Conversations are finally increasing about legalizing marijuana as a way to help the government make more money. Funny how the financial crisis shines a favorable light on something many people have been advocating for a long time. It is so obviously true that it is mind boggling that they have not changed the laws yet.
When they made alcohol illegal, it did not stop consumption. It simply drove the business into black markets. Ever since it became legal again, the government has profited from its sale.
Same thing happened with marijuana. Making it illegal hasn't kept people from producing or consuming it. Legalize it and make money off of it. So simple.
No matter how the law of supply and demand shapes up, the government will quit wasting billions of dollars trying to stop it, and instead reverse the cash flow by letting people have it legally. How can you not recognize the truth?
Years from now people will wonder what ever motivated laws to be passed that made a natural plant illegal for people to enjoy. Especially a plant that has proven to be good medicine, a great relaxer and source of pleasure, and other members of the same plant family can be made into everything from clothing to paper to rope to oils for cooking and cleaning.
One of these days, we will be sitting around wondering how it all happened, the same way people now wonder how could anybody be so foolish as to outlaw beer, wine and liquor? But they did, and then they changed their mind, and magically, the cash flow reversed. Jobs were created, taxes were paid, and people enjoyed the freedom to have a drink without fear of arrest.
Think of the job related silliness and infringement on our freedoms that will stop. We all know that smoke produces a mellow feeling without hangovers, so it would be the preferred choice for many if there were no legal consequences. The number of smokers will increase as soon as people are no longer made to pee in a bottle in order to apply for a job. People who enjoy their cocktails are not excluded from applying for jobs, so legalizing smoke would end that discrimination.
It is simply ironic that all the other good arguments in favor of ending this prohibition were not as effective as considering the cash flow into the government's coffers. Interesting what actually drives change.
Thursday, May 7, 2009
Wednesday, May 6, 2009
Unleashing Creativity
Is creativity a result of extreme effort or of letting go? Actually it is a combination of both. Sometimes we have to plug away every day in order to refine our skills. Repetition of basic moves in a sport or music is what helps us flow through our practice in good form. There are, after all, certain moves that let that ball sail through the hoop time after time, and certain moves that make the chord change on the guitar sound fluid, certain combinations of words that not only make sense but sound pleasing to the ear.
Then after we have exerted ourselves and tried various ways of achieving our goals, we need to step back, take a deep breath, relax and see what comes. Sometimes, it is that effort to try and express ourselves in a certain way that just does not come across, but then we step back, take a break, and when we quit trying real hard, somehow it just slips out and we cross that bridge.
In that moment of letting go, suddenly comes a flash of enlightenment, that inner voice that suggests that we try it a different way and see how it goes, and then it opens up and flows. It is this dynamic tension that opens the floodgates to creativity.
No matter what it is that we are trying to do, our best efforts can emerge from that relaxation and letting go that lets our minds wander and our muscles flex and a new perspective emerge.
We have to develop basic skills, and then staying focused on our goal, sometimes it is that moment of silliness or sweetness that opens up in the break that lets it all flow and perhaps even surprises us with the result. That's why sometimes it also seems inconvenient that great ideas come to us while we are in the shower or driving the car and we try and hold that thought until we can write it down. Magical moments may prove elusive, but if we keep going, we will capture them more often than not.
Then after we have exerted ourselves and tried various ways of achieving our goals, we need to step back, take a deep breath, relax and see what comes. Sometimes, it is that effort to try and express ourselves in a certain way that just does not come across, but then we step back, take a break, and when we quit trying real hard, somehow it just slips out and we cross that bridge.
In that moment of letting go, suddenly comes a flash of enlightenment, that inner voice that suggests that we try it a different way and see how it goes, and then it opens up and flows. It is this dynamic tension that opens the floodgates to creativity.
No matter what it is that we are trying to do, our best efforts can emerge from that relaxation and letting go that lets our minds wander and our muscles flex and a new perspective emerge.
