Monday, May 30, 2011

Major Customer Service Mistakes in Marketing


Never repeat the following story that happened to me, just yesterday.



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Most disappointing experience in my adventures on Traffic Exchange circuit. With a lot of bitterness and heavy heart I must write about this.



I posted an article yesterday, praising how careful and attentive is Hilbert Gavel. Lesson, many should learn, if you are in marketing. Today I saw exactly opposite of that.



Well technically there is nothing wrong. However, what I want to highlight is the fact that this is what you should not do.



Soaring For Traffic, Hit Safari and Real Hits 4 you have partnered together to offer something called, Power Surf Central. For a user, I see all of them as partners to the party of promoting it.



I had some technical issue with Real Hits 4 you and I sent in a support ticket. It has been more than 4 days maybe 5 now, and I have not heard anything from them.



So I thought, I would seek some help. I send in a request, politely, opening a support ticket to people over at Hit Safari. Guess what? I was replied negative. An out right I cannot help with Real Hits 4 you questions here with a sad smiley.



No, don t show me that sad smiley. I am not impressed. I may be a free member but I was just about to blast the adverts promoting you three guys. If you are offering a Power Surf Central as a fixed feature on your sites, I believe you are in contact with each other. All I requested was to remind the people at Real Hits 4 you to look for my support ticket and reply to it. You refused to help?



Hmm. What does this tell me about the business model? About the customer support? About partnering members. What would happen if it was a paid member? Forget about it? Is it? No I am not a pain in the back side customer. I would be last person send a support ticket.



It was a genuine request for help not asking for resolving an issue. It was out right refused. I am sorry friends, these three exchanges are going out of my list. Out of my adverts. If you do care to spread good words, please spread this message too.



I am not being touchy or making mountain out of mole. However, an out right refusal of given situation. Well people may argue in favour of Hit Safari. I don t care. I did not get any help/support from Power Surf Central participating member site(s) so all the sites get a bad mark from me. Nothing personal. You slammed the door in my face. You even closed the ticket.



Here is the image of the Open/Close Ticket. As it is. No edit. You be the judge.




Sunday, May 29, 2011

A Candle Blowing in the Wind:


"He came from Germany to work in property sales. Uli Alex’s background was quite different; instead he had worked in the fitness industry specializing in fitting out and starting gyms and fitness centers. He found his time selling property stressful and he went on to study the Japanese hands on healing technique of Reiki. He seemed to have found the right path as people flocked to him for healings at his home. In 2006 he decided to quit his sales job and had a plan of focusing the next two years on himself and his own holistic development. However, fate was to intervene and offer him a life changing experience.
It all happened off Maenam where he used to go “Kite Surfing”. In this extreme sport the surfer slides his feet into locks on the board and holds onto a kite that fills with air according to the vagaries of the wind and takes the kiteboarder scudding across the waves, sometimes at tremendous speed. On this particular day he set off from in front of the Santiburi Hotel and found himself dragged by a fresh wind and strong current to a point some eight kilometers off the Samui coast. He let go the kite and flopped into the water. A golden rule in this sport is never to release the kite because it makes you visible. He was now invisible and three quarters of the way to Koh Phangan! Uli is a fine athlete who has competed in triathlon competitions, but try as he could, he could not make headway against the strong current. He was to spend the next five hours in the sea. His girlfriend and other watchers were desperately worried as the hours ticked by, realizing his chances of survival lessened by the minute. He could hear boats passing nearby but he was too low in the water to be visible! Slowly it dawned on Uli that he was facing death! As the realization deepened thoughts flooded over him. He understood how his way of life had taken him away from the mainstream and his was a different path from the majority. With this thought “he let go”, he surrendered and stopped struggling. It was then that the current released him. Suddenly he found he was able to move and to make headway. He shifted his sights to Bophut and started swimming in that direction. It was then after five hours in the water that the cramps began to seize hold of his muscles, but by this time the Gods were smiling. He had passed his test and a fishing boat came into sight. This time the fisherman saw him and drew alongside helping him on board and then took him back to the shore. Instead of feeling tired he suddenly felt himself brimming with new energy. Naturally everyone was mightily relieved to see Uli return from what seemed to them a certain drowning.
On reflection he realized lazing on Samui was not for him. He still had work to do! He continued offering healing sessions whilst his clientele continued to expand. He realized that he needed candles to make his session more meaningful. The candles available in the supermarkets were not good enough for the job. So he went to Bangkok to learn how to make candles. His efforts were successful and soon hotels and resorts clamored to buy his products. He realized, too, that he needed a retail outlet from which to make sales to the general public. After burning his kitchen at home he elected to open a shop in Nathon’s Walking Street. This was an ideal venue from which to service the Saturday market crowd. He has since extended to join the Walking Street Market in Maenam and hopes soon to include Bophut.
To find out more about these lovely “Prometheus Candles” you can e-mail Uli Alex at samuicandle@yahoo.com or phone him on 085 471 6320."
This article by Alister Bredee appeared in the "Samui Gazette" of May 27th 2011. Candle image thanks to FreeFoto.com

