Environment Can Affect New Years Resolutions

Land imprints, Samskaras Shape Us                      

Many of us made a resolution to change some habit or pattern of behavior this New Year. What you need to realize is that your environment shapes your behavior; so  if you don’t change your environment your chances of altering your behavior are greatly reduced.

This may sound odd, but science says this a fact.

NPR did a segment on the influence of space on changing behavior, What Heroin Addiction Tells Us About Changing Bad Habits http://www.npr.org/blogs/health/2015/01/05/371894919/what-heroin-addiction-tells-us-about-changing-bad-habits and noted how Viet Nam vets addicted to heroin kicked their habit at very high rates and with very low relapses.  Psychologists eventually came to learn that the incredible success rate was because coming back home meant changing the environment and the changed environment was behind the succes.

As psychologist David Neal notes, "People, when they perform a behavior a lot — especially in the same environment, same sort of physical setting — outsource the control of the behavior to the environment.

We are intimately connected to Mother Earth and location matters because our thoughts and behavior remain where they are generated. I call these thoughts and actions land imprints or geographic samskaras http://www.jubileeinitiative.org/samskaras.html and they have a powerful influence upon us. So unless you clear up your space where the behavior you are looking to change occurs the space will continue to beckon you to repeat the behavior.

Space matter. Honor Mother Earth!

Schoharie United Presbyterian ChurchSchoharie United Presbyterian Church

Schoharie United Presbyterian Church
The Fire of Social Justice Still Burns
Schoharie, NY 

One of the many places of Prayer in Upstate NY.

Schoharie United Presbyterian Church in Schoharie, NY is located in NY’s Capital District not more than a few hours north of New York City and affords a unique opportunity for those living in the capital or tri-state areas. It has a precious piece of Mother Earth’s soul that has been sweetened by the actions, intentions and prayers of all those that have worshipped there.

The church is a testament that Mother Earth’s Soul still blazes in upstate NY and that the divine consciousness that spirited the women’s movement, America’s Second Great Awakening, The Burnt Over District, North Star County, The New Age Movement, Spiritualism and so much more still inspires. Chris Hedges a prominent figure in progressivism and the pursuit of social justice, spent his formative years affiliated with the church from 1960 to 1971 when his father Thomas Hedges served as pastor.

The Church

Founded in 1734 the church is one of the oldest structures in Schoharie County. It is dedicated to community involvement allowing various organizations to use the church. It started and runs the town’s food pantry. The congregation emphasizes service and has contributed to many causes.

Chris Hedges is a Pulitzer prize winning journalist that has been a strident voice for social justice and progressive issues. He has shown the willingness to stand behind his beliefs as he was reprimanded by his former employer the NY Times for publicly criticizing the paper’s impartiality in covering the Iraq war. Chris authored what The New York Times described as "a call to arms" for the first issue of The Occupied Wall Street Journal, the newspaper giving voice to the Occupy Wall Street protests in Zuccotti Park, New York City. He writes a weekly column for Truthdig and has authored numerous books.

A former pastor in the 70’s and 80’s Bob, “Smitty” Smith, arranged with local farmers to allow various food coops and pantries to glean their fields after they had been picked. He also led the effort to prevent Schoharie valley from being flooded and converted to a larger reservoir for NYC, putting the town of Schoharie underwater.

In 2011 the church like much of the town was flooded from severe rain and some restoration work stills remains to be done. For more on the churches history go to:Church History

The Fire Still Burns

In 2002 I was called to gather people to pray around Onondaga Lake. It was here the Native America (Haudenosaunee, Iroquois) prophet the Peacemaker planted the Tree of Peace and gave us the Great Law of Peace upon which the America constitution is based. I have been searching NYS seeking to learn from and connect to Mother Earth. This led me to the understanding that upstate NY has been a wellspring for much of what inspires and motivates our greatest aspirations.

