by Tao Oliveto, Carrboro, NC

Although as a kid, what I best remember about Halloween is an ongoing stomach ache and mood swings (we all hid our hoards of sweets under the bed and gorged for days, right?), but as an adult, I’ve come to enjoy a day where we are encouraged to put on a costume and take the darkness of life lightly. I’m not just referring to ghosts and goblins, but the idea that accepting and honoring what is no longer living. You know, all that pagan stuff - birth, life, death, rebirth - all celebrated and honored.

As we many of the commonly recognized holidays today, we adopted many of the pagan rituals of “All Hallow’s Eve”  or Samhain - jack o’ lanterns, cauldrons and apples. Yet, somehow, the mainstream culture seems to gravitate towards one overriding aspect of each (Santa Claus and the Easter Bunny come to mind…) With Halloween, the candy companies have cashed in, But between unfair labor practices on sugar and cocoa farms, and chemicals used in candy and costumes, it means the environment and farm workers have to cash out. What’s a green goblin to do?

Buy Fair Trade, organic candy or at least those sweetened naturally, here’s a list of some greener goodies.

Make your own or rent your costume. Consider the safety of face paints or hair sprays and go with natural ingredients for die - I mean, dye.

Get your pesticide-free pumpkin from a local farm and be sure to compost or feed to wildlife afterwards.

And all that stuff about honoring the dead? The pagans used to set a place at the table for the dear deceased, inviting them to visit. Now, THAT’s spooky.

by Jerry Stifelman, The Change Strategy

CLIMATE CHANGE IS A REALLITY AFFIRMED BY EVERY MAJOR SCIENTIFIC BODY ON THE PLANET. IT IS HAPPENING NOW. EXTREMES OF HEAT AND COLD, DROUGHTS AND FLOODING — AND A WARMER PLANET IN GENERAL ARE NOW FACTS OF LIFE. BASED ON MEASUREMENTS OF THE POLAR ICE CAP AND GREENLAND’S ICE LEVELS, WARMING IS OCCURRING AHEAD OF PREVIOUS PREDICTIONS.

IN THIS SITUATION, ANYTHING WE CAN DO THAT WE CHOOSE NOT TO DO IS LIKE WILLFUL BLINDNESS.

THIS IS WHY AL GORE, HUNTER LOVINS, BILL MCKIBBENS AND EVERY ENVIRONMENTAL LEADER I KNOW OF ENDORSES THE PRACTICE OF CARBON OFFSETS.

There has been controversy about offsets on two levels. I will respond to each below:

1. Do they work? For example, the value of planting trees as an offset is highly questionable and we do not support this method except in specific circumstances. The offsets we recommend are made by investing in projects that add clean energy to the grid (such as wind projects), that abate greenhouse gasses (such as landfill capping) and that improve industrial efficiency by directly taking carbon credits off the market via the Chicago Climate Exchange.

2. Are offsets the modern equivalent of medieval indulgences? Are they giving people a license to keep emitting carbon? This argument would only be valid if individuals and companies were making the choice between offsetting emissions or avoiding them entirely. For life and business to go on, we need to travel occasionally, we need computer servers and we need electricity. Most environmentalists, ourselves included, see offsets as a necessary piece of the equation to mitigate climate change.

by Tao Oliveto, Carrboro, NC

As a parent, you’re worried about the unsustainable future your kids are bound to inherit, yet you also want them to have the “right stuff”. And sometimes, those that have the most invested in the future (parents) have the most trouble adopting a lifestyle that will protect it. We’ve all become overly influenced by media and cultural norms which can keep you from making rational, logical and yes, the healthiest decisions for your children. It applies to choosing clothing, toys, vehicles, food, activities, school supplies…and then there’s that whole diaper dilemma. Add to the mix, a typical youth enamored with what he sees on television and competes with in school and it may be tempting for Mom and Dad to throw in the green towel.

It doesn’t have to be that way. The truth is, green-minded parents never had it so good. Resources supporting sustainable child-raising are plentiful. Start by reassessing your child’s needs and desires from the start. Trust your instincts, not advertisers or neighbors. Think back to basics and you can’t go wrong. After all we’ve learned about the dioxins and pvcs in plastics, finding alternatives in toys and bottles is a good start. Check local sources first, then shop online for organic and fairly made baby supplies. Hemp is the rage in anti-bacterial reusable diapers - check them out and learn more at a family-owned and operated business like Better For Babies.

