In this season of Imbolc, we can remember we are the drivers of our lives.  The choice can be ours as to how we wish to live and what we believe.

It is a disservice to the Universe to permit others to run our lives, especially considering the authors of those who so presume.

The following bit of information from one perspective feels refreshing and logical.  

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=TCqdeYOlH9g   —

Spiritual morning routine | cozy rituals & productive habits to start the day

–end of imbolc info touching upon self care——

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8puG7TIXVNU   —

Oh SH*T, Zelensky Really Just Said That?!

–end of russellbrand info–

Stepping away from personal autonomy, what has authority wrought?  —

From MRonline  —  https://us2.campaign-archive.com/?e=2833cdb99b&u=36ce609ae68971b4f060ad9c7&id=402a889bf5          —

Is the trip of the secretary general of NATO aimed to instigate the creation of the Asian version of NATO?

Value, price, and inflation: Immediate and structural causes

–end of MRonline info–

From popularresistance  —  https://mailchi.mp/popularresistance/popular-resistance-daily-digest-rckobq4mx6?e=1b0a9c0541             —

Massive Looting Of Public Resources At Stake In Detroit Redevelopment Scheme

The Life-Threatening Consequences Of Rural ‘Maternity-Care Deserts’

Harlem Resists Gentrification, Environmental Racism

Utilities’ Failures And Shady Practices Show We Need Energy Democracy

Universities Submit To Neoliberalism And Fascism

Non-Compete Agreement Leaves Workers Homeless And Jobless

Claims Of Mass Workers Shortages And Layoffs; Read Between The Lines

–end of popularresistance info–

From Remaloeb—-https://www.facebook.com/rema.loeb/posts/pfbid04pFCtZicW2wYzB2PoDkNNn6hzPmpVtL66fh5TtmZqcuq1tHA8n3k51qN7BDRd9gbl       —

Tell the forest service, stop construction of the Mountain Valley pipeine

–end of remaloeb info–

PETITION to sign if you wish to raise your voice on the topic of protecting nature rights—–https://act.greennewdealnetwork.org/letter/forestservice-stop-construction-mvp/?fbclid=IwAR0UMPbEl0nny9fJq4_fW3bAziWa3ziWE-hW3VzyfrbIC2yARGTzg4gJfWs   —

The U.S. Forest Service, the agency responsible for protecting and managing national forests, is now considering a new proposal that would amend 11 crucial standards that have been essential for protecting the Jefferson National Forest from the MVP project. Rewriting the rules for Big Oil’s economic gain is unacceptable, and would set a dangerous precedent for lands in public trust all over the country.–end of remaloeb info and offered with gratitude—-

On this freezing Upstate NY winter morning with the outside temp at -15 degrees (that’s below zero), one lit a candle for the FACT and illusion of warmth.  Pagan life is nothing if not practical.

Happy Imbolc  —  https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=wRlNtNMU1OE              —

How to celebrate Imbolc | Pagan customs & midwinter rituals & folk witchcraft

–end of imbolc info–

And for any who decry the notion of drawing from the tradition of Groundhog Day to predict the coming of Spring, one can compare with the eager anticipation of the “jobs report” to predict stock market performance…..I’m just saying……

The above Imbolc youtube touches upon the superimposition of the Roman style of Christianity over Pagan traditions, and reaches back to the FACT of Jewish origin of Jesus Christ.  This is important because this is reality pre-institutionalization of Western religion.  Anyhoo, the host of the youtube mentions the Jewish-derived custom in Roman Catholicism of considering a woman unclean after childbirth.  Consequently women after childbirth were expected to spend 40 days in bed cuddling the child if a boy and 80 days in bed cuddling the child if a girl.  Not a bad trade off.

One believes the “uncleanness” is about being the vehicle for transferring a soul from the divine to the mortal, or from the sacred to the profane.  And this opens up a whole other view.  When one dips into history, the results can be profound.

From lakotalaw  —  A few weeks back, I wrote to you about director James Cameron’s movie “Avatar: The Way of Water,” and the need for better representation and agency for Indigenous people in the telling of our stories onscreen. As always, a number of you responded by sharing your own perspectives on this issue — and I thank you for your good feedback! Among the emails we received was one from Lakota Law supporter Naomi, who suggested we adapt that email into a “petition to be presented to the producers of Avatar, and/or as an open letter to Hollywood.”

We thought that was a great idea! After further discussing the issues we have with the movie, Native agency in Hollywood, and what we should do about it, we designed a specific list of asks for Mr. Cameron and other filmmakers. So today I ask that you give our petition a read, sign it, and share it with your network to help us increase Indigenous agency in movies and television!