We have to develop basic skills, and then staying focused on our goal, sometimes it is that moment of silliness or sweetness that opens up in the break that lets it all flow and perhaps even surprises us with the result. That's why sometimes it also seems inconvenient that great ideas come to us while we are in the shower or driving the car and we try and hold that thought until we can write it down. Magical moments may prove elusive, but if we keep going, we will capture them more often than not.
Tuesday, May 5, 2009
The Wolf and Us
A century ago in this country, farmers and ranchers tried to make the wolf extinct through poisoning, trapping and shooting, but this was an ill guided policy.
Wolves attack people in fairy tales more than in real life. They also fulfill an important role in nature. Wolves help cull herds of wild animals. They will eat the deer who are lame, injured or slow moving. Without this natural predator, there is no check on the growth of deer and other populations of other game animals. In many parts of the country, they have had to have special, additional hunting seasons just to bring the herd size back down what the land can support.
Wolves will also eat smaller wild game, from mice to rabbits when they do not get deer. Every animal plays a part in the world. If we eliminate one from the cycle of life, others get out of balance. Wolves are also a natural adversary of coyotes. During the years when the wolves were artificially surpressed, there was nothing to check the rapid expansion of the coyote into urban areas.
The fact that the wolf population has come back is due to the efforts of various governent agencies and volunteer organizations like Defenders of Wildlife. They oversaw the reintroduction of wolves into various wild places around the country.
I am prompted to write about this today because once again, the government is planning on lifting sanctions agains wolves and some gun happy shooters cannot wait to shoot as many trophies as they can. This is not because they are hungry to eat wolf meat. In places like Alaska, it is hard to even consider it a sport when you see hunters in aircraft running down their prey, and in some cases using semi-automatic weapons to shoot them. That's not really much of a sport.
I am not against hunting. I am a meat eater and I think if a person wants to go out and shoot game so that they can take it home and eat it, that is perfectly fine. That is not what shoot wolves is about.
Wolves have long been an animal totem associated with the wild spirits of shamans, ancient gods, and symbols of the wild itself. We need our wild parts and our wild places and we need all creatures in the cycle of life.
I have supported the reintroduction of the wolves and am against the delisting of them as an endangered species, which allows the laws to change so that some trigger happy shooters can go out and try and make them extinct again. This is not a wise choice.
Wolves attack people in fairy tales more than in real life. They also fulfill an important role in nature. Wolves help cull herds of wild animals. They will eat the deer who are lame, injured or slow moving. Without this natural predator, there is no check on the growth of deer and other populations of other game animals. In many parts of the country, they have had to have special, additional hunting seasons just to bring the herd size back down what the land can support.
Wolves will also eat smaller wild game, from mice to rabbits when they do not get deer. Every animal plays a part in the world. If we eliminate one from the cycle of life, others get out of balance. Wolves are also a natural adversary of coyotes. During the years when the wolves were artificially surpressed, there was nothing to check the rapid expansion of the coyote into urban areas.
The fact that the wolf population has come back is due to the efforts of various governent agencies and volunteer organizations like Defenders of Wildlife. They oversaw the reintroduction of wolves into various wild places around the country.
I am prompted to write about this today because once again, the government is planning on lifting sanctions agains wolves and some gun happy shooters cannot wait to shoot as many trophies as they can. This is not because they are hungry to eat wolf meat. In places like Alaska, it is hard to even consider it a sport when you see hunters in aircraft running down their prey, and in some cases using semi-automatic weapons to shoot them. That's not really much of a sport.
I am not against hunting. I am a meat eater and I think if a person wants to go out and shoot game so that they can take it home and eat it, that is perfectly fine. That is not what shoot wolves is about.
Wolves have long been an animal totem associated with the wild spirits of shamans, ancient gods, and symbols of the wild itself. We need our wild parts and our wild places and we need all creatures in the cycle of life.
