I've always been a fan of letters. Writing them. Sending them. Receiving them. Reading them. A couple of times I've found discarded/lost letters on the streets of Manhattan. One of them is a real gem. It was written by a really smart person to her daughter and it's one of the most interesting letters I've ever read.

Click here to review the archive of the testimony (letters) that were sent to Rena Bryant in favor of legalizing beekeeping in NYC.

For me this is like hitting the jackpot of found letters.

And the bonus feature is that this letter writing campaign resulted in re-crafting of the law.

Now that's more like it

Beekeeping is legal in New York City.

Taking a leave of asbsence

Hi folks.

It's time for me to take a break from blogging so I can pursue a couple of projects that demand a lot of my time.

Before bidding you all adieu, I'll blab a bit about myself. (Isn't that what blogs are for?)

Over the last 4 years I've had 3 blogs. Keeping a blog was really nothing more than my attempt to write frequently in an effort to retain my ability to write at all. And the reason I write at all is because I think no one is listening to me. This view stems from the years of living in a really horrible household while I was being raised by my parents. No one would ever listen to me so I started writing (sometime in grammar school) and kept writing through high school and when I turned 20 I started to write short stories. By the time I graduated to writing short stories I had become consumed with a burning need to write. I used to write all the time and when I wasn't writing I was thinking about writing. Then somewhere in my mid-20s I decided to stop writing. Then in my late 20s I picked it up again and I found that I was a better writer. Then in my late 30s I gave up creative writing (the last short story was finished right before I underwent a life saving surgery). About a year or so after the surgery I started blogging.

Right now I'm undergoing a spiritual shift and I feel it best to put the writing on the back burner and delve deeper into this new stage of personal development. I get rather feverish around personal growth and I've always been this way. I'm never happy to dabble and even if I tend to plunge headlong into activities that might not interest anyone else on earth, I figure, "it's my life and I'm going to live it as I damn well please. " So the writing's just got to be ignored for a bit.

For the past 2 months I've been vegetarian. For the upcoming 4 months I plan to fast from sugar and alcohol. These fasts are meant to allow me to push myself further in terms of meditation and visualization. I feel great after giving up meat. I have a feeling that laying off the sugar -- while it might be a bit disconcerting in the short term -- will pay off huge dividends in the long run. And there's nothing wrong with dividends.

I want to thank everyone who's sent comments and emails remarking on the blog/s. A few people seemed to get something out of reading the blog and while I'm not trying to create any gaps in people's blogging diets, I've just got to head into the unknown. Lately I'm in search of Beyond the Beyond. (As you can imagine, that's pretty far out there.)

I hope that you will keep the following in mind:

1. Life is short, choose wisely

2. Be as kind to yourself and others as possible

3. Believe in yourself (and after you get your head and your heart in tip-top shape) then you should REALLY believe in yourself.

Be good.

quantum foam. it's out there. use it.

Yes. I'm up and blogging at 6:35 am, EST. I probably should've been writing earlier, around 3:44 when I was awakened by a strange dream. Instead I remained in bed until 5:15 when I realized there was no hope of falling back asleep and got up.

A couple of days ago I mentioned that I was into "the unexplained." Later I realized that I was into "that which cannot be explained," and then found myself going in search of an explanation, which is nothing more than a really old, bad habit of mine. I guess I'm a little cranky with the idea that science can't explain ESP and that people want to prove it doesn't exist. That would be -- they want to apply a null theory. Perhaps ESP isn't meant to be explained.

I do, however, have my own pet theory as to how ESP works. There is something called quantum foam and I only started thinking about quantum foam a couple of years ago. What I like about quantum foam is it helped me to understand telepathy. If you are the sort of person who thinks that things you can't see don't exist, then please stop reading this post and go do something really tangible and rational and useful, like clean your refrigerator. If you're the sort of person who thinks there are a lot of things beyond what the human mind can perceive and even many many things that go well beyond the scope of human intelligence, then perhaps what I've got to say might be of interest.

The way I see it: quantum foam is the basis for life and consciousness. Quantum foam is that substance through which consciousness is conducted.

And the reason this explains telepathy? If there is a sub-atomic/microscopic substance, then thoughts (which are electrical impulses (or vibrations) created by the mind and body working together) can be projected or conveyed through this Foam. If there are 2 people who are telepathically linked, then Person 1 sends info to a target/Person 2. For this to work Person 2 has to want to or be open to receiving the information, but once that arrangement has been established, then Person 1 thinks something and Person 2 receives the message. The agent which connected the two, the transportation for the thoughts, was the quantum foam.