During that search an aspect of Mother Earth, what I call fields of consciousness, was revealed to me. Ley lines emanate from these fields which are associated with sacred sites. I have found these fields in places where social justice and spiritual movements were born, places where epiphanies occurred (Charles Grandison Finney, Clara Barton, Thomas Merton) and where great people lived (Harriet Tubman, Susan B. Anthony, Gerrit Smith, Elizabeth Cady Stanton, Fredrick Douglas...)

That was the 19th century or earlier and it could be argued that it was the time and not the place that drove so many great movements and inspired so many great souls.

General Overview
Stacked Fields, highest number	5
Vibe Geographic Samskaras	Positive to Very Positive
Vortices of cosmic prana	0
Other Divine Features	Yes
Indoor prayer places	Yes

When my friend Ira Glunts told me that Chris Hedges grew up in Schoharie and that his father was a minister there I was intrigued and wanted to visit the church. It took a few years to finally get around to doing a review.

Experiencing the Church

There is a very positive and friendly atmosphere to the church. The geographic samskaras, thought forms, within the church are very positive and enhance your spiritual experience. There were no vortices within the church.

There are fields of consciousness throughout the church. The strongest and most potent area is the right side of the church as you face the lectern. There is a stacked field of 5—very nice considering that the church is rather far from the heart of Mother Earth’s soul, the Rochester Utica corridor. Each field of consciousness on top of, or stacked upon another adds to the strength of a field.

I would recommend meditating or praying in the pews on the right side.

If you go

SchoharieUnited Presbyterian Church is located at 314 Main St. Schoharie, NY. Churches website Schoharie United Presbyterian Church

There are several noteworthy places closeby that you should consider visiting:

Kateri Tekakwitha shrine in Fonda, NY about 30 minutes to the north has a chapel that can move you to tears--a powerful place of prayer with numerous vortices. Kateri was a Mohawk that converted to Catholicism and was recently canonized to Sainthood in October of 2012.
Abode of the Message in New Lebanon, NY about 30 to 45 minutes to the east is the home of a Sufi order that once was a home to the Shakers. It has a wonderful feel to it, many divine features and offers a variety programs. To see ofther nearby places of interest nearby or on your way go to Places of Prayer

Thanks to Lorraine Mavins for her photography and assistance.

Peace,
In emailing me make sure to change (at) to @ in the address header: madis senner

Madis Senner

Back to Places of Prayer
Back to Mother Earth Prayers

Trees Help Resist Cardiovascular Disease-- US Forest Service

Trees Help Resist Cardiovascular Disease Reports US Forest Service 

Will the Emerald Ash Borer Increase Cardiovascular and Respiratory Deaths in NYS?

With the emerald ash borer devastating ash trees across the country research is showing that areas struck by the ash borer have seen a significant rise in cardiovascular disease and pneumonia. So reports the US Forest Service in “The Relationship Between Trees and Human Health.” 

It noted that “[t]here is increasing evidence from multiple scientific fields that exposure to the natural environment can improve human health.”

Researchers concluded that;

"There was an increase in mortality related to cardiovascular and lower-respiratory-tract illness in counties infested with the emerald ash borer. The magnitude of this effect was greater as infestation progressed and in counties with above-average median household income. Across the 15 states in the study area, the borer was associated with an additional 6113 deaths related to illness of the lower respiratory system, and 15,080 cardiovascular-related deaths."

Interestingly researchers found that wealthier areas devastated by the ash borer had higher mortality rates:

“The borer had a greater effect in counties whose median household income was above average. There are a number of possible interpretations for these results. People in wealthier counties may have greater access to ash trees, so the death of these trees has a greater impact on them. In particular, urban areas within wealthier counties may have more trees, or better maintain them. Indeed, past studies have found that within a city, wealthier neighborhoods have more tree-canopy cover.

