The Shrew View: On Strengthening Awareness

Is it time for all of us to strengthen our awareness muscle?

Living in the United States is like a double edged sword. The freedoms we cherish are at times unwittingly used against us. Consider this passage from Hebrews 4:12:

For the word of God is alive and active. Sharper than any double edged sword, it penetrates even to dividing soul and spirit, joints and marrow, it judges the thoughts and attitudes of the heart.

What I mean by this is that our Creator has brought forth in this country a time of peace that could hardly be imagined 100 years ago. This has not happened by chance or by accident. Much of this peaceful coexistence has developed through increasing our understanding of an individual’s God given rights that are tangable (like property rights) as well as intellectual (like free speech) and of our physical personhood (our bodies and identities). We put a high value on these rights because if not then tyranny would be allowed to reign free. Yet we know that the duality of good and evil exists as fact.

Not even God can stop an act of violence. God does however judge the perpetrator and his or her actions. Humankind can put in place methods to alleviate violet acts, but humankind cannot necessarily stop the thoughts and attitudes of someone’s heart.

In separate instances I have been forcibly kissed, robbed, mugged, and molested. I choose not to be a victim because to do so I give over my soul and spirit to the perpetrator who takes great pleasure in their offense. This is the double edged sword. My creator has given me the personal power of awareness which I can use to mitigate the severity of most circumstances. Awareness allows me to think and live more strategically, and one way that I have actualized this is through the principles of karate.

Here are a few things that I would typically teach at my self defense classes for women and girls:

Walk with purpose (Have your keys ready to use for your car or home.)
Be in tune with your surroundings (For instance, don’t take your eyes off the stranger asking you a question…They want your guard down.)
Know your exits.
Listen to your intuition.
Say no and mean it.
Don’t feel rude by being loud or yelling to draw attention to a difficult situation.
Vary your routines when driving to regular destinations, choosing a parking spot, walking or running for exercise.

There is more good in this world than there is evil. That is why it is so easy to live our lives without much thought to personal protection. Awareness is the answer, not just for some but for everyone.

Shrew Brews: Beer with a side of Chocolate!

This week’s brews are from one of my absolute favorite Portland, Maine breweries, Allagash Brewing Company (Allagash.com)!

Allagash crafts Belgian-inspired beer, their best known is Allagash White which I enjoy drinking from an ice cold glass with a lemon wedge floating on the top…this brings out the citrus and spice undertones very nicely 🙂

However, last week I went to visit their tap room on Valentine’s Day with my husband Stephen to celebrate our love and participate in the annual beer and chocolate pairings known as BEER HEARTS CHOCOLATE benefiting the American Heart Association. My favorite this night was their JAMES & JULIE Flemish style sour brown ale, 6.7% ABV. Mahogany in color with aromas of raisins, cherries and caramel iced sugar, it paired very well with dark chocolate that was topped with a slice of candied ginger…MARVELOUS! Stephen’s favorite was the Allagash White, 5.2% ABV, paired with milk chocolate having a crispy peanut filling…AMAIZING!

The Hibernal Fluxus 2017 paired with chocolate covered coconut and the Coolship Red paired with white chocolate covered raspberry were very enjoyable as well.

The atmosphere was cozy and inviting for a February day. I am looking forward to spring and the opportunity once again to drink a flight in the lovely Maine outdoors at the Allagash Brewing Company.

We’ll be back soon!!

Shrewd Awakenings: River of Choice

Is it really about guns?

I am deeply saddened by the tragic events at the Parkland, Florida high school on Wednesday. My heart goes out to all the families that are affected by this violent act. I know that the whole country is mourning the loss of these innocent victims. Sudden death at the hands of a human being is mind boggling. How can a human being be capable of such a crime?

In my previous blog, The Archetypes of the Human Spirit (a series of 12 posts beginning on November 15th ) I relate about choice and the consuming nature of loss and/or failure…

I think archetypes like the all-consuming Monster Fish in the River of choice can offer a glimpse into the subconscious and why horrific acts by humans will and do play out in real time. Psychiatrist and psychoanalyst Carl Jung understood that the human subconscious grapples with the dilemmas that are experienced on a daily basis. In most cases a person can deal with loss and/or failure by knowing that supportive and life affirming family or spiritual support structures are present for him or her. Bad and irregular thoughts or dreams occur but are usually placed aside because reality is a manageable experience in this case.

