Working with a Larger Energy

Working with a Larger Energy
Going with the Flow
www.dailyom.com

The expression going with the flow is a metaphor that applies to navigating a river. When we go with the flow, we follow the current of the river rather than push against it. People who go with the flow may be interpreted as lazy or passive, but to truly go with the flow requires awareness, presence, and the ability to blend one's own energy with the prevailing energy. Going with the flow doesn't mean we toss our oars into the water and kick back in the boat, hoping for the best. Going with the flow means we let go of our individual agenda and notice the play of energy all around us. We tap into that energy and flow with it, which gets us going where we need to go a whole lot faster than resistance will.

Going with the flow doesn't mean that we don't know where we're going; it means that we are open to multiple ways of getting there. We are also open to changing our destination, clinging more to the essence of our goal than to the particulars. We acknowledge that letting go and modifying our plans is part of the process. Going with the flow means that we are aware of an energy that is larger than our small selves and we are open to working with it, not against it.

Many of us are afraid of going with the flow because we don't trust that we will get where we want to go if we do. This causes us to cling to plans that aren't working, stick to routes that are obstructed, and obsess over relationships that aren't fulfilling. When you find yourself stuck in these kinds of patterns, do yourself a favor and open to the flow of what is rather than resisting it. Trust that the big river of your life has a plan for you and let it carry you onward. Throw overboard those things that are weighing you down. Be open to revising your maps. Take a deep breath and move into the current.

 

Transforming a Perception

Transforming a Misperception
Lack
www.dailyom.com

We all know what it feels like to want something we don't have. It may be a pair of expensive jeans, a romantic partner, or rent money; it may be a certain attitude, a car, or a savings account. This is part of life, and in the best-case scenario, we experience a constant flow of money and material possessions, companions and experiences, in and out of our lives. However, many of us linger in a state of wanting and not having, a state of lack that never seems to subside. We consistently perceive ourselves as not having what we need or not having what we want. This is an energetically draining state to be in. It is also self-perpetuating because how we feel about ourselves determines what we are able to create for ourselves.

How we feel profoundly influences how we perceive our reality. When we feel we are lacking, we look around and see what is not there. On the other hand, if we feel abundant, we can look at the very same situation and see a completely different picture, one full of blessings and advantages. The more we see the blessings, the more abundant we feel, and the more blessings we attract. Similarly, if we see lack, we tend to create and attract that energy.

If you find yourself habitually residing in a feeling of lack, it may be due to a core belief formed in your childhood or even in a past life. It may be because you are out of touch with your inner divinity, which is the source of your abundance. In any case, know that your perception of lack is a misperception that can be corrected with awareness and effort. It can be as simple as taking 10 or 15 minutes each day to quiet your mind and imagine yourself in a state of unlimited abundance, handling the financial demands and others in your life with total ease, drawing from an endless supply of resources. Know that it is your birthright to be fully supported in the fulfillment of your needs and desires.

 

The Glamorous Life Ball- August 9th, 2009 (Rochester, NY)

For more information: contact 585.420.1400 x14

NBJC: Obama’s Reality on Civil Rights, Gay Rights

National Black Justice Coalition
1638 R Street NW, Suite 300
Washington, DC 20009
www.NBJC.org


Obama’s Reality on Civil Rights, Gay Rights

Essay by Jason W. Bartlett
Deputy Director, NBJC

President Obama made powerful, significant statements at the June 29th LGBT Stonewall reception, but I fear that the most telling words have been lost by the mass media. Obama’s words relate to the intersection of sexuality and race, and they foretell the difficulty in moving the agenda forward—a mission the National Black Justice Coalition (NBJC) was founded upon and been advocating ever since our inception five years ago.

Many gay and lesbian people wonder how it can be that a Black President has not moved more quickly on LGBT rights. They ask out loud how it can be that President Obama does not see gay rights as the next frontier in our nation’s civil rights struggle. What many of my white gay brothers and sisters need to realize is that Obama absolutely understands the intellectual argument that equates advancing gay rights to America’s civil rights struggles. He said as much in his speech. But he is a President whose constituency—and I do not mean white, Middle America, but his constituency of Black Americans—does not stand with him or follow his argument on civil rights encompassing LGBT rights.

Obama’s enlightened perspective on the gay rights struggle is seen in his admonishment to himself: “It’s not for me to tell you to be patient anymore than it was for others to counsel African Americans who were petitioning for equal rights a half century ago.”

