Whether you are for or against the Occupy Wall Street movement, one thing can be agreed on: people have the power to make change globally. If you believe in what these groups are doing around the world, help them in whatever way possible. Here are some suggestions.

We cannot go on expecting solutions to come from the political and economic elites who ride in limousines with security guards. They are not exposed to the impacts of their policies, so the feedback loop has been broken by the concentration of wealth and power in a few hands. This is why so many people are out in the streets demanding a transition from the dominant system (guns and money) to a new system that will give social justice and environmental restoration a higher priority than corporate profit-making.

By Kevin Danaher – Co-Founder,  Global Exchange

Life is a spell so exquisite that everything conspires to break it. - Emily Dickenson

While we may be a “day late and a dollar” short in the Halloween department, spells can be cast anytime of the year. They don’t require much and you probably cast spells without really knowing it (wishing hard and throwing a penny in the fountain anyone?) Here’s some steps to refine your spell casting abilities:

1. Identifying the purpose of the spell
This first step  allows you to collect your thoughts and become conscious of your internal state as well as drawing your awareness to any physical sensations that arise in response to your current situation. This places you fully in the present moment as you contemplate what it is you truly seek, where the root of the matter lies, if your heart is in it and how best to phrase your instruction in an affirmative, current statement to attain resonance on all levels.

2. Preparation for the spell
Gather ingredients such as herbs, crystals or candles, decide on timing in accordance with lunar phases or other natural rhythms and plan what your rite will be, to get into the head space that channels life force toward your desire. The process of planning your petition subtly addresses your sentiments around the subject and creates an opening in your energy indicating your willingness to receive what you are asking for.

3. Creating sacred space from which to cast the spell
Next is to enter a space that is a time with no time in a place with no place where you turn within and connect with your core being. This meditative state facilitates alpha brain waves and verifies your connection with the Greater Whole. In essence, you enter an energy vortex that is untouched by time and that expands throughout all dimensions. It is from this place of unity with the fabric of the universe that you are able to harness Original Substance and craft it into manifest form.

4. Performing the rite itself
This step often consists of a symbolic gesture such as lighting a candle, burning a prayer paper or fashioning a talisman ~ your right brain responds to images and the carrying out of the act itself conveys a strong message to your subconscious mind. Casting a spell shifts your consciousness and provides a sense of action, similar to how locking a door affirms your sense of security. The thrill of casting magic alone raises your vibration, welcomes magical experiences and invites possibilities into your awareness.

5. Loading/Magnetising
Charge an item or raise the intensity of energy within the cone of power (vortex) you have conjured. This can be done through holding a vision of your desired result in rich visualisation, chanting a rhyme, brandishing a wand, drumming, dancing or a myriad other ways that facilitate pouring your creative essence into the etheric form of your intention.  Loading aligns body, mind, emotion and spirit to cohere into a swirling magical missile.

6. Release
Finally, cast your magic into the universe like a cosmic flare and severe any attachment to the outcome by forgetting about it and going about your day as usual in the full knowledge that it is done. This practise relinquishes control and allows aspects unknown to you to unfold.

Stella Seaspirit fosters your Witchiness and refines your energy-crafting abilities by offering a unique and fresh outlook on Witchcraft as a living philosophy in a simple to understand way. Her goal is to assist you to cast more potent magic. Stella is the creator of Magick by Design coaching and facilitates the Sparkling Witch Tribe, a private online sanctum. Sashay over to her website to get your free Witchification Kit. Connect via Twitter and Facebook.

Let’s take a moment of thanks and appreciation for the Occupy Wall Street protesters. You don’t have to agree with them. But they are exercising their rights as US citizens and taking a stand and attempting to make a positive change.

What can you do today to take a stand, no matter how small? Make a difference in your own life first and the ripple effect will occur. How can you instill in others around you the importance of standing up for your rights?

Gimundo is one of my first virtual stops in the morning. It’s keeps me posted on positive news around the world. Today I found a great, very creative piece about something most of us consider a nuisance: junk mail.

Here are some great ideas the next time you’re fuming at your mailbox:

Utility

1. Burn in Place of Wood
Yep, you can do it, too. Stay warm in the winter by a fire made of all that junk mail. Just throwing it in the fireplace won’t be too effective, but by using a product like the Newspaper Brick Maker (about $30), you can make paper bricks that will burn like real wood.

2. Use as Packing Material
Sure, dehydrated mushroom mycelia and plastic pillows filled with air are both good green packing material options, but why not use your bounty of junk mail? Just run it through the shredder and use it to ship or store fragile objects.

3. Use as Animal Bedding
Avoid the cost of buying bedding for your small rodent friends by shredding your junk mail. It might also come in handy as bedding for your urban chickens.

4. Use as a Funnel
This works best with those return envelopes you get in the mail. Simply cut a small section of one corner of an envelope (for the bottom of the funnel) and a larger portion from its opposite corner (the mouth of the funnel). Use this to conveniently refill salt and pepper shakers. This idea is one of the useful ideas from JunkMailGems.com.

Gardening

For these gardening projects, make sure there are no toxic adhesives or inks on the paper goods you use.