For instance when my brother and I were really little kids we used to wake up on Sunday mornings, very very early. I would usually wake up first and I would wait until my brother woke up and sent me a little message, saying "I'm awake. Let's play." Once I got his message I would walk quietly down the hall and then we would talk in whispers until our parents woke up. We had to be extremely quiet so as not to disturb our sleeping parents.

I also think that we had a strong telepathic link because we share dna so it means there are particles in our bodies which are so similar that it makes it easier to communicate this way.

I prefer telepathy to text messaging. No monthly bill.

Telepathy and psi and remote viewing and clear audio and clairvoyance are all made possible via quantum foam.

And I think that intercessory prayer and reiki are two other examples of smart loving people putting the quantum foam to work. If I pray, which I see as charging particles with love and sending/attracting like energy, then I am once again interacting with the Foam. I like intercessory prayer and tonglen because I see it as away for me to disengage my ego and connect with my higher self, which is the selfless self, and then maybe some real love or something good actually happens.

Also, while I like Pema Chodron a lot I find her description of tonglen to be a bit wordy. I'd put it more simply: inhale bad, exhale good.

Usually when I'm awake during the small hours of the morning (3 -- 6) and I can't sleep, I spend a good bit of time practicing tonglen. I figure staring at the ceiling doesn't get me very far and never helps me to fall back asleep. And I hate being up doing "nothing" so I like to inhale the bad, exhale the good. In particular, after the earthquake hit Haiti, I really stepped up my tonglen practice.

I like John J. Oliver. It's not often that someone tells you that they sit in a walk-in closet with the lights turned off, to see if snippets from future headlines of the New York Times come through.

No sirree. You don't hear that everyday.

And yet, when John makes this statement it is not the ramblings of a madmen. This is the sort of thing one expects a professional medium to say.

I took another workshop with John, this one entitled, "Timing is Everything." We spent the day discussing the moon and how to work with it. Fascinating stuff.

Before class started I asked John if he works with angels, he replied, "Yes. Once a year. Usually the Sunday after Halloween."

I was (almost) aghast but kept my thoughts to myself. Meanwhile I was thinking, "Once a year?!?" That's doesn't strike me as the right way to go about this. So I'm in the process of trying to figure out how my daily practice will include (or incorporate) working with the angels. And I'm not talking about the hard-hitting arch angels. I need to get cosy with the regular work-a-day angels. As far as I can tell, most of them are sitting around drumming their fingers wondering when everyone is going to wake up and give them something real to do.

There was one woman in the workshop who wanted to figure out how to go about selling a house that had been on the market for awhile. Fair enough. Although, in my opinion magick should be used to find a cure for aids or cancer, or poverty alleviation. What's with these middle class people who want more material comfort? If there is a God, and I'm not saying there isn't one, he or she must be pretty darn bored with us by now. I know I would be.

I asked John if he had an explanation for the supprssion of wisdom we're living with. He said, "Yes. There's no more mystery." And this got me to thinking. "Am I really into mystery?" "Am I into the unexplained?" And I concluded, "By golly, I am." I think that religion and science and thought and the intellect, that's all very well and good, except for one thing: look at the shape we're in. So perhaps we've got to shift the balance. Because if we were to believe in mystery then we could believe in miracles and then we might start to get somewhere.

How can a rational person believe in miracles? He or she cannot. It is only those who are willing to go beyond what can be reasoned or rationalized who can access miracles. You want things stuck in a nice little boxes with a labels on them? Yeah. Well good luck with all that.

We need miracles and we need to believe in Things that are bigger and smarter than us. We need to restore compassion and and we need to strengthen our hearts. We need to be brave. And I don't just mean once in while, I mean we need to do this each and everyday, as often as possible.

And I do believe in miracles and I don't believe in coincidence and here's an anecdote to show you why.

I was visiting my favorite Aunt. She and I have been good friends going back at least 20 years. I stopped in for dinner last week and I mentioned the angels. I said, "You know they're everywhere." And her eyes lit up and she said, "Do you know about Findhorn?" I said, "No." She said, "It's my favorite place." Then she stepped (more like dashed) out of the kitchen to get The book about Findhorn, her favorite place. Now keep in mind, as her friend you'd think she would have told me about Findhorn a long time ago. And I have a pretty good memory.

