Laurel Nest Yurts

Over the last few weeks, the nation has been coming together to peacefully protest the rising poverty and the ruling elite.

We are the 99 percent. We are getting kicked out of our homes. We are forced to choose between groceries and rent. We are denied quality medical care. We are suffering from environmental pollution. We are working long hours for little pay and no rights, if we’re working at all. We are getting nothing while the other 1 percent is getting everything. We are the 99 percent.

The other 99% represents almost all of us, and most likely if you are reading this blog, it represents you.  These are hard times, crazy times, and it fills me with hope that people are coming together to say that the system we are living in does not work.

What are people doing?

They are uniting in the streets, joining internet sites, sending support to people in the streets, and ultimately showing that the disparity of resources is unacceptable and they want to see change. People are switching from big banks to smaller, local credit unions.  People are spending cash and trading, supporting their local community.  I’ve always thought we vote with our money.  This is so true.

Wall Street peaceful protestors letting everyone know we need change.

I feel pretty strongly that our larger “Laurel Nest Yurts family” (our customers, facebook fans, our crew…) is a conscious group of people that care about our earth, our community, and want a more equal, fair, and sustainable world.  We’re tired of all the news about the pollution and destruction to our world, and we are trying to get out of the “system”, out of the 9-5 grind and the imprisonment that expensive mortgages and the “dream lifestyle” costs.  The costs bear as toll on our souls.  I’m grateful for the work that people are doing as we come together and say we don’t accept this trap that the American dream has become.

What can we do and what do want to do to make the world better?  I can’t make it out NYC to Wall Street join the protestors, even though I personally support what they are fighting for.  I already bank with a local bank; I backed out of Bank of America years ago because I don’t like the way they treat people or conduct their business.  I try to encourage trade and enjoy energetic exchange.  I live in a yurt and am grateful that my life has not tied me up to a mortgage.  Through our company, Laurel Nest Yurts, I try to help others get out of the box and live a lighter life that is less dependent on the grid and grind.  But, still we can always do more…

700+ people arrested so far... why?

As far as the Wall Street Protests, I think it’s important that even if you can’t go march, that you still show support by making sure others know it’s going on, and sending letters or making phone calls to “the powers that be” and our government.  They must know that we do not support the growing gaps and polarities in our society and that we will not accept them.  We can use our voice and our dollar to let them know this (and also our lack of dollar- not spending money has a profound effect on this whole situation…).
As our world shows more polarities (the rich and the poor, the peaceful and those at war, the  1% and the other 99%) I see that we are in a time of change and shifting of values is occurring.  Of course, change is always seen in the extremities, and so this is reflected in our world today.

What's wrong with this picture?

Some attribute the polarities around us as evidence of the astrological shift from the Piscean age to the Aquarian age.  Many astrologers believe that the Age of Aquarius has arrived recently or will arrive in the near future.   In the Piscean Age that we are leaving behind, it was a central and even sacred task to find and gain access to the right information. The motto of the age was “to be or not to be.” Learn, grow, and become something. The Piscean Age was dominated by machines and hierarchies (think Industrial Revolution and class wars, slavery, etc…).  The new Aquarian Age is ruled by awareness, information, and energy. In the Aquarian Age there are no secrets! Information is available. Finding it is not the central task any longer. In this Age, the motto is “be to be.” Real value will come from truth embodied in practical actions and in the internal caliber and qualities of your mind and heart. The greatest power will be your Word – your consciously projected words.  Whatever your faith or spiritual path, “The time has come of self-value. And the question is not: ‘To be or not to be;’ the statement is: ‘To be to be. I am, I am.” ~Yogi Bhajan

Meditations on Occupy Wall Street

People unite on Occupy Wall Street through meditation.

So here we are, back to Occupy Wall Street and the reality of the other 99%, of struggle and excessive wealth.  We are coming together to support each other, to show the “filthy rich” that we do not accept such class disparity.  So, in addition to our daily life, our daily interactions, our protests and actions geared towards equality and justice, I think that incorporating a moment of mindfulness and meditation keeps us in our most aware and abundant state.  Millions of people are joining together for various meditations as we step into this shift. To some traditions,   11/11/11 marks the beginning of the Aquarian age.  What better way to brave these times than through uniting the world in meditation?

Some helpful links:

http://occupywallst.org/

http://www.cnn.com/2011/10/02/business/wall-street-protests/index.html?hpt=hp_t2Hey

http://wearethe99percent.tumblr.com/

http://www.opednews.com/articles/2/11-Things-You-Can-Do-to-Su-by-Chaz-Valenza-110919-830.html

http://www.citizen-times.com/article/20111003/NEWS/310030020/Anti-greed-group-plans-prolonged-effort-Asheville?odyssey=tab|topnews|text|Frontpage Occupy Asheville

http://obrag.org/?p=46512

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Astrological_age

http://www.3ho.org/kundalini-yoga/aquarian-age/