THE MAGNETIC MODEL |
CLICK HERE TO ORDER A BOOK WITH FREE AUDIO SUPPLEMENTS
SPIRITUAL ENLIGHTENMENT AHEAD!
PLEASE READ CAREFULLY AND SLOWLY!
(THE AUDIO SUMMARIES WILL OMIT DETAILS.)
see the problem form a prognosis: devise a plan to practice & promote prosperity.
TEXT IN GREEN ARE LINKS - CLICK ON THEM - IF YOU DARE![]() Most of our beliefs are supported by tradition, superstition, science or religion. But in reality it's not the system we use as much as the accuracy of the source. The murky relationship between the unknown, the mysterious, the mystical and the magical can lead us to questionable conclusions. Although many peoples present mindset is stuck on separating science and spirit, we should look for and anticipate the next greatest technological breakthrough to be the scientific proof of the spirit world. Yes, science will prove that the spirit world does exist! It stands to reason that if theses two worlds exist then at some level they are interrelated. Our aim here is to attempt to describe, not define, some of those relationships. We must first accept that there is no such thing as an accident or random event. All things are interrelated and occur coincidentally in life. Pandemics, epidemics and other endemic characteristics are not random events that occur without warning. They are a by-product of societies self inflicted vulnerabilities. It is the structures and systems of our functioning society that gives rise to the very existence of our man made calamities. Think about it; without cars and trucks there would be few traffic accidents and without planes there would be no plane crashes, but without modern transportation the distribution of food, goods and services would suffer. This is why it is important to consider the effect of our advancements on the delicate balance within this shared bubble called the atmosphere. It always comes down to sowing and reaping, also known as cause and effect. We share in the cause of whatever effects us. There is a science to spirituality which integrates all of the individual sciences into a unified system that describes our relationship in the universe. Conventional science falls short of defining paranormal phenomena and inexplicable mysteries. Even scientists are forced to use descriptive labels like "Black Holes" when the evidence only reveals a "blank slate." ![]() There are many common misconceptions regarding spirituality in relation to life. Such as, what spirit is composed of, how it effects us, and who controls it. Ghosts are imaginary and spirits are real. Sometimes it's easier to describe something in terms of what it is not rather then define it as what it is. This is how we will describe spirit in this post. Spirit is composed of spirit substance. We may not be able to describe the substance of spirit in and of itself but we can discern or see the evidence of its substance in other things. We are all spiritual. The nature of our spirit is expressed in our behavior and in the words we speak. Spirit can be described as "will of behavior." Again these are only descriptions of the energy of our motivations and actions. However, spirits are not behaviors! Spirits work through our behaviors to manifest and/or disguise themselves. This is why it is important to evaluate situations from a holistic perspective to properly minister to people. Dealing with any of their issues often entails addressing the physical, psychological and spiritual components of their experience. Spirit like words are invisible intangible forces represented by the actions of their manifestation in the material, physical and tangible world. Spirits manipulate energy. Energy has multiple forms both seen and unseen. Unfortunately all energy has been narrowly defined in one of two ways as kinetic energy or potential energy. kinetic energy is the energy of an object due to its motion. Potential energy is energy stored in an object due to its position or arrangement. Spiritual energy can affect objects but is neither caused by the motion of that object nor is it confined within an object. We can participate in a spirited debate about the etymology of the word spirit. “Spirits” can refer to an eclectic number of terminologies from a human soul or the Holy Trinity, to a distilled alcoholic beverage. There is spirit in every action, activity or attitude we express. A spirit or consciousness exists is in all of creation. The word spirit can be expressed as a noun, a verb or an adjective. Spirit is a force, an attitude, a behavior, and an emotional belief. The belief that there major life differences between animate or inanimate objects obscures our understanding of spirit. All things are a part of creation whether we consider them living or dead. A rock formation or waterfall is as spiritual as a prayer. Spirit has no specific form. Like water, whether solid, liquid or gas, spirit adapts to the consciousness of the culture and environment it expands and spreads into. The "spirit of science" is a factually driven consideration. The "science of spirit" examines the source and exposes the origin behind it. "THE SPIRIT OF ANXIETY" HAS A BROTHER "THE SPIRIT OF ANGER"![]() The spirit world is all about cause and effect. Spirits are behind the causes that affect us all. Has a "spirit of apathetic silence" now gripped the consciousness of America? Apathy allows our mouths to remain silent while our eyes witness the atrocities that others face. The recent executions of Ahmaud Arbery, George Floyd and Breonna Taylor represent the "spirit of this environment." The "spirit of racism" has been given the fuel and the permission to express itself through the acts of savagery shown towards some while tolerating the militant armed protests of others. Such inequalities are the subtle differences indulged by this culture. This home grown spiritual culture has been explicitly exposed in the wake of the "spirit of anxiety and fear" that came along with the covid-19 pandemic. Spirits, like any virus affect, infect and inhabit the vessels they come in contact with. As the spirit of a pandemic spreads world wide so does its unsettling anxious energy. When the whole world experiences the same thing simultaneously or sequentially it makes both commonalities and disparities easier to see. The same spiritual energy shared mutually may be manifested differently. Such uneasiness breeds hostilities among nations, peoples and cultures. These are the conditions that create WARS! For the impoverished, food insecurity is one of their biggest anxieties. For the homeless, housing and property insecurities most likely dominate their consciousness. For the immigrant, alienation and the feeling