This understanding of the LGBT disinclination towards patience—just as Black civil rights heroes could wait for justice no longer—was neither welcomed nor accepted by many in the Black community. The initial reaction to this argument was demonstrated by the popular radio personality Tom Joyner, who immediately took offense to the comparison the morning after Obama’s speech. During the debate on marriage equality on the Connecticut House floor, I personally heard murmurs and invective from an African American colleague who bemoaned the mention of civil rights heroes and struggles as the case was made for marriage equality. Some people take offense personally that white gays and lesbians would take inspiration from civil rights icons, as many have a feeling of ownership and personal attachment to the civil rights struggle and its philosophy.

Are these feeling legitimate? Or do they point to a wider incidence of homophobia in our Black community? President Obama noted in his remarks that that we need to open the hearts and minds of those that don’t fully embrace their “gay brothers and sisters.” He goes on to say that he has “…spoken about these issues not only in front of you, but in front of unlikely audiences—in front of African American church members…”

This statement is telling and provocative. It demonstrates that President Obama is clearly aware that a disproportionate number of African Americans are not ready to embrace gay rights. Who is willing to bridge this divide to make the demographic shifts necessary for politicians, the media and the country to move progressively on LGBT rights?

NBJC believes that President Obama is ready to do the hard lifting and we are prepared to assist him in this effort. We are also willing to challenge the homophobia that exists in our community. For example, we will be working with the NAACP at their centennial convention and encouraging their members to recognize that one of their own, Bayard Rustin—a leader and organizer of the 1963 March on Washington—was a gay Black man. This is something the NAACP has yet to do.

In addition, we call on our white gay brothers and sisters—just as President Obama did—to recognize that they have work of their own to do in communicating with communities of color. All too often, Black LGBT people extend our hand to work with our white colleagues, as we did in California on Proposition Eight, and all too often our white brothers and sisters stay frozen in a black/white construct that is still too separate and unwelcoming.

Many don’t recognize that this is the next battle. We believe President Obama will move the agenda forward, and NBJC will be just as diligent as other LGBT leaders in prompting our President towards action. We also look to Michelle Obama. She was at the reception as well, and many of us noted her presence and facial expressions that told it all; Michelle may be our fiercest ally.

It is the responsibility of all of us—Obama, Black leaders and White LGBT leaders working together—to persuade the President’s closest and most loyal constituency, communities of color, towards real progress.

VIBE Media Group Closes Its Doors???

So, I just recently read a few news articles about VIBE Magazine, a product of VIBE Media Group is stopping circulation due to VIBE Media Group shutting down.

As you know, the economy has hit the marketing and advertising fields heavy. As you flip through the pages of VIBE; pharmaceutical, automobile, high fashion and urban designer, and other companies usually line the pages marketing their various products.

So many black culture oriented publications have come and gone in the last decade and it leaves me wondering will others come and replace (only to meet the same fate) or impact of the economy on the music industry going to cause a "freeze" on black media publications?

What do you think?

White Man Charged with Prostituting 5 yr old Adopted Black Son

http://www.wral.com/news/local/story/5445704/

UPDATE: Katherine Jackson Granted Temporary Custody

http://hellobeautiful.blackplanet.com/your-world/michael-jackson-what-happens-to-his-children

Tribute to Michael Jackson

http://kingofpopmichael.info/

 

US: Game for HIV-Positive Youth Developed

UNITED STATES: "Game for HIV-Positive Youth Developed"
Science Daily (06.23.09)
Researchers have reported positive results from pilot testing of a Web-based sexual risk reduction intervention that targets prevention messages toward HIV-positive youths. The game, "+CLICK," was designed as an adjunct to traditional clinic-based, self-management education for the youths.

"We wanted to create +CLICK so that we could help educate youth on the importance of making proper, healthy decisions to protect their relationships and themselves as well as help to reduce transmission of [HIV]," said Christine Markham, PhD, lead investigator and an assistant professor of behavioral sciences at the University of Texas School of Public Health.

The study participants were 32 young people; mean age was 17.8; 62.5 percent were females; 68.8 percent were black; 28.1 percent were Hispanic; 56.2 percent acquired HIV perinatally; 43.8 percent were infected through behavior; and 68.8 percent were sexually experienced.

