tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-42635638300019683062024-03-19T20:13:37.851+11:00Jacinta's 9th HouseUnknownnoreply@blogger.comBlogger37125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4263563830001968306.post-51067062106951463612012-12-06T21:37:00.002+11:002012-12-06T21:44:30.214+11:00Now: Love is a biological necessity, a force operating to one degree or another in all biological life. Without love there is no physical commitment to life - no psychic hold. -- Seth<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Courier New', Courier, monospace;">By referencing the below paragraphs from the Seth book does not imply that this is the <u>only</u> expression of love that I believe to be valid and true. The act of defining in specific terms of what love is, or what it should be, loses the meaning. It is all encompassing, and not something must be followed or learnt from others who profess to know better. For if you have not experienced it, it would be difficult to understand what it means to you individually. </span><br />
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Courier New', Courier, monospace;">Love is a state, however seemingly transient or lasting, minor or profound, it alters your experience in that moment to the possibility of something greater, surpassing the mundane. It cannot be </span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Courier New', Courier, monospace;">strictly </span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Courier New', Courier, monospace;">interpreted by the intellect, and certainly cannot be easily translated into words or a language. It touches the deeper realm of emotions. Very simply, it creates. It encourages life force and creativity to spring free, bringing you closer to your unrealised potential. </span><br />
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Courier New', Courier, monospace;">To love and be loved are no longer two opposite ends on the polarity, they are two of the same thing. </span><br />
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><i>"Some people are naturally solitary. They want to live lone lives, and are content. Most, however, have a need for enduring, close relationships. These provide both a psychic and social framework for personal growth, understanding, and development. It is an easy enough matter to shout to the skies: "I love me fellow men," when on the other hand you form no strong, enduring relationships with others. It is easy to claim an equal love for all members of the species, but love itself requires an understanding that at your level of activity is based upon intimate experience. You cannot love someone you do not know - not unless you water down the definition of love so much that it becomes meaningless.</i></span><br />
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><i>To love someone, you must appreciate how that person differs from yourself and from others. You must hold that person in mind so that to some extent love is a kind of meditation - a loving focus upon another individual. Once you experience that kind of love you can translate it into other terms. the love itself spreads out, expands, so that you can then see others in love's light.</i></span><br />
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><i>Love is naturally creative and explorative - that is, you want to creatively explore the aspects of the beloved one. Even characteristics that would otherwise appear as faults attain a certain loving significance. They are accepted - seen, and yet they make no difference. Because these are still attributes of the beloved one, even the seeming faults are redeemed. The beloved attains prominence over all others.</i></span><br />
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><i>The span of a god's love can perhaps equally hold within its vision the existence of all individuals at one time in an infinite loving glance that beholds each person, seeing each with all his or her peculiar characteristics and tendencies. Such a god's glance would delight in each person's difference from each other person. This would not be a blanket love, a soupy porridge of a glance in which individuality melted, but a love based on full understanding of each individual. The emotion of love brings you closest to an understanding of the nature of All That Is. Love incites dedication, commitment. It specifies. You cannot, therefore, honestly insist that you love humanity and all people equally if you do not love one other person. If you do not love yourself, it is quite difficult to love another."</i></span><br />
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;">-- Excerpt from <b>The Nature of Psyche. A Human Expression. A Seth Book</b></span>Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4263563830001968306.post-29841035170655376282012-11-06T16:32:00.001+11:002012-11-06T16:32:08.392+11:00You create your experience through your beliefs about yourself and the nature of reality -- Seth<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><i>Now: Ruburt also saw that he believed he had to justify his existence through his writing. This because he did not trust the basic right of his being as it existed, and does, in space and time. These old beliefs had not caught up to his newer ones.</i></span><br />
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><i>The same artificial need to vindicate being is present in many of my readers, and various core beliefs may be built up to hide this inner insecurity. You may "justify your life" by biological creativity, and then latch onto your children and never want to let them go. You may use your career instead. But in all cases you must come to grips with such unnecessary ideas, face the reality of your creaturehood, and see that you certainly have as much of a place in the universe as a squirrel, an ant or a leaf. You do not question their right to exist. Why question your own?</i></span><br />
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;">-- Excerpt from <b>The Nature of Personal Reality. A Seth Book.</b></span>Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4263563830001968306.post-53186925113974135622012-08-04T18:47:00.001+10:002012-08-04T18:51:37.020+10:00What they had in common was a sense of courage, to tell the story of who you are with your whole heart. -- Brene Brown<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Courier New', Courier, monospace;">Indeed, clarity did present itself as soon as Venus finished its transit through my 4th house. </span><br />
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Courier New', Courier, monospace;">What does being vulnerable really mean? As Brene Brown suggested, perhaps it is different things to different people, but ultimately it is about leaving yourself exposed, heart open. </span><br />
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Courier New', Courier, monospace;">Sure, it can be painful especially if we were not initially met by welcoming responses and experiences, or if we seek for reassurance or validation of our own selves from others. This is because other people also do not truly know or fully accept of themselves. </span><br />
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Courier New', Courier, monospace;">Therefore, before we can expect others to reflect the world of our own perfections, we need to learn to be honest with ourselves, and completely love and accept all that we are. </span>Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4263563830001968306.post-71004684020581050232012-07-18T23:50:00.001+10:002012-07-18T23:50:06.233+10:00The time of Fable is over, the time of History has begun. -- Josephine<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Courier New', Courier, monospace;">Until recently, I had never learnt to truly appreciate the value of history. The present beholds happiness, and the future promises infinite possibilities, what is the purpose of examining and dwelling on things that have already </span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Courier New', Courier, monospace;">occurred</span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Courier New', Courier, monospace;">? So I believed.</span><br />
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Courier New', Courier, monospace;">Random events that happened in the past few weeks however gave me a window to look into my own past, an opportunity to look into my own long forgotten history. As I sought for meanings and answers, again, astrology does not disappoint me. This occurring is coincidental to Venus (which configures prominently in my chart) transiting through the 4th house, which amongst other things, represents our roots, earlier conditionings and the past. In a sense, with Venus illuminating that particular area of life, it evoked more of the deeper emotional patterns and unconscious responses to surface into awareness, hence offering better integration into the psyche. Although at first uncomfortable, I could not resist what had been asked of me hence decidedly putting myself under the microscope. </span><br />
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Courier New', Courier, monospace;">The finding, perhaps surprisingly, brought out that some of my present behavioural patterns, and most importantly values, are still in consistency with those that I had held a long time ago. The understanding of the norm is that people change, as we encounter roadblocks and adapt to circumstances, we learn and we grow and we become different. But maybe there are parts of us which prevail relentlessly constant. So should I congratulate myself for staying true to the core of who I am, or are there repeatable lessons still to come until I get it 'right'? To what extent can we allow ourselves to be changed yet remaining authentic and true? </span><br />
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Courier New', Courier, monospace;">So the past does come back to haunt us. Time is not as linear as I had imagined; past, present and future are multi dimensioned and inter-layered in such a way that they continue to influence one and another. This brings to mind what George Orwell had once said, 'Who controls the past controls the future. Who controls the present controls the past.'</span><br />
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Courier New', Courier, monospace;">Any consequences resulted from decisions made in the past are irreversible and irrevocable. So what exactly are we supposed to learn? What does history really teach us?</span><br />
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Courier New', Courier, monospace;">Perhaps because Venus has not finished gracing through my 4th house, although a lot of reevaluations are undertaken, I do not yet have an answer. Buoyantly hopeful however, clarity will eventually present itself.</span>Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4263563830001968306.post-47396089467245404202012-06-21T19:10:00.002+10:002012-06-21T19:10:39.332+10:00Everything has been figured out, except how to live. -- Jean-Paul Sartre<br />
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Courier New', Courier, monospace;">I have always wondered, we have been taught various important subjects such as maths, sciences and languages at school, why is there not a subject taught on life empowerment or creating the life you desire? </span><div>
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Courier New', Courier, monospace;">Life perhaps is the biggest lesson of all in itself. Although I agree that it is not a formulae, and there may not be one fundamental that applies to all, there are some underlying themes which connect us and are universal. For example, the empathy for pain and the yearning for acceptance and love. And there are qualities that we all value such as honesty, integrity or bravery.</span><div>
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Courier New', Courier, monospace;">So, I wonder, would my life have been drastically different to now if I had been encouraged to discover myself at a young age? Would I have been able to prevent or avoid some of the pitfalls encountered if I had been exposed to these teachings from early on? </span></div>
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Courier New', Courier, monospace;">Maybe yes, maybe no.</span></div>
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Courier New', Courier, monospace;">Coincidentally, what I have become to realise is that the more conscious you become of yourself, the more awareness you gain towards the divine pattern in life. </span></div>
