How Vaccines Train the Immune
System in Ways No One Expected
TED Talk by Dr Christine Stabell Benn
This is a more differentiated perspective on vaccines than we usually hear - one that may offer a new, possibly better direction to our search for a COVID-19 vaccine Here's a brief overview of this talk - and some thoughts and questions it's triggered in me : Third world countries like Guinea-Bissau, where Dr Christine Benn works, often lack dependable basic resources, such as public sanitation, clean water and adequate nutrition. For this reason, children in these areas are especially vulnerable to infectious diseases ; and if infected, outcomes are often far more serious than for children with the same illnesses in developed countries. Vaccines, for these children, may be the difference between life and death. Dr Benn's team has conducted research that shows oral vaccines with attenuated (weakened) live disease organisms have surprising additional benefits for children's immune systems, making them resistant to other diseases, beyond the targeted ones, and significantly increasing survival rates. They've found these kinds of vaccines have important generalized benefits to health. These findings are very significant, Dr Benn emphasizes, and should be explored further. The team's research has also shown that conventional injected vaccines containing dead (killed) organisms or their proteins, have high effectiveness against the targeted disease - but surprisingly, children who receive them are more susceptible to other diseases, and have significantly higher overall mortality than those who receive attenuated live vaccines. Dr Benn notes that almost ALL vaccines today are of this second kind - but that it's planned to phase live organism vaccines out altogether in 2022 How to Understand This Research ? Live, attenuated vaccines provide the same experience to the immune system as the disease itself, and provoke the same reactions - but the infection is so mild, it can easily be overcome. At the same time, however, the immune system learns how to fight off this disease - and somehow, also other diseases - in the future. It should be noted that there's a large body of literature on later health benefits of having had certain infectious diseases - but this is not well known, and is often dismissed or ridiculed in the charged atmosphere surrounding vaccination today. This presentation indicates that much the same benefits can be gained - and more safely - through using attenuated live oral vaccines. A question not asked in the talk, that I think could and should be, is : what explains the surprisingly worse outcomes in children given the other vaccines - those with killed organisms ? It's known that these vaccines do not stimulate the entire immune system - only the part that creates antibodies. Could it be that in not activating the whole immune system, they don't stimulate it enough ? A second question not addressed in the video, but that can also fairly be asked, is whether negative effects of the conventional vaccines lie not just in the antigen - the killed organism - but in other substances in them. Some scientists and healthcare providers express concerns about vaccine excipient substances - other ingredients, besides their antigen components - and in particular, vaccine adjuvant substances. These ingredients, many well known toxic substances, are included in vaccines to cause strong, long lasting immune reactions to killed organism antigens, and trigger antibody production against them. The concerns raised are that extensive, repeated exposures to vaccine adjuvants cause the many, and in some cases very serious adverse effects listed on vaccine package inserts ; and that vaccine safety advocates see played out in their own or their children's bodies. The concern is also that for each dramatic acute effect, there may be less obvious, more slowly developing, yet equally serious effects, that emerge only over time. Safety advocates fear that immediate adverse events are not just the tip of the iceberg ; but that we trade generally mild and temporary infections like chicken pox, measles etc now, for much more chronic problems later. This talks by Christine Stabell Benn points out a possible middle way between rigidly "pro-vaxx" and adamantly "anti-vaxx" thinking and policies : the promise of attenuated live organism vaccines. But as she notes, these vaccines are endangered, scheduled for discontinuation in the very near future. Attenuated live oral vaccines may also present us a path forward in this moment of COVID-19 pandemic. A first step any of us can take is to learn more about this work - and to make it more visible. But this path is also about to close for us - so any insight we gain here needs urgently to be followed by action ! Here are some important further resources : Bandim Health Project See especially : their "About BHP" and "Research" tabs. Vaccines Reimagined To enlarge text size : Click "Ctrl" together with "+" as many times as needed. Support Bandim Health Project Lastly, please note that BHP has no core funding or donations - and that individual donations are highly needed !