It gets harder as the babies become “I want it now” youngsters, but hold your ground - they will thank you for it later. Keeping your kids out of harms way does not just mean on the playground or in the parking lot. Protect their short and long-term health from pesticides, hormones, antibiotics, chemicals, fast food, and refined sugar/salt. If it sounds like a big job, it is - but only until you get re-acquainted with the wonderful world of organic, whole foods (and other Wise Traditions) and natural materials. Then, it’s a no-brainer that will nourish both the planet and the health of your family for years to come.

If you’ve primed your green kid in the early years, they will approach adolescence and young adulthood with a growing sense of importance and understanding, yet nonchalance, in their [sustainable] choices. Keep the lines of communication open - it’s not a done deal yet. With your support and encouragement, conservation of resources will be a comfortable habit, forming many decisions throughout their lives. There are many resources available to help you teach your kids about environmental stewardship. And hopefully, by this time, those choices and commitments will not be seen as “alternative” but as the new/old cultural norm that fosters a sense of responsibility towards people, animals and the planet.

Now, that wasn’t so hard, was it?

by Tao Oliveto, Carrboro, NC

The topic of our rapidly growing population is certainly a sticky mess. No politician and very few people will touch it - I almost didn’t on this blog. But, here goes.

Reproduction is the root of life, but as our planet moves towards a population of 9 billion people, it becomes a simple matter of another one of nature’s systems - supply and demand. As one of the century’s most influential scientists, James Lovelock, concludes (in a feature article on climate change published in this month’s issue of Rolling Stone Magazine), “We have just exceeded all reasonable bounds in numbers. And from a purely biological view, any species that does that has a crash.”

Not many things can have as immediate an effect on the sustainability issues of our time like a decrease in population. Air quality, landfill space, carbon emissions, food shortage, water shortage, crime, health risks - you name it, the overpopulation problem is involved.

What is a human-centric world to do? Granted, we can’t resort to implementing frightening controls or laws, but how about a bigger push for awareness that allows people to make informed, personal and practical choices? Providing more programs that address birth control in developing countries as well as in school systems everywhere can address both population and health issues. Some European countries have recently achieved a balanced or declining birth rate - it’s indeed possible. This is a touchy subject, but a necessary one.

From a young age, I made the conscious decision to not have biological children in direct response to overpopulation issues (as well as the feeling that I did not wish to try to raise a child in competition with the overwhelming materialism and constricts of this culture). I don’t expect this to be the popular choice for many, but for those who have joined me, I encourage you to follow whatever path calls to you rather than what society, or even biology, dictates or expects. Although the child-free choice itself is sometimes subject to a cultural stigma, there’s not much truth in it. As we all know, there are many ways (including adoption) to fulfill a life purpose and contribute outside of yourself other than procreation. Be open to them all and consider all the issues and make a conscious and practical choice.

by Tao Oliveto, Carrboro, NC

My twin sister lives near Lake Tahoe and she called the other day to tell me the first snow had come early this year - she was standing in the canyon, looking up at it just then. We were silent for a moment, both of us, I’m certain, thinking wistfully of the long, beautifully snow-covered Winters of our childhood in Minnesota. Those days seem far away - not by measure of years, but by the measure of lacking snow. Just as we now reveled in an October snowfall, we were simultaneously sobered by the fact that this was not an indication of “business as usual” in terms of nature. As temperatures rise, annual snowfall throughout the world have been decreasing rapidly over decades. Winter sports may soon be a thing of the past.

Of course, in this culture, denial runs deep. Ski resorts have been making supplemental snow for dry periods for a long time and I’m sure they’ll continue to fill the air with CO2 emissions via snowmakers for a long time yet. But, making your own snow at home? Now I know just how spoiled we have become and that nature can’t seem to speak to us loudly enough.

Do you know about this? When Winter is a no-show, instead of worrying about it, we just rub our hands together like mad scientists and find yet another non-sustainable way to get what we want. Much to my surprise and dismay, I’ve discovered that companies in the U.S. have been selling home snowmakers since 2000 and sales “have hit every state except Hawaii” say the owners of Snow At Home. (Sorry, if you want a link to this, you’re gonna have to find it yourself.) I guess our SUVs, luxury boats, motor homes and swimming pools aren’t enough. We gotta have it - all.

I don’t know…just how long can we continue to have our planet and eat it, too?

“Humankind — despite its artistic pretensions, its sophistication, and its many accomplishments —- owes its existence to a six-inch layer of topsoil and the fact that it rains.”