4. Make Seedling Pots
Another clever product is the PotMaker (about $15). You can use paper to make seedling pots, which can then be planted directly into the soil and will decompose on their own. This way, you don’t have to buy plastic pots (which saves money and resources).

5. Garden Mulch
You can literally lay out junk mail or old newspapers on your garden as a mulch. This makes an excellent weed barrier and will have all the benefits of traditional mulch. But since this is a little aesthetically displeasing, you might also want to cover with a layer of leaves or other traditional mulch.

Alternatively, you can also shred junk mail or old newspapers first and then lay them as mulch. This will allow them to break down easier.

Read more tips at Gimundo!

Just stumbled across this piece in the DailyGood.com and wanted to share it. Who doesn’t like quick and easy answers? Have a great weekend. Do something wild and wonderful.

Surprising ways to instantly improve your mood

by Gretchen Rubin

Being happier doesn’t have to be a long-term ambition. You can start right now. In the next 30 minutes, tackle as many of the following suggestions as possible. Not only will these tasks themselves increase your happiness, but the mere fact that you’ve achieved some concrete goals will boost your mood.

1. Raise your activity level to pump up your energy. If you’re on the phone, stand up and pace. Take the stairs instead of the elevator. Put more energy into your voice. Take a brisk 10-minute walk. Even better…

2. Take a walk outside. Research suggests that light stimulates brain chemicals that improve mood. For an extra boost, get your sunlight first thing in the morning.

3. Reach out. Send an e-mail to a friend you haven’t seen in a while, or reach out to someone new. Having close bonds with other people is one of the most important keys to happiness. When you act in a friendly way, not only will others feel more friendly toward you, but you’ll also strengthen your feelings of friendliness for other people.

4. Rid yourself of a nagging task. Deal with that insurance problem, purchase something you need, or make that long-postponed appointment with the dentist. Crossing an irksome chore off your to-do list will give you a rush of elation.

5. Create a more serene environment. Outer order contributes to inner peace, so spend some time organizing bills and tackling the piles in the kitchen. A large stack of little tasks can feel overwhelming, but often just a few minutes of work can make a sizable dent. Set the timer for 10 minutes and see what you can do.

6. Do a good deed. Introduce two people by e-mail, take a minute to pass along useful information, or deliver some gratifying praise. In fact, you can also…

7. Save someone’s life. Sign up to be an organ donor, and remember to tell your family about your decision. Do good, feel good?it really works!

8. Act happy. Fake it ’til you feel it. Research shows that even an artificially induced smile boosts your mood. And if you’re smiling, other people will perceive you as being friendlier and more approachable.

9. Learn something new. Think of a subject that you wish you knew more about and spend 15 minutes on the Internet reading about it, or go to a bookstore and buy a book about it. But be honest! Pick a topic that really interests you, not something you think you “should” or “need to” learn about. Some people worry that wanting to be happier is a selfish goal, but in fact, research shows that happier people are more sociable, likable, healthy, and productive?and they’re more inclined to help other people. By working to boost your own happiness, you’re making other people happier, too.

At Only Positive News, we’ve addressed the importance and power of physical touch. But it bears repeating. Why? Because in today’s world, we become increasingly distant from one another physically. We’re all too aware of personal space (which matters - don’t get me wrong!) but to a point where we don’t embrace…embracing.

What can you do today to improve your health and the health of loved ones? A simple hug may do the trick:

Researchers from the University of Carolina study also found that hugging instigates an elevated release of oxytocin, which is known as the “bonding” or “cuddle” hormone and prompts loving and caring feelings. Some studies have shown that it also reduces blood pressure. Another study that took place in 2000 showed that hugging babies while they were given blood tests made them cry less and kept their heart rates steadier. Both elevated levels of cortisol and high blood pressure have been linked to various diseases, including heart disease, so not only does hugging feel great, it’s good for our hearts, too.

Source: Gimundo

The Act of Touching

Yes, I’m one of those people who think that resolutions don’t work. There are a number of reasons why:

1. We’re rebels. Inside of us resides a little child. And we all know what happens when we tell a child not to do something. The child wants to do it that much more. New Year’s resolutions operate the same way. It’s a scolding - one that many of us refuse to accept as adults. In short, “You can’t tell me what to do!”

2. We’re imperfect. It’s wonderful to strive for perfection but the truth of the matter is we’re all highly flawed. This isn’t a bad thing but we’re not saints - we make mistakes. New Year’s resolutions set us up for failure by trying too hard to be what we’re not.

3. Time passes. New Year’s resolutions seem great the first week of January. But what about the third week in March. Resolutions have a shelf-life…and it isn’t very long!

I like the idea of making random new year’s resolutions that don’t stress you out or put too much pressure on you. Positive resolutions - ones based on what you can add to your life, not take it away.

Several years ago, I vowed to touch people more in the new year. I’m from a Germanic family, not the warmest lot, physically. Yet I know how great it feels to be touched. People love being touched, for the most part. I decided to be a more physical person. And guess what? That’s the only resolution that has ever stuck for me.