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Homeopathy Needs Your Help : HERE'S HOW ! The U.S. Food and Drug Administration recently issued new Draft Guidance on the regulation of homeopathic medicine. Although somewhat better than its most recent previous Guidance - vigorously opposed by the industry and consumers - it still has provisions that could drastically restrict future use and manufacture of these remedies. The FDA is now accepting comments from the public, and this is the time to speak out clearly against restriction of homeopathy and for this important aide to health and wellness Americans for Homeopath Choice has prepared excellent guidelines for responding to the Daft Guidance, that I'd like to briefly introduce to you. Your comments will be sent directly to the FDA, your U.S Congressperson and Senators, our President and Vice President. This is an important moment for homeopathy, and your participation means a lot. Here's what you can do to help : 1) For an overview of the Draft Guidance and its meaning, plus key guidelines for your participation in this process, see this Background for Comments and Messages from Americans for Homeopathy Choice at any time. 2) To send your comments directly to the FDA and elected officials, patiently and carefully complete the steps on this page : https://homeopathychoice.org/fdacomment/ Please note that the page permits you to send a series of three carefully formulated messages. I encourage you to read each of these through (they're quite educational), and make any small changes you feel will personalize and individualize them 3) If you want to comment directly to the FDA (recommended - and a chance to share your personal positive experiences with homeopathy), use this additional link and page : https://www.regulations.gov/comment?D=FDA-2017-D-6580-4828 This is an important matter of health freedom - and your personal comments on how homeopathy has helped you, matter most This said, here are some guidelines to make your comments as effective as possible :
I encourage you to share this need and process as widely as possible. There are social icons both at the top of this page and immediately below, for this purpose. When you share, add comments of your own to let your friends know how important their support is ! Also if you share further on Facebook, or when you click share, don't just click "Share Now," but rather "Share Post" and when the window opens click the check box to the left that says "Share Original Post." This Draft Guidance comment process doesn't just need large numbers of signatures and messages - it needs massive numbers ! Be respectful, factual and succinct - but show the FDA a statement of solidarity it can neither ignore nor forget One more consideration regarding Facebook. Because of its algorithm it may not show your post to every one of your friends you'd like to reach. So if you want to make sure a person - or even more important, a group or page you follow - be sure to tag the people/groups/pages you want most to know. In case you don't know how to tag, just type the @ sign and start typing the name, with no space in between. When the name pops up, just click on it and you've tagged. Facebook may have a limit on how many times you can tag on one post or comment - but you should be able to tag at least ten you want to reach most. You can also copy the URL (the page address of any desired post or page), from the address bar at the top of the page ..... and paste it, with your comments, anywhere you need to ! These are the tools of modern activism, that extend the reach of good ideas and actions needing to be taken. I hope you'll run with them ! Jeff Smith RN (Retired) In watching the most recent Democratic Candidate Debate I was truly impressed by the ideas I heard. I felt that from socialists to billionaires, EVERY candidate had something good to contribute. This brought to mind a thought I've had again and again in this campaign - a way to beat Trump in 2020, if ANYTHING can. I think of it as "The 1972-1973 New York Knicks NBA Championship Strategy" Older sports fans will remember that the key players on the Knicks championship team that year were (later to be U.S. Senator) Bill Bradley, Walt Frazier, Willis Reed, and Earl "The Pearl" Monroe ; Jerry Lucas, Dave Debusschere, Dean Meminger and Phil Jackson (later coach to his own Chicago and L.A. championship teams) ; and Jerry Lucas. They were each outstanding athletes, without a doubt - but what they did better than almost anyone I've ever seen, was TEAM PLAY Guided by NBA Hall of Fame Coach Red Holzman, they moved the ball selflessly until the open shot appeared, and my sense was that it didn't matter WHO took it. They had a different star every game, and were called "one of the smartest NBA teams ever assembled". And they won Difficult as it would seem, these candidates will also need to not compete in the end, but work as a team - starting NOW. Here's what I'd see : Let these candidates, in addition to whatever else they do, meet and talk together - regularly. Let them evaluate themselves honestly for strengths and weaknesses, and their chances with every constituency they can think of. Let them INTEGRATE their good ideas, where possible - and look without illusion at who REALLY has the best chance - "the open shot" And at the right moment, pass that player the ball The best outcome I can think of would be that they become clear among THEMSELVES who that would be, bring the public on board as to why - and support that candidate for dear life There's no reason why these good people shouldn't keep Trump and the GOP off balance for now, with every bit of razzle-dazzle they can muster - but honest-razzle dazzle, for the sake of the country These are ALL good and talented people - but I really think what's needed to beat Trump is a TEAM http://livingwaterswellnessresources.weebly.com/think-it-right.html