The game's design replicates a shopping mall. +CLICK presents information on abstinence, condoms, and contraception, and it includes video of HIV experts and HIV-positive peers. Four behaviors are targeted in particular: abstaining from sex; self-disclosure of HIV status to a potential partner; correct and consistent condom use; and use of an effective contraceptive in addition to condoms. Participants accessed the game during regularly scheduled clinic visits.

"Participants were very receptive and enthusiastic about playing the game," said Amy Leonard, MPH, research coordinator at Baylor School of Medicine and a study co-author. "They also liked that they were able to ask the clinicians questions about what they learned on the lessons." The youths rated the game highly for ease of use (84.4 percent); use of understandable words (87.5 percent); and trustworthiness (93.8 percent).

+CLICK is in the final stages of development and is tentatively scheduled to be made available to the public in about six months. The team is also working to create a similar game to encourage HIV-positive youths to adhere to their medication regimens.

The study, "+CLICK: Harnessing Web-Based Training to Reduce Secondary Transmission Among HIV-Positive Youth," was published in AIDS Care (2009;21(5):622-631).

White Southern Baptist Pastor Prays for Death of Obama

http://www.afro.com/tabId/551/itemId/3937/Southern-Baptist-ministerprays-for-Obamas-death.aspx

PRIDE TV: Will Senate's apology for slavery doom reparations movement?

Your network for progressive information Senate passes apology for slavery, but disclaimer concerns some Black lawmakers (June 23, 2009) Several members of the Congressional Black Caucus are livid about a disclaimer that was inserted into a Senate resolution apologizing for slavery and racial segregation. On the eve of Juneteenth, a day traditionally celebrated on June 19th to celebrate the end of the Civil War and release of African Americans from slavery, the Senate unanimously passed a resolution apologizing for slavery and segregation. The measure was introduced by Iowa Democrat Tom Harkin, who says it's imperative that Congress fulfill its moral obligation and officially apologize for slavery and Jim Crow laws. The disclaimer found in the apology clarifies that nothing in the resolution supports or authorizes reparations by the United States and that doesn't sit well with some Black lawmakers. The Senate has passed other nonbinding apologies before as in the case of the internment of Japanese-Americans during World War II; however, some Black Congressional leaders are quick to point out disclaimers were not inserted into those previous apologies. "Putting in a disclaimer takes away from the meaning of an apology," Rep. Bennie Thompson (D-Miss.-pictured on the left) told McClatchy Newspapers. "A number of us are prepared to vote against it in its present form." Thompson and other Black lawmakers want to make sure the disclaimer does not hamper the work being done to seek reparations for slavery. Do you think the United States should pay out financial reparations to Blacks for the years of slavery and racial segregation? Send comments to: mystory@pridetv.org     'I AM HIP HOP' profiles Sonny Lewis  (2nd in a series) We celebrate Black Music Month by going beyond the beats, rhymes and rhythms of Hip-hop to shine a spotlight on openly gay and lesbian rappers with our series "I AM HIP HOP." This series was inspired by author Terrance Dean and his memoir, Hiding in Hip Hop: On the Down Low in Entertainment. Today, we talk to out rapper Sonny Lewis on staying true to the game. Listen NOW!     New Black Power: Civil Rights in the Age of Obama airs tonight at 10pm. EST on PeopleTV "Pride & Politics with Anare Holmes" talks to a generation of leaders under 40 to discuss how the fight for Civil and Human Rights has evolved and what the struggle will look like in the age of President Barack Obama tonight at 10pm. on PeopleTV-Atlanta Comcast Channel 24. If you do not live in the city limits of Atlanta, you can stream the program live as it airs by logging onto: www.PeopleTV.org Clikc on the right side of the page that says: Watch PeopleTV Now. Pride & Politics brings today's newsmakers, opinion leaders and emerging talents into dialogue that explores the intersection of race, class, faith and sexuality on American life. This pioneering newsmagazine informs us about the common humanity that crosses boundaries. The program airs Tuesdays at 10pm. EST on PeopleTV-Atlanta Comcast 24.   Federation of Black Prides and PRIDETV partner with Tavis Smiley Presents America, I AM: The African American Imprint   "Outside Blackness: The Artistry of Josephine Baker, James Baldwin and Alice Walker" scheduled for 3pm, Saturday July 11th at America, I AM inside the Atlanta Civic Center. Doors will open at 1:30 pm. to allow attendees to walk through the African-American traveling exhibit: America, I AM, which celebrates 500 years of Black achievement. www.americaiam.org "Outside Blackness" is a thought-provoking discussion exploring the creativity, courage and activism of artists who boldly spoke truth to power and whose cultural imprint help change the image of what it means to be Black in America. This special event is sponsored by the International Federation of Black Prides and PRIDETV, in association with a host of other Atlanta LGBT organizations. Tickets to the Outside Blackness event are free. If attendees would like to walk through the America, I Am exhibit, tickets can be purchased onsite for $13. for more information, contact: advertising@pridetv.org     Homophobia in the Black Community If you or someone you know moved to Atlanta, known as the Black Gay Mecca, to come to terms with your sexuality as a same-gender-loving man or woman or member of the transgender community, email: producer@pridetv.org today! While we prefer Atlantans, we are open to anyone who moved anywhere in the United States to be free. PRIDETV is also interested in talking to teens, young men and women who have found themselves cut off from their families and are homeless because of their sexual orientation.   Visit: www.PrideTV.org         PrideTV.org Everyday people, everyday stories  producer@pridetv.org