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Courier New', Courier, monospace;">This seems contradictory at a glance. What comes with knowledge and consciousness should be enlightenment and free will, the better ability to perceive choices which lead to greater discernment. But at the same time, it also opens up the cognisance and insight into the inevitable, the inescapable, the destiny, which we must follow. </span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Courier New', Courier, monospace;">Does true separation exist between one and another? Although we remain as seemingly distinct individuals, yet our lives with others are intertwined. The most wonderful analogy I have come across is to imagine yourself as a strand in a knitted jumper, if we pull on any other strand, we are also affected. Hence, the inconclusive debate that has perplexed so many philosophers, fate vs. free will. </span></div>
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Courier New', Courier, monospace;">What has inspired (caused) me to write this is the unforgettable experience as a volunteer </span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Courier New', Courier, monospace;">today </span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Courier New', Courier, monospace;">at the Reach program, Heroes Day <a href="http://www.reach.org.au/" target="_blank">http://www.reach.org.au/</a>. The whole day workshops helped Year 9 students to break down facade, remove barriers, and allow a glimpse of their true inner selves to shine through to others as well as to themselves. The objective is to teach the students not to be identified with just the exteriors or the ego self, but to find out who they truly are. </span></div>
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Courier New', Courier, monospace;">The journey of a hero (or heroine), as the name suggests, is never an easy one. There must be obstacles and challenges along the way to help him or her to reveal the courage, faith and strength inside themselves to finally overcome the impossibles. This is perhaps why we love to champion the underdogs and prefer a come back story than an effortless victory.</span></div>
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Courier New', Courier, monospace;">In his book The Magic Thread, astrologer Richard Idemon differentiates the Hero from all the rest as one who girds the sword and goes out and says, "I challenge my life." He or she must journey through the underground, slay the dragon, in order to rise back up. And often, what we meet to confront is the inner 'demons', our preconceptions which no longer serve our higher purpose.</span></div>
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Courier New', Courier, monospace;">This person who is able to acknowledge and integrate different parts within themselves, Richard calls him or her the twice born. If I may, I'd like to take this further. It is a constant and ongoing process of 'tearing down' and rebuild. Continuing adjustments and alignments is required for procreation and balance as life itself is cyclical. </span></div>
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Courier New', Courier, monospace;">Coming back to my earlier question, is it therefore possible to access only pleasure and bypass pain if we had acquired this understanding? </span></div>
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Courier New', Courier, monospace;">Light cannot exist without darkness. Similarly, true joy may never be uncovered if pain has not been accepted or released. These are all assets given to the Hero on the journey of becoming.</span></div>
</div>Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4263563830001968306.post-78799997669142821632012-05-29T22:59:00.001+10:002012-05-29T23:05:40.457+10:00Dreams are impartial, spontaneous products of the unconscious psyche, outside the control of the will. -- Carl Gustav Jung<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Courier New', Courier, monospace;">Dreams intrigue me. I am endlessly fascinated by them. </span><br />
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Courier New', Courier, monospace;">Dream interpretation has always been an integral and notable component of psychoanalysis. Both Jung and Freud practised it extensively in their dealings with patients, for I recommend Jung's <i>Memories, Dreams, Reflections</i> and Freud's <i>The Interpretation Of Dreams</i>. These books are excellent resources towards understanding principals and works by the two masters of psychology, even though I am ashamed to admit that I have yet made an attempt to finish them.</span><br />
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Courier New', Courier, monospace;">Dreams are messages put forward by our subconscious mind after we quiet down </span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Courier New', Courier, monospace;">from </span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Courier New', Courier, monospace;">all the noises and activities during the day. This is when we become most receptive and open to the subconscious and unconscious. Understanding dreams can be of great assistance towards tapping into the past, present and future as well as understanding our own personality makeup and development. Some may argue, but what I have come to realise is that the literal translation of dream symbols is only secondary. We should be paying attention to how we feel during and after the dreams, whether it is exhilarating, entertaining or exasperating, or all of the mentioned emotions combined. </span><br />
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Courier New', Courier, monospace;">For one who has a rich imagination such as me, you can only envy the sort of adventures I embark upon in a dream state. So here is a snippet of the dream I had lately:</span><br />
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Courier New', Courier, monospace;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #6fa8dc; font-size: large;"><u>Day 1</u></span></span><br />
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<u><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #6fa8dc; font-size: large;"> <span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Courier New', Courier, monospace;">Day 2</span></span></u><br />
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Courier New', Courier, monospace;">What are your thoughts on interpreting this dream?</span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Courier New', Courier, monospace;"><br /></span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Courier New', Courier, monospace;">Two of my friends have kindly offered their interpretations on what it could mean:</span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Courier New', Courier, monospace;"><br /></span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Courier New', Courier, monospace;">1. Path to higher spiritual evolution and understanding</span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Courier New', Courier, monospace;"><br /></span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Courier New', Courier, monospace;">2. Silence is gold</span><br />
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Courier New', Courier, monospace;">Interesting.</span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Courier New', Courier, monospace;"><br /></span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Courier New', Courier, monospace;">OK. Perhaps not every dream must mean something, but for me, the fun is sometimes in the pondering. </span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Courier New', Courier, monospace;"><br /></span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Courier New', Courier, monospace;">After some moments of deliberation, indecision hence reaching no conclusion, all of a sudden, it had occurred to me. Maybe what I can take away from this dream is the message of learning to TRUST. </span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Courier New', Courier, monospace;"><br /></span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Courier New', Courier, monospace;">We don't always know what is happening around us or where we are going in life, but we can learn not to be afraid of the unknown. We may not be clear on the how and why and what at certain points during the stage of our development, but it is OKAY to not to know everything. Eventually, the veil will be lifted, the answers will be revealed and the necessary guidance will be delivered to help us make our way forward. All in good time.</span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #6fa8dc; font-family: 'Courier New', Courier, monospace;"><u><br /></u></span>Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4263563830001968306.post-29494806737432694252012-05-29T20:45:00.001+10:002012-05-29T22:59:54.083+10:00You yourself, as much as anybody in the entire universe, deserve your love and affection. -- Buddha<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Courier New', Courier, monospace;">Hello Blog, long time no see. </span><br />
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Courier New', Courier, monospace;">I have been away, and that is because a few months back I had decided it was time for me to walk the talk, meaning, putting the fundamental values and knowledge I have gathered into place, and into action. And we all know, this presents a challenge as it is always easier said than done. So as I commit (sometimes hesitantly) myself to this ongoing process of self mastery, the biggest and the most rewarding lesson so far has been learning to love and accept myself for all that I am. Despite and including the imperfections.</span><br />
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</div>Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4263563830001968306.post-41325064476673558332012-02-22T23:07:00.001+11:002012-02-22T23:08:40.700+11:00Shock is still fun. I won't ever shut the door on it. -- Nicholas Cage<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Courier New', Courier, monospace;">Close encounter with a mouse today, it was hard to tell which one of us was more scared...</span><br />
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</span>Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4263563830001968306.post-70080152701653293322012-01-25T00:10:00.002+11:002012-01-25T00:11:33.821+11:00Wine is sunlight, held together by water. -- Galileo<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Courier New', Courier, monospace;">Strangely enough, I woke up this morning with a sudden epiphany suspecting that life on so many levels, assimilates drinking. And why was I pondering about alcohol at 7am in the morning? Well, you got me.</span><br />
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Courier New', Courier, monospace;">After watching The Descendants yesterday (first of all, I have to say the name of the film is slightly deceiving), I left the cinema with a mixed bag of subtle, and understated emotions. Life is not perfect, and the movie exactly portrays that. The feelings of bitterness, sadness, and hopefulness combined with an unusual sense of relief and acceptance made me beginning to see why this movie scored many awards and nominations. It is not because the story is extraordinary, but only because it is so ordinary, that it can easily be the life of mine, the life of yours, or the life of anyone else's. The difference will only be reflected in how we perceive the things which happen to us, and our attitudes toward them.</span><br />
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Courier New', Courier, monospace;">This leads me back to thinking that life is not a tea party, it is not always wonderful, not always fun. However perhaps, we can compare it to drinking at a bar. :P</span><br />
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Courier New', Courier, monospace;"><u><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #6fa8dc;">Scenario 1</span></u></span><br />
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Courier New', Courier, monospace;">You have had a good day, caught up with your friends, having a few drinks, sharing some good conversations and enjoying a good time. And what's more, your favourite drinks are on their happy hour specials. Good drinks, good atmosphere, and good company. And most importantly, you just know everything is falling into place. Don't we all have times when we feel we are at the right place at the right time with the right people? You are doing everything right, whether consciously, or without any efforts. These are the times when you embrace life, and life embraces you back.</span><br />
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Courier New', Courier, monospace;"><u><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #6fa8dc;">Scenario 2</span></u></span><br />