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"There are a thousand hacking at the branches of
evil to one who is striking at the root" - Henry David Thoreau Culture, Law and Economics This blog often addresses concerns about vaccine safety - but vaccine adverse effects also belong to a pattern of problems in technology today : namely, of products or practices that serve us in important ways ; but are then at some point found to have intolerable downsides effects that, perversely, we're unable to challenge or change. We tend to notice these problems only one at a time as they affect our lives. As many as we recognize, we fight vigorously ; but we may not notice the high number of them, or the pattern of factors keeping them in place. We fill the air with the leaves and branches of evil, so to speak - but do not discover its roots. Despite even heroic efforts, harm and tragedies of this kind multiply multiply, threatening our whole planet and species. It's now the case that, although our thinking is overwhelmingly scientific, some of the greatest dangers we face have been created by science ; and that once established, they may be almost impossible to un-establish. Our greatest strengths, so to speak, have become our greatest vulnerabilities. How does this happen ? Causes these many, serious problems have in common are not at first easy to discern. Our modern situation has evolved gradually, over a period of centuries. It includes not just our outer, material circumstances, but our concepts - how we understand ourselves and our world. Because they've also evolved gradually, our concepts are highly familiar to us - even to the extent that they become automatic : habits of thinking we take for permanent truths, and never challenge or question. Thus while the problems we face cause us pain, or even extreme harm, they don't necessarily change the way we think And the dangers we face are not limited to technology. Our great economic achievements, our worldwide, efficient mass systems of production and distribution are accompanied by deepening inequalities of wealth, and in various countries, the specter of economic collapse. Likewise the realm of rights and government, our means to improve freedoms and protections in our lives, is prone to infringements on civil and human rights, and a drift into catastrophic wars. What is perverse, seemingly in every sphere of human social life, is the contrast of the immense ability and goodwill of human beings everywhere - and our almost magnetic trajectory towards instability and destruction. On the one hand the goodness and potential of humanity ; on the other fear, doubt and hatred, deepening into an abyss What are the reasons for this - and equally important, what is the way out ? In the aftermath of World War I an idea emerged, that shed crucial light on these questions. This perspective identified three core realms of human social life as 1) Cultural and spiritual life, including education, science, medicine, religion, the arts and other activities arising from the gifts and abilities of individual human beings 2) The realm of laws, rights and government, serving the need of all human beings to be free from injury, harm, coercion or fraud 3) Economic life, encompassing production and distribution of goods to meet the physical needs of life common to all human beings Each of these areas, though different, is essential to human life, and provides something beneficial and necessary. Problems arise, from this perspective, when any of these realms encroaches on another, disrupting or intruding into its natural sphere of activities Although vigorously presented and discussed in Germany after the war, the will could not be found for more. And amid conditions and events that soon led to a still more devastating war, it could not yet take root practically. It was not lost, however, and remains as a seed, waiting to grow into a greater, more fruitful social movement. This perspective is known as the threefold social idea Renewal - Or the Abyss ? The threefold social idea is not an ideology, but an observation of real phenomena ; of factors that lead to health in human social life - or to progressive social destruction. It also not a program or prescription for society, or a rigid party platform. Whoever understands it does not force it on others, but rather thinks and feels differently in social situations, and makes choices contributing naturally to social health, increasingly in his or her affairs. For our present ominous situation to grow into "the threefold social order", what's needed is that as many people as possible understand the needs of culture, law and economic life, and the necessary boundaries between them. The linked article below gives an overview with examples, and a view of where this idea might lead, in a positive sense. More resources on this theme are listed as well ! http://livingwaterswellnessresources.weebly.com/culture-law-and-economics.html
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Thanks to Vaccine Education League of America for sharing elsewhere :