She produces this book on Findhorn and excitedly tells me all about. So much so that I probably don't have to read the book. But it's a cool book so I asked if I could borrow it. She said, "Yes. But take good care of it. " (I Always Take Good Care of Books!)

There was no reason for my Aunt to share Findhorn with me until I brought up angels. It would have been time wasted on both our parts. I probably would have thought, "This is interesting," and forgotten about it. But now? Now, I can say, "Cool. Devas." And I get it.

I'm not sure I'm ready to book a flight to Scotland to visit Findhorn as I'm a bit worried that the place might be a bit played out by now but what I found fascinating was that through daily meditation the founders were able to connect with the devas and they turned a scrappy bit of beach head into a thriving garden and spiritual community. Now that's interesting. (And forgive the run-on sentence.)

Now in my daily wanderings, and I do mean walking around Manhattan, I can think about angels and devas and what I've realized is that I want to connect with powerful unseen forces to elicit positive effects. And it's time to buy a new pair of sneakers.

My letter to Rena Bryant

Dear Rena Bryant,

As a longtime resident of Manhattan I was quite surprised when I learned that the keeping of bees in New York City is illegal. While I fully understand that beekeeping might pose some risks, all the beekeepers I have ever known were quite responsible people who took very good care of their bees and never positioned their hives in such a way so as to inconvenience neighbors.

As a former member of the Liz Christie Garden and an urban gardener, I would like to draw your attention to the most amazing feature of the domesticated and native honey bee: those guys are really hard workers and without the honeybee doing her job many of the foods we eat would not be available to us. It is not hyperbole when I tell you that without the ceaseless effort of the honeybee you would not enjoy: peaches, cherries, apples, and pears.

The Liz Christie Garden features a cherry tree. I think of this tree as the crown jewel of the Liz Christie Garden. How astonished was I when I was offered delicious cherries grown on what had once been a vacant lot in the middle of Manhattan? Very. How life affirming is it to walk along Houston Street and come across the trees in full bloom? Amidst all that concrete, tar, steel, and glass are the many flowers and fruits trees that serve as a wonderful reminder that the natural world is thriving.

I hope that the New York City Council will take into serious consideration revising and/or amending Health Code Article 161.01, so that beekeeping can be done openly, in accord with Mother Nature and man-made law.

Honey bees are champion among the pollinators and it would be great to see the balance restored in this great city so that current and future generations of New York City residents can continue to enjoy beautiful flowers, the few cultivated fruits, and of course, that wonderful golden nectar – honey!

I thank you for your time.

Legalize Beekeeping in NYC

If you're interested, you have the opportunity to help legalize beekeeping in New York City. From now until February 3, 2010 the Board of Health will receive testimony regarding the proposed revision to health code Article 161.02.

Right now Article 161.02 reads:

"A beekeeping nuisance shall mean conditions that include, but not be limited to, aggressive or objectionable bee behaviors, hive placement or bee movement that interferes with pedestrian traffic or persons residing on or adjacent to the hive premises; and overcrowded, deceased or abandoned hives."

There are a few ways to share your words:

1. You can send and email to Rena Bryant: resolutioncomments@health.nyc.gov

2. You can go online: http://www.nyc.gov/html/doh/html/notice/notice.shtml

3. You can show up in person and let yourself be heard

Wednesday, February 3, 2010

from 10am-12pm at the 3rd Floor Boardroom (Room 330),

125 Worth Street, New York City (Manhattan)

pre-register by calling (212) 788-5010

Be sure to rehearse oral testimony, keep it brief, and bring 15 copies of your remarks.

The following is the revised text that the Department of Health is proposing, which would lift the ban on honey beekeeping, and which you should be responding to in your oral or written testimony --

"All venomous insects, including, but not limited to, bees other than non-aggressive honey bees (Apis mellifera), hornet and wasp. Persons keeping honey bees shall file a notice with the Department, on a form provided or approved by the Department, containing the beekeeper's name, address, telephone, email and fax numbers, emergency contact information, and location of the hive, and they shall notify the Department within ten business days of any changes to such information. Beekeepers shall adhere to appropriate beekeeping practices including maintaining bee colonies in moveable-frame hives that are kept in sound and usable condition; providing a constant and adequate water source; locating hives so that the movement of bees does not become an animal nuisance, as defined in 161.02 of this Article; and shall be able to respond immediately to control bee swarms and to remediate nuisance conditions."