Doctors Speak Out About Swine Flu Vaccine

Book Recommendation: The Four Agreements

This is a very powerful book for those interested in the journey of personal healing and inner freedom:



The Four Agreements, by Don Miguel Ruiz

The Noblest Purpose for Creating a Just Human Society

Why all this talk about society, state, and social order?

A state for its own sake?

A state as object of worship (idol)?

A state as master over individuals?

A state as means of attainment of material wealth and vainglory for an elite?

Or, a state that seeks to be shaped around the following question:

What is the noblest purpose for forming a just human society?

Is it not to facilitate the full development of the individual according to the individual's unique divine purpose, so that human creative and spiritual potential can flourish?

The Return to Yourself

"Don't be afraid to be weak... don't be too proud to be strong."
- Enigma, The Return to Innocence

A Humorous Look on Silver as Investment

A 1 oz silver Maple Leaf coin - one of the finest bullion coins in the world

The Mogambo Guru shares his bullish (i.e. positive) outlook on silver as an investment.

Read it here.

There are times... when...

There are times when it's hard to speak.

When one's voice feels weak.

There are times when the past seems bleak.

When one's thoughts make it seem as if darkness rules.

There are times when the present feels like a burden.

When meaning does not seem to shine through one's day.

There are times when the future seems hopeless.

When the adversities and frustrated longings of this human experience seem endless.

But...

... such times are like storm clouds...

... that will pass.

Allow suffering to move through you.

Do not resist emotional pain.

Let it flow.

The new dawn is bright!

Be patient.

I say this to myself, as much as I say it to you.

What's going on in Iran?

Love to my brothers and sisters in Iran. We stand united with you, millions in the diaspora and people from all nations across the globe.

EU parliament urged not to endorse Ahmedinejad by two famous Iranian film makers

Iran's power struggle behind the scenes

Photos from the Uprising in Tehran (June 15)

"All tyranny needs to gain a foothold is for people of good conscience to remain silent."

- Thomas Jefferson

Please share these fantastic photos far and wide. The Iranian people are in need of your support, for the sake of a brighter dawn for all humanity.

Link: http://www.boston.com/bigpicture/2009/06/irans_disputed_election.html

Open Letter from Iranians to the World - Please Distribute

Iran Election Fraud: 5 Reasons to Doubt the Results

What does freedom depend on?

"Your task is not to seek for love, but merely to seek and find all the barriers within yourself that you have built against it."
- Rumi, Iranian poet

Does freedom depend on wealth, position, status, possessions...?

Does it depend on what one has?

Or is freedom a state of liberation from within?

Or perhaps it is not an issue of "either or" (i.e. the external versus the internal), but could it be that with attainment of an inner state of freedom, the outer conditions that we associate with "wealth" will gather around an individual like a magnet attracts filing (if the individual so desires)?

I believe that freedom is first and foremost an inner process... attainable by the individual. Not by adding anything "new"... but by shedding the false from the mind, and opening the eyes to the perception of truth...

... the truth, love, and peace that is already here, now.

We don't have to seek in the future for freedom... we don't have to seek in the political life for freedom (it is so often rife with conflict and frustration)... we don't have to seek in wealth for freedom, because it does not exist there (money is simply a tool for material lives, and fulfilling our projects)... what we long for is here, now. Of course, it may take some time to clear away the dross and bring out the gold... but that's alright. There is no rush when it comes to what truly matters.

Gold and Silver in the Mainstream Media

The U.K.'s Daily Telegraph says "The ingredients are in place for a bull run in gold and gold stocks". Also, a U.S. insurance company acquires gold for the first time in 152 years.

This is important, because as the mainstream starts publishing about the weakness of the U.S. dollar (and other fiat currencies) and the strength of the gold and silver markets, more and more people will abandon paper money and flock to precious metals.