"The 1986 National Childhood Vaccine Injury Act (NCVIA) provides immunity to the vaccine manufacturers for the adverse reactions, vaccine related injury and death resulting from the administration of all vaccines which are on the CDC schedule. There are conditions which extend this same protection from liability to the doctors administering the vaccines. People assume that means the doctors and their staff are immune from the liability however there are conditions that must exist for doctors to be covered by that exemption for liability, such as the requirement that they provide their patient with the same warnings that are included by the manufacturer on the vaccine insert (not an information sheet) and those inserts are almost never provided to the patient, even if you ask for them. The same act also does NOT cover medical malpractice, malfeasance, or neglect and if the doctor ever took the time to educate themselves on the dangers of adverse reactions they likely wouldn't risk losing their malpractice insurance by negligently administering the vaccine anyway. If they refuse to educate themselves, especially when the manufacturers are protecting themselves by providing the inserts, that constitutes malpractice, malfeasance, and neglect. Does that mean I can still hold them accountable ? YES it does. Just holding them accountable by the use of loop holes and alternative approaches to suit. The existence of a properly worded sworn Affidavit and Notice of Liability in a child's medical record is likely to make all nurses, nurse practitioners, physicians assistants, etc not willing to accept the personal liability and administer the vaccine anyway. If they do administer it they can be held accountable. The key is to provide them with proper Notice and in the form of an Affidavit which is a legal document. If they ignore the Affidavit, they are assuming the liability when they administer the vaccine. This type of Affidavit should be added to the medical record of each child and a copy filed with any applicable school nurse or administrator and it's helpful to keep a copy on hand to add to the record of any ER or urgent care if needed. You DO NOT need a separate Affidavit for each child. One Affidavit from a parent or guardian will be sufficient with copies made to each child's file. Those who know me already know my background at law. I do provide these to those who wish to order them but they are not free. These are the same ones we offered from the law firm with a $250 retainer but I offer them now for $25 each to make them more easily accessible to parents who have a need for them. If you are comfortable enough with your knowledge of law to draft a properly worded Affidavit, get it done. If not you can order one from me from my online shop but you do not have permission to use my intellectual property for redistribution (you can't resell my work). When checking out make sure I have the name of the parent/guardian requesting the Affidavit, the County and State where it will be notarized, and en email address to send it to you since these are delivered electronically." https://squareup.com/store/pmapower/item/notice-affidavit-for-vaccine-injury?
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with friends Should you be concerned that measles gives you "immune amnesia" ? Recently you may have heard about a research study indicating getting measles can cause "immune amnesia", and put you at serious risk of harm from other infections. Having - like almost everyone in my generation - HAD measles, my first thought was "What ?" Then I encountered this article, by an immunologist, that explores the matter more deeply, and undoes some of the fear mongering this research has given rise to I'm grateful for an article like this - and to the people who shared it where I could find it. As small an act as it is in the current poisoned atmosphere, it's important that the deeper science be imprinted in the world somewhere, alongside the disinformation IMO it's a scientific and actually, spiritual deed, that we need as much as we need food, or any physical substance ! http://www.tetyanaobukhanych.com/blog/should-you-be-afraid-that-measles-gives-you-immune-amnesia?fbclid=IwAR21iLY_yuYQTZ4eMf3A8ORHjB9hKBHBPrkbfsTRUr2QY00hWn_TbgKsmds
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with friends Measles : A Close Examination of the Facts to Counter the Fear I feel compelled to post articles like this, if for no other reason than because of the courage the writer has to publish it. I would be ashamed to let this kind of integrity stand alone ! If the more radical among vaccine advocates have their way, there will soon be a lot of vaccinations given to children directly against their parents' will. At some point, vaccine related injuries, deaths and immune system dysfunction will become so prevalent that they CAN'T be ignored. Scientific research will draw connections that CAN'T be discounted, dismissed or hidden from web searches. The superficiality of "vaccine science" and inadequacy of vaccine testing will be seen for what they are, and the whole conceptual house of cards will come down. And eventually, whistle blowers will step forward to confirm the corruption and conflicts of interest that have kept all this in place for so long. Where will the radical advocates stand then ? If they claim not to have read articles like this one, then they'll have been negligent - because enough people have asked them to If they're found to have read scientific and political commentary of this kind and not understood it, they'll be seen as superficial medical and scientific thinkers, who have also done a great deal of harm, both to the health of children and the rights of their fellow citizens We'd like to believe there are ways to avoid pain, illness and death in life - and may adore those who tell us we can. But in truth we can only deal with these problems as soberly, responsibly and rationally as we can. If the vaccine "solution" is in fact an illusion, we need to find better ways NOW, not double and triple and quadruple down on mistaken strategies If vaccine advocates are sincere about finding the BEST ways to deal with infectious illnesses, they should reach out to the best among those they considers their enemies - and they might do something magnificent Measles : A Close Examination of the Facts to Counter the Fear
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This headline grabs attention, but the conversation it leads to is IMO, actually more enlightening and encouraging, than shocking
I'd love to see us step back from the ledge of black/white thinking we're standing on today, concerning vaccine safety and choice. This seems to be a step in the direction of sanity, & was a breath of fresh air for me this morning !
