gardening | Alisa Battaglia

All of Life is in Polarity
By Alisa Battaglia

All of life is in polarity-that is, in relationship to its opposite or polar energy and our level of connectivity in relation to it. For instance, our relationship in opposition to the social structures set into place. The disconnection or division comes from having to labor our living at the expense of our creative soul urge. Life demands that we work and pay taxes for our keep and yet this causes a drain on our life force creating exhaustion, dis-ease and aberrations. The balance, of course, between the two polarities would be to find right livelihood…in so many terms, to “Live our Bliss.”

The second opposition that we struggle with is our relationship to our environment. With the first opposition in concretization, there is little time for connection with nature outside office buildings. In cars, we come and go to the workplace, the mall, grocery stores and so on. We pass by what is left of nature around us. We are disconnected because there is no real connection to the environment. This lack of connectivity to nature causes us to disengage from vital life preserving forces that through connection would align us by default to the greater rhythm of our planetary body and the Kosmic circuit in which it resides. Harmonizing with nature whether by walking through a park, gardening, or even honoring the moons monthly cycles puts us in touch with the greater rhythm that has become so elusive in our busy lives.

The polarity continues as we move within because what we see that is not right in society is actually a reflection of the collective mindset in a particular area. This points us in the direction of looking at that which is not right within us. Inner conflict runs between extremes. On one end of the polarity spectrum there is total withdrawal expressed as narcissism in the personality complex. The narcissistic defense mechanism is one that detaches emotions from intimate forms of connectivity with a need to control life, people and circumstances. Functioning from the head, the focus is most often on material gain or position while the emotions are withdrawn from the needs of self and others. Sensitivity and inner sight of the authentic nature is lost and life is superficial and myopic. However, for every control freak there is a counterpart to play out the role of victimhood or supplicant. This is best expressed in the co-dependent and addictive mindset whose intense emotional grasping to things, people and circumstances causes them to lose sight of their deepest needs and desires as a human being. Again with the focus powered onto the object of ones attention-things, people, drugs and alcohol, money and gambling, clothes and glamour, thoughts, and so on, the fulfillment of the immediate need causes the mind to skim only the surface of self, others and life. Both expressions, one overly mental and one emotional, produce disjointed human beings. When time is not taken to examine what is right and not right within us, we live miserable, lonely and loveless lives. Passion for life’s gifts, mysteries or energy to investigate them is lost, as life energy is disconnected from the Kosmos, nature and self…and slowly the spirit within is asphyxiated from lack of connection to the wellspring of life. The spirit within is the nexus of our existence – it is the force that animates our body, the Promethian Spark that gives life and substance to an otherwise lifeless body.

The next polarity and perhaps the most vital, as it moves to the very core of our existence is between the human being in relation to spirit – the polarity between resistance to living our inner light and fully embracing our divinity. The question is “Who are you in relationship to this borrowed body whose name you call yourself?” “Are you the body or the dweller within the body?” This apparent disconnection to the source of our being is the very peril that binds us from liberation. Our mental constraints take the lead setting parameters when the soul is timeless and without human boundary. The soul’s limitless space reflects the potential of our human capacity. Our connection to the source of our divinity is the stuff that all of life is made. In this space or void, the boundaryless fairway of existence is the opposite spectrum of our human struggle – the brain that divides, bifurcates, separates and sections off with an attachment to ways of perceiving and living. Finally, the polarity of the soul in relation to Spirit – between the souls urge to immerse back into Sources spiraling well of energy as One Life or attachment to the souls sheath.

In all these levels of connectivity and separateness are layers and layers of differentiation between them. The balance point always meets at the neutral middle – the center path of heart where there is acceptance in the reflection of the other. It is the point of light within us that is wise, creative, joyful and loving. This sacred point of light that is the true self within is the initiator between extremes, the conjoiner of opposites – the multitude of polarities that exists on this plane. When we arise from the heart of neutrality, the true center of reality we act as the center point between Heaven and Earth.

Part 3 in the New Economy Series

Acquiring information and advice about how to manage or invest our money is easy. The trick is to act on the information, to do something that improves your life and the lives of those you love. That’s what wielding the energy of money is all about. ~Maria Nemeth

Budgeting is a plan that helps people make the best use of their income and savings.

• Distinguish between wants and needs. Realistic, workable budgets result when couples agree to provide carefully for their needs and to exercise self-discipline and patience as they seek to provide for some of their wants.

• Most families can reduce some of their expenditures with a little resourcefulness and accountability. Begin budgeting by listing all expenditures from several previous months. Determine where the money went and which expenditures were unnecessary and which were necessary. Then decide what you can do yourself like: washing & ironing clothes instead of using a dry cleaner, growing your own food – an urban food forest to offset rising food prices & GMO pesticide foods, install solar panels, efficent appliances, and rain barrels to water plants, plant shrubs to keep home cool and convert lawn and landscaping using xerscaping.

• Budget for other set expenses, such as rent or mortgage, utilities, food, clothing, debt reduction, and transportation. By carefully analyzing past months’ spending, you can obtain a realistic idea of how much to allot for each item. When buying clothes, get rid of old clothes that don’t fit or are worn and donate or sell them at a second hand store. Don’t accumulate!!!

• Pay yourself first! Put money aside in a savings program after necessary expenses have been budgeted. Starting both a short-and long-term savings program can help you meet unplanned emergencies as well as provide for future major expenses.

• Budgets should be flexible, if not they usually fail. Allot personal spending money that need not be accounted for.

• Take into account affordable recreation and allow for some spontaneity- the unplanned diversions or for items that are a part of joyful living.

• Use a regular portion of income to prepare for future needs.