If you want to position yourself for the bull run in gold and silver, make sure to read these two books to understand precious metals (available from any good public library system):

• The Collapse of the Dollar and How to Profit from It
• Guide to Investing in Gold and Silver
  

For a good way to buy gold and silver bullion, go to GoldMoney.com and open an account.

For physical bullion possession, and if you live in Canada, I suggest this dealer:
http://www.bullioncoinsandbars.com/

Of course, this is not investment advice, and you assume all risk for your own actions.

Shield Your Mind... By Questioning Your Own Assumptions and Beliefs

"The most powerful tool in the hand of the oppressor is the mind of the oppressed."
- Stephen Biko

Universities Considering 3-Year Degrees to Save Students Time and Money

This is an interesting story about how the economy is transforming from a mentality of excess, to an attitude of frugality. Reducing the length of university education at the bachelor level may or may not be the "right" thing from an academic perspective. But that's besides the point I'm making here, which is that the basic principle of "do not easily spend what you do not have" is catching up with a society gone amok into a "debt as wealth" fantasy, where people thought they could spend recklessly without a reckoning day.

Well, the reckoning day is here.

Could it be that the wave of future prosperity is in frugality and respect for what one already has? Instead of mindless hunger for more and for what one does not have?

We are moving into interesting times... where timeless principles of success will re-emerge in many.

A different way to think about creative geniues

This blog is going to yet again shift into new territory. Lately, it's been intensively about economic insight and wealth protection. I will still share my research and thoughts with you on that important topic, because those who are financially self-sufficient and independent are freer than those who are experiencing economic lack.

Your prosperity matters. And it's not necessarily about how much you have, but about how self-sufficient and secure your wealth is relative to your needs and life purpose.

However, I will also delve more and more into what I believe is one of the primary sources of fulfillment for a mature and happy human being: understanding of and intimacy with the non-material creative process and causes of creative manifestation.

All material production and wealth that humanity enjoys derives from two fundamental sources, and usually a combination of the two: the abundance of the Earth and sentient creative intelligence. Everything brought to manifestation by humans was at first and a time an idea in someone's mind, but where did that idea originate? This is a tremendously important question for those who wish to understand creativity.

Gaining glimpses of the answer will equip you with more courage in your creative ventures.

On that note, below is a lovely speech about the creative process. It resonates with my belief that our job is to simply show up, listen, and do. Getting in touch with the creative process is each human being's birthright. Enjoy this gem!

Silver - Strong Investment Opportunity

[this post contains a video - if you can't see it, click here]




A good way to buy silver is GoldMoney.com

And here are some reputable bullion dealers in Canada:

http://albern.com/

http://www.bullioncoinsandbars.com/

And if you would like to learn more about silver as an investment opportunity, I recommend that you check out David Morgan's www.silver-investor.com.

Peter Schiff: "Obama has misdiagnosed the ailment"

Peter Schiff, well-known investor, in an article titled "Credit Card Cancer", makes the following observations:

"This week, with his pronouncement that "credit is the lifeblood of a healthy economy," President Obama reiterated what has been one of his most common themes in diagnosing our economic problem. The president has relied on this bedrock belief to propose policies that place the restoration of credit as the highest priority. However, despite his seemingly earnest intentions, the president and his economic advisors have misdiagnosed the ailment. Savings, not credit, is the lifeblood of a healthy economy. When not used properly credit can be like a cancer that sickens an otherwise healthy economy."

Schiff goes on to state:

"The primary mechanism that has injected credit where it does not belong is the massive credit card industry that has developed in the United States over the last generation. The ease with which these cards may be obtained and the degree to which Americans now rely on them for routine purchases has created a culture of credit that simply has no precedent in a healthy economy. Until this culture has been reformed, America's fight to restore economic vitality will be a lost cause."

A culture of credit cards (and other easy loans without backing) are the consumer-side part of the problem...

... derivatives and exotic financial instruments created without any tangible asset correlation are the industry part of the problem (paper wealth!)...

... complicity and even collusion, is the government part of the problem.