Tuesday, May 17, 2011

Full Moon Parties on Koh Phangan: and Elsewhere, too!


We all know that Koh Phangan is Samui’s smaller sister island which lies approximately ten kilometers to the north of the bigger island. Koh Phangan is definitely less developed than Samui. The south coast is blessed with good roads but as you go north many of these disintegrate into dirt tracks. This makes transportation a slow and bumpy affair. A boat service from Maenam sails the east coast and is often the best way to get to some of the more interesting resorts situated on Bottle Bay. This service serves the Sanctuary Detox resort and Mai Pen Rai bungalows,too. A trip to this region of Koh Phangan takes you back in time and gives you some idea how Samui was 10 years ago.
The Full Moon Parties on Koh Phangan are world renowned. Haad Rin is the nightlife hub of the island and every full moon, 10 or so of the clubs band together to host a beach party which has rocketed to world wide acclaim. The next full moon arrives on May 17th, so if you are thinking of going don’t mark this date in your diary because it is a Vishaka Bucha Day which means parties of the type enjoyed on Koh Phangan will have to be delayed until the following day in deference to the religious holiday. Then surprisingly this peaceful and relatively unblemished island turns into a party goers paradise. In the quieter off season months like the month of May, ten thousand people make their way to enjoy the full moon revellery. They dance the night away to music so loud that it reverberates across the water and can be heard as far away as Samui, itself.
You can be pretty certain it will be a difficult task to find a bed close or not so close to the party unless you book early. For the hardy there is no real need to spend the night on Koh Phangan because an armada of speed boats whisks passengers across the sea from Bangrak all night long. Most people make their way to the party from Samui. You need to book a return trip to avoid being stranded overnight. Another caution is to be sure to find your boat by the appointed time for the return voyage unfortunately some party goers find this a difficult feat to accomplish! Koh Phanagan is definitely worth a visit, so this speedy in an out approach to the Full Moon party is not to be recommended. You would be well advised to spend a night or two across there. Venture away from Haad Rin and there are many breathtaking surprises to be had, because then you have the opprtunity to spend a few days in any one of the many delightful resorts scattered all over the island. As I say if you want to stay during the time of the Full Moon festivities you need to book, this means some prior research is indicated.
However, if you are going expect am amazing evening, where the huge speakers act like jackhammers to drive the beat into your very bones. This makes everyone get up and boogey. It might not be your cup of tea, it certainly isn’t mine but I am told everyone should try it at least once. Instead I shall be going to Jun’s wonderful vegetarian Art Cafe in Samui Town Centre. This is just off the ring road a few hundred meters after the Bophut traffic lights travelling in the direction of Chaweng. She opens her door at 2 and closes them at eight on every full moon day. She donates the food which comprises a healthy fusion menu for free and the happy eaters then pay a donation for their feast. This goes to support a worthy charity. In April the money was directed to recompense for some of the damage incurred by the local floods and the previous month it went to the survivors of the Japanese earthquake and tsunami. To find out more link to their webpage by going to:Check here
By Alister Bredee in "Ther Samui Gazette" of 13th May 2011

Sunday, May 1, 2011

“Infinite Horizons”, top notch Alcohol and Drug Rehabilitation Centre to Open on Samui on May 1st.