But what if a person is out of touch with their “spiritual self” and reality becomes a series of experiences or choices that negatively affect them to the point where it becomes all consuming? As if being eaten by a monster fish, the resulting by-product is either becoming the monster itself or being the excrement that flows into the ocean of despair. The “monster” in reality feels the need to play out its revenge. By the same token, the “excrement” can seem to be lost forever, recycling from river to ocean to rain and back to the river. In order for tragedy to not befall the victim or victims, awareness about these subconscious conditions must be present. I believe that this awareness can only be imparted by an “interceptor” such as the archetypal Guide.

One must have faith that this guide represents a forward path to hope. This is why spiritual connectedness to our Devine nature is so relevant. We all bear the responsibility of empowering each other with the knowledge of this connection. To not have any idea about your Devine nature and subsequent Devine purpose within humanity’s context is another tragedy altogether…

Shrew Brews: Cheers!

Good news from the land of Shrew!

I am introducing my new feature called “SHREW BREWS” which is a natural fit for my Female Pricipled Blog. How is this a fit? Ever since Eve took a bite from the apple of the Tree of Knowledge, she was also searching for the Kernel of Truth…Hense barley was discovered, and Adam was right there to share in the discovery! The duality of good and evil unites in a positive proposition 🙂

Our American tap rooms are our new social anchors for men and women to gather, imbibe and contemplate on beer, fellowship and fun. The variety of favors and capacity to create can never be too much in this market where the entrepreneurial spirit thrives.

So I invite my readers to share in my discovery of unique brews, breweries and tap rooms from around this great country. And I encourage you to share your discoveries on this topic as well…

CHEERS!

The Quarry Tap Room

Established 2015 in Hallowell, Maine, this bar and grill is adding to the lively spirit of the Main Street character. My choice of beer this day was Kona Big Wave, a golden ale from Kailua Kona, HI. It was no doubt due to the mounds of snow outside that I was feeling a bit in the mood for some beachy weather and this brew did not disappoint. The flavor was light bodied with a subtle hint of fruitiness. Just right for an early afternoon.

There were 30 beers on tap….quite an extensive representation from around the globe actually, but some great representation from Maine too. I could only stop in for a brew and a bite, but I wish I had had more time to hang out. The food was fine, the atmosphere better. The quality live entertainment seemed to make time fly.

Brew on!!

The Shrew View: Of the Extreme Fringe

Party platforms only define party principles, not rules or laws.

The Shrew blog focuses primarily on the human capacity for emotional maturity, openness as a condition toward wholeness, fortitude and humility. The application of this human capacity is what I call the Female Principle (FP). The Shrew blog attempts to show how the FP can strengthen all human relationships.

Today I would like to point out the absurdity of the Republican vs Democrat showdown in Washington D.C. When did our representatives come to believe that their constituents want to dwell on the extreme fringe of each of these parties? I don’t care if our President is Donald Trump or Donald Duck, representative government is not about the parties, it is about the people that they represent who are diverse in many ways. Party platforms only define party principles, not rules or laws.

In my I’m Shrewd post of February 3rd I attempted to point out how liberals are doing their best to slander conservatives as evil. I contend that when either side is focused on elevating their platform as the only path to America’s solutions we all lose. For instance, during the Obama administration I observed a very liberal progressive agenda formulated by the Democrat run majority Congress. Don’t get me wrong, I like progress. In fact our country has been continually busting out of its tyrannical shell since the Revolutionary War. But the American Dream is not about progressing government managed benefits as in the Democrat ideas of universal health care, government funded higher education and unrestricted welfare. These seem like courageous acts until you discover that once government is in control, taxation increases and private funds dry up leading to job loss and wage stagnation.

The Republican ideas are no better. For example during the Bush administration Wall Street regulators were not doing their jobs. Oversite on banks especially where mortgages were concerned was severely lacking. The conservative idea of everyone owning their own home was a farce. Not everyone is prepared to own a home especially when banks intentionally poison the fiscal well. “Fast” money, just like “free” stuff leads to consequences for the working class and cause the rich to get richer and the poor to get poorer. A shared principle for both parties and all Americans could be this: “People of all backgrounds are free to actualize their own successes through a culture of emotional maturity and fortitude (FP).”

Washinton D.C. shows us time and again that their smoke screen is unreliable. Law makers must have humility and openness as a condition toward wholeness (FP). People and not parties are best equipped to handle daily struggles which are necessary in personal growth and freedom to achieve. The Federal Government simply needs to provide the clear oversight to allow ingenuity to take place at the local level. And people at the local level must advocate for each other with love and community support.