It all results in a fundamentally sick economy fueled by debt... until it collapses under its own weight.

"Fraud" Cause of Financial Collapse!

This is a must see interview that pierces deep into the real reasons behind the collapse of the financial markets, and why the so-called "bail outs" are corrupt.


Bill Moyers (respected American journalist) sits down with William K. Black, the former senior regulator who cracked down on banks during the savings and loan crisis of the 1980s. Black offers his analysis of what went wrong and his critique of the bailout.

"Fraud is deceit. And the essence of fraud is, 'I create trust in you, and then I betray that trust, and get you to give me something of value.' And as a result, there's no more effective acid against trust than fraud, especially fraud by top elites, and that's what we have."

- William K. Black

Introduction to GoldMoney

The Crisis of Credit Visualized (movie)

(if you can't see video, click here)


The Crisis of Credit Visualized from Jonathan Jarvis on Vimeo.

"Prepare For The Worst - Pray For The Best"

An astute American writes:

"Our generation stands at a horrendous turning point in American history. Everything we take for granted, our freedoms, our money, our security, our democratic way of life…everything... is on the brink of destruction."

What's important to remember is that the massive corporate and currency collapses and ensuing economic transformation will herald an age of sweeping change, painful for many, yet also opportunity for stronger community, and even wealth increase for the astute and courageous. The less attachment to "things" you have, the more ready for learning and adventure you are (i.e. learning to grow your own food, or investing in silver and gold), the better off you shall be...

The Gem of Independent Thinkers

Note (July 11, 2010): since I published this piece, I have changed my opinion about the person mentioned in this article. I have observed him being angrily blameful of others, and this has turned me off from his way of thinking. I no longer recommend this person, after spending time studying his writing and realizing that he seems trapped in anger and blame of external forces (which is just another dogmatic box).

The true kings of this world are those who cast off the limitations of their own belief systems, and courageously open their minds to new possibilities and realms of knowledge. Then, they take action on their knowledge.

They ask questions in order to arrive at answers, and do not stop when the terrain of inquiry becomes uncomfortable. They keep pressing on, in the name of that highest of pursuits: the truth.

They push the boundaries, they sojourn into new lands of perception and experience, and expand the frontiers of their own vision. They decimate enemies of truth along the way, and stop for nothing.

They ask, they look, they seek, they find (hallelujah!), and some of them then come back to the masses still lingering in the cave, and communicate about their journeys and fantastic discoveries.

I will dedicate a section of this blog to such individuals, so that you and your family may benefit from their insights. One such individual is Jon Rappoport.

The Wonderful Cuban Organic Agriculture System

When the flow of oil ran dry in Cuba due to withdrawal of Soviet economic support and the continuation of American sanctions, this is what happened to Cuba's agricultural system... very inspirational.

It's funny how innovative the Cubans are when they have fewer resources than Westerners... innovative and self-sufficient, while most of us in the West know nothing about how food is grown and are completely dependent on a patently unsustainable and disease-inducing food production system.

Obama's "Rapproachment" Speech to Iran is a Cleverly Veiled Threat

It's amazing how my fellow Iranians have been swept away by fluttery emotion after listening to Obama's New Year "greeting" to the Iranian people and government. To me, this speech was a very clever threat, disguised in a "holier than thou" package.

Basically, the speech is a sticks and carrots strategy - "if you do what we say, we will work with you" - "if you do not bend to our will, we will label you and outcast you... so you better do what we say!" It was designed to give the American administration an upper hand in the future, a pretext for casting the Iranian government as "non-cooperative" and "unworthy of membership" in the so-called "world community" should the Iranian government not step "in line".

Deception and manipulation, veiled with beautiful sounding words. How seemingly kind and "different" the tone from the previous administration. No doubt, Obama is much more eloquent, much more charismatic, much more intelligent, than Bush (not that either of them necessarily have the final say on their speeches).

But how can Obama call for peaceful commerce, when he has renewed the economic warfare (sanctions) on the Iranian people for another full year?