“Infinite Horizons” is a luxury “rehab” center slated to open on Samui on May 1st. The property itself sits perched on the side of a hill in the south west corner of the island. The sunset coast is a far cry from the rowdy bustle of Chaweng or even Lamai. In this corner, off the ring road, life becomes much more tranquil and takes on the tone of rural mainland Thailand. Quiet villages nestle beside the sea and acres of coconut trees sprawl upwards to hills that give way to small mountains.
Infinite Horizons perches at the top of a steep road on one of those hill sides. The property itself is decidedly five star. It comprises 9,600 square meters of tasteful luxury nestling beside an infinity swimming pool that affords unbroken views out to sea and the five islands beyond. On a clear day it is easy to see the mainland shimmering in the distance. There are six accommodation types and clients stay in suites that vary from 51 to 161 square meters in size. All rooms face west, affording breathtaking sunset views which can be enjoyed from the privacy of their very own private terraces. Coming to Samui to kick the habit of drugs or alcohol will certainly be a comfortable experience. The program’s creators have decided to limit the number of “guests’ to a maximum of eight at any one time. This makes for an intimate, family sizes community where the client to staff ratio is 2:1. This ideally small number gives rise to caring and personalized treatment programs.
These programs have been carefully designed according to clinical research. They are at the cutting edge of modern clinical practice. As a result the “Center” is able to offer more intensive individual and group psychotherapy than is the usual case. Infinite Horizons is also offering complementary therapies which include luxury spa treatments, yoga, nutritional counseling and natural medicine as well as innovative holistic treatments that have never been seen in a ‘rehab facility’ anywhere in the world. However luxurious the surroundings which are probably unsurpassed anywhere else, it is necessary in order for the project to succeed, to have a professional staff who which is both skilled and dedicated . The creator of this project is the marketing brains behind the venture. He was fortunate to recruit clinical social worker Ian Lyons who has a lot of experience in running “rehab” programs in the United States and elsewhere, including Thailand. The “falang” group are ably assisted by Thai Doctors and nurses, a management team, a yoga teacher and Spa therapists who have all come together to provide one of the most outstanding rehabilitation programs available not only in Thailand but elsewhere, too! When you consider the price of a rehab program in the UK’s “Priory Clinic” franchise, you will find that coming to Samui works out a fraction of the cost. The treatment s are arranged in three programs starting with a 28 day “Detox”. For those in need of a little more assistance there are also 45 and 90 day programs. All programs, besides offering individual and group sessions also have the invaluable component of A.A meetings several times per week.
Admissions to the facility are handled through the Bangkok Office, where all e-mails are seen and then answered by an experienced addiction’s counselor. The reply is confidential and leads to a telephone interview. Once clarity is established secure booking with confirmed dates can be made and treatment can thus begin easily.
On the website there is a short self-assessment questionnaire. This will help the individual determine what his or her needs are and give some indication of the most desirable program length. However, you will still need to undertake the telephone interview before a secure booking can be made. To find out more about Infinite Horizons see their website click here
This article by Alister Bredee appeared in the Samui Gazette of April 29th 2011

Sunday, April 24, 2011

I agree with this info below 100%....


"I dont want to take the time trying to "prove" what I am suggesting here.
I will let you do your own research.
However, I own a $200 electic and magnetic gauss meter called a "trifield meter" and I own a "Stetzerizer Meter" which costs $100.
Both are relatively decent and somewhat professional units for measuring high voltage spikes (stetzerizer meter) in the house wiring and EMF fields (trifield meter).
I was just reading through this website: http://www.sammilham.com/links.shtm and this website: http://www.magdahavas.com/2009/12/05/gs-units-explained/ absolutely astonished once again...even though I have studied all this material years before!

Anyway, I saw a video on one of the sites about compact fluorescent bulbs (CF) giving off bad EMF pollution and increasing what is called "dirty electricity" in the wiring of the house. Since I have a desk lamp (next to my body!) on my office desk, I pulled out my trifield meter and measured the spiral type compact fluorescent bulb when it was turned on and it gave off about 6 gauss of non biocompatible EMF pollution. I took the bulb out and put in a regular incandescent bulb, turned it on, and there was no reading on the meter, no EMF pollution. Then I did the same thing, but using my Stetzerizer Meter and the compact fluorescent did exactly what the video on the website suggested, it increased the "dirty electricity" or "high voltage harmonic spikes" substantially! And yes, these high voltage electrical spikes in the wiring inside the wall do in fact travel through the air into the body according to one of the websites I offered above. Please read this last line again.