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Courier New', Courier, monospace;">Now let's suppose this. You have had a bad day, stumbled into a bar that serves terrible and terribly overpriced drinks, and got stuck talking to people you feel extremely uncomfortable with. And what's made it worse, you also felt you got peer pressured into drinking more than you could chew (should I perhaps say, digest in this case?) and woke up the next day with a big hangover. And what do you decide to do? Try and erase any recollections of what had happened and just get on with it? Swear never to repeat the same stupid mistakes but somehow you attract the exact circumstances again? Or do you analyse what you could have done to prevent a potential disastrous consequence next time by 1. sticking to the same bar you have always gone to 2. bringing your friends and staying within your comfort zone 3. saying no when you need to?</span><br />
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Courier New', Courier, monospace;">Can you perhaps see what this is eluding to? In our scenario 2, we can't change the past of what had happened, but we can always alter our reactions and attitudes towards the experiences and create new experiences. I am not judging which one of the responses is preferred, they equally contribute to our defensive mechanisms and unique to the individual. And maybe any one of them is appropriate at different times for dealing with different issues.</span><br />
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Courier New', Courier, monospace;">But can you see that scenario 2 can easily overlaps and be translated into scenario 1, or scenario 3? </span><br />
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Courier New', Courier, monospace;"><u><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #6fa8dc;">Scenario 3</span></u></span><br />
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Courier New', Courier, monospace;">You have had a bad day, stumbled into a bar, instead of ordering the same drink you always get, you decided to be adventurous and picked something the bartender recommended, it turned out to be much better than your expectation. You were also approached by a certain group of people whom you would not normally socialise with, ok, you thought to yourself, what's the worst that can happen, let's see what we have in common. And you found out that you are all die-hard fans of Apple and happily exchanged gadgety tips for hours. Surprisingly overall, you ended up having a good time.</span><br />
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Courier New', Courier, monospace;">Things are intertwined in ways that are unimaginable, beyond our normal comprehension. This is what I find so fascinating, and I will always be on a quest for answers, or perhaps, to recognise that there exist no answers, or at least, no absolute answers.</span>Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4263563830001968306.post-46339457730074853382012-01-20T01:46:00.001+11:002012-01-20T23:10:30.412+11:00All things are subject to interpretation whichever interpretation prevails at a given time is a function of power and not truth. -- Friedrich Nietzsche<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Courier New', Courier, monospace;">OK, I had decided on my new year resolution, and we are already into mid-Jan, however I am still in a reflective mood. </span><br />
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Courier New', Courier, monospace;">I wonder if this is because of the Sun is currently transiting through my 12th house hence teaching me to withdraw and recuperate in order to regain momentum. Please ignore if you think this is astrology nonsense, and maybe you are right. Astrology should be utilised in finding justifications and meanings into things that are not apparent or evident on the surface, and it can be great assistance for realising a healthy perspective. But it should not be abused or misused, and I remind myself of this. Delving too deep into it or intellectualising too much of it instead can only distract ourselves from the actual experience, and the meanings to the experience. This then defeats its original purpose and intentions. So like most things, it is about balance, isn't it? </span><br />
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Courier New', Courier, monospace;">One of the lessons I had to contend with last year was discerning the right balance between the inner reality and the outer reality. </span><br />
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Courier New', Courier, monospace;">The action of internalising ideas, thoughts and emotion is an important process to the inner evolvement which precipitates growth, strengthening the conviction and confidence in oneself against any adversity that appears to come from the external. However, overly emphasising inner experience with disregard to the outer world only encourages one to </span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Courier New', Courier, monospace;">perpetuate in the realm of imagination</span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Courier New', Courier, monospace;">. This denies one from facing the physical reality, eventually the delusion will catch up to result in disappointment and discontentment.</span><br />
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Courier New', Courier, monospace;">On the other side, our physical senses provide a basis for human connections and understanding with minimal individual disposition, and this experience of the outer phenomenon in return triggers various forms and shapes of ideas, thoughts and emotions in the individual. </span><br />
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Courier New', Courier, monospace;">Neither is one more important than the other, and nor is one separate from the other. </span><br />
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Courier New', Courier, monospace;">Speaking of this reminds me of the one thing that had evoked me with a profound resonance after reading Sophie's World very long ago. At the time, without in-depth comprehension, I was already puzzled by this seemingly contradictory view on reality imparted by the two great thinkers, Plato and Aristotle. Plato believed the ultimate reality resides in the mind, ideal and reasoning power, sensory observation of the ever-changing world of phenomena only alludes to an implication of the reality, rather than the reality itself. Hence he said</span><br />
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #444444; font-style: italic;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;">"When the mind's eye rests on objects illuminated by truth and reality, it understands and comprehends them, and functions intelligently; but when it turns to the twilight world of change and decay, it can only form opinions, its vision is confused and its beliefs shifting, and it seems to lack intelligence." -- Plato</span></span><br />
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Courier New', Courier, monospace;">Whereas Aristotle rejected this view and concentrated instead on identification with nature, substance and concrete objects of the world. To him, these primary substances hold fundamental truth to meanings, hence they give meanings to the reality. His relative scientific orientation prompted him towards understanding truth based on metaphysics, the operating and functioning of external existence of substance. Hence he said</span><br />
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #555555; font-size: 16px; font-style: italic;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;">"The first philosophy (Metaphysics) is universal and is exclusively concerned with primary substance. ... And here we will have the science to study that which is just as that which is, both in its essence and in the properties which, just as a thing that is, it has." -- Aristotle</span></span><br />
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Courier New', Courier, monospace;">Perhaps, we will put more weight on experiencing one or the other during different stages of our life. But with this split, we can only hope to learn to reconcile and merge the two, by not losing sight of both, gradually creating a close-to-perfect marriage between the inner and the outer. </span>Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4263563830001968306.post-27681414775695918592012-01-11T00:33:00.003+11:002012-01-11T00:43:03.138+11:00I hear, I know. I see, I remember. I do, I understand. -- Confucius<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Courier New', Courier, monospace;">Have you ever paid close attention to the lunar phase, the cyclical waning and waxing of the moon? </span><br />
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Courier New', Courier, monospace;">New moon commonly has the connotation of a new beginning, as it is often associated with the birth of something new. Full moon on the other hand embodies the aspects and manifestation of endings and completions. </span><br />
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Courier New', Courier, monospace;">Like the moon, certain things are ordained and irrevocabl<span class="Apple-style-span" style="-webkit-border-horizontal-spacing: 5px; -webkit-border-vertical-spacing: 5px;">e as they form part of the natural cycle of life. </span></span><br />
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Courier New', Courier, monospace;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="-webkit-border-horizontal-spacing: 5px; -webkit-border-vertical-spacing: 5px;">Don't we all love my stick figure illustrations? Saves me from all the incessant babbling...</span></span><br />
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj7uq08jJnD55nU2WUirfz-oOA8c2sBts6avQNH26Y_m2igmBXbQuJZYUCCDGlaFRYBTcvWLArNFWiSGuGDpg_glE97BAZI1sgtorObg9z5M_vC6xAMPClWc5kD7l7XxxaD7dBFUrIhZ-L1/s1600/1.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="376" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj7uq08jJnD55nU2WUirfz-oOA8c2sBts6avQNH26Y_m2igmBXbQuJZYUCCDGlaFRYBTcvWLArNFWiSGuGDpg_glE97BAZI1sgtorObg9z5M_vC6xAMPClWc5kD7l7XxxaD7dBFUrIhZ-L1/s640/1.jpg" width="640" /></a></div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Courier New', Courier, monospace;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="-webkit-border-horizontal-spacing: 5px; -webkit-border-vertical-spacing: 5px;">De-cluttering and re-prioritisation are always required when there is too much of a good thing. Only when the old has been removed to make room, new potentials and opportunities can then emanate and materialise. </span></span><br />
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Courier New', Courier, monospace;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="-webkit-border-horizontal-spacing: 5px; -webkit-border-vertical-spacing: 5px;">The inevitable outcome of over expansion is contraction. And the eventual result of stagnation and constriction on the contrary, is the process towards culmination.</span></span><br />
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Courier New', Courier, monospace;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="-webkit-border-horizontal-spacing: 5px; -webkit-border-vertical-spacing: 5px;">This one is self-explantory too. When we seem to be stuck at the bottom of the hill, it is obvious that the only direction is to slowly climb back up. Through hard work and determination, we achieve our goals and get back onto the top. From there the process of balancing and re-balancing continues.</span></span><br />
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Courier New', Courier, monospace;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="-webkit-border-horizontal-spacing: 5px; -webkit-border-vertical-spacing: 5px;">Losing something is never pleasant nor easy, and neither is the labor towards accumulation. Buddhism teaches us detachment because nothing in life is permanent, and the way to attaining equilibrium and inner peace is through accepting change is always present in the external world. Taoism emphases on finding path through the realisation of counterbalance and opposite polarities in nature, and not attempting to defy this rule by calmly going withe the ebb and flow</span></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="-webkit-border-horizontal-spacing: 5px; -webkit-border-vertical-spacing: 5px; font-family: 'Courier New', Courier, monospace;">. </span><br />
