The Living Room

It's official, my first "home" post since our move. We've been here for a month now and lately my indecisiveness has turned, well, decisive. As in, I've stopped asking everyone who comes in my house "what do you think I should do with this space on my wall". I found most challenging between houses was having things work in one home in one space, and not working in the new space. Not that it's a bad thing, just causes me to pause and rethink where things will go. So yes, a lot of what I'm showing you, you will remember from our last home (not that I expect you to think that I went out and bought entirely new furnishings, although that'd certainly be nice). I've been working in concentrated areas. This way I feel satisfied and can move onto the next. 

I'm not sure this has been overly healthy as I tend to obsess and stand for a good 15 mins a day staring at a wall but hey, I like the end results so far. Today I'm sharing with you the 2nd half of our living room which I've deemed the sitting area, because I don't know what else to call it. It's not the "sofa zone" of the room (that half isn't completed, to my liking). This isn't a "brag blog" so hopefully doing a "home tour" in a doesn't come off that way! My biggest challenge was actually what to do with a tv bench when the tv no longer sat on it (it sits above the fireplace now as you can see below). I was happy when it hit me to put a magazine rack there because... 

It can be seasonal and still appealing to the eye without making it too much of a focal point. Does that mean our tv is the focal point. Who am I kidding, it totally is. The tall vase of sticks isn't actually just decorational (spell check says this isn't a word) it's hiding the cable cords. I'm hoping to lighten the sticks up and spray paint them a grey or white, or maybe a mix of colors. The curtains came with the house, still seeking out the perfect set of curtains that are budget friendly to work the space. Suggestions appreciated! So that's all for today. Hopefully this is me getting the ball rolling and I can start sharing more of our space that we are making into a home.

The Potential of Transformation

The true potential of transformation is limitless by the very definition of transformation.This includes becoming the un-carved block of pure potential, of innocence again: if that is the transformation one wishes to fulfill. The point becoming: Ultimately you can fully release into the empty state: the Formless state. We then use the third eye's information about the various overlays of possible shape, of our nature to then overlay our formless state with: to become that vision. At that point it becomes possible to shape yourself or even reality relative to those forms and images your third eye reveal. In other words the third eye is revealing potentials and possibility, which you then as a Taoist can literally shape life towards. So delusion is when you try to shape something relative to ego, which in fact is destructive and lessens your nature vs. reality being a spectrum of possibilities, which with your third eye, you can navigate between and experience, or by measuring completely cause to happen. Later this month I will write up a post about the nature of the third eye.

Delusion and Reality

I was asked this question a month or two ago. How do you tell delusion from reality? The first part of the answer is to answer what is delusion! Here is the definition (one of many): delusion is rooted within ego's belief thinking we are separate from the universe and then to "project" out a different world based solely upon our own image. So delusion is the active projection of ego creating a false illusion of what reality is. How to tell the difference? I use my third eye, in other words when using the third eye: delusions have no substance: the third eye cannot see delusion. It "sees" potentials... which people often mistake for delusion. I will have to define what the third eye is later, since so much confusion exists on the nature of the third eye. 

The answer will surprise many as it isn't as mystical as many make it, even if in effect it produces mystical experience. The third eye is a Meta-organ, your mind and senses working together to form a larger more "sensitive meta 6th sense" which can give us surprising insights and capabilities. For those developing the third eye. Separating out the images of potential that the third eye overlays upon your natural 5 senses and the reality your senses show is a very confusing issue. Here is the tricky part: since our third eye reuses and projects information upon our other senses. In this, nothing your third eye reveals is "real". However, It's not delusion, nor illusion: rather it's information and pattern overlay only: Representing the various potentials of the situation or object you are examining within your third eye. 

As a result I apply the yin/yang of truth/falseness filters I teach students to use to navigate the information you receive. In other words: as a projection it's information to be used relative to the situation. The third eye is a very real part of our nature. With the information you gain from the 3rd eye it's possible, to embrace, navigate and even shape what others would call reality. What is important to grasp is: Much of Taoist practice reverses the shaping that we do upon ourselves. We can start off as one shape, to let go of form, shedding aspects of our nature... to then become whole and formless again. To un-carved oneself. This is the path of releasing ego.