Plus I have read or head that CF bulbs have mercury in them, so if they break this is a real danger. My suggestion...throw away or recycle your CF bulbs immediately and forget the bullshit about mitigating global warming using these types of bulbs, they are just another health risk (and I could get into the conspiratorial aspect of this but I will spare you!). I am not sure if there is such a thing yet, but possibly LED bulbs are available for regular lamps and such, not sure...

In addition, although I have mentioned this many times through the years in my emails, here it is again. Very simple, very profound...Walk into your bedroom. Look at your nightstand or any table or headboard you have near you while you sleep at night. Do you see an alarm clock that PLUGS INTO THE WALL? If so, remove it immediately and replace it with a nice battery operated clock that does not plug in. Do you have your iPod player or any other electrical unit by your head or body while you are sleeping? If so, remove them. You will sleep much better and be much healthier.

Recently, a dear friend said to me, "Neil you are preaching to the choir." I explained to my friend that when I send out emails about cell phone use, it is because I know how many of my personal friends still use their cell phones!
(Get an air-tube / hand-free! and use it.... doh! see shop page below )
Also, when assisting a friend of mine recently to put some powerful magnets under her mattress so she could sleep in a regenerative negative magnetic field, I noticed she had numerous electrical toys plugged into the wall and sitting on her nightstand right near her head, one was an alarm clock. Thus, I would suggest that these emails are not preaching to the choir, they are simple reminders to my friends that I am sure will go to the right people at the right time."

- neil (I don't know who Neil is but ever since I installed these bulbs in my house the electricity has been doing inexplicable things and this sheds some light on the situation.)

Wednesday, April 13, 2011

New Innovative Treatment for Addictions and Co-Occurring Disorders Launched by Leading Alcohol and Drug Rehab Center, Infinite Horizons


Infinite Horizons, Asia’s premiere alcohol and drug rehab center, is pleased to unveil a groundbreaking, innovative and experimental therapeutic technique that shows considerable promise when used in the treatment of patients with alcohol and drug addictions or co-occurring disorders.

New York, NY (PRWEB) April 8, 2011

AMBIT Emotional Therapy is an intervention that can be used to treat individuals with alcohol addiction, drug addiction and dual diagnosis, or co-occurring disorders. Infinite Horizons is the first alcohol and drug rehab center in the world to incorporate this approach into its treatment program. Preliminary anecdotal evidence demonstrates tremendous clinical value for this unique and powerful intervention.

Originally devised by Alister Bredee D.H.H.’s contribution to Meridian Energy Healing, thus AMBIT - Alister’s Meridian Based Integrative Technique. The technique depends on muscle testing which has a rapid means of communicating with the unconscious mind. The practice evolved from Kinesiology, which was first devised by researchers in Chiropractic Medicine in the 1960s, but has never before been used in any alcohol and drug rehab center, until now!

In 2001, Dr. Bredee became the facilitator of The Irish Association for the Advancement of Meridian Energy Techniques and was using and teaching therapies like EFT, which he had studied with founder Gary Craig in the USA. “I realized the enormous power of the unconscious mind which can process up to 14,000,000 bits of information per second. It serves as the home of emotions and of memories,” states Dr. Bredee. This concept has tremendous implications for clients struggling with alcohol addiction, drug addiction and co-occurring disorders.

As a result of muscle testing the practitioner can quickly access information from the subconscious. AMBIT techniques are used with clients at Infinite Horizons alcohol and drug rehab center, to find trapped memories. These memories cause energy blockages in the neurologic system of clients, which can also be the principal constituent in disease, or the maladaptive behaviors associated with alcohol addiction, drug addiction and co-occurring disorders.

AMBIT can pinpoint a causative event within a year or two of its occurrence, much to the surprise of the client. The utilization of such an innovative intervention in an alcohol and drug rehab center, with clients suffering from alcohol addiction, drug addiction or co-occurring disorders is quite powerful. Due to his extensive training in Holistic Medicine, Dr. Bredee also realized that negative emotions could be removed from the body by working with the Meridian system. Dr. Bredee presented this discovery at the Second European Energy Conference that took place at Lady Margaret Hall, at Oxford in 2002.