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Courier New', Courier, monospace;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="-webkit-border-horizontal-spacing: 5px; -webkit-border-vertical-spacing: 5px;">If we can gradually learn to acknowledge, accept or even embrace this uncontrollable factor of life, may valuable lessons be gained from it, </span></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="-webkit-border-horizontal-spacing: 5px; -webkit-border-vertical-spacing: 5px; font-family: 'Courier New', Courier, monospace;">hopefully </span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="-webkit-border-horizontal-spacing: 5px; -webkit-border-vertical-spacing: 5px; font-family: 'Courier New', Courier, monospace;">enabling us with choosability in this inevitability. </span>Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4263563830001968306.post-25415639529119329382011-12-29T23:41:00.000+11:002011-12-29T23:41:57.611+11:00A dreamer is one who can only find his way by moonlight, and his punishment is that he sees the dawn before the rest of the world. -- Oscar Wilde<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Courier New', Courier, monospace;">Knowledge cannot substitute for experience, </span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Courier New', Courier, monospace;">and experience does not equate to wisdom.</span><br />
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Courier New', Courier, monospace;">Knowledge, experience and wisdom are all equally important in their own rights. </span><br />
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Courier New', Courier, monospace;">I have gained some insight into the importance of incorporating all three this year, and I hope to continue to learn to do so.</span><br />
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Courier New', Courier, monospace;">May all our wishes and dreams carry us forward into the new year.</span><br />
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</span>Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4263563830001968306.post-91136286390749628352011-12-22T01:11:00.007+11:002011-12-22T01:21:52.910+11:00We don't know where our first impressions come from or precisely what they mean, so we don't always appreciate their fragility. -- Malcolm Gladwell<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Courier New', Courier, monospace;">I had encountered an episode today that prompted me to question the whole constitution and validity of a first impression.</span><br />
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Courier New', Courier, monospace;">Sometimes a first impression can be uncannily accurate while at other times unfortunately misleading. Although we emphasise that we all shouldn't judge a book by its cover, most of us tend to have our mind made up about a person within the first few minutes of interaction. This is not to suggest that our subsequent impressions are promised to remain static and will not alter, but first impressions do carry </span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="-webkit-border-horizontal-spacing: 5px; -webkit-border-vertical-spacing: 5px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Courier New', Courier, monospace;">indubitable </span></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Courier New', Courier, monospace;">weight towards the initial perception. </span><br />
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Courier New', Courier, monospace;">Perhaps a first impression can be understood in the context of probable specific elements that get registered. Is it the voice? The appearance? Social etiquette? Facial expression? How and what has been conversed? The body language? Or is it to do with how the other person actually make us feel about ourselves?</span><br />
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Courier New', Courier, monospace;">It may quite well be based on the combination of all of the above. It has been </span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Courier New', Courier, monospace;">established </span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Courier New', Courier, monospace;">previously </span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Courier New', Courier, monospace;">that we are all unique in our orientations, and, we perceive the world in relations to our own values, instinctive nature and our immediate environment, therefore, I am more comfortable with conjecturing that our first impressions on the same object will differ due to the inevitable inclination to be subjective.</span><br />
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Courier New', Courier, monospace;">Astrologically (Ha, you know I would have to tie it back to astrology), it is represented by the Ascendant, which is the beginning of the first house and what we project out into the world, consequently, how others see us. Again, we all have our own unique ascendants, as the time of birth is critical in determining its zodiac sign hence the qualities we consciously or unconsciously project. It may be easier to understand this if we think of the importance of the birth time underlies the meaning of the instance we were first brought into this world. </span><br />
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Courier New', Courier, monospace;">We still cannot deduce with confidence about how a person sets out to achieve an initial impression by solely examining the sign of the ascendant. This is further complicated by the different aspects that an ascendant makes with the other planets in the birth chart that could potentially modify its expression and behaviour.</span><br />
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Courier New', Courier, monospace;">The Sun sign also points to various characteristics of the individuality and personality. Supposedly if the Sun and Ascendant are in conflicting elements (i.e. Air and Earth) such as Taurus and Aquarius, we will see a person exhibiting the eccentric, social and unpredictable side of Aquarius, as well as the traditional, stubborn and reliable side of Taurus. In particular for this example, Aquarius generally orientates towards an ideal to improve the future whereas Taurus is simply happy with maintaing the existing structure and status-quo. Although one may hold prominence and suppresses the other, in the long run, this person will be </span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Courier New', Courier, monospace;">constantly </span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Courier New', Courier, monospace;">in battle with himself or herself if these contrasting qualities are made unaware. </span><br />
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Courier New', Courier, monospace;">It is hard to imagine that we can get the full picture of someone in a glimpse since that we are all multi-faceted. </span><br />
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Courier New', Courier, monospace;">We infer then that the first impression cannot be entirely dependent upon to draw a depiction of someone. At the same time however, there is the value in understanding each time what our first impression is and why it is the way it is, as the experience and exploration may lead to uncovering more aspects about our own personalities.</span>Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4263563830001968306.post-75438758874093490422011-12-07T23:23:00.001+11:002011-12-07T23:30:14.764+11:00Every man wants to be happy, but in order to be so he needs first to understand what happiness is. -- Jean-Jacques Rousseau<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Courier New', Courier, monospace;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #6fa8dc;">What is happiness to you?</span></span><br />
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Courier New', Courier, monospace;">And that is enough.</span>Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4263563830001968306.post-36662522023421009422011-12-05T00:51:00.002+11:002011-12-05T00:58:45.172+11:00You may say I'm a dreamer. But I'm not the only one. I hope someday you'll join us. And the world will live as one. -- Imagine (John Lennon)<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjPp2WIYQMK4p4IZEnkjW5AxFnBaHW6BJrbkBK3m3k4wogQPlcAXJf-DfedlY_Y816k1VnyHLvTqofq9Dg2PEHKdxQ-P2_fy8auSoQk5NTy45atds6k-JkHmfqtPEfE8uz7CHWXJf_gIHQf/s1600/1.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="376" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjPp2WIYQMK4p4IZEnkjW5AxFnBaHW6BJrbkBK3m3k4wogQPlcAXJf-DfedlY_Y816k1VnyHLvTqofq9Dg2PEHKdxQ-P2_fy8auSoQk5NTy45atds6k-JkHmfqtPEfE8uz7CHWXJf_gIHQf/s640/1.jpg" width="640" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEifE1TrZ6fxGLJU1ld-Jv2sy5v2gDZk9kCFdbqDxumD2kIthkF7Zl-kdd5zjTC-8hWrMwjaR1arJbbrzlzDIOQXMzldtzF5vCvXO5EfwtUUUYzsJoN3Ri-uLptzrkB5Cx77mY6L7D2eOZLk/s1600/2.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="376" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEifE1TrZ6fxGLJU1ld-Jv2sy5v2gDZk9kCFdbqDxumD2kIthkF7Zl-kdd5zjTC-8hWrMwjaR1arJbbrzlzDIOQXMzldtzF5vCvXO5EfwtUUUYzsJoN3Ri-uLptzrkB5Cx77mY6L7D2eOZLk/s640/2.jpg" width="640" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi0Dj8OQm_EvMorBvcDR8lZjRL6sLW2JFHvG-yasf-a_02gbHjnbTkRc7dycO5g6C4DCpchMB6YcWL1jW5GxfJOMDR3xs7N1FAJ2R9Ekx66jbbyEG4exApJhyphenhyphenP7_IEGFea8gmKMbhWzKZM3/s1600/4.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="376" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi0Dj8OQm_EvMorBvcDR8lZjRL6sLW2JFHvG-yasf-a_02gbHjnbTkRc7dycO5g6C4DCpchMB6YcWL1jW5GxfJOMDR3xs7N1FAJ2R9Ekx66jbbyEG4exApJhyphenhyphenP7_IEGFea8gmKMbhWzKZM3/s640/4.jpg" width="640" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg4a7bY6pMOy20gIgwa0iJTcqaYi6HGEK8UFcsrgVakwa_sNPE3kutjWr6uOavNC2tI5JcWZt0-YI2lY3kFuqfgXhSwuLERSjDqCRWaguliVz1bdR817NrkgshUggd3WwbdEIAc1lKs69Ic/s1600/5.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="376" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg4a7bY6pMOy20gIgwa0iJTcqaYi6HGEK8UFcsrgVakwa_sNPE3kutjWr6uOavNC2tI5JcWZt0-YI2lY3kFuqfgXhSwuLERSjDqCRWaguliVz1bdR817NrkgshUggd3WwbdEIAc1lKs69Ic/s640/5.jpg" width="640" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiJ2q5Y-k4h2IMUE5oaYJqiD-EQTSXdpneImnvb2b_qkI0TvUyJWXadWjwUmTQ0xsQl4TznAeskzod4wGIROLzhA3Y2BZR6lDe36_3VtfQIk9B4yrMRKWPXvm4E6XoB3HYZLUQstGYg2Wju/s1600/IMG_0825.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"></a><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhMHLtkGTsk7aa9NWI6WbLhUDTsNAadJzm36ZhhdVzc9Pjdbi15oXLFMmOVlWSa85BSVRjT_rKy-voATb2GxvBIIYnsKvpuTek4hO7lTOaFs8slKtoPvJ9_kDYtdNVT9t3fZAOPt7Y5AdkH/s1600/6.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><br />
</a><img border="0" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiJ2q5Y-k4h2IMUE5oaYJqiD-EQTSXdpneImnvb2b_qkI0TvUyJWXadWjwUmTQ0xsQl4TznAeskzod4wGIROLzhA3Y2BZR6lDe36_3VtfQIk9B4yrMRKWPXvm4E6XoB3HYZLUQstGYg2Wju/s640/IMG_0825.jpg" width="478" /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
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</div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="-webkit-text-decorations-in-effect: underline; color: #0000ee;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhMHLtkGTsk7aa9NWI6WbLhUDTsNAadJzm36ZhhdVzc9Pjdbi15oXLFMmOVlWSa85BSVRjT_rKy-voATb2GxvBIIYnsKvpuTek4hO7lTOaFs8slKtoPvJ9_kDYtdNVT9t3fZAOPt7Y5AdkH/s1600/6.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="376" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhMHLtkGTsk7aa9NWI6WbLhUDTsNAadJzm36ZhhdVzc9Pjdbi15oXLFMmOVlWSa85BSVRjT_rKy-voATb2GxvBIIYnsKvpuTek4hO7lTOaFs8slKtoPvJ9_kDYtdNVT9t3fZAOPt7Y5AdkH/s640/6.jpg" width="640" /></a></span><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><iframe allowfullscreen='allowfullscreen' webkitallowfullscreen='webkitallowfullscreen' mozallowfullscreen='mozallowfullscreen' width='320' height='266' src='https://www.youtube.com/embed/4bXg7EIatPY?feature=player_embedded' frameborder='0'></iframe></div>Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4263563830001968306.post-62929384472278317772011-12-01T01:12:00.000+11:002011-12-01T01:12:34.000+11:00Once we accept our limits, we go beyond them -- Albert Einstein<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Courier New', Courier, monospace;">My yoga teacher always says in class that each posture should just be enough to keep it interesting, but not fascinating. At first I was bemused and intrigued by this style of teaching, shouldn't we always aim for the perfect extension to achieve the maximum stretch so we can look and feel the best we possibly can?</span><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Courier New', Courier, monospace;"><br />
</span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Courier New', Courier, monospace;">According to her, each posture should provide just the right amount of sensation and tension to keep us stimulated, but not to the extent to have us completely immersed in pain or disharmony. </span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Courier New', Courier, monospace;">In truth, no one knows about our own bodies better than ourselves. However sometime we forget and let our ego selves take over to dictate our actions, we become to think that we are superior if we look the best in the eyes of others. Therefore, the takeaway for me from this is to acknowledge and respect my own limitations sometime. This realisation is profound and it may be applied to other areas in life as well. </span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Courier New', Courier, monospace;"><br />
