by Tao Oliveto, Carrboro, NC

Our co-housing community received a shipment of rain barrels a couple weeks ago. I bought 2 for now and will probably add a couple more. They are made from recycled barrels by a local manufacturer, Mark Ray (919-636-1690). They are screened to keep out insects and have a hose hook up and overflow spout. Rain Barrels make a lot of sense and they are easy to install under a gutter spout. Even a brief rain shower can send gallons of water off of a roof and into your barrel in just a few minutes. They each hold 55 gallons of water (larger barrels are readily available).

That sounds like a lot these days considering our daily usage during this unprecedented, 6-month drought that has left trees dead and water reservoirs at or below 50% capacity. We’ve learned to live boat-wise and I have to say, it’s not all that bad, once you get used to it. We each get one flush a day (ask me how!), take super-short Navy-style showers with the faucet turned to half force and wash dishes camping style. I might even say it’s been fun in a challenging way. We’ll get some rain today and hopefully pull out of the extreme dryness sooner than later. Still, my family will always stick to our water-saving ways since climate change and growing populations will continue to stress fresh water supplies. In other words, Evolve or Die.

Harvesting rain water is not a new idea. There are many low and high-tech systems now available for homeowners, farmers and commercial businesses. And once you’ve filled your tank, the experts can show you how to reuse and recycle your water for indoor or outdoor use and even as an alternative to conventional septic systems. For more information, visit Integrated Water Strategies at www.waterrecycling.com

Rudolf Steiner: A Path To Higher Knowledge, by Greg Gillette

Everyone has the potential for grasping the fruits of spiritual knowledge. Everyone has access to the answers to the mysteries of the universe, but for most folks, that kernel of spiritual knowledge lies dormant and has not yet been fully opened.
What is our ultimate purpose? What is our connection to the cosmos? What is our connection to each other? What is life like before being born into a body on Earth? And what is life like after shedding the body and entering the spiritual world? Are we truly free beings? What about free will? Reincarnation? Karma?

According to the work and life of Dr. Rudolf Steiner, these questions and many more can be known through Anthroposophy, the spiritual science developed by Dr. Steiner that unites the divine in mankind with the divine in the cosmos. Many folks know of Steiner through the Waldorf Schools or Biodynamic Agriculture, but his main objective was to show a true path to spiritual knowledge. He brought forth new directions and initiatives fused with spiritual knowledge into all aspects of society: education, arts, medicine, economics, agriculture, politics, etc. His vision and clairvoyance laid a path for new ways of thinking, feeling, willing and living.

Anthroposophy is not a new religion, but a new way of spiritual living that can be taking up by anyone of any religious background. It contains no dogma, no creed. “It is an experimental method in the sphere of the universally human, through which real, spiritual experiences can be had.” (Smit, page 49) Thousands of pages could be written about Steiner and his works, but I will keep it short and focus on Steiner’s aspect of meditation. Meditation was the source (foundation) of everything that he accomplished.

Through meditation, the higher faculties of thinking, feeling and willing will come into fruition and you will experience more balance and peace, have a better understanding of yourself and others, remain in the present moment longer, have better control of your thoughts, strive to see the positive in everything, maintain an open mind to everything, and be able to interject more of an objective way of living; the art of observing, listening and thinking, critically.

According to Steiner, thinking is the highest faculty we possess that enables us to grasp the knowledge of the higher worlds. Of course, Dr. Steiner is referring to spiritual thinking; thinking that is alive. “Thinking is the heart and blood of what distinguishes Steiner’s approach to spiritual work. The thinking that he is talking about, however, is not our ordinary thinking by which we rearrange existing (past, dead) thoughts. By thinking Steiner means “living” thinking, the dynamic process-state before thinking becomes thoughts.

Meditation means to think, ponder, reflect upon and revolve in ones’ mind. “True meditation is engagement in focused thinking, and the sense of detachment that accompanies meditation should not be an attitude of insouciance (lighthearted unconcern), but of objectivity.” (Cowen, page 87) True healing and freedom come about when we think on a higher level: in a careful, balanced and objective manner, when we experience the full gamut of our feelings and emotions while remaining objective with all that happens to us and around us.

Greg Gillette, Nutrition Specialist, can be reached at 828-252-9874 or at gillettenutrition@yahoo.com.

Excerpt from Pronoia Is The Antidote For Paranoia, by Rob Brezsny:

“Pronia means that even if we can’t see and don’t know, primal benefactors are plotting to emancipate us. The winds and tides are on our side. The fire and rain are scheming to steal our pain. The sun and moon know our real names, and the animals pray for us while we are dreaming.

As we stand on this brink, as we dance on this verge, we can’t let the ruling fools of the dying world sustain their curses. We have to rise up and fight their insane logic; defy, resist, and prevent their tragic magic; unleash our sacred rage and supercharge it.

It’s a perfect moment for many reasons, but especially because you and I are waking up from our sleepwalking, thumb-sucking, dumb-clucking collusion with the masters of illusion and destruction. Thanks to them, from whom the painful blessings flow, we are waking up.