More recently, Dr. Bredee has been influenced by Dr. Bradley Nelson’s “Emotion Code” and he now backflushes a meridian using a strong magnet or Zero Point Energy device to remove the embedded emotion from the neurology. In this way it is possible to permanently remove a gamut of negative emotions that are often the root causes for symptoms of alcohol addictions and drug addictions quite rapidly. Today, Alister Bredee is a key member of the clinical team at Infinite Horizons rehab center.

The Clinical Team at Infinite Horizons asserts that AMBIT, when used in conjunction with traditional medical and holistic therapies, will significantly improve success rates for clients suffering from alcohol addiction, drug addiction and co-occurring disorders, post discharge from treatment.

Infinite Horizons, is an alcohol and drug rehab center, located on the beautiful tropical island of Koh Samui in Thailand. The facility is second to none in providing luxurious facilities, amenities and opulent accommodations. In addition to this exciting new technique, Infinite Horizons offers a fully comprehensive treatment program, administered by highly educated and trained clinicians. .For more information visit Infinite Horizons.


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Monday, April 4, 2011

“The Islands May Call; You Come Away, Come Away!”



"Australian film director Rhonda Byrne took the world by storm in 2006 when she premiered ‘The Secret”. This was not a conventional movie that depended on audiences filling cinemas; instead she set out to sell it in DVD format. Thanks to a stunning trailer the world was agog with anticipation when the sales campaign took off. In essence she adapted a long forgotten book called “The Science of Getting Rich” by Wallace Wattles which talks about the metaphysical law of attraction. This law states that thoughts are things; if we set out minds on something we will in time bring in into reality. As a result lots of people spent an inordinate amount of time visualizing Porsches for example and in most cases to no avail! Yes, indeed it is possible to bring experiences and material “goodies’ into our world but all limiting beliefs blocking the materialization process will halt the manifestation. The unconscious mind is a bit like an iceberg. Ten per-cent remains above the surface and is apparent for all to see but another 90% lurks underneath quite hidden from view. If for example, your unconscious believes a Porsche is too expensive then there is scant likelihood of bringing one of these vehicles into your possession.
In the film there were approximately 20 individuals, referred to as “teachers” who explained the ideas. Most of these people were drawn from the field of self-development including motivational speakers like Joe Vitale and Bob Proctor. Among them was Michael Beckwith, a minister of religion who founded the Agape International Spiritual Centre located in the greater Los Angeles area. He began his Church in 1986 which today boasts a congregation in excess of 9,000. Michael Beckwith is a powerful orator full of wisdom and common sense. His charisma has drawn celebrity figures like Oprah Winfrey to him and the valuable work done by the church’s outreach program has attracted many thousands more. They feed homeless people, visit prison inmates and help support their families as well as work to ecologically preserve the planet whilst giving assistance to orphanages that are home to children suffering from AIDS.
Where do the islands come into this story? There are two islands very far apart. One of them is Koh Samui and the other Maui. Paul Rambo has been living on Samui for several months now and succinctly draws all these disparate strands together. He and Michael Beckwith grew up together in the same Los Angeles suburb and like Michael he too is a Minister of religion. Paul moved to the Big Island of Hawaii some thirty years ago where he was fortunate enough to study Huna. Huna means “secret” and the islands abound with a rich history of ancient knowledge which because of Hawaii’s remote location has not been diluted by other cultures and other thinking patterns. He studied Ho’opono pono with “National Treasure” of Hawaii, Morrnah Simeona, who adapted an ancient Hawaiian practice for solving local disputes and turned it into a means of communication with what the Hawaiians refer to as the three selves and we in the West know as the Superconscious, Conscious and Unconscious minds. This technique enables us to communicate more effectively with ourselves and ultimately with a higher power. Simeona presented “Ho’opono pono” to the United Nations. It is a great pity they have not been able to use the method to bring genuine and lasting peace to the world!
Paul later moved to Maui where he has officiated at over 100 weddings. When Michael Beckwith and his wife Rikki wanted to renew their vows after 7 years of marriage, it was to Maui they went where Paul assisted with the Hawaiian chanting at the ceremony. Many people come to Samui to get married and Paul is happy to officiate at the ceremonies. As he is on the island he also offers therapy sessions where he incorporates Ho’opono pono and Karuna Reiki. All of this brings the soul into alignment with the spirit self and makes it easier to make the law of attraction work in your life. He can be contacted a via his website http://spiritsoulconnection.com"

This article by Alister Bredee appeared in the Samui Gazette of April 4th 2011

Friday, March 25, 2011

Poisoned Food Claims 48 Victims at the Dog and Cat Rescue Center.