</span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Courier New', Courier, monospace;">When I first started this blog, I expected myself to be inspired and producing 24/7, not surprisingly later on I became disappointed as I gradually discovered that it isn't always the case. I remember others comforting me by telling me to take it easy. Then I also remember telling the same people to take it easy on themselves when they become too stressed about a situation whether it is related to work, buying a property or something else. Sadly, w</span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Courier New', Courier, monospace;">e don't always listen or follow the same advice we give to others. </span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Courier New', Courier, monospace;">There seems to be at least an area in which we feel compulsive towards, as a result, defensive mechanisms are devised via the form of overcompensating to avoid us feeling inferior. </span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Courier New', Courier, monospace;"><br />
</span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Courier New', Courier, monospace;">Yoga is an experience that connects the body, mind and spirit to attain peacefulness and tranquility through the balance of the outer and inner. Although setting goals and achieving them is healthy for growth and development, but if we become too attached to the outcomes or solely seek reflections of ourselves in the external, imbalance is then created and no matter how much has been succeeded, our appetite will always grow bigger and bigger for the next best experience to bring the 100% fulfilment that it can never deliver. </span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Courier New', Courier, monospace;"><br />
</span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Courier New', Courier, monospace;">I stumbled across My Best Friend's Wedding on TV tonight. I don't know how many times I have watched this but it still made me laugh, cry and laugh and cry all at the same time. Julianne (Julia Robert's character) is portrayed as far as from being perfect but I still adored her simply because she is real. Rarely do we find ourselves liking someone because they are the smartest, the best looking or the wealthiest, we like them despite of their flaws and quirks, we feel compassion towards their limitations and we like them more for the courage and humility they show facing their own imperfections. </span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Courier New', Courier, monospace;"><br />
</span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Courier New', Courier, monospace;">If these are some of the qualities we admire in others, then we must able to find them already in us waiting to be discovered. Light cannot exist without darkness. If we can readily accept the limitations of other people's, wouldn't it be nice if we can also do the same for ourselves?</span></div>Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4263563830001968306.post-81802718974214743152011-11-28T22:52:00.000+11:002011-11-28T22:52:48.668+11:00We keep moving forward, opening new doors, and doing new things, because we're curious and curiosity keeps leading us down new path. -- Walt Disney<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Courier New', Courier, monospace;">Since that I have lately discovered this new found passion for cooking, I decide it is only appropriate to create a separate blog to dedicate to this food expedition experience. In this way, it will help with alleviating random distractions and maintain the theme and focus of this current blog. Hang on, who am I to talk about focus and can someone remind me of the purpose of this blog again? :P</span><br />
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</span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Courier New', Courier, monospace;">So... If you simply happen to enjoy food or have this insatiable appetite for something new, I invite you to check out this new blog: </span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Courier New', Courier, monospace;"><a href="http://www.thereisahungrymouth.blogspot.com/" target="_blank">www.thereisahungrymouth.blogspot.com</a></span><br />
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhZzW-Y4Ih2-sThQFV6_D7bb0njaZlm_0Ftp_EabsD4EUlCGSMNoMtEsYF1TzE6UrB5oFsVN3X5dtK2p5ioqvgvXzQz5qB7g_j3YaEEULdbOkOWyMxiv9hKn2KIo2H4BYZCIX5ug1uLe9ch/s1600/Smile.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="235" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhZzW-Y4Ih2-sThQFV6_D7bb0njaZlm_0Ftp_EabsD4EUlCGSMNoMtEsYF1TzE6UrB5oFsVN3X5dtK2p5ioqvgvXzQz5qB7g_j3YaEEULdbOkOWyMxiv9hKn2KIo2H4BYZCIX5ug1uLe9ch/s400/Smile.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><br />
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</span>Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4263563830001968306.post-77107567080085747822011-11-21T21:29:00.000+11:002011-11-21T21:31:50.533+11:00In prayer it is better to have a heart without words than words without a heart. -- Mahatma Gandhi<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #c27ba0; font-family: 'Courier New', Courier, monospace;">Spotted the creation from a fellow stick figure addict this morning. What a way to start the day!</span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgK6BYSPss3C0p8Ol4V7ZxYF4PUJK5LufEm5CUMeZo6I3TUzx9FapiDkyEyTnpJgn-ThrHWY0Mb8M9xUnSfZZKCITZLx7NoI-LIAR-1UQCLgRbP5JHqXbyNN8jnpgZjqC9BsguLRpiZVnrx/s1600/IMG_0740.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="298" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgK6BYSPss3C0p8Ol4V7ZxYF4PUJK5LufEm5CUMeZo6I3TUzx9FapiDkyEyTnpJgn-ThrHWY0Mb8M9xUnSfZZKCITZLx7NoI-LIAR-1UQCLgRbP5JHqXbyNN8jnpgZjqC9BsguLRpiZVnrx/s400/IMG_0740.JPG" width="400" /></a></div><br />
<div style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #c27ba0;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Courier New', Courier, monospace;">Reciprocally for dinner I decided on creating </span></span></div><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj_RDnXLpAMWtWw0dZrvQAmwV2QJZAkp_Pshha13jFKVLva-mqeTHc_RyWWQ9IaPnNadcDvybMJs9oHS_FQmudD4-p9n6LNP8hI6_MX25OxlUWw00-wjKyavoHo4jJFlpkCqG1ZnmBCPWIg/s1600/IMG_0743.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="298" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj_RDnXLpAMWtWw0dZrvQAmwV2QJZAkp_Pshha13jFKVLva-mqeTHc_RyWWQ9IaPnNadcDvybMJs9oHS_FQmudD4-p9n6LNP8hI6_MX25OxlUWw00-wjKyavoHo4jJFlpkCqG1ZnmBCPWIg/s400/IMG_0743.JPG" width="400" /></a></div><br />
<div style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #c27ba0;"><b>+</b></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEje2f78_5MUGpn9Y_KjOfN_NZjqAU8k_5nsP3oWSfGLxN7jlvTldHg55NThLtXgXECgKQj1Bq4_qrvewHJCK6KtMQ4bZt4-bERgEt7jVxGPDT2Kf6SwuNTAksb3VgnMeUBOWOIlj4JKblgn/s1600/IMG_0744.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="298" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEje2f78_5MUGpn9Y_KjOfN_NZjqAU8k_5nsP3oWSfGLxN7jlvTldHg55NThLtXgXECgKQj1Bq4_qrvewHJCK6KtMQ4bZt4-bERgEt7jVxGPDT2Kf6SwuNTAksb3VgnMeUBOWOIlj4JKblgn/s400/IMG_0744.JPG" width="400" /></a></div><br />
<div style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #c27ba0;"><b>||</b></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><b><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #c27ba0;"><br />
</span></b></div><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjtGtucjfLWTH1wI_YhfHOhn4uVjbBCNC1P_gS6XRQ0QGMZfLe89SToa13BE7rEmaJAQLkSCqfUVfqwuuoS_Gw8jGZoQq4reu4lFFgSNI-tyRnMsSr0nf977Gas1vPsedCn8QgNGF0tIdrg/s1600/IMG_0745.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="298" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjtGtucjfLWTH1wI_YhfHOhn4uVjbBCNC1P_gS6XRQ0QGMZfLe89SToa13BE7rEmaJAQLkSCqfUVfqwuuoS_Gw8jGZoQq4reu4lFFgSNI-tyRnMsSr0nf977Gas1vPsedCn8QgNGF0tIdrg/s400/IMG_0745.JPG" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #ea9999;">Jacinta's Stick Figure </span></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: arial, sans-serif; font-size: x-small; line-height: 16px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #e06666;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #ea9999;">オムライス / Omu-rice</span></span></span></td></tr>
</tbody></table><div style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #c27ba0;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #e06666; font-family: arial, sans-serif; font-size: x-small; line-height: 16px;"><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #c27ba0; font-family: 'Courier New', Courier, monospace;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;">What a way to end the night!</span></span></span></span></div>Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4263563830001968306.post-10823165570904872642011-11-17T23:38:00.000+11:002011-11-17T23:42:15.037+11:00Crime is terribly revealing. Try and vary your methods as you will, your tastes, your habits, your attitude of mind, and your soul is revealed by your actions. -- Agatha Christie<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Courier New', Courier, monospace;">I have been charged guilty of neglecting the blog for the past few weeks. However, in my defence (and a good one!), this is all a result of my current preoccupation with the pursuit and mastery of a new found impetus - cooking. </span><br />
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</span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Courier New', Courier, monospace;">Surely enough, dinning out and sampling assorted food offered by various restaurants is undoubtedly an enjoyable experience. But to put yourself through the sweat, blood and tears in order to plate up something that is merely edible? It turns out to be an equally enjoyable experience in its own right. I guess we should never entirely dismiss or discount any old sayings such as this one -- You never know (what you can do) till you try. :)</span><br />
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Courier New', Courier, monospace;">Strangely enough, I catch myself approaching all new recipe with great enthusiasm and optimism without the slightest hint of reservation or hesitation. Somehow it must turn out alright, in the end, the food must turn out fantastic. Therefore unsurprisingly, blind confidence in the ability to improvise </span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Courier New', Courier, monospace;">mixed with a lack of knowledge</span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Courier New', Courier, monospace;"> have led to a mini disaster tonight. And the verdict? One hour of 'community' cleanup in the kitchen.</span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Courier New', Courier, monospace;"> </span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Courier New', Courier, monospace;"><br />
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Courier New', Courier, monospace;">Well, it was not all that bad. </span><br />
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Courier New', Courier, monospace;">The instinctual drive that unconsciously impels one as suggested by Sigmund Freud (the inventor of psychoanalysis), manifested itself tonight in a precipitate manner. Although arguable to however Freud originally conjectured it, in my case, this drive was simply just pure hunger at 9PM. The result this time? My second attempt at it produced <span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #ffd966;"><b>gold<span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: black;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-weight: normal;">,</span></span></b><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: black;"> and this all came about in 5 minutes.</span></span></span><br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgO62KHJBt3yBjktSDe6F4wOB9RVsjgtLillxKWSLvlhDLrITQof_ShP4Ltwa9CA3IDCe4jE7mfgXuECkC8io0B92SUMQ4ihi3M02LX217Hdueiz7tHKnDysZVnz0tkjkeb35QNs0pPn5dy/s1600/IMG_0739.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="298" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgO62KHJBt3yBjktSDe6F4wOB9RVsjgtLillxKWSLvlhDLrITQof_ShP4Ltwa9CA3IDCe4jE7mfgXuECkC8io0B92SUMQ4ihi3M02LX217Hdueiz7tHKnDysZVnz0tkjkeb35QNs0pPn5dy/s400/IMG_0739.JPG" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #e69138;">Jacinta's fast and furious seafood pasta</span></span></td></tr>
