Flood Seige in Brisbane

It’s Saturday morning 6:54 a.m., January 15th, 2011 and people in parts of the City of Brisbane, Australia are ever so slowly pulling on their “wellies”, trying to find gloves, grabbing the ubiquitous green garbage bags, all in preparation to dig into the rubble of probably this country’s worst natural disaster.

I’ve pulled together various bits of communications that happened throughout the week to show how in amongst the turmoil in Queensland, my dad kept in touch with me, my mom was in hospital, how new clients called and current clients kept appointments, how I had to cancel a class I was teaching, how an ex-husband’s birthday happened, and how friends and relatives all over the world wanted to know how I was being affected.

These short emails, text messages and Face Book shares highlight how a week can begin completely normally with heavy rains, and end with millions of peoples lives forever changed along with a 5 billion dollar price tag.

MONDAY
Monday, 10/01/11 10:04 a.m.Christmas is over and we’re all getting back into life. The rains though continue to put a damper on movement. It's only been sunny two days since New Years, which Queenslanders aren't used to. Feels more like Vancouver than Brisbane!

4:41 p.m.I am so glad you're there with mom as she comes out of the operating room. She sent a Skype message earlier today, but I was on with a client call so couldn't take it. I know all will be well but it gives me some solace knowing you're there with her. Give her a big hug for me when she comes out of the recovery room fog.

The rain keeps falling and it just won’t let up. We went to our local Woolworths to stock up on milk and a few vegetables, just in case roads get cut off because of the rain. I felt silly doing it, but apparently in 1974, when the last flood occurred it was 10 days before the shops could open again.

TUESDAY
Tuesday, 11/1/11 11:58 a.m.Your email regarding Wednesday night meditation class was forwarded to me yesterday. You would be most welcome to join us tomorrow - no worries that you missed last week.
It would be lovely to see you in Class!

11:59 a.m.Hey, where are you? Are you in Perth?
Flooding is getting bad in Brisbane - parts of West End are being evacuated. Brisbane River is rising. Bulimba is also being affected.

12:52Looks like the rain is cutting off highways in and out of Brisbane in all directions. Thoughts of seeing if Josh would like to help in the sand bagging effort if it’s needed somewhere in Brisbane.


1:06 p.m.
Give me, Oh God,
Deep thoughts
High dreams
Few words
Much silence
The narrow path
The wide outlook
The end in peace.
Amen
- Hazrat Inayat Khan


10:41 p.m.Been a tough day here in Brisbane. River waters rising hourly. Rain pelting down almost non-stop. The dam supplying the city is at 173% (???) capacity, and they have to let water out of the dam for fear it too will burst. Apparently the dam has two compartments, one that is 100% full the other at 73%. The worst is yet to come. We’re all bracing ourselves.

WEDNESDAY
Wednesday, 12/1/11 4:13 p.m.Nice to hear from you. Glad your’re home. All is well here. Going into Sowelu tonight to meditate – class is optional. This to hold the light and love for those suffering. Hugs.

We have closed Sowelu as the power is off and roads in to Paddington have closed. Please travel safe if you decide to still go. xxx


4:32 p.m.Thanks for that info. I was not made aware of the power cut or roads.

The power and roads only happened at 3 p.m. Chat soon. X


4:53 p.m.
Hello all! Well despite my best intentions to hold meditation tonight at Sowelu the power has been cut and roads shut as of 3 p.m. So if you were thinking of joining me there, stay home & enjoy your blessings. With all returning to “normal” Class will be on next Wednesday at 7. If ANYONE needs a hand or place to sleep please let me know. May all beings have happiness & its causes.

Thanks Angela. I have left Paddington and staying at my mums away from the river with my 2 kids. My partner is at our home with his mum who was evacuated from West End. Sending love to all those affected.