Brigitte Gomm the founder of Samui’s Dog and Cat Rescue Center is distraught, and quite rightly so. In late February/ early March the Center lost 43 dogs with a further five dying later.
The tragedy started with “Sporty” who commenced with intestinal bleeding leading to death. Two other dogs at the Ban Talig Ngam Center followed within the next two days. The problem, whatever it was, appeared to be liver related as the dogs took on a jaundiced yellow hue on becoming ill. There was a definite problem, but at the time nobody seemed to know what it was! Samples were sent to the Samui Bangkok Hospital for lab tests. The cost was high and the results were inconclusive. Remember, the Rescue Centre is not a commercial operation it depends on charitable donations in order to survive!
As the death toll mounted Brigitte and her colleagues began to suspect poisoning of some sort. They attended to the obvious and cleaned feeding bowls more thoroughly and stopped using the water from their well, because the land behind the shelter had been recently cleared and they felt pesticides might have leached into the water table.
It seemed strange that dogs were dying in Taling Ngam but were unaffected in Chaweng. Why was this? Then the truth began to dawn. The fifty dogs at the Chaweng shelter were all fed on leftovers and donations but the dogs in the other and bigger facility depended largely on dry dog food from Bangkok. Brigitte looked at the dry food. First they stopped using it and secondly they sent samples to Bangkok for analysis. As no results appeared they bought a small test lab, themselves. They found the food was contaminated with Alpha-Toxins, or so they said. Alpha-Toxins are bacterial infestations like staphylococcuus and clostridium. These can cause conditions like pneumonia and severe stomach upsets that can affect the liver.
As soon as they stopped using the food, it was remarkable to see many dogs beginning to get better. Sadly some were too badly affected and did not! To counteract the poisoning every dog was given vitamins and liver supplements. This was an expensive but necessary life supportive treatment.
Now, Brigitte and her team understood why so many of their dogs had died, so they contacted the food supplier in Bangkok. The vet in question explained that they had changed the food formulation the month before. Instead of using a rice base they had moved over to corn. This could well have been caused by the rising rice price. Corn is notorious in how it can easily become mouldy thus creating alfla toxins which are very damaging to the liver. These moulds abound in Thailand, especially in the rainy season. The supplier did not offer to refund the product, but suggested reblending it with a non-affected base. Yes, this would simply make the food a little less toxic! Not surprisingly the Dog and Cat Rescue team refused this offer. The supplier was also annoyed that Samui had warned the “Soi Dog “organization in Phuket who also received their dry food from him. This largely averted a potential tragedy there. Sadly 5 of their dogs died but they were saved the horrific ravages experienced in Koh Samui.
To date the Bangkok producer has received THB 206,000 in payments for his goods. He has made no offer of restitution. He has now blocked all calls from Brigitte but it is unlikely his problems will end there. Another customer, a vet in Bangkok breeds huskies. To date he has lost all 24 of his dogs. It is unlikely he will let this pass lightly!
This is a very sad story where the food manufacturer stands a good chance of going scot free for his negligence. The Samui Cat and Dog Rescue Center has accrued large expenses because of this fiasco. They are a charitable organization and depend on donations for their survival. If you could find a way of helping them in this tragic time, they would be truly grateful. You can find more about this story and have an opportunity to help by visiting their website at "http://www.samuidog.org"

Sunday, March 20, 2011

What the Mayan Elders are Saying about 2012--by Carlos Barrios


Carlos Barrios, Mayan elder and Ajq'ij (is a ceremonial priest and spiritual guide) of the Eagle Clan. Carlos initiated an investigation into the different Mayan calendars circulating. Carlos along with his brother Gerardo studied with many teachers and interviewed nearly 600 traditional Mayan elders to widen their scope of knowledge.

