Spiral Scouts

Founded in 1999 in Index, Wash., the Spiral Scouts was initially conceived as the youth group for the Aquarian Tabernacle Church (ATC). The ATC is the first Wiccan church to receive full legal status.

But when the Spiral Scouts began a national expansion in 2001, the organization avoided rigid identification with any one particular faith. Though open about its basis in pagan beliefs and practices, Spiral Scouts is described more as a program for girls and boys of minority faiths working, growing and learning together. They are a variety of spiritual people who don’t necessarily identify themselves with a certain group.

The Spiral Scouts organization has now spread to 20 states, Canada and Europe. Currently, 127 different groups have been chartered, ranging in age from preschoolers to teenagers to parents. Groups can be structured in two ways: as a “hearth,” which is composed of a single family, or as a “circle,” which has a wider membership.

Spiral Scouts is very similar to mainstream scouting organizations. Members wear uniforms, attend monthly meetings, camp and learn wilderness skills. They perform community service and earn merit badges in subjects ranging from sculpture to ecology and nutrition. The organizational structure of the group is also comparable to its better-known counterparts, with different levels of membership corresponding to a child’s age. Youngsters aged 3 to 6 are known as Fireflies and those aged 9 to 13 are termed Spiral Scouts. Pathfinders, the highest level of membership, denotes teenagers aged 14 to 18. But where the Boy and Girl Scouts recite a pledge to “do my duty to God and my country,” a Spiral Scout promises, among other things, to “respect living things” and “respect the beauty in all creations.” Also, Spiral Scout merit badges are set up in five categories--earth, air, fire, water and spirit--that correspond to the five points of the Wiccan pentacle. One major difference between the Spiral Scouts and the mainstream scouts is that membership is not gender-specific. Each circle is required to have both a male and female leader, who must first undergo extensive background checks.

The Spiral Scouts is not about not being some other group. They are their own holistic group that exists for the kids and the families.

Vegan Bloggers

I'm not only a blogger but I often comment on other blogs. When I do, my comments are always constructive and honest. Also, as many people do, when you click on to my photo, you arrive at my own blog which lets you know I am indeed not a troll.

I do not post hateful or insulting comments.

Below are the last two blogs where I posted comments but were censored so not shown on their blog:

compassionatecook.com

ieatgrass.com

Both are vegan blogs, which really doesn't surprise me as I have found in my 30+ years in the animal rights movement that most (please note: not all) vegans tend to be pompous egomaniacs which may be the reason why unless you post comments that agrees with those blog sites above, your comments won't be posted--at least mine weren't.

The first one I posted to, at Compassionate Cook, was in response to the blogger saying in her podcast she doesn't allow people to bring any animal food into her home. She went on and on about it....So she said she received an email from a person asking her if she allows people to bring their leather clothing, shoes or wallets into her home also. Interestingly, she did not answer it although she brought it up. She seemed to have felt the need not to answer the person but I thought it was a very legitimate statement.

If you are going to be a vegan, you should address the clothing issue as well--not just what people put in their mouths.

So I replied to her after listening to that podcast with the comment:

"You said you do not allow people to bring in animal food in your home. Do you also not allow people to bring in your home clothing made from animals too?"

Blogger Colleen Patrick Goudreau did not post it as I noticed other comments were posted well after I had posted mine.

Note to blogger Colleen of Compassionate Cook. Instead of refusing to reply to me, you could have responded to me (and to that letter someone sent you) either of these ways:

1. I let people in my home who wear animals because ____________________.
2. You're making me think about this. I should also not allow people to bring animal clothing in my home also, telling them in a nice way, or at least I should have a coat rack by my door and have them leave leather coat, shoes, etc. by door.

In certain places, it is customary to leave coats and shoes by the door--vegan or not.

Colleen is well known in the vegan community as a spokesperson in different ways, have written books, etc. so it's sad that she doesn't know how to reply in a mature, intelligent way to people who, in this case, simply wants clarification in her statement.

The second one I posted to, I Eat Grass, was in response to the blogger who said as his first words, "I love kale." Then he stated a lie saying, "I know every vegan says that!" I replied in a comment saying:

"I don't really like Kale. I think it's overrated and unsatisfying. Kale in chips form or potato chips, I'd rather have the potato chips."

Blogger, Morgan Dudkewitz did not post it as I noticed another comment was posted well after I had posted mine.

Note to Morgan of I Eat Grass. Instead of ignoring my comment, you could have responded to me like this, especially if you are a raw vegan food blog:

Wow, it's too bad you prefer processed, unhealthy potato chips over delicious, wholesome kale. Potato chips may taste good to you but it's definitely not nutritious. Did you know this about potato chips? (His reasons why potato chips are unhealthy).....Maybe by trying some good recipes with kale in it may turn you on to kale, as you're really missing out on something very good for you. (He could post more of his favorite kale recipes too.)