Last Night

Last night one of the new dogs I got in attacked another dog so badly... I have never seen a dog act like that before. He ran up and attacked this dog on a leash for absolutely no reason... no reason at all. He grabbed a hold of his face and just wouldn't let go. No matter what I did, including taking the hose and spaying him. I am not going to get into the details but it was bad! And after I got them apart he was trying to still go after the other dog who at this point was in the corner shaking. Needless to say this wasn't the first aggressive thing he had done since I got him in and he acted up one more time after that so he is being put to sleep today. That just sucks! Sucks even more because I have someone interested in him but there is absolutely no way I can in good conscience allow that dog to go to a home. If a child was in the way of his "attack" mode that child would be toast. It is not easy!

It is Not Easy

If we do have room I have to look through the list and determine which dogs we can help. Usually what I like to do is pick the dogs I don't think anyone else will take them. because that is our/my specialty. It is not easy! Then once I figure out how many I have room for I have to figure out how they are going to get from the shelter to me. It is not easy! Then once they get to me, I have to worm them, put frontline on them, collar with tag on them and settle them in to a kennel. Sometimes the kennel they are supposed to share with another puppy or dog they don't get along, sometimes they are sick when they come to me so I have to scramble to set up a crate separate from everyone else. It is not easy! 

The next day I usually give them their shots and figure out when to get them scheduled to be spayed/neutered, rabies shot and heartworm test. Once I get an appointment set up I have to figure out how I am going to squeeze that into my schedule... between working and taking care of all my animals, my farm and oh yea normal stuff like groceries, laundry, etc. It is not easy! In between waiting for the vet appointments I am getting their pictures, getting to know them, figuring out if they are good with cats, kids, other puppys, like men, like women, personality, etc. I am getting them up on line for adoption and hoping that a foster home will step forward to take them. It is not easy! 

Now doesn't forget I want each one of have enough attention while at my house so I try to spend time with them and let them play in the fenced yard at least a few hours a day. I also need to clean their kennels everyday, make sure they have fresh food and water everyday, getting any medication that they might need, make sure they have toys, treats and beds (sometimes they de-stuff the beds). Meanwhile trying to have a "normal" life... It is not easy! And you know what makes it all just a little harder. When the dog is aggressive... either towards people or other puppys or dogs. It darn right sucks!

Stop Keeping Found Dogs

I get so disappointed with individuals. I comprehend that dog pounds are evil, however they are a fundamental shrewdness. On the off chance that somebody looses there pooch that is the primary spot they ought to check and check consistently until their puppy if found. So thusly on the off chance that you discover a pooch take it to the pound! By Federal all pounds need to keep a stray puppy with no labels for 3 open business days. That methods you discover the canine Saturday... Saturday and Sunday don't consider a business day and on the off chance that they pound is shut on Monday then that day doesn't number either so that methods Tuesday Wednesday and Thursday do check. That give somebody just about a prior week their puppy might be euthanized or sold. What's more if the manager really minded they would be calling the pound non quit searching for their canine. And if you are so stressed over this puppy that you discovered being put to rest then go there on the third day and embrace it!

SUVs and 4x4 for Vacations

Even if you're the owners of a car, it is not excluded to rent another one, if needed. Such need could not necessarily occur when your own car is damaged or under repairs, but simply when you have other needs, more demanding, that your own car could not handle. A case where you'll need to call on a rent-a-car company is when you wish to spend your vacation in wild place where you can reach by running a difficult road. If you have a city car, a small, regular car, the chances that this car is able to run such a road are pretty small. 

In such case, you don't have to abandon the vacation plan in that area but to resort to a rented car, an SUV or an 4x4 that is able to cope with a hump road, with lots of mud, etc. This way, you won't do without visiting the wanted place or without admiring the landscapes therefrom, which, less accessible to tourists, more beautiful they are.  Such a car could be simply asked to a rent a car Romania company and, more than that, you could opt for all kinds of additional accessories and facilities that could increase the comfort of the leased car as well as the safety during the trip. Renting a proper car is a very good solution to a safe drive, without risking to encounter issues or to damage your own car if it is unsuitable for running on difficult roads. 

Even if you won't be happy about the above mentioned option from the beginning, you need to think twice before taking the decision to relocate with the city car, because otherwise, you might have to replace expensive parts that get damaged because of the road or you could ruin your little vacation by getting stuck somewhere far from your location. This is not an expensive or complicated option and thus, you can afford to resort to it no matter the budget you have available, reducing the chances that the vacation is an unsuccessful one.