I have supported the reintroduction of the wolves and am against the delisting of them as an endangered species, which allows the laws to change so that some trigger happy shooters can go out and try and make them extinct again. This is not a wise choice.
Monday, May 4, 2009
Love Hate Relationships
When we have a love hate relationship with something what does that mean? Let us use tarot as an example.
Let's say you have purchased a tarot deck because you have seen some images and loved them, but you have a hard time reading with it. Frequently that means you need to spend some time getting familiar with it. You have already established a comfort zone with your old favorite. Now you have to get comfortable with a new one with new images. You could learn many lessons from this as a self teaching tool, and later use it for readings.
We may have to grow into it, and learn new things as we do. We might also have to learn new ways to work with it. Once we move on to a new deck, the old one may be set aside for a long time, and sometimes we may not return to it. There are, of course, some decks that just do not work well for readings and we may trade or sell them.
You have to ask yourself what makes it appealing? What makes it difficult? Perhaps the lessons are difficult because we are called on to break through to a new level of understanding. How can it be that you love some of the images but cannot read with it? Meditating on the images you like best can lead to a breakthrough in learning to work with the new set. Reminds me of the saying about when the student is ready the teacher appears.
Let's say you have purchased a tarot deck because you have seen some images and loved them, but you have a hard time reading with it. Frequently that means you need to spend some time getting familiar with it. You have already established a comfort zone with your old favorite. Now you have to get comfortable with a new one with new images. You could learn many lessons from this as a self teaching tool, and later use it for readings.
We may have to grow into it, and learn new things as we do. We might also have to learn new ways to work with it. Once we move on to a new deck, the old one may be set aside for a long time, and sometimes we may not return to it. There are, of course, some decks that just do not work well for readings and we may trade or sell them.
You have to ask yourself what makes it appealing? What makes it difficult? Perhaps the lessons are difficult because we are called on to break through to a new level of understanding. How can it be that you love some of the images but cannot read with it? Meditating on the images you like best can lead to a breakthrough in learning to work with the new set. Reminds me of the saying about when the student is ready the teacher appears.
Sunday, May 3, 2009
Recognizing Each Other
Why is it that sometimes we sense deep connections with other people quickly? In some instances, it could be a past life connection, and in other instances, it might simply be a recognition of a kindred spirit.
How deep do these connections go? So much of it depends on our free will that it varies with every person. There may be times when we choose to open up to a relationship and other times when we do not.
Deja vu usually refers to the kind of recall we get when something from a past life strikes a familiar chord with us, but I believe that this feeling can come from a familiar person or situation within this lifetime. There may be a person who appears in our life at this point in time who reminds us of someone we knew earlier.
As with all such occurences, this represents an opportunity to handle our decisions differently this time, and learn from our experiences.
How deep do these connections go? So much of it depends on our free will that it varies with every person. There may be times when we choose to open up to a relationship and other times when we do not.
Deja vu usually refers to the kind of recall we get when something from a past life strikes a familiar chord with us, but I believe that this feeling can come from a familiar person or situation within this lifetime. There may be a person who appears in our life at this point in time who reminds us of someone we knew earlier.
As with all such occurences, this represents an opportunity to handle our decisions differently this time, and learn from our experiences.
Saturday, May 2, 2009
Why We Need Artists
First Friday evening every month, the galleries in Denver have an art walk. There is a huge cluster of art galleries on Santa Fe Drive and they all stay open late, and people walk around looking, listening to live music, sampling food and wine. Quite a good time.
As I was looking at how many galleries had been set up in old buildings that used to house a variety of retail outlets that had been subdivided and added onto, it really sank in that what really draws people is all the creative energy that is generated by all the different works on display.