Carlos found out quickly there were several conflicting interpretations of Mayan hieroglyphs, petroglyphs, Sacred Books of 'Chilam Balam' and various ancient text. Carlos found some strong words for those who may have contributed to the confusion:

Carlos Barrios: "Anthropologists visit the temple sites and read the inscriptions and make up stories about the Maya, but they do not read the signs correctly. It's just their imagination. Other people write about prophecy in the name of the Maya. They say that the world will end in December 2012. The Mayan elders are angry with this. The world will not end. It will be transformed."

"We are no longer in the World of the Fourth Sun, but we are not yet in the World of the Fifth Sun. This is the time in-between, the time of transition. As we pass through transition there is a colossal, global convergence of environmental destruction, social chaos, war, and ongoing Earth Changes."

He continues: "Humanity will continue, but in a different way. Material structures will change. From this we will have the opportunity to be more human. We are living in the most important era of the Mayan calendars and prophecies. All the prophecies of the world, all the traditions are converging now. There is no time for games. The spiritual ideal of this era is action."

Carlos tells us: "The indigenous have the calendars and know how to accurately interpret it -- not others. The Mayan Calendars comprehension of time, seasons, and cycles has proven itself to be vast and sophisticated. The Maya understand 17 different calendars such as the Tzolk'in or Cholq'ij, some of them charting time accurately over a span of more than ten million years.

"All was predicted by the mathematical cycles of the Mayan calendars. -- It will change --everything will change. Mayan Day-keepers view the Dec. 21, 2012 date as a rebirth, the start of the World of the Fifth Sun. It will be the start of a new era resulting from and signified by the solar meridian crossing the galactic equator and the Earth aligning itself with the center of the galaxy."

At sunrise on December 21, 2012 for the first time in 26,000 years the Sun rises to conjunct the intersection of the Milky Way and the plane of the ecliptic. This cosmic cross is considered to be an embodiment of the Sacred Tree, The Tree of Life, a tree remembered in all the world's spiritual traditions.

Some observers say this alignment with the heart of the galaxy in 2012 will open a channel for cosmic energy to flow through the Earth, cleansing it and all that dwells upon it, raising all to a higher level of vibration. Carlos reminds us: "This process has already begun. Change is accelerating now and it will continue to accelerate.

If the people of the Earth can get to this 2012 date in good shape without having destroyed too much of the Earth, we will rise to a new, higher level. But to get there we must transform enormously powerful forces that seek to block the way."

The date specified in the calendar Winter Solstice in the year 2012 does not mark the end of the world. Many outside people writing about the Mayan calendar sensationalize this date, but they do not know. The ones who know are the indigenous elders who are entrusted with keeping the tradition.

Carlos tells us: "The economy now is a fiction. The first five-year stretch of transition from August 1987 to August 1992 was the beginning of the destruction of the material world. We have progressed ten years deeper into the transition phase by now, and many of the so-called sources of financial stability are in fact hollow. The banks are weak. This is a delicate moment for them. They could crash globally, if we don't pay attention. Now, people are paying attention."

The North and South Poles are both breaking up. The level of the water in the oceans is going to rise. But at the same time land in the ocean, especially near Cuba, is also going to rise. Carlos tells a story about the most recent Mayan New Year ceremonies in Guatemala. He said that one respected Mam elder, who lives all year in a solitary mountain cave, journeyed to Chichicastenango to speak with the people at the ceremony. The elder delivered a simple, direct message. He called for human beings to come together in support of life and light.

"Right now each person and group is going his or her own way. The elder of the mountains said there is hope if the people of the light can come together and unite in some way. We live in a world of polarity -- day and night, man and woman, positive and negative. Light and darkness need each other. They are a balance."
"Just now the dark side is very strong, and very clear about what they want. They have their vision and their priorities clearly held, and also their hierarchy. They are working in many ways so that we will be unable to connect with the spiral Fifth World in 2012."

"On the light side everyone thinks they are the most important, that their own understandings, or their group's understandings, are the key. There's a diversity of cultures and opinions, so there is competition, diffusion, and no single focus."

Carlos believes the dark side works to block unity through denial and materialism. It also works to destroy those who are working with the light to get the Earth to a higher level. They like the energy of the old, declining Fourth World, the materialism. They do not want it to change. They do not want unity. They want to stay at this level, and are afraid of the next level.