Also, what is this hypocrisy about "supporting terrorism", when it is his American predecessor who has attacked two sovereign nations in the past decade, completely unprovoked, using lies to sway public opinion, and caused the death of hundreds of thousands of people (including Americans), and the demolition of two countries?

Talk is cheap. And in this case, Obama is mortgaging his own talk, by FIRST renewing the sanctions, and then asking for trade ("if you do what we say").

I am sure that the Iranian people will not linger too long in the mass hypnosis that has befallen them. Soon, they will be looking for real action to back up the words. One positive trait about the Iranian people is that history has taught them not to trust authority. This mistrust in authority has taken the Iranians to the verge of cynicism, but that's a welcome trait of a people in a world where conmen and crooks take to office through the bait of sweet sounding words and the appearance of beneficence.

"The US is Already Bankrupt"

[note: this is a video clip - if you can't see it, click here]

"Technically, the U.S. is already bankrupt because it has a debt that is almost four times the size of its economy, says Puru Saxena, CEO of Puru Saxena Wealth Management. He tells CNBC's Amanda Drury & Sri Jegarajah that the U.S. is at risk of hyperinflation."

Note the recommendation for silver and gold investing at the end of the clip (the link takes you to the one book I recommend you get, in order to understand the US dollar collapse and gain a solid ground on gold/precious metals investing).

"Only Gold Can Protect You"

An article by Krassimir Petrov, PhD, called "Worse than the Great Depression", ends with the following critical advice:

"Investor beware! Only gold can protect you from the ravages of another Depression!"

Click here to learn more about why gold is so crucial for wealth protection (and growth) in the coming years.

Note: gold isn't the only wise investment as the fiat currencies start crumbling... there is silver, commodities, and mining stocks... the book linked to above will talk more about various options.

Obama is a Great Speaker

But a sophist on a sinking ship is the most dangerous messenger.

What Every Investor Should Know (by Marc Faber)

Marc Faber, investor and author
(his favourite book is The Alchemist, and here's why)

Marc Faber (wikipedia bio) is a successful contrarian investor who cuts out the B.S. and speaks from the gut. Watch this intelligent and funny interview he did about the prospects of the world economy: Buy a farm and shotgun...

This is a man who has made fortunes from his investments.

Here are his 10 Investment Rules.

My favourite part:

"Today's society is obsessed with money. But the best investments for you may be in your own education, in the quality of the time you spend with the ones you love, on your own job, and on books, which will open new ideas to you and let you see things from many different perspectives."

I completely agree with Mr. Farber - money can come and go, the strong investor and entrepreneur does not fear it's gain nor loss. Capital is a tool (a very powerful tool), and by itself, will not build strength of character, gratitude and happiness! The true treasures of life are knowledge, nurturing relationships, a happy home and family life, development and expression of talents, living according to our values and spiritual insights... add to this list what you wish, but bottomline is that the real treasure is a life of integrity and wisdom, which lead to happiness.

By the way, Marc Faber is a supporter of gold (to learn more about gold investments, get this book without delay).

(as you can tell, blog Phoenix Rising will be presenting to you useful and pragmatic viewpoints from insightful people, so you can work on navigating yourself and your family through the economic storm)

Listen to this man, and listen closely

Gerald Celente

This is a man I would listen to, and listen to very closely. Especially in these times of drastic economic and political change.

His name is Gerald Celente, founder of The Trends Research Institute and he has accurately forecasted the following trends before they hit the mainstream:



Learn more about Gerald Celente and use his forecasts for financial benefit, as well as to gain a better understanding of the context of contemporary social movements and changes.

Thomas Jefferson on Private Banking Institutions

“I believe that banking institutions are more dangerous to our liberties than standing armies. If the American people ever allow private banks to control the issue of their currency, first by inflation, then by deflation, the banks and corporations that will grow up around [the banks] will deprive the people of all property until their children wake-up homeless on the continent their fathers conquered.”