5:51 p.m.
We're safe, dry and not in ANY threat for the floods at all. Friends however haven't been as blessed. High tide yet to come, river keeps rising, so there's still more water. Again, there is no threat where we live, other than some road closures into town. City is under siege. No busses, 106 roads closed. The dam now is at 197% and now they tell us the capacity is actually 212%. I'll keep posting here.


6:43 p.m.
Dad, all is well here and there is no threat where we live.
160 roads are cut off now, hundreds of thousands are being evacuated, but we live out of town, miles from the river. Feeling quite helpless watching the news. Broadcasters have seen carp, snakes and even a shark swimming in the river waters. Tomorrow we're going to go in and see how we can help at the Evacuation centres. It is a crisis beyond imagination. The worst is yet to come. Tonight at 4 a.m. there is a king tide and the water will rise another meter. People have been sandbagging and preparing all day to get their possessions, pets and selves out. My work place had its power cut earlier today, but no flood damage. Keep us all in your thoughts and prayers. xxx


10:42 p.m.
The Katrina flood covered 233,000 sq/km, the Queensland floods, including Brisbane cover 1,000,000 sq/km. They’re closing the Gateway Bridge because a 300 meter cement chunk of the River Walkway has broken loose and is hurling down the river. There are fears that if it hits the bridge things could get nasty. Talk too about scuttling (blowing up) the Mogul Ferry because one of its guy ropes has torn away and if it breaks free it would be like a torpedo shooting down stream.

The siren sound over the radio that’s been blaring every fifteen minutes, all day has jangled my nerves. This “waaaaaah, waaaaah, if you need to contemplate leaving, then evacuate.” I’m also surprized that the army hasn’t been mobilized to help with the sandbagging and evacuation effort. Only 100 troops so far have been brought in.

Tomorrow we're going down to help out wherever we can. We've made a huge pile of clothes, towels, toiletries to donate and we’re glued to the TV and radio for moment to moment updates. Death toll at 7 people from the Toowoomba flash flood, missing persons 72.

10:54 p.m.
New toll-free number set up for those interested in volunteering or donating goods and services for the Queensland floods - 1800 994 100. Please copy and re-post so everyone knows about it and those who can help out. All over the News they’re asking for MONEY rather than Goods.

THURSDAY
13/1/11 12:12 p.m.
Woke up to find the River hadn't peaked as high as anticipated. 4.6 meters rather than the anticipated 5.2. The previous worst flood on record in 1974 peaked at 5.5 m. Today 11,500 homes completed devastated, 13,500 partially flooded, way more than in 1974. Ann Bligh, the premier commented that we are looking at Post War levels of destruction. Truly daunting. I’ve been very impressed with Bligh, she’s such a clear communicator and she hasn’t flinched at announcing any of the horrific information. She’s on TV every two hours giving regular updates. I’m feeling quite helpless but holding the light big time and doing lots of tong len practise. Death toll has risen to 12. Missing persons 61.

12:58 p.m.
We've not been personally affected by the waters but are definitely feeling the suffering people are going through. Four times the size of Katrina. Life will never be the same again. And I'm in the midst of preparing to return to Canada for two months. Surreal almost.

5:58 p.m.
Hi Angela. All is well at our place, no water. Could we have a meeting on Skype tomorrow? From what I have seen on TV Paddington is quite flooded, so could be a while before we can meet there again. Alternatively I could come to your place.

8:42 p.m.We could either Skype or you could come here. Let me know what works.

Cool, I will see you tomorrow.


FRIDAY
14/1/11 10:41 a.m.Yes I am taking on new clients.
I will give you a call early next week to get your background and what you're looking for.

I'm currently in Brisbane, Australia, and am dealing full on with the flooding that is happening here, so my mind is a bit preoccupied.

11:01 a.m.The river has receded, not entirely, but the imminent danger is over. The death toll has risen to 15. The clean up will commence in a few days. In a few of the 63 suburbs that were flooded people are slowly returning to their homes. It will be at least a week for others. And for some, they will never have a home to return to.