of not belonging fuels their anxiety, aside from the fear of being deported. For singles, loneliness is perhaps their greatest anxiety for the present and future. The "spirits of anxiety and fear" fuel irrational behavior. It's difficult to anticipate the feelings and reactions people will display as a result of stressful stimulus. People don't protest or riot because they want to be that way. They act out because they are tired of living the way they do. For the black person in the United States institutionalized physical assault has been a perpetual fear and daily anxiety. Besides having to navigate through systemic racism, the minorities of this country often face hunger, inequality, violence, brutality and torture. When a black person's race can be weaponized against him, it should be obvious that such a state of continually heightened stress impacts both mental and physical health. It is difficult to overcome the naivety that many of our white brethren display towards racism. Ideally we would like everyone to be color blind, but until that occurs we would like everyone to at least be color conscious. Like every other spirit, The "spirit of racism" is and works invisibly but is manifested in multiple seemingly unrelated ways. Racism is, what racism does! For poor people there is an even greater lethal combination of anxiety and fear factors exacerbated by race, ethnicity, religion and other factors. Poverty is a disenfranchisement and disadvantage that many people are born into. Our impoverished are composed of a conglomerate of people such as the handicapped, addicts, mentally challenged, medically challenged, occupationally challenged, educationally challenged and just challenged people. These people don't get to make bucket lists, they just hold empty buckets. This is the poor mans coping mechanism. The "spirit of frustration" is a precursor to the "spirit of rage." Rioting is the "spirit of mayhem's" way of expressing suffering and pain. This toxic mix of energy is confounding on all sides and spreads like a virus. The "spirit of outrage" has no rational expression. Rage has a way of blinding us. People do the dumbest, foolish and most stupidest things in a fit of rage. Wrath, one of the seven deadly sins, is always sure to follow. It's like poking a bear; it builds and builds the more we do it. Words are spiritual weapons! When an investigator looks at the same video we all saw of someone being murdered and says, "there is other evidence that does not support a criminal charge." and the President of the United States tweets a racist quote from the late Alabama governor George Wallace "that when the looting starts the shooting starts;" it adds more fuel to the fire and makes it easier to become enraged! Please stop poking the bear! It is exhausting to exist in a constant state of being threatened. Living a life occupied with a frequent rush of adrenaline and staying prepared for a fight or flight scenario will inevitably lead to conflict. When some knelled down in peaceful protest it was considered un-American. When officers chose to put a knee on a neck consider it deadly. In this situation, as with the corona virus, we failed to heed the warnings. We allowed seething racial tensions to be stoked politically. Without a "united" response from "conscientious good people," as we approach the anniversary of the Tulsa Oklahoma massacre, the pressure on us all boils over. Energy is powerful and must be managed. When the inequities, already prevalent in the poorest segments of society are compounded by social distancing, separatist policies, stay at home orders, financial insecurity, food insecurity, job insecurity and minorities being murdered that is a lot of emotional energy bottled up. Energy in its best use is harnessed, converted, stored and released safely through carefully engineered processes. Without properly channeling energy; the forces intended to power our world can explosively destroy it. It is important to know, define and call out these spirits for what they are. Racism is simply the "spirit of terrorism" in disguise. ![]() Now that the "spirit of anarchy" has arrived to compliment the "spirit of outrage," a mob mentality "spirit of indignation" coupled with the "spirit of iGnOrAnCe" has temporarily taken possession of the consciousness of many. People are unaware of how easily rage can give rise to riotous behavior. Regardless of the cause there is no excuse for it! We are examining what it looks like behind the curtain, the place where the spirits play. We are delving into dominions and the spiritual territories released from Pandora's Box. It is naive to believe that rioting is the way people chose to respond with their outrage. There is a lawless element that infiltrates many protests with their own agenda. These agitators promote a "spirit of DiSoRder" and create anarchy to pollute the purpose of these demonstrations. It is important to remember that demonstrations, protests and riots depict three different levels expressing anger. We "demonstrate" the way we want to be respected and treated and we protest against the way we have been treated. Rioting is a violent disturbance against peace that rampages against all order. Remember, the "spirit of anger" is an emotional feeling that calls for an action. How we react or respond to anger determines how the issue is resolved. To re-act is a "tit for tat" mimicking action calling for "an eye for an eye and tooth for tooth" sentence. To res-pond is to have the ability to educate the ignorant and promote healing through the "spirit of reconciliation." Responsible implies that we are able-to-respond properly. When we are under the influence of the "Spirit of anger" we are more susceptible to fall victim to the "spirits of violence and wrath." Whether we acknowledge it or not, these spirits with their attitudes, behaviors, consciousness, feelings, thinking and personalities (not persons) are working behind the scenes keeping a world that is increasingly more and more connected divided. When it comes to our separatist policies it's easy to name the spirits that are working behind the scenes in this devise effort. They are the "spirits of hate separatism and division. Spirits are kept in their place or overcome by speaking against them. When we allow the "spirit of fear" to muzzle any objections from advisers, aids, watchdogs, bystanders or anyone else; we perpetuate an environment that permits a police officer, who surely did not intend to murder someone that morning when he arose, to purposely kill a black person under the influence of a "spirit of ultimate authority and judgement." This is a systemic