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with friends We Have No Reason to Believe 5G is Safe Do you have friends who aren't concerned about the new 5G telecommunications networks being rolled out - or who may simply not be aware of the risks they entail ? We have just one message : share this article from Scientific American with them ! There's extensive research indicating 5G is dangerous, both to human health and the natural environment. There are also concerns about risks to our personal privacy and cyber-security. For your interest, we encourage you to explore these further Resource Articles : 5G Networks And lastly for now, we encourage you to look into things you can actually do to resist this rapidly expanding technology. This is absolutely something to do together with friends ! Stop 5G Networks : Contact Your Local Elected Officials NOW
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The Real Story of Dr Andrew Wakefield and MMR
The prevailing view of Dr Andrew Wakefield in mainstream media is of a man who claimed autism was caused by the MMR vaccine, whose research was not only conclusively proven wrong and fraudulent, but was done in the first place for sake of personal economic gain. This rather explicitly formulated view of Wakefield has come to be repeated almost any time vaccines are discussed in mainstream media, or when people express concerns over vaccine safety or choice. It is treated almost as proof of the safety of vaccines, and as a kind of method and template to discredit others who express concerns, or do research on vaccine safety Demands are being made increasingly today that vaccines be made mandatory, that vaccinations exemptions be reduced, and that the same be gradually implemented for all citizens Very much to the contrary, this review of Dr Wakefield's case by legal scholar Mary Hollands, indicates we should rather be reviewing our assumptions concerning vaccines - and how we deal with those who question them - systematically
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Aspirin Misuse May Have Made 1918 Flu Pandemic Worse
https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2009/10/091002132346.htm The linked article above provides an in my opinion highly interesting historical note. It would be interesting to know how widespread the practice of giving high doses of aspirin for the flu was, during this epidemic. The article notes the possible aspirin toxicity in flu deaths, and I've read that the doses of aspirin given were EXTREMELY high. The article also mentions that the drug industry of the time was touting aspirin for flu, and that doctors were desperate - so again, I wonder how widespread that kind of treatment was Besides aspirin TOXICITY though, there's something else I think should be considered, and that's the use of fever suppressants (like aspirin) with viral illnesses altogether. Viruses thrive in conditions of low body temperature, and are killed by fever, which is the body's first and natural response to them. Giving aspirin would have suppressed the flu related fever, and inadvertently given the virus the upper hand. I've seen the problem of suppressing fever in viral illnesses described very clearly in a German medical textbook from the 1920's. I think it's worth knowing for anyone, to know what they had to say. The book described the course of childhood illnesses like chickenpox and measles that, in the best case, express visually dramatically, but otherwise harmlessly through the skin. This is what it looks like when the body fights off the infection in the optimal and natural way. If it's NOT able to accomplish this - and the book cited fever suppression as a key reason - then the next place the body can try to fight off the infection and push out the "debris" of protein breakdown is the lungs. But measles or chicken pox expressing via the lungs is also a step more dangerous. The next step beyond this, if the body's still unable to fight it off, is for the infection to manifest in the central nervous system, where it truly does become dangerous, with all the harmful effects we fear Why does this matter ? Because when most Americans get even the LOWEST of fevers, they reach immediately for a fever suppressor. We use Tylenol for almost any kind of pain we experience - including, no doubt, the pain associated with flu. For doctors as well, it is absolutely routine to give Tylenol for any fever over 101.5 Fahrenheit, and I'm sure many suggest it for lower ones My point is that very probably, a large portion of the complications we fear