside the closet but sometimes our gut feeling says it is in there. We cannot see it, but somehow we just know that it is in there.

So then, we begin to figure out ways to get into the closet to find that which we are looking for. Most people would say, well why don't you just open the closet and look inside for the item. To most people standing back and not searching for the item, this would seem very obvious. However, to the person searching, it may be anything but obvious.

The searching person than decides that they are going to get into the closet and instead of opening the door, they do all types of hocus pocus tricks to get it to open. In this case, the searching person has gotten a ladder to see if they can crawl up and above the door to get inside. They go to all kinds of effort to bring the ladder to the closet, set it up so it is sturdy and then begin the climb up the ladder. The only thing is, they soon realize that with the ladder in the way, they will not be able to open the closet door.

Eventually the searching person realizes that the way into the closet is through opening the door. Of course, when they realize this, it is like a light bulb going off in their mind. In reality, the solution was right there before them and everyone but the searching person could not see it.

In many ways, we as humans do this. We search and seek something which we need for our lives and yet, we find the most difficult ways and methods to obtain it. We design elaborate systems to view what is beyond the doors only to give our self the false illusion that we are making progress. When all we really need to do is just simply open the door.


Blog Post & Images (c) 3/5/11 Don Shetterly - use by permission only
http://www.donshetterly.com

Numerology 1/11/11

Lately, I find myself intrigued by things like astrology, numerology and sacred geometry. Don't ask me why because I wouldn't be able to tell you if I knew. I just find my mind wondering about all these things. I am one of those that is careful to stay grounded and not just get caught up in the new age-ness of everything. Part of me is a skeptic and for me that is fine. For others, it probably drives them nuts to be around me.

Looking at 1/11/11 (January 11, 2011) which is today, makes me wonder. What does that mean? Ok, you could say, it is just another day in another year. One would have to agree with you at some level. However, I can't help but think there is more to it than this. I just have no clue what that is.

In my search, I've compiled a few internet places that I read while searching a little about this. I cannot verify which ones are valid and which aren't. It seems like everybody has a little different meaning behind the numbers. If anyone has information you would like to share, please feel free to leave a comment - don't spam me now but include information and sources to back it up.

For each quoted section, I have also added the link to the specific website where I found this information. Please visit each website and read all of what they have to say. I only listed one small quote from it.

From JJ Micahel's Blog - All Things Metaphysical And Spiritual

In the US, it is customary to leave off the first digits of a year, which makes January 11, 2011, read numerically as 1/11/11. Mark this date on your calendar or in your journal, because the message is loud and clear that this is the time of light. 1 is the Alpha, the beginning and 11 represents light. When you add the 1's in 1/11/11, you get 5--change. If we add all the numbers in the full date of 1/11/2011, the result is 7. Finally, if you add just the numbers of the year, 2011, the results will be 4, representing Earth.

The message reads as: (1)The beginning (5) changes will happen (11:11) as a new cycle of light transforms (4) Earth and (2)darkness/duality (7) by the will of Spirit.

From the Free Psyhic Insight.org website

If you don't like what you are thinking about or what is showing up in your life, change your thoughts now because you will begin to see a manifestation of these thoughts in your life soon.

11 numerology is a cosmic number. A very long time ago you set up that this number sequence - 11, 111, 11:10, 11:11, and 10:10 -would be your reminder to make the bridge between yourself and home.

From tribe.net

11:11 has been associated with DNA activation
11:11 has been seen as the calling of the Lightworker
11:11 as the Two witnesses of REV. 11:11
11:11 as the two suns theory
11:11 is prophetic
11:11 has inspired artists
11:11 has been a sign of the times
11:11 is kindred to 2012
11:11 appears anyware and everywhere at random

From Times Square Chronicles, Numerology Readings for 2011

As we go in to 2011, the year adds up to a 4 (2+1+1=4). The overall theme is getting back to fulfilling our obligations. Hard work of a mental or physical nature will be required of almost every number this year. 2011 is a time to get serious.

From Unexplainable.net - Prepare for 1/11/11

But what will happen in the physical world at this time? It's difficult to say. Often these times come and pass bearing no significance in themselves to anyone but those paying attention. So how would we prepare for 1/1/11? If it's a UFO sighting, we can use this to suggest a much more significant one will follow on November 11,2011. If it's a less tangible spiritual kind of awakening then only those who are in touch with this level of change will really feel anything at all.

From Indrajit's Desk - Today is 1/1/11

I couldn’t help but think 1/1/11 seemed to be a novel way to start a new year – a sign of a fresh start. 1 is the number of initiation and originality. In biblical numerology, the number 1 represents the spirit of unity, creativity, and formation.

