Mighty Morgan here!

Some of you don’t necessarily understand some of the stuff I do, the things I write about or why I may ponder upon some of the subject matter that I sometimes do. But all of it and I mean all of it, is because it is the process that allows me to continually grown and become more of the person I choose to be and to live the life I desire.

Some of you already know about the picture puzzle of my life, but then there are some of you who don’t. I figured I would share some pieces of my story in order for the whole picture of what I do to become clearer.

I was a stone cold heroin addict for over 12 years of my life.
I was a liar. I was a thief. I hated myself and I hated the rest of the world.

I was not a nice human being.

When I made the decision to get and stay clean, I rebuilt a life for myself and redefined who I was. I continued to stay clean and at this point last year I came to realized that the equation for life that I had been desperately trying to live by, would never, ever, ever offer me the results I believed they would.

I began my experiment in a last attempt to discover if life would ever offer me more then the daily struggle to survive in this world….and if not, I was done trying to live this life. I examined and re-examine every aspect of who I was in order to discover that the limited life I felt trapped within was a direct result of what and how I believed and felt.

Since I began this journey, my life has unfolded before me almost magically into the life I am currently living…which you can read more about here if you wish. I have learned that every challenge, struggle, setback or limit I perceive in the moment is the gentle teacher of life allowing me to choose a better way of being through the very painful contrast it provides.

I would never know what aspects of my life were not serving me if I did not experience the inner discomfort they produced. A simple shift in my perceptions allows me to discover that all that I desire is being offered to me if I take a step back, out of any situation to see the bigger picture that it encompasses.

So is there any challenges, struggles, setback or pieces in the puzzle of your life that you can turn around by stepping back to take a better look at?

This is a man’s world?

Maybe not as the century of the woman is well underway, according to some.

Before you comment enjoy this James Brown & Pavarotti mix that regular Urban Pagan posted earlier this year:

Beautiful eh! We’ve added it to the flower jukebox over in the fun section of forums - all you need to do is add the link of one of your faves.

Comments on this song and the joys of duality welcomed…..

As a younger man I was useless at getting up in the mornings, Mr Snooze Button was used often and led to me missing many important lectures at uni and some overtime in my first job.

These days that is not so much the case, at least Monday to Saturday anyway. In general I’m pretty keen to get up and get on with life and living it. Normal start is; 5.40am alarm goes off, by 5.45 I’m on my rowing machine, by 6.30 in the car for the hour long drive to work clutching orange juice, coffee and a ham and cheese sandwich, of course having a great view from my balcony has made the experience even more enjoyable since I moved to Thailand.

I decided almost 10 years ago to relocate my alarm clock to the other side of the bedroom so that I have to get up to turn it off, I also bought one with the loudest, most annoying and insistent wake up tone I could find. That simple action made my life hell for about 6 months as I got used to it, but the last decade or so have been great as a result of being able to easily get out of bed and hit the day hard.

So do you need a crow bar to get you out of bed ? Are you up with the lark or are you lucky enough to not have to worry about getting up at all (careful life doesn’t pass you by) ? Any advice?

Hello, Everyone.  Empress busting on the scene once more.  This time, I want to share with you about my dream….

I’ve always had very vivid dreams. The other night was no exception. However, when I woke from this one, I felt as though it was trying to pass along a message….

In short, I dreamt about trillions of rabbits, a rich lady and a talking golden retriever.  I know that all sounds ridiculous, so if you want to know the entire story read my last blog entry, See Martin?  I Had a Dream, Too!

This dream of mine accurately revealed my frienship and hopefully, predicts the future of my Haunted House (I found a location, by the way).  This is not the first time in which my dreams have “spoken” to me which is why I pay close attention to them. 

I believe in my dreams.  Do you believe in yours?

Hippy Hat ON!

Bush Walking Boots On!

Commence the Hugging!

25 years Ago today, the 1st July 1983 something very unique and revolutionary occured in Australia.