The President is a person elected for a short time to protect and uphold our democratic principles. The Congress represents state’s rights and ensures civil protections. Our states are incubators of innovation for all their residents. And we the people live out our dreams in relation to our community goals. It works when we work together.

Let’s be a nation of ideas that reinforce our strong work ethic, and move away from childish partisan politics that stir our emotions. It’s the only way forward…

I’m Shrewd: On Polarized Governance

“…dispel ignorance and cooperatively create solutions.” – The Shrew

I would have to say that most Americans enjoy living simple lives that do not involve much thought on politics. I too was amoung that dynamic for a very long time. The closest I got to anything political was the voting booth during election time. I considered my vote to be an educated vote. For the record, I am undeclared but occasionally will pick a party to be able to vote in a primary. When I became a City Councilor, I was happy that the candidates ran as nonpartisan members of the community. This experience gave me a clearer picture of how an average person can have impact with economic and social issues of importance. I have since gone on to volunteer as president of a Main Street board as well as hold positions on the Economic Development Commission and the Transit Committee amoung other things.

Today’s polarized governance at the Federal level seems to me to be a far cry from what most Americans want. We can accept that a binary political machine is the one that exists for practical purposes, however, the lack of middle ground that is needed for solving national issues is currently unacceptable. Why is this polarization happening? I think it is because the Democrat side thinks they are the only party that can act morally on behalf of Americans. They devote their words to standing on the side of love, claiming to have all the answers. No one else should question their motives. They would like everyone to believe that decisions involving guns, global warming, taxation, education and health care are best suited to only the Democrats.

But wait! What does this do to the Republican party? Does this mean that the conservative side is evil because they have different ideas? Yup…That absurdity is indeed where we are today. “Conservatives are Nazi racists”…Sound familiar? I always thought that conservatism meant following the Constitution along with loving thy neighbor as thyself. I’ll get into this critique in an up-coming post.

Our human existence is based on the very nature of duality. It is the highest order of ignorance to not see that this duality helps us develop a healthy sense of humility and compassion for one another. No one side can be absolutely correct. If we believed this then we would be living in a Dictatorship.

The U.S. Constitution laid the foundation for a governance system that brought us out of tyranny. This is why neither the President nor one political party can remain in lifelong power. Our two party system should debate ideas strictly within their constitutional boundaries, oversee a tight federal budget, and be accountable to their constituents who in turn take care of their local issues. Solutions must be created cooperatively otherwise we will regress into chaos and tyranny.

Wake up Washington DC! Work together for the common good. It is what you are there to do.

The Shrew View: On Security

“…peace and prosperity can only happen from a place of security.” – The Shrew

Women anywhere should be able to come together joyfully to celebrate their collective wisdom and achievements. I am, however, quite dismayed by the now annual women protest marches across the U.S. that promote a so-called resistance. In our representative democracy we the people have a voice and a vote in our lawmaking process. Transparency and inclusion during the process is what sets our nation apart from many other democracies. It amazes me that our country is as big as it is and, in general, works cooperatively to achieve progress in everyday life. So what are women resisting and why am I not at a city square marching amoung their ranks?

It has been my experience that peace and prosperity can only happen from a place of security. If the “resistance” is about protesting President Trump’s policies of increased boarder security and transparent participation in International affairs (as well as other things), then does this mean that women don’t want peace and prosperity? I will admit, I honestly did not believe that Trump had the brains to implement what he has done so far, and still at times I believe his brains are lacking. But his results to me demonstrate a cryptic sensibility (this must be because he has no sense of the Washington political machine). I contend that Hilary would have continued the same covert Obama tacticts of “say this, but do that” just as long as the “victim class” believes it will make us a better country. But how? This ambiguity of course is based on a moral relativism that only appeals to an emotional base. Recall that Obama didn’t solve the illegal immigration issue while the Democrats had control. Women should not give their power over to government elites AT ALL!! Women as much as anyone must be smart enough to know that personal choices are protected in our nation; it’s the consequences of those personal choices that are at issue. Ends do not justify the means in our country. And “justice for all”, not “justice for some”, is in our pledge. If we can argue the Constitutional protections clearly, we have all we need to demonstrate progress for social change.

You won’t find me at a resistance rally…Instead you can find me working directly with my local community, actively engaged with citizens of varying beliefs and traditions, working cooperatively on local matters, and reaching out to my representatives. It is hard work to dispel ignorance and create solutions. It is not a one day soap box event!