</tbody></table><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Courier New', Courier, monospace;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #ffd966;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: black;"></span></span>So what was the lesson learnt from this? Similarly, old sayings and proverbs again hold virtue and value -- If at first you don't succeed, try, try again. </span>Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4263563830001968306.post-82154564692390486722011-11-08T01:41:00.000+11:002011-11-09T00:54:39.389+11:00Wholeness is not achieved by cutting off a portion of one’s being, but by integration of the contraries. -- Carl Gustav Jung<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: "Courier New", Courier, monospace;">The desire to write has departed me unexpectedly and is instead substituted with an eagerness to draw as an alternative mode for self expression. Unprecedentedly, I felt impelled to sketch out these diagrams without having had a central theme in mind at that time, so now, a story must be constructed to conceive the meanings behind them in order to fill the void. (<- This could be all just a subconscious denial of an addiction to stick figures!)</span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: "Courier New", Courier, monospace;"><br />
</span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: "Courier New", Courier, monospace;">I presuppose that we are not entirely unfamiliar with the concept and classification of the four elements, being FIRE, AIR, WATER and EARTH. Each element represents a certain type of consciousness and consequently an attunement to a specific field of life experience. In a nutshell, the</span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: "Courier New", Courier, monospace;"> </span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: "Courier New", Courier, monospace;">elements symbolise </span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: "Courier New", Courier, monospace;">different </span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: "Courier New", Courier, monospace;">realms of being and experience: </span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: "Courier New", Courier, monospace;"><br />
</span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: "Courier New", Courier, monospace;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #e06666;">Fire is connected with enthusiasm, motivation and spirituality</span></span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: "Courier New", Courier, monospace;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #ffd966;">Air is correlated with abstract thought patterns of the universal mind</span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #ffe599;"> </span></span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: "Courier New", Courier, monospace;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #6fa8dc;">Water is dominated by intense yearnings, feeling reactions and compelling desires </span> </span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: "Courier New", Courier, monospace;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #93c47d;">Earth is concerned with physical senses and material forms</span> </span><br />
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</span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: "Courier New", Courier, monospace;">If a keyword is to be assigned to each of the elements, then Fire would be associated with inspiration, Air would correspond to rationalisation, Water would exemplify emotion and lastly Earth would be motivated by sensation. And please don't think of these in terms of which one being better or worse than the other as there are only neutral connotations and ramifications linked to them. The elements simply indicate distinctly separate orientations.</span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: "Courier New", Courier, monospace;"><br />
</span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: "Courier New", Courier, monospace;">To elaborate further using astrology, the twelve zodiac signs can be divided precisely amongst the four elements:</span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: "Courier New", Courier, monospace;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #e06666;">Fire - Aries, Leo and Sagittarius</span></span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: "Courier New", Courier, monospace;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #ffd966;">Air - Gemini, Libra and Aquarius</span></span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: "Courier New", Courier, monospace;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #6fa8dc;">Water - Cancer, Scorpio and Pisces</span></span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: "Courier New", Courier, monospace;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #93c47d;">Earth - Taurus, Virgo and Capricorn</span></span><br />
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</span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: "Courier New", Courier, monospace;">Carl Jung was one of the pioneers to recognise the value of applying astrology in the field of psychology and psychoanalysis, and in association with the principal of archetypes proposed by him, Jung attributed each of the above elements respectively to the following psychological types: Intuition, Thinking, Feeling and Sensation. Each of the types is also modified by the two attitude types: extraversion and introversion. </span><br />
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: "Courier New", Courier, monospace;">Is this all beginning to sound too familiar? Yes, Jung established the earlier foundation for the Myer-Briggs Type Indicator (a world-wide renowned psychometric questionnaire used for the assessment of a person's psychological perception). The different preferences and combinations from MBTI were extrapolated from the typological theories purported by Carl Jung. </span><br />
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: "Courier New", Courier, monospace;">Based on each individual's predisposition and predominant emphasis, they tend to have an inclination towards one or two preferred elements for exhibiting the effects of spontaneous manifestations. In Jung's terminology, each of us therefore is inherently adept with certain qualities which we can always rely on, and these contribute to superior functions. In contrast, the qualities which we feel less comfortable with are suggested to be our inferior functions but are equally </span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: "Courier New", Courier, monospace;">crucial if not more in the sense that they operate as a hidden drive towards attaining full consciousness and integration.</span><br />
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: "Courier New", Courier, monospace;">Without further adieu, let me summarise (excuse me for generalising) how each element naturally demonstrates care and nurturing by introducing back our favourite <i>Stick Figures</i>:</span><br />
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</span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: "Courier New", Courier, monospace;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #e06666;">FIRE: displays affection through grand gestures</span> </span><br />
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</span><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhs2KVHFdoT_AVRO3u-AJoCAZ_aH3c6z30EKHwHU3Np3bLGKwR-YHJ0DXdLg4dwYcl2X_ijtOHX73msVXkvdGBY6V9DDjxYhsxTstWmAfrwk27vMrmaNEhAOoSM5R_9jbgbu7WxZCTkebW_/s1600/IMG_0047.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhs2KVHFdoT_AVRO3u-AJoCAZ_aH3c6z30EKHwHU3Np3bLGKwR-YHJ0DXdLg4dwYcl2X_ijtOHX73msVXkvdGBY6V9DDjxYhsxTstWmAfrwk27vMrmaNEhAOoSM5R_9jbgbu7WxZCTkebW_/s400/IMG_0047.JPG" width="400" /></a></div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: "Courier New", Courier, monospace;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #ffd966;"><br />
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: "Courier New", Courier, monospace;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #ffd966;">AIR: driven by communication and the need to understand and make sense of things</span></span><br />
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEigYNG-TVrlqY8Ik9zB9nwgniycK05pErZft0l5ZLqwXaazdCe3tVyiIF98UZCHl9YIRg51G7AuDOkghqZrNZ4zFnkZeQ2lFE_xqjUw_Nrta_PJ4iDOmEl5cwpBqlJj-CfQ4au3dQm7cxa4/s1600/IMG_0048.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEigYNG-TVrlqY8Ik9zB9nwgniycK05pErZft0l5ZLqwXaazdCe3tVyiIF98UZCHl9YIRg51G7AuDOkghqZrNZ4zFnkZeQ2lFE_xqjUw_Nrta_PJ4iDOmEl5cwpBqlJj-CfQ4au3dQm7cxa4/s400/IMG_0048.JPG" width="400" /></a></div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: "Courier New", Courier, monospace;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #6fa8dc;"><br />
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: "Courier New", Courier, monospace;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #6fa8dc;">WATER: values building emotional rapport and creating intimacy</span></span><br />
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgxaBv0g4cV4c7fcnpZLxOH5j24zH4YLu5vWIGHTMToktccLCeHj3WUWJN8S-dV92uRtfEJoXCidZ1Na8Nu1oj2pZsR_xQziVZ_sAxYzVx8pBStTSObw-_Ol6Ye8fu18WO2lBJ61qRKzTXf/s1600/IMG_0050.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgxaBv0g4cV4c7fcnpZLxOH5j24zH4YLu5vWIGHTMToktccLCeHj3WUWJN8S-dV92uRtfEJoXCidZ1Na8Nu1oj2pZsR_xQziVZ_sAxYzVx8pBStTSObw-_Ol6Ye8fu18WO2lBJ61qRKzTXf/s400/IMG_0050.JPG" width="400" /></a></div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: "Courier New", Courier, monospace;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #93c47d;"><br />
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: "Courier New", Courier, monospace;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #93c47d;">EARTH: displays affection by being reliable and offering material support</span></span><br />
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjrymCa60cU94O6idG2fLVHOwBZDMTaqOKxeCNAPoxCfNmt-kUzeBy6-57Z2r3j3MCr3kQVZbeby8RewuZ8mscGI2dL98KrnHxIdzoYuqQq3F5aQvzsjsCrCho-T3gPCc0uWRyRJYQZ9tac/s1600/IMG_0049.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjrymCa60cU94O6idG2fLVHOwBZDMTaqOKxeCNAPoxCfNmt-kUzeBy6-57Z2r3j3MCr3kQVZbeby8RewuZ8mscGI2dL98KrnHxIdzoYuqQq3F5aQvzsjsCrCho-T3gPCc0uWRyRJYQZ9tac/s400/IMG_0049.JPG" width="400" /></a></div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: "Courier New", Courier, monospace;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #93c47d;"><br />
</span></span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: "Courier New", Courier, monospace;">If Jung is correct in postulating that the drive for human development is the process of individuation through striving for unity and wholeness, then we can understand why we both attract people who bring out the best and the worst in us. We will continue to meet people and circumstances that push us to realise our unique identities through the experiences they provide for us, until we are able to comprehend and merge the opposite polarities.</span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: "Courier New", Courier, monospace;"><br />
</span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: "Courier New", Courier, monospace;">It is not hard to see that we are all different in our own ways and sometime we run into conflicts and distress because other people are 'incompatible' with us. So what can be the best method to reconcile these differences?</span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: "Courier New", Courier, monospace;"><br />
</span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: "Courier New", Courier, monospace;">We say: "It is not about WHAT you say, but HOW you say it." But sometimes if we are willing to perceive beyond the facade, we may realise in the end that we do all have one thing at least in common</span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: "Courier New", Courier, monospace;"><br />
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjOUZ_5IBXqS4hqAj5sMzy9i1MhQ3fCPraCku8ySzLYUjHSrRSryTzJhHV__CS2DgV7nKGOlUBng540mMPXYDIzMCIinFPHs73EhhtGvNuE-kYeIz9p7F0PZxfTLlAz64mjeDTYrHSmGn5n/s1600/IMG_0051.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjOUZ_5IBXqS4hqAj5sMzy9i1MhQ3fCPraCku8ySzLYUjHSrRSryTzJhHV__CS2DgV7nKGOlUBng540mMPXYDIzMCIinFPHs73EhhtGvNuE-kYeIz9p7F0PZxfTLlAz64mjeDTYrHSmGn5n/s400/IMG_0051.JPG" width="400" /></a></div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: "Courier New", Courier, monospace;">So maybe it is important to share with an open heart, and maybe intentions should be looked at with the most interest. If we all somehow learn to skew more towards the WHAT and less towards the HOW, we may truly begin to apprehend and appreciate the essence of our seemingly different languages.</span>Unknownnoreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4263563830001968306.post-38652983281480879112011-10-27T00:50:00.000+11:002011-10-27T00:56:15.515+11:00A drawing is simply a line going for a walk -- Paul Klee<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Courier New', Courier, monospace;">I was really surprised by the overwhelming response that I got from the last post. I didn't realise my child-like stick figure scribbles would be so well-received. Although very talented, drawing had not been my cup of tea(simply because I was never any good), but right now I am starting to feel that </span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Courier New', Courier, monospace;">maybe </span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Courier New', Courier, monospace;">I do have a knack for it. You know what, this just proves that if you are willing to put your mind to it, you really can achieve anything!</span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Courier New', Courier, monospace;"><br />