The Clinic where I work still has the power cut, as do 100,000 plus other homes/businesses.

3:56 p.m.It's been a tremendously stressful time this past week for all of us living in Queensland.

For some the floods will have possibly brought forward unresolved trauma or grief. For others the experiences, the images, the feelings may simply have unsettled you.

I would like to offer a FREE 45 minute counselling session on the phone, Skype or in-person (either in my office in Paddington or Cashmere) until the end of January. I would like to extend this offer to you or to a friend or family member as well. Just tell them that they need to reference this email.

Contact me to set up an appointment.

May the collective consciousness that has been awakened by the floods swiftly and gracefully be healed.


5:47 p.m.All is well in our world. The river is miles from where we live, but as you can imagine, we are still feeling the effects of the massive devastation. The water from a creek overflow came about 7 km from where we are.

Today I saw a client in my home instead of the clinic which kind of snapped me out of the shock zone I've been hovering in.

The entire week has been a kicker. My mom had surgery for the removal of a growth on her thyroid (Monday), the flood began in earnest Tuesday, my assistant let me know she would either have to stop working with me or I had to give her a substantial hourly raise (Wednesday) and the River peaked so by Thursday I was maxed out.

Amazingly, I'm doing well despite all the above. And I hope this email wasn't a downer.

I return to Vancouver February 28th. I am looking very forward to being back in the city for a while. With the amount of damage and the length of time it may take to put this city back to functioning, we may well return to live in Canada a few years earlier than planned.


6:00 p.m.Thanks for your email. It sounds like you're having a fabulous time in Arizona.

I am haunted by the final lines in my last email to you... that the flooding hadn't touched Brisbane. By now you will have seen the images and know that the city has been decimated. It's so unbelievable and shocking all at the same time.

All is well for us but as you can imagine, we are still feeling it. The water from a creek at Gympie Rd overflow came about 7 km from where we are. Our local train station Bray Park was flooded.

Sowelu had its power cut for 3 days - and I have yet to go back to see if there was any flood damage. It’s on that hill, so I doubt water came in. Rosalee, one suburb over from Paddington was completely totalled. Water up to peoples’ chests. The McDonalds in Milton had water up to its roof! And Suncorp stadium - did you see the pictures of that?

Apparently a fight broke out at the Woolies in Paddington because they were running so short of food and there was a queue of 50 people. They were letting them in by twos and threes just like at a night club.

It's been a phenomenal week. The extent of damage to the State is that 70% of it was under water. Katrina covered 233,000 sq/km, this one covers 1,000,000 sq/km. Much, much bigger than the combined area of France and Germany. Its the stories and the images that are playing on me. And the incredulousness that this is happening here, in Brisbane, not over there in New Orleans or Brazil.

Not until this morning did we hear ANY outside news about Sri Lanka or Brazil. All the news on TV and radio was completely to do with evacuation procedures, what to take with you, what to do with pets, where to go, not to go into the water etc., then how high the river was rising, the amount of rain expected to fall etc. Then about the other cities and towns that were being pummelled by the water.

On behalf of all Queenslanders doubly enjoy where you are. When you return everything will have changed. Not one person’s life will not have been affected in some way.


SATURDAY
15 January 2011 5:29 a.m.Hi Angela, Thank you for what you are doing. I lost everything in the flood and was not covered by insurance. I am getting lots of support. Dean Marlin

If you would like to donate to the Queensland recovery, contact

http://telethon.smartservice.qld.gov.au/

.

Tasmania Meditation Retreat

So I've been out of retreat for almost ten days now, but I'm still feeling the positive effects. I initially flew from Brisbane to a place called Launceston in Tasmania, where I was picked up and driven to Lovinna Valley, along a long and winding road to Dorje Ling Retreat Centre. Every mile we drove, we ventured deeper and deeper into the forest, into the embracing, spirit filled landscape of that most wonderful and enchanting place called Tasmania.

