I am one with the Rhino

Animal symbolism of the rhinoceros deals with:

• Agility
• Solitary
• Wisdom
• Paradox
• Freedom
• Stability
• Gratitude
• Longevity
• Judgment
• Grounding
• Peace of Mind
• Self-Assurance
• Unconventional
• Sensory Perception

Animal symbolism of the rhinoceros revolves around a mass of misguided perception. The rhino is replete with contradictions.

One of the top three largest land mammals, the rhino’s physical presence is mammoth. Although the rhino is known to display aggressive behavior, for the most part it is a passive creature – preferring to roam its wide-open grassy spaces in contemplative solitude. Here we see the first of many paradoxes that lead us to the underlying symbolic theme of the rhinoceros: “things are not as they seem.”

Rhino animal symbolism reminds us to appreciate the expansive bounty we have around us. When the rhino comes to us in our daily lives it is time for us to stop and give thanks to the infinite wonders occurring in every millimeter and minute of our lives. Here are a few examples of how we may do this:

• Do as the rhino does and press your feet into the mother (earth) with connective assurance that all is well.
• Inhale the richness of green as the rhino does in the tall grasses in which it lives. Savor the scent – impress it fully into memory – recall it during times when you need revitalization.
• Surround yourself in cool comfort as the rhino does with his mud bath rituals. Again, let the rich abundance and stability of the mother (earth) enfold you and reassure you.

It is the rhino’s intimate connection with the earth that makes it a perfect symbol for confidence, assurance, steadiness, and sure-footedness. When we are feeling insecure, nervous, or disconnected, the best tonic for our nervy ails is to allow the rhino to run through our spiritual realm. Mentally envision the stoic, noble rhino swaggering easily across the awing expanse of the Ngorongoro Crater where the scenery is equally matched to the regal rhino’s energy.

And speaking of energy, the rhino possesses solar animal symbolism and you will find your envisioning it will produce heat within your body.

Simply put, the rhino is a creature of substance, stamina, solidity, and explosive power. When you are feeling transparent and empty, invite the rhino into your being – see what happens – observe yourself being filled with the majesty this creature represents.

The animal symbolism of the rhino horn deals with:

• Protection
• Achievement
• Heightened Senses
• Utilization of Inner Resource

It’s not the actual horn that is powerful – the horn itself is nothing but built-up rhino skin – physically, the horn is worthless. Symbolically however, the horn is priceless.

God Help America

(Spencer)
I encountered a post on facebook stating that the 10 poorest cities in America (pop. Over 250,000) always nominate democratic mayors- the evidence suggesting that only the poor and insane vote for democrats. At first I was enraged. Then I was curious. I did some research and this is what I found.

10 richest cities in America (pop. over 250,000).

http://dcjobsource.com/richest.html, and http://www.iweblists.com/us/government/Mayors.html (I did it the slow way before I found these sites).

1. San Jose, California- Chuck R. Reed- Democrat
2. Anchorage, Alaska- Matt Claman- Democrat
3. San Francisco, California- Gavin Newsom- Democrat
4. Virginia Beach, Virginia- William D. Sessoms, Jr- Republican
5. San Diego, California- Jerry Sanders- Republican
6. Anaheim, California- Curt Pringle- Republican
7. Raleigh, North Carolina- Charles Meeker- Democrat
8. Seattle, Washington- Greg Nickels- Democrat
9. Washington, DC- Adrian M. Fenty- Democrat
10. Honolulu, Hawaii- Mufi Hunnemann- Democrat

7 out of the 10 cities with the highest income (per capita) employ a democratic mayor. It seems to be more of a big city thing than a poverty thing.

I can’t say I belong to either party. I did vote for Obama. And, yes, it is because of the sense of hope and change he brings to the country.

