10th: It's been a while

(bear/bare w/ me, just trying this out again...)

9th: a particle conversation

We are physical beings. Our bodies are composed of many, many cells, and many, many different types of cells. Each cell comes into being, lives, then 'dies,' and its component parts are physiologically recycled. These component parts that make up a cell are many, many different molecules, of many, many different sizes. Some are (relatively speaking) huge, like protein molecules, and some are (relatively) teeny, like water molecules. All molecules are made up of atoms. A water molecule is made up of three atoms: one oxygen atom, and two hydrogen atoms. Every atom (there are about 90 different 'natural' types) is made up of three different types of particles - protons, neutrons, and electrons. They are called 'sub-atomic particles' since they are smaller than the atom itself. Protons and neutrons are both found in the nucleus (centre) of the atom, and they are about equal in size and mass. Electrons are not in the nucleus, and they are much, MUCH smaller than protons and neutrons (electrons are so small that they are sometimes referred to as 'electron clouds of probability,' since they are too small for us to ever accurately determine their exact location surrounding the nucleus of the atom). The relative sizes of and distances between the nucleus and the electrons within an atom are analogous to the sizes of and distances between the celestial bodies of our solar system - the Sun and the planets. Picture our solar system, with the Sun in the centre and the planets doing their seemingly endless elliptical swirling dance around it. To aid in picturing the relative sizes, here's an analogy: if the Sun were the size of a (fully inflated) basketball in Toronto, then the earth would be the size of a shrivelled pea in Winnipeg; Pluto, the planet furthest from the Sun, would be the size of a grain of sand, and it would be on the Moon. The point being, there's a whole lot o' nuttin' in our solar system - almost entirely empty space - and it's the same for every atom of every physical thing in our world. That means us too - WE are all almost entirely empty space! Oh, but it gets better. The sub-atomic particles, the protons, neutrons, and electrons, are themselves made up of even smaller particles, and so on, and so on. However, recently it's been determined that what we think of as the very smallest 'particles' (i.e., 'solid' things) are really nothing but pure energy. Our bodies, and everything else that we think of as real and 'physical,' are nothing more than empty space and energy - thoughts, feelings, beliefs, sorrows, joys, love.

8th: don't let yer chickens play under the powerlines

Subject: high-voltage powerlines. Knowledge: from experience. Suggestion: if you have chickens whose eggs or bodies you eat (or corn that you intend to eat, or broccoli, etc.), do not let them play under high-voltage powerlines. AC power (unlike DC) is not something that is found in parts of the world that have not been made or manufactured by humans, nor is it something that living things evolved in the presence of (if you're into that sort of belief as to how things came to be as they presently are). Regardless, my point is that living things that spend ANY time in close proximity to high-voltage powerlines will be altered; whether they are altered in a positive way or in a negative way, one cannot necessarily say - it depends on the moment. You have been informed.

7th:

Welcome/ come in/ but please, leave your assumptions at the door/ for your are about to enter the lair of/ REMEMBERANCE// If you manage to drop your assumptions/ and give up what you think is your sight/ and your hearing/ and your senses of smell, touch, taste, et cetera/ if you can handle letting go of all of these/ you just might create the possibility of/ REMEMBERING// What you thought was your sight/ and your hearing/ and your senses of smell, touch, taste, et cetera/ were actually nothing but your (and others') creations,/ creations which were fun and interesting/ creations which allowed you to experience lifetimes of emotions/ and which allowed you to form memorable sensory memories/ but these creations disabled your ability to truly/ REMEMBER// Remember who you are/ remember what you are/ remember why you are// Remember// Recall// Begin

6th: avoid these to aid in change

The mirror and the photograph are the two physical things created by humans which hinder a more realistic perspective of reality. By enabling one to view an image of oneself, the 'body in three-dimensional space' illusion is perpetuated. If we instead focus on that which we personally experience (that is, from the so-called 'input' of one's senses), we will have a much more accurate and also a much more meaningful perspective of our life.

5th: Formal name change (finally) official

It only took seven and a half months, but now my formal name change is finally official. I am still me, but, according to the Ontario and Canadian governments, my name has changed from 'Von Carrei' to 'Vauanai Cori' (mostly as a result of my wife and I combining our last names to create a new one, but I thought, heck, might as well change my first name too while I'm at it). Just in case you're curious about the first name, 'Vauanai' is apparently Hawai'ian for both 'saviour' and 'deep-diving fisherman.' Well, it started with a 'v,' which was my main criteria.

4th: an excerpt (subject: time)

I've finally come to realize [or is that remember?] that time (i.e., linear time as most of us usually think of it) does not exist. It goes something like this: The past does not exist (perhaps this is excruciatingly obvious, but requires stating). There is no 'movement through time' from past, into present, then on to future. There is only, and can only ever be, a changing present. Furthermore, (as unlikely as this may seem) memory is NOT a recording, but a creation, based on the present. Our so-called 'memories' of 'the past' are EXACTLY the same as our imaginings of our 'future.' Only the present exists; what you believe to be 'memories' are really just creative imaginings. Focusing all of our attention on the changing present, rather than dwelling on any perceived negative aspects of the imaginings of a non-existent 'past' or 'future,' can be truly liberating. Try it out, and let me know how it goes.

3rd: short message from cedar

" ... 'soon will be the time of burning; you will learn what it means to burn, or to be burnt. This (likely) will occur due to you having sold your soul; the burning will help you to realize that your soul is not yours to sell.' " -- from the lone, hilltop cedar, living in the presence of the napping sumacs and maples