Jefferson wrote that in 1802... shows how old and endemic the issue is.

The Dangerous Temptation for Empire

As someone who has been part of the ownership/management team of a start-up company, I have witnessed a dangerous psychological phenomenon:

The human drive for empire.

What do I mean by that?

I am talking about the desire to expand, and have more "territory".

Ever since we started our company, people have been imploring us to expand and station more branches throughout the city. In the beginning, I was opposed to this idea. I was opposed to the idea of expansion, because I felt it would create too much work and stress for our team. Why not keep it simple, beautiful, and happy?

But then... I got sucked into the temptation of empire. The temptation of having more, bigger, leaving a mark, having a "network"...

... and I will write more about this, but I can say this much: the desire for empire and the achievement of empire, does not bring happiness. It brings excess work, a sense of entrapment, and a sense of loss of control - which can result in ruined relationships.

Larger businesses, entrepreneurs with more branches, are not necessarily happier than smaller, humbler businesses. I would venture to say that they have more stress, more to manage, more to worry about, and thus... less space for happiness...

... unless they have found a way to completely detach themselves from their business. But still, something complex is always more of a burden than something simple.

Two Keys to Business and Financial Success

The key to business success: integrity-driven delegation (Richard Branson?).

The key to financial success: 1a) save capital, 1b) invest it wisely to grow capital (and for 1b: repeat, repeat, repeat).

Philosophical "bottom-line" of above two keys: alone, we cannot achieve anything substantial.

"Email Bankruptcy"

Email overload can be such a mental strain. Here is a story about a venture capitalist who decided he's had enough, and simply bailed out of email altogether!

I don't believe "email bankcruptcy" is the right answer (it can negatively impact your reputation), but clearly there is a serious problem with the amount of email we are getting. The more we reply and "clear" away, the more we get in return!

For me, email overload is one of the most frustrating aspects of my current workflow. Imagine receiving fifty or so letters a day! That's what email is - receiving letters, with the horrible self-induced obligation of having to respond right away!

Instead of letting the frustration continue, I'm going to do something about.

Here's one potential solution: the Getting Things Done (GTD) method of time and workflow management. This is the instruction book on GTD.

Federal Reserve Chairman Gets Grilled

[this is a video posting - if you can't see the video click here]



The Federal Reserve Bank of America is a private institution. It is as "federal" as Federal Express. Learn more about the problem with the Fed.

Something Strange About Bank Buildings...

Toronto skyline. See those big skyscrapers?

Have you ever paid attention to the largest buildings in city centres?

For example, downtown Toronto.

Have you ever wondered why and how the most colossal structures (thus the most expensive) are all owned by the same type of business?

Banks.

Have you asked yourself "how is it possible to fund such massive buildings?"

Where does the banker's money come from to fund the most extravagant buildings in our cities? If these are private companies, how can they raise such massive infrastructure projects, so quickly, across hundreds of cities throughout the continent (and the world!)?

As individuals, our observations carry significance. Just because others can't see what you see, or don't agree with you, does not mean anything. What registers as odd in your mind should be explored. Whenever a persistent question arises in your mind, it should be pursued. This is the path to finding answers.

Why are the largest buildings in modern cities owned by banks?

How are they able to fund such seemingly unlimited construction?

Where does their money come from?

Skyscrapers are the apex of architecture, by modern standards... almost all owned by banks. Why?

What is "money"?

In order to understand how to protect your wealth, and how to generate true wealth, you first need to know the game you've been unconsciously playing along with.

If you don't know the rules of the current "money" game, you will be played like a fool (and you'll lose). Most human beings across the planet have been snookered by those who have setup the game.

Watch this video as a primer into what the dollars (or pounds... or yens... or kronas... etc.) in your pocket really are. Shocking, isn't it?