As heaven and earth come together, as the dreamtime and daytime merge, we register the shockingly exhilarating fact that we are in charge of creating a brand new world. Not in some distant time or faraway place, but right here and right now.”

Rob Brezsny shares his Free Will Astrology across the globe. He has convinced me “How the Whole World Is Conspiring to Shower You With Blessings.”

It just came to my attention that all recent comments from my much-loved readers have not made it to the site due to technical problems. I apologize for this - all is up and running now and I will reply to all comments soon. Thanks for sharing and keep talking! Tao

by Tao Oliveto, Carrboro, NC

We have a way to go before plastic and styrofoam, paper tableware and “to go” containers become a thing of the past, but better late than never, I suppose. The “inconvenient truth” is that, as we learned in high school economics, the push has to come from consumers.

Make restaurants in your community aware that you would like to see a switch to compostables and/or incentives for customers to bring their own containers. Don’t patronize restaurants that use styrofoam or other toxic materials to package food. Ask them about recycling. The same can apply to parties and potluck meals - offer to bring your own eat ware so they don’t have to buy (and discard) the plastic stuff.

Now you can have your tableware and bring it with you, too. I do this with some used camping supplies I found, but was recently wowed by Orikaso’s picnic/potluck/to go-friendly plates, bowls and cups that FOLD FLAT - perfect to keep in your backpack, handbag or briefcase. I know what you are thinking, but this stuff, made from a “magic polymer”, gets stronger the more you fold it. Affordable and forever useful (and convenient!) at $15/set.

Where did I see this? In a publication called, Good, “for people who give a damn - an entertaining magazine about things that matter.” Now in their second year of publication, it covers a wide range of topics on politics, business, health, tchnology, science, art and design, media, environment and living. Good read about good stuff. Check it out at GoodMagazine.com.

by Tao Oliveto, Carrboro, NC

Reduce - everything you think you need or want, but really don’t.

Restore - everything you might throw out and replace.

Reuse - everything you think is disposable.

Rebuild - everything old can become new.

Recycle - everything that can’t be applied to the above.

Rethink - everything you use, buy, say or eat.

Reveal - everything that is true.

Re-establish - everything that made life more simple.

Reinvent - everything we thought we did right the first time.

Reject - everything anyone tells you that denies your instincts.

Rejoice - in everything that can be healed - by doing the above - in your life and on the planet!

I admit it, I’m hooked on BYOB - no, not the bottle, but on the many ways I go out into the world prepared to consume less. I bring my own grocery bag, water bottle, coffee mug, napkin and bandana. I also bring my own plate and utensils to potluck meals. You might have to try it to believe me, but this is FUN in a “Sock it to You” kind of way. Bring Your Own makes a statement.

So, when I saw this guy walk in the coffee shop with a ceramic mug with flames on it, I had to ask him about it (ok, he was cute, too). As it turns out, Aydin made this mug himself - in 5th grade. I was impressed enough to ask for this picture.

Moral of the story: Women Love Men Who BYOB.

ps. I know you may be wondering what’s up with the bandana, so here’s 7 uses:

To replace a paper napkin or towel

To put your bicycle chain back on

To dab the bit of sweat you produced on said bicycle

To make a fashion statement

To wrap up a leftover sandwich

To hide a bad hair day

To drop - in hopes that a beautiful stranger will return it to you

By Tao Oliveto, Carrboro, NC

By theory, shopping is considered addictive and some people use it like they use alcohol or drugs. But, like many things, a little can be good while a lot is lethal. Our culture has made it possible for most of us to get our “fix” often by providing a lot of stuff for very little. We get used to “low low prices”, and think of it as normal. It’s not - but places like Wal-mart and other chain stores want us to think otherwise. I know people who pursue lower prices like predators pursue prey, driving an extra 10 miles or more to save a few dollars or even cents on something they probably don’t need. “It’s on sale!!” is their war-cry. Most often they forego quality for quantity and, in the process, “feed the monster” of unsustainable consumerism while keeping the earth toxic and the practice of slave labor alive..

If something is really cheap - then someone along the way is getting screwed and it’s usually impoverished people doing really hard labor in horrible conditions. Of course, cheap, easily obtained supplies are needed to complete the equation and this means suffering for the environment as well. I’m continually amazed at the number of middle-class people who won’t buy organic food, not because they are unconvinced it is better for them, but because it “costs” too much. Yet, those daily $4.00 latte, video rental or the monthly manicure fit right into the budget.

Nothing that costs little actually costs little. Knowing this makes it easy for me to shop locally and logically and yes, to pay more in some cases. It’s helps to know I’m accruing a long-term benefit for people and the planet but the immediate reward is simply that it feels good - like I’m participating in something truthful rather than constantly trying to beat an already crooked system. I don’t notice a change in my expenses since I automatically buy less stuff.

Only when we begin to measure our lives in values, health and justice rather than in dollars, will we really be rich.