from viral illnesses, are caused by the way we treat them. As this article indicates, this kind of treatment of fever has been going on for over a hundred years. And if we count the "casualties" of infections for which we vaccinate, we should acknowledge that we may have done a lot of that TO OURSELVES Although very high fevers can in fact cause harm, fever can almost always be treated by conservative, traditional and holistic means. Doctors and nurses used to know this, and do it. It's a shame that they basically DON'T do it anymore - and may not even know how. I first wrote the above in response to a post by a leading pro-vaccine activist, that gave a dramatic portrayal of the carnage of the 1918 epidemic as reason to make vaccines more and more mandatory As graphically as this portrayed the consequences of the epidemic, and as vehemently as it demanded the solution he sees, it had little to say about possible causes of that event - the perfect storm of - a new virus people hadn't experienced before, and thus had no immunity to - long term stress, catastrophic violence, economic hardship, poor nutrition and disrupted personal and public sanitation, endured by hundreds of millions of people during the wartime years - large numbers of people in motion worldwide, offering optimal conditions for for an infection to spread - social, economic and political thinking and policies on the part of the supposed leadership of society, that made such a war inevitable It's right to reflect on the great epidemic of 1918, but not to use it as a prop to promote vaccines as the one and universal remedy for infectious illnesses - nor to make them mandatory. Medicine makes BIG mistakes, and has had to reverse itself regularly in the course of history. Less drama please, more humility, and more OPENNESS to the "minority report" science - which could actually save us from still greater mistakes ! https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2009/10/091002132346.htm
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with friends The idea of "Medicare for all" is tempting, and we may well end up doing it. But it also contains a FATAL flaw
The fatal flaw is that government has, by nature, no expertise in the realm of medicine - and can never possibly have any This means that if government participates in this medical realm of life it will inevitably either a) be incompetent or b) need to take advice from some group of experts If it takes advice from medical experts, there will ALWAYS be a risk that the experts are sectarian. What does this mean ? It means that there are many, many approaches to medicine and healing - ones that do not necessarily agree with each other This is no small thing at all, because each approach may have millions of people who want that kind of care, who want no part of another kind of care - or may just want to pick and choose, mix and match in their own way If the government were to supports and include ALL these different approaches - take advice from them all, and pay for all the different kinds of service they offer, the government medical system would be IMPOSSIBLY complex, inefficient and unmanageable If the government were to choose ONE medical approach for advice purposes, and to pay for services it offers, this would by nature exclude all other approaches and practitioners from this (all encompassing) system - and with them, all the millions of people who WANT those services This is actually the present situation, with the conventional allopathic, natural science based school in the advice giving/payment receiving position Despite the many valuable contributions of this approach to our health as Americans, this would become profoundly unjust and dangerous under a single payer system ; as it would also become a single OPTION system for anyone who becomes seriously or chronically sick : choose the kind of medical care offered, or receive NO CARE AT ALL, except at your own complete expense Also profoundly in danger in a government system with a single medical approach in the advising role, would be the right of the public to ANY CHOICE AT ALL in regards to medical care. Governments also have the power to forbid certain things - in this case, products and practices deemed unacceptable by the advising medical authorities History has already tried this way of thinking and acting in the realm of RELIGION - and after centuries to experience, rejected it. This was the case when Catholicism had the ear of kings, and the authority kings gave them over public policies. The same repeated itself exactly when PROTESTANT religious sects gained the upper hand in different countries. The non-dominant religion - and the millions of people practicing it - were persecuted, at that time in bloody fashion, and for VERY long periods of time. This was only relieved when a separation of state and church was established - again by a long and bloody process We may in fact adopt "Medicare for all" - but BEFORE we do, we should be completely clear that it will also inevitably include TYRANNY ![]() It All Begins Here
