Thanks, Laurie, Michael, Rebecca, etc. Yes, I believe we cannot ignore the suffering and the current needs that must be addressed. And, as many of you have stated, the principal way of restoring, or healing, or improving the situation is to focus on the solution - not the problem - but on the solution. Michael and Laurie have privately counseled me on how to do this on a challenge that pales in comparison to the Hurricane. But, after acknowledging the tragedy - we must focus on bringing new life, new beauty, new joie de vivre to the areas that have been affected. Let's create a CMI that sees the areas being revitalized quickly and in love. As one of you pointed out, there's not telling what creative minds can do when they join forces. Even though it could "appear" to take years - and maybe even if work still has to be done in Florida from last year's hurricanes, let's keep focusing on rapid restoration and on sending positive energy there. It really won't help to moan and groan any more about it. That will keep things stuck.

Best,

Laura

quote:

Originally posted by LauraR:
I can't help but be saddened by the impact of Katrina on so many people. In addition to sending monetary contributions and our prayers, how would Wally have us to respond to this? I have so much trouble reconciling these recent huge natural disasters. I watched a bit of coverage last night and was close to crying and felt my heart wrenching.

Some of my thoughts on this:

If you are practicing SOGR then I assume you want to have a wonderfully abundant, rich and wonderful life.

I imagine you’ve also heard of the Law Of Attraction, and you may understand that we tend to get how we FEEL. Thus, if your thinking about Katrina is causing you to feel undesirable feelings, it may be that you need to change how you are thinking about this.

I imagine you may also already know that we have always been the manifestors and Attractors of whatever was, is and will be in our lives. I imagine that you may already know that you cannot TURN OFF this ability or power. So, if you are not DIRECTING it as you want (which you can know, if you are not FEELING like you want to feel) then you are probably misdirecting your manifesting, at least somewhat.

If this is so, then I think you might do well to ponder the following, and consider them in context with the circumstances and conditions around Katrina.

“We create our own heaven or hell. Your thoughts can imprison you or set you free. Complications, conditions or people do not upset you, but the way you think about them causes your upset. Freedom is not possible until we discipline and retrain our minds.”
p. 124 of Choose To Live Peacefully by Susan Smith Jones, Ph.D.

“If you say, “I just can’t help the way I feel,” you will only make yourself a victim of your misery ~ and you’ll be fooling yourself, because you can change the way you feel.
If you want to feel better, you must realize that your thoughts and attitudes--not external events--create your feelings. You can learn to change the way your think, feel, and behave in the here-and-now.” - from The Feeling Good Handbook by Dr. David Burns

“When you feel frustrated or upset by a person or a situation, remember that you are not reacting to the person or the situation, but to your feelings [beliefs] about the person or the situation.” - from The Seven Spiritual Laws of Success by Deepak Chopra

“Suffering is always optional.” From ‘Restore Your Magnificence’ by Dr. Joe Rubino

“When anything external distresses us, it is not the event which causes us pain; rather, it is our response to it, and this we have the power to revoke at every given moment." - Epictetus

"It is never too late to find a good feeling place about anything. Things will constantly change to match the feeling you have inside." Abraham-Hicks

Find ways to feel good about Katrina and its effects. For example, instead of seeing the people involved as victims, see them as finding strength within, being resilient and courageous and thus rising above the conditions and creating even better lives than they had before.

Instead of seeing yourself as powerless or helpless, see your ability to imagine something better (and thus getting yourself to a higher vibration) as being a part of the overall solution (as well as directing yourself to your own greater good and greater life). We are all connected, so as you raise your own vibration you affect everyone else’s in a positive way.

Instead of mourning the dead, see them as completely whole, safe, full of joy and one with the Universe, perhaps now being completely restful, and possibly planning the next great adventure they want to take.

See those who have lost loved ones and homes and businesses as working through their grief and healing and becoming stronger and even MORE alive, resourceful, resilient and attractive to even greater good, rebuilding or building, receiving or allowing even more abundant lives than they had before.

See those who mourn or who feel defeated, victimized or powerless as coming to find the source of strength and abundance that is in them, as it is in each of us.

As has been said, “Nothing is good or bad but that thinking makes it so.” Consider that with regards to each image you’ve seen with Katrina, and remind yourself also that, as you think, so will you feel, and as you feel, so will you attract. Therefore be intent on uplifting your feelings and moods.

Once you are in a very good feeling state, if there is more for you to do, I imagine you’ll know.

Phil

Hi Laura,

Part of the SOGR philosophy points to the belief that although what maybe happening at a personal/global level at a specific time doe's not appear to be for our highest good, with faith it will be in the bigger picture.