It's too bad that he decided to pooh-pooh my comment. This would have been a great opportunity to discuss healthier eating to me, a vegan who is hooked on processed vegan food. I would have listened and took his words to heart. But instead, I am not interested in going to his blog anymore because of his immature attitude.

Both blogs have lost me due to their blog unprofessionalism.

Interesting, regarding Alex Jamieson's blogpost that I replied to and made a blogpost about here: Reply to Alex Jamieson's "I’m not vegan anymore", Alex has allowed the most vicious comments to her, in reply to what she said, to her blog. I've even heard she allowed a comment where someone called her the "C" word (rhymes with runt). Mind you, her comments are moderated; I know this because that's what a sign came up when I commented on her blog, then a little later, my comment was posted (Thanks Alex).

Whatever needs to be said about Ms. Jamieson, at least she's mature and professional enough to allow comments on her blog from people who disagree with her--and there are many!

All bloggers: I know, it's your blog to do whatever you want with it and moderate as you want. I can see not posting comments made by trolls, but if you do not post comments just because someone doesn't agree with you, or post only comments that praise you means you must be an extremely pompous, arrogant and haughty person. You have self-esteem issues.... Being open to others' opinion is a wise, humble approach. And remember, just because you post it doesn't mean you have to agree with it, and by posting other views/opinions does show that you're an intelligent, mature adult.

China Study Cookbook Coming Soon!

I am looking to lose 30 pounds (or at least 20) to have the perfect weight for my height and frame (oh sweet memories!). Right now, I'm going by a Vegan Food Pyramid to help me to lose weight but I would like to have a guide where the process is discussed more--like preferably in book form.

So after searching online for a couple hours, I found out in May of this year, there will be a cookbook version of the best-selling vegan book, The China Study. I haven't read The China Study, but will take a brief look at it (surprisingly, my partner Jeffrey owns the book and he's far from being vegan). I say, I'll take a brief look at it, because it would be like "preaching to the converted" but I'm sure to find nutritional information I didn't realize. But the book, The China Study Cookbook, is what I really want! I've pre-ordered it now.

The Mindfulness Movie

Mindfulness has evolved within America and is becoming more and more mainstream. Leaders around the country are implementing it in early child development, the military, education, politics, neuroscience, medicine, healthcare, business, prisons, at-risk youth, and psychotherapy. There’s even a new magazine that just launched called Mindful that highlights all the latest people and developments around how this is changing our nation and the world as we know it.

Now a movie is coming out this summer called The Mindfulness Movie, by Paul Harrison, that puts together 35 of the world’s mindfulness leaders into one film looking at its effects in neuroscience, psychiatry, relationships, sports, psychology, and quantum physics. Interest in mindfulness has also fueled scientific interest in compassion and self-compassion.

Here is The Mindfulness Movie trailer:

Oh Please! ENOUGH Complaining about PETA!

I'd like to discuss one of my pet peeves within the vegan/animal rights community.

I have been a vegetarian-then-turned-vegan since 1982. At that time, People for the Ethical Treatment of Animals--aka PETA--was about 2 years old. I can't remember when they started to add sex to their animal rights advertising or other controversial methods as their way of getting the message out about animal cruelty but for as long as I can remember, the animal rights community has always been complaining about them.

Of course we all know that any group, business, person, etc. that is number one in popularity in any field tends to get sticks and stones thrown at them most, just by being placed at the #1 spot because of jealousy, but more than that, the animals rights community has been bitching and moaning about PETA for decades as PETA has pretty much ignored them all and still do what PETA has always done.

Other animal rights groups

If you can't stand PETA's actions, wish they would change or wish they weren't so well-known or frankly would just wither away completely, pissing and moaning about them, insulting them, sticking pins in PETA voodoo dolls won't make them stop their actions or make them go away (well, OK maybe using the voodoo dolls will work, but you have to be very, very careful when using poppets--what the dolls are really originally called--as it is a very serious thing..but I digress). PETA will continue to go on being PETA with their ways so get used to it and live with it!

I find it interesting that some of these people who put down PETA that are "leaders" in the animal rights movement (you know who you are, and animal rights people know who they are) are virtually unknown in mainstream society. I know because I have asked people--even animal rights people of many years--if they have heard of these animal rights leaders--NOPE. The ONLY animal rights movement that is a well known name in mainstream society is PETA (I don't think the Humane Society and ASPCA consider themselves an "animal rights" group). And I would say probably almost every animal rights person knows something about PETA.