</span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Courier New', Courier, monospace;">So, as a sign of appreciation for all your ongoing support, I proudly present the ever so popular</span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Courier New', Courier, monospace;"><br />
</span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Courier New', Courier, monospace;"><i>Stick Figures</i></span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Courier New', Courier, monospace;"><br />
</span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Courier New', Courier, monospace;">And the theme for today is: </span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Courier New', Courier, monospace;"><br />
</span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #c27ba0;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;"><b>The Simple Life of Jacinta </b></span></span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #c27ba0;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;"><br />
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #c27ba0; font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;">French baguette (tuna, eggs, mayonnaise, tomato, lettuce)</span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #c27ba0; font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;">and </span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #c27ba0; font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;">Belgian waffle (flour, icing sugar, hmm, secret ingredients perhaps? anyways, yum)</span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #c27ba0; font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;">for lunch</span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #c27ba0; font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;">(and I had managed to finish 80% of it, what an achievement!) </span><br />
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiGP4RMco-fNz-tNAm7KtoNoejk4fjSsM3tgXAxYxL8i8hw_BkW3PWU9PUORBOS5H0Y_udDw2ajAYgAVWKFX5ZXJWesBTV7RSeaDB9ckH6dlwwHjmXj9ANeSDn8CNhhay6M0gJdIgFQNN3t/s1600/baguette.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="235" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiGP4RMco-fNz-tNAm7KtoNoejk4fjSsM3tgXAxYxL8i8hw_BkW3PWU9PUORBOS5H0Y_udDw2ajAYgAVWKFX5ZXJWesBTV7RSeaDB9ckH6dlwwHjmXj9ANeSDn8CNhhay6M0gJdIgFQNN3t/s400/baguette.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #c27ba0; font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;">Conversation with friends over lunch </span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #c27ba0; font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;">(Oh no, where is the food?)</span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #c27ba0; font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;"><br />
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgAyV-ikdg5imX5xntThljkksfCldYjI_UckYxNPg_2cI1TcCZuhJzlLlXlPofhhIKMvc6neVp2yIe1rhP8J7ctzXKd-ZOW7RMW6WYFAMnOdbH5nvMskJeofI3ai9_vY93-j54OPDlEJoNa/s1600/Friends_chat.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="235" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgAyV-ikdg5imX5xntThljkksfCldYjI_UckYxNPg_2cI1TcCZuhJzlLlXlPofhhIKMvc6neVp2yIe1rhP8J7ctzXKd-ZOW7RMW6WYFAMnOdbH5nvMskJeofI3ai9_vY93-j54OPDlEJoNa/s400/Friends_chat.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #c27ba0; font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;"><br />
</span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #c27ba0; font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;">Shopping for new yoga wear</span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #c27ba0; font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;">(This is not being drawn out of proportion, I really do have a tiny waist and long legs!)</span><br />
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjzpRLMMPVUXgMcQMcusU4uq8yM1GEYTSuPraNJEmntS2HOqjl2Y9rIyKGxKGq9jwh9eIgUyc1WnwFuZ4wlPRQTnE0IPDh4fhRDfiqa7lTSml2HfJRee70f-9erGdK1DqZmCLx9W7nYJz3A/s1600/Yoga+wear.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="235" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjzpRLMMPVUXgMcQMcusU4uq8yM1GEYTSuPraNJEmntS2HOqjl2Y9rIyKGxKGq9jwh9eIgUyc1WnwFuZ4wlPRQTnE0IPDh4fhRDfiqa7lTSml2HfJRee70f-9erGdK1DqZmCLx9W7nYJz3A/s400/Yoga+wear.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #c27ba0; font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;"><br />
</span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #c27ba0; font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;">And last but not the least</span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #c27ba0; font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;">First meditation class - send out the love. PEACE </span><br />
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</span>Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4263563830001968306.post-862705373654792272011-10-25T01:12:00.000+11:002011-10-25T11:34:59.311+11:00It is our choices... that show what we truly are, far more than our abilities -- J.K.Rowling<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: "Courier New", Courier, monospace;">Those times when I feel uninspired and having nothing in mind to write about, I choose instead to write about anything. I recall a conversation that I had with a friend today, the details of the discussion are insignificant, but I distinctly remember that we both acknowledged that there are two sides to everything. </span><br />
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</span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: "Courier New", Courier, monospace;">This shouldn't be new to anyone.</span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: "Courier New", Courier, monospace;"><br />
</span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: "Courier New", Courier, monospace;">Good and evil, black and white, love and hate, north and south, east and west and it goes on. With this, we are allowed to become even lazier by simply appending a <i>un</i>, a <i>im,</i> a <i>ab </i>or<i> </i>a <i>in</i> to construct i.e. unpopular, impersonal, abnormal or inflexible to suggest the opposites to their original meanings, and in no mean this is the exhaustive list. </span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: "Courier New", Courier, monospace;"><br />
</span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: "Courier New", Courier, monospace;">Is it just me or have you also noticed that those words perhaps carry a slightly negative connotation? But if we try and put them into contexts:</span></div><div><ul><li><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: "Courier New", Courier, monospace;">Unpopular can mean someone who is popular amongst their friends, but disliked by their relatives, or someone who is well liked by the cops, but unpopular with the drug dealers (now I wish I had picked a different word and very different examples, oh well, continue on)</span></li>
<li><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: "Courier New", Courier, monospace;">Impersonal can imply either neutral and objective or cold and detached</span></li>
<li><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: "Courier New", Courier, monospace;">Abnormal can be different therefore suspicious or different therefore exciting</span></li>
<li><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: "Courier New", Courier, monospace;">Inflexible can denote rigid and stubborn or indicate structured and strong willed</span></li>
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: "Courier New", Courier, monospace;">We know there exist polarities and opposites. Although knowing this, we sometime feel propelled to pick a stance and choose an action. </span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: "Courier New", Courier, monospace;"><br />
</span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: "Courier New", Courier, monospace;">When we are presented with various possibilities, we become accustomed to performing little mental potential P&L assessments to help weigh up the different options so we capitalise on our returns to avoid seeing a number in <span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #cc0000;">red</span>. </span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: "Courier New", Courier, monospace;">We carefully select and determine our decisions based on what we know, how we feel and what we see as more promising, more rewarding or more feasible at that moment in time, and hopefully that will lead us to a better outcome. </span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: "Courier New", Courier, monospace;"><br />
</span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: "Courier New", Courier, monospace;">Is it better to always know more? So we will have more information to rely upon in order to produce a more comprehensive risk analysis on pros and cons? But sometime the more we know, the more indecisive and reluctant we can become as more scenarios must be contemplated. Or is it better to go with what you have? This may force us into making an immediate decision without having considered all the possibilities, but how can we be assured that it is the correct one? </span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: "Courier New", Courier, monospace;"><br />
</span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: "Courier New", Courier, monospace;">Or is there even a correct decision as such?</span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: "Courier New", Courier, monospace;"><br />
</span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: "Courier New", Courier, monospace;">If we are to pick an answer from a multiple choice question, the decision tree may look like, or you can also think of this as cause and effect if you prefer (be warned about the most horrific drawings you will ever find available on the World Wide Web):</span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: "Courier New", Courier, monospace;"><br />
</span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: "Courier New", Courier, monospace;">a. Different decisions will lead to different outcomes</span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: "Courier New", Courier, monospace;"><br />
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</div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: "Courier New", Courier, monospace;">b. Different decisions eventually will lead to the same outcome</span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: "Courier New", Courier, monospace;"><br />
</span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjlc6ojvbDUFzjO1jivorzab0KlT5Ax4utujWn5q6ISEASKiD0aaFCiFjtkxM7Mwv1LFGZBR5DHP4PhuJ34LslWl2qk9bB2OCBGtvkAbDBs6I-82f3BJYhudcxQyibAH334Sx0SyZQ85iyO/s1600/b.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="188" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjlc6ojvbDUFzjO1jivorzab0KlT5Ax4utujWn5q6ISEASKiD0aaFCiFjtkxM7Mwv1LFGZBR5DHP4PhuJ34LslWl2qk9bB2OCBGtvkAbDBs6I-82f3BJYhudcxQyibAH334Sx0SyZQ85iyO/s320/b.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: "Courier New", Courier, monospace;">c. Different decisions will lead to different outcomes but we cannot foresee</span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: "Courier New", Courier, monospace;"><br />
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</div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: "Courier New", Courier, monospace;"></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: "Courier New", Courier, monospace;">d. Different decisions can lead to either different outcomes or the same outcome</span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: "Courier New", Courier, monospace;"><br />