You see a war had been raging for about 2.5 years in the Australian State of Tasmania. This war threatened the beliefs of the many, it set brother against brother, tore families apart. The police where arresting their own sons daughters, husbands and wives.. it divided the entire country… People came from many other countries to support those being arrested.

So what was it?

It was a Dam..

Yes a dam across some of the worlds most spectacular and dramatic gorges.

The Gordan Franklin River protests saw More than 6000 people block the river, the township of Queenstown only had a population of around 800 at the time and Strahan 400. 1400 where arrested in total and hundreds charged. The Australian Liberal Government lead by the then Prime Minister Malcolm Fraser fell to Labour and its leader a former Union boss who held a beer drinking record in the Guiness Book of Records took Government (only in Australia would this be possible).  This also ushers in a new political party, a new environmental group and a whole new way of thinking for the entire country…

The whole area had been listed on the World Heritage List along with the Great Barrier Reef, and the Grand Canyon. This was what eventually saved the area. Through a High Court finding in the Constitution, the area was found to be of International interest and therefore the Federal could and had the right to step in and forcably stop the development.

Many Tasmanians believed the sky would fall, there would be mass sackings, life as they new it would come to end, meteors would fall from the sky and a new dark ages would follow, this of cause did not happen.

This beautiful area became National Park and tourists visit the area every year. The protest area is not far from me in the national parks and tourist also visit and pay homage to the  protestors camp site areas.

The Full story is on Aussie

But what events can you think of from your home land in recent times which have had such a dramatic effect on the people and changed your peice of the planet for ever?

Anyone catch Glastonbury 2008 as the 137,500 revellers return and put the dirty washing on?

This year, the legendary event won’t be remembered for the infamous Glastonbury mud - but for founder Michael Eavis’ controversial decision to give the premier Saturday night headline slot to New York rapper Jay-Z.

Amy Winehouse caused controversy with this performance:

Ouch.

Then up stepped rapper Jay-Z as he turned the tables on Oasis frontman Noel Gallagher:

Gallagher had insisted that headlining the main event with rap was ‘wrong’. Jay-Z then strutted out on stage with a cover of Gallagher’s Wonderwall anthem. A refreshing way to handle the criticism and one we could learn from!

All Glastonbury 2008 comments welcomed here flowers & thorns. What was the last concert you went to and do you have any planned in the near future? Do tell!

Thanks to O’DB in Manchester, England for sending GO! Smell the flowers this BBC news link announcing another world first from Dubai - a building that NEVER looks the same!

This shape-shifting skyscraper may someday energize the Dubai skyline with its revolving floors and environmentally friendly, electricity-generating wind turbines. The Dynamic Tower design is made up of 80 pre-fabricated apartments which will spin independently of one another.

“It’s the first building that rotates, moves, and changes shape,” said Italian architect David Fisher. “This building never looks the same, not once in a lifetime,” he added. Pretty much like us humans then?

The 420-metre (1,378-foot) building’s apartments would spin a full 360 degrees, at voice command, around a central column by means of 79 giant power-generating wind turbines located between each floor. The skyscraper will cost an estimated $700m to build and should be up and running in Dubai in 2010.

No site has been finalised for this project or any of the project team so how they’re going to close our by 2010 amazes us, even by fast-track 24×7 construction, Dubai style where 28% of all construction cranes now exist.

Comments on this twisty-turny idea are most welcomed! Will they REALLY pull it off. Shape shifters anyone?

Mighty Morgan here!

I have allowed aspects of certain situations of my past to follow me throughout much of my life. This was not something I choose to do consciously, but more of a way for me to protect myself from the trauma that these particular aspects inflicted upon my inner spirit at these moment in time.

Throughout my personal  journey of recovery I have utilized the various tools and methods available in order to allow myself to redefine many aspects of my past that have served only to have me relive situations and circumstances infused with pain and hurt.  I feel fortunate that I have the willingness to keep fighting for the parts of myself that at some point in time stopped growing from these emotional wounds that life has inflicted upon my spirit.

This past weekend I had the opportunity to participate in a psychodrama, a group setting of sorts that permits one to almost go back in time to re-vist particular aspects of ones life and to face them full one to discover the closure that many of theses hurts still cry out for.