Instead of using so much time and energy bad-mouthing PETA (as if suffering animals in the world have time for the bickering!), these vegans/animal rights people who write articles, blog, do podcasts and other things should concentrate on becoming more vocal and present in the mainstream world by doing animal rights work in the way they feel is right, thereby educating more people about animal cruelty.

There's a saying in the psychology field that goes:

You can't change another person but you can change yourself.

In this case, you can't change PETA or make them do--or don't do--anything, but you can change your behavior and be more mature about this by being aggressively pro-active and doing high profile things, similar to what PETA does but without the sexual provocativeness. PETA doesn't have to be the only large, well known animal rights group in the world. There are other animal rights activists who are affluent that have the means to get another large, ethical vegan group going.

Don't sit around insulting PETA, pleading them to stop their tactics. Concentrate on your own group and be the best you can be. Form an absolutely phenomenal ethical, animal rights vegan group that will rival PETA because it's done in a way that doesn't offend any sex, and that's done in a serious, mature way if you feel PETA isn't doing this. It's not like PETA can stop people from being as good--or better--in public than they are. Find ways of charming people in an honest way, getting people to see how great your animal rights organization is and the rest will follow.

As Gandhi said:

"Be the change you want to see in the world."

Instead of wanting PETA to change, be that change.

Spiritual Signs

My favorite spiritual podcast on iTunes, Psychic Teachers, had a topic on really paying attention to signs in your life as that's one of the many ways the spirit world sends us messages. And to especially notice signs from your hobbies or interests.

While listening to that, I suddenly had an "ah-ha!" moment, regarding how I became vegan.

I can remember it vividly. One weekend morning in 1982, I was watching a TV "movie of the week" called Tell Me My Name. It was a familiar storyline about an adopted teenage girl who went looking for her real mother. She found her mom, and while spending Thanksgiving Day with her mother, her step brothers and her mom's husband, she started acting out in a rebellious way. The teen said, while looking at the dead turkey, how the turkey was slaughtered...giving explicit details. The two brothers were so sickened by it they left the table, "ruining" their Thanksgiving Day. This scene lasted about no longer than a minute, but it really effected me so much that I literally became a vegetarian right then and there, then became vegan in a year. Funny thing was, the teen wasn't even a veg; she just said that (which is the truth about how turkeys are treated) to upset the family.

I often thought that was a pretty weird way of seriously becoming veg for life as most become veg by way of reading animal rights/veg books, or by people telling them about animal cruelty/veganism.

But after listening to Psychic Teachers, it made me realize since the spirit world knows that I love watching films, that was the perfect way for me to become enlightened to becoming veg as I am a huge film buff, watching at least one film daily.

So watch for signs, especially in your hobbies/interests. You never know what the spirit world wants to tell you.

Active Meditation

As I was reorganizing my books, I came across this old little gem of a book, published in 1999 by Globe Mini Mag (are these impulse-buying-at-the-grocery-counter booklets around anymore?). The author, Linda Fine Zeman, defines walking meditation perfectly!

The title of the booklet, Prayer Walking, is a misnomer, as she really only discusses prayer walking meditation on two pages as the rest of the book mentions all kinds of active meditation, with mostly discussion on the type of mediation I love: Simple walking and observing using all senses in the moment. No judging or dwelling on anything seen, heard, having smelled, tasted, or touched. Just observing using all senses. Zeman goes in great detail about how to do it effectively. And when the meditation is over, she explains in detail what you should do afterward, including then you can start to think about what you have experienced during your walking meditation.

It does cover every kind of active meditation that one can think of to do (even anger walking meditation!), plus the author talks about how to dress, meditating with others with you--like your companion animal, child, family, friends, or other groups. Zeman mentions safety too. She also shows you how to get started in your walking mediation (including what to do prior to your walking meditation and of course after) and ways to keep you motivated. For a 66 little page booklet, it sure is very comprehensive! I can't believe I paid only $1.09 for it!

I can't find it anywhere for sale online--even Amazon doesn't have it. Maybe it's been repackaged and is sold under a new title--I don't know. I just am so happy I kept it and will look to it regularly for inspiration in my daily walking meditations.

I believe I have mentioned this book, Living in the Moment, before but it deserves repeating. This book, by Anna Black, also discusses active meditation very well. She doesn't really talk specifically about walking meditation, but all other kinds, like meditating while doing housework, or any kind of activity--even eating and drinking, meditating on your body, paying attention to all your senses, etc., and she has many exercises in the book. After reading the book, you get the idea on how to actively meditate when doing anything, including walking.

Both books are well worth owning, especially if you're interested in a more active meditation than a still meditation.