problem. The evidence of it is not obvious. It is obscure and has been hidden behind low unemployment statistics, minimum wages and politics. It is why health care is a privilege and not a right in this country. WE ARE ALL GUILTY OF REMAINING SILENT OVER THESE PAST FEW YEARS AND NOT EXPRESSING OUR INDIVIDUALLY "CONTROLLED" OUTRAGE COLLECTIVELY. WE WATCHED WHILE THIS DIVISIVE TREND AND THESE SPIRITS APPARENTLY INFLUENCED AND CORRUPTED OUR LEADERS ALONG WITH THE CONSCIOUSNESS OF OUR NATION. This was the license to do what we all have done at one time or another. When we chose consciously or unconsciously, to remain unseeing in situations where “we could know, and should know, but didn't know, because it made us feel better not to know.” Well, now we know and we know what's behind it. What are we prepared to do about it? It's easy to get "caught up" in the spirit of the moment on either side. Whether we choose silence or violence those choices are not acceptable. We can start by picking a cause to support and stop picking sides. We must embrace a "spirit of change," but For change to take place we must articulate the changes we want. WE NEED "THE SPIRIT OF FAITH" TO OVERCOME "THE SPIRIT OF FEAR"
4 Comments
The Protesters poem*CLICK THE > ARROWS TO PLAY MEDIA AND THE DARK GREEN LETTERING FOR LINKS* ![]() Are we under the spell of some evil influence? Are we being manipulated or controlled by some wicked force? Is there an invisible adversary attempting to disrupt our peace? The answer to all of these questions is yes. How else can we explain the division and disrespect we are showing towards one another. Why else would we pick a side and support its deeds and operations regardless of how or who it hurt. Why are we more preoccupied with who said or did something rather then what's being said or done? As long as we focus on people and personalities we will overlook the source and impetus behind these manifestations. We are fighting an invisible enemy that spreads its infection through social exchange and visual and vocal pathogens. We have yet to understand the nature of the beast influencing our lives. As long as we continue to fight among ourselves we will never be able to mount a united front against the true enemy of us all. No, we are not talking about the Covid-19 Coronavirus; we are referring to a pandemic that we've been experiencing for some time and now has overwhelmed us. The enemy we're referring to is Deceptive Ignorant Thinking. D.I.T. is the type of thinking that places "cause, effect and responsibility" out of our control. We hear the language of "D.I.T." when people say "it" and "they." It should be obvious to us all that the laws of nature existed before man and take precedence over the will of man. These natural laws control the seasons of successive changes. Nature gives up it's secrets slowly and grudgingly over time, all the while demanding that as we manipulate its techniques we carefully maintain its discrete delicate balance. We've exploited natures resources and plundered it for the purposes of production, prestige, progress and power. This abuse has upset the balance of our bubble. The instruments of our progress in pursuit of financial gain have proved to be perilous to the planet. We've effectively utilized any and every natural resource at our disposal. By first failing to foresee and then disregarding its effect upon the rest of nature, we have set in motion forces that we are just now beginning to become aware of. Could it be that nature as one large functionally interdependent organism is purging itself of human impurities that are polluting it and threatening its very existence? Have we affected order and nature to the point that our effects infect the very source of our existence? An organisms natural reaction to an infection is to fight and destroy it. As a result of our infectious activity, are we signaling to nature that "we" are a destructive, harmful and invasive germ/virus that needs to be eradicated both naturally and spiritually? ![]() Whether or not anyone subscribes to the spiritual explanations and theories we present in our posts, it is important to understand how nature works. Nature is the collective phenomena of manifestations within the physical world including the landscape, features and products of the earth. All normally occurring substances or creatures including insects, plants and animals with the exception of humans are included in nature. Humans and the by-products of human creations are not regarded as natural. We tend to foist most of our interactions upon nature and nature adapts. Our history suggests that humanity tends to conquer and dominate; and integration becomes an afterthought of conquest. Many of humanities greatest accomplishments have been found in our ability to harness the power and secrets of nature. There is a difference between harnessing nature and controlling nature. Harnessing nature is like flying a kite. Controlling nature is like building a dam. in either case as long as nature cooperates the kite flies and the dam holds. The success of either is dependent on the action and activity of nature. These systems follow the rules of nature's rational and logic. True rational thinking always aligns with true spiritual logic. There is a firm relationship between what happens in nature and the genesis of it. This is the law of cause and effect. This is the science that stands behind all occurrences in the universe. By science we are referring to the intellectually pragmatic and systematic practice of understanding the behavior behind the purpose and structure of phenomena through study. THERE IS A SCIENCE BEHIND EVERYTHING INCLUDING "SPIRITUAL PRINCIPLES." Science is the natural route to spiritual insight, it always points to the source or cause of all things which is spiritual. Science is the systematic and orderly arrangement of knowledge, and it is not confined to the material world alone. It applies to an even larger invisible spiritual world as well. Yes, there is a science to spirit. Nature is the manifestation of our systems of science in action. "THERE SHOULD not BE only ONE VOICE IN A HEALTHY SOCIETY" Dr. li wenliang. CHINAWhat we are currently experiencing is a paradigm shift. These shifts, may seem subtle at the time but become more obvious over time. The last notable shift was the World Trade Center attack on 9/11. A paradigm shift is not only what we see and experience but also the way we see and experience it. Many of us will fail to perceive or embrace this new "paradigm shift!" By now, there are some truths that should be quite evident to us all. Reality and truth walk hand in hand and when