The dark power of the declining Fourth World cannot be destroyed or overpowered. It's too strong and clear for that, and that is the wrong strategy. The dark can only be transformed when confronted with simplicity and open-heartedness. This is what leads to unity, a key concept for the World of the Fifth Sun.

Carlos said the emerging era of the Fifth Sun will call attention to a much-overlooked element. Whereas the four traditional elements of Earth, Air, Fire and Water have dominated various epochs in the past, there will be a fifth element to reckon with in the time of the Fifth Sun --- that element is 'ETHER'.

The dictionary defines Ether as a "hypothetical substance supposed to occupy all space, postulated to account for the propagation of electromagnetic radiation through space." Perhaps it could be defined as the "space between space". I would suggest it could be manifest as the alignment of charged particles from our solar system (Sun), and our galaxy (Milky Way) surge. The Ether element represents spiritual energy.

"The element of the Fifth Sun is celestial. Within the context of Ether there can be a joining of the polarities. No more darkness or light in the people, but an uplifted unity. But right now the realm of darkness is not interested in this. They are organized to block it. They seek to unbalance the Earth and its environment so we will be unready for the alignment in 2012."

"We need to work together for peace, and balance with the other side. We need to take care of the Earth that feeds and shelters us. We need to put our entire mind and heart into pursuing unity and unity now, to confront the other side and preserve life."
"We are disturbed -- we can't play anymore. Our planet can be renewed or ravaged. Now is the time to awaken and take action. Everyone is needed. You are not here for no reason. Everyone who is here now has an important purpose. This is a hard but a special time. We have the opportunity for growth, but we must be ready for this moment in history."

Carlos says: "The prophesied changes are going to happen, but our attitude and actions determine how harsh or mild they are. We need to act, to make changes, and to elect people to represent us who understand and who will take political action to respect the Earth."

"Meditation and spiritual practice are good, but also action. It's very important to be clear about who you are, and also about your relation to the Earth. Develop yourself according to your own tradition and the call of your heart. But remember to respect differences, and strive for unity. Eat wisely --- a lot of food is corrupt in either subtle or gross ways. Pay attention to what you are taking into your body. Learn to preserve food, and to conserve energy. Learn some good breathing techniques, so you have mastery of your breath. Be clear. Follow a tradition with great roots. It is not important what tradition, your heart will tell you, but it must have great roots."

"We live in a world of energy. An important task at this time is to learn to sense or see the energy of everyone and everything -- people, plants, animals. This becomes increasingly important as we draw close to the World of the Fifth Sun, for it is associated with the element 'ether' -- the realm where energy lives and weaves. Go to the sacred places of the Earth to pray for peace, and have respect for the Earth which gives us our food, clothing, and shelter. We need to reactivate the energy of these sacred places. That is our work."

"One simple but effective prayer technique is to light white or baby-blue colored candles. Think of a moment in peace. Speak your intention to the flame and send the light of it on to the leaders who have the power to make war or peace."
Carlos reminds us this is a crucially important moment for humanity and for Earth. Each person is important.

He said the elders have opened the doors so that other races can come to the Mayan world to receive the tradition. "The Maya have long appreciated and respected that there are other colors, other races, and other spiritual systems. They know that the destiny of the Mayan world is related to the destiny of the whole world."

"The greatest wisdom is in simplicity. Love, respect, tolerance, sharing, gratitude, forgiveness. It's not complex or elaborate. The real knowledge is free. It's encoded in your DNA. All you need is within you. Great teachers have said that from the beginning. Find your heart, and you will find your way."

---
~Carlos Barrios
What the Mayan Elders are Saying About 2012

Thursday, March 17, 2011

GOD



The little child whispered,
"God, speak to me"
And a meadowlark sang.
But the child did not hear.

So the child yelled,
"God, speak to me!"
And the thunder rolled across the sky
But the child did not listen.

The child looked around and said,
"God let me see you"
And a star shone brightly
But the child did not notice.

And the child shouted,
"God show me a miracle!"
And a life was born
But the child did not know.

So the child cried out in despair,
"Touch me God, and let me know you are there!"
Whereupon God reached down
And touched the child.
But the child brushed the butterfly away
And walked away unknowingly.


Author Unknown