It was strange and surreal, but very therapeutic in that it allowed me to go back and say what needed to be said to myself and others in order for me to move on with my life.  During it all I found myself cycling throughout many emotions that I have surpressed for most of my life and allowed them to be released fully.

During the session I let go of the need to cling to the rationalization and justifications that an adult mind often likes to use in order to explain away the hurts that have occurred. I spoke, screamed and cried from the deepest parts of my being and did not allow my mind to filter my words, thoughts or feelings.

As the end I came face to face with myself as a seven years old girl, confused, hurt and scared; and I allowed myself to embrace that little girl who no-one thought to protect from the actions of others and I let her know once and for all….

It wasn’t her fault.
She was safe now.
It was okay for her to come out and play.

Any moments of your life you would like to be able to go back and redefine by re-living them in the present. With whom and what would you say?????

Continuing the theme of healthy debates at GO! Smell the flowers here’s a brief musical interlude for discussion. Feel free to add keep adding your own music vids over at the flowers jukebox at Forums - all you need to do is copy and paste the link .

As we ‘pop’ back to 94′ with Dr. Dre Cordozar Calvin Broadus Jr, erm we mean Snoop Dogg: 

Onto the topic at hand - Does the media paint a tempting picture when it comes to Gangster rap encouraging others to follow suit that could spill over into other aspects of their life?  

Does the media inspire gangland behaviour as man fights man or would it happen anyway to the same degree? Do tell - it’s a rap!

Well, I know what Chi is.

Chi is apparently the life force which permeates the world. In addition to being in all living beings, chi is also found in spaces such as homes and gardens. Although chi is a metaphysical construct, rather than something which can be physically quantified and measured, belief in chi is widespread in many Asian nations and disciplines including Traditional Chinese Medicine (TCM), martial arts and Feng Shui.

And I know that Chakra’s are the different energy points throughout the body.

But what I am struggling with is, what, if any, is the difference between Chi and Chakra’s?

Both are energies so surely they are the same.

So does that mean if you don’t believe in the Chakra system then you don’t believe in Chi?

And as a consequence of that thought process, does that then mean all Martial Arts are a myth?

Help please……1 inch punches are optional.

It’s not just flowers that grow in fields folks - crops do as well with some interesting patterns emerging as the most complex ‘mind boggling’ crop circle ever to be seen in Britain was discovered in a barley filed in Wiltshire last week.

APEX PICTURES

The circle is a coded representation of pi to the 10th significant figure The formation, measuring 150ft in diameter, is apparently a coded image representing the first 10 digits, 3.141592654, of pi and has been described by astrophysicists as “mind-boggling” and  ”an astounding development - a seminal event.”

Crop circles have been shunned as post pub antics by bored British farmers or students but maybe more people are looking in now thanks to technology. Crop circle enthusiasts are now using Google Earth to track down the most interesting patterns in fields across Britain. The internet giant’s satellite mapping service has made it easier than ever for fans across the world to locate and study the phenomena, which previously had to be photographed from light aircraft.

Check out top 10 crop circles picked up on google earth right here with more to follow on this youtube clip:

Could it be that inteligent beings are communicating with us through this medium or is it a student or a bored farmers hoax? Are crop circles created by humans, higher beings or energy fields?

Please look at the top 10 and the clip before posting your answer!

Do share any crop circle stories, youtube clips and you point of view right here. Cheers!

My children will be off of school next week. (And as you can see from the picture my son is super happy!!) And I think I am going to go crazy! I think they are so funny…this week is an example.

My kids have wanted a Nintendo DS so they could be like all the other kids in school. I thought it would be a good idea for the summer so they wouldn’t get bored. But, of course, after playing one game for an hour they were.

It kills me to think that they wanted this thing for so long…and then got tired of it so quickly.

I try to tell my kids to always have something you want…if you always get everything you want you will have nothing to strive for. It’s not always a good thing to get things just handed to you. There is always a great satisfaction in getting there yourself. Things may be tough…but when you get there it’s that much sweeter.