Before the retreat began, we went to a place called Cradle Mountain at the bottom of which is Dove Lake. Here are some photos from there.





Then we went back to the Retreat Centre and began the three days of initiations and and then retreat in this Yurt, or Ger as the Mongolians call them.

Video on Alcoholism - Three Pronged Disease

The Miracle of Ten Good Things - by Angela Treat Lyon

I received this in my email the other day, when the Americans were celebrating Thanksgiving. It deeply touched me and thought it might resonate with you. Let me know.


Last week as I was working with a client who's gone
through more challenge than anyone I have ever met,
we were clearing the energy from an incident he was
particularly stuck on. I asked him to list ten things that
were good about it.

He exploded, asking me how I could be so cruel as to
think there was even one good thing.

I waited. There was a long silence as he cooled off
and began to contemplate. Finally, sounding very
surprised, he said, "Well, I'm a stronger person
because of it."

He added a couple more, and went silent again.

I continued to wait. Silence is like a magnet when you
want someone to spill deep information. Most of us
are so used to continual blather, but when we're given
the space to consider , we can jump right in and really
mine the depths of ourselves. The rewards of a
conscious silence are huge. He did jump in and found
amazing treasures.

So today, I'm taking time to feel grateful for all the stuff
I thought of in my life as mean, ugly, unfair,
unwarranted and impossible to deal with.

I thank my brothers who I thought were so cruel by
calling me fat and telling me my ears stuck out and
that I was 'just a girl' so I'd never account for much.
Because of them, I am acutely conscious of the
miracle of this body, how I'd never be here without it,
and how incredibly strong, vibrant and alive it is.

I thank my father for thinking of me as contrary all the
way up until the year before he died. We had met for
lunch and were in the middle of a huge, finger-
pointing argument, and suddenly as I turned to stick
him with another barb, he was no longer the big man
who wanted power over me. He was just my father,
who adored his only daughter, and just wanted a nice
lunch with her because he saw her so seldom.

I sat back and looked at him anew; he must have had
a similar shift, because he said, "I've been wrong all
these years. I thought you were contrary, but what you
really are is super-curious."

Would my curiosity about the world, how it ticks and
the determination to do more than he said I could
have grown so huge without his perpetual saying, "no,
you can't"?

I thank my schoolmates for shunning me and making
fun of me in elementary school, because I got to know
the smooth comfort of being in the woods and down at
the beach by myself and finding so much beauty and
love in nature.

I thank my high school mates for making fun of my
terrible grades, impossible sense of dress and a face
full of zits, so I spent more and more time hiding in the
art room. Would I ever have developed the innate
sense of what to do with almost any material in the
making of art if I hadn't spent so much time there?

I thank my three ex-husbands, especially the last, for
waking me up to how much I needed to find out who
was in this body, what she really wanted and needed,
and who she really was. I would have continued on
with one crummy relationship after the other without
that pain to make me wake up, love Me and live Right.

I thank my two amazing, intelligent, innovative, creative
love-saturated sons for having pushed every single
mother-button possible. I grew to become a much better
mother than I ever dared think I could possibly be. I'd
never, ever want to send you back!

I thank the terrible depression that had me in living
terror, curled up in the fetal position for much of the
35-year period until I was 55 for making me acutely
aware of how indescribably beautiful life can be.

I thank all my wonderful close buddies who never
allow me to slip into self-pity or less-than-excellence,
and who give me the opportunity to be present with
and adore them whether they are up or down.

I thank Gary Craig for creating EFT, the tool that
allowed me to rescue myself from that hell, and gave
me the ability to choose powerful service with my
coaching.

I thank every single one of you, and especially you
who have taken my teleclasses and coaching - for
honoring me by listening to what I say and following
my suggestions and finding yourselves more free and
getting 100 times bigger results than you'd imagined.