they are separated confusion ensues. Reality and truth are the source of our sense of logic. Reality is impartial. What we are experiencing is an effect. Therefore it stands to reason that there is a cause. This sense of logic, a fundamental part of our being, comes from the reality we experience and observe through cause and effect. In our realm of existence we compare physical forms, verbal inferences and real life experiences. When the evidence of a process contradicts the conclusions we reach, it is "denial" that allows us to circumvent the natural process of order through the "spirit of a lie." The energy (Chi) required to tell and maintain a lie produces stress upon the rest of any organism supporting that lie. The stress is distributed among all of our faculties including our muscles, our immune system and our organs. Many heart attacks, strokes and other sickness are stress related. All emotional, mental or psychological stress has its origin in one source. All stress is a form of frustration expressed through a multitude of emotions characterized by feelings generally accompanied with anger or sadness. This mix produces the feelings of emotional or physical tension. Such feelings arise as our bodies react to any frustrating event. The "hardening process" then works to convince us that feelings produced by stress are as valid as the natural feelings that align with truth and reality. Denial is one of our stress survival responses that comes through the "spirit of fear." Whether we want to believe it or not many of the changes we are now going through will have lasting long term effects. Don't buy into the ideas of either getting back to normal or a new normal! Some of today's changes will become permanent. ![]() What "signal" or visual cue emboldened the brandishing of weapons and swastikas at protests across America? Why are symbols of death and hate paraded on any side of an issue? Before covid-19 ever afflicted us, we were engaged in self destructive practices that we fully intend to go back to. This is factual, logical, non-political, practical information everyone should know and fully apply. Misinformation and viruses share at least one trait, they both need hosts to spread. Common courtesy and civility have given way to indecisive mixed messages. One thing we can certainly predict is that the divisive "spirit of contention" will continue to manipulate human consciousness through conflicting visual and spoken ques. Every divisive issue that arises will be exploited by a "spirit" which will resist providing a unified strategy. This "spirit" will practice deception through exploiting the "divide of the sides." This challenges the principle of "modeling behavior" as an example or a learning tool through finger pointing at the present rather then facing the future. Those who fail to see obvious truth are in denial of truth. Too much attention is being given to "appealing to optics" as opposed to presenting or telling "plain" truth. We are all worrying about the economy opening again but we also must consider and prepare for the effects of this crisis on our educational systems, general health, medical systems, transportation systems, social activities, entertainment industry, sporting arenas and the like of. If no one has been honest up to now let's make it plain here. There will be no going back to the way things used to be. There is no such thing as a "new normal." That expression is an oxymoron. For something to be new it must be a unique never done before experience. For something to be normal it must be a usual almost redundant experience. Therefore new cannot be called normal until it is no longer new. Without a unified national strategy to best mitigate the covid-19 virus as a whole, we will be playing "Whack-a-mole" for some time to come. The truth can be stressful and simultaneously relieving in the sense that we have some idea of what to expect. It is easier to address "certainty" then it is to dodge "uncertainty." A unified national plan with common directives could have allowed us all to pursue the same national strategy. The divisive "spirit" that has permeated our society pitting us against one another won't allow us to come together for our own good. Democrats versus republicans, reopening strategies versus health and wealth concerns, even wearing a mask in public versus not wearing a mask has given "this spirit" a lot more to work with. We believe that wearing a mask is a social statement that serves as a sign of courtesy and respect towards all of society. One thing everyone of us as individuals can do collectively is to be kind and tolerant. There will be a great deal of psychic energy released as we emerge from one level of separation and isolation to another. This is a part of the new "paradigm shift" that must be viewed from a new perspective. These post represent the best impartial and unbiased truth we can offer, none of it is written in stone. Today's perspective are open to be reshaped and sharpened by tomorrow's evolution. We take no credit for the source only the thesis and synthesis. TEXT IN GREEN ARE LINKS - CLICK ON THEMTHE FOCUS OF THIS POST IS VITAL INFORMATION. PLEASE CRITIQUE IT, QUALIFY IT & PASS IT ON. ![]() When we worry about how we look, the image our mind produces projects our fears. The way we think we look or come across is a matter of perspective. Every frog likes to praise their own pond and can easily find fault with the waterholes of others. Criticism is not our enemy. To minimize criticism, all we have to do is to see nothing, say nothing and do nothing. Even then some form of criticism will find us. Ralph Waldo Emerson described the trappings of defensiveness and insecurity in his journal with these words. "Let me never fall into the vulgar mistake of dreaming that I am persecuted whenever I am contradicted.” It should be fair to say that most of us do not appreciate criticism, because we generally see it being used more like a weapon than a tool. Although criticism is part of our molding process, proper perspectives have to be developed, adjusted and shaped gradually over time. This is a life long endeavor and requires working through difficulties. When we weaponize criticism it implies that perspectives and point of views are valid facts and truths. This gives us license to do what we all have done at one time or another. When we choose consciously or unconsciously, to remain unseeing in situations where “we could know, and should know, but don’t know, because it makes us feel better not to know.” We reject criticism to boost our biased beliefs. What is it that encourages or motivates us to exhibit this type of