Online Newsletter
June - July - August 2010 — Freedom
We are taking a break as we move from Washington back to Southern California. This is our first break from writing web articles since we started our first website 15 years ago. When we resume the newsletter, we will be moved to the place that is now being created by the Universe for us. As of today, exactly when or where we will move is still unknown, yet we do know that everything is working in exactly the right way and will be revealed at exactly the right time.
We leave you with this to ponder during the next 3 months: What does "freedom" mean to you?
Freedom means different things to different people. In the United States, we celebrate freedom every July 4 – our national Independence Day, signifying the day we officially broke away from British rule of our country. Our Declaration of Independence starts:
IN CONGRESS, July 4, 1776
The unanimous Declaration of the thirteen united States of America,
When in the Course of human events, it becomes necessary for one people to dissolve the political bands which have connected them with another, and to assume among the powers of the earth, the separate and equal station to which the Laws of Nature and of Nature’s God entitle them, a decent respect to the opinions of mankind requires that they should declare the causes which impel them to the separation.
We hold these truths to be self-evident, that all men are created equal, that they are endowed by their Creator with certain unalienable Rights, that among these are Life, Liberty and the pursuit of Happiness.
- That to secure these rights, Governments are instituted among Men, deriving their just powers from the consent of the governed,
- That whenever any Form of Government becomes destructive of these ends, it is the Right of the People to alter or to abolish it, and to institute new Government, laying its foundation on such principles and organizing its powers in such form, as to them shall seem most likely to effect their Safety and Happiness . . . .
223 years ago — The Federal Convention convened in the State House (Independence Hall) in Philadelphia on May 14, 1787, to revise the Articles of Confederation. Because the delegations from only two states were at first present, the members adjourned from day to day until a quorum of seven states was obtained on May 25. Through discussion and debate, it became clear by mid-June that, rather than amend the existing Articles, the Convention would draft an entirely new frame of government. . . .
That new frame of government became the Constitution, which begins:
We the People of the United States, in Order to form a more perfect Union, establish Justice, insure domestic Tranquility, provide for the common defence, promote the general Welfare, and secure the Blessings of Liberty to ourselves and our Posterity, do ordain and establish this Constitution for the United States of America. . . .
We celebrate Freedom of Speech every day through our religious freedom, our freedom of speech and our daily newspapers. The First Amendment to the Constitution reads:
Amendment I
Congress shall make no law respecting an establishment of religion, or prohibiting the free exercise thereof; or abridging the freedom of speech, or of the press; or the right of the people peaceably to assemble, and to petition the Government for a redress of grievances.
Notice that freedom to exercise our own religious beliefs, to speak freely and to have a free press was the first amendment. The first 10 amendments to the Constitution approved became known as the Bill of Rights.
There are many other types of freedom: political freedom, economic freedom, professional freedom, spiritual freedom, emotional freedom, psychological freedom, physical freedom, mental freedom, artistic freedom, business freedom, cultural freedom, freedom to associate with others, freedom to express yourself, artistic freedom, freedom to choose how to life, freedom to choose how to die, freedom to buy and sell goods, freedom to think, freedom from fear, freedom to live abundantly, freedom to love who we want.
For the next three months, we challenge you to consider what freedom means to you. Some things you can do:
- Do a meditation/visualization where you take yourself to a quiet place where you feel safe. In that place, imagine a circle of safety and protection – as large as you can make it or as small as you feel comfortable. Within that circle, you can invite anyone or anything you would like to spend some time with you. You can decorate your safe space any way you want. It can be inside or outside. It is completely your space, so create whatever you want. Consider what freedom means to you in your circle of safety. What would be different about your life if you felt totally free? What would you change? What would you leave the same? If you don’t feel free already, what can you do to increase your sense of freedom? What do you need to let go of to feel free? Letting go could be physical things, emotional things, mental things, old beliefs, old ideas, old habits or patterns, old behaviors.
- Think about what Freedom means to you as you go about your day. Do you feel free in your work? If not what can you do differently? Take some small toward making a change to allow you to feel more free.
- Do you feel free in your personal life? If not, think about what you can do differently. Take some small action toward making a change to allow you to feel more free.
- Do you feel free in your artistic or creative expression? If not, think about what you can do differently. Take some small action toward making a change to allow you to feel more free.
- Do you feel free in your inter-personal relationships? If not, what would it take to allow you to feel free? Take some small action toward making a change to allow you to feel more free.
- Do you feel free in your religious or spiritual expression? If not, what would it take to allow you to feel free? Take some small action toward making a change to allow you to feel more free.
- You might research "freedom" and what it means to others. In what ways are you free and in what ways are you not? What other words are related to freedom? What do those words mean to you?
We wish you a glorious summer with the freedom to express who you are in the most positive way for you and for your community.
If you are thinking about creating sources of income, new business ideas or exploring expansion of a existing business, our book Income Without a Job has some great creative ideas and exercises to assist with that. The book is a great gift for friends who have been laid off or need extra support during these times.
This page is http://www.income-without-a-job.com/news/jun2010.htm
