Bhutan: The People of Genuine Joy

Earlier this week I was watching a program on PBS and changed my entire way of thinking. What it was, was about Tibet and the astounding country of Bhutan. I found the people of these lands to be incredibly funny. They have got the joie de vivre so beautifully in place, that it beckons those who know little about this once mysterious land. I have a huge appreciation for the beauty of the Bhutanian way of life.

This can be best be described by their "Gross National Happiness." It consists of the four pillars of sustainable development, cultural integrity, ecosystem conservation, and good governance. This philosophy of living may just give something profound for us all to consider.

By learning from the mistakes of other countries and keeping in mind the wisdom of their ancient tradition they have artfully fostered 'National Happiness.' The Dragon King, Jigme Singye Wangchuk, together with the whole nation, has successfully boosted life expectancy and created environmental green growth, as well    as increasing education among the people.

Gross National Happiness has superceded 'Gross National Product' for the people of Bhutan, and they are only better for it!

See for yourself the happiness of these inspiring people. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=CXJwNSkdTH0 . May you also be blessed on your own path to Happiness. A Hui Hou.

Heavenly Celestial Bodies

When we gaze at the stars, who and what are we really seeing? There are many available opinions. We may never know the full extent of the truth. The true story behind the cosmos has been a mystery for thousands of years and may not ever be truly known. What we do know is that we can play at and enjoy identifying forms in constellations, based on the visions of those who came before us.

Take for instance one of the most well known constellations, which is the Big Dipper. It forms a part of Ursa Major, the Big Bear in the sky. This star group is notable for a variety of reasons, mostly, that it resembles an upside down ladle or saucepan. The most relevant piece of information about this celestial grouping is that if you draw a straight line pouring out from the two stars at the outer edge of the 'dipper,' and multiply that distance by five, you will arrive at Polaris, the North Star. You may want to write this down, as it is a piece of information you can use and reuse, and it could really come in handy if you are ever lost at sea ;o). Speaking of navigating, many people don't know this about the Big Dipper but it was used as a veiled message for the slaves escaping to freedom in the Underground Railroad before the civil war. They sang songs about following the "Drinking Gourd" to freedom in the North.

The other easily recognizable constellation is Orion, made famous by the glowing belt from which this hunter's sword hangs down. Three bright stars make up this belt and an entire nebulae makes up the balance of Orion's sword. Rigel, one of the brightest stars in the sky, makes up one of Orion's legs and the two stars Bellatrix and Betelgeuse make up his shoulders. The Romans and the Greeks are the ones who made this "Hunter" constellation be known as it is today. In fact Orion was one of the many "players" in Homer's The Odyssey. He can be seen surrounded in the night sky by fellow players such as Artemis, the Scorpion, and his two faithful hunting dogs, Canis Major and Canis Minor.

Last on Tara's list, but certainly not least, is the beautiful heavenly body known as Venus. She has been flirting with Jupiter and the moon over recent months forming a triangle with them, though now, she has begun to retreat beyond the limits of the night sky. Currently fading on the horizon, Venus will make her final debut in a rare transit by "kissing" the sun on June 5th, not to be repeated again for another 121 years. Romantics and stargazers everywhere take note. For all the readers in Hawaii, look to the western sky at sunset to witness this event. For those of you in all other locations around the world, look to this map for correct timing and orientation http://www.transitofvenus.org/june2012 . SPECIAL NOTE: you will need protective eye wear as it is dangerous to look directly at the sun during most times.

Hopefully you have enjoyed this interlude through the cosmos. One need only to look into the night sky to realize the enormity of celestial runways, highways, byways, segways, and lightways. May this journey inspire you to continue enjoying the vast sky in all its glory and may the Lord's blessings be showered upon and received throughout the Universe.

Health and the Benefits of Copper

As I was telling a friend about a sty that I had in my right eye, it occurred to me that there must be some health benefits to copper and the use of it in the body. I used a copper penny to see if there was any benefit to what I thought might have been an old wive's tale, by rubbing the copper penny and putting it over the sty. Lo and behold I found that it worked! The sty was gone within a few days. Upon researching the subject, I found that there are plenty of benefits to the assimilation of copper in the body.

Albeit some of the benefits could be overlooked due to the obvious negative aspects of too much copper, as with anything. As we know, too much of anything is usually not a good thing. Indeed, what are the benefits of copper? Truth be told, the benefits seem endless. They far outweigh any negative aspects of copper. In fact, the only true negative to copper is when too much is ingested. Basically, it will prevent  the absorption of zinc. That is it! That is the only negative aspect I could find.