Most of all, I thank my mother for being timid about
showing her portraits and watercolors. If she had not
refused to show her love ly artwork anywhere but in
friends' houses, I'd never have thought to put my own
in galleries and exhibitions around the world so more
than just my local buddies could see it.

I thank her for being a master of manipulation,
because I'd never have learned to spot it when it was
happening and make new choices for myself.

I thank her for being socially prim...and yet open to
admiration of someone who isn't.

One night just before she died, I was preparing to go
out to a party - by myself. She had agreed to watch
my 1 and 3 year-olds. She said, "You're so brave...."
and her eyes were full of tears.

I didn't know what she meant. She told me that it
never would have occurred to her to go out alone,
unescorted, unprotected by a man. She held the
space for me to be brave, inventive, creative,
outrageous, resourceful and really alive. Thanks, Ma.

And I thank Spirit for being so kind to me my whole
life, presenting me with opportunity after opportunity
to connect and be At Home in my Being - and for
sticking with me even when I chose to rebel and be
miserable. For being completely non-judgmental and
presenting me with more opportunities even after I
had blown so many.

And you - no matter where you live, I send you my
most heart-filled love and wishes for a simply lovely
day today, and may you be grateful and find good
things where only the bad seems to exist, for the rest
of your life.

aloha -

Angela Treat Lyon
The Gateway to Angela:
http://AngelaTreatLyon.com

Week 5 - Concentration

The perfection of mental stabilization - CONCENTRATION

Definition: Concentration is a mental factor that is capable of abiding one-pointedly on an object of virtue without distraction. (Geshe Loden)

Synonyms for concentration: one-pointedness, fixed mind, which when cultivated, achieves calm abiding, tranquil quiescence, mental quiescence. Concentration is a general term for focusing the mind on an object, calm abiding is a particular type of concentration.

There are nine levels of concentration to attain calm abiding and we need particular conditions, merit, perseverance and motivation in order to perfect concentration.

Mental stabilization brings the mind closer and closer to its object until the mind and object mix.

Special insight and calm abiding are interdependent “as the trunk of a tree is the source of all variety of branches, twigs and leaves, calm abiding and special insight are the source of all realizations.” (Geshe Loden pg 792)

Six pre-requisites or optimum conditions to achieving calm abiding (in 6 months according to Pabonka Rinpoche):

1.) a suitable place
2.) few desires
3.) contentment/being satisfied
4.) not having many activities
5.) pure ethics
6.) abandoning disturbing thoughts/conceptions

Main Practise of concentration – nine stages or levels; 5 obstacles – 8 antidotes

Nine Stages:
1.) placing the mind
2.) placement with continuity
3.) patch-like placement
4.) close placement
5.) controlling
6.) pacifying
7.) complete pacification
8.) single pointed concentration
9.) placement with equanimity

Five Obstacles:
1.) laziness
2.) forgetting the instructions
3.) laxity and excitement (gross and subtle forms)
4.) non-application
5.) over-application


Eight antidotes to the obstacles:
1.) Laziness: faith, aspiration, effort, pliancy
2.) Forgetting: memory/mindfulness
3.) Laxity and excitement: awareness/vigilance
4.) Non-application: application of antidote
5.) Over-application: apply equanimity

Gross Laxity and Excitement are the two main obstacles to overcome while doing single pointed/concentration meditation.

Gross laxity – you are mindful of the object band the image is stable but unclear; it occurs when the mind is too withdrawn. The mind is heavy and we have to lighten it and be joyful. (Loden 810)

Antidotes to laxity in meditation:
- imagine the sun shining on you. Try and focus on the details of the object of meditation very closely. Expand the object, extend it, increase its brilliance.
- Massage the back of your neck. Splash cold water on your face. If need be get up, go for a walk then return to the practice.