Had your dose of Shamanism today?

June 19, 2009
A Soulful Cure
Working with a Shaman
www.dailyom.com

Since time immemorial, certain men and women have felt called to heal the sick, to safeguard knowledge, to guide the lost, and to commune with the spirit world. These unique individuals, known as shamans, were mystics and seers, repositories of wisdom, and keepers of herbal lore. During those periods when ignorance loomed large in the world, shamans across the globe bided their time, peacefully practicing their practical yet refined arts in the jungle, mountains, deserts, and tundra that protected them from those who misunderstood shamanism. Today, however, shamanism has reemerged, as modern men and women feel the same call to service that their ancestors felt long ago. Also, as more individuals explore the notion that healing necessarily involves the soul as well as the physical self, people are consulting shamans in their search for wellness, wisdom, and guidance.

The word shaman literally means "he or she who knows." Shamanism is an art that has not changed in any quantifiable way for millennia and is not bound to any particular form of spirituality. It is grounded on the principle that the visible world is saturated with unseen forces that influence the lives of human beings. Shamans, in addition to acting as fonts of wisdom, are dedicated to diagnosing and curing human suffering—whether emotional, physical, or spiritual. To treat an illness, a shaman may communicate with the spirit world in order to connect more directly with the soul of their patient or with the force causing ill health. They often work closely with animal guides, plant and earth spirits, or your spirit guides, and may make use of use of herbal remedies to supplement other forms of treatment. Shamans, as intermediaries between the physical and spiritual realms, recognize that all objects are in manner alive and retain information that can be utilized to heal.

Shamanism is powerful in part because its practitioners tailor healing to the individual needs of those who seek them out. A shaman manipulates energy, giving you power where you have lost it and removing misplaced energy lurking within you. When you seek out a shaman, they will endeavor to know and understand you before treating you. In this way, they can provide you with therapies that act on your whole being, positively influencing your body as well as your soul.

 

Stephaun Clipper-Wallace
www.stephaunelite.blogspot.com
www.myspace.com/christianelite

"The master's tools will never dismantle the master's house"~ Audre Lorde

"Those who say it can not be done.....should not interrupt the person doing it"~Chinese Proverb

Coverage of the Stonewall Riots: Gay and Lesbian History

http://bulletin.aarp.org/yourworld/reinventing/articles/stonewall_riots_40_years_later_.html

Question to Ponder....

Greetings,

I was having some discussions with some colleagues yesterday and today and out of nowhere some questions hit me. Admittedly the basis of these questions has some connection to the conversations being engaged at the time, but I wanted to find out what others thought on this topic. I recognize that there are some people out there who read my blog who only take in the information and process it; but much of the time don't comment about their thoughts.....

Well....that time has expired!!

Here are some questions that I would like your feedback to, and please feel free to be as blunt as you would like. Most of the time, I don't filter responses to allow people to communicate how they feel.....I will extend that option even further this time. I will NOT modify or filter anyone's comment to this particular post.

Ok!........are you ready??????


GO! (lol)

1. Can people of color be racist?

2. Does Obama becoming President really change the scope of the civil rights movement? Especially when a significant percentage people of color in this country still live at or below poverty.

3. Does "white" still equal "right"?

4. Is there a such thing as having too much pride in your race/ethnicity?

5. If a person doesn't understand homosexuality or "gay" does that make them homophobic?

6. Are we ever going to address the antiquated notion of having "male" and "female" caricatures on restroom doors when most folks I know (gay or straight) don't give a rats behind who they are sitting on the toilet next to?