We believe that we can help change the game. Native agency has already moved forward by leaps and bounds with movies like “Prey” and television shows like “Reservation Dogs,” “Rutherford Falls,” and “Three Pines.” TV’s biggest phenomenon, the “Yellowstone” franchise — which does, admittedly, have a few issues of its own — employs my friend, Mo Brings Plenty (Cheyenne River), as both an actor and consultant, as well as Gil Birmingham (Comanche) and other Native actors. And “Avatar: The Way of Water” stars Cliff Curtis, a talented actor of Maori descent, in a pivotal role.

I want to be clear. From my perspective, it isn’t a problem when non-Native people like Yellowstone creator Taylor Sheridan and Cameron want to help tell Indigenous stories. They just need to do it in the right way. And I understand those in our communities who call for boycotts and who are working to create their own path to Indigenous agency. But I see the best way forward as a collaborative approach that helps our stories get told more frequently, in better ways, and on larger platforms. So, today, please sign and share our open letter to James Cameron and Hollywood. Let’s see if we can change the game even more — instilling in Hollywood more Indigenous representation and agency — to help our society understand some deeper truths through the media it consumes.

Wopila tanka — thank you for helping us tell our own stories!
Chase Iron Eyes
Co-Director and Lead Counsel

The Lakota People’s Law Project–end of lakotalaw info–

Happy Imbolc and on to Spring.

****As one who would be perfectly contented to retain the Senate if they adhered to Oaths of Office more than to Citizens United campaign donations, one is interested in a topic raised as to the reason we maintain the US Senate—-

 This is a reminder of how much we don’t know.  This brings one around to Howie Hawkins, who continues to impress with original thought.  We also could acknowledge Hawkins often speaks to censored information.
One such topic about which one would never have even considered, is whether the USA needs The Senate.  Apparently The Senate is little other than expensive window dressing, promoting hierarchical interests, and too often placed in positions of power by big-money via Citizens United.  But the public gets to fund this curiosity of pompous supremacy.  Who knew?
The Democratic Branch of the Republican/Democratic Duopoly are especially functional in voter suppression—–https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=BNbdkuU1edw          —#GreenSocialist Notes #76
Howie Hawkins brings up the concept of whether the USA needs the Senate.  Apparently according to some people, the Senate isn’t necessary.  This brings up the blockage from the Senate of many bills that would benefit We The People.  Combined with Citizens United that promotes big-money interest choice of Senators, in which laws are passed that benefit big-money interest rather than We The People, and that We The People support economically, the members of the Senate, this seems a good topic for discussion.
The US Constitution doesn’t seem to sanction elections run by political Parties, and to permit control of political debates by political Parties seems equally corrupt.   https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xQ7kn2-GEmM       —

Ross Perot in 1992 on NAFTA and the “Giant Sucking Sound”

Centralization is the lifeblood of the R&D duopoly.  It’s the way to enforce capitalism onto workers in 2022.———————–We can do better———-

That “we are a 2-Party system” is a fabrication of the Republican/Democratic duopoly and spread by MSM.  In FACT the majority of voters aren’t either registered Democratic or Republican.  The censorship about this info must be envied by bureaucrats of the Former USSR and their simplistic style of 1-Party elections.  

Regardless of which character sits in the Oval Office, We The People have work to do to maintain principles of our democratic (small d) Constitutional republic.  Several items to challenge—*We need the integrity of ranked-choice voting so voters won’t feel compelled to “hold your nose and vote”*Censored debates must be stopped.  The Democratic/Republican duopoly pretends to legitimate debates in what is nothing other than another campaign show.  Independent debates run by uninterested sponsors such as The League of Women Voters, must be restored.  (Access www.debates.org to understand the extent of duopoly control).  The so-called Debate Commission is a corporation to promote the Democratic corporation and Republican corporation, not to inform We The People*Challenge and stop gerrymandering that is a trick especially of the Republican branch of the duopoly.*Stop voter suppression by political Parties, and especially confront and stop Party suppression, which is the over-arching approach to voter suppression.  Party suppression seems to have been the responsibility of the Democratic corporation*Promote by law ranked-choice voting, so we won’t be told again, by D&R duopoly, to “hold your nose and vote”
If these issues are handled, our next elections can be honorable. 
*******************************************************************https://news.gallup.com/poll/15370/party-affiliation.aspx—-Political Party affiliation of voters.
    https://www.lwv.org/newsroom/press-releases/league-refuses-help-perpetrate-fraud–LEAGUE REFUSES TO “HELP PERPETRATE A FRAUD”

WITHDRAWS SUPPORT FROM FINAL PRESIDENTIAL DEBATE–end of lwv info–Murray Bookchin, who founded social ecology, a theory that strongly influenced early Green Socialist thought, strongly advocated the discussion and study group as the first step of any revolutionary movement. A group of individuals meets to expand their knowledge of radical thought and form a radical intellectual community; through the give and take of discussion, can eventually form ideas for next steps in organizing and political activity. According to Bookchin, study groups help create solidarity and a shared language — with a shared coherent vision — for building a mass, organizing, political movement!