</span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj3p_JPaGSNXq3-kou-DmfZ_Pq4vhEcZJ3JyAwhcNBGz3Vtz3WCf9xmKpC-ffA7QEMzS6vGGdK31zbWjOsM-ndaJJh6731PPxesnvg8YMnOmw3AmhAZ9SiBhtCqkxbalh5EHymENJqKJ9vH/s1600/d.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="188" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj3p_JPaGSNXq3-kou-DmfZ_Pq4vhEcZJ3JyAwhcNBGz3Vtz3WCf9xmKpC-ffA7QEMzS6vGGdK31zbWjOsM-ndaJJh6731PPxesnvg8YMnOmw3AmhAZ9SiBhtCqkxbalh5EHymENJqKJ9vH/s320/d.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: "Courier New", Courier, monospace;"><br />
</span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: "Courier New", Courier, monospace;">e. No choice can be seen or made, seems empowered by fate</span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: "Courier New", Courier, monospace;"><br />
</span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg2x8u6R3my5Nq4OsPXM0V2OOD-zjs-AV7l2mmHP-pY4269-BrQ1zC5ZPX22oPZZyp7Yx6h-rYVPQ-7cWZ6GmN9PnzRCwYh2JYeLacY7ym0cglWK_m1ajfTTpevh8kOioXiJYGUSIB40J30/s1600/f.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="188" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg2x8u6R3my5Nq4OsPXM0V2OOD-zjs-AV7l2mmHP-pY4269-BrQ1zC5ZPX22oPZZyp7Yx6h-rYVPQ-7cWZ6GmN9PnzRCwYh2JYeLacY7ym0cglWK_m1ajfTTpevh8kOioXiJYGUSIB40J30/s320/f.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: "Courier New", Courier, monospace;">f. Everything is within reach, you can have it all!</span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: "Courier New", Courier, monospace;"><br />
</span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj8HgB_99uDZ9amhc8osRrqnH7IqzgETeejY0r3mkYX3Sf0V0e0L9gvikJBjNeHpqXefVKTMtzeev096yCDaHoVS98DkUgu0KrwYSSc6PJ8kziTj64-AtfmJkB_QVcDnD_h0fq6Ds5olNVh/s1600/e.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="188" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj8HgB_99uDZ9amhc8osRrqnH7IqzgETeejY0r3mkYX3Sf0V0e0L9gvikJBjNeHpqXefVKTMtzeev096yCDaHoVS98DkUgu0KrwYSSc6PJ8kziTj64-AtfmJkB_QVcDnD_h0fq6Ds5olNVh/s320/e.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><div></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: "Courier New", Courier, monospace;">So which one are you? </span></div>Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4263563830001968306.post-20404701964977709522011-10-17T23:33:00.000+11:002011-10-18T00:13:17.045+11:00The greatest discovery of my generation is that a human being can alter his life by altering his attitudes of mind. -- William James<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Courier New', Courier, monospace;"></span><br />
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Courier New', Courier, monospace;"><div>Tonight, the Scorpio Mars will not stop until I get this topic out of my system. Remember, Mars is the urge to assert and act, and when it is in Scorpio, trust me, it is definitely persistent. In this case, I cannot help but oblige but I promise not to write anything heavy loaded, just something light and fluffy~~~</div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Courier New', Courier, monospace;"><br />
</span></div>Till now, I hope that I have managed to put enough emphasis in addressing some of the misconceptions that people carry towards astrology. Contrary to popular belief, astrology is not to be solely used for the purpose of future prediction aka the horoscopes, but instead should be adopted as a tool to assist us with understanding the personality roadmap.</span><br />
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</span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Courier New', Courier, monospace;">A few people have wondered <i>why</i> I suddenly became interested in astrology. Well, what has motivated me is precisely the desire in seeking the <i>why</i>. Astrology appears no different from any other studies such as psychology or science: to help with identifying the underlying pattern or behaviour that seems to be at work. </span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Courier New', Courier, monospace;"><br />
</span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Courier New', Courier, monospace;">Some of you may not be comfortable with me suggesting that astrology is comparable to science, so let me explain myself further.</span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Courier New', Courier, monospace;"><br />
</span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Courier New', Courier, monospace;">We have all learnt that in order to draw a conclusion for any scientific experiment, the process involved in formulating a hypothesis and performing necessary field studies or observations is not unfamiliar. But quite often, observations are the result of subjective human sensory impressions, therefore acknowledgedly, the observer effect can be a problem encountered in the field of scientific research. It essentially describes that the act of observation may alter the outcome of a phenomenon than if it is unobserved. Different biases can also occur during any experimentation that consequently do not give rise to total objective conclusions. These biases include, to name a couple, confirmation bias, which is "we see what we expect to see" and pathological science, which is "we see what we want to see".</span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Courier New', Courier, monospace;"><br />
</span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Courier New', Courier, monospace;">Similarly, astrology is also a subjective experience. We assign intrinsic meanings to the different planets and houses and signs, and then derive interpretations based on their locations and the interactions resulting from various planetary alignments. Even though astrology is an ancient study widely used in the ancient world of Babylon, Greece and Egypt, it has certainly evolved and modernised through the continual effort of gathering empirical evidence and our increased awareness of the universe. These information are then assimilated and reinterpreted by astrologers in their dealings or evaluations of their clients. Based on the experience, knowledge and orientation of an individual astrologer, for the same client, you can expect different output and interpretation. </span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Courier New', Courier, monospace;"><br />
</span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Courier New', Courier, monospace;">It is not reasonable therefore to expect astrology to be 100% accurate, and neither should we get too disappointed when it fails to do so. We may need to accept that this is perhaps inherent and underlying in all studies: it is in the eyes of the beholder. As explained perfectly by Einstein that we live in a universe which is limited by time and space.</span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Courier New', Courier, monospace;"><br />
</span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Courier New', Courier, monospace;">However, I am also constantly reminded that we may never reach a why. In this book that I read recently written by Richard Idemon, it is mentioned that we can go in circles and perpetually asking why like the merry go round, but that doesn't help us. </span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Courier New', Courier, monospace;"><br />
</span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Courier New', Courier, monospace;">We learn to piece things together thinking they must be interconnected somehow. What if things just happen randomly and they don't really happen for a reason? This would be perplexing for some of us but reassuring for others. :)</span><br />
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Courier New', Courier, monospace;"><div style="font-family: Times;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Courier New', Courier, monospace;">So there! That is my little give-back to the astrology community. </span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Courier New', Courier, monospace;"><br />
</span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Courier New', Courier, monospace;">Now I have got you all somewhat more interested (hopefully) in astrology, I will begin the next series of topics using real people's charts (yes, famous people!) for illustrations. Delving into the deep end is often the best way to learn, and then we can watch astrology gradually unfolds the working of itself.</span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Courier New', Courier, monospace;"><br />
</span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Courier New', Courier, monospace;"><u>NOTE</u>: By the way, if you are still unsatisfied with the reason <i>why </i>I got into astrology, so to speak astrologically, Uranus (symbolising new ideas, inventions, technology, independence, other things, etc etc, and astrology) is right now transiting over and making a strong aspect to my Sun (identity, ego, drive, etc, etc). Aha!! No wonder then right? :P</span></div></span></div>Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4263563830001968306.post-26471020638179442582011-10-15T19:52:00.000+11:002011-10-15T19:55:10.983+11:00It will never rain roses: when we want to have more roses we must plant more trees. -- George Eliot<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Courier New', Courier, monospace;"><br />
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<div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Courier New', Courier, monospace;">This week I got myself an air plant. It doesn't need soil, it rarely needs to be watered, nonetheless it flowers. It is the perfect low maintenance option to revamp my office feng shui. One that resembles mine looks like </span></div><div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Courier New', Courier, monospace;"><br />
</span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjRIal9jtyRkWokbeyIicI8BLC0Rvju3IJWjG_dhqCHCBl6Ic65hQB2Nl_UpAoLxt11tayjOAXM-PHGCGEuvYRIbAcIm_bdkjpV_jT2gpKBJr-nxdGFtVmE-kvvj0Ok5qClmFo9NSPmR36z/s1600/air-plant-terrariums-cop.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="269" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjRIal9jtyRkWokbeyIicI8BLC0Rvju3IJWjG_dhqCHCBl6Ic65hQB2Nl_UpAoLxt11tayjOAXM-PHGCGEuvYRIbAcIm_bdkjpV_jT2gpKBJr-nxdGFtVmE-kvvj0Ok5qClmFo9NSPmR36z/s320/air-plant-terrariums-cop.JPG" width="320" /></a></div><div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Courier New', Courier, monospace;"><br />
</span></div><div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Courier New', Courier, monospace;">After placing it carefully on my desk, I immediately became attracted to the 'energy' of its presence. I can't help but gaze lovingly and grin absent mindly at it throughout the day. I don't understand why, but it makes me very happy.</span></div><div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Courier New', Courier, monospace;"><br />
</span></div><div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Courier New', Courier, monospace;">We know that indoor plants improve the air quality by removing air pollutants which are caused by emissions from paints, furnishings, computer screens and other fixtures in the office. They offer additional health benefits including noise reduction and cooling, thereby reducing stress and increasing productivity as suggested by several research. </span></div><div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Courier New', Courier, monospace;"><br />
</span></div><div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Courier New', Courier, monospace;">I am not sure enhanced productivity can be effectively proven in my case, since that I also spend time playing with my plant. (This primarily includes lifting and putting the lid on and off the glass container) But interestingly, it possibly has had some tangible impacts on my emotional wellbeing. </span></div><div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Courier New', Courier, monospace;"><br />
</span></div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Courier New', Courier, monospace;">According to a UTS research, interior plants have been recorded to produce a reduction in negative feeling for workers by a magnitude of 30 to 60% over a 3 month test period. <a href="http://www.ngia.com.au/files/nurserypapers/NGIA_NP_2010-06.pdf">http://www.ngia.com.au/files/nurserypapers/NGIA_NP_2010-06.pdf</a></span><br />
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Courier New', Courier, monospace;">Maybe it is a good idea to clear out the clutter by giving away or throwing out the unused and no longer worked, and replace them with some nice plants. As for the next addition onto my little desk, I am debating over whether to get a water feature or a new mouse pad.</span><br />
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Courier New', Courier, monospace;">I suggest we all go and get some plants or simply something that makes us feel good, and watch it works its magic into our lives.</span>Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0