It also is possible that trees provide different benefits in wealthier areas. For example, Troy and Grove found that proximity to urban parks increased the sales price of homes in wealthier neighborhoods, whereas, in poor neighborhoods, houses close to parks sold for less. The authors suggest that parks may attract criminal behavior in poorer neighborhoods, so residents are not able to benefit from the park as much as people living in a wealthier neighborhood. In addition, risk factors such as air quality, which trees can mediate, may be different in wealthier counties.”

Thanks to Bill Dewey of Gossamer Wood for passing along this report.

For more information about Mother Earth’s health benefits go to: Mother Earth Prayers' Health Pantry 

“Illnesses do not come upon us out of the blue. They are developed from small deadly sins against nature. When enough sins have accumulated, illness will suddenly appear.”

Hippocrates

Madis Senner

www.motherearthprayers.org

Nature Nurtures Creativity

Friends,

Get outside and connect with mother earth she will nurture your creativity as noted in a study last week on CBS:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7aBIE-E2LCc

madis senner

www.motherearthprayers.org

Meditative Seat Cushion

Friends,

Fall is the time to buy a meditative cushion that you can take with you when you meditate outside. You can buy a clip and attach it to your belt loop. You can also use the cushion when you meditate in the house.

Go to a large box store or a sporting goods store such as Dicks and ask for a Sportsman's Cushion. They usually are colored camo and are priced $5 to $10. I have a link to Amazon below as well.

I would be a flexible one that retains your body heat and is plasticized so it is not affected by rain.

Here are a few examples:

 http://www.amazon.com/Allen-Company-Nylon-Thermo-Seat/dp/B003TWUXFI

 
 http://www.cheaperthandirt.com/product/6-2012286

 http://www.eders.com/products/allen-thermo-seat-brkup.html

There are many other types:

http://www.tractorsupply.com/outdoor-living/hunting-fishing/sportsman-series-camo-seat-cushion-1031102http://www.tractorsupply.com/outdoor-living/hunting-fishing/sportsman-series-camo-seat-cushion-1031102

 http://www.walmart.com/ip/Mossy-Oak-Camo-Foam-Cushion/15435980

 http://www.walmart.com/ip/Realtree-Camo-Seat/21501729

 madis senner
 www.motherearthprayers.org

Swami Vivekananda’s cottage in the Thousand Islands:

Friends,

I just posted this YouTube Video on Swami Vivekananda’s cottage in the Thousand Islands:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_Cm97x5CE6U&feature=youtu.be

The cottage will be open for a few more weeks this summer and I suggest you go visit and participate in the satsang at 5PM.

Madis

www.motherearthprayers.org

SWami Vivekananda's Thousand Island Cottage Is Open for the Summer

Friends,

For those that meditate, do yoga and or are drawn to Hinduism (Vedanta in particular) one of the great things to do over the summer is to visit Swami Vivekananda’s cottage on Wellsley Island in the Thousand Islands. He was a devotee of Sri Ramakrishna and is credited for introducing Eastern religions to the west.

They have a satsang each day around 4 or 4:30 where the sing and chant followed by a meditation. Lovely. Make sure to bring a meditation cushion. Call in advance for the time. If you want to go sor the satsang I suggest not going when a large group from metro NYC will be there.

Madis Senner
www.motherearthprayers.org

Here is my review of Swami Vivekananda’s cottage: http://www.jubileeinitiative.org/sacredvivekananda.html

Article in the Thousand Islands Magazine:. http://www.thousandislandslife.com/BackIssues/Archive/tabid/393/articleType/ArticleView/articleId/199/Swami-Vivekananda.aspx