These flowers bloom out of a crack in the pavement near the entrance of the organic farmers market in Ajijic, Mexico - a bustling market of the smallest of small business owners. I don't think anyone invited these flowers, and I'm sure no one cares for them - but there they are, a delight to all who pass by, blossoming freely over long months of the year. They fall in their time, and for awhile there are just green leaves. Yet then there they are again suddenly, shining out as beauty so often does in Mexico - a joyful gift and surprise The farmers and merchants are like this too, and with some we've become friends. Hardy and unique, taking hold of the opportunity - and also like Mexico, ready to meet heart to heart An important theme on our website, and one I wake up with often these days is this : the precious value of the individual human being. The importance of each of us to the world ; the need that this individual be nurtured, and free to find his or place. Without this, the world is very difficult ! To be nurtured is a blessing, a gift from beyond ourselves, to be appreciated and grateful for. But there's also self nurture : the need to be responsible for our own gifts and abilities. Without this, nothing is possible My first strong thoughts this morning - and message I could formulate to myself in my first minutes of waking - was this : "Find in yourself your own inmost gifts and abilities, even if they're humble. Develop and exercise them, even if you start small. Grow beyond yourself ; make your own special contribution ; become that particular medicine the world needs you to be" It all begins here ! Good for Norway ! This is heartening, and IMO reflects an important step in thinking in our times : namely that although we CAN do something, if we see that it may also cause a lot of harm, we can also NOT do it. This is an example of letting a strong temptation pass you by, and it includes a certain degree of sacrifice Have you ever had a tantalizing opportunity served to you "on a silver platter", that you took advantage of, and lived to regret it ? I certainly have ! And have you ever let one of those opportunities PASS, because just in that moment you had an inkling it was the better thing to do ? How did THAT affect your life afterwards ? The tar sands in Canada are another such temptation, as is large scale, unrestrained development of the Amazon rainforest for Brazil today. The rollout of 5G networks in the face of extensive scientific indications that it's HARMFUL to people and the environment is another The rollout of smart meters and of massive, even mandatory vaccination programs, despite warnings from scientists and clear, loud statements from citizens that they have been harmed, are IMO examples of temptations succumbed to, with the consequences just BEGINNING to be reckoned But the theme of this linked article is a positive one, and really should be celebrated. Letting a temptation pass can be a most refreshing, cleansing, morale building force in human life. It can be DEFINING, and set a whole new direction into the future Good for Norway - keep the ball rolling, people !
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with friends ! Chris and Kirsten Shockey and Their Magical Fermented Foods The weaving of tastes and substances ; ideas, experiments, reflection - new tries. They've gone similar processes in their lives, really, as in their recipe making. So much more to both, than than just a product in a jar ! Learn About the Health Benefits of FERMENTED VEGETABLES - and How to Make Them Too ! On different sojourns in the lovely Applegate Valley of Southern Oregon, We've been lucky enough to meet the subjects of this very nice clip - fermented vegetables makers Kirsten and Christopher Shockey. High summer outdoor Barn Dances at their homestead have been memorable occasions for us ; and when I think of the people from the local community, the delicious potluck feasts, the down home music from local musicians, the Shockey's and their family, I can't stop thinking the words "wholesome and healthy" !