Obviously I do not know the bigger picture but I can see how this will be a wake up call to the 'super power' to look at ways of improving and who knows what this might prevent/lead to in the future.

A lot has been said about looking to the solutions and I have taken this on board at a personal level. Certainly at my own understanding I do not know the 'whys' but I do know I can for look at the 'hows'.

Wow...I posted yesterday "Hurricane Katrina". I didn't read any other posts...I came purely out of need to connect and to be with like minded individuals to help during by cloud like vision.

My only connection until yesterday...has been with family and friends. People who had to uproot lives...facing their trauma. And of course the other connection has been through the media...it is the only source of pictures and news of my beloved home..."New Orleans."

It wasn't till I read this thread, did I realize the vast compassion. Real people, not media inticed...not direct victims. It warms my heart to read each and every word here.

Healing...is the best way to describe what I feel. I have seen first hand the poverty laced through New Orleans...I volunteered at a public school for second graders in a reading program. Some students didn't know their alphabet. This isn't to empower the view of poverty and uneducated children, but rather my volunteer work was a way to love. Holding children on my lap...giving their first classroom Christmas party...with all the fixings. Here in the South...children are taught to address the adults as "Miss and Mister". Hence, the children referred to me as "Miss Tracie".

My soul wasn't saddened by the homeless before Katrina...or the lost children...but rather, I was able to spread the vision that is our inherited right to live a full and blessed life.

I remember clearly an old, crippled and yes...even blind man sitting by a local store. I didn't give him money...but rather bought him groceries for the day. A sandwich, water...a treat. A gentle pat on the hand...and a message to dream, dream of a life he would love to have. He simply stated...I'm a happy man. I met a lovely woman, and have food now in my stomach...and water whem I'm thirsty. It dawned on me then. This is his life...he's content to be where he is. It may not be where I want to be, or how to live...but my vision is just that...mine.

Though I'm trudging through the murky waters of the aftermath of Katrina...You all have restored me in ways that I can't verbally express. However know this...in a realm where souls are free...mine nods at yours with a kindred knowledge that all is right in the world.

Blessings,

Tracie

U.S. receives aid offers from around the world

http://www.cnn.com/2005/US/09/04/katrina.world.aid/index.html

Among those offering assistance are India, Sri Lanka, Thailand and Indonesia, the four countries hardest-hit by the December 26 tsunami.

"Without gratitude you cannot long keep from dissatisfied thought regarding things as they are."

"The grateful mind continually expects good things, and expectation becomes faith."

"And because all things have contributed to your advancement, you should include all things in your gratitude." ALL THINGS? Including a hurricane?

"Do not waste time thinking or talking about the shortcomings or wrong actions of plutocrats or trust magnates. Their organization of the world has made your opportunity; all you get really comes to you because of them. Do not rage against, corrupt politicians; if it were not for politicians we should fall into anarchy, and your opportunity would be greatly lessened."

Might we put hurricanes into the same category as plutocrats, trust magnates and corrupt politicians? Yes, hurricanes kill people. So do corrupt politicians.

"God has worked a long time and very patiently to bring us up to where we are in industry and government, and He is going right on with His work. There is not the least doubt that He will do away with plutocrats, trust magnates, captains of industry, and politicians as soon as they can be spared; but in the meantime, behold they are all very good. Remember that they are all helping to arrange the lines of transmission along which your riches will come to you, and be grateful to them all. This will bring you into harmonious relations with the good in everything, and the good in everything will move toward you."

Could it be that God will do away with hurricanes when they have served their purpose?

Could it be that this hurricane is bringing you riches?

"Never mind what [poverty's] causes are; you have nothing to do with them."

Katrina is the cause of much poverty.

"What tends to do away with poverty is not the getting of pictures of poverty into your mind, but getting pictures of wealth into the minds of the poor."

Katrina survivors need pictures of wealth in their minds.

"The only way in which poverty will ever be banished from this world is by getting a large and constantly increasing number of people to practice the teachings of this book."

Copies of SOGR for Katrina survivors.

"The poor...need inspiration. ...inspiration will cause them to rise out of their misery."

"You are not showing hardness of heart or an unfeeling disposition when you refuse to pity poverty, see poverty, read about poverty, or think or talk about it, or to listen to those who do talk about it. Use your will power to keep your mind OFF the subject of poverty, and to keep it fixed with faith and purpose ON the vision of what you want."

Katrina survivors need vision, to secure new employment and all the rest they need; and the rest of us--some of whom are going to employ them--need vision so that we can expand our businesses enough to hire them.

Dear Ron,

Thank you for taking the time to send this message. I have been thinking about it for a few days, but wasn't sure how to exactly say it. You did, and quite perfectly...I think.

I know that the how will also be perfectly presented!!!