What are you striving for?

Hi - a recent post on another site prompted this one….

I deliver a few hundred local magazines once every two months for a friend (http://www.allthingslocal.co.uk is the web version) and it struck me that when I see someone in their garden, I always announce myself with a cheery hello and a wave of the magazine (as if that explains my presence).

As a result, I’ve struck up many interesting conversations with people who are my neighbours but who otherwise I would have been totally ignorant of.

From the chap doing up his old Porsche to the old man remembering steam engines working in the fields - from the young mum moving a pile of bricks in a wheelbarrow whilst being ‘ambushed’ by her 4 year old in a cowboy costume to the old lady needing help to reach a hanging basket for watering…. the rich diversity of life in our street.

So how well do you know your neighbours (not the aussie soap) - have any chance ‘tasks’ led you to strike up a rewarding relationship that might otherwise gone by?

Last Christmas, I wrote on my blog about just calling in on an elderly neighbour and helping them by checking their smoke alarm was working or replacing the batteries - too high to reach safely for many. Did anyone help?

I’m feeling generous again.

If I gave you a moment in time to go back to, what/where would it be?

I’m not necessarily talking about regrets, although you have that option to change something if you want to, I’m talking more about a moment that you want to re-live.

A holiday? A promotion? Graduation?

Or simply a fleeting moment with a stranger.

Please tell……

Mighty Morgan here!

Well after a few days of service interruption as well as a sword impaled into the space bar on the keyboard of my other computer, I’m back online and ready to write.

Something I try to live by is keeping myself in a happy balance within my life. I know that in times of inner discontent that more often then not, I am being presented with an opportunity to redefine my current circumstances through the contrasts that may be occurring.  A particular  a quote I often refer to in moments of doubt, confusion and anger is…..

“It is more important to be happy then it is to be right.”

Although I intellectually understand this and do my best to live and let live, sometimes in the midst of an emotional tidal wave, I just want to cling to the idea that I am right and in doing so find no relief from the unhappiness that often trails behind when my feelings are validated. I try to discern where this power struggle stems from and why although I know I am right, why I feel I have to have others agree with my point of view in order to reclaim my right to happiness, especially when I feel hurt by the words or actions of others.

So my question to you all is how do you allow yourself to be right and allow another to also be right and still find that delicate balance of happiness in the entire mix of it all??

The other day, taking a short cut down the beautiful Via Gellia Road (between Cromford and Buxton) I came across a van that made me smile.

Across the back of the truck was written the firms name and underneath that, the words “New York – Milan – Matlock (but mostly Matlock)” - I should explain that Matlock is a small town in Derbyshire and a bit of a tourist attraction - Matlock Bath is quite pretty.

You’ve got to admire their honesty – it’s an admirable quality and we’ve found at Fabulous Photo Gifts that it really does wonders for customer care too.

So what about you - Do you think honesty is the best policy? if not then why not?

Never write a sporting legend off! Congrats to Tiger Woods on winning the 108th US open despite looking like it was out of his grasp, with an injured knee and irritating sounds of ‘ GET IN THE HOLE” atevery tee shot. Some of TW’s signaure shots:

Anyon for golf? The ‘fors and against’ of the sport right here please. Golf perverts welcomed.

Thanks for blogger Dan Allen for sharing his definition of a hero with us:

“Look in the mirror, and get to work.”

Maybe that’s what the Incredible Hulk does as the revamped Hulk movie hits our screen?

So - you look in the mirror and you get to work but doing what? Do tell!

I took the kids and Mrs AEP to see a dolphin (and seal) show in Dubai at the weekend. We loved it, and the dolphins clearly enjoyed performing. Not only did the kids have a whale of a time but the trainers explained the educational and conservation benefits as well. What’s the problem with animals in captivity?