Gross excitement: a type of attachment which is led astray by attractive objects; excitement and distraction are different ie you could be angry, this is a distraction not an excitement. Loosen your concentration, you are trying too hard which causes excitement; mind is too high, too happy;

Antidotes to excitement: imagine the moon shining on you. Contemplate death, suffering of lower realms, war, starvation, karma. Count breath for 21, do it twice ot to 100; do physical exercise, return and continue.

Benefits to Calm Abiding? - pliancy of mind and body; ability to achieve emptiness to understand and eradicate suffering; mind will absorb more information more quickly …

Questions to contemplate:What are some of the benefits of concentration we can see manifest in everyday life? What is the damage done by a distracted mind?

Are You a Seeker or a Finder?

The following quote is taken from EnlightenNext Magazine Quote of the Week. I couldn't help myself when I read this to want to pass it along. There's a full article where this quote comes from, and it's well worth the read!


Are you a seeker or a finder? This is a very important question. If you are on a spiritual path, have you found what you are looking for? Or are you still searching? If you are doing a spiritual practice, are you doing it to reach a goal or are you doing it just because you think it’s a good thing to be doing? Or are you doing spiritual practice from another position altogether—the position of being a finder? Being a finder means you are one of those rare individuals who has unequivocally found what they are looking for, and are now doing spiritual practice only because they want to continue to develop.~ Andrew Cohen


To read this in its entirety, visit Andrew Cohen's blog on the Huffington Post. http://www.huffingtonpost.com/andrew-z-cohen/spiritual-practice-is-spi_b_751687.html

Youwealth Replays

For the month of November I subscribed to Youwealth where I was able to listen to various people speak each day on wealth, health, relationship and consciousness. I was intrigued on two levels: first, professionally I wanted to see how others presented themselves, and then secondly what new information I could personally gain.

The organization Youwealth has just put out the "best of" and I wanted to share these replays with you. You can listen for one week only to these free recordings, so fill your boots and get what you can. I have not listened to them all, so tell me what you think. I especially liked both the women: Ann Taylor and Carol Look.

Ann Taylor does healing prayer right over the telephone re-programming our DNA. What a blast. And Carol Look does EFT, a technique I learned years ago in therapy to help with changing beliefs and patterning through tap touching. It's similar to The Way of the Heart techniques but its based on acupuncture/pressure points. I find EFT really effective for helping with anxiety, fear, overwhelm, pain of any kind and on. Thought you might too.

I've been fighting a nasty flu since Saturday, and today is the first day I feel almost 100%. I didn't do the Teleseminar nor any of my classes this week. I'm sorry to those who were looking forward. The week instead was a wonderful time to deeply relax back into my body. Much, much needed rest.




During this time I saw how I whip myself into and out of shape. How I have such high expectations on myself and how out of touch with my desires I can get. I had family visiting prior to getting ill, and as all the experts say, to see how healed you are, spend a week with your family! The good new is there was no fighting, no disharmoney. Yeah! A first.

So let me know what you think of these various MP3s. If you listen to anything, listen to Ann. I find her voice can get a bit irritating, but the prayers are amazing.


Ann Taylor: REPLAY - SUPER HEALING MARATHON http://youwealthrevolution.com/now/


Darius Barazandeh: REPLAY - The Experiment: The Limitless Process!
http://youwealthrevolution.com/now/

Dr. Symeon Rodger: REPLAY - Secrets of Personal Resilience: Mastering the Ultimate Wealth.
http://youwealthrevolution.com/now/


John Assaraf: REPLAY - Winning the Inner Game of Business.
http://youwealthrevolution.com/now/


Larry Crane: REPLAY - Release Technique: How to Overcome Fear & Resistance to Becoming Wealthy.
http://youwealthrevolution.com/now/


Jim Kwik: REPLAY - Unlocking Your Super Hero Mind: Speedreading & Memory Power for Faster Learning and Earning!
http://youwealthrevolution.com/now/


Carol Look: REPLAY - Secrets and EFT - Tapping Into The Vibration of Abundance!
http://youwealthrevolution.com/now/

Happy Listening!