- Source unknown

As you know by now, I deeply believe that a yoga practice can change the way you are in the world, but keep in mind that there are many methods of growing within and outside the self . I think of them as Sister-paths. Become curious and disciplined in your quest for knowledge and truth and you will find what speaks to you. Enjoy more from Greg on the philosophy of Rudolf Steiner below. Changingly Yours, Tao

by Greg Gillette, Asheville, NC
Besides the many meditations that Dr. Steiner indicated, he emphasized the importance of the six basic exercises or attributes. These six exercises were developed to strengthen and balance our thinking, feeling and willing and to awaken and cultivate the higher being within ourselves. The exercises contribute to the development of higher organs of spiritual perception and to the creation of a sturdy bridge between the physical and spiritual worlds. The six exercises consist of the following:

1) Mastery of Thought Formation
2) Mastery over Impulses of the Will
3) Equanimity in Regard to Happiness and Sorrow
4) Positivity in Forming Judgments
5) Open-Mindedness (A Lack of Preconceptions)
6) Inner Balance (The Harmonious Blending of All Five Exercises)

These exercises coupled with prayer and various meditations will place you on the path to higher spiritual knowledge and to a more balanced and harmonious physical and spiritual life.

A few inspiring thoughts, by Dr. Steiner, to mediate upon:

“In thinking, I experience myself united with the stream of cosmic existence.”

“Time must be taken to observe things as though we were inside the things themselves with our thinking. We should submerge ourselves in the things and enter into their inner thought activity.”

“In thy thinking, cosmic thoughts are living; lose thyself in cosmic thoughts. In thy feeling, cosmic forces are weaving; feel thyself through cosmic forces. In thy willing, cosmic beings are working; create thyself through beings of will.”

To obtain more information and knowledge about the six exercises, meditation and the work of Rudolf Steiner, I recommend the following books by Dr. Steiner:

Theosophy

How To Know the Higher Worlds

And the following book by Christopher Bamford:
Start Now: A book of soul and spiritual exercises

by Tao Oliveto

By now, we’ve all heard about the many benefits of a consistent yoga practice - calmer mind, healthier organs, detoxification, better digestion and sleep, balanced nervous and hormonal system, muscle flexibility and strength, stronger core, back and joints. And I can tell you from both my practice and teaching experience, that all this can be realized through regular practice of a reputable system of yoga.

But, can yoga really make life easier? Well, yes and no. Obviously, all of the above things can make you fell a heckuva lot better than the average, non-yoga person. Still, yoga cannot make the outside problems and harsh realities of life vanish. So, while yoga does not make life easier, it does make you easier with life. “Through a regular yoga practice, we become less hindered by our past and less invested in our fantasies”, says Donna Farhi, one of America’s most respected yoga teachers and author. Practice gives you direct access to an inner place of grounding and presence which can allow us to stop feeling overwhelmed by thoughts and emotions stirred up by daily events and relationships. In this space of stillness, we can find more acceptance and listen to the messages and wisdom that come from the mind and heart working together.

Now that we have our sh** together, what about the world “out there”? It is difficult not to experience periods of hopelessness in the midst of the world’s suffering and uncertainty. Yet, be hopeful we must, as well as find the things that we can do to be part of world change in both small and large ways. Ultimately, more people finding hope and peace will have an effect on the world. So, just how do we get there? Here’s some ideas:

1. Have hope about the future even while accepting uncertainty. Share that hope in some way each day. Discover valid reasons why we can expect good things to happen and tell others.

2. Develop your awareness. Live with continually increasing openness and sensitivity towards others, the earth, animals and yourself.

3. Do a lifestyle check. What are the consequences of the way you live and consume natural resources? What could you, your workplace, your business, be doing differently?

4. Contribute to a cause outside yourself. We have a big job ahead of us and it will take everyone to get it done. Resist the temptation to sit back and wait. Become pro-active in your life and community.

5. Stay informed (but not always from television news). Turn to less sensational news sources, read and talk to others.

5. Send out positive, life-changing energy. Choose a mantra or a prayer of your own and repeat it to yourself several times a day.

6. Smile and breathe.It’s o.k. to find a happy, peaceful place inside yourself. Go there to heal and restore when you need to. Laugh, entertain each other and have some fun. The people around you will benefit and you will be able to accomplish more.

7. Keep practicing yoga daily. It makes all the above possible.