What’s a simple, positive new year’s resolution that works for you this 2011?

Life often requires sacrifice. But as you’ll read in this story, sacrifice can help both parties.

But before you read this story, do you have an organ donor card? Is it on your driver’s license? Go check or visit this website:

Organ Donor Website

What others thought was just an exercise routine to lose weight was, for Chen Yurong, a way to save her son’s life.

The 51-year-old Hubei native knew she had to improve the condition of her liver in order for doctors to cut part of it out - and transplant it into her son’s body.

So in February she went on a diet and marched about 10 km a day.

The result, even broadcast yesterday by State television CCTV, was a successful 14-hour operation to save her son from a life-threatening liver disease.

“In order to give my young granddaughter a complete family, I’d like to do everything to save my son,” Chen said before the operation.

While Chen and her 31-year-old son, Ye Haibin, are now in stable condition at Tongji Hospital in Wuhan. He suffers from Wilson’s disease, or hepatolenticular degeneration. Health experts said a living organ donation was not the best way for Chen to save her son, given that about 1 out of 1,000 liver donors die after the transplant surgery.

“Living organ donation is just an alternative when there’s no suitable deceased organ donated,” said Chen Shi, an organ transplant expert with the Institute of Transplantation at Tongji Hospital.

“It’s kind of a dilemma facing transplant doctors worldwide whether to do living organ transplantations, which involve potential health risks for the donor, particularly in countries like China without robust voluntary organ donations after death,” he told China Daily yesterday.

Last December, when Ye was again rushed to hospital, doctors said that a liver transplant would be the only way to prolong his life. That’s when Chen made the decision to give part of her own, as it’s even harder and more expensive to get a match from others.

More than 1.5 million people in China need organ transplants each year. However, only 20,000 finally get one, official statistics show.

Last year, living transplants accounted for at least 40 percent of the nationwide total, experts estimated.

Vice-Health Minister Huang Jiefu previously warned that living organ donations involve risks for both donor and recipient.

In the worst cases, both could die, he noted.

“We have had such tragedies in China before,” he said.

“The best way is to set up a nationwide deceased organ donation system and encourage more people to donate organs for life-saving transplants after death,” he said.

In 2007, China issued the Regulation on Human Organ Transplantation to ban all forms of organ trade and request that living donations be restricted to spouses, blood relatives or people sharing family bonds.

Meanwhile, a nationwide deceased organ donation system held by the Red Cross Society of China and the Ministry of Health is being established.

Chen Yurong's worn-out shoes.

Source: People’s Daily Online

I really appreciated this list below. It illuminates the ways in which low self-esteem can manifest itself in our lives. Many of us think low self-esteem is something we’re feeling all the time - a constant “I don’t like myself” message. But remember: low self esteem can be a shadow over your life without you consciously knowing it. Once the awareness begins, the cycle can break:

3) Characteristics of Genuinely Low Self Esteem

1. Social withdrawal
2. Anxiety and emotional turmoil
3. Lack of social skills and self confidence. Depression and/or bouts of sadness
4. Less social conformity
5. Eating disorders
6. Inability to accept compliments
7. An inability to see yourself ’squarely’ - to be fair to yourself
8. Accentuating the negative
9. Exaggerated concern over what you imagine other people think
10. Self neglect
11. Treating yourself badly but NOT other people
12. Worrying whether you have treated others badly
13. Reluctance to take on challenges
14. Reluctance to put yourself first or anywhere.
15. Reluctance to trust your own opinion
16. Expecting little out of life for yourself

Source: Uncommon Knowledge (read more!)

Today, as our week begins, notice these little tell-tale signs in yourself. That’s it. Don’t try to convince yourself otherwise, just notice them. Again, change and cycle breaking is a subtle approach.

Forced positivity has always made me deeply uncomfortable. “Smile!” “Just look on the bright side!” “It’s not that bad.”

Unfortunately, when you are feeling badly, those apparently well-meaning phrases can feel like a jab in your side. Not only do you feel down, but now you feel guilty for feeling down!

For me, I appreciate practical approaches to feeling positive. One lesson I’ve learned over the years is finding bright spots, literally and figuratively.

Literally speaking, finding a bright spot means getting outdoors and being in the sunlight. Being outside is a natural mood lifter. A friend of mine swears by this simple technique: look up. Look up into the sky for a moment or two. He believes it “opens up your mind and frees your spirit. It reminds you that your problems are small in relation to the vastness of the sky.”

Figuratively, finding a bright spot means noticing the smallest of things that lifts your spirits. Today, I saw a mimosa tree in bloom. The pink was so vibrant and eye-catching. Staring at it for a moment was like looking at a work of art.

Or perhaps its a positive interaction, albeit brief, with a person throughout your day; like a cashier or a passerby who smiles. If you take that moment in, for all it’s worth, you’ll be surprised at how much power a simple and seemingly meaningless interaction holds.

So find some bright spots today. They aren’t hard to find - they’re everywhere. But more importantly, take one moment to recognize that it lifted your spirits, even slightly.

by Beth Mann

Tekapo, NZ - a village among the stars