behavior? If we pull back the curtain, and look into the "spiritual" scene, there we will find some answers. Once again, when we use terminology that includes words such as "spirit, spiritual, spiritually and spirituality" we are referencing the following B-R-O-A-D and simplified definition. We expect to lose some readers at this point but here goes. In the realm of existence, there is the seen and unseen also known as the visible and invisible that relate directly to the natural and the spiritual. We believe that behind every natural manifestation there is an INVISIBLE spiritual force and source. The key word here is INVISIBLE please keep that in mind. The spirit of the moment speaks to the attitude, behavior, flow, pace and pattern of any manifestation we experience. The terms also include the feel, method and ways spirits bond, combine, integrate and operate through us. The manifestation of spirit exists in many forms. Just as "H2O," better known as water, is commonly manipulated from solid to liquid to gas, yet remains water; so is the manifestation of spirit regardless of the form it takes. INFORMATION IS SPIRITUAL. This may appear to be a bit outlandish, so let's do some comparisons. Information is "thought" related in a physical, verbal or written form. Our entire lives revolve around how we deal with and process information. To "inform" is to give and pass on advice, knowledge or instructions in a "form" that can be internalized and understood. The spirit of information lives with and is contained and portrayed in the content, context and tone of the communication. There are many other factors that play a role, this is just an overview. Understanding the true nature and application of Spirit may be challenging due to the wide range of its administrative usage. "Spirit" is often used interchangeably as a noun, a verb or an adjective. As a noun the spirit of the information functions through the incorporeal aspect of human existence. As a verb, "spirit" animates information with a fresh ardor of enthusiasm and passion. As an adjective "Spirit" relates directly to the activity that it manifests. A drunken spirit is quite different from a sober one. Yelling, shouting or calling people names can subdue or overwhelm their spirit. Cheering, rooting on or just pulling for a team or teammate energizes their spirit through their interconnection with our spirit. Establishments that sold alcohol previously marketed them under the title of "wine and Spirits." Information has the power to bind, educate or liberate depending upon the spirit in which it is used. Information is a funny thing. Although everyone knows about the PANDEMIC we are now facing, Few know of the EPIDEMIC we were already in. Here's some relevant information about Covid-19 and vitamin D. For decades this country has had an epidemic of vitamin D deficiency. It seems as if no one sounded the alarm to loudly. The industries that profit from our ignorance and our failure to apply information always fill that gap. Remember that "the love of money is the root of all evil." More money was made off of selling death through cigarettes then all of the drug abuse deaths combined. We knew decades before they ever began printing (HWL) health warning labels on cigarette packs that they were destructive. The tobacco industry worldwide systematically hid or suppressed the dangers, and as long as the governments made money they allowed it. This is why the first few generations of warning labels we're carefully placed on the side of the packages. Today we are reaping the effects of sowing arrogance, disobedience and ignorance. Many of us have no knowledge of or have forgotten to remember what our predecessors went through to get us here. We were people of the sun and must not act like children of darkness. We are thankful for the daily YouTube videos by Dr. John Campbell. DOES VITAMIN D PROTECT AGAINST COVID-19?The evidence is becoming quite compelling. The information isn't widespread but it is available. We can be advocates for our own health. Our vitamin D status has a significant effect upon most aspects of our health. Our vitamin D status is more important now then it has ever been. Vitamin D affects our bone health and our cardiometabolic health; it even fights against colon cancer and multiple sclerosis. There may be a link to the risk of developing Covid-19 infections and the severity of the disease. Remember we are neither doctors nor scientist and take no credit for the sources only the synthesis. Here is more information and links to check out personally. Vitamin D is important for innate immunity and boosts our immune function against viral disease. Innate immunity provides protection against a wide variety of potential infections. Covid-19 is a viral disease. This is not a license to take large doses of vitamin D. This is science not sorcery. There is a common misconception that more is better, but too much of an immune response can be deadly. Consult a physician before taking any DRASTIC measures. We are simply trying to eliminate a sub-optimal immune system. Our immune systems modulate their response according to what is needed to get the job done. There are cells that boost up and dampen down our immune system response. When the job is completed we want these cells to level off, regulate down and/or stop. Dr Joanne Manson a professor in the school of preventative medicine at Harvard business school has an article anyone can review if they go to the link we've listed here and join for free. It may be necessary to copy and paste this link but logging in is required to read the article and view her video. https://www.medscape.com/viewarticle/930152?src=soc%20tw%20share This is an edited transcript of the video if anyone has difficulty finding it. Hello. This is Dr JoAnn Manson, professor of medicine at Harvard Medical School and Brigham and Women's Hospital. I'd like to talk with you about vitamin D and COVID-19. Is there potentially a protective role? We've known for a long time that it's important to avoid vitamin D deficiency for bone health, cardiometabolic health, and other purposes. But it may be even more important now than ever. There's emerging and growing evidence that vitamin D status may be relevant to the risk of developing COVID-19 infection and to the severity of the disease. Vitamin D is important to innate immunity and boosts immune function against viral diseases. We also know that vitamin D has an immune-modulating effect and can lower inflammation, and this may be relevant to the respiratory response during COVID-19 and the cytokine storm that's been demonstrated. There are laboratory (cell-culture) studies