P.S. Why am I putting "money" in quotes? Money and currency are NOT the same thing. The paper in your wallet is not really money. It is currency, which is supposed to be a representation of money (i.e. gold or silver). But there is no money backing the currency of today's society (only around 1% of the US dollar is backed by gold). It is nothing but paper printed as a direct result of the indebtedness of the people and their government!

Video on the US Dollar's Collapse

This excellent presentation explains why the American dollar is headed for collapse. The USD collapse will affect the Canadian economy, and possibly drag the CDN down with it (due to the U.S. being Canada's largest trading partner). To find out how to protect your money, and even prosper in the age ahead, begin with this crucial book.

Remember: those who inform themselves, prepare, and take action (by reading books like the one I've recommended) and change to frugal lifestyles, stand strong. Worry is not necessary... action is. I look at the coming age as a time for honesty and adventure. It's an inevitable phase in humanity's ongoing evolution.

Stand united with your family and friends. Share this knowledge, and work together to form community solutions to the challenges ahead. It's high time for team work and cooperation.

- S.R.

"The Collapse of the Dollar - and How to Profit From It"

This book is an essential source of knowledge for anyone who wishes to understand, survive and prosper the coming era of drastic economic change. Get it at Amazon.ca today.

To your health, happiness, and prosperity.

"2009: Another Year of Shock and Awe"

I am researching the issues surrounding the state of the global economy.

My current sense is that we are witnessing the verge of a collapse of the consumer culture. The collapse would come from its own excess weight. It has become too obese for its own good, like a man who cannot get up off his couch because of his own unrestrained indulgences.

Here is one of the most lucid articles I have read about the state of the economy:

http://www.dailyreckoning.com/2009-another-year-of-shock-and-awe/

Not for the faint of heart!

Some highlights:

"The country got into this mess by living beyond its means for more than a generation. That's the message from the debt that's burdening so many individuals; debt is proof that you're living above your means."

"The solution is for people to significantly reduce their standard of living for a while and start building capital. That's what saving is about, producing more than you consume."

"In fact, Americans refer to themselves as consumers. That's degrading and ridiculous. You should be first and foremost a producer, and a consumer only as a consequence."

"The way you become wealthy is by producing more than you consume, not consuming more than you produce."

To become a saver requires a new way of living, based on a new perspective. The new way of living can be summed up with one word: frugality. Of course, not everyone will choose to exit the sinking consumerist ship.

Here's a revolutionary tool for money management and becoming financially prosperous (which is relative and has nothing to do with the zero's after your bank balance).

Feel free to forward this post to your family and friends. Knowledge is to be shared.

Future blog posts: if a sink is shipping, what do you do? (answer: you get off the sinking ship, get on a lifeboat, and look for a seaworthy ship)

Have a great day.

P.S. I recommend subscribing to The Daily Reckoning. It is lucid, honest, and insightful. Accurate financial insight will be important in the year ahead.

Money in 2009, Will Not Be Like Money in 2008

Money is not a trivial issue.

It should be paid attention to, because it is a representation of our energy (given to work, and given back to us). Money can help fund our aspirations and projects. Money has always been a prevalent issue in human affairs.

I believe it will become important in 2009 to learn more about it, and how to manage it.

You see, the world economy is changing drastically. We are all aware of talks about recession and "hard times ahead". However, few of us are equipped with insight and strategies about the real reasons for the economic turbulence that we are going through. The real reasons are complex, and the web goes very deep.

I am researching the matter, and will share with you what I believe to be some fundamental reasons.

I will also share wealth protection strategies, through this blog. To protect your family's wealth.

One thing I have come to understand, is that the US dollar is on course for inflation. Unless some drastic societal changes are made with enduring habitual changes among the indebted American people, the American dollar looks on course to collapsing under its own weight.

Put simply, the greedy dollar has become too obese for its own good.

(to understand why I call the dollar a "greedy" currency, click on the link above - it has to do with the way the dollar is printed out of thin air).

Please note that whatever you read on this blog is my interpretation and does not constitute professional advice. Do your own research for verification, and come to your own conclusions. They may or not match mine.