Happy Sunday, dear friends and Happy Equinox to all! For us in the Northern Hemisphere, we welcome in Spring, after a long winter, and for our brothers and sisters in the South, Fall enters with a turn to cooler weather.
It is always awesome when we are ready for a change, and it comes! I have to admit to feeling this way, not only about the weather and the bursting forth of new blossoms and wild baby birds, but also related to the shifting energies.
We have all endured wave after wave of upgrades, energy surges, astrological alignments and world events, and it feels like everything is lining up for an explosion of change. We all have a get a move on feeling and are jumping up and down with anticipation.
It’s tough to listen to that whispering voice that reminds us to be patient, to have faith, to flow with the changes, but it is a good whisper to hear. For me, the spring cleaning bug is beginning its dance and it portends throwing open the windows, cleaning and organizing.
I am reminded though that this is also a time to treat myself gently and to be a witness to all the beauty that is unfolding. How many times have we all succumbed to the doing habit during these times when stillness and observation may be our best bets?
So, I am intending for some balance between quiet time to explore the new that is unfolding, and active time for clearing out the old. It doesn’t ever have to be one or the other, and so, I choose both!
Spreading the love at Karma Kitchen.
I read about this concept and I hope it will spread far and wide. The platform is simple. Come eat the gifts of our table as a gift to yourself. Then, if you are so inspired, either pay it forward for another person to enjoy a meal, or donate time or services to create more meals.
The Karma Kitchen began in Berkley, CA in 2007, and has provided over 48,000 meals through donations of money and over 39,000 volunteer hours. If you are lucky enough to live in an area with a Karma Kitchen, which you can discover on their website, why not give this delicious concept in paying it forward a try?
Karma Kitchen: Growing in Generosity
The dad of an autistic son is inspired to create the Autism Village App.
Topher Wurts and his son Kirby, often have difficulty finding restaurants and public spaces that are autism friendly. Many people with autism have dietary restrictions or can become overstimulated by loud or bright environments.
Through trial and error and the recommendations of other families living with autism, they have been able to find acceptable spaces, but the situation inspired Wurts to go a step further.
He began a Kickstarter campaign to fund an app he is calling Autism Village. The app will give autistic individuals a list of local places that are autism friendly. They can search the data base and also add their own reviews to expand the list.
I see the benefits of this for folks who feel isolated or limited because of specific requirements, and I also see the possibility of expansion of this platform for many other special needs individuals. The more connected and safe people feel, the more empowered they can become, which creates a better world for all.
The science of why we love music.
We have all experienced the exquisite sensations that course through our bodies when we hear our favorite song. Many also have songs that evoke vivid memories of the past, and bring us back to those moments as if they were happening again.
As the technology of music has expanded over the years, with the advent of FM radio, portable music players and finally iTunes, more music has flowed through our ears, creating a greater number of connections within the brain.
Most humans will say they love music, but why is that? Scientists have now found that music stimulates the release of an endorphin, called dopamine, within the brain in some of the oldest structures present within it. Music stimulates ancient centers within the brain, which may indicate that music evolved right along with the birth of humanity and has always been a part of its development.
The article explains the science behind our love of music and likens the reward of music within a human to the same reward stimulus as food or sex, so the old adage, “music soothes the savage beast,” has some basis in science.
Why We Love Music by Jill Suttie for Berkeley Greater Good
The love note bomber.
Shannon Weber started small. She wrote a cute love note to her kids and it made her feel good. Something inside her upped the ante, and suddenly she decided to share love notes with the whole city and finally the world.
With her kids in tow, Shannon puts up love notes at night in San Francisco, CA. She creates unique art that shares messages like “everything is going to be OK” and “you are loved.” She even created a magical website called LoveYou2 to share her story and inspire others to share love notes with the world.
Sometimes all someone needs is a little message to remind them of how blessed and special they are, and how much love is out there for them. The good feelings go both ways, as those who share messages like this experience such joy that they want to do it more and more! What a simple, cheap and easy way to spread the love far and wide.
Love Note Writer on Karma Tube
And finally…
Two town workers quietly help a devoted husband keep his promise.
This video is about love and devotion. It is also about the quiet honoring of a private ritual by two kind-hearted town employees. It overwhelmed me with feelings, both for the devotion of one to another, and the honoring of someone not even known. Enjoy.
Devoted Husband Gets Heart melting Surprise From 2 Strangers! on YouTube
That’s the good news for today. Have a special day. Please join Gavin Harrill for the Golden Gaia News Roundup on Monday.
Be Well. Be Joy. Be Love!
Alex