of respiratory cells that document some of these effects of vitamin D. There's also evidence that patients with respiratory infections tend to have lower blood levels of 25-hydroxy-vitamin D. There's now some evidence from COVID-19 patients as well. In an observational study from three South Asian hospitals, the prevalence of vitamin D deficiency was much higher among those with severe COVID illness compared with those with mild illness. In fact, there was about an eightfold higher risk of having severe illness among those who entered with vitamin D deficiency compared with those who had sufficient vitamin D levels. There's also evidence from a meta-analysis of randomized clinical trials of vitamin D supplementation looking at acute respiratory tract infections (upper and lower). This was published in the British Medical Journal 2 years ago, showing that vitamin D supplementation was associated with a significant reduction in these respiratory tract infections. Overall, it was only a 12% reduction, but among the participants who had profound vitamin D deficiency at baseline (such as a blood level of 25-hydroxy-vitamin D of less than 10 ng/mL), there was a 70% lower risk of respiratory infection with vitamin D supplementation. So the evidence is becoming quite compelling. It's important that we encourage our patients to be outdoors and physically active, while maintaining social distancing. This will lead to increased synthesis of vitamin D in the skin, just from the incidental sun exposure. Diet is also important. Everyone should be reading food labels which list the vitamin D content. Food sources that are higher in vitamin D include fortified dairy products, fortified cereals, fatty fish, and sun-dried mushrooms. For patients who are unable to be outdoors and also have low dietary intake of vitamin D, it's quite reasonable to consider a vitamin D supplement. The recommended dietary allowance of vitamin D is 600-800 IU/daily, but during this period, a multivitamin or supplement containing 1000-2000 IU/daily of vitamin D would be reasonable. We are in the process of planning a randomized clinical trial of vitamin D supplementation in moderate to high doses to see whether it has a role in the risk of developing COVID-19 infections and also in reducing the severity of disease and improving clinical outcomes. In the meantime, it's important to encourage measures that will, on a population-wide basis, reduce the risk for vitamin D deficiency. Thank you so much for your attention. This is JoAnn Manson. Stay safe. ![]() We do not have victory over this virus, we are still meeting the challenge. We cannot "control" a virus we can only hope to "contain" its spread. In the end we will not have prevailed against this virus, we will have just survived it. We may or may not be able to test our way out of containing this virus. However we are in favor of implementing testing and tracking strategies. Uncovering various chains of transmission through contact tracing may be our best alternative. Investing in testing can be cost effective. Five million tests per day will cost us approximately 74 Billion over 12 months, while the cost of collective "Stay-At-Home-Orders" cost approximately 350 Billion for just one month. There may never be a vaccine for this virus and it may resurface seasonally like our common cold viruses. Saving lives and saving livelihoods can be done simultaneously. If Our President took the risk of recommending a "potentially" effective drug like hydroxychloroquine, that did not prove to be effective; surely we can suggest bringing our vitamin D levels to their recommended strength. These posts are not about taking sides. They are about opening minds. Those of us that may not have voted for the president or don't like him should hope and pray that his approach and policies turn out to be right! TEXT IN GREEN ARE LINKS - CLICK ON THEMWarning: This post is not for partisans or unbelievers. by unbelievers we refer to THOSE WHO do not embrace the "CHRISTIAN concept" of accountability to COMMUNITY AND THE CONSCIOUSNESS OF A UNIVERSAL OR higher power CALLED GOD. IT IS OUR POSITION THAT "principle" caNnOT be confined to any "ONE" belief or religion. what we write here is BELIEVED TO BE both compelling and obvious. Rather than envision ourselves as givers of truth we prefer to see ourselves as pointers towards truth. We take no credit for the source only the synthesis. PLEASE STUDY THIS.![]() Are we all in this together? If so who does "we" include or exclude? "It's" easy to be charitable when there is abundance, but in scarcity sharing and caring require sacrifice. Over the past few years, we have catered to a "spirit of hostility" that has been allowed to emerge, strengthen and divide us. Anyone familiar with the myth or story of "Pandora's box" understands how the contagions of curiosity can cause crisis. Metaphorically speaking, today's "Pandora's box" contains all of the atrocities, inequities and injustices we've corrected throughout history. Why would anyone cause everyone to suffer by re-opening that box? We knew that the box was filled with the history of apathy, divisiveness, homophobia, murder, prejudice, racism, separatism, sexism, slavery and tribal traditions meant to keep us apart. So how did "it" get "spiritually" re-released into today's society. The answer to this question is no mystery. We all allowed "it" to be propagated through the controversial rhetoric we failed to speak against. We all saw "it," witnessed "it," failed to correct "it," ignored "it" and now must reap "it." As childish as name calling is, we accepted "it" from the "White House" to the "farm house." This is the climate that resulted. We are divided and we're making America racist again! When a young black man cannot jog through his neighborhood step into an open house under construction without being hunted down and shot to death by white vigilantes in broad daylight; is "it" called "racism" or is "it' that black lives don't matter? Our recent history has normalized the shooting of any black man considered to be in the wrong place at he wrong time. We lead by example which means everyone experiences the climate of that leadership. We as people create the climate of our natural existence. When we promote peace we minimize tension. When we focus on differences we magnify what separates us. Our spiritual climate works in much the same way as our environmental climate. Climate is what WE produce but weather is what WE get. If we create a climate of distrust we will have an environment of suspicion. "Pandora's box" was not only filled with the remnants of many heinous actions but also