Please note that I do not endorse any of the sites listed above. They are only ones that I found through a google search. I did not sit there and read their entire websites before listing them on this blog post. You are free to read their entire websites in detail. I just wanted you to know how this information came together.

I have also written another blog post related to this issue which can be found at the following link.

World Changes And Shifts In 2012.


Blog Post & Images (c) 1/11/11 Don Shetterly - use by permission only

Trouble Sleeping - Look to Electronics

In the CNN Technology Section on May 13, 2010, there was an article posted by John D. Sutter, called "Trouble Sleeping? Maybe It's Your Ipad." While I'm sure CNN was trying to capitalize on the word "Ipad" , there was a very good message in the article that needs to be explored and researched.

The article talked about strong light that whether it came from the sun or electronic devices can reset a person's internal sleep clock. An individual that was referenced in the article turned all his electronic gadgets and lights off in his house at sunset for one month. For this person, it worked and instead of falling asleep at midnight, he was going to bed at 9 pm. During the day, he felt so rested that his friends remarked on his early morning perkiness. He affirmed that getting the extra slept really made a difference in his state of mind.

More and more, many of us are using electronic devices with bright lights and illuminated screens on them. Often we are using them right up until we go to sleep at night. There is a growing concern that these electronic devices may actually be fooling our brains into becoming confused as to what is daytime and what is night time. If you add into the mix, a person who already has sleep problems or who is stressed, than it can make insomnia much worse. Even if you use one of these electronic devices close to bedtime, it can actually stimulate the brain enough to make it more aware and delay your ability to sleep. That is according to Phyllis Zee, a neuroscience professor at Northwestern University. It may also affect your circadian rhythm which is the clock in your brain that determines when you sleep and when you wake up.

Because devices like the ipad, iphone, laptop computers and the Amazon Kindle illuminate bright light that is so close to the eyes, it has a strong impact on what happens in the brain. Unlike a TV, where the light is filtered and spread across a room, it has a lessor impact than these newer electronic devices do. The big distinction is how much light is coming directly into the eyes.

People are biologically wired to be awake when the sun is out and to go to sleep when it is dark. When the receptors in our eyes are flooded with bright light for an extended period of time, a message is sent to the brain that it is time to be awake. Normally when it is dark or around 9 pm at night, the brain secretes melatonin. Melatonin helps make people sleepy and it is responsible for regulating the internal sleep clock in people. If bright lights are shining in our eyes, than melatonin production may not happen as it is supposed to.

In addition, our eyes are very sensitive to blue light. Blue light is common during the day but not in the evening. Computer screens and phones tend to put out a lot of blue light and even though they may not be as intense, they could still greatly affect melatonin production and secretion. It is hard to determine just how much light is needed to reset the person's internal sleep clock. Several factors such as how bright the light is, what hues are present, how large the light source is and how far it is from the person's eyes all have an impact on the body's rhythms and internal sleep clock. What the person does during the day plays a major role. Take someone that works outside all day in the sun versus an office worker who is in a more artificial light environment and there will be a difference in how they are affected by these light sources after dark.

Of course, it is important to note that some researches are very skeptical of the entire premise of this article. They do not feel that the bright lights from these electronic devices have any impact on how a person sleeps unless they are suffering from insomnia. I say, if you're skeptical - try the experiment that the person did where they shut off the lights and devices at dark. See if it works. If after a month it doesn't work, than you should be skeptical as well.

In the article, there are many different options that may help alleviate some of these situations or lessen the impact of bright lights on your sleep. Please refer to the article link above for more detailed information and options. I have only tried to highlight some of the main points in the article but the article is worth reading.

Our bodies do work towards a balance and when we influence and impact them, something has to either happen within our body to bring it back in balance or alter functions to compensate for the impact. That can be evidenced by many things we do from staying up all night long or being stressed out or drinking too much caffeine and not enough water, etc and etc, and so forth. There are numerous ways in which we impact our bodies every day and some of them we don't stop to think about.

Our nervous systems are designed to be very resilient and absorb much of the impacts and stress we place on our body. However if we continually bombard our mind and our body with undue stresses, than at some point the body says to the mind - hey, enough! So finding balance within ourselves and working to rid ourselves of the stress we take in each day will help this. The most important part though is paying attention to our body and becoming more aware of how we impact it and how we actually live in our bodies. Remember, we only get one body in this lifetime so the more we take care of it and learn about it, the more we will get out of life!



*For more articles, check out the Mind Body Thoughts Blog