Go! Out this summer and take the kids to a zoo, safari park, aquarium etc

This video has come across my path a few times in the last few days from different sources so I thought it about time that I share it. Do you think it will make a difference to how the United Nations conducts itself? Watch as 12 year old Severn Suzuki tells it like it is to the UN about Global Warming, Poverty and Hunger around the world and asks what they are going to do about it?

You will find it at Make this Video GO Around the World and admin may want to embed it for me.

Oh what a Garden we live in!
It is beautiful, wonderful, full of caring and kind people, fascinating creatures, wonder and surprises, but at the same time it is a scary, cruel, terrifying and testing place to survive in.

Something I find rather amusing, in a totally ironic way, is how news travels. You know if something bad has happened to Joe Blog up the road then you will hear about it before poor Joe can say shhhh! On the other hand if its good news it could be days, weeks or never before you hear about it.
Why is this So? I mean shouldn’t we want to hear about the all things which happen to folks out there and shun the bad and horrific deeds others do.

The evening news is the most frightening and violent show on Television, yet it is on during general viewing times when most of us are enjoying dinner. Images of accidents, wars, starving children, murder victims all there in our lounge rooms. Programs which present a love scenes, being a caring and helpful person in a positive way etc (not the naughty stuff) are sent to times after 8.30 when children are normally in bed, yet cartoons, movies and many other programs which portray violence are permitted as general viewing.

An example of what I mean consider this: A movie comes on the telly Harry Potter Goblet of Fire its viewing time is 7.30pm, so the littlies are able to watch. I and Moppet are huge Harry Potter fans BTW. The movie progresses through its normal, dark story line and comes to climax just short of the end, you see the bad guys Voldemort as a helpless creature, Harrys’ friend is murdered, Voldemort’s minder cuts his hand off, slice Harry arm with a sharp blade whilst Harry is restrained and a magical battle follows. When Harry returns to Hogwarts with his dead friends body, he is taken by another bad guy Moody to his office, subject to various nasty little events etc … you get the idea great viewing for the 5-8 year olds its aimed at, don’t think good old fashioned family viewing.

But then the next week a Movie Sweet November which is actually relatively a calm, loving movie about relationships, quirky girl and her desire to teach people how to enjoy life and not become so wrapped up in the importance of their jobs that they loose sight of the importance of living life, to see life as a wonderful adventure one which we should take hold of with both hands and run with. Is viewed at 8.30pm when the littlies have gone to bed.

I understand the need for heroes in ours and our children’s lives, the need for adventure in an otherwise boring time. But is only this way because we have been conditioned to believe that someone else has the responsibility of entertaining us, keeping our mind on the go, and teaching moral and ethics to our children.

My point is are we teaching our children the value of life and how to make the most of the time they have on this earth(regardless of your faith) or are we forming them into a consumer driven desensitised group who are more used to seeing the use violence and attending counseling rather than well balanced caring people who find the use of violence a sickening prospect.

What do you think?

Is this trend a danger to the next generation or this all blown out of proportion, after its not as if crimes involving kids is on the increase is it!

Hi gang from Toronto where we have the bonus of internet access! The first time in 18 days and it’s amazing how slow the old typing GO!s after what seems like an eternity pretty much offline. First off a HUGE thanks to all the founders who have kept the garden growing since we signed off on May 21st - only once did we get a chance to take a peak at GO! Smell the flowers and were so proud of the content that this community is producing.

Having survived the saddle soreness of the Homeplace Ranch in Alberta and heading onto the sights and sounds of Havana, Cuba  - Em’s 40th birthday went according to plan in our latest adventure where we met some incredible people from all walks of life. We’ll be downloading some of the highlights of the trip here at flowers when we’ve re-grouped back in Dubai.

Visits to Cuba and Canada where two of the things on our bucket list  -things we wanted to do before we die that we’d mentioned before we left. Here’s the trailer for the film that we saw on our flight from Thailand:

Do share with us one thing on your bucket list that you MUST DO before you are pushing up the flowers and WHEN you intend to do it by. It can be travel, family, finance, writing, reading, watching or just plain old whatever you want it to be - Cheers!