with the despicable feelings and emotions that prompted those acts. The acts themselves and the thoughts accompanying them are reprehensible and contagious. Believing and embracing such feelings creates paradigm shifts that change the character of our consciousness. Once multiple minds are corrupted "it" can take many generations to mend. Look how racism still effects us today; and we know from Shakespeare that "It" is hard to minister to a mind diseased. ![]() The cat is out of the bag, the bull has wrecked the china shop, the chickens have come home to roost and the handwriting is on the wall. There is no denying that we are experiencing a paradigm shift. Still as Christians, although we may be fearful, we must also remain faithful to our calling. Who is our neighbor? Anyone familiar with the parable of the "Good Samaritan" knows that as Christians we are obligated to be our brothers keeper. We should also know that when we fail to fulfill our duty to our calling, all of creation suffers. We are the salt of the earth! The true character of our consciousness as a Christian nation is in jeopardy. We are commissioned to lead by example! Is "it" right to suggest that others do as we say but not as we do? Who is exempt from following the "law of love? The U.S. Army Rangers have a slogan ("nemo resideo") which means leave no one behind. As we respond to our own needs, we cannot abandon the needs of others in favor of selfish or self-first policies. Who will decide which people, which religions, which races, which cultures and which countries to include with us (U.S.)? As the richest country on the planet don't we have a duty and responsibility to others? How do we decide what's fair? Who's watching out for us (U.S.)? Can we do better by ourselves? Should we go our own separate way? Although separatist policies seem self centered, sometimes putting self first is not necessarily selfish. Remember we cannot effectively care for others without being united among ourselves. Today-we-have-reached-a-point-where-the-world-is-inextricably-joined-together-through-climate-commerce-communication-energy and transportation. Globalization has now morphed into a complex matrix of interrelated, interdependent goods and services with shared liabilities. Today the stability of our supply chains are intertwined with those of our neighbors. This combines our individual needs with everyone's else's collective needs. Now that we've learned how interconnected the world is, shouldn't a global problem demand a global response? The world is like a tenement. Since we all share one roof underneath one bubble our mutual tenancy is at jeopardy even if just one unit catches on fire. In world affairs there is a saying, that "when America sneezes the world catches a cold." Among minorities it's said that "when America catches a cold the black community catches a fever." We now know that when China burps the world has indigestion. What should we expect when other countries trip or stub a toe? How we work together to promote and support a fair and equitable future will be paramount to the way our "new world" will look and function. Our main liability is our inability to define and recognize our common enemy. Reopening the economy and getting back to work is a mutual goal. How we go about doing "it" is where the "spirit of divisiveness" works against us. We now have an opportunity to restructure a foundation that can better support this world. This is the paradigm shift. IF THE ONLY TOOL WE HAVE IS A HAMMER EVERYTHING ELSE TENDS TO LOOK LIKE A NAIL!In that we've reached a point where we now must reap what's already been sown, further agriculture must be carefully considered. we have to be meticulous in the placement of every new seed we plant. Our current world system came together in an ad-hoc manner over time and though history. Up till now, although we never managed to work the system perfectly, we have used "its" principles to our advantage and greed. Today we can see how intimately interconnected and interdependent the world has become while getting a peek at the strength of "its" foundation. Rarely do we get an opportunity to make adjustments to a foundation. A world founded upon greed will not be able to sustain a society designed to exist upon sharing. Our position and beliefs underwrite the lifestyles we believe in, share and support. All beliefs are valid to the believer whether they are true or not. Until the earth was accepted as round it was always believed to be flat. In reality what we believe is not as important as what actually is. Unfortunately many people believe that life will soon go back to normal. Anyone who has followed these posts for any time should know that as of now life will never be the same. The problem has never been with the foundation of the world; the issues have always arisen from how we've exploited and built upon that foundation. We are not going back to what was once considered normal. This is it. What we do from here on will define the new normal and will have ramifications worldwide. This is the paradigm shift get ready to adjust. "See that none render evil to evil unto any man;" this is a part of the foundation of the Christian believer according to 1 Thessalonians 5:15. Even JESUS kept Judas knowing well in advance that he would betray him. The character of Christianity is not defined by any culture, religion or nation. We must do a better job representing the "spirit of Christ" both individually and collectively. Although none of us are "perfect" and are incapable of doing anything "perfectly" we realize that through works our "faith" is made "perfect." It is important that we protect the reputation of Christian charity by holding those who represents us to the highest standard. Calling governors snakes, and branding people with derogatory names further exacerbates our problems. Prejudice works through dehumanizing the worth or IQ's of others. We lead by example. We are not demanding that our leaders change their opinions, just change their approach to expressing it. Remarks like the "Chinese Virus" can easily make blame language seem like racist language. Our outcry along with polls and public pressure actually did make a difference. We must be sensitive to the fact that people model the language and behavior of their leaders. We do not need guns and confederate flags to protest closing and stay at home orders. We don't need intimidation to uphold our right of demonstration. We all seemingly desire the same things. At this point all of us should know that every statement and action will be closely scrutinized as this crisis evolves. Expect to see more blame shifting