Given, we all have different tastes, so what I thought was best you may or may not agree with, but what they all have in common is that some person expended their energy and used their imagination to make something. Even though today, we can find all kinds of art on line, and lots of artists are now using computer generated imagery, there is still a sense of aliveness that comes through from a painting that someone fashioned, stroke by stroke, or drawings, or pottery, or carvings, or jewelry or photos that someone took the time to compose and develop. You can sense the energy and imagination that went into these efforts, and when a piece connects with us, we can feel ourselves go into a trance and travel to another place.
So even in this age of computers, there is still a hunger to connect with something made by hand by another person. Galleries and studios have a different feel than a museum, because a museum is a finely finished space, and visitors are expected to appreciate the art quietly. But these gallery and studio shows are throbbing with life. People are talking, there is a festive atmosphere and in many cities I have lived in, I have been to shows where the artists simply show their work in old factories or old school buildings where they have rented space. Many of these old buildings have been stripped down to provide the simplest plain wall space to show off the work.
There is something very life affirming about all that creativity bubbling up from all these different people in all these different places. Joy, sorrow, excitement, awe, mystery and wonder emanate from these gatherings of artists. And that is why we always need artists among us. They remind us just how much more we are capable of, if we just give ourselves permission. That plus the fact that they help us find different perspectives to view the world, and different ways of relating. An imaginitive picture reframes our view of the world.
As I was looking at how many galleries had been set up in old buildings that used to house a variety of retail outlets that had been subdivided and added onto, it really sank in that what really draws people is all the creative energy that is generated by all the different works on display.
Given, we all have different tastes, so what I thought was best you may or may not agree with, but what they all have in common is that some person expended their energy and used their imagination to make something. Even though today, we can find all kinds of art on line, and lots of artists are now using computer generated imagery, there is still a sense of aliveness that comes through from a painting that someone fashioned, stroke by stroke, or drawings, or pottery, or carvings, or jewelry or photos that someone took the time to compose and develop. You can sense the energy and imagination that went into these efforts, and when a piece connects with us, we can feel ourselves go into a trance and travel to another place.
So even in this age of computers, there is still a hunger to connect with something made by hand by another person. Galleries and studios have a different feel than a museum, because a museum is a finely finished space, and visitors are expected to appreciate the art quietly. But these gallery and studio shows are throbbing with life. People are talking, there is a festive atmosphere and in many cities I have lived in, I have been to shows where the artists simply show their work in old factories or old school buildings where they have rented space. Many of these old buildings have been stripped down to provide the simplest plain wall space to show off the work.
There is something very life affirming about all that creativity bubbling up from all these different people in all these different places. Joy, sorrow, excitement, awe, mystery and wonder emanate from these gatherings of artists. And that is why we always need artists among us. They remind us just how much more we are capable of, if we just give ourselves permission. That plus the fact that they help us find different perspectives to view the world, and different ways of relating. An imaginitive picture reframes our view of the world.
Friday, May 1, 2009
Our Capacity for Change
Yesterday's movie still has me thinking. How completely can we change? Does it seem that when we have an opportunity to start all over again, that we start to replicate the same patterns all over again, or do we really change? What is your experience?
In the movie, the main character starts doing something she had put off all her life, and for her that was playing guitar. The music was healing to her and opened up her freedom of expression.
What is it that you have been thinking about for years but never got around to doing? What is it that you keep thinking you will do some day when you have more time?
Or are there health habits, eating habits or dating habits you would change if you had the chance?
How completely would you change? Would it make a difference if the change was stimulated by a diagnosis of cancer, loss of a job, a heart attack or divorce or separation?
In the movie, the main character starts doing something she had put off all her life, and for her that was playing guitar. The music was healing to her and opened up her freedom of expression.
What is it that you have been thinking about for years but never got around to doing? What is it that you keep thinking you will do some day when you have more time?
Or are there health habits, eating habits or dating habits you would change if you had the chance?
How completely would you change? Would it make a difference if the change was stimulated by a diagnosis of cancer, loss of a job, a heart attack or divorce or separation?
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