Fourth annual Short Film Online Competition - Cannes 2008. The NFB, in association with the Cannes Short Film Corner and partner YouTube, is proud to announce that the winner of the NFB Online Competition Cannes 2008 is Alonso Alvarez Barreda for his short film Historia de un Letrero (The Story of a Sign) produced in Mexico/U.S.A.

Director : Alonso Alvarez Barreda
Running Time : 04:50
Year : 2007
Country : Mexico/ U.S.A
Category : Short film

With a stroke of the pen, a stranger transforms the afternoon for another man in this emotionally stirring short film by Alonso Alvarez. Click on the picture above or right HERE and Go, watch.

Mighty Morgan here!

Richard Bach once wrote “Don’t argue for your limitations”

I know through my own life experiences that I have lived in a bubble of beliefs created by others that never permitted me to see life as anything more then limitations. I didn’t know I had a choice to believe in anything other then what was handed down to me and went through the motions of life always feeling a bit disconnected from it all.

June 28th will be exactly one year since I came online with my my first blog “The Process of a Miracle…a 30 Day Experiment. It started out as a desperate plea to the universe to help me change the dynamics of my life, because if the struggle and sacrifice of everyday living was all that this life equated too, I was done.

I find it amazing at how much my life has changed and the internal changes that came about within me through the process as well. I learned more then anything that the beliefs we hold, that we cling too are often the very limitations we play out in our daily lives.

When I became willing to change my beliefs from the inside, everything outside of me changed….for the better.

One example of a change that occurred was that for years I was classified as “Bipolar”. If I collected all the medical files from all the psychiatrist’s and psychologist’s through out the years, I would imagine they could stack up to be roughly a few feet tall. Today I believe firmly that the mental illness that had caused me so much pain and misery in the past was a mere reflection of inner discontent based upon warped beliefs and ideas.

When I started the experiment I stopped taking any type of “mental meds” and almost a year later I still have absolutely no need for them in any way shape or form. My experience allowed me to discover that when I began to change the dynamics of what and how I believed, the symptoms that had been present for so long dissolved.

What do you think??? Is this possible or am I just stark raving mad?

A comment posted recently by Jonathan got me thinking. He told us what he would do in order to try and neutralise the damage we are doing to the planet (banish all air travel and non-essential goods) and the Copenhagen Consensus is inviting leading economists to do the same.

Can you imagine having that power? Well, I’m going to give it to you (I’m nice like that)

Thats right, I’m giving each and every one of you $50 billion to change the world for the better.

There are dozens of global challenges that could benefit from your philanthropy, but large as your financial resources are, they are not limitless. What would be your priorities? 

Would your $50 billion be best spent on preventing the three great plagues of the modern era — malaria, tuberculosis and HIV, which claim tens of millions of lives each year?

Or might it be better to fund nutrition in developing countries, where almost 150 million children are underweight for their age and 200 million are chronically malnourished?

What about climate change, which many scientists consider to be the gravest threat of all? Should you invest in improving renewable energy technologies, to reduce reliance on fossil fuels?

Your choice would obviously be influenced by your social and political outlook, and by your perceptions of which challenges matter the most. But you might also want to be confident of getting a decent bang for your buck.

Is it possible to establish which of these challenges can be solved most cost-effectively, so that your generosity does the greatest good for the greatest number?

Go ahead, spend spend spend. Just tell me why and what you are spending your money on.

I did it! After a lot of deliberation, we finally took the step of joining a local gym to try and regain  some of the shape and fitness levels before B.C (before computers).

I arose extra early this morning (6am) to head off to the gym and do a 40min workout (well more like unlock joints) on the cycling, rowing and running machines.

I’ll progress to the more technical apparatus later on but i’m hoping to make this every other day or at least 3 times a week.

Now i’m at work and feeling glowing.I’ll ache tonight for sure but hey - no pain no gain.

And while we’re on the subject of ’sayings’ - i heard a really good one on the radio yesterday - “When God was a lad” referring to yesteryear when we were all a bit younger and fitter.

Any good saying you’ve come across or what did you do today to make you feel good (health wise)?