and overall criticism as we morph from crisis to crisis. THIS VIRUS SEEMS TO HAVE THE ENTIRE COUNTRY IN AN E.R. ON LIFE SUPPORT. IN THIS CASE "E.R." STANDS FOR EMOTIONAL ROLLER-COASTER NOT EMERGENCY ROOM.![]() The timeliness of our government's initial response and the logistical issues with ventilators and personal protection equipment set the stage. Disagreements then ensued over the use of various drugs, treatments and the length of time to develop a vaccine. The shared response and responsibilities of our federal and local governments for guidance is still an issue. Now we're fighting over how to assist various states with funding to avoid bankruptcy. The strategy behind safely reopening, stimulus money, testing and dealing with various long term effects and subsequent waves must be addressed. We can demonstrate where and who our neighbors are to the rest of the world by our example. Although these moral, ethical or logical perspectives appear to be in contrast to economic and political considerations they are tied together. We should not fail to recognize that this crisis is influencing the balance of power at a world-wide level. Our position and prestige are at stake. The United States historically has been a world leader in aiding and assisting others globally. We are steadily losing ground through the "spirit of separatism;" and geographically isolating our country in the same way we are socially isolating ourselves. "Us" (U.S.) first doesn't mean "us" (U.S.) only. However, we cannot take care of others without first taking care of ourselves. This struggle against the corona virus has been called a war. In a war we mount our best defense by a united strategy of coming together and we mount our best offense through picking the enemy apart. This is not "The Hunger Games." Being divided diminishes our reach and our effectiveness. What is our calling, our duty and our obligation to others? How does the parable of the "good Samaritan" apply to our nation? Why is it that the poorest nations, cultures and people pay the highest price in morbidity? Shouldn't we have listed the Black, Latino and poorest people in our society among the most vulnerable people to this virus? With Covid-19, "being seventy" carries the same risk as "being a minority." Why are ethnic and racial disparities such a factor in both the viruses effect and our governments response? This paradigm never seems to shift. "IT" IS NO LONGER A QUESTION OF WHAT "THEY" DO. "WE" ARE THE NEW "THEY."![]() FEEDING JESUS: "Inasmuch as ye have done it unto one of the least of these my brethren ye have done it unto me." (Matthew 25:40) What is "it?" "It" represents at least three areas that all of society must share in their obligations for one another. "It" is what is mutually beneficial for each of us, while "it" also guarantee all of us the same protections. "It" is the standards we as a people choose and accept. "It" is the minimal qualities that address healthcare, housing and hunger worldwide. Our ethical, legal, moral and spiritual approach to "need" is easily defined and measured in terms of our obligation and response to "it," our neighbors lack. An obligation is an act or course of duty binding a person or organizations response to an occurrence. Parents are obligated to raise their children, citizens are obligated to obey laws and pay taxes, and Christians are obligated to a spiritual creed. One way or another we are all obligated to some aspect of whatever "It" is. Whether we lend a helping hand or give a hand out, the obligation to answer the call is obvious. "It" is the duty of every believer to share in this christian commission. We are all placed here to help solve problems. We all rise collectively when we lift one another individually. We compromise Christianity's character when we intertwine "it" with our petty politics. Our current circumstances can be used to create a fiercely competitive or mutually constructive recovery scenario. "It" is a global problem. We must all face together. No one should face "it" alone. The solutions must be equitable and equally effective as they are applied across multiple areas. The race for a vaccine has begun. The pressure to reap the prize of a profit will be enormous. The potential and the perils sit side by side. Remember "the love of money is the root of all evil." "It" will be the telltale motivating factor behind these actions. The saddest deaths are always the ones we could have prevented. Think about how things would have been if the world had taken a united response, and everybody everywhere stopped uniformly to isolate and eradicate the spread of this virus. "It" would have been over by now. Collectively we all would have lost a few weeks rather then individually losing many months. Wall street is showing how "it" has been insulated from Main street. How the stock market can rise 400 points on the same day that we lose thousands of people and record the highest unemployment number of this century is amazing. Only monetary policies can cause such disparities. As the character of this crisis evolves our feeling will gradually change. The barriers we've erected between one another will become obvious. Fear-mongering and protectionist policies will emerge. We must guard against an "every man for himself" mentality. This is not the time for despair. This is a time for action. This pandemic has exposed the health, housing and hunger epidemics we were already facing. Our greatest support should be directed in favor the most needy not the corporate greedy. By watching who, when, where and how our relief efforts are distributed will reveal the true character of our Christian commitment. |
AuthorJoseph W. Brown has been a small business owner, in the technology industry, for over 35 years. Joseph works as a mentor, tutor, lecturer, researcher, instructor, and unconventional speaker & writer. He can be described today as a spiritual and technical aggregator, maven, journalist, apologist and spiritual scientist. Joseph insists that we "find" motivation from within by getting inspiration from without. He endeavors to provide that inspiration through applying various Bible based principles. As the author & founder of The Magnetic Model, Rapid Retail Systems & NitchTechnologies.com. Mr. Brown is available to speak to groups of all sizes. (small & large) He will only speak on a "Subject." He relies on the principle of "shedding light" to empower individuals to address their own particular "Situations." These are the tools to create "Solutions." To schedule a session contact him by comments, [email protected] or call/text 617-764-2193. Archives
April 2024
Categories
All
|