Here are the details for the event being held the weekend of July

http://india.nydailynews.com/politicsarticle/d20a6b5c5379ce03462a6a6c3628065e/thousand-island-park-celebrates-swami-vivekananda
Monday, July 9, 2012
· NYDailyNews.com /
New York Daily News
Thousand Island Park celebrates Swami Vivekananda
By Chris Brock Monday, July 9th 2012, 11:57 AM
July 09--THOUSAND ISLAND PARK -- Wellesley Island will play a role in a yearlong commemoration noting the 150th birthday of a noted religious figure of India with concerts, a lecture and an interfaith service here this month.
Swami Vivekananda's teachings are known to millions worldwide and his name is a household word in his native India. That country's greatest leaders of the 20th century, Mahatma Gandhi and Jawaharlal Nehru, paid homage to him for the inspiration that his life and work had on their patriotism.
His connection to the north country began in Chicago.
In 1893, Swami Vivekananda, a 30-year-old monk from Calcutta, took the podium at the World's Parliament of Religions, an interfaith gathering in Chicago, and declared the faith he followed emphasized toleration and accepted all religions as true as he spread the word of his mentor, Sri Ramakrishna.
Two years later, Swami Vivekananda (1863-1902) brought his message to Wellesley Island at the invitation of one of his students, Oswego native M. Elizabeth Dutcher. She invited the swami to rest from his labors at her cottage on a secluded hill behind the Thousand Island Park tabernacle.
The cottage he stayed at is now called Vivekananda Cottage, run by the Ramakrishna-Vivekananda Center of New York, an accredited branch of the Ramakrishna Order of India. The building was rediscovered and restored by the center in 1947.
The Ramakrishna-Vivekananda Center bases its teachings on the "system of Vedanta," which combines both the religion and philosophy of the Hindus.
The government of India has established a national committee on the commemoration of the 150th birthday of Swami Vivekananda, under the chairmanship of prime minister Manmohan Singh. Events are being held throughout India.
This year and next, the Ramakrishna-Vivekananda Center of New York will hold a series of events in observance of the swami's birthday, beginning this month at the Wellesley Island retreat. Events will continue in New York City in November, February and April.
All events at the open-air Thousand Island Park tabernacle are free and open to the public. They are:
8 p.m. July 27: Concert by Cantabile Choirs of Kingston, Ontario. The organization's men's and women's choruses will perform. Last year, both traveled to England and Scotland.
The concert will feature classics, folk songs, Celtic music, contemporary tunes and Broadway hits.
3 p.m. July 28: A lecture and discussion on J.D. Salinger at Thousand Island Park by Kenneth Slawenski, author of "J.D. Salinger, A Life."
Mr. Slawenski, of New Jersey, is an expert on Mr. Salinger, the author of the classic novel "The Catcher in the Rye." Mr. Salinger was closely associated with Swami Nikhilananda and the Ramakrishna-Vivekananda Center. In the 1950s he attended summer retreats held at Vivekananda Cottage at Thousand Island Park.
Mr. Slawenski will discuss the life of Mr. Salinger, his association with the park and the influence the teachings of Vedanta had upon his writings.
8 p.m. July 28: Performance by sitar maestro Kartik Seshadri with Vineet Vyas on tabla (percussion).
As a sitarist, Mr. Seshadri attracted widespread attention when he began performing full-length solos at the age of 6 in India. This past March, his latest album, "Sublime Ragas," was selected by Songlines magazine for its "Top of the World" chart.
As an educator, Mr. Seshadri heads one of the largest programs of Indian classical music in America at the University of California, San Diego.
Noon, July 29: The interfaith service, "The Spiritual Unity of Mankind."
This service will feature Swami Yuktatmananda, spiritual leader of Ramakrishna-Vivekananda Center of New York; the Rev. James Brown, minister emeritus, Market Square Presbyterian Church, Harrisburg, Pa.; Mr. Slawenski; Clayton Butler, author of "Thousand Island Park: The Story of an American Eden"; and musical offerings by the choirs of the Thousand Island Park Tabernacle and the Ramakrishna-Vivekananda Center.
Read more: http://india.nydailynews.com/politicsarticle/d20a6b5c5379ce03462a6a6c3628065e/thousand-island-park-celebrates-swami-vivekananda#ixzz20BEjVHEZ