A black man as president?  Of the United States?  People shouting "yes we can" in the middle of the streets?  The inevitable collapse of an elitist global finacial system that serves only the priveleged and aims to oppress everyone else?   And on top of that, we just entered (as of November 11th) a new cycle.  Yes, folks, that thing we call "time" is indeed speeding up.  What is happening?  I feel like the light of consciousness is pushing its way into this dense three dimensional world (through us, of course) and that as we allow it to do so, all the old, oppressive ways will fall away, revealing a planet of light...leading the way to....ascension...

If I was God...(and in truth, we all are essentially "God")...I'd be pissed...I'd be pissed at the materialistic, narcissistic cultures not only in the United States, but all over.  I'd be pissed about people not thinking for themselves and discovering their own divinity.  I'd be pissed the loads of people following the pick a career and settle down while the world gets overthrown by greedy fear-mongers.  What is up with this nesting syndrome anyway?  Its like as a species there is something (our culture) that tells us that it is time to settle in and settle down and raise our little chickies.  Argghhhhh!!!!!  I just don't have that impulse and I don't know if it is serving the world or our evolution at this point.  All of my friends have their "careers" and are well on their way to getting married and nesting and I want to grab a hold of them and say, "Whoa, what are you doing?  The world needs you to be out there throwin' your heart and soul into creating a beautiful, better future and you want to buy a house, pay a mortgage for the next 30 years and then retire?" 

Thats all folks,
*Ben

Okay,
I know that we all want to "Change the World", and as cliche as that sounds, it is very admirable.  Before we go out and just move things around in the external world, trying to get everything into a pattern that better suites our tastes and vision of what it should look like, try this:
Sit in meditation and let everything be as it is.  And don't just reluctantly say to yourself "everything is as it should be."  Say it and mean it, accept everything as it is in this moment.  And I mean everything, from the unwanted acne on your face and the stain on your shirt to the starving children in Africa (it takes some work with that one).  I guarantee that something amazing will happen to you.  This minute there is absolutely no resistance on the inside or out, we fall into an extremely peaceful yet energetic state.  It is very expansive. 
What I learned from doing this is that true acceptance brings gratitude and love into our being, along with a feeling of great expansion.  You can even do this while walking down the street.  No judgements, just go deep into the feeling of everything is as it should be.  The minute we can do this, we have the power to truly transform the world, and from a much higher level.

May love come raining down on you,
Ben

Okay,
Back in the States after a month long expedition through Central America in which I learned the following:
- Crowded markets are the easiest places for you to get pick-pocketed.  (Especially when you are tall and white)
- Getting your passport stolen is a pain in the ass.
- I need to get more grounded and have more direction before I go on another adventure like the one I just went on.
- Lake Atitlan is beautiful.  I highly recommend it.
- Do not eat anything that you didn't see prepared yourself, even in a restaurant.
- I am an extremely fortunate individual.
- While I know that at a certain level of life (which we all glimpse every once in a while), everything is just spirit and we are all free, there is still plenty that can improve.
- I need to be patience with myself and others around me.

As for right now, I am back in the U.S. (Iowa to be exact) and I am going to Windemere Healing Arts Institute (Google it).  I am really enjoying it.  It is like being in college again, only a lot more interesting.  God, this felt like a journal entry, and I apologize for that .  I wish I could say something witty that would send readers into some higher level of consciousness or at least give some profound statement about what going on in the universe and on our tiny little planet, but not today, not in this entry...Sorry. 
I love you all very dearly though,
*Ben

Wow,
what a long time between blogs...I have been preparing to take off to the Yucatan to see the Mayan Ruins and live with the Mayans for a while.  Then I want to swing through Central and South America, met a few shaman, and then come back and perhaps start my delayed life as a teacher/artist/writer.  Waldorf Teacher Education in Oregon sounds pretty amazing...Anyone out there know more about it?  I think I'll do that...eventually...but for right now, I am packing and ready to go to Mexico and beyond...
LOVE LOVE LOVE

This may be a dramatic overstatement...and actually, I know it is, but I have come across quite a few beings from older generations seem to have been dulled by the world...It is like we start out with this great idealism that comes from a higher part of us (our higher or "authentic self", perhaps) and then we make compromise after compromise with the world just so we can fulfill our own needs.  I know that sounds judgemental, and I will be the first to say that I have done this to an extent and I beat myself up for doing so...I want to help create a beautiful, wonderful future for all of Life, I want to help Life evolve.  I know I'm not alone, and I know that these next few years on earth are going to be very interesting to say the least...I just want to run into more people in person that share this feeling of being responsible for creating the future of life and are enthusiastically willing and able to carry forth this mission.  It is amazing to be able to connect with people on this site, and pretty much all of them share this idealism.  I guess I just want to get started doing...Man, I am restless....

It is time to get excited about consciously creating the future on earth and beyond...carrying forth the evolution of life itself..No turning back...Full steam ahead...time for us to save the world!!!
A lot of enthusiasm, I know.  I am just so excited and I want to do something, and I don't know what...

Been through 3 dark nights of soul
Just can't seem to give up my illusion of control
God keeps whispering into my heart
Will I ever surrender
And learn to play my part?

Today was fun...I picked dandelion leafs and fresh lettuce from my garden and made an immune system-boosting salad...Then I did a workout that kicked my ass physically and spiritually...It's called the 300 workout...It took me like 15 minutes, but I was dead afterward...I also saw purple/indigo projected everywhere I looked...I like when this happens...Right now I am working on my powerpoint and blueprints for a healing center and integral gym...Keep vibrating my lovely beings, and I will see you when it is time....

No Agenda
Living Moment to Moment
I surrender
All actions and thoughts
Back to the Silence
From which they came.