Fermented Vegetables : Creative Recipes for Fermenting 64 Vegetables & Herbs in Krauts, Kimchis, Brined Pickles, Chutneys, Relishes & Pastes By Christopher and Kirsten Shockey (We'd also want to give a shout out for Oregon Field Guide, the OPB weekly TV news magazine that showed this clip. This is as interesting, informative and aesthetically done public TV as you could ever ask for - and very much in keeping with our theme of "living water". Click link above for well over 100 typical episodes
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with friends ! Rudolf Steiner "The Threefold Social Organism : An Introduction" by Stephen Usher PhDA superficial look at Rudolf Steiner's threefold social idea, or "threefold social order" might give an impression of a political manifesto, a proposal for an ideal society or utopia. In truth, it was intended as a scientific observation of tendencies that seek to unfold in society at all times - and that create health wherever they do. My sense after living with this perspective for almost 40 years, is that it's deeply grounded in reality ; and that whoever encounter this seldom heard of, almost needle-in-a-haystack viewpoint may count themselves fortunate. At the very least, as Stephen Usher points out, it's an excellent lens and diagnostic tool for understanding things that go right in society today - and things that don't. Worth spending the time to read this all the way through - and if it makes sense to you, worth sharing with friends ! For more on the threefold social organism, see Living Waters Wellness Articles : Rudolf Steiner's Threefold Social IdeaShare this page with friends ! Questions, comments ? Enter your best email address here :
Some things you just gotta do !
Pieter Breugel the Elder - The Harvest of the Hay The Fullness of Human Life Introducing ThreefoldWhat are the conditions that create health in human social life - that give it the potential to truly thrive ? Concepts such as love, respect, dignity come to mind ; relationship ; cooperation ; an element of freedom, which permits people to unfold themselves ; yet also elements of rules and boundaries, for protection of their safety and well being. The threefold social idea is a body of observations on human social life, first outlined by Rudolf Steiner in 1918. It describes three realms of society, namely those of protections, rights and the law ("rights life") ; economic life ; and the realms of art, education, science, religion etc, designated together "spiritual cultural life.' It also explores characteristic differences and conflicts that arise among these three areas - as well as possibilities for their healthy interaction. Rudolf Steiner's writings on the threefold idea are among his most strenuous to grasp, and dense with historical reference ; but also, once penetrated, some of the most satisfying, calling forth a robust and positive image of society - of the fullness of human life. This image is not just a source of hope and goodwill, but potentially, a foundation for practical work. Not least, the threefold idea can serve as a diagnostic tool concerning what goes badly or disharmoniously in society - helping to identify both the "why" of problems that arise, and possible means for solving them. The threefold social idea was first introduced at the worst of times, and under the worst conditions imaginable : immediately after the carnage of World War I, and in the decade of crushing inflation that followed. First and subsequent efforts to "implement" a threefold structure in geographic areas, schools and businesses, have met with very with mixed success. Like other new and important ideas, it's taking time to become a reality. This article series takes its starting point in statements Rudolf Steiner made repeatedly in discussing the threefold social idea : namely, that to take real root in society, the threefold idea first needs to be rightly understood by enough people - at which point they'll simply begin to implement it in their own actions and decisions in everyday life, beginning with those smallest and closest at hand. The effort here is to create overview articles, and share previous overview efforts by others ; and to show how threefoldness lives - or is distorted - in our own world today. The intention is to stimulate deeper and vigorous study of Steiner's own work, and the impulse to work toward threefoldness with others - again, starting in the smallest and most immediate ways. This series is intended as a portal, a doorway to Rudolf Steiner's threefold social idea for any thinking person of goodwill. Examples and elaborations here arise from my own 40 plus years study and consideration of Steiner's social idea, and my own experience of life. Your comments are welcome. For more posts in this series, continue to read through in sequence ! With best greetings, Jeff Smith RN (Retired) Living Waters Wellness Next in series : Introducing Threefold Share this page with friends ! Questions and/or comments ?
education of children. Written in a style skillfully bridging conventional and holistic-complementary medical viewpoints, professional standards and parental needs, A Waldorf Guide to Children's Health is in our opinion a rare, classic text. Now also available in e-book form - to view Table of Contents, click "Description" tab on the page linked below.
A Waldorf Guide to Children's Health : Illnesses, Symptoms, Treatments and Therapies - Jeff Smith RN
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AuthorJeff Smith RN, born 1950. A registered nurse since 1984 - but holistic in my outlook to health since probably around 1968. Living Waters Wellness considers not just the health of the physical body, but our soul and spirit, our social forms, our environment - and as a matter of fact, our whole earth. It's a new website, and a work in progress - but by all means, have a look around ! Archives
July 2024
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