Money. Money. Money. I guess it is a necessary evil. But I hate it! Especially when it is exchanged for labor in countries so far away that it’s foreign value doesn’t even resemble its domestic value. Americans desperately need to consider- what is a dollar worth in America today. Key words- in America, today. How is it possible that we can earn so many dollars with so little work. It is at historic records. Echoing the constitution, “all men are created equally.” We should all have the same rights and opportunities for whatever just pursuit might interest us individually. Is it really just that we take advantage of human beings in countries that do not have the same opportunities offered to us. Ask yourself again- how is it possible that we can earn so many dollars with so little work. Let me spell it out for you- SLAVERY. We exploit less fortunate people, like the hard workers of China, Indonesia, Honduras, India, Mexico, Guatemala, etc (just a few countries I found on household items). Not to mention the fuel, for which we so casually swipe a piece of plastic and pump, costs much more that just under $2.00/gal. We are in the middle of a war for oil. Is it really worth the lives of our friends and family, not to mention the uncounted dead men, women and children outside our borders. Out of sight, out of mind. America’s wealthy have found a way to appear decent by indirectly enslaving foreign laborers. And we, the average American citizens, are victims of consumerism. We are so damned selfish! I am sick at the thought of calling myself an American. There is no pride left in that title. The difference between American slaves and foreign, working-class slaves is that we have a choice. There is not much the Chinese worker can do about his position in society. If he doesn’t work, he and his family will die. We on the other hand are free enough to resist the temptations of society. True, most of are incredibly addicted to the ease with which we acquire our luxuries. However, if we were all aware of the damage our greed is doing to the rest of the world, we might me more inclined to change.

Let the dollar plummet in value. Let wealthy international businesses topple to the ground. Let humility overcome each American individually. Let the Land of the Free and the Home of the Brave be free and brave enough to confront our own . I do not exclude myself from this ignorant and evil lifestyle (they are my house-hold items). I just want to change. Someone help me, and the rest of America, change.

“…and if to live we have to be numb, I’d rather know the pain. I’d rather know. I’d rather know…” Rise Against

The political/social pyramid is imposed upon us all at birth. It doesn’t care what you want and would never wait for a request or application for participation. If you are born in America, you will live and die by American rules. A nation is just another business idea. It’s another way to gain power, fame and money. Power is our substitute for self-control. Fame is our substitute for love. Money is our substitute for hard-work.

I would love to be able to say: I never asked to use your roads. I never asked your policemen or soldiers to protect me. I never asked you to create imaginary lines on the earth to divide country, state and city. I never asked you to keep people from crossing them. I never asked you to require each member of your club to carry a plastic card bearing an identification number in order to keep track of us all. I never asked you to fling bombs and bullets at people in other clubs. I sure the hell didn’t ask you to send machines into space that can follow and record my every move. I didn’t ask you to listen to my phone calls just to be sure I’m not planning to attack you. I wish I could say all these things. But I can’t. I need your roads. I need your policemen and soldiers. I need your dividing borders. I need you to keep certain people out. I need you to know where I am just in case I need anything else. I need you to kill the people who want to hurt me. I need you to monitor everyone, so you can stop people from hurting my innocent family and friends. But I wish I didn’t.

I miss you Gramps

I had a dream last night that I was at my grandparents house in Stayton Oregon. Its the only house they have lived in in my lifetime and I have every wall memorized. I was picking fresh green beans and sneaking a few to eat. I love fresh green beans and how they snap in your mouth. My grandma is always in the kitchen. She will ask if you are hungry and pull a tin of Biscotti from the cupboard. If you decline, she will over you pizza that she made earlier (just in case). This crust square pizza with olives, mushrooms, and sausage. Its easy to fill up on apetizers at their house. My grandpa has pictures of mountains from around the world on the walls. Peaks he has climed and conquored. My grandpa calls himself "the kitchen supervisor", as he has no clur how to cook but takes credit for all the meals. He is a jokester. I once braught my friend Brandy over for dinner, he kept calling her scotch. When he was in the Military he smoked Kent cigerettes, and decided it was a good name. Hence my uncle in Napa California, Christopher Kent McAuliffe. His name is Ronald, my mom is Rhonda, and my dad is Richie, so naturally he insisted I had a R name when I ws born. So I got 2, Rena Rene. And I am sure he was happy when I added a 3rd, Rena Rene Rappleye.

I miss my grandparents and I hope to see them soon. They have been great influences in my life, and I am grateful for it. I love you both.

The Perfect Marriage

The Real Central Intelligence Agency

Warning! Rant:

If you are going to call yourself "The Central Intelligence Agency". And assume you are more intelligent than most folks you better take a hard look at yourself. Who are you really fooling? Poor uneducated people living in the Stix. We are on to you. It seems George Orwell was right. Big brother is watching. And he doesnt care if you are hungry, clothed, or shooting up in an alley. As long as you dont question him. He will tell you what you need to fear and who the enemy is. He will let you know what you need to buy and what Holidays you should celebrate. Because you are an American and that is the American way. So if you ever feel lonely, buck up lil camper, cause you can always look and find a satelite or camera or man in a trenchcoat and glasses just around tha corner.