Having said that, the principal positive factors are metabolic benefits, relating to brain function, the cardiovascular system, cell and tissue repair, anti-aging properties, and the list goes on and on. Let me not bore you with all the technicalities of tyrosidine and its chemical properties of passing through the myelin sheath. If you would like to read about the intricate details of how copper works in the body, you will likely find this link to be very informative. http://www.organicfacts.net/health-benefits/minerals/health-benefits-of-copper.html . Besides the myriad of health benefits, it also includes listings of good food sources for ingesting copper through diet.

In conclusion, we have learned that there are many benefits to copper. In addition to ingesting copper through diet, copper can be worn in the form of copper bracelets, so that it can then be absorbed into the bloodstream. One must simply be aware of not absorbing too much, lest we interfere with proper zinc absorption. (Zinc is another important trace mineral, but that is a topic for another day.) After writing this blog today, I will be ordering my own copper bracelet. Trusting that this information serves you well, A HUI HOU. :-)

How Empowering Thoughts Are ~*~

Have you ever challenged your self to consider how thoughts are things? In fact, if you can think it and believe in it, it is only a matter of time until the fruition of your dreams. How creative do you feel? It is up to us to find our own strength of character to make the thoughts happen. In view of all this, the power that lies within us has got to be enormous.

Having said all this lets look at the technical aspects of creating through thought. First we must decide what it is we'd like to focus on. Then, we need to imagine what it feels like to really experience that reality.

For example, I would like to focus on creating more light in my reality. However to do that I need to focus on the PRESENCE of light, rather than the lack there of. If we focus on the 'want' or the 'lack' thats precisely what we'll create.

Rather, we could say to ourselves empowering words such as I AM healthy, I see clearly, I AM loved, I AM empowered. You get the idea.

One last aspect many don't realize is the importance of letting the thought go, like a butterfly that alights. Releasing the thought is a key part of the process. In this way our creation may come back to us. Imagine to have it then you very likely will.

This is the formula for the creation of all that you desire! Just keep your focus and have faith. :)

In honor of Easter and the Ascension of Jesus Christ, I would like to create the thought that the whole world will follow in his steps right through the Gates of Heaven. May your Easter Sunday be blessed by the Holy Spirit :)

Let the Sun Shine In ~*~

Sun glorious sun, how we do love thee, whether out for a picnic or laying on the beach. We can all appreciate some of the positive effects of sunlight on the body, such as production of endorphins. ;) Yet with all our love for the sun we are also made aware of the negative effects in regard to having too much of it. One example is sunburn of varying degrees. This can be an environmental factor as well as a genetic factor.  So is the jury still out about sunlight? 

Lets look at the big picture. While we all can appreciate a beautiful sun tan we must also look at the flip side of the matter. On the negative side it is the sun taken to excess where the troubles lie. Number One of course is getting badly burnt from too much sun. Otherwise we can also recognize the possibilities of melanoma and some skin diseases from repeated sun damage. Lets not forget the negative aspect of crows feet making some people appear weathered before their time. 

Having said all that let's jump over to the many benefits of catching the sun rays. Number one, many people understand the beauty of that glamorous sun tan that connotes success. Coming to mind are Aristotle Onassis, Bo Derrick, Jennifer Aniston, George Clooney, Brad Pitt, and many more. Lets also recognize the wonderful benefits of endorphins in the body. We ALL know how good that feels. On a practical note, sunlight aids in the production of vitamin D and the absorption of calcium. In addition, it increases the metabolism and prevents infections from bacteria, molds, and viruses. Sounds great doesn't it?

All in all there are two sides to the coin. Hopefully all you sun worshippers will err on the side of caution when soaking up those delicious sun rays. I surely will. Until next time, wishing you all my fondest Aloha, Tara :)

My Vision for Heavenly Bliss

I like to dream, oh yes, I love to dream...of the warm golden rays of the sun hitting my body. I dream in vivid color especially of the many radiant colors of the sun.

I dreamt last night that I was where the tropical breezes caress my body and fill my lungs with hopes of a new beginning and unabashed joy. This is a place where stress has no place to hide and simply ceases to exist.

Oh yes, it IS a beautiful day. I see free sea turtles glide through glistening coral reefs. To me such beauty could only be heaven sent.

Tara's Aloha Update

Hope you enjoyed my last blog about *l*o*v*e* and that you had a fabulous Thanksgiving! I will next be posting a blog about Magical Sunsets. Stay Tuned! :o) Until then ALOHA and A HUI HOU