7. Is it really logical or sane to position your argument against gay rights and marriage as "I don't want my children exposed to that!", when chances are they are going to encounter a gay person or "gay-ness" in their life on multiple occasions?

8. Why is does the idea of gay seem to primarily resonate some sort of sexual connotation, as if "gays" just appeared here through osmosis and weren't conceived through sex?

9. If you make a mistake, and I correct you, does it really serve your better good to attempt to correct me back on something else?

10. Why do people (especially many white people) who exist in privilege, seem to get mad at me when I shine a light on that privilege? It isn't my fault you're walking around blind!!!

More to come...........

PRIDE TV: Obama to Grant Benefits to Same-Sex Partners

Your network for progressive information Obama to grant benefits to same-sex partners (June 17, 2009) President Barack Obama plans to announce his decision to extend benefits to same-sex partners of federal employees today in the Oval Office. Many gay activists have started to call Obama out on the carpet, citing his administration has been slow to act on LGBT issues. He has recently received mounting criticism for not seeking to end the ban on openly gay men and women in the military. The decision to extend same-sex partner benefits may be the kind of political overture Obama needs to keep his gay and lesbian critics at bay. However, the Associated Press reported that several powerful gay fundraisers withdrew their support from a June 25 Democratic National Committee event where Vice President Joe Biden is expected to speak. AP said their exit came in response to a June 12 Justice Department brief that defended the Defense of Marriage Act, a prime target for gay and lesbian criticism. Justice lawyers argued that the law allowed states to reject marriages performed in other states or countries that defy their own standards. Many staunch LGBT activists and leaders remain vigilant in holding Obama's feet to the fire as it relates to repealing the US military's "Don't Ask, Don't Tell" policy that bans openly gay and lesbian staff from serving in the Armed Services, in addition to other equality measures. Do you think many gay activists have been fair in their assessment that Obama has been slow to act on LGBT issues during his first few months in office? Send your response to: mystory@pridetv.org     SAVE THE DATE: "Outside Blackness: The Artistry of Josephine Baker, James Baldwin and Alice Walker" scheduled for 3pm, Saturday July 11th at America, I AM inside the Atlanta Civic Center. Doors will open at 1:30 pm. to allow attendees to walk through the African-American traveling exhibit: America, I AM, which celebrates 500 years of Black achievement. www.americaiam.org "Outside Blackness" is a thought-provoking discussion exploring the creativity, courage and activism of artists who boldly spoke truth to power and whose cultural imprint help change the image of what it means to be Black in America. This special event is sponsored by the International Federation of Black Prides and PRIDETV, in association with a host of other Atlanta LGBT organizations. For tickets contact: advertising@pridetv.org   Real fathers, real men By Anare V. Holmes My life changed the summer of 1983. I was 8 years-old when I boarded the Greyhound bus leaving Hartford, Connecticut en route to Madison, Wisconsin to visit my father, Toye Holmes. I was not aware before getting on the bus that I would not return to live with my birth mother, nor was dad. We thought we'd both enjoy a short summer visit. But, God has a way of showing up in your life in mysterious ways. Toye Holmes is among the millions of Black men that don't make the news for taking care of their children. The Human Rights Campaign does not post their pictures on their website to show examples of men who are not homophobic. So, today I lift up my dad and men like him. They are real fathers and real men. Read more now 'Pride & Politics' uncovers what it means to be  Young, Black and Gay in America  If you are in the Atlanta area and would like to join the production team of the television newsmagazine "Pride & Politics with Anare Holmes," please send statement of interest OR resume and reel to: producer@pridetv.org. Today's emerging LGBT artists, activists, intellectuals and business professionals have access to unparalleled resources and opportunity. However, what does it mean to be young, black and gay in America? Our taping is Saturday, June 20th.      Homophobia in the Black Community If you or someone you know moved to Atlanta, known as the Black Gay Mecca, to come to terms with your sexuality as a same-gender-loving man or woman or member of the transgender community, email: producer@pridetv.org today! While we prefer Atlantans, we are open to anyone who moved anywhere in the United States to be free. PRIDETV is also interested in talking to teens, young men and women who have found themselves cut off from their families and are homeless because of their sexual orientation.   Visit: www.PrideTV.org         PrideTV.org Everyday people, everyday stories  producer@pridetv.org