The Shrew View: Love binds people of goodwill

Love binds people of goodwill

Today is a day to reflect on the message of Martin Luther King, JR. His is a message of love and freedom; a freedom guaranteed by God and reflected in the U.S. Constitution:

“…in order to form a more perfect Union…secure the Blessings of Liberty to ourselves and our posterity…”

In the early 1960’s there was no better person to secure these Blessings for people of color. Our lawmakers failed to be responsible leaders entrusted to uphold the Constitution. One might suggest that this failed responsibility dates all the way back to our founding as a nation, but I think that would be taking the easy route, condemning every step toward the progress of achieving a message of freedom.

“Humans have been literally torturing each other for centuries as they grope toward this Chalis of fulfillment.” – The Shrew

Our U.S. Constitution is the tool enabling wholeness in our country. No other country puts the responsibility of freedom in the hands of each individual. It is law makers who abuse this insight by putting limits on ideas instead of on their lawmaking capabilities. Martin Luther King, JR knew instinctively that the idea of a black person sitting where a sign indicated that they were not allowed by law to sit would challenge the lawmaker’s unconstitutional limitations on God’s creation. King gave power back to the people – all people, because injustice is never visible in God’s kingdom which is where the human soul finds strength to conquer the perceived injustice in the world of mankind.

Love binds people of goodwill. In a nation of diverse ideas, those people of goodwill come together to solve the issues at hand. There is no us vs. them. There is only…

“We the People…”

Shrew U: Archetypes for Being

Archetypes of the Human Spirit

Part Seven

“Humans have been literally torturing each other for centuries as they grope toward a chalice of fulfillment.” The Shrew

How do we teach each other about each other?

Our individual experiences help to shape what we believe to be true about ourselves and about each other. Consequently, an individual is easily given to influences. Those persons, or “influencers”, around an individual can be mistaken as the mold for that individual, and when this happens the individual is no longer that unique creature of his or her life and liberty. Therefore, we each bear the responsibility to seek a greater awareness of our unique purpose also known as our pursuit of happiness.

These are not new concepts. Humans have been literally torturing each other for centuries as they grope toward a chalice of fulfillment. In the United States we have the best chance of attaining individual freedom based on actual resources of shared opportunities. I believe this is where we are today. It is most interestingly evidenced by the women in our U.S. Culture, and the influence here is what I call the Female Principle (FP). Those who embody the FP are know as a Shrew.

In my first blog post (The Shrew View, Nov. 3, 2017) I describe the Shrew as having these qualities:

Emotional maturity
Openness as a condition toward wholeness
Fortitude
Humility

My story, Archetypes of the Human Spirit, recounts the metaphysical steps toward individual happiness. It is a forward driven motion of heroic proportion that when actualized on an individual level can reveal the promise of what our “Creator” intended for his or her human creature. The following analysis provides a deeper understanding of this story for the purpose of finding the happiness we all desire…

Archetype #1; Light and Dark

“Your light of truth will evolve as you leave the storm of darkness”

I depicted this Archetype in two ways:

A vast dark area with a bright spot in the shape of a triangle pointed downward.
A combination of two fetuses with a separation between them.

The fetuses represent the individual in a conflict of duality and with a separation that acts as the “waste” depository for unnecessary emotional baggage.

What does conflict mean to you?
What is your unnecessary emotional baggage?

The triangle of light represents the exit from the womb of darkness and dependency.

Can you think of religions or myths that rely on these Archetypes? There are many, and this is just the beginning (Genesis!).
Can we consider this a Female Principle?

Next, I will reveal the Archetype of the number 3…

The Shrew View: On Good Will

Blogging for Blogging’s Sake

Where have my last two weeks gone!! I haven’t been blogging. Instead, I’ve used a lot of energy and creativity to work with other volunteers in my circle of goodwill to bring what we hope to be messages of joy and harmony.

Goodwill is the one and only asset that competition cannot undersell or destroy. – Ludwig Borne

There are so many opportunities to give to others. I may not have grand sums of money to impart, but I would like to think that my time and effort has just as much value. Have you ever thought about the value of goodwill? I’d like to pose a break down of what is typically needed when taking on a campaign of goodwill:

Identifying the need…
Rallying the team…
Generating the task outline…
Mobilizing the funds if needed…
Delegating the responsibilities…
Implementing the effort…
Measuring the outcome…
Assessing for any needed improvements…
Thanking everyone involved!

Cause + Inspiration + Innovation + Benefators + Effort = Goodwill = Value

People take these efforts on all of the time. If there is no political aspect or greed attached to the effort then the value is enhanced tremendously because pure generosity is the goal.

My two weeks off from blogging were time well spent. Until next time, peace out 🙂

The Shrew

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